bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictive Machine Learning Models and Survival Analysis for COVID-19 Prognosis Based on Hematochemical Parameters
Authors: Altini Nicola , Brunetti Antonio , Mazzoleni Stefano , Moncelli Fabrizio , Zagaria Ilenia , Prencipe Berardino , Lorusso Erika , Buonamico Enrico , Carpagnano Giovanna Elisiana , Bavaro Davide Fiore , Poliseno Mariacristina , Saracino Annalisa , Schirinzi Annalisa , Laterza Riccardo , Di Serio Francesca , D’Introno Alessia , Pesce Francesco , Bevilacqua Vitoantonio
Published: December 2021

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected hundreds of millions of individuals and caused millions of deaths worldwide. Predicting the clinical course of the disease is of pivotal importance to manage patients. Several studies have found hematochemical alterations in COVID-19 patients, such as inflammatory markers. We retrospectively analyzed the anamnestic data and laboratory parameters of 303 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 who were admitted to the Polyclinic Hospital of Bari during the first phase of the COVID-19 global pandemic. After the pre-processing phase, we performed a survival analysis with Kaplan–Meier curves and Cox Regression, with the aim to discover the most unfavorable predictors. The target outcomes were mortality or admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). Different machine learning models were also compared to realize a robust classifier relying on a low number of strongly significant factors to estimate the risk of death or admission to ICU. From the survival analysis, it emerged that the most significant laboratory parameters for both outcomes was C-reactive protein min; HR=17.963 (95% CI 6.548–49.277, p < 0.001) for death, HR=1.789 (95% CI 1.000–3.200, p = 0.050) for admission to ICU. The second most important parameter was Erythrocytes max; HR=1.765 (95% CI 1.141–2.729, p < 0.05) for death, HR=1.481 (95% CI 0.895–2.452, p = 0.127) for admission to ICU. The best model for predicting the risk of death was the decision tree, which resulted in ROC-AUC of 89.66%, whereas the best model for predicting the admission to ICU was support vector machine, which had ROC-AUC of 95.07%. The hematochemical predictors identified in this study can be utilized as a strong prognostic signature to characterize the severity of the disease in COVID-19 patients.
The Recovery Umbrella in the World of Elite Sport: Do Not Forget the Coaching and Performance Staff
Authors: Calleja-González Julio , Bird Stephen , Huyghe Thomas , Jukic Igor , Cuzzolin Francesco , Cos Francesc , Marqués-Jiménez Diego , Milanovic Luka , Sampaio Jaime , López-Laval Isaac , Ostojic Sergej , Jones Margaret , Alcaraz Pedro , Schelling Xavi , Delextrat Anne , Singh Meeta , Charest Jonathan , Freitas Tomás , Torres Ronda Lorena , Petway Adam , Medina Daniel , Tramullas Antonio , Mielgo-Ayuso Juan , Terrados Nicolas , McLellan Chris
Published: December 2021

In the field of sports science, the recovery umbrella is a trending topic, and even more so in the world of elite sports. This is evidenced by the significant increase in scientific publications during the last 10 years as teams look to find a competitive edge. Recovery is recognized to be an integral component to assist athlete preparation in the restoration of physical and psychological function, and subsequently, performance in elite team sports athletes. However, the importance of recovery in team staff members (sports coaches and performance staff) in elite sports appears to be a forgotten element. Given the unrelenting intense nature of daily tasks and responsibilities of team staff members, the elite sports environment can predispose coaches to increased susceptibility to psycho-socio physiological fatigue burden, and negatively affect health, wellbeing, and performance. Therefore, the aim of this opinion was to (1) develop an educational recovery resource for team staff members, (2) identify organizational task-specific fatigue indicators and barriers to recovery and self-care in team staff members, and (3) present recovery implementation strategies to assist team staff members in meeting their organizational functions. It is essential that we do not forget the coaching and performance staff in the recovery process.
Training Management of the Elite Adolescent Soccer Player throughout Maturation
Authors: McBurnie Alistair , Dos’Santos Thomas , Johnson David , Leng Edward
Published: December 2021

Professional soccer clubs invest significantly into the development of their academy prospects with the hopes of producing elite players. Talented youngsters in elite development systems are exposed to high amounts of sports-specific practise with the aims of developing the foundational skills underpinning the capabilities needed to excel in the game. Yet large disparities in maturation status, growth-related issues, and highly-specialised sport practise predisposes these elite youth soccer players to an increased injury risk. However, practitioners may scaffold a performance monitoring and injury surveillance framework over an academy to facilitate data-informed training decisions that may not only mitigate this inherent injury risk, but also enhance athletic performance. Constant communication between members of the multi-disciplinary team enables context to build around an individual’s training status and risk profile, and ensures that a progressive, varied, and bespoke training programme is provided at all stages of development to maximise athletic potential.
Statistical Analysis of the Membership Management Indicators of the Church of England UK Dioceses during the Recent (XXth Century) “Decade of Evangelism”
Authors: Ausloos Marcel , Herteliu Claudiu
Published: December 2021

