bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In Vitro Activity of Pentamidine Alone and in Combination with Antibiotics against Multidrug-Resistant Clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa Strains
Authors: Herrera-Espejo Soraya , Cebrero-Cangueiro Tania , Labrador-Herrera Gema , Pachón Jerónimo , Pachón-Ibáñez María Eugenia , Álvarez-Marín Rocío
Published: December 2020

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a public health problem causing both community and hospital-acquired infections, and thus the development of new therapies for these infections is critical. The objective of this study was to analyze in vitro the activity of pentamidine as adjuvant in combinations to antibiotics against seven clinical P. aeruginosa strains. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was determined following standard protocols, and the results were interpreted according to the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) breakpoints; however, the gentamicin activity was interpreted according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) recommendations. The bactericidal in vitro activity was studied at 1×MIC concentrations by time–kill curves, and also performed in three selected strains at 1/2×MIC of pentamidine. All studies were performed in triplicate. The pentamidine MIC range was 400–1600 μg/mL. Four of the strains were MDR, and the other three were resistant to two antibiotic families. The combinations of pentamidine at 1×MIC showed synergistic activity against all the tested strains, except for pentamidine plus colistin. Pentamidine plus imipenem and meropenem were the combinations that showed synergistic activity against the most strains. At 1/2×MIC, pentamidine plus antibiotics were synergistic with all three analyzed strains. In summary, pentamidine in combination with antibiotics showed in vitro synergy against multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa clinical strains, which suggests its possible use as adjuvant to antibiotics for the therapy of infections from MDR P. aeruginosa.
Hydrophobic Fluorinated Porous Organic Frameworks for Enhanced Adsorption of Nerve Agents
Authors: Zhou Shuyuan , Kong Weimin , Wang Kunpeng , Han Hao , Yang Derui , Zhao Yue , Zhou Hong , Meng Qinghao , Yuan Ye
Published: December 2020

Humidity in the air can significantly limit the adsorption capacity of porous materials used for the removal of chemical warfare agents (CWAs). Therefore, in this work, we prepared a porous organic material (C-1) and its fluoride derivative (C-1-F) via a Schiff base reaction and determined their structure and morphological properties, hydrophobicity, and adsorption capacity. Compared to the parent C-1 material, both the channel and particle surface of C-1-F were highly hydrophobic, thus stabilizing the fluorinated porous material under various humidity conditions. Dimethyl methyl phosphonate was used as a nerve agent simulant to examine the efficiency of the synthesized porous materials, indicating that C-1-F had a higher adsorption capacity than C-1 under dry conditions. Moreover, unlike C-1, the adsorption capacity of hydrophobic C-1-F was not affected even under a relative humidity of 20%, and it is still able to maintain high adsorption capacity at a relative humidity of 60%, suggesting its high application potential in the removal of CWAs.
Martian Multichannel Diode Laser Spectrometer (M-DLS) for In-Situ Atmospheric Composition Measurements on Mars Onboard ExoMars-2022 Landing Platform
Authors: Rodin Alexander , Vinogradov Imant , Zenevich Sergei , Spiridonov Maxim , Gazizov Iskander , Kazakov Viktor , Meshcherinov Viacheslav , Golovin Ilya , Kozlova Tatyana , Lebedev Yuri , Malashevich Svetlana , Nosov Artem , Roste Oksana , Venkstern Alla , Klimchuk Artem , Semenov Vladimir , Barke Viktor , Durry Georges , Ghysels-Dubois Mélanie , Tepteeva Elena , Korablev Oleg
Published: December 2020

We present a concept of the Martian multichannel diode laser spectrometer (M-DLS) instrument, a part of the science payload onboard Kazachok landing platform in the framework of the ExoMars mission second stage. The instrument, a laser spectrometer operating in the mid-IR spectral range, is aimed at long-term monitoring of isotopic ratios in main Martian volatiles—carbon dioxide and water vapor—in the near-surface atmosphere. The M-DLS spectrometer utilizes the integrated cavity output spectroscopy (ICOS) technique to enhance an effective optical path length and combines high sensitivity and measurement accuracy with relatively simple and robust design. Provided proper compensation of systematic errors by data post-processing, retrievals of main isotopic ratios with relative accuracy of 1% to 3% are expected during at least one Martian year.
Computational Fluid Dynamics Applied to Lubricated Mechanical Components: Review of the Approaches to Simulate Gears, Bearings, and Pumps
Authors: Maccioni Lorenzo , Concli Franco
Published: December 2020

The lubrication of the mechanical components reduces friction, and increases the efficiency and the reliability. However, the interaction of moving components with the lubricant leads to power losses due to viscous and inertial effects. Nowadays, the study of lubricant behavior can be carried out through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. Nevertheless, the modeling of the computational domain within complex mechanical systems (e.g., ordinary, planetary and cycloidal gearboxes, roller bearings, and pumps) requires the exploitation of specific CFD techniques. In the last decades, many mesh-based or meshless approaches have been developed to deal with the complex management of the topological changes of the computational domain or the modeling of complex kinematics. This paper aims to collect and to classify the scientific literature where these approaches have been exploited for the study of lubricated mechanical systems. The goal of this research is to shed a light on the current state of the art in performing CFD analysis of these systems. Moreover, the objective of this study is to stress the limits and the capabilities of the main CFD techniques applied in this field of research. Results show the main differences in terms of accuracy achievable and the level of complexity that can be managed with the different CFD approaches.
Valorization Potential of Oilseed Cakes by Subcritical Water Extraction
Authors: Švarc-Gajić Jaroslava , Morais Simone , Delerue-Matos Cristina , Vieira Elsa F. , Spigno Giorgia
Published: December 2020

