bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Molecular Dye-Sensitized Photocatalysis with Metal-Organic Framework and Metal Oxide Colloids for Fuel Production
Authors: Stanley Philip M. , Warnan Julien
Published: July 2021

Colloidal dye-sensitized photocatalysis is a promising route toward efficient solar fuel production by merging properties of catalysis, support, light absorption, and electron mediation in one. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are host materials with modular building principles allowing scaffold property tailoring. Herein, we combine these two fields and compare porous Zr-based MOFs UiO-66-NH2(Zr) and UiO-66(Zr) to monoclinic ZrO2 as model colloid hosts with co-immobilized molecular carbon dioxide reduction photocatalyst fac-ReBr(CO)3(4,4′-dcbpy) (dcbpy = dicarboxy-2,2′-bipyridine) and photosensitizer Ru(bpy)2(5,5′-dcbpy)Cl2 (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine). These host-guest systems demonstrate selective CO2-to-CO reduction in acetonitrile in presence of an electron donor under visible light irradiation, with turnover numbers (TONs) increasing from ZrO2, to UiO-66, and to UiO-66-NH2 in turn. This is attributed to MOF hosts facilitating electron hopping and enhanced CO2 uptake due to their innate porosity. Both of these phenomena are pronounced for UiO-66-NH2(Zr), yielding TONs of 450 which are 2.5 times higher than under MOF-free homogeneous conditions, highlighting synergistic effects between supramolecular photosystem components in dye-sensitized MOFs.
Characteristics of Natural Background Radiation in the Polkowice-Sieroszowice Mine, Poland
Authors: Szkliniarz Katarzyna , Walencik-Łata Agata , Kisiel Jan , Polaczek-Grelik Kinga , Jędrzejczak Karol , Kasztelan Marcin , Szabelski Jacek , Orzechowski Jerzy , Tokarski Przemysław , Marszał Włodzimierz , Przybylak Marika , Fuławka Krzysztof , Gola Sebastian
Published: July 2021

Natural radioactivity in underground locations is the main parameter for the safety of work (occupational hazards) and for the success of experiments in physics or biology requiring unique conditions. The characterization of natural prominence was carried out in the Conceptual Lab development in one of KGHM deep copper mines co-ordinated by KGHM Cuprum R&D. Natural radioactivity studies were performed and included in situ gamma spectrometry, neutron flux measurements, radon concentration, and alpha and gamma laboratory spectrometry measurements of rock samples. At a depth of 1014.4 m (2941.8 m w.e.) within the anhydrite layer, a neutron flux of 2.0 ± 0.2 × 10−6 cm−2 s−1, a gamma-ray dose of 0.008 ± 0.001 μSv/h, a photon flux density of 0.64 ± 0.20 cm−2 s−1, and a radon concentration of 6.6 Bq/m3 were determined. Laboratory analyses of 226,228Ra, 40K, and 238,234U concentrations in collected rock samples showed low values. The exceptionally low level of natural radioactivity in the Polkowice-Sieroszowice mine makes this location a unique place for scientific research.
A Dual Rising Edge Shift Algorithm for Eliminating the Transient DC-Bias Current in Transformer for a Dual Active Bridge Converter
Authors: Gierczynski Michal , Grzesiak Lech M. , Kaszewski Arkadiusz
Published: July 2021

This paper deals with a well-known problem of the transient DC-bias current occurring during a phase shift transition in dual active bridge (DAB) DC/DC converters. This phenomenon, if not compensated, can cause damage to the converter or deteriorate its performance. One aim of this paper is to present a solution which allows for the elimination of the undesired transient DC-bias component in current waveforms. This solution is the dual rising edge shift (DRES) compensation algorithm. It provides a very simple implementation and fast settling time within the first half of a switching period. Moreover, the solution is independent on any measurements or system parameter values. It is based on the double-sided single phase shift (DSSPS) modulation, which is described in detail along with a converter model in steady-state. Then, the mechanisms leading to the transient DC-bias are explained, and the compensation algorithm is derived. The performance of the algorithm has been tested using a laboratory prototype. A comprehensive set of tests, involving rapid step changes in power flow and frequency sweep, are provided. Finally, the features of the proposed algorithm are briefly discussed.
A Novel Condition Monitoring Procedure for Early Detection of Copper Corrosion Problems in Oil-Filled Electrical Transformers
Authors: Jadim Ramsey , Kans Mirka , Alhattab Mohammed , Alhendi May
Published: July 2021

