bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Return to Basketball Play Following COVID-19 Lockdown
Authors: Bourdas Dimitrios I. , Zacharakis Emmanouil D. , Travlos Antonios K. , Souglis Athanasios
Published: June 2021

Due to concerns regarding the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), major sporting events and activities have been temporarily suspended or postponed, and a new radical sports protocol has emerged. For most sports there are few recommendations based on scientific evidence for returning to team-game activities following the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, the extended duration of lockdown, and self-training or detraining in the COVID-19 environment, and this is especially true for basketball. A post-lockdown return to the basketball court ultimately depends on the teams—coaches, trainers, players, and medical staff. Nevertheless, our current scientific knowledge is evidently insufficient as far as safety and return-to-play timing are concerned. This situation presents a major challenge to basketball competition in terms of organization, prioritization, maintaining physical fitness, and decision-making. While preparing an adequate basketball return program, the players’ health is the major priority. In this article we briefly discuss the topic and propose multiple strategies.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Stationary Battery Installations in Two Renewable Energy Projects
Authors: Pucker-Singer Johanna , Aichberger Christian , Zupančič Jernej , Neumann Camilla , Bird David Neil , Jungmeier Gerfried , Gubina Andrej , Tuerk Andreas
Published: June 2021

The goal to decrease greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is spurring interest in renewable energy systems from time-varying sources (e.g., photovoltaics, wind) and these can require batteries to help load balancing. However, the batteries themselves add additional GHG emissions to the electricity system in all its life cycle phases. This article begins by investigating the GHG emissions for the manufacturing of two stationary lithium-ion batteries, comparing production in Europe, US and China. Next, we analyze how the installation and operation of these batteries change the GHG emissions of the electricity supply in two pilot sites. Life cycle assessment is used for GHG emissions calculation. The regional comparison on GHG emissions of battery manufacturing shows that primary aluminum, cathode paste and battery cell production are the principal components of the GHG emissions of battery manufacturing. Regional variations are linked mainly to high grid electricity demand and regional changes in the electricity mixes, resulting in base values of 77 kg CO2-eq/kWh to 153 kg CO2-eq/kWh battery capacity. The assessment of two pilot sites shows that the implementation of batteries can lead to GHG emission savings of up to 77%, if their operation enables an increase in renewable energy sources in the electricity system.
School-Based Training for Sustainable Emotional Development in Chinese Preschoolers: A Quasi-Experiment Study
Authors: Wu Jianfen , Zhang Manlin , Lin Wenqi , Wu Yunpeng , Li Hui
Published: June 2021

Emotional competence (EC) is important for children’s social adjustment and sustainable development. The present study designed a school based emotional competence learning (ECL) program and examined its effectiveness with 56 Chinese preschoolers aged 5–6. A quasi-experimental design was employed to examine the impact of the ECL program on young children’s EC. Two upper Kindergarten classes (Daban) for children aged 5–6 were randomly assigned as experimental group (n = 31, 42% girls, Mage = 68.31 months, SD = 3.75) and control group (n = 25, 44% girls, Mage = 68.16 months, SD = 3.77). The experimental group was engaged in a 15-week ECL program, whereas the control group had similar duration courses without emotional competence training. All the children were administered the Test of Emotion Comprehension, Expression Identification Task, and Emotion Regulation Strategy Inventory before and after the intervention. The results indicated no significant differences between the experimental and control groups in the pre-test. In contrast, the experimental group outperformed the control group in most EC components in the post-test. Meanwhile, the experimental group demonstrated greater increases in EC components. The findings suggest that this ECL program has strong potential as a school-based, structured program for enhancing children’s emotional competence. The educational implications of these findings are discussed.
Producers’ Perceptions of Public Good Agricultural Practices Standard and Their Pesticide Use: The Case of Q-GAP for Cabbage Farming in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand
Authors: Amekawa Yuichiro , Hongsibsong Surat , Sawarng Nootchakarn , Yadoung Sumeth , Gebre Girma Gezimu
Published: June 2021

This study examined the effectiveness of Thailand’s Q-GAP initiative in raising cabbage farmers’ awareness regarding food safety assurance and improving their pesticide use practices by comparing 41 Q-GAP-certified and 90 uncertified farmers in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. The research methods included a questionnaire survey administered to the participating farmers and laboratory pesticide residue testing of their cabbage produce samples. The research found that certified farmers had a significantly more heedful attitude than uncertified farmers toward the effects of pesticide use on the users, consumers, and the environment. This is supported by the higher level of Q-GAP training experiences. Compared to uncertified farmers, a significantly lower proportion of certified farmers also applied either insecticide, fungicide, or herbicide, with significantly less frequencies when including in the analysis those who did not use the particular pesticide. In the pesticide residue analysis, no significant difference was found between the two types of farms regarding the number of farms detected with maximum residue level exceedance in the sample produce and regarding the results of the aggregate organophosphate pesticide analysis. However, it was found that the produce of the uncertified farmers contained significantly more residue in the aggregate synthetic pyrethroid pesticide analysis as compared to that of the certified farmers. These findings indicate the Q-GAP-certified farmers’ progress in process control from earlier Q-GAP studies on compliance. However, considering the limited achievements of certified farmers in pesticide handling and recordkeeping, and those of the Department of Agriculture officers in auditing, there is a need for more governmental efforts, especially in these areas.
Farm Household Income Diversification as a Survival Strategy
Authors: Bojnec Štefan , Knific Kristina
Published: June 2021

