bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Limited Diagnostic Utility of Chromogranin A Measurements in Workup of Neuroendocrine Tumors
Authors: Baekdal Jonas , Krogh Jesper , Klose Marianne , Holmager Pernille , Langer Seppo W. , Oturai Peter , Kjaer Andreas , Federspiel Birgitte , Hilsted Linda , Rehfeld Jens F. , Knigge Ulrich , Andreassen Mikkel
Published: October 2020

Background: Plasma chromogranin A (CgA) is related to tumor burden and recommended in the follow-up of patients diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). The use of CgA in the workup of a suspected NET is more questionable. Objective: To assess the positive predictive value (PPV) of CgA plasma concentrations above the upper reference limit (URL) in patients with suspected NET. Method: Patients referred to the NET Centre, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen from 2015 to 2019 with clinically suspected NET were included if a CgA measurement was performed prior to referral. The utility of CgA was assessed by comparing pre-referral CgA concentrations to the outcome of a thorough workup. In 47 selected cases with continuously unexplained elevated CgA concentrations, a processing-independent analysis (PIA) for CgA was performed. Results: A total of 197 patients were included. NET was ultimately diagnosed in 25 patients. CgA plasma concentrations were above the URL (elevated) in 19/25 patients diagnosed with NET. In total, 167/197 had elevated CgA concentrations at referral. The positive predictive value (PPV) of elevated CgA concentration was 11% (19/167). Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) treatment was identified as the possible cause of CgA elevation in 55/148 patients with falsely elevated CgA. CgA concentration was normal in 28/47 patients when using PIA. Conclusion: Our data do not support using measurement of CgA for screening when NET is suspected since the PPV was rather low. PPI treatment is a common cause of increased CgA concentrations and should always be discontinued before CgA measurement. PIA of CgA could be a way of excluding NET when suspicion is based primarily on elevated CgA.
Motion Prediction Based TDMA Protocol in VANETs
Authors: Hu Jinbin , Lyu Wenjun , Zhong Shaohua , Huang Jiawei
Published: October 2020

In Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks (VANETs), the high mobility of vehicle nodes makes the network topology change frequently, reducing the forwarding efficiency of MAC protocol. In the existing enhanced TDMA-based MAC protocol, the farthest node in the current transmission range is chosen as the forwarding node to accelerate the multi-hop transmission. However, we use probabilistic model to show that there potentially exist better forwarding nodes, which could effectively improve transmission efficiency. Therefore, we propose a motion-prediction based TDMA protocol, which predicts the network topology in the next frame to select the better forwarding node. The test results of highway and urban scenarios show that the motion-prediction based TDMA protocol effectively reduces the number of hops in multi-hop transmission and decreases the broadcast delay by 50% to cover the whole network.
Adaptive Content Frame Skipping for Wyner–Ziv-Based Light Field Image Compression
Authors: PhiCong Huy , Perry Stuart , HoangVan Xiem
Published: October 2020

Light field (LF) imaging introduces attractive possibilities for digital imaging, such as digital focusing, post-capture changing of the focal plane or view point, and scene depth estimation, by capturing both spatial and angular information of incident light rays. However, LF image compression is still a great challenge, not only due to light field imagery requiring a large amount of storage space and a large transmission bandwidth, but also due to the complexity requirements of various applications. In this paper, we propose a novel LF adaptive content frame skipping compression solution by following a Wyner–Ziv (WZ) coding approach. In the proposed coding approach, the LF image is firstly converted into a four-dimensional LF (4D-LF) data format. To achieve good compression performance, we select an efficient scanning mechanism to generate a 4D-LF pseudo-sequence by analyzing the content of the LF image with different scanning methods. In addition, to further explore the high frame correlation of the 4D-LF pseudo-sequence, we introduce an adaptive frame skipping algorithm followed by decision tree techniques based on the LF characteristics, e.g., the depth of field and angular information. The experimental results show that the proposed WZ-LF coding solution achieves outstanding rate distortion (RD) performance while having less computational complexity. Notably, a bit rate saving of 53% is achieved compared to the standard high-efficiency video coding (HEVC) Intra codec.
Biomass to Syngas: Modified Non-Stoichiometric Thermodynamic Models for the Downdraft Biomass Gasification
Authors: Ayub Hafiz Muhammad Uzair , Park Sang Jin , Binns Michael
Published: October 2020

Biomass gasification is the most reliable thermochemical conversion technology for the conversion of biomass into gaseous fuels such as H2, CO, and CH4. The performance of a gasification process can be estimated using thermodynamic equilibrium models. This type of model generally assumes the system reaches equilibrium, while in reality the system may only approach equilibrium leading to some errors between experimental and model results. In this study non-stoichiometric equilibrium models are modified and improved with correction factors inserted into the design equations so that when the Gibbs free energy is minimized model predictions will more closely match experimental values. The equilibrium models are implemented in MatLab and optimized based on experimental values from the literature using the optimization toolbox. The modified non-stoichiometric models are shown to be more accurate than unmodified models based on the calculated root mean square error values. These models can be applied for various types of solid biomass for the production of syngas through biomass gasification processes such as wood, agricultural, and crop residues.
An Analysis of the Supply of Open Government Data
Authors: Ponce Alan , Ponce Rodriguez Raul Alberto
Published: October 2020

