bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multifunctional Scaffolds and Synergistic Strategies in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
Authors: Muzzio Nicolas , Moya Sergio , Romero Gabriela
Published: May 2021

The increasing demand for organ replacements in a growing world with an aging population as well as the loss of tissues and organs due to congenital defects, trauma and diseases has resulted in rapidly evolving new approaches for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM). The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a crucial component in tissues and organs that surrounds and acts as a physical environment for cells. Thus, ECM has become a model guide for the design and fabrication of scaffolds and biomaterials in TERM. However, the fabrication of a tissue/organ replacement or its regeneration is a very complex process and often requires the combination of several strategies such as the development of scaffolds with multiple functionalities and the simultaneous delivery of growth factors, biochemical signals, cells, genes, immunomodulatory agents, and external stimuli. Although the development of multifunctional scaffolds and biomaterials is one of the most studied approaches for TERM, all these strategies can be combined among them to develop novel synergistic approaches for tissue regeneration. In this review we discuss recent advances in which multifunctional scaffolds alone or combined with other strategies have been employed for TERM purposes.
Application of Deep Neural Networks as a Prescreening Tool to Assign Individualized Absorption Models in Pharmacokinetic Analysis
Authors: Jaber Mutaz M. , Yaman Burhaneddin , Sarafoglou Kyriakie , Brundage Richard C.
Published: May 2021

A specific model for drug absorption is necessarily assumed in pharmacokinetic (PK) analyses following extravascular dosing. Unfortunately, an inappropriate absorption model may force other model parameters to be poorly estimated. An added complexity arises in population PK analyses when different individuals appear to have different absorption patterns. The aim of this study is to demonstrate that a deep neural network (DNN) can be used to prescreen data and assign an individualized absorption model consistent with either a first-order, Erlang, or split-peak process. Ten thousand profiles were simulated for each of the three aforementioned shapes and used for training the DNN algorithm with a 30% hold-out validation set. During the training phase, a 99.7% accuracy was attained, with 99.4% accuracy during in the validation process. In testing the algorithm classification performance with external patient data, a 93.7% accuracy was reached. This algorithm was developed to prescreen individual data and assign a particular absorption model prior to a population PK analysis. We envision it being used as an efficient prescreening tool in other situations that involve a model component that appears to be variable across subjects. It has the potential to reduce the time needed to perform a manual visual assignment and eliminate inter-assessor variability and bias in assigning a sub-model.
PEGylation of mRNA by Hybridization of Complementary PEG-RNA Oligonucleotides Stabilizes mRNA without Using Cationic Materials
Authors: Yoshinaga Naoto , Naito Mitsuru , Tachihara Yoshihiro , Boonstra Eger , Osada Kensuke , Cabral Horacio , Uchida Satoshi
Published: May 2021

Messenger RNA (mRNA) delivery strategies are required to protect biologically fragile mRNA from ribonuclease (RNase) attacks to achieve efficient therapeutic protein expression. To tackle this issue, most mRNA delivery systems have used cationic components, which form electrostatically driven complexes with mRNA and shield encapsulated mRNA strands. However, cationic materials interact with anionic biomacromolecules in physiological environments, which leads to unspecific reactions and toxicities. To circumvent this issue of cation-based approaches, herein, we propose a cation-free delivery strategy by hybridization of PEGylated RNA oligonucleotides with mRNA. The PEG strands on the mRNA sterically and electrostatically shielded the mRNA, improving mRNA nuclease stability 15-fold after serum incubation compared with unhybridized mRNA. Eventually, the PEGylated mRNA induced nearly 20-fold higher efficiency of reporter protein expression than unhybridized mRNA in cultured cells. This study provides a platform to establish a safe and efficient cation-free mRNA delivery system.
Single-Photon Emission by the Plasmon-Induced Transparency Effect in Coupled Plasmonic Resonators
Authors: Wei Wei , Liu Qi , Zhang Xia , Yan Xin
Published: May 2021

The plasmon-induced transparency (PIT) effect with unique spectrum transmission characteristics is a significant property of plasmonic structures. A resonant nanocavity with nanoscale dimensions around a single-photon emitter dramatically enhances the emission rate of the emitter. Thus, we propose detuned resonant nanocavities to manipulate the emission rate of the emitter inside, of which either cell consists of a rectangular resonator surrounded by a U-like resonator. An InGaAs quantum dot in a GaAs nanowire placed in the center of the detuned resonant nanocavity was employed as a single-photon emitter. The finite-difference time domain simulation revealed that the distribution of the electromagnetic field can be affected by changing the coupling intensity between the bright and dark states of the PIT. Consequently, the emission rate of the single-photon emitter was dramatically enhanced by more than 2000 times due to the Purcell effect induced by the PIT in the resonant cavity. With the achievement of an ultrafast single-photon emission rate, the proposed single-photon emitter could have diverse applications in quantum information and quantum communications.
What Is New in the Field of Industrial Wastes Conversion into Polyhydroxyalkanoates by Bacteria?
Authors: Marciniak Paulina , Możejko-Ciesielska Justyna
Published: May 2021

