bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
3D Printing of Bioceramics for Bone Tissue Engineering
Authors: Zafar Muhammad Jamshaid , Zhu Dongbin , Zhang Zhengyan
Published: October 2019

Bioceramics have frequent use in functional restoration of hard tissues to improve human well-being. Additive manufacturing (AM) also known as 3D printing is an innovative material processing technique extensively applied to produce bioceramic parts or scaffolds in a layered perspicacious manner. Moreover, the applications of additive manufacturing in bioceramics have the capability to reliably fabricate the commercialized scaffolds tailored for practical clinical applications, and the potential to survive in the new era of effective hard tissue fabrication. The similarity of the materials with human bone histomorphometry makes them conducive to use in hard tissue engineering scheme. The key objective of this manuscript is to explore the applications of bioceramics-based AM in bone tissue engineering. Furthermore, the article comprehensively and categorically summarizes some novel bioceramics based AM techniques for the restoration of bones. At prior stages of this article, different ceramics processing AM techniques have been categorized, subsequently, processing of frequently used materials for bone implants and complexities associated with these materials have been elaborated. At the end, some novel applications of bioceramics in orthopedic implants and some future directions are also highlighted to explore it further. This review article will help the new researchers to understand the basic mechanism and current challenges in neophyte techniques and the applications of bioceramics in the orthopedic prosthesis.
Prediction of Stress–Strain Curves Based on Hydric Non-Destructive Tests on Sandstones
Authors: Ludovico-Marques Marco , Chastre Carlos
Published: October 2019

The study of the mechanical behavior of building stones is traditionally supported by destructive compression tests carried out on representative specimens. However, in order to respect the monuments’ integrity, the study of the mechanical behavior of stones can be based mostly on physical properties obtained from non-destructive tests (NDT). For this study, a simple and cheap NDT—water absorption under low pressure—was used to carry out fast surveys and to predict the most important design parameters of loadbearing masonry, among which are the compressive strength, strain at failure, and even elastic modulus on monument blocks. The paper presents the results of the experimental work conducted to obtain the physical properties and stress–strain curves of the sandstones tested. Supported by these results, it was possible to correlate the various parameters and develop an analytical model that predicts the stress–strain curve of the sandstones based on water absorption under low pressure tests. A good agreement is observed between the analytical model and the experimental tests.
Polymorphisms of Proinflammatory Cytokines in Relation to APOE Epsilon 4 and Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease in the Lithuanian Population
Authors: Pšemeneckienė Greta , Petrikonis Kęstutis , Rastenytė Daiva
Published: October 2019

Background and objective: Neuroinflammation is one of the pathological pathways of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), mediating the progression of neurodegeneration. Polymorphisms of proinflammatory cytokines have been linked to increased AD risk. Identification of certain combinations of polymorphisms could help predict disease in its preclinical stage. The aim of the study was to evaluate differences in the prevalence of TNFα –850T (rs1799724), IL1A –889T (rs1800587), and IL6 –174C (rs1800795, Intron type) polymorphisms between AD patients and healthy controls (HC) and determine the impact of these SNPs in combination with the APOEε4 allele on AD risk. Materials and Methods: The study population is comprised of 107 patients with sporadic AD (AD group) and age- and gender-matched 110 persons without impaired cognitive functions (control group). TNFα –850C > T polymorphism was revealed by a PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method. Real time PCR was used for IL1A and IL6 SNP genotyping. APOEε genotyping was done via hybridization method. Results: The frequencies of TNFα –850T, IL1A –889T, IL6 –174C allele and genotype did not differ between the AD and HC groups (p > 0.05). IL6 –174C was not in HWE, and it was not analysed further. APOEε4 allele (p = 0.001) and 3/4 and 4/4 genotypes (p = 0.005) were more prevalent in AD patients. APOEε4 carriage increased the risk of AD (OR 2.65, p = 0.001), while TNFα –850T and IL1A –889T polymorphisms were not found as significant independent risk factors for AD. The presence of at least one IL1A –889T allele in combination with APOEε4+ was associated with a lower risk of AD (OR 2.24, p = 0.047) than the carriage of APOEε4+ alone (OR 2.70, p = 0.015). Conclusions: No significant differences of TNFα –850, IL1A –889, and IL6 –174 polymorphisms frequencies were found between AD and control groups. In APOEε4 carriers IL1A –889T polymorphism was found to reduce the AD risk determined by APOEε4 alone.
Antimalarial Properties of Dunnione Derivatives as NQO2 Substrates
Authors: Chhour Monivan , Aubouy Agnès , Bourgeade-Delmas Sandra , Pério Pierre , Ternet-Fontebasso Hélène , Haidara Mahamane , Ferry Gilles , Nepveu Françoise , Boutin Jean A. , Reybier Karine
Published: October 2019

Dunnione, a natural product isolated from the leaves of Streptocarpus dunnii (Gesneriaceae), acts as a substrate for quinone-reductases that may be associated with its antimalarial properties. Following our exploration of reactive oxygen species-producing compounds such as indolones, as possible new approaches for the research of new ways to treat this parasitosis, we explored derivatives of this natural product and their possible antiplasmodial and antimalarial properties, in vitro and in vivo, respectively. Apart from one compound, all the products tested had weak to moderate antiplasmodial activities, the best IC50 value being equal to 0.58 µM. In vivo activities in the murine model were moderate (at a dose of 50 mg/kg/mice, five times higher than the dose of chloroquine). These results encourage further pharmacomodulation steps to improve the targeting of the parasitized red blood cells and antimalarial activities.
Changes in Proteolysis in Fermented Milk Produced by Streptococcus thermophilus in Co-Culture with Lactobacillus plantarum or Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis During Refrigerated Storage
Authors: Li Sining , Tang Shanhu , He Qiang , Hu Jiangxiao , Zheng Jing
Published: October 2019

