bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Method of Finding HCT Roundwood Corridors for Reduction of GHG Emissions and Fuel Costs in Sweden
Authors: Höök Christian , Asmoarp Victor , Edlund Björn , Bergström Dan
Published: February 2020

Background and Objectives: in Sweden during 2016, 71.6 million metric tonnes (t) of forest biomass (roundwood and forest fuels) were transported by truck, corresponding to approximately 15% of all national goods truck transport. To reduce the environmental impact of forest product transports and meet Swedish climate goals, the use of 90 t high-capacity transport (HCT) trucks on well-chosen routes has been identified as one potential measure. The objective was, therefore, to develop a method of finding the geographical occurrence of potential roundwood HCT corridors for 90 t trucks, as well as estimating their environmental and economic potential in comparison to the conventional 74 t-truck transport system for Swedish conditions. Materials and Methods: the study used data from actual roundwood transports during 2016 along with a digitalization of the Swedish road network (National Road Database, SNVDB) for corridor identification. In four steps we: 1) identified supportive networks, 2) identified flow supporting corridors on the technically supportive networks, 3) applied a calibrated route finder (CRF) to route relevant transports both directly from the landing to the receiver and via the corridor, gathering drive distance information and, for example, 4) analyzed transports fuel consumption and potential CO2 savings. Results: Results showed there was annual potential for 25 HCT corridors throughout Sweden to employ 20 90 t trucks to transport 2.5 Mt of roundwood, reducing up to 5500 t of CO2 and €3.1 M in fuel costs. Conclusions: the study reinforces previous studies’ findings concerning economic and environmental potential using HCT vehicles and identifies terminal establishment and management costs as a bottleneck in successful large-scale implementation of HCT corridors.
Cognitive Training for the Treatment of Addictions Mediated by Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
Authors: Restrepo Sandra , Rincón Dubis , Sepulveda Edwin
Published: February 2020

This work constitutes a narrative review of the state of knowledge and advances in the intervention and treatment of addictions through the use of information and communication technologies, considering the growing demand for virtuality-mediated strategies that facilitate the approach of problems of public health such as addictions, which increase considerably year after year. To this end, the reader will be provided with a current overview of the drug use trend; subsequently, a conceptualization of the concept of addiction and its understanding from a neurobiological perspective and, finally, the progress in terms of intervention processes and therapeutic approach will be presented; which will imply an approach to the concept of e-health and rehabilitation mediated by information and communication technologies (ICT).
U-Jacketing Applications of Fiber-Reinforced Polymers in Reinforced Concrete T-Beams against Shear—Tests and Design
Authors: Chalioris Constantin E. , Zapris Adamantis G. , Karayannis Chris G.
Published: February 2020

The application of externally bonded fiber-reinforced polymer (EB-FRP) as shear transverse reinforcement applied in vulnerable reinforced concrete (RC) beams has been proved to be a promising strengthening technique. However, past studies revealed that the effectiveness of this method depends on how well the reinforcement is bonded to the concrete surface. Thus, although the application of EB-FRP wrapping around the perimeter of rectangular cross-sections leads to outstanding results, U-jacketing in shear-critical T-beams seems to undergo premature debonding failures resulting in significant reductions of the predictable strength. In this work, five shear-critical RC beams with T-shaped cross-section were constructed, strengthened and tested in four-point bending. Epoxy bonded carbon FRP (C-FRP) sheets were applied on the three sides and along the entire length of the shear-strengthened T-beams as external transverse reinforcement. Furthermore, the potential enhancement of the C-FRP sheets anchorage using bolted steel laminates has been examined. Test results indicated that although the C-FRP strengthened beams exhibited increased shear capacity, the brittle failure mode was not prevented due to the debonding of the FRP from the concrete surface. Nevertheless, the applied mechanical anchor of the C-FRP sheets delayed the debonding. Moreover, the design provisions of three different code standards (Greek Code of Interventions, Eurocode 8 and ACI Committee 440) concerning the shear capacity of T-shaped RC beams retrofitted with EB-FRP jackets or strips in U-jacketing configuration are investigated. The ability of these code standards to predict safe design estimations is checked against 165 test data from the current experimental project and data available in the literature.
Terahertz Hollow Core Antiresonant Fiber with Metamaterial Cladding
Authors: Sultana Jakeya , Islam Md. Saiful , Cordeiro Cristiano M. B. , Dinovitser Alex , Kaushik Mayank , W.-H. Ng Brian , Abbott Derek
Published: February 2020

A hollow core antiresonant photonic crystal fiber (HC-ARPCF) with metal inclusions is numerically analyzed for transmission of terahertz (THz) waves. The propagation of fundamental and higher order modes are investigated and the results are compared with conventional dielectric antiresonant (AR) fiber designs. Simulation results show that broadband terahertz radiation can be guided with six times lower loss in such hollow core fibers with metallic inclusions, compared to tube lattice fiber, covering a single mode bandwidth (BW) of 700 GHz.
Phenotypes of Sarcopenic Obesity: Exploring the Effects on Peri-Muscular Fat, the Obesity Paradox, Hormone-Related Responses and the Clinical Implications
Authors: Alalwan Tariq A.
Published: February 2020

