bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Evolutionary Dance between Innate Host Antiviral Pathways and SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Aliyari Saba R. , Quanquin Natalie , Pernet Olivier , Zhang Shilei , Wang Lulan , Cheng Genhong
Published: May 2022

Compared to what we knew at the start of the SARS-CoV-2 global pandemic, our understanding of the interplay between the interferon signaling pathway and SARS-CoV-2 infection has dramatically increased. Innate antiviral strategies range from the direct inhibition of viral components to reprograming the host’s own metabolic pathways to block viral infection. SARS-CoV-2 has also evolved to exploit diverse tactics to overcome immune barriers and successfully infect host cells. Herein, we review the current knowledge of the innate immune signaling pathways triggered by SARS-CoV-2 with a focus on the type I interferon response, as well as the mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 impairs those defenses.
Radiotracers for the Central Serotoninergic System
Authors: Mangeant Reynald , Dubost Emmanuelle , Cailly Thomas , Collot Valérie
Published: May 2022

This review lists the most important radiotracers described so far for imaging the central serotoninergic system. Single-photon emission computed tomography and positron emission tomography radiotracers are reviewed and critically discussed for each receptor.
Curcumin as a Natural Approach of Periodontal Adjunctive Treatment and Its Immunological Implications: A Narrative Review
Authors: Solomon Sorina Mihaela , Stafie Celina Silvia , Sufaru Irina-Georgeta , Teslaru Silvia , Ghiciuc Cristina Mihaela , Petrariu Florin Dumitru , Tanculescu Oana
Published: May 2022

Scaling and root planing represent the gold standard in the treatment of periodontal disease, but these therapeutic methods cannot eliminate the remaining periodontopathogenic bacteria in cement, tubules, and periodontal soft tissue. Thus, a number of additional therapeutic means have been adopted, including local and systemic antibiotic therapy, as well as the use of photodynamic therapy techniques. Recently, special attention has been paid to potential phytotherapeutic means in the treatment of periodontal disease. In this review, we aim to present the effects generated by the extract of Curcuma longa, the various forms of application of turmeric as an additional therapeutic means, as well as the aspects related to its biotolerance.
Contribution of New Three-Dimensional Code Based on the VWZCC Code Extension in Eliminating Multiple Access Interference in Optical CDMA Networks
Authors: Rahmani Mohamed , Cherifi Abdelhamid , Karar Abdullah S. , Naima Sabri Ghoutia , Bouazza Boubakar S.
Published: May 2022

In order to solve the problem of one-dimensional code length, two-dimensional code spatial length, phase induced intensity noise PIIN effect, improved system capacity, and increased the number of simultaneous users, a new three-dimensional spectral/time/spatial variable weight zero cross correlation code for non-coherent spectral amplitude coding-optical code division multiple access (3D-VWZCC-SAC-OCDMA) is proposed in this paper. Its construction is based on a one-dimensional (1D) spectral sequence and two-dimensional (2D) temporal/spatial sequences, which are characterized by the property of zero cross correlation ZCC. The simulation results demonstrate that our code proves high immunity against PIIN noise and shot noise, it increases multiplexing ability when the passage is from (1D) and (2D) to (3D) up to 5.112 and 2.248 times, and it saves −7.04 dBm and −5.9 dBm of the receiver power due to simple detection at the receiver; furthermore, the 3D-VWZCC system capacity has outperformed the 3D-PD, 3D-PD/MD and 3D-DCS/MD codes, which reach 3686, 2908, and 3234 times, respectively. Moreover, our code offers better performance, in terms of data rates, with up to 2 Gbps compared to previous codes, which makes the system meet the requirements of optical communication networks. Further, 3D-VWZCC is also simulated in Optisystem software, where our code offers a transmission quality Q reaching 11.56 with a bit error rate BER of 1.99×10−31 despite a high number of users.
Genome Insights into Autopolyploid Evolution: A Case Study in Senecio doronicum (Asteraceae) from the Southern Alps
Authors: Fernández Pol , Hidalgo Oriane , Juan Ana , Leitch Ilia J. , Leitch Andrew R. , Palazzesi Luis , Pegoraro Luca , Viruel Juan , Pellicer Jaume
Published: May 2022

Polyploidy is a widespread phenomenon across angiosperms, and one of the main drivers of diversification. Whilst it frequently involves hybridisation, autopolyploidy is also an important feature of plant evolution. Minority cytotypes are frequently overlooked due to their lower frequency in populations, but the development of techniques such as flow cytometry, which enable the rapid screening of cytotype diversity across large numbers of individuals, is now providing a more comprehensive understanding of cytotype diversity within species. Senecio doronicum is a relatively common daisy found throughout European mountain grasslands from subalpine to almost nival elevations. We have carried out a population-level cytotype screening of 500 individuals from Tête Grosse (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France), confirming the coexistence of tetraploid (28.2%) and octoploid cytotypes (71.2%), but also uncovering a small number of hexaploid individuals (0.6%). The analysis of repetitive elements from short-read genome-skimming data combined with nuclear (ITS) and whole plastid DNA sequences support an autopolyploid origin of the polyploid S. doronicum individuals and provide molecular evidence regarding the sole contribution of tetraploids in the formation of hexaploid individuals. The evolutionary impact and resilience of the new cytotype have yet to be determined, although the coexistence of different cytotypes may indicate nascent speciation.
Self-Healing Silsesquioxane-Based Materials
Authors: Nowacka Maria , Kowalewska Anna
Published: May 2022

