bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effects of Electricity Production on Industrial Development and Sustainable Economic Growth: A VAR Analysis for BRICS Countries
Authors: Yu Zhongdong , Liu Wei , Chen Liming , Eti Serkan , Dinçer Hasan , Yüksel Serhat
Published: October 2019

This study aims to evaluate the effect of electricity production on industrial development and sustainable economic growth. In this context, Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS), countries which have the highest increase in electricity production in the period of 2000–2018, are included in the scope of this study. Annual data of these variables in the period of 1991–2018 are used and three different models are created by using Vector Auto Regression (VAR) methodology. The findings state that electricity production in BRICS countries has a positive effect on both industrial production and sustainable economic growth. Hence, electricity production needs to be increased for them. For this purpose, it is important to encourage investors with tax advantages, location orientation and financing. Moreover, BRICS countries should give importance to renewable energy investments in order to increase electricity production. These issues have a contributing effect to sustainable economic growth.
Urbanisation of Protected Areas within the European Union—An Analysis of UNESCO Biospheres and the Need for New Strategies
Authors: Harris Maryann , Cave Claire , Foley Karen , Bolger Thomas , Hochstrasser Tamara
Published: October 2019

The UNESCO Biosphere Reserves (BRs) comprise core conservation areas supported by a buffer and transition zone of sustainable development. This zoning can help manage urbanisation around conservation areas. Although it is UNESCO policy to measure the number of BRs that have interactions with urban areas, there has been no systematic assessment of urban biospheres since 2008. This research addresses this deficit by measuring the extent of urbanisation of all designated BRs within the European Union (EU). Using the Copernicus Urban Atlas, the proximity of BRs to Functional Urban Areas (FUA) was determined. The results show that 46% (76/167) of BRs are situated within FUAs, including 11% (18/167) entirely within an FUA. The majority (64%) of EU-28 countries have BRs within FUAs. Urban influences on EU-28 BRs are extensive, as 90% are found within 50 km of an FUA. However, integration with urban areas may be lacking as 14% of EU BRs were adjacent to an FUA. Urban pressures are acute for 11% of EU BRs which had multiple FUAs within a 50 km radius. Therefore, urbanisation of BRs is a widespread challenge and recommendations are provided for BRs to function as an information sharing network and develop a new urban strategy.
Do the Quota Applications for Women on Boards Improve Financial Performance
Authors: Yıldız Sebahattin , Meydan Cebrail , Taştan Boz İlknur , Sakal Önder
Published: October 2019

In the context of corporate governance principles, governments set regulations to increase the sustainable representation of women on boards. This paper seeks to answer the question of whether or not the application of compulsory or voluntary quotas for female board members improves firm performance. Based on difference analyses on the 2011 principles of the Capital Markets Board (CMB), we do not find significant differences between the companies with at least one female member on their board and those without any female board members in terms of financial performance indicators (return on asset (ROA), return on equity (ROE), market value/book value (MV/BV)). Based on difference analyses on the 2014 principles of the Capital Markets Board, we further find that the ROA of the companies with 25% and more female members is lower than the companies with <25% female members. These results don’t support the arguments of agency theory, because government regulations including the efforts of women to increase their representation rate on the board in a sustainable manner don’t improve the accounting-based and market-based performance indicators of companies. If the company is successful, a quota for women cannot be imposed, because the obligation may result in a negative effect. Policymakers and practitioners may benefit from the knowledge that women may be improved and prepared for these positions and be accompanied with mentors before filling the compulsory or voluntary quota for women. It is not enough to increase the rate of women. The policy implication of the paper is that women must be equipped with the resources, authority, knowledge, and skills to perform well.
Implementation of Simple Strategies to Improve Wellfield Management in Arid Regions: The Case Study of Wadi Al Arab Wellfield, Jordan
Authors: Alqadi Mohammad , Margane Armin , Al Raggad Marwan , Subah HE Ali , Disse Markus , Hamdan Ibraheem , Chiogna Gabriele
Published: October 2019

Groundwater is the main source of drinking water supply in Jordan. Over the past 30 years, many wellfields have been drilled and expanded to cover increasing drinking water demand caused by natural population growth, development of life standards and as a result of the influx of refugees to Jordan. In particular, northern Jordan groundwater resources have been severely depleted. Therefore, water suppliers and utilities have been increasingly challenged to meet water demand and deliver water of adequate quality and quantity to households in a timely manner. Meeting these objectives requires good data management, proper maintenance of groundwater wells, and effective wellfield management plans. We developed a novel monitoring strategy that allows the collection of relevant data for wellfield managers (e.g., yield, static and dynamic water level, as well as energy consumption). The new monitoring system, implemented in 2017, has greatly enhanced data availability in comparison to the situation between 2012 and 2016. The data are used in an operational decision support tool based on simple interpretation of the field observations. The implementation of the project was done using both bottom-up and top-down approaches for the Wadi Al Arab wellfield. Our results evidence that (i) simple strategies can lead to a significant improvement of wellfield management, reducing the maintenance time of the wells though appropriate monitoring (from an average of four days/maintenance/well in 2012 to less than one day/maintenance/well in 2017); (ii) the joint combination of bottom-up and top-down approaches leads to an effective implementation of the monitoring system; (iii) the simplicity of the proposed monitoring strategy makes it suitable for further implementation in other wellfields in Jordan and countries in a similar situation of both data and water scarcity.
Sequential Alliance Portfolios, Partner Reconfiguration and Firm Performance
Authors: Liang Jie , Shao Peng
Published: October 2019

