bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Glutamine as an Anti-Fatigue Amino Acid in Sports Nutrition
Authors: Coqueiro Audrey Yule , Rogero Marcelo Macedo , Tirapegui Julio
Published: April 2019

Glutamine is a conditionally essential amino acid widely used in sports nutrition, especially because of its immunomodulatory role. Notwithstanding, glutamine plays several other biological functions, such as cell proliferation, energy production, glycogenesis, ammonia buffering, maintenance of the acid-base balance, among others. Thus, this amino acid began to be investigated in sports nutrition beyond its effect on the immune system, attributing to glutamine various properties, such as an anti-fatigue role. Considering that the ergogenic potential of this amino acid is still not completely known, this review aimed to address the main properties by which glutamine could delay fatigue, as well as the effects of glutamine supplementation, alone or associated with other nutrients, on fatigue markers and performance in the context of physical exercise. PubMed database was selected to examine the literature, using the keywords combination “glutamine” and “fatigue”. Fifty-five studies met the inclusion criteria and were evaluated in this integrative literature review. Most of the studies evaluated observed that glutamine supplementation improved some fatigue markers, such as increased glycogen synthesis and reduced ammonia accumulation, but this intervention did not increase physical performance. Thus, despite improving some fatigue parameters, glutamine supplementation seems to have limited effects on performance.
Silicone-Thioxanthone: A Multifunctionalized Visible Light Photoinitiator with an Ability to Modify the Cured Polymers
Authors: Wu Qingqing , Liao Wen , Xiong Ying , Yang Jianjing , Li Zhen , Tang Hongding
Published: April 2019

A silicone-thioxanthone (STX) visible light photoinitiator was prepared by the nucleophilic substitution reaction of 2-[(4-hydroxybenzyl)-(methyl)-amino]-9H-thioxanthen-9-one (TX-HB) and γ-chloropropylmethylpolysiloxane-co-dimethyl-polysiloxane (PSO-Cl). Its structure was confirmed by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, FTIR, UV-vis and GPC. The photopolymerization kinetics of 1, 6-Hexanedioldiacrylate (HDDA) and trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA) initiated by STX confirmed that STX is an efficient photoinitiator. Its visible light photolysis experiment and the photopolymerization kinetics studies implied that a possible synergistic effect existed between two adjacent thioxanthone groups. Moreover, a higher migration stability was revealed in STX than 2-benzyl (methyl) amino-9H-thioxanthen-9-one (TX-B). STX could change the surface property of the cured film of polyurethane diacrylate prepolymer (PUA) from hydrophilic to hydrophobic, as well as change the thermal stability of the polymer network. Meanwhile, it could improve the resistance against water and acid. Thus, STX is an effective multifunctionalized photoinitiator.
Modeling On-Site Combined Heat and Power Systems Coupled to Main Process Operation
Authors: Pablos Cristian , Merino Alejandro , Acebes Luis Felipe
Published: April 2019

Many production processes work with on-site Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems to reduce their operational cost and improve their incomes by selling electricity to the external grid. Optimal management of these plants is key in order to take full advantage of the possibilities offered by the different electricity purchase or selling options. Traditionally, this problem is not considered for small cogeneration systems whose electricity generation cannot be decided independently from the main process production rate. In this work, a non-linear gray-box model is proposed in order to deal with this dynamic optimization problem in a simulated sugar factory. The validation shows that with only 52 equations, the whole system behavior is represented correctly and, due to its structure and small size, it can be adapted to any other production process working along a CHP with the same plant configuration.
Fighting for What? Couples’ Communication, Parenting and Social Activism: The Case Study of a “Christian-Muslim” Families’ Association in Brussels (Belgium)
Authors: Cerchiaro Francesco
Published: April 2019

Mixed families have historically been considered to be a direct consequence of a process of social and cultural integration of migrants within the host society, although this link has recently been problematized by scholars. By focusing on the case study of an association of “Christian-Muslim” families in Belgium, this article offers a better understanding of the social consequences of mixedness. The article seeks to shed light on the private and public life of the couples who are members of this association by answering the following research questions: Why do couples turn to this association? At what stages of their lives? What is the social role that the association aims to play in society? Using partners’ life stories and ethnographic observation gathered during the association’s meetings, the findings demonstrate how this association plays an important role at different levels and at different stages of a family’s life. The analysis will highlight that: (1) there is a specific aim to help new couples to face administrative, religious and cultural “obstacles” they encounter during the first period of their relationships, and (2) special meetings to discuss the challenge of parenting are at the core of the association’s activities. The “problem” of transmission requires of the couple further negotiations to find a way to balance their respective cultural backgrounds. These negotiations have to take into account the power misbalance within the Belgian hegemonic context. (3) The social activism of this association is an important aspect of its aims and scope. Some of the couples are active in countering a dominant stereotypical representation of mixed couples. They organize meetings and events to sensitize public opinion on interreligious dialogue, migration issues and the fight against racism. In this way, the association proposes itself as a new peculiar agent of social change in the public sphere.
Impact of Religious Self-Identification and Church Attendance on Social Distance toward Muslims
Authors: Malenica Krunoslav , Kovačević Vlaho , Kardum Goran
Published: April 2019