The paper focusses on the growth or/and decline in the number of devotees in UK Dioceses of the Church of England during the “Decade of Evangelism” [1990–2000]. In this study, rank-size relationships and subsequent correlations are searched for through various performance indicators of evangelism management. A strong structural regularity is found. Moreover, it is shown that such key indicators appear to fall into two different classes. This unexpected feature seems to indicate some basic universality regimes, in particular to distinguish behaviour measures. Rank correlations between indicators measures further emphasise some difference in evangelism management between Evangelical and Catholic Anglican tradition dioceses (or rather bishops) during that time interval.
Exploring Temporal Trends of Plant Invasion in Mediterranean Coastal Dunes
Authors: Cascone Silvia , Sperandii Marta Gaia , Cao Pinna Luigi , Marzialetti Flavio , Carranza Maria Laura , Acosta Alicia Teresa Rosario
Published: December 2021

Alien plants represent a significant threat to species diversity and composition in natural habitats. Nevertheless, little is known about the dynamic of the invasion process and how its effects on native species change over time. In this study, we explored vegetation changes that occurred in invaded coastal dune habitats over the last 10–15 years (2005–2020), particularly addressing impacts on alien and diagnostic species. To monitor temporal trends, we used data resulting from a revisitation study. After detecting overall changes in alien species occurrence and cover over time, 127 total plots were grouped into plots experiencing colonization, loss, or persistence of alien species. For these three categories, we compared historical and resurveyed plots to quantify changes in native species composition (using the Jaccard dissimilarity index) and to measure variations in diagnostic species cover. The number of alien species doubled over time (from 6 to 12) and two species, Yucca gloriosa and Agave americana, strongly increased their cover (+5.3% and +11.4%, respectively). Furthermore, plots newly invaded appeared to record the greatest changes in both native and diagnostic species. Our results suggest the need for regular monitoring actions to better understand invasion processes over time and to implement effective management strategies in invaded coastal dune habitats.
Landfill Site Selection for Medical Waste Using an Integrated SWARA-WASPAS Framework Based on Spherical Fuzzy Set
Authors: Ghoushchi Saeid Jafarzadeh , Bonab Shabnam Rahnamay , Ghiaci Ali Memarpour , Haseli Gholamreza , Tomaskova Hana , Hajiaghaei-Keshteli Mostafa
Published: December 2021

Selecting suitable locations for the disposal of medical waste is a serious matter. This study aims to propose a novel approach to selecting the optimal landfill for medical waste using Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) methods. For better considerations of the uncertainty in choosing the optimal landfill, the MCDM methods are extended by spherical fuzzy sets (SFS). The identified criteria affecting the selection of the optimal location for landfilling medical waste include three categories; environmental, economic, and social. Moreover, the weights of the 13 criteria were computed by Spherical Fuzzy Step-Wise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (SFSWARA). In the next step, the alternatives were analyzed and ranked using Spherical Fuzzy Weighted Aggregated Sum Product Assessment (SFWASPAS). Finally, in order to show the accuracy and validity of the results, the proposed approach was compared with the IF-SWARA-WASPAS method. Examination of the results showed that in the IF environment the ranking is not complete, and the results of the proposed method are more reliable. Furthermore, ten scenarios were created by changing the weight of the criteria, and the results were compared with the proposed method. The overall results were similar to the SF-SWARA-WASPAS method.
Sustainable Manufacturing 4.0—Pathways and Practices
Authors: Gholami Hamed , Abu Falah , Lee Jocelyn Ke Yin , Karganroudi Sasan Sattarpanah , Sharif Safian
Published: December 2021

The manufacturing industry has undergone numerous revolutions over the years, with a unanimous acceptance of the greater benefits of being sustainable. The present industrial wave—Industry 4.0—by using its enabling technologies and principles holds great potential to develop sustainable manufacturing paradigms which require balancing out the three fundamental elements —products, processes, and systems. Yet, numerous stakeholders, including industrial policy and decision makers, remain oblivious of such potential and requirements. Thus, this bibliometric study is aimed at presenting an overview of the broad field of research on the convergence of sustainable manufacturing and Industry 4.0 under the umbrella of “Sustainable Manufacturing 4.0”, which has yet to be developed. It includes the dissemination of original findings on pathways and practices of Industry 4.0 applied to the development of sustainable manufacturing, contributing a bibliometric structure of the literature on the aforementioned convergence to reveal how Industry 4.0 could be used to shift the manufacturing sector to a more sustainable-based state. An initial research agenda for this emerging area has accordingly been presented, which may pave the way for having a futuristic view on Sustainable Manufacturing 5.0 in the next industrial wave, i.e., Industry 5.0.
Digital Inability and Social Sustainability in the Face of the Fourth Industrial Revolution: A Proposal of New Non-Financial Indicators
Authors: Guitart Martín Alvaro , Palomo Zurdo Ricardo J.
Published: December 2021

