bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Accuracy and Timeliness of Knowledge Dissemination on COVID-19 Among People in Rural and Remote Regions of China at the Early Stage of Outbreak
Authors: Zhou Wen , He Leshui , Nie Xuanhua , Wuri Taoketaohu , Piao Jinhai , Chen Dunshan , Gao Hui , Liu Jianmin , Tubden Kyedrub , He Ming , He Jun
Published: January 2022

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spread throughout China in January 2020. To contain the virus outbreak, the Chinese government took extraordinary measures in terms of public policy, wherein accurate and timely dissemination of information plays a crucial role. Despite all of the efforts toward studying this health emergency, little is known about the effectiveness of public policies that support health communication during such a crisis to disseminate knowledge for self-protection. Particularly, we focus on the accuracy and timeliness of knowledge dissemination on COVID-19 among people in remote regions—a topic largely omitted in existing research. In February 2020, at the early-stages of the COVID-19 outbreak, a questionnaire survey was carried out. In total, 8,520 participants from seven less economically developed provinces situated in the borderlands of China with large ethnic minority groups responded. We analyzed the data through poisson regression and logistic regression analyses. We found that (1) people in remote regions of China obtained accurate information on COVID-19. Further, they were able to take appropriate measures to protect themselves. (2) Result from both descriptive analysis and multivariable regression analysis revealed that there is no large difference in the accuracy of information among groups. (3) Older, less educated, and rural respondents received information with a significant delay, whereas highly educated, younger, urban residents and those who obtained information through online media were more likely to have received the news of the outbreak sooner and to be up to date on the information. This research provides evidence that disadvantage people in remote regions obtained accurate and essential information required to act in an appropriate manner in responses to the COVID-19 outbreak. However, they obtained knowledge on COVID-19 at a slower pace than other people; thus, further improvement in the timely dissemination of information among disadvantage people in remote regions is warranted.
Factors Associated With Medication Compliance in Elderly Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Wakui Nobuyuki , Ozawa Mizue , Yanagiya Takahiro , Endo Saki , Togawa Chikako , Matsuoka Raini , Shirozu Shunsuke , Machida Yoshiaki , Kikuchi Mayumi
Published: January 2022

The average age of patients with type 2 diabetes in Japan is over 70 years. Elderly patients tend to have poor medication compliance, therefore, it is important to understand their individual situations to improve medication compliance, the treatment of their diabetes, and their quality of life (QOL). This study aimed to identify factors associated with medication compliance in elderly type 2 diabetic patients. A cross-sectional study based on questionnaires was conducted on type 2 diabetes patients aged 65 years or older. The participants were recruited from patients who visited three dispensing pharmacies in the Shinagawa area of Tokyo between March 1 and September 30, 2019. The questionnaire consisted of patient information (sex, age, medication compliance status, knowledge of drug effects, and side effects), 12-Item Short Form Survey quality of life rating scale (SF-12), and Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (DTSQ). Factors related to medication compliance were then evaluated. In all, there were 47 respondents: 31 males and 16 females. Four factors were found to be associated with medication compliance in elderly type 2 diabetic patients: medication storage (P = 0.01), knowledge of drug effects (P < 0.001), knowledge of side effects (P = 0.026), and physical functioning: (PF) (P = 0.045), a subscale of SF-12. Furthermore, the strength of the association between these four factors and medication compliance was calculated using Cramer's V coefficient of association. Knowledge of drug effects was the most strongly associated (knowledge of drug effects: V = 0.559; knowledge of side effects: V = 0.464; medication storage: V = 0.451; PF: V = 0.334). Because diabetes mellitus has no subjective symptoms and treatment effects are not felt to a great extent, it is difficult to motivate patients to consistently adhere to medication. When pharmacists provide medication guidance to elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, it is important to provide sufficient information to ensure they fully understand the drug effects to maintain medication compliance.
Using the Design Thinking Process to Co-create a New, Interdisciplinary Design Thinking Course to Train 21st Century Graduate Students
Authors: Skywark Emily Rose , Chen Elizabeth , Jagannathan Vichitra
Published: January 2022

Background: Our instructional team at the The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill led an innovative project that used IDEO.org's design thinking process to create a brand-new interdisciplinary graduate course, housed in the school of public health, titled Design Thinking for the Public Good. We offer our course design process as a case study of the use of design thinking for course design.

Methods: We collected data and generated insights through a variety of inspiration, ideation, and implementation design thinking methods alongside members of our three stakeholder groups: (1) faculty who teach or have taught courses related to design thinking at our higher education institution; (2) design thinking experts at ours and other institutions and outside of higher education; and (3) graduate students at our institution.

Results: We learned that interdisciplinary design thinking courses should include growth-oriented reflection, explicit group work skills, and content with a real-world application.

Conclusions: Our course design process and findings can be replicated to design courses regardless of area of study, level, or format.
Understanding Girls' Motivation to Participate in Sport: The Effects of Social Identity and Physical Self-Concept
Authors: Murray Ross M. , Koulanova Alyona , Sabiston Catherine M.
Published: January 2022

Introduction: Girls are often less motivated to participate in community sport compared to boys. Having a strong social identity with a sports team is positively associated with motivation to continue participation in sport, yet the mechanisms explaining this association are not well-known. In the current study, physical self-concept is tested as a mediator of the association between social identity and motivation.