The negative impacts of catastrophic fire and explosion accidents due to copper corrosion problems of oil-filled electrical transformers are still in the spotlight due to a lack of effective methods for early fault detection. To address this gap, a condition monitoring (CM) procedure that can detect such problems in the initial stage is proposed in this paper. The suggested CM procedure is based on identified measurable variables, which are the relevant by-products of the corrosion reaction, and utilizes an Early Fault Diagnosis (EFD) model to detect and solve the copper corrosion problems. The EFD model includes a fault trend chart that can track a fault progression during the useful life of transformers. The purpose of this paper is to verify and validate the effectiveness of the suggested CM procedure by an empirical study in a power plant. The result of applying this procedure was early detection of copper corrosion problems in two transformers with suspected copper corrosion propagation from a total of 84. The corrective action was adding an optimized amount of a passivator, an anticorrosion additive, to suppress the corrosion reaction at the correct time. The main conclusion of this study is the importance of early detection of transformer faults to avoid the negative impacts on societal, company, and individual levels.
The Effect of Marshallian and Jacobian Knowledge Spillovers on Jobs in the Solar, Wind and Energy Efficiency Sector
Authors: Aldieri Luigi , Grafström Jonas , Vinci Concetto Paolo
Published: July 2021

The purpose of this paper is to establish if Marshallian and Jacobian knowledge spillovers affect job creation in the green energy sector. Whether these two effects exist is important for the number of jobs created in related fields and jobs pushed away in other sectors. In the analysis, the production efficiency, in terms of jobs and job spillovers, from inventions in solar, wind and energy efficiency, is explored through data envelopment analysis (DEA), based on the Malmquist productivity index, and tobit regression. A panel dataset of American and European firms over the period of 2002–2017 is used. The contribution to the literature is to show the role of the spillovers from the same technology sector (Marshallian externalities), and of the spillovers from more diversified activity (Jacobian externalities). Since previous empirical evidence concerning the innovation effects on the production efficiency is yet weak, the paper attempts to bridge this gap. The empirical findings suggest negative Marshallian externalities, while Jacobian externalities have no statistical impact on the job creation process. The findings are of strategic importance for governments who are developing industrial strategies for renewable energy.
Progresses in Analytical Design of Distribution Grids and Energy Storage
Authors: Colangelo Gianpiero , Spirto Gianluigi , Milanese Marco , de Risi Arturo
Published: July 2021

In the last years, a change in the power generation paradigm has been promoted by the increasing use of renewable energy sources combined with the need to reduce CO2 emissions. Small and distributed power generators are preferred to the classical centralized and sizeable ones. Accordingly, this fact led to a new way to think and design distributions grids. One of the challenges is to handle bidirectional power flow at the distribution substations transformer from and to the national transportation grid. The aim of this paper is to review and analyze the different mathematical methods to design the architecture of a distribution grid and the state of the art of the technologies used to produce and eventually store or convert, in different energy carriers, electricity produced by renewable energy sources, coping with the aleatory of these sources.
Influence of Spray Nozzle Operating Parameters on the Fogging Process Implemented to Prevent the Spread of SARS-CoV-2 Virus
Authors: Fedak Waldemar , Ulbrich Roman , Ligus Grzegorz , Wasilewski Marek , Kołodziej Szymon , Wasilewska Barbara , Ochowiak Marek , Włodarczak Sylwia , Krupińska Andżelika , Pavlenko Ivan
Published: July 2021

This article reports the results of a study into the effect of operating parameters on the occurrence and course of gas–liquid two-phase phenomena during the fogging process carried out with the use of a conical pressure-swirl nozzle. Four alternatives of the stub regulation angles and four values of pressure of air supply to the nozzle were tested as part of the current research. The range of the investigated variables was common for the operation of fumigators used to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus. The liquid flow rate (weighting method), the field of velocity, and turbulent flow intensity factor, as well as velocity profiles over the section of 1 m from the nozzle were determined using the particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique. The obtained results were correlated with the measurements of the diameters of spray droplets using the laser light scattering (LLS) technique. On the basis of this research, a dependence between the nozzle parameters and the spray cone pattern was identified in terms of dynamics and droplet diameter distribution. As a result of the research, a wide range of parameters were identified in which the fogging process was carried out in a stable and repeatable manner. There were exceptions to this rule only in the cases when there was a deficiency of the liquid necessary to generate a two-phase mixture.
Epidemiology of COVID-19 in the State of Sergipe/Brazil and Its Relationship with Social Indicators
Authors: Fonseca Larissa M. , Sousa Derijuli S. de , Cardoso Juliana C. , Severino Patricia , Cano Amanda , Souto Eliana B. , Lima Sônia O. , Oliveira Cristiane C. C. de , Reis Francisco P.
Published: July 2021

A pandemic is capable of generating a great impact, not only from the point of view of health, but also socioeconomically. In March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that a new pandemic situation had arisen, due to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, whose probable origin was zoonotic. The largest number of cases of this disease is concentrated in the United States of America (USA), India, and Brazil. The mortality rate is estimated at 3.4%, but regional differences may exist, and places with a high demographic density have become true epicentres and may be related to higher rates of transmission. In addition to the above, lower human development indexes (HDI) can be related to worse outcomes, especially in the North and Northeast regions of Brazil since they are the least developed places. The Northeast region is the second-most-affected place in the number of COVID-19 cases in Brazil. An analytical observational study of an ecological type was carried out from April to October 2020 to assess the epidemiological situation of COVID-19 in the state of Sergipe and specifically to analyse the incidence of cases and deaths resulting from COVID-19 in the different health regions of the state of Sergipe, in relation to the values of the HDI and demographic density. During the study period, 84,325 cases of COVID-19 were identified, in which 2205 resulted in death. In most of the regions studied, there was a positive association between the number of cases and deaths and the greater the demographic density, but there was no increase in the risk of becoming ill, nor of dying the lower the HDI. Large and crowded cities are places of greatest vulnerability to illness, due to their greater capacity of transmitting the virus; however, further studies are needed to identify other factors that are decisive in the outcomes of this new disease.
Non-Destructive Fuel Volume Measurements Can Estimate Fine-Scale Biomass across Surface Fuel Types in a Frequently Burned Ecosystem
Authors: Hiers Quinn A. , Loudermilk E. Louise , Hawley Christie M. , Hiers J. Kevin , Pokswinski Scott , Hoffman Chad M. , O’Brien Joseph J.
Published: July 2021