Sarcopenic obesity combines the words sarcopenia and obesity. This definition of obesity should be better differentiated between visceral and subcutaneous fat phenotypes. For this reason, this review lays the foundation for defining the subcutaneous and the visceral fat into the context of sarcopenia. Thus, the review aims to explore the missing links on pathogenesis of visceral fat and its relationship on age: defining the peri-muscular fat as a new entity and the subcutaneous fat as a first factor that leads to the obesity paradox. Last but not least, this review underlines and motivates the mechanisms of the hormonal responses and anti-inflammatory adipokines responsible for the clinical implications of sarcopenic visceral obesity, describing factor by factor the multiple axis between the visceral fat-sarcopenia and all mortality outcomes linked to cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cirrhosis, polycystic ovary, disability and postoperative complications.
Glycemia after Betamethasone in Pregnant Women without Diabetes—Impact of Marginal Values in the 75-g OGTT
Authors: Kakoulidis Ioannis , Ilias Ioannis , Linardi Anastasia , Michou Aikaterini , Milionis Charalampos , Petychaki Foteini , Venaki Evangelia , Koukkou Eftychia
Published: February 2020

Betamethasone (BM) administration in pregnancy has been shown to reduce the incidence and severity of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome. Its known diabetogenic impact, combined with placental insulin resistance, leads to a transient increase in glycemia. However, its effect on glucose homeostasis in pregnancy has not been adequately investigated. We closely monitored and assessed the glycemic profile of 83 pregnant women, with normal glucose metabolism, who were given BM during their hospitalization due to threatened premature labor. A significant change in the glycemic profile in most patients was noted, lasting 1.34 ± 1.05 days. Sixty-six of eighty-three women were eventually treated with insulin to maintain glycemia within acceptable limits. The mean ± SD insulin dosage was 12.25 ± 11.28 units/day. The need for insulin therapy was associated with higher BM doses and the presence of marginal values in the 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at 60 min. Our study demonstrates, following BM administration, the need for increased awareness and individualized monitoring/treatment of pregnant women with normal—yet marginal—values in the 75-g OGTT.
Lessons Learned from Pompe Disease Newborn Screening and Follow-up
Authors: Klug Tracy L. , Swartz Lori B. , Washburn Jon , Brannen Candice , Kiesling Jami L.
Published: February 2020

In 2015, Pompe disease became the first lysosomal storage disorder to be recommended for universal newborn screening by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Newborn screening for Pompe has been implemented in 20 states and several countries across the world. The rates of later-onset disease phenotypes for Pompe and pseudodeficiency alleles are higher than initially anticipated, and these factors must be considered during Pompe disease newborn screening. This report presents an overview of six years of data from the Missouri State Public Health Laboratory for Pompe disease newborn screening and follow-up.
Grade Setting of a Timber Logistics Center Based on a Complex Network: A Case Study of 47 Timber Trading Markets in China
Authors: Xue Liang , Huang Xin , Wu Yuchun , Yan Xingchen , Zheng Yan
Published: February 2020

The location and grade setting of a timber logistics center is an important link in the optimization of the timber logistics system, the rationality of which can effectively improve the efficiency of the timber logistics supply chain. There is a long distance between the main forested areas in China, and more than 55% of the timber demand depends on imports. Research and practice of systematically planning timber logistics centers in the whole country have not been well carried out, which reduces the efficiency of timber logistics. In this paper, 47 timber trading markets with a certain scale in China are selected as the basis for logistics center selection. Based on their transportation network relationship and the number of enterprises in the market, combined with the complex network theory and data analysis method, the network characteristics of three different transportation networks are measured. After determining the transportation capacity indicator, the logistics capacity coefficient is measured based on the freight volume of each node. Then, the important nodes are identified, and each node is graded to systematically set up the timber logistics center.
Excited-State Relaxation in Luminescent Molybdenum(0) Complexes with Isocyanide Chelate Ligands
Authors: Herr Patrick , Wenger Oliver S.
Published: February 2020

Diisocyanide ligands with a m-terphenyl backbone provide access to Mo0 complexes exhibiting the same type of metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) luminescence as the well-known class of isoelectronic RuII polypyridines. The luminescence quantum yields and lifetimes of the homoleptic tris(diisocyanide) Mo0 complexes depend strongly on whether methyl- or tert-butyl substituents are placed in α-position to the isocyanide groups. The bulkier tert-butyl substituents lead to a molecular structure in which the three individual diisocyanides ligated to one Mo0 center are interlocked more strongly into one another than the ligands with the sterically less demanding methyl substituents. This rigidification limits the distortion of the complex in the emissive excited-state, causing a decrease of the nonradiative relaxation rate by one order of magnitude. Compared to RuII polypyridines, the molecular distortions in the luminescent 3MLCT state relative to the electronic ground state seem to be smaller in the Mo0 complexes, presumably due to delocalization of the MLCT-excited electron over greater portions of the ligands. Temperature-dependent studies indicate that thermally activated nonradiative relaxation via metal-centered excited states is more significant in these homoleptic Mo0 tris(diisocyanide) complexes than in [Ru(2,2′-bipyridine)3]2+.
Dispersibility of the Pale Grass Blue Butterfly Zizeeria maha (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) Revealed by One-Individual Tracking in the Field: Quantitative Comparisons between Subspecies and between Sexes
Authors: Hiyama Atsuki , Otaki Joji M.
Published: February 2020