Method: Girl badminton athletes were recruited to examine how the team environment shapes physical self-concept, and whether this association relates to motivation to participate in sport. Ninety-two girls completed a self-report survey to measure social identity, physical self-perceptions, and motivation. Two mediation models were conducted to examine whether physical self-concept mediated the relationship between social identity and autonomous motivation and controlled motivation.

Results: Physical self-concept partially mediated the relationship between social identity and autonomous motivation. The bootstrapped unstandardized indirect effect was, b = 0.05, 95% CI = 0.002 to.14. Physical self-concept fully mediated the relationship between social identity and controlled motivation. The bootstrapped unstandardized indirect effect was, b = −0.13, 95% CI = −0.30 to −0.01, p = 0.04.

Discussion: These results highlight the importance of the group context in relation to individual physical self-concept and motivation. Overall, targeting aspects of the team environment in community-level sport may be an important strategy to improve girls' physical self-concept, and autonomous motivation to continue sport participation.
Estimation of Cultivated Land Quality Based on Soil Hyperspectral Data
Authors: Lin Chenjie , Hu Yueming , Liu Zhenhua , Peng Yiping , Wang Lu , Peng Dailiang
Published: January 2022

Efficient monitoring of cultivated land quality (CLQ) plays a significant role in cultivated land protection. Soil spectral data can reflect the state of cultivated land. However, most studies have used crop spectral information to estimate CLQ, and there is little research on using soil spectral data for this purpose. In this study, soil hyperspectral data were utilized for the first time to evaluate CLQ. We obtained the optimal spectral variables from dry soil spectral data using a gradient boosting decision tree (GBDT) algorithm combined with the variance inflation factor (VIF). Two estimation algorithms (partial least-squares regression (PLSR) and back-propagation neural network (BPNN)) with 10-fold cross-validation were employed to develop the relationship model between the optimal spectral variables and CLQ. The optimal algorithms were determined by the degree of fit (determination coefficient, R2). In order to estimate CLQ at the regional scale, HuanJing-1A Hyperspectral Imager (HJ-1A HSI) data were transformed into dry soil spectral data using the linkage model of original soil spectral reflectance to dry soil spectral reflectance. This study was conducted in the Guangdong Province, China and the Conghua district within the same province. The results showed the following: (1) the optimal spectral variables selected from the dry soil spectral variables were 478 nm, 502 nm, 614 nm, 872 nm, 966 nm, 1007 nm, and 1796 nm. (2) The BPNN was the optimal model, with an R2(C) of 0.71 and a normalized root mean square error (NRMSE) of 12.20%. (3) The results showed the R2 of the regional-scale CLQ estimation based on the proposed method was 0.05 higher, and the NRMSE was 0.92% lower than that of the CLQ map obtained using the traditional method. Additionally, the NRMSE of the regional-scale CLQ estimation base on dry soil spectral variables from HJ-1A HSI data was 2.00% lower than that of the model base on the original HJ-1A HSI data.
Assessing Growth and Water Productivity for Drip-Irrigated Maize under High Plant Density in Arid to Semi-Humid Climates
Authors: Wang Feng , Xue Jun , Xie Ruizhi , Ming Bo , Wang Keru , Hou Peng , Zhang Lizhen , Li Shaokun
Published: January 2022

Determining the water productivity of maize is of great significance for ensuring food security and coping with climate change. In 2018 and 2019, we conducted field trials in arid areas (Changji), semi-arid areas (Qitai) and semi-humid areas (Xinyuan). The hybrid XY335 was selected for the experiment, the planting density was 12.0 × 104 plants ha−1, and five irrigation amounts were set. The results showed that yield, biomass, and transpiration varied substantially and significantly between experimental sites, irrigation and years. Likewise, water use efficiency (WUE) for both biomass (WUEB) and yield (WUEY) were affected by these factors, including a significant interaction. Normalized water productivity (WP*) of maize increased significantly with an increase in irrigation. The WP* for film mulched drip irrigation maize was 37.81 g m−2 d−1; it was varied significantly between sites and irrigation or their interaction. We conclude that WP* differs from the conventional parameter for water productivity but is a useful parameter for assessing the attainable rate of film-mulched drip irrigation maize growth and yield in arid areas, semi-arid areas and semi-humid areas. The parametric AquaCrop model was not accurate in simulating soil water under film mulching. However, it was suitable for the prediction of canopy coverage (CC) for most irrigation treatments.
Mānuka Clones Differ in Their Volatile Profiles: Potential Implications for Plant Defence, Pollinator Attraction and Bee Products
Authors: Effah Evans , Min Tun Kyaw , Rangiwananga Natalia , Clavijo McCormick Andrea
Published: January 2022