Proteolysis in fermented milk, a complex and dynamic process, depends on the starter cultures used. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of Lactobacillus plantarum or Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis, or both, co-fermented with Streptococcus thermophilus, on the changes in the proteolysis profile of fermented milk during 21-day storage at 4 °C, including the pH value, proteolytic degree, protease activity, aminopeptidase activity, free amino acid content, and electrophoresis performance. The results showed that the treatments with co-cultures exhibited a higher amount of free amino groups and neutral protease activity at an extracellular level, whereas lower pH values and aminopeptidase activities towards the six substrates at an intracellular level than the ones with a single-strain of S. thermophilus over the refrigerated storage were observed. In co-fermentation with S. thermophilus, B. animalis subsp. lactis did not significantly affect the concentrations of most free amino acids, while contributions of L. plantarum were found. Electrophoresis indicated that the mixed starters, especially the co-cultures containing L. plantarum, showed a stronger degradation for caseins than the pure S. thermophilus culture. These findings suggest that culture combinations may influence the proteolysis characteristics of the fermented products, and probiotic cultures must be carefully chosen for fermented production.
Black Chokeberry Aronia Melanocarpa L.—A Qualitative Composition, Phenolic Profile and Antioxidant Potential
Authors: Sidor Andrzej , Gramza-Michałowska Anna
Published: October 2019

Black chokeberry (Aronia melnocarpa) is a source of many bioactive compounds with a wide spectrum of health-promoting properties. Fresh, unprocessed chokeberry fruits are rarely consumed due to their astringent taste, but they are used in the food industry for the production of juices, nectars, syrups, jams, preserves, wines, tinctures, fruit desserts, jellies, fruit teas and dietary supplements. Polyphenols are biofactors that determine the high bioactivity of chokeberries, some of the richest sources of polyphenols, which include anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, flavonols, flavanols, proanthocyanidins, and phenolic acids. Chokeberry fruit and products have great antioxidant and health-promoting potential as they reduce the occurrence of free radicals. This publication reviewed the scientific research regarding the phenolic compounds and the antioxidant potential of chokeberry fruits, products and isolated compounds. These findings may be crucial in future research concerning chokeberry based functional food products. Chokeberry fruits can be considered as promising component of designed food with enhanced antioxidant potential. However, like other plants and medicinal products of natural origin, black chokeberry requires extensive studies to determine its antioxidant potential, safety and mechanisms of action.
Cognitive Restraint and History of Dieting Are Negatively Associated with Organic Food Consumption in a Large Population-Based Sample of Organic Food Consumers
Authors: Giudici Kelly Virecoulon , Baudry Julia , Méjean Caroline , Lairon Denis , Bénard Marc , Hercberg Serge , Bellisle France , Kesse-Guyot Emmanuelle , Péneau Sandrine
Published: October 2019

Organic food consumption has risen in many countries during the past decades, but individual motives leading to these choices remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the associations between cognitive restraint (CR), history of dieting and organic food intake. This cross-sectional analysis included 20,085 organic food consumers from the NutriNet-Santé cohort. CR (range score 1–4) was evaluated by the Three-Factor-Eating-Questionnaire and practice of dieting (never vs. past/current) was assessed by an ad hoc questionnaire. Frequencies of organic food intake overall and in 16 food groups were assessed by the Organic Food Frequency Questionnaire. Linear regression and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) were performed to investigate the association between CR score, history of dieting and contribution of organic food intake to the total food intake. A lower overall contribution of organic options in the diet was observed in women with higher levels of CR (β = −3.61%, 95% CI: −4.32; −2.91 for 1 point of CR, p < 0.001) and with a history of dieting (31.1 ± 0.4% in past/current vs. 32.6 ± 0.3% in never dieters; p = 0.001). Consistent associations were observed in men with a history of dieting (26.4 ± 0.8% in past/current vs. 28.7 ± 0.4% in never dieters; p = 0.012). Overall, individuals—in particular women—with higher CR scores or with a history of dieting selected fewer organic food options. Our findings illustrate the complexity of potentially concurrent motives to food choices, in a context of increasing interest in organic food consumption.
Caffeine Increased Muscle Endurance Performance Despite Reduced Cortical Activation and Unchanged Neuromuscular Efficiency and Corticomuscular Coherence
Authors: Franco-Alvarenga Paulo , Brietzke Cayque , Canestri Raul , Goethel Márcio , Viana Bruno , Pires Flávio
Published: October 2019

