bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Economic Sustainability of Pig Slaughtering Firms in the Production Chain of Denomination of Origin Hams in Italy
Authors: Bonazzi Giuseppe , Camanzi Paolo , Ferri Giovanni , Manghi Elisa , Iotti Mattia
Published: July 2021

Pork meat in Italy is one of the largest agri-food chains in Italy. In the swine production chain, slaughter plays an important role, because it has an impact on animal welfare, food safety and the sustainability of the agri-food chain. These companies also deal with pigs destined for typical Denomination of Origin products and therefore play an important role in the production chain of typical products and in the field of EU agricultural policy. In this context, the research aims to analyze the economic sustainability of the major pig slaughter firms in Italy, through data analysis of the annual account statement (AAS) on a sample of eight companies analyzed over a ten-year historical series. Financial ratios and margins (FRM) analysis is applied in the research. FRM analysis shows that firms have the largest absorption of financial resources in the net working capital cycle. The research highlights the high incidence of raw materials in companies in the sector. Consequently, the profit margins of the companies in the sample are modest and in some cases are lower than the cost of debt, suggesting a moderate capacity to attract capital. This result appears as a negative signal of the economic sustainability of the companies in the sector. The research, now limited to a small number of large companies, opens a line of research that can be developed by expanding the sample to small and medium-sized enterprises of the chain of Denomination of Origin hams in Italy to suggest improvement interventions, in particular for rural or marginal areas of production.
Predicting Energy-Saving Behaviour Based on Environmental Values: An Analysis of School Children’s Perspectives
Authors: Wan Hussain Wan Nur Hafizah , Halim Lilia , Chan Mee Yeang , Abd Rahman Norshariani
Published: July 2021

Energy-saving behaviours are pro-environment behaviours that help mitigate climate change. Environmental values namely biospheric, altruistic, and egoistic one are related to one’s pro-environmental behaviour. Thus, this research examines the contribution of environmental values to the practice of energy-saving behaviour. This research employed the survey design, in which a questionnaire was administered on 341 children (aged 11 years old) in Malaysia. The data were analysed using descriptive and multiple regression analysis. The results showed that children possess all of the environmental values (biospheric, altruistic, and egoistic) and that energy-saving behaviour is found to be occasionally and often practiced in their daily lives. The students’ altruistic values contribute significantly to their energy-saving behaviour pattern compared to biospheric and egoistic values. It is argued that the children’s personal experiences with climate adversity and socioeconomic background underlie these findings. An implication of this study is that the school curriculum should allow for discourse on the connection between environmental values and pro-environmental behaviour. Relating the cause and impact of one’s action in everyday life on the environment should be inculcated across the curriculum, more importantly at the primary level.
Urban Rivers Corridors in the Don Catchment, UK: From Ignored, Ignoble and Industrial to Green, Seen and Celebrated
Authors: Shaw Ed , Coldwell Debbie , Cox Anthony , Duffy Matt , Firth Chris , Fulton Beckie , Goodship Sue , Hyslop Sally , Rowley David , Walker Rachel , Worrall Peter
Published: July 2021

Research on urban rivers often seeks to find commonalities to advance knowledge of the effect of urbanisation on rivers, and rightly so. But it is important, also, to develop a complementary understanding of how urban rivers can be distinct, to facilitate a more nuanced view of concepts such as the ‘urban river syndrome’ and of the challenges facing those who wish to create more sustainable urban river corridors. To this end we use the Don Catchment as a case study to illustrate how historic patterns of urbanisation have been fundamental in shaping the catchment’s rivers. Following the Industrial Revolution, the catchment became an industrial centre, resulting in the ecological death of river ecosystems, and the disconnection of communities from stark urban river corridors. Widescale deindustrialisation in the 1970s and 1980s then resulted in a partial ecological recovery of the rivers, and ignited public interest. This history has imbued the catchment’s urban river corridors with a distinctive industrial character that can vary greatly between and within settlements. It has also left a legacy of particular issues, including a high degree of river habitat fragmentation and physical modification, and of negative perceptions of the rivers, which need improving to realise their potential as assets to local communities.
Seaweeds as a “Palatable” Challenge between Innovation and Sustainability: A Systematic Review of Food Safety
Authors: Cavallo Giuseppe , Lorini Chiara , Garamella Giuseppe , Bonaccorsi Guglielmo
Published: July 2021

Moderate or severe food insecurity affect 2 billion people worldwide. The four pillars of food security (availability, access, use and stability) are in danger due to the impact of climatic and anthropogenic factors which impact on the food system. Novel foods, like seaweeds, have the potential to increase food yields so that to contribute in preventing or avoiding future global food shortages. The purpose of this systematic review was to assess microbiological, chemical, physical, and allergenic risks associated with seaweed consumption. Four research strings have been used to search for these risks. Preferred Reporting Item for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines were applied. Finally, 39 articles met the selected criteria. No significant hazards for microbiological, allergenic, and physical risks were detected. Regarding chemical risk, algae can accumulate various heavy metals, especially when harvested in polluted sites. Cultivating seaweeds in a controlled environment allows to avoid this risk. Periodic checks will be necessary on the finished products to monitor heavy metals levels. Since the consumption of algae seems to be on the rise everywhere, it seems to be urgent that food control authorities establish the safety levels to which eating algae does not represent any risk for human health.
BioZero—Designing Nature-Inspired Net-Zero Building
Authors: Jankovic Ljubomir , Carta Silvio
Published: July 2021