In the context of our work, we want to point out how religion has multiple social functions and as such, under certain circumstances, can serve as a fertile soil for distance and closeness. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of religious self-identification and church attendance on social distance toward Muslims. We applied a questionnaire to students of the University of Split, the city which is geographically in vicinity of the complex of ethnic and religious context of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The results showed that religious self-identification and church attendance significantly influence the level of social distance toward Muslims. Believers showed a significantly higher level of social distance, in comparison to respondents who belong but not believe, and others. Respondents who attend church daily or once a week have also a higher level of social distance in comparison to respondents who attend church monthly or rarely and those who never attend church. We have tried to explain the reasons for such research findings, relying on various national, cultural, religious and psychological factors that have been present in the last twenty years after the war in this region.
An Assessment of SEVIRI Imagery at Various Temporal Resolutions and the Effect on Accurate Dust Emission Mapping
Authors: Hennen Mark , White Kevin , Shahgedanova Maria
Published: April 2019

This paper evaluates the use of the ‘Dust red/green/blue (RGB)’ product derived from Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) data at 15-min, 30-min, and 60-min temporal resolutions, for monitoring dust emissions in the Middle East. From January 2006 to December 2006, observations of dust emission point sources were recorded at each temporal resolution across the Middle East. Previous work has demonstrated that using SEVIRI data is a major improvement on other remote sensing methods for mapping dust sources in the Sahara, by enabling dust-storm observations through sequential images, back to the point of first emission. However, the highest temporal resolution available (15-min observations) produces 96 images per day, resulting in significantly higher data management requirements than data provided at 30-min and 60-min intervals. To optimize future research workflows, this paper investigates the effect of lowering the temporal resolution on the number and spatial distribution of observed dust emission events in the Middle East. The results show that the number of events observed reduced by 17% for 30-min resolution and 50% for 60-min resolution. These differences change seasonally, with the highest reduction observed in summer (34% and 64% reduction, respectively).
Assimilation of SMOS Sea Surface Salinity in the Regional Ocean Model for South China Sea
Authors: Mu Ziyao , Zhang Weimin , Wang Pinqiang , Wang Huizan , Yang Xiaofeng
Published: April 2019

Ocean salinity has an important impact on marine environment simulations. The Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) mission is the first satellite in the world to provide large-scale global salinity observations of the oceans. Salinity remote sensing observations in the open ocean have been successfully applied in data assimilations, while SMOS salinity observations contain large errors in the coastal ocean (including the South China Sea (SCS)) and high latitudes and cannot be effectively applied in ocean data assimilations. In this paper, the SMOS salinity observation data are corrected with the Generalized Regression Neural Network (GRNN) in data assimilation preprocessing, which shows that after correction, the bias and root mean square error (RMSE) of the SMOS sea surface salinity (SSS) compared with the Argo observations can be reduced from 0.155 PSU and 0.415 PSU to −0.003 PSU and 0.112 PSU, respectively, in the South China Sea. The effect is equally significant in the northwestern Pacific region. The preprocessed salinity data were applied to an assimilation in a coastal region for the first time. The six groups of assimilation experiments set in the South China Sea showed that the assimilation of corrected SMOS SSS can effectively improve the upper ocean salinity simulation.
Deriving Regional Snow Line Dynamics during the Ablation Seasons 1984–2018 in European Mountains
Authors: Hu Zhongyang , Dietz Andreas J. , Kuenzer Claudia
Published: April 2019

Snowmelt in the mid-latitude European mountains is undergoing significant spatiotemporal changes. Regional snow line elevation (RSLE) is an appropriate indicator for assessing snow cover variations in mountain areas. To derive regional snow line dynamics during the ablation seasons 1984–2018, the present study unprecedentedly introduced a readily applicable framework. The framework constitutes four steps: atmospheric and topographic correction, snow classification, RSLE retrieval, and regional snow line retreat curve (RSLRC) derivation. The developed framework has been successfully applied to 8641 satellite images acquired by Landsat, ASTER, and Sentinel-2. The results of the intra-annual regional snow line variations show that: (1) regional snow lines in the Alpine catchments preserve the longest; (2) RSLEs are lower in the northern Pyrenees than in the southern part; (3) regional snow lines persist the shortest in the Carpathian catchments; and (4) during the end of the ablation season 2018, intermediate snowfall events in the catchments Adda, Tagliamento, and Uzh are observed. In terms of the long-term inter-annual variations, significantly accelerating snow line recession is detected in the northern Pyrenean catchment Ariege. In the Alpine catchment Alpenrhein and Drac, RSLRCs are shifting towards lower accumulated air-temperature (AT) significantly, with the magnitude of −3.77 °C·a−1 (Alpenrhein) and −3.99 °C·a−1 (Drac).
Waste-to-Energy Conversion in Havana: Technical and Economic Analysis
Authors: Lorenzo Llanes Junior , Kalogirou Efstratios
Published: April 2019