The rising global consumption and industrialization has resulted in increased food processing demand. Food industry generates a tremendous amount of waste which causes serious environmental issues. These problems have forced us to create strategies that will help to reduce the volume of waste and the contamination to the environment. Waste from food industries has great potential as substrates for value-added bioproducts. Among them, polyhydroxyalkanaotes (PHAs) have received considerable attention in recent years due to their comparable characteristics to common plastics. These biodegradable polyesters are produced by microorganisms during fermentation processes utilizing various carbon sources. Scale-up of PHA production is limited due to the cost of the carbon source metabolized by the microorganisms. Therefore, there is a growing need for the development of novel microbial processes using inexpensive carbon sources. Such substrates could be waste generated by the food industry and food service. The use of industrial waste streams for PHAs biosynthesis could transform PHA production into cheaper and more environmentally friendly bioprocess. This review collates in detail recent developments in the biosynthesis of various types of PHAs produced using waste derived from agrofood industries. Challenges associated with this production bioprocess were described, and new ways to overcome them were proposed.
The Evaluation of Torrefied Wood Using a Cone Calorimeter
Authors: Rantuch Peter , Martinka Jozef , Ház Aleš
Published: May 2021

This study focuses on the energy potential and combustion process of torrefied wood. Samples were prepared through the torrefaction of five types of wood: Ash, beech, oak, pine and spruce. These were heated for 2 h at a temperature of 300 °C under a nitrogen atmosphere. Torrefied wood was prepared from wood samples with dimensions of 100 × 100 × 20 mm3. These dimensions have enabled investigation of torrefied wood combustion in compact form. The effect of the external heat flux on the combustion of the samples was measured using a cone calorimeter. The observed parameters, include initiation times, heat release rate and combustion efficiency. The results show that increasing the external heat flux decreases the evenness of combustion of torrefied wood. At the same time, it increases the combustion efficiency, which reached an average value of approximately 72% at 20 kW m−2, 81% at 30 kW m−2 and 90% at 40 kW m−2. The calculated values of critical heat flux of the individual samples ranged from 4.67 kW m−2 to 15.2 kW m−2, the thermal response parameter ranged from 134 kW s0.5 m−2 to 297 kW s0.5 m−2 and calculated ignition temperature ranged from 277 °C to 452 °C. Obtained results are useful both for energy production field and for fire safety risk assessment of stored torrefied wood.
The Effect of Molecular Isomerism on the Barrier Properties of Polyimides: Perspectives from Experiments and Simulations
Authors: Liu Yiwu , Xie Fengyun , Huang Jie , Tan Jinghua , Chen Chengliang , Jiang Linbing , Sun Wei , Zhang Hailiang
Published: May 2021

A novel carbazole-containing diamine (M-2,7-CPDA) isomer of our previously reported diamine 2,7-CPDA, has been synthesized using a two-step synthesis. Compared with 2,7-CPDA, the substituted position of amino is changed from para to meta for M-2,7-CPDA. The two diamines were polymerized with pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) to prepare two isomeric polyimides (M-2,7-CPPI and 2,7-CPPI), respectively. The effects of para/meta isomerism on microstructures and gas barrier performances of the two isomeric polyimides were studied by positron annihilation test, X-ray diffraction and molecular simulation. The results display that meta-connected M-2,7-CPPI has less ordered chain structure and weaker hydrogen bonding than para-connected 2,7-CPPI, which leads to loose chain stacking and thereby increased free volumes of M-2,7-CPPI. The higher free volumes promote the solubility and diffusivity of gas in M-2,7-CPPI. As a result, the meta-linked M-2,7-CPPI shows a lower gas barrier than its para-linked analog. The work provides guidance for the design and synthesis of high-performance barrier polymers.
Effect of Glycerol on an N-Vinylpyrrolidone-Based Photopolymer for Transmission Holography
Authors: Pi Huishi , Li Weiping , Shi Zhiwei , Chen Haining , Jiang Xiaoyu
Published: May 2021

N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP) has a large molecular structure, so it is difficult to diffuse during holographic recording, especially at low spatial frequencies. We used glycerol to promote the diffusion of NVP, and successfully improved the holographic performance of the photopolymer at low spatial frequencies. As the concentration of glycerol increases, the holographic performance first increases and then remains stable. The optimal concentration of glycerol is 0.21 mol/L. At this concentration, the maximum diffraction efficiency of the photopolymer is 84%, the refractive index modulation is 1.95 × 10−3, and the photosensitive sensitivity is 7.91 × 10−4 cm2/mJ. Compared with the control group, the maximum diffraction efficiency, maximum refractive index modulation and photosensitivity at low spatial frequencies (800 lp/mm) have increased by 11.19 times, 4.69 times and 1.71 times, respectively. Using the optimized photopolymer for transmission holographic recording and reproduction, we have obtained a clear and bright transmission hologram. The photopolymer modified with glycerol is expected to be applied to the fields of holography, diffractive optics, and so on.
Effect of Printing Parameters on the Thermal and Mechanical Properties of 3D-Printed PLA and PETG, Using Fused Deposition Modeling
Authors: Hsueh Ming-Hsien , Lai Chao-Jung , Wang Shi-Hao , Zeng Yu-Shan , Hsieh Chia-Hsin , Pan Chieh-Yu , Huang Wen-Chen
Published: May 2021