Measuring wildland fuels is at the core of fire science, but many established field methods are not useful for ecosystems characterized by complex surface vegetation. A recently developed sub-meter 3D method applied to southeastern U.S. longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) communities captures critical heterogeneity, but similar to any destructive sampling measurement, it relies on separate plots for calculating loading and consumption. In this study, we investigated how bulk density differed by 10-cm height increments among three dominant fuel types, tested predictions of consumption based on fuel type, height, and volume, and compared this with other field measurements. The bulk density changed with height for the herbaceous and woody litter fuels (p < 0.001), but live woody litter was consistent across heights (p > 0.05). Our models predicted mass well based on volume and height for herbaceous (RSE = 0.00911) and woody litter (RSE = 0.0123), while only volume was used for live woody (R2 = 0.44). These were used to estimate consumption based on our volume-mass predictions, linked pre- and post-fire plots by fuel type, and showed similar results for herbaceous and woody litter when compared to paired plots. This study illustrates an important non-destructive alternative to calculating mass and estimating fuel consumption across vertical volume distributions at fine scales.
MicroRNAs Involved in the Therapeutic Functions of Noni (Morinda citrifolia L.) Fruit Juice in the Treatment of Acute Gouty Arthritis in Mice Induced with Monosodium Urate
Authors: Li Xiaohong , Liu Yue , Shan Yaming , Wang Yukun , Li Zhandong , Bi Yingxin , Zhao Weihao , Yin Yuhe , Wang Tianlong , Li Shuang , Sun Fengjie , Chen Changwu , Li Hao
Published: July 2021

We investigated the functions of microRNAs in the therapeutic effects of noni (Morinda citrifolia L.) fruit juice on mouse models of acute gouty arthritis induced with monosodium urate (MSU). Compared with the model group (treated with MSU), mice in both the positive control group (treated with both MSU and colchicine) and noni fruit juice group (treated with MSU and noni fruit juice) showed a significantly decreased degree of paw swelling in 5 days, as well as the contents of two types of proinflammatory cytokines (i.e., NALP3 and TNF-α). Based on the next-generation sequencing technology, a total of 3896 microRNAs (234 known and 3662 novel) were identified in mice treated with noni fruit juice. A large amount of differentially expressed miRNAs were identified in the noni fruit juice group, suggesting the significant effects of noni fruit juice on the mice with acute gouty arthritis, while the different patterns of change in the numbers of both upregulated and downregulated miRNAs in both noni fruit juice and positive control groups indicated that the mice of acute gouty arthritis may be regulated by differential mechanisms between the treatments of noni fruit juice and colchicine. The target genes of microRNAs involved in the pathogenesis and pathology of acute gouty arthritis in mice were identified and further annotated by both Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses. Our results revealed the therapeutic effects of noni fruit juice on acute gouty arthritis in mice with a group of microRNAs involved in the pharmacological mechanisms of noni fruit juice, providing scientific evidence to support both the agricultural cultivation and pharmacological significance of noni plants.
Improved Storage Properties and Cellular Uptake of Casticin-Loaded Nanoemulsions Stabilized by Whey Protein-Lactose Conjugate
Authors: Zhang Bei , Lei Miao , Huang Wenjing , Liu Gang , Jiang Fangcheng , Peng Dengfeng , Huang Qingrong , Jin Weiping
Published: July 2021

Casticin has wide-ranging functional activities, but its water solubility is poor in food products. Here, a nanoemulsion stabilized by Maillard whey protein isolate conjugates (MWPI) was fabricated to encapsulate casticin. The nanoemulsion, with an average diameter of 200 nm, possessed the capability to load 700 μg/g casticin. MWPI-stabilized nanoemulsion showed better stability than that of the WPI nanoemulsion during 4 weeks of storage. Both the inhibition effects of the casticin-loaded nanoemulsion on cancer cells and the process of cellular uptake were studied. Results revealed that the casticin-loaded nanoemulsion had better inhibitory activity in HepG2 and MCF-7 cells than free casticin. Cellular uptake of the nanoemulsion displayed a time-dependent manner. After the nanoemulsion passed into HepG2 and MCF-7 cells, it would locate in the lysosome but not in the nucleus. The main pathway for the nanoemulsion to enter HepG2 cells was pinocytosis, whereas, it entered MCF-7 predominantly through the clathrin-mediated pit. This work implies that MWPI-stabilized nanoemulsions could be utilized as an effective delivery system to load casticin and have the potential to be applied in the food and pharmaceutical industries.
High-Frequency Polarization Variability from Active Galactic Nuclei
Authors: Martí-Vidal Iván , Goddi Ciriaco
Published: July 2021