This review is devoted to self-healing materials (SHM) containing polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) as building blocks. The synthetic approach can vary depending on the role POSS are expected to play in a given system. POSS (especially double-decker silsesquioxanes) can be grafted in side chains of a polymer backbone or used as segments of the main chain. Appropriate functionalization allows the formation of dynamic bonds with POSS molecules and makes them an active component of SHM, both as crosslinking agents and as factors that enhance the dynamics of macromolecules in the polymer matrix. The latter effect can be achieved by reversible release of bulky POSS cages or by the formation of separated inclusions in the polymer matrix through hydrophobic interactions and POSS aggregation. The unique properties of POSS-based self-healing systems make them interesting and versatile materials for various applications (e.g., repairable coatings, sealants, sensors, soft materials for tissue engineering, drug delivery, and wound healing).
Quantitative Risk Analysis of Oil and Gas Fires and Explosions for FPSO Systems in China
Authors: Xie Xiulong , Xiong Youming , Xie Weikang , Li Junjie , Zhang Wenhai
Published: May 2022

The LH11-1 FPSO is an 80,000 t cylindrical structure that is responsible for the processing, storage, and offloading of process oil from existing and newly developed oilfields. In this paper, a full probabilistic analysis was developed based on very detailed CFD simulation results to evaluate ventilation, gas dispersion, explosion, and fire scenarios. A detailed fire and explosion risk analysis of LH11-1 FPSO was performed based on NORSOK Z-013 and FABIG Technical Note 11. The risk-based calculations were performed applying FLACS, KFX, and DNV GLEXPRESS Fire. Finally, the oil and gas dispersion, fire, and explosion consequence risks were calculated under the credible combination of leak frequency and leak location. By this probabilistic risk analysis, it was found that the west wind could generate optimal ventilation conditions for the topside process area of FPSO compared to other wind directions, while the hull region was poorly ventilated for all wind directions. The explosion risk analysis showed that the FPSO system would take no action in terms of explosion risk according to the acceptance criteria of 10−4 occ/year. Meanwhile, the fire risk analysis demonstrated that the PR1 first and second deck, PR2 first and second deck, process deck, offloading on starboard, and the base of the flare tower would have different impacts from the fire, and the PR1 first deck and PR2 first deck at the topside deck would be severely impacted regions.
Circular Economy Indicators for the Assessment of Waste and By-Products from the Palm Oil Sector
Authors: Bejarano Pedro-Antonio Cárdenas , Rodriguez-Miranda Juan-Pablo , Maldonado-Astudillo Rayma Ireri , Maldonado-Astudillo Yanik Ixchel , Salazar Ricardo
Published: May 2022

A circular economy (CE) promotes the reuse, reincorporation and valuation of waste and by-products under the framework of sustainable development through models and indicators that evaluate scenarios of second use and reduction in non-incorporated outputs to reduce negative externalities and pressures on the dimensions of development. A CE model applied to the transformation process of RFF in agro-industries is developed, which consists in the identification of the residue coefficients of EFB (22.48% ± 0.8), fiber (15.58% ± 0.49), husk (6.03% ± 0.66) and ash (0.55% ± 1.67). Subsequently, the valuation trends of potential second use were verified through a systematic review, which allowed the construction of the scenario of avoided costs of USD 678,721.5, a product of the total use of the outputs under bioenergy and nutrient source approaches. Finally, the RRSFM indicator was constructed, which can reach the level of 72% and a degree of improvement of 26% by 2026. In parallel, the HCRRS indicator revealed a reduction of 57.1%, 59.6% and 82.8% in emissions of t CO2-eq product in the comparison of scenarios for the use of residues and by-products of palm oil from agro-industries in the Casanare Department.
Spatiotemporal Visualisation of PS InSAR Generated Space–Time Series Describing Large Areal Land Deformations Using Diagram Map with Spiral Graph
Authors: Struhár Juraj , Rapant Petr
Published: May 2022

The space–time series carry information on temporal and spatial patterns in observed phenomena. The reported research integrates computational, visual and cartographic methods to support visual analysis of space–time series describing terrain surface movement. The proposed methodology for space–time series visualisation can support their analysts in investigating space–time patterns using transformation, clustering, filtration and visualisation. The presented approach involves spiral graphs for representation time dimension and cartographic visualisation through proportional point symbol map for representation of spatial dimension. The result is an intuitive visualisation of space–time series, conveying the sought-after spatio-temporal information. For practical tests, we used space–time series obtained by permanent scatterers interferometry (PS InSAR) to monitor the Earth’s surface movement above the underground gas storage (UGS) Tvrdonice, the Czech Republic. An UGS is characterised by periodic injection and withdrawal of natural gas, which induces periodic movement of the terrain above it. We have verified that our visualisation method provides the required pattern information and is easy to use.
Impacts of Climate Change, Glacier Mass Loss and Human Activities on Spatiotemporal Variations in Terrestrial Water Storage of the Qaidam Basin, China
Authors: Yang Xuewen , Wang Ninglian , Chen An’an , Li Zhijie , Liang Qian , Zhang Yujie
Published: May 2022

