bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Combining Recent Nutritional Data with Prospective Cohorts to Quantify the Impact of Modern Dietary Patterns on Disability–Adjusted Life Years: A Feasibility Study
Authors: Krieger Jean-Philippe , Pestoni Giulia , Frehner Anita , Schader Christian , Faeh David , Rohrmann Sabine
Published: March 2020

Unhealthy diets are commonly associated with increased disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) from noncommunicable diseases. The association between DALYs and dietary patterns can be quantified with individual longitudinal data. This assessment, however, is often based on dietary data collected once at cohort entry, therefore reflecting the impact of “old” dietary habits on morbidity and mortality. To overcome this limitation, we tested the association of contemporary diets with DALYs. First, we defined contemporary dietary patterns consumed in Switzerland with the national nutrition survey menuCH (2014–2015). Second, we identified individuals who consumed similar diets in the NRP–MONICA census-linked cohort (1977–2015). In this cohort, individual data on disease and mortality were used to calculate the DALYs-dietary patterns association using a mixed regression model. A total of 58,771 DALYs from NCDs were recorded in a mean follow-up time of 25.5 years. After multivariable adjustments, the “Swiss traditional” pattern was not associated with an increase in DALYs compared to the “Prudent” pattern. However, individuals following a “Western” pattern had, on average 0.29 DALYs (95% CI 0.02, 0.56) more than those following a “Prudent” pattern, equating to a loss of healthy life of more than three months. These data highlight the feasibility of quantifying the impact of contemporary diets on DALYs without the establishment of new cohorts or the use of nationally aggregated data.
The Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Anacardium occidentale L. Cashew Nuts in a Mouse Model of Colitis
Authors: Siracusa Rosalba , Fusco Roberta , Peritore Alesso , Cordaro Marika , D’Amico Ramona , Genovese Tiziana , Gugliandolo Enrico , Crupi Rosalia , Smeriglio Antonella , Mandalari Giuseppina , Cuzzocrea Salvatore , Di Paola Rosanna , Impellizzeri Daniela
Published: March 2020

Background: Anacardium occidentale L. is a tropical plant used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. The goal of the present work was to investigate the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant potential of oral administration of cashew nuts (from Anacardium occidentale L.) in a mouse model of colitis. Methods: Induction of colitis was performed by intrarectally injection of dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (DNBS). Cashew nuts were administered daily orally (100 mg/kg) in DNBS-injected mice. Results: Four days after DNBS, histological and macroscopic colon alterations as well as marked clinical signs and increased cytokine production were observed. Neutrophil infiltration, measured by myeloperoxidase (MPO) positive immunostaining, was correlated with up-regulation of adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and P-selectin in colons. Oxidative stress was detected with increased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, nitrotyrosine, and poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) positive staining in inflamed colons. Oral treatment with cashew nuts reduced histological, macroscopic damage, neutrophil infiltration, pro-inflammatory cytokines and MDA levels, as well as nitrotyrosine, PARP and ICAM-1, and P-selectin expressions. Colon inflammation could be related to nuclear factor (NF)-kB pathway activation and reduced manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) antioxidant activity. Cashew nuts administration inhibited NF-kB and increased MnSOD antioxidant expressions. Conclusions: The results suggested that oral assumption of cashew nuts may be beneficial for the management of colitis.
Low Energy Availability in Athletes 2020: An Updated Narrative Review of Prevalence, Risk, Within-Day Energy Balance, Knowledge, and Impact on Sports Performance
Authors: Logue Danielle M. , Madigan Sharon M. , Melin Anna , Delahunt Eamonn , Heinen Mirjam , Donnell Sarah-Jane Mc , Corish Clare A.
Published: March 2020

Low energy availability (EA) underpins the female and male athlete triad and relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S). The condition arises when insufficient calories are consumed to support exercise energy expenditure, resulting in compromised physiological processes, such as menstrual irregularities in active females. The health concerns associated with longstanding low EA include menstrual/libido, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular dysfunction and compromised bone health, all of which can contribute to impaired sporting performance. This narrative review provides an update of our previous review on the prevalence and risk of low EA, within-day energy deficiency, and the potential impact of low EA on performance. The methods to assess EA remain a challenge and contribute to the methodological difficulties in identifying “true” low EA. Screening female athletic groups using a validated screening tool such as the Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire (LEAF-Q) has shown promise in identifying endurance athletes at risk of low EA. Knowledge of RED-S and its potential implications for performance is low among coaches and athletes alike. Development of sport and gender-specific screening tools to identify adolescent and senior athletes in different sports at risk of RED-S is warranted. Education initiatives are required to raise awareness among coaches and athletes of the importance of appropriate dietary strategies to ensure that sufficient calories are consumed to support training.
Determining Malnutrition Assessment Criteria to Predict One-Year Mortality for Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer Patients Undergoing Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy
Authors: Ling Hang Huong , Yeh Kun-Yun , Ng Shu-Hang , Wang Cheng-Hsu , Lai Chien-Hong , Wu Tsung-Han , Chang Pei-Hung , Chou Wen-Chi , Chen Fang-Ping , Lin Yu-Ching
Published: March 2020