The central and peripheral effects of caffeine remain debatable. We verified whether increases in endurance performance after caffeine ingestion occurred together with changes in primary motor cortex (MC) and prefrontal cortex (PFC) activation, neuromuscular efficiency (NME), and electroencephalography–electromyography coherence (EEG–EMG coherence). Twelve participants performed a time-to-task failure isometric contraction at 70% of the maximal voluntary contraction after ingesting 5 mg/kg of caffeine (CAF) or placebo (PLA), in a crossover and counterbalanced design. MC (Cz) and PFC (Fp1) EEG alpha wave and vastus lateralis (VL) muscle EMG were recorded throughout the exercise. EEG–EMG coherence was calculated through the magnitude squared coherence analysis in MC EEG gamma-wave (CI > 0.0058). Moreover, NME was obtained as the force–VL EMG ratio. When compared to PLA, CAF improved the time to task failure (p = 0.003, d = 0.75), but reduced activation in MC and PFC throughout the exercise (p = 0.027, d = 1.01 and p = 0.045, d = 0.95, respectively). Neither NME (p = 0.802, d = 0.34) nor EEG–EMG coherence (p = 0.628, d = 0.21) was different between CAF and PLA. The results suggest that CAF improved muscular performance through a modified central nervous system (CNS) response rather than through alterations in peripheral muscle or central–peripheral coupling.
Bone Mineral Density in Premenopausal Women Is Associated with the Dietary Intake of α-Tocopherol: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Odai Tamami , Terauchi Masakazu , Hirose Asuka , Kato Kiyoko , Miyasaka Naoyuki
Published: October 2019

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the consumption of various nutrients and bone mineral density (BMD) in middle-aged women. This cross-sectional survey was conducted based on the clinical records of 157 women aged 38–76. Their lumbar spine BMD was measured with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and dietary habits were assessed with the brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire. Participants were divided into premenopausal (n = 46) and postmenopausal (n = 111) groups and the correlation between the BMD Z-score (Z-score) and the intakes of 43 nutrients was investigated separately for each group. In premenopausal women, the daily intake of ash, calcium, and α-tocopherol was positively correlated with the Z-score (Pearson’s correlation coefficient, R = 0.31, 0.34, 0.33, p = 0.037, 0.020, 0.027, respectively). When dividing the consumption of ash, calcium, and α-tocopherol into low, middle, and high tertiles, the Z-score significantly differed only between the α-tocopherol tertiles. After adjustment for age, body mass index, and lifestyle factors, daily intake of α-tocopherol remained significantly associated with the Z-score (regression coefficient = 0.452, p = 0.022). No nutrient was found to be significantly correlated with the Z-score in postmenopausal women. Increase in the intake of α-tocopherol could help maintain bone mass in premenopausal women.
Gynostemma Pentaphyllum Extract Ameliorates High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity in C57BL/6N Mice by Upregulating SIRT1
Authors: Lee Hyun Sook , Lim Su-Min , Jung Jae In , Kim So Mi , Lee Jae Kyoung , Kim Yoon Hee , Cha Kyu Min , Oh Tae Kyu , Moon Joo Myung , Kim Tae Young , Kim Eun Ji
Published: October 2019

Gynostemma pentaphyllum is widely used in Asia as a herbal medicine to treat type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, and inflammation. Here, we investigated the anti-obesity effect and underlying mechanism of G. pentaphyllum extract (GPE) enriched in gypenoside L, gypenoside LI, and ginsenoside Rg3 and obtained using a novel extraction method. Five-week-old male C57BL/6N mice were fed a control diet (CD), high-fat diet (HFD), HFD + 100 mg/kg body weight (BW)/day GPE (GPE 100), HFD + 300 mg/kg BW/day GPE (GPE 300), or HFD + 30 mg/kg BW/day Orlistat (Orlistat 30) for 8 weeks. The HFD-fed mice showed significant increases in body weight, fat mass, white adipose tissue, and adipocyte hypertrophy compared to the CD group; but GPE inhibited those increases. GPE reduced serum levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol, without affecting HDL-cholesterol. GPE significantly increased AMPK activation and suppressed adipogenesis by decreasing the mRNA expression of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-α (C/EBPα), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ), sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP1c), PPARγ coactivator-1α, fatty acid synthase (FAS), adipocyte protein 2 (AP2), and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and by increasing that of carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT1) and hormone- sensitive lipase (HSL). This study demonstrated the ameliorative effect of GPE on obesity and elucidated the underlying molecular mechanism.
Analysis of Resistance of Ebola Virus Glycoprotein-Driven Entry Against MDL28170, An Inhibitor of Cysteine Cathepsins
Authors: Hoffmann Markus , Kaufmann Svenja Victoria , Fischer Carina , Maurer Wiebke , Moldenhauer Anna-Sophie , Pöhlmann Stefan
Published: October 2019

Ebola virus (EBOV) infection can cause severe and frequently fatal disease in human patients. The EBOV glycoprotein (GP) mediates viral entry into host cells. For this, GP depends on priming by the pH-dependent endolysosomal cysteine proteases cathepsin B (CatB) and, to a lesser degree, cathepsin L (CatL), at least in most cell culture systems. However, there is limited information on whether and how EBOV-GP can acquire resistance to CatB/L inhibitors. Here, we addressed this question using replication-competent vesicular stomatitis virus bearing EBOV-GP. Five passages of this virus in the presence of the CatB/CatL inhibitor MDL28170 were sufficient to select resistant viral variants and sequencing revealed that all GP sequences contained a V37A mutation, which, in the context of native GP, is located in the base of the GP surface unit. In addition, some GP sequences harbored mutation S195R in the receptor-binding domain. Finally, mutational analysis demonstrated that V37A but not S195R conferred resistance against MDL28170 and other CatB/CatL inhibitors. Collectively, a single amino acid substitution in GP is sufficient to confer resistance against CatB/CatL inhibitors, suggesting that usage of CatB/CatL inhibitors for antiviral therapy may rapidly select for resistant viral variants.
Crystallization and Temperature Driven Morphological Evolution of Bio-based Polyethylene Glycol-acrylic Rosin Polymer
Authors: Zhao Yanzhi , Zou Mengjun , Liao Huazhen , Du Fangkai , Lei Fuhou , Tan Xuecai , Zhang Jinyan , Huang Qin , Zhou Juying
Published: October 2019

