bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Does Cannabis, Cocaine and Alcohol Use Impact Differently on Adult Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Clinical Picture?
Authors: Spera Vincenza , Pallucchini Alessandro , Carli Marco , Maiello Marco , Maremmani Angelo , Perugi Giulio , Maremmani Icro
Published: April 2021

While the association between adult Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (A-ADHD) and Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) has been widely explored, less attention has been dedicated to the various substance use variants. In a previous paper, we identified two variants: type 1 (use of stimulants/alcohol) and type 2 (use of cannabinoids). In this study, we compared demographic, clinical and symptomatologic features between Dual Disorder A-ADHD (DD/A-ADHD) patients according to our substance use typology, and A-ADHD without DD (NDD/A-ADHD) ones. NDD patients were more frequently diagnosed as belonging to inattentive ADHD subtype compared with type 1 DD/A-ADHD patients, but not with respect to type 2 DD/ADHD. NDD/A-ADHD patients showed less severe symptoms of hyperactivity/impulsivity than DD/A-ADHD type 1, but not type 2. Type 1 and type 2 patients shared the feature of displaying higher impulsiveness than NDD/A-ADHD ones. General psychopathology scores were more severe in type 2 DD/ADHD patients, whereas type 1 patients showed greater similarity to NDD/A-ADHD. Legal problems were more strongly represented in type 1 than in type 2 patients or NDD/A-ADHD ones. Our results suggest that type 1 and type 2 substance use differ in their effects on A-ADHD patients—an outcome that brings with it different likely implications in dealing with the diagnostic and therapeutic processes.
Effectiveness and Safety of Nadroparin Therapy in Preterm and Term Neonates with Venous Thromboembolism
Authors: Sol Jeanine , Boerma Marit , Klaassen Irene , Simons Sinno , Witjes Bregje , Wildschut Enno , Reiss Irwin , van Ommen Cornelia Heleen
Published: April 2021

Introduction: Optimal neonatal nadroparin dosages to treat venous thromboembolism (VTE) are unknown. Objective: To evaluate therapeutic nadroparin dosages to reach therapeutic target ranges (TTR: 0.5–1.0 International Unit (IU)/mL) and the effectiveness and safety of nadroparin in neonatal VTE. Methods: Retrospective study including neonates with VTE on nadroparin in a tertiary center between 2007 and 2018. Two groups were distinguished: neonates before (group 1) and after (group 2) switch to higher starting dosages in 2014. Results: Sixty-one neonates (44 preterm, 17 term) with 64 VTEs were included. TTR was reached in 32/64 (50%) VTEs (group 1: 35.7%; group 2: 61.1%). Median nadroparin dosage to reach TTR was 197 (97.9–330.3) IU/kg/12 h. No therapy-related deaths occurred. Recurrent VTE developed in 6 (9.8%) neonates. Complete clot resolution was observed in 31/41 (75.6%) VTEs. TTR was reached in 58.1% VTEs with complete clot resolution. No major bleeding occurred. Non-major clinically relevant bleedings occurred in 3/64 (4.7%) VTEs, consisting of large hematomas due to the use of subcutaneous catheters. Conclusions: High nadroparin dosages are needed to reach TTR in neonates, which seem to be safe. Clot resolution may occur without reaching TTR. Subcutaneous catheters may cause important bleeding complications.
Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) before and after Kidney Transplantation: Causes, Medical Approach, and Implications for the Long-Term Outcomes
Authors: Palmisano Alessandra , Gandolfini Ilaria , Delsante Marco , Cantarelli Chiara , Fiaccadori Enrico , Cravedi Paolo , Maggiore Umberto
Published: April 2021

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common finding in kidney donors and recipients. AKI in kidney donor, which increases the risk of delayed graft function (DGF), may not by itself jeopardize the short- and long-term outcome of transplantation. However, some forms of AKI may induce graft rejection, fibrosis, and eventually graft dysfunction. Therefore, various strategies have been proposed to identify conditions at highest risk of AKI-induced DGF, that can be treated by targeting the donor, the recipient, or even the graft itself with the use of perfusion machines. AKI that occurs early post-transplant after a period of initial recovery of graft function may reflect serious and often occult systemic complications that may require prompt intervention to prevent graft loss. AKI that develops long after transplantation is often related to nephrotoxic drug reactions. In symptomatic patients, AKI is usually associated with various systemic medical complications and could represent a risk of mortality. Electronic systems have been developed to alert transplant physicians that AKI has occurred in a transplant recipient during long-term outpatient follow-up. Herein, we will review most recent understandings of pathophysiology, diagnosis, therapeutic approach, and short- and long-term consequences of AKI occurring in both the donor and in the kidney transplant recipient.
Body Mass Index Reduction and Selected Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Meta-Analysis
Authors: Stelmach-Mardas Marta , Brajer-Luftmann Beata , Kuśnierczak Marta , Batura-Gabryel Halina , Piorunek Tomasz , Mardas Marcin
Published: April 2021