An index of the release of open government data, published in 2016 by the Open Knowledge Foundation, shows that there is significant variability in the country’s supply of this public good. What explains these cross-country differences? Adopting an interdisciplinary approach based on data science and economic theory, we developed the following research workflow. First, we gather, clean, and merge different datasets released by institutions such as the Open Knowledge Foundation, World Bank, United Nations, World Economic Forum, Transparency International, Economist Intelligence Unit, and International Telecommunication Union. Then, we conduct feature extraction and variable selection founded on economic domain knowledge. Next, we perform several linear regression models, testing whether cross-country differences in the supply of open government data can be explained by differences in the country’s economic, social, and institutional structures. Our analysis provides evidence that the country’s civil liberties, government transparency, quality of democracy, efficiency of government intervention, economies of scale in the provision of public goods, and the size of the economy are statistically significant to explain the cross-country differences in the supply of open government data. Our analysis also suggests that political participation, sociodemographic characteristics, and demographic and global income distribution dummies do not help to explain the country’s supply of open government data. In summary, we show that cross-country differences in governance, social institutions, and the size of the economy can explain the global distribution of open government data.
Respiratory Health and Suspected Asthma among Hired Latinx Child Farmworkers in Rural North Carolina
Authors: Kearney Gregory D. , Arcury Thomas A. , Quandt Sara A. , Talton Jennifer W. , Arnold Taylor J. , Sandberg Joanne C. , Wiggins Melinda F. , Daniel Stephanie S.
Published: October 2020

The aim of this study was to evaluate respiratory health problems, including suspected asthma, and healthcare provider utilization among a sample of Latinx hired child farmworkers in rural North Carolina (n = 140). In 2018, a respiratory health questionnaire and breathing tests were collected from Latinx child (11–19 years) farmworkers (35.0% girls and 65.0% boys). Overall, 21.4% of children reported having been told by a medical provider that they had asthma, yet based on a combination of responses to respiratory survey questions, 36.4% or 15% more were identified as having suspected asthma. While 56.4% reported having a regular medical doctor, 38% had not had a medical exam in the past year. Respiratory dysfunction, including suspected, or uncontrolled asthma was prevalent among this group. Latinx children working in agriculture are vulnerable to occupational hazards and exposures and require assurances that they will receive access to high quality healthcare services that include routine respiratory health screenings.
Seeing Climate Change: A Framework for Understanding Visualizations for Climate Adaptation
Authors: Goudine Alexei , Newell Robert , Bone Christopher
Published: October 2020

Climate change has resulted in the need for adaptation tools to provide stakeholders with the ability to respond to a broad range of potential impacts. Geovisualizations serve as powerful engagement tools due to their capacity in communicating complex climate data to various audiences. Studies have also shown a preference towards conveying climate data through geo-visual representations, to quickly present ideas rooted in geographical challenges and solutions. However, a rapid pace of technological advancements has paved the way for an abundance of geovisualization products that have eclipsed the necessary theoretical inquiry and knowledge required to establish effective visualization principles. This study addresses this research gap through a two-step process of (1) conducting a thorough review of the geovisualization for climate change literature, and (2) creating a conceptual framework that classifies existing geovisualization products into themes relating to visualization features, audiences, and the intended outcome or purpose of the visualization medium. The result is the Climate Visualizations for Adaptation Products (CVAP) framework, a tool for researchers and practitioners to use as a decision support system to discern an appropriate type of geovisualization product to implement within a specific use case or audience. Visualizations with more interactivity were favoured among expert user groups, to act as tools for knowledge discovery. This is contrary to the visualizations intended for communicating a known message to a user group, as those products often had a low level of interactivity associated with their use.
Emerging Mechanisms of Pulmonary Vasoconstriction in SARS-CoV-2-Induced Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) and Potential Therapeutic Targets
Authors: Karmouty-Quintana Harry , Thandavarayan Rajarajan A. , Keller Steven P. , Sahay Sandeep , Pandit Lavannya M. , Akkanti Bindu
Published: October 2020

The 1918 influenza killed approximately 50 million people in a few short years, and now, the world is facing another pandemic. In December 2019, a novel coronavirus named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused an international outbreak of a respiratory illness termed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and rapidly spread to cause the worst pandemic since 1918. Recent clinical reports highlight an atypical presentation of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in COVID-19 patients characterized by severe hypoxemia, an imbalance of the renin–angiotensin system, an increase in thrombogenic processes, and a cytokine release storm. These processes not only exacerbate lung injury but can also promote pulmonary vascular remodeling and vasoconstriction, which are hallmarks of pulmonary hypertension (PH). PH is a complication of ARDS that has received little attention; thus, we hypothesize that PH in COVID-19-induced ARDS represents an important target for disease amelioration. The mechanisms that can promote PH following SARS-CoV-2 infection are described. In this review article, we outline emerging mechanisms of pulmonary vascular dysfunction and outline potential treatment options that have been clinically tested.
Aspects of Digitalization and Related Impact on Green Tourism in European Countries
Authors: Saseanu Andreea Simona , Ghita Simona Ioana , Albastroiu Irina , Stoian Carmen-Alexandra
Published: October 2020