The linear polarization of non-thermal emission encodes information about the structure of the magnetic fields, either from the region where the emission is produced (i.e., the intrinsic polarization angle) and/or from the screens of magnetized plasma that may be located on its way towards Earth (i.e., the effect of Faraday rotation). In addition, the variability timescale of the polarized emission, or its Faraday rotation, can be used to estimate the size of the region where the emission (or the Faraday rotation) originates. The observation of polarized emission from active galactic nuclei (AGN) and, in particular, its time evolution, also provides information about the critical role that magnetic fields may play in the process of jet launching and propagation. In this paper, we review some recent results about polarization variability from the cores of AGN jets, including observations at high spatial resolutions and/or at high radio frequencies.
Investigation of an Organogel by Micro-Differential Scanning Calorimetry: Quantitative Relationship between the Shapes of the Thermograms and the Phase Diagram
Authors: Schwaller Duncan , Christ Elliot , Legros Mélanie , Collin Dominique , Mésini Philippe J.
Published: July 2021

The phase diagrams of organogels are necessary for applications and fundamental aspects, for instance to understand their thermodynamics. Differential scanning calorimetry is one of the techniques implemented to map these diagrams. The thermograms of organogels upon heating show broad endotherms, increasing gradually to a maximum, at a temperature Tmax, and decreasing back to the baseline, sometimes 10 °C above. This broadening can lead to uncertainty in determining the molar enthalpies and the melting temperatures Tm of the gels. Herein, we have measured the thermograms of the 12-hydroxystearic acid/nitrobenzene gels for weight fractions ranging from 0.0015 to 0.04. Compared with transition temperatures measured by other techniques, the inflection points of the thermograms provide a measurement of Tm with less bias than Tmax. The phase diagram explains why the molar melting enthalpies derived from the thermograms for samples of low concentration are lower than expected. The shapes of the heat flows below the peak correlate quantitatively with the diagrams: after suitable correction and normalization, the integral curves superimpose with the phase diagram in their ascending branch and reach a plateau when the gel is fully melted. The shape of the thermograms upon cooling is also qualitatively explained within the frame of the diagrams.
Assessing the Impact of a Global Health Fellowship on Pharmacists’ Leadership Skills and Consideration of Benefits to the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom
Authors: Brandish Claire , Garraghan Frances , Ng Bee Yean , Russell-Hobbs Kate , Olaoye Omotayo , Ashiru-Oredope Diane
Published: July 2021

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a global, public health concern that affects humans, animals and the environment. The UK Fleming Fund’s Commonwealth Partnerships for Antimicrobial Stewardship (CwPAMS) scheme aimed to support antimicrobial stewardship initiatives to tackle AMR through a health partnership model that utilises volunteers. There is evidence to indicate that NHS staff participating in international health projects develop leadership skills. Running in parallel with the CwPAMS scheme was the first Chief Pharmaceutical Officer’s Global Health (CPhOGH) Fellowship for pharmacists in the UK. In this manuscript, we evaluate the impact, if any, of participation in the CwPAMS scheme and the CPhOGH Fellowship, particularly in relation to leadership skills, and consider if there are demonstrable benefits for the NHS. The 16 CPhOGH Fellows were invited to complete anonymised baseline and post-Fellowship self-assessment. This considered the impact of the Fellowship on personal, professional and leadership development. Senior colleagues were invited to provide insights into how the Fellows had performed over the course of the Fellowship. All Fellows responded to both the pre- and post-Fellowship questionnaires with a return of 100% (16/16) response rate. There was a significant improvement in Fellows’ perception of their confidence, teaching abilities, understanding of behaviour change, management and communication skills. However, there was no change in the Fellows’ attitude to work. Feedback was received from 26 senior colleagues for 14 of the CPhOGH Fellows. Overall, senior colleagues considered CPhOGH Fellows to progress from proficient/established competencies to strong/excellent when using the national pharmacy Peer Assessment Tool and NHS Healthcare Leadership Model. The majority (88%) of senior colleagues would recommend the Fellowship to other pharmacists. The analysis of the data provided suggests that this CPhOGH Fellowship led to the upskilling of more confident, motivated pharmacist leaders with a passion for global health. This supports the NHS’s long-term plan “to strengthen and support good compassionate and diverse leadership at all levels”. Constructive feedback was received for improvements to the Fellowship. Job satisfaction and motivation improved, with seven CPhOGH Fellows reporting a change in job role and five receiving a promotion.
Clusters of Physical Frailty and Cognitive Impairment and Their Associated Comorbidities in Older Primary Care Patients
Authors: Bekić Sanja , Babič František , Pavlišková Viera , Paralič Ján , Wittlinger Thomas , Majnarić Ljiljana Trtica
Published: July 2021

