bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Parametric Study of a Supercritical CO2 Power Cycle for Waste Heat Recovery with Variation in Cold Temperature and Heat Source Temperature
Authors: Kim Young-Min , Lee Young-Duk , Ahn Kook-Young
Published: October 2021

The supercritical carbon dioxide (S-CO2) power cycle is a promising development for waste heat recovery (WHR) due to its high efficiency despite its simplicity and compactness compared with a steam bottoming cycle. A simple recuperated S-CO2 power cycle cannot fully utilize the waste heat due to the trade-off between the heat recovery and thermal efficiency of the cycle. A split cycle in which the working fluid is preheated by the recuperator and the heat source separately can be used to maximize the power output from a given waste heat source. In this study, the operating conditions of split S-CO2 power cycles for waste heat recovery from a gas turbine and an engine were studied to accommodate the temperature variation of the heat sink and the waste heat source. The results show that it is vital to increase the low pressure of the cycle along with a corresponding increase in the cooling temperature to maintain the low-compression work near the critical point. The net power decreases by 6 to 9% for every 5 °C rise in the cooling temperature from 20 to 50 °C due to the decrease in heat recovery and thermal efficiency of the cycle. The effect of the heat-source temperature on the optimal low-pressure side was negligible, and the optimal high pressure of the cycle increased with an increase in the heat-source temperature. As the heat-source temperature increased in steps of 50 °C from 300 to 400 °C, the system efficiency increased by approximately 2% (absolute efficiency), and the net power significantly increased by 30 to 40%.
Effective Permutation Encoding for Evolutionary Optimization of the Electric Vehicle Routing Problem
Authors: Iwańkowicz Remigiusz
Published: October 2021

This paper addresses the problem of route planning for a fleet of electric vehicles departing from a depot and supplying customers with certain goods. This paper aims to present a permutation-based method of vehicle route coding adapted to the specificity of electric drive. The developed method integrated with an evolutionary algorithm allows for rapid generation of routes for multiple vehicles taking into account the necessity of supplying energy in available charging stations. The minimization of the route distance travelled by all vehicles was taken as a criterion. The performed testing indicated satisfactory computation speed. A real region with four charging stations and 33 customers was analysed. Different scenarios of demand were analysed, and factors affecting the results of the proposed calculation method were indicated. The limitations of the method were pointed out, mainly caused by assumptions that simplify the problem. In the future, it is planned for research and method development to include the lapse of time and for the set of factors influencing energy consumption by a moving vehicle to be extended.
A Review of Energy Loss Reduction Technologies for Internal Combustion Engines to Improve Brake Thermal Efficiency
Authors: Wang Zhijian , Shuai Shijin , Li Zhijie , Yu Wenbin
Published: October 2021

Today, the problem of energy shortage and climate change has urgently motivated the development of research engaged in improving the fuel efficiency of internal combustion engines (ICEs). Although many constructive alternatives—including battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and low-carbon fuels such as biofuels or hydrogen—are being put forward, they are starting from a very low base, and still face significant barriers. Nevertheless, 85–90% of transport energy is still expected to come from combustion engines powered by conventional liquid fuels even by 2040. Therefore, intensive passion for the improvement of engine thermal efficiency and decreasing energy loss has driven the development of reliable approaches and modelling to fully understand the underlying mechanisms. In this paper, literature surveys are presented that investigate the relative advantages of technologies mainly focused on minimizing energy loss in engine assemblies, including pistons and rings, bearings and valves, water and oil pumps, and cooling systems. Implementations of energy loss reduction concepts in advanced engines are also evaluated against expectations of meeting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compliance in the years to come.
How Can Local and Regional Knowledge Networks Contribute to Landscape Level Action for Tree Health?
Authors: O’Brien Liz , Karlsdóttir Berglind , Ambrose-Oji Bianca , Urquhart Julie , Edwards David , Amboage Rosa , Jones Glyn
Published: October 2021

Forests worldwide are facing increasing pressures, with human travel and trade assisting the spread of pests and diseases. Climate change is likely to enhance the negative impacts of pests and diseases, which cause global declines and local extinctions. In this research we focus on three local and regional knowledge networks in the UK concerned with pests and diseases to explore to what extent the networks raise awareness and encourage other actions in their members, and identify what roles social capital and social learning play in these networks. A qualitative approach was undertaken. Three networks focused on pests and diseases were studied in the research, which involved 20 interviews with network members, and in situ discussions with two of the networks involving 41 members. Interviewees in the networks self-reported increased awareness and understanding of tree health issues as an important outcome of their participation in a network. The networks engaged in a range of actions, from knowledge exchange to developing guidance and running events, workshops and field trips. The role of the networks in supporting the development of social capital and social learning made an important contribution to the knowledge exchange and other actions undertaken, and highlights how networks can contribute to landscape-level action towards tree health. Stakeholders need to be included in responses to pest and disease threats, and networks can play an important role in raising awareness, knowledge exchange and linking up diverse land managers. This research provides evidence of the importance of networks in developing a collective approach, creating a stronger voice, aiding different organisations and individuals to work together, and providing an arena for social learning and developing useful relationships. A recognition of the importance of networks and the provision of some financial support could aid their continuation.
Socioeconomic Impact of Mining in the Atiwa Forest Reserve of Ghana on Fringe Communities and the Achievement of SDGs: Analysis from the Residents’ Perspective
Authors: Akomaning Yaw Okyere , Hlaváčková Petra , Darkwah Samuel Antwi , Živělová Iva , Sujová Andrea
Published: October 2021

