bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Canopy Leaf Traits, Basal Area, and Age Predict Functional Patterns of Regenerating Communities in Secondary Subtropical Forests
Authors: Müller Sandra Cristina , Bergamin Rodrigo Scarton , Bordin Kauane Maiara , Klipel Joice , Rosenfield Milena Fermina
Published: January 2021

Secondary forests originate from natural regeneration after fallow (succession) or restoration. Species assembly in these communities, which can affect ecosystem functions and successional trajectories, is very unpredictable. Trait-based trajectories can shed light on the recovery of ecosystem functions and enable predictions of how the regenerating communities will change with forest age. Regeneration communities are affected by initial conditions and also by canopy structure and functional traits that alter dispersers' attractiveness and coexistence mechanisms. Here we evaluated how community functional traits change over time and tested if functional diversity and composition of the established canopy, as well as the structure of the canopy and forest age, influence the functional structure of regenerating tree communities when compared to their reference forests. For this, we calculated dissimilarity in trait composition (community-weighted means) and in functional diversity of regenerating communities of each succession/restoration stand, using the tree stratum of nearby mature forests as baseline values. Functional trait information comprises leaf, wood density, and reproductive traits from tree species. Our community data contain information from natural successional forests and restoration sites, in the South-Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Predictor variables of functional dissimilarities were forest age, canopy structural variables, canopy functional composition, and functional diversity. Results showed leaf traits (leaf dry matter content, leaf nitrogen content, leaf nitrogen-phosphorus ratio) and seed mass varying with forest age. Canopy functional composition based on leaf traits and total basal area significantly predicted multiple trait functional dissimilarity between the regeneration component of secondary forests and their reference community values. Dissimilarity increased when the canopy was composed of species with more acquisitive traits. Difference in functional diversity was only influenced by forest age. Mid-stage secondary forests showed lower functional diversity than early-stage forests. Our results indicated the importance of canopy traits on the natural regeneration of secondary subtropical forests. If functional similarity with reference forests is a desired objective in order to recover ecosystem functions through natural regeneration, leaf functional traits of canopy trees that establish or are planted in degraded areas must be considered in the successional processes.
Loss of FGFR3 Delays Acute Myeloid Leukemogenesis by Programming Weakly Pathogenic CD117-Positive Leukemia Stem-Like Cells
Authors: Guo Chen , Ran Qiuju , Sun Chun , Zhou Tingting , Yang Xi , Zhang Jizhou , Pang Shifeng , Xiao Yechen
Published: January 2021

Chemotherapeutic patients with leukemia often relapse and produce drug resistance due to the existence of leukemia stem cells (LSCs). Fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) signaling mediates the drug resistance of LSCs in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). However, the function of FGFR3 in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is less understood. Here, we identified that the loss of FGFR3 reprograms MLL-AF9 (MA)-driven murine AML cells into weakly pathogenic CD117-positive leukemia stem-like cells by activating the FGFR1-ERG signaling pathway. FGFR3 deletion significantly inhibits AML cells engraftment in vivo and extends the survival time of leukemic mice. FGFR3 deletion sharply decreased the expression of chemokines and the prolonged survival time in mice receiving FGFR3-deficient MA cells could be neutralized by overexpression of CCL3. Here we firstly found that FGFR3 had a novel regulatory mechanism for the stemness of LSCs in AML, and provided a promising anti-leukemia approach by interrupting FGFR3.
Acknowledgment to Reviewers of Ceramics in 2020
Authors:   Ceramics Editorial Office
Published: January 2021

Peer review is the driving force of journal development, and reviewers are gatekeepers who ensure that Ceramics maintains its standards for the high quality of its published papers [...]
Using XVIII–XIX Cent. Maps and Modern Remote Sensing Data for Detecting the Changes in the Land Use at Bulgarian Fortified Settlements in the Volga Region
Authors: Ivanov Maxim , Abdullin Halim , Gainullin Iskander , Gafurov Artur , Usmanov Bulat , Williamson James
Published: January 2021

This study uses modern and historic spatial data to analyze land use around 13th Century AD Bulgarian fortified settlements to examine the current state of these features and how changes in land use over the past two centuries have affected these features. Historic maps from the late 18th to the early 19th centuries AD were used alongside Landsat 8 images from 2015–2018 as a source of information about land use. Based on the results of archival map analysis and the classification of satellite imagery, the interpretation of land use around Bulgarian fortified settlements was possible. This method generated new data about land use dynamics near cultural heritage sites in the Volga Region. The diachronic study of sequential map data allowed researchers to further understand how anthropogenic factors have impacted the survivability of Bulgarian sites in the region. Among these, arable farming, hydro-electric power generation, and urban growth have had the greatest impact on these features.
Understanding the Wicked Problem of Providing Accessible Housing for the Ageing Population in Sweden
Authors: Jonsson Oskar , Frögren Joakim , Haak Maria , Slaug Björn , Iwarsson Susanne
Published: January 2021

