bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Control of Fungal Diseases and Increase in Yields of a Cultivated Jujube Fruit (Zizyphus jujuba Miller var. inermis Rehder) Orchard by Employing Lysobacter antibioticus HS124
Authors: Kwon Jun-Hyeok , Won Sang-Jae , Moon Jae-Hyun , Kim Chul-Woo , Ahn Young-Sang
Published: December 2019

The objective of this study is to investigate the inhibitory effects of Lysobacter antibioticus HS124 on fungal phytopathogens causing gray mold rot, stem rot, and anthracnose. Another objective of this study is to promote the yield of fruit in jujube farms. L. antibioticus HS124 produces chitinase, a lytic enzyme with the potential to reduce mycelial growth of fungal phytopathogens involving hyphal alterations with swelling and bulbous structures, by 20.6 to 27.3%. Inoculation with L. antibioticus HS124 decreased the appearance of fungal diseases in jujube farms and increased the fruit yield by decreasing fruit wilting and dropping. In addition, L. antibioticus HS124 produced the phytohormone auxin to promote vegetative growth, thereby increasing the fruit size. The yield of jujube fruits after L. antibioticus HS124 inoculation was increased by 6284.67 g/branch, which was 2.9-fold higher than that of the control. Auxin also stimulated fine root development and nutrient uptake in jujube trees. The concentrations of minerals, such as K, Ca, Mg, and P in jujube fruits after L. antibioticus HS124 inoculation were significantly increased (1.4- to 2.0-fold greater than the concentrations in the control). These results revealed that L. antibioticus HS124 could not only control fungal diseases but also promote fruit yield in jujube farms.
The Missing Link to Computational Thinking
Authors: Pollak Michael , Ebner Martin
Published: December 2019

After a lengthy debate within the scientific community about what constitutes the problem solving approach of computational thinking (CT), the focus shifted to enable the integration of CT within compulsory education. This publication strives to focus the discussion and enable future research in an educational setting with a strong focus on the Austrian circumstances and the goal to allow wide international adoption later on. Methodically, a literature review was conducted to gain knowledge about the current strands of research and a meta study to show the diversity of proposed and materialized studies. Three main questions were answered, establishing that CT as an idea is rooted in scientific literature dating back to the 1980s and grew in popularity after Wing introduced the concept to a broader audience. A number of authors contributed to the current state of the field, with the most cited review coming from Grover and Pea. The challenge to integrate CT in curricula around the world was met by many experiments and case studies but without a conclusive framework as of yet. Ultimately, this paper determines that expert integration is a blank spot in the literature and aims to create a strong, inclusive path to CT education by inviting practitioners.
Skim-Sequencing Reveals the Likely Origin of the Enigmatic Endangered Sunflower Helianthus schweinitzii
Authors: Anderson Justin , Kantar Michael , Bock Dan , Grubbs Kunsiri Chaw , Schilling Edward , Rieseberg Loren
Published: December 2019

Resolving the origin of endangered taxa is an essential component of conservation. This information can be used to guide efforts of bolstering genetic diversity, and also enables species recovery and future evolutionary studies. Here, we used low-coverage whole genome sequencing to clarify the origin of Helianthus schweinitzii, an endangered tetraploid sunflower that is endemic to the Piedmont Plateau in the eastern United States. We surveyed four accessions representing four populations of H. schweinitzii and 38 accessions of six purported parental species. Using de novo approaches, we assembled 87,004 bp of the chloroplast genome and 6770 bp of the nuclear 35S rDNA. Phylogenetic reconstructions based on the chloroplast genome revealed no reciprocal monophyly of taxa. In contrast, nuclear rDNA data strongly supported the currently accepted sections of the genus Helianthus. Information from combined cpDNA and rDNA provided evidence that H. schweinitzii is likely an allo-tetraploid that formed as a result of hybridization between the diploids Helianthus giganteus and Helianthus microcephalus.
Formation of the Yamal Crater in Northern West Siberia: Evidence from Geochemistry
Authors: Vorobyev Sergey , Bychkov Andrey , Khilimonyuk Vanda , Buldovicz Sergey , Ospennikov Evgeny , Chuvilin Evgeny
Published: December 2019

In the framework of this work, studies on the Yamal crater formed as a result of a cryogenic eruption of a water-gas fluid were carried out. The structure and variations of the composition of the geochemical field along the section of the upper horizons of permafrost are considered on the basis of field work, including the drilling of boreholes near the crater. The obtained regularities of the distribution of chemical elements, and gases between the mineral component of the soil and meltwater, suggest that permafrost at the site of the funnel are the remains of a sub-lake paleo-talik, from which mineralized water and gases were expulsed into the yet unfrozen reservoir that previously existed at this place. The component composition of gases suggests that they are products of biochemical processes similar to those that occur in modern peatlands. The δ13C value for methane extracted from the sediments of the near-contact zone of the Yamal crater was found to be −76‰. The predominance of high molecular weight normal alkanes in frozen bitumen indicates that the original organic substrate which was buried contained remains of higher vegetation. The Yamal funnel was formed by the sediment’s “explosion” while the water-gas fluid was released. The volume of the ejected sediment amounted to about 220 thousand m3.
Global and Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression Models for Modeling PM2.5 in Heilongjiang, China from 2015 to 2018
Authors: Wei Qingbin , Zhang Lianjun , Duan Wenbiao , Zhen Zhen
Published: December 2019