Study on the impact of pretreatment malnutrition on treatment outcomes in locally advanced head and neck cancer (LAHNC) patients is still lacking. We prospectively collected various malnutrition assessment methods including nutrition indexes, inflammatory biomarkers, and lean body mass index (LBMI) data before treatments. The one year mortality rate was assessed, and the factors associated with this outcome were investigated. Furthermore, the association between malnutrition assessment methods was examined. A total of 113 patients were enrolled. By prognostic stratification based on the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) combination, the low PNI/high PLR group had highest and the high PNI/low PLR group had the lowest mortality rate. Furthermore, the PNI was positively correlated with the LBMI, and the PLR was inversely correlated with the LBMI. PNI and PLR were found to be independent prognostic factors of one year mortality and also associated with the loss of muscle.
Etiology and Symptoms of Maize Leaf Spot Caused by Bipolaris spp. in Sichuan, China
Authors: Sun Xiaofang , Qi Xiaobo , Wang Wei , Liu Xuan , Zhao Henan , Wu Cuiping , Chang Xiaoli , Zhang Min , Chen Huabao , Gong Guoshu
Published: March 2020

Many species of the genus Bipolaris are important plant pathogens and often cause leaf spot, root rot, and seedling blight in an extremely wide range of hosts around the world. In recent years, maize leaf spot caused by Bipolaris species has frequently occurred with complex symptoms and is becoming increasingly serious in Sichuan Province of China. To investigate the population diversity of Bipolaris spp. and their corresponding symptoms in maize, 747 samples of maize leaf spot were collected from 132 sampling sites in 19 administrative districts of Sichuan Province from 2011 to 2018. Based on morphological characteristics, pathogenicity testing, and phylogenetic analysis of the rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) genes, a total of 1186 Bipolaris isolates were identified as B. maydis, B. zeicola, B. cynodontis, B. oryzae, B. setariae, and B. saccharicola, among which B. maydis and B. zeicola were the dominant pathogenic species, accounting for 57.34% and 42.07% of the isolates, respectively. We found that B. zeicola isolates were mainly distributed in high altitude and cool mountainous areas, while B. maydis was more widely distributed in Sichuan Province. The typical symptoms caused by the Bipolaris species were clearly distinct in maize. The typical symptoms caused by B. maydis were elongated strip lesions, or fusiform, elliptical lesions, and those caused by B. zeicola were narrow linear lesions. Herein, B. saccharicola was first reported on maize and caused subrotund lesions. This study provides useful information for disease diagnosis and management for Bipolaris leaf spot in maize.
SARS-CoV-2 and Coronavirus Disease 2019: What We Know So Far
Authors: Rabi Firas A. , Al Zoubi Mazhar S. , Kasasbeh Ghena A. , Salameh Dunia M. , Al-Nasser Amjad D.
Published: March 2020

In December 2019, a cluster of fatal pneumonia cases presented in Wuhan, China. They were caused by a previously unknown coronavirus. All patients had been associated with the Wuhan Wholefood market, where seafood and live animals are sold. The virus spread rapidly and public health authorities in China initiated a containment effort. However, by that time, travelers had carried the virus to many countries, sparking memories of the previous coronavirus epidemics, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), and causing widespread media attention and panic. Based on clinical criteria and available serological and molecular information, the new disease was called coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19), and the novel coronavirus was called SARS Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), emphasizing its close relationship to the 2002 SARS virus (SARS-CoV). The scientific community raced to uncover the origin of the virus, understand the pathogenesis of the disease, develop treatment options, define the risk factors, and work on vaccine development. Here we present a summary of current knowledge regarding the novel coronavirus and the disease it causes.
The Comparison of Two Challenging Low Dose APIs in a Continuous Direct Compression Process
Authors: Ervasti Tuomas , Niinikoski Hannes , Mäki-Lohiluoma Eero , Leppinen Heidi , Ketolainen Jarkko , Korhonen Ossi , Lakio Satu
Published: March 2020

Segregation is a common problem in batch-based direct compression (BDC) processes, especially with low-dose tablet products, as is the preparation of a homogenous mixture. The scope of the current work was to explore if a continuous direct compression (CDC) process could serve as a solution for these challenges. Furthermore, the principle of a platform formulation was demonstrated for low dose tablets. The combination of filler excipients and the API in the formulation used was suitable for direct compression, but also prone to induce segregation in BDC process. The CDC process was found to be very promising; it was shown that tablets with the desired quality parameters could be manufactured successfully with both of the APIs studied. Powder analysis indicated that the APIs display some fundamental differences in their physical properties, which was also reflected in powder mixture properties and, hence, eventually in processing. However, process parameters, especially mixer impeller speed, were not found to have any significant influence on end product quality. The study suggests that a CDC process can be a viable solution to resolve the challenges described. Moreover, manufacturing by using a universal platform formulation seems to be a feasible way for producing low-dose tablets.
A Correlative Study of Sunflower Seed Vigor Components as Related to Genetic Background
Authors: Saux Marine , Bleys Benoît , André Thierry , Bailly Christophe , El-Maarouf-Bouteau Hayat
Published: March 2020