While accessible housing is known as important to promote healthy ageing, the societal issue of providing accessible housing for the ageing population bears the characteristics of a “wicked problem”. The aim of this study was to gain a better understanding of crucial variables for decision-making about the provision of accessible housing for the ageing population in Sweden. Materials used for a deductive content analysis were elicited through a research circle involving three researchers and twelve non-academic representatives. Brown and colleagues’ conceptual five-dimension framework to address wicked problems was used for the understanding of crucial variables in decision-making about housing provision. The findings show that such reasoning is dominated by the socioeconomic dimension. Findings in the biophysical dimension reveal well-known challenges pertaining to the definition and interpretation of the concept of accessibility and its operationalization. The dimensions are intertwined in a complex manner, which is essential for effective and efficient decision-making. The findings could make decision-makers aware of the diversity of individual thinking involved when addressing this wicked problem. Acting upon the crucial variables identified in this study could contribute to progressive decision-making and more efficient ways to develop and provide accessible housing to promote health ageing.
A Proposed Theoretical Model for Sustainable and Safe Commensality among Older Adults
Authors: Marklinder Ingela , Nydahl Margaretha
Published: January 2021

Eating together at the same table, i.e., commensality, is an old phenomenon among humans. Today, there is a relatively high number of people living in single households eating most meals on their own. Among adults aged 65+ years, both malnutrition and non-communicable diseases are common. These circumstances, as well as foodborne illnesses, cause health problems for the individual, as well as high societal costs. In older adults, several external factors might impact on commensality, such as living arrangements, health status, and cooking competence. Improved knowledge regarding healthy eating and food handling may improve attitudes and behaviors in relation to food safety and dietary intake. Further, commensality has been shown to influence dietary intake in multiple ways. Community-organized activities, e.g., Food Classes for Older Adults (FCOA), may lead to sustainable commensality. Participating in health-promoting activities can contribute to improved health outcomes and improved social interaction among older adults. The objective of this study was to propose a theoretical model to inspire and create networks for sustainable commensality among older adults. The model could serve as a conceptual framework when implementing FCOA in communities and research. Outcomes could be measured by investigating the frequency of commensality, health effects, and well-being.
Can Health-Promoting Schools Contribute to Better Health Behaviors? Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Dietary Habits among Israeli Adolescents
Authors: Beck Hila , Tesler Riki , Barak Sharon , Moran Daniel Sender , Marques Adilson , Harel Fisch Yossi
Published: January 2021

Schools with health-promoting school (HPS) frameworks are actively committed to enhancing healthy lifestyles. This study explored the contribution of school participation in HPS on students’ health behaviors, namely, physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior, and dieting. Data from the 2018/2019 Health Behavior in School-aged Children study on Israeli adolescents aged 11–17 years were used. Schools were selected from a sample of HPSs and non-HPSs. Between-group differences and predictions of health behavior were analyzed. No between-group differences were observed in mean number of days/week with at least 60 min of PA (HPS: 3.84 ± 2.19 days/week, 95% confidence interval of the mean = 3.02–3.34; non-HPS: 3.93 ± 2.17 days/week, 95% confidence interval of the mean = 3.13–3.38). Most children engaged in screen time behavior for >2 h/day (HPS: 60.83%; non-HPS: 63.91%). The odds of being on a diet were higher among more active children (odds ratio [OR] = 1.20), higher socio-economic status (OR = 1.23), and female (OR = 2.29). HPS did not predict any health behavior. These findings suggest that HPSs did not contribute to health behaviors more than non-HPSs. Therefore, health-promoting activities in HPSs need to be improved in order to justify their recognition as members of the HPS network and to fulfill their mission.
A Preterm Case of Cow’s Milk Allergy Presenting with Recurrent Ascites Treated with Donor Breast Milk
Authors: Nakasone Ruka , Fujioka Kazumichi , Suga Shutaro , Abe Shinya , Ashina Mariko , Nishida Kosuke , Sakurai Motoichiro , Mizuno Katsumi , Nozu Kandai , Iijima Kazumoto
Published: January 2021

We report a case of a preterm infant who developed cow’s milk allergy. This male infant presented with recurrent ascites and was successfully treated with donated breast milk. He was born at 24 weeks’ gestation with a birthweight of 506 g. From day 20, infant formula, soy protein-based formula, and casein-hydrolyzed formula were used due to insufficient maternal lactation. This resulted in abdominal distention, generalized edema, and recurrent ascites. We diagnosed him with cow’s milk allergy since these symptoms improved on exclusive breast milk feeding. No recurrence of symptoms occurred when donated breast milk was used in combination with the mother’s own milk. Ascites should be regarded as a clinical symptom of neonatal cow’s milk allergy. Donated breast milk may be effective in the treatment of the allergy if breastfeeding is not available.
Bone Mineral Density in Different Menopause Stages is Associated with Follicle Stimulating Hormone Levels in Healthy Women
Authors: Park Young-Min , Jankowski Catherine M. , Swanson Christine M. , Hildreth Kerry L. , Kohrt Wendy M. , Moreau Kerrie L.
Published: January 2021