Although clinical studies have been carried out on the effects of weight reduction in sleep apnea patients, no direct link has been shown between weight reduction and changes in cardio-metabolic risk factors. We aimed to analyze changes in the apnea–hypopnea index and selected cardio-metabolic parameters (total cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, insulin, blood pressure) in relation to the reduction in body mass index in obstructive sleep apnea patients. Medline, Web of Science and Cochrane databases were searched to combine results from individual studies in a single meta-analysis. We identified 333 relevant articles, from which 30 papers were assigned for full-text review, and finally 10 (seven randomized controlled trials and three nonrandomized studies) were included for data analysis. One unit of body mass index reduction was found to significantly influence changes in the apnea–hypopnea index (−2.83/h; 95% CI: −4.24, −1.41), total cholesterol (−0.12 mmol/L; 95% CI: −0.22, −0.01), triglycerides (−0.24 mmol/L; 95% CI: −0.46, −0.02), fasting insulin (−7.3 pmol/L; 95% CI: −11.5, −3.1), systolic (−1.86 mmHg; 95% CI: −3.57, −0.15) and diastolic blood pressure (−2.07 mmHg; 95% CI: −3.79, −0.35). Practical application of lifestyle modification resulting in the reduction of one unit of body mass index gives meaningful changes in selected cardio-metabolic risk factors in obstructive sleep apnea patients.
Electroporation of Mouse Follicles, Oocytes and Embryos without Manipulating Zona Pellucida
Authors: Hakim Bilal Ahmad , Tyagi Vaishali , Agnihotri Saurabh Kumar , Nath Amar , Agrawal Ankit Kumar , Jain Ankita , Singh Deependra , Konwar Rituraj , Sachdev Monika
Published: April 2021

Electroporation is an effective technique of transfection, but its efficiency depends on the optimization of various parameters. In this study, a simplified and efficient method of gene manipulation was standardized through electroporation to introduce a recombinant green fluorescent protein (GFP) construct as well as RNA-inhibitors in intact mouse follicles, oocytes and early embryos, where various electroporation parameters like voltage, pulse number and pulse duration were standardized. Electroporated preantral follicles were cultured further in vitro to obtain mature oocytes and their viability was confirmed through the localization of a known oocyte maturation marker, ovastacin, which appeared to be similar to the in vivo-derived mature oocytes and thus proved the viability of the in vitro matured oocytes after electroporation. Standardized electroporation parameters, i.e., three pulses of 30 V for 1 millisecond at an interval of 10 s, were applied to manipulate the expression of mmu-miR-26a in preantral follicles through the electroporation of miR inhibitors and mimics. The TUNEL apoptosis assay confirmed the normal development of the electroporated embryos when compared to the normal embryos. Conclusively, for the first time, this study demonstrated the delivery of exogenous oligonucleotides into intact mouse follicles, oocytes and embryos without hampering their zona pellucida (ZP) and further development.
The Effect of High Glass Fiber Content and Reinforcement Combination on Pulse-Echo Ultrasonic Measurement of Composite Ship Structures
Authors: Lee Sang-Gyu , Oh Daekyun , Woo Jong Hun
Published: April 2021

Ship structures made of glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) composite laminates are considerably thicker than aircraft and automobile structures and more likely to contain voids. The production characteristics of such composite laminates were investigated in this study by ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation (NDE). The laminate samples were produced from E-glass chopped strand mat (CSM) and woven roving (WR) fabrics with different glass fiber contents of 30–70%. Approximately 300 pulse-echo ultrasonic A-scans were performed on each sample. The laminate samples produced from only CSM tended to contain more voids compared with those produced from a combination of CSM and WR, resulting in the relative density of the former being lower than the design value, particularly for high glass fiber contents of ≥50%. The velocity of the ultrasonic waves through the CSM-only laminates was also lower for higher glass fiber contents, whereas it steadily increased for combined CSM–WR laminates. Burn-off tests of the laminates further revealed that the fabric configuration of the combined CSM–WR laminates was of higher quality, prevented the formation of voids, and improved inter-layer bonding. These findings indicate that combined CSM–WR laminates should be used to achieve more accurate ultrasonic NDE of GFRP composite structures.
An Efficient Monte-Carlo Simulation for the Dynamic Reliability Analysis of Jacket Platforms Subjected to Random Wave Loads
Authors: Lin Wei , Su Cheng
Published: April 2021

The growing demand for the application of jacket platforms in deep water requires more attention on the assessment of structural reliability. This paper is devoted to the dynamic reliability analysis of jacket platforms subjected to random wave loads with the Monte-Carlo simulation (MCS), in which a sample size of the order of magnitude of 104 to 105 for repeated time–history analyses is required for small failure probability problems, and a duration time up to three hours needs to be considered in the time–history analyses for a specific sea condition. To tackle the difficulty involved in the MCS, the explicit time-domain method (ETDM) is used for the required time–history analyses of jacket platforms, in which truncated explicit expressions of critical responses with regards to the contributing loading terms are first established and then used for numerous repeated sample analyses. The use of ETDM greatly enhances the computational efficiency of MCS, making it feasible for the dynamic reliability analysis of jacket platforms under random wave loads. A jacket platform with 11,688 degrees of freedom was analyzed for the evaluation of dynamic reliability under a given sea condition, indicating the accuracy and efficiency of the present approach and its feasibility to practical structures.
In Vitro Antifungal Drug Resistance Profiles of Clinically Relevant Members of the Mucorales (Mucoromycota) Especially with the Newer Triazoles
Authors: Borman Andrew M. , Fraser Mark , Patterson Zoe , Palmer Michael D. , Johnson Elizabeth M.
Published: April 2021

