bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of Porous Titanium-Hydroxyapatite Composite Biological Coating on Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) by Vacuum Plasma Spraying
Authors: Hu Fengfan , Fan Xiujuan , Peng Feng , Yan Xingchen , Song Jinbing , Deng Chunming , Liu Min , Zeng Dechang , Ning Chengyun
Published: March 2022

Titanium powders and hydroxyapatite powders were used to fabricate the titanium and hydroxyapatite composite coating (Ti/Ti/HA) on the Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) by vacuum plasma spraying (VPS). The phase composition and morphology of the Ti/Ti/HA coating were analyzed by XRD, SEM, industrial CT, and three-dimensional contour profiler (DEKTAK XT). The results showed that the phase composition of the Ti/Ti/HA coating was dominated by the HA phase and a small amount of the Ti phase. The Ti/Ti/HA composite coating presented an obvious three-layer structure with different roughness and porosity. The bottom was Ti coating with a porosity less than 10%; the middle was porous Ti coating with a porosity of 35% ± 10%; the surface coating was HA coating with the crystallinity near 95%, a porosity of 32% ± 10%, a roughness Ra = 30 ± 10 μm. Moreover, the TG-DSC and ATR-FTIR results showed that VPS coating has no effect on thermochemical properties of PEEK material. The average bond strength of the composite coating was achieved 32 MPa.
Mesoscale Simulation and Evaluation of the Mechanical Properties of Ceramic Seal Coatings
Authors: Cheng Xuying , Yu Yueguang , Liu Jianming , Guo Dan , Lu Xiaoliang , Zhang Deming , Zhao Xuhe , Dai Sihang
Published: March 2022

Microstructure feature extraction and performance simulations of a Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia (YSZ) abradable coating applied in the high-pressure turbines of aero-engines, with a service temperature over 1000 °C were conducted. The finite element method (FEM) numerical models of the abradability, bonding strength, and thermal shock resistance of the YSZ coating were established. The effects of porosity and pore diameter on the properties of the coating were obtained through simulations and calculations. The results indicated that the abradability, bonding strength, and thermal shock resistance of the coating were jointly determined by porosity and pore diameter. With the porosity increasing from 5% to 50%, the bonding strength of the coating decreased gradually, but the abradability and thermal shock resistance of the coating were significantly improved, especially when the porosity was above 20%. With the pore diameter increased from 0.5 μm to 1.5 μm, the abradability, bonding strength, and thermal shock resistance of the coating increased initially, and then decreased. An evaluation function using the normalized weighting strategy was proposed to characterize the comprehensive properties of the coating. The results of the evaluation showed the optimal abradability, bonding strength, and thermal shock resistance of the coating were obtained under a combination of 25% porosity and 1 μm pore diameter. This study may provide guidance for design optimization, and an improvement in the microstructure and properties of coatings in future research.
Effect of Annealing Temperature on the Microstructure and Optical Properties of Lanthanum-Doped Hafnium Oxide
Authors: Cui Xiangduo , Tuokedaerhan Kamale , Cai Haotian , Lu Zhenchuan
Published: March 2022

Lanthanum-doped HfO2 films were deposited on Si by sol–gel technology. The effects of annealing temperature on the optical properties, interface chemistry, and energy band structure of Lanthanum-doped HfO2 films have been investigated. The crystallinity and surface morphologies of the films are strongly dependent on the annealing temperature. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed a monoclinic phase, and there was a tendency to preferentially grow with increasing temperature. The calculated grain sizes ranged from 17.1 to 22.4 nm on average. It was also confirmed from Raman spectroscopy that increasing the annealing temperature can improve the crystallinity of the films. The surface of the film was smooth, and the film had good interfacial contact with the silicon substrate. The band gap increased from 5.53 to 5.91 eV with increasing annealing temperature. The calculated conduction band offset and valence band offset both exceeded 1 eV. In conclusion, smaller grain size, good crystallinity and interfacial contact can be obtained by adjusting the annealing temperature. Higher conduction band and valence band offsets can meet the minimum barrier height requirements of complementary metal oxide semiconductors (CMOS) and have potential applications.
Wear Study of a Magnetron-Sputtered TiC/a-C Nanocomposite Coating under Media-Lubricated Oscillating Sliding Conditions
Authors: Schneider Johannes , Ulrich Sven , Patscheider Jörg , Stueber Michael
Published: March 2022