In the knowledge economy, financial indicators are not sufficient to predict the evolution of business competitiveness and anticipate risks. This paper proposes new non-financial indicators based on the analysis of eighteen variables representative of the interest of the different stakeholders, which correlate the organization’s commitment to socially sustainable digital transformation and the enhancement of business capabilities. This study, based on a specific adaptation of the IMPACT methodology and carried out in forty countries, obtains as main findings that there are significant differences in the perception of the business impact generated by the improvement of the digital capabilities of the workforce according to variables, such as job level, area of work, cultural area of the interviewee, type of company, or the number of years that digital training programs have been implemented among the workforce, while factors, such as gender or generation of the interviewee, company size, or productive sector, are not determinant. The proposed analysis methodology provides useful indicators for corporate governance bodies to analyze and improve human performance and labor engagement in the face of digitalization, applicable to any type of organization, sector, or country, facilitating the deployment of more economically efficient and socially sustainable transformation programs.
The Third Sector: The “Other” Actors of Rural Development, Andalusia 2000–2015
Authors: Cejudo-García Eugenio , Navarro-Valverde Francisco , Cañete-Pérez José Antonio , Ruiz-Moya Noelia
Published: December 2021

Civil society plays an essential role in the development of our rural areas. In spite of this, little research has been conducted on the role of non-profit organizations, often referred to in general terms as the third sector, within the framework of the LEADER program for rural development, especially in such a large geographical area as Andalusia, the study area of this research. The diversity of the groups that make up the “Others” group of rural development stakeholders is one of its most important characteristics. Over the course of the study period (2000–2015), these organizations have played a very significant role in Andalusia in both quantitative and qualitative terms. In order to find out more about the diversity of third sector organizations and to quantify and evaluate their importance, we carried out a detailed analysis of all the LEADER projects commenced in Andalusia between 2000 and 2015. The quantitative and quantitative results obtained highlight the diversity of these projects and how widely their presence varied from one type of rural area to the next. Our research reopens the debate about the growing role played by non-profit organizations in developed societies at a global level and within LEADER in particular.
Valorization of the Olive Oil Production Residue: Healthy Ingredient for Developing High Value-Added Spread
Authors: Andreou Varvara , Chanioti Sofia , Stergiou Panagiota , Katsaros George
Published: December 2021

This study focused on the development of a new olive-based product enriched with proteins, antioxidant compounds and functional properties, aiming at valorization of the olive residue from the typical olive oil extraction process. Olive oil was extracted using a patented cold pressing machine, resulting in a valuable source of bioactive compounds in the form of olive residue (pulp ~70%, pit- and skin-free). Conventional (solid: water ratio 1:4, 25 °C, 2 h) and HP-assisted (200 MPa, solid:water ratio 1/4, 10 min) de-bittering processes were carried out in order to remove oleuropein content (up to 50%) from olive residue, thus decreasing its bitter taste. The olive spread was prepared with olive residue (50%) and honey (25%), enriched with proteins (24.5%) from nuts. Quality parameters, nutritional attributes, microbiological analysis, phenolic compounds and oxidative stability as well as sensory evaluation of the olive spread were conducted during storage. Its shelf-life was estimated (prediction through accelerated tests) as 9.5 months when stored at 4 °C. The organoleptic evaluation showed that the proposed olive spread had a texture similar to peanut butter and could potentially be consumed as a health-promoting spread due to its high content of proteins (~10 g/100 g), crude fibers (>6 g/100 g) and essential fatty acids.
Streamlining the Municipal Waste Management System in the City of Nitra (Slovak Republic) Based on a Public Survey
Authors: Pucherová Zuzana , Jakab Imrich , Báreková Anna , Králová Jarmila
Published: December 2021

The main problems of the city of Nitra (Slovak Republic) in the field of municipal waste management include: 1. High production of municipal waste per capita; 2. Low rate of its separation; 3. High landfill rate; 4. No opportunity for composting; 5. Establishment of illegal landfills in the city; 6. Low waste prevention rate. To identify the attitudes and opinions of the respondents, and to evaluate certain behavioural practices of the inhabitants of Nitra in the management of municipal solid waste, we used a structured questionnaire (realized in 2020). The results of the questionnaire correspond to the behaviour of 4911 inhabitants of the city (6.46%). This paper evaluates the respondents’ answers, which could be utilised by the local government—not only for a more appropriate setting of municipal waste management and separation, but also in waste prevention and monitoring changes in the consumer behaviour of city residents. The degree of separation in individual housing construction (IHC) and complex housing construction (CHC) was statistically evaluated and compared separately. For paper and glass, a higher degree of separation was reflected in CHC; while conversely, households living in CHC avoided bio-waste and kitchen waste more than IHC households. The most common reason for not participating in the separate collection was the lack of collection containers, the distance of containers from their households, or the low frequency of their collection. The results of the questionnaire show the need for more rigorous education about waste generation, its proper separation, and its prevention.
A Periodic Assessment System for Urban Safety and Security Considering Multiple Hazards Based on WebGIS
Authors: Chen Xuexi , Chen Guohua , Yang Qin , Li Jialing , Yuan Zhi , Jiang Saihua
Published: December 2021

