bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Entanglement Control of Two-Level Atoms in Dissipative Cavities
Authors: Salah Reyad , Farouk Ahmed M. , Farouk Ahmed , Abdel-Aty Mahmoud , Eleuch Hichem , Obada Abdel-Shafy F.
Published: February 2020

An open quantum bipartite system consisting of two independent two-level atoms interacting nonlinearly with a two-mode electromagnetic cavity field is investigated by proposing a suitable non-Hermitian generalization of the Hamiltonian. The mathematical procedure of obtaining the corresponding wave function of the system is clearly given. Pancharatnam phase is studied to give a precise information about the required initial system state, which is related to artificial phase jumps, to control the degree of entanglement (DEM) and get the highest concurrence. We discuss the effect of time-variation coupling, and dissipation of both atoms and cavity. The effect of the time-variation function appears as frequency modulation (FM) effect in the radio waves. Concurrence rapidly reaches the disentangled state (death of entanglement) by increasing the effect of field decay. On the contrary, the atomic decay has no effect.
A Method for the Installation Measurement and Alignment of a Mirror Unit in the Solar Dish Concentrator
Authors: Yan Jian , Peng Youduo , Nie Duzhong
Published: February 2020

The mirror unit installation error of the solar parabolic dish concentrator can adversely affect its optical performance causing optical intercept losses and hot spots on the absorber surface, which in turn affect safety. Thus, minimizing mirror installation error is considered very important. In this paper, a new method for the facet installation measurement and facet alignment of the mirror unit in the dish concentrator is presented. Firstly, a “clean” facet installation error measurement method using photogrammetry is presented. The photogrammetry measures the spatial coordinates of three feature points to reverse the mirror facet alignment error parameters. Next, two novel methods, a three-rotation alignment method and two-rotation alignment method for aligning the mirror facet are presented and corresponding mathematical models. The advantage of these alignment methods is that the adjustment value and order for each support bolt can be determined before the mirror facet is aligned, which could provide quantitative adjustment information to operator and avoid repeated adjustments. Finally, validity of the installation measurement and facet alignment method was verified by a numerical simulation and an experiment using a metal facet alignment. The presented methods do not rely on the geometry of the reflector mirror and could therefore have extensive uses in applications such solar tower and trough concentrator.
A Collaborative Approach between Japan and China for Implementing Interlaboratory Evaluation of Olfactometry
Authors: Higuchi Takaya , Li Weifang , Geng Jing , Wang Gen , Shigeoka Kumiko
Published: February 2020

Odor measurement is a crucial element of odor management and regulation. This paper introduced a collaborative implementation of interlaboratory evaluation of olfactometry between Japan and China. An international comparison of olfactometry using the triangular odor bag method was carried out for the first time between Japan and China in 2018. A total of 134 olfactometry laboratories (130 Japanese and 4 Chinese) participated in the test, and the odor index of the test odorant (dimethyl disulfide with a concentration of 10.7 ppm) was measured three times at each laboratory. In the interlaboratory evaluation, a reference value and repeatability and reproducibility standard deviations were determined on the basis of measurement results of 13 ‘excellent qualified laboratories’ designated by the Japan Association on Odor Environment. Evaluation results of trueness and precision of the 133 laboratories that conducted duplicate or triplicate measurements showed that 110 (108 Japanese and 2 Chinese) and 104 (102 Japanese and 2 Chinese) laboratories (82.7% and 78.2%) conformed to the criterion of trueness and precision, respectively, and 87 (86 Japanese and 1 Chinese) laboratories (65.4%) conformed to both. Based on the meaningful experiences in 2018, a continuous international collaboration between Japan and China in the field of olfactometry should be implemented for the improvement of the quality of olfactometry laboratories and the reliability of odor measurement in both countries.
Assessing the Role of Cannabis Use on Cortical Surface Structure in Adolescents and Young Adults: Exploring Gender and Aerobic Fitness as Potential Moderators
Authors: Sullivan Ryan , Wallace Alexander , Wade Natasha , Swartz Ann , Lisdahl Krista
Published: February 2020

Cannabis use in adolescents and young adults is linked with aberrant brain structure, although findings to date are inconsistent. We examined whether aerobic fitness moderated the effects of cannabis on cortical surface structure and whether gender may play a moderating role. Seventy-four adolescents and young adults completed three-weeks of monitored abstinence, aerobic fitness testing, and structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI). Whole-sample linear regressions examined the effects of gender, VO2 max, cannabis use, and their interactions on the surface area (SA) and local gyrification index (LGI). Cannabis use was associated with greater cuneus SA. Gender-by-cannabis predicted precuneus and frontal SA, and precentral, supramarginal, and frontal LGI; female cannabis users demonstrated greater LGI, whereas male cannabis users demonstrated decreased LGI compared to non-users. Aerobic fitness was positively associated with various SA and LGI regions. Cannabis-by-aerobic fitness predicted cuneus SA and occipital LGI. These findings demonstrate that aerobic fitness moderates the impact of cannabis on cortical surface structure, and gender differences are evident. These moderating factors may help explain inconsistencies in the literature and warrant further investigation. Present findings and aerobic fitness literature jointly suggest aerobic intervention may be a low-cost avenue for improving cortical surface structure, although the impact may be gender-specific.
Brain Tumor Analysis Empowered with Deep Learning: A Review, Taxonomy, and Future Challenges
Authors: Nadeem Muhammad Waqas , Ghamdi Mohammed A. Al , Hussain Muzammil , Khan Muhammad Adnan , Khan Khalid Masood , Almotiri Sultan H. , Butt Suhail Ashfaq
Published: February 2020