In this work, the morphological and conformational evolution of bio-based polyethylene glycol (PEG)-acrylic rosin polymer in water was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), polarized optical microscopy (POM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Rayleigh light scattering (RLS) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) techniques during a heating and cooling cycle. When the concentration was higher than the critical micelle concentration (CMC), a reversible transformation process, i.e. from micelle to irregular lamella aggregations, was detected. As the concentration was equal to or below the CMC, individual unimers aggregated into needle-shaped crystals composed of acrylic rosin crystalline core in the heating run. The crystallization of acrylic rosin blocks acted as seeds and thus, in the subsequent cooling process, the PEG corona crystallized into the cube-shaped crystals. The cytotoxicity assay showed the biocompatibility of bio-based polyethylene glycol-acrylic rosin polymer. This has great potential in the application of drug delivery and release triggered by temperature.
Remote Sensing of Urban Forests
Authors: Sanesi Giovanni , Giannico Vincenzo , Elia Mario , Lafortezza Raffaele
Published: October 2019

Urban forests and green infrastructures at large are of critical importance for contemporary cities as they provide a wide range of ecosystem services (ESS) that enhance the quality of life of urban dwellers. Remote sensing technologies have greatly contributed to assessing and mapping the spatial distribution of ESS in urban areas, although more research is needed given the availability of new sensors from multiple satellites and platforms and the particular characteristics of urban environments (e.g., high heterogeneity). This Special Issue hosts papers focusing on the temporal and spatial dynamics of urban forests with special attention given to the most recent remote sensing technologies as well as advanced methods for processing geospatial data and extracting meaningful information.
Detecting Winter Wheat Irrigation Signals Using SMAP Gridded Soil Moisture Data
Authors: Hao Zhen , Zhao Hongli , Zhang Chi , Wang Hao , Jiang Yunzhong
Published: October 2019

The southern part of the Hebei Province is one of China’s major crop-producing regions. Due to the continuous decline in groundwater level, agricultural water use is facing significant challenges. Precision agricultural irrigation management is undoubtedly an effective way to solve this problem. Based on multisource data (time series soil moisture active passive (SMAP) data, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and evapotranspiration (ET), and meteorological station precipitation), the irrigation signal (frequency, timing and area) is detected in the southern part of the Hebei Province. The SMAP data was processed by the 5-point moving average method to reduce the error caused by the uncertainty of the microwave data derived SM. Irrigation signals can be detected by removing the precipitation effect and setting the SM change threshold. Based on the validation results, the overall accuracy of the irrigation signal detection is 77.08%. Simultaneously, considering the spatial resolution limitation of SMAP pixels, the SMAP irrigation area was downscaled using the winter wheat area extracted from MODIS NDVI. The analytical results of 55 winter wheat samples (5 samples in a group) showed that winter wheat covered by one SMAP pixel had an 82.72% growth consistency in surface water irrigation period, which can indicate a downscaling effectiveness. According to the above statistical analysis, this paper considers that although the spatial resolution of SMAP data is insufficient, it can reflect the change of SM more sensitively. In areas where the crop pattern is relatively uniform, the introduction of high-resolution crop pattern distribution can be used not only to detect irrigation signals but also to validate the effectiveness of irrigation signal detection by analyzing crop growth consistency. Therefore, the downscaling results can indicate the true winter wheat irrigation timing, area and frequency in the study area.
E-Textiles for Healthy Ageing
Authors: Yang Kai , Isaia Beckie , Brown Laura J.E. , Beeby Steve
Published: October 2019

The ageing population has grown quickly in the last half century with increased longevity and declining birth rate. This presents challenges to health services and the wider society. This review paper considers different aspects (e.g., physical, mental, and social well-being) of healthy ageing and how health devices can help people to monitor health conditions, treat diseases and promote social interactions. Existing technologies for addressing non-physical (e.g., Alzheimer’s, loneliness) and physical (e.g., stroke, bedsores, and fall) related challenges are presented together with the drivers and constraints of using e-textiles for these applications. E-textiles provide a platform that enables unobtrusive and ubiquitous deployment of sensors and actuators for healthy ageing applications. However, constraints remain on battery, integration, data accuracy, manufacturing, durability, ethics/privacy issues, and regulations. These challenges can only effectively be met by interdisciplinary teams sharing expertise and methods, and involving end users and other key stakeholders at an early stage in the research.
RF Energy Harvesting IoT System for Museum Ambience Control with Deep Learning
Authors: Eltresy Nermeen A. , Dardeer Osama M. , Al-Habal Awab , Elhariri Esraa , Hassan Ali H. , Khattab Ahmed , Elsheakh Dalia N. , Taie Shereen A. , Mostafa Hassan , Elsadek Hala A. , Abdallah Esmat A.
Published: October 2019