This study develops multi-dimensional partner reconfiguration strategies and addresses how they affect firm performance in a series of alliance portfolios by applying the dynamic sustainable perspective. Using data collected from 565 fund product alliance portfolios initiated by 61 Chinese fund firms during a five-year period from 2007 to 2011, the empirical results indicate that both dropping active partners and adding new ones will reduce firm performance. By contrast, reintroducing previous partners will increase firm performance. The average tie strength of the last alliance portfolio moderates the influences of partner reconfigurations on firm performance. Specifically, it negatively moderates the effect of dropping active partners and positively moderates the effect of adding new partners. However, its moderating effect on the influence of reintroducing previous partners is insignificant. These findings have positive theoretical and practical significance for firms pursuing sustainable development by clarifying when and how partner reconfiguration strategies influence firm performance.
Channel Selection and Pricing Decisions Considering Three Charging Modes of Production Capacity Sharing Platform: A Sustainable Operations Perspective
Authors: Zhao Daozhi , Xue Yang , Cao Cejun , Han Hongshuai
Published: October 2019

In the context of sharing economy, a manufacturer can source from two alternative channels: sharing and traditional, when facing production capacity constraints and sustainably conscious consumers. The aim of the paper is to analyze channel selection and pricing strategies of the manufacturer for achieving sustainable operations, to investigate the operations of the platform regarding charging modes, access requirements, and commission rates in different stages of development, and to discuss the interaction among all stakeholders for sustainability in the whole system. The game-theoretic approach is adopted. The results provide references for decisions of the manufacturer and surplus production capacity supplier to join in the sharing, as well as corresponding optimal pricing strategies, which guides platforms to keep a balance between profitability and attracting participants by relatively low access requirements and commission rates. Moreover, developing platforms prefer to charge suppliers and set low access requirements while relatively developed platforms tend to charge bilateral sides or manufacturers and set high access requirements. Charging the manufacturer encourages the bilateral participation of the platform most. In addition, as charging mode changes, the trend of changes in consumer surplus and social welfare is the same as that in the market share of products from the sharing channel.
Investigating the Impact of Critical Factors on Continuance Intention towards Cross-Border Shopping Websites
Authors: Ma Yin , Ruangkanjanases Athapol , Chen Shih-Chih
Published: October 2019

With the intensification of globalization and the widespread adoption of the internet, cross-border e-commerce has become a popular way of shopping. In order to investigate the sustainable development of the cross-border online purchase intention, we propose the framework that uses electronic word of mouth, perceived value, website design quality, trust, perceived risk and the uncertainty avoidance index as the exogenous variables, which influenced the continuance intention towards cross-border shopping and was mediated by the satisfaction of the customers. The results showed: (1) Among all the suggested independent variables, electronic word of mouth, website design quality, trust and the uncertainty avoidance index significantly predicted the satisfaction of the customers; (2) Customer satisfaction towards the websites significantly predicted the continuance intention of users. A detailed explanation of the results and implications for the theoretical and managerial implications for practitioners and academic researchers in the sustainable promotion and development of e-commerce is discussed.
Are Higher Input Levels to Triticale Growing Technologies Effective in Biofuel Production System?
Authors: Bielski Stanisław , Romaneckas Kęstutis , Novikova Anastasija , Šarauskis Egidijus
Published: October 2019

Energy use in agricultural production has been increasing faster than in many other sectors of the world economy. Owing to high energy consumption during the production of agricultural inputs, with mineral nitrogen fertilizers in particular, it is often questioned as to whether agricultural production is still energy efficient. The objective of this research was to evaluate the energy efficiency of different intensity systems for the production of semi-dwarf winter triticale cultivar ”Twingo”. Cultivar “Twingo” entered the Polish National List in 2012 as one of the best yielding. For this reason, it was used in this experiment to examine its response to basic agrotechnical factors. The field experiment was conducted in the Agricultural Experiment Station in Tomaszkowo in 2013–2015. Low-input, medium-input and high-input production systems were evaluated. The compared systems differed in nitrogen fertilization rates and the level of fungicide protection. The highest output/input ratio was noticed growing winter triticale in low-input production system. The most energy-consuming operation during winter triticale production in the compared systems was mineral fertilization. The high-input production system was significantly lower energy efficiency than the other systems (6.21, medium-input 5.95, low-input 8.19). The energy return on investment (EROI) ratio was low, but above 1, in all the analyzed technologies (low-input 1.30, medium-input 1.14, high-input 1.15). The energy value of the bioethanol produced was higher than the energy inputs into the production of raw material and its processing. The conversion of winter triticale grain to bioethanol proved that the EROI reached the most favorable value for the low-input production system.
The Impact of the Quality of Interpersonal Relationships between Employees on Counterproductive Work Behavior: A Study of Employees in Poland
Authors: Szostek Dawid
Published: October 2019