The Atiwa forest reserve of Ghana sits upon roughly 150 million tons of bauxite. The Government has decided to mine and use the proceeds for national infrastructure development programs. This article examines the impact of mining on the residents’ livelihoods and the achievement of the SDGs from the perspective of the residents. A questionnaire was administered to 197 respondents. Per the findings, the residents around the forest reserve do not consent to the proposed mining project. Although they give credit to its possible job creation opportunities, the irreplaceable nature of the forest reserve urges them not to consent to the initiative. They depend on the rivers and streams for their livelihoods, and the affected districts are also among Ghana’s major cocoa producers. These farmers depend on these water bodies for irrigation. It is necessary to preserve them in order to sustain the production of these cash crops that make a direct contribution to the country’s GDP.
A Systematic Literature Review of Industry 4.0 Technologies within Medical Device Manufacturing
Authors: Lepasepp Tuuli Katarina , Hurst William
Published: October 2021

Ever since the emergence of Industry 4.0 as the synonymous term for the fourth industrial revolution, its applications have been widely discussed and used in many business scenarios. This concept is derived from the advantages of internet and technology, and it describes the efficient synchronicity of humans and computers in smart factories. By leveraging big data analysis, machine learning and robotics, the end-to-end supply chain is optimized in many ways. However, these implementations are more challenging in heavily regulated fields, such as medical device manufacturing, as incorporating new technologies into factories is restricted by the regulations in place. Moreover, the production of medical devices requires an elaborate quality analysis process to assure the best possible outcome to the patient. Therefore, this article reflects on the benefits (features) and limitations (obstacles), in addition to the various smart manufacturing trends that could be implemented within the medical device manufacturing field by conducting a systematic literature review of 104 articles sourced from four digital libraries. Out of the 7 main themes and 270 unique applied technologies, 317 features and 117 unique obstacles were identified. Furthermore, the main findings include an overview of ways in which manufacturing could be improved and optimized within a regulated setting, such as medical device manufacturing.
Influence of Spatial Scale Selection of Environmental Factors on the Prediction of Distribution of Coilia nasus in Changjiang River Estuary
Authors: Meng Weizhao , Gong Yihe , Wang Xuefang , Tong Jianfeng , Han Dongyan , Chen Jinhui , Wu Jianhui
Published: October 2021

An estuary region is a complex environment with a transition from fresh to brackish to salt water, and in which some environmental factors change dramatically over small ranges. Therefore, it is important to understand the impact of the selection of spatial scale on the prediction of the distribution of estuarine species. As the largest estuary in China, the Changjiang River estuary is the spawning ground, feeding ground, and migration channel for many species. Based on Coilia nasus, an important economic fish species in the Changjiang River estuary, this study uses the two-stage generalized additive model (GAM) to investigate the potential differences in the response of species’ spatial distribution when environmental factors are assessed at different spatial scales (1′ × 1′, 2′ × 2′, 3′ × 3′, 4′ × 4′, 5′ × 5′). The results showed the following: (1) according to the analysis of the variance inflation factor (VIF), the values of all environmental factors were less than three and we found no correlation among the environmental variables selected. (2) The first stage GAM retained six variables, including year, month, latitude (Lat), water depth (Depth, m), bottom salinity (Sal, mg/L), and chemical oxygen demand (COD, mg/L). The second stage GAM retained four variables, including Year, Lat, pH, and chlorophyll a (Chl-a, μg/L). (3) The mean value of the Chla for the 3′ × 3′ spatial scale was significantly lower than that of the other spatial scales, and the mean value of Sal for the 5′ × 5′ spatial scale was higher than that of the other spatial scales. (4) In terms of the spatial distribution of abundance, the distribution patterns of C. nasus predicted by all scales were not very similar, and the distribution patterns predicted by the 5′ × 5′ scale, in the autumn of 2012, were significantly different from those at other scales. Therefore, the selection of spatiotemporal scales may affect predictions of the spatial distributions of species. We suggest that potential spatiotemporal scale effects should be evaluated in future studies.
Metabolomic Variability of Different Soybean Genotypes: β-Carotene-Enhanced (Glycine max), Wild (Glycine soja), and Hybrid (Glycine max × Glycine soja) Soybeans
Authors: Jung Jung-Won , Park Soo-Yun , Oh Sung-Dug , Jang Yejin , Suh Sang-Jae , Park Soon-Ki , Ha Sun-Hwa , Park Sang-Un , Kim Jae-Kwang
Published: October 2021