With the frequent occurrence of various disasters and accidents, realizing the periodic assessment and visualization of urban safety and security considering multiple hazards is of great significance for safe urban development. In this paper, a periodic assessment system is developed for urban safety and security considering multiple hazards, based on WebGIS. This system consists of an assessment module, a visualization module, and an assistant module that integrates the assessment model to process the assessment data quickly and realizes the visualization of a thematic map and data statistics for rationalizing assessment results. The assessment of a typical urban area was carried out to prove that the created system can effectively conduct periodic assessments and support single-hazard and multi-hazard analysis and auxiliary decision-making. This system can be applied to the grid management and periodic assessment of urban areas at different levels, with high expansibility and application value. It can also help to promote the sustainable construction of a safe and smart city.
Blockchain-Based Community Safety Security System with IoT Secure Devices
Authors: Chen Chin-Ling , Lim Zi-Yi , Liao Hsien-Chou
Published: December 2021

Humans frequently need to construct a huge number of buildings for occupants in large cities to work or live in a highly developed civilization; people who live in the same building or same area are defined as a community. A thief stealing items, a burglary, fire hazards, flood hazards, earthquakes, emergency aid, abnormal gas leakage, strange behavior, falling in a building, fainting in a building, and other incidents all threaten the community’s safety. Therefore, we proposed a blockchain-based community safety security system that is combined with IoT devices. In the proposed scheme, we designed multiple phases to process the alarm triggered by IoT devices. IoT devices can be set up in two types areas: private and public areas. Both types of IoT devices’ alarms have different process flow for the response and records checking phase. All records are saved in the Blockchain Center to assure the data can be verified and cannot be forged. During the communication between sender and receiver, we implemented some security methods to prevent message repudiation, prevent transmission intercept, prevent replay attacks, and ensure data integrity. We also implemented a clarifying mechanism to ensure that all system participants can have confidence in the system’s processing methods. The proposed scheme can be used in communities to improve community safety and prevent unnecessary conflicts.
Quantifying Crack Self-Healing in Concrete with Superabsorbent Polymers under Varying Temperature and Relative Humidity
Authors: Suleiman Ahmed R. , Zhang Lei V. , Nehdi Moncef L.
Published: December 2021

During their service life, concrete structures are subjected to combined fluctuations of temperature and relative humidity, which can influence their durability and service life performance. Self-healing has in recent years attracted great interest to mitigate the effects of such environmental exposure on concrete structures. Several studies have explored the autogenous crack self-healing in concrete incorporating superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) and exposed to different environments. However, none of the published studies to date has investigated the self-healing in concrete incorporating SAPs under a combined change in temperature and relative humidity. In the present study, the crack width changes due to self-healing of cement mortars incorporating SAPs under a combined change of temperature and relative humidity were investigated and quantified using micro-computed tomography and three-dimensional image analysis. A varying dosage of SAPs expressed as a percentage (0.5%, 1% and 2%) of the cement mass was incorporated in the mortar mixtures. In addition, the influence of other environments such as continuous water submersion and cyclic wetting and drying was studied and quantified. The results of segmentation and quantification analysis of X-ray µCT scans showed that mortar specimens incorporating 1% SAPs and exposed to environments with a combined change in temperature and relative humidity exhibited less self-healing (around 6.58% of healing efficiency). Conversely, when specimens were subjected to cyclic wetting and drying or water submersion, the healing efficiency increased to 19.11% and 26.32%, respectively. It appears that to achieve sustained self-healing of cracks, novel engineered systems that can assure an internal supply of moisture are needed.
Biomethane from Manure, Agricultural Residues and Biowaste—GHG Mitigation Potential from Residue-Based Biomethane in the European Transport Sector
Authors: Oehmichen Katja , Majer Stefan , Thrän Daniela
Published: December 2021

Biomethane from manure, agricultural residues, and biowaste has been prioritized by many energy strategies as a sustainable way to decrease greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the transport sector. The technology is regarded as mature; however, its implementation is still at an early stage. At EU level, there are currently two major instruments relevant for promoting the production of biomethane from waste and residues and which are likely to contribute to unlocking unused GHG mitigation potentials: the Renewable Energy Directive 2018/2001 (RED II) and the European Emission Trading System (EU ETS). Our study analyzes the effects of these two instruments on the competitiveness of biomethane as an advanced transport fuel in relation to different policy scenarios within the RED II framework and under EU ETS conditions. Within the RED II market framework for advanced biofuels, biomethane concepts that use manure as a substrate or as a cosubstrate show significantly lower GHG mitigation costs compared to advanced biofuels. With respect to the current EU ETS conditions for bioenergy, it is helpful to consider the GHG reduction potential from the non-ETS agricultural sector as a way to unlock unused potential for reducing GHG emissions.
Predicting Volatility Index According to Technical Index and Economic Indicators on the Basis of Deep Learning Algorithm
Authors: Daniali Sara Mehrab , Barykin Sergey Evgenievich , Kapustina Irina Vasilievna , Mohammadbeigi Khortabi Farzin , Sergeev Sergey Mikhailovich , Kalinina Olga Vladimirovna , Mikhaylov Alexey , Veynberg Roman , Zasova Liubov , Senjyu Tomonobu
Published: December 2021