Havana has the highest population and consequently generation of municipal solid wastes (MSW) in Cuba. In Havana, the final deposition method for MSW is mainly landfills. However, in most cases, they exceed their lifetime of operation becoming in reality dumpsites without energy recovery from wastes. In this regard, waste-to-energy is a well-established technology for MSW treatment. The aim of this work was to carry out a techno-economic assessment for a proposed waste-to-energy plant in the city of Havana. A step-wise methodology based on two process analysis tools (i.e., Excel and Aspen Plus models) was used for the technical evaluation. Simulation results are in agreement with data from real plants, showing that it is possible to produce 227.1 GWh of electricity per year, representing 6% of the current demand in Havana. The economic analysis showed the feasibility of the project with a net present value of 35,483,853 USD. Results from the sensitivity analyses show the effect of the economy of scale when changes in low heating value were considered. Finally, a hypothetical best scenario was studied considering the net effect on the average Cuban salary.
Joint Value as a Measure of Sea Trade Port Stakeholder Effect
Authors: Nyenno Iryna , Rekova Natalia , Minakova Svetlana
Published: April 2019

This article is devoted to an efficiency measurement of the maritime industry presented through the joint value of industry stakeholders. A list of factors contributing to the efficiency of the state maritime policy and factors in the development of the maritime industry were defined and separated into four groups: group 1 (infrastructural factors): Renewal of port infrastructure; coastal infrastructure of sea stations; ecological and physical safety; and convenience in reaching the port of departure of a cruise ship; group 2 (management factors): The effectiveness of management mechanisms; the level of automatization and effective communications technologies; the coordination of various types of transport; and the efficiency of port services; group 3 (marketing factors): Tariff policies (tariff amounts, number of port fees, flexibility of the price policy); and competition in the ports; group 4 (service factors): Attractiveness of logistics conditions; the development of international tourism; the development of sea leisure; the development of merchant shipping, shipbuilding, ship repair, and instrument making in the port; and the simplification of port entry procedures. The joint value was considered to be a category at both a macroeconomic and microeconomic level, and it was combined with a multivariate regression model performed on the basis of the statistical analysis and data processing system Statistica 8.0. The complex combination of the results of the multifactorial linear model of the joint value created in the maritime industry led to the conclusion that the best alternative to the development of the port industry in Ukraine is the scenario of state modernization and corporatization in the port business model.
Perceived Sustainable Urbanization Based on Geographically Hierarchical Data Structures in Nanjing, China
Authors: Zhai Keyu , Gao Xing , Zhang Yuerong , Wu Meiling
Published: April 2019

Concentrating on geographically hierarchical data structures and using large-scale satisfaction survey data in Nanjing, this study employs Bayesian spatial multilevel model (MLM) to evaluate Nanjing’s perceived sustainable urbanization. In this study, we consider the geographically hierarchical data structures and the city’s individual perceptions of sustainable urbanization to explore the effect of environment and self-rated health on perceived sustainable urbanization, controlling for individual sociodemographic attributes and household. Through clarifying the spatial dependence and heterogeneity, this paper provides a flexible framework for assessing sustainable urbanization and dealing with the geographical hierarchical data. In particular, by drawing on existing studies, our questionnaire is more representative of the overall characteristics of Nanjing’s population than census data, which can be helpful for understanding whether urbanization is sustainable from individual perspective and further for correcting practices. Based on a survey of 10,077 questionnaires, this paper finds the geographically hierarchical data structures have significantly influenced the evaluation of sustainable urbanization, and the Bayesian spatial MLM is an effective tool for evaluating China’s sustainable urbanization. In particular, this paper takes spatial effects into consideration and compares the geographically hierarchical data. Results show that spatial patterns significantly influence the assessment of sustainable urbanization, and perceived pollution, age, education level, and income are the four key factors influencing individual perceived sustainable urbanization.
Distributed Control Strategy of the Leader-Follower for Offshore Wind Farms under Fault Conditions
Authors: Wang Bing , Tang Zhen , Gao Xiang , Liu Weiyang , Chen Xianhui
Published: April 2019