(1) Objectives: We aimed to identify clusters of physical frailty and cognitive impairment in a population of older primary care patients and correlate these clusters with their associated comorbidities. (2) Methods: We used a latent class analysis (LCA) as the clustering technique to separate different stages of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and physical frailty into clusters; the differences were assessed by using a multinomial logistic regression model. (3) Results: Four clusters (latent classes) were identified: (1) highly functional (the mean and SD of the “frailty” test 0.58 ± 0.72 and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) test 27.42 ± 1.5), (2) cognitive impairment (0.97 ± 0.78 and 21.94 ± 1.95), (3) cognitive frailty (3.48 ± 1.12 and 19.14 ± 2.30), and (4) physical frailty (3.61 ± 0.77 and 24.89 ± 1.81). (4) Discussion: The comorbidity patterns distinguishing the clusters depend on the degree of development of cardiometabolic disorders in combination with advancing age. The physical frailty phenotype is likely to exist separately from the cognitive frailty phenotype and includes common musculoskeletal diseases.
Spinal Orthoses Prescription for Vertebral Fragility Fractures by Italian Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Physicians: The SPIN-VER Survey
Authors: de Sire Alessandro , Ammendolia Antonio , Gimigliano Alessandra , Tiberi Roberto , Cisari Carlo , Invernizzi Marco
Published: July 2021

Vertebral fragility fractures (VFFs) are the most common type of osteoporotic fractures, related to pain and disability. In this scenario, physical and rehabilitative medicine (PRM) physicians prescribe a patient-tailored rehabilitation plan, including spinal orthoses. However, there is a high heterogeneity in the clinical indications of spinal orthoses. Thus, the aim of this survey was to investigate common clinical practice in terms of the prescription of spinal orthoses. This nationwide cross-sectional survey recruited Italian PRM physicians commonly involved in the management of patients with VFFs. One hundred twenty-six PRM physicians completed the survey. The results showed that most PRM physicians prescribe spinal orthoses in outpatients suffering from VFFs (n = 106; 83.9%). The most prescribed spinal orthosis for acute VFF patients was the three-point rigid orthosis (n = 64; 50.8%), followed by the semirigid thoraco-lumbar orthosis (n: 20; 15.9%). However, most PRM physicians prescribed dynamic orthoses in outpatients with chronic VFFs (n = 66; 52.4%). Albeit that a correct management of VFFs is mandatory to improve pain and reduce disability, our findings highlighted uncertainty in the type of spinal orthosis prescription in both the acute and chronic VFF phase. Therefore, high-quality research trials are warranted to provide clear recommendations for the correct clinical management of VFF.
COVID-19 Lockdown Effect on Not Institutionalized Patients with Dementia and Caregivers
Authors: Moretti Rita , Caruso Paola , Giuffré Mauro , Tiribelli Claudio
Published: July 2021

SARS-COV-2 is a severe medical condition. Old patients are very vulnerable, but they have been studied only as institutionalized patients. During the lock-down, little attention is dedicated to old, demented patients who lived at home. This study wants to examine their behavioral reactions by video-phone follow-up. We conducted a longitudinal study in subcortical vascular dementia (sVAD) patients. We enrolled 221 sVAD, not institutionalized patients. We divided sVAD patients into low-medium grade sVAD (A) and severe sVAD (B), based on neuroimaging severity degree and executive alterations. At baseline, at the end of lock-down, and two months later, global behavioral symptoms were recorded for each patient. We found significantly higher scores of general behavioral deterioration, anxiety, delusions, hallucinations and apathy after controlling for sVAD severity. The direct consequence was a drastic increment of psychotropic drugs prescribed and employed during the lock-down. Moreover, caregivers’ stress has been evaluated, together with their anxiety and depression levels. During the lock-down, their scores increased and reflected a severe worsening of their behavior. Our data demonstrate that social isolation induces a severe perception of loneliness and abandonment; these fears can exacerbate behavior disturbances in old-aged frail persons. Thus, these can be considered as indirect victims of SARS-COV-2.
Impacts of Human Robot Proxemics on Human Concentration-Training Games with Humanoid Robots
Authors: Liu Li , Liu Yangguang , Gao Xiao-Zhi
Published: July 2021

The use of humanoid robots within a therapeutic role, that is, helping individuals with social disorders, is an emerging field, but it remains unexplored in terms of concentration training. To seamlessly integrate humanoid robots into concentration games, an investigation into the impacts of human robot interactive proxemics on concentration-training games is particularly important. In the case of an epidemic diffusion especially—for example, during the COVID-19 pandemic—HRI games may help in the therapeutic phase, significantly reducing the risk of contagion. In this paper, concentration games were designed by action imitation involving 120 participants to verify the hypothesis. Action-imitation accuracy, the assessment of emotional expression, and a questionnaire were compared with analysis of variance (ANOVA). Experimental results showed that a 2 m distance and left-front orientation for a human and a robot are optimal for human robot interactive concentration training. In addition, females worked better than males did in HRI imitation games. This work supports some valuable suggestions for the development of HRI concentration-training technology, involving the designs of friendlier and more useful robots, and HRI game scenarios.
Comparison of Stigmatization of Suicidal People by Medical Professionals with Stigmatization by the General Population
Authors: Eilers Jill Julia , Kasten Erich , Schnell Thomas
Published: July 2021