Seed vigor is an important trait that determines seed performance in the field, which corresponds to seed germination rate and seedling establishment. Previous works brought helpful equations to calculate several parameters allowing vigor characterization. In this work we used base water potential (Ψb), base temperature (Tb) and seed lot (Ki) constants to characterize the vigor of 44 sunflower seed lots. Contrasting responses to water or temperature stress and storage potential were recorded within this population, the most interesting being the opposite responses between Ψb and Ki. The genotypes that were resistant to water stress presented low ability for storage and vice versa. Furthermore, Ψb and Ki presented narrow ranges while Tb showed important variability within the 44 genotypes. The analysis of the whole dataset showed that these constants are not correlated to each other or to the seed size, suggesting that genetic background is the most important determining factor in seed performance. Consequently, vigor characterization of genotypes is needed in the crop selection process in order to optimize agricultural productivity.
Characterization and Preparation of Furanic-Glyoxal Foams
Authors: Xi Xuedong , Pizzi Antonio , Lei Hong , Du Guanben , Zhou Xiaojian , Lin Yuying
Published: March 2020

Synthetic foams have become an essential industrial product for a great variety of applications. Furfuryl alcohol, as a biomass chemical, was reacted with glyoxal at room temperature to prepare furanic-glyoxal rigid foams, and p-toluenesulfonic acid was used as a catalyst to initiate the reaction. Foams with different molar ratios (furfuryl alcohol/glyoxal) were prepared in this work, and uniform cells foams have been obtained. Their compression resistance, 24-h water absorption, density, and other basic properties were tested. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to observe the cellular morphology of the foams prepared, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) helped to understand their thermal and combustion properties, and FTIR and Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionisation Time of Flight (MALDI ToF) mass spectroscopy to explain the structure of the resulting foams to clarify the reactions occurring during foaming. The results show that the compression resistance of furanic-glyoxal foams declined as the furfuryl alcohol/glyoxal ratio decreases also. SEM observations revealed that foams with open-cell were obtained when furfuryl alcohol was added in greater amounts, and more closed cell structures were formed as the proportion of glyoxal increased. TGA results showed that the initial ignition temperature of furanic-glyoxal foams is ~200 °C higher than that of wood, and the smaller comprehensive combustion index S (about 0.15 × 10−7 (%2 K−3 min−2)) indicates that the foam burns slowly and has poor flammability, that is, it is not easy to burn.
Buddhist Ritual and the Bronze Buddha Mold Excavated from the Western Five-Story Stone Pagoda of Hwaŏm Temple, Korea
Authors: Lim Young-ae
Published: March 2020

This paper examines the bronze Buddha mold that was excavated from the western pagoda of Hwaŏm temple 華嚴寺. The research centers on the mold’s date of production, its function, and the reason it was enshrined in the Hwaŏmsa pagoda. The pagoda itself was constructed in the ninth century and is considered to be a Dharani pagoda because Wugoujingguang datuoluonijing (無垢淨光大陀羅尼經, The Great Dharani Sūtra) is enshrined within the structure. The act of placing the Buddhist scriptures in the pagoda was to benefit the structure’s benefactors by absolving them of their sins and granting blessings in their afterlives for their meritorious deeds. Of all the dhāraṇī, Wugoujingguang datuoluonijing is the most detailed and particularly emphasizes the act of repetition. The clarity and simplicity of its instructions made it especially popular in eighth-to-ninth-century Korea. The Hwaŏmsa Buddha mold was one of the tools used in the ritual described by Wugoujingguang datuoluonijing. Considering the sūtra’s insistence on repetition and replication, the mold was a very suitable implement. The use of inexpensive clay also allowed for the mass production of Buddha images that any individual could commission at little cost. Furthermore, this method of producing Buddha images made it easy for the temple to attract followers and thus raise funding for the construction of the pagoda. The clay Buddhas themselves were small, making it possible for one to keep the image on his person and carry it wherever he went. Ultimately, these actions were meant to bring the individuals closer to Buddha and his world.
Synergistic Use of Single-Pass Interferometry and Radar Altimetry to Measure Mass Loss of NEGIS Outlet Glaciers between 2011 and 2014
Authors: Krieger Lukas , Strößenreuther Undine , Helm Veit , Floricioiu Dana , Horwath Martin
Published: March 2020