We obtained a new hybrid soybean (Hybrid) by hybridizing β-carotene-enhanced soybean (BCE; Glycine max L.) containing the phytoene synthase-2A-carotene desaturase gene and wild-type soybean (Wild; Glycine soja). To investigate metabolic changes between variants, we performed metabolic profiling of leaves (three growth stages) and seeds. Multivariate analyses revealed significant metabolic differences between genotypes in seeds and leaves, with seeds showing accumulation of phytosterols, tocopherols, and carotenoids (BCE only), indicating co-induction of the methylerythritol 4-phosphate and mevalonic acid pathways. Additionally, Hybrid produced intermediate levels of carotenoids and high levels of amino acids. Principal component analysis revealed metabolic discrimination between growth stages of soybean leaves and identified differences in leaf groups according to different genotypes at 8, 12, and 16 weeks, with Wild showing higher levels of environmental stress-related compounds relative to BCE and Hybrid leaves. The metabolic profiling approach could be a useful tool to identify metabolic links in various soybean cultivars.
High-Pressure Processing on Whole and Peeled Potatoes: Influence on Polyphenol Oxidase, Antioxidants, and Glycaemic Indices
Authors: Tsikrika Konstantina , Muldoon Aine , O’Brien Nora M. , Rai Dilip K.
Published: October 2021

Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) inactivation in five whole and peeled Irish potato cultivars was investigated using high-pressure processing (HPP) at 400 MPa and 600 MPa for 3 min. PPO activity was significantly lower in most of the HPP-treated samples, while the highest PPO inactivation was observed after HPP at 600 MPa. No significant (p > 0.05) changes were observed on the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of all the HPP-treated potatoes. Regarding individual phenolic acids, chlorogenic acid was decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in all studied varieties with a concomitant increase (p < 0.05) in caffeic and quinic acid. Similarly, ferulic acid was also increased (p < 0.05) in all studied varieties after the HPP treatment, while there was a variation in rutin and 4-coumaric acid levels depending on the cultivar and the sample type. Anthocyanins in the coloured whole potato varieties (i.e., Kerr’s Pink and Rooster), tentatively identified as pelargonidin-O-ferulorylrutinoside-O-hexoside and pelargonidin-O-rutinoside-O-hexoside, also exhibited significantly (p < 0.05) higher levels in the HPP-treated samples as opposed to those untreated. Glycaemic indices of the potatoes treated with HPP did not differ with the corresponding untreated cultivars.
Monitoring the Effects of Hemicellulase on the Different Proofing Stages of Wheat Aleurone-Rich Bread Dough and Bread Quality
Authors: Tian Boyu , Zhou Chenxia , Li Dongxiao , Pei Jiawei , Guo Ailiang , Liu Shuang , Li Huijing
Published: October 2021

This study investigated the effects of a hemicellulase dosage (20, 40, and 60 mg kg−1 of flour) on the bread quality and rheological properties of wheat aleurone-rich flour. The results showed that hemicellulase could soften dough and improve extensibility. At the optimum hemicellulase dosage (40 mg kg−1 of flour), the bread specific volume increased by 40.91% and firmness of breadcrumb decreased by 104.57% compared to those of the control. Intermolecular forces indicated that the gluten network during the proofing was mainly strengthened via disulfide bonds, hydrophobic interactions, and hydrogen bonds but not through ionic bonds after hemicellulase addition. Fourier infrared spectroscopy indicated that the hydrolytic activity of hemicellulase catalyzed the transition from α-helix to β-sheet, which verified that viscoelasticity of gluten was enhanced at a dosage of 40 mg kg−1 of flour. These results suggested that hydrolyzation of hemicellulase contributed to the structural of gluten changes, thereby improving the quality of wheat aleurone-rich bread.
The Latent Class Multinomial Logit Model for Modeling Front-Seat Passenger Seatbelt Choice, Considering Seatbelt Status of Driver
Authors: Rezapour Mahdi , Ksaibati Khaled
Published: October 2021

The literature review highlighted the impacts of drivers’ behavior on passengers’ attitudes in the choice of seatbelt usage. However, limited studies have been done to determine those impacts. Studying the passengers’ seatbelt use is especially needed to find out why passengers choose not to buckle up, and consequently it helps decision makers to target appropriate groups. So, this study was conducted to find drivers’ characteristics that might impact the passenger’s seatbelt use, in addition to other passengers’ characteristics themselves. While performing any analysis, it is important to use a right statistical model to achieve a less biased point estimate of the model parameters. The latent class multinomial logit model (LC-MNL) can be seen as an alternative to the mixed logit model, replacing the continuous with a discrete distribution, by capturing possible heterogeneity through membership in various clusters. In this study, instead of a response to the survey or crash observations, we employed a real-life observational data for the analysis. Results derived from the analysis reveal a clear indication of heterogeneity across individuals for almost all parameters. Various socio-demographic variables for class allocation and models with different latent numbers were considered and checked in terms of goodness of fit. The results indicated that a class membership with three factors based on vehicle type would result in a best fit. The results also highlighted the significant impacts of driver seatbelt status, time of a day, distance of traveling, vehicle type, and driver gender, instead of passenger gender, as some of the factors impacting the passengers’ choice of seatbelt usage. In addition, it was found that the belting status of passengers is positively associated with the belting condition of drivers, highlighting the psychological behavioral impact of drivers on passengers. Extensive discussion has been made regarding the implications of the findings.
The Number of Parties and Decision-Making in Legislatures
Authors: Bannikova Marina , Jelnov Artyom , Jelnov Pavel
Published: October 2021