This article introduces BioZero, a nature-inspired near-zero building proposed for Quay St, Brooklyn, New York. The building is designed for the maximum use of daylight and natural ventilation. This is the result of its shallow plan depth and the inner light wells/ventilation stacks, which also serve the inner circulation space. The light wells/ventilation stacks are created as a result of the organic shape of the internal partitions. The building is constructed from a steel frame and hemp-lime bio-composite material (hempcrete), which smooths out the fluctuations of internal air temperature and relative humidity. The south facing façade is fitted with the Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) photovoltaic array that covers 90% of the opaque surface area of the façade. The design was based on nature-inspired computation, with sustainability principles as guiding constraints. The main findings are that the building achieves −227 tonnes of negative embodied carbon due to sequestration of CO2 in the hemp plant from which the material was harvested, and a net-zero operation. The main conclusions are that in the context of climate emergency, nature inspired design leads to energy efficient buildings with a high level of thermal comfort, which are buildable and sustainable.
Wilsonian Effective Action and Entanglement Entropy
Authors: Iso Satoshi , Mori Takato , Sakai Katsuta
Published: July 2021

This is a continuation of our previous works on entanglement entropy (EE) in interacting field theories. In previous papers, we have proposed the notion of ZM gauge theory on Feynman diagrams to calculate EE in quantum field theories and shown that EE consists of two particular contributions from propagators and vertices. We have also shown that the purely non-Gaussian contributions from interaction vertices can be interpreted as renormalized correlation functions of composite operators. In this paper, we will first provide a unified matrix form of EE containing both contributions from propagators and (classical) vertices, and then extract further non-Gaussian contributions based on the framework of the Wilsonian renormalization group. It is conjectured that the EE in the infrared is given by a sum of all the vertex contributions in the Wilsonian effective action.
Connectivity of Semiring Valued Graphs
Authors: Santra Shyam Sundar , Victor Prabhakaran , Chandramouleeswaran Mahadevan , El-Nabulsi Rami Ahmad , Khedher Khaled Mohamed , Govindan Vediyappan
Published: July 2021

Graph connectivity theory is important in network implementations, transportation, network routing and network tolerance, among other things. Separation edges and vertices refer to single points of failure in a network, and so they are often sought-after. Chandramouleeswaran et al. introduced the principle of semiring valued graphs, also known as S-valued symmetry graphs, in 2015. Since then, works on S-valued symmetry graphs such as vertex dominating set, edge dominating set, regularity, etc. have been done. However, the connectivity of S-valued graphs has not been studied. Motivated by this, in this paper, the concept of connectivity in S-valued graphs has been studied. We have introduced the term vertex S-connectivity and edge S-connectivity and arrived some results for connectivity of a complete S-valued symmetry graph, S-path and S-star. Unlike the graph theory, we have observed that the inequality for connectivity κ(G)≤κ′(G)≤δ(G) holds in the case of S-valued graphs only when there is a symmetry of the graph as seen in Examples 3–5.
The Rheological Analytical Solution and Parameter Inversion of Soft Soil Foundation
Authors: Zhang Heng , Su Chao , Bai Jiawei , Yuan Rongyao , Ma Yujun , Wang Wenjun
Published: July 2021

In soft soil engineering projects, the building loads are always required to be symmetrically distributed on the surface of the foundation to prevent uneven settlement. Even if the buildings and soft clay are controlled by engineers, it can still lead to the rheology of the foundation. The analytical solution based on the Laplace integral transformation method has positive significance for providing a simple and highly efficient way to solve engineering problems, especially in the long-term uneven settlement deformation prediction of buildings on soft soil foundations. This paper proposes an analytical solution to analyze the deformation of soft soil foundations. The methodology is based on calculus theory, Laplace integral transformation, and viscoelastic theory. It combines an analytical solution with finite theory to solve the construction sequences and loading processes. In addition, an improved quantum genetic algorithm is put forward to inverse the parameters of soft soil foundations. The analytical solution based on Laplace integral transformation is validated through an engineering case. The results clearly illustrate the accuracy of the method.
Applications of the q-Srivastava-Attiya Operator Involving a Certain Family of Bi-Univalent Functions Associated with the Horadam Polynomials
Authors: Srivastava Hari Mohan , Wanas Abbas Kareem , Srivastava Rekha
Published: July 2021

In this article, by making use of the q-Srivastava-Attiya operator, we introduce and investigate a new family SWΣ(δ,γ,λ,s,t,q,r) of normalized holomorphic and bi-univalent functions in the open unit disk U, which are associated with the Bazilevič functions and the λ-pseudo-starlike functions as well as the Horadam polynomials. We estimate the second and the third coefficients in the Taylor-Maclaurin expansions of functions belonging to the holomorphic and bi-univalent function class, which we introduce here. Furthermore, we establish the Fekete-Szegö inequality for functions in the family SWΣ(δ,γ,λ,s,t,q,r). Relevant connections of some of the special cases of the main results with those in several earlier works are also pointed out. Our usage here of the basic or quantum (or q-) extension of the familiar Hurwitz-Lerch zeta function Φ(z,s,a) is justified by the fact that several members of this family of zeta functions possess properties with local or non-local symmetries. Our study of the applications of such quantum (or q-) extensions in this paper is also motivated by the symmetric nature of quantum calculus itself.
Monitoring Cyanobacterial Blooms during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Campania, Italy: The Case of Lake Avernus
Authors: Teta Roberta , Sala Gerardo Della , Esposito Germana , Stornaiuolo Mariano , Scarpato Silvia , Casazza Marco , Anastasio Aniello , Lega Massimiliano , Costantino Valeria
Published: July 2021

