bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sources of Resistance to Common Bacterial Blight and Charcoal Rot Disease for the Production of Mesoamerican Common Beans in the Southern United States
Authors: Ambachew Daniel , Joshua Jacqueline , Mmbaga Margaret T. , Blair Matthew W.
Published: May 2021

The gene pool of Mesoamerican common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) includes genotypes in the small-to-medium-size seeded dry beans, as well as some snap beans from hotter environments adapted to the Southeastern United States. However, the warm and humid climate of the Southeastern United States is conducive to diseases such as Common Bacterial Blight (CBB) and Charcoal Rot (CR). The pathogens for these two diseases can survive long periods in infested soil or on seeds and are difficult to control through pesticides. Hence, field-level resistance would be the best management strategy for these diseases. The goals of this study were (1) to evaluate field-level resistance from the various commercial classes and subgroups represented in the Mesoamerican gene pool as sources for breeding beans for the region and (2) to evaluate genome-wide marker × trait associations (GWAS) using genetic markers for the genotypes. A total of 300 genotypes from the Mesoamerican Diversity Panel (MDP) were evaluated for CBB and CR in field experiments for three years. CBB resistance was also tested with a field isolate in controlled greenhouse conditions. The analysis of variance revealed the presence of variability in the MDP for the evaluated traits. We also identified adapted common bean genotypes that could be used directly in Southeastern production or that could be good parents in breeding programs for CBB and CR resistance. The GWAS detected 14 significant Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) markers associated with CBB resistance distributed on five chromosomes, namely Pv02, Pv04, Pv08, Pv10, and Pv11, but no loci for resistance to CR. A total of 89 candidate genes were identified in close vicinity (±100 kb) to the significant CBB markers, some of which could be directly or indirectly involved in plant defense to diseases. These results provide a basis to further understand the complex inheritance of CBB resistance in Mesoamerican common beans and show that this biotic stress is unrelated to CR resistance, which was evident during a drought period. Genotypes with good yield potential for the Southeastern U.S. growing conditions were found with resistant to infection by the two diseases, as well as adaptation to the hot and humid conditions punctuated by droughts found in this region.
A Review of Unreduced Gametes and Neopolyploids in Alfalfa: How to Fill the Gap between Well-Established Meiotic Mutants and Next-Generation Genomic Resources
Authors: Palumbo Fabio , Pasquali Elisa , Albertini Emidio , Barcaccia Gianni
Published: May 2021

The gene flow mediated by unreduced gametes between diploid and tetraploid plants of the Medicagosativa-coerulea-falcata complex is pivotal for alfalfa breeding. Sexually tetraploidized hybrids could represent the best way to exploit progressive heterosis simultaneously derived from gene diversity, heterozygosity, and polyploidy. Moreover, unreduced gametes combined with parthenogenesis (i.e., apomixis) would enable the cloning of plants through seeds, providing a unique opportunity for the selection of superior genotypes with permanently fixed heterosis. This reproductive strategy has never been detected in the genus Medicago, but features of apomixis, such as restitutional apomeiosis and haploid parthenogenesis, have been reported. By means of an original case study, we demonstrated that sexually tetraploidized plants maintain apomeiosis, but this trait is developmentally independent from parthenogenesis. Alfalfa meiotic mutants producing unreduced egg cells revealed a null or very low capacity for parthenogenesis. The overall achievements reached so far are reviewed and discussed along with the efforts and strategies made for exploiting reproductive mutants that express apomictic elements in alfalfa breeding programs. Although several studies have investigated the cytological mechanisms responsible for 2n gamete formation and the inheritance of this trait, only a very small number of molecular markers and candidate genes putatively linked to unreduced gamete formation have been identified. Furthermore, this scenario has remained almost unchanged over the last two decades. Here, we propose a reverse genetics approach, by exploiting the genomic and transcriptomic resources available in alfalfa. Through a comparison with 9 proteins belonging to Arabidopsis thaliana known for their involvement in 2n gamete production, we identified 47 orthologous genes and evaluated their expression in several tissues, paving the way for novel candidate gene characterization studies. An overall view on strategies suitable to fill the gap between well-established meiotic mutants and next-generation genomic resources is presented and discussed.
Characterization of Biocompatible Hydrogel Lenses Using Methacrylic Acid with Neodymium Oxide Nanoparticles
Authors: Lee Min-Jae , Park Seon-Young , Sung A-Young
Published: May 2021

We prepared hydrogel contact lenses containing nanoparticles of neodymium oxide and methacrylic acid (MA) to investigate their effect on the physical and chemical properties of the lens. Neodymium oxide nanoparticles improved the tensile strength without affecting wettability. The tensile strength, wettability, and light transmittance were all increased when MA was added in a specific ratio. To confirm the safety of the newly used nanoparticles, test on absorbance, eluate, and pH change were conducted and it was found that the safety level was satisfactory. In conclusion, it was confirmed that durable contact lenses can be manufactured with neodymium oxide nanoparticles, and most of the basic elements of the lens such as transparency, strength, and wettability could be improved using MA, which is a hydrophilic material. It is believed that the study will be helpful as part of basic research to use new materials.
In Vivo Characterization and Application of the PHA Synthase from Azotobacter vinelandii for the Biosynthesis of Polyhydroxyalkanoate Containing 4-Hydroxybutyrate
Authors: Mok Pei-Shze , Chuah Jo-Ann , Najimudin Nazalan , Liew Pauline-Woan-Ying , Jong Bor-Chyan , Sudesh Kumar
Published: May 2021

Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) is a biodegradable thermoplastic naturally synthesized by many microorganisms, and the PHA synthase (PhaC) is known to be the key enzyme involved in determining the material properties and monomer composition of the produced PHA. The ability to exploit widely distributed, commonly found soil microorganisms such as Azotobacter vinelandii to synthesize PHA containing the lipase-degradable 4-hydroxybutyrate (4HB) monomer will allow for convenient production of biocompatible and flexible PHA. Comparisons between the A. vinelandii wild type and mutant strains, with and without a surface layer (S-layer), respectively, in terms of gene or amino acid sequences, synthase activity, granule morphology, and PHA productivity, revealed that the S-layer is the sole factor affecting PHA biosynthesis by A. vinelandii. Based on PHA biosynthesis using different carbon sources, the PhaC of A. vinelandii showed specificity for short-chain-length PHA monomers, making it a member of the Class I PHA synthases. In addition, it was proven that the PhaC of A. vinelandii has the inherent ability to polymerize 4-hydroxybutyrate (4HB) and the mediated accumulation of PHA with 4HB fractions ranging from 10 mol% to as high as 22 mol%. The synthesis of biocompatible PHA containing tailorable amounts of 4HB with an expanded range of elasticity and lipase-degradability will enable a wider range of applications in the biomedical field.
Novel Mangosteen-Leaves-Based Marker Ink: Color Lightness, Viscosity, Optimized Composition, and Microstructural Analysis
Authors: Mohd Basri Mohd Salahuddin , Liew Min Ren Brenda , A. Talib Rosnita , Zakaria Rabitah , Kamarudin Siti Hasnah
Published: May 2021

Dry mangosteen leaves are one of the raw materials used to produce marker ink. However, research using this free and abundant resource is rather limited. The less efficient one-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) approach was mostly used in past studies on plant-based marker ink. The use of statistical analysis and the regression coefficient model (mathematical model) was considered essential in predicting the best combination of factors in formulating mangosteen leaf-based marker ink. Ideally, ink should have maximum color lightness, minimum viscosity, and fast-drying speed. The objective of this study to study the effect of glycerol and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) on the color lightness and viscosity of mangosteen-leaves-based marker ink. The viscosity, color lightness, and drying properties of the ink were tested, the significant effect of glycerol and CMC (responses) on ink properties was identified and the prediction model on the optimum value of the responses was developed by using response surface methodology (RSM). The microstructure of mangosteen leaves was analyzed to study the surface morphology and cell structure during dye extraction. A low amount of glycerol used was found to increase the value of color lightness. A decrease in CMC amounts resulted in low viscosity of marker ink. The optimum formulation for the ink can be achieved when the weight percents of glycerol, benzalkonium chloride, ferrous sulphate, and CMC are set at 5, 5, 1, and 3, respectively. SEM micrographs showed the greatest amount of cell wall structure collapse on samples boiled with the lowest amount of glycerol.
Synthesis, Structural, Morphological and Thermal Characterization of Five Different Silica-Polyethylene Glycol-Chlorogenic Acid Hybrid Materials
Authors: Catauro Michelina , Šiler Pavel , Másilko Jiří , Risoluti Roberta , Vecchio Ciprioti Stefano
Published: May 2021

The present study investigated the structure, morphology, thermal behavior, and bacterial growth analysis of novel three-component hybrid materials synthesized by the sol-gel method. The inorganic silica matrix was weakly bonded to the network of two organic components: a well-known polymer such as polyethylene glycol (PEG, average molar mass of about 4000 g/mol), and an antioxidant constituted by chlorogenic acid (CGA). In particular, a first series was made by a 50 wt% PEG-based (CGA-free) silica hybrid along with two 50 wt% PEG-based hybrids containing 10 and 20 wt% of CGA (denoted as SP50, SP50C10 and SP50C20, respectively). A second series contained a fixed amount of CGA (20 wt%) in silica-based hybrids: one was the PEG-free material (SC20) and the other two contained 12 and 50 wt% of PEG, respectively (SP12C20 and SP50C20, respectively), being the latter already included in the first series. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of freshly prepared materials confirmed that all the materials were amorphous and homogeneous regardless of the content of PEG or CGA. The thermogravimetric (TG) analysis revealed a higher water content was adsorbed into the two component hybrids (SP50 and SC20) because of the availability of a larger number of H-bonds to be formed with water with respect to those of silica/PEG/CGA (SPC), where silica matrix was involved in these bonds with both organic components. Conversely, the PEG-rich materials (SP50C10 and SP50C20, both with 50 wt% of the polymer) retained a lower content of water. Decomposition of PEG and CGA occurred in almost the same temperature interval regardless of the content of each organic component. The antibacterial properties of the SiO2/PEG/CGA hybrid materials were studied in pellets using either Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis, respectively. Excellent antibacterial activity was found against both bacteria regardless of the amount of polymer in the hybrids.
Optimisation of Strength Properties of FDM Printed Parts—A Critical Review
Authors: Syrlybayev Daniyar , Zharylkassyn Beibit , Seisekulova Aidana , Akhmetov Mustakhim , Perveen Asma , Talamona Didier
Published: May 2021