Mass balances of individual glaciers on ice sheets have been previously reported by forming a mass budget of discharged ice and modelled ice sheet surface mass balance or a complementary method which measures volume changes over the glaciated area that are subsequently converted to glacier mass change. On ice sheets, volume changes have been measured predominantly with radar and laser altimeters but InSAR DEM differencing has also been applied on smaller ice bodies. Here, we report for the first time on the synergistic use of volumetric measurements from the CryoSat-2 radar altimetry mission together with TanDEM-X DEM differencing and calculate the mass balance of the two major outlet glaciers of the Northeast Greenland Ice Stream: Zachariæ Isstrøm and Nioghalvfjerdsfjorden (79North). The glaciers lost 3.59 ± 1.15 G t a − 1 and 1.01 ± 0.95 G t a − 1 , respectively, between January 2011 and January 2014. Additionally, there has been substantial sub-aqueous mass loss on Zachariæ Isstrøm of more than 11 G t a − 1 . We attribute the mass changes on both glaciers to dynamic downwasting. The presented methodology now permits using TanDEM-X bistatic InSAR data in the context of geodetic mass balance investigations for large ice sheet outlet glaciers. In the future, this will allow monitoring the mass changes of dynamic outlet glaciers with high spatial resolution while the superior vertical accuracy of CryoSat-2 can be used for the vast accumulation zones in the ice sheet interior.
Mapping the Historical Shipwreck Figaro in the High Arctic Using Underwater Sensor-Carrying Robots
Authors: Mogstad Aksel Alstad , Ødegård Øyvind , Nornes Stein Melvær , Ludvigsen Martin , Johnsen Geir , Sørensen Asgeir J. , Berge Jørgen
Published: March 2020

In 2007, a possible wreck site was discovered in Trygghamna, Isfjorden, Svalbard by the Norwegian Hydrographic Service. Using (1) a REMUS 100 autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) equipped with a sidescan sonar (SSS) and (2) a Seabotix LBV 200 mini-remotely operated vehicle (ROV) with a high-definition (HD) camera, the wreck was in 2015 identified as the Figaro: a floating whalery that sank in 1908. The Figaro is to our knowledge currently the northernmost wreck in the world to be investigated by archaeologists. As the wreck is protected by law as an underwater cultural heritage (UCH) site, only non-intrusive methods could be used during surveys. In this study, we demonstrate how using multiple complementary remote sensing techniques can be advantageous with respect to acquiring a holistic overview of a recently discovered wreck site. In January 2016, the wreck was revisited, and a full photogrammetric survey of the site was conducted with a Sperre Subfighter 7500 medium class ROV. In addition to stereo camera images, HD-video and underwater hyperspectral imagery was also obtained from the wreck site. In terms of data analysis and interpretation, the emphasis was in the current study put on the photogrammetric 3D model and the underwater hyperspectral imagery. The former provided an excellent general overview of the Figaro wreck site, whereas the latter supplied detailed information from a 14.65-m2 sub-area situated on the top of the wreck. By analyzing classified underwater hyperspectral imagery in context with supplementary information from the 3D model, the levels of biofouling associated with different marine archaeological substrate types were assessed. Our findings suggest that strongly protruding archaeological objects support significantly higher levels of biofouling than their surroundings, and consequently that high-density biological assemblages could serve as proxies for identifying human-made artifacts on the seafloor.
Robust Mosaicking of Lightweight UAV Images Using Hybrid Image Transformation Modeling
Authors: Kim Jae-In , Kim Hyun-cheol , Kim Taejung
Published: March 2020

This paper proposes a robust feature-based mosaicking method that can handle images obtained by lightweight unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The imaging geometry of small UAVs can be characterized by unstable flight attitudes and low flight altitudes. These can reduce mosaicking performance by causing insufficient overlaps, tilted images, and biased tiepoint distributions. To solve these problems in the mosaicking process, we introduce the tiepoint area ratio (TAR) as a geometric stability indicator and orthogonality as an image deformation indicator. The proposed method estimates pairwise transformations with optimal transformation models derived by geometric stability analysis between adjacent images. It then estimates global transformations from optimal pairwise transformations that maximize geometric stability between adjacent images and minimize mosaic deformation. The valid criterion for the TAR in selecting an optimal transformation model was found to be about 0.3 from experiments with two independent image datasets. The results of a performance evaluation showed that the problems caused by the imaging geometry characteristics of small UAVs could actually occur in image datasets and showed that the proposed method could reliably produce image mosaics for image datasets obtained in both general and extreme imaging environments.
Smartphone Apps in the Context of Tinnitus: Systematic Review
Authors: Mehdi Muntazir , Riha Constanze , Neff Patrick , Dode Albi , Pryss Rüdiger , Schlee Winfried , Reichert Manfred , Hauck Franz J.
Published: March 2020