The analyses focus on the structural change in agriculture and farm households for the selected hilly and mountainous areas in Slovenia before and after the accession to the European Union, with an emphasis on empirical analysis of a sample of income diversification of rural households in the census years, and the importance of self-employment for farm households’ well-being and food security. A t-test was applied to investigate the differences of arithmetic means between the two municipalities and between the two census years, and an F-test with analysis of variance was used for the differences of arithmetic means between four socioeconomic types of agricultural households (AHs). The number of farm households has declined with heterogeneous patterns according to their socioeconomic type and their location areas according to the level of economic development and natural farming conditions. Farm exits do not necessarily mean discontinuation of other nonfarming activities at a household. While the number of farm households leaving farming has increased, there has also been an increase in farm households engaged in other gainful activity such as supplementary farm activities and in off-farm employment and off-farm incomes. Income from farming for most households is not sufficient for survival, and therefore, diversification of income for households is imminent. Diversification of income from self-employment is important for more than one-third of households that maintain agri-food production for the market. Income from self-employment is an important source of income for household well-being and for investment in agricultural production to improve incomes from farming activities. Expansion of self-employment impacts the lack of time, business risks, and lack of interest of households to expand the business by renting external sources.
Does the Green Industry Policy Reduce Industrial Pollution Emissions?—Evidence from China’s National Eco-Industrial Park
Authors: Song Li , Zhou Xiaoliang
Published: June 2021

As a regional green industrial policy, the construction of national eco-industrial parks is of great significance to the realization of industrial green transformation, while its environmental effects and mechanisms have not yet been clarified. Using panel data from 308 prefecture-level cities in China from 2003 to 2017, this study takes the establishment of 3 national-level ecological industrial parks as a quasi-natural experiment, also using a time-varying difference in difference model to examine how green industrial policies affect industrial pollution emissions. The study found that the establishment of a national eco-industrial park has significantly reduced industrial sulfur dioxide emissions, and the emission reduction effect has a lag effect and long-term impact. In cities with strong environmental regulations, provincial capitals and municipalities, and cities with a high degree of marketization, eco-industrial parks have better emission reduction effects, while, in cities with greater economic growth incentives and fiscal pressures, eco-industrial parks are difficult to achieve emission reduction effects. The establishment of national eco-industrial parks can reduce industrial pollution emissions by improving pollution treatment efficiency and energy efficiency, as well as promoting industrial agglomeration. China should continue to promote the implementation of green industrial policies, to strengthen the construction of national-level eco-industrial parks at this stage.
Identifying Project Corporate Behavioral Risks to Support Long-Term Sustainable Cooperative Partnerships
Authors: Nunes Marco , Abreu António , Saraiva Célia
Published: June 2021

Projects are considered crucial building blocks whereby organizations execute and implement their short-, mid-, and long-term strategic visions. Projects are thought, developed, and implemented to solve problems, drive change, satisfy unique needs, add value, and exploit opportunities, just to name a few objectives. Although existing project management tools and techniques aim to deliver projects with success, according to the latest reviewed literature, projects still keep failing at an impressive pace. Among the extensive list of factors that may threaten project success, several articles from the research literature place particular importance on a still underexplored factor that may strongly lead to unsuccessful project delivery. This factor—usually known as corporate behavioral risks—usually emerges and evolves as organizations work together to deliver projects across a bounded period of time, and is characterized by the mix of formal and informal dynamic interactions between the different stakeholders that constitute the different organizations. Furthermore, several articles from the research literature also point out the lack of proper models to efficiently manage corporate behavioral risks as one of the major factors that may lead to projects failing. To efficiently identify and measure how such corporate behaviors may contribute to a project’s outcomes (success or failure), a heuristic model is proposed in this work, developed based on four fundamental fields ((1) project management, (2) risk management, (3) corporate behavior, and (4) social network analysis), to quantitatively analyze four critical project social networks ((1) communication, (2) problem-solving, (3) advice, and (4) trust), by applying the theory of social network analysis (SNA). The proposed model in this work is supported with a case study to illustrate its implementation and application across a project lifecycle, and how organizations can benefit from its application.
Innovative Method for Seismic and Energy Retrofitting of Masonry Buildings
Authors: Facconi Luca , Lucchini Sara S. , Minelli Fausto , Grassi Benedetta , Pilotelli Mariagrazia , Plizzari Giovanni A.
Published: June 2021