This paper proposes a model of a legislature, formed by several parties, which has to vote for or against a certain bill in the presence of a lobbyist interested in a certain vote outcome. We show that the ease with which the lobbyist can manipulate a legislature decision increases with the number of elected parties, and, consequently, decreases with an electoral threshold. On the other hand, a lower electoral threshold increases the representativeness of a legislature. We combine these two effects in a notion of fairness. We show the existence of an electoral threshold that optimizes the fairness of a political system, which is close to 1–5%. Namely, the optimal threshold (in our sense) is close to thresholds that exist in most parliamentary democracies.
Tissue Adhesion-Anisotropic Polyrotaxane Hydrogels Bilayered with Collagen
Authors: Hakariya Masahiro , Arisaka Yoshinori , Masuda Hiroki , Yoda Tetsuya , Tamura Atsushi , Iwata Takanori , Yui Nobuhiko
Published: October 2021

Hydrogels are promising materials in tissue engineering scaffolds for healing and regenerating damaged biological tissues. Previously, we developed supramolecular hydrogels using polyrotaxane (PRX), consisting of multiple cyclic molecules threaded by an axis polymer for modulating cellular responses. However, since hydrogels generally have a large amount of water, their adhesion to tissues is extremely weak. Herein, we designed a bilayered hydrogel with a PRX layer and a collagen layer (PRX/collagen hydrogel) to achieve rapid and strong adhesion to the target tissue. The PRX/collagen hydrogel was fabricated by polymerizing PRX crosslinkers in water with placement of a collagen sponge. The differences in components between the PRX and collagen layers were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). After confirming that the fibroblasts adhered to both layers of the PRX/collagen hydrogels, the hydrogels were implanted subcutaneously in mice. The PRX hydrogel without collagen moved out of its placement site 24 h after implantation, whereas the bilayer hydrogel was perfectly adherent at the site. Together, these findings indicate that the bilayer structure generated using PRX and collagen may be a rational design for performing anisotropic adhesion.
Methoxyflurane in Non-Life-Threatening Traumatic Pain—A Retrospective Observational Study
Authors: Ozainne Florian , Cottet Philippe , Lojo Rial Carlos , von Düring Stephan , Fehlmann Christophe A.
Published: October 2021

Pain management is a key issue in prehospital trauma. In Switzerland, paramedics have a large panel of analgesic options. Methoxyflurane was recently introduced into Switzerland, and the goal of this study was to describe both the effect of this medication and the satisfaction of its use. This was a retrospective cohort study, performed in one emergency ambulance service. It included adult patients with traumatic pain and a self-assessment of 3 or more on the visual analogue scale or verbal numerical rating scale. The primary outcome was the reduction in pain between the start of the care and the arrival at the hospital. Secondary outcomes included successful analgesia and staff satisfaction. From December 2018 to 4 June to October 2020, 263 patients were included in the study. Most patients had a low prehospital severity score. The median pain at arrival on site was 8 and the overall decrease in pain observed was 4.2 (95% CI 3.9–4.5). Regarding secondary outcomes, almost 60% had a successful analgesia, and over 70% of paramedics felt satisfied. This study shows a reduction in pain, following methoxyflurane, similar to outcomes in other countries, as well as the attainment of a satisfactory level of pain reduction, according to paramedics, with the advantage of including patients in their own care.
Unravelling the Role of Piriformospora indica in Combating Water Deficiency by Modulating Physiological Performance and Chlorophyll Metabolism-Related Genes in Cucumis sativus
Authors: Abdelaziz Mohamed E. , Atia Mohamed A. M. , Abdelsattar Mohamed , Abdelaziz Suzy M. , Ibrahim Taha A. A. , Abdeldaym Emad A.
Published: October 2021

Water stress is the most critical aspect restricting the development of agriculture in regions with scarce water resources, which requires enhancing irrigation water-saving strategies. The current work discusses the potential application of the plant-strengthening root endophyte Piriformospora indica against moderate (25% less irrigation water) and severe (50% less irrigation water) water stress in comparison to the optimum irrigation conditions of greenhouse cucumbers. P. indica improved growth, nutrient content, and photosynthesis apparatus under normal or water-stress conditions. On the other hand, moderate and severe water stress reduced yield up to 47% and 83%, respectively, in non-colonized cucumber plants, while up to 28 and 78%, respectively, in P. indica-colonized plants. In terms of water-use efficiency (WUE), P. indica improved the WUE of colonized cucumber plants grown under moderate (26 L/kg) or severe stress (73 L/kg) by supporting colonized plants in producing higher yield per unit volume of water consumed by the crop in comparison to non-colonized plants under the same level of moderate (43 L/kg) or severe (81 L/kg) water stress. Furthermore, P. indica increased the indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) content, activity levels of catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) with an apparent clear reduction in the abscisic acid (ABA), ethylene, malondialdehyde (MDA), proline contents and stomatal closure compared to non-stressed plants under both water-stress levels. In addition, chlorophyll a, b, a + b contents were increased in the leaves of the colonized plants under water-stress conditions. This improvement in chlorophyll content could be correlated with a significant increment in the transcripts of chlorophyll biosynthesis genes (protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase [POR], chlorophyll a oxygenase [CAO]) and a reduction in the chlorophyll degradation genes (PPH, pheophorbide a oxygenase [PAO], and red chlorophyll catabolite reductase [RCCR]). In conclusion, P. indica has the potential to enhance the cucumber yield grown under moderate water stress rather than severe water stress by improving WUE and altering the activity levels of antioxidant enzymes and chlorophyll metabolism-related genes.
Utilisation of Skilled Birth Attendant in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Trajectories and Key Sociodemographic Factors
Authors: Walker Tania , Woldegiorgis Mulu , Bhowmik Jahar
Published: October 2021