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) can be used to manufacture any complex geometry and internal structures, and it has been widely applied in many industries, such as the biomedical, manufacturing, aerospace, automobile, industrial, and building industries. The purpose of this research is to characterize the polylactic acid (PLA) and polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) materials of FDM under four loading conditions (tension, compression, bending, and thermal deformation), in order to obtain data regarding different printing temperatures and speeds. The results indicated that PLA and PETG materials exhibit an obvious tensile and compression asymmetry. It was observed that the mechanical properties (tension, compression, and bending) of PLA and PETG are increased at higher printing temperatures, and that the effect of speed on PLA and PETG shows different results. In addition, the mechanical properties of PLA are greater than those of PETG, but the thermal deformation is the opposite. The above results will be a great help for researchers who are working with polymers and FDM technology to achieve sustainability.
Mechanical Lock Joint for Effective In-Plane Application of Concentrated Loads to Thin Polymer Matrix Laminates
Authors: Czarnocki Piotr , Zagrajek Tomasz , Tomasiewicz Jan
Published: May 2021

Means of in-plane loading of thin laminates with concentrated loads are of high practical importance. The purpose of this work was to investigate experimentally and numerically the mechanism of load transfer, load capacity, damage and associated failure modes of a specific, mechanical lock joint intended for in-plane loading of thin laminate plates with concentrated loads. The experimental investigations were carried out with the digital image corelation (DIC) and computed tomography (CT), and numerical ones with the help of a non-linear FE modelling, accounting for progressive damage. For this purpose, a special algorithm was developed accounting for a continuous degradation of the stiffness moduli of the laminate with strains according to the custom defined degradation law. Due to the specific design, the joint loaded a laminate plate with its front and rear parts, unlike a typical bolt joint transferring a load only by contact pressure developed at the front side of a bolt. Due to this feature, the load capacity of the joint was almost two times higher than that of a typical bolt joint of the same relevant dimensions.
Orthodoxy and Evangelicalism: An Overview of Their Relationship from the Perspective of Moral Values
Authors: Buda Daniel
Published: May 2021

Orthodox–Evangelical relationships are dominated by proselytism (at least in Eastern Europe and in the former Soviet Union). This is understood as church conversion practiced through unfair means among people who are already Christians, belonging to so-called “historical churches.” However, beyond it, there is a real potential for cooperation using moral values as a starting point. As there is an increasing disagreement between the Orthodox and mainline Protestant on moral values, the Orthodox and Evangelicals might increase their cooperation as they witness traditional values of Christianity. This kind of cooperation might be partially contextual, but it is based on Biblicism, which both Orthodox and Evangelicals share as a core value. As this cooperation, based on shared moral values, certainly has real potential, and has to be used for the good of Christianity, it might also have its limitations. Orthodox Christians and Evangelicals have shared common moral values, but each one of them might interpret the content of these values differently. One of the differences in interpreting and explaining the content of moral values might be given by the different interpretations of what is called church tradition.
Freedom of Religion: The Contribution of Contemporary Iranian Reformist Scholars
Authors: Akbar Ali
Published: May 2021

This article examines a specific line of thinking shared by several contemporary reformist Iranian religious scholars who present arguments in favor of freedom of religion. Focusing on the ideas of five prominent reformist Iranian scholars—Abdolkarim Soroush (b.1945), Muhammad Mujtahed Shabestari (b.1936), Hasan Yousefi Eshkevari (b.1950), Mohsen Kadivar (b.1959), and Ahmad Qabel (d.2012)—the article argues that these thinkers’ defense of freedom of religion is based not only on their interpretations of the Qurʾān and historical Islamic sources, but also philosophical arguments in which concepts from the fields of epistemology and hermeneutics are deployed. As the article demonstrates, some of these scholars connect the notion of freedom of religion to political arguments supporting religious tolerance, or the view that, in order to guarantee religious freedom, the state must be neutral towards the religious orientation of its citizens.
Buddhist Pilgrimage and the Ritual Ecology of Sacred Sites in the Indo-Gangetic Region
Authors: Geary David , Shinde Kiran
Published: May 2021

In contemporary India and Nepal, Buddhist pilgrimage spaces constitute a ritual ecology. Not only is pilgrimage a form of ritual practice that is central to placemaking and the construction of a Buddhist sacred geography, but the actions of religious adherents at sacred centers also involve a rich and diverse set of ritual observances and performances. Drawing on ethnographic research, this paper examines how the material and corporeal aspects of Buddhist ritual contribute to the distinctive religious sense of place that reinforce the memory of the Buddha’s life and the historical ties to the Indian subcontinent. It is found that at most Buddhist sites, pilgrim groups mostly travel with their own monks, nuns, and guides from their respective countries who facilitate devotion and reside in the monasteries and guest houses affiliated with their national community. Despite the differences across national, cultural–linguistic, and sectarian lines, the ritual practices associated with pilgrimage speak to certain patterns of religious motivation and behavior that contribute to a sense of shared identity that plays an important role in how Buddhists imagine themselves as part of a translocal religion in a globalizing age.
The Decline of Religious Life in the Twentieth Century
Authors: Lingier Anton , Vandewiele Wim
Published: May 2021