The New Zealand native plant mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium) is representative of the country’s North and South Islands flora. This species is essential to the growing community of honey producers due to its honey’s antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, attributed to the presence of methylglyoxal (MGO), derived from dihydroxyacetone (DHA) in the nectar. Several clones and cultivars have been selected to optimize DHA production. Still, nothing is known about the volatile emissions of these artificially selected plants. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can influence their interactions with the environment, such as pollinator foraging decisions, which may subsequently affect the plants’ products. This study explored the aboveground volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by eight different mānuka genotypes (six clones and two wild cultivars) under field conditions during the spring season. Volatiles were collected using the “push–pull” headspace sampling technique and analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Our results show that mānuka plants emit large amounts of terpenoids, with sesquiterpenes and monoterpenoids being the most abundant groups of compounds. The results also show variation in the total green leaf volatiles, total sesquiterpenes, and specific compounds between genotypes and suggest that artificially selected plants have a significant variation in their chemical profiles. The potential impacts of these results on the plant’s defence, pollinator attraction and bee products are discussed.
Innovative Pulses for Western European Temperate Regions: A Review
Authors: Ayerdi Gotor Alicia , Marraccini Elisa
Published: January 2022

In Europe, there is an increasing interest in pulses both for their beneficial effects in cropping systems and for human health. However, despite these advantages, the acreage dedicated to pulses has been declining and their diversity has reduced, particularly in European temperate regions, due to several social and economic factors. This decline has stimulated a political debate in the EU on the development of plant proteins. By contrast, in Southern countries, a large panel of minor pulses is still cropped in regional patterns of production and consumption. The aim of this paper is to investigate the potential for cultivation of minor pulses in European temperate regions as a complement to common pulses. Our assumption is that some of these crops could adapt to different pedoclimatic conditions, given their physiological adaptation capacity, and that these pulses might be of interest for the development of innovative local food chains in an EU policy context targeting protein autonomy. The research is based on a systematic review of 269 papers retrieved in the Scopus database (1974–2019), which allowed us to identify 41 pulses as candidate species with protein content higher than 20% that are already consumed as food. For each species, the main agronomic (e.g., temperature or water requirements) and nutritional characteristics (e.g., proteins or antinutritional contents) were identified in their growing regions. Following their agronomic characteristics, the candidate crops were confronted with variability in the annual growing conditions for spring crops in Western European temperate areas to determine the earliest potential sowing and latest harvest dates. Subsequently, the potential sum of temperatures was calculated with the Agri4cast database to establish the potential climatic suitability. For the first time, 21 minor pulses were selected to be grown in these temperate areas and appear worthy of investigation in terms of yield potential, nutritional characteristics or best management practices.
Recent Advances in Dromedary Camels and Their Products
Authors: Gagaoua Mohammed , Dib Amira Leila , Bererhi El-Hacene
Published: January 2022

Dromedary camels or, more specifically, one-humped camels (Camelus dromedarius), are described as having a high productive potential, and for centuries, they have been used by people (namely nomads) in arid and hot regions as multipurpose animals for physical labor, transport, the production of milk, meat, wool, hair, and skin, and for racing and tourism [...]
Maternal Supplementation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae boulardii during Late-Gestation through Lactation Differentially Modulated Immune Status and Stress Responsiveness of the Progeny to Farrowing and Weaning Stressors
Authors: Salak-Johnson Janeen L. , Reddout Cassidy , Hernandez Lily , Visconti Anne
Published: January 2022

The study aimed to investigate and characterize the maternal effects of feeding Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boularddii (Scb) to sows from late-gestation through lactation on progeny cortisol, immune status, and stress responsiveness from birth to 14 days post-weaning. Eighty-four piglets were born to sows fed control (CON) or probiotic (PRO) boluses twice daily for 59 days. Blood samples were obtained at birth and 24 h later to assess prenatal effects; 7, 14, and 21 day-of-age to assess potential developmental effects; and at 24 h, 7, and 14 days post-weaning to assess the effects of weaning stress on immune and cortisol responses. Pigs born to PRO sows had less robust cortisol response and enhanced immune parameters at birth and 24 h later, indicating less stress. In response to weaning, pigs born to and nursed by PRO sows displayed unique cortisol and immune profiles than CON pigs. These results indicate that feeding sows Scb probiotics during late gestation reduces stress responsiveness to farrowing stress while increasing immune cell populations. Pigs nursed by PRO sows had a more robust initial cortisol response and enhanced neutrophil function and B-cell lymphocyte proliferation in response to weaning stress. These data imply it may be possible to maternally alter immune and stress responses in utero and during suckling in the short-term and up to 14 days post-weaning. However, more research is needed to optimize this strategy.
Immunoglobulin G Concentrations in Alpaca Colostrum during the First Four Days after Parturition
Authors: Mößler Maria , Rychli Kathrin , Reichmann Volker , Albert Thiemo , Wittek Thomas
Published: January 2022