Masonry buildings built in Italy in the 60 s and 70 s of the last century frequently require energy and seismic renovation. To this end, the use of a retrofitting technique based on a multilayer coating may be applied on the building façades in order to improve its seismic and energy performances, leading to the partial or total fulfilment of structural and energy code provisions. The coating consists of a layer of Steel Fiber Reinforced Mortar combined with thermal insulation materials to get a composite package applied on the building façade. After a brief description of the proposed technique, the paper reports the results of seismic and thermal analyses carried out to prove the structural and energy performance of the retrofitting intervention.
Political Agroecology in Senegal: Historicity and Repertoires of Collective Actions of an Emerging Social Movement
Authors: Bottazzi Patrick , Boillat Sébastien
Published: June 2021

Agroecology has become an ideological foundation for social and environmental transformation in sub-Saharan Africa. In Senegal, agroecological advocacy coalitions, made up of farmers’ organizations, scientists, NGOs, and IOs, are using agroecology as an umbrella concept for proposing policy changes at multiple scales. We describe the history of the agroecological movement in Senegal in the context of the constitution of a national advocacy coalition. We then examine the “repertoires of collective action” mobilized by the coalition. Four repertoires are identified: technical support and knowledge co-production, territorial governance, alternative food networks, and national policy dialogue. Our analysis highlights the potential that these multi-level approaches have to sustainably transform the current food systems in sub-Saharan Africa. However, our research also reveals the limited agency of farmer organizations and the limitations of a movement that is strongly dependent on NGOs and international donors, leading to a “projectorate” situation in which contradictory policy actions can overlap. We further argue that, although the central government has formally welcomed some of the principles of agroecology into their policy discourse, financial and political interests in pursuing a Green Revolution and co-opting agroecology are pending. This leads to a lack of political and financial autonomy for grassroots farmers’ organizations, limiting the development of counter-hegemonic agroecology. We discuss the conditions under which territorial approaches, and the three other repertoires of collective action, can have significant potential to transform Sub-Saharan Africa in the coming years.
Glancing through Two Decades of Research on the Human Side of Sustainable Innovation: The Past, the Present, and Directions for Future Research
Authors: Kratzer Jan , Knyphausen-Aufseß Dodo zu , Festel Gunter
Published: June 2021

The increasingly negative effects of climate change are caused by humans and can be solved only by humans. In the past two decades, researchers have conducted considerable studies devoted to the human side of sustainable innovation. The present work aimed to provide a structured overview of these studies in the frame of the Special Issue: The Human Side of Sustainable Innovations. In contrast to the concepts capturing the human side, the definitions and operationalizations of sustainability and sustainable innovations are considerably ambiguous. We identified six journals that exemplify three factors on the human side of sustainable innovation and elucidate the concept. For their findings to be conclusive, researchers need to engage in significant efforts in investigating the differences in the interpretation and recognition of sustainability, in establishing consensus on the sustainable behavior of actors, and in executing comparable studies and experiments. Moreover, future research needs to establish generally accepted evaluations and measurements of sustainability.
Drivers and Determinants of Food Waste Generation in Restaurants Serving Mediterranean Mezze-Type Cuisine
Authors: Chalak Ali , Hassan Hussein F. , Aoun Pamela , Abiad Mohamad G.
Published: June 2021

Food waste from the food service and hospitality industry is increasing, especially in Mezze serving restaurants, where a variety of dishes are usually served. To date, information on the factors affecting food waste generation in restaurants is scarce. This study aimed to identify the drivers and determinants of food waste generation while dining out at restaurants serving Mezze-type cuisine. According to the results from a convenience sample of 496 restaurant clientele, gender, age, and marital status did not affect food waste generation. Diners in both low and high price range restaurants waste above the grand mean compared to middle-range ones. Waste generation decreased significantly as the number of diners per table increased. However, ordering water-pipe, alcohol, or more dishes contributed significantly to food waste generation. As food waste is not the outcome of a single behavior, our study puts food waste generation drivers and determinants while dining out in perspective.
Global Leadership for Sustainability
Authors: Fry Louis , Egel Eleftheria
Published: June 2021