Monitoring the variations in terrestrial water storage (TWS) is crucial for understanding the regional hydrological processes, which helps to allocate and manage basin-scale water resources efficiently. In this study, the impacts of climate change, glacier mass loss, and human activities on the variations in TWS of the Qaidam Basin over the period of 2002−2020 were investigated by using Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and GRACE Follow-On (GRACE-FO) data, and other hydrological and meteorological data. The results indicate that TWS anomalies (TWSA) derived from five GRACE solutions experienced significant increasing trends over the study period, with the change rates ranging from 4.85 to 6.90 mm/year (1.37 to 1.95 km3/year). The GRACE TWSA averaged from different GRACE solutions exhibited an increase at a rate of 5.83 ± 0.12 mm/year (1.65 ± 0.03 km3/year). Trends in individual components of TWS indicate that the increase in soil moisture (7.65 mm/year) contributed the most to the variations in TWS. Through comprehensive analysis, it was found that the temporal variations in TWS of the Qaidam Basin were dominated by the variations in precipitation, and the spatial variations in TWS of the Qaidam Basin were mostly driven by the increase in glacier meltwater due to climate warming, particularly in the Narin Gol Basin. In addition, the water consumption associated with human activities had relatively fewer impacts.
A Wind Tunnel Study of the Flow-Induced Vibrations of a Cylindrical Piezoelectric Transducer
Authors: Salem Shehab , Fraňa Karel
Published: May 2022

Piezoelectric transducers are used as a sensing device to study the fluids’ motion. Moreover, they are used as a harvester of energy of Flow-Induced Vibration (FIV). The current FIV harvesters in the literature rely on piezoelectric cantilevers coupled with a bluff body that creates flow instabilities. This paper studies the use of piezoelectric cylinders as a novel transducer in the field of fluid mechanics, where the transducer makes use of its bluff geometry to create instability. The study was based on wind tunnel measurements performed on four piezoelectric cylinders of different sizes over a speed range of 1–7 m/s. The paper looks at the variation of the generated voltage across the Reynolds number. It also compares the spectra of the generated open-circuit voltage to the turbulence spectra features known from the literature.
HDOP and VDOP Analysis in an Ideal Placement Environment for Dual GNSSs
Authors: Jang JinHyeok , Park Dana , Sung Sangkyung , Lee Young Jae
Published: May 2022

Increasing the number of satellites in a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) improves the positioning accuracy and increases availability. However, it reduces the positioning accuracy improvement rate and increases the calculation loads, which can cause battery usage problems in mobile devices using a GNSS. An appropriate satellite selection method is required. One current method entails the use of ideal satellite placement with respect to the minimum geometric dilution of precision (GDOP). In this study, the described ideal satellite placement with the minimum GDOP were divided in terms of the horizontal dilution of precision (HDOP) and vertical dilution of precision (VDOP). HDOP and VDOP were mathematically derived and analyzed. The derived formula was verified using simulations. The analysis was performed with actual dual GNSS satellite data. The satellites adjacent to the ideal placement were selected and the DOP was calculated. Simply selecting satellites closest to the ideal placement afforded large values for HDOP and VDOP. This issue was addressed using a satellite changing algorithm considering the dual GNSS, resulting in reduced values of the HDOP and VDOP.
Mobile Device-Based Struck-By Hazard Recognition in Construction Using a High-Frequency Sound
Authors: Lee Jaehoon , Yang Kanghyeok
Published: May 2022

The construction industry experiences the highest rate of casualties from safety-related accidents at construction sites despite continuous social interest in safety management. Accordingly, various studies have been conducted on safety management, wherein recent studies have focused on its integration with Machine Learning (ML). In this study, we proposed a technology for recognizing struck-by hazards between construction equipment and workers, where a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and sound recognition were combined to analyze the changes in the Doppler effect caused by the movements of a subject. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the recognition performance in indoor and outdoor environments with respect to movement state, direction, speed, and near-miss situations. The proposed technology was able to classify the movement direction and speed with 84.4–97.4% accuracy and near-misses with 78.9% accuracy. This technology can be implemented using data obtained through the microphone of a smartphone, thus it is highly applicable and is also effective at ensuring that a worker becomes aware of a struck-by hazard near construction equipment. The findings of this study are expected to be applicable for the prevention of struck-by accidents occurring in various forms at construction sites in the vicinity of construction equipment.
Ergonomic Design of Apron Bus with Consideration for Passengers with Mobility Constraints
Authors: Gumasing Ma. Janice J. , Prasetyo Yogi Tri , Ong Ardvin Kester S. , Carcellar Maria Rebeka Isabel M. , Aliado John Brixter J. , Nadlifatin Reny , Persada Satria Fadil
Published: May 2022