Additive Manufacturing is currently growing fast, especially fused deposition modeling (FDM), also known as fused filament fabrication (FFF). When manufacturing parts use FDM, there are two key parameters—strength of the part and dimensional accuracy—that need to be considered. Although FDM is a popular technology for fabricating prototypes with complex geometry and other part product with reduced cycle time, it is also limited by several drawbacks including inadequate mechanical properties and reduced dimensional accuracy. It is evident that part qualities are greatly influenced by the various process parameters, therefore an extensive review of the effects of the following process parameters was carried out: infill density, infill patterns, extrusion temperature, layer thickness, nozzle diameter, raster angle and build orientation on the mechanical properties. It was found from the literature that layer thickness is the most important factor among the studied ones. Although manipulation of process parameters makes significant differences in the quality and mechanical properties of the printed part, the ideal combination of parameters is challenging to achieve. Hence, this study also includes the influence of pre-processing of the printed part to improve the part strength and new research trends such as, vacuum-assisted FDM that has shown to improve the quality of the printing due to improved bonding between the layers. Advances in materials and technologies that are currently under development are presented. For example, the pre-deposition heating method, using an IR lamp of other technologies, shows a positive impact on the mechanical properties of the printed parts.
A Novel Poly-N-Epoxy Propyl Carbazole Based Memory Device
Authors: Alahmadi Ahmed. N. M. , Karimov Khasan S.
Published: May 2021

Generally, polymer-based memory devices store information in a manner distinct from that of silicon-based memory devices. Conventional silicon memory devices store charges as either zero or one for digital information, whereas most polymers store charges by the switching of electrical resistance. For the first time, this study reports that the novel conducting polymer Poly-N-Epoxy-Propyl Carbazole (PEPC) can offer effective memory storage behavior. In the current research, the electrical characterization of a single layer memory device (metal/polymer/metal) using PEPC, with or without doping of charge transfer complexes 7,7,8,8-tetra-cyanoquino-dimethane (TCNQ), was investigated. From the current–voltage characteristics, it was found that PEPC shows memory switching effects in both cases (with or without the TCNQ complex). However, in the presence of TCNQ, the PEPC performs faster memory switching at relatively lower voltage and, therefore, a higher ON and OFF ratio (ION/IOFF ~ 100) was observed. The outcome of this study may help to further understand the memory switching effects of conducting polymer.
The Dual Effect of Ionic Liquid Pretreatment on the Eucalyptus Kraft Pulp during Oxygen Delignification Process
Authors: Qi Letian , Liu Jinke , Peng Jianmin , Yang Guihua , Li Fengfeng , Xue Yu , Chen Jiachuan
Published: May 2021

Oxygen delignification presents high efficiency but causes damage to cellulose, therefore leading to an undesired loss in pulp strength. The effect of ionic liquid pretreatment of [BMIM][HSO4] and [TEA][HSO4] on oxygen delignification of the eucalyptus kraft pulp was investigated at 10% IL loading and 10% pulp consistency, after which composition analysis, pulp and fiber characterizations, and the mechanism of lignin degradation were carried out. A possible dual effect of enhancing delignification and protecting fibers from oxidation damage occurred simultaneously. The proposed [TEA][HSO4] pretreatment facilitated lignin removal in oxygen delignification and provided fibers with improved DP, fiber length and width, and curl index, resulting in the enhanced physical strength of pulp. Particularly, its folding endurance improved by 110%. An unusual brightness reduction was identified, followed by detailed characterization on the pulps and extracted lignin with FTIR, UV, XPS, and HSQC. It was proposed that [TEA][HSO4] catalyzed the cleavage of β-O-4 bonds in lignin during the oxygen delignification, with the formation of Hibbert’s ketones and quinonoid compounds. The decomposed lignin dissolved and migrated to the fiber surface, where they facilitated the access of the oxidation agent and protected the fiber framework from oxidation damage. Therefore, it was concluded that ionic liquid pretreatment has a dual effect on oxygen delignification.
Insights into the Role of Biopolymer Aerogel Scaffolds in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
Authors: Yahya Esam Bashir , Amirul A. A. , H.P.S. Abdul Khalil , Olaiya Niyi Gideon , Iqbal Muhammad Omer , Jummaat Fauziah , A.K. Atty Sofea , Adnan A. S.
Published: May 2021

