bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Scaling-Up the Anaerobic Digestion of Pretreated Microalgal Biomass within a Water Resource Recovery Facility
Authors: Díez-Montero Rubén , Vassalle Lucas , Passos Fabiana , Ortiz Antonio , García-Galán María Jesús , García Joan , Ferrer Ivet
Published: October 2020

Microalgae-based wastewater treatment plants are low-cost alternatives for recovering nutrients from contaminated effluents through microalgal biomass, which may be subsequently processed into valuable bioproducts and bioenergy. Anaerobic digestion for biogas and biomethane production is the most straightforward and applicable technology for bioenergy recovery. However, pretreatment techniques may be needed to enhance the anaerobic biodegradability of microalgae. To date, very few full-scale systems have been put through, due to acknowledged bottlenecks such as low biomass concentration after conventional harvesting and inefficient processing into valuable products. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anaerobic digestion of pretreated microalgal biomass in a demonstration-scale microalgae biorefinery, and to compare the results obtained with previous research conducted at lab-scale, in order to assess the scalability of this bioprocess. In the lab-scale experiments, real municipal wastewater was treated in high rate algal ponds (2 × 0.47 m3), and harvested microalgal biomass was thickened and digested to produce biogas. It was observed how the methane yield increased by 67% after implementing a thermal pretreatment step (at 75 °C for 10 h), and therefore the very same pretreatment was applied in the demonstration-scale study. In this case, agricultural runoff was treated in semi-closed tubular photobioreactors (3 × 11.7 m3), and harvested microalgal biomass was thickened and thermally pretreated before undergoing the anaerobic digestion to produce biogas. The results showed a VS removal of 70% in the reactor and a methane yield up to 0.24 L CH4/g VS, which were similar to the lab-scale results. Furthermore, photosynthetic biogas upgrading led to the production of biomethane, while the digestate was treated in a constructed wetland to obtain a biofertilizer. In this way, the demonstration-scale plant evidenced the feasibility of recovering resources (biomethane and biofertilizer) from agricultural runoff using microalgae-based systems coupled with anaerobic digestion of the microalgal biomass.
The Energy and Exergy of Light with Application to Societal Exergy Analysis
Authors: Heun Matthew Kuperus , Marshall Zeke , Aramendia Emmanuel , Brockway Paul E.
Published: October 2020

Lighting provides an indispensable energy service, illumination. The field of societal exergy analysis considers light (and many other energy products) to be enablers of economic growth, and lighting contributes a non-negligible proportion of total useful exergy supplied to modern economies. In societal exergy analysis, the exergetic efficiency of electric lamps is central to determining the exergy contribution of lighting to an economy. Conventionally, societal exergy practitioners estimate the exergetic efficiency of lamps by an energy efficiency, causing confusion and, sometimes, overestimation of exergetic efficiency by a factor as large as 3. In response, we use recent results from the fields of radiation thermodynamics and photometry to develop an exact method for calculating the exergy of light and the exergetic efficiency of lamps. The exact method (a) is free of any assumptions for the value of the maximum luminous efficacy, (b) uses a non-unity spectral exergy-to-energy ratio, and (c) allows choices for the spectral luminous weighting function, which converts broad-spectrum electromagnetic radiation to light. The exact method exposes shortcomings inherent to the conventional method and leads to a reasonable approximation of lamp exergetic efficiency, when needed. To conclude, we provide three recommendations for societal exergy practitioners: use (a) the exact method when a lamp’s spectral power distribution is available, (b) the universal luminous weighting function, and (c) the reasonable approximation to the exact method when a lamp’s luminous efficacy is known but its spectral power distribution is not.
Representative Environmental Condition for Fatigue Analysis of Offshore Jacket Substructure
Authors: Lin Tsung-Yueh , Zhao Yi-Qing , Huang Hsin-Haou
Published: October 2020

The 20-year cumulative fatigue damage of an offshore jacket substructure was estimated under the long-term local environmental conditions in the Taiwan Strait. Because of the nonlinearity of wave load for slender members of the structure, time-domain simulations of the dynamic finite element model were conducted for each sea state. By utilizing the Dirlik method to process the stress signals, the fatigue damages of joints were computed. Concerning the computational time, we propose a probability-based method of using a representative combination of environmental conditions in this study, which can considerably reduce the required number of evaluations prior to determining fatigue damage, thereby improving the process of preliminary design. The results show that only three sea states among 120 can represent 28% of the average damage ratio, and up to 17 sea states fully resolved the fatigue life.
Low Emissions Resulting from Combustion of Forest Biomass in a Small Scale Heating Device
Authors: Tucki Karol , Orynycz Olga , Wasiak Andrzej , Świć Antoni , Mieszkalski Leszek , Wichłacz Joanna
Published: October 2020