Smartphones containing sophisticated high-end hardware and offering high computational capabilities at extremely manageable costs have become mainstream and an integral part of users’ lives. Widespread adoption of smartphone devices has encouraged the development of many smartphone applications, resulting in a well-established ecosystem, which is easily discoverable and accessible via respective marketplaces of differing mobile platforms. These smartphone applications are no longer exclusively limited to entertainment purposes but are increasingly established in the scientific and medical field. In the context of tinnitus, the ringing in the ear, these smartphone apps range from relief, management, self-help, all the way to interfacing external sensors to better understand the phenomenon. In this paper, we aim to bring forth the smartphone applications in and around tinnitus. Based on the PRISMA guidelines, we systematically analyze and investigate the current state of smartphone apps, that are directly applied in the context of tinnitus. In particular, we explore Google Scholar, CiteSeerX, Microsoft Academics, Semantic Scholar for the identification of scientific contributions. Additionally, we search and explore Google’s Play and Apple’s App Stores to identify relevant smartphone apps and their respective properties. This review work gives (1) an up-to-date overview of existing apps, and (2) lists and discusses scientific literature pertaining to the smartphone apps used within the context of tinnitus.
Earthquake Prediction Using Expert Systems: A Systematic Mapping Study
Authors: Tehseen Rabia , Farooq Muhammad Shoaib , Abid Adnan
Published: March 2020

Earthquake is one of the most hazardous natural calamity. Many algorithms have been proposed for earthquake prediction using expert systems (ES). We aim to identify and compare methods, models, frameworks, and tools used to forecast earthquakes using different parameters. We have conducted a systematic mapping study based upon 70 systematically selected high quality peer reviewed research articles involving ES for earthquake prediction, published between January 2010 and January 2020.To the best of our knowledge, there is no recent study that provides a comprehensive survey of this research area. The analysis shows that most of the proposed models have attempted long term predictions about time, intensity, and location of future earthquakes. The article discusses different variants of rule-based, fuzzy, and machine learning based expert systems for earthquake prediction. Moreover, the discussion covers regional and global seismic data sets used, tools employed, to predict earth quake for different geographical regions. Bibliometric and meta-information based analysis has been performed by classifying the articles according to research type, empirical type, approach, target area, and system specific parameters. Lastly, it also presents a taxonomy of earthquake prediction approaches, and research evolution during the last decade.
Impact of Investment Sources for Sustainability on a Country’s Sustainable Development: Evidence from the EU
Authors: Lapinskaite Indre , Skvarciany Viktorija , Janulevicius Patrikas
Published: March 2020

All countries face several issues while running the process of sustainable development—the absence of a uniform means of sourcing investment for sustainable development and the lack of a unified index for the evaluation of sustainable development. No doubt, ensuring sustainable development requires constant financial investments. Hence, it is essential to examine the investment sources for sustainable development at the country level and to comprehend if the current financial investment has a direct impact on the results of a country’s sustainable development. The article aims at identifying the financing sources for sustainable development for each of the European Union (EU) countries and assessing their impact on each of the EU countries’ sustainable development, which is expressed as the Integrated Sustainable Development Index (ISDI). After the detailed analysis of investment sources for the sustainability of the EU countries, two sources of investment, assignation of budget and the EU structural funds, were selected, and ISDI calculation was applied for twenty-five of the EU member states for the period 2003–2017. Correlation analysis (using SPSS software) helped to identify the strength of the connection and to select countries for the Johansen Cointegration Test (using Eviews software) in order to determine how variables interact. The results show that the combination of the assignation of budget and the EU structural funds has a positive impact on the coherence of five (Czech Republic, Denmark, Spain, Slovenia, and Austria) out of twenty-four countries.
Weak or Strong Sustainability in Rural Land Use Planning? Assessing Two Case Studies through Multi-Criteria Analysis
Authors: Barinaga-Rementeria Itziar , Etxano Iker
Published: March 2020

This paper addresses the debate regarding weak versus strong sustainability in the field of rural land use planning. Both concepts correspond to opposing paradigms on sustainability and both their fundamentals of economic roots and comparative analyses from a theoretical point of view enjoy a contrasting trajectory. However, their inclusion in land use planning has been an issue not sufficiently studied despite their relevance in the field of local development and sustainability. The aim of this study is to shed light on this gap by exploring the assessment of the degree of sustainability in rural land use planning. To this end, two case studies involving forestry in the Basque Country (Spain) have been analyzed based on a multi-criteria analysis technique. As a result, we have observed the importance of setting thresholds in the valuations of the criteria, as well as the effect of varying such thresholds above the compensability degree.
How do East and Southeast Asian Cities Differ from Western Cities? A Systematic Review of the Urban Form Characteristics
Authors: Chen Tzu-Ling , Chiu Hao-Wei , Lin Yu-Fang
Published: March 2020

The Fifth Assessment Report released by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC AR5) revealed that the scale of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Asian cities is similar to those from developed economies, which are driven predominantly by economic growth. Due to variations in geographic and climatic contexts, culture and religion, living style and travel behavior, governance and institutions, and a wide range of density and land use mixes, there are significant variations in urban form patterns across Western and Asian cities. This paper uses a systematic review, which is a critical interpretive synthesis methodology, to review keywords of studies related to urban form among East and Southeast Asian cities. From 3725 records identified through database searching, 213 studies were included in qualitative analysis. The results show that, although the population density in built-up areas is higher, annual population density is declining significantly in East and Southeast Asia. In addition, there are various kinds of land use mixes including horizontal, vertical, and temporal forms. As a whole, the inconsistencies of urban form characteristics exist not only between Western and Asian cities, but also among Asian cities. Serious population density decreases in Asian cities might indicate that they are undergoing similar urban development processes to those of Western cities. We should be aware of the potential lock-in trends of urban development patterns in Chinese and Southeast Asian cities.
Effects of Land Use and Topographic Position on Soil Organic Carbon and Total Nitrogen Stocks in Different Agro-Ecosystems of the Upper Blue Nile Basin
Authors: Abebe Getu , Tsunekawa Atsushi , Haregeweyn Nigussie , Takeshi Taniguchi , Wondie Menale , Adgo Enyew , Masunaga Tsugiyuki , Tsubo Mitsuru , Ebabu Kindiye , Berihun Mulatu Liyew , Tassew Asaminew
Published: March 2020

Soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) are key ecological indicators of soil quality in a given landscape. Their status, especially in drought-prone landscapes, is associated mainly with the land-use type and topographic position. This study aimed to clarify the effect of land use and topographic position on SOC and TN stocks to further clarify the ecological processes occurring in the landscape. To analyze the status of SOC and TN, we collected 352 composite soil samples from three depths in the uppermost soil (0–50 cm) in four major land-use types (bushland, cropland, grazing land, and plantation) and three topographic positions (upper, middle, and lower) at three sites: Dibatie (lowland), Aba Gerima (midland), and Guder (highland). Both SOC and TN stocks varied significantly across the land uses, topographic positions, and agro-ecosystems. SOC and TN stocks were significantly higher in bushland (166.22 Mg ha−1) and grazing lands (13.11 Mg ha−1) at Guder. The lowest SOC and TN stocks were observed in cropland (25.97 and 2.14 Mg ha−1) at Aba Gerima, which was mainly attributed to frequent and unmanaged plowing and extensive biomass removal. Compared to other land uses, plantations exhibited lower SOC and TN stocks due to poor undergrowth and overexploitation for charcoal and firewood production. Each of the three sites showed distinct characteristics in both stocks, as indicated by variations in the C/N ratios (11–13 at Guder, 10–21 at Aba Gerima, and 15–18 at Dibatie). Overall, land use was shown to be an important factor influencing the SOC and TN stocks, both within and across agro-ecosystems, whereas the effect of topographic position was more pronounced across agro-ecosystems than within them. Specifically, Aba Gerima had lower SOC and TN stocks due to prolonged cultivation and unsustainable human activities, thus revealing the need for immediate land management interventions, particularly targeting croplands. In a heterogeneous environment such as the Upper Blue Nile basin, proper understanding of the interactions between land use and topographic position and their effect on SOC and TN stock is needed to design proper soil management practices.
Investigating a Serious Challenge in the Sustainable Development Process: Analysis of Confirmed cases of COVID-19 (New Type of Coronavirus) Through a Binary Classification Using Artificial Intelligence and Regression Analysis
Authors: Pirouz Behrouz , Shaffiee Haghshenas Sina , Shaffiee Haghshenas Sami , Piro Patrizia
Published: March 2020

Nowadays, sustainable development is considered a key concept and solution in creating a promising and prosperous future for human societies. Nevertheless, there are some predicted and unpredicted problems that epidemic diseases are real and complex problems. Hence, in this research work, a serious challenge in the sustainable development process was investigated using the classification of confirmed cases of COVID-19 (new version of Coronavirus) as one of the epidemic diseases. Hence, binary classification modeling was used by the group method of data handling (GMDH) type of neural network as one of the artificial intelligence methods. For this purpose, the Hubei province in China was selected as a case study to construct the proposed model, and some important factors, namely maximum, minimum, and average daily temperature, the density of a city, relative humidity, and wind speed, were considered as the input dataset, and the number of confirmed cases was selected as the output dataset for 30 days. The proposed binary classification model provides higher performance capacity in predicting the confirmed cases. In addition, regression analysis has been done and the trend of confirmed cases compared with the fluctuations of daily weather parameters (wind, humidity, and average temperature). The results demonstrated that the relative humidity and maximum daily temperature had the highest impact on the confirmed cases. The relative humidity in the main case study, with an average of 77.9%, affected positively, and maximum daily temperature, with an average of 15.4 °C, affected negatively, the confirmed cases.
Capturing the City’s Heritage On-the-Go: Design Requirements for Mobile Crowdsourced Cultural Heritage
Authors: Hannewijk Bas , Vinella Federica Lucia , Khan Vassilis-Javed , Lykourentzou Ioanna , Papangelis Konstantinos , Masthoff Judith
Published: March 2020