Objective: This study investigated the relationships between PM2.5 and 5 criteria air pollutants (SO2, NO2, PM10, CO, and O3) in Heilongjiang, China, from 2015 to 2018 using global and geographically and temporally weighted regression models. Methods: Ordinary least squares regression (OLS), linear mixed models (LMM), geographically weighted regression (GWR), temporally weighted regression (TWR), and geographically and temporally weighted regression (GTWR) were applied to model the relationships between PM2.5 and 5 air pollutants. Results: The LMM and all GWR-based models (i.e., GWR, TWR, and GTWR) showed great advantages over OLS in terms of higher model R2 and more desirable model residuals, especially TWR and GTWR. The GWR, LMM, TWR, and GTWR improved the model explanation power by 3%, 5%, 12%, and 12%, respectively, from the R2 (0.85) of OLS. TWR yielded slightly better model performance than GTWR and reduced the root mean squared errors (RMSE) and mean absolute error (MAE) of the model residuals by 67% compared with OLS; while GWR only reduced RMSE and MAE by 15% against OLS. LMM performed slightly better than GWR by accounting for both temporal autocorrelation between observations over time and spatial heterogeneity across the 13 cities under study, which provided an alternative for modeling PM2.5. Conclusions: The traditional OLS and GWR are inadequate for describing the non-stationarity of PM2.5. The temporal dependence was more important and significant than spatial heterogeneity in our data. Our study provided evidence of spatial–temporal heterogeneity and possible solutions for modeling the relationships between PM2.5 and 5 criteria air pollutants for Heilongjiang province, China.
Mobility, Out-of-Home Activity Participation and Needs Fulfilment in Later Life
Authors: Nordbakke Susanne T. Dale
Published: December 2019

Using nationally representative survey of 4723 people aged 67 or older living in Norway, this paper explores the link between wellbeing, out-of-home activity participation and mobility in old age. A basic assumption of this paper is that out-home activities mediated through mobility can contribute to needs fulfillment, and, hence, wellbeing. This study explores the role of preferences, and individual and contextual constraints, in both the overall level of out-of-home activity participation in old age and the level of participation in three specific out-of-home activities (grocery shopping, visiting family or friends, and attending cultural activities). A person’s degree of home orientation is used as an indicator of preference for indoor activities. The findings suggest that age, living status, income, education, holding a driving license, health, social network, centrality of residence, and the quality of the public transport supply have a significant impact on the overall participation level. In addition, the study suggests that the types of constraints vary between travel purposes and the location of activities. Moreover, there is an independent effect of the degree of home orientation on the overall participation level, on the degree of visits to family and friends and on the degree of attending cultural activities, which suggest that people differ in their need for out-of-home activities. However, degree of home orientation has no impact on the degree of grocery shopping, which might imply that grocery shopping is more independent of preferences. The main conclusion from this study is that the extent to which out-of-home activities fulfill needs vary between individuals, depending on their preferences as well as the interplay between individual abilities and resources and contextual conditions.
Connecting Air Pollution Exposure to Socioeconomic Status: A Cross-Sectional Study on Environmental Injustice among Pregnant Women in Scania, Sweden
Authors: Flanagan Erin , Stroh Emilie , Oudin Anna , Malmqvist Ebba
Published: December 2019

Environmental injustice, characterized by lower socioeconomic status (SES) persons being subjected to higher air pollution concentrations, was explored among pregnant women in Scania, Sweden. Understanding if the general reduction of air pollution recorded is enjoyed by all SES groups could illuminate existing inequalities and inform policy development. “Maternal Air Pollution in Southern Sweden”, an epidemiological database, contains data for 48,777 pregnancies in Scanian hospital catchment areas and includes births from 1999–2009. SES predictors considered included education level, household disposable income, and birth country. A Gaussian dispersion model was used to model women’s average NOX and PM2.5 exposure at home residence over the pregnancy period. Total concentrations were dichotomized into emission levels below/above respective Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Clean Air objectives. The data were analyzed using binary logistic regression. A sensitivity analysis facilitated the investigation of associations’ variation over time. Lower-SES women born outside Sweden were disproportionately exposed to higher pollutant concentrations. Odds of exposure to NOX above Swedish EPA objectives reduced over time, especially for low-SES persons. Environmental injustice exists in Scania, but it lessened with declining overall air pollution levels, implying that continued air quality improvement could help protect vulnerable populations and further reduce environmental inequalities.
Hand-Arm Vibration Assessment and Changes in the Thermal Map of the Skin in Tennis Athletes during the Service
Authors: Amaro Ana M. , Paulino Maria F. , Neto Maria A. , Roseiro Luis
Published: December 2019