The Volatility Index (VIX) is a real-time index that has been used as the first measure to quantify market expectations for volatility, which affects the financial market as a main actor of the overall economy that is sensitive to the environmental and social aspects of investors and companies. The VIX is calculated using option prices for the S&P 500 Index (SPX) and is expressed as a percentage. Taking into account that VIX only shows the implicit volatility of the S&P 500 for the next 30 days, the authors develop a model for a near-optimal state trying to avoid uncertainty and insufficient accuracy. The researchers are trying to make a contribution to the theory of socially responsible portfolio management. The developed approach allows potential investments to make decisions regarding such important topics as ethical investing, performance analysis, as well as sustainable investment strategies. The approach of this research allows to use deep probabilistic convolutional neural networks based on conditional variance as a linear function of errors with the aim of estimating and predicting the VIX. For this purpose, the use of technical indicators and economic indexes such as Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) VIX and S&P 500 is considered. The results of estimating and predicting the VIX with the proposed method indicate high precision and create a certainty in modeling to achieve the goals.
Official Tenure, Fiscal Capacity, and PPP Withdrawal of Local Governments: Evidence from China’s PPP Project Platform
Authors: Wang Yingying , Song Wenjuan , Zhang Bo , Tiong Robert L. K.
Published: December 2021

PPP withdrawal policy is helpful to reduce over-investment in PPPs leading to sustainable development. However, little is known about the role of local governments on over-investment in PPPs. Using the PPP Project Platform Data, a unique dataset, this article is able to quantify over-investment in PPPs by coding PPP withdrawal for the first time. This research tests the influencing factors of PPP withdrawal at the municipal level, according to the centralized withdrawal policy in late 2017 as an exogenous treatment. Based on the theory of over-investment to rapid economic growth, this study develops a two-pillar framework under the combination of political man and economic man assumptions to explain the PPP withdrawal of local governments. The results show that both official tenure and fiscal capacity are significant factors. In addition, debt partially mediates the mayor tenure on PPP withdrawal, and the land revenue growth can hinder the negative relationship between mayor tenure and PPP withdrawal. It implies that over-investment in PPPs is strongly influenced by official leaders’ personal promotion incentive and official group members’ collective benefit. Thus, our findings indicate that the centralized withdrawal policy is an effective instrument to prevent over-investment in PPPs. Moreover, a match should be formed between local development planning and investment plans to promote sustainable of PPP investment.
The Antecedents, Consequences, and Mediating Role of Workload among Chinese Courier Drivers
Authors: Wen Haitao , Sun Hongduo , Kummer Sebastian , Farr-Wharton Ben , Herold David M.
Published: December 2021

The growth of e-commerce in China can be regarded as a significant factor in the increase in occupational stress and the voluntary turnover of courier drivers. This paper aims to investigate selected occupational stress factors behind the turnover intentions of Chinese courier drivers. Using data from 229 couriers employed at the largest delivery companies in China, this study applies structural equation modelling to investigate not only the direct relationships between job-stress factors and turnover intentions but also the extent to which workload indirectly mediates turnover intentions among couriers. The results indicate that a combination of high workload with social stressors leads to turnover intentions. In particular, it was found that workload completely mediated the relationship between both the independent variables and the intention to leave the industry, suggesting that when workloads are high, the net effect of negative work experiences with regard to verbal aggression and ambiguous customer expectations increases the likelihood of an intention to leave the industry. Although restricted to China, this is one of the first studies investigating the effects of courier drivers’ job stressors which highlights the importance of delivery companies working with staff to mitigate job stressors to reduce turnover intention.
SDGs: A Responsible Research Assessment Tool toward Impactful Business Research
Authors: Rodenburg Kathleen , De Silva Vinuli , Christensen Hughes Julia
Published: December 2021

An alternative research assessment (RA) tool was constructed to assess the relatedness of published business school research to the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The RA tool was created using Leximancer™, an on-line cloud-based text analytic software tool, that identified core themes within the SDG framework. Eight (8) core themes were found to define the ‘spirit of the SDGs’: Sustainable Development, Governance, Vulnerable Populations, Water, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Food Security, Restoration, and Public Health. These themes were compared to the core themes found in the content of 4576 academic articles published in 2019 in journals that comprise the Financial Times (FT) 50 list. The articles’ relatedness to the SDG themes were assessed. Overall, 10.6% of the themes found in the FT50 journal articles had an explicit relationship to the SDG themes while 24.5% were implied. Themes generated from machine learning (ML), augmented by researcher judgement (to account for synonyms, similar concepts, and discipline specific examples), improved the robustness of the relationships found between the SDG framework and the published articles. Although there are compelling reasons for business schools to focus research on advancing the SDGs, this study and others highlight that there is much opportunity for improvement. Recommendations are made to better align academic research with the SDGs, influencing how business school faculty and their schools prioritize research and its role in the world.
The Structural Relationship between Service Quality and Sustainable Use Intention of Voice Search Technology in Korea
Authors: Yoo Jaepil
Published: December 2021