Museum contents are vulnerable to bad ambience conditions and human vandalization. Preserving the contents of museums is a duty towards humanity. In this paper, we develop an Internet of Things (IoT)-based system for museum monitoring and control. The developed system does not only autonomously set the museum ambience to levels that preserve the health of the artifacts and provide alarms upon intended or unintended vandalization attempts, but also allows for remote ambience control through authorized Internet-enabled devices. A key differentiating aspect of the proposed system is the use of always-on and power-hungry sensors for comprehensive and precise museum monitoring, while being powered by harvesting the Radio Frequency (RF) energy freely available within the museum. This contrasts with technologies proposed in the literature, which use RF energy harvesting to power simple IoT sensing devices. We use rectenna arrays that collect RF energy and convert it to electric power to prolong the lifetime of the sensor nodes. Another important feature of the proposed system is the use of deep learning to find daily trends in the collected environment data. Accordingly, the museum ambience is further optimized, and the system becomes more resilient to faults in the sensed data.
An LSTM-Method-Based Availability Prediction for Optimized Offloading in Mobile Edges
Authors: Cui Chaoxiong , Zhao Ming , Wong Kelvin
Published: October 2019

Mobile edge computing (MEC) can augment the computation capabilities of a vehicle terminal (VT) through offloading the computational tasks from the VT to the mobile edge computing-enabled base station (MEC-BS) covering them. However, due to the limited mobility of the vehicle and the capacity of the MEC-BS, the connection between the vehicle and the MEC-BS may be intermittent. If we can expect the availability of MEC-BS through cognitive computing, we can significantly improve the performance in a mobile environment. Based on this idea, we propose a offloading optimization algorithm based on availability prediction. We examine the admission control decision of MEC-BS and the mobility problem, in which we improve the accuracy of availability prediction based on Empirical Mode Decomposition(EMD) and LSTM in deep learning. Firstly, we calculate the availability of MEC, completion time, and energy consumption together to minimize the overall cost. Then, we use a game method to obtain the optimal offloading decision. Finally, the experimental results show that the algorithm can save energy and shorten the completion time more effectively than other existing algorithms in the mobile environment.
UAV Flight and Landing Guidance System for Emergency Situations †
Authors: Lee Joon Yeop , Chung Albert Y. , Shim Hooyeop , Joe Changhwan , Park Seongjoon , Kim Hwangnam
Published: October 2019

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with high mobility can perform various roles such as delivering goods, collecting information, recording videos and more. However, there are many elements in the city that disturb the flight of the UAVs, such as various obstacles and urban canyons which can cause a multi-path effect of GPS signals, which degrades the accuracy of GPS-based localization. In order to empower the safety of the UAVs flying in urban areas, UAVs should be guided to a safe area even in a GPS-denied or network-disconnected environment. Also, UAVs must be able to avoid obstacles while landing in an urban area. For this purpose, we present the UAV detour system for operating UAV in an urban area. The UAV detour system includes a highly reliable laser guidance system to guide the UAVs to a point where they can land, and optical flow magnitude map to avoid obstacles for a safe landing.
Evaluating Origin–Destination Matrices Obtained from CDR Data
Authors: Mamei Marco , Bicocchi Nicola , Lippi Marco , Mariani Stefano , Zambonelli Franco
Published: October 2019

Understanding and correctly modeling urban mobility is a crucial issue for the development of smart cities. The estimation of individual trips from mobile phone positioning data (i.e., call detail records (CDR)) can naturally support urban and transport studies as well as marketing applications. Individual trips are often aggregated in an origin–destination (OD) matrix counting the number of trips from a given origin to a given destination. In the literature dealing with CDR data there are two main approaches to extract OD matrices from such data: (a) in time-based matrices, the analysis focuses on estimating mobility directly from a sequence of CDRs; (b) in routine-based matrices (OD by purpose) the analysis focuses on routine kind of movements, like home-work commute, derived from a trip generation model. In both cases, the OD matrix measured by CDR counts is scaled to match the actual number of people moving in the area, and projected to the road network to estimate actual flows on the streets. In this paper, we describe prototypical approaches to estimate OD matrices, describe an actual implementation, and present a number of experiments to evaluate the results from multiple perspectives.
Assessment of Static Steadiness and Dynamic Stability at Various Stages of Healing a Grade 2 Medial Collateral Ligament Tear
Authors: Glattke Kaycee , Smith Michael , Tsuchiya Toshiki , Wells Jakob , Lockhart Thurmon
Published: October 2019

Injuries to the ligaments of the knee are extremely common among athletes who participate in high-risk sports, or any sport that requires frequent cutting motions, jumping, or contact. In order to determine the best way to heal these injuries, it is important to understand not just the pathology of the injury, but also the biomechanical factors that are affected, including stability and steadiness. While many studies have been done to examine the stability of healthy knees, there is little to no existing literature on stability of knees afflicted by injury. In order to surpass this obstacle, static steadiness and dynamic stability data was collected using the Lockhart Monitor phone application and Xsens accelerometers, respectively, both before and after completion of a course of physical therapy in a patient with a grade 2 medial collateral ligament (MCL) tear. These results were then used to determine the degree to which the prescribed physical therapy protocol was effective in healing the MCL, which can be useful for tweaking the individual protocol for future conservative treatment and management of the injury.
Adaptation and Validation the State Mindfulness Scale (SMS) to Physical Education in a Spanish Context
Authors: Trigueros Rubén , Aguilar-Parra Jose M. , Cangas Adolfo J. , Mullor David , Álvarez Joaquín F. , García-Mas Alexandre
Published: October 2019