Colostrum provides the newborn with nutrients and immunoglobulins. Immunoglobulins and their intestinal transfer play a major role in the immune system of neonates since they are born agammaglobulinemic. In this study immunoglobulin G (IgG) content was determined in alpaca colostrum and the correlations of the IgG concentration by fat, protein, lactose and minerals were calculated. Colostrum samples were collected daily from 20 multiparous alpaca mares during the first four days after parturition. The IgG concentrations were determined by radial immunodiffusion using a Camelid IgG Test Kit. The IgG concentration decreased significantly from 26,319 mg/dL on day 1 to 3848.8 mg/dL on day 4. There were significant correlations between IgG concentration and the other components of the colostrum. While the correlations between IgG and fat (r = −0.69, p ≤ 0.001) and lactose (r = −0.64, p ≤ 0.001) were negative, the correlations with protein (r = 0.91, p ≤ 0.001), magnesium (r = 0.86, p ≤ 0.001) and cobalt (r = 0.87, p ≤ 0.001) were strongly positive. Due to the strong association, the colostrum protein concentration could be used for a brief estimation of the IgG content.
Productive Performance and Cecum Microbiota Analysis of Broiler Chickens Supplemented with β-Mannanases and Bacteriophages—A Pilot Study
Authors: Pantoja-Don Juan Carlos A. , Gómez-Verduzco Gabriela , Márquez-Mota Claudia C. , Téllez-Isaías Guillermo , Kwon Young M. , Cortés-Cuevas Arturo , Arce-Menocal José , Martínez-Gómez Daniel , Ávila-González Ernesto
Published: January 2022

This study was conducted to evaluate the productive performance, intestinal health, and description of the cecum microbiota in broilers supplemented with β-mannanases (MNs) and bacteriophages (BPs). Six hundred one-day-old broilers were divided into four groups and fed one of the following diets: CON—corn–soybean meal + 10 ppm enramycin (ENR); MN: CON + 500 ppm MN; BP: CON + 500 ppm BP; MN + BP: BP + 500 ppm MN. The BP and MN factors showed similar performances to ENR. MN improved the concentration of IgA in the jejunum at 35 days of age. The morphometric index (IM) of the thymus increased by adding MN, while BP increased the liver and thymus IM. The histological analysis showed that BP and MN improved the intestinal morphology. MN + BP showed a tendency to decrease the abundance of Proteobacteria and increase the abundance of Bacteroidetes, indicating better microbiota function. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that the combination of MN + BP has potential in poultry nutrition; however, we highly recommend further experiments to confirm this hypothesis.
Associations between Feeding Behaviors Collected from an Automated Milk Feeder and Neonatal Calf Diarrhea in Group Housed Dairy Calves: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Conboy Meridith H. , Winder Charlotte B. , Cantor Melissa C. , Costa Joao H. C. , Steele Michael A. , Medrano-Galarza Catalina , von Konigslow Taika E. , Kerr Amanda , Renaud Dave L.
Published: January 2022

The objective of this case-control study was to determine if feeding behavior data collected from an automated milk feeder (AMF) could be used to predict neonatal calf diarrhea (NCD) in the days surrounding diagnosis in pre-weaned group housed dairy calves. Data were collected from two research farms in Ontario between 2017 and 2020 where calves fed using an AMF were health scored daily and feeding behavior data (milk intake (mL/d), drinking speed (mL/min), number of rewarded or unrewarded visits) was collected. Calves with NCD were pair matched to healthy controls (31 pairs) by farm, gender, and age at case diagnosis to assess for differences in feeding behavior between case and control calves. Calves were first diagnosed with NCD on day 0, and a NCD case was defined as calves with a fecal score of ≥2 for 2 consecutive days, where control calves remained healthy. Repeated measure mixed linear regression models were used to determine if there were differences between case and control calves in their daily AMF feeding behavior data in the days surrounding diagnosis of NCD (−3 to +5 days). Calves with NCD consumed less milk on day 0, day 1, day 3, day 4 and day 5 following diagnosis compared to control calves. Calves with NCD also had fewer rewarded visits to the AMF on day −1, and day 0 compared to control calves. However, while there was a NCD status x day interaction for unrewarded visits, there was only a tendency for differences between NCD and control calves on day 0. In this study, feeding behaviors were not clinically useful to make diagnosis of NCD due to insufficient diagnostic ability. However, feeding behaviors are a useful screening tool for producers to identify calves requiring further attention.
Impact of Classical Counterconditioning (Quiet Kennel Exercise) on Barking in Kenneled Dogs—A Pilot Study
Authors: Zurlinden Samantha , Spano Stephany , Griffith Emily , Bennett Sara
Published: January 2022

Excessive barking is a major source of noise pollution in dog kennels and negatively impacts welfare. Because resources are often limited, minimizing barking in the simplest and most easily implementable way is imperative. This pilot study implemented a Quiet Kennel Exercise (QKE) that utilized classical counterconditioning to change the dogs’ negative emotional state (which can lead to barking) to a more positive emotional state. Therefore, barking motivation is reduced, so barking should decrease. This study aims to show proof of concept that decreasing barking through classical counterconditioning is effective. It was conducted in one ward of day-time boarding kennels at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Data was collected three times per day and included decibel readings, number of dogs present, and number of dogs barking during a 5-day initial baseline and 10-day intervention period. During baseline, people passing through the ward acted as they normally would. During intervention, passersby were asked to simply toss each dog a treat regardless of the dogs’ behaviors in the kennel. Descriptive results show improvement in maximum level of barking after QKE, fewer dogs barking over time, dogs barking less each time, and the most improvement noted in the afternoon.
Cross-Talk between Amyloid, Tau Protein and Free Radicals in Post-Ischemic Brain Neurodegeneration in the Form of Alzheimer’s Disease Proteinopathy
Authors: Pluta Ryszard , Kiś Jacek , Januszewski Sławomir , Jabłoński Mirosław , Czuczwar Stanisław J.
Published: January 2022