Voice search based on artificial intelligence is the fastest means of searching for information and can be easily used in a very familiar way by ordinary users without separate education or learning. Voice bot’s voice search can interact on the same level as face-to-face communication and provide customized services optimized for users. It is most important for these new technologies to develop from a non-face-to-face social structure caused by COVID-19 to a long-term sustainable technology rather than short-term development. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to empirically verify the structural relationship between the quality, interactivity, and consumers’ sustainable use intentions for voice search services called ‘voice bots’ in Korea, an advanced country of computer science and technology. A survey was conducted on Korean consumers aged 20 or older who use voice search services, and the following main results were derived. First, the playfulness, certainty, and empathy of the ‘voice bot’ have a positive effect on the interactivity with the ‘voice bot’. Second, interactivity with the ‘voice bot’ has a positive effect on consumers’ sustainable use intention. Third, the playfulness and certainty of ‘voice bot’ have a positive effect on consumers’ sustainable use intention. Fourth, the playfulness, certainty, and empathy of the ‘voice bot’ have a positive effect on consumers’ sustainable use intention through interactivity with the ‘voice bot’. This study is meaningful in that it empirically identified the importance of interactivity by deriving the service quality factors required for sustainable use of voice search services, one of the new innovative technologies.
Determination of Selected Beneficial Substances in Peach Fruits
Authors: Mrázová Martina , Rampáčková Eliška , Šnurkovič Petr , Ondrášek Ivo , Nečas Tomáš , Ercisli Sezai
Published: December 2021

Peaches (Prunus persica L.) are a popular and sought-after dessert fruit. This is mainly due to their flavour, aroma, attractive appearance, and high content of substances that play an important role in human nutrition. The present study was carried out to determine some important analytical properties (sugars/sucrose, glucose, fructose and sorbitol), total acid, total phenolics, flavonoids, antioxidant capacity, carotenoids and anthocyanins of 34 selected peach varieties. The analyses are also complemented by colorimetric measurements of peach skin colour using CIELAB and other chromatic parameters. The results show, for example, that all peach varieties are good sources of phenolic compounds (9.43–577 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE).100 g−1), flavonoids (1.12–95.1 mg catechin equivalent (CAE).100 g−1), and antioxidant capacity (136–462 mg Trolox equivalent (TE).100 g−1).
Thinking Deep. Acting on Top. Underground Built Heritage and Its Fringe as a Community Catalyst for Local Sustainable Development: Exploratory Cases from Poland and Greece
Authors: Maksymiuk Gabriela , Pallares-Barbera Montserrat , Arvanitidis Paschalis , Gawryszewska Beata J.
Published: December 2021

Underground Built Heritage (UBH) is a distinct class of cultural heritage providing a focal point for community pride and engagement to become a springboard for local sustainable development (LSD). This research aims to articulate how local UBH and its fringe serve as a facilitator of communal identity to mobilize community care towards social and economic development with less involvement from the state and the market actors. For this purpose, local (and less-conspicuous) cases of UBH are employed in Warsaw, Poland, and Volos, Greece, indicating the power of UBH to connect and engage local communities with places, triggering a momentum for a truly bottom-up action that pays less attention to market considerations and state support. The studied UBH sites have been discussed according to an established common framework, dealing with five main issues: (a) general context and status, (b) history, (c) users and management, (d) ecosystem services, and (e) introduction of the paradigm of living labs. The analysis was based on a thorough literature review and complemented by field observations and interviews. The results provide evidence for UBH as a potential facilitator of social and economic development. The case studies in Poland and Greece showed that local actors were involved in activities and social networks of tacit knowledge, generating community building to reinforce bottom-up activities in contact with UBH.
A New Generalization of the Student’s t Distribution with an Application in Quantile Regression
Authors: Reyes Jimmy , Rojas Mario A. , Arrué Jaime
Published: December 2021

In this work, we present a new generalization of the student’s t distribution. The new distribution is obtained by the quotient of two independent random variables. This quotient consists of a standard Normal distribution divided by the power of a chi square distribution divided by its degrees of freedom. Thus, the new symmetric distribution has heavier tails than the student’s t distribution and extensions of the slash distribution. We develop a procedure to use quantile regression where the response variable or the residuals have high kurtosis. We give the density function expressed by an integral, we obtain some important properties and some useful procedures for making inference, such as moment and maximum likelihood estimators. By way of illustration, we carry out two applications using real data, in the first we provide maximum likelihood estimates for the parameters of the generalized student’s t distribution, student’s t, the extended slash distribution, the modified slash distribution, the slash distribution generalized student’s t test, and the double slash distribution, in the second we perform quantile regression to fit a model where the response variable presents a high kurtosis.
Radius of Star-Likeness for Certain Subclasses of Analytic Functions
Authors: Zhang Caihuan , Haq Mirajul , Khan Nazar , Arif Muhammad , Ahmad Khurshid , Khan Bilal
Published: December 2021