Although estradiol (E2) has been believed to be the most critical factor in the menopause-associated decrease in bone mineral density (BMD), the role of increasing follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) during menopause is relatively unclear. We determined the extent to which hip and lumbar spine BMD differ among the stages of menopause in healthy women, and whether BMD is associated with FSH and E2 levels. A cross-sectional study of 141 healthy women classified as premenopausal (Pre; 38 ± 6 yrs; mean ± SD, n = 30), early perimenopausal (EPeri; 50 ± 3yrs, n = 31), late perimenopausal (LPeri; 50 ± 4yrs, n = 30), early postmenopausal (EPost; 55 ± 3yrs, n = 24), or late postmenopausal (LPost; 62 ± 4 yrs, n = 26), was conducted. Spine/hip BMD and sex hormones were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and enzymatic/colorimetric methods, respectively. Compared to EPeri, spine BMD was lower (p < 0.05) in LPeri, EPost, and LPost and hip BMD was lower (p < 0.05) in EPost and LPost. BMD was inversely associated with FSH (spine: r = −0.341; hip: r = −0.271, p < 0.05) and directly associated with E2 (spine: r = 0.274; hip: r = 0.256, p < 0.05). The menopause-related loss of spine and hip BMD is associated not only with low E2 but also higher FSH. Future studies are essential to delineating the mechanisms by which FSH regulates bone health in aging women.
Community Socioeconomic Status and Dispatcher-Assisted Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation for Patients with Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest
Authors: Tzeng Ching-Fang , Lu Chien-Hsin , Lin Chih-Hao
Published: January 2021

Few studies have investigated the association between dispatcher-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation (DA-CPR) performance and the outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) among communities with different socioeconomic statuses (SES). A retrospective cohort study was conducted using an Utstein-style population OHCA database in Tainan, Taiwan, between January 2014 and December 2015. SES was defined based on real estate prices. The outcome measures included the achievement of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and the performance of DA-CPR. Statistical significance was set at a two-tailed p-value of less than 0.05. A total of 2928 OHCA cases were enrolled in the high SES (n = 1656, 56.6%), middle SES (n = 1025, 35.0%), and low SES (n = 247, 8.4%) groups. The high SES group had a significantly higher prehospital ROSC rate, ever ROSC rate, and sustained ROSC rate and good neurologic outcomes at discharge (all p < 0.005). The low SES group, compared to the high and middle SES groups, had a significantly longer dispatcher recognition time (p = 0.004) and lower early (≤60 s) recognition rate (p = 0.029). The high SES group, but none of the DA-CPR measures, had significant associations with sustained ROSC in the multivariate regression model. The low SES group was associated with a longer time to dispatcher recognition of cardiac arrest and worse outcomes of OHCA. Strategies to promote public awareness of cardiac arrest could be tailored to neighborhood SES.
Prevalence of Hypertension and Its Associated Risk Factors in a Rural Black Population of Mthatha Town, South Africa
Authors: Sharma Jyoti Rajan , Mabhida Sihle E. , Myers Bronwyn , Apalata Teke , Nicol Edward , Benjeddou Mongi , Muller Christo , Johnson Rabia
Published: January 2021

Background: The occurrence of hypertension has been increasing alarmingly in both low and middle-income countries. Despite acknowledging hypertension as the most common life-threatening risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), a dearth of data is available on the prevalence, awareness, and determinants of hypertension in rural parts of South Africa. The principal aim of the current study is to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of hypertension among a black rural African population from the Mtatha town of Eastern Cape Province. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, and individuals over 18 years of age were randomly screened using a World Health Organization stepwise questionnaire. Sociodemographic information, anthropometric measurements, fasting blood glucose levels, and three independent blood pressure (BP) readings were measured. Blood pressure measurements were classified according to the American Heart Association guidelines. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the significant predictors of hypertension. Results: Of the total participants (n = 556), 71% of individuals had BP scores in the hypertensive range. In univariate analysis, age, westernized diet, education, income, and diabetic status, as well as overweight/obese status were positively associated with the prevalence of hypertension. However, in a multivariate logistic regression analysis only, age, body mass index (BMI), diabetic status, and westernized diet were significantly associated with a higher risk of developing hypertension. Gender, age, and BMI were potential factors having a significant association with the treatment of hypertension. Individuals who did not consider the importance of medicine had higher chances of having their hypertension being untreated. Conclusions: Prevalence of hypertension was high among the black rural African population of Mthatha town. Gender, age, westernized diet, education level, income status, diabetic as well as overweight/obese status were the most significant predictors of hypertension.
Perceived Benefits and Harms of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Family Well-Being and Their Sociodemographic Disparities in Hong Kong: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Wong Bonny Yee-Man , Lam Tai-Hing , Lai Agnes Yuen-Kwan , Wang Man Ping , Ho Sai-Yin
Published: January 2021

We assessed the perceived benefits and harms of COVID-19 on family and their associations with sociodemographic factors in Chinese adults in Hong Kong. We conducted an online population-based survey and collected 4891 responses in 6 days. Prevalence estimates were weighted by sex, age, and education of the general population, and associations were analyzed using logistic regression. Our results showed both perceived benefits: 19.0% for family physical health, 7.2% family mental health, and 13.5% family relationships; and harms: 2.3% for family physical health, 37.9% family mental health, 18.6% family relationships, and 37.8% decreased family income. More female or older respondents reported perceived benefits but fewer of them reported perceived harms. More respondents with higher than lower socioeconomic scores (SES) reported perceived benefits on family physical and mental health and family relationships, but more respondents with lower than higher SES reported perceived harm on family income. As the pandemic continues with uncertainties, further studies on the dynamics of benefits and harms are needed. Urgent and additional assistance to underprivileged families and at-risk individuals are needed to reduce the inequities amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Effect of Continuous Low-Intensity Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields from Radio Base Stations to Cancer Mortality in Brazil
Authors: Rodrigues Nádia Cristina Pinheiro , Dode Adilza Condessa , de Noronha Andrade Mônica Kramer , O’Dwyer Gisele , Monteiro Denise Leite Maia , Reis Inês Nascimento Carvalho , Rodrigues Roberto Pinheiro , Frossard Vera Cecília , Lino Valéria Teresa Saraiva
Published: January 2021