Reducing the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) remains a huge challenge. Maternal mortality is mostly attributed to low coverage of maternal health services. This study investigated the trajectories and predictors of skilled birth attendant (SBA) service utilisation in LMIC over the past two decades. The data was sourced from standard demographic and health surveys which included four surveys on women with livebirth/s from selected countries from two regions with a pooled sample of 56,606 Indonesian and 63,924 Nigerian respondents. Generalised linear models with quasibinomial family of distributions were fitted to investigate the association between SBA utilisation and sociodemographic factors. Despite a significant improvement in the last two decades in both countries, the change was slower than hope for, and inconsistent. Women who received antenatal care were more likely to use an SBA service. SBA service utilisation was significantly more prevalent amongst literate women in Indonesia (AOR = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.24–1.54) and Nigeria (AOR = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.31–1.53) than their counterparts. The disparity based on geographic region and social factors remained significant over time. Given the significant disparities in SBA utilisation, there is a strong need to focus on community- and district-level interventions that aim at increasing SBA utilisation.
Measuring the Built Environment in Studies of Child Health—A Meta-Narrative Review of Associations
Authors: Ortegon-Sanchez Adriana , McEachan Rosemary R. C. , Albert Alexandra , Cartwright Chris , Christie Nicola , Dhanani Ashley , Islam Shahid , Ucci Marcella , Vaughan Laura
Published: October 2021

Although the built environment (BE) is important for children’s health, there is little consensus about which features are most important due to differences in measurement and outcomes across disciplines. This meta-narrative review was undertaken by a multi-disciplinary team of researchers to summarise ways in which the BE is measured, and how this links to children’s health. A structured search of four databases across the relevant disciplines retrieved 108 relevant references. The most commonly addressed health-related outcomes were active travel, physical activity and play, and obesity. Many studies used objective (GIS and street audits) or standardised subjective (perceived) measurements of the BE. However, there was a wide variety, and sometimes inconsistency, in their definition and use. There were clear associations between the BE and children’s health. Objective physical activity and self-reported active travel, or obesity, were positively associated with higher street connectivity or walkability measures, while self-reported physical activity and play had the strongest association with reduced street connectivity, indicated by quieter, one-way streets. Despite the high heterogeneity found in BE measures and health outcomes, the meta-narrative approach enabled us to identify ten BE categories that are likely to support children’s health and be protective against some non-communicable disease risk factors. Future research should implement consistent BE measures to ensure key features are explored. A systems approach will be particularly relevant for addressing place-based health inequalities, given potential unintended health consequences of making changes to the BE.
Gender Differences in Lifestyle and Mental Health among Senior High School Students in South Korea
Authors: Kim Hyunlye , Park Kwang-Hi , Park Suin
Published: October 2021

Gender differences in health outcomes have long been a concern worldwide. We investigated the gender differences in the lifestyle and mental health status of senior students in general high schools who were preparing for college entrance exams. This secondary analysis was based on data from the 14th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey (2018). The data of 8476 students in the third year (12th grade) of general high school, among a total of 60,040 middle and high school students nationwide, were analyzed. Mean and standard error (SE) and weighted percentage data were obtained, and the Rao–Scott χ2 test was performed. Boys reported more risky behaviors related to drinking and smoking, while girls had more negative perceptions of their bodies and overall health. In addition, girls showed unhealthier lifestyle-related behaviors (breakfast, physical activity, weight control) and greater vulnerability to poor mental health, including lower sleep satisfaction, stress, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Our results suggest that education and health institutions should consider the needs of each gender separately. A gender-specific approach to maintaining healthy lifestyles and good health status among senior high school students is highly recommended.
Factors Influencing Green Purchase Intention: Moderating Role of Green Brand Knowledge
Authors: Siyal Saeed , Ahmed Munawar Javed , Ahmad Riaz , Khan Bushra Shahzad , Xin Chunlin
Published: October 2021