Intangible Cultural Heritage is at a continuous risk of extinction. Where historical artefacts engine the machinery of intercontinental mass-tourism, socio-technical changes are reshaping the anthropomorphic landscapes everywhere on the globe, at an unprecedented rate. There is an increasing urge to tap into the hidden semantics and the anecdotes surrounding people, memories and places. The vast cultural knowledge made of testimony, oral history and traditions constitutes a rich cultural ontology tying together human beings, times, and situations. Altogether, these complex, multidimensional features make the task of data-mapping of intangible cultural heritage a problem of sustainability and preservation. This paper addresses a suggested route for conceiving, designing and appraising a digital framework intended to support the conservation of the intangible experience, from a user and a collective-centred perspective. The framework is designed to help capture the intangible cultural value of all places exhibiting cultural-historical significance, supported by an extensive analysis of the literature. We present a set of design recommendations for designing mobile apps that are intended to converge crowdsourcing to Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Ecosystem Service Loss in Response to Agricultural Expansion in the Small Sanjiang Plain, Northeast China: Process, Driver and Management
Authors: Chen Jing , Yu Lingxue , Yan Fengqin , Zhang Shuwen
Published: March 2020

Converting natural ecosystems to cultivated land, driven by human activities, has been considered a significant driver of limiting the delivery of ecosystem services (ES). The ES loss in the past was mainly caused by agricultural activities that have been taken to meet people’s needs in Northeast China. Quantifying historical declining ecosystem service values is essential to facilitate sustainable development. In this study, remote sensing images were used to investigate the history of cultivated land expansion over the last five decades. Additionally, ES variations caused by agricultural expansion since 1965 were quantified in the Small Sanjiang Plain (SSP), Northeast China. From the results, cultivated land expanded from 3.97% of the total SSP area to 66.40% from 1965 to 2015 (approximately 898.23 million ha), of which paddy field expanded drastically from 0% to 55.93%. Variations in cultivated land resulted in a loss of ecosystem service values by 11,893.85 million dollars, of which 62.98 million dollars were caused by the internal conversion between cultivation during 1965–2015. Agricultural expansion accelerated the export of agricultural products function, while it decreased almost all other functions, especially hydrological regulation and freshwater supply function. For future sustainability of the SSP, some suggestions, such as restoring natural ecosystems, planting trees between cultivated land, coculture systems, and winter-flooding of paddy rice were provided in our study.
Analysis of the Passenger Flow Transfer Capacity of a Bus-Subway Transfer Hub in an Urban Multi-Mode Transportation Network
Authors: Yang Yuwei , Chen Jun , Du Zexingjian
Published: March 2020

In the context of a rapid developing urban economy and the increasing number of motor vehicles, urban commuting transportation has witnessed a serious mismatch between the supply of and the demand for transportation network resources. In developing an urban multi-mode traffic network, using a urban traffic transfer hub to coordinate the transportation capabilities among different traffic networks is perceived to be highly effective for exploring the network transportation capacity of an entire transportation system, and improving travel efficiency and experiences for the public. Based on the super-network model, this paper develops a topological structure for a multi-mode traffic network, in which two typical combined travel modes are selected to establish the path impedance function for that network. Moreover, the multi-mode traffic allocation model and the solving algorithm are constructed in the research. The paper studies the impact of two types of factors related to the transfer capacity of passenger flows based on the regular traffic network of a bus-and-subway transfer hub using a sensitivity analysis of the transfer time and the associated penalty. The findings suggest that both changes in transfer walking time and the transfer penalty have no significant effect on the bus passenger flow.
Sustainability-Based Lifecycle Management for Bridge Infrastructure Using 6D BIM
Authors: Kaewunruen Sakdirat , Sresakoolchai Jessada , Zhou Zhihao
Published: March 2020

A number of bridge infrastructures are rising significantly due to economic expansion and growing numbers of railway and road infrastructures. Owing to the complexity of bridge design, traditional design methods always create tedious and time-consuming construction processes. In recent years, Building Information Modelling (BIM) has been developed rapidly to provide a faster solution to generate and process the integration of information in a shared environment. This paper aims to highlight an innovative 6D BIM approach for the lifecycle asset management of a bridge infrastructure by using Donggou Bridge as a case study. This paper adopts 6D modelling, incorporating 3D model information with time schedule, cost estimation, and carbon footprint analysis across the lifecycle of the bridge project. The results of this paper reveal that raw materials contribute the most embodied carbon emissions, and as the 6D BIM model was developed in the early stage of the lifecycle, stakeholders can collaborate within the BIM environment to enhance a more sustainable and cost-effective outcome in advance. This study also demonstrates the possibility of BIM applications to bridge infrastructure projects throughout the whole lifecycle. The 6D BIM can save time by transforming 2D information to 3D information and reducing errors during the pre-construction and construction stages through better visualisation for staff training. Moreover, 6D BIM can promote efficient asset and project management since it can be applied for various purposes simultaneously, such as sustainability, lifecycle asset management and maintenance, condition monitoring and real-time structural simulations. In addition, BIM can promote cooperation among working parties and improve visualisation of the project for various stakeholders.
Impact of artificially simulated precipitation patterns change on the growth and morphology of Reaumuria soongarica seedlings in Hexi Corridor of China
Authors: Xie Yanfei , Li Yi , Xie Tingting , Meng Ruiling , Zhao Zhiqiang
Published: March 2020