The decline in numbers of religious in the West is discussed in numerous studies. While there is a consensus about the statistical reality of decreasing numbers, scholars disagree about the alleged reasons for this decline. This article maps the field and presents a survey of four categories of answers to the question of why religious life declined during the twentieth century. A distinction is made between theories that ascribe the decline to (1) historical, (2) societal, (3) ecclesial, and (4) theological reasons. The first category views the decline as part of a historical-cyclical pattern of growth and decline. The second encompasses explanations that focus on secularization, professionalization, or new societal opportunities for women. Thirdly, post-conciliar church-organizational reasons will be discussed. Finally, pre-conciliar theology is investigated as a potential reason for the decline. While none of the reasons discussed here can be excluded from at least contributing to the decline, we demonstrate that some authors are mistaken in their conclusions due to misinterpreting data in a way that obscures the possibility of an emerging decline before the statistics peak in 1965 (which marks the end of the Council). We also demonstrate how theology has been an underestimated but significant influence on the statistics of religious life.
Injection of Traditional Hand-Crafted Features into Modern CNN-Based Models for SAR Ship Classification: What, Why, Where, and How
Authors: Zhang Tianwen , Zhang Xiaoling
Published: May 2021

With the rise of artificial intelligence, many advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) ship classifiers based on convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have achieved better accuracies than traditional hand-crafted feature ones. However, most existing CNN-based models uncritically abandon traditional hand-crafted features, and rely excessively on abstract ones of deep networks. This may be controversial, potentially creating challenges to improve classification performance further. Therefore, in view of this situation, this paper explores preliminarily the possibility of injection of traditional hand-crafted features into modern CNN-based models to further improve SAR ship classification accuracy. Specifically, we will—(1) illustrate what this injection technique is, (2) explain why it is needed, (3) discuss where it should be applied, and (4) describe how it is implemented. Experimental results on the two open three-category OpenSARShip-1.0 and seven-category FUSAR-Ship datasets indicate that it is effective to perform injection of traditional hand-crafted features into CNN-based models to improve classification accuracy. Notably, the maximum accuracy improvement reaches 6.75%. Hence, we hold the view that it is not advisable to abandon uncritically traditional hand-crafted features, because they can also play an important role in CNN-based models.
Total Ozone Columns from the Environmental Trace Gases Monitoring Instrument (EMI) Using the DOAS Method
Authors: Qian Yuanyuan , Luo Yuhan , Si Fuqi , Zhou Haijin , Yang Taiping , Yang Dongshang , Xi Liang
Published: May 2021

Global measurements of total ozone are necessary to evaluate ozone hole recovery above Antarctica. The Environmental Trace Gases Monitoring Instrument (EMI) onboard GaoFen 5, launched in May 2018, was developed to measure and monitor the global total ozone column (TOC) and distributions of other trace gases. In this study, some of the first global TOC results of the EMI using the differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) method and validation with ground-based TOC measurements and data derived from Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) and TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) observations are presented. Results show that monthly average EMI TOC data had a similar spatial distribution and a high correlation coefficient (R ≥ 0.99) with both OMI and TROPOMI TOC. Comparisons with ground-based measurements from the World Ozone and Ultraviolet Radiation Data Centre also revealed strong correlations (R > 0.9). Continuous zenith sky measurements from zenith scattered light differential optical absorption spectroscopy instruments in Antarctica were also used for validation (R = 0.9). The EMI-derived observations were able to account for the rapid change in TOC associated with the sudden stratospheric warming event in October 2019; monthly average TOC in October 2019 was 45% higher compared to October 2018. These results indicate that EMI TOC derived using the DOAS method is reliable and has the potential to be used for global TOC monitoring.
Calibration of a Polarimetric Microwave Radiometer Using a Double Directional Coupler
Authors: de la Fuente Luisa , Aja Beatriz , Villa Enrique , Artal Eduardo
Published: May 2021

This paper presents a built-in calibration procedure of a 10-to-20 GHz polarimeter aimed at measuring the I, Q, U Stokes parameters of cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation. A full-band square waveguide double directional coupler, mounted in the antenna-feed system, is used to inject differently polarized reference waves. A brief description of the polarimetric microwave radiometer and the system calibration injector is also reported. A fully polarimetric calibration is also possible using the designed double directional coupler, although the presented calibration method in this paper is proposed to obtain three of the four Stokes parameters with the introduced microwave receiver, since V parameter is expected to be zero for the CMB radiation. Experimental results are presented for linearly polarized input waves in order to validate the built-in calibration system.
Multitemporal Landslide Inventory and Activity Analysis by Means of Aerial Photogrammetry and LiDAR Techniques in an Area of Southern Spain
Authors: Fernández Tomás , Pérez-García José L. , Gómez-López José M. , Cardenal Javier , Moya Francisco , Delgado Jorge
Published: May 2021

