bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Differences in Preventive Behaviors of COVID-19 between Urban and Rural Residents: Lessons Learned from A Cross-Sectional Study in China
Authors: Chen Xuewei , Chen Hongliang
Published: June 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the differences in preventive behaviors of COVID-19 between urban and rural residents, as well as identify the factors that might contribute to such differences. Methods: Our online survey included 1591 participants from 31 provinces of China with 87% urban and 13% rural residents. We performed multiple linear regressions and path analysis to examine the relationship between rural status and behavioral intention, attitude, subjective norms, information appraisal, knowledge, variety of information source use, and preventive behaviors against COVID-19. Findings: Compared with urban residents, rural residents were less likely to perform preventive behaviors, more likely to hold a negative attitude toward the effectiveness of performing preventive behaviors, and more likely to have lower levels of information appraisal skills. We identified information appraisal as a significant factor that might contribute to the rural/urban differences in preventive behaviors against COVID-19 through attitude, subjective norms, and intention. We found no rural/urban differences in behavioral intention, subjective norms, knowledge about preventive behaviors, or the variety of interpersonal/media source use. Conclusions: As the first wave of the pandemic inundated urban areas, the current media coverage about COVID-19 prevention may not fully satisfy the specific needs of rural populations. Thus, rural residents were less likely to engage in a thoughtful process of information appraisal and adopt the appropriate preventive measures. Tailoring health messages to meet rural populations’ unique needs can be an effective strategy to promote preventive health behaviors against COVID-19.
Chubby, Hairy and Fearless. Subcultural Identities and Predictors of Self-Esteem in a Sample of Polish Members of Bear Community
Authors: Mijas Magdalena , Koziara Karolina , Galbarczyk Andrzej , Jasienska Grazyna
Published: June 2020

Bear subculture exists within a larger gay community, which has been recognized by public health experts as disproportionately burdened with stigma and related health adversities. Bears are distinguished by a particular body look—body hirsuteness and heavy-set physique. Previous research documented the various health risks, and the exposure to both sexual minority and weight stigma, of this population. In this study we focused on the determinants of self-esteem in Bears. We explored the significance of such predictors as: perceived sexual minority and weight stigma, age, resilience, and physique as reflected by the BMI. Our sample consisted of 60 men from the Polish Bear community (i.e., Bears, Cubs, Otters, Wolves). Linear regression models were performed for the entire sample (N = 60) and for Bear-identified men (N = 31). Perceived sexual minority stigma negatively, and resilience positively, predicted self-esteem. In the case of Bear-identified men, age, perceived exposure to weight discrimination, and BMI were also significant predictors of self-esteem. Higher BMI in the case of Bear-identified men predicted higher self-esteem. Our results suggest that although Bear-identified men are characterized by their similarities to other gay men, subcultural identities create unique social contexts that are important for health and health interventions in this population.
Spatial Autocorrelation of Breast and Prostate Cancer in Slovakia
Authors: Vilinová Katarína
Published: June 2020

Cancer is one of the dominant causes of death in the Slovak population. Monitoring the course of the cancer death rate in Slovakia can be considered as a relevant subject for geographical research. Relatively little is known about the geographic distribution of breast and prostate cancer incidence in Slovakia. In the submitted paper, it is hypothesized that breast and prostate cancer in the examined territory are characterized by different intensities, incidences, and spatial differences. The spatial patterns of breast and prostate cancer in Slovakia were examined by means of spatial autocorrelation analyses with the Local Moran’s I and Anselin Local Moran’s statistics. Data on standardized death rates of breast and prostate cancer in Slovakia between 2001 and 2018 were used. Prostate cancer in men and breast cancer in women show a positive statistically significant Global Moran’s I, whose values indicate a tendency to cluster. The Anselin Local Moran’s I analysis indicates significant clusters of breast cancer in the western part of Slovakia, and prostate cancer clusters mostly in the central part of Slovakia. The findings we have obtained in this study may help us investigate further hypotheses regarding the causes and identification of spatial differences in breast and prostate cancer incidence. Our findings might stimulate further research into the possible causes which underlie the clusters.
Lifestyle Practices, Satisfaction with Life and the Level of Perceived Stress of Polish and Foreign Medical Students Studying in Poland
Authors: Machul Michał , Bieniak Monika , Chałdaś-Majdańska Justyna , Bąk Jadwiga , Chrzan-Rodak Agnieszka , Mazurek Paulina , Pawłowski Piotr , Makuch-Kuśmierz Daria , Obuchowska Anna , Bartoszek Adrianna , Karska Katarzyna , Jurek Krzysztof , Cardenas Claudia , Dobrowolska Beata
Published: June 2020