Given the social and environmental challenges facing all organizations, there is a need for new leadership models, methods, and tools for implementing organizational change for sustainable development. Toward that end, we review current approaches to leadership for sustainability in terms of their conceptual frameworks and extant research, which all advocate a balanced stakeholder approach to leadership to address the social and environmental issues related to sustainability and sustainable development. Then, drawing from spiritual and being-centered leadership theories, we offer a model of Global Leadership for Sustainability (GLfS) that incorporates and extends the conceptual domain beyond current approaches to leadership for sustainability. In doing so we propose that spirituality, through the qualities of self-transcendence and interconnectedness, is critical for sustainability and is foundational for GLfS. We also emphasize the importance of cultivating a Global Mindset for Sustainability, which incorporates two ethical principles—an ethic of remote moral responsibility and an ethic of care and compassion. As a result, global leaders for sustainability become more committed to moving beyond satisfying stakeholders’ demands for economic returns, toward a more sustainable, triple bottom line, balanced approach. Finally, we discuss implications for theory, research, and practice of GLfS.
Did the COVID-19 Pandemic Make Consumers Shop Alone? The Role of Emotions and Interdependent Self-Construal
Authors: Trzebiński Wojciech , Baran Radosław , Marciniak Beata
Published: June 2021

The paper aims to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and possible future global epidemic events on shopping behavioral patterns. Specifically, the paper investigates consumer pandemic-related isolation behavior (which manifests itself via preference for shopping without leaving home, and avoiding contact with other people while shopping offline) as a consequence of consumer interdependent self-construal, with the mediating role of consumer pandemic-related emotions of disgust, fear for oneself, fear for others, and sadness. The results of two surveys conducted in different stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland (October 2020, and January 2021, respectively) suggest two opposing indirect effects of interdependent self-construal on isolation behavior: a positive effect through disgust, and a negative effect through sadness. Additionally, a positive indirect effect through fear was visible in the second study. Moreover, two dimensions of interdependent self-construal (i.e., vertical and horizontal) are demonstrated to have opposing effects (a positive effect and a negative one, respectively) on pandemic-related disgust, and in turn on isolation behavior. The above results indicate that, in the context of the pandemic, consumer self-construal influences pandemic-related emotions, and in turn consumers’ tendency to isolate themselves. Implications for marketers and society were discussed from the perspective of economic and sustainability goals.
Evaluation and Classification of Rural Multifunction at a Grid Scale: A Case Study of Miyun District, Beijing
Authors: Yin Ziyan , Liu Yu , Pan Yuchun
Published: June 2021

Rural areas are a natural, economic and social complex with multiple functions. Identifying rural multifunction scientifically is the basis for promoting efficient rural spatial planning and sustainable development strategy. In this paper, we calculated and characterized the rural production-living-ecological (PLE) functions at a grid scale of 300 × 300 m in Miyun District by establishing an evaluation index system. Several types of rural functional area were identified with the help of an ISO cluster unsupervised classification tool. Three main results were found as follows. (1) The values of the production, living, ecological functions and multifunction ranged from 0–0.101, 0–0.204, 0.009–0.241 and 0.009–0.302, respectively. Ecological function was dominant in this area. (2) The overall spatial patterns of production and living functions showed the characteristic of being “high in the south and low in the north”, and areas with high values were almost distributed around urban areas and the Miyun Reservoir. While for the ecological function and multifunction, they possessed the opposite characteristics to production and living functions, with high values concentrated in the mountainous areas in the northwest, northeast, east and south of Miyun District. (3) According to the clustering results, rural multifunction of Miyun District was divided into four types: ecological conservation, employment and residence, recreation and potential development, with the area proportions of 44.22%, 17.92%, 20.73% and 17.13%, respectively. Each functional type showed a characteristic of agglomeration. In the future, the study of rural multifunction at micro scales should be paid more attention to better understand the functional differences within the country. This research can provide a decision-making reference for demarcation of rural production-living-ecological space and compilation of spatial planning.
Analysis of Power Generation for Solar Photovoltaic Module with Various Internal Cell Spacing
Authors: Mariano June Raymond L. , Lin Yun-Chuan , Liao Mingyu , Ay Herchang
Published: June 2021

Photovoltaic (PV) systems directly convert solar energy into electricity and researchers are taking into consideration the design of photovoltaic cell interconnections to form a photovoltaic module that maximizes solar irradiance. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the cell spacing effect of light diffusion on output power. In this work, the light absorption of solar PV cells in a module with three different cell spacings was studied. An optical engineering software program was used to analyze the reflecting light on the backsheet of the solar PV module towards the solar cell with varied internal cell spacing of 2 mm, 5 mm, and 8 mm. Then, assessments were performed under standard test conditions to investigate the power output of the PV modules. The results of the study show that the module with an internal cell spacing of 8 mm generated more power than 5 mm and 2 mm. Conversely, internal cell spacing from 2 mm to 5 mm revealed a greater increase of power output on the solar PV module compared to 5 mm to 8 mm. Furthermore, based on the simulation and experiment, internal cell spacing variation showed that the power output of a solar PV module can increase its potential to produce more power from the diffuse reflectance of light.
Assignment of Freight Truck Shipment on the U.S. Highway Network
Authors: Hwang Taesung
Published: June 2021