The oil industry generates great quantities of oilseed cakes that remain after oil extraction. New technologies are required for their valorization, owing to their high nutritional value. Pumpkin, flax and hemp seed cakes were extracted by subcritical water under different conditions that included different gas atmospheres and homogenous catalysis, and for the first time their properties were directly compared. Extracts obtained in a nitrogen atmosphere, nitrogen atmosphere with the addition of a catalyst, and carbon dioxide atmosphere were chemically and nutritionally characterised. In the aqueous extracts obtained under different extraction conditions, the content of lipids, proteins and selected minerals (calcium, potassium, sodium and phosphorus) were determined. A detailed amino acid profile was determined by chromatographic analysis. The highest relative content of essential amino acids was observed in pumpkin seed extracts (51.49 ± 0.47 to 58.58 ± 0.45 mg/100 g dry extract), whereas hemp seed extracts were the richest in flavour amino acids aspartic acid, glutamic acid and alanine. Extraction in a carbon dioxide atmosphere or in nitrogen atmosphere with a HCl modifier released generally more minerals into the aqueous phase. Aqueous oilseed cake extracts demonstrated a favorable chemical composition and great nutritional value, opening new possibilities for exploitation of this biowaste. Based on the obtained results, oilseed cake extracts obtained by subcritical water have great potential to be used for the fortification of different food products, as well as in cosmetics.
Plant Defence Mechanisms Are Modulated by the Circadian System
Authors: Butt Ghazala Rauf , Qayyum Zainab Abdul , Jones Matthew Alan
Published: December 2020

Plant health is an important aspect of food security, with pathogens, pests, and herbivores all contributing to yield losses in crops. Plants’ defence against pathogens is complex and utilises several metabolic processes, including the circadian system, to coordinate their response. In this review, we examine how plants’ circadian rhythms contribute to defence mechanisms, particularly in response to bacterial pathogen attack. Circadian rhythms contribute to many aspects of the plant–pathogen interaction, although significant gaps in our understanding remain to be explored. We conclude that if these relationships are explored further, better disease management strategies could be revealed.
Structural Studies of HNA Substrate Specificity in Mutants of an Archaeal DNA Polymerase Obtained by Directed Evolution
Authors: Samson Camille , Legrand Pierre , Tekpinar Mustafa , Rozenski Jef , Abramov Mikhail , Holliger Philipp , Pinheiro Vitor , Herdewijn Piet , Delarue Marc
Published: December 2020

Archaeal DNA polymerases from the B-family (polB) have found essential applications in biotechnology. In addition, some of their variants can accept a wide range of modified nucleotides or xenobiotic nucleotides, such as 1,5-anhydrohexitol nucleic acid (HNA), which has the unique ability to selectively cross-pair with DNA and RNA. This capacity is essential to allow the transmission of information between different chemistries of nucleic acid molecules. Variants of the archaeal polymerase from Thermococcus gorgonarius, TgoT, that can either generate HNA from DNA (TgoT_6G12) or DNA from HNA (TgoT_RT521) have been previously identified. To understand how DNA and HNA are recognized and selected by these two laboratory-evolved polymerases, we report six X-ray structures of these variants, as well as an in silico model of a ternary complex with HNA. Structural comparisons of the apo form of TgoT_6G12 together with its binary and ternary complexes with a DNA duplex highlight an ensemble of interactions and conformational changes required to promote DNA or HNA synthesis. MD simulations of the ternary complex suggest that the HNA-DNA hybrid duplex remains stable in the A-DNA helical form and help explain the presence of mutations in regions that would normally not be in contact with the DNA if it were not in the A-helical form. One complex with two incorporated HNA nucleotides is surprisingly found in a one nucleotide-backtracked form, which is new for a DNA polymerase. This information can be used for engineering a new generation of more efficient HNA polymerase variants.
Children’s Interstitial and Diffuse Lung Diseases (ChILD) in 2020
Authors: Ferraro Valentina Agnese , Zanconato Stefania , Zamunaro Andrea , Carraro Silvia
Published: December 2020

The term children interstitial lung diseases (chILD) refers to a heterogeneous group of rare diseases that diffusely affect the lung. ChILD specific to children younger than 2 years of age include diffuse developmental disorders, growth abnormalities, specific conditions of undefined etiology (neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia of infancy and pulmonary interstitial glycogenosis) and surfactant protein disorders. Clinical manifestations are highly variable, ranging from the absence of relevant symptoms to a severe onset. Most commonly, chILD presents with nonspecific respiratory signs and symptoms, such as dyspnea, polypnea, dry cough, wheezing, recurrent respiratory infections and exercise intolerance. In the diagnostic approach to a child with suspected ILD, chest high resolution computed tomography and genetic tests play a central role. Then, if the diagnosis remains uncertain, laryngotracheal-bronchoscopy and lung biopsy are needed. Pharmacological treatment is mostly empiric and based on anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory drugs including corticosteroids, hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin. Despite chILD overall rarity, pediatric pulmonologists must be familiar with these diseases in order to carry out a timely diagnosis and patient treatment.
Interfacial Microstructure of FeCoNiCrAl0.1 High Entropy Alloy and Pure Copper Prepared by Explosive Welding
Authors: Tian Qichao , Liang Hanliang , Zhao Yang , Ma Honghao , Shen Zhaowu , Sun Yuling , Yang Ming
Published: December 2020