The adaptation of foreign students to a new country can be complicated due to different cultural values, language barriers and the way university courses are structured. The aim of the study was to analyze the lifestyle practices, satisfaction with life and the level of perceived stress of Polish and foreign students studying various medical disciplines in Poland with regard to chosen sociodemographic characteristics. The study included 231 foreign and 213 Polish students (n = 444) taking different medical disciplines at the medical university in eastern Poland. Three research tools were used: Fantastic Lifestyle Questionnaire (FLQ), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). Additionally, students’ sociodemographic data was collected. Two-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed and correlations between variables were also examined. Our research indicated that Polish students obtained higher results in FLQ than foreign students. It also demonstrated a significantly higher level of stress among Polish students in comparison to foreign students. The self-assessment of their health condition, lifestyle, and rank associated to being healthy correlated with FLQ, SWLS and PSS-10. The present research can aid the development of support programs for foreign students so that the cultural adaptation processes would more positively influence their lifestyle and an education environment.
Psychobiosocial States as Mediators of the Effects of Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction on Burnout Symptoms in Youth Sport
Authors: Morano Milena , Bortoli Laura , Ruiz Montse C. , Robazza Claudio
Published: June 2020

Sport participation in youngsters has been associated with long-lasting psychosocial and health-related benefits as well as increased levels of physical exercise in adulthood. The objective of this study was to examine some psychological factors of fundamental importance in enhancing sport participation and preventing burnout. A sample of 520 girls and boys aged 13–18 years, practicing individual or team sports, took part in a cross-sectional study to assess basic psychological need satisfaction, psychobiosocial states, and burnout symptoms. The specific purpose was to examine the mediation effects of emotion-related (i.e., functional/dysfunctional) psychobiosocial states on the relationship between basic psychological need satisfaction (i.e., autonomy-choice, competence, and relatedness) and burnout symptoms (i.e., emotional/physical exhaustion, a reduced sense of accomplishment, and sport devaluation). Competence need satisfaction was found to be the most influential variable, with direct and indirect effects on burnout components, in particular, on a reduced sense of sport accomplishment. Overall, findings support the usefulness of investigating psychobiosocial states in youth sport and indicate that functional psychobiosocial states, as consequences of environmental motivational aspects, can have a significant effect on contrasting burnout symptoms.
Inspiratory Muscle Training in Intermittent Sports Modalities: A Systematic Review
Authors: Lorca-Santiago Juan , Jiménez Sergio L. , Pareja-Galeano Helios , Lorenzo Alberto
Published: June 2020

The fatigue of the respiratory muscles causes the so-called metabolic reflex or metaboreflex, resulting in vasoconstriction of the blood vessels in the peripheral muscles, which leads to a decrease in respiratory performance. Training the respiratory muscles is a possible solution to avoid this type of impairment in intermittent sports. The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the results obtained with inspiratory muscle training (IMT) in intermittent sports modalities, intending to determine whether its implementation would be adequate and useful in intermittent sports. A search in the Web of Science (WOS) and Scopus databases was conducted, following the Preferred Reporting Elements for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The methodological quality of the articles was assessed using the PEDro (Physiotherapy Evidence Database) scale. In conclusion, the introduction of specific devices of IMT seems to be a suitable method to improve performance in intermittent sports, mainly due to a reduction of the metaboreflex, fatigue sensation, and dyspnea. The ideal protocol would consist of a combination of acute and chronic treatment, and, even if IMT is done daily, the duration will not exceed one hour per week.
Effects of Cooperative-Learning Interventions on Physical Education Students’ Intrinsic Motivation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Fernández-Espínola Carlos , Abad Robles Manuel Tomás , Collado-Mateo Daniel , Almagro Bartolomé J. , Castillo Viera Estefanía , Giménez Fuentes-Guerra Francisco Javier
Published: June 2020

The aim was to review the effects of cooperative learning interventions on intrinsic motivation in physical education students, as well as to conduct a meta-analysis to determinate the overall effect size of these interventions. The PRISMA guidelines were followed to conduct this systematic review and meta-analysis. The PEDro Scale was used to assess the risk of bias and the GRADE approach was used to evaluate the quality of the evidence. A total of five studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria and they were included in the meta-analysis. Effect size for intrinsic motivation of each study was calculated using the means and standard deviations of the Perceived Locus of Causality Scale (PLOC) before and after the intervention. The overall effect size for intrinsic motivation was 0.38 (95% CI from 0.17 to 0.60) while the heterogeneity was large. Although four of the five studies reported significant within-group improvements in intrinsic motivation, only three studies showed significant between-group differences in favor of the experimental group. The findings showed that program duration and participant age may be relevant factors that must be considered by educators and researchers to conduct future effective interventions. Cooperative learning interventions could be a useful teaching strategy to improve physical education students’ intrinsic motivation. However, given the large heterogeneity and the low quality of the evidence, these findings must be taken with caution.
Phase Angle as a Marker of Muscular Strength in Breast Cancer Survivors
Authors: Matias Catarina N. , Cavaco-Silva Joana , Reis Mafalda , Campa Francesco , Toselli Stefania , Sardinha Luís , Silva Analiza M.
Published: June 2020