During recent years the number of tennis athletes has increased significantly. When playing tennis, the human body is exposed to many situations which can lead to human injuries, such as the so-called tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis). In this work a biomechanical analysis of tennis athletes, particularly during the service, was performed, considering three different types of over-grip and the presence of one anti-vibrator device. One part of the study evaluates the exposure to hand-arm vibration of the athlete, based on the European Directive 2002/44/EC concerning the minimum health and safety requirements, regarding the exposure of workers to risks from physical agents. The second part of the study considers an infrared thermography analysis in order to identify signs of risk of injury, particularly tennis elbow, one of the most common injuries in this sport. The results show that the presence of the anti-vibrator influences the vibration values greatly in the case of athletes with more experience and also for athletes with less performance. The presence of the Cork and/or Tourna on the racket grip does not have any significant effect on the hand-arm vibration (HAV), similarly in the case of athletes with the best performance and athletes with less technique. The results indicated that the infrared thermography technique may be used to identify the risk of injuries in tennis players.
Carrying out Physical Activity as Part of the Active Forests Programme in England: What Encourages, Supports and Sustains Activity?—A Qualitative Study
Authors: O’Brien Liz
Published: December 2019

The Active Forests programme was developed through a partnership between Forestry England and Sport England. A three-year pilot programme focused on five forest sites ran from 2014. It was mainstreamed in April 2017 and is now running on eighteen forest sites in England in 2019. The aim of the programme is to encourage a physical activity habit, and participants can get involved in a wide range of activities from Nordic walking to mountain biking, Pilates, running, and Bootcamp in different scenic forests. The aim of the research was to identify the motivations, benefits and the overall experience participants had from their forest physical activity. As part of the programme, qualitative data was gathered through in-situ participant observation, and interviews or focus groups. One hundred and twenty people were involved in the research. The findings identify some of the key elements of the programme that encourage, support and in some instances help to sustain or change physical activity. These include participants gaining a wide range of wellbeing benefits; appropriate targeted activities; opportunities for progression; social connections; providing challenge; and a supportive atmosphere. There is evidence of participants sustaining and changing physical activity practices, however attribution of this to the Active Forests programme is not straightforward. The programme is also explored through the lens of social practice theory and its concepts of materials, competence, and meanings. The research highlights how a targeted physical activity programme can reach and involve a broad range of people from the already physically active to those who are less active.
The Impact of Green Space on Violent Crime in Urban Environments: An Evidence Synthesis
Authors: Shepley Mardelle , Sachs Naomi , Sadatsafavi Hessam , Fournier Christine , Peditto Kati
Published: December 2019

Can the presence of green space in urban environments reduce the frequency of violent crime? To ascertain the evidence on this topic, we conducted an in-depth literature review using the PRISMA checklist. The search parameters included US articles written in English and published since 2000. More than 30,000 potential paper titles were identified and ultimately, 45 papers were selected for inclusion. Green spaces typically comprised tree cover, parks and ground cover. Criminal behaviors typically included murder, assault, and theft. The majority of the research reviewed involved quantitative methods (e.g., comparison of green space area to crime data). We extracted multiple mechanisms from the literature that may account for the impact of green space on crime including social interaction and recreation, community perception, biophilic stress reduction, climate modulation, and spaces expressing territorial definition. Recommendations are made for future research, such as meta-analysis of existing data and the development of grounded theory through qualitative data-gathering methods. By providing evidence that access to nature has a mitigating impact on violence in urban settings, city governments and communities are empowered to support these interventions.
Perceptions of Residents among Rural Communities with Medical Group Practice in Japan
Authors: Manabe Toshie , Sawada Tsutomu , Kojo Takao , Iguchi Seitaro , Haruyama Sanae , Maeda Takahiro , Kotani Kazuhiko
Published: December 2019

Elucidating the perceptions of residents regarding medical group practice (GP) among rural communities (GP-R) in Japan will be useful for establishing this system in such communities. A survey by questionnaire, as made by experts in rural health, was conducted in 2017. The self-administered questionnaire inquired about the perceptions of residents for accepting the GP-R into the community’s healthcare using seven major elements of GP-R. The questionnaire was randomly distributed to 400 adult residents who lived in rural communities with a recently launched GP and had access to clinics within the communities. Among the 321 respondents, comparisons were made between younger (≤sixties) and older (≥seventies) residents, and a stepwise multiple regression analysis was performed to extract the factors influencing acceptance of the GP-R system. The results showed that older residents had a greater disapprove of being treated by different physicians daily or weekly in clinics (p < 0.001) and the use of telemedicine (p < 0.001) compared with younger residents. Younger residents showed a greater disapproval of clinics closing on weekdays than older residents (p = 0.007). Among all respondents, regardless of age groups, over half of residents approved of the involvement of nurse practitioners in the GP-R. Living with family and children was also extracted as an independent factor influencing a positive perception of the GP-R. These data suggest that the promotion of GP-R should consider generation gaps in the approach to medical practice as well as the family structures of residents. The involvement of nurse practitioners can also encourage the acceptance of GP-R in Japan.
A Review on Recent Treatment Technology for Herbicide Atrazine in Contaminated Environment
Authors: He Huijun , Liu Yongpan , You Shaohong , Liu Jie , Xiao He , Tu Zhihong
Published: December 2019