The paper concerns the analysis of harmful emissions during the combustion process in households. The subject of the analysis is a low emission heating device with an output of 50 kW for burning biomass of forest origin (low-quality hardwoods or softwoods). The proposed boiler is automatically fed from the connected container by means of a screw conveyor. In this way, the optimum amount of fuel is supplied for maximum heat output (adjustment of the ratio of primary air to fuel). The proposed biomass heating system is equipped with a primary and secondary air supply system and exhaust gas sensors. This ensures optimal regulation of the air mixture and efficient and clean combustion. Proper control of the combustion process, control of the air supply by means of a lambda sensor and power control of the system ensure a low-emission combustion process. The system precisely adjusts to the heat demand. This results in highly efficient heating technology with low operating costs. In the presented work, the emission of exhaust gases from the proposed heating device during the combustion of woodchips and beech–oak pellets were measured. It is demonstrated that the proposed design of the boiler equipped with intelligent control significantly reduces emissions when the biomass solid fuels are used, e.g., CO emissions from beech and oak chips and pellets in the low-emission boiler—18 extract pipes shows the value <100 ppm, which is even lower than when gas is burned in the other boilers; on the other hand, the pine chips show even higher emission when burned in the low-emission burner. Consequently, the choice of biomass source and form of the fuel play some role in the emissions observed.
Numerical Study of Rotating Thermal Convection on a Hemisphere
Authors: Fischer Patrick , Bruneau Charles-Henri , Kellay Hamid
Published: October 2020

Numerical simulations of rotating two-dimensional turbulent thermal convection on a hemisphere are presented in this paper. Previous experiments on a half soap bubble located on a heated plate have been used for studying thermal convection as well as the effects of rotation on a curved surface. Here, two different methods have been used to produce the rotation of the hemisphere: the classical rotation term added to the velocity equation, and a non-zero azimuthal velocity boundary condition. This latter method is more adapted to the soap bubble experiments. These two methods of forcing the rotation of the hemisphere induce different fluid dynamics. While the first method is classically used for describing rotating Rayleigh–Bénard convection experiments, the second method seems to be more adapted for describing rotating flows where a shear layer may be dominant. This is particularly the case where the fluid is not contained in a closed container and the rotation is imposed on only one side of it. Four different diagnostics have been used to compare the two methods: the Nusselt number, the effective computation of the convective heat flux, the velocity and temperature fluctuations root mean square (RMS) generation of vertically aligned vortex tubes (to evaluate the boundary layers) and the energy/enstrophy/temperature spectra/fluxes. We observe that the dynamics of the convective heat flux is strongly inhibited by high rotations for the two different forcing methods. Also, and contrary to classical three-dimensional rotating Rayleigh–Bénard convection experiments, almost no significant improvement of the convective heat flux has been observed when adding a rotation term in the velocity equation. However, moderate rotations induced by non-zero velocity boundary conditions induce a significant enhancement of the convective heat flux. This enhancement is closely related to the presence of a shear layer and to the thermal boundary layer just above the equator.
Effects of a Small Increase in Carbon Dioxide Pressure during Fermentation on Wine Aroma
Authors: Guerrini Lorenzo , Masella Piernicola , Angeloni Giulia , Sacconi Andrea , Calamai Luca , Parenti Alessandro
Published: October 2020

The present study tested the effect of a slight increase in pressure (from 0 to 1 bar) during the fermentation on the wine aroma profile. Fermentations were carried out with a commercial dry yeast on Sangiovese juice in the absence of berry skins. The wine samples fermented under slight overpressure conditions were found to be significantly different from the control samples produced at atmospheric pressure in relation to several chemical compounds. Concentrations of many esters (i.e., isoamyl acetate, ethyl acetate, ethyl hexanoate, hexyl acetate, ethyl dodecanoate, and ethyl tetradecanoate), and acids (i.e., hexanoic acid, octanoic acid, and decanoic acid) increased, while concentrations of two acids (i.e., isobutyric and isovaleric acid) decreased. These differences, notably the higher concentration of esters, are usually associated with a more intense fruity attribute. Triangular sensory tests revealed that the significant chemical differences were also perceivable; hence, introducing a slight pressure increase during the alcoholic fermentation could be a useful tool in managing the aroma profile of wine.
Systems Level Analysis and Identification of Pathways and Key Genes Associated with Delirium
Authors: Takahashi Yukiko , Terada Tomoyoshi , Muto Yoshinori
Published: October 2020

Delirium is a complex pathophysiological process, and multiple contributing mechanisms have been identified. However, it is largely unclear how the genes associated with delirium contribute and which of them play key roles. In this study, the genes associated with delirium were retrieved from the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD) and integrated through a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network. Delirium-associated genes formed a highly interconnected PPI subnetwork, indicating a high tendency to interact and agglomerate. Using the Molecular Complex Detection (MCODE) algorithm, we identified the top two delirium-relevant network modules, M1 and M5, that have the most significant enrichments for the delirium-related gene sets. Functional enrichment analysis showed that genes related to neurotransmitter receptor activity were enriched in both modules. Moreover, analyses with genes located in human accelerated regions (HARs) provided evidence that HAR-Brain genes were overrepresented in the delirium-relevant network modules. We found that four of the HAR-Brain genes, namely APP, PLCB1, NPY, and HTR2A, in the M1 module were highly connected and appeared to exhibit hub properties, which might play vital roles in delirium development. Further understanding of the function of the identified modules and member genes could help to identify therapeutic intervention targets and diagnostic biomarkers for delirium.
Magnetic Anomaly and Model of the Lonar Meteorite Impact Crater in Maharashtra, India
Authors: Kiik Kalle , Plado Jüri , Lingadevaru Muddaramaiah , Jeelani Syed Hamim , Szyszka Mateusz
Published: October 2020