Because of the complexity and severity of the marine environment, the probability of failure of offshore wind farms is much higher than that of onshore wind farms. The original control might fail under a single-machine and the network communication faults of wind turbines. In this study, centralized control is replaced with distributed control, the leader-follower distributed control strategy under two types of fault conditions is proposed to reduce the adverse effect of failure on the system and improve the tolerance of the system. First, the single-machine system is expanded into a wind turbine cluster system model based on Hamiltonian energy theory. Then, a leader-follower distributed control strategy is proposed to ensure the stable operation of wind turbines under a single-machine fault of the leader or follower unit. Next, considering communication failure, the leader-follower control strategy in the weakly connected topology is designed to make the system and the active power output stable. Finally, the simulation results confirm that the leader-follower control strategy system can enhance the stability and reliability of the system in the case of a unit shut down and network communication faults.
Decomposing the Driving Factors of Water Use in China
Authors: Li Wei , Wang Xifeng , Liu Jiahong , Jia Yangwen , Qiu Yaqin
Published: April 2019

Based on the national input–output table, a comparable price non-competitive input–output table was compiled for 2002, 2007, and 2012. The influence factors of price and product imports were removed from the table. Furthermore, a water-use input–output table was constructed based on the links between the economic system and water resources management. With the multi-factor structural decomposition analysis (SDA) model developed in this paper, the driving forces of water use were decomposed into 18 factors, and quantitative effect results were obtained. Total water use in China increased by 3.9% from 2002 to 2007 and by 5.4% from 2007 to 2012 with the combined effects of multiple factors. For example, the increase in economic scale raised water use by 46.6% and 45.5%, respectively. Advancement in agricultural technology (production and water-saving technologies) reduced water use by 14.9% and 19.8%, respectively. Reducing the proportion of thermal/nuclear power and increasing the price of electricity have water use-reducing effects. Changes in the mode of development considerably reduced water use by 9.5% and 5.3%, respectively. Water-use management should focus on factors that have great influence on water use and show high water-use sensitivity.
A Balancing Method of Mixed-model Disassembly Line in Random Working Environment
Authors: Xia Xuhui , Liu Wei , Zhang Zelin , Wang Lei , Cao Jianhua , Liu Xiang
Published: April 2019

Disassembly is a necessary link in reverse supply chain and plays a significant role in green manufacturing and sustainable development. However, the mixed-model disassembly of multiple types of retired mechanical products is hard to be implemented by random influence factors such as service time of retired products, degree of wear and tear, proficiency level of workers and structural differences between products in the actual production process. Therefore, this paper presented a balancing method of mixed-model disassembly line in a random working environment. The random influence of structure similarity of multiple products on the disassembly line balance was considered and the workstation number, load balancing index, prior disassembly of high demand parts and cost minimization of invalid operations were taken as targets for the balancing model establishment of the mixed-model disassembly line. An improved algorithm, adaptive simulated annealing genetic algorithm (ASAGA), was adopted to solve the balancing model and the local and global optimization ability were enhanced obviously. Finally, we took the mixed-model disassembly of multi-engine products as an example and verified the practicability and effectiveness of the proposed model and algorithm through comparison with genetic algorithm (GA) and simulated annealing algorithm (SA).
Using Decision Tree to Predict Response Rates of Consumer Satisfaction, Attitude, and Loyalty Surveys
Authors: Han Jian , Fang Miaodan , Ye Shenglu , Chen Chuansheng , Wan Qun , Qian Xiuying
Published: April 2019

Response rate has long been a major concern in survey research commonly used in many fields such as marketing, psychology, sociology, and public policy. Based on 244 published survey studies on consumer satisfaction, loyalty, and trust, this study aimed to identify factors that were predictors of response rates. Results showed that response rates were associated with the mode of data collection (face-to-face > mail/telephone > online), type of survey sponsors (government agencies > universities/research institutions > commercial entities), confidentiality (confidential > non-confidential), direct invitation (yes > no), and cultural orientation (individualism > collectivism). A decision tree regression analysis (using classification and regression Tree (C&RT) algorithm on 80% of the studies as the training set and 20% as the test set) revealed that a model with all above-mentioned factors attained a linear correlation coefficient (0.578) between the predicted values and actual values, which was higher than the corresponding coefficient of the traditional linear regression model (0.423). A decision tree analysis (using C5.0 algorithm on 80% of the studies as the training set and 20% as the test set) revealed that a model with all above-mentioned factors attained an overall accuracy of 78.26% in predicting whether a survey had a high (>50%) or low (<50%) response rate. Direct invitation was the most important factor in all three models and had a consistent trend in predicting response rate.
How to Make a Sustainable Manufacturing Process: A High-Commitment HRM System
Authors: Park Jihye , Jung Dawoon , Lee Pyoungsoo
Published: April 2019