The pale grass blue butterfly Zizeeria maha (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) has been used as an environmental indicator species for radioactive pollution after the Fukushima nuclear accident. Here, based on the one-individual tracking method in the field, we examined dispersal-associated and other behavioral traits of this butterfly, focusing on two subspecies, Z. maha argia in mainland Japan and Z. maha okinawana in Okinawa. The accumulated distances in the adult lifespan were 18.9 km and 38.2 km in mainland and Okinawa males, respectively, and 15.0 km and 7.8 km in mainland and Okinawa females, respectively. However, the mean distance from the starting point was only 24.2 m and 21.1 m in the mainland and Okinawa males, respectively, and 13.7 m and 7.4 m in the mainland and Okinawa females, respectively. Some quantitative differences in resting and feeding were found between subspecies and between sexes. The ARIMA (autoregressive integrated moving average) model indicated that the dispersal distance was 52.3 m (99% confidence interval value of 706.6 m) from the starting point in mainland males. These results support the idea that despite some behavioral differences, both subspecies of this butterfly are suitable as an environmental indicator because of the small dispersal ranges.
The Mosquito Larvicidal Activity of Essential Oils from Cymbopogon and Eucalyptus Species in Vietnam
Authors: Manh Ho Dung , Hue Do Thi , Hieu Nguyen Thi Thanh , Tuyen Doan Thi Thanh , Tuyet Ong Thi
Published: February 2020

The larvicidal activity of essential oils (EOs) extracted from Cymbopogon citratus, Cymbopogon winterianus, Eucalyptus citriodora, and Eucalyptus camaldulensis aromatic plants grown in Vietnam was evaluated on Aedes aegypti larvae. The EOs were hydro-distilled in a Clevenger-type apparatus. The EOs were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The mortality rates obtained from the bioassays were used to calculate the lethal concentrations (LC50) of the EOs by the probit analysis method. These essential oils exhibited toxicity to the larvae of Aedes aegypti. Results were obtained for Cymbopogon citratus (LC50 = 120.6 ppm), Cymbopogon winterianus (LC50 = 38.8 ppm), Eucalyptus citriodora (LC50 = 104.4 ppm), and Eucalyptus camaldulensis (LC50 = 33.7 ppm). The essential oils of Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Cymbopogon winterianus were found to be the most efficient, and their respective values of LC50 were 33.7 ppm, 38.8 ppm. In conclusion, this research adds to the growing body of literature on natural larvicides from essential oils against Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.
Agar and Carrageenan as Cost-Effective Gelling Agents in Yeast-Reduced Artificial Diets for Mass-Rearing Fruit Flies and Their Parasitoids
Authors: Pascacio-Villafán Carlos , Guillén Larissa , Aluja Martín
Published: February 2020

The development of cost-effective diets for mass-rearing fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) and their parasitoids in pest control programs based on the Sterile Insect Technique is a high priority worldwide. To this end, we tested carrageenan, agar, gelatin and two types of pregelatinized corn starches as gelling agents at varying percentages in a yeast-reduced liquid larval diet for rearing the Mexfly, Anastrepha ludens. Only diets with 0.234% (w/w) agar or 0.424% carrageenan were identified as diets with potential for mass-rearing A. ludens in terms of the number of pupae recovered from the diet, pupal weight, adult emergence, flight ability and diet cost. Comparative experiments showed that yeast-reduced agar and carrageenan gel diets produced heavier pupae and higher proportions of flying adults than the standard mass-rearing diet. The gel-agar and mass-rearing diets produced more pupae than the gel-carrageenan diet, but the latter produced more suitable larvae as hosts for rearing of Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) females, a widely used fruit fly biocontrol agent. Yeast-reduced agar and carrageenan gel diets could represent cost-effective fruit fly mass-rearing diets if a practical system for gel diet preparation and dispensation at fruit fly mass-rearing facilities is developed.
Joint Mobility Protection during the Developmental Age among Free Climbing Practitioners: A Pilot Study
Authors: Gasbarro Ludovica , Padua Elvira , Tancredi Virginia , Annino Giuseppe , Montorsi Michela , Maugeri Grazia , D’Amico Agata Grazia
Published: February 2020

Sport-climbing popularity increased intensely over the past years. Particularly, children’s and adolescents’ interest therein is constantly growing. Despite a large effort in preventing injuries and muscle overloads, a fine-tuned training for each sensitive phase of child development is still needed. The objective of the study was to evaluate an innovative training program aimed at the preservation of joint mobility during the developmental age. This article relies on the results of a steady training program allowing to retain joints integrity among the practice of sport climbing in children. Joint mobility changes have been monitored before and after a one-year training program in fifteen subjects aged between 8 and 18 years. Subjects were divided into three groups depending on age (Turgor Secundus, Proceritas Secunda and Turgor Tertius). The motor tests administered were the sit-and-reach test, coxo-femoral mobility test and scapula–humeral mobility test. Our results showed that one-year training improved joint mobility at each analyzed phase, suggesting that this training program could improve mobility and flexibility. Given the importance of joint mobility preservation for discipline-related injuries prevention and eventually recovering, it is essential to provide a specific training program as a route to approach sport climbing, and even more importantly, at an early age. This work represents a preliminary study in order to demonstrate both efficacy on the joint mobility and the requirement of our playful work to support the global sport-climbing workout.
Cross-Country Application of Manufacturing Failure Models
Authors: Tomczak Sebastian Klaudiusz , Staszkiewicz Piotr
Published: February 2020