The digital world requires the implementation of new technologies and customer-driven business transformation. As the tourism sector may experience unanticipated ways of developing new technologies due to the current global health crisis, the standard travel experience could be changed. The main aim of this study was to analyze the influence of digitalization and tourists’ preferences in terms of accommodation and economic well-being implying sustainability. This paper applied a regression analysis and principal component analysis to achieve the above objective. Research exposed the fact that tourists’ preferences towards green destinations and ecological accommodation establishments, as well as Internet use in travel planning, may have a significant influence on the sustainability of tourism. This study identified behavioral models of 30 European countries from the sustainable tourism and digitalization perspective and made recommendations on economic and social policy measures to ensure the sustainable nature of tourism activity.
What Factors Influence Rural-To-Urban Migrant Peasants to Rent out Their Household Farmland? Evidence from China’s Pearl River Delta
Authors: Liu Ying , Zhang Rongrong , Li Ming , Zhou Chunshan
Published: October 2020

With the accommodative policy and rapid urbanization in China, large-scale migration of rural-to-urban peasants seeking nonagricultural employment has occurred. This has led to farmland rental, which is considered an effective means of land arrangement. Multiple variables were selected to examine the influencing factors of land rental for rural–urban peasants in China by using survey data collected in six core cities of the Pearl River Delta and a logistic regression model. This study revealed that benefits, household members, and urban living conditions and urban integration are factors that affect land rental. According to the results, improvements in working conditions, urban social insurance and urban integration, annual gross household income, and secure land ownership can promote land rental, whereas stronger hometown connections and parenting inhibit land rental. Women and youth excluded from China’s previous land allocation hold complex attitudes toward land rental, with age and sex statistically significant variables affecting land rental. We underscore the influence of family members and urban living conditions for land rental, which were ignored in earlier studies, to provide suggestions for future policy development, with an emphasis on the land rental market and redistribution of idle land.
Determination of Surface Stresses in X20Cr13 Steel by the Use of a Modified Hardness Measurement Procedure with Vickers Indenter
Authors: Hościło Bogusław , Molski Krzysztof L.
Published: October 2020

The paper presents a method for estimating the value of equibiaxial stress in a surface layer of a material by using a modified hardness measurement procedure with a Vickers indenter. A certain characteristic parameter was defined and related to the surface stress. A hybrid approach, based on experimental tests and accompanied by the complementary results obtained by the finite element modelling of X20Cr13 steel in elastic–plastic range, confirmed a linear relationship between the value of the characteristic parameter and the magnitude of equibiaxial stress at the surface. This linear relationship was valid in both elastic and elastic–plastic strain range beyond the yield stress of the material.
Laser Surface Alloying of Austenitic 316L Steel with Boron and Some Metallic Elements: Microstructure
Authors: Kulka Michał , Mikołajczak Daria , Makuch Natalia , Dziarski Piotr , Przestacki Damian , Panfil-Pryka Dominika , Piasecki Adam , Miklaszewski Andrzej
Published: October 2020

Austenitic 316L steel is known for its good oxidation resistance and corrosion behavior. However, the poor wear protection is its substantial disadvantage. In this study, laser surface alloying with boron and some metallic elements was used in order to form the surface layers of improved wear behavior. The microstructure was studied using OM, SEM, XRD, and EDS techniques. The laser-alloyed layers consisted of the only re-melted zone (MZ). The hard ceramic phases (Fe2B, Cr2B, Ni2B, or Ni3B borides) occurred in a soft austenitic matrix. The relatively high overlapping (86%) resulted in a uniform thickness and homogeneous microstructure of the layers. All the laser-alloyed layers were free from defects, such as microcracks or gas pores, due to the use of relatively high dilution ratios (above 0.37). The heat-affected zone (HAZ) wasn’t visible in the microstructure because of the extended stability of austenite up to room temperature and no possibility to change this structure during fast cooling. The use of the mixtures of boron and selected metallic elements as the alloying materials caused the diminished laser beam power in order to obtain the layers of acceptable quality. The thickness of laser-alloyed layers (308–432 μm) was significantly higher than that produced using diffusion boriding techniques.
Validity of Three-Dimensional Tortuous Pore Structure and Fouling of Hemoconcentration Capillary Membrane Using the Tortuous Pore Diffusion Model and Scanning Probe Microscopy
Authors: Fukuda Makoto , Yoshimoto Hiroki , Saomoto Hitoshi , Sakai Kiyotaka
Published: October 2020