Deep Learning (DL) algorithms enabled computational models consist of multiple processing layers that represent data with multiple levels of abstraction. In recent years, usage of deep learning is rapidly proliferating in almost every domain, especially in medical image processing, medical image analysis, and bioinformatics. Consequently, deep learning has dramatically changed and improved the means of recognition, prediction, and diagnosis effectively in numerous areas of healthcare such as pathology, brain tumor, lung cancer, abdomen, cardiac, and retina. Considering the wide range of applications of deep learning, the objective of this article is to review major deep learning concepts pertinent to brain tumor analysis (e.g., segmentation, classification, prediction, evaluation.). A review conducted by summarizing a large number of scientific contributions to the field (i.e., deep learning in brain tumor analysis) is presented in this study. A coherent taxonomy of research landscape from the literature has also been mapped, and the major aspects of this emerging field have been discussed and analyzed. A critical discussion section to show the limitations of deep learning techniques has been included at the end to elaborate open research challenges and directions for future work in this emergent area.
Management of Neuroinflammatory Responses to AAV-Mediated Gene Therapies for Neurodegenerative Diseases
Authors: Perez Barbara A. , Shutterly Alison , Chan Ying Kai , Byrne Barry J. , Corti Manuela
Published: February 2020

Recently, adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated gene therapies have attracted clinical interest for treating neurodegenerative diseases including spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), Canavan disease (CD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and Friedreich’s ataxia (FA). The influx of clinical findings led to the first approved gene therapy for neurodegenerative disorders in 2019 and highlighted new safety concerns for patients. Large doses of systemically administered AAV stimulate host immune responses, resulting in anti-capsid and anti-transgene immunity with implications for transgene expression, treatment longevity, and patient safety. Delivering lower doses directly to the central nervous system (CNS) is a promising alternative, resulting in higher transgene expression with decreased immune responses. However, neuroinflammatory responses after CNS-targeted delivery of AAV are a critical concern. Reported signs of AAV-associated neuroinflammation in preclinical studies include dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and spinal cord pathology with mononuclear cell infiltration. In this review, we discuss ways to manage neuroinflammation, including choice of AAV capsid serotypes, CNS-targeting routes of delivery, genetic modifications to the vector and/or transgene, and adding immunosuppressive strategies to clinical protocols. As additional gene therapies for neurodegenerative diseases enter clinics, tracking biomarkers of neuroinflammation will be important for understanding the impact immune reactions can have on treatment safety and efficacy.
Behavioral and Neuropsychological Evaluation of Executive Functions in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Gulf Region
Authors: Alsaedi Rehab H. , Carrington Suzanne , Watters James J.
Published: February 2020

This study examined the executive functioning abilities and development profiles of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The participants were 119 children with ASD and 30 typically developing children (age range: 6–12 years) who were recruited from three Gulf states. The findings revealed executive functioning deficits in the ASD population when compared to the normative data or to those children without ASD. However, not all the forms of executive functioning were found to be impaired. Age-related differences in the patterns of performance on the utilized measures of executive functioning were also identified. The overall findings provide valuable information regarding the different components of the executive functions, which may prove useful in relation to the development of assessment protocols for ASD.
ABCA7—A Member of the ABC Transporter Family in Healthy and Ailing Brain
Authors: Surguchev Alexei A. , Surguchov Andrei
Published: February 2020

Identification of genetic markers of a human disease, which is generally sporadic, may become an essential tool for the investigation of its molecular mechanisms. The role of ABCA7 in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) was discovered less than ten years ago when meta-analyses provided evidence that rs3764650 is a new AD susceptibility locus. Recent research advances in this locus and new evidence regarding ABCA7 contribution to the AD pathogenesis brought a new understanding of the underlying mechanisms of this disorder. An interesting, up-to-date review article "ABCA7 and Pathogenic Pathways of Alzheimer’s Disease" by Aikawa et al. (2018), outlines the ABCA7 role in AD and summarizes new findings in this exciting area. ABC transporters or ATP-binding cassette transporters are a superfamily of proteins belonging to a cell transport system. Currently, members of the family are the focus of attention because of their central role in drug pharmacokinetics. Two recent findings are the reason why much attention is drawn to the ABCA7 family. First, is the biochemical data showing a role of ABCA7 in amyloid pathology. Second, genetic data identifying ABCA7 gene variants as loci responsible for the late-onset AD. These results point to the ABCA7 as a significant new contributor to the pathogenesis of AD.
Enhancing α-secretase Processing for Alzheimer’s Disease—A View on SFRP1
Authors: Tang Bor Luen
Published: February 2020