The current study aims to investigate the moderating effect of green brand knowledge (GBK) on the relationship of green brand positioning (GBP), attitude towards the green brand (ATGB), environmental concern (EC) and green purchase intention (GPI) in Pakistan. For this purpose, the data was collected from the individuals who were buying organic food by using purposive sampling, using cross-sectional research design and quantitative research approach. The Partial Least Square (PLS)-Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) technique results had shown that all the direct-effect relationships, namely, GBP, ATGB, EC variables have a positive and significant relationship with the GPI. While indirect-effect relationships have shown that the relationships of ATGB, EC and GPI are significantly moderated by GBK, which indicated that the effect of GBP, and EC toward GPI would be stronger when individuals have strong knowledge about green brands. In contrast, GBK is not significantly moderating the relationship between GBP and GPI. The empirical findings of this study fill a gap in the existing body of literature regarding the effects of GPI, ATGB and EC on green brands, as well as the moderating effect of GBK. As a result, this study provides insight into the topic, which has not been thoroughly investigated in earlier studies. Therefore, we consider that understanding this moderating effect is a positive contribution to the existing body of knowledge, which could help researchers explore this relationship in the future. This study could also help the owners and managers to know about the importance of these exogenous, and moderate variables to increase their customer’s green purchase intentions.
Applications of Technological Solutions in Primary Ways of Preventing Transmission of Respiratory Infectious Diseases—A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Leite Gleidson Sobreira , Albuquerque Adriano Bessa , Pinheiro Plácido Rogerio
Published: October 2021

With the growing concern about the spread of new respiratory infectious diseases, several studies involving the application of technology in the prevention of these diseases have been carried out. Among these studies, it is worth highlighting the importance of those focused on the primary forms of prevention, such as social distancing, mask usage, quarantine, among others. This importance arises because, from the emergence of a new disease to the production of immunizers, preventive actions must be taken to reduce contamination and fatalities rates. Despite the considerable number of studies, no records of works aimed at the identification, registration, selection, and rigorous analysis and synthesis of the literature were found. For this purpose, this paper presents a systematic review of the literature on the application of technological solutions in the primary ways of respiratory infectious diseases transmission prevention. From the 1139 initially retrieved, 219 papers were selected for data extraction, analysis, and synthesis according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results enabled the identification of a general categorization of application domains, as well as mapping of the adopted support mechanisms. Findings showed a greater trend in studies related to pandemic planning and, among the support mechanisms adopted, data and mathematical application-related solutions received greater attention. Topics for further research and improvement were also identified such as the need for a better description of data analysis and evidence.
Disparities in Healthcare Services and Spatial Assessments of Mobile Health Clinics in the Border Regions of Thailand
Authors: Sritart Hiranya , Tuntiwong Kuson , Miyazaki Hiroyuki , Taertulakarn Somchat
Published: October 2021

Reducing the disparities in healthcare access is one of the important goals in healthcare services and is significant for national health. However, measuring the complexity of access in truly underserved areas is the critical step in designing and implementing healthcare policy to improve those services and to provide additional support. Even though there are methods and tools for modeling healthcare accessibility, the context of data is challenging to interpret at the local level for targeted program implementation due to its complexity. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to develop a concise and context-specific methodology for assessing disparities for a remote province in Thailand to assist in the development and expansion of the efficient use of additional mobile health clinics. We applied the geographic information system (GIS) methodology with the travel time-based approach to visualize and analyze the concealed information of spatial data in the finer analysis resolution of the study area, which was located in the border region of the country, Ubon Ratchathani, to identify the regional differences in healthcare allocation. Our results highlight the significantly inadequate level of accessibility to healthcare services in the regions. We found that over 253,000 of the population lived more than half an hour away from a hospital. Moreover, the relationships of the vulnerable residents and underserved regions across the province are underlined in the study and substantially discussed in terms of expansion of mobile health delivery to embrace the barrier of travel duration to reach healthcare facilities. Accordingly, this research study addresses regional disparities and provides valuable references for governmental authorities and health planners in healthcare strategy design and intervention to minimize the inequalities in healthcare services.
Comparative Analysis of Spatial–Temporal Distribution between Traditional Taxi Service and Emerging Ride-Hailing
Authors: Wang Di , Miwa Tomio , Morikawa Takayuki
Published: October 2021

The paradigms of taxis and ride-hailing, the two major players in the personal mobility market, are compared systematically and empirically in a unified spatial–temporal context. Supported by real field data from Xiamen, China, this research proposes a three-fold analytical framework to compare their mobilities, including (1) the spatial distributions of departures and arrivals by rank–size and odds ratio analysis, (2) the statistical characteristics of trip distances by spatial statistics and considering distance-decay effect, and (3) the meta-patterns inherent in the mobility processes by nonnegative tensor factorization. Our findings suggest that taxis and ride-hailing services share similar spatial patterns in terms of travel demand, but taxi demand heterogenizes more quickly with changes in population density. Additionally, the relative balance between the taxi industry and ride-hailing services shows opposite trends inside and outside Xiamen Island. Although the trip distances have similar statistical properties, the spatial distribution of the median trip distances reflects different urban structures. The meta-patterns detected from the origin–destination-time system via tensor factorization suggest that taxi mobilities feature exclusive nighttime intensities, whereas ride-hailing exhibits more prominent morning peaks on weekdays. Although ride-hailing contributes significantly to cross–strait interactions during daytime, there is a lack of efficient services to maintain such interactions at night.
Selection and Validation of Reference Genes for RT-qPCR Analysis in Aegilops tauschii (Coss.) under Different Abiotic Stresses
Authors: Abbas Adeel , Yu Haiyan , Li Xiangju , Cui Hailan , Chen Jingchao , Huang Ping
Published: October 2021