Friction and wear performance of non-reactively magnetron-sputtered hydrogen-free TiC/a-C coatings were characterized under lubricated oscillating sliding conditions against 100Cr6 steel. The friction mediators, isooctane, ethanol and distilled water, were chosen to address the actual trend of environmentally friendly green technologies in mobility and the potential use of carbon-based nanocomposite thin film materials for tribocomponents in contact with gasoline and alternative biofuels. Sliding pairs of the TiC/a-C coatings showed significantly reduced friction and wear compared to the reference materials under both unlubricated and lubricated conditions (when using the aforementioned media isooctane, ethanol and distilled water). Quasi-stationary friction coefficient of the TiC/a-C sliding pairs after running-in was almost independent of test conditions and could be traced back to self-lubrication as a result of the formation of a transfer layer on the steel counter body. Wear of the coatings based on micro-abrasion and tribochemical reaction was significantly influenced by the environmental conditions. Lowest wear was measured after tests in non-polar isooctane whereas highest wear was measured after tests in water.
Intrinsic Properties and Future Perspective of HfO2/V2O5/HfO2 Multi-Layer Thin Films via E-Beam Evaporation as a Transparent Heat Mirror
Authors: Cheema Daniyal Asif , Danial Muhammad Osama , Hanif Muhammad Bilal , Alghamdi Abdulaziz Salem , Ramadan Mohamed , Khaliq Abdul , Khan Abdul Faheem , Subhani Tayyab , Motola Martin
Published: March 2022

HfO2 and V2O5 as multi-layer thin films are discussed for their potential use as transparent heat mirrors. Multi-layered HfO2/V2O5/HfO2 thin films with a thickness of 100/60/100 nm were prepared via e-beam evaporation on a soda–lime glass substrate. Rutherford backscattering confirmed the multi-layer structure with uniform surface. The as-deposited thin films were annealed at 300 °C and 400 °C, respectively, for 1 h in air. The transmittance of approximately 90% was obtained for all thin films. Due to the relatively low thickness and non-stoichiometry of HfO2, a band gap of approximately 3.25 eV was determined (instead of the theoretical 5.3–5.7 eV). The as-deposited thin films possessed conductivity of approximately 0.2 Ω−1cm−1 and increased to 1 Ω−1cm−1 and 2 Ω−1cm−1 for thin films annealed at 300 and 400 °C, respectively. Due to the unique intrinsic properties of HfO2/V2O5/HfO2 thin films, the results obtained are promising for application as a transparent heat mirror.
Impact of Tobacco Smoking on Outcomes of Radiotherapy: A Narrative Review
Authors: Perdyan Adrian , Jassem Jacek
Published: March 2022

The carcinogenic role of tobacco smoking is well recognized, but the detrimental effects of continued smoking after a cancer diagnosis have been underestimated. Radiotherapy is among the main treatment modalities for cancer. We reviewed the literature data concerning the impact of tobacco smoking on treatment outcomes in radiotherapy-managed patients with various malignancies. Most of the analyzed studies demonstrated the detrimental effect of smoking on overall survival, tumor control, quality of life, treatment toxicity, and the incidence of second primary malignancies. Healthcare professionals should use the cancer diagnosis and treatment as a teachable moment and recommend their patients to immediately cease smoking. Wherever possible, cancer patients should undergo an intensive smoking-cessation program, including behavioral and pharmacologic therapy.
Perspectives on Ovarian Cancer 1809 to 2022 and Beyond
Authors: Lawton Frank G. , Pavlik Edward J.
Published: March 2022

Unlike many other malignancies, overall survival for women with epithelial ovarian cancer has improved only modestly over the last half-century. The perspectives presented here detail the views of a gynecologic oncologist looking back and the view of the academic editor looking forward. Surgical beginnings in 1809 are merged with genomics, surgical advances, and precision therapy at present and for the future. Presentations in this special issue focus on factors related to the diagnosis of ovarian cancer: (1) markers for the preoperative assessment of primary and metastatic ovarian tumors, (2) demonstrations of the presence of pelvic fluid in ultrasound studies of ovarian malignancies, (3) the effects of age, menopausal status, and body habitus on ovarian visualization, (4) the ability of OVA1 to detect ovarian cancers when Ca125 was not informative, (5) the detection of tumor-specific changes in cell adhesion molecules by tissue-based staining, (6) presentation of a high discrimination model for ovarian cancer using IOTA Simple Rules and CA125, (7) review of low-grade serous carcinoma of the ovary, and (8) a comprehensive case report on ovarian carcinosarcoma.
The Diagnosis of Small Gastrointestinal Subepithelial Lesions by Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration and Biopsy
Authors: Sekine Masanari , Asano Takeharu , Mashima Hirosato
Published: March 2022

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) has been widely accepted in the diagnosis of all types of tumors, especially pancreatic tumors, lymph nodes, and subepithelial lesions (SELs). One reason is that the examination can provide a detailed observation, with tissue samples being immediately obtained by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA). Many SELs are detected incidentally during endoscopic examinations without symptoms. Most SELs are mesenchymal tumors originating from the fourth layer, such as gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), leiomyomas, and schwannomas. GISTs are potentially malignant. Surgical treatment is recommended for localized GISTs of ≥20 mm. However, the indications for the diagnosis and follow-up of GISTs of <20 mm in size are controversial. There are several reports on the rapid progression or metastasis of small GISTs. Therefore, it is important to determine whether a SEL is a GIST or not. The main diagnostic method is EUS-FNA. Recently, endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle biopsy (EUS-FNB) using a new biopsy needle has been reported to obtain larger tissue samples. Additionally, various biopsy methods have been reported to have a high diagnostic rate for small GISTs. In local gastric SELs, regardless of the tumor size, EUS can be performed first; then, EUS-FNA/B or various biopsy methods can be used to obtain tissue samples for decision-making in relation to therapy and the follow-up period.
Deriving First Floor Elevations within Residential Communities Located in Galveston Using UAS Based Data
Authors: Diaz Nicholas D. , Highfield Wesley E. , Brody Samuel D. , Fortenberry Brent R.
Published: March 2022