Amyloid β (Aβ) peptides generated via sequential β- and γ-secretase processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) are major etiopathological agents of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, an initial APP cleavage by an α-secretase, such as the a disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain-containing protein ADAM10, precludes β-secretase cleavage and leads to APP processing that does not produce Aβ. The latter appears to underlie the disease symptom-attenuating effects of a multitude of experimental therapeutics in AD animal models. Recent work has indicated that an endogenous inhibitor of ADAM10, secreted-frizzled-related protein 1 (SFRP1), is elevated in human AD brains and associated with amyloid plaques in mouse AD models. Importantly, genetic or functional attenuation of SFRP1 lowered Aβ accumulation and improved AD-related histopathological and neurological traits. Given SFRP1′s well-known activity in attenuating Wnt signaling, which is also commonly impaired in AD, SFRP1 appears to be a promising therapeutic target for AD. This idea, however, needs to be addressed with care because of cancer enhancement potentials resulting from a systemic loss of SFRP1 activity, as well as an upregulation of ADAM10 activity. In this focused review, I shall discuss α-secretase-effected APP processing in AD with a focus on SFRP1, and explore the contrasting perspectives arising from the recent findings.
The IL-1 Antagonist Anakinra Attenuates Glioblastoma Aggressiveness by Dampening Tumor-Associated Inflammation
Authors: Hübner Max , Effinger David , Wu Tingting , Strauß Gabriele , Pogoda Kristin , Kreth Friedrich-Wilhelm , Kreth Simone
Published: February 2020

Background: The recombinant IL-1 receptor antagonist anakinra—currently approved for the treatment of autoinflammatory diseases—blocks IL-1β-mediated inflammatory signaling. As inflammation is a major driver of cancer, we hypothesized that anakinra might be able to mitigate glioblastoma (GBM) aggressiveness. Methods: Primary GBM or T98G cells were incubated alone or with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and were subsequently treated with IL-1β and/or anakinra. T cells were obtained by magnetic bead isolation. Protein and mRNA expression were quantified by SDS-PAGE, qRT-PCR, and ELISA, respectively. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were analyzed via flow cytometry. Chemotaxis was studied via time-lapse microscopy. Results: Upon IL-1β stimulation, anakinra attenuated proinflammatory gene expression in both GBM cells and PBMCs, and mitigated tumor migration and proliferation. In a more lifelike model replacing IL-1β stimulation by GBM–PBMC co-culture, sole presence of PBMCs proved sufficient to induce a proinflammatory phenotype in GBM cells with enhanced proliferation and migration rates and attenuated apoptosis. Anakinra antagonized these pro-tumorigenic effects and, moreover, reduced inflammatory signaling in T cells without compromising anti-tumor effector molecules. Conclusion: By dampening the inflammatory crosstalk between GBM and immune cells, anakinra mitigated GBM aggressiveness. Hence, counteracting IL-1β-mediated inflammation might be a promising strategy to pursue.
Silver Chloride/Ferricyanide-Based Quasi-Reference Electrode for Potentiometric Sensing Applications
Authors: Brainina Khiena Z. , Tarasov Aleksey V. , Vidrevich Marina B.
Published: February 2020

Processes’ occurring at the Ag/AgCl/Cl–, ([Fe(CN)6]3–/4–) ions interface study results are presented. Conditions are selected for the mixed salts’ precipitate formation on the silver surface. It has been shown that the potential of a silver screen-printed electrode (AgSPE) coated with a mixed precipitate containing silver chloride/ferricyanide is stable in the presence of [Fe(CN)6]3–/4–. The electrode can serve as a quasi-reference electrode (QRE) in electrochemical measurements in media containing ions [Fe(CN)6]3−/4−. The electrode is formed during polarization of AgSPE (0.325 V vs. Ag/AgCl/KCl, 3.5 M) in a solution containing chloride- and ferri/ferrocyanides ions. The results of the obtained QRE study by potentiometry, scanning electron microscopy and cyclic voltammetry are presented. The proposed QRE was used in a sensor system to evaluate the antioxidant activity (AOA) of solutions by hybrid potentiometric method (HPM). The results of AOA assessment of fruit juices and biofluids obtained using new QRE and commercial Ag/AgCl RE with separated spaces do not differ.
A Tutorial on Model-Assisted Estimation with Application to Forest Inventory
Authors: McConville Kelly S. , Moisen Gretchen G. , Frescino Tracey S.
Published: February 2020