Recent years have seen remarkable progress in research into free radicals oxidative stress, particularly in the context of post-ischemic recirculation brain injury. Oxidative stress in post-ischemic tissues violates the integrity of the genome, causing DNA damage, death of neuronal, glial and vascular cells, and impaired neurological outcome after brain ischemia. Indeed, it is now known that DNA damage and repair play a key role in post-stroke white and gray matter remodeling, and restoring the integrity of the blood-brain barrier. This review will present one of the newly characterized mechanisms that emerged with genomic and proteomic development that led to brain ischemia to a new level of post-ischemic neuropathological mechanisms, such as the presence of amyloid plaques and the development of neurofibrillary tangles, which further exacerbate oxidative stress. Finally, we hypothesize that modified amyloid and the tau protein, along with the oxidative stress generated, are new key elements in the vicious circle important in the development of post-ischemic neurodegeneration in a type of Alzheimer’s disease proteinopathy.
Special Issue on Recent Advances and Future Trends in Nanophotonics
Authors: Ferrara Maria Antonietta , Dardano Principia
Published: January 2022

Nanophotonics is an emerging multidisciplinary frontier of science and engineering [...]
Hierarchical Federated Learning for Edge-Aided Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Networks
Authors: Tursunboev Jamshid , Kang Yong-Sung , Huh Sung-Bum , Lim Dong-Woo , Kang Jae-Mo , Jung Heechul
Published: January 2022

Federated learning (FL) allows UAVs to collaboratively train a globally shared machine learning model while locally preserving their private data. Recently, the FL in edge-aided unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) networks has drawn an upsurge of research interest due to a bursting increase in heterogeneous data acquired by UAVs and the need to build the global model with privacy; however, a critical issue is how to deal with the non-independent and identically distributed (non-i.i.d.) nature of heterogeneous data while ensuring the convergence of learning. To effectively address this challenging issue, this paper proposes a novel and high-performing FL scheme, namely, the hierarchical FL algorithm, for the edge-aided UAV network, which exploits the edge servers located in base stations as intermediate aggregators with employing commonly shared data. Experiment results demonstrate that the proposed hierarchical FL algorithm outperforms several baseline FL algorithms and exhibits better convergence behavior.
Application of Particle Dampers on a Scaled Wind Turbine Generator to Improve Low-Frequency Vibro-Acoustic Behavior
Authors: Prasad Braj Bhushan , Duvigneau Fabian , Juhre Daniel , Woschke Elmar
Published: January 2022

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a honeycomb damping plate (HCDP) concept based on the particle damping technique to reduce the low-frequency vibration response of wind turbine generators. The HCDP cells contain granular materials and are mounted at different positions on the generator to reduce the transmission of vibrations from stator ring to stator arm. To investigate the efficiency of the HCDP concept in the laboratory, a small-scale replica inspired by the original wind turbine generator is used as reference geometry. The efficiency of the vibration attenuation by using the HCDP concept is experimentally investigated with the help of a laser scanning vibrometer device. In this contribution, the influence of four different granular materials on the vibration attenuation is experimentally investigated. Furthermore, the influence of HCDP positioning on the transmission path damping is analyzed. Apart from this, the effect of single-unit (SU) and multi-unit (MU) HCDP on the frequency response of the generator is also studied. The experimental approach in this paper shows good damping properties of the HCDP concept for reducing the vibration amplitude.
Mobile Off-Grid Energy Generation Unit for Temporary Energy Supply
Authors: Borodinecs Anatolijs , Zajecs Deniss , Lebedeva Kristina , Bogdanovics Raimonds
Published: January 2022

Temporary structures are being extensively used by emergency services (rescue, disaster relief, military response units), and other end-users requiring temporary mobile off-grid energy solutions for different purposes (event organization, vacation homes, summer camps, etc.). Yet energy systems for these purposes largely remain fossil-based (such as diesel generators). Although such energy systems are inexpensive, they are carbon intensive and inefficient. This study presents a methodology of simulating temporary shelter with access to an energy supply system through a mobile energy unit with renewable (PV) power supply systems to ensure on-site electricity production, as well as heating/cooling and ventilation. Digital modeling simulations have been performed for a simulated temporary shelter in different climate conditions incorporating different combinations of electricity generation systems with a fossil fuel-based solution and a PV system, using TRNSYS software. Study results show that the operation of a mobile energy generation unit can operate HVAC systems and generate electricity for temporary shelter occupants in off-grid solutions. The modeling results show that the use of a mobile energy generation unit can significantly reduce diesel consumption in temporary shelters from 54% annually (in Riga, Latvia) to 96 % annually (in Jerusalem, Israel). Furthermore, the output of PV-generated electricity is higher (in most cases) than the consumed electricity amount.
Laser Reconstruction of Spinal Discs Experiments and Clinic
Authors: Baskov Andrei , Borshchenko Igor A. , Baskov Vladimir , Shekhter Anatoly , Sobol Emil
Published: January 2022

