bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical Reasoning Behind Non-Pharmacological Interventions for the Management of Headaches: A Narrative Literature Review
Authors: Fernández-de-las-Peñas César , Florencio Lidiane L. , Plaza-Manzano Gustavo , Arias-Buría José L.
Published: June 2020

Headache is the clinical syndrome most commonly observed by neurologists in daily practice. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments are commonly used for the management of headaches; however, the clinical reasoning behind these interventions is not properly applied. We conducted a narrative literature review using as data sources for academic PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, AMED, CINAHL, EBSCO, PEDro, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Collaboration Trials Register, and SCOPUS. This narrative literature review mainly considered systematic reviews, meta-analyses, randomised clinical trials, and expert opinions published after the year 2000 discussing clinical reasoning for application of non-pharmacological interventions in individuals with tension-type, migraine, and cervicogenic headaches. After the data extraction, we organized the literature thematically as follows: (1) mapping of theoretical aspects of non-pharmacological interventions; (2) summarizing most updated literature about effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions grouped by targeted tissue and headache; (3) identifying research gaps in the existing literature and proposing hypotheses for better understanding of current clinical reasoning. We found that there are many non-pharmacological treatment strategies used for headaches, including beyond the tissue-based impairment treatments (bottom-up) and strategies targeting the central nervous system (top down). Bottom-up strategies include joint-biased, soft-tissue biased, or needling interventions, whereas top-down strategies include exercise and cognitive interventions. Evidence shows that the effectiveness of these interventions depends on the application of proper clinical reasoning, since not all strategies are effective for all headaches. For instance, evidence of non-pharmacological interventions is more controversial for migraines than for tension-type or cervicogenic headaches, since migraine pathogenesis involves activation of sub-cortical structures and the trigemino- vascular system, whereas pathogenesis of tension-type or cervicogenic headaches is most associated to musculoskeletal impairments of the cervical spine. We conclude that current literature suggests that not all non-pharmacological interventions are effective for all headaches, and that multimodal, not isolated, approaches seem to be more effective for patients with headaches. Most published studies have reported small clinical effects in the short term. This narrative literature review provides some hypotheses for discrepancies in the available literature and future research. Clinical reasoning should be applied to better understand the effects of non-pharmacological interventions.
Community Faecal Management Strategies and Perceptions on Sludge Use in Agriculture
Authors: Mamera Matthew , van Tol Johan J. , Aghoghovwia Makhosazana P. , Mapetere Gabriel T.
Published: June 2020

Most people in rural areas in South Africa (SA) rely on untreated drinking groundwater sources and pit latrine sanitations. A minimum basic sanitation facility should enable safe and appropriate removal of human waste, and although pit latrines provide this, they are still contamination concerns. Pit latrine sludge in SA is mostly emptied and disposed off-site as waste or buried in-situ. Despite having knowledge of potential sludge benefits, most communities in SA are reluctant to use it. This research captured social perceptions regarding latrine sludge management in Monontsha village in the Free State Province of SA through key informant interviews and questionnaires. A key informant interview and questionnaire was done in Monontsha, SA. Eighty participants, representing 5% of all households, were selected. Water samples from four boreholes and four rivers were analyzed for faecal coliforms and E.coli bacteria. On average, five people in a household were sharing a pit latrine. Eighty-three percent disposed filled pit latrines while 17% resorted to closing the filled latrines. Outbreaks of diarrhoea (69%) and cholera (14%) were common. Sixty percent were willing to use treated faecal sludge in agriculture. The binary logistic regression model indicated that predictor variables significantly (p ˂ 0.05) described water quality, faecal sludge management, sludge application in agriculture and biochar adaption. Most drinking water sources in the study had detections ˂ 1 CFU/100 mL. It is therefore imperative to use both qualitative surveys and analytical data. Awareness can go a long way to motivate individuals to adopt to a new change.
Development of a Geogenic Radon Hazard Index—Concept, History, Experiences
Authors: Bossew Peter , Cinelli Giorgia , Ciotoli Giancarlo , Crowley Quentin G. , De Cort Marc , Elío Medina Javier , Gruber Valeria , Petermann Eric , Tollefsen Tore
Published: June 2020