The primary purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between high-commitment human resource management (HCHRM) practices and process improvement activities (i.e., manufacturing flexibility) by utilizing the theory of social exchange. We conducted an empirical study to discover the links between social exchange theory and process management from an HRM perspective. For the empirical investigation, we used data from 601 manufacturing enterprises provided by the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy in South Korea. The research is conducted based on employees’ capabilities for process management as a mediator in the analysis of the impact of the HCHRM system on manufacturing flexibility (i.e., internally-driven and externally-driven flexibility). The results of the study show that the HCHRM system ultimately explains manufacturing flexibility through enhancement of employees’ capabilities.
Dynamic Vehicle Routing Problem—Predictive and Unexpected Customer Availability
Authors: Kucharska Edyta
Published: April 2019

The Dynamic Vehicle Routing Problem (DVRP) is one of the most important problems in the area of enterprise logistics. DVRP problems involve these dynamics: the appearance of customers, travel times, service times, or vehicle availability. One of the most often considered aspects of the DVRP is the availability of customers, in which a part or all of the customers are revealed dynamically during the design or execution of the routes. A classification of the DVRP problem due to various elements causing dynamism is proposed. The aim of the paper is to distinguish dynamic VRP, which takes into account the dynamic appearance of customers to serve during the design or execution of the routes. In particular, the difference between the predictive and unexpected aspects of the customer’s availability is considered. Above all, the variant of customer’s availability which is predicted according to an appropriate general rule is modeled using the algebraic-logical meta-model (ALMM). It is a methodology which enables making collective decisions in successive process stages, not separately for individual vehicles. The algebraic-logical model of the dynamic vehicle routing problem with predicted consumer availability is proposed. The paper shows the possibilities of applying the ALMM approach to dynamic problems both with predicted and unexpected customer availability.
Involution Abel–Grassmann’s Groups and Filter Theory of Abel–Grassmann’s Groups
Authors: Zhang Xiaohong , Wu Xiaoying
Published: April 2019

In this paper, some basic properties and structure characterizations of AG-groups are further studied. First, some examples of infinite AG-groups are given, and weak commutative, alternative and quasi-cancellative AG-groups are discussed. Second, two new concepts of involution AG-group and generalized involution AG-group are proposed, the relationships among (generalized) involution AG-groups, commutative groups and AG-groups are investigated, and the structure theorems of (generalized) involution AG-groups are proved. Third, the notion of filter of an AG-group is introduced, the congruence relation is constructed from arbitrary filter, and the corresponding quotient structure and homomorphism theorems are established.
What Differentiates Poor and Good Outcome Psychotherapy? A Statistical-Mechanics-Inspired Approach to Psychotherapy Research
Authors: de Felice Giulio , Orsucci Franco F. , Scozzari Andrea , Gelo Omar , Serafini Gabriele , Andreassi Silvia , Vegni Nicoletta , Paoloni Giulia , Lagetto Gloria , Mergenthaler Erhard , Giuliani Alessandro
Published: April 2019

Statistical mechanics investigates how emergent properties of macroscopic systems (such as temperature and pressure) relate to microscopic state fluctuations. The underlying idea is that global statistical descriptors of order and variability can monitor the relevant dynamics of the whole system at hand. Here we test the possibility of extending such an approach to psychotherapy research investigating the possibility of predicting the outcome of psychotherapy on the sole basis of coarse-grained empirical macro-parameters. Four good-outcome and four poor-outcome brief psychotherapies were recorded, and their transcripts coded in terms of standard psychological categories (abstract, positive emotional and negative emotional language pertaining to patient and therapist). Each patient-therapist interaction is considered as a discrete multivariate time series made of subsequent word-blocks of 150-word length, defined in terms of the above categories. “Static analyses” (Principal Component Analysis) highlighted a substantial difference between good-outcome and poor-outcome cases in terms of mutual correlations among those descriptors. In the former, the patient’s use of abstract language correlated with therapist’s emotional negative language, while in the latter it co-varied with therapist’s emotional positive language, thus showing the different judgment of the therapists regarding the same variable (abstract language) in poor and good outcome cases. On the other hand, the “dynamic analyses”, based on five coarse-grained descriptors related to variability, the degree of order and complexity of the series, demonstrated a relevant case-specific effect, pointing to the possibility of deriving a consistent picture of any single psychotherapeutic process. Overall, the results showed that the systemic approach to psychotherapy (an old tenet of psychology) is mature enough to shift from a metaphorical to a fully quantitative status.
l-Proline Alleviates Kidney Injury Caused by AFB1 and AFM1 through Regulating Excessive Apoptosis of Kidney Cells
Authors: Li Huiying , Li Songli , Yang Huaigu , Wang Yizhen , Wang Jiaqi , Zheng Nan
Published: April 2019