National forest inventories in many countries combine expensive ground plot data with remotely-sensed information to improve precision in estimators of forest parameters. A simple post-stratified estimator is often the tool of choice because it has known statistical properties, is easy to implement, and is intuitive to the many users of inventory data. Because of the increased availability of remotely-sensed data with improved spatial, temporal, and thematic resolutions, there is a need to equip the inventory community with a more diverse array of statistical estimators. Focusing on generalized regression estimators, we step the reader through seven estimators including: Horvitz Thompson, ratio, post-stratification, regression, lasso, ridge, and elastic net. Using forest inventory data from Daggett county in Utah, USA as an example, we illustrate how to construct, as well as compare the relative performance of, these estimators. Augmented by simulations, we also show how the standard variance estimator suffers from greater negative bias than the bootstrap variance estimator, especially as the size of the assisting model grows. Each estimator is made readily accessible through the new R package, mase. We conclude with guidelines in the form of a decision tree on when to use which an estimator in forest inventory applications.
Genome-Wide Identification of the Auxin Response Factor (ARF) Gene Family and Their Expression Analysis during Flower Development of Osmanthus fragrans
Authors: Chen Gongwei , Yue Yuanzheng , Li Ling , Li Yuli , Li Haiyan , Ding Wenjie , Shi Tingting , Yang Xiulian , Wang Lianggui
Published: February 2020

Auxins have long been implicated in many aspects of plant growth and development. Auxin response factors (ARFs) are important proteins in auxin-mediated pathways and they play key roles in plant physiological and biochemical processes, including flower development. Endogenous indoleacetic acid (IAA) levels were measured and ARFs were studied in the flowers during the developmental stages in order to further elucidate the role of auxin in flower development of Osmanthus fragrans. A systematic analysis of OfARFs was conducted by carrying out a genome-wide search of ARFs. A total of 50 ARF genes (OfARFs) were detected and validated from the Osmanthus fragrans genome. Furthermore, a comprehensive overview of the OfARFs was undertaken, including phylogenetic relationship, gene structures, conserved domains, motifs, promoters, chromosome locations, gene duplications, and subcellular locations of the gene product. Finally, expression profiling, while using transcriptome sequencing from a previous study and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), revealed that many OfARF genes have different expression levels in various tissues and flower developmental stages. By comparing the expression profiles among the flower developmental stages, and the relationship between ARFs and endogenous IAA levels, it can be supposed that OfARFs function in flower development of O. fragrans in an auxin-mediated pathway.
The Submissive Relationship of Public Health to Government, Politics, and Economics: How Global Health Diplomacy and Engaged Followership Compromise Humanitarian Relief
Authors: Peplow Daniel , Augustine Sarah
Published: February 2020

This paper describes efforts by public health practitioners to address a health crisis caused by economic development policies that are unrestrained by either environmental, public health, or human rights mandates. Economic development projects funded by international funding institutions like the Inter-American Development Bank that reduce poverty when measured in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita in the transborder region between Suriname and French Guiana harm minority populations where commercial activities destroy, alter, and remove the resources upon which local communities depend. In this study, the structural causes of a community health crisis affecting Indigenous people in the transborder region between Suriname and French Guiana was addressed by seeking gatekeepers in government who have access to policy-making processes. We found that deeply rooted economic development policies structured social, economic, and political alliances and made them resistant to feedback and reform. We concluded that work must be focused beyond the simple exchange of public health information. Public health practitioners must become politically active to create new policy commitments and new patterns of governance that advance development as well as improve health outcomes. Failure to do so may result in public health practitioners becoming ‘engaged followers’ that are complicit in the inhumanity that springs from their acquiescence to the authority of government officials when their policies are the cause of preventable death, disease, and disability.
Smart Glasses-Based Personnel Proximity Warning System for Improving Pedestrian Safety in Construction and Mining Sites
Authors: Baek Jieun , Choi Yosoon
Published: February 2020

A smart glasses-based wearable personnel proximity warning system (PWS) was developed for pedestrian safety in construction and mining sites. The smart glasses receive signals transmitted by Bluetooth beacons attached to heavy equipment or vehicles, with the proximity determined by the signal strength. A visual alert is displayed to the wearer when in close proximity. The media access control address of the Bluetooth beacon provides information on the approaching equipment or vehicle, which is displayed to the wearer so that they can respond appropriately. There was a detection distance of at least 10 m regardless of the direction the pedestrian was looking and the alert was successful in all 40 trials at ≥10 meters. The subjective workload was evaluated using the NASA task load index on ten subjects, either without a personal PWS, with a smartphone-based PWS, or with the smart glasses-based PWS. The mental, temporal, and physical stresses were lowest when using the smart glasses-based PWS. Smart glasses-based PWSs can improve work efficiency by freeing both hands of the pedestrians, and various functions can be supported through application development. Therefore, they are particularly useful for pedestrian safety in construction and mining sites.
Hybrid Methodology to Improve Health Status Utility Values Derivation Using EQ-5D-5L and Advanced Multi-Criteria Techniques
Authors: Vásquez Johanna , Botero Sergio
Published: February 2020