Atrazine is a kind of triazine herbicide that is widely used for weed control due to its good weeding effect and low price. The study of atrazine removal from the environment is of great significance due to the stable structure, difficult degradation, long residence time in environment, and toxicity on the organism and human beings. Therefore, a number of processing technologies are developed and widely employed for atrazine degradation, such as adsorption, photochemical catalysis, biodegradation, etc. In this article, with our previous research work, the progresses of researches about the treatment technology of atrazine are systematically reviewed, which includes the four main aspects of physicochemical, chemical, biological, and material-microbial-integrated aspects. The advantages and disadvantages of various methods are summarized and the degradation mechanisms are also evaluated. Specially, recent advanced technologies, both plant-microbial remediation and the material-microbial-integrated method, have been highlighted on atrazine degradation. Among them, the plant-microbial remediation is based on the combined system of soil-plant-microbes, and the material-microbial-integrated method is based on the synergistic effect of materials and microorganisms. Additionally, future research needs to focus on the excellent removal effect and low environmental impact of functional materials, and the coordination processing of two or more technologies for atrazine removal is also highlighted.
The Amyloid-Tau-Neuroinflammation Axis in the Context of Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy
Authors: Cisternas Pablo , Taylor Xavier , A. Lasagna-Reeves Cristian
Published: December 2019

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is typified by the cerebrovascular deposition of amyloid. Currently, there is no clear understanding of the mechanisms underlying the contribution of CAA to neurodegeneration. Despite the fact that CAA is highly associated with the accumulation of Aβ, other types of amyloids have been shown to associate with the vasculature. Interestingly, in many cases, vascular amyloidosis has been associated with an active immune response and perivascular deposition of hyperphosphorylated tau. Despite the fact that in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) a major focus of research has been the understanding of the connection between parenchymal amyloid plaques, tau aggregates in the form of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), and immune activation, the contribution of tau and neuroinflammation to neurodegeneration associated with CAA remains understudied. In this review, we discussed the existing evidence regarding the amyloid diversity in CAA and its relation to tau pathology and immune response, as well as the possible contribution of molecular and cellular mechanisms, previously associated with parenchymal amyloid in AD and AD-related dementias, to the pathogenesis of CAA. The detailed understanding of the “amyloid-tau-neuroinflammation” axis in the context of CAA could open the opportunity to develop therapeutic interventions for dementias associated with CAA that are currently being proposed for AD and AD-related dementias.
Changes in Adipose Tissue Distribution and Association between Uric Acid and Bone Health during Menopause Transition
Authors: Bonaccorsi Gloria , Trentini Alessandro , Greco Pantaleo , Tisato Veronica , Gemmati Donato , Bianchi Nicoletta , Giganti Melchiore , Rossini Maurizio , Guglielmi Giuseppe , Cervellati Carlo
Published: December 2019

Despite convincing experimental evidence, epidemiological studies on the effects of serum uric acid (SUA) on bone health are still conflicting since factors influencing SUA bioavailability have not been adequately considered. To shed some light on this issue, we investigated the impact of adiposity and menopause status on the relationship between SUA and bone health. We examined SUA in relation to bone mineral density (BMD) at different skeletal sites and with markers of bone metabolism in 124 pre-menopausal and 234 post-menopausal women and assessed whether adiposity, evaluated by anthropometry and dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), might have a discriminant role. After conservative adjustment (covariates: age, hormones treatment, smoking and time since menopause), SUA showed a significant and positive association with total hip BMD (β = 0.220, p < 0.01) among postmenopausal women, maintained also after adjustment for legs adiposity. Notably, stratification for waist circumference quartiles revealed that the correlation between SUA and total hip BMD was significant (r = 0.444, p = 0.001) in the highest quartile (91–100 cm). Our results suggest that SUA might be beneficial for bone health in postmenopausal women being characterized by a more android fat distribution, ascribing to SUA a discriminant role during menopause transition, potentially relevant also for men.
Insights into Gene Regulatory Networks in Chondrocytes
Authors: Hojo Hironori , Ohba Shinsuke
Published: December 2019

Chondrogenesis is a key developmental process that molds the framework of our body and generates the skeletal tissues by coupling with osteogenesis. The developmental processes are well-coordinated by spatiotemporal gene expressions, which are hardwired with gene regulatory elements. Those elements exist as thousands of modules of DNA sequences on the genome. Transcription factors function as key regulatory proteins by binding to regulatory elements and recruiting cofactors. Over the past 30 years, extensive attempts have been made to identify gene regulatory mechanisms in chondrogenesis, mainly through biochemical approaches and genetics. More recently, newly developed next-generation sequencers (NGS) have identified thousands of gene regulatory elements on a genome scale, and provided novel insights into the multiple layers of gene regulatory mechanisms, including the modes of actions of transcription factors, post-translational histone modifications, chromatin accessibility, the concept of pioneer factors, and three-dimensional chromatin architecture. In this review, we summarize the studies that have improved our understanding of the gene regulatory mechanisms in chondrogenesis, from the historical studies to the more recent works using NGS. Finally, we consider the future perspectives, including efforts to improve our understanding of the gene regulatory landscape in chondrogenesis and potential applications to the treatment of chondrocyte-related diseases.
Lipoprotein Drug Delivery Vehicles for Cancer: Rationale and Reason
Authors: Chaudhary Jaideep , Bower Joseph , Corbin Ian R.
Published: December 2019