The FeCoNiCrAl0.1 high entropy alloys (HEAs) and pure copper (Cu) composite plates were successfully fabricated by the explosive welding technique using two different gap distances. The interfacial microstructure, elemental distribution, grain structure of vortex zone and hardness were characterized using optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD), nanoindentation and micro-hardness tester. The explosive weldability window was calculated to verify the weldability of HEAs and Cu. The results indicated that the Cu/HEA composites presented typical wavy structures without visible defects and have an excellent bonding quality. The elements mixed and formed intermetallic compounds at the vortex zones. The grains near the vortex zones showed strong deformation, and phase transformation occurred. Compared with the matrix metals, the hardness of Cu and HEAs increased near the welding interface and sharply increased to 375 HV near the vortex zone.
Sonophotocatalytic Degradation of Malachite Green by Nanocrystalline Chitosan-Ascorbic Acid@NiFe2O4 Spinel Ferrite
Authors: Hasan Imran , Bassi Akshara , Alharbi Khadijah H. , BinSharfan Ibtisam I. , Khan Rais Ahmad , Alslame Ali
Published: December 2020

Statistics show that more than 700 thousand tons of dye are produced annually across the globe. Around 10–20% of this is used in industrial processes such as printing and dyeing, while about 50% of the dye produced is discharged into the environment without proper physicochemical treatment. Even trace amounts of dye in water can reduce oxygen solubility and have carcinogenic, mutagenic, and toxic effects on aquatic organisms. Therefore, before dye-containing wastewater is discharged into the environment, it must be properly treated. The present study investigates the green synthesis of nickel ferrite NiFe2O4 (NIFE) spinel magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) via chemical coprecipitation of a solution of Ni2+/Fe3+ in the presence of a biopolymer blend of chitosan (CT) and ascorbic acid (AS). The magnetic nanomaterial was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and vibrating-sample magnetometry (VSM). The material was further explored as a catalyst for the photocatalytic degradation of malachite green (MG) under visible light irradiation coupled with ultrasonic waves. The combination of 90 min of visible solar light irradiation with 6.35 W·mL−1 ultrasonic power at pH 8 resulted in 99% of the photocatalytic efficiency of chitosan-ascorbic acid@NIFE (CTAS@NIFE) catalyst for 70 mg·L−1 MG. The quenching of the photocatalytic efficiency from 98% to 64% in the presence of isopropyl alcohol (IPA) suggested the involvement of hydroxy (•OH) radicals in the mineralization process of MG. The high regression coefficients (R2) of 0.99 for 35, 55, and 70 mg·L−1 MG indicated the sonophotocatalysis of MG by CTAS@NIFE was best defined by a pseudo first-order kinetic model. The mechanism involves the adsorption of MG on the catalyst surface in the first step and thereby mineralization of the MG by the generated hydroxyl radicals (•OH) under the influence of visible radiation coupled with 6.34 W·mL−1 ultrasonic power. In the present study the application of photodegradation process with sonochemistry results in 99% of MG mineralization without effecting the material structure unlike happens in the case adsorption process. So, the secondary pollution (generally happens in case of adsorption) can be avoided by reusing the spent material for another application instead of disposing it. Thus, the ecofriendly synthesis protocol, ease in design of experimentation like use of solar irradiation instead of electric power lamps, reusability and high efficiency of the material suggested the study to be potentially economical for industrial development at pilot scale towards wastewater remediation.
Analysis of NMR Spectra of Submicro-Containers with Biocide DCOIT
Authors: Aidarova Saule B. , Issayeva Assem B. , Sharipova Altynay A. , Grigoriev Dmitry O. , Miller Reinhard , Seilkhanov Tulegen M. , Babayev Alpamys A. , Issakhov Miras O.
Published: December 2020

Nowadays, the search for and development of new forms of materials with biocides is an actual problem of the modern science of nanosized materials due to the problem of microbiological contamination, which can be solved by using nanocontainers carrying biocides. Depending on the morphology of the nanocontainers and the filled active agents, it is possible to create coatings with specially designed self-healing functionality or multifunctional properties. The purpose of this work was to produce submicro-containers (SMCs) with a shell of SiO2 nanoparticles and a core of polymerized 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate filled with 5-dichloro-2-n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (DCOIT) in an oil in water (O/W) emulsion. The chemical nature of the individual components of the system and nano-capsules were investigated using NMR spectroscopy. The size and zeta potential of the SMCs were measured by a dynamic light scattering method (d = 170–180 nm, polydispersity index PDI = 0.125 and zeta-potential = 55 mV), the morphology of their outer surface was determined using SEM. The results of NMR analysis showed that during the addition of the biocide into the SMCs, its chemical structure is retained, as is its activity. Minor changes in the chemical shifts of the 1H NMR spectra of the SMCs with DCOIT, as well as of the biocide itself, confirm the inclusion of DCOIT inside the SMCs.
Crystal Structures and Electrical Resistivity of Three Exotic TMTSF Salts with I