Cyanobacteria are ubiquitous photosynthetic microorganisms considered as important contributors to the formation of Earth’s atmosphere and to the process of nitrogen fixation. However, they are also frequently associated with toxic blooms, named cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs). This paper reports on an unusual out-of-season cyanoHAB and its dynamics during the COVID-19 pandemic, in Lake Avernus, South Italy. Fast detection strategy (FDS) was used to assess this phenomenon, through the integration of satellite imagery and biomolecular investigation of the environmental samples. Data obtained unveiled a widespread Microcystis sp. bloom in February 2020 (i.e., winter season in Italy), which completely disappeared at the end of the following COVID-19 lockdown, when almost all urban activities were suspended. Due to potential harmfulness of cyanoHABs, crude extracts from the “winter bloom” were evaluated for their cytotoxicity in two different human cell lines, namely normal dermal fibroblasts (NHDF) and breast adenocarcinoma cells (MCF-7). The chloroform extract was shown to exert the highest cytotoxic activity, which has been correlated to the presence of cyanotoxins, i.e., microcystins, micropeptins, anabaenopeptins, and aeruginopeptins, detected by molecular networking analysis of liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) data.
Integration of Complete Plasmids Containing Bont Genes into Chromosomes of Clostridium parabotulinum, Clostridium sporogenes, and Clostridium argentinense
Authors: Smith Theresa J. , Tian Renmao , Imanian Behzad , Williamson Charles H. D. , Johnson Shannon L. , Daligault Hajnalka E. , Schill Kristin M.
Published: July 2021

At least 40 toxin subtypes of botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs), a heterogenous group of bacterial proteins, are produced by seven different clostridial species. A key factor that drives the diversity of neurotoxigenic clostridia is the association of bont gene clusters with various genomic locations including plasmids, phages and the chromosome. Analysis of Clostridium sporogenes BoNT/B1 strain CDC 1632, C. argentinense BoNT/G strain CDC 2741, and Clostridium parabotulinum BoNT/B1 strain DFPST0006 genomes revealed bont gene clusters within plasmid-like sequences within the chromosome or nested in large contigs, with no evidence of extrachromosomal elements. A nucleotide sequence (255,474 bp) identified in CDC 1632 shared 99.5% identity (88% coverage) with bont/B1-containing plasmid pNPD7 of C. sporogenes CDC 67071; CDC 2741 contig AYSO01000020 (1.1 MB) contained a ~140 kb region which shared 99.99% identity (100% coverage) with plasmid pRSJ17_1 of C. argentinense BoNT/G strain 89G; and DFPST0006 contig JACBDK0100002 (573 kb) contained a region that shared 100% identity (99%) coverage with the bont/B1-containing plasmid pCLD of C. parabotulinum Okra. This is the first report of full-length plasmid DNA-carrying complete neurotoxin gene clusters integrated in three distinct neurotoxigenic species: C. parabotulinum, C. sporogenes and C. argentinense.
The Rabies Concert: Rising towards the Last Waltz?
Authors: Rupprecht Charles E.
Published: July 2021

Apologies for the brief intermission imposed by the pandemic, between the opening piece of our Special Issue “Lyssaviruses and Rabies: Prevention, Control and Elimination” and this closing act of commentary [...]
Dust Production around Carbon-Rich Stars: The Role of Metallicity
Authors: Nanni Ambra , Cristallo Sergio , van Loon Jacco , Groenewegen Martin
Published: July 2021

Background: Most of the stars in the Universe will end their evolution by losing their envelope during the thermally pulsing asymptotic giant branch (TP-AGB) phase, enriching the interstellar medium of galaxies with heavy elements, partially condensed into dust grains formed in their extended circumstellar envelopes. Among these stars, carbon-rich TP-AGB stars (C-stars) are particularly relevant for the chemical enrichment of galaxies. We here investigated the role of the metallicity in the dust formation process from a theoretical viewpoint. Methods: We coupled an up-to-date description of dust growth and dust-driven wind, which included the time-averaged effect of shocks, with FRUITY stellar evolutionary tracks. We compared our predictions with observations of C-stars in our Galaxy, in the Magellanic Clouds (LMC and SMC) and in the Galactic Halo, characterised by metallicity between solar and 1/10 of solar. Results: Our models explained the variation of the gas and dust content around C-stars derived from the IRS Spitzer spectra. The wind speed of the C-stars at varying metallicity was well reproduced by our description. We predicted the wind speed at metallicity down to 1/10 of solar in a wide range of mass-loss rates.
Hepatitis C Virus Subtypes Novel 6g-Related Subtype and 6w Could Be Indigenous in Southern Taiwan with Characteristic Geographic Distribution
Authors: Tung Hung-Da , Lee Pei-Lun , Chen Jyh-Jou , Kuo Hsing-Tao , Sheu Ming-Jen , Cheng Chun-Ta , Chuang Tang-Wei , Kao Hsu-Ju , Wu Yu-Hsun , Pang Mai-Gio , Lin Cheng-Heng , Hou Chia-Yi , Tsai Hsin-Hua , Wu Li-Ching , Lee Chuan
Published: July 2021