In this paper, we investigate a normalized analytic (symmetric under rotation) function, f, in an open unit disk that satisfies the condition ℜfzgz>0, for some analytic function, g, with ℜz+1−2nzgz>0,∀n∈N. We calculate the radius constants for different classes of analytic functions, including, for example, for the class of star-like functions connected with the exponential functions, i.e., the lemniscate of Bernoulli, the sine function, cardioid functions, the sine hyperbolic inverse function, the Nephroid function, cosine function and parabolic star-like functions. The results obtained are sharp.
Efficient Sandstorm Image Enhancement Using the Normalized Eigenvalue and Adaptive Dark Channel Prior
Authors: Lee Ho Sang
Published: December 2021

A sandstorm image has features similar to those of a hazy image with regard to the obtaining process. However, the difference between a sand dust image and a hazy image is the color channel balance. In general, a hazy image has no color cast and has a balanced color channel with fog and dust. However, a sand dust image has a yellowish or reddish color cast due to sand particles, which cause the color channels to degrade. When the sand dust image is enhanced without color channel compensation, the improved image also has a new color cast. Therefore, to enhance the sandstorm image naturally without a color cast, the color channel compensation step is needed. Thus, to balance the degraded color channel, this paper proposes the color balance method using each color channel’s eigenvalue. The eigenvalue reflects the image’s features. The degraded image and the undegraded image have different eigenvalues on each color channel. Therefore, if using the eigenvalue of each color channel, the degraded image can be improved naturally and balanced. Due to the color-balanced image having the same features as the hazy image, this work, to improve the hazy image, uses dehazing methods such as the dark channel prior (DCP) method. However, because the ordinary DCP method has weak points, this work proposes a compensated dark channel prior and names it the adaptive DCP (ADCP) method. The proposed method is objectively and subjectively superior to existing methods when applied to various images.
Diacetyl Vapor Inhalation Induces Mixed, Granulocytic Lung Inflammation with Increased CD4+CD25+ T Cells in the Rat
Authors: House Emma L. , Kim So-Young , Johnston Carl J. , Groves Angela M. , Hernady Eric , Misra Ravi S. , McGraw Matthew D.
Published: December 2021

Diacetyl (DA) is a highly reactive alpha diketone associated with flavoring-related lung disease. In rodents, acute DA vapor exposure can initiate an airway-centric, inflammatory response. However, this immune response has yet to be fully characterized in the context of flavoring-related lung disease progression. The following studies were designed to characterize the different T cell populations within the lung following repetitive DA vapor exposures. Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to 200 parts-per-million DA vapor for 5 consecutive days × 6 h/day. Lung tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were analyzed for changes in histology by H&E and Trichrome stain, T cell markers by flow cytometry, total BALF cell counts and differentials, BALF IL17a and total protein immediately, 1 and 2 weeks post-exposure. Lung histology and BALF cell composition demonstrated mixed, granulocytic lung inflammation with bronchial lymphoid aggregates at all time points in DA-exposed lungs compared to air controls. While no significant change was seen in percent lung CD3+, CD4+, or CD8+ T cells, a significant increase in lung CD4+CD25+ T cells developed at 1 week that persisted at 2 weeks post-exposure. Further characterization of this CD4+CD25+ T cell population identified Foxp3+ T cells at 1 week that failed to persist at 2 weeks. Conversely, BALF IL-17a increased significantly at 2 weeks in DA-exposed rats compared to air controls. Lung CD4+CD25+ T cells and BALF IL17a correlated directly with BALF total protein and inversely with rat oxygen saturations. Repetitive DA vapor exposure at occupationally relevant concentrations induced mixed, granulocytic lung inflammation with increased CD4+CD25+ T cells in the rat lung.
Coronavirus RNA Synthesis Takes Place within Membrane-Bound Sites
Authors: Doyle Nicole , Simpson Jennifer , Hawes Philippa C. , Maier Helena J.
Published: December 2021

Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), a gammacoronavirus, is an economically important virus to the poultry industry, as well as a significant welfare issue for chickens. As for all positive strand RNA viruses, IBV infection causes rearrangements of the host cell intracellular membranes to form replication organelles. Replication organelle formation is a highly conserved and vital step in the viral life cycle. Here, we investigate the localization of viral RNA synthesis and the link with replication organelles in host cells. We have shown that sites of viral RNA synthesis and virus-related dsRNA are associated with one another and, significantly, that they are located within a membrane-bound compartment within the cell. We have also shown that some viral RNA produced early in infection remains within these membranes throughout infection, while a proportion is trafficked to the cytoplasm. Importantly, we demonstrate conservation across all four coronavirus genera, including SARS-CoV-2. Understanding more about the replication of these viruses is imperative in order to effectively find ways to control them.
Detection of Jingmenviruses in Japan with Evidence of Vertical Transmission in Ticks
Authors: Kobayashi Daisuke , Kuwata Ryusei , Kimura Toshiya , Shimoda Hiroshi , Fujita Ryosuke , Faizah Astri Nur , Kai Izumi , Matsumura Ryo , Kuroda Yudai , Watanabe Shumpei , Kuniyoshi Sawako , Yamauchi Takeo , Watanabe Mamoru , Higa Yukiko , Hayashi Toshihiko , Shinomiya Hiroto , Maeda Ken , Kasai Shinji , Sawabe Kyoko , Isawa Haruhiko
Published: December 2021