Flood damages occur when just one inch of water enters a residential household and models of flood damage estimation are sensitive to first-floor elevation (FFE). The current sources for FFEs consist of costly survey-based elevation certificates (ECs) or assumptions based on year built, foundation type, and flood zone. We sought to address these limitations by establishing the role of an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) to efficiently derive accurate FFEs. Four residential communities within Galveston Island, Texas were selected to assess efficient flight parameters required for UAS photogrammetry within the built environment. A real-time kinematic positioning enabled (RTK) UAS was then used to gather georeferenced aerial imagery and create detailed 3D photogrammetric models with ±0.02 m horizontal and ±0.05 m vertical accuracies. From these residential models, FFEs and other structural measurements present in traditional ECs were obtained. Comparative statistical analyses were performed using the UAS-based measurements and traditional EC measurements. UAS based FFE measurements achieved 0.16 m mean absolute error (MAE) across all comparative observations and were not statistically different from traditional EC measures. We conclude the RTK enabled UAS approach is an efficient, cost-effective method in establishing accurate FFEs and other flood-sensitive measures in residential communities.
Dissolved Oxygen Concentration Prediction Model Based on WT-MIC-GRU—A Case Study in Dish-Shaped Lakes of Poyang Lake
Authors: Chi Dianwei , Huang Qi , Liu Lizhen
Published: March 2022

Dissolved oxygen concentration has the characteristics of nonlinearity, time series and instability, which increase the difficulty of accurate prediction. In order to accurately predict the dissolved oxygen concentration in the dish-shaped lakes in Poyang Lake of Jiangxi Province, China, a dissolved oxygen concentration prediction model, based on wavelet transform (WT)-based denoising, maximal information coefficient (MIC)-based feature selection, and the gated recurrent unit (GRU), was proposed for this study. In experiments, the proposed model showed good prediction performance, achieving a root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 0.087 mg/L, a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 0.723%, and a coefficient of determination (R2) as high as 0.998. It shows that the prediction model based on the combination of the wavelet transform and the GRU has a relatively high prediction accuracy and a better fitting effect. The model proposed in this study can provide a reference for protecting this type of lake-water body and the restoration of missing values in lake water quality monitoring data.
Performance Analysis of DF Relay-Assisted D2D Communication in a 5G mmWave Network
Authors: Sarma Subhra Sankha , Hazra Ranjay , Chong Peter Han Joo
Published: March 2022

Enabling D2D communication in the mmWave band has many obstacles that must be mitigated. The primary concern is the introduction of interference from various sources. Thus, we focused our work on the performance of decode-and-forward (DF) relay-assisted D2D communication in the mmWave band to increase the coverage probability and energy efficiency (EE). Three modes are proposed for D2D communication to prevail. The bitwise binary XOR operation was executed at the relay node, which increased the security feature. The radius of coverage was derived, which indicated the switching of the modes. The diffused incoherent scattering power was also considered as part of the power consumption. Furthermore, a unique relay selection scheme, the dynamic relay selection (DRS) method, is proposed to select the optimal relay for information exchange. A comparison of the proposed DF relay scheme with the amplify-and-forward (AF) scheme was also made. Finally, the simulation results proved the efficacy of the proposed work.
Immunohistochemical Detection of Various Proteoglycans in the Extracellular Matrix of Zebra Mussels
Authors: Wu Wenkai , Geist Juergen , Beggel Sebastian , Schmitz Christoph , Milz Stefan , Sternecker Katharina
Published: March 2022

Mussels have been used as animal models for studying ecotoxicology, biomineralization, and bio-adhesion for many years. Despite a wealth of studies on their shell matrix and byssus proteins, few studies have focused on the extracellular matrix molecules in mussel soft tissues. Extracellular matrix molecules may play important roles in biomineralization, immune reaction, and tissue homeostasis. In the present study, extracellular matrix and mineralization-related molecules in zebra mussel soft tissue were immunolocalized using well-characterized monoclonal antibodies. Our results demonstrate specific immunolocalization for collagen IV, fibronectin, and keratan sulfate in hemocytes; collagen IV in peripheral nerves; and aggrecan, link protein, and collagen XVIII in foot tissue. Laminin, decorin, and osteonectin were also broadly immunolocalized in mussel soft tissues. The distributions of these extracellular matrix molecules in mussel tissues are in line with the cell-mediated shell mineralization hypothesis, providing evidence for the molecules involved in the peripheral nervous system and byssus formation, and explaining the conservation of extracellular matrix molecules during evolution. These results further contribute to establishing zebra mussels as an attractive animal model in biomedical research.
Evaluation of Turbulent Jet Characteristic Scales Using Joint Statistical Moments and an Adaptive Time-Frequency Analysis
Authors: Proença Anderson R. , Meloni Stefano
Published: March 2022