Mucoromycoses (infections caused by members of the order Mucorales, phylum Mucoromycota [ex-Zygomycota]) are highly destructive, rapidly progressive infections, with dire prognoses especially when they occur in immunocompromised hosts. Current treatment guidelines recommend liposomal formulations of amphotericin B with adjunctive surgery as first line therapy, with the newer triazoles posaconazole or isavuconazole as alternative treatments, or as salvage therapy. Among the many organisms belonging to this order, a limited number of species in the genera Rhizopus, Mucor, Lichtheimia and Rhizomucor are responsible for most cases of human infection. Here, we present the minimum inhibitory concentration data (MICs) for amphotericin B, posaconazole, isavuconazole, itraconazole and voriconazole with a panel of over 300 isolates of the five most common agents of human infection (Lichtheimia corymbifera, Rhizopus arrhizus, R. microsporus, Rhizomucor pusillus and Mucor spp.) determined using the CLSI broth microdilution method. In agreement with previous studies, the most active antifungal drug for all Mucorales was amphotericin B, with MICs within the range that would predict susceptibility with Aspergillus fumigatus. Conversely, MICs for voriconazole against all species tested were high, and above the range associated with clinical efficacy with A. fumigatus. Interestingly, whilst isavuconazole and posaconazole MIC distributions indicated in vitro activity against some members of the Mucorales, activity was species-dependent for both agents. These data underscore the importance of accurate identification of the causative agents of mucoromycosis, coupled with antifungal susceptibility testing of individual isolates, in determining the optimal treatment of infections caused by these aggressive opportunistic human fungal pathogens.
Management of the Company’s Innovation Development: The Case for Polish Enterprises
Authors: Dziura Marek , Rojek Tomasz
Published: April 2021

Management of innovation processes in a company is a field that is still not sufficiently researched and applied in practice. Managers in companies often do not know about modern techniques and design tools for creating innovation processes and about the possibility of their effective usage for management and in decision-making conditions. Therefore the main aim of the paper is to present contemporary theoretical and practical achievements in the field of innovation management, which focus on the area of innovation processes and emphasize the possibilities of managing innovation processes in business. The practical purpose of this study was to analyze the state and development of innovativeness of a selected group of Polish enterprises. The following methods were used in the work: a critical analysis of the literature, deductive methods, CAWI method (Computer Assisted Web Interview), and synthesis of measurement results of analytical indicators in selected functional areas of the studied enterprises. The conclusion was that for several years, it is clearly visible that a small group of innovative companies has formed in Poland that constantly increases its expenditure on innovative activities including research and development. In addition, the expenditures incurred are at a very decent level when compared to the European Union (EU) average, which suggests that these companies are competitive not only at the country level, but also outside it.
The Standard Model of Rational Risky Decision-Making
Authors: Falahati Kazem
Published: April 2021

Expected utility theory (EUT) is currently the standard framework which formally defines rational decision-making under risky conditions. EUT uses a theoretical device called von Neumann–Morgenstern utility function, where concepts of function and random variable are employed in their pre-set-theoretic senses. Any von Neumann–Morgenstern utility function thus derived is claimed to transform a non-degenerate random variable into its certainty equivalent. However, there can be no certainty equivalent for a non-degenerate random variable by the set-theoretic definition of a random variable, whilst the continuity axiom of EUT implies the existence of such a certainty equivalent. This paper also demonstrates that rational behaviour under utility theory is incompatible with scarcity of resources, making behaviour consistent with EUT irrational and justifying persistent external inconsistencies of EUT. A brief description of a new paradigm which can resolve the problems of the standard paradigm is presented. These include resolutions of such anomalies as instant endowment effect, asymmetric valuation of gains and losses, intransitivity of preferences, profit puzzle as well as the St. Petersburg paradox.
Effects of Enclosure and Environmental Enrichment on the Behaviour of Ring-Tailed Lemurs (Lemur catta)
Authors: Laméris Daan W. , Verspeek Jonas , Depoortere Arno , Plessers Lise , Salas Marina
Published: April 2021

Environmental enrichment is widely used to improve the quality of life of animals under human care. To successfully implement enrichment programs, it is important to evaluate their effect in different enclosure types since housing conditions may change depending on external factors, such as husbandry, management, or seasonal variation. This study investigates how ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) behaviour changes with the availability of enrichment items and the type of enclosure the animals are housed in. Through observations, we compared the behaviour of the lemurs in an indoor and outdoor enclosure, both without and with enrichment items. Although we observed enrichment effects, we found that enclosure type had a bigger effect on the lemurs’ behaviour. Additionally, behavioural changes induced by enrichment items differed between indoor and outdoor enclosures. These results indicate that the effectiveness of enrichment items may depend on the enclosure in which they are provided and consequently suggest that the impact of these programs should not be generalised over enclosure types. This highlights that the evaluation of environmental enrichment programs remains important when optimising zoo animal welfare.
Evaluation of Future Impacts of Climate Change, CO2, and Land Use Cover Change on Global Net Primary Productivity Using a Processed Model
Authors: Hu Xiao , He Yujie , Kong Ze , Zhang Jiang , Yuan Minshu , Yu Le , Peng Changhui , Zhu Qiuan
Published: April 2021