This paper presented a new approach to the calculation of quality-adjusted life years (QALY) based on multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods and using the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire. The health status utility values were calculated through a hybrid methodology. We combined the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), the AHP with a D-number extended fuzzy preference relation (D-AHP), the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (F-AHP), and the technique for order preference by similarity to the ideal solution (TOPSIS) to obtain individual and aggregated utility values. The preference data were elicited using a sample of individuals from a Colombian university. In all tested methods, the ordinal preferences were consistent, and the weights were compared using the Euclidean distance criterion (EDC). We identified F-AHP-TOPSIS as the optimal method; its benefits were associated with modeling the response options of the EQ-5D in linguistic terms, it gave the best approximation to the initial preferences according to EDC, and it could be used as an alternative to the known prioritization method. This hybrid methodology was particularly useful in certain medical decisions concerned with understanding how a specific person values his or her current health or possible health outcomes from different interventions in small population samples and studies carried out in low- and middle-low-income countries.
Perfectionism and Prospective Near-Term Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors: The Mediation of Fear of Humiliation and Suicide Crisis Syndrome
Authors: Pia Tyler , Galynker Igor , Schuck Allison , Sinclair Courtney , Ying Gelan , Calati Raffaella
Published: February 2020

Background: Perfectionism has been linked to suicide. According to the Narrative-Crisis Model of suicide, individuals with trait vulnerabilities are prone to develop a certain mindset, known as a Suicidal Narrative, which may precipitate the Suicide Crisis Syndrome (SCS), culminating in suicide. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between perfectionism (trait vulnerability), fear of humiliation (component of the Suicidal Narrative), SCS, and prospective near-term suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STB). Methods: Adult psychiatric outpatient participants (N = 336) were assessed at baseline with the Suicidal Narrative Inventory for perfectionism and fear of humiliation. The questions used to assess perfectionism were adapted from the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale. The severity of the SCS was calculated using the Suicide Crisis Inventory. STB were assessed at baseline and after one month using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale. Serial mediation analyses were conducted using PROCESS version 3.3 in SPSS. Results: While the direct effect of perfectionism on prospective STB was not significant (b = 0.01, p = 0.19), the indirect effect of perfectionism on STB, through serial mediation by fear of humiliation and the SCS, was significant (indirect effect p = 0.007, 95% CI [0.003, 0.013]). The indirect effect was not significant for models that did not include both mediators. Limitations: Variables were assessed at one time only. Conclusion: Perfectionism did not directly modulate STB. Perfectionism may be related to suicidal behavior through fear of humiliation, leading to the SCS. These results support the Narrative-Crisis Model of suicide and clarify the role of perfectionism in the etiology of suicide.
Environmental Regulation, Technological Innovation, and Export Competitiveness: An Empirical Study Based on China’s Manufacturing Industry
Authors: Liu Jiayue , Xie Jing
Published: February 2020

A current and universal challenge, particularly in developing nations, is the establishment of effective environmental regulation policies that protect the ecological environment without adversely affecting the international competitiveness of the domestic manufacturing industry. To deal with this dilemma, this study investigates the export competitiveness of China’s manufacturing industry from the viewpoint of export value added. The Porter hypothesis is applied for an empirical investigation of the effect of environmental regulation on export competitiveness and to determine the presence of intra-industry heterogeneity. Furthermore, this study seeks to understand the mechanisms through which environmental regulation affects export competitiveness by exploring the two main approaches to technological innovation. The findings reveal that environmental regulation has a promotion effect of approximately 2% on the export competitiveness of China’s manufacturing industry; however, this effect is non-linear and displays a “U-shaped” tendency, indicating that certain prerequisites must be fulfilled to validate the Porter hypothesis. In addition, the effect of environmental regulation displays significant intra-industry heterogeneity, which is evident primarily in heavily polluting sub-industries and to a lesser extent in moderately polluting sub-industries but insignificant in lightly polluting sub-industries. Environmental regulation also differs significantly in the mechanisms through which it affects different approaches to technological innovation. Independent research and development is affected by environmental regulation through the compliance cost effect, which limits export competitiveness, while technology introduction is affected by the innovation offset effect, which favors export competitiveness. These findings offer political implications for the sustainable development of the ecological environment and foreign trade.
Effectiveness and Safety in Remote Monitoring of Patients with Pacemakers Five Years after an Implant: The Poniente Study
Authors: López-Liria Remedios , López-Villegas Antonio , Leal-Costa César , Peiró Salvador , Robles-Musso Emilio , Bautista-Mesa Rafael , Rocamora-Pérez Patricia , Lappegård Knut Tore , Catalán-Matamoros Daniel
Published: February 2020