The post-Altman models suffer from moral amortization. This paper asks whether models developed in one country can be applied in other economies. One of the characteristics of the prediction model is that a date drives the estimation. Thus, the estimated model based on one economy is not necessarily applicable to other economies. To verify such a statement, we carried out a literature review to identify the manufacturing models constructed during the last 30 years that were reported in reputable scientific journals. Our literature comprised 75 papers, and with the application of the citation count and citation mining, we selected a sample and traced the selected papers to the cross-country application. Our results indicated an existing gap in the cross-economy validation of existing manufacturing models. Our study has implications for policy, as the application of the prediction models to cross-economies’ consolidated financial statements is biased.
Public Interest, Health Research and Data Protection Law: Establishing a Legitimate Trade-Off between Individual Control and Research Access to Health Data
Authors: Taylor Mark , Whitton Tess
Published: February 2020

The United Kingdom’s Data Protection Act 2018 introduces a new public interest test applicable to the research processing of personal health data. The need for interpretation and application of this new safeguard creates a further opportunity to craft a health data governance landscape deserving of public trust and confidence. At the minimum, to constitute a positive contribution, the new test must be capable of distinguishing between instances of health research that are in the public interest, from those that are not, in a meaningful, predictable and reproducible manner. In this article, we derive from the literature on theories of public interest a concept of public interest capable of supporting such a test. Its application can defend the position under data protection law that allows a legal route through to processing personal health data for research purposes that does not require individual consent. However, its adoption would also entail that the public interest test in the 2018 Act could only be met if all practicable steps are taken to maximise preservation of individual control over the use of personal health data for research purposes. This would require that consent is sought where practicable and objection respected in almost all circumstances. Importantly, we suggest that an advantage of relying upon this concept of the public interest, to ground the test introduced by the 2018 Act, is that it may work to promote the social legitimacy of data protection legislation and the research processing that it authorises without individual consent (and occasionally in the face of explicit objection).
Design of a Large Deployable Reflector Opening System
Authors: Cammarata Alessandro , Sinatra Rosario , Rigano Alessio , Lombardo Mattia , Maddio Pietro Davide
Published: February 2020

Large Deployable Reflectors (LDR) are receiving considerable attention from aerospace government companies and researchers. In this paper, the design of the opening system of a LDR is presented. Starting from an elementary cell, a first ideal kinematic model is discussed. Then, a more complex “design model” including feasible design solutions for joints and links is developed. The final design avoids collisions between links while maintaining the original kinematic features.
Fuzzy Multi-Hypergroups
Authors: Hoskova-Mayerova Sarka , Al Tahan Madeline , Davvaz Bijan
Published: February 2020

A fuzzy multiset is a generalization of a fuzzy set. This paper aims to combine the innovative notion of fuzzy multisets and hypergroups. In particular, we use fuzzy multisets to introduce the concept of fuzzy multi-hypergroups as a generalization of fuzzy hypergroups. Different operations on fuzzy multi-hypergroups are defined and discussed and some results known for fuzzy hypergroups are generalized to fuzzy multi-hypergroups.
Integral Domains in Which Every Nonzero w-Flat Ideal Is w-Invertible
Authors: Kim Hwankoo , Lim Jung Wook
Published: February 2020

Let D be an integral domain and w be the so-called w-operation on D. We define D to be a w-FF domain if every w-flat w-ideal of D is of w-finite type. This paper presents some properties of w-FF domains and related domains. Among other things, we study the w-FF property in the polynomial extension, the t-Nagata ring and the pullback construction.
Energetic-Property-Preserving Numerical Schemes for Coupled Natural Systems
Authors: Komatsu Mizuka , Terakawa Shunpei , Yaguchi Takaharu
Published: February 2020

In this paper, we propose a method for deriving energetic-property-preserving numerical schemes for coupled systems of two given natural systems. We consider the case where the two systems are interconnected by the action–reaction law. Although the derived schemes are based on the discrete gradient method, in the case under consideration, the equation of motion is not of the usual form represented by using the skew-symmetric matrix. Hence, the energetic-property-preserving schemes cannot be obtained by straightforwardly using the discrete gradient method. We show numerical results for two coupled systems as examples; the first system is a combination of the wave equation and the elastic equation, and the second is of the mass–spring system and the elastic equation.
Inequalities for the Casorati Curvature of Statistical Manifolds in Holomorphic Statistical Manifolds of Constant Holomorphic Curvature
Authors: Decu Simona , Haesen Stefan , Verstraelen Leopold
Published: February 2020

In this paper, we prove some inequalities in terms of the normalized δ -Casorati curvatures (extrinsic invariants) and the scalar curvature (intrinsic invariant) of statistical submanifolds in holomorphic statistical manifolds with constant holomorphic sectional curvature. Moreover, we study the equality cases of such inequalities. An example on these submanifolds is presented.
Divisibility Patterns within Pascal Divisibility Networks
Authors: Solares-Hernández Pedro A. , Manzano Fernando A. , Pérez-Benito Francisco J. , Conejero J. Alberto
Published: February 2020

