bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A SWOT Analysis Approach for a Sustainable Transition to Renewable Energy in South Africa
Authors: Uhunamure Solomon E. , Shale Karabo
Published: April 2021

South Africa is been faced with erratic power supply, resulting in persistent load shedding due to ageing in most of its coal-fired power plants. Associated with generating electricity from fossil fuel are environmental consequences such as greenhouse emissions and climate change. On the other hand, the country is endowed with abundant renewable energy resources that can potentially ameliorate its energy needs. This article explores the viability of renewable energy using the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis approach on the key renewable potential in the country. The result indicates that geographic position, political and economic stability and policy implementation are some of the strengths. However, Government bureaucratic processes, level of awareness and high investment cost are some of the weaknesses. Several opportunities favour switching to renewable energy, and these include regional integration, global awareness on climate change and the continuous electricity demand. Some threats hindering the renewable energy sector in the country include land ownership, corruption and erratic climatic conditions. Some policy implications are suggested based on the findings of the study.
Social Innovation in Olive Oil Cooperatives: A Case Study in Southern Spain
Authors: Parrilla-González Juan Antonio , Ortega-Alonso Diego
Published: April 2021

Recent years have witnessed a notable increase in the implementation of social innovation strategies for creating products with major social impact. Despite the lack of conceptual clarity still surrounding the term, social innovation, as a participatory research method, is finding scope for growth in agricultural cooperatives, whether in the areas of R&D and knowledge transfer, or in the commercialization of innovative products. Society has underscored the need for change in the environment and the implementation of new projects that help improve socioeconomic living conditions, promoting territorial development through social transformation. In the case of cooperativism in the olive oil industry in southern Spain, cooperatives are responsible for 70% of the oil produced there. As such, the actions carried out under their influence have a huge impact on the population and serve as tools that anchor people to their municipalities. This article analyses a case study from an olive oil cooperative, exploring the development of a social innovation project involving knowledge transfer and public awareness-raising through the label of an early harvest olive oil called “Primer Día de Cosecha” (First Day of Harvest). It also assesses the impact of the project on the population of the Andalusian municipality of Bailén (Jaén).
Core Elements Affecting Sharing: Evidence from the United States
Authors: Burinskienė Aurelija , Leonavičienė Edita , Grybaitė Virginija , Lingaitienė Olga , Merkevičius Juozas
Published: April 2021

The new phenomenon called sharing or collaborative consumption emerged a decade ago and is continuously growing. It creates new possibilities for society, and especially for business, is beneficial for the environment, makes more efficient use of resources, and presents a new competitive business model. The scientific literature lacks a more in-depth analysis of the factors influencing sharing activity growth; therefore, the paper’s authors attempt to fill this gap. The authors aim to identify the factors affecting the use of sharing platforms. To reach the goal, the authors developed a regression model and constructed a list of 71 variables. The study used monthly United States data from January 2017 to June 2020 from the publicly available Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED)and Google trends databases. The comparison to other indexes proves that the proposed index, representing the number of visits to sharing platforms (SEP), is a unique one. The first index allowed us to revise the sharing activity monthly. The authors identified that variables such as wage level, social network users, import level, and personal consumption are critical in affecting the number of visits to sharing platforms. The presented framework could be helpful for practitioners and policymakers analysing the stimulation of sharing or collaborative consumption. It includes indicators representing different areas, such as society, technology, and country, and allows for monthly investigations. Such activity was evident for a long time when online platforms contributed to its wider accessibility. The results help to forecast the number of visits monthly. Sharing is still an emerging area for research; thus, the authors tried to explore the phenomenon of sharing to expand the conceptual level of knowledge.
Wind Coefficient Distribution of Arranged Ground Photovoltaic Panels
Authors: You Jangyoul , Lim Myungkwan , You Kipyo , Lee Changhee
Published: April 2021

Solar panels installed on the ground receive wind loads. A wind experiment was conducted to evaluate the wind force coefficient acting on a single solar panel and solar panels arranged in an array. The surface roughness did not have a significant effect on the change in vertical force, which is the wind force coefficient acting on the vertical surface of a single solar panel. An examination of the change in wind direction angle showed that the largest vertical force coefficient was distributed in the 0° forward wind direction on the front of the solar panel, the 345° reverse wind direction on the rear side, and the 135° and 225° diagonal directions on the rear panel. Furthermore, an examination of the change in wind force coefficient according to the change in solar panel inclination angle (β) showed that the drag coefficient was the highest at the 40° inclination angle of the panel (β), followed by the 30° and 20° inclination angles. However, the lift coefficient and vertical force coefficient were not significantly affected by the inclination angle of the panel. The wind force coefficient of the panels arranged in an array was influenced by the wind direction angle and panel position. With the exclusion of the nearest row at a wind direction angle of 0°, all the panels in the array showed lower coefficients than those in the single-panel experiment. In the case of the panels placed inside, the wind speed was decreased by the surrounding panels. As a result, the wind force coefficient was lower than that of the single-panel experiment. This outcome is attributed to the small delamination at the end of the panels by the surrounding array of panels compared with that of the single-panel experiment.
Sustainable Consumption of Food: Framing the Concept through Turkish Expert Opinions
Authors: Tekinbaş Özkaya Feyza , Durak Mustafa Gürol , Doğan Onur , Bulut Zeki Atıl , Haas Rainer
Published: April 2021