The ground magnetic field of the Lonar impact crater (Maharashtra State, India) and its surrounding area was measured and studied utilizing 2.5-dimensional potential field modelling. Field data showed the crater depression is associated with a strong circular negative anomaly with an amplitude of more than 1000 nT. The negative anomaly, however, decreases smoothly while moving from south to north. Most of the crater rim exhibits anomalous positive values. Negative anomalies at the rim are seen in the south–southwestern sections and coinciding in the northeastern section with the Dhar valley. Our study shows that most of the anomaly is caused by the topographic effect and a strong SE directed natural remanent magnetization of Deccan Trap basalts, which are the target of the Lonar-creating projectile. The magnetic anomaly of the relatively weakly magnetized impact-produced allochthonous breccia and post-impact sediments is small, being less than 150 nT.
Academic Performance Following Sport-Related Concussions in Children and Adolescents: A Scoping Review
Authors: Neelakantan Mekala , Ryali Brinda , Cabral Maria Demma , Harris Ann , McCarroll Juli , Patel Dilip R.
Published: October 2020

Sport-related concussions (SRC) are an increasingly common concern in young athletes, with long-term cognitive, physiological, behavioral, and psychological adverse outcomes. An estimated 1.1 million to 1.9 million SRCs occur per year in children <18 years old in the United States. The post-concussive state has demonstrated consequences in several domains, including athletics and academics, although much more research has been conducted on the former. The objective of this scoping review was to ascertain findings from published studies on the effects of SRCs on academic performance and quality of life of young student athletes. A total of 175 articles were screened within the PubMed and CINAHL databases, along with a Google search. Fourteen papers fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were analyzed in the review. Quantitative and qualitative data were collated and demonstrated the heterogeneity with which, post-concussion academic performance outcomes were measured; only 4 of the 14 studies utilized formal academic metrics such as changes in grade point average (GPA) or examination scores. While the results overall did show statistically significant implications on academic performance decline after SRC, it is clear that there remains a paucity of research determining the consequences of SRCs on academic performance in the school environment. Further research is needed to better understand how to implement accommodations in the student’s learning environment and guide return-to-learn protocols for student athletes following SRC.
Determinants of the Public Health Promotion Behavior: Evidence from Repurchasing Health Foods for Improving Gastrointestinal Tract Functions
Authors: Lee Ku-Yuan , Wei Chien-Yu , Wu Min-Hua , Hsieh Chi-Ming
Published: October 2020

Researchers believe that health foods can promote health and that the consumption of health foods can effectively help people to maintain their health. This study mainly adopted the health belief model (HBM) integrated with perceived behavioral control to investigate the repurchase behavior of consumers with regard to health foods that improve gastrointestinal functions. We obtained 550 valid questionnaires from consumers who had purchased gastrointestinal health foods and conducted structural equation modeling. Results from our analysis revealed that perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits of action, and perceived behavioral control exert a positive influence on repurchase intention and that perceived barriers of action exerts a negative influence on repurchase intention. Furthermore, repurchase intention was found to have a positive impact on repurchase behavior. The results of this study can be used as a reference for health food marketing strategies and public health behavior promotions.
Exploring Knowledge and Experience of Health Literacy for Chinese-Speaking Nurses in Taiwan: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Chang Ya-Wen , Li Tsai-Chung , Chen Yen-Chin , Lee Jo-Hua , Chang Mei-Chuan , Huang Li-Chi
Published: October 2020

Background: Health literacy has become the best predictor of healthcare status. However, two-thirds of health providers are unaware of patients’ health literacy. Thus, the aim of the study is to investigate factors related to Chinese-speaking nurses’ knowledge and experience of health literacy. Methods: This cross-sectional study used a web-based survey. A total of 430 nurses were recruited by stratified sampling from different levels of hospitals and community health centers in Taiwan. Primary outcome measure by Health Literacy Knowledge and Experience. Results: The participants’ overall health literacy knowledge was limited; the correct responses were 51%. The education level of the participants, job category, working years, and having attended in-service patient education programs were the predictors of knowledge of health literacy (p < 0.05); Institute, job category, and having attended in-service patient education programs were the predictors of experience of health literacy (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Participants’ education levels and In-service patient education programs are beneficial factors to improve nurses’ knowledge of health literacy. Furthermore, nursing education should emphasize on how to identify individuals’ health literacy and using readable healthcare materials to improve health education.
Investigating Nurses’ Views on Care of Mentally Ill Patients with Skin Injuries
Authors: Kaba Evridiki , Triantafyllou Aikaterini , Fasoi Georgia , Kelesi Martha , Stavropoulou Areti
Published: October 2020