This paper presents an analysis of turbulence characteristic scales and eddy convection velocity of jet flows computed using joint statistical moments, digital filters, and a modified version of the empirical mode decomposition (EMD). The ongoing aim of this study is to develop semi-empirical space-time cross-correlation models based on stationary statistics and jet physical lengths. Multivariate statistics are used to correlate jet properties to one-dimensional time series. The data available to this study were recorded from single-point and two-point hot-wire anemometry experiments carried out for a range of jet Mach numbers (0.2≤M≤0.8). Firstly, the jet eddy convection velocity, turbulence length, and time scales are computed using space-time cross-correlation functions. Isotropic flow and frozen turbulence hypothesis are then used to estimate the joint moments from single-point statistics in the fully developed turbulence region. An EMD-based decomposition method is presented and assessed in both the Gaussian and non-Gaussian signal regions. It is demonstrated that the artificially filtered signal reconstructs the physical properties of single and multi-point jet statistics. The relationship between central moments and joint moments presented here focuses on the region of high turbulence levels, which generates the vast majority of jet mixing noise produced by turbofan engines. Further analysis is required to extend this investigation to intermittent zones and other jet noise sources, such as jet-surface installation noise.
Fractal Analysis of Local Activity and Chaotic Motion in Nonlinear Nonplanar Vibrations for Cantilever Beams
Authors: Zhang Mingming , Kong Pan , Hou Anping , Xu Yuru
Published: March 2022

Many problems in practical engineering can be simplified as the cantilever beam model, which is generally studied by theoretical analysis, experiment, and numerical simulation. This paper discusses the local activity of the nonlinear nonplanar motion of a cantilever beam at the equilibrium point. Firstly, the equilibrium point of the model and the Jacobian matrix have been calculated. The stability of the characteristic root corresponding to the characteristic polynomial has been analyzed. Secondly, the corresponding complexity function of the model at the equilibrium point has been given. Then, the local activity region of the model at the equilibrium point can be obtained by using the theory of the local activity. Based on the actual engineering research background, the damping coefficient is generally taken as 0 < c < 1. The cantilever beam model is the local activity at the equilibrium point only if the parameters of the model satisfy a certain condition. In the numerical simulation, it is found that when the proper parameters are selected in the local activity region, the cantilever beam can exhibit different types of chaotic motion. The local activity theory provides a theoretical basis for the parameter selection of the chaotic motion in the cantilever beam.
Estimating Effects of Radiation Frost on Wheat Using a Field-Based Frost Control Treatment to Stop Freezing Damage
Authors: Leske Brenton A. , Biddulph Thomas Ben
Published: March 2022

Crop phenotyping experiments have long struggled to have a reliable control treatment that excludes frost and associated freezing damage to plants. Previous attempts used a barrier, such as a removable shelter or cloth to exclude frost. However, these methods were labour intensive and varied in their effectiveness. An automated diesel heater was used to protect field plots of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) from frost damage. In 2018 and 2019 there were 22 and 33 radiation frost events from July to October at the field site. The heater maintained canopy air temperature above freezing (>0 °C) for the duration of the frost (~6–8 h). Heated plots had 2–3 °C warmer minimum canopy air temperatures. Cold and chilling damage was still present in heated plots and represented 20–30% floret sterility; freezing damage in non-heated plots accounted for an additional 10–30% floret sterility. Grain mapping revealed: grain set in the apical spikelets is most affected by frost damage; proximal florets (G1 and G2) contribute the most to grain yield, but distal (G3 and G4) are important contributors to grain yield when sterility in proximal florets occurs. These results demonstrate that a plot heater is a useful tool to study frost-induced freezing damage in cereal crops, by way of preventing freezing damage in heated field plots for direct comparison to naturally frosted plots. This approach could be used to develop improved damage functions for crop simulation models through a dose and timing-response experiment for natural frost incidence on cereal crops in field plots.
Genetic Architecture of Maize Stalk Diameter and Rind Penetrometer Resistance in a Recombinant Inbred Line Population
Authors: Liu Huanhuan , Wang Huan , Shao Cong , Han Youle , He Yonghui , Yin Zhitong
Published: March 2022

Stalk lodging presents a major constraint on maize (Zea mays L.) quantity and quality and hampers mechanized grain harvesting. Stalk diameter (SD) and rind penetrometer resistance (RPR) are crucial indicators of stalk lodging. To dissect the genetic architecture of these indicators, we constructed a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from a cross between maize inbred lines LDC-1 and YS501 to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) controlling SD and RPR. Corresponding phenotypes of basal second, third, and fourth internodes in four environments were determined. By integrating QTL mapping results based on individual environments and best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) values, we identified 12, 12, and 13 QTLs associated with SD and 17, 14, and 17 associated with RPR. Each QTL accounted for 3.83–21.72% of phenotypic variation. For SD-related QTLs, 30 of 37 were enriched in 12 QTL clusters; similarly, RPR-related QTLs had 38 of 48 enriched in 12 QTL clusters. The stable QTL qSD9-2 for SD on chromosome 9 was validated and delimited within a physical region of 9.97 Mb. Confidence intervals of RPR-related QTLs contained 169 genes involved in lignin and polysaccharide biosynthesis, with 12 of these less than 500 kb from the peak of the corresponding QTL. Our results deepen our understanding of the genetic mechanism of maize stalk strength and provide a basis for breeding lodging resistance.
SORL1 Polymorphisms in Mexican Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Toral-Rios Danira , Ruiz-Sánchez Elizabeth , Rodríguez Nancy Lucero Martínez , Maury-Rosillo Marlene , Rosas-Carrasco Óscar , Becerril-Pérez Fernando , Mena-Barranco Francisco , Carvajal-García Rosa , Silva-Adaya Daniela , Delgado-Namorado Yair , Ramos-Palacios Gerardo , Sánchez-Torres Carmen , Campos-Peña Victoria
Published: March 2022