The global transplantation market size was valued at USD 8.4 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 11.5% over the forecast period. The increasing demand for tissue transplantation has inspired researchers to find alternative approaches for making artificial tissues and organs function. The unique physicochemical and biological properties of biopolymers and the attractive structural characteristics of aerogels such as extremely high porosity, ultra low-density, and high surface area make combining these materials of great interest in tissue scaffolding and regenerative medicine applications. Numerous biopolymer aerogel scaffolds have been used to regenerate skin, cartilage, bone, and even heart valves and blood vessels by growing desired cells together with the growth factor in tissue engineering scaffolds. This review focuses on the principle of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine and the role of biopolymer aerogel scaffolds in this field, going through the properties and the desirable characteristics of biopolymers and biopolymer tissue scaffolds in tissue engineering applications. The recent advances of using biopolymer aerogel scaffolds in the regeneration of skin, cartilage, bone, and heart valves are also discussed in the present review. Finally, we highlight the main challenges of biopolymer-based scaffolds and the prospects of using these materials in regenerative medicine.
Chemical and Morphological Composition of Norway Spruce Wood (Picea abies, L.) in the Dependence of Its Storage
Authors: Čabalová Iveta , Bélik Michal , Kučerová Viera , Jurczyková Tereza
Published: May 2021

Chemical composition and morphological properties of Norway spruce wood and bark were evaluated. The extractives, cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin contents were determined by wet chemistry methods. The dimensional characteristics of the fibers (length and width) were measured by Fiber Tester. The results of the chemical analysis of wood and bark show the differences between the trunk and top part, as well as in the different heights of the trunk and in the cross section of the trunk. The biggest changes were noticed between bark trunk and bark top. The bark top contains 10% more of extractives and 9.5% less of lignin. Fiber length and width depends on the part of the tree, while the average of these properties are larger depending on height. Both wood and bark from the trunk contains a higher content of fines (fibers <0.3 mm) and less content of longer fibers (>0.5 mm) compared to the top. During storage, it reached a decrease of extractives mainly in bark. Wood from the trunk retained very good durability in terms of chemical composition during the storage. In view of the morphological characteristics, it occurred to decrease both average fibers length and width in wood and bark.
Dynamics and Structure Formation of Confined Polymer Thin Films Supported on Solid Substrates
Authors: Rahman Mujib Ur , Xi Yonghao , Li Haipeng , Chen Fei , Liu Dongjie , Wei Jinjia
Published: May 2021

The stability/instability behavior of polystyrene (PS) films with tunable thickness ranging from higher as-cast to lower residual made on Si substrates with and without native oxide layer was studied in this paper. For further extraction of residual PS thin film (hresi) and to investigate the polymer–substrate interaction, Guiselin’s method was used by decomposing the polymer thin films in different solvents. The solvents for removing loosely adsorbed chains and extracting the strongly adsorbed irreversible chains were selected based on their relative desorption energy difference with polymer. The PS thin films rinsed in chloroform with higher polarity than that of toluene showed a higher decrease in the residual film thickness but exhibited earlier growth of holes and dewetting in the film. The un-annealed samples with a higher oxide film thickness showed a higher decrease in the PS residual film thickness. The effective viscosity of PS thin films spin-coated on H-Si substrates increased because of more resistance to flow dynamics due to the stronger polymer–substrate interaction as compared to that of Si-SiOx substrates. By decreasing the film thickness, the overall effective mobility of the film increased and led to the decrease in the effective viscosity, with matching results of the film morphology from atomic force microscopy (AFM). The polymer film maintained low viscosity until a certain period of time, whereupon further annealing occurred, and the formation of holes in the film grew, which ultimately dewetted the film. The residual film decrement, growth of holes in the film, and dewetting of the polymer-confined thin film showed dependence on the effective viscosity, the strength of solvent used, and various involved interactions on the surface of substrates.
Protective Effects of p-Coumaric Acid Isolated from Vaccinium bracteatum Thunb. Leaf Extract on Corticosterone-Induced Neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y Cells and Primary Rat Cortical Neurons
Authors: Oh Dool-Ri , Kim Moon-Jong , Choi Eun-Jin , Kim Yujin , Lee Hak-Sung , Bae Donghyuck , Choi Chulyung
Published: May 2021

Corticosterone (CORT)-induced oxidative stress and neurotoxicity can cause neuronal dysfunction and mental disorders. In the present study, we investigated the effects and mechanism of the HP-20 resin fraction of the water extract of Vaccinium bracteatum leaves (NET-D1602) and its bioactive compound p-coumaric acid on neuronal cell damage in SH-SY5Y cells and primary culture of rat cortical cells. NET-D1602 and p-coumaric acid significantly improved cell viability in CORT-induced neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells and primary cultures of rat cortical cells, and increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase) against CORT-induced neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells. NET-D1602 and p-coumaric acid increased the phosphorylation levels of ERK1/2 and cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) in cortical neurons. In addition, CREB phosphorylation by NET-D1602 and p-coumaric acid was dramatically reversed by PKA, c-Raf/ERK, PI3K, and mTOR inhibitors. Lastly, we demonstrated the neuroprotective effects of NET-D1602 (3 and 10 μg/mL) and p-coumaric acid (3 and 10 μM) via increased CREB phosphorylation in CORT-induced neurotoxicity mediated via the ERK1/2, Akt, and mTOR pathways. These results suggest that p-coumaric acid is a potential neuroprotective component of NET-D1602, with the ability to protect against CORT-induced neurotoxicity by regulating ERK1/2, Akt, and mTOR-mediated CREB phosphorylation.
Application of Evaporative Cooling Technology in Transformer for Mine Tunnels
Authors: Shi Hualin , Xiong Bin , Liu Xiangrong , Huang Kangjie , Cai Xinhua , Gu Guobiao
Published: May 2021