Background: Individuals with mental illness are at increased risk of skin injuries. The role of nurses in skin injury prevention and management is crucial and therefore their views on wound care may provide useful information for improving the quality of the care provided. Aim: To investigate nurses’ views on care of mentally ill patients with skin injuries. Method: A qualitative research design based on the principles of grounded theory approach was followed. Unstructured interviews were conducted with seven nurses working in psychiatric wards with frequent skin injuries. Data were analyzed using the constant comparative method of analysis. Results: Two main themes were emerged from data analysis. The first main theme, namely factors affecting the care of patients with skin injuries, included seven categories: (a) shortage of hospital supplies, equipment and services (b) staff shortages, (c) lack of knowledge, (d) nurses’ resistance to change, (e) difficulty in collaborating with patients, (f) patients’ physical conditions and (g) nurses’ attitudes as an obstacle to care. The second main theme, namely nurses’ suggestions for optimizing care, included five categories: (a) need for additional staff, (b) need for increasing hospital supplies and equipment availability, (c) need for training (d) need of changing nurses’ attitudes towards care and (e) need of changing the patients’ approach to collaboration. Conclusion: The care of mentally ill patients with skin injuries is affected by multidimensional factors that have a direct impact on the quality of nurses’ work and patients’ hospitalization. Specific efforts are needed to overcome the obstacles that hinder the care provided and to improve clinical practice.
Prevalence of Stress in Healthcare Professionals during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Northeast Mexico: A Remote, Fast Survey Evaluation, Using an Adapted COVID-19 Stress Scales
Authors: Delgado-Gallegos Juan Luis , Montemayor-Garza Rene de Jesús , Padilla-Rivas Gerardo R. , Franco-Villareal Héctor , Islas Jose Francisco
Published: October 2020

The world is currently subjected to the worst health crisis documented in modern history: an epidemic led by the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). At the epicenter of this crisis, healthcare professionals continue working to safeguard our well-being. To the regular high levels of stress, COVID-19 adds even more so to healthcare professionals in particular, depending on their area, specialty, and type of work. Here we investigated what are the tendencies or areas most affected. Through an adaptation of the original COVID-stress scales, we developed a remote, fast test designed for healthcare professionals in the northeastern part of Mexico, an important part of the country with economic and cultural ties to the United States. Our results showed four key correlations as highly dependent: work area–xenophobia (p < 0.045), work with COVID patients–traumatic stress (p < 0.001), total number of COVID patients per day–traumatic stress (p < 0.027), and total number of COVID patients–compulsive checking and reassurance. Overall, we concluded that normal levels of stress have increased (mild–moderate). Additionally, we determine that the fear of being an asymptomatic patient (potential to spread without knowing) continues being a concern.
Managing Cystic Fibrosis in Polish Healthcare
Authors: Rachel Marta , Topolewicz Stanisław , Śliwczyński Andrzej , Galiniak Sabina
Published: October 2020

The quality and length of life of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) are determined by a number of factors including the quality of healthcare received by patients, as well as access to drug programs dedicated to this particular disease. The purpose of this paper is to present an overview of changes in the average life expectancy and mortality rate of the CF population in Poland between 2000 and 2018. Furthermore, we would like to evaluate access to healthcare services, including the drug program, guaranteed by public healthcare system, and funded by National Health Fund (NHF). The average life expectancy of patients with CF increased in the period in question from ca. 14.5 ± 7.6–24.5 ± 8.9 years (mean ± SD, p = 0.0001). We have observed a drop in the number of deaths in paediatric age during that period. Despite the increase in life expectancy, the use of health resources in patients with CF, especially the drug program, is dramatically low. Considering the fact that in Poland there was no active countrywide CF registry, now it is possible to estimate the frequency of use of CF healthcare services in various provinces exclusively on the basis of database maintained by the Polish NHF.
The Use of Smartphone Fitness Applications: The Role of Self-Efficacy and Self-Regulation
Authors: Vinnikova Anna , Lu Liangdong , Wei Jiuchang , Fang Guangbao , Yan Jing
Published: October 2020

With the popularity of the health and wellness trend in recent years, smartphone fitness applications have become more and more popular. Thus, this study explored factors affecting the behavioral intention to use and the actual usage behavior of smartphone fitness apps from technical, health, and social perspectives by integrating the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) and Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). We examined whether perceived usefulness, perceived ease-of-use, social influence, self-efficacy, goal-setting, and self-monitoring predict usage behavior. Based on the survey responses of 1066 smartphone fitness apps users, we revealed that all of the variables, except for self-monitoring, significantly influence usage behavior, while behavioral intention acts as a total mediator between perceived usefulness, perceived ease-of-use and usage behavior. Drawing on the research findings, we suggest that influencing behavioral intention to use a fitness app can be an effective method to increase its adoption. Therefore, app developers need to pay attention to interventions that seek to enhance the usefulness of the app, provide professional counseling, as well as an opportunity for effortless goal setting features.
Protocols for Monitoring Harmful Algal Blooms for Sustainable Aquaculture and Coastal Fisheries in Chile
Authors: Yarimizu Kyoko , Fujiyoshi So , Kawai Mikihiko , Norambuena-Subiabre Luis , Cascales Emma-Karin , Rilling Joaquin-Ignacio , Vilugrón Jonnathan , Cameron Henry , Vergara Karen , Morón-López Jesus , Acuña Jacquelinne J. , Gajardo Gonzalo , Espinoza-González Oscar , Guzmán Leonardo , Jorquera Milko A. , Nagai Satoshi , Pizarro Gemita , Riquelme Carlos , Ueki Shoko , Maruyama Fumito
Published: October 2020