The present study evaluated the risk effect of 12 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the SORL1 gene in the Mexican population using Late-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease (LOAD) and control subjects. Considering APOE as the strongest genetic risk factor for LOAD, we conducted interaction analyses between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the APOE genotype. Methods: Patients were interviewed during their scheduled visits at neurologic and geriatric clinics from different institutions. The LOAD diagnosis included neurological, geriatric, and psychiatric examinations, as well as the medical history and neuroimaging. Polymorphisms in SORL1 were genotyped by real-time PCR in 156 subjects with LOAD and 221 controls. APOE genotype was determined in each study subject. Allelic, genotypic, and haplotypic frequencies were analyzed; an ancestry analysis was also performed. Results: The A/A genotype in rs1784933 might be associated with an increased LOAD risk. Two blocks with high degree linkage disequilibrium (LD) were identified. The first block composed by the genetic variants rs668387, rs689021 and rs641120 showed a positive interaction (mainly the rs689021) with rs1784933 polymorphism. Moreover, we found a significant association between the APOE ε4 allele carriers and the variant rs2070045 located in the second LD block. Conclusion: The rs1784933 polymorphism is associated with LOAD in Mexican patients. In addition, the presence of APOE ε4 allele and SORL1 variants could represent a genetic interaction effect that favors LOAD risk in the Mexican population. SNPs have been proposed as genetic markers associated with the development of LOAD that can support the clinical diagnosis. Future molecular studies could help understand sporadic Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) among the Mexican population, where currently there is a sub-estimate number in terms of disease frequency and incidence.
Predicting Adverse Drug Reactions from Social Media Posts: Data Balance, Feature Selection and Deep Learning
Authors: Huang Jhih-Yuan , Lee Wei-Po , Lee King-Der
Published: March 2022

Social forums offer a lot of new channels for collecting patients’ opinions to construct predictive models of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) for post-marketing surveillance. However, due to the characteristics of social posts, there are many challenges still to be solved when deriving such models, mainly including problems caused by data sparseness, data features with a high-dimensionality, and term diversity in data. To tackle these crucial issues related to identifying ADRs from social posts, we perform data analytics from the perspectives of data balance, feature selection, and feature learning. Meanwhile, we design a comprehensive experimental analysis to investigate the performance of different data processing techniques and data modeling methods. Most importantly, we present a deep learning-based approach that adopts the BERT (Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers) model with a new batch-wise adaptive strategy to enhance the predictive performance. A series of experiments have been conducted to evaluate the machine learning methods with both manual and automated feature engineering processes. The results prove that with their own advantages both types of methods are effective in ADR prediction. In contrast to the traditional machine learning methods, our feature learning approach can automatically achieve the required task to save the manual effort for the large number of experiments.
Quality Characteristics of Oolong Tea Products in Different Regions and the Contribution of Thirteen Phytochemical Components to Its Taste
Authors: Wang Zhihui , Gan Shuang , Sun Weijiang , Chen Zhidan
Published: March 2022

Regionality is a term used in the tea industry to describe the particular style of tea produced by a growing region. Determining the characteristics of the tea of specific regions can help growers predict tea plant quality before harvesting and eventually production. As such, in this study, we collected representative Oolong tea samples from 15 regions in 8 countries. Quantitative description analysis (QDA) and a flavor wheel were used to analyze their sensory characteristics. Chemometrics was used to screen the phytochemical components that significantly contribute to the taste of Oolong tea. We preliminarily obtained 35 sensory characteristic descriptors and constructed a flavor wheel for Oolong tea. We found that Oolong tea in each region has unique sensory quality characteristics. The content of thirteen phytochemical components of Oolong tea in different regions widely varied, and the average coefficient of variation was 45.56%. Among of them, we found the largest difference in free amino acids. We identified the relationship between taste sub-attributes, and the thirteen phytochemical components was found through correlation analysis. Finally, we selected phytochemical components with significant effects on five taste sub-attributes that were selected from the thirteen detected phytochemical components. The construction of the Oolong tea flavor wheel can help realize the qualitative and quantitative sensory evaluation of Oolong tea from different origins and contribute to the quality identification and directional improvement of Oolong tea products.
First Record of Pandeid Jellyfish, Eutiara decorata Berberian, Michenet and Goy, 2021 (Hydrozoa, Anthoathecata, Pandeidae), from Japan
Authors: Watabe Mai , Minemizu Ryo , Miyake Hiroshi
Published: March 2022