The scarcity of natural resources together with the exponentially increasing world population has made the sustainable consumption of food (SCF) a crucial issue, as it has impacts on a variety of environmental, health, economic, and social dimensions. Considering the rarity of a holistic view in previous studies, this study aims to assess the current situation in sustainable food consumption and develop suggestions from all aspects, depending on the opinions of experts. In this direction, semi-structured interviews are conducted with 25 experts from Turkey to frame the concept of SCF, reveal the level of consumers’ awareness, and provide suggestions to support SCF implications. Experts have considered SCF from ecologic, social, economic, and health perspectives; ecologic aspects being the most important, followed by economic and social perspectives. Deficits on the consumer side are lack of awareness, unplanned shopping, and mistakes in post-consumption behavior. Lack of awareness about the consequences of meat production, difficulties in changing lifestyles and lack of motivation of adults were identified barriers to SCF. Finally, suggestions of the experts for achieving sustainability are mostly relevant to raising awareness on balanced nutrition and food waste, with the help of training programs and the efficient use of communication channels, such as social media.
Efficiency and Sustainability of Regional Aviation on Insular Territories of the European Union: A Case Study of Public Service Obligations on Scheduled Air Routes among the Balearic Islands
Authors: Martínez Raya Antonio , González-Sánchez Víctor M.
Published: April 2021

Mediterranean islands of the European Union (EU) have traditionally suffered from a lack of regularity in supplying public transportation due to the high seasonality of the demand for scheduled transport services. The insular fact forces people and goods to be carried either by sea or air, and therefore needs to actively stimulate interest in operating specific routes by proper carriers. As regional economies on insular territories also have a tight dependence on tourism, it is vital to achieve an appropriate balance between the need for effective public transportation and sustainable means of transport. This paper aims to provide an approach to the Public Service Obligation (PSO) system imposed on air routes serving the regional transport needs of the Balearic Islands. This study has analyzed data relating to freight and passenger traffic in the period between 2004 and 2019 from scheduled air services linking Palma de Mallorca with Ibiza and Menorca, as well as those between Menorca and Ibiza, and to their respective short-sea links. Results obtained in the research suggest that PSO impositions, together with significant improvement in the resident subsidy schema (from 50% to 75%), have recently led to a sharp increase in the demand for passenger air services on these routes; thus, avoiding the tender for the award of a public contract. However, it has led to a dramatic fall of freight transport on air routes concerned, as such, public intervention on the air market has only sought to ensure the mobility of passengers.
Adsorption Behavior of Acid-Treated Brazilian Palygorskite for Cationic and Anionic Dyes Removal from the Water
Authors: Silva Vanderlane C. , Araújo Maria Eduarda B. , Rodrigues Alisson M. , Cartaxo Juliana M. , Menezes Romualdo R. , Neves Gelmires A.
Published: April 2021

The effect of acid treatment on the adsorptive capacity of a Brazilian palygorskite to remove the crystal violet (CV) and congo red (CR) dyes was investigated. The raw palygorskite was acid-treated by different HCl solutions (2, 4, and 6 mol/L). The modifications on the palygorskite structure were investigated using X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, N2 adsorption/desorption, and thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis. The efficiency of CV and CR adsorption was investigated, and the effect of the initial concentration, contact time, pH, and adsorbent amount was analyzed. The results revealed that CV adsorption in the acid-treated palygorskite was higher than that of the raw material. A Langmuir isotherm model was observed for the adsorption behavior of CV, while a Freundlich isotherm model was verified for the CR adsorption. A pseudo-second-order model was observed for the adsorption kinetics of both dyes. The higher CV adsorption capacity was observed at basic pH, higher than 97%, and the higher CR removal was observed at acidic pH, higher than 50%. The adsorption parameters of enthalpy (ΔH), entropy (ΔS), and Gibbs energy (ΔG) were evaluated. The adsorption process of the CV and CR dyes on the raw and acid-treated Brazilian palygorskite was predominantly endothermic and occurred spontaneously. The studied raw palygorskite has a mild-adsorption capacity to remove anionic dyes, while acid-treated samples effectively remove cationic dyes.
The Occurrence of Potentially Pathogenic and Antibiotic Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria Isolated from the Danube Delta Ecosystem
Authors: Banciu Alina R. , Ionica Daniela L. , Vaideanu Monica A. , Radulescu Dragos M. , Nita-Lazar Mihai , Covaliu Cristina I.
Published: April 2021