The purpose of the article is to determine how the quality of interpersonal relationships at work (QIRW) affects the extent of counterproductive work behavior (CWB), and whether this impact is moderated by employees’ demographic features (education, age, sex, length of service and type of work). These questions are particularly important for organizations that want to function sustainably, because counterproductive behavior also includes wasting resources, polluting the environment and using environmentally unfriendly products. The research objectives were met using a survey conducted in 2018 among 1488 professionally active people in Poland. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the empirical data. The proposed theoretical model was intended to determine how particular categories of relationship quality affect dimensions of CWB (which included taking into account employees’ aforementioned demographic features). I determined that relationship quality has an inverse relationship with counterproductive behavior of employees (the higher the quality, the lower the propensity for CWB), but there are also many paradoxes that I discuss in detail. Moreover, this impact is significantly moderated by employees’ demographic features (mainly education, type of work, length of service and sex). I also discuss the theoretical contributions, practical implications and limitations of this study, and directions for future research.
Managing the Water-Energy Nexus within a Climate Change Context—Lessons from the Experience of Cuenca, Ecuador
Authors: Gianoli Alberto , Bhatnagar Rishi
Published: October 2019

The impact of climate change dynamics has a multiplicative effect when the interlinkages between water and energy are considered. This also applies to climate change co-benefits that derive from adaptation and mitigation initiatives implemented at the urban level and that address the water-energy nexus. A better understanding of the water-energy nexus is a precondition for integrated resource planning that optimizes the use of scarce resources. Against this background, the paper assesses the potential impact of water-energy saving technologies (WEST) on the water-energy nexus of Cuenca, Ecuador, focusing on how vulnerability to climate change may affect the water metabolic cycle of the urban area. Water-energy saving technologies such as rainwater harvesting, solar water heaters, and micro water turbines, reduce water-related energy consumption and mitigate greenhouse gases emissions; thereby illustrating the potential to generate climate change mitigation and adaptation co-benefits. The paper relies on primary data collected through interviews and a survey as well as secondary data in order to assess the extent to which water-energy saving technologies influence the water-energy nexus in Cuenca’s urban water metabolic cycle. Within the context of climate change, the paper develops a business-as-usual scenario and assesses how this is modified by the implementation of water-energy saving technologies.
Theoretical Model of Environmental Justice and Environmental Inequality in China’s Four Major Economic Zones
Authors: He Qi , Wang Ran , Ji Han , Wei Gaoyang , Wang Jincheng , Liu Jingwen
Published: October 2019

With the change in China’s social structure and the emergence of the middle class, severe environmental pollution is stimulating the demand for social environmental justice in China. Facing the absence of environmental justice theory and related empirical research in China, this article introduces a general equilibrium theory model of environmental justice. It proves that under Pareto efficiency, environmental justice is difficult to achieve in a competitive market, and environmental inequality is the normal state. An econometric model is established based on demographic and socioeconomic factors, comparison with the US principle of environmental justice, and characteristic perspectives in the Chinese context. The study takes 444 counties in China’s four major economic zones, the Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta, Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei, and Chengdu–Chongqing, as the units for empirical analysis of the regional distribution of environmental inequality. The results indicate that rural residents bear higher environmental risks than urban residents. There are different environmentally vulnerable groups and environmental disparities among the four economic zones; notably, minorities in the Pearl River Delta, poor residents in Chengdu–Chongqing, and rural residents in the Yangtze River Delta bear the environmental inequality caused by industrial gas pollution. However, migrants, including rural migrants, do not disproportionately suffer environmental risks caused by industrial pollution at the county level. This paper provides theoretical support and a systematic analytical framework for the study of China’s environmental justice issues. We describe China’s environmental inequality status and provide a reference for the design of environmental justice interventions.
Can Location-Based Social Media and Online Reservation Services Tell More about Local Accommodation Industries than Open Governmental Data?
Authors: Sidor Csaba , Kršák Branislav , Štrba Ľubomír , Cehlár Michal , Khouri Samer , Stričík Michal , Dugas Jaroslav , Gajdoš Ján , Bolechová Barbora
Published: October 2019