Exposure to indoor radon at home and in workplaces constitutes a serious public health risk and is the second most prevalent cause of lung cancer after tobacco smoking. Indoor radon concentration is to a large extent controlled by so-called geogenic radon, which is radon generated in the ground. While indoor radon has been mapped in many parts of Europe, this is not the case for its geogenic control, which has been surveyed exhaustively in only a few countries or regions. Since geogenic radon is an important predictor of indoor radon, knowing the local potential of geogenic radon can assist radon mitigation policy in allocating resources and tuning regulations to focus on where it needs to be prioritized. The contribution of geogenic to indoor radon can be quantified in different ways: the geogenic radon potential (GRP) and the geogenic radon hazard index (GRHI). Both are constructed from geogenic quantities, with their differences tending to be, but not always, their type of geographical support and optimality as indoor radon predictors. An important feature of the GRHI is consistency across borders between regions with different data availability and Rn survey policies, which has so far impeded the creation of a European map of geogenic radon. The GRHI can be understood as a generalization or extension of the GRP. In this paper, the concepts of GRP and GRHI are discussed and a review of previous GRHI approaches is presented, including methods of GRHI estimation and some preliminary results. A methodology to create GRHI maps that cover most of Europe appears at hand and appropriate; however, further fine tuning and validation remains on the agenda.
Effect of Gender, Physical Activity and Stress-Related Hormones on Adolescent’s Academic Achievements
Authors: Alghadir Ahmad , Gabr Sami , Iqbal Zaheen
Published: June 2020

Background: Physical activity (PA) has been shown to develop better fitness and body function in children. Various studies have shown that as the age of students increases, its correlation with school achievement decreases. Different hormonal changes during adolescence make it difficult to adjust in his/her environment, causing stress. To the best of our knowledge, no study has studied the correlation between stress-related hormones and school performance among adolescents. This study was conducted to evaluate physical activity and stress-related hormones, cortisol and serotonin, among school adolescents aged 12–18 years old and find their association with academic achievements. Methods: A total of 300 students were invited to participate in this study. Physical activity of the participants was assessed in relation to the time spent performing various physical activities. End of the academic year grades were obtained from the school as a collective measure of academic achievement and executive function. The levels of cortisol and serotonin were measured using the competitive immunoassay techniques. Results: There was a significant correlation between age, gender, BMI, cortisol, serotonin, physical activity score; and academic achievement, and executive functioning among participants. Academic achievement and executive functioning scores correlated positively with gender, serotonin, physical activity score, but negatively with age, BMI and salivary cortisol. Stepwise regression analysis showed that physical activity and demographic parameters and stress-related hormones, cortisol and serotonin, explained around 61.9–77.9% of academic performance and executive functioning variation in school adolescents, especially females. Conclusions: Optimal physical activity and release of stress-related hormones could be the determining factor for performance in school and other activities. These results should be taken into consideration while planning the school curriculum.
Impact of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases
Authors: Jung Su Young , Kim Sung Su , Yeo Seung Geun
Published: June 2020

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is an important organelle for normal cellular function and homeostasis in most living things. ER stress, which impairs ER function, occurs when the ER is overwhelmed by newly introduced immature proteins or when calcium in the ER is depleted. A number of diseases are associated with ER stress, including otorhinolaryngological diseases. The relationship between ER stress and otorhinolaryngologic conditions has been the subject of investigation over the last decade. Among otologic diseases associated with ER stress are otitis media and hearing loss. In rhinologic diseases, chronic rhinosinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and obstructive sleep apnea are also significantly associated with ER stress. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the relationship between ER stress and otorhinolaryngological diseases, focusing on the current state of knowledge and mechanisms that link ER stress and otorhinolaryngologic diseases.
Cell Adhesion Molecule 1 Contributes to Cell Survival in Crowded Epithelial Monolayers
Authors: Hagiyama Man , Kimura Ryuichiro , Yoneshige Azusa , Inoue Takao , Otani Tomoyuki , Ito Akihiko
Published: June 2020