Jingmen tick virus (JMTV) and the related jingmenvirus-termed Alongshan virus are recognized as globally emerging human pathogenic tick-borne viruses. These viruses have been detected in various mammals and invertebrates, although their natural transmission cycles remain unknown. JMTV and a novel jingmenvirus, tentatively named Takachi virus (TAKV), have now been identified during a surveillance of tick-borne viruses in Japan. JMTV was shown to be distributed across extensive areas of Japan and has been detected repeatedly at the same collection sites over several years, suggesting viral circulation in natural transmission cycles in these areas. Interestingly, these jingmenviruses may exist in a host tick species-specific manner. Vertical transmission of the virus in host ticks in nature was also indicated by the presence of JMTV in unfed host-questing Amblyomma testudinarium larvae. Further epidemiological surveillance and etiological studies are necessary to assess the status and risk of jingmenvirus infection in Japan.
Serological Response to SARS-CoV-2 Messenger RNA Vaccine: Real-World Evidence from Italian Adult Population
Authors: Papadopoli Rosa , De Sarro Caterina , Palleria Caterina , Gallelli Luca , Pileggi Claudia , De Sarro Giovambattista
Published: December 2021

Background: This study aims to investigate the extent of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine-induced antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in a large cohort of Italian subjects belonging to the early vaccinated cohort in Italy. Methods: A prospective study was conducted between December 2020 and May 2021. Three blood samples were collected for each participant: one at the time of the first vaccine dose (T0), one at the time of the second vaccine dose, (T1) and the third 30 days after this last dose (T2). Results: We enrolled 2591 fully vaccinated subjects; 16.5% were frail subjects, and 9.8% were over 80 years old. Overall, 98.1% of subjects were seropositive when tested at T2, and 76.3% developed an anti-S IgG titer ≥4160 AU/mL, which is adequate to develop viral neutralizing antibodies. Seronegative subjects at T1 were more likely to remain seronegative at T2 or to develop a low–intermediate anti-S IgG titer (51–4159 AU/mL). Conclusions: In summary, vaccination leads to detectable anti-S IgG titer in nearly all vaccine recipients. Stratification of the seroconversion level could be useful to promptly identify high-risk groups who may not develop a viral neutralizing response, even in the presence of seroconversion, and therefore may remain at higher risk of infection, despite vaccination.
COVID-19 Passport as a Factor Determining the Success of National Vaccination Campaigns: Does It Work? The Case of Lithuania vs. Poland
Authors: Walkowiak Marcin Piotr , Walkowiak Justyna B. , Walkowiak Dariusz
Published: December 2021

As the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic poses a global threat, it is of utmost importance that governments should find effective means of combating vaccine hesitancy and encouraging their citizens to vaccinate. In our article, we compare the vaccination outcomes in the past months in two neighbouring post-communist EU states, Lithuania and Poland. Both introduced COVID-19 certificates, but only the former followed with gradual limitations for those who failed to get vaccinated, beginning with restricted access to restaurants, sports facilities and indoor events, and finally banning residents without a certificate from entering supermarkets or larger shops and using most services. By contrast, in Poland, the certificate remained a tool for international travel only. We show using statistical data that Lithuania’s strict policy, regardless of its social implications, led to markedly higher vaccination outcomes in all age groups than those in Poland at the time.
A Literature Review of Wetland Treatment Systems Used to Treat Runoff Mixtures Containing Antibiotics and Pesticides from Urban and Agricultural Landscapes
Authors: Nottingham Emily R. , Messer Tiffany L.
Published: December 2021

Wetland treatment systems are used extensively across the world to mitigate surface runoff. While wetland treatment for nitrogen mitigation has been comprehensively reviewed, the implications of common-use pesticides and antibiotics on nitrogen reduction remain relatively unreviewed. Therefore, this review seeks to comprehensively assess the removal of commonly used pesticides and antibiotics and their implications for nitrogen removal in wetland treatment systems receiving non-point source runoff from urban and agricultural landscapes. A total of 181 primary studies were identified spanning 37 countries. Most of the reviewed publications studied pesticides (n = 153) entering wetlands systems, while antibiotics (n = 29) had fewer publications. Even fewer publications reviewed the impact of influent mixtures on nitrogen removal processes in wetlands (n = 16). Removal efficiencies for antibiotics (35–100%), pesticides (−619–100%), and nitrate-nitrogen (−113–100%) varied widely across the studies, with pesticides and antibiotics impacting microbial communities, the presence and type of vegetation, timing, and hydrology in wetland ecosystems. However, implications for the nitrogen cycle were dependent on the specific emerging contaminant present. A significant knowledge gap remains in how wetland treatment systems are used to treat non-point source mixtures that contain nutrients, pesticides, and antibiotics, resulting in an unknown regarding nitrogen removal efficiency as runoff contaminant mixtures evolve.