Few studies have focused on the combined impact of climate change, CO2, and land-use cover change (LUCC), especially the evaluation of the impact of LUCC on net primary productivity (NPP) in the future. In this study, we simulated the overall NPP change trend from 2010 to 2100 and its response to climatic factors, CO2 concentration, and LUCC conditions under three typical emission scenarios (Representative Concentration Pathway RCP2.6, RCP4.5, and RCP8.5). (1) Under the predicted global pattern, NPP showed an increasing trend, with the most prominent variation at the end of the century. The increasing trend is mainly caused by the positive effect of CO2 on NPP. However, the increasing trend of LUCC has only a small positive effect. (2) Under the RCP 8.5 scenario, from 2090 to 2100, CO2 has the most significant positive impact on tropical areas, reaching 8.328 Pg C Yr−1. Under the same conditions, climate change has the greatest positive impact on the northern high latitudes (1.175 Pg C Yr−1), but it has the greatest negative impact on tropical areas, reaching −4.842 Pg C Yr−1. (3) The average contribution rate of LUCC to NPP was 6.14%. Under the RCP8.5 scenario, LUCC made the largest positive contribution on NPP (0.542 Pg C Yr−1) globally from 2010 to 2020.
Design as an Indicator of Tourist Destination Change: The Concept Renewal Cycle at Watkins Glen State Park
Authors: Klein-Hewett Hans
Published: April 2021

For decades, the Tourism Area Life Cycle (TALC) model, its iterations, and its critics have shaped the conversation about change and adaptation at tourist destinations. However, few life cycle models consider the designed landscape as a factor in the evolutionary process or as a signifier of change. This oversight is problematic because the landscape, the aggregation of consciously designed spaces and amenities, is where tourism takes place. It is the physical manifestation of the tourist destination and therefore significantly influences how the site is organized, consumed, and evaluated. To illustrate the landscape’s importance, this article proposes a new life cycle model called the Concept Renewal Cycle (CRC), which tracks the intent of the designed landscape, the concept, to understand and document destination change. The model introduces and utilizes relevancy as the variable that determines concept success and instigates action. The proposed model and other prominent life cycle models are analyzed and compared through the case study of Watkins Glen State Park in New York state. While the other models struggle to reflect the evolution at Watkins Glen, the CRC shows resilience by eschewing TALC’s inevitable, time-based decline structure in favor of a cyclical pattern where concept revision allows for prolonged maturity.
Mapping Land Suitability to Guide Landscape Restoration in the Amazon
Authors: Poccard-Chapuis René , Plassin Sophie , Osis Reinis , Pinillos Daniel , Martinez Pimentel Gustavo , Thalês Marcelo Cordeiro , Laurent François , de Oliveira Gomes Mario Rodrigo , Ferreira Darnet Laura Angelica , de Carvalho Peçanha Jaqueline , Piketty Marie-Gabrielle
Published: April 2021

Beyond reducing deforestation, the control of forest degradation, the promotion of forest restoration, and the improvement of agricultural practices in the Brazilian Amazon are becoming increasingly important for sustainable development. To enable farmers and authorities to organize their landscapes and optimize both agricultural practices and the provision of ecosystem services, mapping land suitability is essential, but it is lacking in the region. In this paper, we present a method for mapping land suitability at a fine scale (30-m pixels), adapted to the needs of farmers and municipalities, to not only optimize agricultural production but also the ecosystem services provided by forests. We used topographic data from the Brazilian municipality of Paragominas to produce four maps, one each of soil texture, slope, floodplains, and hydrography, that we then combined into a single land suitability map. This map has been incorporated into a spatial database, which also contains information on land use, remoteness, and land tenure. We performed spatial analyses to measure the process of land use change, and to define indicators that enable local stakeholders to organize landscape restoration. We highlight an organic link between agricultural intensification and forest restoration, and provide a spatial tool for landscape design, assessment, and monitoring.
Who Pays the Bill? Assessing Ecosystem Services Losses in an Urban Planning Context
Authors: Zepp Harald , Inostroza Luis
Published: April 2021

While Ecosystem Services (ES) are crucial for sustaining human wellbeing, urban development can threaten their sustainable supply. Following recent EU directives, many countries in Europe are implementing laws and regulations to protect and improve ES at local and regional levels. However, urban planning regulations already consider mandatory compensation for the loss of nature, and this compensation is often restricted to replacing green with green in other locations. This situation might lead to the loss of ES in areas subject to urban development, a loss that would eventually be replaced elsewhere. Therefore, ES assessments should be included in urban planning to improve the environmental conditions of urban landscapes where development takes place. Using an actual planning and development example that involves a proposed road to a restructured former industrial area in Bochum, Germany, we developed an ad-hoc assessment to compare a standard environmental compensation approach applying ES. We evaluated the impact of the planned construction alternatives with both approaches. In a second step, we selected the alternative with a lower impact and estimated the ES losses from the compensation measures. Our findings show that an ES assessment provides a solid basis for the selection of development alternatives, the identification of compensation areas, and the estimation of compensation amounts, with the benefit of improving the environmental quality of the affected areas. Our method was effective in strengthening urban planning, using ES science in the assessment and evaluation of urban development alternatives.
Analysis of the Spatiotemporal Pattern and Mechanism of Land Use Mixture: Evidence from China’s County Data
Authors: Zheng Yanting , Zhao Sai , Huang Jinyuan , Lv Aifeng
Published: April 2021