The aim of this study is to validate and adapt to the Spanish context of Physical Education (PE) the State Mindfulness Scale (SMS). The study included 1428 students aged 13–19. In order to analyse the psychometric properties of the SMS, an exploratory factorial analysis was carried out to confirm the presence of two factors, a confirmatory factorial analysis that has offered support for both the structure of two factors. We also included an analysis of temporal stability, an analysis of invariance across gender, an analysis of internal consistency and an analysis of predictive validity through a t-test in which mental health (β = −0.28, p < 0.001) and physical or bodily experience (β = −0.16, p < 0.001) negatively predicted anxiety, respectively. The structure of the questionnaire was valid and reliable, gender-neutral and with adequate levels of temporal stability.
Scientainment for Sustainability: The Eco-Confessional as a New Approach for Life Cycle Thinking
Authors: Jaisli Isabel , Bättig-Frey Petra , Eymann Lea , Mariani Ennio , Stucki Matthias
Published: October 2019

For educating a wide audience on the environmental impact of their daily life decisions, the Eco-Confessional has been developed as an interactive exhibit and a serious game. In this, the effectiveness of promoting sustainable lifestyles through life cycle thinking was explored. Based upon life cycle assessments, the eco-confessional reveals the environmental impact of eco-sins and good deeds performed in everyday life in a playful way. As the Eco-Confessional was being exhibited, it was evaluated to measure the impact of the new communication format. The goal of the project was to increase sustainable behavior by influencing both the desire and the ability to make sustainable decisions. The evaluation revealed that these goals were mostly achieved. By combining life cycle data with gamification elements, the Eco-Confessional succeeded in implementing a new scientainment approach to environmental education, which promotes life cycle thinking among the public.
Estimating the Young Generation’s Willingness to Pay (WTP) for PM2.5 Control in Daegu, Korea, and Beijing, China
Authors: Ning Peng , Lee Sang-Ho
Published: October 2019

This research aimed to examine the willingness to pay (WTP) of the young generation (the age group from 18 to 29) for the participatory solutions and actions on fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution control and abatement in Daegu, Korea, and Beijing, China. This study found out that Korean respondents and Chinese respondents shared a wide range of similarities, both in terms of socio-demographic characters like age, family size, and house/apartment ownership, as well as a number of perceptions related to environmental and social responsibilities. Around one-third of the Korean respondents and one-fifth of the Chinese respondents expressed negative WTP due to primary reasons such as lack of trust in the effectiveness of PM2.5 control measures (Korea) and limitation of budget (China). The mean estimated values of WTP with and without explanatory variables in Korea were merely slightly higher than those in China. The mean WTP without control variables in Korea was 11,882.97 KRW/month (10.61 USD/month) and the one in China was 65.09 CNY/month (9.48 USD/month). The mean WTP with explanatory variables for Daegu, Korea, was KRW 11,982.33 (USD 10.70) per person per month, and the one for Beijing, China, was CNY 64.84 (USD 9.40) per person per month. The annual total WTP for Daegu, Korea, was assessed around KRW 47572 million (USD 42.45 million), whereas the estimated total WTP for Beijing, China, was around CNY 3260.14 million (USD 474.94 million) per year. Based on the results and the findings, this study proposes to further strengthen the comprehensive cooperation between China and Korea in the field of air quality improvement, with a particular focus on PM2.5 control and abatement and cooperation in academic circles and among the general public.
Classical Limit for Dirac Fermions with Modified Action in the Presence of a Black Hole
Authors: Lewkowicz Meir , Zubkov Mikhail
Published: October 2019

We consider the model of Dirac fermions coupled to gravity as proposed, in which superluminal velocities of particles are admitted. In this model an extra term is added to the conventional Hamiltonian that originates from Planck physics. Due to this term, a closed Fermi surface is formed in equilibrium inside the black hole. In this paper we propose the covariant formulation of this model and analyse its classical limit. We consider the dynamics of gravitational collapse. It appears that the Einstein equations admit a solution identical to that of ordinary general relativity. Next, we consider the motion of particles in the presence of a black hole. Numerical solutions of the equations of motion are found which demonstrate that the particles are able to escape from the black hole.
Enzyme Degradation Reagents Effectively Remove Mycotoxins Deoxynivalenol and Zearalenone from Pig and Poultry Artificial Digestive Juices
Authors: Tso Ko-Hua , Ju Jyh-Cherng , Fan Yang-Kwang , Chiang Hsin-I
Published: October 2019

Mycotoxin removers include enzymes and adsorbents that may be used in animal feeds to eliminate the toxic effects of mycotoxins. This study aimed to determine the removability of two different types of mycotoxin removers, adsorbents and enzyme degradation reagents (EDRs), in the simulated gastrointestinal conditions of pigs and poultry. Seven commercial mycotoxin removers, including five EDRs and two adsorbents, were tested in vitro. In this study, the supplemented dosages of mycotoxin removers used in pig and poultry feeds were the commercial recommendation ranging from 0.05% to 0.2%. For pigs, the in vitro gastric and small intestinal simulations were performed by immersing the mycotoxin-tainted feed in artificial gastric juice (AGJ) at pH 2.5 for 5 h or in artificial intestinal juice (AIJ) at pH 6.5 for 2 h to mimick in vivo conditions. For poultry, mycotoxin-tainted feeds were immersed in AGJ for 2 h at pH 4.5 and 0.5 h at pH of 2.5, respectively, to simulate crop/glandular stomach and gizzard conditions; the small intestinal simulation was in AIJ for 2 h at pH 6.5. For the pig, EDRs and adsorbents had deoxynivalenol (DON) removability (1 mg/kg) of 56% to 100% and 15% to 19%, respectively. Under the concentration of 0.5 mg/kg, the zearalenone (ZEN) removability by EDRs and adsorbents was 65% to 100% and 0% to 36%, respectively. For the simulation in poultry, the removability of DON by EDRs and adsorbents (5 mg/kg) was 56% to 79% and 1% to 36%, respectively; for the concentration of 0.5 mg/kg, the removability of ZEN by EDRs and adsorbents was 38% to 69% and 7% to 9%, respectively. These results suggest that EDRs are more effective in reducing DON and ZEN contamination compared to the adsorbent methods in the simulated gastrointestinal tracts of pig and poultry. The recoveries of DON and ZEN of pig in vitro gastrointestinal simulations were higher than 86.4% and 84.7%, respectively, with 88.8% and 85.9%, respectively, in poultry. These results demonstrated the stability and accuracy of our mycotoxin extraction process and in vitro simulation efficiency.
Food Shortage Amplifies Negative Sublethal Impacts of Low-Level Exposure to the Neonicotinoid Insecticide Imidacloprid on Stream Mayfly Nymphs
Authors: Hunn Julia G. , Macaulay Samuel J. , Matthaei Christoph D.
Published: October 2019