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype (GT) 6 is the most genetically diverse GT and mainly distributed in Southeast Asia and south China but not Taiwan. Earlier studies showed the major HCV GTs in Taiwan were GT 1b and 2 with very rare GT 6 except in injection drug users (IDUs), and subtype 6a is the main GT 6 subtype among IDUs. Recently, we reported a much higher prevalence (18.3%) of GT 6 in Tainan City, southern Taiwan. This study was designed to clarify the subtypes of GT 6 in this endemic area. A total of 3022 (1343 men and 1679 women) HCV viremic patients were enrolled. Subtypes of GT 6 were determined by sequencing of core/E1 and nonstructural protein 5B in 322 of 518 GT 6 patients. The overall GT 6 prevalence rate was 17.1% (518/3022), with higher prevalence districts (>25%) located in northern Tainan. A novel 6g-related subtype is the most prevalent subtype (81.0%), followed by 6w (10.8%), 6a (7.5%), and 6n (0.7%). The high GT 6 prevalence in Tainan was mainly due to a novel 6g-related subtype and 6w. These two subtypes could be indigenous in Tainan with characteristic geographic distribution.
Evolutionary Relationships of Ljungan Virus Variants Circulating in Multi-Host Systems across Europe
Authors: Rossi Chiara , Zadra Nicola , Fevola Cristina , Ecke Frauke , Hörnfeldt Birger , Kallies René , Kazimirova Maria , Magnusson Magnus , Olsson Gert E. , Ulrich Rainer G. , Jääskeläinen Anne J. , Henttonen Heikki , Hauffe Heidi C.
Published: July 2021

The picornavirus named ‘Ljungan virus’ (LV, species Parechovirus B) has been detected in a dozen small mammal species from across Europe, but detailed information on its genetic diversity and host specificity is lacking. Here, we analyze the evolutionary relationships of LV variants circulating in free-living mammal populations by comparing the phylogenetics of the VP1 region (encoding the capsid protein and associated with LV serotype) and the 3Dpol region (encoding the RNA polymerase) from 24 LV RNA-positive animals and a fragment of the 5′ untranslated region (UTR) sequence (used for defining strains) in sympatric small mammals. We define three new VP1 genotypes: two in bank voles (Myodes glareolus) (genotype 8 from Finland, Sweden, France, and Italy, and genotype 9 from France and Italy) and one in field voles (Microtus arvalis) (genotype 7 from Finland). There are several other indications that LV variants are host-specific, at least in parts of their range. Our results suggest that LV evolution is rapid, ongoing and affected by genetic drift, purifying selection, spillover and host evolutionary history. Although recent studies suggest that LV does not have zoonotic potential, its widespread geographical and host distribution in natural populations of well-characterized small mammals could make it useful as a model for studying RNA virus evolution and transmission.
Screening for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients with Hepatitis B
Authors: Sachar Yashasavi , Brahmania Mayur , Dhanasekaran Renumathy , Congly Stephen E.
Published: July 2021

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection is a significant risk factor for developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). As HCC is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, screening patients with CHB at a high risk for HCC is recommended in an attempt to improve these outcomes. However, the screening recommendations on who to screen and how often are not uniform. Identifying patients at the highest risk of HCC would allow for the best use of health resources. In this review, we evaluate the literature on screening patients with CHB for HCC, strategies for optimizing adherence to screening, and potential risk stratification tools to identify patients with CHB at a high risk of developing HCC.
Experiences with Testing, Self-Isolation and Vaccination in North East England during the COVID Pandemic
Authors: Harris Richard
Published: July 2021

This study was based on a (population weighted) sample of some 4533 responses to a household survey conducted in March 2021 that looked at the impact of COVID-19 on residents in most of the local authorities covering the North East of England. It considered the outcomes relating to needing a COVID test, self-isolating, whether residents agreed that UK government and NHS-approved vaccines were ‘very safe’, and whether they had enough information in order to make an informed decision about whether or not to get vaccinated. Modelling these outcomes using multivariate regression produced a range of results that showed that all of the following were important: the impact of age, living in deprived areas, ethnicity, religious affiliation, disability, industry, occupation, economic status, changes in household income, sexual orientation, and household composition. Thus, the results showed that there are complex socioeconomic factors associated with the willingness to get a test, self-isolate, and the levels of vaccine hesitancy, such that, in future ensuring that (re-)vaccination and ‘track and trace’ programmes are successful, may need to be better nuanced by references to such factors rather than adopting programmes that mostly just rely on age as the criteria for roll-outs.
Combating Human Viral Diseases: Will Plant-Based Vaccines Be the Answer?
Authors: Venkataraman Srividhya , Hefferon Kathleen , Makhzoum Abdullah , Abouhaidar Mounir
Published: July 2021