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and functional capacity values immediately after pacemaker (PM) implantation have been well established; however, not much has been known about its long-term effects. The present study compared the long-term effectiveness and safety of remote monitoring plus a clinic visit versus clinic visits alone during follow-up of adults implanted with PMs. This study was a single-centre, controlled, non-randomised, non-blinded clinical trial. Data were collected pre-implantation and after 60 months. The patients in the PONIENTE study were assigned to two different groups: remote monitoring (RM) and conventional monitoring (CM). The EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D) questionnaire was used to assess HRQoL and Duke Activity Status Index was used for the functional capacity. After five years, 55 patients completed the study (RM = 21; CM = 34). EuroQol-5D and functional capacity values were improved; however, significant differences were observed only in the EQ5D visual analogue scale (p < 0.001). Remote monitoring was equally feasible, reliable, safe, and clinically useful as CM. The frequencies of rehospitalisations and emergency visits did not differ between the groups. RM was found to be safe and effective in early detection and treatment of medical- and device-related events and in reducing hospital visits. Improved HRQoL was described not only immediately after PM implantation but also extended over a long time.
Multidimensional Assessment of Eco-Innovation Implementation: Evidence from Spanish Agri-Food Sector
Authors: García-Granero Eva M. , Piedra-Muñoz Laura , Galdeano-Gómez Emilio
Published: February 2020

Understanding eco-innovation is an essential endeavor to achieve global sustainable development. In this sense, further research on implementation is needed to expand knowledge beyond current boundaries. The aim of this paper is to contribute to this debate by conducting an original multidimensional analysis using Spanish agri-food sector data. The empirical methodology applies a combination of descriptive statistics, cluster analysis and the chi-squared test. Two groups of well-differentiated eco-innovative firms are identified, those with high and low eco-innovation implementation levels. Quality certifications, environmental consulting and cooperation with stakeholders are the variables that contribute most to distinguishing these two groups. The results also reveal that operating income volume, number of employees and commercialization volume are key factors to become more eco-innovative. In this sense, larger firms are found to have a higher level of eco-innovation implementation than small- and medium-sized enterprises. The main contributions of this work are fourfold. Firstly, it presents a comprehensive framework of eco-innovation implementation in its four dimensions (product, process, organizational and marketing). Secondly, it fills existing gaps in the literature by analyzing green organizational and marketing eco-practices. Thirdly, it expands the sectorial scope of eco-innovation research primarily focused on high-tech sectors. Finally, this study makes it possible to design certain policies for public and private decision makers.
Indicators of Genotoxicity in Farmers and Laborers of Ecological and Conventional Banana Plantations in Ecuador
Authors: Hutter Hans-Peter , Poteser Michael , Lemmerer Kathrin , Wallner Peter , Shahraki Sanavi Shifra , Kundi Michael , Moshammer Hanns , Weitensfelder Lisbeth
Published: February 2020

Banana farming represents an important segment of agricultural production in Ecuador. The health of farmworkers might be compromised by the extensive use of pesticides in plantations applied under poorly regulated conditions. Due to an increased awareness of pesticide-related problems for nature, as well as for worker and consumer health, ecological farming has been established in some plantations of Ecuador. We set out to investigate the occupational health of workers in both conventional and ecological farming. Nuclear anomalies in buccal epithelial cells were used as short-term indicators for genotoxicity and a potentially increased cancer risk in the two groups of farmworkers. By application of the Buccal Micronucleus Cytome Assay (BMCA), we found the frequency of micronuclei in conventional pesticide using farmworkers significantly increased by 2.6-fold, and other nuclear anomalies significantly increased by 24% to 80% (except pyknosis with a non-significant increase of 11%) compared to the farmworkers on ecological plantations. These results demonstrate that ecological farming may provide an alternative to extensive pesticide use with significantly reduced indicators of cancer risk. In conventional farming, improvements in education and instruction regarding the safe handling of pesticides and protective equipment, as well as regulatory measures, are urgently needed.
Making a Case for “Education for Health Literacy”: An International Perspective
Authors: Vamos Sandra , Okan Orkan , Sentell Tetine , Rootman Irving
Published: February 2020

In many countries, health literacy research, practice, and policy have been moving away from a focus only on medical care and health-care settings to a much broader conceptualization. In this broader perspective, health literacy can be obtained and used across many other settings (e.g., school, home, workplaces, government) towards achieving health and wellness goals across the life-course for individuals, families, and communities. The education sector is a critical domain towards these achievements and education for health literacy is a fundamental process and outcome. This can help towards important public health goals, including critical health literacy, as oriented not only towards individual actions, but also towards supporting effective social and political action. This Perspective Article describes the importance and utility of the education for health literacy perspective, which, follows a view that health literacy is a key outcome of health education from which improved population health, health promotion and disease prevention could be achieved across diverse contexts. We first describe different educational paradigms to address health literacy and clarify the education for health literacy perspective as a supportive, instructional and capacity-building global resource across the life-course. Then, using specific examples from Canada, America, and Germany, we provide a snapshot of the diverse ways in which the education for health literacy perspective can be found in national policies. These include broad national goals and standards (Germany and Canada) and major health care reform (America). We next consider the tensions and gaps that can arise in the translation and implementation of these policies relative to the ideal education for health literacy perspective, especially related to equity. These include the need for funding, goals of the educational system, and limited evaluation of policy in practice. Finally, we highlight strategic opportunities to achieve education for health literacy and equity especially offering examples from innovative practice in Canada across the lifespan.
On the Integration of Knowledge Graphs into Deep Learning Models for a More Comprehensible AI—Three Challenges for Future Research
Authors: Futia Giuseppe , Vetrò Antonio
Published: February 2020