This paper deals with the use of aerial photogrammetry and LiDAR techniques to analyze landslide activity over a long time span—just over 32 years. The data correspond to several aerial surveys (1984, 1996, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2016) covering an area of about 50 km2 along highway A-44, near Jaén (Southern Spain). An ad hoc combined photogrammetric and LiDAR aerial survey of 2010 was established as the reference flight. This flight was processed by means of direct orientation methods and iterative adjustments between both data sets. Meanwhile, historical flights available in public geographical data servers were oriented by transferring ground control points from the reference flight. Then, digital surface models (DSMs) and orthophotographs were generated, as well as the corresponding differential models (DoDs), which, after the application of filters and taking into account the estimated uncertainty of ± 1 m, allowed us to identify true changes on the ground surface. This analysis, complemented by photointerpretation, led us to obtain a landslide multitemporal inventory in the study area that was analyzed in order to characterize the landslide type, morphology and activity. Three basic typologies were identified: rock falls–collapses, slides and flows. These types present different morphometric properties (area, perimeter and height interval) and are associated with different conditions (height, slope, orientation and lithology). Moreover, a set of monitoring areas, common for the different flights, was also used to analyze the activity throughout the study period. Thus, some more active periods were identified (2009–2010, 2010–2011, 2011–2013 and 1996–2001) among other less active ones (1984–1996, 2001–2005, 2005–2009 and 2013–2016), which are related to rainy events and dry years, respectively.
WRF-Chem Simulation for Modeling Seasonal Variations and Distributions of Aerosol Pollutants over the Middle East
Authors: Shahid Muhammad Zeeshaan , Chishtie Farrukh , Bilal Muhammad , Shahid Imran
Published: May 2021

Atmospheric aerosols and dust have become a challenge for urban air quality. The presented study quantified seasonal spatio-temporal variations of aerosols, tropospheric ozone, and dust over the Middle East (ME) for the year 2012 by using the HTAP emission inventory in the WRF-Chem model. Simulated gaseous pollutants, aerosols and dust were evaluated against satellite measurements and reanalysis datasets. Meteorological parameters, temperature, and wind vector were evaluated against MERRA2. The model showed high spatio-temporal variability in meteorological parameters during summer and low variability in winter. The correlation coefficients for all the parameters are estimated to be 0.92, 0.93, 0.98, and 0.89 for January, April, July, and October respectively, indicating that the WRF-Chem model reproduced results very well. Simulated monthly mean AOD values were maximum in July (1.0–1.5) and minimum in January (0.1–0.4) while April and October were in the range of 0.6–1.0 and 0.3–0.7 respectively. Simulated dust concentrations were high in April and July. The monthly average aerosol concentration was highest over Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates and Jeddah, Makkah. The contributions to urban air pollution were highest over Makkah city with more than 25% from anthropogenic sources.
SOX2OT Long Noncoding RNA Is Regulated by the UPR in Oestrogen Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer
Authors: Ferraro-Peyret Carole , Askarian-Amiri Marjan E. , Sarkar Debina , Joseph Wayne R. , Hansji Herah , Baguley Bruce C. , Leung Euphemia Y.
Published: May 2021

Endoplasmic reticulum (ENR) stress perturbs cell homeostasis and induces the unfolded protein response (UPR). In breast cancer, this process is activated by oestrogen deprivation and is associated with tamoxifen resistance. We present evidence that the transcription factor SOX2 and the long noncoding RNA SOX2 overlapping transcript (SOX2OT) are upregulated in oestrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer and in response to oestrogen deprivation. We examined the effect of the UPR on SOX2 and SOX2OT expression and the effect of SOX2OT on UPR pathways in breast cancer cell lines. The induction of the UPR by thapsigargin or glucose deprivation upregulates SOX2OT expression. This upregulation is also shown with the anti-oestrogen 4OH-tamoxifen and mTOR inhibitor everolimus in ER + breast cancer cells that are sensitive to oestrogen deprivation or everolimus treatment. SOX2OT overexpression decreased BiP and PERK expression. This effect of SOX2OT overexpression was confirmed on BiP and PERK pathway by q-PCR. Our results show that a long noncoding RNA regulates the UPR and evince a new function of SOX2OT as a participant of ENR stress reprogramming of breast cancer cells.
Erratum: Ilyas and Athwal (2021). De-Radicalisation and Humanitarianism in Indonesia. Social Sciences 10: 87
Authors: Ilyas Mohammed , Athwal Rayvinder
Published: May 2021

The authors wish to make the following correction to their paper [...]
Adaption Actions to Cope with Climate Change: Evidence from Farmers’ Preferences on an Agrobiodiversity Conservation Programme in the Mediterranean Area
Authors: Sardaro Ruggiero , Faccilongo Nicola , Contò Francesco , La Sala Piermichele
Published: May 2021