Background: this study aims to estimate the rate of death by cancer as a result of Radio Base Station (RBS) radiofrequency exposure, especially for breast, cervix, lung, and esophagus cancers. Methods: we collected information on the number of deaths by cancer, gender, age group, gross domestic product per capita, death year, and the amount of exposure over a lifetime. We investigated all cancer types and some specific types (breast, cervix, lung, and esophagus cancers). Results: in capitals where RBS radiofrequency exposure was higher than 2000/antennas-year, the average mortality rate was 112/100,000 for all cancers. The adjusted analysis showed that, the higher the exposure to RBS radiofrequency, the higher cancer mortality was. The highest adjusted risk was observed for cervix cancer (rate ratio = 2.18). The spatial analysis showed that the highest RBS radiofrequency exposure was observed in a city in southern Brazil that also showed the highest mortality rate for all types of cancer and specifically for lung and breast cancer. Conclusion: the balance of our results indicates that exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields from RBS increases the rate of death for all types of cancer.
Adapted Physical Activity to Ensure the Physical and Psychological Well-Being of COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Maugeri Grazia , Musumeci Giuseppe
Published: January 2021

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been responsible for a global pandemic involving massive increases in the daily numbers of cases and deaths. Due to the emergency caused by the pandemic, huge efforts have been made to develop COVID-19 vaccines, the first of which were released in December 2020. Effective vaccines for COVID-19 are needed to protect the population, especially healthcare professionals and fragile individuals, such as older people or chronic-disease-affected patients. Physical exercise training generally has health benefits and assists in the prevention of several chronic diseases. Moreover, physical activity improves mental health by reducing anxiety, depression, and negative mood and improving self-esteem. Therefore, the present review aims to provide a detailed view of the literature, presenting updated evidence on the beneficial effects of adapted physical activity, based on personalized and tailor-made exercise, in preventing, treating, and counteracting the consequences of COVID-19.
Land-Based Financing Elements in Infrastructure Policy Formulation: A Case of India
Authors: Tirumala Raghu Dharmapuri , Tiwari Piyush
Published: January 2021

A rapid increase in land and property values has been one of the driving forces of urban ecosystem development in many countries. This phenomenon has presented project proponents/policymakers with multiple options and associated challenges, nudging them to configure or incorporate elements of land-based financing in their policies and legislations. Specifically, the Government of India and various state governments have sought to monetize land through diverse instruments, for augmenting the financial viability of infrastructure and area development projects. This paper compares Indian central and state infrastructure policies/acts with regard to land monetization strategies. The analysis indicates that policies and legislations are taking a turn towards promoting land monetization mechanisms as a financing tool for cities and project implementation agencies. However, the approach is cautiously used and implementation is often seen to fall behind actual project timelines. Based on the findings, key determinants of a successful policy that captures an increase in land values, are identified. The learnings provide useful inputs for states to strengthen their policy documents and legislative/institutional frameworks, for ensuring the effectiveness of land-based financing tools.
A Comparison of the Effects of Mindful Conceptual Engagement for the Teaching of the Subjunctive to Heritage- and Second-Language Learners of Spanish
Authors: Fernandez Parera Antoni
Published: January 2021

This article investigates the effects that Mindful Conceptual Engagement (MCE) had on the teaching of the Spanish subjunctive on second (L2) and heritage language learners (HL) of Spanish. A total of 26 university-level undergraduate students participated in the study; 12 were advanced L2 students and 14 were intermediate HL students. The methodology used was MCE, which is based on the principles of Concept-Based Instruction (Negueruela 2003; Negueruela and Lantolf 2006). MCE has its origins in Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory and it proposes that the creation and manipulation of didactic models by students promotes the internalization of complex grammatical concepts that would otherwise require long grammatical explanations. Models need to be generalizable and informative and can include, for example, flowcharts, pictures, or schemas among others. In the present study, the concept of [±EXPERIENCE] (Bull 1965) was used to teach the variable uses of indicative and subjunctive in adjectival relative clauses (Busco unas tijeras que cortan/corten). Students had to create their own models and use them to complete a series of assignments in class and at home. Production and interpretation exercises were used in pre- and post-test questionnaires to gauge their improvement. Feedback questionnaires were administered three weeks after the intervention to measure the attitudes and perceptions towards the use of didactic models. Results indicate that both groups improved their indicative/subjunctive interpretation and production abilities after MCE. However, statistically significant differences exist between HL and L2 students according to type of task and student group. Feedback questionnaire results also show that MCE was regarded as positive and useful by both groups.
Artificial Weathering Mechanisms of Uncoated Structural Polyethylene Terephthalate Fabrics with Focus on Tensile Strength Degradation
Authors: Asadi Hastia , Uhlemann Joerg , Stranghoener Natalie , Ulbricht Mathias
Published: January 2021