The traditional dry-type mine transformer has some disadvantages, such as incomplete fire prevention, large volume, high loss and not enough environmental protection. Based on evaporative cooling technology, this paper proposes a scheme of mine transformer using fluorocarbon as coolant which can truly realize the incombustible transformer scheme and meet the strict environmental requirements. The transformer adopts three-dimensional wound core structure to reduce the loss and improve the anti-short-circuit ability. The volume of transformer is greatly reduced due to the efficient heat dissipation ability of evaporative cooling technology. The scheme of plate fin heat exchanger is more suitable for the ventilation condition of the mine. The filling technology is used to reduce the amount of expensive coolant. Through the life cycle cost analysis, evaporative cooling transformer has better economic benefits than traditional mine transformer, but also has better safety benefits. A prototype is manufactured and tested, and the results show that the prototype meets the requirements of IEC standard temperature rise limit and achieves the expected requirements.
Application of Selected Inoculant Producing Antifungal and Fibrinolytic Substances on Rye Silage with Different Wilting Time
Authors: Lee Seong-Shin , Choi Jeong-Seok , Paradhipta Dimas Hand Vidya , Joo Young-Ho , Lee Hyuk-Jun , Noh Hyeon-Tak , Kim Dong-Hyeon , Kim Sam-Churl
Published: May 2021

This research was conducted to determine the effects of selected inoculant on the silage with different wilting times. The ryes were unwilted or wilted for 12 h. Each rye forage was ensiled for 100 d in quadruplicate with commercial inoculant (Lactobacillus plantarum sp.; LPT) or selected inoculant (Lactobacillus brevis 100D8 and Leuconostoc holzapfelii 5H4 at 1:1 ratio; MIX). In vitro dry matter digestibility and in vitro neutral detergent fiber digestibility were highest in the unwilted MIX silages (p < 0.05), and the concentration of ruminal acetate was increased in MIX silages (p < 0.001; 61.4% vs. 60.3%) by the increase of neutral detergent fiber digestibility. The concentration of ruminal ammonia-N was increased in wilted silages (p < 0.001; 34.8% vs. 21.1%). The yeast count was lower in the MIX silages than in the LPT silages (p < 0.05) due to a higher concentration of acetate in MIX silages (p < 0.05). Aerobic stability was highest in the wilted MIX silages (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the MIX inoculation increased aerobic stability and improved fiber digestibility. As a result of the wilting process, ammonia-N in silage decreased but ruminal ammonia-N increased. Notably, the wilted silage with applied mixed inoculant had the highest aerobic stability.
Human Activities, Biostratigraphy and Past Environment Revealed by Small-Mammal Associations at the Chalcolithic Levels of El Portalón de Cueva Mayor (Atapuerca, Spain)
Authors: Rofes Juan , Ordiales Amaia , Iriarte Eneko , Cuenca-Bescós Gloria , Galindo-Pellicena María Ángeles , Pérez-Romero Amalia , Carretero José Miguel , Arsuaga Juan Luis
Published: May 2021

The Chalcolithic levels of El Portalón de Cueva Mayor (Atapuerca, Burgos, Spain) offer a good opportunity to test whether the small-mammal contents of different archaeo-stratigraphical units may be useful to characterize them as independent entities. With that purpose, we studied representative samples of small-mammal remains from the two main contexts identified: the Early Chalcolithic (EC) funerary context and the Late Chalcolithic (LC) habitat/stabling context, with the latter comprising three different archaeological units according to their origin, namely prepared floors, activity floors and stabling surfaces or fumiers. Following the distribution of taxa in their respective contexts, we performed several statistical tests to check for significant discrepancies between archaeological units. The exclusive presence of certain taxa, together with the statistical difference in relative taxonomic ratios, points to the integrity and unpolluted condition of the EC context. The interspersed arrangement of the different LC context’s units made them prone to inter-pollution as they are not statistically different. The unexpected presence of Pliomys lenki and Chionomys nivalis in the prepared floors evidences their Upper Pleistocene allochthonous origin. The EC levels of El Portalón contribute the first Holocene records of nine taxa in the Sierra de Atapuerca. An environment dominated by woodland, shrubland and wet meadows, with moderate presence of grassland, inland wetlands and rocky areas, is inferred from the small-mammal association of the EC levels.
An Imaging Network Design for UGV-Based 3D Reconstruction of Buildings
Authors: Hosseininaveh Ali , Remondino Fabio
Published: May 2021