Background: accurate prognostic tools are relevant for decision-making in cancer care. Objective measures, such as bioelectrical impedance (BI), have the potential to improve prognostic accuracy for these patients. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate whether phase angle (PhA) derived from the electrical properties of the body tissues is a predictor of muscular strength in breast cancer survivors (BCS). Methods: a total of 41 BCS (age 54.6 ± 9.2 years) were evaluated. PhA, obtained at frequency 50 kHz, was assessed with BI spectroscopy, and muscular strength with a handgrip dynamometer. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Measurements were performed in the morning after an overnight fast. Results: linear regression analysis showed that PhA accounted for 22% (r2 = 0.22) of muscular strength variance. PhA remained a borderline predictor of muscular strength variance independently of age and MVPA. Conclusions: the findings of this study suggest that PhA is a significant predictor of maximal forearm isometric strength and a potential indicator of disease-related functionality in BCS.
Repeatability of Freehand Implantations Supported with Universal Plastic Sleeves—In Vitro Study
Authors: Zadrożny Łukasz , Czajkowska Marta , Mijiritsky Eitan , Wagner Leopold
Published: June 2020

Repeatability and precision are major factors which have an influence on final implant treatment results. The aim of this study was to evaluate the repeatability of freehand implant procedures assisted with special plastic sleeves which are placed on the drill to guarantee the proper mesiodistal distance from the landmark’s surface. Patient data required for implant treatment, including images of mandibles from CBCT scans and virtual models of soft tissues and teeth, were used to prepare complete virtual models of patient clinical conditions. The models were saved as STL files and 3D printed in five copies. Drilling procedures were done at positions 37, 46 and 47. Each model was scanned with pins in the osteotomies and compared using digital aligning of the models’ surfaces. The average deviation was −1.38 ± 1.4 mm. Average deviations on guide pins placed at position 37 were −0.46 ± 0.59 mm, at position 46 were −1.46 ± 0.88 mm (landmark’s surface of both: distal tooth’s surface), and at position 47 were the highest: −2.69 ± 1.62 mm (landmark’s surface: surface of plastic sleeve). The following conclusion was drawn: Using universal plastic sleeves could improve implant procedure precision especially in the case of partially edentulous patients.
Measurement of Factors Affecting the Perception of People with Disabilities in the Workplace
Authors: Załuska Urszula , Grześkowiak Alicja , Kozyra Cyprian , Kwiatkowska-Ciotucha Dorota
Published: June 2020

The issue of employing people with disabilities is crucial from both a social and economic perspective, and is often influenced by the social perception of this group of people. In this article, we attempted to examine attitudes towards the disabled in eight European countries by using one of the most popular tools that measures the perception of such people in everyday life—the Attitudes to Disability Scale (ADS) developed by the WHOQOL Group. We checked the general attitude towards disability according to the ADS scale and the specific perception of disability in the workplace using a scale created ad hoc. The research was conducted in 2019 using the CAWI (computer-assisted web interview) method on representative samples of Internet users, whereas the analysis methods included the measurement reliability analysis, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modelling (SEM). The obtained results allow for the acceptance of the measurement model of the ADS scale in the societies of the analyzed countries. No significant differences were found between models created for people with a disability experience (a group from the WHOQOL Group research) and without such experience. The measurement using the original ADS scale factor structure is of good reliability, whereas CFA is of good fit. We also examined the impact of ADS scale factors on the perception of people with disabilities in the workplace using the SEM model, and obtained good fit of the model. The results show that the dimensions of perception, such as inclusion, discrimination and prospects, affect the evaluation of people with disabilities in the workplace.
An Exploratory Research of 18 Years on the Economic Burden of Diabetes for the Romanian National Health Insurance System
Authors: Morgovan Claudiu , Cosma Smaranda Adina , Valeanu Madalina , Juncan Anca Maria , Rus Luca Liviu , Gligor Felicia Gabriela , Butuca Anca , Tit Delia Mirela , Bungau Simona , Ghibu Steliana
Published: June 2020

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) rises constantly each year worldwide. Because of that, the funds allocated for the DM treatment have increased over time. Regarding the number of DM cases, Romania is among the top ten countries in Europe. Based on the National Diabetes Programme (NDP), antidiabetic drugs and other expenditures (Self-monitoring blood glucose (SMBG) test, HbA1c, insulin pumps/insulin pumps supplies) are free of charge. This programme has undergone many changes in drugs supply, in the last two decades: re-organizing the NDP, authorization of new molecules with high prices (e.g., SGLT-2 inhibitors, etc.) or new devices (e.g., insulin pumps, etc.) The main purpose of this study is to identify and analyse the impact of the DM costs on the Romanian health budget and to highlight the evolution of these costs. A retrospective longitudinal research on the official data regarding the DM costs from 2000 to 2017 was performed. The DM funds (DMF) were adjusted with the inflation rate. In this period, the average share of DMF in the total funds allocated for health programmes was 21.3 ± 3.4%, and DMF average growth rate was 25.4% (r = 0.488, p = 0.047). On the other hand, the DMF increased more than 14 times, in spite of the patients’ number having increased only about 2.5 times. Referring to the structure of DMF, the mean value of the antidiabetic drugs cost was of 96,045 ± 67,889 thousand EUR while for other expenditures it was of 11,530 ± 7922 thousand EUR (r = 0.945, p < 0.001). Between 2008 and 2017, the total DMF was 181,252 ± 74,278 thousand EUR/year. Moreover, the average patients’ number was 667,384 ± 94,938 (r = 0.73, p = 0.016), and the cost of treatment was 215 ± 36 EUR/patient/year. Even if the cost is rising, the correct and optimal treatment is a main condition for the diabetic patient’s health and for the prevention of its complications, which have multiple socio-economic repercussions.
How Managers Use Information Systems for Strategy Implementation in Agritourism SMEs
Authors: Kamariotou Maria , Kitsios Fotis
Published: June 2020