The paper investigates the attitude of farmers to participate in an on-farm conservation programme based on the cultivation of vine landraces in Apulia, southern Italy, in place of the current commercial varieties, as an adaptation strategy to climate changes. The results, based on choice experiments and assessed through a latent class model, highlight a general interest of the regional farmers toward the biodiversity-based adaptation programme for coping with climate change. In particular, three classes of respondents were identified: (i) farmers operating on the whole regional territory and willing to cultivate up to 50% of their farm area with up to two landraces and compensation in line with the aid set by the regional rural programme; (ii) winegrowers of the intensive rural areas and willing to cultivate up to 25% of their farm with up to two landraces and a compensation greater than 200% compared to the aid of the regional rural programme; (iii) farmers operating in the intermediate rural areas and willing to cultivate up to 50% of their farm with up to three landraces and a compensation greater than 50% compared to the aid of the regional rural programme. Policymakers should calibrate adaption actions depending on rural areas, since economic, social, cultural, behavioural and cognitive barriers, as well as structural characteristics of farms, impact the farmers’ attitudes toward measures aimed at coping with climate change.
The Role of Local Government in the Drive for Sustainable Development Public Policies. An Analytical Framework Based on Institutional Capacities
Authors: Salvador Miquel , Sancho David
Published: May 2021

The role of local governments in promoting policies to combat climate change is critical. In order to play this role, local administrations must have different capacities that allow them to analyze, manage and transform their environment through public policies. This article aims to contribute to the academic debate on the role of local governments in the articulation of climate change policies and sustainable development. The proposal combines a conceptual and analytical contribution, which is illustrated by means of a case study analysis. At the conceptual and analytical level, the article proposes a review of the contributions from the perspective of public policies and organizational management models in order to introduce an analytical framework based on four capacities: strategic, analytical, managerial and collaborative. This framework is developed based on the design of a strategy to measure the existence of these capabilities in a given local government by means of specific indicators. This analytical framework is applied through a case study of Barcelona City Council and its policies to combat climate change and promote sustainable development. The results of the analysis highlight the importance of the combined action of the four management capacities mentioned as a precondition for the articulation of this type of policies at the local government level.
Sustainable Food Consumption Practices: Insights into Consumers’ Experiences
Authors: Migliore Giuseppina
Published: May 2021

In recent years, the increasing consumer concern towards food safety, environmental sustainability, and social justice issues have stimulated new consumption practices more oriented towards social, economic, and environmental sustainability [...]
Digital Agriculture and Labor: A Few Challenges for Social Sustainability
Authors: Prause Louisa
Published: May 2021

Academic and political debates on the digitalization of agriculture have addressed sustainability mainly from an ecological perspective. Social sustainability, particularly questions of labor, has been largely neglected in the literature thus far. This is particularly problematic since digitalization could fundamentally change farming practices and labor processes on farms, with possibly far-reaching consequences for rural development, rural communities as well as migrant laborers. Looking at the case study of Germany, this article asks how digital technologies are changing labor processes on horticultural and arable farms. The aim of this paper is to bring labor into the debates around agriculture and digitalization and to offer a detailed picture of the impacts of digital technologies on labor in agriculture. The case study builds on fourteen in-depth interviews conducted from June 2020 to March 2021, participant observation, and digital ethnography. The results show new forms of labor control and an intensification of the work process linked to methods of digital Taylorism, as well as risks of working-class fragmentation along age lines. A deskilling of workers or farmers due to digitalization has not been observed. The suggestion of an increased dependency of workers due to the loss of employment opportunities in agriculture is contested. The results stress the importance of designing agricultural policies that foster fair and equitable working conditions.
Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture as a Tool for Food Security and Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation: The Case of Mestre
Authors: Lucertini Giulia , Di Giustino Gianmarco
Published: May 2021

Urban and peri-urban areas are subject to major societal challenges, like food security, climate change, biodiversity, resource efficiency, land management, social cohesion, and economic growth. In that context, Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture (UPA), thanks to its multifunctionality, could have a high value in providing social, economic, and environmental co-benefits. UPA is an emerging field of research and production that aims to improve food security and climate change impact reduction, improving urban resilience and sustainability. In this paper, a replicable GIS-based approach was used to localize and quantify available areas for agriculture, including both flat rooftop and ground-level areas in the mainland of the city of Venice (Italy). Then, possible horticultural yield production was estimated considering common UPA yield value and average Italian consumption. Climate change mitigation, like CO2 reduction and sequestration, and climate change adaptation, like Urban Flooding and Urban Heat Island reduction, due to the new UPA areas’ development were estimated. Despite the urban density, the identified areas have the potential to produce enough vegetables for the residents and improve climate change mitigation and adaptation, if transformed into agricultural areas. Finally, the paper concludes with a reflection on the co-benefits of UPA multifunctionality, and with some policy suggestions.
Optimization of Cellulase Production by a Novel Endophytic Fungus Penicillium oxalicum R4 Isolated from Taxus cuspidata
Authors: Li Hongkun , Dou Meijia , Wang Xinyu , Guo Na , Kou Ping , Jiao Jiao , Fu Yujie
Published: May 2021