The Pascal triangle is so simple and rich that it has always attracted the interest of professional and amateur mathematicians. Their coefficients satisfy a myriad of properties. Inspired by the work of Shekatkar et al., we study the divisibility patterns within the elements of the Pascal triangle, through its decomposition into Pascal’s matrices, from the perspective of network science. Applying Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, we determine that the degree distribution of the resulting network follows a power-law distribution. We also study degrees, global and local clustering coefficients, stretching graph, averaged path length and the mixing assortative.
Single-Machine Parallel-Batch Scheduling with Nonidentical Job Sizes and Rejection
Authors: Jin Miaomiao , Liu Xiaoxia , Luo Wenchang
Published: February 2020

We investigate the single-machine parallel-batch scheduling problem with nonidentical job sizes and rejection. In this problem, a set of jobs with different processing times and nonidentical sizes is given to be possibly processed on a parallel-batch processing machine. Each job is either accepted and then processed on the machine or rejected by paying its rejection penalty. Preemption is not allowed. Our task is to choose the accepted jobs and schedule them as batches on the machine to minimize the makespan of the accepted jobs plus the total rejection penalty of the rejected jobs. We provide an integer programming formulation to exactly solve our problem. Then, we propose three fast heuristic algorithms to solve the problem and evaluate their performances by using a small numerical example.
Initialization Methods for Multiple Seasonal Holt–Winters Forecasting Models
Authors: Trull Oscar , García-Díaz Juan Carlos , Troncoso Alicia
Published: February 2020

The Holt–Winters models are one of the most popular forecasting algorithms. As well-known, these models are recursive and thus, an initialization value is needed to feed the model, being that a proper initialization of the Holt–Winters models is crucial for obtaining a good accuracy of the predictions. Moreover, the introduction of multiple seasonal Holt–Winters models requires a new development of methods for seed initialization and obtaining initial values. This work proposes new initialization methods based on the adaptation of the traditional methods developed for a single seasonality in order to include multiple seasonalities. Thus, new methods to initialize the level, trend, and seasonality in multiple seasonal Holt–Winters models are presented. These new methods are tested with an application for electricity demand in Spain and analyzed for their impact on the accuracy of forecasts. As a consequence of the analysis carried out, which initialization method to use for the level, trend, and seasonality in multiple seasonal Holt–Winters models with an additive and multiplicative trend is provided.
A Novel Meshfree Approach with a Radial Polynomial for Solving Nonhomogeneous Partial Differential Equations
Authors: Ku Cheng-Yu , Xiao Jing-En , Liu Chih-Yu
Published: February 2020

In this article, a novel radial–based meshfree approach for solving nonhomogeneous partial differential equations is proposed. Stemming from the radial basis function collocation method, the novel meshfree approach is formulated by incorporating the radial polynomial as the basis function. The solution of the nonhomogeneous partial differential equation is therefore approximated by the discretization of the governing equation using the radial polynomial basis function. To avoid the singularity, the minimum order of the radial polynomial basis function must be greater than two for the second order partial differential equations. Since the radial polynomial basis function is a non–singular series function, accurate numerical solutions may be obtained by increasing the terms of the radial polynomial. In addition, the shape parameter in the radial basis function collocation method is no longer required in the proposed method. Several numerical implementations, including homogeneous and nonhomogeneous Laplace and modified Helmholtz equations, are conducted. The results illustrate that the proposed approach may obtain highly accurate solutions with the use of higher order radial polynomial terms. Finally, compared with the radial basis function collocation method, the proposed approach may produce more accurate solutions than the other.
A Multisecret-Sharing Scheme Based on LCD Codes
Authors: Alahmadi Adel , Altassan Alaa , AlKenani Ahmad , Çalkavur Selda , Shoaib Hatoon , Solé Patrick
Published: February 2020

Secret sharing is one of the most important cryptographic protocols. Secret sharing schemes (SSS) have been created to that end. This protocol requires a dealer and several participants. The dealer divides the secret into several pieces ( the shares), and one share is given to each participant. The secret can be recovered once a subset of the participants (a coalition) shares their information. In this paper, we present a new multisecret-sharing scheme inspired by Blakley’s method based on hyperplanes intersection but adapted to a coding theoretic situation. Unique recovery requires the use of linear complementary (LCD) codes, that is, codes in which intersection with their duals is trivial. For a given code length and dimension, our system allows dealing with larger secrets and more users than other code-based schemes.
Donghaecyclinones A–C: New Cytotoxic Rearranged Angucyclinones from a Volcanic Island-Derived Marine Streptomyces sp.
Authors: Bae Munhyung , An Joon Soo , Hong Seong-Heon , Bae Eun Seo , Chung Beomkoo , Kwon Yun , Hong Suckchang , Oh Ki-Bong , Shin Jongheon , Lee Sang Kook , Oh Dong-Chan
Published: February 2020