The spread of a growing number of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) outside the clinical setting into the environment has been observed. The surface water plays an important role in ARB dissemination by being both habitats and transport systems for microorganisms. The ecological and touristic importance of the Danube Delta make it a European priority for close monitoring of its freshwater system. The main goal of this paper was to analyze how the St. Gheorghe branch of the Danube Delta microbiological contamination and their antibiotic-resistant profile were influenced by climate change, especially the global warming from 2013 up to 2019. In the surface water from all sampling points, total and fecal coliform bacteria showed a constant colony forming units (CFU) increase tendency during the years, with a sharp rise from 1500 CFU/mL in 2015 to more than 20,000 CFU/mL in 2019. The bacterial population’s analyses revealed an indirect proportionality between coliform bacteria density in water and sediment during the years in accordance with global warming. The most commonly identified bacterial strains such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella oxytoca, Citrobacter freundii and Proteus mirabilis have been shown a resistance rate of approximatively 70% to beta-lactam antibiotics, especially to ampicillin and amoxicillin-clavulanate.
An Approach to the Analysis of Causes of Delays in Industrial Construction Projects through Planning and Statistical Computing
Authors: Araújo-Rey Carlos , Sebastián Miguel A.
Published: April 2021

The analysis of the planning activities of industrial construction projects can help to evaluate some of the causes that have an impact on the variation of execution times and can also contribute to identifying those activities and components that are most likely to experience or cause delays. Data analysis is facilitated by the use of techniques based on statistical programs, allowing delays to be unequivocally linked to the different elements that make up these projects. In a theoretical study, a simulation is carried out with data that are hypothetical but consistent with real projects, which are transformed and standardized before being uploaded to the statistical software. Using the statistical software’s graphical interface, the data set is analyzed from a descriptive point of view, unraveling the relationships between variables and factors by means of contingency tables and scatter plots. Using other techniques such as the comparison of variables and correlation studies, as well as linear regression and variance analysis, the characteristics are evaluated and the differences in project delays are investigated in order to determine, after the fact, which components have the highest rates of delay in execution times.
Identifying Potential Sites for Artificial Recharge in the Plain Area of the Daqing River Catchment Using GIS-Based Multi-Criteria Analysis
Authors: Xu Guigui , Su Xiaosi , Zhang Yiwu , You Bing
Published: April 2021

As an essential component for the development of the Xiong’an New Area, China’s second capital, groundwater in the area has been overexploited, resulting in ecological and environmental geological problems. Therefore, artificial groundwater replenishment measures are urgently required, for which the evaluation of the recharge potential is an important prerequisite. In this study, a GIS (Geographic Information System)-based multi-criteria evaluation system was constructed, considering the source water conditions, recharge infiltration conditions, aquifer storage conditions, and environmental conditions. In addition, factors such as the distance to a canal, source water quality, slope, vadose zone infiltration rate, drainage density, groundwater depth, aquifer hydraulic conductivity, aquifer thickness, groundwater quality, soil quality, and distance to sensitive areas were also analyzed. GIS was used to draw and calculate potential artificial recharge sites. The results showed that the potential recharge sites in the study area are mainly distributed in the alluvial plains on both sides of the river, with a total area of 2103.9 km2, accounting for 15.8% of the total study area. In the Xiong’an New Area, the potential sites are mainly distributed in the alluvial–proluvial plains on both sides of the Baigou River in the north-central area, with a total area of 39.4 km2, accounting for approximately 2.2% of the total area of the Xiong’an New Area.
Environmental Efficiency Analysis for Multi Plants Production Technologies
Authors: Ghiyasi Mojtaba , Taghizadeh-Hesary Farhad
Published: April 2021

The current article extends the literature by proposing new models for estimating the classical and environmental performance of multi-plant firms. This yields some new indices for capturing the environmental performance vs. classical economic performance at the local and global level. The proposed approaches and indices were applied for the economic and environmental performance assessment of 46 power plants in Iran. The primary result emphasizes considering not only local environmental performance but also global performance to have a broad insight of environmental performance assessments. Moreover, we find only a few power plants with a resistant environmental performance at the global level. Proposed models in this article are general because they can be utilized in environmental analysis of any multiple plant production units.
Root Reinforcement Effect on Cover Slopes of Solid Waste Landfill in Soil Bioengineering
Authors: Park Jeongjun , Kim Indae , Kang Jeong-Ku
Published: April 2021

This study investigated the effect of vegetation plant roots on the stability of the cover slopes of solid waste landfills. A large direct shear test and a root tensile strength test were conducted to quantify the effect of rooted soil of revegetation plants on the increment in shear strength of the soil as a method to protect the cover slope of solid waste landfills. In the large direct shear test, an increase in the shear strength of the ground with the presence of roots was observed, and the root reinforcement proposed in the literature was modified and proposed by analyzing the correlation between the root diameter and the tensile strength according to water content. The stability of the slope revegetation of a landfill facility, considering the root reinforcement effect of revegetation, was calculated by conducting a slope stability analysis reflecting the unsaturated seepage analysis of rainfall conditions for various analysis conditions, such as the gradient, the degree of compactness, the thickness of the cover, and the rooted soil depth of the landfill facility.
Effects of Lighter Dose of Oxytetracycline on the Accumulation and Degradation of Volatile Fatty Acids in the Process of Thermophilic Anaerobic Digestion of Swine Manure
Authors: Fan Zijing , Zhang Mei , Chen Xiaxia , Hu Zhongda , Shu Qihang , Jing Chaosen , Luo Xingzhang
Published: April 2021