Agritourism is long established and the interest in diversification of agricultural enterprises into tourism has increased. However, many challenges have emerged regarding the lack of appropriate skills, strategic planning, Information Systems (IS), as well as increased costs in production processes. In Greece, the contribution of agritourism to economic growth has increased in the last decade, but the relationship between the agricultural sector and agritourism is a reason for certain people having largely taken advantage from the development of tourism in a specific area. Greek businesses operating in the agritourism sector are seeking long-term sustainability. However, they lack strategic planning and effective use of IS. As the strategic implementation of Information Technology (IT) in Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the agritourism sector is under-researched, this paper aims to investigate how the process of Strategic Information Systems Planning (SISP) affects the success of Greek SMEs in the agritourism industry. IS executives completed the survey and ANOVA analysis was used for data analysis. The findings of the paper indicate that IS executives do not focus on the analysis of the external environment and the evaluation of opportunities for IS development. In addition, the lack of formulation of the IT strategy creates inefficient and unsuccessful IT projects.
Evaluation of Tree-Based Ensemble Machine Learning Models in Predicting Stock Price Direction of Movement
Authors: Ampomah Ernest Kwame , Qin Zhiguang , Nyame Gabriel
Published: June 2020

Forecasting the direction and trend of stock price is an important task which helps investors to make prudent financial decisions in the stock market. Investment in the stock market has a big risk associated with it. Minimizing prediction error reduces the investment risk. Machine learning (ML) models typically perform better than statistical and econometric models. Also, ensemble ML models have been shown in the literature to be able to produce superior performance than single ML models. In this work, we compare the effectiveness of tree-based ensemble ML models (Random Forest (RF), XGBoost Classifier (XG), Bagging Classifier (BC), AdaBoost Classifier (Ada), Extra Trees Classifier (ET), and Voting Classifier (VC)) in forecasting the direction of stock price movement. Eight different stock data from three stock exchanges (NYSE, NASDAQ, and NSE) are randomly collected and used for the study. Each data set is split into training and test set. Ten-fold cross validation accuracy is used to evaluate the ML models on the training set. In addition, the ML models are evaluated on the test set using accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, specificity, and area under receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC-ROC). Kendall W test of concordance is used to rank the performance of the tree-based ML algorithms. For the training set, the AdaBoost model performed better than the rest of the models. For the test set, accuracy, precision, F1-score, and AUC metrics generated results significant to rank the models, and the Extra Trees classifier outperformed the other models in all the rankings.
Exploring Technology Influencers from Patent Data Using Association Rule Mining and Social Network Analysis
Authors: Ampornphan Pranomkorn , Tongngam Sutep
Published: June 2020

A patent is an important document issued by the government to protect inventions or product design. Inventions consist of mechanical structures, production processes, quality improvements of products, and so on. Generally, goods or appliances in everyday life are a result of an invention or product design that has been published in patent documents. A new invention contributes to the standard of living, improves productivity and quality, reduces production costs for industry, or delivers products with higher added value. Patent documents are considered to be excellent sources of knowledge in a particular field of technology, leading to inventions. Technology trend forecasting from patent documents depends on the subjective experience of experts. However, accumulated patent documents consist of a huge amount of text data, making it more difficult for those experts to gain knowledge precisely and promptly. Therefore, technology trend forecasting using objective methods is more feasible. There are many statistical methods applied to patent analysis, for example, technology overview, investment volume, and the technology life cycle. There are also data mining methods by which patent documents can be classified, such as by technical characteristics, to support business decision-making. The main contribution of this study is to apply data mining methods and social network analysis to gain knowledge in emerging technologies and find informative technology trends from patent data. We experimented with our techniques on data retrieved from the European Patent Office (EPO) website. The technique includes K-means clustering, text mining, and association rule mining methods. The patent data analyzed include the International Patent Classification (IPC) code and patent titles. Association rule mining was applied to find associative relationships among patent data, then combined with social network analysis (SNA) to further analyze technology trends. SNA provided metric measurements to explore the most influential technology as well as visualize data in various network layouts. The results showed emerging technology clusters, their meaningful patterns, and a network structure, and suggested information for the development of technologies and inventions.
Damage Detection in Fiber-Reinforced Foamed Urethane Composite Railway Bearers Using Acoustic Emissions
Authors: Sengsri Pasakorn , Ngamkhanong Chayut , Melo Andre Luis Oliveira de , Papaelias Mayorkinos , Kaewunruen Sakdirat
Published: June 2020