In the past five decades, reinforced coated textile membranes have been used increasingly as building materials, which are environmentally exposed. Thus, their weathering degradation over the service life must be taken into account in design, fabrication, and construction. Regarding such structural membranes, PVC (polyvinylchloride)-coated PET (polyethylene terephthalate) fabric is one of the most common commercially available types. This paper focuses on the backbone of it, i.e., the woven PET fabric. Herein, weathering of uncoated PET, as the load-bearing component of the composite PET-PVC, was studied. This study assessed the uniaxial tensile strength degradation mechanisms of uncoated PET fabric during artificial accelerated weathering tests. For this purpose, exploratory data analysis was carried out to analyze the chemical and physical changes which were traced by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and molecular weight measurements. Finally, with the help of degradation mechanisms determined from the aforementioned evaluations, a degradation pathway network model was constructed. With that, the relationship between applied stress, mechanistic variables, structural changes, and performance level responses (tensile strength degradation) was assessed.
Correction: Barnat-Hunek, D., et al. Durability of Hydrophobic/Icephobic Coatings in Protection Lightweight Concrete with Waste Aggregate. Materials 2021, 14, 101
Authors: Barnat-Hunek Danuta , Góra Jacek , Widomski Marcin K.
Published: January 2021

The authors wish to revise in the main body text of 2 [...]
Comparing the Results of Vitrectomy and Sclerectomy in a Patient with Nanophthalmic Uveal Effusion Syndrome
Authors: Popov Ivajlo , Popova Veronika , Krasnik Vladimir
Published: January 2021

Nanophthalmic uveal effusion syndrome (UES) is an extremely rare idiopathic disease characterized by a short axial length of the eye, extremely thick sclera and choroid. These structural changes can lead to spontaneous serous detachment of the retina and peripheral choroid. There are many other causes of UES such as trauma, inflammation, cataract surgery, glaucoma, or retinal detachment. UES is classified into three types. All are characterized by a relapsing-remitting clinical course. The loss of visual acuity ranges from mild to very severe, depending on macular involvement. Changes of the retinal pigment epithelium develop secondary after long-standing choroidal effusion and retinal detachment. Subretinal exudates could be seen and mistakenly diagnosed as chorioretinitis. UES can be very difficult to treat. The most commonly used treatment is surgery involving the creation of surgical sclerostomies (scleral window surgery) or partial thickness sclerectomies to support transscleral drainage. In our case, we present a bilateral nanophthalmic UES, which was misdiagnosed as bilateral ocular Vogt−Koyanagi−Harada disease. We documented the course of the disease and the results of the different surgical approaches in both eyes. A pars plana vitrectomy was performed in the right eye and a sclerectomy with sclerostomies in the left eye. In the left eye, even long lasting loss of visual acuity due to a serous retinal detachment was partially reversed.
Physical Activity and Sport for Acquired Brain Injury (PASABI): A Non-Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Pérez-Rodríguez Marta , García-Gómez Saleky , Coterón Javier , García-Hernández Juan José , Pérez-Tejero Javier
Published: January 2021

Background and objectives: Acquired brain injury (ABI) is the first cause of disability and physical activity (PA) is a key element in functional recovery and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) during the subacute and chronic phases. However, it is necessary to develop PA programs that respond to the heterogeneity and needs of this population. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a PA program on the HRQoL in this population. Materials and Methods: With regard to recruitment, after baseline evaluations, participants were assigned to either the intervention group (IG, n = 38) or the control group (CG, n = 35). Functional capacity, mood, quality of life and depression were measured pre- and post-intervention. The IG underwent the “Physical Activity and Sport for Acquired Brain Injury” (PASABI) program, which was designed to improve HRQoL (1-h sessions, two to four sessions/week for 18 weeks). The CG underwent a standard rehabilitation program without PA. Results: Results for the IG indicated significant differences and large effect sizes for the physical and mental dimensions of quality of life, as well as mood and functional capacity, indicating an increase in HRQoL. No significant differences were found for the CG across any variables. Conclusions: The PASABI program was feasible and beneficial for improving physiological and functionality variables in the IG. The wide range of the activities of the PASABI program allow its application to a large number of people with ABI, promoting health through PA, especially in the chronic phase.
Bimodal Microstructure Obtained by Rapid Solidification to Improve the Mechanical and Corrosion Properties of Aluminum Alloys at Elevated Temperature
Authors: Paulin Irena , Donik Črtomir , Cvahte Peter , Godec Matjaž
Published: January 2021

The demand for aluminum alloys is increasing, as are the demands for higher strength, with the aim of using lighter products for a greener environment. To achieve high-strength, corrosion-resistant aluminum alloys, the melt is rapidly solidified using the melt-spinning technique to form ribbons, which are then plastically consolidated by extrusion at elevated temperature. Different chemical compositions, based on adding the transition-metal elements Mn and Fe, were employed to remain within the limits of the standard chemical composition of the AA5083 alloy. The samples were systematically studied using light microscopy, scanning electron, and transmission microscopy with electron diffraction spectrometry for the micro-chemical analyses. Tensile tests and Vickers microhardness were applied for mechanical analyses, and corrosion tests were performed in a comparison with the standard alloy. The tensile strength was improved by 65%, the yield strength by 45% and elongation by 14%. The mechanism by which we achieved the better mechanical and corrosion properties is explained.
Can Prosthetic Hands Mimic a Healthy Human Hand?
Authors: Ng Ka Ho , Nazari Vaheh , Alam Monzurul
Published: January 2021