Stigmatization of suicide (SOS) affects help-seeking for suicidality and impedes successful treatment. This study aimed to identify different types of stigmatization and understand the causes and glorification of suicide by comparing three groups; within each of the following groups, the impact of age and gender was explored: (1) practicing medical professional in direct contact with suicidality (psychotherapists, psychiatrists, related medical professions (nurses, etc.)), (2) future medical professionals still in training, (3) and the general population with no professional contact with suicidality. German adults completed an online survey with a total of 742 participants. A MANCOVA was calculated with age and gender being controlled as covariates, due to different distribution. Practicing professionals showed significantly higher levels of SOS than the other groups, while the future professionals showed no differences in SOS from the general population. The understanding of suicide causes was similar across all groups. Men showed higher levels of SOS than women, while women scored higher at understanding of causes and glorification of suicide. Within the individual groups, female professionals in the age group “36–65 years” stigmatized suicide most, while showing the least glorification. The results suggest that tendencies towards SOS are promoted by practical experience with suicidality. Therefore, special training is recommended to reduce SOS.
Understanding the Evolution of Government Attention in Response to COVID-19 in China: A Topic Modeling Approach
Authors: Cheng Quan , Kang Jianhua , Lin Minwang
Published: July 2021

The effective control over the outbreak of COVID-19 in China showcases a prompt government response, in which, however, the allocation of attention, as an essential parameter, remains obscure. This study is designed to clarify the evolution of the Chinese government’s attention in tackling the pandemic. To this end, 674 policy documents issued by the State Council of China are collected to establish a text corpus, which is then used to extract policy topics by applying the latent dirichlet allocation (LDA) model, a topic modelling approach. It is found that the response policies take different tracks in a four-stage controlling process, and five policy topics are identified as major government attention areas in all stages. Moreover, a topic evolution path is highlighted to show internal relationships between different policy topics. These findings shed light on the Chinese government’s dynamic response to the pandemic and indicate the strength of applying adaptive governance strategies in coping with public health emergencies.
Mount Athos: Restoration of an Almost Extinct Type of 18th–19th C. UNESCO Masonry OX Stable
Authors: Papatzani Styliani , Pnevmatikos Nikolaos , Dimitroulias Konstantinos , Michail Georgios , Sapiridis Georgios , Flentzouris Vasilakis
Published: July 2021

The present paper serves the purpose of presenting an extinct type of 18th–19th century masonry building, that of an ox-stable, situated in one of Europe’s most secluded areas: The Holy Monastery of Pantokrator in Mount Athos Peninsula. Architectural drawings and surveying plots of its current state can serve as a record and reference of this UNESCO site for scholars. Adding to that, an elaborated proposal for the reuse of the building is presented together with technical drawings, which were approved by Greece’s Central Archeological Council. The masonry rectangular building is founded on natural rock with masonry pillar footings of different heights. Hence, the elevation irregularity and the different elevations of the footings of the structure present an additional challenge for the structural analysis. Structural analysis with a finite element (FE) model of the restored structure was executed with SAP2000 software. Performing lateral force and response spectrum analyses, stresses and deformations at critical points of the structure were calculated. Comparing a set of simplifying structural checks with the elastic FE analysis performed, it was concluded that the proposed design is effective in improving the earthquake performance of the structure.
The Modulation of Cholesterol Metabolism Is Involved in the Antiviral Effect of Nitazoxanide
Authors: Fenizia Claudio , Ibba Salomè Valentina , Vanetti Claudia , Strizzi Sergio , Rossignol Jean-François , Biasin Mara , Trabattoni Daria , Clerici Mario
Published: July 2021

We previously investigated the role of Nitazoxanide (NTZ), a thiazolide endowed with antiviral and antiparasitic activity, in HIV-1 infection. NTZ treatment in primary isolated PBMCs was able to reduce HIV-1 infection in vitro by inducing the expression of a number of type-I interferon-stimulated genes. Among them, NTZ was able to induce cholesterol-25-hydroxylase (CH25H), which is involved in cholesterol metabolism. In the present study, we wanted to deepen our knowledge about the antiviral mechanism of action of NTZ. Indeed, by inducing CH25H, which catalyzes the formation of 25-hydroxycholesterol from cholesterol, NTZ treatment repressed cholesterol biosynthetic pathways and promoted cholesterol mobilization and efflux from the cell. Such effects were even more pronounced upon stimulation with FLU antigens in combination. It is already well known how lipid metabolism and virus replication are tightly interconnected; thus, it is not surprising that the antiviral immune response employs genes related to cholesterol metabolism. Indeed, NTZ was able to modulate cholesterol metabolism in vitro and, by doing so, enhance the antiviral response. These results give us the chance to speculate about the suitability of NTZ as adjuvant for induction of specific natural immunity. Moreover, the putative application of NTZ to alimentary-related diseases should be investigated.
The Relationship between Social Environmental Factors and Motor Performance in 3- to 12-Year-Old Typically Developing Children: A Systematic Review
Authors: Derikx Dagmar F. A. A. , Houwen Suzanne , Meijers Vivian , Schoemaker Marina M. , Hartman Esther
Published: July 2021