Hemoconcentration membranes used in cardiopulmonary bypass require a pore structure design with high pure water permeability, which does not allow excessive protein adsorption and useful protein loss. However, studies on hemoconcentration membranes have not been conducted yet. The purpose of this study was to analyze three-dimensional pore structures and protein fouling before and after blood contact with capillary membranes using the tortuous pore diffusion model and a scanning probe microscope system. We examined two commercially available capillary membranes of similar polymer composition that are successfully used in hemoconcentration clinically. Assuming the conditions of actual use in cardiopulmonary bypass, bovine blood was perfused inside the lumens of these membranes. Pure water permeability before and after bovine blood perfusion was measured using dead-end filtration. The scanning probe microscopy system was used for analysis. High-resolution three-dimensional pore structures on the inner surface of the membranes were observed before blood contact. On the other hand, many pore structures after blood contact could not be observed due to protein fouling. The pore diameters calculated by the tortuous pore diffusion model and scanning probe microscopy were mostly similar and could be validated reciprocally. Achievable pure water permeabilities showed no difference, despite protein fouling on the pore inlets (membrane surface). In addition, low values of albumin sieving coefficient are attributable to protein fouling that occurs on the membrane surface. Therefore, it is essential to design the membrane structure that provides the appropriate control of fouling. The characteristics of the hemoconcentration membranes examined in this study are suitable for clinical use.
Influence of High-Pressure Torsion and Accumulative High-Pressure Torsion on Microstructure and Properties of Zr-Based Bulk Metallic Glass Vit105
Authors: Gunderov Dmitry , Astanin Vasily , Churakova Anna , Sitdikov Vil , Ubyivovk Evgeniy , Islamov Akhmed , Wang Jing Tao
Published: October 2020

Vit105 (Zr52.5Cu17.9Ni14.6Al10Ti5 at. %) bulk metallic glass samples were processed by high-pressure torsion and accumulative high-pressure torsion. By DSC, XRD and SANS methods it was shown that accumulative high-pressure torsion allows for achieving high real strains and leads to an increase in the free volume and significant transformation of the structure. Minor crystallization was detected after high-pressure torsion processing.
Thermal Camber and Temperature Evolution on Work Roll during Aluminum Hot Rolling
Authors: Gavalas Evangelos , Papaefthymiou Spyros
Published: October 2020

Flatness is an important quality characteristic for rolled products. Modern hot rolling mills are equipped with actuators that can modify the uneven thickness distribution across the width of the strip (crown), taking into account online measurements of various process parameters such as temperature, force and exit strip profile, either automatically or manually by the operator. However, the crown is also influenced by many parameters that cannot easily be measured during production, such as work roll temperature evolution through thickness and roll geometric variation due to thermal expansion (thermal camber). These have an impact on the strip flatness. In this paper, a thermo-mechanical finite element model on LS-DYNA™ software was utilized to predict the influence of process parameters, and more specifically strip temperature, cooling strategy (application of cooling on the entry or entry and exit side simultaneously) and roll core temperature, on the evolution of roll temperature and thermal camber. The model was initially validated with industrial data. The results indicate that the application of both entry and exit cooling is ~30% more efficient compared to the entry cooling only, thus the thermal camber will be reduced by 2 μm. A hotter roll (380 K) is more stable compared to the cold roll (340 K), showing also an improvement of 2 μm. The hotter roll will also reach a thermal steady state on the surface faster compared to the colder one, without making a significant difference on the steady state temperature. Strip temperature plays a roll in the thermal camber evolution, but it is a less important parameter compared to cooling strategy and roll temperature.
Deformation Behavior of C15E + C Steel under Different Uniaxial Stress Tests
Authors: Brnic Josip , Brcic Marino , Krscanski Sanjin , Niu Jitai , Chen Sijie , Gao Zeng
Published: October 2020

In this paper, the mechanical properties of the material that define its mechanical behavior are experimentally investigated. All performed experimental tests and analyzes are related to C15E + C steel. The tested material was delivered as cold drawn round bar. It is usually used in mechanical engineering for design of low stressed components. Experimentally obtained results relate to the maximum tensile strength, yield strength, creep behavior, and uniaxial fully reversed high cyclic fatigue. Results representing mechanical properties are shown in the form of engineering stress–strain diagrams, while creep behavior of the material at different temperatures and different stress levels is displayed in the form of creep curves. Tests representing uniaxial cyclic fully reversed mechanical fatigue at constant stresses and room temperature in air are shown in the form of fatigue-life (S−N) diagram. Some of the experimental results obtained are as follows: ultimate tensile strength (σm(20 °C/500 °C)=(598/230) MPa), yield strength (σ0.2(20 °C/500 °C)=(580/ 214 ) MPa ), modulus of elasticity (E(20 °C/500 °C)=(213/106) GPa), and fatigue limit (σf(20 °C, R=−1)=250.83 MPa). The fatigue tests were performed at frequency of 40 Hz and at room temperature (20 °C) in air, with stress ratio of R=−1.
Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Calcium-Silicate-Hydrate for Nano-Engineered Cement Composites—A Review
Authors: Cho Byoung Hooi , Chung Wonseok , Nam Boo Hyun
Published: October 2020