The mixture of agricultural and non-agricultural land-use represents a new pattern of urbanization in the Global South. This mixture has hindered the improvement of land-use productivity and makes it difficult to achieve the centralized disposal of pollutants, which has resulted in the waste of land resources and serious environmental problems. Although many studies have investigated land-use mixture, most of them remain descriptive and lack quantitative examination and an in-depth mechanism analysis. Using raster land-use data, this paper examines the spatiotemporal pattern of the land-use mixture in China between 1990 and 2015 by calculating join counts values supplemented by landscape metrics, and attempts to explain the regional variations in land-use mixtures in recent years. The results show that, between 2000 and 2010, land-use was more mixed in fast-growing regions such as Zhejiang, Fujian, Chongqing, Guangdong, and some major metropolises and mining cities, and that, between 2010 and 2015, land-use was more mixed in Central China. Additionally, the results of econometric models reveal that mixed land-use can be alleviated in regions with strict land planning and management, such as urban agglomerations in the Yangtze River Delta and the Pearl River Delta, as well as in areas with high levels of urbanization. Furthermore, the results of a spatial heterogeneity analysis show that strict land management has played an important role in reducing the land-use mixture in Eastern China; however, it has not played a significant role in Central China. The findings of this study suggest that land-use should be appropriately planned and managed to ensure sustainable development.
Factors Affecting Adaptation to Climate Change through Agroforestry in Kenya
Authors: Pello Kevin , Okinda Cedric , Liu Aijun , Njagi Tim
Published: April 2021

The environmental effects of climate change have significantly decreased agricultural productivity. Agroforestry technologies have been applied as a solution to promote sustainable agricultural systems. This study evaluates the factors influencing the adoption of agroforestry technology in Kenya. A multistage sampling technique was employed to collect data from 239 households in West Pokot County, Kenya. A Probit model and K-means algorithm were used to analyze the factors affecting farmers’ agroforestry technology adoption decisions based on the sampled households’ socio-economic, demographic, and farm characteristics. The study found that the total yield for maize crop, farm size, extension frequency, off-farm income, access to training, access to credit, access to transport facilities, group membership, access to market, gender, distance to nearest trading center, and household education level had significant effects on the adoption of agroforestry technologies. The findings of this study are important in informing policy formulation and implementation that promotes agroforestry technologies adoption.
Linguistic (il)legitimacy in Migration Encounters
Authors: Karatsareas Petros
Published: April 2021

Linguistic differences between groups of co-ethnic and/or co-national migrants in diasporic contexts can become grounds for constructing and displaying identities that distinguish (groups of) migrants on the basis of differences in the sociohistorical circumstances of migration (provenance, time of migration) and/or social factors such as class, socioeconomic status, or level of education. In this article, I explore how language became a source of ideological conflict between Greek Cypriot and Greek migrants in the context of a complementary school in north London. Analysing a set of semi-structured interviews with teachers, which were undertaken in 2018 as part of an ethnographically oriented project on language ideologies in Greek complementary schools, I show that Greek pupils and parents, who had migrated to the UK after 2010 pushed by the government-debt crisis in Greece, positioned themselves as linguistic authorities and developed discourses that delegitimised the multilingual and multidialectal practices of Greek Cypriot migrants. Their interventions centred around the use of Cypriot Greek and English features, drawn from the linguistic resources that did not conform with the expectations that “new” Greek migrants held about complementary schools and which were based on strictly monolingual and monodialectal language ideologies. To these, teachers responded with counter-discourses that re-valued contested practices as products of different linguistic repertoires that were shaped by different life courses and trajectories of linguistic resources acquisition.
Evaluating the E-Health Cloud Computing Systems Adoption in Taiwan’s Healthcare Industry
Authors: Chang Shih-Chia , Lu Ming-Tsang , Pan Tzu-Hui , Chen Chiao-Shan
Published: April 2021

Although the electronic health (e-health) cloud computing system is a promising innovation, its adoption in the healthcare industry has been slow. This study investigated the adoption of e-health cloud computing systems in the healthcare industry and considered security functions, management, cloud service delivery, and cloud software for e-health cloud computing systems. Although numerous studies have determined factors affecting e-health cloud computing systems, few comprehensive reviews of factors and their relations have been conducted. Therefore, this study investigated the relations between the factors affecting e-health cloud computing systems by using a multiple criteria decision-making technique, in which decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL), DANP (DEMATEL-based Analytic Network Process), and modified VIKOR (VlseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje) approaches were combined. The intended level of adoption of an e-health cloud computing system could be determined by using the proposed approach. The results of a case study performed on the Taiwanese healthcare industry indicated that the cloud management function must be primarily enhanced and that cost effectiveness is the most significant factor in the adoption of e-health cloud computing. This result is valuable for allocating resources to decrease performance gaps in the Taiwanese healthcare industry.
Characterisation of Early Microbial Colonisers within the Spiral Colon of Pre- and Post-Natal Piglets
Authors: Nowland Tanya L. , Kirkwood Roy N. , Torok Valeria A. , Plush Kate J. , Barton Mary D.
Published: April 2021