Aegilops tauschii (Coss.) is an aggressive and serious annual grass weed in China. Its DD genome is a rich source of genetic material and performs better under different abiotic stress conditions (salinity, drought, temperature, etc.). Reverse-transcribed quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is a reliable technique for reference gene selection and validation. This work aimed to evaluate the stability of reference gene expression in Ae. tauschii under different abiotic stresses (salinity, drought, hot, and cold) and developmental stages (seedling and development). The results show that the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2 36-like (UBC36) and protein microrchidia 2-like (HSP) are the most stable genes under control and salinity conditions, respectively. Under drought stress conditions, UBC36 is more stable as compared with others. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GADPH) is the most stable reference gene during heat stress conditions and thioredoxin-like protein (YLS) under cold stress condition. Phosphate2A serine/threonine-protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 (ETIF3) are the most stable genes at seedling and developmental stages. Intracellular transport protein (CAC) is recommended as the most stable gene under different abiotic stresses and at developmental stages. Furthermore, the relative expression levels of NHX1 and DREB under different levels of salinity and drought stress conditions varied with the most (HSP and UBC36) and least (YLS and ACT) stable genes. This study provides reliable reference genes for understanding the tolerance mechanisms in Ae. tauschii under different abiotic stress conditions.
ANXA1 Contained in EVs Regulates Macrophage Polarization in Tumor Microenvironment and Promotes Pancreatic Cancer Progression and Metastasis
Authors: Novizio Nunzia , Belvedere Raffaella , Pessolano Emanuela , Morello Silvana , Tosco Alessandra , Campiglia Pietro , Filippelli Amelia , Petrella Antonello
Published: October 2021

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a dynamic system where nontumor and cancer cells intercommunicate through soluble factors and extracellular vesicles (EVs). The TME in pancreatic cancer (PC) is critical for its aggressiveness and the annexin A1 (ANXA1) has been identified as one of the oncogenic elements. Previously, we demonstrated that the autocrine/paracrine activities of extracellular ANXA1 depend on its presence in EVs. Here, we show that the complex ANXA1/EVs modulates the macrophage polarization further contributing to cancer progression. The EVs isolated from wild type (WT) and ANXA1 knock-out MIA PaCa-2 cells have been administrated to THP-1 macrophages finding that ANXA1 is crucial for the acquisition of a protumor M2 phenotype. The M2 macrophages activate endothelial cells and fibroblasts to induce angiogenesis and matrix degradation, respectively. We have also found a significantly increased presence of M2 macrophage in mice tumor and liver metastasis sections previously obtained by orthotopic xenografts with WT cells. Taken together, our data interestingly suggest the relevance of ANXA1 as potential diagnostic/prognostic and/or therapeutic PC marker.
Supplementation with Serum-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Reinforces Antitumor Immunity Induced by Cryo-Thermal Therapy
Authors: Cen Yinuo , Lou Yue , Wang Junjun , Wang Shicheng , Peng Peng , Zhang Aili , Liu Ping
Published: October 2021

Effective cancer therapies should reshape immunosuppression and trigger antitumor immunity. Previously, we developed a novel cryo-thermal therapy through applying local rapid cooling followed by rapid heating of tumor tissue. It could not only ablate local tumors, but also, subsequently, induce systemic long-term antitumor immunity. Hyperthermia can induce the release of extracellular vesicles (EVs) to stimulate antitumor immunity. We examine whether EVs are released after cryo-thermal therapy and whether they could improve the efficacy of cryo-thermal therapy in the 4T1 model. In this study, serum extracellular vesicles (sEVs) are isolated and characterized 3 h after cryo-thermal therapy of subcutaneous tumors. sEV phagocytosis is observed in vitro and in vivo by using laser confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. After cryo-thermal therapy, sEVs are administered to mice via the tail vein, and changes in immune cells are investigated by using flow cytometry. After cryo-thermal therapy, a large number of sEVs are released to the periphery carrying danger signals and tumor antigens, and these sEVs could be phagocytosed by peripheral blood monocytes and differentiated macrophages. After cryo-thermal therapy, supplementation with sEVs released after treatment promotes the differentiation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), monocytes into macrophages and CD4+ T cells into the Th1 subtype, as well as prolonging the long-term survival of the 4T1 subcutaneous tumor-bearing mice. sEVs released after cryo-thermal tumor treatment could clinically serve as an adjuvant in subsequent cryo-thermal therapy to improve the therapeutic effects on malignant tumors.
Direct and Base Excision Repair-Mediated Regulation of a GC-Rich cis-Element in Response to 5-Formylcytosine and 5-Carboxycytosine
Authors: Müller Nadine , Ponkkonen Eveliina , Carell Thomas , Khobta Andriy
Published: October 2021