Endophytic fungi inside a plant can degrade a portion of plant lignin and cellulose. Endophytic Penicillium is one of the industrial microorganisms with the advantage of producing enzymes with a complete enzyme system that can be secreted into the extracellular space. The natural evolution of ancient tree species from special natural geographic environments to screen out cellulase-producing strains with excellent characteristics provides a promising direction for future industrial enzymes. The present study successfully isolated and screened a novel fungal endophyte, Penicillium oxalicum R4, with higher cellulase activity from Taxus cuspidata. Under the optimized culture conditions obtained by a Box–Behnken design (BBD) and an artificial neural network–genetic algorithm (ANN–GA), yields of Filter Paperase (FPase), Carboxymethyl Cellulase (CMCase) and β-glucosidase (βGLase) produced by P. oxalicum R4 were 1.45, 5.27 and 6.35 U/mL, which were approximately 1.60-fold, 1.59-fold and 2.16-fold higher than those of the non-optimized culture, respectively. The discovery of cellulase-producing strains of endophytic fungi located in special natural geographic environments, such as Taxus cuspidata, which is known as a living plant fossil, provides new research directions for future industrial enzymes.
A Systematic Literature Review on Additive Manufacturing in the Context of Circular Economy
Authors: Ponis Stavros , Aretoulaki Eleni , Maroutas Theodoros Nikolaos , Plakas George , Dimogiorgi Konstantina
Published: May 2021

Additive Manufacturing (AM) is, undoubtedly, one of the most promising and potentially disruptive technologies of the Industry 4.0 era, able to transform the traditional manufacturing paradigm and fuel the generally accepted and necessary shift towards the conceptualisation, design and adoption of sustainable and circular business models. The objective of this paper is to contribute to the structure of the scientific field residing in the intersection of AM and Circular Economy (CE), by determining the status of its current state-of-the-art, proposing an initial typology in an attempt to contribute to the existing efforts of structuring this rather novice research area and pinpointing research gaps where more focus should be put, and highlighting areas with a significant potential for added-value future research. To that end, a sample of 206 papers, published from 2014 to 2020, was retrieved from the Scopus and Google Scholar databases. After studying and critically evaluating their content in full, contributions were classified into six thematic categories, providing a first typology of the current literature, followed by a detailed section highlighting and taxonomizing existing review studies. Next, contributions of the three categories of interest are discussed followed by a critical evaluation of the study’s contribution, inherent limitations and future research potential.
A New Methodology to Assess Territorial Competence for Sustainable Local Development: The READI® (Resources-Actors-Dynamics) Matrix
Authors: Calvo-Palomares Ricard , Aguado-Hernández Juli Antoni , Sigalat-Signes Enric , Roig-Merino Bernat
Published: May 2021

The ability of a territory to manage certain sustainable development processes increasingly depends on its capacity to apply previous diagnostic processes to its current situation. For this reason, methodologies that facilitate the detection of needs and/or potentialities of the territory are key to meeting its anticipated sustainable development goals. We present the most notable results of the research methodology carried out in the province of Valencia (Spain) that has enabled the construction of a matrix of indicators that allow these previous diagnostic processes to be put into practice at a local level, based on the participation of the territory’s socioeconomic actors.
Public Marketplaces Promoting Resilience and Sustainability
Authors: Morales Alfonso
Published: May 2021

Marketplaces and vendors weave together social integration, ecological awareness and caring, and economic inclusivity [...]
Impacts of the FLEGT Action Plan and the EU Timber Regulation on EU Trade in Timber Product
Authors: Rougieux Paul , Jonsson Ragnar
Published: May 2021

The EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) is a key element in the efforts of the European Union to curb the trade in illegal timber products. This study helps to remedy the lack of systematic, statistical analysis of the EUTR’s potential impacts on international trade in timber products. Using cointegration intervention—or shock—models we quantify potential shifts in import prices and quantities of tropical hardwood lumber and oak lumber after the entry into effect of the EUTR. We further estimate import demand models to assess the relation between temperate and tropical hardwood products and whether there was a structural change in demand elasticities after the entry into force of the EUTR. The shock model analysis indicates, for most of the bilateral trade flows where we observe cointegration and a significant shock variable, increasing import prices and decreasing import quantities of tropical hardwood lumber following the EUTR start date, consistent with a contraction of the supply of tropical timber. The results of the import demand models do not give a clear indication as to whether oak lumber is a complementary or substitute product for tropical hardwood lumber, and there are no clear signs of structural changes in demand elasticities. Aside from the analysis, an important contribution of the paper is the procedure for building a long and homogeneous time series of tropical hardwood lumber.
Sustainability in Participatory Sports Events: The Development of a Research Instrument and Empirical Insights
Authors: Hugaerts Ine , Scheerder Jeroen , Helsen Kobe , Corthouts Joris , Thibaut Erik , Könecke Thomas
Published: May 2021