Passengers in an apron bus are usually subjected to a standing position because of its limited seats and capacity. Due to this, passengers, especially those with mobility constraints, may expose themselves to musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) risks such as body pain, discomfort, and non-collision injuries. The purpose of this study is to design an ergonomic apron bus to aid the musculoskeletal discomfort experienced by passengers with mobility constraints, specifically the elderly, pregnant women, mothers carrying infants, and persons needing wheelchair assistance. A total of 149 participants are involved in the study. Corlett’s and Bishop’s body discomfort questionnaires and Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) are utilized to evaluate the respondent’s experience of discomfort in different regions of their body. The results show that passengers with mobility constraints experience body discomfort during the apron bus ride. The prevalence of body discomfort is evident in the lower back, knee, thigh, arm, shoulder, and middle back. Finally, principles of anthropometry are used in the study along with quality function deployment (QFD), failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA), and cost-benefit analysis to evaluate the feasibility of the recommended ergonomic design of the apron bus. To meet the requirements of people with disabilities, the ergonomic design of an apron bus is created to minimize the risk of exposure of passengers to certain musculoskeletal discomfort, maximize the space, minimize the delay time of the airlines, and be able to prioritize passengers who require mobility assistance.
Analysis of Differentially Expressed Proteins and Modifications Induced by Formaldehyde Using LC-MS/MS
Authors: Liu Ranran , Han Yue , Wu Zhiyue , Zhang Jianji , Zang Yong , Shen Lijin , Tian Shanshan , Zhang Kai
Published: May 2022

Formaldehyde (FA) is a toxic compound that is considered to have a carcinogenic effect due to its damage to biological macromolecules. However, the influence of FA at the protein level remains to be explored. Here, we used LC-MS/MS to identify the differentially expressed proteins and modifications to proteins between FA-treated and untreated HeLa cells. Among 2021 proteins identified, 196 proteins were significantly down-regulated and 152 up-regulated. The differentially expressed proteins were further analyzed using bioinformatics tools for annotating the characterization of their localizations and functions. To evaluate the interaction of FA with proteins, we performed proteomic analysis for a mass shift of 12 Da on the side chains of lysine, cysteine and tryptophan, which are induced by FA as noticeable signals. We identified the modified proteins and sites, suggesting direct interaction between FA and proteins. Motif analysis further showed the characterization of amino acid sequences that react with FA. Cluster analysis of the modified proteins indicated that the FA-interacting networks are mostly enriched in the nuclei, ribosomes and metabolism. Our study presents the influence of FA on proteomes and modifications, offering a new insight into the mechanisms underlying FA-induced biological effects.
Investigation of Selective Ribavirin Extraction from Serum Samples Using a Monolithic Silica Disk-Packed Spin Column
Authors: Yui Yuko , Ota Shigenori , Aoyama Chiaki , Song Yanting , Tsunoda Makoto
Published: May 2022

Ribavirin, a nucleoside analog, is used to treat chronic hepatitis C (HCV) infections. Therapeutic drug monitoring for ribavirin is useful for predicting the effect of treatment. In this study, the selective extraction of ribavirin from serum samples and the HPLC-UV detection method were investigated using a monolithic silica disk-packed spin column with phenylboronate moieties. In this study, 0.6% ammonia and 1% formic acid solutions were used as the conditioning and elution solutions, respectively, and recoveries of >90% were obtained. Ribavirin was separated on an InertSustain AQ-C18 column by isocratic elution. The mobile phase consisted of a mixture of 7 mM Na2SO4 and 60 mM H3PO4 in H2O. Linear regression curves were observed for calibrations over a concentration range of 0.25–25 µg/mL. The lower limit of detection was 0.05 µg/mL, and the lower limit of quantification was 0.1 µg/mL. The intra- and inter-day precisions were below 3.2 and 3.1%, respectively. This method can be applied to quantify ribavirin levels in human serum and may be useful for pharmacokinetic studies.
Chromatography in Ukraine: Development and Achievements
Authors: Gertsiuk Modest
Published: May 2022

The development of chromatographic science in Ukraine is due to the widespread use of chromatography to solve practical problems. The centers of chromatographic research in Ukraine are in large cities: Kyiv, Kharkiv, Lviv, Odessa, and others. Along with the development of chromatographic research methods, analysis methods for control of food and agricultural raw materials, medicinal products, petroleum products, and determination of the environmental pollution state are created. Chromatography is used in medicine, pharmacology, biology, and other sciences.
Hukou System Influencing the Structural, Institutional Inequalities in China: The Multifaceted Disadvantages Rural Hukou Holders Face
Authors: Hung Jason
Published: May 2022