To a certain degree, composite railway sleepers and bearers have been recently employed as a replacement for conventional timber sleepers. Importantly, attributed to the rise in traffic demand, structural health monitoring of track structural members is essential to improve the maintenance regime and reduce risks imposed by any structural damage. A potential modern technique for detecting damage in railway components by using energy waves is called acoustic emission (AE). This technique has been widely used for concrete structures in other engineering applications, but the application for composites is relatively limited. Recently, fiber-reinforced foamed urethane (FFU) composites have been utilized as railway sleepers and bearers for applications in the railway industry. Neither does a design standard exist, nor have the inspection and monitoring criteria been properly established. In this study, three-point bending tests were performed together with using the AE method to detect crack growth in FFU composite beams. The ultimate state behaviors are considered to obtain the failure modes. This paper is thus the world’s first to focus on damage detection approaches for FFU composite beams using AE technology, additionally identifying the load-deflection curves of the beams. According to the experimental results, it is apparent that the failure modes of FFU composite beams are likely to be in brittle modes. Through finite element method, the results were in good agreement with less than 0.14% discrepancy between the experimental and numerical data. The attractive insights into an alternative technique for damage assessment of the composite components will help railway engineers to establish structural monitoring guidelines for railway composite sleepers and bearers.
The Pathogen Profile of a Honey Bee Queen Does Not Reflect That of Her Workers
Authors: Kevill Jessica L. , Lee Katie , Goblirsch Michael , McDermott Erin , Tarpy David R. , Spivak Marla , Schroeder Declan C.
Published: June 2020

Throughout a honey bee queen’s lifetime, she is tended to by her worker daughters, who feed and groom her. Such interactions provide possible horizontal transmission routes for pathogens from the workers to the queen, and as such a queen’s pathogen profile may be representative of the workers within a colony. To explore this further, we investigated known honey bee pathogen co-occurrence, as well as pathogen transmission from workers to queens. Queens from 42 colonies were removed from their source hives and exchanged into a second, unrelated foster colony. Worker samples were taken from the source colony on the day of queen exchange and the queens were collected 24 days after introduction. All samples were screened for Nosema spp., Trypanosome spp., acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV), black queen cell virus (BQCV), chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV), Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV), Lake Sinai virus (LSV), and deformed wing virus master variants (DWV-A, B, and C) using RT-qPCR. The data show that LSV, Nosema, and DWV-B were the most abundant pathogens in colonies. All workers (n = 42) were LSV-positive, 88% were Nosema-positive, whilst pathogen loads were low (<1 × 106 genome equivalents per pooled worker sample). All queens (n = 39) were negative for both LSV and Nosema. We found no evidence of DWV transmission occurring from worker to queen when comparing queens to foster colonies, despite DWV being present in both queens and workers. Honey bee pathogen presence and diversity in queens cannot be revealed from screening workers, nor were pathogens successfully transmitted to the queen.
Potential Distribution and Niche Differentiation of Spodoptera frugiperda in Africa
Authors: Fan Jingyu , Wu Pengxiang , Tian Tianqi , Ren Qilin , Haseeb Muhammad , Zhang Runzhi
Published: June 2020

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) is a serious agricultural pest. The species originates from the tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas and has now become established in many countries. Its strong migratory ability is the key factor in the rapidly expanding range of S. frugiperda in Africa, where food security faces unprecedented challenges. Exploring potential distributions and niche differentiation of S. frugiperda could provide new insights into the nature of climate niche shifts and our ability to anticipate further invasions. In this study, the occurrence population records (native, source, global, and African) and environmental variables of S. frugiperda were selected to fit ecological niche models (ENMs), with an evaluation of niche conservatism during its invasion of Africa. The results showed that the potential distributions of S. frugiperda are mainly in tropical and subtropical areas in Africa. The climate spaces occupied by its native population and introduced African population broadly overlap. Although, climate niches were conserved during invasion of Africa, many climate spaces were unoccupied, suggesting a high remaining invasion potential in Africa. The selection of the biogeographic realm is an important factor in model construction, and has a great influence on the transferability of the models. Indeed, the global model produced the best performance, following the source and native models.
Time-Transient Effects of Silver and Copper in the Porous Titanium Dioxide Layer on Antibacterial Properties
Authors: Shimabukuro Masaya , Hiji Akari , Manaka Tomoyo , Nozaki Kosuke , Chen Peng , Ashida Maki , Tsutsumi Yusuke , Nagai Akiko , Hanawa Takao
Published: June 2020