With the continuous research efforts, sophisticated predictive molecular dynamics (MD) models for C-S-H have been developed, and the application of MD simulation has been expanded from fundamental understanding of C-S-H to nano-engineered cement composites. This paper comprehensively reviewed the current state of MD simulation on calcium-silicate-hydrate (C-S-H) and its diverse applications to nano-engineered cement composites, including carbon-based nanomaterials (i.e., carbon nanotube, graphene, graphene oxide), reinforced cement, cement–polymer nanocomposites (with an application on 3D printing concrete), and chemical additives for improving environmental resistance. In conclusion, the MD method could not only compute but also visualize the nanoscale behaviors of cement hydrates and other ingredients in the cement matrix; thus, fundamental properties of C-S-H structure and its interaction with nanoparticles can be well understood. As a result, the MD enabled us to identify and evaluate the performance of new advanced nano-engineered cement composites.
Biomimetic vs. Direct Approach to Deposit Hydroxyapatite on the Surface of Low Melting Point Polymers for Tissue Engineering
Authors: Riau Andri K. , Venkatraman Subbu S. , Mehta Jodhbir S.
Published: October 2020

Polymers are widely used in many applications in the field of biomedical engineering. Among eclectic selections of polymers, those with low melting temperature (Tm < 200 °C), such as poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid), or polyethylene, are often used in bone, dental, maxillofacial, and corneal tissue engineering as substrates or scaffolds. These polymers, however, are bioinert, have a lack of reactive surface functional groups, and have poor wettability, affecting their ability to promote cellular functions and biointegration with the surrounding tissue. Improving the biointegration can be achieved by depositing hydroxyapatite (HAp) on the polymeric substrates. Conventional thermal spray and vapor phase coating, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved plasma spray technique, is not suitable for application on the low Tm polymers due to the high processing temperature, reaching more than 1000 °C. Two non-thermal HAp coating approaches have been described in the literature, namely, the biomimetic deposition and direct nanoparticle immobilization techniques. In the current review, we elaborate on the unique features of each technique, followed by discussing the advantages and disadvantages of each technique to help readers decide on which method is more suitable for their intended applications. Finally, the future perspectives of the non-thermal HAp coating are given in the conclusion.
Eating Habits and Lifestyle during COVID-19 Lockdown in the United Arab Emirates: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Cheikh Ismail Leila , Osaili Tareq M. , Mohamad Maysm N. , Al Marzouqi Amina , Jarrar Amjad H. , Abu Jamous Dima O. , Magriplis Emmanuella , Ali Habiba I. , Al Sabbah Haleama , Hasan Hayder , AlMarzooqi Latifa M. R. , Stojanovska Lily , Hashim Mona , Shaker Obaid Reyad R. , Saleh Sheima T. , Al Dhaheri Ayesha S.
Published: October 2020

The coronavirus disease is still spreading in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with subsequent lockdowns and social distancing measures being enforced by the government. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of the lockdown on eating habits and lifestyle behaviors among residents of the UAE. A cross-sectional study among adults in the UAE was conducted using an online questionnaire between April and May 2020. A total of 1012 subjects participated in the study. During the pandemic, 31% reported weight gain and 72.2% had less than eight cups of water per day. Furthermore, the dietary habits of the participants were distanced from the Mediterranean diet principles and closer to “unhealthy” dietary patterns. Moreover, 38.5% did not engage in physical activity and 36.2% spent over five hours per day on screens for entertainment. A significantly higher percentage of participants reported physical exhaustion, emotional exhaustion, irritability, and tension “all the time” during the pandemic compared to before the pandemic (p < 0.001). Sleep disturbances were prevalent among 60.8% of the participants during the pandemic. Although lockdowns are an important safety measure to protect public health, results indicate that they might cause a variety of lifestyle changes, physical inactivity, and psychological problems among adults in the UAE.
Abeliophyllum distichum Ameliorates High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity in C57BL/6J Mice by Upregulating the AMPK Pathway
Authors: Eom Ji , Thomas Shalom Sara , Sung Nak-Yun , Kim Dong-Sub , Cha Youn-Soo , Kim Kyung-Ah
Published: October 2020

The use of natural compounds as anti-obesity agents has been gaining attention over the past few years. Abeliophyllum distichum Nakai is endemic to Korea. In the present study, an A. distichum leaf extract (AE) was analyzed for its anti-obesity effects in mice fed a high-fat diet. Seven-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were divided into five groups, namely, normal diet (ND), high-fat diet (HD), HD + Garcinia (GE300), HD + AE low dose (AE100), and HD + AE high dose (AE300). After 8 weeks of the experimental period, treatment with AE reduced body weight and ameliorated high-fat diet-induced changes in serum lipid levels. Histological analysis revealed that treatment with AE decreased lipid accumulation in the liver and brown adipose tissue. Also, AE reduced the adipocyte size in epididymal fat. The reduction in adipose tissue mass in the AE-treated groups was clearly visible in micro-computed tomography images. The expression levels of lipogenic genes, such as PPARγ, C/EBPα, ACC, and FAS, were significantly reduced in the AE300 group. The levels of p-AMPK and p-ACC were increased in the AE300 group compared to the HD group, indicating that the anti-obesity effect of AE was mediated through the AMPK pathway.
Dietary Patterns and the Risk of Prediabetes in Taiwan: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Hou Yi-Cheng , Feng Han-Chih , Tzeng I-Shiang , Kuo Chan-Yen , Cheng Ching-Feng , Wu Jing Hui , Yang Shwu-Huey
Published: October 2020