Imaging network design is a crucial step in most image-based 3D reconstruction applications based on Structure from Motion (SfM) and multi-view stereo (MVS) methods. This paper proposes a novel photogrammetric algorithm for imaging network design for building 3D reconstruction purposes. The proposed methodology consists of two main steps: (i) the generation of candidate viewpoints and (ii) the clustering and selection of vantage viewpoints. The first step includes the identification of initial candidate viewpoints, selecting the candidate viewpoints in the optimum range, and defining viewpoint direction stages. In the second step, four challenging approaches—named façade pointing, centre pointing, hybrid, and both centre & façade pointing—are proposed. The entire methodology is implemented and evaluated in both simulation and real-world experiments. In the simulation experiment, a building and its environment are computer-generated in the ROS (Robot Operating System) Gazebo environment and a map is created by using a simulated robot and Gmapping algorithm based on a Simultaneously Localization and Mapping (SLAM) algorithm using a simulated Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV). In the real-world experiment, the proposed methodology is evaluated for all four approaches for a real building with two common approaches, called continuous image capturing and continuous image capturing & clustering and selection approaches. The results of both evaluations reveal that the fusion of centre & façade pointing approach is more efficient than all other approaches in terms of both accuracy and completeness criteria.
Emergency Landing Spot Detection Algorithm for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Authors: Loureiro Gabriel , Dias André , Martins Alfredo , Almeida José
Published: May 2021

The use and research of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) have been increasing over the years due to the applicability in several operations such as search and rescue, delivery, surveillance, and others. Considering the increased presence of these vehicles in the airspace, it becomes necessary to reflect on the safety issues or failures that the UAVs may have and the appropriate action. Moreover, in many missions, the vehicle will not return to its original location. If it fails to arrive at the landing spot, it needs to have the onboard capability to estimate the best area to safely land. This paper addresses the scenario of detecting a safe landing spot during operation. The algorithm classifies the incoming Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data and store the location of suitable areas. The developed method analyses geometric features on point cloud data and detects potential right spots. The algorithm uses the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to find planes in point cloud clusters. The areas that have a slope less than a threshold are considered potential landing spots. These spots are evaluated regarding ground and vehicle conditions such as the distance to the UAV, the presence of obstacles, the area’s roughness, and the spot’s slope. Finally, the output of the algorithm is the optimum spot to land and can vary during operation. The proposed approach evaluates the algorithm in simulated scenarios and an experimental dataset presenting suitability to be applied in real-time operations.
Automatic Creation of Storm Impact Database Based on Video Monitoring and Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Callens Aurelien , Morichon Denis , Liria Pedro , Epelde Irati , Liquet Benoit
Published: May 2021

Data about storm impacts are essential for the disaster risk reduction process, but unlike data about storm characteristics, they are not routinely collected. In this paper, we demonstrate the high potential of convolutional neural networks to automatically constitute storm impact database using timestacks images provided by coastal video monitoring stations. Several convolutional neural network architectures and methods to deal with class imbalance were tested on two sites (Biarritz and Zarautz) to find the best practices for this classification task. This study shows that convolutional neural networks are well adapted for the classification of timestacks images into storm impact regimes. Overall, the most complex and deepest architectures yield better results. Indeed, the best performances are obtained with the VGG16 architecture for both sites with F-scores of 0.866 for Biarritz and 0.858 for Zarautz. For the class imbalance problem, the method of oversampling shows best classification accuracy with F-scores on average 30% higher than the ones obtained with cost sensitive learning. The transferability of the learning method between sites is also investigated and shows conclusive results. This study highlights the high potential of convolutional neural networks to enhance the value of coastal video monitoring data that are routinely recorded on many coastal sites. Furthermore, it shows that this type of deep neural network can significantly contribute to the setting up of risk databases necessary for the determination of storm risk indicators and, more broadly, for the optimization of risk-mitigation measures.
Crustal Structure of the Nile Delta: Interpretation of Seismic-Constrained Satellite-Based Gravity Data
Authors: Hassan Soha , Sultan Mohamed , Sobh Mohamed , Elhebiry Mohamed S. , Zahran Khaled , Abdeldayem Abdelaziz , Issawy Elsayed , Kamh Samir
Published: May 2021