The United Nations (UN) considers sports as an important enabler of sustainable development. The popular and fast-growing Participatory Sports Event (PSE) sector can play an important role in this regard, however, research that measures and reports sustainability in PSEs is scarce. Therefore, the aim of this paper was to construct and validate a research instrument based on the UN’s sustainable development goals, and to examine sustainability in PSEs. To this end, an online survey was administered among a representative sample of 303 PSE organisers, located in Flanders, Belgium. A confirmatory factor analysis affirmed the social, economic and environmental dimensions of the instrument and provided evidence for its validity and reliability. The results reveal significant discrepancies between the three dimensions, with a noticeable lower score for environmental sustainability compared to social and economic sustainability. Furthermore, challenges are highlighted in the field of the civil society sector and in walking sports events. The findings also indicate that large-sized events are more likely to be sustainable. The current study can act as a foundation for future research on sustainability in PSEs and can assist PSE organisers and policymakers to increase the sustainability-related performance of the sector.
Digital Technologies for Urban Metabolism Efficiency: Lessons from Urban Agenda Partnership on Circular Economy
Authors: D’Amico Gaspare , Arbolino Roberta , Shi Lei , Yigitcanlar Tan , Ioppolo Giuseppe
Published: May 2021

Digital technologies engaged in urban metabolism for efficiency provide policymakers, urban managers, and planners with useful instruments to collect, monitor, analyze, and evaluate the circularity of environmental, social, and economic resources to improve their effectiveness and quality. At present, the digital technology-based approach is strategic for circular cities engaged in the development of smart and sustainable actions in the fields of mobility, energy, environment, waste, telecommunications, and security. Through the ‘Circular Resource Efficiency Management Framework’ developed by the European Commission, this paper generates insights into the digitalization practices of the circularity of urban metabolism by analyzing the initiatives implemented by the municipalities of Kaunas, Flanders region, Porto, Prato, The Hague, and Oslo, which constitute the Partnership on Circular Economy (PCE) of the Urban Agenda of the European Union. The results of the analysis provide a wide range of practices such as real-time monitoring stations for water and energy consumption, digital cameras for controlling vehicle flows, web platforms for sharing goods and services, and tracking sensors for public transport, which aim to optimize the efficiency of the circularity of urban metabolic flows. This study increases the understanding and awareness of digital technologies in this paradigm shift.
Relevance of Traumatic Events and Routine Stressors at Work and PTSD Symptoms on Emergency Nurses
Authors: Campillo-Cruz Manuel , González-Gutiérrez José Luís , Ardoy-Cuadros Juan
Published: May 2021

Emergency nurses are exposed daily to numerous stressful situations that can lead to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. This study examined the relationship between traumatic events, routine stressors linked to trauma, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in emergency nurses. For this purpose, a sample of 147 emergency nurses completed the Traumatic and Routine Stressors Scale on Emergency Nurses (TRSS-EN) and the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale (PDS-5). Results of correlations and moderate multiple regression analyses showed that the emotional impact of routine stressors was associated with a greater number of PTSD symptoms, and, apparently, to greater severity, in comparison to the emotional impact of traumatic events. Furthermore, the emotional impact of traumatic events acts as a moderator, changing the relationship between the emotional impact of routine stressors and PTSD symptoms, in the sense that the bigger the emotional impact of traumatic events, the bigger the relationship between the emotional impact of routine stressors and PTSD symptoms. These results suggest that the exposure to routine work-related stressors, in a context characterized by the presence of traumatic events may make emergency nurses particularly vulnerable to post-traumatic stress reactions. Some prevention measures are suggested according to the results of the study.
Quantifying Ecosystem Services of High Mountain Lakes across Different Socio-Ecological Contexts
Authors: Schirpke Uta , Ebner Manuel , Pritsch Hanna , Fontana Veronika , Kurmayer Rainer
Published: May 2021

Mountain lakes are highly sensitive to global change, requiring sustainable management strategies that support crucial ecosystem services (ES). However, small mountain lakes are rarely in the focus of ES assessments, and indicators are potentially lacking. Therefore, this study aimed at comprehensively assessing key ES of 15 study lakes located in two regions in the European Alps. We involved local stakeholders and experts to identify important ES. We quantified eight ES in non-monetary terms, using 29 indicators based on limnological, spatial and socio-economic data. Finally, we evaluated ES in relation to the socio-ecological context of the study lakes. The most important ES included surface water for non-drinking purposes, maintaining populations and habitats, outdoor recreation, aesthetic value, entertainment and representation, scientific research, education as well as existence, option, or bequest value. Quantitative results indicate varying levels of ES across the study lakes. Based on 12 different socio-ecological variables, we identified four groups of lakes differing also in five ES. Maintaining populations and habitats, aesthetic value as well as existence, option or bequest value were rather independent from the socio-ecological context. Our findings contribute to a deeper understanding of ES of mountain lakes, also supporting the development of sustainable management strategies in mountain regions.