Harmful algae blooms (HABs) cause acute effects on marine ecosystems due to their production of endogenous toxins or their enormous biomass, leading to significant impacts on local economies and public health. Although HAB monitoring has been intensively performed at spatiotemporal scales in coastal areas of the world over the last decades, procedures have not yet been standardized. HAB monitoring procedures are complicated and consist of many methodologies, including physical, chemical, and biological water sample measurements. Each monitoring program currently uses different combinations of methodologies depending on site specific purposes, and many prior programs refer to the procedures in quotations. HAB monitoring programs in Chile have adopted the traditional microscopic and toxin analyses but not molecular biology and bacterial assemblage approaches. Here we select and optimize the HAB monitoring methodologies suitable for Chilean geography, emphasizing on metabarcoding analyses accompanied by the classical tools with considerations including cost, materials and instrument availability, and easiness and efficiency of performance. We present results from a pilot study using the standardized stepwise protocols, demonstrating feasibility and plausibility for sampling and analysis for the HAB monitoring. Such specific instructions in the standardized protocol are critical obtaining quality data under various research environments involving multiple stations, different analysts, various time-points, and long HAB monitoring duration.
Average Force of Deployment and Maximum Arrest Force of Energy Absorbers Lanyards
Authors: Carrión Elena Ángela , Saez Pedro Ignacio , Pomares Juan Carlos , Gonzalez Antonio
Published: October 2020

Energy-absorbing lanyards (EAL) are part of fall arrest systems (FAS), their main mission is to dissipate the energy generated during the fall, ensuring that the arresting force does not cause injury to the user. For the design of FAS as set out in the American standard Z359.6 and the Canadian Z259.16 it is essential to know the deployment force or average arrest force (Fa). Fa is necessary to estimate the elongation that the absorber will suffer during the fall and therefore essential data to calculate the clearance distance. There is a lack of useful experimental data for the design of this personal protective equipment (PPE). This work provides empirical data required for the design of FAS with EAL in accordance with EN 355. This paper covers different types of EAL that are marketed internationally; different empirical data, average and maximum forces, required for improving safety design are researched. Six manufacturers, 10 models, and 2 samples of each model were selected, with total of 20 tests being performed. Dynamic performance tests were carried out, the free fall of a person was simulated using a 100 kg steel ballast from the maximum height allowed by the equipment, obtaining the maximum arrest force (Fm), average deployment force (Fa), and, by calculating the balance of forces, the maximum and average acceleration suffered by the ballast during its arrest. In light of the results, relevant conclusions for user safety are obtained. It is feasible to raise the safety requirements established by the different standards. The Fm can be established below 6 kN in the EAL, and the Fa can be estimated at 87.5% of the Fm. The categorization of the force–time curve in fall arrest with EAL has been obtained. Two EAL purchased on the market exceed the Fm permitted, therefore it is recommended to increase the quality controls of EAL.
Moving Health Literacy Research and Practice towards a Vision of Equity, Precision and Transparency
Authors: Guo Shuaijun , Yu Xiaoming , Okan Orkan
Published: October 2020

Over the past two decades, health literacy research has gained increasing attention in global health initiatives to reduce health disparities. While it is well-documented that health literacy is associated with health outcomes, most findings are generated from cross-sectional data. Along with the increasing importance of health literacy in policy, there is a lack of specificity and transparency about how to improve health literacy in practice. In this study, we are calling for a shift of current research paradigms from judging health literacy levels towards observing how health literacy skills are developed over the life course and practised in the real world. This includes using a life-course approach, integrating the rationale of precision public health, applying open science practice, and promoting actionable knowledge translation strategies. We show how a greater appreciation for these paradigms promises to advance health literacy research and practice towards an equitable, precise, transparent, and actionable vision.
Serum Concentrations of Selected Organochlorines in Pregnant Women and Associations with Pregnancy Outcomes. A Cross-Sectional Study from Two Rural Settings in Cambodia
Authors: Steinholt Margit , Xu Shanshan , Ha Sam Ol , Phi Duong Trong , Odland Maria Lisa , Odland Jon Øyvind
Published: October 2020