Two specimens of pandeid species, Eutiara decorata Berberian, Michenet and Goy, 2021 were collected from Kumejima Island in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. These specimens with a small white apical process were not yet fully-grown adults. A hyperiid amphipod, Brachyscelus crusculum, was attached to Eutiara decorata in situ. Eutiara decorata has only been reported in Tahiti Island, French Polynesia, in 2021. This is the first record from Japan and the second record of occurrence since its original description.
Method for the Development of Accessible Mobile Serious Games for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Jaramillo-Alcázar Angel , Arias José , Albornoz Israel , Alvarado Alex , Luján-Mora Sergio
Published: March 2022

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) covers a range of neurodevelopmental disorders that begin in early childhood and affects developmental activities. This condition can negatively influence the gaining of knowledge, skills, and abilities, such as communication. Over time, different techniques and methods have been put into practice to teach and communicate with children with ASD. With the rapid advancement in the field of technology, specifically in smartphones, researchers have generated creative applications, such as mobile serious games, to help children with ASD. However, usability and accessibility have not been often taken into account in the development of this type of applications. For that reason, in this work we considered that both, usability and especially accessibility are a very important differentiators for the quality and efficiency of mobile serious games. Our approach has two important contributions, the incorporation of accessibility as a fundamental requirement in the development of a mobile serious game and the proposal of a method for the development of this type of applications for children with ASD, a method that can be used by other developers.
Differences among Sociodemographic Variables, Physical Fitness Levels, and Body Composition with Adherence to Regular Physical Activity in Older Adults from the EXERNET Multicenter Study
Authors: Jiménez-Zazo Fabio , Romero-Blanco Cristina , Cabanillas Esther , Mañas Asier , Casajús José A. , Gusi Narcís , Gesteiro Eva , González-Gross Marcela , Villa-Vicente José-Gerardo , Espino-Toron Luis , Ara Ignacio , Aznar Susana
Published: March 2022

The aim of this study was to explore the differences among between adherence to physical activity (PA) and sociodemographic variables, body composition, and physical fitness levels in older adults (>65 years). A number of 2712 participants (2086 female; 76.92%) ranging from 65 to 92 years, participated in the study. Stages of change (SoC) for PA from the transtheoretical model of change (TTM), together with different sociodemographic variables, physical fitness tests (Senior Fitness Test), and waist and hip circumferences were evaluated. Significant differences were found in age, gender, educational level, current income, physical fitness test, and body composition (all of them, p < 0.05), according to the different SoC. Greater adherence to PA practice (action and maintenance stages) was related to better academic level, higher economic income, the male gender, better results in the physical fitness test, and healthier anthropometrics perimeters. Future research is needed to identify the relationship between these variables longitudinally.
Motivational Profile, Future Expectations, and Attitudes toward Study of Secondary School Students in Spain: Results of the PISA Report 2018
Authors: Mercader Rubio Isabel , Oropesa Ruiz Nieves Fátima , Ángel Nieves Gutiérrez , Fernández Martínez Mª Mar
Published: March 2022

During the secondary school stage, students’ motivation to study may decrease and affect their future expectations, which are exclusively directed toward the search for employment, with the consequent abandonment of academic training. The main objective of the present paper was to examine the sources of motivation to study and the future expectations of secondary school students, as well as to develop a predictive model of their future expectations based on the variables studied. The sample consisted of a total of 35,943 students from different Spanish high schools, with an average age of 15.83 (SD = 0.28). The instrument used was the placement tests referring to the PISA 2018 report. On the one hand, the results showed that the main source of motivation for secondary school students to study responds to some kind of imposition either from the surrounding environment or internally, which appears to be represented by identified or controlled extrinsic motivation. In terms of future expectations, important factors included the fundamentally expression of their intention to continue studying rather than to stop studying, facts or economic support which they considered as influential to their capacity to study, and the opinions of others such as parents and friends. On the other hand, sex showed some significant differences in terms of future expectations but did not predict them. The regression model explained 20.9% of the variability of future expectations based on variables such as grade repetition, reasons that discourage studying (not being interested in the contents and never studying), and the influences on future expectations (school grades and subject mastery). Finally, the structural equation model revealed that grade repetition predicts the reasons that discourage studying and these in turn impact future expectations which are influenced by school grades, performing well in a specialty, and having talent. Likewise, there was a negative correlation between repeating a course and school grades, performing well in a specialty, and having talent. Based on these results, it would be advisable to improve the intrinsic motivation of secondary school students by means of educational actions that contribute to the adjustment of their future expectations and attend to the students’ own interests, desires, and competencies, all with the main purpose of contributing to meaningful learning and facilitating professional orientation, and above all, attending to diversity to reduce school failure.
Association between Healthy Lifestyle (Diet Quality, Physical Activity, Normal Body Weight) and Periodontal Diseases in Korean Adults
Authors: Hwang Su-Yeon , Jang Jong-Hwa , Park Jung-Eun
Published: March 2022