Background: prediabetes prevention and management are the main methods used to combat the prevalence of diabetes. Exploratory factor analysis is an upcoming method that is successful in identifying dietary patterns that correlate with healthy or unhealthy outcomes. Aim: this study aims to identify dietary patterns in Taiwan that are associated with the risk of prediabetes. Methods: anthropometric, blood glucose, 3 d/24 h dietary records, and food frequency questionnaire data were collected from subjects recruited at Taipei Tzu-Chi Hospital. The following five dietary patterns were identified using factor analysis: Western, prudent, convenience, Asian traditional, and continental. This cross-sectional study compares tertiles of dietary patterns and analyzes the significance of the characteristics. Results: the Western and the prudent patterns are the major dietary patterns found in other studies. A higher factor loading in the Western pattern is significantly related to a higher risk of prediabetes. A higher factor loading in the continental pattern is significantly related to a lower risk of prediabetes. Conclusion: decreasing meat and seafood consumption while increasing egg, coffee, and milk consumption may be associated with a decreased risk for prediabetes.
Spousal Concordance in Dietary Behaviors and Metabolic Components, and Their Association: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Shih Dann-Pyng , Wen Chu-Ting , Kuo Hsien-Wen , Liang Wen-Miin , Liu Li-Fan , Su Chien-Tien , Wang Jong-Yi
Published: October 2020

This study aims to investigate spousal concordance in dietary behaviors, spousal concordance in metabolic components (MCs), and their association. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Taiwan from November 2014 to May 2015. Matched-pair analysis, McNemar’s test, logistic regression analysis, and stratified analysis were performed. A total of 901 pairs of spouses (1802 participants) were analyzed. Husbands were less likely to report intakes of high-fiber food (ORMP (matched pairs odds ratio) = 0.30, p < 0.0001), fish (ORMP = 0.74, p = 0.0128), biscuits or cakes (ORMP = 0.60, p < 0.0001), and fast food (ORMP = 0.65, p = 0.01) compared with their wives. Husbands had significantly higher odds of being overweight (ORMP = 2.34, p < 0.0001); and of having hypertension (ORMP = 2.14, p < 0.0001), hypercholesterolemia (ORMP = 1.75, p = 0.0007), hyperlipidemia (ORMP = 2.96, p < 0.0001), and one or more metabolic components (composite MCs) (ORMP = 2.50, p < 0.0001) compared with their wives. After adjusting for age and education, the spousal concordance in high-fiber food intake was inversely associated with the spousal concordance in composite MCs (aOR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.44–0.88, p = 0.0074), whereas the spousal concordance in processed food intake was positively associated with the concordance in composite MCs (aOR (adjusted odds ratio) = 1.56, 95% CI (Confidence Interval) = 1.03–2.36, p = 0.034). An intervention study for couples with intakes of different fiber foods and/or processed foods is critical for future study, in order to test what kinds of fiber foods/processed foods are associated with the development of the spousal concordance of metabolic components.
Chemical Investigation and Screening of Anti-Proliferative Activity on Human Cell Lines of Pure and Nano-Formulated Lavandin Essential Oil
Authors: Ovidi Elisa , Masci Valentina Laghezza , Taddei Anna Rita , Paolicelli Patrizia , Petralito Stefania , Trilli Jordan , Mastrogiovanni Fabio , Tiezzi Antonio , Casadei Maria Antonietta , Giacomello Pierluigi , Garzoli Stefania
Published: October 2020

Lavandin essential oil (LEO), a natural sterile hybrid obtained by crossbreeding L. angustifolia × L. latifolia, is mainly composed by active components belonging to the family of terpenes endowed with relevant anti-proliferative activity, which can be enhanced by proper application of nanotechnology. In particular, this study reports the chemical characterization and the screening of the anti-proliferative activity on different human cell lines of pure and nano-formulated lavandin essential oil (EO). LEO and its formulation (NanoLEO) were analyzed by HS/GC-MS (Headspace/Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry) to describe and compare their chemical volatile composition. The most abundant compounds were linalool and 1,8-cineole (LEO: 28.6%; 27.4%) (NanoLEO: 60.4%; 12.6%) followed by α-pinene (LEO: 9.6%; NanoLEO: 4.5%), camphor (LEO: 6.5%; NanoLEO: 7.0%) and linalyl acetate (LEO: 6.5%; NanoLEO: 3.6%). The cytotoxic effects of LEO and NanoLEO were investigated on human neuroblastoma cells (SHSY5Y), human breast adenocarcinoma cells (MCF-7), human lymphoblastic leukemia cells (CCRF CEM), human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (Caco-2) and one normal breast epithelial cell (MCF10A) by the MTT (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide)-assay. Caco-2, MCF7 and MCF10A normal cells resulted more resistant to the treatment with LEO, while CCRF-CEM and SHSY5Y cells were more sensitive. The antiproliferative effect of LEO resulted amplified when the essential oil was supplied as nanoformulation, mainly in Caco-2 cells. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy investigations were carried out on Caco-2 cells to outline at ultrastructural level possible affections induced by LEO and NanoLEO treatments.
Detecting Cover Crop End-Of-Season Using VENµS and Sentinel-2 Satellite Imagery
Authors: Gao Feng , Anderson Martha C. , Hively W. Dean
Published: October 2020