In this paper, the author investigates rural Chinese citizens’ encounters of structural and institutional inequalities and social (im)mobility. The author addresses social (im)mobility from a holistic perspective (i.e., in institutional, occupational, social, educational, cultural and political dimensions). In this regard, the author explores if a range of parental disadvantages serve as significant hindrances to the acquisition of social mobilising opportunities among the next generations in rural Chinese contexts. Here a holistic presentation helps understand the nuanced relationship between institutional barriers (i.e., rural hukou status) and alternative obstacles to social mobility; and explore, in part, how parental inheritance of rural hukou status would bar individuals’ from socially mobilising and result in some forms of unsustainability. Previous research on China restrictively measures social (im)mobility from limited perspectives, failing to fully and accurately reflect the extent of social (im)mobility Chinese populations face. This paper is a comprehensive literature review where relevant Chinese literature, exclusively found in the e-library system of the University of Cambridge, is included and thoroughly discussed. Articles that include the keywords of “hukou”, “China”, “social mobility” and (a) “economic”, (b) “social”, (c) “cultural”, (d) “linguistic” or (e) “political” are extensively studied, in a hope to understand the existing scholarship on multifaceted social (im)mobility in Chinese contexts. The author argues that, despite the 2014 hukou reform, further loosening the requirements for rural-to-urban hukou conversion should be prioritised by the Central Government of China in order to ensure the rural-urban divide and structural and institutional inequalities rural hukou holders face can curtain.
Prostitution and Deservingness in Times of Pandemic: State (Non) Protection of Sex Workers in Spain
Authors: Acién González Estefanía , Arjona Garrido Ángeles
Published: May 2022

During the COVID-19 health crisis, the Spanish Government launched a series of urgent measures to protect the population from its economic effects. At first, it seemed that sex workers would have access to this protection, given that, technically, their access to the star measure, the IMV (anagram in Spanish for Ingreso Mínimo Vital) (minimum living income), was explicitly expressed. However, in the end, this group was excluded as the final text specified that only those deemed to be victims of gender violence, sexual exploitation, or trafficking could access said measure. We propose to study the usefulness of the concept of deservingness of social benefits to explain this lack of protection in a framework that takes into account political power contexts, the empirical observations of sex workers on their level of access to the IMV, and an exploration of its association with the theoretical construct of deservingness. Through a revision of secondary sources, interviews with key informants, and applying discourse analysis, we found these connections and the evident exclusion of sex workers from the social benefit. Likewise, we found that social stigma and moral and ideological judgments are behind this undeservingness and confirm a process of “NGOization” of care for this group that implies the depoliticization and professionalization of civil society entities such as NGOs.
Assessing the Relationships between Internet Addiction, Depression, COVID-19-Related Fear, Anxiety, and Suspicion among Graduate Students in Educational Administration: A Structural Equation Modeling Analysis
Authors: Karakose Turgut
Published: May 2022

This study aims to examine the relationships between Internet addiction, depression, COVID-19-related fear, anxiety, and suspicion in graduate students. A total of 482 students pursuing a master’s degree in educational administration participated in the study, which was designed according to the relational survey model. The data of the study were collected using online questionnaires, and the proposed hypotheses were tested and analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). The results of the study revealed that COVID-19-related suspicion positively and significantly predicted COVID-19-related fear and anxiety. In this context, the increased suspicion of graduate students due to COVID-19 also increased their fear and COVID-19-related anxiety, and this increased the possibility that they would exhibit depressive behaviors. However, a positive and significant relationship was found between COVID-19-related suspicion and depression. This result confirms that the increased suspicion of the participant students due to COVID-19 led to an increase in their depression scores. SEM results have shown a positive relationship between fear and anxiety related to COVID-19 and Internet addiction, and that the increase in students’ anxiety and fear levels also increases their Internet addiction levels. In addition, the results of the study revealed that depression has a negligible indirect effect on the relationship between COVID-19-related fear, anxiety, and suspicion and Internet addiction. In conclusion, the proposed hypothetical model is confirmed after having examined the relationships among depression, Internet addiction, COVID-19-related fear and anxiety, and suspicion.
Flow Experiences and Virtual Tourism: The Role of Technological Acceptance and Technological Readiness
Authors: Yang Chenyujing , Yan Shaocong , Wang Jingyu , Xue Yongji
Published: May 2022

Virtual technology has brought new development opportunities to the tourism market and is expected to help the tourism industry cope with the challenges issuing from the COVID-19 pandemic. Given this context, in this study, we propose and test a model based on the SOR architecture, which includes tourists’ experience of virtual tourism, technical readiness (TR), technical acceptance (TA), and tourists’ virtual tourism intentions and the variables of flow experience, technical optimism, technical discomfort, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, adoption intention, and consumption intention. To this end, data were collected through a questionnaire survey of Chinese tourists (n = 542). Then, we used a structural equation model (SEM) to test the hypothetical relationships between potential variables. The results showed that the flow experience delivered by the virtual tourism experience affects tourists’ tendencies to use and intentions to consume virtual tourism. Second, flow experiences can make tourists more optimistic about virtual tourism technology, reduce tourists’ technical discomfort, and enhance tourists’ perceptions of usefulness and ease of use. We also found that tourists’ intentions to use virtual tourism technology affect their intentions to travel on the spot. These findings provide useful insights for tourism practitioners, suggest new ideas for marketing and sustainable development in the virtual tourism industry, and verify the application of the integrated SOR and TAM framework in the field of tourism consumption.
Dubai Municipality Initiative to Reduce Food Loss
Authors: Essam Sayed , Gill Tim , Alders Robyn G.
Published: May 2022