Climate change has altered the existing pattern of precipitation and has an important impact on the resistance and adaptability of desert plants. However, the interactive impact and the main characteristics of changes in precipitation amount and precipitation frequency on desert plants are unclear. Reaumuria soongarica seedlings were treated by artificially simulating changes in precipitation (30% reduction and 30% increase) and its frequency (50% reduction). We first introduced three morphological indicators (i.e., main root length/plant height ratio (RHR), above-ground radial density (ARD), and below−ground radial density (BRD)) and drew an abstract figure of seedling growth. This experiment confirmed the following: (1) The increase in precipitation noticeably increased the plant height, above-ground biomass, and total biomass of seedlings. (2) The plant height and the biomass of seedlings were more affected by precipitation amount than by precipitation frequency. No interaction was found between precipitation amount and precipitation frequency on the growth of seedlings. (3) The response of RHR to precipitation changes was extremely significant, increasing with decreasing precipitation and vice versa. (4) The ARD first increased then remained constant as precipitation increased, while ARD first decreased and then increased with decreasing precipitation. When precipitation increases, the BRD increases and the root system becomes relatively thicker and shorter, and vice versa. In this regard, R. soongarica seedlings mainly adapt to their resource supply by adjusting plant height, root length, thickness and biomass.
A Study on Bandwagon Consumption Behavior Based on Fear of Missing Out and Product Characteristics
Authors: Kang Inwon , Ma Ilhwan
Published: March 2020

There have been unusual collective consumption phenomena that consumer behavior conforms to as part of the pursuit of specific brands (e.g., teenagers wearing the same brand jacket). In order to explain bandwagon consumption behavior, previous studies focused on brand, personal traits, and group characteristics. However, previous studies seem somewhat limited in explaining excessive bandwagon consumption. This study addresses a psychological trait, the Fear of Missing out (FoMO), which describes why people want to belong to a main group. Along with FoMO, product characteristics influence bandwagon consumption behavior because consumers may show different behaviors for different product categories. Hence, this study combines FoMO levels (high/low) and product category (luxury/necessity) to explain bandwagon consumption behavior. The results reveal that the combination of high FoMO and luxury shows the strongest bandwagon consumption behavior. The next strongest combination is low FoMO and necessity, followed by high FoMO and necessity, and low FoMO and luxury. Based on these findings, this study might present implications for understanding excessive bandwagon consumption based on psychological traits and product characteristics, which makes it possible for marketers to provide customizing products and services as well as advertising messages for young consumers groups who experience high levels of FoMO when establishing their marketing strategies.
Pathways to Carbon-Neutral Cities Prior to a National Policy
Authors: Laine Jani , Heinonen Jukka , Junnila Seppo
Published: March 2020

Some cities have set carbon neutrality targets prior to national or state-wide neutrality targets, which makes the shift to carbon neutrality more difficult, as the surrounding system does not support this. The purpose of this paper was to evaluate different options for a progressive city to reach carbon neutrality in energy prior to the surrounding system. The study followed the C40 Cities definition of a carbon-neutral city and used the City of Vantaa in Finland as a progressive case aiming for carbon neutrality by 2030, five years before the national target for carbon neutrality. The study mapped the carbon neutrality process based on City documents and national statistics, and validated it through process-owner interviews. It was identified that most of the measures in the carbon neutrality process were actually outside the jurisdiction of the City, which outsources the responsibility for the majority of carbon neutrality actions to either private properties or national actors with broader boundaries. The only major measure in the City’s direct control was the removal of carbon emissions from municipal district heat production, which potentially represent 30% of the City’s reported carbon emissions and 58% of its energy-related carbon emissions. Interestingly, the City owns electricity production capacity within and beyond the city borders, but it doesn’t allocate it for itself. Allocation would significantly increase the control over the City’s own actions regarding carbon neutrality. Thus, it is proposed that cities aiming for carbon neutrality should promote and advance allocable carbon-free energy production, regardless of geographical location, as one of the central methods of achieving carbon neutrality.
Preventing Procrastination Behaviours: Teaching Styles and Competence in University Students
Authors: Codina Nuria , Castillo Isabel , Pestana José V , Balaguer Isabel
Published: March 2020

Based on the self-determination theory, this study examines the relationship between students’ perceptions of their teachers’ teaching styles, satisfaction of the need for competence, and procrastination behaviours in university students. The sample was composed of 675 university students (442 men, 279 women; 4 did not indicate gender, Mage = 19.81 ± 2.26 years old), who completed the questionnaires assessing the variables of interest. The perception of an autonomy-supportive teaching style was positively associated with the satisfaction of the need for competence, in contrast to the perception of a controlling style. Satisfaction of the need for competence was also negatively related to procrastination behaviours. Likewise, the perception of a controlling teaching style was indirectly and positively associated—through competence need satisfaction—with procrastination; in addition, the perception of an autonomy supportive teaching style was negatively associated with procrastination. The model tested defends the importance of perceiving a high autonomy-supportive teaching style and a low controlling teaching style to avoid procrastination behaviours, with these relationships being mediated by the satisfaction of the student’s need for competence.