Deep learning models contributed to reaching unprecedented results in prediction and classification tasks of Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems. However, alongside this notable progress, they do not provide human-understandable insights on how a specific result was achieved. In contexts where the impact of AI on human life is relevant (e.g., recruitment tools, medical diagnoses, etc.), explainability is not only a desirable property, but it is -or, in some cases, it will be soon-a legal requirement. Most of the available approaches to implement eXplainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) focus on technical solutions usable only by experts able to manipulate the recursive mathematical functions in deep learning algorithms. A complementary approach is represented by symbolic AI, where symbols are elements of a lingua franca between humans and deep learning. In this context, Knowledge Graphs (KGs) and their underlying semantic technologies are the modern implementation of symbolic AI—while being less flexible and robust to noise compared to deep learning models, KGs are natively developed to be explainable. In this paper, we review the main XAI approaches existing in the literature, underlying their strengths and limitations, and we propose neural-symbolic integration as a cornerstone to design an AI which is closer to non-insiders comprehension. Within such a general direction, we identify three specific challenges for future research—knowledge matching, cross-disciplinary explanations and interactive explanations.
Precise Electrohydrodynamic Direct-Write Micro-Droplets Based on a Designed Sinusoidal High-Voltage AC Power
Authors: Chen Huatan , Zheng Gaofeng , Liu Juan , Jiang Jiaxin , Kang Guoyi , Wang Xiang , Li Wenwang , Liu Yifang
Published: February 2020

The precise manufacturing of micro/nano structures is the key to the rapid development of flexible micro/nano systems. In this paper, a sinusoidal high-voltage alternating current (AC) power is designed for electrohydrodynamic direct-writing (EDW) technology. A push-pull converting circuit is utilized as the direct current (DC) voltage regulator power of a full-bridge inverter circuit. A single-phase full-bridge inverter circuit is used to output the controllable AC voltage, which is then boost-filtered to output the high-voltage sinusoidal AC signal. The amplitude of the output sinusoidal voltage is proportional to the input voltage and the modulation degree of the sinusoidal pulse width modulation (SPWM) inverter circuit. Then, the designed sinusoidal high-voltage AC power is used in the AC EDW process to print micro-droplets. The deposition frequency and the average diameter of droplets can be effectively controlled by adjusting the voltage amplitude and the voltage frequency. The design of this sinusoidal high-voltage AC power will promote research on the applications of EDW technology in the field of micro/nano manufacturing.
Stevia Eupatoria and Stevia Pilosa Extracts Inhibit the Proliferation and Migration of Prostate Cancer Cells
Authors: Martínez-Rojo Elizabeth , Cariño-Cortés Raquel , Berumen Laura Cristina , García-Alcocer Guadalupe , Escobar-Cabrera Jesica
Published: February 2020

Background and Objectives: Prostate cancer is the second most harmful disease in men worldwide and the number of cases is increasing. Therefore, new natural agents with anticancer potential should be examined and the response of existing therapeutic drugs must be enhanced. Stevia pilosa and Stevia eupatoria are two species that have been widely used in traditional medicine, but their effectiveness on cancer cells and their interaction with antineoplastic drugs have not been studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anticancer activity of Stevia pilosa methanolic root extract (SPME) and Stevia eupatoria methanolic root extract (SEME) and their effect, combined with enzalutamide, on prostate cancer cells. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on a human fibroblast cell line, and on androgen-dependent (LNCaP) and androgen-independent (PC-3) prostate cancer cell lines. The cell viability was evaluated using a Trypan Blue exclusion test for 48 h, and the migration by a wound-healing assay for 24, 48, and 72 h. Results: The results indicate that SPME and SEME were not cytotoxic at concentrations less than 1000 μg/mL in the human fibroblasts. SPME and SEME significantly reduced the viability and migration of prostate cancer cells in all concentrations evaluated. The antiproliferative effect of the Stevia extracts was higher in cancer cells than in normal cells. The enzalutamide decreased the cell viability in all concentrations tested (10–50 µM). The combination of the Stevia extracts and enzalutamide produced a greater effect on the inhibition of the proliferation and migration of cancer cells than the Stevia extracts alone, but not of the enzalutamide alone. Conclusion: The results indicate that SPME and SEME have an inhibitory effect on the viability and migration of prostate cancer cells and do not interfere with the enzalutamide anticancer effect. The data suggest that Stevia extracts may be a potential source of molecules for cancer treatment.
The Challenge of Digitalization in the Steel Sector
Authors: Branca Teresa Annunziata , Fornai Barbara , Colla Valentina , Murri Maria Maddalena , Streppa Eliana , Schröder Antonius Johannes
Published: February 2020