Interpretations of the tectonic setting of the Nile Delta of Egypt and its offshore extension are challenged by the thick sedimentary cover that conceals the underlying structures and by the paucity of deep seismic data and boreholes. A crustal thickness model, constrained by available seismic and geological data, was constructed for the Nile Delta by inversion of satellite gravity data (GOCO06s), and a two-dimensional (2D) forward density model was generated along the Delta’s entire length. Modelling results reveal the following: (1) the Nile Delta is formed of two distinctive crustal units: the Southern Delta Block (SDB) and the Northern Delta Basin (NDB) separated by a hinge zone, a feature widely reported from passive margin settings; (2) the SDB is characterized by an east–west-trending low-gravity (~−40 mGal) anomaly indicative of continental crust characteristics (depth to Moho (DTM): 36–38 km); (3) the NDB and its offshore extension are characterized by high gravity anomalies (hinge zone: ~10 mGal; Delta shore line: >40 mGal; south Herodotus Basin: ~140 mGal) that are here attributed to crustal thinning and stretching and decrease in DTM, which is ~35 km at the hinge zone, 30–32 km at the shoreline, and 22–20 km south of the Herodotus Basin; and (4) an apparent continuation of the east-northeast–west-southwest transitional crust of the Nile Delta towards the north-northeast–south-southwest-trending Levant margin in the east. These observations together with the reported extensional tectonics along the hinge zone, NDB and its offshore, the low to moderate seismic activity, and the absence of volcanic eruptions in the Nile Delta are all consistent with the NDB being a non-volcanic passive margin transition zone between the North African continental crust (SDB) and the Mediterranean oceanic crust (Herodotus Basin), with the NDB representing a westward extension of the Levant margin extensional transition zone.
Conceptual Technological Framework for Smart Cities to Move towards Decentralized and User-Centric Architectures Using DLT
Authors: Garcia-Font Victor
Published: May 2021

Nowadays, many urban areas are developing projects that are included within the area of smart cities. These systems tend to be highly heterogeneous and involve a large number of different technologies and participants. In general, cities deploy systems to integrate data and to provide protocols to ease interconnectivity between different subsystems. However, this is not enough to build a completely interoperable smart city, where control fully belongs to city administrators and citizens. Currently, in most cases, subsystems tend to be deployed and operated by providers creating silos. Furthermore, citizens, who should be the center of these systems, are often relegated to being just another participant. In this article, we study how smart cities can move towards decentralized and user-centric systems relying on distributed ledger technologies (DLT). For this, we define a conceptual framework that describes the interaction between smart city components, their participants, and the DLT ecosystem. We analyze the trust models that are created between the participants in the most relevant use cases, and we study the suitability of the different DLT types.
Risk Management and Learning Climate in Emergency Contexts: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Galanti Teresa
Published: May 2021

Background: Several researchers have questioned the strategies necessary for effective risk management as well as of human error and its consequences, looking at both positive and negative consequences. Starting from this perspective, this study intended to investigate risk management in the emergency context due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A total of five in-depth interviews were conducted with senior managers of multinationals, asking them to talk about the management of their human capital and the policies of error and safety management adopted in their organizations before, during, and after the pandemic. Results: Qualitative interviews analysis revealed three interesting clusters related to crisis, trust, and risk management; quantitative results, instead, confirmed the existent link between crisis and error management and the strategic role of organizational management in the diffusion of a climate in which is possible to learn from both success and failure. Conclusion: In summary, preliminary results seemed to confirm what emerged from the most recent literature, which is the urgency for organizations to create a culture of intelligent risk-taking that leads to learning and improved knowledge and that includes the participation of all workers. Moreover, this study also underlines the possibility of extending the advantages of Error Management Training in emergency context.
A Trans-Disciplinary Vocabulary for Assessing the Visual Performance of BIPV
Authors: Scognamiglio Alessandra
Published: May 2021

It is widely acknowledged that the visual dimension of photovoltaics (PV) is fundamental for social acceptance. In this sense, the so-called Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) is a possible catalyzer, as PV is hidden (integrated) into building envelope morphologies that are familiar to the public. It is crucial to be able to design and assess a BIPV system so that its visual performance is optimal. Many studies exist in this regard, but still they do not deliver a clear theoretical organization of the concepts used for defining the visual performance of BIPV. This paper elaborates a trans-disciplinary systemic formalization of BIPV and proposes a vocabulary focusing on the formal perception of BIPV as a part of the building’s envelope system. The proposed vocabulary is based on a set of 11 visual keywords; as the proposed method unifies the formal and the cognitive information contents. It will facilitate the dialogue among different stakeholders (e.g., architects, clients, modules manufacturers, and public authorities) and, in general, the visual performance assessment of BIPV. In consequence, it allows for objective comparison and thus informed decision-making.
Human-Centred Indicators (HCI) to Regenerate Vulnerable Cultural Heritage and Landscape towards a Circular City: From the Bronx (NY) to Ercolano (IT)
Authors: Bosone Martina , Ciampa Francesca
Published: May 2021

Many cities globally are incorporating the circular economy model into their development strategies to start transitioning as “circular cities” towards the implementation of human-centred development. In many of them, one of the major challenges is represented by the large presence of cultural heritage being in a state of degradation, abandonment and underutilization, which determines waste conditions not only at physical/spatial level but also at economic level (the presence of subsistence economies) and at a social and cultural level (marginalization phenomena and high rates of unemployment). The perspective of circular economy allows rethinking these waste conditions as an opportunity to reactivate virtuous circuits capable of promoting sustainable development focused on human needs. In this perspective, the paper aims to demonstrate both the importance of participatory approaches in guiding circular and human-centred regeneration processes and of identifying evaluation tools capable of integrating the human and ecological dimension with the economic one. With this aim, a circular methodology is proposed and experimented with in Ercolano (Italy) and in the Bronx (New York), in which the adoption of a participatory approach was central in all phases of regeneration processes, from the identification and analysis of vulnerabilities and waste conditions to the definition of a strategy capable of transforming these limitations into opportunities. A first result is the elaboration of a framework of “Human-Centred Indicators” to monitor and support the adoption of the circular economy strategy toward implementing the “human-centred city”.
Inequalities in the Exercise and Continuity in Building Engineering in Spain. Factor Analysis Including Gender Perspective
Authors: Recalde-Esnoz Irantzu , Ferrández Daniel , Morón Carlos , Dorado Guadalupe
Published: May 2021