The paper follows-up ongoing research focusing on the potential of machine-readable data as additional knowledge in the governance of local tourism and destination management organizations (DMOs) in Slovakia. The current focus is on one classic social media (Facebook), one location-based social media (Foursquare), two hybrid travel-related platforms with partial attributes of reservation services (Google Places, TripAdvisor), and two online reservation services (Booking, Airbnb). The global aim is the usage of extracted data for the identification of additional entities with the obligation of local occupancy taxation, which is the financial backbone of Slovak (DMOs). A set of simple and globally reusable scripts constructed in Python and PostgreSQL were used to extract data on lodging providers from the Google Places application programming interface (API), the Facebook Place Search API and the Foursquare Venue API over grid overlays of districts’ spatial representation. For pure scientific purposes in the case of Tripadvisor, Booking, and Airbnb, with no suitable access to open APIs, web scraping methods were used for data extraction. The pilot case was applied in the boundaries of Kosice city (Slovakia), and the aggregations of processed data were compared with official open statistics. Results indicate that the automated continuous monitoring of online platforms could help local public administrations in decreasing occupancy tax evasions and even widen knowledge about online audiences and visitors’ satisfaction.
Advance Management Education for Power-Engineering and Industry of the Future
Authors: Gitelman Lazar , Kozhevnikov Mikhail , Ryzhuk Olga
Published: October 2019

The objectives of this study are to substantiate the principles of advance education and the requirements for the new generation of educational programs aimed at developing competences for the design, manufacture, operation and maintenance of complex industrial systems integrated into intellectual production, environments, and robotic systems. The study included formulating a hypothesis, refining the conceptual framework, creating the necessary empirical base, reviewing the cases of world leading universities, and presenting and substantiating the main features of advance management education that meet the current challenges. A flexible modular architecture of the educational process was developed which allows making timely adjustments to the content and teaching methods to include new knowledge. The experience of testing the results obtained in consulting practice, in teaching master’s degree students at Ural Federal University (Russia) and in educational projects for leaders and breakthrough teams of large energy corporations is described. The academic novelty of the results lies in the comprehensive examination of the issue of advance education, the conditions and the tools for its implementation within the framework of the proactive management methodology developed by the authors for sustainable business development in a revolutionary and changing industrial landscape.
Mathematical Investigation on the Sustainability of UAV Logistics
Authors: Eun Joonyup , Song Byung Duk , Lee Sangbok , Lim Dae-Eun
Published: October 2019

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are expected to make groundbreaking changes in the logistics industry. Leading logistics companies have been developing and testing their usage of UAVs recently as an environmentally friendly and cost-effective option. In this paper, we investigate how much the UAV delivery service is environmentally friendly compared to the traditional ground vehicle (GV) delivery service. Since there are fuel (battery) and loadable weight restrictions in the UAV delivery, multi-hopping of UAV is necessary, which may cause a large consumption of electrical energy. We present a two-phase approach. In Phase I, a new vehicle routing model to obtain optimal delivery schedules for both UAV-alone and GV-alone delivery systems is proposed, which considers each system’s restrictions, such as the max loadable weight and fuel replenishment. In Phase II, CO2 emissions are computed as a sustainability measure based on the travelling distance of the optimal route obtained from Phase I, along with various GV travel-speeds. A case study finds that the UAV-alone delivery system is much more CO2 efficient in all ranges of the GV speeds investigated.
The Flow Network of Chinese Scientists and Its Driving Mechanisms Based on the Spatial Development Path of CAS and CAE Academicians
Authors: Shi Wentian , Du Debin , Yang Wenlong
Published: October 2019

Scientists are a core element of regional technological innovation and economic growth. Academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) are outstanding representatives of Chinese scientists. The purpose of this paper is to reveal the characteristics of Chinese scientists’ space migration, depict the structural topology of their flow network and to analyze the driving mechanisms behind the characteristics of their space migration. We mainly used spatial statistics, complex network analysis, and a modified location quotient. Our main conclusions are as follows: (1) The spatial distribution of Chinese scientists at different development stages tends to converge. The Chinese scientists’ birthplaces are highly concentrated in the eastern coastal areas and the Yangtze River basin. Education locations are highly consistent, with clusters of global high-level educational resources at home and abroad, and their workplaces are mainly distributed in economically developed cities. (2) In terms of network characteristics, the spatial heterogeneity of the growth of Chinese scientists is obvious. Only a few cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Nanjing, have higher degrees of node centrality, strength centrality, and betweenness centrality, so their networks’ hierarchical structures are pyramid-shaped and their core-periphery structures are prominent. By identifying the roles of the cities as network nodes, we found that only Beijing plays accomplished and stable roles, whereas other cities play a single role. (3) Regarding driving mechanisms, Chinese scientists’ spatial migration has been influenced by national policy, regional economic level, education level, and individual traits at national, regional, and personal scales. Therefore, the combined effects of various forces have driven the evolution of the flow network of Chinese scientists.
The Impact of Information Technology Capabilities of Manufacturing Enterprises on Innovation Performance: Evidences from SEM and fsQCA
Authors: Chu Yizhou , Chi Maomao , Wang Weijun , Luo Bo
Published: October 2019