Initial enteric microbial colonisation influences animal health and disease, hence an understanding of the first microbial colonisers within the piglet is important. The spiral colon of piglets that were stillborn (n = 20), born-alive (n = 10), and born alive and had sucked (n = 9) were collected from 28 sows to investigate whether initial microbial colonisation occurs pre- or post-partum and how it develops during the first 24 h post-partum. To examine this, DNA was extracted and 16S rRNA amplicon analysis was performed to allow analysis of microbial communities. The results indicate that microbial colonisation of the spiral colon had occurred in stillborn pigs, suggesting microbial exposure prior to birth. Alpha diversity metrics indicated that the number of taxa and community richness were higher in piglets that sucked (p < 0.001) and community evenness was lower in stillborns in comparison to born-alive (p < 0.001) but was not affected by colostrum consumption (p < 0.001). Additionally, when compared with stillborn piglets, the bacteria colonising the spiral colon during the first 24 h post-partum included the potentially pathogenic bacteria Escherichia coli, Clostridium perfringens and Clostridium celatum, and potentially beneficial bacteria Lactobacillus reutueri and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. The relative presence of Archaea was high in stillborn piglets but decreased with post-natal environmental exposure. It is evident that stillborn piglets have bacteria present within their spiral colon, however further studies are needed in order to determine the time at which colonisation is initiated and the mechanisms determining how colonisation occurs. Additionally, as expected, the immediate post-natal environment largely influences the microorganisms colonising, while colostrum consumption further contributes to the microbial community enrichment.
The Effects of Different Supply Chain Integration Strategies on Disruption Recovery: A System Dynamics Study on the Cheese Industry
Authors: Zhu Quan , Krikke Harold , Caniëls Marjolein C. J.
Published: April 2021

Long and complex supply chains are vulnerable to disruptions. One way to solve this problem is to successfully manage supply chain integration (SCI). A system dynamics simulation is thus applied to study a cheese supply chain with three individual firms: a producer, a logistics service provider (LSP), and a retailer. Our purpose is to study the effects of SCI strategies with different dimensional focuses, i.e., information integration (Scenario 1), relational integration (Scenario 2), and operational integration (Scenario 3), on the recovery of three types of disruptions, i.e., a producer capacity disruption, an LSP capacity disruption, and a demand disruption. Tests of parameter scenarios are further applied to provide solutions for supply chains using different strategies. Our results indicate that Scenario 3 is the best practice, regardless of any type of disruption, while Scenario 1 usually achieves the worst performance. This is consistent with an evolutionary perspective of supply chain integration: information integration gives firms a competitive advantage as the first step. Working as partners to share the most appropriate information leads to greater benefits. We extend this perspective by showing that further elimination of information delay helps the supply chain achieve the best performance.
(1R,4S,5S)-5-((3-Hydroxypropyl)amino)-4-((1-methyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)thio)cyclopent-2-en-1-ol
Authors: Fortunato Milene , Siopa Filipa , Afonso Carlos
Published: April 2021

Using environmentally friendly conditions, the nucleophilic ring-opening reaction of 6-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-3-en-2-ol with 1-methyl-1H-tetrazole-5-thiol provided a novel thiol-incorporated aminocyclopentitol, (1R,4S,5S)-5-((3-hydroxypropyl)amino)-4-((1-methyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)thio)cyclopent-2-en-1-ol, in excellent yield (95%). The newly synthesized compound was analyzed and characterized via 1H, 13C-NMR, HSQC, and mass spectral data.
Design and Properties Analysis of Novel Modified 1-3 Piezoelectric Composite
Authors: Wang Jiacheng , Zhong Chao , Hao Shaohua , Wang Likun
Published: April 2021

With the increasing demand for energy exchangers in underwater acoustic equipment, a modified 1-3 piezoelectric composite material is fabricated based on three-component phases. The new material outperforms the traditional two-phase 1-3 structure. Flexible silicone rubber polymer strengthened the piezoelectric composite and the properties of modified 1-3 piezoelectric composite have been tested by method of finite element simulation and experiment, respectively. This modified material has a high electromechanical coupling coefficient; the maximum can reach 0.684 and −3 dB bandwidth is superior to the two-phase 1-3 type. At the same time, the modified phase 1-3 type structure has an excellent decoupling effect. Silicone rubber can reduce the negative coupling vibration of epoxy resin, the vibration model simplification of piezoelectric composite, and the result of the experiment and simulation has good consistency.
Advances in Dental Materials “at a Glance.”
Authors: Traini Tonino
Published: April 2021

Dental materials play a fundamental role in the rehabilitation of tooth structures and regeneration of oral tissues [...]
A Research on Durability Degradation of Mineral Admixture Concrete
Authors: Chen Xupeng , Sun Zhuowen , Pang Jianyong
Published: April 2021