Oxytetracycline (OTC) is a commonly used antibiotic in livestock farming for controlling intestinal and respiratory infections in farm animals. However, the absorption of antibiotics by animals is limited, and most antibiotics are excreted in the original form with manure, which will have an impact on the environment. The removal of antibiotics from swine manure could generally be performed via anaerobic digestion (AD). In this study, the effect of oxytetracycline (OTC) at doses of 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 mg/L on the thermophilic anaerobic digestion of swine manure (55 °C) in batch digesters was studied. The methane production, volatile fatty acid (VFA) levels, and dissolved organic matter (DOM) were determined and compared with the control (0 mg/L of OTC). The results indicate that (1) OTC at 0.1 mg/L had no inhibitory effect on methane production or on the accumulation of VFAs, while 0.5 mg/L and 1.0 mg/L inhibited methane production, with inhibition rates of 4.03% and 14.12% (p < 0.05), respectively; (2) the VFAs of each reactor peaked on the first day of the reaction, and as the OTC dose increased from 0 to 1.0 mg/L, the maximum VFA accumulation increased from 1346.94 mg/g to 2370 mg/g of volatile solids (VS); and (3) oxytetracycline (0.5 and 1.0 mg/L) could promote the temporary accumulation of propionic acid, which did, however, not result in significant VFA accumulation. Further, OTC at 1.0 mg/L can promote DOM production, and therefore, VFA accumulation.
More from Less? Environmental Rebound Effects of City Size
Authors: Meirelles Joao , Ribeiro Fabiano L. , Cury Gabriel , Binder Claudia R. , Netto Vinicius M.
Published: April 2021

Global sustainability relies on our capacity of understanding and guiding urban systems and their metabolism adequately. It has been proposed that bigger and denser cities are more resource-efficient than smaller ones because they tend to demand less infrastructure, consume less fuel for transportation and less energy for cooling/heating in per capita terms. This hypothesis is also called Brand’s Law. However, as cities get bigger, denser and more resource-efficient, they also get richer, and richer inhabitants consume more, potentially increasing resource demand and associated environmental impacts. In this paper, we propose a method based on scaling theory to assess Brand’s Law taking into account greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from both direct (energy and fuels locally consumed) and indirect (embedded in goods and services) sources, measured as carbon footprint (CF). We aim at understanding whether Brand’s Law can be confirmed once we adopt a consumption-based approach to urban emissions. By analyzing the balance between direct and indirect emissions in a theoretical urban system, we develop a scaling theory relating carbon footprint and city size. Facing the lack of empirical data on consumption-based emissions for cities, we developed a model to derive emission estimations using well-established urban metrics (city size, density, infrastructure, wealth). Our results show that, once consumption-based CF is considered, Brand’s Law falls apart, as bigger cities have greater purchase power, leading to greater consumption of goods and higher associated GHG. Findings also suggest that a shift in consumption patterns is of utmost importance, given that, according to the model, each new monetary unit added to the gross domestic product (GDP) or to other income variables results in a more than proportional increase in GHG emissions. This work contributes to a broader assessment of the causes of emissions and the paradigm shift regarding the assumption of efficiency in the relationship of city size and emissions, adding consumption behavior as a critical variable, beyond Brand’s Law.
Bacterial Spore-Based Hygromorphs: A Novel Active Material with Potential for Architectural Applications
Authors: Birch Emily , Bridgens Ben , Zhang Meng , Dade-Robertson Martyn
Published: April 2021

This paper introduces a new active material which responds to changes in environmental humidity. There has been growing interest in active materials which are able to respond to their environment, creating dynamic architectural systems without the need for energy input or complex systems of sensors and actuators. A subset of these materials are hygromorphs, which respond to changes in relative humidity (RH) and wetting through shape change. Here, we introduce a novel hygromorphic material in the context of architectural design, composed of multiple monolayers of microbial spores of Bacillus subtilis and latex sheets. Methods of fabrication and testing for this new material are described, showing that small actuators made from this material demonstrate rapid, reversible and repeatable deflection in response to changes in RH. It is demonstrated that the hygromorphic actuators are able to lift at least 150% of their own mass. Investigations are also extended to understanding this new biomaterial in terms of meaningful work.
Anatomy of a Misfit: International Migration Statistics
Authors: Ahmad-Yar Ahmad Wali , Bircan Tuba
Published: April 2021