With the development of national strategies (such as Industrial 4.0 and Made in China 2025), how to build digital enterprises and cultivate innovation capabilities of enterprises has become a critical problem to Chinese manufacturing enterprises. However, the literature on the specific path of information technology (IT) capabilities to the innovation of enterprises is still lacking a body of relevant empirical research. In particular, it has not yet thought to explore the information technology capabilities, digital transformation, and then innovation performance of manufacturing enterprises. By performing a questionnaire investigation for 138 Chinese manufacturing enterprises, this study adopted both a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) to explore the set relations of the conjunctions and conditions and the statistical associations by studying the relationships among information technology capabilities, digital transformation and innovation performance. The results show that the positive impacts of information technology capabilities on the process innovation performance and the digital transformation, as well as the positive impacts of digital transformation on both process innovation performance and product innovation performance. Specifically, digital transformation takes on a new function of partial mediation of IT capabilities and process innovation performance, and digital transformation functions as a complete mediator for IT capabilities and product innovation performance. The combinations of causal recipes related to innovation performance are provided by a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). Through the analyses of SEM and fsQCA, this research develops the formation mechanisms of both process innovation performance and product innovation performance, and provides guidance for both IT and innovation management of manufacturing enterprises in China.
The Analysis of a Simulation of a Port–City Green Cooperative Development, Based on System Dynamics: A Case Study of Shanghai Port, China
Authors: Li Yan , Zhang Xiaohan , Lin Kaiyue , Huang Qingbo
Published: October 2019

Ports are important network nodes for cargo transportation between cities and even countries, and they play vital roles in stimulating urban economies. However, at the same time, port production activities also consume various resources, such as water, electricity, coal, and land. In addition, ports inevitably produce waste—solid, water, gas, and other pollutants—which damages the environment of their hinterland cities, hindering the growth of urban GDP. Therefore, this study sought to build a reasonable system dynamics model to measure the positive and negative effects of ports on cities, and to put forward countermeasures and suggestions for promoting port–city green cooperative development. We selected Shanghai Port as a case study, estimated its parameters with 2010–2017 data, and tested the historical fitness of the model. We then carried out a scheme simulation by changing relevant parameters and comparing coordinated port–city development under different schemes. The simulation results show that increases in sea transportation activity and economic pull coefficients help to propel the growth of port–city GDP to a certain extent, but also cause environmental pollution and resource wastage. Therefore, effective energy-saving and emission-reduction measures are needed to achieve the coordinated development of economic growth and green environmental protection in ports and cities.
Design and Implementation of an Interworking IoT Platform and Marketplace in Cloud of Things
Authors: Mehmood Faisal , Ahmad Shabir , Kim DoHyeun
Published: October 2019

An internet of things (IoT) platform is a multi-layer technology that enables automation of connected devices within IoT. IoT platforms serve as a middle-ware solution and act as supporting software that is able to connect different hardware devices, access points, and networks to other parts of the value chain. Virtual objects have become a vital component in every IoT platform. Virtual objects are the digital representation of a physical entity. In this paper, we design and implement a cloud-centric IoT platform that serves a purpose for registration and initialization of virtual objects so that technology tinkerers can consume them via the IoT marketplace and integrate them to build IoT applications. The proposed IoT platform differs from existing IoT platforms in the sense that they provide hardware and software services on the same platform that users can plug and play. The proposed IoT platform is separate from the IoT marketplace where users can consume virtual objects to build IoT applications. Experiments are conducted for IoT platform and interworking IoT marketplace based on virtual objects in CoT. The proposed IoT platform provides a user-friendly interface and is secure and reliable. An IoT testbed is developed and a case study is performed for a domestic environment to reuse virtual objects on the IoT marketplace. It also provides the discovery and sharing of virtual objects. IoT devices can be monitored and controlled via virtual objects. We have conducted a comparative analysis of the proposed IoT platform with FIWARE. Results conclude that the proposed system performs marginally better than FIWARE.
Sustainability for Food Consumers: Which Perception?
Authors: Peano Cristiana , Merlino Valentina Maria , Sottile Francesco , Borra Danielle , Massaglia Stefano
Published: October 2019

A sustainable future for the community is one of the objectives established by the European Union Agenda 2030. Furthermore, sustainable consumption has been identified as one of the possible trajectories for sustainable development. It is for this reason that food production, distribution and consumption ways cannot be overlooked for sustainability achievement, as well as the consumer’s related perception. In this research the Best–Worst scaling methodology was adopted to explore the priorities declared by a sample of 801 consumers among 12 different sustainability definitions selected from the scientific literature. The choice experiment was carried out through face-to-face interviews during two food and wine events closely related to the sustainability theme in the food sector. The respondents considered as sustainability priority definition the “preservation of natural resources”, followed by “decent working conditions” and “accessibility for everyone to healthy and safe food”. Moreover, 5 consumer’s clusters were identified according to the priorities assigned to the different sustainability definitions, as well as to individuals socio-demographic characteristics. The description of the priorities assigned by the clusters to the different sustainability definitions have also been described as guidelines for consumer attitudes towards the different sustainability dimensions (environmental, social, economic and governance).
The Extent of Infrastructure Causing Fragmentation in the Hydrocarbon Basin in the Arid and Semi-Arid Zones of Patagonia (Argentina)
Authors: Buzzi Mariana , Rueter Bárbara , Ghermandi Luciana , Lasaponara Rosa
Published: October 2019