With the ever-increasing demand for freight movements, nationwide freight shipments between geographical regions by freight trucks need to be investigated since they comprise the largest share of total freight movements in the United States. To this end, the procedures for freight truck shipment demand network assignment on the entire U.S. highway network considering congestion effect are discussed, and the results are explained in detail, with visual illustrations. A fundamental traffic assignment model with a convex combinations algorithm is proposed to solve the nationwide freight truck shipment assignment problem under the user equilibrium principle. A link cost function is modified, considering the traffic volume that already exists on U.S. highways. A case study is conducted using big data including the entire U.S. highway network and freight shipment information in 2007. Total and average freight shipment costs for both truck and rail transportation for a specific origin–destination pair in the database are computed to compare the characteristics of these two major freight transportation modes in the United States. Application of the proposed model could be possible to address many other related problems, such as improvement of highway infrastructure, and reductions in traffic congestion and vehicle emissions.
The Tyrrhenian Sea Circulation: A Review of Recent Work
Authors: Iacono Roberto , Napolitano Ernesto , Palma Massimiliano , Sannino Gianmaria
Published: June 2021

Knowledge about marine circulation and its variability is a basic requirement for the correct management of activities aimed at exploiting marine resources and for the prevention and eventual mitigation of the risks involved. The activities of the Marine Hazard Project, to which this special number of Sustainability is dedicated, focus on geothermal resources connected with some submerged volcanic systems located in the Tyrrhenian Sea. This sea hosts delicate coastal and marine ecosystems, and is characterized by rich dynamics, both driven by the interaction of the local forcing with the complex morphology and bathymetry of the basin, and by exchanges with adjacent sub-basins which take place at all depths. The main purpose of the present review is to summarize the present understanding of the Tyrrhenian Sea circulation and its variability, with special emphasis on the results of experimental and modelling works of the last decade.
Opinion of the Hungarian Population on the Reform of Beverage Packaging Deposit-Refund System
Authors: Boros Anita , Kurdi Róbert , Lukács Zoltán Pál , Sarkady Attila , Banász Zsuzsanna
Published: June 2021

The research subject is the deposit-refund system of beverage packaging (PET, glass and aluminium) in Hungary, which is under development. For the success of the planned system, it is important to consider the population’s opinion. Therefore, data from a primary questionnaire survey were used for the analyses. This questionnaire was conducted in 2020 and resulted in an evaluable sample of 20,430 people. The study aims to answer the following research questions (Q). Q1. Does the reform of the beverage packaging deposit-refund system in Hungary have a raison d’être? Q2. What are the demographic characteristics (gender, type of residence, qualification) of those who would redeem beverage packaging in their households if the state paid for it? Q3. Do the demographic characteristics and/or the environmental attitudes of individuals significantly influence their perceptions of the planned new system, and how strong is the relationship between them? As for the method for answering the research questions, descriptive statistics and relationship analyses (Cramer’s V and Kendall’s tau) were applied to the closed answers. The results show that the analysis of the primary research provides well-determined directions for legislators and decision makers who develop the detailed operating rules of the new system.
Dynamic Changes of Local Climate Zones in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area and Their Spatio-Temporal Impacts on the Surface Urban Heat Island Effect between 2005 and 2015
Authors: Lu Yang , Yang Jiansi , Ma Song
Published: June 2021

Local climate zones (LCZs) emphasize the influence of representative geometric properties and surface cover characteristics on the local climate. In this paper, we propose a multi-temporal LCZ mapping method, which was used to obtain LCZ maps for 2005 and 2015 in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), and we analyze the effects of LCZ changes in the GBA on land surface temperature (LST) changes. The results reveal that: (1) The accuracy of the LCZ mapping of the GBA for 2005 and 2015 is 85.03% and 85.28%, respectively. (2) The built type category showing the largest increase in area from 2005 to 2015 is LCZ8 (large low-rise), with a 1.01% increase. The changes of the LCZs also vary among the cities due to the different factors, such as the economic development level and local policies. (3) The area showing a warming trend is larger than the area showing a cooling trend in all the cities in the GBA study area. The main reasons for the warming are the increase of built types, the enhancement of human activities, and the heat radiation from surrounding high-temperature areas. (4) The spatial morphology changes of the built type categories are positively correlated with the LST changes, and the morphological changes of the LCZ4 (open high-rise) and LCZ5 (open midrise) built types exert the most significant influence. These findings will provide important insights for urban heat mitigation via rational landscape design in urban planning management.
Dynamic Evaluation of the Effects of Climate Change on the Energy Renovation of a School in a Mediterranean Climate
Authors: Baglivo Cristina
Published: June 2021