Historical evidence suggests that prostheses have been used since ancient Egyptian times. Prostheses were usually utilized for function and cosmetic appearances. Nowadays, with the advancement of technology, prostheses such as artificial hands can not only improve functional, but have psychological advantages as well and, therefore, can significantly enhance an individual’s standard of living. Combined with advanced science, a prosthesis is not only a simple mechanical device, but also an aesthetic, engineering and medical marvel. Prosthetic limbs are the best tools to help amputees reintegrate into society. In this article, we discuss the background and advancement of prosthetic hands with their working principles and possible future implications. We also leave with an open question to the readers whether prosthetic hands could ever mimic and replace our biological hands.
Asymmetric Adaptive Fusion in a Two-Stream Network for RGB-D Human Detection
Authors: Zhang Wenli , Guo Xiang , Wang Jiaqi , Wang Ning , Chen Kaizhen
Published: January 2021

In recent years, human detection in indoor scenes has been widely applied in smart buildings and smart security, but many related challenges can still be difficult to address, such as frequent occlusion, low illumination and multiple poses. This paper proposes an asymmetric adaptive fusion two-stream network (AAFTS-net) for RGB-D human detection. This network can fully extract person-specific depth features and RGB features while reducing the typical complexity of a two-stream network. A depth feature pyramid is constructed by combining contextual information, with the motivation of combining multiscale depth features to improve the adaptability for targets of different sizes. An adaptive channel weighting (ACW) module weights the RGB-D feature channels to achieve efficient feature selection and information complementation. This paper also introduces a novel RGB-D dataset for human detection called RGBD-human, on which we verify the performance of the proposed algorithm. The experimental results show that AAFTS-net outperforms existing state-of-the-art methods and can maintain stable performance under conditions of frequent occlusion, low illumination and multiple poses.
Spatiotemporal Prediction of Theft Risk with Deep Inception-Residual Networks
Authors: Ye Xinyue , Duan Lian , Peng Qiong
Published: January 2021

Spatiotemporal prediction of crime is crucial for public safety and smart cities operation. As crime incidents are distributed sparsely across space and time, existing deep-learning methods constrained by coarse spatial scale offer only limited values in prediction of crime density. This paper proposes the use of deep inception-residual networks (DIRNet) to conduct fine-grained, theft-related crime prediction based on non-emergency service request data (311 events). Specifically, it outlines the employment of inception units comprising asymmetrical convolution layers to draw low-level spatiotemporal dependencies hidden in crime events and complaint records in the 311 dataset. Afterward, this paper details how residual units can be applied to capture high-level spatiotemporal features from low-level spatiotemporal dependencies for the final prediction. The effectiveness of the proposed DIRNet is evaluated based on theft-related crime data and 311 data in New York City from 2010 to 2015. The results confirm that the DIRNet obtains an average F1 of 71%, which is better than other prediction models.
Arthritis and Diagnostics in Lyme Disease
Authors: Quintero Javier A. , Attah Raluchukwu , Khianey Reena , Capitle Eugenio , Schutzer Steven E.
Published: January 2021

The diagnosis of Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, is clinical but frequently supported by laboratory tests. Lyme arthritis is now less frequently seen than at the time of its discovery. However, it still occurs, and it is important to recognize this, the differential diagnoses, and how laboratory tests can be useful and their limitations. The most frequently used diagnostic tests are antibody based. However, antibody testing still suffers from many drawbacks and is only an indirect measure of exposure. In contrast, evolving direct diagnostic methods can indicate active infection.
VSI Nonlinearity Compensation of a PMSM Drive System Using Deadbeat Prediction Based Current Zero-Crossing Detection
Authors: Zhou Jing , Liu Kan , Li Juan , Li Longfei , Hu Wei , Ding Rongjun
Published: January 2021

Due to the nonlinearities of the voltage-source inverter (VSI) in a permanent magnet synchronous machine (PMSM) drive system, there is always an error between the reference voltage and the actual output voltage. To compensate the voltage error, many schemes have been proposed based on the phase current polarity. However, due to factors such as current clamping, measurement noises, and control system delay, the accuracy of the detected current polarity is relatively low, especially when the current is around zero, which would therefore affect the compensation performance. To solve this issue, a deadbeat prediction-based current zero-crossing detection method (DP-CZD) is proposed in this paper. With the proposed method, the measured three-phase currents are replaced by the predicted three-phase currents in terms of the polarity determination, when the absolute value of the phase current is within the threshold range. Compared with the conventional phase current polarity detecting methods, the proposed method can greatly improve the accuracy of detected current polarity due to its smooth transient waveform, and consequently, contributes to the much higher accuracy and lower total harmonic distortion (THD) in the compensation of VSI nonlinearity, which is verified through a prototype surface-mounted PMSM.
Dialysis on Pregnancy: An Overview
Authors: Bruno Vecchio Roberta Costanza , Del Negro Valentina , Savastano Giovanna , Porpora Maria Grazia , Piccioni Maria Grazia
Published: January 2021