Interactions of pesticides with biotic or anthropogenic stressors affecting stream invertebrates are still poorly understood. In a three-factor laboratory experiment, we investigated effects of the neonicotinoid imidacloprid, food availability, and population density on the New Zealand mayfly Deleatidium spp. (Leptophlebiidae). Larval mayflies (10 or 20 individuals) were exposed to environmentally realistic concentrations of imidacloprid (controls, 0.97 and 2.67 μg L−1) for nine days following five days during which individuals were either starved or fed with stream algae. Imidacloprid exposure had severe lethal and sublethal effects on Deleatidium, with effects of the lower concentration occurring later in the experiment. The starvation period had delayed interactive effects, with prior starvation amplifying imidacloprid-induced increases in mayfly impairment (inability to swim or right themselves) and immobility (no signs of movement besides twitching appendages). Few studies have investigated interactions with other stressors that may worsen neonicotinoid impacts on non-target freshwater organisms, and experiments manipulating food availability or density-dependent processes are especially rare. Therefore, we encourage longer-term multiple-stressor experiments that build on our study, including mesocosm experiments involving realistic stream food webs.
КОРРЕКЦИЯ ВОСПРОИЗВОДСТВА В ООО «ЗАОЗЕРНЫЙ» С ИСПОЛЬЗОВАНИЕМ НАБОРА ИФА OXILINE LAIT/MILK ДЛЯ РАННЕЙ ДИАГНОСТИКИ СТЕЛЬНОСТИ
Authors: PLANKOV A.V. , MASHNIN A.V. , MASHNIN D.V.
Published: October 2019

В статье представлен анализ результатов использования в течение 7 месяцев в схеме технологического процесса молочной фермы в Челябинской области комплекса мероприятий, включающего в себя применение набора ИФА Oxiline Lait/Milk на 28й день после искусственного осеменения, а также осуществление последующих ветеринарнозоотехнических работ. Комплексный подход позволил сократить продолжительность сервиспериода со 190 до 100 дней, повысить оплодотворяемость коров на 17,98 (с 48,75 до 66,73), а также предотвратить возможные убытки от лишних дней бесплодия на 10 073 700 руб. на поголовье из 574 коров.

Analysis of the result a 7 month long implementation of the IFA Oxiline Lait/Milk set on a 28th day after artificial insemination as well as subsequent veterinary and zootechnical works is presented in the article on the example of Ltd Zaozyorny (Chelyabinsk Region, Russia). An integrated approach allowed to reduce service period by 90 days from 190 days to 100 days, increase conception rate by 17.98 from 48.75 to 66.73 and also to prevent possible losses of 10 073 700 rub from excess days of infertility on a livestock of 574 cows.
GPs’ attitudes towards the diagnosis and treatment of male urinary tract infections: a qualitative interview study in Ireland
Authors: Fallon Róisín , Farrell Karen , Leon Genevieve , Rajan Aparna , Duane Sinead , FitzGerald Christine , Tierney Marie , Vellinga Akke
Published: October 2019

Background

In general practice, males represent around 20% of the total number of urinary tract infection (UTI) consultations. The majority of UTI research focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of women with UTIs but there is little evidence on how male UTIs are treated.

Aim

To better understand GPs’ attitudes towards the diagnosis and treatment of male UTIs. This research aimed to support future investigations to determine best practice in diagnosis and treatment of male UTI.

Design and setting

A qualitative interview study was carried out with 15 GPs across Ireland.

Method

A topic guide was created to ensure consistency in interviews. The interviews were audiorecorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

Fifteen interviews with GPs were completed. Analysis indicated that GPs’ knowledge of guidelines and implementation of them varied widely when deciding a treatment plan for a male presenting with UTI symptoms. There was clear consensus that male UTIs were uncommon and complicated to diagnose. Three GPs reported never treating a male UTI, while others reported treating <5 patients in their careers. There was an assumption that sexually transmitted infections (STI) take precedence in young males when presenting with similar symptoms. The use of antimicrobial treatment guidelines varied widely, in line with the interpretation of the origin and severity of symptoms.