This paper addresses the effects of long-term climate change on retrofit actions on a school building located in a Mediterranean climate. Dynamic energy simulations were performed using Termolog EpiX 11, first with conventional climate data and then with future year climate data exported from the CCWorldWeatherGen computational software. To date, many incentive actions are promoted for school renovations, but are these measures effective in preventing the discomfort that will be found due to overheating generated by climate change? Today, one of the main objectives in retrofit measures is the achievement of ZEB (Zero Energy Building) performance. Achieving this target requires first and foremost a high-performance envelope. This study evaluates the impact of retrofit strategies mostly applied to the school building envelope, over the years, considering three different time horizons, until 2080. Thermal performance indices and indoor operative temperature under free-floating were evaluated. The results highlight that, with a changing climate, it is no longer possible to assume a constant static condition to evaluate retrofit actions, but it is necessary to develop a predictive mathematical model that considers the design variability for future years. There is an urgent necessity to ensure both the safety and comfort of buildings while also anticipating future variations in climate.
Harnessing Machine Learning for Classifying Economic Damage Trends in Transportation Infrastructure Projects
Authors: Bae Junseo , Yum Sang-Guk , Kim Ji-Myong
Published: June 2021

Given the highly visible nature, transportation infrastructure construction projects are often exposed to numerous unexpected events, compared to other types of construction projects. Despite the importance of predicting financial losses caused by risk, it is still difficult to determine which risk factors are generally critical and when these risks tend to occur, without benchmarkable references. Most of existing methods are prediction-focused, project type-specific, while ignoring the timing aspect of risk. This study filled these knowledge gaps by developing a neural network-driven machine-learning classification model that can categorize causes of financial losses depending on insurance claim payout proportions and risk occurrence timing, drawing on 625 transportation infrastructure construction projects including bridges, roads, and tunnels. The developed network model showed acceptable classification accuracy of 74.1%, 69.4%, and 71.8% in training, cross-validation, and test sets, respectively. This study is the first of its kind by providing benchmarkable classification references of economic damage trends in transportation infrastructure projects. The proposed holistic approach will help construction practitioners consider the uncertainty of project management and the potential impact of natural hazards proactively, with the risk occurrence timing trends. This study will also assist insurance companies with developing sustainable financial management plans for transportation infrastructure projects.
On Fundamental Theorems of Fuzzy Isomorphism of Fuzzy Subrings over a Certain Algebraic Product
Authors: Altassan Alaa , Mateen Muhammad Haris , Pamucar Dragan
Published: June 2021

In this study, we define the concept of an ω-fuzzy set ω-fuzzy subring and show that the intersection of two ω-fuzzy subrings is also an ω-fuzzy subring of a given ring. Moreover, we give the notion of an ω-fuzzy ideal and investigate different fundamental results of this phenomenon. We extend this ideology to propose the notion of an ω-fuzzy coset and develop a quotient ring with respect to this particular fuzzy ideal analog into a classical quotient ring. Additionally, we found an ω-fuzzy quotient subring. We also define the idea of a support set of an ω-fuzzy set and prove various important characteristics of this phenomenon. Further, we describe ω-fuzzy homomorphism and ω-fuzzy isomorphism. We establish an ω-fuzzy homomorphism between an ω-fuzzy subring of the quotient ring and an ω-fuzzy subring of this ring. We constitute a significant relationship between two ω-fuzzy subrings of quotient rings under the given ω-fuzzy surjective homomorphism and prove some more fundamental theorems of ω-fuzzy homomorphism for these specific fuzzy subrings. Finally, we present three fundamental theorems of ω-fuzzy isomorphism.
Estimation and Prediction for Nadarajah-Haghighi Distribution under Progressive Type-II Censoring
Authors: Wu Mingjie , Gui Wenhao
Published: June 2021

The paper discusses the estimation and prediction problems for the Nadarajah-Haghighi distribution using progressive type-II censored samples. For the unknown parameters, we first calculate the maximum likelihood estimates through the Expectation–Maximization algorithm. In order to choose the best Bayesian estimator, a loss function must be specified. When the loss is essentially symmetric, it is reasonable to use the square error loss function. However, for some estimation problems, the actual loss is often asymmetric. Therefore, we also need to choose an asymmetric loss function. Under the balanced squared error and symmetric squared error loss functions, the Tierney and Kadane method is used for calculating different kinds of approximate Bayesian estimates. The Metropolis-Hasting algorithm is also provided here. In addition, we construct a variety of interval estimations of the unknown parameters including asymptotic intervals, bootstrap intervals, and highest posterior density intervals using the sample derived from the Metropolis-Hasting algorithm. Furthermore, we compute the point predictions and predictive intervals for a future sample when facing the one-sample and two-sample situations. At last, we compare and appraise the performance of the provided techniques by carrying out a simulation study and analyzing a real rainfall data set.
Approximation Solution of the Fractional Parabolic Partial Differential Equation by the Half-Sweep and Preconditioned Relaxation
Authors: Sunarto Andang , Agarwal Praveen , Chew Jackel Vui Lung , Sulaiman Jumat
Published: June 2021