In order to study the degradation laws and mechanisms of admixture concretes with single-added SO42− and composite of Mg2+ and SO42−, respectively, the durability tests were conducted on three types of mineral admixture concretes (concretes with single-added metakaolin (MK), single-added ultra-fine fly ash (UFA), and composite of metakaolin and ultra-fine fly ash (MF), and one reference concrete. In these tests, the 10% Na2SO4 solution and the 10% MgSO4 solution were used as the erosion medium, and the drying-wetting circle method was applied. It can be seen from the compressive tests and grey relational analysis that the MK admixture can improve the anti-Na2SO4-erosion capability of the concrete significantly, but weaken its anti-MgSO4-erosion capability; the UFA admixture can improve both the anti-Na2SO4-erosion and the anti-MgSO4-erosion capability of the concrete; and the composite admixture has superimposed effects and can enhance erosion resistance against these two erosion mediums. The phase composition and the changes of the macro morphology and the micro structure during the erosion process caused by mono sulfate ions and complex ions has been observed through X-ray diffraction (XRD), FTIR spectrum (FTIR), and scanning electron microscope (SEM), based on which it was determined that the erosion of single-added SO42− ions can produce erosive outputs of ettringite, gypsum, and mirabilite in the concrete, and cause corner scaling or deformation. Mg2+ and SO42− reacted in the concrete and produced brucite, M-S-H, ettringite, and gypsum, etc. The erosion of complex ions can cause scaling of the cement mortar and aggregate from the surface or the desquamation of corners.
Feature Papers in Magnetochemistry
Authors: Gómez-García Carlos J.
Published: April 2021

When we launched the journal Magnetochemistry in 2015 we could not imagine such an enthusiastic response from the scientific community [...]
Finding the Limits of Magnetic Hyperthermia on Core-Shell Nanoparticles Fabricated by Physical Vapor Methods
Authors: Martinez-Boubeta Carlos , Simeonidis Konstantinos , Oró Judit , Makridis Antonios , Serantes David , Balcells Lluis
Published: April 2021

Magnetic nanoparticles can generate heat when exposed to an alternating magnetic field. Their heating efficacy is governed by their magnetic properties that are in turn determined by their composition, size and morphology. Thus far, iron oxides (e.g., magnetite, Fe3O4) have been the most popular materials in use, though recently bimagnetic core-shell structures are gaining ground. Herein we present a study on the effect of particle morphology on heating efficiency. More specifically, we use zero waste impact methods for the synthesis of metal/metal oxide Fe/Fe3O4 nanoparticles in both spherical and cubic shapes, which present an interesting venue for understanding how spin coupling across interfaces and also finite size effects may influence the magnetic response. We show that these particles can generate sufficient heat (hundreds of watts per gram) to drive hyperthermia applications, whereas faceted nanoparticles demonstrate superior heating capabilities than spherical nanoparticles of similar size.
Graph Convolutional Network for Drug Response Prediction Using Gene Expression Data
Authors: Kim Seonghun , Bae Seockhun , Piao Yinhua , Jo Kyuri
Published: April 2021

Genomic profiles of cancer patients such as gene expression have become a major source to predict responses to drugs in the era of personalized medicine. As large-scale drug screening data with cancer cell lines are available, a number of computational methods have been developed for drug response prediction. However, few methods incorporate both gene expression data and the biological network, which can harbor essential information about the underlying process of the drug response. We proposed an analysis framework called DrugGCN for prediction of Drug response using a Graph Convolutional Network (GCN). DrugGCN first generates a gene graph by combining a Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) network and gene expression data with feature selection of drug-related genes, and the GCN model detects the local features such as subnetworks of genes that contribute to the drug response by localized filtering. We demonstrated the effectiveness of DrugGCN using biological data showing its high prediction accuracy among the competing methods.
Fuzzy Techniques Applied to the Analysis of the Causes and Effects of Tourism Competitiveness
Authors: Flores-Romero Martha B. , Pérez-Romero Miriam E. , Álvarez-García José , del Río-Rama María de la Cruz
Published: April 2021

The aim of this research is to identify and analyze the causes and effects of tourism competitiveness, as well as cause–effect relationships from the perspective of two groups of experts, which are decision makers versus academics/researchers, both from the tourism sector. The purpose is to respond to the question: do decision makers in the tourism sector share the same perspective as academics/researchers regarding the relationship between the causes and effects of tourism competitiveness? The methodology used is the theory of expertons, the theory of forgotten effects and the Hamming distance. It was found that in most cases, the groups of experts share perspective, since their differences are small or non-existent. However, in all the relationships analyzed (cause–effect, cause–cause, and effect–effect), academic experts reported the highest assessment. The greatest difference in opinion is identified in the evaluation of the “Environmental Commitment” and “Tourist Demand” relationship. Decision makers in the tourism sector are ignoring the growing inclination and sensitivity that tourists are adopting towards the environment. It is necessary for the tourism sector to develop and consolidate its commitment to caring for and preserving the environment, which is an element that contributes to a destination’s competitiveness and has two main effects: tourism demand and customer satisfaction.
The Impact of Rebate Distribution on Fairness Concerns in Supply Chains
Authors: Jiang Xi , Zhou Jinsheng
Published: April 2021