We conducted a cross-sectional study among 194 pregnant women from two low-income settings in Cambodia. The inclusion period lasted from October 2015 through December 2017. Maternal serum samples were analyzed for persistent organic pollutants (POPs). The aim was to study potential effects on birth outcomes. We found low levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCP), except for heptachlors, β-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), heptachlor epoxide, and p,p’-DDE. There were few differences between the two study locations. However, the women from the poorest areas had significantly higher concentrations of p,p’-DDE (p < 0.001) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) (p = 0.002). The maternal factors associated with exposure were parity, age, residential area, and educational level. Despite low maternal levels of polychlorinated biphenyls, we found significant negative associations between the PCB congeners 99 (95% CI: −2.51 to −0.07), 138 (95% CI: −1.28 to −0.32), and 153 (95% CI: −1.06 to −0.05) and gestational age. Further, there were significant negative associations between gestational age, birth length, and maternal levels of o,p’-DDE. Moreover, o,p’-DDD had positive associations with birth weight, and both p,p’-DDD and o,p’-DDE were positively associated with the baby’s ponderal index. The poorest population had higher exposure and less favorable outcomes.
Bridging the Gap between Theory, Practice, and Policy: A Decision-Making Process Based on Public Health Evidence Feasible in Multi-Stage Research on Biological Risk Factors in Poland
Authors: Gębska-Kuczerowska Anita , Lahiri Sudakshina , Gajda Robert
Published: October 2020

Stakeholder input into the decision-making process when developing public health programs and policies is crucial. This article presents an innovative approach, involving online participation with a wide group of stakeholders located in different geographic locations for policy consensus. The results of the project have been used to propose assumptions regarding a strategy for preventing blood-borne diseases in Poland. The research was conducted iteratively using a multi-stage qualitative methodology to explore risk assessment involving blood-borne infections. The final output of the study is a list of key problems/challenges and potential solutions associated with medical and nonmedical services that are connected to the breakage of tissue continuity. Qualitative research is rare in risk assessment, as priority is generally given to statistical data and endpoints. In addition to policy preparation for blood-borne illnesses, the methodology employed in the study can also be used to successfully explore other areas of public health.
Does Regulation Influence Microfinance Institutions to Be More Client-Responsive?
Authors: Morshed Zakir , Habib Mohshin , Jubb Christine
Published: October 2020

The regulation of microfinance services is likely to have a wide-ranging influence on the microfinance sector, particularly on institutions and their clients. This paper reveals the impact of a specific regulatory regime, the “Microcredit Regulatory Authority Act, 2006”, enacted by the Bangladesh government to monitor and supervise nonprofit nongovernment organizations (NGOs). We analyzed survey and interview data provided by clients of both nonprofit microfinance institutions (MFIs) registered under the Act and nonprofit institutions that are unregistered, all lending only to women. Client-level analysis using fixed effects for specific MFI membership is applied, focusing on the role of regulation by comparing protections as consumers of financial intermediations in terms of financial literacy, awareness, and status of clients of registered and unregistered MFIs. We found compelling evidence of a positive association between the financial status, financial literacy, and financial awareness of clients of registered MFIs, but not unregistered MFIs. These findings support the need for MFIs to implement consumer protection measures and inform their consumers about key issues to achieve improved client outcomes.
Privacy-Aware Visualization of Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) to Analyze Spatial Activity: A Benchmark Implementation
Authors: Dunkel Alexander , Löchner Marc , Burghardt Dirk
Published: October 2020

Through volunteering data, people can help assess information on various aspects of their surrounding environment. Particularly in natural resource management, Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) is increasingly recognized as a significant resource, for example, supporting visitation pattern analysis to evaluate collective values and improve natural well-being. In recent years, however, user privacy has become an increasingly important consideration. Potential conflicts often emerge from the fact that VGI can be re-used in contexts not originally considered by volunteers. Addressing these privacy conflicts is particularly problematic in natural resource management, where visualizations are often explorative, with multifaceted and sometimes initially unknown sets of analysis outcomes. In this paper, we present an integrated and component-based approach to privacy-aware visualization of VGI, specifically suited for application to natural resource management. As a key component, HyperLogLog (HLL)—a data abstraction format—is used to allow estimation of results, instead of more accurate measurements. While HLL alone cannot preserve privacy, it can be combined with existing approaches to improve privacy while, at the same time, maintaining some flexibility of analysis. Together, these components make it possible to gradually reduce privacy risks for volunteers at various steps of the analytical process. A specific use case demonstration is provided, based on a global, publicly-available dataset that contains 100 million photos shared by 581,099 users under Creative Commons licenses. Both the data processing pipeline and resulting dataset are made available, allowing transparent benchmarking of the privacy–utility tradeoffs.
Overexpression of PtrMYB121 Positively Regulates the Formation of Secondary Cell Wall in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Liu Ying , Man Jiayin , Wang Yinghao , Yuan Chao , Shi Yuyu , Liu Bobin , Hu Xia , Wu Songqing , Zhang Taoxiang , Lian Chunlan
Published: October 2020

MYB transcription factors have a wide range of functions in plant growth, hormone signaling, salt, and drought tolerances. In this study, two homologous transcription factors, PtrMYB55 and PtrMYB121, were isolated and their functions were elucidated. Tissue expression analysis revealed that PtrMYB55 and PtrMYB121 had a similar expression pattern, which had the highest expression in stems. Their expression continuously increased with the growth of poplar, and the expression of PtrMYB121 was significantly upregulated in the process. The full length of PtrMYB121 was 1395 bp, and encoded protein contained 464 amino acids including conserved R2 and R3 MYB domains. We overexpressed PtrMYB121 in Arabidopsis thaliana, and the transgenic lines had the wider xylem as compared with wild-type Arabidopsis. The contents of cellulose and lignin were obviously higher than those in wild-type materials, but there was no significant change in hemicellulose. Quantitative real-time PCR demonstrated that the key enzyme genes regulating the synthesis of lignin and cellulose were significantly upregulated in the transgenic lines. Furthermore, the effector-reporter experiment confirmed that PtrMYB121 bound directly to the promoters of genes relating to the synthesis of lignin and cellulose. These results suggest that PtrMYB121 may positively regulate the formation of secondary cell wall by promoting the synthesis of lignin and cellulose.
Combination Immunotherapy Using Oncolytic Virus for the Treatment of Advanced Solid Tumors
Authors: Oh Chang-Myung , Chon Hong Jae , Kim Chan
Published: October 2020