Pregnancy rates in women on dialysis have increased in the last decades, thus making it a topic of growing interest. The rarity of this event is predominantly due to fertility problems and to the high rates of pregnancy failure including stillbirth, fetal, and neonatal deaths. We conducted a narrative review of existing literature in order to analyze the major issues about pregnancy on dialysis to give the reader a fully updated perspective about this topic which, even if not common, is becoming more and more frequent. Even if recently acquired knowledge has improved diagnosis and treatment of dialysis pregnancies focusing on several aspects, pregnancy on dialysis remains a great challenge for obstetricians and should be managed by a multidisciplinary expertise team. Dialysis in pregnancy may be necessary for women previously affected by end stage renal disease (ESRD) becoming pregnant, or in case of acute renal injury presenting for the first time during gestation or, again, in case of existent renal pathology worsening during pregnancy and requiring dialysis. Although some evidence suggests that more intensive dialysis regimens are correlated with better obstetric outcomes, the optimal therapeutic protocol still remains to be established.
Monitoring Urban Expansion Using Remote-Sensing Data Aided by Google Earth Engine
Authors: Aghlmand Majid , Kaplan Gordana
Published: January 2021

Urbanizationis accompanied by rapid social and economic development, while the process of urbanization causes the degradation of the natural ecology. Direct loss in vegetation biomass from areas with a high probability of urban expansion can contribute to the total emissions from tropical deforestation and land-use change. Monitoring of urban expansion is essential for more efficient urban planning, protecting the ecosystem and the environment. In this paper, we use remote sensing data aided by Google Earth Engine (GEE) to evaluate the urban expansion of the city of Isfahan in the last thirty years. Thus, in this paper we use Landsat satellite images from 1986 and 2019, integrated into GEE, implementing Support vector machine (SVM) classification method. The accuracy assessment for the classified images showed high accuracy (95-96%), while the results showed a significant increase in the urban area of the city of Isfahan, occupying more than 70% of the study area. For future studies, we recommend a more detailed investigation about the city expansion and the negative impacts that may occur due to urban expansion.
Damage Assessment and Spatio-Temporal Mapping Using Object Based Image Analysis Technique on Floods-2015 in Southern Punjab, Pakistan
Authors: Khokhar Malik Abid Hussain , Javed Sadaf , Awan Hisham Bin Hafeez , Yousaf Ishtiaq , Iqbal Amir , Waseem Liaqat Ali
Published: January 2021

Floods are the natural disasters which not only harm human lives but also damage entire structure in the inundated area. Pakistan has been witnessing extensive floods since very long because of long and severe spells of monsoon rainfalls with abrupt diurnal and seasonal disparity in the temperature level every year. Floods of 2010 and 2014 were so severe that they had broken the disaster record of earthquake-2005 in Pakistan and floods of 2015 had devastated the southern Punjab badly. These floods have damaged socioeconomic activities and people were displaced from the flood prone areas. Southern Punjab has been facing this calamity frequently from 2010 onward which resulting to huge destruction and gigantic loss of human lives every year. An immaculate large area of the Southern Punjab was damaged with crop land, built-up areas and road networks. To assess the damages and spatio-temporal mapping during flood period, remote sensing and GIS techniques have been incorporated by using spatial statistical and object-based image classification techniques. These techniques have been applied for estimating damages, mapping and extracting flood extents by embedding NDVI, NDBI and NDWI methods into object-based image analysis. This paper concludes assessment of damages, various extents of flood and accuracy assessment (79.3% and Khat0.72). Outcomes of the paper would be very beneficial for disaster management authorities for mitigating future floods and helpful for flood monitoring departments to guide competent management authorities at all tiers for quick response and rehabilitation programmes.
Analysis of drought and wet season in Guilan province using SPI relationship and Markov chain model
Authors: Kashani Abbas , Arabi Zahra , Ghallhari Gholam Abbas Fallah , Salahi Bromand
Published: January 2021

Drought is an urgent environmental issue. Therefore, recognizing its characteristics is of great importance. The most common drought monitoring tool is the Drought Index. The SPI index is a well-known indicator of drought monitoring because of its simplicity, versatility and applicability in any type of climate. In order to investigate the dry matter and estimate its occurrence probability in Rasht city, which is located in the most rainy part of Iran, the time series of SPI were used in combination with Markov chain and the continuity, severity and frequency of dry and wet periods for the period 12.6.3 and 24 months old. The probability of equilibrium in each of the dry and wet conditions and the normal and the expected average expected drought and mildew were predicted, together with the average duration of its duration for different periods. The results showed that the drought share of mild droughts in all periods and droughts Severe is more than 6 months longer. Drought is the highest in the 3rd and 6th month period and is the lowest in the 24-month period. The continuation of drought is greater in the 12 and 24-month intervals, and the probability of transition from one state to another is increased in a longer time series. The probability of equilibrium is more than drought. The SPI profile matches the results of the Markov chain, so combining these two, while improving our ability to evaluate drought monitoring, increases the efficiency of the management system and resource planning.
HUBUNGAN KONSUMSI TABLET FE DENGAN KADAR HB SAAT MENSTRUASI PADA REMAJA DI SMA NEGERI 1 LEBAKWANGI KECAMATAN LEBAKWANGI KABUPATEN KUNINGAN
Authors: Septina Yona
Published: January 2021