Recently, silver (Ag) and copper (Cu) have been incorporated into a titanium (Ti) surface to realize their antibacterial property. This study investigated both the durability of the antibacterial effect and the surface change of the Ag- and Cu-incorporated porous titanium dioxide (TiO2) layer. Ag- and Cu-incorporated TiO2 layers were formed by micro-arc oxidation (MAO) treatment using the electrolyte with Ag and Cu ions. Ag- and Cu-incorporated specimens were incubated in saline during a period of 0–28 days. The changes in both the concentrations and chemical states of the Ag and Cu were characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The durability of the antibacterial effects against Escherichia coli (E. coli) were evaluated by the international organization for standardization (ISO) method. As a result, the Ag- and Cu-incorporated porous TiO2 layers were formed on a Ti surface by MAO. The chemical state of Ag changed from Ag2O to metallic Ag, whilst that of Cu did not change by incubation in saline for up to 28 days. Cu existed as a stable Cu2O compound in the TiO2 layer during the 28 days of incubation in saline. The concentrations of Ag and Cu were dramatically decreased by incubation for up to 7 days, and remained a slight amount until 28 days. The antibacterial effect of Ag-incorporated specimens diminished, and that of Cu was maintained even after incubation in saline. Our study suggests the importance of the time-transient effects of Ag and Cu on develop their antibacterial effects.
Digitalization of the Legal Field and the Future of Large Law Firms
Authors: Caserta Salvatore
Published: June 2020

This paper discusses how large law firms should re-organize themselves to maintain a competitive edge in the increasingly digitalized legal field. While providing a brief historical introduction to the rise of large law firms and the challenges posed by the rise of digital capitalism and the gig economy, the paper proposes an original and radical approach to reforming large law firms in the light of the digitalization. Among other things, the paper discusses (I) the partnership as organizational tool for large law firms in an increasingly digital and agile legal field; (II) the importance of multidisciplinary practices and of the relationship between lawyers and non-lawyers within firms; and (III) the centrality of outsourcing strategies to legal tech companies and other actors in order to deliver legal services more effectively and in a more client-oriented manner.
Fabrication of 3D-Printed Fish-Gelatin-Based Polymer Hydrogel Patches for Local Delivery of PEGylated Liposomal Doxorubicin
Authors: Liu Jin , Tagami Tatsuaki , Ozeki Tetsuya
Published: June 2020

3D printing technology has been applied to various fields and its medical applications are expanding. Here, we fabricated implantable 3D bio-printed hydrogel patches containing a nanomedicine as a future tailored cancer treatment. The patches were prepared using a semi-solid extrusion-type 3D bioprinter, a hydrogel-based printer ink, and UV-LED exposure. We focused on the composition of the printer ink and semi-synthesized fish gelatin methacryloyl (F-GelMA), derived from cold fish gelatin, as the main component. The low viscosity of F-GelMA due to its low melting point was remarkably improved by the addition of carboxymethyl cellulose sodium (CMC), a pharmaceutical excipient. PEGylated liposomal doxorubicin (DOX), as a model nanomedicine, was incorporated into the hydrogel and liposome stability after photo-polymerization was evaluated. The addition of CMC inhibited particle size increase. Three types of 3D-designed patches (cylinder, torus, gridlines) were produced using a 3D bioprinter. Drug release was dependent on the shape of the 3D-printed patches and UV-LED exposure time. The current study provides useful information for the preparation of 3D printed nanomedicine-based objects.
Right Ventricle Mechanics and Function during Stress in Patients with Asymptomatic Primary Moderate to Severe Mitral Regurgitation and Preserved Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction
Authors: Žvirblytė Rūta , Merkytė Ieva , Tamulėnaitė Eglė , Saniukaitė Agnė , Mizarienė Vaida , Ereminienė Eglė , Vaškelytė Jolanta Justina
Published: June 2020

Background and objectives. Mitral regurgitation (MR) is usually dynamic and increasing with exertion. Stress may provoke symptoms, cause the progression of pulmonary hypertension (PH) and unmask subclinical changes of the left and right ventricle function. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes of right ventricle (RV) functional parameters during stress and to find out determinants of RV function in patients with MR. Materials and methods. We performed a prospective study that included patients with asymptomatic primary moderate to severe MR and preserved left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) at rest (≥60%). Conventional 2D echocardiography at rest and during stress (bicycle ergometry) and offline speckle tracking analysis were performed. Results. 80 patients were included as MR (50) and control (30) groups. Conventional functional and myocardial deformation parameters of RV were similar in both groups at all stages of exercise (p > 0.05). The grade of MR (p = 0.004) and higher LV global longitudinal strain (p = 0.037) contributed significantly to the changes of tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) from rest to peak stress. Changes of MR ERA from the rest to peak stress were related to RV free wall longitudinal strain (FWLS) and four chambers longitudinal stain (4CLS) at rest (p = 0.011; r = −0.459 and p = 0.001; r = −0.572, respectively). Significant correlations between LV EF, stroke volume, cardiac output and RV fractional area change, S′, TAPSE, FWLS, 4CLS were obtained. However, systolic pulmonary artery pressure and RV functional, deformation parameters were not related (p > 0.05). Conclusions. Functional parameters of LV during exercise and severity of MR were significant determinants of RV function while PH has no correlation with it in patients with primary asymptomatic moderate to severe MR.
Phase Equilibrium Diagram for Electric Arc Furnace Slag Optimization in High Alloyed Chromium Stainless Steelmaking
Authors: Kirschen Marcus , Jung In-Ho , Hackl Gernot
Published: June 2020