Lipoproteins are a family of naturally occurring macromolecular complexes consisting amphiphilic apoproteins, phospholipids, and neutral lipids. The physiological role of mammalian plasma lipoproteins is to transport their apolar cargo (primarily cholesterol and triglyceride) to their respective destinations through a highly organized ligand-receptor recognition system. Current day synthetic nanoparticle delivery systems attempt to accomplish this task; however, many only manage to achieve limited results. In recent years, many research labs have employed the use of lipoprotein or lipoprotein-like carriers to transport imaging agents or drugs to tumors. The purpose of this review is to highlight the pharmacologic, clinical, and molecular evidence for utilizing lipoprotein-based formulations and discuss their scientific rationale. To accomplish this task, evidence of dynamic drug interactions with circulating plasma lipoproteins are presented. This is followed by epidemiologic and molecular data describing the association between cholesterol and cancer.
Context-Dependence and the Development of Push-Pull Approaches for Integrated Management of Drosophila suzukii
Authors: Alkema Jeroen T. , Dicke Marcel , Wertheim Bregje
Published: December 2019

Sustainable pest control requires a systems approach, based on a thorough ecological understanding of an agro-ecosystem. Such fundamental understanding provides a basis for developing strategies to manipulate the pest’s behaviour, distribution, and population dynamics, to be employed for crop protection. This review focuses on the fundamental knowledge required for the development of an effective push-pull approach. Push-pull is a strategy to repel a pest from a crop, while attracting it toward an external location. It often relies on infochemicals (e.g., pheromones or allelochemicals) that are relevant in the ecology of the pest insect and can be exploited as lure or repellent. Importantly, responsiveness of insects to infochemicals is dependent on both the insect’s internal physiological state and external environmental conditions. This context-dependency reflects the integration of cues from different sensory modalities, the effect of mating and/or feeding status, as well as diurnal or seasonal rhythms. Furthermore, when the costs of responding to an infochemical outweigh the benefits, resistance can rapidly evolve. Here, we argue that profound knowledge on context-dependence is important for the development and implementation of push-pull approaches. We illustrate this by discussing the relevant fundamental knowledge on the invasive pest species Drosophila suzukii as an example.
Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Monitoring in Cardiac and Noncardiac Surgery: Pairwise and Network Meta-Analyses
Authors: Ortega-Loubon Christian , Herrera-Gómez Francisco , Bernuy-Guevara Coralina , Jorge-Monjas Pablo , Ochoa-Sangrador Carlos , Bustamante-Munguira Juan , Tamayo Eduardo , Álvarez F. Javier
Published: December 2019

Goal-directed therapy based on brain-oxygen saturation (bSo2) is controversial and hotly debated. While meta-analyses of aggregated data have shown no clinical benefit for brain near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)-based interventions after cardiac surgery, no network meta-analyses involving both major cardiac and noncardiac procedures have yet been undertaken. Randomized controlled trials involving NIRS monitoring in both major cardiac and noncardiac surgery were included. Aggregate-level data summary estimates of critical outcomes (postoperative cognitive decline (POCD)/postoperative delirium (POD), acute kidney injury, cardiovascular events, bleeding/need for transfusion, and postoperative mortality) were obtained. NIRS was only associated with protection against POCD/POD in cardiac surgery patients (pooled odds ratio (OR)/95% confidence interval (CI)/I2/number of studies (n): 0.34/0.14–0.85/75%/7), although a favorable effect was observed in the analysis, including both cardiac and noncardiac procedures. However, the benefit of the use of NIRS monitoring was undetectable in Bayesian network meta-analysis, although maintaining bSo2 > 80% of the baseline appeared to have the most pronounced impact. Evidence was imprecise regarding acute kidney injury, cardiovascular events, bleeding/need for transfusion, and postoperative mortality. There is evidence that brain NIRS-based algorithms are effective in preventing POCD/POD in cardiac surgery, but not in major noncardiac surgery. However, the specific target bSo2 threshold has yet to be determined.
Circadian Activity Rhythm in Early Relapsing–Remitting Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Tonetti Lorenzo , Camilli Federico , Giovagnoli Sara , Natale Vincenzo , Lugaresi Alessandra
Published: December 2019