The toxicity and related mechanisms of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in the mouse kidney were studied, and the role of l-proline in alleviating kidney damage was investigated. In a 28-day toxicity mouse model, thirty mice were divided into six groups: control (without treatment), l-proline group (10 g/kg body weight (b.w.)), AFB1 group (0.5 mg/kg b.w.), AFM1 (3.5 mg/kg b.w.), AFB1 + l-proline group and AFM1 + l-proline group. Kidney index and biochemical indicators were detected, and pathological staining was observed. Using a human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK 293) cell model, cell apoptosis rate and apoptotic proteins expressions were detected. The results showed that AFB1 and AFM1 activated pathways related with oxidative stress and caused kidney injury; l-proline significantly alleviated abnormal expressions of biochemical parameters and pathological kidney damage, as well as excessive cell apoptosis in the AF-treated models. Moreover, proline dehydrogenase (PRODH) was verified to regulate the levels of l-proline and downstream apoptotic factors (Bax, Bcl-2, and cleaved Caspase-3) compared with the control (p < 0.05). In conclusion, l-proline could protect mouse kidneys from AFB1 and AFM1 through alleviating oxidative damage and decreasing downstream apoptosis, which deserves further research and development.
Mycotoxins during the Processes of Nixtamalization and Tortilla Production
Authors: Schaarschmidt Sara , Fauhl-Hassek Carsten
Published: April 2019

Tortillas are a traditional staple food in Mesoamerican cuisine, which have also become popular on a global level, e.g., for wraps or as snacks (tortilla chips). Traditional tortilla production includes alkaline cooking (nixtamalization) of maize kernels. This article summarizes the current knowledge on mycotoxin changes during the nixtamalization of maize and tortilla production. Upon nixtamalization, mycotoxins can be affected in different ways. On the one hand, the toxins can be physically removed during steeping and washing. On the other hand, mycotoxins might be degraded, modified, or released/bound in the matrix by high pH and/or high temperature. This also applies to the subsequent baking of tortillas. Many studies have shown reduced mycotoxin levels in alkali-cooked maize and in tortillas. Most of the available data relate to aflatoxins and fumonisins. The reduction (and detoxification) of aflatoxins during nixtamalization might, however, be partially reversed in acidic conditions. The loss of fumonisin concentrations is to some extent accompanied by hydrolyzation and by lower toxicity. However, some studies have indicated the potential formation of toxicologically relevant modified forms and matrix-associated fumonisins. More data are required to assess the influence of alkaline cooking regarding such modified forms, as well as mycotoxins other than aflatoxins/fumonisins.
Molecular Epidemiology of HIV-1 Subtype G in the Russian Federation
Authors: Murzakova Anastasia , Kireev Dmitry , Baryshev Pavel , Lopatukhin Alexey , Serova Ekaterina , Shemshura Andrey , Saukhat Sergey , Kolpakov Dmitry , Matuzkova Anna , Suladze Alexander , Nosik Marina , Eremin Vladimir , Shipulin German , Pokrovsky Vadim
Published: April 2019

Although HIV-1 subtype A has predominated in Russia since the end of the 20th century, other viral variants also circulate in this country. The dramatic outbreak of HIV-1 subtype G in 1988-1990 represents the origin of this variant spreading in Russia. However, full genome sequencing of the nosocomial viral variant and an analysis of the current circulating variants have not been conducted. We performed near full-length genome sequencing and phylogenetic and recombination analyses of 11 samples; the samples were determined to be subtype G based on an analysis of the pol region. Three samples were reliably obtained from patients infected during the nosocomial outbreak. The other 8 samples were obtained from patients who were diagnosed in 2010–2015. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed that a man from the Democratic Republic of the Congo was the origin of the outbreak. We also found that currently circulating viral variants that were genotyped as subtype G according to their pol region are in fact unique recombinant forms. These recombinant forms are similar to the BG-recombinants from Western Europe, particularly Spain and Portugal. The limitations of subtyping based on the pol region suggest that these viral variants are more widespread in Europe than is currently supposed.
Phage Therapy Regulation: From Night to Dawn
Authors: Fauconnier Alan
Published: April 2019

After decades of disregard in the Western world, phage therapy is witnessing a return of interest. However, the pharmaceutical legislation that has since been implemented is basically designed for regulating industrially-made pharmaceuticals, devoid of any patient customization and intended for large-scale distribution. Accordingly, the resulting regulatory framework is hardly reconcilable with the concept of sustainable phage therapy, involving tailor-made medicinal products in the global perspective of both evolutionary and personalized medicine. The repeated appeal for a dedicated regulatory framework has not been heard by the European legislature, which, in this matter, features a strong resistance to change despite the precedent of the unhindered implementation of advanced therapy medicinal product (ATMPs) regulation. It is acknowledged that in many aspects, phage therapy medicinal products are quite unconventional pharmaceuticals and likely this lack of conformity to the canonical model hampered the development of a suitable regulatory pathway. However, the regulatory approaches of countries where phage therapy traditions and practice have never been abandoned are now being revisited by some Western countries, opening new avenues for phage therapy regulation. As a next step, supranational and international organizations are urged to take over the initiatives originally launched by national regulatory authorities.
Integrated Urban Water Management and Water Security: A Comparison of Singapore and Hong Kong
Authors: Jensen Olivia , Nair Sreeja
Published: April 2019