The electric arc furnace (EAF) process for steelmaking of Cr and Ni high alloyed stainless steel grades differs significantly from the steelmaking process of carbon steel due to the special raw materials and generally lower oxygen consumption. The special slag chemistry in the EAF process affects slag foaming and refractory wear characteristics due to an increased content of CrOx. A special slag diagram is presented in order to improve monitoring and control of slag compositions for Cr alloyed heats, with special focus on saturation to MgO periclase and dicalcium silicate C2S in order to minimize MgO losses from the refractory lining and to improve slag refining capability by avoidance of stable C2S. With the same diagram different EAF process strategies can be efficiently monitored, either at elevated CaO and basicity with lower spinel concentration and more liquid process slags near C2S saturation or at lower CaO content and basicity with increased spinel concentration and stiffer slags at MgO saturation but certainly no C2S stability. Examples for three industrial EAFs are given.
Some Complementary Data about the Spectroscopic Properties of Manganese Ions in Spodumene Crystals
Authors: Czaja Maria , Lisiecki Radosław , Kądziołka-Gaweł Mariola , Winiarski Antoni
Published: June 2020

The color change of the pink and colorless LiAlSi2O6 spodumene crystal due to irradiation and heating is explained. The hypothesis about the change of Mn3+ to Mn4+ after irradiation was rejected. For the studied crystals, it was shown that both Mn2+ and Mn3+ occupy the M2 (not the M1) crystal site. Spodumene crystals which are primary pink (kunzite) contain Mn3+ (and Mn2+) at the M1 site. By contrast, those that become pink due to irradiation and heating contain Mn3+ and Mn2+ at the M2 site. The emission band of the former is 625 nm, and for the latter, it is 591 nm.
Electrical Resistivity Tomography as a Support Tool for Physicochemical Properties Assessment of Near-Surface Waste Materials in a Mining Tailing Pond (El Gorguel, SE Spain)
Authors: Gabarrón María , Martínez-Pagán Pedro , Martínez-Segura Marcos , Bueso María , Martínez-Martínez Silvia , Faz Ángel , Acosta José
Published: June 2020

The legacy of the mining industry has left a large number of tailing ponds in the Cartagena–La Unión mining district exposed to water and wind erosion, which causes serious environmental and health problems and requires remediation. Before applying any remediation technique, an intensive sampling of the materials infilling the pond is required to determine the geochemistry of the pond, which will condition the remediation process. However, sampling the large number of tailing ponds that compose the district could be expensive. Thus, the main objective of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) as a non-invasive tool to provide an image of spatial subsurface resistivity distribution and its relation to the physicochemical composition of near-surface mine wastes. To achieve this objective, three short ERT profiles were conducted, and 12 samples in each profile were collected at different depths for its geochemical characterization. Several non-linear regression models were fitted to predict physicochemical properties and metal concentrations from electrical resistivity measures. As a result, a high resistivity area was depicted in the ERT profiles G2 and G3, while the low resistivity ERT profile G1 was also obtained in accordance with the site’s surficial characteristics. Relationships among low resistivity values and high salinity, clay content, high metal concentrations, and mobility were established. Specifically, calibrated models were obtained for electrical conductivity, particle sizes of 0.02–50 µm and 50–2000 µm, total Zn and Cd concentration, and bioavailable Ni, Cd, and Fe. The ERT technique was shown to be a useful tool for the approximation of the location and distribution of the highest ranges of fine particle sizes, moisture, and, to a lesser extent, metal accumulation in the near-surface waste materials.
Molecular Hydrogen in Natural Mayenite
Authors: Galuskin Evgeny , Galuskina Irina , Vapnik Yevgeny , Murashko Mikhail
Published: June 2020

In the last 15 years, zeolite-like mayenite, Ca12Al14O33, has attracted significant attention in material science for its variety of potential applications and for its simple composition. Hydrogen plays a key role in processes of electride material synthesis from pristine mayenite: {Ca12Al14O32}2+(O2) → {Ca12Al14O32}2+(e−)2. A presence of molecular hydrogen in synthetic mayenite was not confirmed by the direct methods. Spectroscopy investigations of mayenite group mineral fluorkyuygenite, with empirical formula (Ca12.09Na0.03)∑12.12(Al13.67Si0.12Fe3+0.07Ti4+0.01)∑12.87O31.96 [F2.02Cl0.02(H2O)3.22(H2S)0.15□0.59]∑6.00, show the presence of an unusual band at 4038 cm−1, registered for the first time and related to molecular hydrogen, apart from usual bands responding to vibrations of mayenite framework. The band at 4038 cm−1 corresponding to stretching vibrations of H2 is at lower frequencies in comparison with positions of analogous bands of gaseous H2 (4156 cm−1) and H2 adsorbed at active cation sites of zeolites (4050–4100 cm−1). This points out relatively strong linking of molecular hydrogen with the fluorkyuygenite framework. An appearance of H2 in the fluorkyuyginite with ideal formula Ca12Al14O32[(H2O)4F2], which formed after fluormayenite, Ca12Al14O32[□4F2], is connected with its genesis. Fluorkyuygenite was detected in gehlenite fragments within brecciaed pyrometamorphic rock (Hatrurim Basin, Negev Desert, Israel), which contains reduced mineral assemblage of the Fe-P-C system (native iron, schreibersite, barringerite, murashkoite, and cohenite). The origin of phosphide-bearing associations is connected with the effect of highly reduced gases on earlier formed pyrometamorphic rocks.
Design of Digital Interaction for Complex Museum Collections
Authors: Micoli Laura Loredana , Caruso Giandomenico , Guidi Gabriele
Published: June 2020