Digitalization represents a paramount process started some decades ago, but which received a strong acceleration by Industry 4.0 and now directly impacts all the process and manufacturing sectors. It is expected to allow the European industry to increase its production efficiency and its sustainability. In particular, in the energy-intensive industries, such as the steel industry, digitalization concerns the application of the related technologies to the production processes, focusing on two main often overlapping directions: Advanced tools for the optimization of the production chain and specific technologies for low-carbon and sustainable production. Furthermore, the rapid evolution of the technologies in the steel sector require the continuous update of the skills of the industrial workforce. The present review paper, resulting from a recent study developed inside a Blueprint European project, introduces the context of digitalization and some important definitions in both the European industry and the European iron and steel sector. The current technological transformation is depicted, and the main developments funded by European Research Programs are analyzed. Moreover, the impact of digitalization on the steel industry workforce are considered together with the foreseen economic developments.
Selective Copper Recovery by Acid Leaching from Printed Circuit Board Waste Sludge
Authors: Trinh Ha Bich , Kim Seunghyun , Lee Jaeryeong
Published: February 2020

The most challenging issue associated with recycling the sludge generated from printed circuit boards (PCBs) is the separation of copper (Cu) from iron (Fe), using multi-stage leaching, or adding oxidizing and precipitating agents. Herein we investigated simple acid leaching to effectively extract copper and limit iron dissolution. Selective copper leaching was achieved with all the acids studied, including HCl, HNO3, and H2SO4. The lower concentration of acid solutions resulted in a larger difference in leachabilities between Cu and Fe. Among three leachates, the H2SO4 solution performed effectively on the selective leaching of Cu and Fe. Adjusting the pulp density to 4% and the H2SO4 concentration at ~0.2 M, accomplished ~95% Cu leaching and reduced the Fe extraction to less than 5%. Kinetic studies revealed that Cu leaching followed the ash diffusion-controlled mechanism. Aactivation energy (Ea) of 9.8 kJ/mol was determined for the first 10 min of leaching. Further, leaching up to 60 min corresponded to a mixed control model, increasing the Ea to 20.9 kJ/mol. The change in the control model with regard to the two leaching stages can be attributed to the Cu hydroxide and metal phases present in the original sample. A simple, economically attractive H2SO4 acid leaching process was demonstrated, recovering Cu efficiently and selectively from PCBs waste sludge under moderate conditions.
The Human Oral Microbiome in Health and Disease: From Sequences to Ecosystems
Authors: Willis Jesse R. , Gabaldón Toni
Published: February 2020

The human oral cavity is home to an abundant and diverse microbial community (i.e., the oral microbiome), whose composition and roles in health and disease have been the focus of intense research in recent years. Thanks to developments in sequencing-based approaches, such as 16S ribosomal RNA metabarcoding, whole metagenome shotgun sequencing, or meta-transcriptomics, we now can efficiently explore the diversity and roles of oral microbes, even if unculturable. Recent sequencing-based studies have charted oral ecosystems and how they change due to lifestyle or disease conditions. As studies progress, there is increasing evidence of an important role of the oral microbiome in diverse health conditions, which are not limited to diseases of the oral cavity. This, in turn, opens new avenues for microbiome-based diagnostics and therapeutics that benefit from the easy accessibility of the oral cavity for microbiome monitoring and manipulation. Yet, many challenges remain ahead. In this review, we survey the main sequencing-based methodologies that are currently used to explore the oral microbiome and highlight major findings enabled by these approaches. Finally, we discuss future prospects in the field.
Polyphasic Characterisation of Cedecea colo sp. nov., a New Enteric Bacterium Isolated from the Koala Hindgut
Authors: Boath Jarryd M. , Dakhal Sudip , Van Thi Thu Hao , Moore Robert J. , Dekiwadia Chaitali , Macreadie Ian G.
Published: February 2020

The Cedecea genus is comprised of six rarely isolated species within the Enterobacteriaceae family. Representatives are Gram-negative motile bacilli, and are typically oxidase-negative, lipase-positive and resistant to colistin and cephalothin. In this study, a putative novel Cedecea species (designated strain ZA_0188T), isolated from the koala hindgut, was characterised using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Maximum average nucleotide identity (ANI) and 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) similarity scores well below thresholds of species demarcation were reported, at 81.1% and 97.9%, respectively. Multilocus phylogenetic analysis indicated strain ZA_0188T was most similar to but divergent from recognised Cedecea species. The isolate’s genomic G+C content was determined as 53.0 mol%, >1% lower than previously reported in Cedecea. Phenotypically, strain ZA_0188T was distinct from recognised Cedecea species such as colistin- and cephalothin-sensitive, lipase-, sorbitol-, sucrose-, and Voges-Proskauer-negative, and melibiose-, arabinose-, arginine-, and rhamnose-positive. In preliminary experiments, strain ZA_0188T exhibited cellulase activity and high-level tolerance to eucalyptus oil compared to other enteric species surveyed. Collectively, these findings suggest that strain ZA_0188T represents a novel enteric species, for which the name Cedecea colo is proposed.