Oncolytic virus (OV) is a new therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment. OVs can selectively infect and destroy cancer cells, and therefore act as an in situ cancer vaccine by releasing tumor-specific antigens. Moreover, they can remodel the tumor microenvironment toward a T cell-inflamed phenotype by stimulating widespread host immune responses against the tumor. Recent evidence suggests several possible applications of OVs against cancer, especially in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors. In this review, we describe the molecular mechanisms of oncolytic virotherapy and OV-induced immune responses, provide a brief summary of recent preclinical and clinical updates on this rapidly evolving field, and discuss a combinational strategy that is able to overcome the limitations of OV-based monotherapy.
Brucella Genomics: Macro and Micro Evolution
Authors: Suárez-Esquivel Marcela , Chaves-Olarte Esteban , Moreno Edgardo , Guzmán-Verri Caterina
Published: October 2020

Brucella organisms are responsible for one of the most widespread bacterial zoonoses, named brucellosis. The disease affects several species of animals, including humans. One of the most intriguing aspects of the brucellae is that the various species show a ~97% similarity at the genome level. Still, the distinct Brucella species display different host preferences, zoonotic risk, and virulence. After 133 years of research, there are many aspects of the Brucella biology that remain poorly understood, such as host adaptation and virulence mechanisms. A strategy to understand these characteristics focuses on the relationship between the genomic diversity and host preference of the various Brucella species. Pseudogenization, genome reduction, single nucleotide polymorphism variation, number of tandem repeats, and mobile genetic elements are unveiled markers for host adaptation and virulence. Understanding the mechanisms of genome variability in the Brucella genus is relevant to comprehend the emergence of pathogens.
Four and a Half LIM Domains 2 (FHL2) Contribute to the Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Carcinogenesis
Authors: Wang Chen , Lv Xiangmin , He Chunbo , Davis John S. , Wang Cheng , Hua Guohua
Published: October 2020

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is one of the most lethal gynecologic malignancies. To date, the etiology of this deadly disease remains elusive. FHL2, a member of the four and a half LIM domain family, has been shown to serve either as an oncoprotein or as a tumor suppressor in various cancers. Our previous study showed that FHL2 plays a critical role in the initiation and progression of ovarian granulosa cell tumor via regulating AKT1 transcription. However, direct and systematic evidence of FHL2 in the initiation and progression of EOC remains unclear. In the present study, immunohistochemical analysis from EOC patient tissues showed that positivity and intensity of FHL2 immunosignal were up-regulated in the EOC tissues compared with normal ovary tissues. Knockdown of FHL2 in SKOV-3 cell line reduced cell growth and cell viability, blocked cell cycle progression, and inhibited cell migration. Ectopic expression of FHL2 in IGROV-1 cells which have low endogenous FHL2, promoted cell growth, improved cell viability and enhanced cell migration. Additionally, knock down of FHL2 in the SKOV-3 cell line significantly inhibited anchorage-independent growth indicated by the soft agar assay. In comparison, overexpression of FHL2 in IGROV-1 cell improved the colonies growth in soft agar. Western blot data showed that knockdown of FHL2 downregulated AKT expression level, and upregulated apoptosis related proteins such as cleaved PARP, and cleaved-lamin A. Finally, by employing stable SKOV-3/FHL2 stable knock down cell line, our data clearly showed that knockdown of FHL2 inhibited EOC xenograft initiation in vivo. Taken together, our results showed that FHL2, via regulating cell proliferation, cell cycle, and adhesion, has a critical role in regulating EOC initiation and progression. These results indicate that FHL2 could be a potential target for the therapeutic drugs against EOC.
Myocardial Infarction after Kidney Transplantation: A Risk and Specific Profile Analysis from a Nationwide French Medical Information Database
Authors: Didier Romain , Yao Hermann , Legendre Mathieu , Halimi Jean Michel , Rebibou Jean Michel , Herbert Julien , Zeller Marianne , Fauchier Laurent , Cottin Yves
Published: October 2020