Conclusion

Male UTIs are perceived by GPs as rare and complicated. GPs expressed that patient age, resources, and guidelines available limited their confidence in diagnosing and treating male UTIs.
Calidad académica de los docentes universitarios
Authors: Montoya Wendy
Published: October 2019

La educación universitaria es la base para el desarrollo social, científico, tecnológico y humanístico, por lo tanto, se debe generar una gestión eficaz y eficiente en el desarro-llo académico que ejercen los profesores. En tal sentido, la presente investigación tuvo como objetivo general describir la calidad académica de los docentes de la Universidad Politécnica Territorial del Nor-te del Táchira Manuela Sáenz (UPTNT Ma-nuela Sáenz). Asimismo, se abordaron las perspectivas teóricas a través de otros es-tudios, leyes y autores que dan sustento a la investigación. Por tal motivo, la investiga-ción parte del proceso sintagmático, bajo el tipo de investigación descriptiva. El diseño de la investigación fue transeccional con-temporáneo de campo, univariable, con un abordaje cosmológico, étic, exógeno. Se trabajó con una población conformada por 70 docentes de la insti-tución universitaria. La técnica de recolec-ción de los datos estu-vo conformada por un instrumento tipo escala con 130 ítems, la validez se realizó a través del juicio de expertos y la confiabili-dad por medio del programa estadístico SPSS, dando como resultado ,820. Se con-cluyó que los docentes de la universidad en estudio presentan una calidad académica regular, es decir, hay poca pertinencia, ex-haus-tividad, innovación, efectividad e ido-neidad en el quehacer académico.
Problem Solving Processes and Group Effectiveness on a Creative Task: A case study in Physics Education
Authors: Pulgar Javier , Spina Alexis
Published: October 2019

We investigated a group of physics majors solving a creative problem in the context of a course on conceptual physics and children's thinking adapted from the Physics and Everyday Thinking (PET) curriculum. In addition to learning concep- tual physics, course participants discussed the ways that elementary and middle school students learn physics and their common pre-instructional ideas and models of physics phenomena. To explore group performance, research participants were asked to collaboratively design a physics learning activity with at least two questions either for elementary, middle or high school level. Participants' discussion was audio recorded, and analyzed with attention to emergent themes of the problem solving process. Next, we used a model of group effectiveness to identi?ed the degree to which the group met the conditions for effective performance. Results suggest the group decided the content and questions for the task following a creative process where they generated ideas on the structure of the problem and its scienti?c narrative, while also making decision regarding targeted students age, what these would do when facing the problem, and engaged in the process of requesting ideas and information. These processes shaped the conditions for e?ectiveness, which enabled a deep understanding on the team's dynamic.
Upaya Pengendalian Berat Badan Ideal (BMI) melalui Kegiatan Perintah Harian Sifat Tetap (PHST) Taruna Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Pelayaran
Authors: Malau April Gunawan , Prihartanta Prihartanta , Kurniadi Dedy , Fahcruddin Imam
Published: October 2019

Kebugaran jasmani sangat diperlukan taruna untuk menunjang kesiapan dalam menghadapi dunia kerja, terutama sektor pelayaran. Dengan menetapkan kegiatan perintah harian sifat tetap (PHST) diharapkan dapat mengendalikan berat badan ideal taruna. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendeskripsikan berat badan ideal taruna Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Pelayaran serta upaya pengendaliannya melalui kegiatan PHST. Metode yang digunakan adalah deskriptif kuantitatif. Dari hasil penelitian diperoleh taruna laki-laki semester III dan VII tidak ada yang masuk dalam kategori kurus, kategori normal sebanyak 407 orang, kategori kegemukan sebanyak 369 orang, kategori obesitas sebanyak 53 orang. Taruna perempuan semester III dan VII untuk kategori kurus sebanyak 5 orang, kategori normal sebanyak 54 orang, kategori kegemukan sebanyak 8 orang dan kategori obesitas sebanyak 12 orang. Upaya pengendalian BMI untuk taruna kategori gemuk dan obesitas melalui PHST adalah kegiatan push up, sit up, back lift, lari, mengangkat barbel, renang dan sterling.
Pengaruh Penggunaan Aplikasi Nike Training Club Terhadap Peningkatan Vo2max Pada Pemain Ekstrakurikuler Futsal Putri Man 1 Kabupaten Sukabumi
Authors: Faozi Faiz , Rahmawati Desi
Published: October 2019

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui seberapa besar pengaruh penggunaan aplikasi Nike Training Club terhadap peningkatan VO2Max pada pemain ekstrakurikuler futsal putri MAN 1 Kabupaten Sukabumi. Jenis penelitian yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah eksperimen dengan desain penelitian menggunakan One Group Pre-test Post-test Design. Instrumen berupa tes bleep test. Subjek penelitian adalah siswi atau pemain ekstrakurikuler futsal putri di MAN 1 Kabupaten Sukabumi sebanyak 15 siswi yang dipilih dengan menggunakan sampel jenuh. Hasil analisis data menunjukkan adanya peningkatan VO2Max terhadap pemain futsal putri setelah mendapatkan perlakuan atau treatment dengan menggunakan aplikasi Nike Training Club, terbukti dari nilai t= 3.229 dan nilai Sig. 0,006 < 0,05 dan eksperimen mempunyai pengaruh yang signifikan dengan rata-rata pre-test 26,17 dan rata-rata post-test 30,21 atau mengalami peningkatan sebesar 7,16%. Berdasarkan hasil tersebut maka dapat diambil kesimpulan untuk penelitian ini yaitu terdapat pengaruh penggunaan aplikasi Nike Training Club terhadap peningkatan VO2Max pada pemain ekstrakurikuler futsal putri MAN 1 Kabupaten Sukabumi.