3
−

: Determination of Valence by DFT and MP2 Calculations
Authors: Yoshino Harukazu , Iwasaki Yoshiki , Tanaka Rika , Tsujimoto Yuka , Matsuoka Chiaki
Published: December 2020

Three novel organic conductors (TMTSF)8(I3)5, (TMTSF)5(I3)2, and (TMTSF)4(I3)4·THF (THF = tetrahydrofuran) were synthesized and their crystal structures were characterized by X-ray diffraction analyses, where TMTSF denotes tetramethyltetraselenafulvalene. The crystals of both the (TMTSF)8(I3)5 and (TMTSF)5(I3)2 are composed of one-dimensional stacks of TMTSF trimers separated by TMTSF monomers. The crystal of the (TMTSF)4(I3)4·THF is composed of the TMTSF tetramers and I3− tetramers; and regarded as the elongated rock-salt structure. The electrical conductivity of the (TMTSF)8(I3)5 and (TMTSF)5(I3)2 is about 60 and 50 S·cm−1 at room temperature, respectively. The electrical resistivity of (TMTSF)8(I3)5 is weakly metallic below room temperature and rapidly increases below 88 and 53 K on cooling suggesting two possible phase transitions. The electrical resistivity of (TMTSF)5(I3)2 is semiconducting below room temperature but shows an anomaly around 190 K, below which the activation energy becomes small. The application of hydrostatic pressure up to 1.7 GPa do not change these behaviors of (TMTSF)8(I3)5 and (TMTSF)5(I3)2 very much. A method to evaluate the non-integer valence of crystallographically independent TMTSF molecules is developed by using the DFT (density-functional-theory) and MP2 (Hartree–Fock calculations followed by Møller–Plesset correlation energy calculations truncated at second order) calculations. It is shown that the method gives the valence of the TMTSF molecules of the I3 salts consistent with their electrical properties.
Layered Double Hydroxides (LDHs)
Authors: Pizzoferrato Roberto , Richetta Maria
Published: December 2020

n/a
A Memory-Efficient Encoding Method for Processing Mixed-Type Data on Machine Learning
Authors: Lopez-Arevalo Ivan , Aldana-Bobadilla Edwin , Molina-Villegas Alejandro , Galeana-Zapién Hiram , Muñiz-Sanchez Victor , Gausin-Valle Saul
Published: December 2020

The most common machine-learning methods solve supervised and unsupervised problems based on datasets where the problem’s features belong to a numerical space. However, many problems often include data where numerical and categorical data coexist, which represents a challenge to manage them. To transform categorical data into a numeric form, preprocessing tasks are compulsory. Methods such as one-hot and feature-hashing have been the most widely used encoding approaches at the expense of a significant increase in the dimensionality of the dataset. This effect introduces unexpected challenges to deal with the overabundance of variables and/or noisy data. In this regard, in this paper we propose a novel encoding approach that maps mixed-type data into an information space using Shannon’s Theory to model the amount of information contained in the original data. We evaluated our proposal with ten mixed-type datasets from the UCI repository and two datasets representing real-world problems obtaining promising results. For demonstrating the performance of our proposal, this was applied for preparing these datasets for classification, regression, and clustering tasks. We demonstrate that our encoding proposal is remarkably superior to one-hot and feature-hashing encoding in terms of memory efficiency. Our proposal can preserve the information conveyed by the original data.
Electrical Properties and Biological Synaptic Simulation of Ag/MXene/SiO2/Pt RRAM Devices
Authors: Lian Xiaojuan , Shen Xinyi , Fu Jinke , Gao Zhixuan , Wan Xiang , Liu Xiaoyan , Hu Ertao , Xu Jianguang , Tong Yi
Published: December 2020

Utilizing electronic devices to emulate biological synapses for the construction of artificial neural networks has provided a feasible research approach for the future development of artificial intelligence systems. Until now, different kinds of electronic devices have been proposed in the realization of biological synapse functions. However, the device stability and the power consumption are major challenges for future industrialization applications. Herein, an electronic synapse of MXene/SiO2 structure-based resistive random-access memory (RRAM) devices has been designed and fabricated by taking advantage of the desirable properties of SiO2 and 2D MXene material. The proposed RRAM devices, Ag/MXene/SiO2/Pt, exhibit the resistance switching characteristics where both the volatile and nonvolatile behaviors coexist in a single device. These intriguing features of the Ag/MXene/SiO2/Pt devices make them more applicable for emulating biological synaptic plasticity. Additionally, the conductive mechanisms of the Ag/MXene/SiO2/Pt RRAM devices have been discussed on the basis of our experimental results.
Probing the Effect of Titanium Substitution on the Sodium Storage in Na3Ni2BiO6 Honeycomb-Type Structure
Authors: Zemlyanushin Eugen , Pfeifer Kristina , Sarapulova Angelina , Etter Martin , Ehrenberg Helmut , Dsoke Sonia
Published: December 2020