Cover crops are planted during the off-season to protect the soil and improve watershed management. The ability to map cover crop termination dates over agricultural landscapes is essential for quantifying conservation practice implementation, and enabling estimation of biomass accumulation during the active cover period. Remote sensing detection of end-of-season (termination) for cover crops has been limited by the lack of high spatial and temporal resolution observations and methods. In this paper, a new within-season termination (WIST) algorithm was developed to map cover crop termination dates using the Vegetation and Environment monitoring New Micro Satellite (VENµS) imagery (5 m, 2 days revisit). The WIST algorithm first detects the downward trend (senescent period) in the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) time-series and then refines the estimate to the two dates with the most rapid rate of decrease in NDVI during the senescent period. The WIST algorithm was assessed using farm operation records for experimental fields at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC). The crop termination dates extracted from VENµS and Sentinel-2 time-series in 2019 and 2020 were compared to the recorded termination operation dates. The results show that the termination dates detected from the VENµS time-series (aggregated to 10 m) agree with the recorded harvest dates with a mean absolute difference of 2 days and uncertainty of 4 days. The operational Sentinel-2 time-series (10 m, 4–5 days revisit) also detected termination dates at BARC but had 7% missing and 10% false detections due to less frequent temporal observations. Near-real-time simulation using the VENµS time-series shows that the average lag times of termination detection are about 4 days for VENµS and 8 days for Sentinel-2, not including satellite data latency. The study demonstrates the potential for operational mapping of cover crop termination using high temporal and spatial resolution remote sensing data.
Refined UNet V2: End-to-End Patch-Wise Network for Noise-Free Cloud and Shadow Segmentation
Authors: Jiao Libin , Huo Lianzhi , Hu Changmiao , Tang Ping
Published: October 2020

Cloud and shadow detection is an essential prerequisite for further remote sensing processing, whereas edge-precise segmentation remains a challenging issue. In Refined UNet, we considered the aforementioned task and proposed a two-stage pipeline to achieve the edge-precise segmentation. The isolated segmentation regions in Refined UNet, however, bring inferior visualization and should be sufficiently eliminated. Moreover, an end-to-end model is also expected to jointly predict and refine the segmentation results. In this paper, we propose the end-to-end Refined UNet v2 to achieve joint prediction and refinement of cloud and shadow segmentation, which is capable of visually neutralizing redundant segmentation pixels or regions. To this end, we inherit the pipeline of Refine UNet, revisit the bilateral message passing in the inference of conditional random field (CRF), and then develop a novel bilateral strategy derived from the Guided Gaussian filter. Derived from a local linear model of denoising, our v2 can considerably remove isolated segmentation pixels or regions, which is able to yield “cleaner” results. Compared to the high-dimensional Gaussian filter, the Guided Gaussian filter-based message-passing strategy is quite straightforward and easy to implement so that a brute-force implementation can be easily given in GPU frameworks, which is potentially efficient and facilitates embedding. Moreover, we prove that Guided Gaussian filter-based message passing is highly relevant to the Gaussian bilateral term in Dense CRF. Experiments and results demonstrate that our v2 is quantitatively comparable to Refined UNet, but can visually outperform that from the noise-free segmentation perspective. The comparison of time consumption also supports the potential efficiency of our v2.
Towards Cooperative Global Mapping of the Ionosphere: Fusion Feasibility for IGS and IRI with Global Climate VTEC Maps
Authors: Froń Adam , Galkin Ivan , Krankowski Andrzej , Bilitza Dieter , Hernández-Pajares Manuel , Reinisch Bodo , Li Zishen , Kotulak Kacper , Zakharenkova Irina , Cherniak Iurii , Roma Dollase David , Wang Ningbo , Flisek Paweł , García-Rigo Alberto
Published: October 2020

Recommendations of the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) Workshop 2017 in Taoyuan City, Taiwan and International GNSS Service (IGS) Workshop 2018 in Wuhan, China included establishment of an ionosphere mapping service that would fuse measurements from two independent sensor networks: IGS permanent GNSS receivers providing the vertical total electron content (VTEC) measurements and ionosondes of the Global Ionosphere Radio Observatory (GIRO) that compute the bottomside vertical profiles of the ionospheric plasma density. Using available GAMBIT software at GIRO, we introduced new VTEC products to its data roster: previously unavailable global average (climate) maps of VTEC and slab thickness based on climatological capabilities of IRI. Incorporation of the VTEC and τ maps into the GAMBIT Explorer environment provided data analysts with nearly 10-year history of the reference average VTEC records and opened access to the GAMBIT toolkit for evaluation and validation of the τ computations. This result is the first step towards establishing an infrastructure and the data workflow to provide GAMBIT users with the low latency and consistent quality and usability of the ionospheric weather-climate specifications. Combination of IGS-provided VTEC and GIRO-provided peak density of F2 layer NmF2 allows ground-based evaluation of the equivalent slab thickness τ, a derived property of the near-Earth plasma that characterizes the skewness of its vertical profile up to the GNSS spacecraft altitudes.
Detection of Undocumented Building Constructions from Official Geodata Using a Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Li Qingyu , Shi Yilei , Auer Stefan , Roschlaub Robert , Möst Karin , Schmitt Michael , Glock Clemens , Zhu Xiaoxiang
Published: October 2020