This study aimed to investigate the association between healthy lifestyle (HLS; i.e., diet quality, physical activity, normal weight) and periodontal diseases in Korean adults. Studying this association may help inform future intervention programs aimed at preventing the development of periodontal diseases. Raw data of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) VII (2016–2018) were used. Data from 12,689 adults aged 19 years and over who had a periodontal examination were analyzed. The associations between HLS and periodontal diseases were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression after adjusting for demographic and health factors as covariates. We found that each of the HLS (diet quality, physical activity, normal body weight) practices was significantly associated with periodontal diseases (OR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.13–1.55; OR: 1.16, 95% CI: 1.04–1.30; OR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.14–1.40, respectively). In particular, having poor HLS practices was identified as a risk factor for periodontal diseases (OR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.10–2.15). HLS was associated with periodontal diseases. Thus, in addition to improving oral hygiene—the primary focus in the past—improving HLS should be emphasized for patients with periodontal diseases.
A Critical Analysis of the COVID-19 Hospitalization Network in Countries with Limited Resources
Authors: Araujo Marcio L. V. , Miranda José G. V. , Vasconcelos Rodrigo N. , Cambui Elaine C. B. , Rosário Raphael S. , Macedo Márcio C. F. , Bandeira Antonio C. , Souza Márcia S. P. L. , Silva Ana C. F. N. , Filho Aloisio S. Nascimento , Murari Thiago B. , Jorge Eduardo M. F. , Saba Hugo
Published: March 2022

To effectively combat the COVID-19 pandemic, countries with limited resources could only allocate intensive and non-intensive care units to a low number of regions. In this work, we evaluated the actual displacement of infected patients in search of care, aiming to understand how the networks of planned and actual hospitalizations take place. To assess the flow of hospitalizations outside the place of residence, we used the concepts of complex networks. Our findings indicate that the current distribution of health facilities in Bahia, Brazil, is not sufficient to effectively reduce the distances traveled by patients with COVID-19 who require hospitalization. We believe that unnecessary trips to distant hospitals can put both the sick and the healthy involved in the transport process at risk, further delaying the stabilization of the COVID-19 pandemic in each region of the state of Bahia. From the results found, we concluded that, to mitigate this situation, the implementation of health units in countries with limited resources should be based on scientific methods, and international collaborations should be established.
Increasing Physical Exercise through Action and Coping Planning
Authors: Wee Zhi Qiang Clement , Dillon Denise
Published: March 2022

The intention-behaviour gap has been a barrier to health behavioural change. A total of 85 participants (aged 18–56 years) were recruited for a study that examined how two types of planning (Action and Coping) could bridge the intention-behaviour gap and increase physical exercise behaviours. The online study took place over two weeks, with participants completing pre- and post- measures of past exercise habits, intentions to exercise, subsequent physical exercise behaviours, intrinsic motivation levels, and engagement in action and coping planning. A hierarchical regression analysis showed that intentions, past exercise habits and action planning were significant predictors of change in physical exercise behaviours. Positive correlations were observed between participants’ past habits and their exercise behaviours during the study. 71.8% of participants met the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended guidelines for physical activity at the end of the study compared to the initial 58.8%, which evidences a significant increase in participant physical exercise behaviours. Our findings revealed that while intentions are important predictors for behavioural change, cultivating habits to engage in regular exercise seems to outweigh the significance of intentions. Moreover, action planning could be a helpful intervention to bridge the intention-behaviour gap to increase overall physical exercise behaviours. In the long-term, this would improve an individual’s mental and physical wellbeing and potentially alleviate the costly burden on public health services.
Promoting COVID-19 Vaccination Using the Health Belief Model: Does Information Acquisition from Divergent Sources Make a Difference?
Authors: Yang Xiaodong , Wei Lai , Liu Zhiyue
Published: March 2022

As a promising approach to stop the escalation of the pandemic, COVID-19 vaccine promotion is becoming a challenging task for authorities worldwide. The purpose of this study was to identify the effective sources for disseminating information on the COVID-19 vaccine to promote individuals’ behavioral intention to take the vaccine. Based on the Health Belief Model (HBM), this study illustrated the mechanism of how COVID-19 information acquisition from different sources was transformed into vaccination intentions via health beliefs. Using an online survey in China, the structural equation model results revealed that perceived benefits and cues to action were positively associated with COVID-19 vaccination intentions, and perceived barriers were negatively related to the intentions. However, perceived susceptibility and perceived severity had no significant relationships with the intentions. Moreover, the findings unveiled differences in the effects of acquiring information via multiple sources among traditional media, new media, and interpersonal interactions. Notably, new media and interpersonal interactions were more salient in promoting vaccination intention via health beliefs, compared with traditional media. The findings from this study will benefit health officials in terms of utilizing different information sources in vaccine programs.
Laminar Necrosis and Hypoxic Damage of the Placenta: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Mangialardi Katia , Fanelli Margherita , Cazzato Gerardo , Marzullo Andrea , Baldassarre Maria Elisabetta , Vimercati Antonella , Resta Leonardo
Published: March 2022