Na3Ni2BiO6 with Honeycomb structure suffers from poor cycle stability when applied as cathode material for sodium-ion batteries. Herein, the strategy to improve the stability is to substitute Ni and Bi with inactive Ti. Monoclinic Na3Ni2-xBi1-yTix+yO6 powders with different Ti content were successfully synthesized via sol gel method, and 0.3 mol of Ti was determined as a maximum concentration to obtain a phase-pure compound. A solid-solution in the system of O3-NaNi0.5Ti0.5O2 and O3-Na3Ni2BiO6 is obtained when this critical concentration is not exceeded. The capacity of the first desodiation process at 0.1 C of Na3Ni2BiO6 (~93 mAh g−1) decreases with the increasing Ti concentration to ~77 mAh g−1 for Na3Ni2Bi0.9Ti0.1O6 and to ~82 mAh g−1 for Na3Ni0.9Bi0.8Ti0.3O6, respectively. After 100 cycles at 1 C, a better electrochemical kinetics is obtained for the Ti-containing structures, where a fast diffusion effect of Na+-ions is more pronounced. As a result of in operando synchrotron radiation diffraction, during the first sodiation (O1-P3-O’3-O3) the O’3 phase, which is formed in the Na3Ni2BiO6 is fully or partly replaced by P’3 phase in the Ti substituted compounds. This leads to an improvement in the kinetics of the electrochemical process. The pathway through prismatic sites of Na+-ions in the P’3 phase seems to be more favourable than through octahedral sites of O’3 phase. Additionally, at high potential, a partial suppression of the reversible phase transition P3-O1-P3 is revealed.
An Assessment of the Recent Evolution of the Streamflow in a Near-Natural System: A Case Study in the Headwaters of the Mero Basin (Galicia, Spain)
Authors: Rodríguez-Blanco M. L. , Taboada-Castro M. M. , Taboada-Castro M. T.
Published: December 2020

Observational trend analysis is fundamental for documenting changes in river flows and placing extreme events in their longer-term historical context. Observations from near-natural catchments, i.e., with little or no alteration by humans, are of great importance in detecting and attributing streamflow trends. The purpose of this study is to analyze the annual and seasonal trends of stream discharge (mean, low and high flows) in a headwater catchment in NW Spain, i.e., in the wettest corner of the Iberian Peninsula. The results showed no significant decrease in the mean annual stream discharge. However, significantly lower summer and autumn mean stream discharge and an increase in low flow period were detected, in addition to lesser autumn high flow. The rainfall pattern followed an upward trend, but was not significant. This different pattern shown by rainfall and discharge indicates that is not sufficient to explain the observed trend in stream discharge. Air temperature, most notably by enhancing evapotranspiration, may explain the altered patterns of stream discharge.
Women’s Barriers to Weight Loss, Perception of Future Diabetes Risk and Opinions of Diet Strategies Following Gestational Diabetes: An Online Survey
Authors: Gray Kristy L. , McKellar Lois , O’Reilly Sharleen L. , Clifton Peter M. , Keogh Jennifer B.
Published: December 2020

Weight loss after gestational diabetes (GDM) reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2DM); however, weight loss remains challenging in this population. In order to explore perceptions of T2DM risk, barriers to weight loss, and views of diet strategies in women with previous GDM, a cross-sectional online survey of n = 429 women in Australia aged ≥18 years with previous GDM was conducted. Opinions of intermittent energy restriction (IER) were of interest. Seventy-five percent of responders (n = 322) had overweight or obesity, and 34% (n = 144) believed they had a high risk of developing T2DM. Within the Theoretical Domains Framework, barriers to weight loss were prominently related to Environmental Context and Resources, Beliefs about Capabilities, and Behavioural Regulation. Exercising was the most tried method of weight loss over other diet strategies (71%, n = 234) and weight loss support by a dietician was appealing as individual appointments (65%, n = 242) or an online program (54%, n = 200). Most women (73%, n = 284) had heard of IER (the “5:2 diet”), but only 12% (n = 34) had tried it. Open comments (n = 100) revealed mixed views of IER. Women in Australia with previous GDM were found to lack a self-perceived high risk of developing T2DM and expressed barriers to weight loss related to their family environment, beliefs about their capabilities and behavioural regulation. IER is appealing for some women with previous GDM; however, views vary.
Typologies of Loneliness, Isolation and Living Alone Are Associated with Psychological Well-Being among Older Adults in Taipei: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Hsu Hui-Chuan
Published: December 2020