Stepwise oxidation of the epigenetic mark 5-methylcytosine and base excision repair (BER) of the resulting 5-formylcytosine (5-fC) and 5-carboxycytosine (5-caC) may provide a mechanism for reactivation of epigenetically silenced genes; however, the functions of 5-fC and 5-caC at defined gene elements are scarcely explored. We analyzed the expression of reporter constructs containing either 2′-deoxy-(5-fC/5-caC) or their BER-resistant 2′-fluorinated analogs, asymmetrically incorporated into CG-dinucleotide of the GC box cis-element (5′-TGGGCGGAGC) upstream from the RNA polymerase II core promoter. In the absence of BER, 5-caC caused a strong inhibition of the promoter activity, whereas 5-fC had almost no effect, similar to 5-methylcytosine or 5-hydroxymethylcytosine. BER of 5-caC caused a transient but significant promoter reactivation, succeeded by silencing during the following hours. Both responses strictly required thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG); however, the silencing phase additionally demanded a 5′-endonuclease (likely APE1) activity and was also induced by 5-fC or an apurinic/apyrimidinic site. We propose that 5-caC may act as a repressory mark to prevent premature activation of promoters undergoing the final stages of DNA demethylation, when the symmetric CpG methylation has already been lost. Remarkably, the downstream promoter activation or repression responses are regulated by two separate BER steps, where TDG and APE1 act as potential switches.
Molecular Insights on the Possible Role of Annexin A2 in COVID-19 Pathogenesis and Post-Infection Complications
Authors: Patil Prakash , Shetty Praveenkumar , Kuriakose Nithin , Gollapalli Pavan , Shetty Sukanya , Bhandary Roopa , Vishwanatha Jamboor K. , Ghate Sudeep D.
Published: October 2021

Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has infected >235 million people and killed over 4.8 million individuals worldwide. Although vaccines have been developed for prophylactic management, there are no clinically proven antivirals to treat the viral infection. Continuous efforts are being made all over the world to develop effective drugs but these are being delayed by periodic outbreak of mutated SARS-CoV-2 and a lack of knowledge of molecular mechanisms underlying viral pathogenesis and post-infection complications. In this regard, the involvement of Annexin A2 (AnxA2), a lipid-raft related phospholipid-binding protein, in SARS-CoV-2 attachment, internalization, and replication has been discussed. In addition to the evidence from published literature, we have performed in silico docking of viral spike glycoprotein and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase with human AnxA2 to find the molecular interactions. Overall, this review provides the molecular insights into a potential role of AnxA2 in the SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis and post-infection complications, especially thrombosis, cytokine storm, and insulin resistance.
Clomiphene Citrate Shows Effective and Sustained Antimicrobial Activity against Mycobacterium abscessus
Authors: Lee Da-Gyum , Hwang Yoo-Hyun , Park Eun-Jin , Kim Jung-Hyun , Ryoo Sung-Weon
Published: October 2021

Mycobacterium abscessus (M. abscessus) causes chronic pulmonary infections and is the most difficult non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) to treat due to its resistance to current antimicrobial drugs, with a treatment success rate of 45.6%. Thus, novel treatment drugs are needed, of which we identified the drug clomiphene citrate (CC), known to treat infertility in women, to exhibit inhibitory activity against M. abscessus. To assess the potential of CC as a treatment for M. abscessus pulmonary diseases, we measured its efficacy in vitro and established the intracellular activity of CC against M. abscessus in human macrophages. CC significantly inhibited the growth of not only wild-type M. abscessus strains but also clinical isolate strains and clarithromycin (CLR)-resistant strains of M. abscessus. CC’s drug efficacy did not have cytotoxicity in the infected macrophages. Furthermore, CC worked in anaerobic non-replicating conditions as well as in the presence of biofilm. The results of this in vitro study on M. abscessus activity suggest the possibility of using CC to develop new drug hypotheses for the treatment of M. abscessus infections.
A Beginner’s Introduction to Skin Stem Cells and Wound Healing
Authors: Díaz-García Daniel , Filipová Alžbeta , Garza-Veloz Idalia , Martinez-Fierro Margarita L.
Published: October 2021

The primary function of the skin is that of a physical barrier against the environment and diverse pathogens; therefore, its integrity is essential for survival. Skin regeneration depends on multiple stem cell compartments within the epidermis, which, despite their different transcriptional and proliferative capacity, as well as different anatomical location, fall under the general term of skin stem cells (SSCs). Skin wounds can normally heal without problem; however, some diseases or extensive damage may delay or prevent healing. Non-healing wounds represent a serious and life-threatening scenario that may require advanced therapeutic strategies. In this regard, increased focus has been directed at SSCs and their role in wound healing, although emerging therapeutical approaches are considering the use of other stem cells instead, such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Given its extensive and broad nature, this review supplies newcomers with an introduction to SSCs, wound healing, and therapeutic strategies for skin regeneration, thus familiarizing the reader with the subject in preparation for future in depth reading.