Degenerative disease of the intervertebral discs (DDD) is currently a serious problem facing the world community. The surgical methods and conservative therapy used today, unfortunately, do not stop the pathological process, but serve as a palliative method that temporarily relieves pain and improves the patient’s quality of life. Therefore, at present, there is an active search for new methods of treating DDD. Among new techniques of treatment, biological methods, and minimally invasive surgery, including the use of laser radiation, which, depending on the laser parameters, can cause ablative or modifying effects on the disc tissue, have acquired considerable interest. Here, we analyze a new approach to solving the DDD problem: laser tissue modification. This review of publications is focused on the studies of the physicochemical foundations and clinical applications of a new method of laser reconstruction of intervertebral discs. Thermomechanical action of laser radiation modifies tissue and leads to its regeneration as well as to a long-term restoration of disc functions, elimination of pain and the return of patients to normal life.
Measurement of the Clinical Effects of a Marine Fish Extract on Periodontal Healing—A Preliminary Clinical Interventional Study
Authors: Pușcașu Cristina Gabriela , Caraiane Aureliana , Dumea Elena , Șachir Erdogan Elvis , Raftu Gheorghe , Pușcașu Radu Andrei , Bartok-Nicolae Cristina , Cernei Eduard Radu , Sachelarie Liliana , Hurjui Liliana Loredana
Published: January 2022

The aim of the study was to assess the clinical effects of periodontal healing using a Romanian pharmaceutical compound of marine fish extract (Alflutop®). Adults with periodontal disease were included in the study group. Gingival inflammation, the degree of tooth mobility, and probing depth (PD) were recorded for each patient before and after therapy. Patients were divided into two groups: group I—after scaling and root planing (SRP), patients followed therapy with marine fish extract, Alflutop®, group II—SRP therapy alone. Statistically significant differences between groups in terms of gingival inflammation reduction (p = 0.045) were found. Tooth mobility reduction, as well as PD improvement, were also noticed after the therapy (p = 0.001), but no statistically significant differences among PD reduction rates were found (p = 0.356). Alflutop® has proven a certain therapeutic efficiency in the treatment of periodontitis in terms of reduction in the clinical signs of inflammation and tooth mobility.
Synchronized Assessment of Bridge Structural Damage and Moving Force via Truncated Load Shape Function
Authors: Zhong Jiwei , Xiang Ziru , Li Cheng
Published: January 2022

Moving load and structural damage assessment has always been a crucial topic in bridge health monitoring, as it helps analyze the daily operating status of bridges and provides fundamental information for bridge safety evaluation. However, most studies and research consider these issues as two separate problems. In practice, unknown moving loads and damage usually coexist and influence the bridge vibration synergically. This paper proposes an innovative synchronized assessment method that determines structural damages and moving forces simultaneously. The method firstly improves the virtual distortion method, which shifts the structural damage into external virtual forces and hence transforms the damage assessment as well as the moving force identification to a multi-force reconstruction problem. Secondly, a truncated load shape function (TLSF) technique is developed to solve the forces in the time domain. As the technique smoothens the pulse function via a limited number of TLSF, the singularity and dimension of the system matrix in the force reconstruction is largely reduced. A continuous beam and a three-dimensional truss bridge are simulated as examples. Case studies show that the method can effectively identify various speeds and numbers of moving loads, as well as different levels of structural damages. The calculation efficiency and robustness to white noise are also impressive.
Exploring Bidirectional Performance of Hotel Attributes through Online Reviews Based on Sentiment Analysis and Kano-IPA Model
Authors: Chen Yanyan , Zhong Yumei , Yu Sumin , Xiao Yan , Chen Sining
Published: January 2022

As people increasingly make hotel booking decisions relying on online reviews, how to effectively improve customer ratings has become a major point for hotel managers. Online reviews serve as a promising data source to enhance service attributes in order to improve online bookings. This paper employs online customer ratings and textual reviews to explore the bidirectional performance (good performance in positive reviews and poor performance in negative reviews) of hotel attributes in terms of four hotel star ratings. Sentiment analysis and a combination of the Kano model and importance-performance analysis (IPA) are applied. Feature extraction and sentiment analysis techniques are used to analyze the bidirectional performance of hotel attributes in terms of four hotel star ratings from 1,090,341 online reviews of hotels in London collected from TripAdvisor.com (accessed on 4 January 2022). In particular, a new sentiment lexicon for hospitality domain is built from numerous online reviews using the PolarityRank algorithm to convert textual reviews into sentiment scores. The Kano-IPA model is applied to explain customers’ rating behaviors and prioritize attributes for improvement. The results provide determinants of high/low customer ratings to different star hotels and suggest that hotel attributes contributing to high/low customer ratings vary across hotel star ratings. In addition, this paper analyzed the Kano categories and priority rankings of six hotel attributes for each star rating of hotels to formulate improvement strategies. Theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed in the end.
Urban Open Platform for Borderless Smart Cities
Authors: Soe Ralf-Martin , Ruohomäki Timo , Patzig Henry
Published: January 2022