Integrated Urban Water Management (IUWM) has emerged in the past two decades as a promising approach to the application of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) principles at the city-level. IUWM is expected to contribute to the achievement of multiple policy objectives, often including increased water security. This paper uses a case-based approach to study the impact of IUWM on water security, focusing on the influence of the level of institutionalization of IUWM within water governance at the city-level. Process tracing is applied to the cases of Singapore and Hong Kong, in which IUWM has been adopted but implementation and outcomes have diverged. We find that the depth of institutionalization, a difference between the two cases identified at the outset, has contributed to the achievement of better water security outcomes in Singapore as it has facilitated the development and implementation of a more far-reaching strategy. A supportive governance framework appears to amplify the impact of IUWM on progress towards water security and other policy targets.
Assessing the Changes of Ecosystem Services in the Nansi Lake Wetland, China
Authors: Wang Fan , Zhang Shaoliang , Hou Huping , Yang Yongjun , Gong Yunlong
Published: April 2019

Wetlands provide many essential ecosystem services for human well-being. The ecological assessment of wetland ecosystem services is problematic and thus is an important focus in the field of ecological research. In this study, an ecological assessment system containing the ecosystem product value, ecosystem regulation service value, and ecosystem cultural service value was established to calculate the gross ecosystem product in the Nansi Lake Wetland, China. Based on remote sensing images, field studies, and literature reviews, the gross ecosystem product was estimated for the years 1985, 1992, 2005, 2011, and 2017. The results showed that the gross ecosystem product of the Nansi Lake Wetland increased from 40.91 × 108 USD in 1985 to 46.28 × 108 USD in 2017. The gross ecosystem product of the altered wetlands increased by about 8.5 times with a rising linear relationship, while natural wetlands presented a nonlinear relationship. Furthermore, except for the changes in climatic condition, anthropogenic interference factors such as coal mining activities, farming practices, and government policies have promoted significant services in the Nansi Lake Wetland over the past 30 years. This study could provide important insight into the ecological assessment of wetland ecosystems and thus inform policy for the protection and better use of wetland resources.
Effects of Drought and Rehydration on the Physiological Responses of Artemisia halodendron
Authors: Chen Juanli , Zhao Xueyong , Zhang Yaqiu , Li Yuqiang , Luo Yongqing , Ning Zhiying , Wang Ruixiong , Wang Peiyu , Cong Anqi
Published: April 2019

Artemisia halodendron is a widely distributed native plant in China’s Horqin sandy land, but few studies have examined its physiological responses to drought and rehydration. To provide more information, we investigated the effects of drought and rehydration on the chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and physiological responses of A. halodendron to reveal the mechanisms responsible for A. halodendron’s tolerance of drought stress and the resulting ability to tolerate drought. We found that A. halodendron had strong drought resistance. Its chlorophyll content first increased and then decreased with prolonged drought. Variable chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv) and quantum efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) decreased, and the membrane permeability and malondialdehyde increased. When plants were subjected to drought stress, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity degraded under severe drought, but the activities of peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) and the contents of soluble proteins, soluble sugars, and free proline increased. Severe drought caused wilting of A. halodendron leaves and the leaves failed to recover even after rehydration. After rehydration, the chlorophyll content, membrane permeability, SOD and CAT activities, and the contents of the three osmoregulatory substances under moderate drought began to recover. However, Fv, Fv/Fm, malondialdehyde, and POD activity did not recover under severe drought. These results illustrated that drought tolerance of A. halodendron resulted from increased enzyme (POD and CAT) activities and accumulation of osmoregulatory substances.
Time Domain Simulation of Damage Flooding Considering Air Compression Characteristics
Authors: Zhang XinLong , Lin Zhuang , Li Ping , Dong Yue , Liu Fei
Published: April 2019

An accurate analysis of the entire flooding process is critical to assess the damaged stability when a ship encounters distressed accidents such as collision, stranding, or grounding. Among many factors affecting the flooding process and damaged stability, the complex effect of air compression is significant and worthy of further research. In this paper, through establishing scenarios of the damage flooding for a cruise ship, the commercial software CD Adapco STARCCM+ is applied to perform time domain simulation of flooding processes under different ventilation levels. The basic mathematical models about air compression and specific simulation settings of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) are presented in detail. The simulation results show that water ingression results in an increase of air pressure and density inside the flooded compartment. The corresponding air compression can significantly delay the flooding process if the ventilation level is limited to a certain ratio. Finally, the stability of the damaged ship is affected.
Sharing Reasoning Behind Individual Decisions to Invest in Joint Infrastructure
Authors: Nikkels Melle J. , Guillaume Joseph H. A. , Leith Peat , Hellegers Petra J. G. J.
Published: April 2019