While relapsing–remitting is the most prevalent course of multiple sclerosis, the prognostic/predictive markers of the worsening of symptomatology are still debated. With reference to other diseases, the study of the circadian activity rhythm, according to the theoretical framework of the two-process model of sleep regulation and applying functional linear modeling, proved to be useful to identify a possible marker. The usefulness of the study of circadian activity rhythm in multiple sclerosis is strengthened by recent findings indicating a potential involvement of circadian factors in the multifactorial etiopathology of the disorder. The aim of the present study was to verify whether circadian activity rhythm of early relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis patients presents specific alterations, through functional linear modeling. Thirty-five relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis patients (24 females; mean age ± SD = 31.51 ± 7.74) and 35 healthy controls (24 females; mean age ± SD = 31.29 ± 8.02) were enrolled. They wore an actigraph around the non-dominant wrist for one week. Relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis patients showed a peak in motor activity around 5:00 a.m., higher than that of healthy controls. The timing of the peak in motor activity in the patients could be explained according to the hyperactive hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis and higher cortisol awakening response reported in these patients.
Influences of Horizontal and Vertical Build Orientations and Post-Fabrication Processes on the Fatigue Behavior of Stainless Steel 316L Produced by Selective Laser Melting
Authors: Wood Paul , Libura Tomasz , Kowalewski Zbigniew L. , Williams Gavin , Serjouei Ahmad
Published: December 2019

In this paper, the influences of build orientation and post-fabrication processes, including stress-relief, machining, and shot-peening, on the fatigue behavior of stainless steel (SS) 316L manufactured using selective laser melting (SLM) are studied. It was found that horizontally-built (XY) and machined (M) test pieces, which had not been previously studied in the literature, in both stress-relieved (SR) or non-stress-relieved (NSR) conditions show superior fatigue behavior compared to vertically-built (ZX) and conventionally-manufactured SS 316L. The XY, M, and SR (XY-M-SR) test pieces displayed fatigue behavior similar to the XY-M-NSR test pieces, implying that SR does not have a considerable effect on the fatigue behavior of XY and M test pieces. ZX-M-SR test pieces, due to their considerably lower ductility, exhibited significantly larger scatter and a lower fatigue strength compared to ZX-M-NSR samples. Shot-peening (SP) displayed a positive effect on improving the fatigue behavior of the ZX-NSR test pieces due to a compressive stress of 58 MPa induced on the surface of the test pieces. Fractography of the tensile and fatigue test pieces revealed a deeper understanding of the relationships between the process parameters, microstructure, and mechanical properties for SS 316L produced by laser systems. For example, fish-eye fracture pattern or spherical stair features were not previously observed or explained for cyclically-loaded SLM-printed parts in the literature. This study provides comprehensive insight into the anisotropy of the static and fatigue properties of SLM-printed parts, as well as the pre- and post-fabrication parameters that can be employed to improve the fatigue behavior of steel alloys manufactured using laser systems.
Circulation Fluidized Bed Combustion Fly Ash as Partial Replacement of Fine Aggregates in Roller Compacted Concrete
Authors: Lin Wei-Ting , Lin Kae-Long , Chen Kailun , Korniejenko Kinga , Hebda Marek , Łach Michał
Published: December 2019

Recently, many people around the world have been concerned with environmental protection and sustainability. The goal of various countries’ research has been focused on how to regenerate existing resources. Circulation fluidized bed combustion (CFBC) technology is one of the emerging combustion technologies for electricity generation and produces more than 800,000 tons of CFBC fly ash (CFA) per year for combustion. CFA has been widely applied in cement additive, new building materials and cement-based materials. The goal of this study was to discuss the engineering properties of roller-compacted concrete containing CFA. Test subjects included compressive strength, flexural strength, absorption, setting time, unit weight, sulfate resistance, SEM microscopic observations and XRD ingredient analysis. Test results indicate the following: (1) using CFA as a substitute of fine aggregates up to 10 wt.% would improve the development of later flexural strength; (2) the increases in pre-pressure would increase the compressive strength and unit weight and decrease absorption; (3) using CFA would reduce the initial setting time by 30%–60% and reduce the final setting time by 16%–20%; (4) using CFA would reduce the absorption; (5) using CFA would reduce the unit weight by 0.5%–2.8%, and the increases in pre-pressure would increase the unit weight by about 0.9%–2.1%; (6) CaO in CFA helps to improve sulfate resistance; (7) scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation shows that the increases in pre-pressure would reduce the pores; and (8) X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis shows that the inclusion of CFA would increase the content of Ca(OH)2 in concrete.
Effect of Li, Na and K Modification of Alumina on its Physical and Chemical Properties and Water Adsorption Ability
Authors: Reshetnikov Sergey , Kurzina Irina , Livanova Alesia , Meshcheryakov Eugene , Isupova Lyubov
Published: December 2019

The effect of alkali metal (Li, Na, K) incorporation on the morphology and water vapor uptake properties of mesoporous Al2O3 has been studied. The modification of the raw material, pseudoboehmite, represented a mixture of low-temperature phases (γ + η + χ)-Al2O3, and has been done at low-temperature that does not change the phase ratio. A decrease in specific surface values and an average pores size increase were observed as a result of the introduction of metal cations by impregnation and subsequent thermal treatment. The influence of the content of the modifying metal on the adsorption ability of the obtained samples in relation to water vapours has been studied. It has been established that alkaline modification Al2O3 with the lithium cations did not result in adsorption ability improvement, whereas samples that were modified with sodium or potassium in the amount of 1.2 weight % and 2.6 weight %, respectively, possess a higher equilibrium capacity (by ~40%), as compared to that of the initial sample (Al2O3), and a sufficiently high adsorption rate.
Understanding the Interdependence of Penetration Depth and Deformation on Nanoindentation of Nanoporous Silver
Authors: Champion Yannick , Laurent-Brocq Mathilde , Lhuissier Pierre , Charlot Frédéric , Moreira Jorge Junior Alberto , Barsuk Daria
Published: December 2019