Molecular pharming or the technology of application of plants and plant cell culture to manufacture high-value recombinant proteins has progressed a long way over the last three decades. Whether generated in transgenic plants by stable expression or in plant virus-based transient expression systems, biopharmaceuticals have been produced to combat several human viral diseases that have impacted the world in pandemic proportions. Plants have been variously employed in expressing a host of viral antigens as well as monoclonal antibodies. Many of these biopharmaceuticals have shown great promise in animal models and several of them have performed successfully in clinical trials. The current review elaborates the strategies and successes achieved in generating plant-derived vaccines to target several virus-induced health concerns including highly communicable infectious viral diseases. Importantly, plant-made biopharmaceuticals against hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), the cancer-causing virus human papillomavirus (HPV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), influenza virus, zika virus, and the emerging respiratory virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been discussed. The use of plant virus-derived nanoparticles (VNPs) and virus-like particles (VLPs) in generating plant-based vaccines are extensively addressed. The review closes with a critical look at the caveats of plant-based molecular pharming and future prospects towards further advancements in this technology. The use of biopharmed viral vaccines in human medicine and as part of emergency response vaccines and therapeutics in humans looks promising for the near future.
Exploring Psychological Factors for COVID-19 Vaccination Intention in Taiwan
Authors: Lo Shih-Yu , Li Shu-Chu Sarrina , Wu Tai-Yee
Published: July 2021

To underpin the psychological factors for vaccination intention, we explored the variables related to positive and negative attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination in Taiwan. The data were collected via an online survey platform with a sample size of 1100 in April 2021. We found that people’s interpretations of the origin of the virus were relevant. People who tended to believe that the virus was artificially created felt powerless and were more concerned about the possible side-effects of the vaccines, which was negatively associated with their vaccination intention. The source of vaccine recommendation was found to be relevant to vaccination intention. People’s vaccination intention was highest if the vaccines were recommended by health professionals, followed by friends and the government, and then mainstream media and social media. The analysis of the demographic variables showed that men tended to be more receptive to vaccines than women. Our findings should provide insights into developing communication strategies to effectively promote vaccination intentions.
Efficiency Assessment for Rehabilitated Francis Turbines Using URANS Simulations
Authors: Martineau Rousseau Philippe , Soulaïmani Azzeddine , Sabourin Michel
Published: July 2021

Due to the large number of aging hydraulic turbines in North America, rehabilitation is a growing market as these turbines have low efficiency compared to modern ones. Computational Fluid Dynamics identifies components with poor hydraulic performance. The models often used in industry are based on individually analyzing the sub-components of a turbine instead of full turbine simulations due to computational and time limitations. An industrial case has shown that such analyses may lead to underestimating the efficiency increases by modifying the stay vane. The unsteady full turbine simulation proposes to simulate all components simultaneously to assess this efficiency augmentation due to stay vane rehabilitation. The developed simulation methodology is used to evaluate the efficiency increase and the flow of two rehabilitated turbines with stay vane modifications. Comparison with model tests shows the accuracy of the simulations. However, the methodology used shows imprecision in predicting the efficiency increase compared to model tests. Further works should consider the use of more complex flow modeling methods to measure the efficiency increase by the stay vane modifications.
Evidence of Anthropogenic Gadolinium in Triangle Area Waters, North Carolina, USA
Authors: Zabrecky Jordan M. , Liu Xiao-Ming , Wu Qixin , Cao Cheng
Published: July 2021

Gadolinium (Gd), a member of the rare earth elements (REE), is becoming an increasingly observed microcontaminant in waters of developed regions. Anthropogenic Gd anomalies were first noted in 1996 and were determined to be sourced from Gd-based contrast agents used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This study investigates Gd anomalies in North Carolina’s Triangle Area, focusing on surrounding wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Samples were obtained from upstream and downstream of selected WWTPs as well as a freshwater reservoir that supplies part of the region’s drinking water. The PAAS-normalized samples indicate Gd anomalies in the influent, effluent, and downstream samples. We quantify the anthropogenic Gd in wastewater samples to constitute between 98.1% to 99.8%. Sample comparisons show an average increase of 45.3% estimated anthropogenic Gd between samples upstream and downstream of WWTPs. This research contributes to the existing database demonstrating the presence of anthropogenic Gd in developed regions. Although current Gd concentrations are not near toxic levels, they should be continuously monitored as a micropollutant and serve as a wastewater tracer.
Enhanced Operational Flexibility of a Small Run-of-River Hydropower Plant
Authors: Decaix Jean , Gaspoz Anthony , Hasmatuchi Vlad , Dreyer Matthieu , Nicolet Christophe , Crettenand Steve , Münch-Alligné Cécile
Published: July 2021

Over the last two decades, the public policies for promoting new renewable energies allowed the growth of such energies around the world. Due to their success, the policies are changing, forcing the producers to adapt their strategy. For instance, in Switzerland, the feed-in tariff system has been modified in 2018 to promote an electricity production from renewable energies that matches the demand. For small hydraulic power plants owners, such a change requires to increase the flexibility of their fleet. The SmallFLEX project, led by HES-SO Valais, aims at demonstrating on the pilot site of Gletsch-Oberwald owned by Forces Motrices Valaisannes SA, the possibilities to increase the flexibility of the power plant and to provide new services. The paper focuses on the methodology followed to warranty the use of the settling basin, the forebay tank, and the third upper part of the headrace tunnel as a new smart storage volume. By combining laboratory tests, numerical simulations, and on-site measurements, the new range of operating conditions has been defined. These data can be used to foresee economic gains. The methodology and the outputs of the project can be useful for performing such a study on other power plants.
An effective management system: composition of the staff and its capabilities
Authors: Grishina D. A. , Sidorova V. N. , Sidorov N. V.
Published: July 2021