Motor performance during childhood is important for prosperity in life, and the social environment may contain potentially important and modifiable factors associated with motor performance. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to identify social environmental factors associated with motor performance in 3- to 12-year-old typically developing children. Four electronic databases were searched, which resulted in 31 included studies. The methodological quality was determined using the Quality of Prognosis Studies in Systematic Reviews tool. Most studies were conducted in 3–6-year-old children. In the home environment, parental beliefs in the importance of physical activity and parental behaviors matching these beliefs were related to better motor performance of children, although these relationships were often sex-dependent. The school and sports environments were investigated much less, but some preliminary evidence was found that being better liked by peers, attending a classroom with a smaller age range, having more interaction with the teacher and classmates, and having a higher educated teacher was related to better motor performance. Further research is required to further unravel the relationship between the social environment and motor skills, with a specific focus on 6–12-year-old children and environments outside of the home environment.
Comparison of Male Adolescents’ Physical Fitness Using Physical Activity Promotion System and Circuit Exercise Program
Authors: Lee Byung-Sun , Shin Seon-Yeong , Han Yeon-Oh
Published: July 2021

The purpose of this study is to compare the physical fitness level of adolescents through a physical fitness assessment and a circuit exercise program. A total of 142 middle school students participated. Physical education class consists of a physical fitness assessment, namely, physical activity promotion system (PAPS), and a circuit exercise program. The PAPS measurements include endurance, flexibility, strength, power, body mass index, and total score. The circuit exercise program consists of twist spine, hand walking, rolling squat, cross knee up, jumping and squat, and level-up pacer. First, there were significant differences in PAPS and circuit exercise program according to grade. Second, there was a significant difference in the results of the circuit exercise program according to the level of each physical fitness variable of PAPS. Third, significant correlations were found in the results of the PAPS and circuit exercise program. The use of a circuit exercise program to measure fitness for adolescents can offer convenience for school physical education and be of value as a measure of physical fitness for adolescents. In addition, the circulatory exercise programs used in this study are thought to be applicable to exercise prescriptions to improve endurance, strength, and BMI.
Psychoeducation Improved Illness Perception and Expressed Emotion of Family Caregivers of Patients with Schizophrenia
Authors: Budiono Watari , Kantono Kevin , Kristianto Franciscus Cahyo , Avanti Christina , Herawati Fauna
Published: July 2021

Social interventions such as psychoeducation, in conjunction with appropriate antipsychotic medications, positively impact schizophrenic patients’ recovery. The aim of this 12-week study was to compare standard Indonesian mental healthcare for schizophrenia with psychoeducation-enriched care for family members, investigating both family and patient parameters. Sixty-four family participants meeting pre-set criteria were recruited from various online Indonesian community forums, social media, seminars/gathering events, and inpatient visits. Each family member was the main care provider for one patient with a schizophrenia diagnosis. Family participants were randomly allocated to one of two groups (control or intervention); both groups received equal personal time and attention from staff but the control group lacked the specific psychoeducational aspect of the intervention. In comparison with the control group, pre- and post-evaluation revealed significant positive effects in the intervention group for illness perception (F(ave) = 124.85; d(ave) = 2.72) and expressed emotion (OR(ave) = 0.39) among family members. For the patients, there was a significant positive effect on medication adherence (F(1, 62) = 21.54; p < 0.001, d(intervention) = 1.31) if their family members were in the intervention group. Partial least-squares path modeling revealed that low expressed emotion in family members was positively correlated with high medication adherence (β = −0.718; p < 0.001) in patients. This study provides evidence for the patient and family benefits of family psychoeducation on schizophrenia in a diverse Indonesian population.
The Importance of the Human Factor in Safety for the Transport of Dangerous Goods
Authors: Bęczkowska Sylwia Agata , Grabarek Iwona
Published: July 2021

This article discusses the issues related to the safety for the transport of dangerous goods by road. Research on accidents in transport unambiguously points to the human factor, which is the most responsible for causing accidents. Determining the causes of driver unreliability in the human−vehicle−environment system requires thorough research. Unfortunately, in this case, experimental research with human involvement is limited in scope. This leaves modeling and simulation of the behavior of the human factor, i.e., the driver transporting dangerous goods. The human being, because of its complexity, is a challenging element to parameterize. The literature presents various attempts to model human actions. Herein, the authors used heuristic methods, specifically fuzzy set techniques, to build a human factor model. In these models, human actions were specified using a verbal or linguistic description. The specificity of the fuzzy sets allowed for “naturally” limiting the “precision” in describing human behavior. The model was built based on the author’s questionnaire and expert research, based on which individual features were selected. Then, the traits were assigned appropriate states. The output parameter of the model was λL—the intensity of human error. The obtained values of the intensity of the accident caused by the driver’s error were implemented into the author’s method of risk assessment. They constituted one of the factors determining the probability of an accident in the transport of dangerous goods, which allowed for determining the optimal route for the transport of these goods characterized by the lowest risk of an undesirable event on the route. The article presents the model’s assumptions, structure, and the features included in the model, all of which have the most significant influence on shaping the intensity of human error. The results of the simulation studies showed a diversified effect of the analyzed characteristics on the driver’s efficiency.
Hospitalizations among World Trade Center Health Registry Enrollees Who Were under 18 Years of Age on 9/11, 2001–2016
Authors: Gargano Lisa M. , Locke Sean H. , Alper Howard E. , Brite Jennifer
Published: July 2021