When epithelial cells in vivo are stimulated to proliferate, they crowd and often grow in height. These processes are likely to implicate dynamic interactions among lateral membranous proteins, such as cell adhesion molecule 1 (CADM1), an immunoglobulin superfamily member. Pulmonary epithelial cell lines that express CADM1, named NCI-H441 and RLE-6TN, were grown to become overconfluent in the polarized 2D culture system, and were examined for the expression of CADM1. Western analyses showed that the CADM1 expression levels increased gradually up to 3 times in a cell density-dependent manner. Confocal microscopic observations revealed dense immunostaining for CADM1 on the lateral membrane. In the overconfluent monolayers, CADM1 knockdown was achieved by two methods using CADM1-targeting siRNA and an anti-CADM1 neutralizing antibody. Antibody treatment experiments were also done on 6 other epithelial cell lines expressing CADM1. The CADM1 expression levels were reduced roughly by half, in association with cell height decrease by half in 3 lines. TUNEL assays revealed that the CADM1 knockdown increased the proportion of TUNEL-positive apoptotic cells approximately 10 folds. Increased expression of CADM1 appeared to contribute to cell survival in crowded epithelial monolayers.
CD38 and Anti-CD38 Monoclonal Antibodies in AL Amyloidosis: Targeting Plasma Cells and beyond
Authors: Roccatello Dario , Fenoglio Roberta , Sciascia Savino , Naretto Carla , Rossi Daniela , Ferro Michela , Barreca Antonella , Malavasi Fabio , Baldovino Simone
Published: June 2020

Immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis (AL amyloidosis) is a rare systemic disease characterized by monoclonal light chains (LCs) depositing in tissue as insoluble fibrils, causing irreversible tissue damage. The mechanisms involved in aggregation and deposition of LCs are not fully understood, but CD138/38 plasma cells (PCs) are undoubtedly involved in monoclonal LC production.CD38 is a pleiotropic molecule detectable on the surface of PCs and maintained during the neoplastic transformation in multiple myeloma (MM). CD38 is expressed on T, B and NK cell populations as well, though at a lower cell surface density. CD38 is an ideal target in the management of PC dyscrasia, including AL amyloidosis, and indeed anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) have promising therapeutic potential. Anti-CD38 MoAbs act both as PC-depleting agents and as modulators of the balance of the immune cells. These aspects, together with their interaction with Fc receptors (FcRs) and neonatal FcRs, are specifically addressed in this paper. Moreover, the initiallyavailable experiences with the anti-CD38 MoAb DARA in AL amyloidosis are reviewed.
Transcriptome Profiling Reveals Novel Candidate Genes Related to Hippocampal Dysfunction in SREBP-1c Knockout Mice
Authors: Ang Mary Jasmin , Kim Juhwan , Lee Sueun , Kim Sung-Ho , Kim Jong-Choon , Jeon Tae-Il , Im Seung-Soon , Moon Changjong
Published: June 2020