Migration is one of the key aspects of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To understand global migration patterns, develop scenarios, design effective policies, focus on the population’s needs, and identify how these needs change over time, we need accurate, reliable and timely data. The gaps in international migration data have persisted since international organizations collect data. To improve the data gaps, there is a need to conceptualize the types of gaps and pinpoint the gaps within the international data systems. To that end, the ultimate objective of this paper is twofold, (i) to review and categorize the gaps in the literature and (ii) assess the statistical data sources, i.e., United Nations Department of Social and Economic Affairs (UN DESA), Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), International Organization for Migration (IOM), Eurostat, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Our results demonstrate that the gaps could be categorized under (1) definitions and measures, (2) drivers or reasons behind migration, (3) geographic coverage, (4) gaps in demographic characteristics and (5) the time lag in the availability of data. The reviewed sources suffer from the gaps, which are not mutually exclusive (they are interlinked): the quality and availability of both migration flows and stocks data vary across regions and countries, and migration statistics highly rely on immigrants’ arrival.
Fixed Point Theorems for Nonexpansive Type Mappings in Banach Spaces
Authors: Pant Rajendra , Patel Prashant , Shukla Rahul , De la Sen Manuel
Published: April 2021

In this paper, we present some fixed point results for a class of nonexpansive type and α-Krasnosel’skiĭ mappings. Moreover, we present some convergence results for one parameter nonexpansive type semigroups. Some non-trivial examples have been presented to illustrate facts.
A First Order Phase Transition Studied by an Ising-Like Model Solved by Entropic Sampling Monte Carlo Method
Authors: Linares Jorge , Cazelles Catherine , Dahoo Pierre-Richard , Boukheddaden Kamel
Published: April 2021

Two-dimensional (2D) square, rectangular and hexagonal lattices and 3D parallelepipedic lattices of spin crossover (SCO) compounds which represent typical examples of first order phase transitions compounds are studied in terms of their size, shape and model through an Ising-like Hamiltonian in which the fictitious spin states are coupled via the respective short and long-range interaction parameters J, and G. Furthermore, an environmental L parameter accounting for surface effects is also introduced. The wealth of SCO transition properties between its bi-stable low spin (LS) and high spin (HS) states are simulated using Monte Carlo Entropic Sampling (MCES) method which favors the scanning of macro states of weak probability occurrences. For given J and G, the focus is on surface effects through parameter L. It is shown that the combined first-order phase transition effects of the parameters of the Hamiltonian can be highlighted through two typical temperatures, TO.D., the critical order-disorder temperature and Teq the equilibrium temperature that is fixed at zero effective ligand field. The relative positions of TO.D. and Teq control the nature of the transition and mediate the width and position of the thermal hysteresis curves with size and shape. When surface effects are negligible (L = 0), the equilibrium transition temperature, Teq. becomes constant, while the thermal hysteresis’ width increases with size. When surface effects are considered, L ≠ 0, Teq. increases with size and the first order transition vanishes in favor of a gradual transition until reaching a threshold size, below which a reentrance phenomenon occurs and the thermal hysteresis reappears again, as shown for hexagonal configuration.
New Variational Problems with an Action Depending on Generalized Fractional Derivatives, the Free Endpoint Conditions, and a Real Parameter
Authors: Almeida Ricardo , Martins Natália
Published: April 2021

This work presents optimality conditions for several fractional variational problems where the Lagrange function depends on fractional order operators, the initial and final state values, and a free parameter. The fractional derivatives considered in this paper are the Riemann–Liouville and the Caputo derivatives with respect to an arbitrary kernel. The new variational problems studied here are generalizations of several types of variational problems, and therefore, our results generalize well-known results from the fractional calculus of variations. Namely, we prove conditions useful to determine the optimal orders of the fractional derivatives and necessary optimality conditions involving time delays and arbitrary real positive fractional orders. Sufficient conditions for such problems are also studied. Illustrative examples are provided.
Symmetry, Antisymmetry, and Chirality: Use and Misuse of Terminology
Authors: Petitjean Michel
Published: April 2021

We outline the need for rigorous and consensual definitions in the field of symmetry, in particular about chirality. We provide examples of confusing use of such terminology in the mathematical literature and in the physics literature. In particular, we prove that an antisymmetric function is symmetric for a wide class of metrics. It may be either direct-symmetric or achiral or both direct-symmetric and achiral.
FIB-SEM as a Volume Electron Microscopy Approach to Study Cellular Architectures in SARS-CoV-2 and Other Viral Infections: A Practical Primer for a Virologist
Authors: Baena Valentina , Conrad Ryan , Friday Patrick , Fitzgerald Ella , Kim Taeeun , Bernbaum John , Berensmann Heather , Harned Adam , Nagashima Kunio , Narayan Kedar
Published: April 2021