Interactive multimedia applications in museums generally aim at integrating into the exhibition complementary information delivered through engaging narratives. This article discusses a possible approach for effectively designing an interactive app for museum collections whose physical pieces are mutually related by multiple and articulated logical interconnections referring to elements of immaterial cultural heritage that would not be easy to bring to the public with traditional means. As proof of this concept, a specific case related to ancient Egyptian civilization has been developed. A collection of Egyptian artifacts such as mummies, coffins, and amulets, associated with symbols, divinities, and magic spells through the structured funerary ritual typical of that civilization, has been explained through a virtual application based on the concepts discussed in the methodological section.
Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 Conjugated to Quantum Dot®s is Biologically Functional
Authors: Halloran Daniel , Vrathasha Vrathasha , Durbano Hilary W. , Nohe Anja
Published: June 2020

Quantum Dot®s (QDot®s) are novel, semi-conductive nanostructures that emit a certain fluorescence when excited by specific wavelengths. QDot®s are more photostable, brighter, and photobleach less than other fluorescent dyes. These characteristics give them the potential to be used in many biological applications. The shells of QDot®s are coated with functional groups, such as carboxylate and organic groups, allowing them to couple to peptides/proteins and be used for real-time imaging and high-resolution microscopy. Here, we utilize Quantum Dot®s and Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 (BMP-2) to create a BMP-2-QDot®s conjugate. BMP-2 is a growth factor that drives many processes such as cardiogenesis, neural growth, and osteogenesis. Despite its numerous roles, the trafficking and uptake of BMP-2 into cells is not well-established, especially during progression of diseases. The results presented here demonstrate for the first time a fluorescent BMP-2 analog that binds to the BMP-receptors (BMPRs), remains biologically active, and is stable for long time periods. Previous attempts to develop a biological BMP-2 analog with Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) or nanodiamonds lacked data on the analog’s stability. Furthermore, these analogs did not address whether they can signal within the cell by binding to the BMPRs or were mediated by non-stable conjugates.
Turning Spent Coffee Grounds into Sustainable Precursors for the Fabrication of Carbon Dots
Authors: Crista Diana M. A. , El Mragui Abderrahim , Algarra Manuel , Esteves da Silva Joaquim C. G. , Luque Rafael , Pinto da Silva Luís
Published: June 2020

Spent coffee grounds (SCGs) are known for containing many organic compounds of interest, including carbohydrates, lipids, phenolic compounds and proteins. Therefore, we investigated them as a potential source to obtain carbon dots (CDs) via a nanotechnology approach. Herein, a comparison was performed between CDs produced by SCGs and classic precursors (e.g., citric acid and urea). The SCG-based CDs were obtained via the one-pot and solvent-free carbonization of solid samples, generating nanosized particles (2.1–3.9 nm). These nanoparticles exhibited a blue fluorescence with moderate quantum yields (2.9–5.8%) and an excitation-dependent emission characteristic of carbon dots. SCG-based CDs showed potential as environmentally relevant fluorescent probes for Fe3+ in water. More importantly, life cycle assessment studies validated the production of CDs from SCG samples as a more environmentally sustainable route, as compared to those using classic reported precursors, when considering either a weight- or a function-based functional unit.
Chemical and Morphological Transition of Poly(acrylonitrile)/Poly(vinylidene Fluoride) Blend Nanofibers during Oxidative Stabilization and Incipient Carbonization
Authors: Wortmann Martin , Frese Natalie , Mamun Al , Trabelsi Marah , Keil Waldemar , Büker Björn , Javed Ali , Tiemann Michael , Moritzer Elmar , Ehrmann Andrea , Hütten Andreas , Schmidt Claudia , Gölzhäuser Armin , Hüsgen Bruno , Sabantina Lilia
Published: June 2020

Thermally stabilized and subsequently carbonized nanofibers are a promising material for many technical applications in fields such as tissue engineering or energy storage. They can be obtained from a variety of different polymer precursors via electrospinning. While some methods have been tested for post-carbonization doping of nanofibers with the desired ingredients, very little is known about carbonization of blend nanofibers from two or more polymeric precursors. In this paper, we report on the preparation, thermal treatment and resulting properties of poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN)/poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) blend nanofibers produced by wire-based electrospinning of binary polymer solutions. Using a wide variety of spectroscopic, microscopic and thermal characterization methods, the chemical and morphological transition during oxidative stabilization (280 °C) and incipient carbonization (500 °C) was thoroughly investigated. Both PAN and PVDF precursor polymers were detected and analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively during all stages of thermal treatment. Compared to pure PAN nanofibers, the blend nanofibers showed increased fiber diameters, strong reduction of undesired morphological changes during oxidative stabilization and increased conductivity after carbonization.