Lipid homeostasis is an important component of brain function, and its disturbance causes several neurological disorders, such as Huntington’s, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s diseases as well as mood disorders. Sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) is a key modulatory molecule involved in lipid homeostasis in the central nervous system. However, little is known about the biological effects of SREBP-1c in the brain. Our previous study uncovered that mice deficient in SREBP-1c exhibit schizophrenia-like behaviors. To investigate whether there are novel molecular mechanisms involved in the neurological aberrations caused by SREBP-1c deficiency, we analyzed the transcriptomes of the hippocampus of SREBP-1c knockout (KO) mice and wild-type mice. We found seven differentially expressed genes (three up-regulated and four down-regulated genes) in the hippocampus of SREBP-1c KO mice. For further verification, we selected the three most significantly changed genes: glucagon-like peptide 2 receptors (GLP2R) involved in hippocampal neurogenesis and neuroplasticity as well as in cognitive impairments; necdin (NDN) which is related to neuronal death and neurodevelopmental disorders; and Erb-B2 receptor tyrosine kinase 4 (ERBB4) which is a receptor for schizophrenia-linked protein, neuregulin-1. The protein levels of GLP2R and NDN were considerably decreased, but the level of ERBB4 was significantly increased in the hippocampus of SREBP-1c KO mice. However, further confirmation is warranted to establish the translatability of these findings from this rodent model into human patients. We suggest that these data provide novel molecular evidence for the modulatory role of SREBP-1c in the mouse hippocampus.
Molecular Structure, Binding Affinity, and Biological Activity in the Epigenome
Authors: Zsidó Balázs Zoltán , Hetényi Csaba
Published: June 2020

Development of valid structure–activity relationships (SARs) is a key to the elucidation of pathomechanisms of epigenetic diseases and the development of efficient, new drugs. The present review is based on selected methodologies and applications supplying molecular structure, binding affinity and biological activity data for the development of new SARs. An emphasis is placed on emerging trends and permanent challenges of new discoveries of SARs in the context of proteins as epigenetic drug targets. The review gives a brief overview and classification of the molecular background of epigenetic changes, and surveys both experimental and theoretical approaches in the field. Besides the results of sophisticated, cutting edge techniques such as cryo-electron microscopy, protein crystallography, and isothermal titration calorimetry, examples of frequently used assays and fast screening techniques are also selected. The review features how different experimental methods and theoretical approaches complement each other and result in valid SARs of the epigenome.
Protective Effect of Alpha-Lipoic Acid on Salivary Dysfunction in a Mouse Model of Radioiodine Therapy-Induced Sialoadenitis
Authors: Jung Jung Hwa , Kim Jin Hyun , Jung Myeong Hee , Kim Seung Won , Jeong Bae Kwon , Woo Seung Hoon
Published: June 2020

Radioiodine (RI) therapy is known to cause salivary gland (SG) dysfunction. The effects of antioxidants on RI-induced SG damage have not been well described. This study was performed to investigate the radioprotective effects of alpha lipoic acid (ALA) administered prior to RI therapy in a mouse model of RI-induced sialadenitis. Four-week-old female C57BL/6 mice were divided into four groups (n = 10 per group): group I, normal control; group II, ALA alone (100 mg/kg); group III, RI alone (0.01 mCi/g body weight, orally); and group IV, ALA + RI (ALA at 100 mg/kg, 24 h and 30 min before RI exposure at 0.01 mCi/g body weight). The animals in these groups were divided into two subgroups and euthanized at 30 or 90 days post-RI treatment. Changes in salivary 99mTc pertechnetate uptake and excretion were tracked by single-photon emission computed tomography. Salivary histological examinations and TUNEL assays were performed. The 99mTc pertechnetate excretion level recovered in the ALA treatment group. Salivary epithelial (aquaporin 5) cells of the ALA + RI group were protected from RI damage. The ALA + RI group exhibited more mucin-containing parenchyma and less fibrotic tissues than the RI only group. Fewer apoptotic cells were observed in the ALA + RI group compared to the RI only group. Pretreatment with ALA before RI therapy is potentially beneficial in protecting against RI-induced salivary dysfunction.
The Importance of Trust in Knowledge Sharing and the Efficiency of Doing Business on the Example of Tourism
Authors: Kacperska Elżbieta , Łukasiewicz Katarzyna
Published: June 2020