Background: Loneliness, isolation, and living alone are emerging as critical issues in older people’s health and well-being, but the effects are not consistent. The purpose of this study was to examine the clustering of loneliness, isolation, and living alone, the risk factors and the associations with psychological well-being. Methods: The data were collected from the 2019 Taipei City Senior Citizen Condition Survey by face-to-face interviews and included a community-based sample (n = 3553). Loneliness, isolation, and living arrangement were analyzed by cluster analysis to define Loneliness-Isolation-Living-Alone clusters. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine the factors related to Loneliness-Isolation-Living-Alone clusters, and linear regression was used to examine association of clusters with psychological well-being. Results: Five clusters of older adults were identified and named as follows: Not Lonely-Connected-Others (53.4%), Not Lonely-Isolated-Others (26.6%), Not Lonely-Alone (5.0%), Lonely-Connected (8.1%), and Lonely-Isolated-Others (6.9%). Demographics, financial satisfaction, physical function, family relationship, and social participation were related to the Loneliness-Isolation-Living-Alone clusters. Compared with the Not Lonely-Connected-Others cluster, the Lonely-Connected cluster and Lonely-Isolated-Others cluster had higher depressive symptoms and lower life satisfaction, and the Not Lonely-Isolated-Others cluster reported lower life satisfaction; the Not Lonely-Alone cluster was not different. Discussion: Loneliness and isolation are negatively associated with psychological well-being, and living arrangement is not the determinant to loneliness or isolation. Older adults are suggested to strengthen their informal social support, and the government may encourage social care and create an age friendly environment to reduce loneliness and isolation.
Factors Associated with Survey Non-Response in a Cross-Sectional Survey of Persons with an Axial Spondyloarthritis or Osteoarthritis Claims Diagnosis
Authors: Callhoff Johanna , Jacobs Hannes , Albrecht Katinka , Saam Joachim , Zink Angela , Hoffmann Falk
Published: December 2020

Non-response in surveys can lead to bias, which is often difficult to investigate. The aim of this analysis was to compare factors available from claims data associated with survey non-response and to compare them among two samples. A stratified sample of 4471 persons with a diagnosis of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and a sample of 8995 persons with an osteoarthritis (OA) diagnosis from a German statutory health insurance were randomly selected and sent a postal survey. The association of age, sex, medical prescriptions, specialist physician contact, influenza vaccination, hospitalization, and Elixhauser comorbidity index with the survey response was assessed. Multiple logistic regression models were used with response as the outcome. A total of 47% of the axSpA sample and 40% of the OA sample responded to the survey. In both samples, the response was highest in the 70–79-year-olds. Women in all age groups responded more often, except for the 70–79-year-olds. Rheumatologist/orthopedist contact, physical therapy prescription, and influenza vaccination were more frequent among responders. In the logistic regression models, rheumatologist/orthopedist treatment, influenza vaccination, and physical therapy were associated with a higher odds ratio for response in both samples. The prescription of biologic drugs was associated with higher response in axSpA. A high Elixhauser comorbidity index and opioid use were not relevantly associated with response. Being reimbursed for long-term care was associated with lower response—this was only significant in the OA sample. The number of quarters with a diagnosis in the survey year was associated with higher response. Similar factors were associated with non-response in the two samples. The results can help other investigators to plan sample sizes of their surveys in similar settings.
Impact of Environmental Regulation on Scientific and Technological Competitiveness of Resource-Based Cities in China—Based on Panel Data of 33 Resource-Based Cities
Authors: Zhang Xiaoning , Qu Mei
Published: December 2020

After the economy enters a “new normal” era in China, resource-based cities are under pressure in terms of transformation, upgrading and sustainable development. This paper uses the panel data of 33 resource-based cities from 2008 to 2018 to empirically analyze the impact of environmental regulation and innovation compensation on scientific and technological competitiveness. The results show that there is a positive U-shaped relation between environmental regulation and scientific and technological competitiveness. This means that when environmental regulations exceed a certain level, continuing to increase regulations will significantly enhance technological competitiveness, but most samples are still on the left side of the turning point. At the same time, the labor productivity and fiscal capacity of non-agricultural industries in the region may have a strong regulatory effect. In a region with higher labor productivity in non-agricultural industries or stronger local fiscal capacity, environmental regulation is more likely to reflect the attribute of “innovation compensation” and advance scientific and technological competitiveness. At this stage, we should optimize the trans-regional compensation mechanism for resource-rich regions, increase investment in pollution management and ecological protection and impose stricter admission standards on industrial projects. Besides, skilled laborers should be cultivated and innovation and entrepreneurship be supported to realize the green and sustainable development of resource-based cities in the new era.
Are You Tired of Working amid the Pandemic? The Role of Professional Identity and Job Satisfaction against Job Burnout
Authors: Chen Huaruo , Liu Fan , Pang Liman , Liu Fei , Fang Tingting , Wen Ya , Chen Shi , Xie Zhiyao , Zhang Xuehui , Zhao Yihong , Gu Xueying
Published: December 2020

With the outbreak of novel coronavirus in 2019, most universities changed from traditional offline teaching to online teaching, which brought about a large amount of problems, including teachers’ physical and mental problems. Because of teaching on the computer screen for a long period of time, the teacher lacks communication and can act casually. With long-term accumulation, the problem of teachers’ job burnout has become increasingly serious. The main purpose of this study was to examine the influence of professional identity on job burnout during the period of the novel coronavirus. At the same time, this study also discussed the moderating effect of job satisfaction on professional identity and job burnout, and its relationship between job satisfaction and job burnout. During the peak period of the COVID-19 epidemic, we conducted an online survey—483 Chinese university teachers with online teaching experience completed the Teacher Professional Identity Scale, Job Satisfaction Scale, and Job Burnout Scale. The results of this study found professional identity and job satisfaction of university teachers to be significantly negative predictors of job burnout, with job satisfaction playing a moderating role between professional identity and job burnout. This study also confirmed that professional identity and job satisfaction are important factors affecting job burnout of university teachers. Therefore, this study proposed that schools should adopt more effective strategies to improve university teachers’ professional identity and job satisfaction in order to reduce the practical problems of job burnout, ensure the effectiveness of online teaching, and maintain the sustainable development during the epidemic.
Alcohol Consumption during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey of US Adults
Authors: Grossman Elyse R. , Benjamin-Neelon Sara E. , Sonnenschein Susan
Published: December 2020