The article takes the example of a real company to consider the issue of forming an effective personnel management system, taking into account the characteristics of employees.
Ionic-additive Crosslinked Polymeric Sulfur Composites as Cathode Materials for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Seong Min Ji , Manivannan Shanmugam , Kim Kyuwon , Yim Taeeun
Published: July 2021

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are one of attractive energy conversion and storage system based on high theoretical specific capacity and energy density with low costs. However, volatile nature of elemental sulfur is one of critical problem for their practical acceptance in industry because it considerably affects electrode uniformity during electrode manufacturing. In this work, polymeric sulfur composite consisting of ionic liquid (IL) are suggested to reduce volatility nature of elemental sulfur, resulting in better processibility of the Li-S cell. According to systematic spectroscopic analysis, it is found that polymeric sulfur is consisting of repeating units combining with elemental sulfur and volatility of them is negligible even at high temperature. In addition, the IL-embedded polymeric sulfur shows moderate cycle performance compared to the cell with elemental sulfur. From these results, it is found that the IL-embedded polymeric sulfur composite is applicable cathode candidate for the Li-S cell based on their excellent non-volatility as well as their superior electrochemical performance.
Effects of medetomidine/ketamine and xylazine/ketamine anesthesia and their reversal by atipamezole on ocular parameters and monitored anesthesia care in cats
Authors: KİBAR Murat , KESKİN Abdulkadir , AYTMİRZAKİZİ Ayperi , OZTURK Zeynep
Published: July 2021

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the general anesthetic drug ketamine and premedication agents medetomidine and xylazine, and their reversal by atipamezole, on monitored anesthesia care values and ocular parameters such as intraocular pressure, horizontal pupillar diameter, and Schirmer tear test in cats. A randomized, single-blinded study was conducted. Twenty intact female cats (weiging between 2.2 and 3.6 kg, and 0.5 to 5.5 years of age) referred for ovariohysterectomy (OHE) procedure by the owners at regular intervals over 4 months were included in the study. The cats were randomly divided into two groups containing 10 animals in each group. The cats were premedicated with medetomidine 80 µg/kg intramuscular in group 1 while the cats in the 2nd group were premedicated with xylazine hydrochloride 2 mg/kg intramuscular. After the OHE procedure was ended, anesthesia regimes were reversed by using atipamezole 200 µg/kg intramuscularly. Monitoring of respiration rate, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, peripheral arterial oxygen saturation, and body temperature were conducted using a patient monitor at T0, T1, T2, T3, and T4 time points. Both groups showed declines in intraocular pressure and increases in horizontal pupil diameter after anesthesia induction (T0 vs. T1, all, P<0.05); however, the chancing and recovery pattern of intraocular pressure and horizontal pupil diameter showed intergroup difference. In conclusion, xylazine/ketamine is more effective than medetomidine/ketamine in attenuating the intraocular pressure, increasing the horizontal pupil diameter, and alteration the monitored anesthesia care response in the general anesthesia.
¿Qué matemática acontece en el aula de Cálculo Diferencial? Error y producción matemática
Authors:   , Hurtado Andres David Pinto
Published: July 2021

Esta disertación tiene como campo de investigación un aula de Cálculo Diferencial (Cálculo I) de la Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (UFJF). La investigación asume la cartografia como método de investigación. El objetivo es inventariar acontecimientos de un colectivo de fuerzas, entendido como: estudiantes de Licenciatura en Matemática e profesores e currículo de Matemática e universidad pública y y y, problematizando el error, los procesos de producción matemática y el silencio en el aula de Cálculo. Inventariar apuesta en un ejercicio de experimentación con la escrita de este trabajo que está dividida en las siguientes invenciones: Inventario: considerado como un conjunto de inventos producidos a partir de lo que fue posible CONTAR al inventariar esta investigación; Cuestionario - es tratado como un repertorio de cuestiones que me acompañaron en el transcurso de la investigación y que todavía me siguen acompañando: —¿Qué es un aula de matemáticas? —¿Cómo el aula se torna un objeto de investigación? —¿Qué matemática acontece en el aula de Cálculo? —¿Cartografiar el aula de Cálculo es posible? —¿Cuáles vidas habitan el aula de Cálculo? Fragmentario - la idea de fragmentario en este apartado no se refiere a una pequeña parte de alguna cosa quebrada o dividida. Al contrario, es una composición de conceptos junto a las lecturas, experiencias, (des)conocimientos y prácticas para producir sentidos; Cuentario - es considerado como un conjunto de cuentos e está compuesto por tres bloques: Funciones, Limites y Derivada. En este Cuentario se pretende CONTAR cuentos como formas de vida; Afectario - este apartado es utilizado para CONTAR los afectos e efectos al inventariar esta investigación; Secuestrario - es la palabra escogida para decir sobre las referencias. Finalmente, inventariar nos pone en el desafío de experimentar una Matemática como acontecimiento, apostando en las Potencias de Vida para forzar el pensamiento e pensar de otras maneras en el aula de Matemática. Inventariar esta investigación junto a Gilles Deleuze y Félix Guattari, inventa problemas, desterritorializa verdades absolutas y produce rupturas en el campo de las representaciones. Acontecimientos en el aula de Cálculo engendran modos de investigar, inventar y escribir junto a una política cognitiva que produce mundos.
Abordagem funcional no estudo da comunidade de ciliados em uma estação de tratamento de esgoto combinada UASB-lodo ativado
Authors:   , Moreira Yasmine Costa
Published: July 2021