Dubai has experienced enormous economic and population growth, transforming the city from a small regional business hub in the 1970s to a global business hub of financial and tourism activities in the 21st century. Relevant Dubai Municipality reports were reviewed and semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions conducted with representatives of large food importers and local producers to evaluate the link between the food importation requirements and minimising food loss. Measures taken by the Municipality of Dubai to successfully reduce food loss and improve food security include the diversion of potential food loss to the United Arab Emirates Food Bank and recycling it into animal feed when appropriate. These measures significantly reduced food loss by 93% in the four years from 2016 to 2019. Some political and managerial implications of the study are highlighted.
Effects of Prescribed Burning on Soil CO2 Emissions from Pinus yunnanensis Forestland in Central Yunnan, China
Authors: Yang Bo , Chen Qibo , Gong Shunqing , Zhao Yue , Song Denghui , Li Jianqiang
Published: May 2022

The effects of low-intensity and high-frequency prescribed burning on the soil CO2 emissions from Pinus yunnanensis forestland should be explored to achieve sustainable operation and management under fire disturbance. A Li-6400XT portable photosynthesis meter (equipped with a Li-6400-09 soil respiration chamber) and a TRIME®-PICO 64/32 soil temperature and moisture meter were used to measure the soil CO2 flux, soil temperature, and soil moisture at fixed observation sites in two treatments (i.e., unburned (UB) and after prescribed burning (AB)) in a Pinus yunnanensis forest of Zhaobi Mountain, Xinping County, Yunnan, China from March 2019 to February 2021. We also determined the relationships between the soil CO2 flux and soil hydrothermal factors. The results showed that (1) the soil CO2 flux in both UB and AB plots exhibited a significant unimodal trend of seasonal variations. In 2020, the highest soil CO2 fluxes occurred in September; they were 7.08 μmol CO2·m−2·s−1 in the morning and 7.63 μmol CO2·m−2·s−1 in the afternoon in the AB treatment, which was significantly lower than those in the UB treatment (p < 0.05). The AB and the UB treatment showed no significant differences in annual soil carbon flux (p > 0.05). (2) The relationship between the soil CO2 flux and moisture in the AB and UB plots was best fitted by a quadratic function, with a degree of fitting between 0.435 and 0.753. The soil CO2 flux and soil moisture showed an inverted U-shaped correlation in the UB plot (p < 0.05) but a positive correlation in the AB plot (p < 0.05). Soil moisture was the key factor affecting the soil CO2 flux (p < 0.05), while soil temperature showed no significant effect on soil CO2 flux in this area (p > 0.05). Therefore, the application of low-intensity prescribed burning for fire hazard reduction in this region achieved the objective without causing a persistent and drastic increase in the soil CO2 emissions. The results could provide important theoretical support for scientific implementation of prescribed burning, as well as scientific evaluation of ecological and environmental effects after prescribed burning.
The Effect of Spill Light on Street Lighting Energy Efficiency and Light Pollution
Authors: Terrich Theodor , Balsky Marek
Published: May 2022

Street lighting is usually designed to meet luminance (or illuminance) requirements of technical standards and recommendations with minimum possible lighting installation power consumption. However, with the expansion of street lighting in growing cities caused by increasing traffic intensity, the disturbing effects of street lighting on the surroundings are often neglected in the design of lighting systems. Light emitted outside the area to be lit (spill light) causes an increase in complaints from residents and an increase in lighting installation power consumption. Therefore, this paper proposes an analysis of the effect of spill light on the energy efficiency of the street lighting systems.
Eating in Season—A Lever of Sustainability? An Interview Study on the Social Perception of Seasonal Consumption
Authors: Régnier Faustine , Dalstein Anne-Laure , Rouballay Clémence , Chauvel Louis
Published: May 2022

Seasonality is a lever of sustainability. However, very little is known about the social perceptions of “in season” food consumption. We aimed to explore different French social groups’ perceptions of seasonality, “in season” food choices, and their respective advantages or disadvantages. We interviewed 73 individuals (general population = 32, clients of short supply chains = 28, Etiquettable (a sustainability app) users = 13). In-depth, semi-structured interviews using open-ended questions were conducted. Content and thematic, textual, and quantitative analyses were performed. We found four clusters of interviewees who differed in social backgrounds and motivations for eating “in season.” A social divide between individuals for whom “eating seasonally” was a priority (upper strata), and those who “eat unseasonally” (lower strata) was highlighted. An analysis of motivations showed a contrast between individuals who were familiar with seasonal food rhythms and aimed to support the local economy and the older generation for whom seasonal products gave better value for money. The implications of public action on sustainable consumption are discussed with respect to the knowledge of seasonality, targeted segments of the population, and a combination of arguments to encourage seasonal consumption.
Policy Evaluation of Drama-Related Intangible Cultural Heritage Tourism for Boosting Green Industry: An Empirical Analysis Based on Quasi-Natural Experiment
Authors: Zhao Huan , Zhao Xi , Elahi Ehsan , Wang Fushuai
Published: May 2022