The aim of this study is to verify the role of laminar necrosis (LN) in the diagnosis of hypoxic damage of the placenta. This is a retrospective case-control study in which 50 cases with laminar necrosis were compared with 100 gestational age-matched controls without laminar necrosis in a 1:2 ratio. The parameters analyzed were: the presence of other placental lesions, obstetric characteristics and neonatal outcome. For each of the 50 cases, the area affected by the lesion was detected, and the lesions were classified into three groups based on the morphology and time of onset of the lesion in order to understand whether these characteristics of the lesion had a clinical-pathology. The results showed that including the search for LN among placental lesions generally examined is useful to guide the pathologist in the diagnosis of placental dysfunction of hypoxic origin.
Preliminary Study of the Psychometric Properties of a Questionnaire to Assess Spanish Canoeists’ Perceptions of the Sport System’s Capacity for Talent Development in Women’s Canoeing
Authors: Guevara-Pérez Juan Carlos , Rojo-Ramos Jorge , Gómez-Paniagua Santiago , Pérez-Gómez Jorge , Adsuar José Carmelo
Published: March 2022

Given the importance of sport at a global level, the competitiveness of sport systems is a determining factor in attracting resources from different sectors. Competitiveness is largely measured by the athletes’ level. Therefore, the production of competitive talent is an aspect that occupies the managers of different sports systems. This study analyzed the factor structure and reliability of a questionnaire for the evaluation of the perceptions of actors of a sport (canoeing) on the ability of the national system to produce talent in one of its modalities recently incorporated in the Olympic Games (OG) of Tokyo 2021. The sample consisted of 167 individuals linked to Spanish canoeing, who responded to the questionnaire “Evaluation of the current position in canoeing-sport with regard to talent” of the International Canoe Federation (ICF). Exploratory, confirmatory and reliability factor analyses were performed. The results showed a one-dimensional factor structure composed of seven items, with good and excellent goodness-of-fit values and high reliability (McDonald’s Omega = 0.82). Thus, the ICF questionnaire can be considered a quick and easy to apply tool to analyze the perceptions about the development of talent in canoeing in order to take actions for the recruitment, promotion and development of talent.
The Implementation of Preventive Health Measures in Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises—A Combined Quantitative/Qualitative Study of Its Determinants from the Perspective of Enterprise Representatives
Authors: Benning Friederike E. , van Oostrom Sandra H. , van Nassau Femke , Schaap Rosanne , Anema Johannes R. , Proper Karin I.
Published: March 2022

The workplace is an ideal environment for promoting workers’ health. Nevertheless, preventive health measures are insufficiently implemented, especially in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with up to 250 employees. The aim of this study was to investigate determinants for the implementation of measures to prevent musculoskeletal and mental health disorders from the perspective of enterprise representatives in Dutch SMEs. An online survey was completed by 79 SME representatives (e.g., owners, HR professionals and occupational health and safety officers) in the cleaning, care, construction and transport sectors. In addition, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 enterprise representatives. The interview transcripts were analyzed using an inductive approach. Survey data showed that the focus of prevention efforts by SMEs is on improving working conditions and complying with legally required occupational health requirements, while lifestyle measures are rarely implemented. The determinants of implementation according to enterprise representatives were associated with 10 distinct themes. These were (1) available resources (both finances and staff), (2) complexity of implementation of measures, (3) awareness, (4) knowledge and expertise, (5) availability of time, (6) employer and worker commitment, (7) workers’ openness for measures, (8) communication, (9) workers’ trust and autonomy and (10) integration in organizational policy. These findings can serve as a support for developing strategies for implementing preventive health measures in SMEs.
Central and Peripheral Fatigue in Physical Exercise Explained: A Narrative Review
Authors: Tornero-Aguilera José Francisco , Jimenez-Morcillo Jorge , Rubio-Zarapuz Alejandro , Clemente-Suárez Vicente J.
Published: March 2022

The study of the origin and implications of fatigue in exercise has been widely investigated, but not completely understood given the complex multifactorial mechanisms involved. Then, it is essential to understand the fatigue mechanism to help trainers and physicians to prescribe an adequate training load. The present narrative review aims to analyze the multifactorial factors of fatigue in physical exercise. To reach this aim, a consensus and critical review were performed using both primary sources, such as scientific articles, and secondary ones, such as bibliographic indexes, web pages, and databases. The main search engines were PubMed, SciELO, and Google Scholar. Central and peripheral fatigue are two unison constructs part of the Integrative Governor theory, in which both psychological and physiological drives and requirements are underpinned by homeostatic principles. The relative activity of each one is regulated by dynamic negative feedback activity, as the fundamental general operational controller. Fatigue is conditioned by factors such as gender, affecting men and women differently. Sleep deprivation or psychological disturbances caused, for example, by stress, can affect neural activation patterns, realigning them and slowing down simple mental operations in the context of fatigue. Then, fatigue can have different origins not only related with physiological factors. Therefore, all these prisms must be considered for future approaches from sport and clinical perspectives.