A silver-based nanoporous material was produced by dealloying (selective chemical etching) of an Ag38.75Cu38.75Si22.5 crystalline alloy. Composed of connected ligaments, this material was imaged using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and focused ion-beam (FIB) scanning electron microscope tomography. Its mechanical behavior was evaluated using nanoindentation and found to be heterogeneous, with density variation over a length scale of a few tens of nanometers, similar to the indent size. This technique proved relevant to the investigation of a material’s mechanical strength, as well as to how its behavior related to the material’s microstructure. The hardness is recorded as a function of the indent depth and a phenomenological description based on strain gradient and densification kinetic was proposed to describe the resultant depth dependence.
Nickel, Graphene, and Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia (YSZ)-Added Mg by Grinding in Hydrogen Atmosphere for Hydrogen Storage
Authors: Song Myoung Youp , Choi Eunho , Kwak Young Jun
Published: December 2019

Magnesium (Mg) has good hydrogen storage features except for its slow reaction kinetics with hydrogen and high hydride decomposition temperature. Yttria (Y2O3)-stabilized zirconia (ZrO2) (YSZ), nickel (Ni), and graphene were picked as additives to Mg to solve these problems. Samples with a composition of 92.5 wt% Mg + 2.5 wt% YSZ + 2.5 wt% Ni + 2.5 wt% graphene (designated as Mg + YSZ + Ni + graphene) were prepared by grinding in hydrogen atmosphere. The activation of Mg + YSZ + Ni + graphene was finished at the third cycle (n = 3). Mg + YSZ + Ni + graphene had an efficient hydrogen storage capacity (the amount of hydrogen absorbed for 60 min) over 7 wt% (7.11 wt%) at n = 1. Mg + YSZ + Ni + graphene contained Mg2Ni phase after cycling. The addition of Ni and Ni + YSZ greatly increased the initial hydride formation and decomposition rates, and the amount of hydrogen absorbed and released for 60 min, Ha (60 min) and Hd (60 min), respectively, of a 95 wt% Mg + 5 wt% graphene sample (Mg + graphene). Rapid nucleation of the Mg2Ni-H solid solution in Ni-containing samples is believed to have led to higher initial decomposition rates than Mg + graphene and Mg. The addition of YSZ also enhanced the initial decomposition rate and Hd (60 min) compared to a sample with a composition of 95 wt% Mg + 2.5 wt% Ni + 2.5 wt% graphene (Mg + Ni + graphene).
Directed Irradiation Synthesis as an Advanced Plasma Technology for Surface Modification to Activate Porous and “as-received” Titanium Surfaces
Authors: Civantos Ana , Allain Jean Paul , Pavón Juan Jose , Shetty Akshath , El-Atwani Osman , Walker Emily , Arias Sandra L. , Gordon Emily , Rodríguez-Ortiz José A. , Chen Mike , Torres Yadir
Published: December 2019

For the design of smart titanium implants, it is essential to balance the surface properties without any detrimental effect on the bulk properties of the material. Therefore, in this study, an irradiation-driven surface modification called directed irradiation synthesis (DIS) has been developed to nanopattern porous and “as-received” c.p. Ti surfaces with the aim of improving cellular viability. Nanofeatures were developed using singly-charged argon ions at 0.5 and 1.0 keV energies, incident angles from 0° to 75° degrees, and fluences up to 5.0 × 1017 cm−2. Irradiated surfaces were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and contact angle, observing an increased hydrophilicity (a contact angle reduction of 73.4% and 49.3%) and a higher roughness on both surfaces except for higher incident angles, which showed the smoothest surface. In-vitro studies demonstrated the biocompatibility of directed irradiation synthesis (DIS) reaching 84% and 87% cell viability levels at 1 and 7 days respectively, and a lower percentage of damaged DNA in tail compared to the control c.p. Ti. All these results confirm the potential of the DIS technique to modify complex surfaces at the nanoscale level promoting their biological performance.
Blast-Induced Compression of a Thin-Walled Aluminum Honeycomb Structure—Experiment and Modeling
Authors: Stanczak Magda , Fras Teresa , Blanc Ludovic , Pawlowski Piotr , Rusinek Alexis
Published: December 2019

The presented discussion concerns the behavior of a thin-walled hexagonal aluminum honeycomb structure subjected to blast loading. The shock wave affecting the structure is generated by detonation of the C4 charge in an explosive-driven shock tube (EDST). The EDST set-up is an instrumented device that makes it possible to study blast effects in more stable and repeatable conditions than those obtained in a free-air detonation. The formation of folds characteristic of a honeycomb deformation in the axial compression distributes the initial loading over a time period, which is considered as an efficient method of energy dissipation. The test configuration is modeled in the Ls-Dyna explicit code, which enables analysis of the mechanisms of energy absorption that accompanies structural deformation under a blast loading. The conclusions reached in the performed experimental and numerical investigation can be applied to the modeling and optimization of cellular structures used to mitigate blast loadings.
Wireless, Skin-Mountable EMG Sensor for Human–Machine Interface Application
Authors: Song Min-Su , Kang Sung-Gu , Lee Kyu-Tae , Kim Jeonghyun
Published: December 2019