As a network of connected sensors to transform data into knowledge, Urban Platforms have been rooted in several smart city projects. However, this has often resulted in them being no more than IoT dashboards. More recently, there has been an increased interest in supporting the data governance and distributed architecture of Urban Platforms in order to adjust these with the administrative structure in a specific city. In addition, Urban Platforms also deal with data roaming between different stakeholders including other cities, different government levels, companies and citizens. Nevertheless, the first deployments have led to an inflexible “smart cities in a box” approach that does not help with building digital skills and causes vendor lock-in to products that do not scale. There is a need to start with simple and widespread urban services through a collaborative joint cross-border, hands-on effort. In order to meet the level of interoperability, international standards should be adopted. The aim of an Urban Open Platform (UOP), introduced in this paper, is to support not only data acquisition but also various types of data processing: data is aggregated, processed, manipulated and extended within the city context. Conceptually, special attention has been put on scalability, roaming and reliability in urban environments. This article introduces the UOP uniquely in the cross-border data exchange context of two European capital cities, Helsinki and Tallinn, and validates it with 10 real-life urban use cases.
Percolation Distribution in Small-World Quantum Networks
Authors: Liang Jianxiong , Chen Xiaoguang , Wang Tianyi
Published: January 2022

Quantum networks have good prospects for applications in the future. Compared with classical networks, small-world quantum networks have some interesting properties. The topology of the network can be changed through entanglement exchange operations, and different network topologies will result in different percolation thresholds when performing entanglement percolation. A lower percolation threshold means that quantum networks require fewer minimum resources for communication. Since a shared singlet between two nodes can still be a limitation, concurrency percolation theory (ConPT) can be used to relax the condition. In this paper, we investigate how entanglement distribution is performed in small-world quantum networks to ensure that nodes in the network can communicate with each other by establishing communication links through entanglement swapping. Any node can perform entanglement swapping on only part of the connected edges, which can reduce the influence of each node in the network during entanglement swapping. In addition, the ConPT method is used to reduce the percolation threshold even further, thus obtaining a better network structure and reducing the resources required.
Innovative Skin Product O/W Emulsions Containing Lignin, Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes and Graphene Oxide Nanoadditives with Enhanced Sun Protection Factor and UV Stability Properties
Authors: Bikiaris Nikolaos D. , Koumentakou Ioanna , Lykidou Smaro , Nikolaidis Nikolaos
Published: January 2022

In the present study, oil-in-water (O/W) sunscreen emulsions were prepared containing different portions of lignin (LGN), multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and graphene oxide (GO) nanoadditives. The stability in terms of pH and viscosity of emulsions was thoroughly studied for up to 90 days, exhibiting high stability for all produced O/W emulsions. The antioxidant activity of emulsions was also analyzed, presenting excellent antioxidant properties for the emulsion that contains LGN due to its phenolic compounds. Moreover, the emulsions were evaluated for their ultraviolet (UV) radiation protection ability in terms of sun protection factor (SPF) and UV stability. SPF values varied between 6.48 and 21.24 while the emulsion containing 2% w/v MWCNTs showed the highest SPF index and all samples demonstrated great UV stability. This work hopefully aims to contributing to the research of more organic additives for cosmetic application with various purposes.
Drought: A Common Environmental Disaster
Authors: Orimoloye Israel R. , Belle Johanes A. , Orimoloye Yewande M. , Olusola Adeyemi O. , Ololade Olusola O.
Published: January 2022

Droughts have been identified as an environmental hazard by environmentalists, ecologists, hydrologists, meteorologists, geologists, and agricultural experts. Droughts are characterised by a decrease in precipitation over a lengthy period, such as a season or a year, and can occur in virtually all climatic zones, including both high and low rainfall locations. This study reviewed drought-related impacts on the environment and other components particularly, in South Africa. Several attempts have been made using innovative technology such as earth observation and climate information as recorded in studies. Findings show that the country is naturally water deficient, which adds to the climate fluctuation with the average annual rainfall in South Africa being far below the global average of 860 mm per year. Drought in South Africa’s Western Cape Province, for example, has resulted in employment losses in the province’s agriculture sector. According to the third quarterly labor force survey from 2017, the agricultural industry lost almost 25,000 jobs across the country. In the Western Cape province, about 20,000 of these were lost which has a direct impact on income generation. Many of these impacts were linked to drought events.
Identifying Conifer Tree vs. Deciduous Shrub and Tree Regeneration Trajectories in a Space-for-Time Boreal Peatland Fire Chronosequence Using Multispectral Lidar
Authors: Enayetullah Humaira , Chasmer Laura , Hopkinson Christopher , Thompson Dan , Cobbaert Danielle
Published: January 2022