The reasonable distribution of supply chain profits among supply chain members is the core of the stability of a supply chain. Manufacturer rebates are a normal method to improve the performance of a supply chain and balance profit distribution. Based on consideration of the behavior preferences of supply chain members, in this paper, we study the influence of rebate distribution on supply chain utility. We establish a supply chain utility model, including the proportion of distribution, fairness concern coefficient and effort level, and discuss three different situations of supply chain members. The results show that (i) a manufacturer’s rebate can more effectively improve the utility in a supply chain with fairness perception; (ii) with other conditions unchanged, the fairness perception of supply chain members will have a positive impact on their own utility; and (iii) at the same time, when the party who has more discourse power in the supply chain has a sense of fairness, this is conducive to realizing the stable development of the supply chain through changes in the proportion of rebate distribution.
Effects of Scaffold Pore Morphologies on Glucose Transport Limitations in Hollow Fibre Membrane Bioreactor for Bone Tissue Engineering: Experiments and Numerical Modelling
Authors: Wang Shuai , Suhaimi Hazwani , Mabrouk Mostafa , Georgiadou Stella , Ward John P. , Das Diganta B.
Published: April 2021

In the current research, three electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds with different pore morphology induced by changing the electrospinning parameters, spinning time and rate, have been prepared in order to provide a fundamental understanding on the effects pore morphology have on nutrient transport behaviour in hollow fibre membrane bioreactor (HFMB). After determining the porosity of the scaffolds, they were investigated for glucose diffusivity using cell culture media (CCM) and distilled water in a diffusion cell at 37 °C. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of the microstructure of the scaffolds were analysed further using ImageJ software to determine the porosity and glucose diffusivity. A Krogh cylinder model was used to determine the glucose transport profile with dimensionless variables within the HFMB. The paper discusses the roles of various dimensionless numbers (e.g., Péclet and Damköhler numbers) and non-dimensional groups of variables (e.g., non-dimensional fibre radius) on determining glucose concentration profiles, especially in the scaffold region. A negative linear relationship between glucose diffusivities across PCL scaffolds and the minimum glucose concentrations (i.e., concentration on the outer fibre edge on the outlet side (at z = 1 and r = 3.2) was also found. It was shown that the efficiency of glucose consumption improves with scaffolds of higher diffusivities. The results of this study are expected to help in optimizing designs of HFMB as well as carry out more accurate up scaling analyses for the bioreactor.
Dissolution of Palladium Metal in Solvent Leaching System with the Presence of Oxidizing Agent
Authors: Nguyen Viet Nhan Hoa , Song Si Jeong , Lee Man Seung
Published: April 2021

Platinum group metals (PGMs) are important for the manufacture of advanced materials in the field of catalysts and electronic devices. Since the chemical properties of PGMs are very similar to each other, hydrometallurgical processes should be employed to recover PGMs with high purity from either ores or secondary resources. In hydrometallurgical processes for PGMs, the first step is the dissolution of PGMs. For this purpose, inorganic acid solutions with oxidizing agents are generally employed. In this work, nonaqueous solvent leaching systems with a relatively cheap price were employed to investigate the dissolution of pure palladium (Pd) metal. The solvent leaching systems consisted of concentrated hydrochloric acid solution and commercial extractants such as tributyl phosphate (TBP), 7-hydroxydodecan-6-one oxime (LIX 63), and di-n-octyl sulfide (DOS) in the presence of H2O2 as an oxidizing agent. Among the three systems, TBP showed the best efficiency for the dissolution of Pd. The effect of several parameters like TBP concentration, temperature, time, stirring speed and the weight ratio of Pd to TBP/HCl/H2O2 was explored. The dissolution percentage of Pd by the HCl–H2O2–TBP system was higher than by the HCl–H2O–H2O2 system at the same concentration of HCl and H2O2. The role of TBP in enhancing the dissolution of Pd was discussed on the basis of the interaction between HCl and TBP. Compared to aqueous systems, mass transfer is important in the dissolution of Pd metal by the solvent leaching system. Optimum conditions for the complete dissolution of Pd were obtained.
Optimal Design of Hot-Dip Galvanized DP Steels via Artificial Neural Networks and Multi-Objective Genetic Optimization
Authors: Reséndiz-Flores Edgar O. , Altamirano-Guerrero Gerardo , Costa Patricia S. , Salas-Reyes Antonio E. , Salinas-Rodríguez Armando , Goodwin Frank
Published: April 2021

This modeling and optimization study applies a non-linear back-propagation artificial neural network, commonly denoted as BPNN, to model the most important mechanical properties such as yield strength (YS), ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and elongation at fracture (EL) during the experimental processing of hot-dip galvanized dual-phase (GDP) steels. Once the non-linear BPNN is properly trained, the most important variables of the continuous galvanizing process, including initial/first cooling rate (CR1), holding time at the galvanizing temperature of 460 °C (tg) and the final/second cooling rate (CR2), are obtained in an optimal way using an evolutionary approach. The experimental development of GDP steels in continuous processing lines with outstanding mechanical properties (550 < YS < 750 MPa, 1100 MPa < UTS and 10% < EL) is possible by using a combined hybrid approach based in BPNN and multi-objective genetic algorithm (GA). The proposed computational method is applied to the specific design of an actual manufacturing process for the first time.