In this study, the numerical solution of a space-fractional parabolic partial differential equation was considered. The investigation of the solution was made by focusing on the space-fractional diffusion equation (SFDE) problem. Note that the symmetry of an efficient approximation to the SFDE based on a numerical method is related to the compatibility of a discretization scheme and a linear system solver. The application of the one-dimensional, linear, unconditionally stable, and implicit finite difference approximation to SFDE was studied. The general differential equation of the SFDE was discretized using the space-fractional derivative of Caputo with a half-sweep finite difference scheme. The implicit approximation to the SFDE was formulated, and the formation of a linear system with a coefficient matrix, which was large and sparse, is shown. The construction of a general preconditioned system of equation is also presented. This study’s contribution is the introduction of a half-sweep preconditioned successive over relaxation (HSPSOR) method for the solution of the SFDE-based system of equation. This work extended the use of the HSPSOR as an efficient numerical method for the time-fractional diffusion equation, which has been presented in the 5th North American International Conference on industrial engineering and operations management in Detroit, Michigan, USA, 10–14 August 2020. The current work proposed several SFDE examples to validate the performance of the HSPSOR iterative method in solving the fractional diffusion equation. The outcome of the numerical investigation illustrated the competence of the HSPSOR to solve the SFDE and proved that the HSPSOR is superior to the standard approximation, which is the full-sweep preconditioned SOR (FSPSOR), in terms of computational complexity.
The Potential of Phage Therapy against the Emerging Opportunistic Pathogen Stenotrophomonas maltophilia
Authors: McCutcheon Jaclyn G. , Dennis Jonathan J.
Published: June 2021

The isolation and characterization of bacteriophages for the treatment of infections caused by the multidrug resistant pathogen Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is imperative as nosocomial and community-acquired infections are rapidly increasing in prevalence. This increase is largely due to the numerous virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance genes encoded by this bacterium. Research on S. maltophilia phages to date has focused on the isolation and in vitro characterization of novel phages, often including genomic characterization, from the environment or by induction from bacterial strains. This review summarizes the clinical significance, virulence factors, and antimicrobial resistance mechanisms of S. maltophilia, as well as all phages isolated and characterized to date and strategies for their use. We further address the limited in vivo phage therapy studies conducted against this bacterium and discuss the future research needed to spearhead phages as an alternative treatment option against multidrug resistant S. maltophilia.
Effective Communication at Different Phases of COVID-19 Prevention: Roles, Enablers and Barriers
Authors: Mohd Hanafiah Khayriyyah , Ng Celine , Wan Abdul Matiin
Published: June 2021

In an age of globalisation and hyperconnectivity, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented and sustained impact worldwide. This article discusses issues related to (science) communication at different phases of the COVID-19 epidemic timeline. We consider the role of communication for prevention from the ecological perspective, taking into consideration that many emerging pathogens, including COVID-19, likely arise in part due to anthropogenic changes to natural environments. Communication forms part of the early response setting the scene for public buy-in of public health interventions at the start of an outbreak, as well as to maintain precautions over time. Finally, communication is a key element in increasing acceptance for new tools that require mass uptake to be effective, as seen with roll-out challenges for the COVID-19 vaccines, which faced heightened concerns of efficacy and safety while mired with rampant misinformation. Ultimately, strategies for prevention of viral epidemics such as COVID-19 must include communication strategies at the forefront to reduce the risk of the emergence of new diseases and enhance efforts to control their spread and burden. Despite key themes emerging, what constitutes effective communication strategies for different people and contexts needs to be investigated further.
Comparative Analysis of Public RNA-Sequencing Data from Human Intestinal Enteroid (HIEs) Infected with Enteric RNA Viruses Identifies Universal and Virus-Specific Epithelial Responses
Authors: Cieza Roberto J. , Golob Jonathan L. , Colacino Justin A. , Wobus Christiane E.
Published: June 2021

Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) has a significant disease burden on society. Noroviruses, rotaviruses, and astroviruses are important viral causes of AGE but are relatively understudied enteric pathogens. Recent developments in novel biomimetic human models of enteric disease are opening new possibilities for studying human-specific host–microbe interactions. Human intestinal enteroids (HIE), which are epithelium-only intestinal organoids derived from stem cells isolated from human intestinal biopsy tissues, have been successfully used to culture representative norovirus, rotavirus, and astrovirus strains. Previous studies investigated host–virus interactions at the intestinal epithelial interface by individually profiling the epithelial transcriptional response to a member of each virus family by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). Despite differences in the tissue origin, enteric virus used, and hours post infection at which RNA was collected in each data set, the uniform analysis of publicly available datasets identified a conserved epithelial response to virus infection focused around “type I interferon production” and interferon-stimulated genes. Additionally, transcriptional changes specific to only one or two of the enteric viruses were also identified. This study can guide future explorations into common and unique aspects of the host response to virus infections in the human intestinal epithelium and demonstrates the promise of comparative RNA-seq analysis, even if performed under different experimental conditions, to discover universal and virus-specific genes and pathways responsible for antiviral host defense.
Membrane-Associated Flavivirus Replication Complex—Its Organization and Regulation
Authors: Morita Eiji , Suzuki Youichi
Published: June 2021

Flavivirus consists of a large number of arthropod-borne viruses, many of which cause life-threatening diseases in humans. A characteristic feature of flavivirus infection is to induce the rearrangement of intracellular membrane structure in the cytoplasm. This unique membranous structure called replication organelle is considered as a microenvironment that provides factors required for the activity of the flaviviral replication complex. The replication organelle serves as a place to coordinate viral RNA amplification, protein translation, and virion assembly and also to protect the viral replication complex from the cellular immune defense system. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of how the formation and function of membrane-associated flaviviral replication organelle are regulated by cellular factors.
M Segment-Based Minigenome System of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus as a Tool for Antiviral Drug Screening
Authors: Yamada Hiroshi , Taniguchi Satoshi , Shimojima Masayuki , Tan Long , Kimura Miyuki , Morinaga Yoshitomo , Fukuhara Takasuke , Matsuura Yoshiharu , Komeno Takashi , Furuta Yousuke , Saijo Masayuki , Tani Hideki
Published: June 2021

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) is an emerging tick-borne bunyavirus that causes severe disease in humans with case fatality rates of approximately 30%. There are few treatment options for SFTSV infection. SFTSV RNA synthesis is conducted using a virus-encoded complex with RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity that is required for viral propagation. This complex and its activities are, therefore, potential antiviral targets. A library of small molecule compounds was processed using a high-throughput screening (HTS) based on an SFTSV minigenome assay (MGA) in a 96-well microplate format to identify potential lead inhibitors of SFTSV RNA synthesis. The assay confirmed inhibitory activities of previously reported SFTSV inhibitors, favipiravir and ribavirin. A small-scale screening using MGA identified four candidate inhibitors that inhibited SFTSV minigenome activity by more than 80% while exhibiting less than 20% cell cytotoxicity with selectivity index (SI) values of more than 100. These included mycophenolate mofetil, methotrexate, clofarabine, and bleomycin. Overall, these data demonstrate that the SFTSV MGA is useful for anti-SFTSV drug development research.
The Pro-Inflammatory Chemokines CXCL9, CXCL10 and CXCL11 Are Upregulated Following SARS-CoV-2 Infection in an AKT-Dependent Manner
Authors: Callahan Victoria , Hawks Seth , Crawford Matthew A. , Lehman Caitlin W. , Morrison Holly A. , Ivester Hannah M. , Akhrymuk Ivan , Boghdeh Niloufar , Flor Rafaela , Finkielstein Carla V. , Allen Irving Coy , Weger-Lucarelli James , Duggal Nisha , Hughes Molly A. , Kehn-Hall Kylene
Published: June 2021

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a highly transmissible RNA virus that is the causative agent of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Patients with severe COVID-19 may develop acute lung injury (ALI) or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and require mechanical ventilation. Key features of SARS-CoV-2 induced pulmonary complications include an overexpression of pro-inflammatory chemokines and cytokines that contribute to a ‘cytokine storm.’ In the current study an inflammatory state in Calu-3 human lung epithelial cells was characterized in which significantly elevated transcripts of the immunostimulatory chemokines CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11 were present. Additionally, an increase in gene expression of the cytokines IL-6, TNFα, and IFN-γ was observed. The transcription of CXCL9, CXCL10, IL-6, and IFN-γ was also induced in the lungs of human transgenic angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) mice infected with SARS-CoV-2. To elucidate cell signaling pathways responsible for chemokine upregulation in SARS-CoV-2 infected cells, small molecule inhibitors targeting key signaling kinases were used. The induction of CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11 gene expression in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection was markedly reduced by treatment with the AKT inhibitor GSK690693. Samples from COVID-19 positive individuals also displayed marked increases in CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11 transcripts as well as transcripts in the AKT pathway. The current study elucidates potential pathway specific targets for reducing the induction of chemokines that may be contributing to SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis via hyperinflammation.