Wildland fires and anthropogenic disturbances can cause changes in vegetation species composition and structure in boreal peatlands. These could potentially alter regeneration trajectories following severe fire or through cumulative impacts of climate-mediated drying, fire, and/or anthropogenic disturbance. We used lidar-derived point cloud metrics, and site-specific locational attributes to assess trajectories of post-disturbance vegetation regeneration in boreal peatlands south of Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada using a space-for-time-chronosequence. The objectives were to (a) develop methods to identify conifer trees vs. deciduous shrubs and trees using multi-spectral lidar data, (b) quantify the proportional coverage of shrubs and trees to determine environmental conditions driving shrub regeneration, and (c) determine the spatial variations in shrub and tree heights as an indicator of cumulative growth since the fire. The results show that the use of lidar-derived structural metrics predicted areas of deciduous shrub establishment (92% accuracy) and classification of deciduous and conifer trees (71% accuracy). Burned bogs and fens were more prone to shrub regeneration up to and including 38 years after the fire. The transition from deciduous to conifer trees occurred approximately 30 years post-fire. These results improve the understanding of environmental conditions that are sensitive to disturbance and impacts of disturbance on northern peatlands within a changing climate.
Usher Syndrome
Authors: Castiglione Alessandro , Möller Claes
Published: January 2022

Usher syndrome (USH) is the most common genetic condition responsible for combined loss of hearing and vision. Balance disorders and bilateral vestibular areflexia are also observed in some cases. The syndrome was first described by Albrecht von Graefe in 1858, but later named by Charles Usher, who presented a large number of cases with hearing loss and retinopathy in 1914. USH has been grouped into three main clinical types: 1, 2, and 3, which are caused by mutations in different genes and are further divided into different subtypes. To date, nine causative genes have been identified and confirmed as responsible for the syndrome when mutated: MYO7A, USH1C, CDH23, PCDH15, and USH1G (SANS) for Usher type 1; USH2A, ADGRV1, and WHRN for Usher type 2; CLRN1 for Usher type 3. USH is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern. Digenic, bi-allelic, and polygenic forms have also been reported, in addition to dominant or nonsyndromic forms of genetic mutations. This narrative review reports the causative forms, diagnosis, prognosis, epidemiology, rehabilitation, research, and new treatments of USH.
Potential Role of Exosomes in Ischemic Stroke Treatment
Authors: Jiang Lingling , Chen Weiqi , Ye Jinyi , Wang Yilong
Published: January 2022

Ischemic stroke is a life-threatening cerebral vascular disease and accounts for high disability and mortality worldwide. Currently, no efficient therapeutic strategies are available for promoting neurological recovery in clinical practice, except rehabilitation. The majority of neuroprotective drugs showed positive impact in pre-clinical studies but failed in clinical trials. Therefore, there is an urgent demand for new promising therapeutic approaches for ischemic stroke treatment. Emerging evidence suggests that exosomes mediate communication between cells in both physiological and pathological conditions. Exosomes have received extensive attention for therapy following a stroke, because of their unique characteristics, such as the ability to cross the blood brain–barrier, low immunogenicity, and low toxicity. An increasing number of studies have demonstrated positively neurorestorative effects of exosome-based therapy, which are largely mediated by the microRNA cargo. Herein, we review the current knowledge of exosomes, the relationships between exosomes and stroke, and the therapeutic effects of exosome-based treatments in neurovascular remodeling processes after stroke. Exosomes provide a viable and prospective treatment strategy for ischemic stroke patients.
Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Parkinson’s Disease Patients Are Associated with Reduced Health-Related Quality of Life and Increased Caregiver Burden
Authors: Eichel Hannah von , Heine Johanne , Wegner Florian , Rogozinski Sophia , Stiel Stephanie , Groh Adrian , Krey Lea , Höglinger Günter U. , Klietz Martin
Published: January 2022

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder resulting in reduced health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) of people with PD (PwP) and their caregivers. Furthermore, there is an accumulating burden on caregivers of patients in advanced stages of the disease. In previous studies, motor- and non-motor-symptoms of PwP have been identified to contribute to reduced HR-QoL and an increased caregiver burden. This cross-sectional observational study aimed to study the influence of neuropsychiatric symptoms measured with the Scale for Evaluation of Neuropsychiatric Disorders in Parkinson’s Disease (SEND-PD) questionnaire on the HR-QoL of PwP, as well as the caregiver burden. Analyses revealed a significant association between SEND-PD subscale mood/apathy and reduced HR-QoL in PwP, measured by the Parkinson’s disease quality of life questionnaire (PDQ-8) (p < 0.001). Furthermore, mood/apathy was significantly correlated with caregiver burden (p = 0.001) in the multiple linear regression analysis. Hence, neuropsychiatric symptoms were found to have a profound impact on the HR-QoL of PwP, as well as on caregiver burden. Since neuropsychiatric symptoms were one of the main predictors for caregiver burden, physicians of PwP should treat these symptoms to stabilize caregiver burden, as well as HR-QoL in PwP and their caregivers.