Drama-related intangible cultural heritage is rich in connotations, and the development of tourism value of drama-related intangible cultural heritage can promote the service industry and boost the development of green economy. Using panel data of 31 provinces, municipalities directly under the central government and autonomous regions in China from 2000 to 2019, this paper empirically analyzed the global picture of the effectiveness of sustainable policies for drama-related intangible cultural heritage tourism through the double difference method of quasi-natural experiment, then analyzed the different performance of policies among regions with different geographical characteristics, and finally analyzed the patterns of four batches of policies in time sequentially in multiple periods. The results found that sustainable policies for drama-related intangible cultural heritage tourism can promote the development of green service industries. These policies can promote the service industry in areas with a relatively backward economy, a single industrial sector, and a low degree of openness, but with outstanding ethnic characteristics, and can effectively promote rural revitalization. Besides, these policies first promote the growth rate of the green service industry, and the effectiveness of the policies has a certain time lag. As the effect of the policies accumulates, the growth rate of the green service industry slows down, the scale benefits appear, and the proportion of the industry is obviously increased.
What Do the Public Want to Know about Farming and Why? Findings from a Farmer-Initiated Public Consultation Exercise in Ireland
Authors: Regan Áine , Kenny Ursula
Published: May 2022

With advances in information communication technologies and sustainability-driven changes in consumer behavior, farmer–citizen communication is a communicative dyad that is receiving attention. Farmers and citizens view farming practices through very different lenses of prior knowledge, experiences, beliefs, and values, presenting unique communication challenges. Dialogue-based communication can help to build empathy and trust. Initiated by a committee of farmers, a public consultation exercise was carried out to facilitate citizens to deliberate over farming and farming practices in Ireland to better understand their views and perspectives, and identify information needs and knowledge gaps. Employing a participatory deliberative approach, 10 focus groups were carried out with members of the public (n = 65) carefully selected to represent diverse demographics in the general population. Findings are structured around two central themes. ‘Bridging the disconnect’ reflects the strong support found across the focus groups for farmer-led dialogic communication with citizens on farming practices. ‘Understanding knowledge gaps’ revealed the nature and underlying motivations of public information needs and knowledge gaps in specific areas: (1) the basics of farming; (2) the life of the farmer; (3) minding animals; (4) minding the environment; and (5) buying local and natural. Dialogue-based communication between farmers and citizens offers opportunities for supporting connected and sustainable food and farming systems through value-driven and responsive behavior change.
A Critical Review of Short-Term Water Demand Forecasting Tools—What Method Should I Use?
Authors: Niknam Azar , Zare Hasan Khademi , Hosseininasab Hassan , Mostafaeipour Ali , Herrera Manuel
Published: May 2022

The challenge for city authorities goes beyond managing growing cities, since as cities develop, their exposure to climate change effects also increases. In this scenario, urban water supply is under unprecedented pressure, and the sustainable management of the water demand, in terms of practices including economic, social, environmental, production, and other fields, is becoming a must for utility managers and policy makers. To help tackle these challenges, this paper presents a well-timed review of predictive methods for short-term water demand. For this purpose, over 100 articles were selected from the articles published in water demand forecasting from 2010 to 2021 and classified upon the methods they use. In principle, the results show that traditional time series methods and artificial neural networks are among the most widely used methods in the literature, used in 25% and 20% of the articles in this review. However, the ultimate goal of the current work goes further, providing a comprehensive guideline for engineers and practitioners on selecting a forecasting method to use among the plethora of available options. The overall document results in an innovative reference tool, ready to support demand-informed decision making for disruptive technologies such as those coming from the Internet of Things and cyber–physical systems, as well as from the use of digital twin models of water infrastructure. On top of this, this paper includes a thorough review of how sustainable management objectives have evolved in a new era of technological developments, transforming data acquisition and treatment.
Spatiotemporal Distribution and Geographical Impact Factors of Barley and Wheat during the Late Neolithic and Bronze Age (4000–2300 cal. a BP) in the Gansu–Qinghai Region, Northwest China
Authors: Ma Zhikun , Song Jincheng , Wu Xiaohui , Hou Guangliang , Huan Xiujia
Published: May 2022

During the Late Neolithic and Bronze Age, the spread of Triticeae crops gradually transformed local millet agriculture in the Gansu–Qinghai region. However, few studies focused on the distribution characteristics and geographical factors influencing Triticeae agriculture. Here, geographical data from 65 sites with barley (Hordeum vulgare) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) remains in Gansu–Qinghai region were studied by spatial analysis in ArcGIS. The results showed that spatiotemporal distribution of barley and wheat exhibited three stages: firstly appeared in the central Hexi Corridor at ~4000 cal. a BP, then spread throughout the Hexi Corridor and Qinghai Lake area during 3600–3200 cal. a BP, and continued to move southward to the Hehuang Valley and Weihe River Basin during 3200–2300 cal. a BP. The studied sites were mainly distributed along rivers and certain altitude with suitable climatic conditions. The average distance to the nearest river was ~8 km, with wheat sites ~300 m closer than barley’s. The average elevation was 3500–1500 m, with wheat sites ~200 m lower than barley’s. The variations in spatiotemporal distribution were attributed to greater environmental tolerance of barley. These findings provide important environmental insights into the spatiotemporal distribution and transmission routes of barley and wheat in northwest China.
A Comprehensive Study of a Winter Haze Episode over the Area around Bohai Bay in Northeast China: Insights from Meteorological Elements Observations of Boundary Layer
Authors: Kang Boshi , Liu Chong , Miao Chuanhai , Zhang Tiening , Li Zonghao , Hou Chang , Li Hongshuo , Li Chenrui , Zheng Yu , Che Huizheng
Published: May 2022