Estudos utilizando abordagem funcional têm crescido nos últimos anos, entretanto, não existem estudos neste âmbito usando a comunidade de microeucariotos ciliados em estações de tratamento biológico de esgotos. O presente trabalho possui como objetivo geral aplicar uma abordagem funcional no estudo da comunidade de protistas ciliados em uma estação de tratamento de esgoto que opera em sistema UASB com lodos ativados como pós-tratamento e como objetivos específicos: 1 investigar a composição e diversidade taxonômica e funcional da comunidade de ciliados, bem como apresentar dados de sua dinâmica temporal; 2 investigar a correlação entre os índices usados na diversidade taxonômica e funcional; 3 avaliar a relação entre a composição e os traços funcionais da comunidade de ciliados e as condições ambientais; e 4 investigar quais traços da diversidade funcional podem ser usados como indicadores da eficiência em ETE´s. Foram registradas 21 espécies de ciliados ao longo das 37 amostras coletadas, valor mais baixo quando comparado a outras estações, no entanto já esperado visto que se trata de um sistema combinado anaeróbio seguido de aeróbio (UASB+Lodos Ativados). Justamente por possuir esta conformação, há a ocorrência de um fenômeno entendido como filtro ambiental, proporcionando uma composição funcional temporalmente mais homogênea que aquela taxonômica, visto que diversas espécies possuem a mesma característica funcional. As relações entre os índices foram significativas entre as riquezas taxonômica e funcional, indicando que a comunidade é funcionalmente redundante e apresenta, dessa forma, uma complementaridade de nicho. E essa redundância indica um sistema estável, comprovado pela alta eficiência constante da estação em termos de remoção de poluentes. O perfil funcional da comunidade foi o esperado para estações de tratamento de esgoto, sendo representado por espécies bacterívoras e formadoras de floco, traço este específico e importante em ETE’s com caráter inovador e com possibilidade de ser uma importante característica para entendimento da eficiência do sistema. Estudos futuros irão ampliar o conhecimento sobre a diversidade funcional em sistemas de tratamento biológico de esgoto, sendo este um primeiro passo na aplicação inédita desta metodologia em ecossistemas artificiais.
Jornal Dia a Dia: o elo entre cultura e práticas escolares da Escola da Ponte
Authors:   , Serpa Kenia de Souza
Published: July 2021

O objetivo geral deste estudo é compreender uma fração das práticas escolares realizadas na Escola da Ponte, o que significa considerar a cultura escolar propagada naquele espaço. Para a realização desta investigação analisamos o jornal da escola, denominado Dia a Dia. A pesquisa está situada no domínio da História da Educação com interface na história cultural e o trabalho de investigação contou com um corpus documental composto por cento e quatorze edições do Dia a Dia, no período compreendido entre novembro de 1977 a janeiro de 2017. Nesse sentido, buscamos inquirir e refletir sobre as modificações de ordem técnica e de conteúdo do jornal, e da própria Escola da Ponte nessas quatro décadas. Os resultados da pesquisa sinalizam a existência de movimentos de rupturas e manutenções com relação ao jornal. As principais rupturas estão relacionadas às tecnologias empregadas na sua confecção, aos contextos sociais e políticos, nos quais a escola esteve inserida, e no público leitor almejado pela instituição. Quanto ao movimento de manutenção destacam-se os usos do Dia a Dia pela Escola da Ponte, pois, o jornal foi mural dos trabalhos desenvolvidos por alunos, professores e pais, possibilitando reverberar as práticas escolares aos potenciais leitores. Outras motivações da publicação estão ligadas à divulgação do projeto Fazer a Ponte e à apresentação dos elementos da cultura escolar daquela instituição. Destacamos, ainda, que o Dia a Dia informou à comunidade escolar quanto aos acontecimentos da Escola da Ponte, aqueles elegidos como noticiáveis pelos criadores do jornal, e buscou, de forma intermitente, intermediar a criação de laços entre a escola em exame e as famílias. Dessa forma o periódico acabou por manter-se fortalecido.
Da queda livre ao paraquedismo – uma proposta de ensino da resistência do ar por meio da análise de vídeos utilizando o tracker
Authors:   , Morais Simone de Amorim Lima
Published: July 2021

Este trabalho apresenta a proposta e o relato da aplicação de uma sequência didática, desenvolvida a partir do objetivo de incentivar os alunos a pesquisarem as grandezas e agentes físicos envolvidos no movimento de corpos em queda. Baseamos o presente trabalho no estudo do movimento da queda livre e queda sob a ação da força de resistência do ar, na prática de atividade experimental e o uso do software Tracker, que torna possível a análise quadro a quadro de vídeos que envolvam movimentos. Através desses métodos, somados a observação e engajamento, este trabalho objetiva conduzir os estudantes à concepção das diferenças entres estes movimentos, detectando os agentes responsáveis pelo movimento e as grandezas físicas envolvidas. A sequência foi estruturada para ser trabalhada em seis aulas regulares no primeiro ano do ensino médio, no entanto, no decorrer do trabalho utilizamos sete aulas. A sequência foi pensada de forma a manter um vínculo intuitivo do aluno com a pesquisa, para isto foram elaborados textos informativos, atividades para casa, questionários individuais e em grupo. Entre as atividades propostas os alunos confeccionaram paraquedas, foram responsáveis pela prática experimental e utilizaram o Tracker. À professora coube o papel de mediadora realizando intervenções quando necessário. Concluímos que as diferentes atividades elaboradas motivaram nos alunos a curiosidade, o engajamento e comprometimento com o trabalho. Durante estas atividades, eles tiveram a oportunidade de desenvolver habilidades no uso de ferramenta tecnológica educacional e competências para o aprendizado de conceitos físicos. A partir dos resultados obtidos, percebemos que os alunos necessitam ser direcionados para o uso da tecnologia a favor do aprendizado, que a leitura gráfica é facilitada quando acompanhada do movimento em questão, através da interação os alunos se expressam com maior facilidade contribuindo para o aprendizado. Cremos que esta sequência contribui com o trabalho de professores que se dispõe a utilizar novas ferramentas para o ensino de física.
Divulgação e apropriação das avaliações externas do Sistema Municipal de Avaliação Educacional de São Luís - SIMAE: possibilidades para o seu aprimoramento
Authors:   , Salomão Ana Karolina Moniz
Published: July 2021