Much of the literature on hospitalizations post-September 11, 2001 (9/11) focuses on adults but little is known about post-9/11 hospitalizations among children. Data for World Trade Center Health Registry enrollees who were under 18-years old on 9/11 were linked to New York State hospitalization data to identify hospitalizations from enrollment (2003–2004) to December 31, 2016. Logistic regression was used to analyze factors associated with hospitalization. Of the 3151 enrollees under age 18 on 9/11, 243 (7.7%) had at least one 9/11-related physical health hospitalization and 279 (8.9%) had at least one 9/11-related mental health hospitalization. Individuals of non-White race, those living in New York City Housing Authority housing, those exposed to the dust cloud on 9/11, and those with probable 9/11-related PTSD symptoms were more likely to be hospitalized for a 9/11-related physical health condition. Older age and having probable 9/11-related PTSD symptoms at baseline were associated with being hospitalized for a 9/11-related mental health condition. Dust cloud exposure on 9/11 and PTSD symptoms were associated with hospitalizations among those exposed to 9/11 as children. Racial minorities and children living in public housing were at greater risk of hospitalization. Continued monitoring of this population and understanding the interplay of socioeconomic factors and disaster exposure will be important to understanding the long-term effects of 9/11.
Quantifying the Variability of Forest Ecosystem Vulnerability in the Largest Water Tower Region Globally
Authors: Sun Siqi , Lü Yihe , Lü Da , Wang Cong
Published: July 2021

Forests are critical ecosystems for environmental regulation and ecological security maintenance, especially at high altitudes that exhibit sensitivity to climate change and human activities. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau—the world’s largest water tower region—has been breeding many large rivers in Asia where forests play important roles in water regulation and water quality improvement. However, the vulnerability of these forest ecosystems at the regional scale is still largely unknown. Therefore, the aim of this research is to quantitatively assess the temporal–spatial variability of forest vulnerability on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to illustrate the capacity of forests to withstand disturbances. Geographic information system (GIS) and the spatial principal component analysis (SPCA) were used to develop a forest vulnerable index (FVI) to assess the vulnerability of forest ecosystems. This research incorporates 15 factors covering the natural context, environmental disturbances, and socioeconomic impact. Results indicate that the measure of vulnerability was unevenly distributed spatially across the study area, and the whole trend has intensified since 2000. The three factors that contribute the most to the vulnerability of natural contexts, environmental disturbances, and human impacts are slope aspect, landslides, and the distance to the farmland, respectively. The vulnerability is higher in forest areas with lower altitudes, steeper slopes, and southerly directions. These evaluation results can be helpful for forest management in high altitude water tower regions in the forms of forest conservation or restoration planning and implementation towards sustainable development goals.
Risky Driver Recognition with Class Imbalance Data and Automated Machine Learning Framework
Authors: Wang Ke , Xue Qingwen , Lu Jian John
Published: July 2021

Identifying high-risk drivers before an accident happens is necessary for traffic accident control and prevention. Due to the class-imbalance nature of driving data, high-risk samples as the minority class are usually ill-treated by standard classification algorithms. Instead of applying preset sampling or cost-sensitive learning, this paper proposes a novel automated machine learning framework that simultaneously and automatically searches for the optimal sampling, cost-sensitive loss function, and probability calibration to handle class-imbalance problem in recognition of risky drivers. The hyperparameters that control sampling ratio and class weight, along with other hyperparameters, are optimized by Bayesian optimization. To demonstrate the performance of the proposed automated learning framework, we establish a risky driver recognition model as a case study, using video-extracted vehicle trajectory data of 2427 private cars on a German highway. Based on rear-end collision risk evaluation, only 4.29% of all drivers are labeled as risky drivers. The inputs of the recognition model are the discrete Fourier transform coefficients of target vehicle’s longitudinal speed, lateral speed, and the gap between the target vehicle and its preceding vehicle. Among 12 sampling methods, 2 cost-sensitive loss functions, and 2 probability calibration methods, the result of automated machine learning is consistent with manual searching but much more computation-efficient. We find that the combination of Support Vector Machine-based Synthetic Minority Oversampling TEchnique (SVMSMOTE) sampling, cost-sensitive cross-entropy loss function, and isotonic regression can significantly improve the recognition ability and reduce the error of predicted probability.