The visualization of cellular ultrastructure over a wide range of volumes is becoming possible by increasingly powerful techniques grouped under the rubric “volume electron microscopy” or volume EM (vEM). Focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) occupies a “Goldilocks zone” in vEM: iterative and automated cycles of milling and imaging allow the interrogation of microns-thick specimens in 3-D at resolutions of tens of nanometers or less. This bestows on FIB-SEM the unique ability to aid the accurate and precise study of architectures of virus-cell interactions. Here we give the virologist or cell biologist a primer on FIB-SEM imaging in the context of vEM and discuss practical aspects of a room temperature FIB-SEM experiment. In an in vitro study of SARS-CoV-2 infection, we show that accurate quantitation of viral densities and surface curvatures enabled by FIB-SEM imaging reveals SARS-CoV-2 viruses preferentially located at areas of plasma membrane that have positive mean curvatures.
Role of Small Envelope Protein in Sustaining the Intracellular and Extracellular Levels of Hepatitis B Virus Large and Middle Envelope Proteins
Authors: Zhang Jing , Wang Yongxiang , Fu Shuwen , Yuan Quan , Wang Qianru , Xia Ningshao , Wen Yumei , Li Jisu , Tong Shuping
Published: April 2021

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) expresses co-terminal large (L), middle (M), and small (S) envelope proteins. S protein drives virion and subviral particle secretion, whereas L protein inhibits subviral particle secretion but coordinates virion morphogenesis. We previously found that preventing S protein expression from a subgenomic construct eliminated M protein. The present study further examined impact of S protein on L and M proteins. Mutations were introduced to subgenomic construct of genotype A or 1.1 mer replication construct of genotype A or D, and viral proteins were analyzed from transfected Huh7 cells. Mutating S gene ATG to prevent expression of full-length S protein eliminated M protein, reduced intracellular level of L protein despite its blocked secretion, and generated a truncated S protein through translation initiation from a downstream ATG. Truncated S protein was secretion deficient and could inhibit secretion of L, M, S proteins from wild-type constructs. Providing full-length S protein in trans rescued L protein secretion and increased its intracellular level from mutants of lost S gene ATG. Lost core protein expression reduced all the three envelope proteins. In conclusion, full-length S protein could sustain intracellular and extracellular L and M proteins, while truncated S protein could block subviral particle secretion.
Differential Influence of Age on the Relationship between Genetic Mismatch and A(H1N1)pdm09 Vaccine Effectiveness
Authors: Cao Lirong , Zhao Shi , Lou Jingzhi , Zheng Hong , Chan Renee , Chong Marc , Chen Zigui , Chan Paul , Zee Benny , Wang Maggie
Published: April 2021

Assessment of influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) and identification of relevant influencing factors are the current priorities for optimizing vaccines to reduce the impacts of influenza. To date, how the difference between epidemic strains and vaccine strains at genetic scale affects age-specific vaccine performance remains ambiguous. This study investigated the association between genetic mismatch on hemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes and A(H1N1)pdm09 VE in different age groups with a novel computational approach. We found significant linear relationships between VE and genetic mismatch in children, young adults, and middle-aged adults. In the children’s group, each 3-key amino acid mutation was associated with an average of 10% decrease in vaccine effectiveness in a given epidemic season, and genetic mismatch exerted no influence on VE for the elderly group. We demonstrated that present vaccines were most effective for children, while protection for the elderly was reduced and indifferent to vaccine component updates. Modeling such relationships is practical to inform timely evaluation of VE in different groups of populations during mass vaccination and may inform age-specific vaccination regimens.
Multiple Viral Infections Detected in Phytophthora condilina by Total and Small RNA Sequencing
Authors: Botella Leticia , Jung Thomas
Published: April 2021

Marine oomycetes have recently been shown to be concurrently infected by (−)ssRNA viruses of the order Bunyavirales. In this work, even higher virus variability was found in a single isolate of Phytophthora condilina, a recently described member of Phytophthora phylogenetic Clade 6a, which was isolated from brackish estuarine waters in southern Portugal. Using total and small RNA-seq the full RdRp of 13 different potential novel bunya-like viruses and two complete toti-like viruses were detected. All these viruses were successfully confirmed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using total RNA as template, but complementarily one of the toti-like and five of the bunya-like viruses were confirmed when dsRNA was purified for RT-PCR. In our study, total RNA-seq was by far more efficient for de novo assembling of the virus sequencing but small RNA-seq showed higher read numbers for most viruses. Two main populations of small RNAs (21 nts and 25 nts-long) were identified, which were in accordance with other Phytophthora species. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study using small RNA sequencing to identify viruses in Phytophthora spp.
Formation of a hybrid cost calculation system for the purposes of inter-organizational management accounting of agricultural enterprises
Authors: Romanova Anastasiya Alekseevna
Published: April 2021

Based on theoretical analysis, the author defines inter-organizational cooperation, inter-organizational management accounting, and the cost calculation system in the framework of inter-organizational relations. The features of calculating the cost of inter-organizational cooperation are defined, new accounting practices are described, the advantages of implementing this type of accounting are identified, and possible problem areas are identified.
Analysis of state of the Republic of Buryatia
Authors: Bazarova Maria Urbinovnа , Gomboeva Alla Nikolaevna , Zhargalova Sesegma Vladimirovna
Published: April 2021

The article presents the results of the analysis of the state of the livestock industry in general and by category of farms in the Republic of Buryatia. Dynamics and structure of livestock stock, productivity of state and poultry, dynamics of livestock production are given.
Identification of key problems and determination of prospects for the development of the economic system of Russia
Authors: Manchuk Elena Pavlovna , Shamrina Svetlana Yurievna , Lomakina Anna Nikolaevna
Published: April 2021