Development of joint irrigation infrastructure increasingly depends on investment decisions made by individual farmers. Farmers base their decisions to invest on their current knowledge and understanding. As irrigation infrastructure development is ultimately a group decision, it is beneficial if individuals have a common understanding of the various values at stake. Sharing the personal reasoning behind individual decisions is a promising approach to build such common understanding. This study demonstrates application of participatory crossover analysis at a workshop in Tasmania, Australia. The workshop gave farmers the opportunity to discuss their broader considerations in investment decisions, beyond just financial or monetary factors. It centered on the question, “In what conditions would you—the individual farmer—invest?” The participants’ willingness to pay, in the form of crossover points, was presented as a set of scenarios to start an explorative discussion between irrigators and non-irrigators. Evaluation feedback indicates that the workshop enabled participants to share new information, improved understanding of differences between neighbors, and generated more respect for others and their decisions. As expected, reasoning went beyond economic concerns, and changed over time. Lifestyle choices, long-term intergenerational planning, perceived risks, and intrinsic motivations emerged as factors influencing water valuation. Simply having a facilitated discussion about the reasons underlying individuals’ willingness to pay seems to be a useful tool for better informed decision-making about joint irrigation infrastructure, and is worth testing in further case studies.
Informally Vended Sachet Water: Handling Practices and Microbial Water Quality
Authors: Manjaya David , Tilley Elizabeth , Marks Sara J.
Published: April 2019

Informally vended water is an important source of water for marginalized people who do not have access to formal or public sources. In Malawi, hand-tied sachets of water are common but not regulated, and the quality of the water and hygienic practices during packaging are unclear. We analyzed microbial concentrations in the source water (origin), internal water (packaged) and on the external surface (plastic bag) of sachets from 76 vendors operating in the busy Mwanza crossing into Malawi from Mozambique. The results indicated that the majority (75%) of the water sources met the WHO guidelines (<1 CFU/100 mL) for potable water, while only 38% of the water inside packages met this guideline, indicating a sharp increase in contamination due to packaging and handling practices. The external surface was highly contaminated and is the point of contact between the consumer’s mouth and the liquid within; furthermore, external contamination was a strong and significant predictor of internal contamination. We advise against strict enforcement that would limit access to this important drinking water source, but recommend hygiene education for vendors that focuses on filling and storage, refrigeration and especially ensuring sanitary coolers from which the bags are sold in order to limit re-contamination during handling.
FROM TEXT TO INTERACTION (INTRO)
Authors: Bankov Kristian
Published: April 2019

Introduction
ENGAGING BRAND COMMUNICATION IN FACEBOOK – A TYPOLOGY OF THE BRAND PAGE USERS
Authors: Kartunova Yagodina
Published: April 2019

Facebook offers great opportunities for brands to connect with customers and build relationships with them in order to increase their loyalty and the company’s sales. In regards to these goals, one of the most important key performance indicators is the customers’ activity – liking, commenting, sharing, recommending, expressing love, etc. On one hand, there is a lot of research on customers’ engagement, behavior and motivation. These studies provide valuable information for marketers to understand the way in which individuals use the social network and interact with others as well as the reasons behind their actions. Based on this knowledge they can develop their communication strategies and create content which has impact on the target audience. On the other, there are still some research gaps which can be further explored. One of them is related to the impact of one of the most important company assets – the brand culture, on the customer’s behavior and willingness to become part of the digital brand story. This paper presents a Facebook brand page users typology, developed by using a semiotic approach, which is based on their brand culture adoption and brand narrative engagement.
DIGITAL CULTURE OF THE REGULATED INDUSTRIES. FOCUS: TOBACCO SECTOR
Authors: Asimova Sevim
Published: April 2019

Today the world is connected more than ever before and expectation is ½ of the global population to be digitalized till 2020 year. This remarkable development of internet technologies defines the way people live, including our work experiences, shopping attitudes and entertainment modes. Internet has defined corporate culture, as well. By tracking development of past, dominant and emerging codes and in the search-reach of proper consumer, companies nowadays have adopted digital marketing and trade strategies as one of the efficient ways for doing business. But does digital marketing work for all industries? There are sectors like pharmacy, alcohol and tobacco that are regulated and subjected to control due to implied business specifics. This article aims to review the digital culture of the regulated industries. Particular concentration is given on tobacco – cigarette sector. The paper will show a content analysis of the internet environment, by reviewing pro-smoking and anti-smoking activities, players, communication channels, level of marketing and most of all, the narrative and discourse across social medias, official web sites of enterprise, institutions and etc.