O presente estudo de caso foi desenvolvido no âmbito do Mestrado Profissional em Gestão e Avaliação da Educação Pública (PPGP) do Centro de Políticas Públicas e Avaliação da Educação da Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (CAEd/UFJF). O foco da investigação é o processo de divulgação e apropriação dos resultados da avaliação externa da Rede pública escolar do município de São Luís do Maranhão, tendo como questionamento basilar: como aprimorar o processo de divulgação e apropriação pedagógicas dos resultados do Sistema Municipal de Avaliação Educacional de São Luís (SIMAE) de modo a viabilizar o planejamento de ações e políticas públicas para melhoria do desempenho? O principal objetivo da pesquisa é investigar e analisar o processo de divulgação do SIMAE e dos seus resultados, de forma a possibilitar a apropriação pedagógica, acrescido de outros objetivos, os específicos: analisar o SIMAE, tendo como referência o Sistema de Avaliação da Educação Básica (SAEB) e o Sistema de Avaliação Educacional de Teresina (SAETHE); analisar como a divulgação dos resultados pode contribuir para uma apropriação pedagógica a partir das potencialidades e fragilidades apontadas pelos sujeitos da pesquisa; e, por fim, propor estratégias de divulgação e apropriação pedagógica dos resultados para os técnicos da Administração Central. Para tanto, a pesquisa de caráter qualitativo teve como unidades de análise o SIMAE e o SAETHE. A escolha de Teresina foi determinada pelas semelhanças socioeconômicas entre os municípios, por adotarem avaliações externas em cooperação técnica com a mesma entidade de assistência e pelo fato de Teresina apresentar nas avaliações educacionais nacionais resultados superiores aos de São Luís. Assim, o estudo aponta de forma comparativa os Sistemas de São Luís e Teresina. Para tanto, além de leituras documentais e bibliográficas foram realizadas entrevistas com os atores envolvidos (gestor da Secretaria Municipal de Educação de São Luís, coordenadoras dos setores de avaliação e de formação de gestores, coordenadores pedagógicos e professores) dos respectivos municípios, analisando as características de processo decisório, coordenação, concentração e descentralização dos processos, fluxo, padrão e instrumentos de divulgação. Logo, considerando o referencial teórico de análise e as evidências, é proposto um Plano de Ação com estratégias de divulgação, para os técnicos da Administração Central da SEMED, que atenda às especificidades e ações dos diferentes setores da secretaria, visando ao aperfeiçoamento do processo de divulgação e à apropriação dos resultados do SIMAE, consolidando-o como valor social, organizacional e alavanca de transformação do desempenho dos estudantes da Rede pública de São Luís.
“Cooperação ou dependência financeira?”: uma análise do consórcio intermunicipal de especialidades em saúde da Zona da Mata mineira
Authors:   , Nerio Valéria Romão
Published: July 2021

O planejamento orçamentário é um importante instrumento de gestão em saúde, cuja elaboração é orientada conforme as prioridades de saúde e de governo. Na região Sudeste, nos últimos 10 anos, o índice de adesão consorcial intermunicipal na saúde pública tem aumentado em 60%. Preliminarmente, este estudo longitudinal retrospectivo, de abordagem quantitativa, visou identificar as possíveis estratégias de custeio e gestão locais ao analisar a alocação de recursos financeiros, por meio dos planejamentos orçamentários e balanços, direcionados ao Consórcio Intermunicipal de Especialidades da Zona da Mata mineira (CIESP), composto por 11 municípios. O percurso metodológico incluiu a análise de dados secundários de bancos do Fundo Nacional de Saúde, Portal da Transparência do CIESP e o Sistema de Informações sobre Orçamentos Públicos em Saúde (SIOPS). Utilizando a regressão linear simples, por análise estatística inferencial, intervalo de confiança de 95%, verificou-se correlação positiva entre o repasse do governo federal em saúde municipal com os investimentos locais em saúde, no período de 2000 a 2019. Contatou-se, a baixa capacidade de arrecadação de receita própria de 90% dos municípios estudados. Nos últimos 7 anos, os municípios financiaram 24% das receitas do CIESP em ações de saúde; e o ente federal foi o principal financiador de políticas de expressiva demanda social (Atenção Primária). Além disso, as ações de serviços em saúde articuladas pelo CIESP possibilitaram o fortalecimento dos sistemas locais de saúde do SUS, com o financiamento local na dependência intergovernamental.