Recently, there has been an increase in turbulence that has affected all spheres of economic and social life: production trends, foreign trade, general welfare, employment, financial and foreign exchange markets. The growing dependence on foreign markets, growing socio-economic risks, difficulties in adequately responding to rapidly changing global trends, significant gaps between the main participants in the innovation system, lack of sufficient access to new technologies and innovations of various social group,import substitution policy are the key problems of the Russian economy. Regional development becomes an integral part of the growth of any industry. Endowments may not be an effective tool for social transformation in all regions. Crowdsourcing involves the use of collective intellectual potential.
Ley para la modificación del artículo 116 Código de las Familias para fijar la asistencia familiar
Authors: Benavidez Miranda Sandra Gabriela
Published: April 2021

El objetivo principal de la investigación fue, proponer un proyecto de ley 603 para la modificación del artículo 116 parágrafo I del Código de las Familias, para el mantenimiento del valor en UFV a las mensualidades por concepto de asistencia familiar. La metodología fue de tipo descriptivo, con un diseño documental de campo, bajo en un enfoque cuantitativo y cualitativo. Los métodos usados fueron: análisis-síntesis, e inductivo-deductivo. Las técnicas e instrumentos que se usaron fueron, encuesta (cuestionario) y entrevista (guía). Además, la población estuvo conformada por los abogados inscritos en el colegio de abogados de las ciudades de La Paz, Oruro, Sucre y Potosí, siendo la muestra de 500 abogados. Se obtuvo de resultado que la asistencia familiar es paupérrima, y no se deposita mensualmente, por lo que, los beneficiarios quedan a la deriva sin protección. Con la modificación de la ley se beneficiarán los niños, niñas y adolescentes de Bolivia.
Incorporación de la institución de la caución al artículo 320 del Código Procesal Civil para el resarcimiento de daños y perjuicios
Authors: Maguiña Acebey Mildred
Published: April 2021

El estudio, está focalizado en el estudio del resarcimiento de lo ocasionado a raíz de la solicitud de medidas cautelares, ´por lo tanto, el objetivo de la investigación fue la incorporación de la institución de la caución al artículo 320 del Código Procesal Civil para el resarcimiento de daños y perjuicios. Fue elaborada con una metodología de tipo descriptiva, con un diseño documental de campo, un enfoque cuantitativo- cualitativo y los métodos usados fueron, histórico, lógico, y análisis, síntesis. Las técnicas para la recolección de dato fueron cuestionario y entrevistas, los instrumentos estuvieron conformados por encuestas y una guía, aplicado a 100 abogado de diversas ciudades, 4 especialistas, 2 vocales, 4 jueces y 4 instrucción en materia civil. Se obtuvo como resultado la elaboración de una propuesta, que garantizara el cumplimiento de las medidas cautelar, para evitar estar frente a una inseguridad jurídica, que debilita los estamentos de Bolivia.
Redimensionando El Churcal: aportes sobre su estructuración espacial a partir de nuevos datos planimétricos y arquitectónicos (valle Calchaquí, Salta)
Authors: Sprovieri Marina , Barbich Santiago
Published: April 2021

El objetivo de este trabajo es contribuir al conocimiento de la estructuración espacial y el funcionamiento de El Churcal (valle Calchaquí, provincia de Salta), un asentamiento conglomerado tardío de gran envergadura pero con escasa investigación sistemática. Para ello se presenta y examina información nueva y detallada de sus dimensiones, límites y emplazamiento general, obtenida en recientes prospecciones y registros en el terreno. A su vez, se presenta la planimetría de una porción relevante del poblado, registrada con estación total y reconstruida digitalmente, y se analiza su arquitectura y organización espacial mediante la consideración de variables cuanti y cualitativas. En base a ello fue posible obtener una visión más ajustada de la complejidad de este asentamiento y resaltarlo, no únicamente por sus grandes dimensiones sino particularmente por la cantidad, diversidad, distribución y asociación de estructuras y rasgos. Asimismo, esto permitió proponer sectorizaciones espaciales en la porción relevada y plantear una potencial utilización diferencial de sus espacios.
ÇOCUK DİŞ HEKİMLİĞİNDE KONİK IŞINLI BİLGİSAYARLI TOMOGRAFİ İSTEK NEDENLERİ
Authors: SOLAK KOLCAKOGLU Kevser , AMUK Mehmet
Published: April 2021