Anemia merupakan salah satu masalah kesehatan di seluruh dunia. Remaja putri merupakan salah satu kelompok yang rawan terhadap defisiensi zat besi atau yang biasa disebut sebagai anemia. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui adanya hubungan konsumsi tablet Fe dengan kadar hb saat menstruasi pada remaja. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah analitik dengan rancangan case control. Teknik pengambilan sampel purposive sampling yaitu 24 remaja putri di SMA Negeri 1 Lebakwangi. Teknik pengumpulan data menggunakan lembar ceklist dan pemeriksaan haemoglobin dengan menggunakan haemoglobin blood test. Uji hipotesis dengan menggunakan uji chi square. Hasil penelitian didapatkan bahwa sebagian besar (83,3%) remaja yang tidak mengkonsumsi Fe saat menstruasi mengalami anemia atau memiliki kadar haemoglobin rendah dan sebagian besar (75%) remaja yang mengkonsumsi Fe saat menstruasi memiliki kadar haemoglobin normal atau tidak mengalami anemia. Hasil uji analitik didapatkan terdapat hubungan konsumsi tablet Fe dengan kadar Hb saat menstruasi pada remaja (p value 0,004). Kesimpulan konsumsi tablet Fe saat menstruasi dapat mempengaruhi peningkatan kadar haemoglobin secara signifikan.
FAKTOR PREDISPOSISI TINGGINYA PENGGUNA KB SUNTIK PADA PASANGAN USIA SUBUR (PUS) DI DESA CIHIDEUNG HILIR KECAMATAN CIDAHU KABUPATEN KUNINGAN
Authors: Setiati Nova Winda , Milah Imas Sihabul
Published: January 2021

Keluarga Berencana merupakan program pemerintah untuk mengendalikan populasi penduduk Indonesia. Berdasarkan profil kesehatan Dinas Kesehatan Kabupaten Kuningan, dilaporkan Kecamatan Cidahu paling banyak menggunakan KB suntik sebanyak 5407 dan desa yang paling tinggi pengguna KB suntik yaitu desa Cihideung Hilir sebanyak 821 orang (15,18%). Tujuan penelitian ini untuk mengetahui faktor predisposisi tingginya penggunaan KB suntik di Desa Cihideung Hilir Kecamatan Cidahu Kabupaten Kuningan Tahun 2019. Jenis penelitian ini deskriptif dengan rancangan observasional. Jumlah populasi 821 orang, dengan teknik pengambilan sampel secara stratified random sampling dengan rumus slovin besar sampel 269 orang. Instrumen untuk memperoleh data menggunakan kuesioner. Data penelitian bersifat primer, dan menggunakan analisa secara univariat. Hasil penelitian menunjukan responden yang mendapat dukungan suami berjumlah 230 orang (85,5%), responden lebih banyak berumur 20-35 tahun berjumlah 157 orang (58,4%), responden memiliki pengetahuan kurang berjumlah 123 orang (45,7%), serta responden memiliki latar belakang pendidikan dasar berjumlah 113 orang (42,0%). Kesimpulan dari penelitian ini bahwa faktor predisposisi tingginya penggunaan KB suntik adalah pendidikan, pengetahuan, umur, dan dukungan suami.
EFEKTIVITAS PEMBERIAN MADU DAN PISANG AMBON TERHADAP ANEMIA PADA MAHASISWI PRODI DIPLOMA III KEBIDANAN STIKes YPIB MAJALENGKA
Authors: Idaningsih Ayu , Mustikasari Siti Purnama
Published: January 2021

Anemia pada remaja merupakan masalah utama yang terjadi di seluruh dunia. Salah satu penanganan non farmakologis anemia dengan pemberian madu dan pisang ambon. Berdasarkan hasil studi pendahuluan sebanyak 3 dari 6 orang mahasiswi mengalami anemia ringan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui efektivitas pemberian madu dan pisang ambon terhadap anemia pada mahasiswi Program Studi D III Kebidanan STIKes YPIB Majalengka tahun 2020. Jenis penelitian yang digunakan pre eksperimen dengan desain one group pretest-posttest design. Populasinya seluruh mahasiswa tingkat I dan II Prodi D III Kebidanan STIKes YPIB Majalengka sebanyak 54 orang dan sampelnya sebanyak 15 orang dengan teknik purposive sampling dilakukan bulan April-Juni 2020. Pengumpulan data menggunakan lembar observasi. Analisis univariat menggunakan distribusi tendensi sentral dan analisis bivariatnya menggunakan uji t berpasangan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa rata-rata kadar hemoglobin pada mahasiswi sebelum pemberian madu dan pisang ambon sebesar 11,45 gr% dan  sesudah pemberian madu dan pisang ambon sebesar 12,15 gr%. Pemberian madu dan pisang ambon efektif terhadap anemia pada mahasiswi Prodi Diploma III Kebidanan STIKes YPIB Majalengka tahun 2020 (ρ = 0,000). Kesimpulan pemberian madu dan pisang ambon efektif terhadap anemia pada mahasiswi Program Studi Diploma III Kebidanan STIKes YPIB Majalengka tahun 2020.