Based on wind profile radar observations, along with high-frequency wave radar data, meteorological data, and air quality monitoring data, we studied a haze episode in Panjin—a coastal city around Bohai Bay in Northeast China—that occurred from 8 to 13 February 2020. The results show that this persistent pollution event was dominated by PM10 and PM2.5 and their mass concentrations were both ~120 μg/m3 in the mature stage. In the early stage, the southerly sea breeze of ~4.5 m/s brought a large amount of moist air from the sea, which provided sufficient water vapor for the condensation and nucleation of pollutants, and thus accelerated the formation of haze. In the whole haze process, a weak updraft first appeared in the boundary layer, according to the vertical profile, contributing to the collision and growth of particulate matter. Vertical turbulence was barely observed in the mature stage, with the haze layer reaching 900 m in its peak, suggesting stable stratification conditions of the atmospheric boundary layer. The explosive growth of pollutant concentrations was about 10 h later than the formation of the stable stratification condition of the boundary layer. The potential source areas of air pollutants were identified by the WRF-FLEXPART model, which showed the significant contribution of local emissions and the transport effect of sea breeze. This study provides insights into the formation mechanism of haze pollution in this area, but the data observed in this campaign are also valuable for numerical modeling.
Geographical and Meteorological Evaluations of COVID-19 Spread in Iran
Authors: Goudarzi Gholamreza , Babaei Ali Akbar , Mohammadi Mohammad Javad , Hamid Vafa , Maleki Heydar
Published: May 2022

Since late 2019 many people all over the world have become infected and have died due to coronavirus. There have been many general studies about the spread of the virus. In this study, new and accumulated confirmed cases (NCC and ACC), new and accumulated recovered cases (NRC and ARC), and new and accumulated deaths (ND and AD) were evaluated by geographical properties, meteorological parameters and air particulate matters between 3 April 2020 and 11 June 2020 within 15 provinces in Iran. Meteorological parameters, air particulate matters and COVID-19 data were collected from Iran Meteorological Organization, the Environmental Protection Agency and Aftabnews website, respectively. The results of the study show that provinces in dry lands (i.e., Kerman and South Khorasan) not only had low admission of NCC, ACC, ARC and AD but also presented lower rates of NCC, ACC and AD per 105 population. Air temperature showed positive and significant correlation with the number of COVID-19 cases. This is because of hot outdoor air especially in costal and equatorial regions that forces people to stay in closed environments with no ventilation and with closed-cycle air conditioners. Maximum air pressure was found to be the most frequent (66%) and significant parameter correlating with health outcomes associated with COVID-19. The most engaged province in this study was Khuzestan, while provinces in dry lands (i.e., Kerman and South Khorasan) showed low number of health endpoints associated with COVID-19. The highest rate of accumulated and new recovered cases per 105 population were also found in Khuzestan and Kerman provinces. North Khorasan also showed the worst rate of N&ARC/105 population. Therefore, air temperature, dry lands and population were the most important factors for the control of coronavirus spread.
Operational Data-Driven Intelligent Modelling and Visualization System for Real-World, On-Road Vehicle Emissions—A Case Study in Hangzhou City, China
Authors: Wang Lu , Chen Xue , Xia Yan , Jiang Linhui , Ye Jianjie , Hou Tangyan , Wang Liqiang , Zhang Yibo , Li Mengying , Li Zhen , Song Zhe , Jiang Yaping , Liu Weiping , Li Pengfei , Zhang Xiaoye , Yu Shaocai
Published: May 2022

On-road vehicle emissions play a crucial role in affecting air quality and human exposure, particularly in megacities. In the absence of comprehensive traffic monitoring networks with the general lack of intelligent transportation systems (ITSs) and big-data-driven, high-performance-computing (HPC) platforms, it remains challenging to constrain on-road vehicle emissions and capture their hotspots. Here, we established an intelligent modelling and visualization system driven by ITS traffic data for real-world, on-road vehicle emissions. Based on the HPC platform (named “City Brain”) and an agile Web Geographic Information System (WebGISs), this system can map real-time (hourly), hyperfine (10~1000 m) vehicle emissions (e.g., PM2.5, NOx, CO, and HC) and associated traffic states (e.g., vehicle-specific categories and traffic fluxes) over the Xiaoshan District in Hangzhou. Our results show sharp variations in on-road vehicle emissions on small scales, which even fluctuated up to 31.2 times within adjacent road links. Frequent and widespread emission hotspots were also exposed. Over custom spatiotemporal scopes, we virtually investigated and visualized the impacts of traffic control policies on the traffic states and on-road vehicle emissions. Such results have important implications for how traffic control policies should be optimized. Integrating this system with chemical transport models and air quality measurements would bridge the technical gap between air pollutant emissions, concentrations, and human exposure.