Konik ısınlı bilgisayarlı tomografi (KIBT) uygulamaları konvansiyonel görüntüleme yöntemlerine göre daha yüksek x-ray yayılımına sebep olsa da; kimi durumlarda teşhis ve tedavi planlamasında gerekli olan bir görüntüleme yöntemidir. Tüm bireylerde olduğu gibi çocuk hastalarda da KIBT ancak diğer görüntüleme yöntemleri yeterli olmadığında ve sadece hastaya fayda sağlayacak gerçek endikasyonlar ile istenmelidir. Bu bağlamda çalışmamızda çocuk diş hekimliği uygulamalarında KIBT istek nedenleri ve bu nedenlerin yaş ve cinsiyete göre dağılımının retrospektif olarak incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Yapılan veri analizinde en fazla maksilla bölgesinden ve en çok anatomik- morfolojik değerlendirme ve gömülü süpernümerer dişlerin tespiti için KIBT istendiği tespit edilmiştir. KIBT istek bölgeleri ve yaş arasında anlamlı bir ilişki olmadığı; ancak gömülü süpernümerer dişlerin ve kemik içi lezyonun görüntülenmesi amacıyla KIBT’nin diğer istek nedenlerine göre anlamlı olarak daha yüksek yaşlarda istendiği görülmüştür. KIBT istek bölgeleri ve istek nedenleri ile cinsiyet arasında ise anlamlı bir ilişki görülmemiştir.
Tannin extraction from grape stems through a solid-liquid process: optimizing efficiency by applying the response surface methodology / Extração de tanino do caule da uva por meio de um processo sólido-líquido: otimizando a eficiência aplicando a metodologia de superfície de resposta
Authors: Giroletti Cristiane Lisboa , Menezes Jean Carlo Salomé dos Santos , Dalri-Cecato Leonardo , Dalari Beatriz Lima Santos Klienchen , Hassemer Maria Eliza Nagel
Published: April 2021

Viticulture is an agro-industrial sector that produces large amounts of waste, with grape seeds, bagasse, and stems standing out among the main types of waste produced. This study evaluated the effects of extraction conditions of total and condensed tannins from grape stems through a solid-liquid process using the response surface methodology. Contact time between matrix and solvent and the concentration of ethanol in the solvent were monitored as independent variables. Contact time varied between 12 and 24 hours. The extraction solvent was composed of a mixture of ethanol and water in proportions of 0, 50, and 100% (v/v). Total tannins were quantified by the Folin-Ciocalteu method in tannic acid equivalents. Condensed tannins were quantified by the vanillin method in catechin equivalents. Response surface methodology pointed out similar conditions for the extraction of total and condensed tannins. Best yields for total tannins were achieved with a contact time of approximately 21.18 hours and a hydroalcoholic solvent composed of 51.65% ethanol. Regarding condensed tannins, the contact time was slightly inferior, with the best yields obtained in 19.31 hours with a hydroalcoholic solvent composed of 49.19% ethanol. The tannic extract obtained under optimized conditions according to the results of the response surface methodology was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, allowing the identification of functional groups present in the extract.
Doenças negligenciadas: maior incidência de esquistossomose no inverno Alagoano / Neglected diseases: greater incidence of schistosomiasis in the Alagoas winter
Authors: Gomes Luis Henrique Alves , Tenório Luís Cunha de Souza , De Azevedo Thayanne Gusmão , De Aquino Anansa Bezerra
Published: April 2021

Doenças negligenciadas representam um grave problema de saúde pública não só no Brasil, como também mundialmente, causando consequências sociais e econômicas, o subdesenvolvimento do país culmina para uma precariedade nas regiões mais vulneráveis, o que abre portas para essas doenças serem disseminadas pelas comunidades menos favorecidas pelo poder público. O estudo abordou a base de dados (SIH/SUS) - DATASUS, os resultados demonstram que o Estado de Alagoas tem um alto índice de infecções por Schistosoma mansoni, causador da Esquistossomose. O objetivo desta pesquisa é evidenciar os municípios mais acometidos por essas doenças, e o que leva a esse aumento do número de casos durante determinada estação climática.
MATHEMATICAL MODEL OF THE INTERACTION OF THE SCREW WORKING BODIES OF FOREST FIRE GROUND-THROWING MACHINES WITH THE GROUND COVER
Authors: Popikov Petr , Pozdnyakov Anton
Published: April 2021

The paper provides an overview of research on the working processes of screw working bodies of technological machines. It is noted that at present such important issues in the theory of auger working bodies as the required number of auger turns, the required position of the auger spiral in relation to the center, etc. have not been fully resolved, since the solution of these issues can provide an increased productivity of the tool. A structural and technological scheme of a forest fire machine with multifunctional modules is proposed, which consists of auger working bodies, which can be changed modularly with a screw metal thread for a brush, depending on the area and type of soil, the rotor of the thrower, with the ability to drive the cutters-throwers and auger working bodies both from the power take-off shaft of the tractor, and using a hydraulic motor, a guide casing. A mathematical model of an auger working body with a hydraulic drive has been compiled for removing the ground cover with forest litter when extinguishing forest fires with a ground gun, so that combustible materials do not fall into the fire zone together with the soil flow from the rotor-thrower. The working process of the hydraulic drive of the auger working bodies of a forest fire ground-sweeping machine is described by a system of differential equations, including the equations of translational and rotational movements of the auger working body and the equation of the flow rate of the working fluid. The problem of optimization of kinematic and dynamic parameters of auger working bodies of forest fire ground-sweeping machine is set