The building sector is one of the most relevant at world level in view of the percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) concerned, as well as the number of new jobs created. Nevertheless, it is a completely male-dominated industry. Different institutions and organisms, such as the Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals, struggle to reduce gender inequality in different environments, including the working one. Aligned with these goals, this study provides the data exploited from the first survey regarding gender inequality within the professionals of the building engineering field in the Spanish population as a whole. This survey was developed in 2018 by the Spanish General Council of Technical Architecture and it was sent to its members. The sample involved 1353 cases. For this data mining, bivariate analyses were conducted in order to subsequently carry out a factor analysis and the socio–demographic composition of the dimensions found. Results exposed statistically meaningful differences in the eyes of women and men about those factors which facilitate practice and continuity in the profession. The most relevant conclusions drawn from the factor analysis reflect the existence of three factors: (1) work competences, (2) social capital and (3) physical appearance and being a man, dimensions in which women and men’s opinion was unevenly distributed.
Organic Agroforestry Long-Term Field Experiment Designing Trough Actors’ Knowledge towards Food System Sustainability
Authors: Ciaccia Corrado , Testani Elena , Fiore Angelo , Iocola Ileana , Di Pierro Marta , Mele Giuseppe , Ferlito Filippo , Cutuli Marcello , Montemurro Francesco , Farina Roberta , Ceccarelli Danilo , Persiani Alessandro , Canali Stefano , Diacono Mariangela
Published: May 2021

The implementation of agroecology principles within organic farming research is a crux to redesign sustainable agri-food systems. To govern this transition, the local research demand should be addressed by direct engagement of all stakeholders in the research process. The first step is the involvement of farmers and technicians, with the aim of restoring their decision-making role, switching governance to local scale. The co-design/co-management of Long-Term Experiments (LTEs) can be crucial to govern the above-described transition through networking and participatory activities. In this study, we report the experience of co-designing a new LTE in Southern Italy by local actors and scientists. Through a participatory action research methodology, an LTE was considered as a biophysical component of an agroecological living lab, a public–private environment aimed to design a local food system. The setup of parallel field trials in satellite farms stands for the other biophysical component, whereas the stakeholder platform represents the social one. Through definition of common objectives, a step-by-step process is presented, which highlights the interest of local organic actors to share ideas and perspectives for the territory, pointing out the inclusion of end-users (the consumers) in the process to complete the transition to sustainable food systems.
A Pro-Environmental Method of Sample Size Determination to Predict the Quality Level of Products Considering Current Customers’ Expectations
Authors: Siwiec Dominika , Pacana Andrzej
Published: May 2021

The main factor that conditions the success of organizations is the development of products oriented toward customer satisfaction. An additional attribute of organizations is the use of sustainable development rules. The use of these rules and the simultaneous desire to create high-quality products encourage organizations to apply different methods to, for example, eliminate waste. This study aimed to develop a method to determine the research sample size required to predict a product’s quality level, taking into account current customers’ expectations. This method was developed by modifying a procedure to determine the research sample size as part of the calculated estimator of the mean value in the general population. Based on the concept of product sustainability development, the goal of the developed method was to determine the number of potential customers (respondents) needed to provide product requirements, which were then processed and used to predict the quality level of the product. This method was applied to simultaneously test a number of hypotheses, determine the test power, and detect statistically significant differences for several relationships of the sample sizes and the test power. This was achieved using universal hypotheses and the popular alternative-punctual (MAP) method. Testing of the proposed method showed that it was able to predict the quality level of products based on current expectations of customers.
Effects of Mowing Frequency on Soil Nematode Diversity and Community Structure in a Chinese Meadow Steppe
Authors: Zhao Jinling , Chen Jiale , Wu Honghui , Li Linghao , Pan Fengjuan
Published: May 2021

Soil nematodes are one of the most important components in terrestrial ecosystems and the critical factor driving the belowground process. The grasslands of Northeast China have been subject to mowing for ages, which theoretically should have had substantial effects on the processes associated with soil nematodes. However, relevant studies have barely been conducted to date. This study examined variations in soil nematode abundance, biomass, diversity, and community structure, with respect to varying mowing frequencies. The results showed that a higher mowing frequency significantly reduced the abundance of soil nematodes, biomass, diversity, and community structure stability in the ecosystem, while intermediate mowing frequency enhanced these parameters to different extents. Our findings indicate that the changing patterns of the nematode indices with mowing frequency conform to the intermediate disturbance theory. This study provides a theoretical basis for formulating grassland-related management measures and maintaining the stability of grassland ecosystems.