The ability to share knowledge in an organization may determine its success. Knowledge is one of the basic resources of an enterprise, being also the basis for undertaking various types of strategic actions. Knowledge management should be focused in the organization on such processing of all available information to lead to the creation of value defined by employees of the organization and by customers. In order to raise the issue of knowledge sharing, trust should be mentioned. Trust is a factor conditioning effective atmosphere and cooperation in an organization. The main purpose of the article is to present the relationship between trust and knowledge sharing, taking into account the importance of this issue in the efficiency of doing business. To formulate conclusions, data from surveys carried out in 148 different tourist facilities were used. Data were collected by applying the diagnostic survey method and by using a survey technique based on a prepared questionnaire. The results showed that trust is important in sharing knowledge and was found to play an important role in achieving a high level of performance efficiency. The study consists of an introduction, literature review, research results and discussion of results. At the end of the article, conclusions, restrictions and recommendations for future research are presented.
Electromyographic Analysis of Shoulder Neuromuscular Activity in Women Following Breast Cancer Treatment: A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study
Authors: Prieto-Gómez Virginia , Navarro-Brazález Beatriz , Sánchez-Méndez Óscar , de-la-Villa Pedro , Sánchez-Sánchez Beatriz , Torres-Lacomba María
Published: June 2020

Certain secondary effects derived from medical treatment in breast cancer can favor the development of alterations in shoulder biomechanics. To the best of our knowledge, persistent peripheral pain as a key factor for the development of neuromuscular activity impairments has not been analyzed. A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out. A total of 90 women were included and allocated to three groups: (i) 30 women with persistent peripheral pain after breast cancer treatment, (ii) 30 women without pain after breast cancer treatment, and (iii) 30 healthy women. Surface electromyography was employed to measure the onset and amplitude of the muscle activity of three shoulder movements. Statistically significant differences were found in the neuromuscular activity for all the muscles and shoulder movements among women with persistent pain versus healthy women (i.e., amplitude muscle activity variable p < 0.001). Statistically significant differences were also observed in the neuromuscular activity for certain muscles in shoulder movements among women with persistent pain versus women without pain, as well as between women without pain versus healthy women. Therefore, following breast cancer treatment, women showed alterations in their shoulder neuromuscular activity, which were more significant if persistent pain existed. These findings may contribute to developing a selective therapeutic exercise program that optimizes the shoulder neuromuscular activity in women after breast cancer treatment.
Correlation of Pancreatic T1 Values Using Modified Look-Locker Inversion Recovery Sequence (MOLLI) with Pancreatic Exocrine and Endocrine Function
Authors: Ashihara Norihiro , Watanabe Takayuki , Kako Satoko , Kuraishi Yasuhiro , Ozawa Makiko , Shigefuji Shohei , Kanai Keita , Usami Yoko , Yamada Akira , Umemura Takeji , Fujinaga Yasunari
Published: June 2020

Quantifying myocardial T1 values has been useful for detecting and characterizing fibrotic appearance in myocardial infarction, focal scars, and non-ischemic cardiomyopathies. Since pancreatic exocrine function decreases with chronic pancreatic fibrosis advancement, this study examined the correlation between pancreatic T1 values and pancreatic exocrine and endocrine insufficiency. Methods: Thirty-two patients underwent abdominal contrast-enhanced MRI in our department between October 2017 and February 2019. We evaluated the T1 values of the pancreas using a modified Look-Locker inversion recovery sequence (MOLLI), pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI) by fecal elastase 1 (FE1) values, and pancreatic endocrine insufficiency using fasting insulin and blood glucose levels to calculate the HOMA-β. This trial is registered in the UMIN Clinical Trials Registry as UMIN 000030067. Results: The median cohort (9 males and 23 females) age was 71 (range: 49–84) years. Eighteen patients had pancreatic cysts, three had alcohol-induced chronic pancreatitis, three had pancreatic cancer, and eight possessed other pancreatic features (two patients each with autoimmune pancreatitis, acute pancreatitis, or a bile duct tumor, one with idiopathic chronic pancreatitis, and one healthy control with negative findings). The median pancreatic T1 value measured by the MOLLI was 857.5 ms (597–2569). A significant negative correlation was found between the T1 mapping and FE1 values (r = 0.69, p < 0.01), with none for the T1 with HOMA-β or serum albumin, triglycerides, or body mass index. Conclusions: the pancreatic T1 values correlated significantly with pancreatic exocrine function and might be useful in PEI diagnosis.
Influence of Growth and Recruitment Parameters in the Assessment and Management Variables of the Yellow Squat Lobster (Cervimunida johni)
Authors: Canales T. Mariella , Quiroz Juan-Carlos , Wiff Rodrigo , Queirolo Dante , Bucarey Doris
Published: June 2020