Chemical profiling of the Streptomyces sp. strain SUD119, which was isolated from a marine sediment sample collected from a volcanic island in Korea, led to the discovery of three new metabolites: donghaecyclinones A–C (1–3). The structures of 1–3 were found to be rearranged, multicyclic, angucyclinone-class compounds according to nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry (MS) analyses. The configurations of their stereogenic centers were successfully assigned using a combination of quantum mechanics–based computational methods for calculating the NMR shielding tensor (DP4 and CP3) as well as electronic circular dichroism (ECD) along with a modified version of Mosher’s method. Donghaecyclinones A–C (1–3) displayed cytotoxicity against diverse human cancer cell lines (IC50: 6.7–9.6 μM for 3).
Cost-Effectiveness of Titanium Elastic Nail (TEN) in the Treatment of Forearm Fractures in Children
Authors: Adam Ovidiu , David Vlad Laurentiu , Horhat Florin George , Boia Eugen Sorin
Published: February 2020

Background and objectives: There are various methods in the management of forearm fractures in children. Elastic stable intramedullary nailing using Titanium Elastic Nail (TEN) is nowadays employed in diaphysis fractures of children, with clear benefits over other treatment options. However, in the case of TEN versus other treatment methods of forearm fractures in children, cost is an important issue. This report will focus on the cost assessment of using TEN versus other therapeutic means in the treatment of forearm fractures in children. Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective longitudinal study of 173 consecutive patients with forearm fractures treated in a single institution during 2017. We calculated the cost for each patient by summing up direct costs plus indirect costs, calculated at an aggregate level. Hospital income data were extracted from the Diagnosis Related Groups database. Results: A total of 173 patients with forearm fractures were treated, 44 using TEN, 86 using K-wire, and 46 using closed reduction and cast. There were 66 radius fractures, 1 ulna fracture, and 106 that were both radius and ulna fractures. Mean treatment cost were $632.76 for TEN, $499.50 for K-wire, and $451.30 for closed reduction and cast. Costs for TEN were higher than for K-wire insertion (p = 0.00) and higher than closed reduction and cast ($182.42; p = 0.00). Reimbursement per patient was higher with TEN versus K-wire patients; $497.88 vs. $364.64 /patient (p = 0.00), and higher than for patients treated with closed reduction and cast (p = 0.00). Conclusions: The treatment of upper extremity fractures using TEN was more expensive than the other methods. In Romania, because the reimbursement for TEN is higher as well, there are no differences in the financial burden when treating forearm fractures with TEN versus K-wire. Non-surgical treatment has the lowest cost but also the lowest reimbursement.
Laser Powder Bed Fusion of Precipitation-Hardened Martensitic Stainless Steels: A Review
Authors: Zai Le , Zhang Chaoqun , Wang Yiqiang , Guo Wei , Wellmann Daniel , Tong Xin , Tian Yingtao
Published: February 2020

Martensitic stainless steels are widely used in industries due to their high strength and good corrosion resistance performance. Precipitation-hardened (PH) martensitic stainless steels feature very high strength compared with other stainless steels, around 3-4 times the strength of austenitic stainless steels such as 304 and 316. However, the poor workability due to the high strength and hardness induced by precipitation hardening limits the extensive utilization of PH stainless steels as structural components of complex shapes. Laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) is an attractive additive manufacturing technology, which not only exhibits the advantages of producing complex and precise parts with a short lead time, but also avoids or reduces the subsequent machining process. In this review, the microstructures of martensitic stainless steels in the as-built state, as well as the effects of process parameters, building atmosphere, and heat treatments on the microstructures, are reviewed. Then, the characteristics of defects in the as-built state and the causes are specifically analyzed. Afterward, the effect of process parameters and heat treatment conditions on mechanical properties are summarized and reviewed. Finally, the remaining issues and suggestions on future research on L-PBF of martensitic precipitation-hardened stainless steels are put forward.
Influence of Submerged Entry Nozzle Port Blockage on the Meniscus Fluctuation Considering Various Operational Parameters
Authors: Kumar Manish , Mishra Praveen , Kumar Roy Apurba
Published: February 2020

The continuous casting process (CCP) is the most vital part of steelmaking. The flow pattern near the submerged entry nozzle (SEN) and mould greatly influence the quality of the slab produced. The present investigation was carried out to gain knowledge regarding the meniscus fluctuation under different nozzle port blockage conditions by water model experiments. The experiments were carried out to study the effect of no blockage, 25% blockage, 50% blockage, and 75% blockage of the nozzle port on mould-level fluctuations. The result shows that when the liquid flow rate increases, the wave amplitude increases. In these experiments, the average and maximum meniscus fluctuations were measured while changing different variables such as the water flow rate, gas flow rate, and one-side percentage blockage of the SEN port while the other side was fully open. The observation shows that when the port size decreases, the fluid steel mixed from the obstructing side to the open side results in asymmetry. The average and maximum wave amplitude increases with decreasing submergence depth. It was observed that the maximum height of the standing waves in the mould continued rising on the non-blocked side of the SEN. Blockage increases from 25% to 75%, and with 75% blockage of the right side of the SEN port, the mould-level fluctuation at the left side of the mould was extreme, while that of the right side was relatively quiet.
Electronic Component Mounting for Durable E-Textiles: Direct Soldering of Components onto Textile-Based Deeply Permeated Conductive Patterns
Authors: Koshi Tomoya , Nomura Ken-ichi , Yoshida Manabu
Published: February 2020