Introduction: Renal transplant recipients have a high peri-operative risk for cardiovascular events. The post-transplantation period also carries a risk of myocardial infarction (MI). Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a leading cause of death in these patients. We aimed to assess the risk of MI, the specific morbidity profile of MI after transplantation as well as the long-term prognosis after MI in renal transplantation (RT) patients regarding cardiovascular (CV) death and all-cause death. Methods: From a French national medical information database, all of the patients seen in French hospitals in 2013 with at least 5-years follow-up were retrospectively identified and patients without transplantation but with previous dialysis at baseline were excluded. There were 17,526 patients with RT and 3,288,857 with no RT. Results: Among these patients, 1020 in the RT group (5.8%), and 93,320 in the non-RT group (2.8%) suffered acute MI during a median follow-up of 5.4 years. After multivariable adjustment, risk of MI was higher in RT patients than in non-RT patients (HR 1.45, IC 95% 1.35–1.55). The mean age was 59.5 years for transplant patients with MI, and 70.6 years for the reference population with MI (p < 0.0001). MI patients with RT (vs. non RT patients) were more likely to have hypertension, diabetes dyslipidemia, and peripheral artery disease (76.0% vs. 48.1%, 38.7% vs. 25.2%, 33.2% vs. 23.2%, and 31.2% vs. 17.3%, respectively, p < 0.0001). Incidence of non ST-elevation MI (NSTEMI) was higher in RT patients while incidence of ST-elevation MI (STEMI) was higher in patients without RT. In unadjusted analysis, risk of all-cause death and CV death within the first month after MI were higher in patients without RT (18% vs. 11.1% p < 0.0001 and 12.3% vs. 7.8%, p < 0.0001, respectively). However, multivariable analysis indicated that risk of all-cause death was higher in patients with RT than in those with no RT (adjusted HR 1.15 IC 95% 1.03–1.28). Conclusions: MI is not an uncommon complication after RT (incidence of around 5.8% after 5 years). RT is independently associated with a 45% higher risk of MI than in patients without RT, with a predominance of NSTEMI. MI in patients with RT is independently associated with a 15% higher risk of all-cause death than that in patients with MI and no RT.
Electrostatic Assembly Technique for Novel Composites Fabrication
Authors: Muto Hiroyuki , Yokoi Atsushi , Tan Wai Kian
Published: October 2020

Electrostatic assembly is one of the bottom–up approaches used for multiscale composite fabrication. Since its discovery, this method has been actively used in molecular bioscience as well as materials design and fabrication for various applications. Despite the recent advances and controlled assembly reported using electrostatic interaction, the method still possesses vast potentials for various materials design and fabrication. This review article is a timely revisit of the electrostatic assembly method with a brief introduction of the method followed by surveys of recent advances and applications of the composites fabricated. Emphasis is also given to the significant potential of this method for advanced materials and composite fabrication in line with sustainable development goals. Prospective outlook and future developments for micro-/nanocomposite materials fabrication for emerging applications such as energy-related fields and additive manufacturing are also mentioned.
A Study on the Minimization of Mooring Load in Fish-Cage Mooring Systems with a Damping Buoy
Authors: Lee Gun-Ho , Cha Bong-Jin , Kim Hyun-young
Published: October 2020

This study established the conditions in which mooring load is minimized in a fish cage that includes a damping buoy in specific wave conditions. To derive these conditions, numerical simulations of various mooring contexts were conducted on a fish cage (1/15 scale) using a simplified mass-spring model and fifth-order Stokes wave theory. The simulation conditions were as follows: (1) bridle-line length of 0.8–3.2 m; (2) buoyancy of 2.894–20.513 N for the damping buoy; and (3) mooring-rope thickness of 0.002–0.004 m. The wave conditions were 0.333 m in height and 1.291–2.324 s of arrival period. Consequently, the mooring tensions tended to decrease with decreasing mooring line thickness and increasing bridle-line length and buoyancy of the buoy. Accordingly, it was assumed to be advantageous to minimize the mooring tension by designing a thin mooring line and long bridle line and for the buoyancy of the buoy to be as large as possible. This approach shows a valuable technique because it can contribute to the improvement of the mooring stability of the fish cage by establishing a method that can be used to minimize the load on the mooring line.
Coastal Ecosystem Services, Social Equity, and Blue Growth: A Case Study from South-Eastern Bangladesh
Authors: Islam Mohammad Mahmudul , Pal Shuvo , Hossain Mohammad Mosarof , Mozumder Mohammad Mojibul Hoque , Schneider Petra
Published: October 2020

By employing empirical and secondary data (qualitative and quantitative), this study demonstrates how social equity (with its three dimensions) can meaningfully address the conservation of the coastal social–ecological system (SES), without losing diverse ecosystem services (ES) in south-east coastal Bangladesh. Based on this proposition, this study assesses the available ES and identifies the drivers responsible for ES changes, arguing for the application of social equity for resource conservation. The findings show that communities along Bangladesh’s south-eastern coast use several ES for food, medicine, income, livelihoods, and cultural heritage. However, this valuable ecosystem is currently experiencing numerous threats and stressors of anthropogenic and natural origin. In particular, large-scale development activities, driven by the blue growth agenda, and neoliberalism policy, pose a risk to the local communities by degrading coastal ecosystem services. Escaping this situation for coastal natural resource-dependent communities in Bangladesh will require a transformation in the governance structure. Implementing the Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF) Guidelines that call for initiating policy change to deliver social justice to small-scale fisheries would help to address coastal ecosystem service conservation in Bangladesh.