Fragmentation is a disruption in the connectivity of landscapes. The aims of this paper are (i) to quantitatively assess the fragmentation rates in three landscape units located in a hydrocarbon basin, and (ii) to model their behavior between 2001 and 2013 using landscape metrics at different scales of resolution. The following metrics were selected using principal component analysis (PCA): The Clumpiness Index (CLUMPY), patch density (PD), perimeter-area fractal dimension (PAFRAC) and effective mesh size (MESH). Results from our investigations pointed out that hydrocarbon activity increased the fragmentation at the sites. In particular, the CLUMPY index increased in all three landscape units, the average of PD decreased from 60 to 14 patches per 100 hectares, whereas the mean of MESH was quite constant, however, due to oil production, it decreased mainly in the coastal valleys. Finally, the PAFRAC also decreased at sites with oil production, being more evident in the plateau and coastal canyons. As a whole, outputs from our analyses clearly pointed out that the monitoring of landscape fragmentation trends in arid and semi-arid zones can be successfully achieved using metrics derived from satellite spectral information.
An Adaptive Data Gathering Algorithm for Minimum Travel Route Planning in WSNs Based on Rendezvous Points
Authors: Ghaleb Mukhtar , Subramaniam Shamala , Ghaleb Safwan M.
Published: October 2019

A recent trend in wireless sensor network (WSN) research is the deployment of a mobile element (ME) for transporting data from sensor nodes to the base station (BS). This helps to achieve significant energy savings as it minimizes the communications required among nodes. However, a major problem is the large data gathering latency. To address this issue, the ME (i.e., vehicle) should visit certain rendezvous points (i.e., nodes) to collect data before it returns to the BS to minimize the data gathering latency. In view of this, we propose a rendezvous-based approach where some certain nodes serve as rendezvous points (RPs). The RPs gather data using data compression techniques from nearby sources (i.e., affiliated nodes) and transfer them to a mobile element when the ME traverses their paths. This minimizes the number of nodes to be visited, thereby reducing data gathering latency. Furthermore, we propose a minimal constrained rendezvous point (MCRP) algorithm, which ensures the aggregated data are relayed to the RPs based on three constraints: (i) bounded relay hop, (ii) the number of affiliation nodes, and (iii) location of the RP. The algorithm is designed to consider the ME’s tour length and the shortest path tree (SPT) jointly. The effectiveness of the algorithm is validated through extensive simulations against four existing algorithms. Results show that the MCRP algorithm outperforms the compared schemes in terms of the ME’s tour length, data gathering latency, and the number of rendezvous nodes. MCRP exhibits a relatively close performance to other algorithms with respect to power algorithms.
Some Fixed Point Theorems for Quadratic Quasicontractive Mappings
Authors: Popescu Ovidiu , Stan Gabriel
Published: October 2019

In this paper, we introduce the notion of quadratic quasicontractive mapping and prove two generalizations of some classical fixed point theorems. Furthermore, we present some examples to support our main results.
A Sharp Oscillation Criterion for a Linear Differential Equation with Variable Delay
Authors: Garab Ábel
Published: October 2019

We consider linear differential equations with variable delay of the form x ′ ( t ) + p ( t ) x ( t − τ ( t ) ) = 0 , t ≥ t 0 , where p : [ t 0 , ∞ ) → [ 0 , ∞ ) and τ : [ t 0 , ∞ ) → ( 0 , ∞ ) are continuous functions, such that t − τ ( t ) → ∞ (as t → ∞ ). It is well-known that, for the oscillation of all solutions, it is necessary that B : = lim sup t → ∞ A ( t ) ≥ 1 e holds , where A : = ( t ) ∫ t − τ ( t ) t p ( s ) d s . Our main result shows that, if the function A is slowly varying at infinity (in additive form), then under mild additional assumptions on p and τ , condition B > 1 / e implies that all solutions of the above delay differential equation are oscillatory.
The Botulinum Treatment of Neurogenic Detrusor Overactivity: The Double-Face of the Neurotoxin
Authors: Traini Chiara , Vannucchi Maria Giuliana
Published: October 2019

Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) can counteract the highly frequent involuntary muscle contractions and the uncontrolled micturition events that characterize the neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) due to supra-sacral spinal cord lesions. The ability of the toxin to block the neurotransmitter vesicular release causes the reduction of contractions and improves the compliance of the muscle and the bladder filling. BoNT is the second-choice treatment for NDO once the anti-muscarinic drugs have lost their effects. However, the toxin shows a time-dependent efficacy reduction up to a complete loss of activity. The cellular mechanisms responsible for BoNT effects exhaustion are not yet completely defined. Similarly, also the sites of its action are still under identification. A growing amount of data suggest that BoNT, beyond the effects on the efferent terminals, would act on the sensory system recently described in the bladder mucosa. The specimens from NDO patients no longer responding to BoNT treatment displayed a significant increase of the afferent terminals, likely excitatory, and signs of a chronic neurogenic inflammation in the mucosa. In summary, beyond the undoubted benefits in ameliorating the NDO symptomatology, BoNT treatment might bring to alterations in the bladder sensory system able to shorten its own effectiveness.
CagA Effector Protein in Helicobacter pylori-Infected Human Gastric Epithelium in Vivo: From Bacterial Core and Adhesion/Injection Clusters to Host Cell Proteasome-Rich Cytosol
Authors: Necchi Vittorio , Ricci Vittorio , Sommi Patrizia , Solcia Enrico
Published: October 2019