Undocumented building constructions are buildings or stories that were built years ago, but are missing in the official digital cadastral maps (DFK). The detection of undocumented building constructions is essential to urban planning and monitoring. The state of Bavaria, Germany, uses two semi-automatic detection methods for this task that suffer from a high false alarm rate. To solve this problem, we propose a novel framework to detect undocumented building constructions using a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and official geodata, including high resolution optical data and the Normalized Digital Surface Model (nDSM). More specifically, an undocumented building pixel is labeled as “building” by the CNN but does not overlap with a building polygon of the DFK. The class of old or new undocumented building can be further separated when a Temporal Digital Surface Model (tDSM) is introduced in the stage of decision fusion. In a further step, undocumented story construction is detected as the pixels that are “building” in both DFK and predicted results from CNN, but shows a height deviation from the tDSM. By doing so, we have produced a seamless map of undocumented building constructions for one-quarter of the state of Bavaria, Germany at a spatial resolution of 0.4 m, which has proved that our framework is robust to detect undocumented building constructions at large-scale. Considering that the official geodata exploited in this research is advantageous because of its high quality and large coverage, a transferability analysis experiment is also designed in our research to investigate the sampling strategies for building detection at large-scale. Our results indicate that building detection results in unseen areas at large-scale can be improved when training samples are collected from different districts. In an area where training samples are available, local training sampless collection and training can save much time and effort.
A Least Squares Solution to Regionalize VTEC Estimates for Positioning Applications
Authors: Farzaneh Saeed , Forootan Ehsan
Published: October 2020

A new approach is presented to improve the spatial and temporal resolution of the Vertical Total Electron Content (VTEC) estimates for regional positioning applications. The proposed technique utilises a priori information from the Global Ionosphere Maps (GIMs) of the Center for Orbit Determination in Europe (CODE), provided in terms of Spherical Harmonic (SH) coefficients of up to degree and order 15. Then, it updates the VTEC estimates using a new set of base-functions (with better resolution than SHs) while using the measurements of a regional GNSS network. To achieve the highest accuracy possible, our implementation is based on a transformation of the GIM/CODE VTECs to their equivalent coefficients in terms of (spherical) Slepian functions. These functions are band-limited and reflect the majority of signal energy inside an arbitrarily defined region, yet their orthogonal property is remained. Then, new dual-frequency GNSS measurements are introduced to a Least Squares (LS) updating step that modifies the Slepian VTEC coefficients within the region of interest. Numerical application of this study is demonstrated using a synthetic example and ground-based GPS data in South America. The results are also validated against the VTEC estimations derived from independent GPS stations (that are not used in the modelling), and the VTEC products of international centres. Our results indicate that, by using 62 GPS stations in South America, the ionospheric delay estimation can be considerably improved. For example, using the new VTEC estimates in a Precise Point Positioning (PPP) experiment improved the positioning accuracy compared to the usage of GIM/CODE and Klobuchar models. The reductions in the root mean squared of errors were ∼23% and 25% for a day with moderate solar activity while 26% and ∼35% for a day with high solar activity, respectively.
A LEI Nº 13.240, DE 30.12.2015 E A CESSÃO DA GESTÃO DAS PRAIAS E ORLAS MARÍTIMAS URBANAS PARA OS MUNICÍPIOS.
Authors: Loureiro Filho Lair Da Silva
Published: October 2020

Este trabalho trata da competência do Município na defesa do interesse local na zona costeira urbana brasileira, na disciplina do uso e ocupação do solo, das atividades desenvolvidas na região e da fruição da praia enquanto bem de uso comum do povo, de acordo com a política urbana delineada no art. 182 da Constituição Federal, efetivada pela Lei nº 10.257 de 10.07.2001, da previsão da participação do Município no Plano Nacional de Gerenciamento Costeiro, da utilização dos recursos provenientes do Projeto Orla e das possiilidades advindas com a edição Lei nº 13.240, de 30.12.2015, com as alterações dadas pela Lei nº 13.465, de 11.07.2017, ainda pendente de regulamentação.
Orientation of microbiological processes in the Triticum aestivum L. rhizosphere under conditions of seed bacterization by a complex of microbial preparations
Authors:   Research Institute of Agriculture of Crimea, Egovtseva A.Yu. , Melnichuk T.N. ,   Research Institute of Agriculture of Crimea
Published: October 2020

The aim of our research was to study the effect of presowing bacterization by a complex of microbial preparations (CMP) in various farming systems on the biological activity of the Triticum aestivum L. rhizosphere of southern Chernozem in the Crimean steppe. The three-year study proved the possibility of intensification and normalization of the microbiological status of the winter wheat rhizosphere using resource-saving technologies. The most pronounced effect of the complex of microbial preparations on the microbiological processes of the winter wheat rhizosphere was revealed in adverse weather conditions.