Emerging but limited evidence suggests that alcohol consumption has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study assessed: (1) whether drinking behaviors changed during the pandemic; and, (2) how those changes were impacted by COVID-19-related stress. We conducted a cross-sectional online survey with a convenience sample of U.S. adults over 21 years in May 2020. We conducted adjusted linear regressions to assess COVID-19 stress and alcohol consumption, adjusting for gender, race, ethnicity, age, and household income. A total of 832 responded: 84% female, 85% White, and 72% ages 26–49. Participants reported consuming 26.8 alcohol drinks on 12.2 of the past 30 days. One-third of participants (34.1%) reported binge drinking and 7.0% reported extreme binge drinking. Participants who experienced COVID-19-related stress (versus not) reported consuming more drinks (β = 4.7; CI (0.2, 9.1); p = 0.040) and a greater number of days drinking (β = 2.4; CI (0.6, 4.1); p = 0.007). Additionally, 60% reported increased drinking but 13% reported decreased drinking, compared to pre-COVID-19. Reasons for increased drinking included increased stress (45.7%), increased alcohol availability (34.4%), and boredom (30.1%). Participants who reported being stressed by the pandemic consumed more drinks over a greater number of days, which raises concerns from both an individual and public health perspective.
Use of Tyre-Derived Aggregate as Backfill Material for Wave Barriers to Mitigate Railway-Induced Ground Vibrations
Authors: Fernández-Ruiz Jesús , Medina Rodríguez Luis E. , Costa Pedro Alves
Published: December 2020

The use of piles as barriers to mitigate vibrations from rail traffic has been increasing in theoretical and practical engineering during the last years. Tyre-derived aggregate (TDA) is a recycled material with some interesting applications in civil engineering, including those related to railway engineering. As a novelty, this paper combines the concept of pile wave barriers and TDA material and investigates the mitigation effect of pile barriers made of TDA on the vibrations transmitted by rail traffic. This solution has a dual purpose: the reduction of railway vibrations and the recycling of a highly polluting material. The mitigation potential of this material when used as backfill for piles is analysed using a numerical scheme based on a 3D finite-difference numerical model formulated in the space/time domain, which is also experimentally validated in this paper in a real case without pile barriers. The numerical results show insertion loss (IL) values of up to 11 dB for a depth closed to the wavelength of Rayleigh wave. Finally, this solution is compared with more common backfills, such as concrete and steel tubular piles, showing that the TDA pile is a less effective measure although from an environmental and engineering point of view it is a very competitive solution.
Insights Gained in the Aftermath of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Follow-Up Survey of a Recreational Training Program, Focusing on Sense of Coherence and Sleep Quality
Authors: Szovák Etelka , Varga Károly , Pelyva Imre Zoltán , Soós Rita , Jeges Sára , Kívés Zsuzsanna , Tóth Ákos Levente
Published: December 2020

The original aim of this study was a follow-up assessment of a recreational program running for six months (September 2019–February 2020) within controlled conditions. Following the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, the survey acquired a new goal: how do the subjects of the follow-up sampling experience this severe stress situation, and in this experience, what role does physical activity and a salutogenetic sense of coherence play. Austrian women (N = 53) took part in the training program, whose physical condition was assessed before the start of the program, then reassessed after three months and after six months; the organizers also had them fill out the sense of coherence questionnaire (SOC) as well as the Regensburger insomnia scale. After the lifting of the lockdown introduced due to the pandemic, participants completed an online survey relating to their changed life conditions, physical activities, sense of coherence and sleep quality. Results: After the first three months of the training, no significant changes were detected. After six months, the participants SOC and sleep quality improved (Friedman test: p = 0.005 and p < 0.001). During the lockdown, sleep quality generally deteriorated (W-rank test: p = 0.001), while SOC did not change. The women in possession of a relatively stronger SOC continued the training (OR = 3.6, CI 95% = 1.2–12.2), and their sleep quality deteriorated to a lesser degree. (OR = 1.7, CI 95% = 1.1–2.8). Conclusion: The data reinforce the interdependency between physical exercise (PE) and SOC; furthermore, the personal training that the authors formulated for middle-aged women proved to be successful in strengthening their sense of coherence, and it also reduced the deterioration in sleep quality due to stress.
Stakeholder Analysis and Social Network Analysis in the Decision-Making of Industrial Land Redevelopment in China: The Case of Shanghai
Authors: Wu Wendong , He Fang , Zhuang Taozhi , Yi Yuan
Published: December 2020