A key role in the carcinogenic action of Helicobacter pylori is played by the effector protein CagA, the first identified oncoprotein of the bacterial world. However, the present knowledge in regard to the bacterial injection of CagA into epithelial cells (through a type IV secretion system) and its intracellular fate is based primarily on experimental studies in vitro. Our study was aimed to investigate, in H. pylori-infected human gastric epithelium, CagA delivery and intracellular distribution in order to identify any in vivo counterpart of the cell injection mechanism described in vitro and any intracellular cytoplasmic site of preferential CagA distribution, thus shedding light on the natural history of CagA in vivo. By transmission electron microscopy and ultrastructural immunocytochemistry (which combine precise molecule localization with detailed analysis of bacterial-host cell interaction and epithelial cell ultrastructure), we investigated endoscopic biopsies of gastric antrum from H. pylori-infected dyspeptic patients. Our findings provide support for CagA direct injection into gastric epithelial cells at bacterial adhesion sites located on the lateral plasma membrane and for its cytosolic intracellular distribution with selective concentration inside peculiar proteasome-rich areas, which might be site not only of CagA degradation but also of CagA-promoted crucial events in gastric carcinogenesis.
Clinical and Serological Evaluation of LINDA Virus Infections in Post-Weaning Piglets
Authors: Kiesler Alexandra , Seitz Kerstin , Schwarz Lukas , Buczolich Katharina , Petznek Helga , Sassu Elena , Dürlinger Sophie , Högler Sandra , Klang Andrea , Riedel Christiane , Chen Hann-Wei , Mötz Marlene , Kirkland Peter , Weissenböck Herbert , Ladinig Andrea , Rümenapf Till , Lamp Benjamin
Published: October 2019

The novel pestivirus species known as lateral-shaking inducing neuro-degenerative agent (LINDA) virus emerged in 2015 in a piglet-producing farm in Austria. Affected piglets showed strong congenital tremor as a result of severe lesions in the central nervous system. Here, we report the results of a controlled animal infection experiment. Post-weaning piglets were infected with LINDA to determine the susceptibility of pigs, the clinical consequences of infection and the humoral immune response against LINDA. No clinically overt disease signs were observed in the piglets. Viremia was hardly detectable, but LINDA was present in the spleen and several lymphatic organs until the end of the experiment on day 28 post-infection. Oronasal virus shedding together with the infection of one sentinel animal provided additional evidence for the successful replication and spread of LINDA in the piglets. Starting on day 14 post-infection, all infected animals showed a strong humoral immune response with high titers of neutralizing antibodies against LINDA. No cross-neutralizing activity of these sera with other pestiviral species was observed. According to these data, following postnatal infection, LINDA is a rather benign virus that can be controlled by the pig’s immune system. However, further studies are needed to investigate the effects of LINDA on the fetus after intrauterine infection.
In-Vitro Subtype-Specific Modulation of HIV-1 Trans-Activator of Transcription (Tat) on RNAi Silencing Suppressor Activity and Cell Death
Authors: Ronsard Larance , S. Yousif Ashraf , Ramesh Janani , Sumi N. , Gorman Matthew , G. Ramachandran Vishnampettai , C. Banerjea Akhil
Published: October 2019

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a global health concern affecting millions of individuals with a wide variety of currently circulating subtypes affecting various regions of the globe. HIV relies on multiple regulatory proteins to modify the host cell to promote replication in infected T cells, and these regulatory proteins can have subtle phenotypic differences between subtypes. One of these proteins, HIV-1 Trans-Activator of Transcription (Tat), is capable of RNA interference (RNAi) Silencing Suppressor (RSS) activity and induction of cell death in T cells. However, the subtype-specific RSS activity and induction of cell death have not been explored. We investigated the ability of Tat subtypes and variants to induce RSS activity and cell death. TatB, from HIV-1 subtype B, was found to be a potent RSS activator by 40% whereas TatC, from HIV-1 subtype C, showed 15% RSS activity while subtype TatC variants exhibited varying levels. A high level of cell death (50–53%) was induced by subtype TatB when compared to subtype TatC (25–28%) and varying levels were observed with subtype TatC variants. These differential activities could be due to variations in the functional domains of Tat. These observations further our understanding of subtype-specific augmentation of Tat in HIV-1 replication and pathogenesis.
The Effect of a Commercially Available Bacteriophage and Bacteriocin on Listeria monocytogenes in Coleslaw
Authors: Lewis Rhea , Bolocan Andrei Sorin , Draper Lorraine A. , Ross R. Paul , Hill Colin
Published: October 2019