For the improvement of the performance and function of electronic textiles (e-textiles), methods for electronic component mounting of textile circuits with electrical and mechanical durability are necessary. This manuscript presents a component mounting method for durable e-textiles, with a simpler implementation and increased compatibility with conventional electronics manufacturing processes. In this process, conductive patterns are directly formed on a textile by the printing of conductive ink with deep permeation and, then, components are directly soldered on the patterns. The stiffness of patterns is enhanced by the deep permeation, and the enhancement prevents electrical and mechanical breakages due to the stress concentration between the pattern and solder. This allows components to be directly mounting on textile circuits with electrical and mechanical durability. In this study, a chip resistor was soldered on printed patterns with different permeation depths, and the durability of the samples were evaluated by measuring the variation in resistance based on cyclic tensile tests and shear tests. The experiments confirmed that the durability was improved by the deep permeation, and that the samples with solder and deep permeation exhibited superior durability as compared with the samples based on commercially available elastic conductive adhesives for component mounting. In addition, a radio circuit was fabricated on a textile to demonstrate that various types of components can be mounted based on the proposed methods.
Ethnic Differences Shape the Alpha but Not Beta Diversity of Gut Microbiota from School Children in the Absence of Environmental Differences
Authors: Liu Ke , Zhang Yongling , Li Qinglin , Li Huan , Long Danfeng , Yan Shijuan , Huang Wenjie , Long Ruijun , Huang Xiaodan
Published: February 2020

Although the human gut microbiome is shaped by factors such as diet, environment, and genetic background, most studies investigating the relationship between ethnicity and microbiota have compared groups living in separate geographical locations. To isolate the effects of ethnicity on microbial diversity by minimizing environmental differences, we selected 143 school children from Han, Tibetan, and Hui populations from the same town on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau for fecal microbiome 16S rDNA sequencing. We characterized the diversity, identified signature taxa, and performed correlation analysis between diet and community composition. Firmicutes (47.61%) and Bacteroidetes (38.05%) were dominant phyla among the three ethnic groups; seven genera showed significant differences in relative abundance. Tibetan populations had a higher relative abundance of Oscillibacter and Barnesiella, compared with Han and Hui populations. Alpha diversity analyses (observed species, ACE, and Shannon indices) showed that the Tibetan population had the highest diversity compared to the Hui and Han groups, whereas beta diversity analysis revealed no significant differences between groups. The consumption of grains, milk, eggs, and fruits were positively correlated with specific taxa. Under similar environments and diet, ethnic background significantly contributed to differences in alpha diversity but not beta diversity of gut microbiota.
Oligosaccharides from Palm Kernel Cake Enhances Adherence Inhibition and Intracellular Clearance of Salmonella enterica Serovar Enteritidis In Vitro
Authors: Foo Rui Qing , Jahromi Mohammad Faseleh , Chen Wei Li , Ahmad Syahida , Lai Kok Song , Idrus Zulkifli , Liang Juan Boo
Published: February 2020

Salmonella enterica serovar (ser.) Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis) is a foodborne pathogen often associated with contaminated poultry products. This study evaluated the anti-adherence and intracellular clearance capability of oligosaccharides extracted from palm kernel cake (PKC), a by-product of the palm oil industry, and compared its efficacy with commercial prebiotics— fructooligosaccharide (FOS) and mannanoligosaccharide (MOS)—against S. Enteritidis in vitro. Based on the degree of polymerization (DP), PKC oligosaccharides were further divided into ‘Small’ (DP ≤ 6) and ‘Big’ (DP > 6) fractions. Results showed that the Small and Big PKC fractions were able to reduce (p < 0.05) S. Enteritidis adherence to Cancer coli-2 (Caco-2) cells at 0.1 mg/ mL while MOS and FOS showed significant reduction at 1.0 mg/mL and 10.0 mg/mL, respectively. In terms of S. Enteritidis clearance, oligosaccharide-treated macrophages showed better S. Enteritidis clearance over time at 50 µg/mL for Small, Big and MOS, while FOS required a concentration of 500 µg/mL for a similar effect. This data highlights that oligosaccharides from PKC, particularly those of lower DP, were more effective than MOS and FOS at reducing S. Enteritidis adherence and enhancing S. Enteritidis clearance in a cell culture model.
Microbial Ecology from the Himalayan Cryosphere Perspective
Authors: Dhakar Kusum , Pandey Anita
Published: February 2020

Cold-adapted microorganisms represent a large fraction of biomass on Earth because of the dominance of low-temperature environments. Extreme cold environments are mainly dependent on microbial activities because this climate restricts higher plants and animals. Himalaya is one of the most important cold environments on Earth as it shares climatic similarities with the polar regions. It includes a wide range of ecosystems, from temperate to extreme cold, distributed along the higher altitudes. These regions are characterized as stressful environments because of the heavy exposure to harmful rays, scarcity of nutrition, and freezing conditions. The microorganisms that colonize these regions are recognized as cold-tolerant (psychrotolerants) or/and cold-loving (psychrophiles) microorganisms. These microorganisms possess several structural and functional adaptations in order to perform normal life processes under the stressful low-temperature environments. Their biological activities maintain the nutrient flux in the environment and contribute to the global biogeochemical cycles. Limited culture-dependent and culture-independent studies have revealed their diversity in community structure and functional potential. Apart from the ecological importance, these microorganisms have been recognized as source of cold-active enzymes and novel bioactive compounds of industrial and biotechnological importance. Being an important part of the cryosphere, Himalaya needs to be explored at different dimensions related to the life of the inhabiting extremophiles. The present review discusses the distinct facts associated with microbial ecology from the Himalayan cryosphere perspective.
Epstein-Barr Virus miR-BART17-5p Promotes Migration and Anchorage-Independent Growth by Targeting Kruppel-Like Factor 2 in Gastric Cancer
Authors: Yoon Jae Hee , Min Kyoungmi , Lee Suk Kyeong
Published: February 2020