Currently, many large Chinese cities have entered the postindustrial era, leaving a large amount of vacant, inefficiently utilized industrial land and buildings in the inner cities. Industrial land redevelopment (ILR) can benefit cities in multiple ways, such as by increasing urban public space, improving the quality of life of citizens, and improving the environment, and is considered an effective approach to enhance people’s wellbeing. However, large-scale ILR projects often raise a series of social issues in practice, such as injustice and inequality. To address complex urban issues, ILR requires multifaceted, coordinated, and comprehensive strategies involving multitudinous stakeholders. A profound understanding of diverse stakeholders in the decision-making of ILR is a vital step in enhancing the sustainability of ILR. The aim of this paper is to use Shanghai as a case study to understand the diverse stakeholders and their participation during the decision-making of ILR in China. Interviews and questionnaires were used to collect data. Stakeholder analysis (SA) and social network analysis (SNA) were used as complementary research methodologies in this paper. First, stakeholders who participated in the decision-making of ILR were identified. Then, the characteristics of various stakeholders, including power, interests, and knowledge, were analyzed. Following this, the interactive relationships among stakeholders were explored, and their network structure was examined. Finally, policy recommendations were presented regarding stakeholder participation problems in the decision-making of ILR in China.
The Topographical Optimization of 3D Microgroove Pattern Intervals for Ligamentous Cell Orientations: In Vitro
Authors: Kim Min Guk , Park Chan Ho
Published: December 2020

Specific orientations of periodontal ligaments (PDLs) to tooth-root surface play an important role in offering positional stabilities of teeth, transmitting and absorbing various stresses under masticatory/occlusal loading conditions, or promoting tissue remodeling by mechanical stimulations to periodontal cells. However, it is still challenging to spatially control PDL orientations and collective PDL cell alignments using 3D scaffold architectures. Here, we investigated the optimization of scaffold topographies in order to control orientations of human PDL cells with predictability in in vitro. The 3D PDL-guiding architectures were designed by computer-aided design (CAD) and microgroove patterns on the scaffold surfaces were created with four different slice intervals such as 25.40 µm (μG-25), 19.05 µm (μG-19), 12.70 µm (μG-12), and 6.35 µm (μG-6) by the digital slicing step. After scaffold design and 3D wax printing, poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) was casted into 3D printed molds and human PDL cells were cultured for 7 days. In the results, μG-25 with low vertical resolution can angularly organize seeded cells predictably rather than μG-6 created by the highest resolution for high surface quality (or smooth surface). Moreover, nuclear orientations and deformability were quantitatively analyzed and a significant correlation between microgroove pattern intervals and cell alignments was calculated for the topographic optimization. In conclusion, controllable microgroove intervals can specifically organize human PDL cells by 3D printing, which can create various surface topographies with structural consistence. The optimal surface topography (μG-25) can angularly guide human PDL cells, but 6.35 µm-thick patterns (μG-6) showed random organization of cell collectivity.
Light Pollution and Cancer
Authors: Walker William H. , Bumgarner Jacob R. , Walton James C. , Liu Jennifer A. , Meléndez-Fernández O. Hecmarie , Nelson Randy J. , DeVries A. Courtney
Published: December 2020

For many individuals in industrialized nations, the widespread adoption of electric lighting has dramatically affected the circadian organization of physiology and behavior. Although initially assumed to be innocuous, exposure to artificial light at night (ALAN) is associated with several disorders, including increased incidence of cancer, metabolic disorders, and mood disorders. Within this review, we present a brief overview of the molecular circadian clock system and the importance of maintaining fidelity to bright days and dark nights. We describe the interrelation between core clock genes and the cell cycle, as well as the contribution of clock genes to oncogenesis. Next, we review the clinical implications of disrupted circadian rhythms on cancer, followed by a section on the foundational science literature on the effects of light at night and cancer. Finally, we provide some strategies for mitigation of disrupted circadian rhythms to improve health.
Understanding Mechanisms Underlying Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) in Mental Illness: Risperidone and Olanzapine Alter the Hepatic Proteomic Signature in Mice
Authors: Rostama Bahman , Beauchemin Megan , Bouchard Celeste , Bernier Elizabeth , Vary Calvin P. H. , May Meghan , Houseknecht Karen L.
Published: December 2020

Patients with severe mental illness have increased mortality, often linked to cardio-metabolic disease. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) incidence is higher in patients with schizophrenia and is exacerbated with antipsychotic treatment. NAFLD is associated with obesity and insulin resistance, both of which are induced by several antipsychotic medications. NAFLD is considered an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death for patients with severe mental illness. Although the clinical literature clearly defines increased risk of NAFLD with antipsychotic therapy, the underlying mechanisms are not understood. Given the complexity of the disorder as well as the complex pharmacology associated with atypical antipsychotic (AA) medications, we chose to use a proteomic approach in healthy mice treated with a low dose of risperidone (RIS) or olanzapine (OLAN) for 28 days to determine effects on development of NAFLD and to identify pathways impacted by AA medications, while removing confounding intrinsic effects of mental illness. Both AA drugs caused development of steatosis in comparison with vehicle controls (p < 0.01) and affected multiple pathways relating to energy metabolism, NAFLD, and immune function. AA-associated alteration in autonomic function appears to be a unifying theme in the regulation of hepatic pathology.