Fitting length data in age-structured stock assessment is a common method for evaluating hard-to-age animals, such as crustaceans. Growth specification and the uncertainty in the stock recruitment relationship are key issues in length-based assessment models. We conducted sensitivity analyses to evaluate the impact of growth and recruitment parameters on the stock assessment and management variables of the yellow squat lobster (Cervimunida johni) caught off the Chilean coast. Nine different scenarios of the length at first capture ( L a = 1 ) and the coefficient of variation at age ( c v a ) were tested for six combinations of values for the steepness parameter (h) and the recruitment variance ( σ R 2 ). We also investigated the reliability of these estimates using an operating model. Our findings indicate that the parameter related to growth, L a = 1 , has the greatest impact on the assessment and management variables of this fishery resource, with c v a having a lesser effect. Recruitment and fishing mortality estimates were the main variables affected. Parameters h and σ R 2 did not profoundly impact the variables assessed. In addition, L a = 1 was the most biased estimated parameter. We discuss that the high influence of growth parameters is related to model structure, and thus implications for determination of the status of yellow squat lobster should be addressed in the future. We recommended developing simulation protocols for the selection of growth parameters when using an age-structured model with length observations, and we believe that our findings are relevant for all Chilean fisheries with a similar stock assessment framework.
Investigation of Ship-Induced Hydrodynamics and Sediment Suspension in a Heavy Shipping Traffic Waterway
Authors: Mao Lilei , Chen Yimei
Published: June 2020

In order to investigate the complex hydrodynamics and associated sediment movement resulting from the ship passages in heavy shipping traffic waterways, field measurements were performed in a heavy shipping traffic waterway. Based on the collected waves, flow velocity and water turbidity data, the analyses of the ship-induced hydrodynamics and associated sediment suspension phenomena were conducted. The low-frequency primary wave and high-frequency secondary wave were more pronounced for a barge and yacht in the wave structure, respectively, and contributed more to the flow velocity fluctuations and the bottom shear stress. The ship-induced bottom shear stress can cause significant suspended sediment concentration increase, and there is a correlation between the maximum suspended sediment concentration and maximum ship-induced drawdown height, which can provide a reference for the waterway management.
Utilizing Remotely Sensed Observations to Estimate the Urban Heat Island Effect at a Local Scale: Case Study of a University Campus
Authors: Addas Abdullah , Goldblatt Ran , Rubinyi Steven
Published: June 2020

The urban heat island (UHI) effect has become a significant focus of research in today’s era of climate change, and a key consideration for the next generation of urban planning focused on green and livable cities. UHI has traditionally been measured using in situ data and ground-based measurements. However, with the increased availability of satellite-based thermal observations of the Earth, remotely sensed observations are increasingly being utilized to estimate surface urban heat island (SUHI), using land surface temperature (LST) as a critical indicator, due to its spatial coverage. In this study, we estimated LST based on Landsat-8 observations to demonstrate the relationship between LST and the characteristics of the land use and land cover on the campus of King Abdulaziz University (KAU), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. We found a consistent variation of between 7 and 9 degrees Celsius for LST across campus, spanning all summer and winter seasons between 2014 and 2019. The LST correlates strongly with both green vegetation and built-up land cover, with a slightly stronger correlation with the latter. The relationship between LST and green vegetation has a notable seasonality, with higher correlation in the summer seasons compared to the winter seasons. Our study also found an overall increase in LST between 2014 and 2019, due to intentional changes in the built-up land cover, for example from the conversion of natural green surfaces to artificial surfaces. The findings of this study highlight the utility of the remotely sensed observation of LST to assess the SUHI phenomenon and can be used to inform future planning aimed at securing green and livable urban areas in the face of a changing climate.
Welding, Joining, and Coating of Metallic Materials
Authors: Zinigrad Michael , Borodianskiy Konstantin
Published: June 2020