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infects more than 90% of the global population and is associated with a variety of tumors including nasopharyngeal carcinoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, natural killer/T lymphoma, and gastric carcinoma. In EBV-associated gastric cancer (EBVaGC), highly expressed EBV BamHI A rightward transcripts (BART) miRNAs may contribute to tumorigenesis with limited viral antigens. Despite previous studies on the targets of BART miRNAs, the functions of all 44 BART miRNAs have not been fully clarified. Here, we used RNA sequencing data from the Cancer Genome Atlas to find genes with decreased expression in EBVaGC. Furthermore, we used AGS cells infected with EBV to determine whether expression was reduced by BART miRNA. We showed that the expression of Kruppel-like factor 2 (KLF2) is lower in AGS-EBV cells than in the AGS control. Using bioinformatics analysis, four BART miRNAs were selected to check whether they suppress KLF2 expression. We found that only miR-BART17-5p directly down-regulated KLF2 and promoted gastric carcinoma cell migration and anchorage-independent growth. Our data suggest that KLF2 functions as a tumor suppressor in EBVaGC and that miR-BART17-5p may be a valuable target for effective EBVaGC treatment.
Managed and Unmanaged Pinus sylvestris Forest Stands Harbour Similar Diversity and Composition of the Phyllosphere and Soil Fungi
Authors: Lynikienė Jūratė , Marčiulynienė Diana , Marčiulynas Adas , Gedminas Artūras , Vaičiukynė Miglė , Menkis Audrius
Published: February 2020

The aim was to assess fungal communities associated with living needles and soil of Pinus sylvestris in managed and unmanaged forest stands to get a better understanding of whether and how different intensities of forest management affects fungal diversity and community composition under the north temperate forest zone conditions. The study was carried out in three national parks in Lithuania. Each included five study sites in managed stands and five in unmanaged stands. At each site, three random soil cores and five random last-year needle samples were collected. Following DNA isolation, a DNA fragment of the ITS2 rRNA gene region of each sample was individually amplified and subjected to high-throughput sequencing. Analysis of 195,808 high-quality reads showed the presence of 1909 fungal taxa. Richness and composition of fungal taxa were similar in each substrate (needles and soil) in managed vs. unmanaged sites. The most common fungi in needles were Coleosporium campanulae (12.4% of all fungal sequences), Unidentified sp. 3980_1 (12.4%), Unidentified sp. 3980_4 (4.1%) and Sydowia polyspora (3.1%). In soil: Unidentified sp. 3980_21 (8.6%), Umbelopsis nana (8.2%), Archaeorhizomyces sp. 3980_5 (8.1%) and Penicillium spinulosum (6.3%). The results demonstrated that managed and unmanaged P. sylvestris stands support similar diversity and composition of fungal communities associated with living needles and soil.
Genomic and Metabolic Insights into Denitrification, Sulfur Oxidation, and Multidrug Efflux Pump Mechanisms in the Bacterium Rhodoferax sediminis sp. nov.
Authors: Jin Chun-Zhi , Zhuo Ye , Wu Xuewen , Ko So-Ra , Li Taihua , Jin Feng-Jie , Ahn Chi-Yong , Oh Hee-Mock , Lee Hyung-Gwan , Jin Long
Published: February 2020

This genus contains both phototrophs and nonphototrophic members. Here, we present a high-quality complete genome of the strain CHu59-6-5T, isolated from a freshwater sediment. The circular chromosome (4.39 Mbp) of the strain CHu59-6-5T has 64.4% G+C content and contains 4240 genes, of which a total of 3918 genes (92.4%) were functionally assigned to the COG (clusters of orthologous groups) database. Functional genes for denitrification (narGHJI, nirK and qnor) were identified on the genomes of the strain CHu59-6-5T, except for N2O reductase (nos) genes for the final step of denitrification. Genes (soxBXAZY) for encoding sulfur oxidation proteins were identified, and the FSD and soxF genes encoding the monomeric flavoproteins which have sulfide dehydrogenase activities were also detected. Lastly, genes for the assembly of two different RND (resistance-nodulation division) type efflux systems and one ABC (ATP-binding cassette) type efflux system were identified in the Rhodoferax sediminis CHu59-6-5T. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA sequences and Average Nucleotide Identities (ANI) support the idea that the strain CHu59-6-5T has a close relationship to the genus Rhodoferax. A polyphasic study was done to establish the taxonomic status of the strain CHu59-6-5T. Based on these data, we proposed that the isolate be classified to the genus Rhodoferax as Rhodoferax sediminis sp. nov. with isolate CHu59-6-5T.