Changing consumer attitudes show an increased interest in non-chemical antimicrobials in food preservation and safety. This greater interest of consumers in more ‘natural’ or ‘clean-label’ food interventions is complicated by concurrent demands for minimally processed, ready-to-eat (RTE) foods with long shelf lives. Two viable interventions are bacteriophage (phage) and bacteriocins, a number of which have already been approved for use in food safety. Listeriosis is a serious foodborne infection which affects at-risk members of the population. Listeriosis incidence has increased between 2008 and 2015 and has a case fatality rate of up to 20% with antibiotic intervention. Here, we tested an intervention to attempt to control a pathogenic Listeria monocytogenes strain in a food model using two of these alternative antimicrobials. Phage P100 on its own had a significant effect on L. monocytogenes ScottA numbers in coleslaw over a 10-day period at 4 °C (p ≤ 0.001). A combination of P100 and Nisaplin® (a commercial formulation of the lantibiotic bacteriocin, nisin) had a significant effect on the pathogen (p ≤ 0.001). P100 and Nisaplin® in combination were more effective than Nisaplin® alone, but not P100 alone.
Identification of a Novel Betacoronavirus (Merbecovirus) in Amur Hedgehogs from China
Authors: Lau Susanna K. P. , Luk Hayes K. H. , Wong Antonio C. P. , Fan Rachel Y. Y. , Lam Carol S. F. , Li Kenneth S. M. , Ahmed Syed Shakeel , Chow Franklin W.N. , Cai Jian-Piao , Zhu Xun , Chan Jasper F. W. , Lau Terrence C. K. , Cao Kaiyuan , Li Mengfeng , Woo Patrick C. Y. , Yuen Kwok-Yung
Published: October 2019

While dromedaries are the immediate animal source of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) epidemic, viruses related to MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV) have also been found in bats as well as hedgehogs. To elucidate the evolution of MERS-CoV-related viruses and their interspecies transmission pathway, samples were collected from different mammals in China. A novel coronavirus related to MERS-CoV, Erinaceus amurensis hedgehog coronavirus HKU31 (Ea-HedCoV HKU31), was identified from two Amur hedgehogs. Genome analysis supported that Ea-HedCoV HKU31 represents a novel species under Merbecovirus, being most closely related to Erinaceus CoV from European hedgehogs in Germany, with 79.6% genome sequence identity. Compared to other members of Merbecovirus, Ea-HedCoV HKU31 possessed unique non-structural proteins and putative cleavage sites at ORF1ab. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Ea-HedCoV HKU31 and BetaCoV Erinaceus/VMC/DEU/2012 were closely related to NeoCoV and BatCoV PREDICT from African bats in the spike region, suggesting that the latter bat viruses have arisen from recombination between CoVs from hedgehogs and bats. The predicted HKU31 receptor-binding domain (RBD) possessed only one out of 12 critical amino acid residues for binding to human dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (hDPP4), the MERS-CoV receptor. The structural modeling of the HKU31-RBD-hDPP4 binding interphase compared to that of MERS-CoV and Tylonycteris bat CoV HKU4 (Ty-BatCoV HKU4) suggested that HKU31-RBD is unlikely to bind to hDPP4. Our findings support that hedgehogs are an important reservoir of Merbecovirus, with evidence of recombination with viruses from bats. Further investigations in bats, hedgehogs and related animals are warranted to understand the evolution of MERS-CoV-related viruses.
Terrestrial Laser Scanning for the Detection of Coarse Grain Size Movement in a Mountain Riverbed
Authors: Walicka Agata , Jóźków Grzegorz , Kasprzak Marek , Borkowski Andrzej
Published: October 2019

Fluvial transport is a natural process that shapes riverbeds and the surrounding terrain surface, particularly in mountainous areas. Since the traditional techniques used for fluvial transport investigation provide only limited information about the bed load transport, recently, laser scanning technology has been increasingly incorporated into research to investigate this issue in depth. In this study, a terrestrial laser scanning technique was used to investigate the transport of individual boulders. The measurements were carried out annually from 2011 to 2016 on the Łomniczka River, which is a medium-sized mountain stream. The main goal of this research was to detect and determine displacements of the biggest particles in the mountain riverbed. The methodology was divided into two steps. First, the change zones were detected using two strategies. The first strategy was based on differential digital elevation model (DEM) creation and the second involved the calculation of differences between point clouds instead of DEMs. The experiments show that the second strategy was more efficient. In the second step, the displacements of the boulders were determined based on the detected areas of change. Using the proposed methodology, displacements for individual stones in each year were determined. Most of the changes took place in 2012–2014, which correlates well with the hydrological observations. During the six-year period, movements of individual particles with diameters less than 0.8 m were observed. Maximal displacements in the observed period reached 3 m. Therefore, it is possible to determine both vertical and horizontal displacement in the riverbed using multitemporal TLS.