The development of advanced technologies for wireless data collection and the analysis of quantitative data, with application to a human–machine interface (HMI), is of growing interest. In particular, various wearable devices related to HMIs are being developed. These devices require a customization process that considers the physical characteristics of each individual, such as mounting positions of electrodes, muscle masses, and so forth. Here, the authors report device and calculation concepts for flexible platforms that can measure electrical signals changed through electromyography (EMG). This soft, flexible, and lightweight EMG sensor can be attached to curved surfaces such as the forearm, biceps, back, legs, etc., and optimized biosignals can be obtained continuously through post-processing. In addition to the measurement of EMG signals, the application of the HMI has stable performance and high accuracy of more than 95%, as confirmed by 50 trials per case. The result of this study shows the possibility of application to various fields such as entertainment, the military, robotics, and healthcare in the future.
Microfluidic Transportation Control of Larval Zebrafish through Optomotor Regulations under a Pressure-Driven Flow
Authors: Panigrahi Bivas , Chen Chia-Yuan
Published: December 2019

To perform zebrafish larvae-related experiments within a microfluidic environment, the larvae need to be anesthetized and subsequently transported into respective test sections through mechanical or manual means. However, anesthetization tends to affect larval sensory perceptions, hindering their natural behaviors. Taking into account that juvenile larvae move naturally within their environment by accessing visual as well as hydromechanical cues, this work proposes an experimental framework to transport nonanesthetized larvae within a microfluidic environment by harmonically tuning both of the aforementioned cues. To provide visual cues, computer-animated moving gratings were provided through an in-house-developed control interface that drove the larval optomotor response. In the meantime, to provide hydromechanical cues, the flow rate was tuned using a syringe pump that affected the zebrafish larvae’s lateral line movement. The results obtained (corresponding to different test conditions) suggest that the magnitude of both modalities plays a crucial role in larval transportation and orientation control. For instance, with a flow rate tuning of 0.1 mL/min along with grating parameters of 1 Hz temporal frequency, the average transportation time for larvae that were 5 days postfertilization was recorded at 1.29 ± 0.49 s, which was approximately three times faster than the transportation time required only in the presence of hydromechanical cues.
Vibration Analysis of Fluid Conveying Carbon Nanotubes Based on Nonlocal Timoshenko Beam Theory by Spectral Element Method
Authors: Yi Xiaolei , Li Baohui , Wang Zhengzhong
Published: December 2019

In this work, we applied the spectral element method (SEM) to analyze the dynamic characteristics of fluid conveying single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). First, the dynamic equations for fluid conveying SWCNTs were deduced based on the nonlocal Timoshenko beam theory. Then, the spectral element formulation was established for a free/forced vibration analysis of fluid conveying SWCNTs by introducing discrete Fourier transform. Furthermore, the proposed method was validated using several comparison examples. Finally, the natural frequencies and dynamic responses of a simply-supported fluid conveying SWCNTs were calculated by the SEM, considering different internal fluid velocities and small-scale parameters (SSPs). The effects of fluid velocity and SSPs on the dynamic characteristics of SWCNTs conveying fluid were revealed by the numerical results. Compared with other methods, the SEM shows high accuracy and efficiency.
The Effect of Macronutrients on Reproductive Hormones in Overweight and Obese Men: A Pilot Study
Authors: Pearce Karma , Tremellen Kelton
Published: December 2019

Hypogonadal obese men find it difficult to lose weight. We investigated whether the modification of macronutrient intake can alter testosterone levels independently of the body mass index. Fasted overweight or obese fertile men were asked to consume meals of polyunsaturated fats (PUFA), monounsaturated fats (MUFA), refined carbohydrates (CHO, orange juice, OJ), whey and egg albumin and mixed meals of PUFA and CHO, PUFA and egg albumin, and CHO and egg albumin. Blood was collected at fasting, then hourly for 5 h and analysed to determine the levels of testosterone and other hormones. We found PUFA and MUFA or a mixed meal of PUFA and CHO significantly reduced serum testosterone production to a similar degree over a 5 h period. PUFA decreased serum testosterone levels by 3.2 nmol/L after 1 h compared to baseline (p = 0.023), with this suppression remaining significant up to 5 h postprandially (2.1 nmol/L; p = 0.012). The net overall testosterone levels were reduced by approximately 10 nmol/L × h by PUFA, MUFA and PUFA combined with CHO. CHO alone had little effect on testosterone levels, whereas egg albumin was able to increase them (7.4 cf 2.0 nmol/L × h). Therefore, for men wishing to optimize their testosterone levels, it may be wise to avoid a high fat intake, drink liquids such as water or OJ or even consider fasting. ANZCTR, Australia; ACTRN12617001034325.