Welding, joining, and coating of metallic materials are among the most applicable fabrication processes in modern metallurgy. Welding or joining is the manufacture of a metal one-body workpiece from several pieces. Coating is the process of production of metallic substrate with required properties of the surface. A long list of specific techniques is studied during schooling and applied in industry; several include resistant spot, laser or friction welding, micro arc oxidation (MAO), chemical vapor deposition (CVD), and physical vapor deposition (PVD), among others. This Special Issue presents 21 recent developments in the field of welding, joining, and coating of various metallic materials namely, Ti and Mg alloys, different types of steel, intermetallics, and shape memory alloys.
Disassembly of Li Ion Cells—Characterization and Safety Considerations of a Recycling Scheme
Authors: Marshall Jean , Gastol Dominika , Sommerville Roberto , Middleton Beth , Goodship Vannessa , Kendrick Emma
Published: June 2020

It is predicted there will be a rapid increase in the number of lithium ion batteries reaching end of life. However, recently only 5% of lithium ion batteries (LIBs) were recycled in the European Union. This paper explores why and how this can be improved by controlled dismantling, characterization and recycling. Currently, the favored disposal route for batteries is shredding of complete systems and then separation of individual fractions. This can be effective for the partial recovery of some materials, producing impure, mixed or contaminated waste streams. For an effective circular economy it would be beneficial to produce greater purity waste streams and be able to re-use (as well as recycle) some components; thus, a dismantling system could have advantages over shredding. This paper presents an alternative complete system disassembly process route for lithium ion batteries and examines the various processes required to enable material or component recovery. A schematic is presented of the entire process for all material components along with a materials recovery assay. Health and safety considerations and options for each stage of the process are also reported. This is with an aim of encouraging future battery dismantling operations.
Measurement of 3D-Shape Preferred Orientation (SPO) Using Synchrotron μ-CT: Applications for Estimation of Fault Motion Sense in a Fault Gouge
Authors: Sim Ho , Song Yungoo , Kim Jaehun , Yang Eomzi , Yun Tae Sup , Lim Jae-Hong
Published: June 2020

We propose a 3D-shape preferred orientation (SPO) measurement method of rigid grains using synchrotron micro-computational tomography (μ-CT). The method includes oriented sampling, 3D μ-CT imaging, image filtering, ellipsoid fitting, and SPO measurement. After CT imaging, all processes are computerized, and the directions of thousands of rigid grains in 3D-space can be automatically measured. This method is optimized for estimating the orientation of the silt-sized rigid grains in fault gouge, which indicates P-shear direction in a fault system. This allows us to successfully deduce fault motion sense and quantify fault movement. Because this method requires a small amount of sample, it can be applied as an alternative to study fault systems, where the shear sense indicators are not distinct in the outcrop and the fault gouge is poorly developed. We applied the newly developed 3D-SPO method for a fault system in the Yangsan fault, one of the major faults in the southeastern Korean Peninsula, and observed the P-shear direction successfully.
Neobavaisoflavone Inhibits Melanogenesis through the Regulation of Akt/GSK-3β and MEK/ERK Pathways in B16F10 Cells and a Reconstructed Human 3D Skin Model
Authors: Kim Da Eun , Chang Bo Yoon , Ham Sang Ok , Kim Youn Chul , Kim Sung Yeon
Published: June 2020

Previous studies have confirmed the anti-melanogenic effect of the aerial part of Pueraria lobata, however, due to its inherent color, P. lobata has limited commercial use. In this study, an extract (GALM-DC) of the aerial part of P. lobata having improved color by the use of activated carbon was obtained. Furthermore, the active compound neobavaisoflavone (NBI) was identified from GALM-DC. The effect of NBI on melanogenesis, tyrosinase activity, α-glucosidase activity, and mechanism of action in melanocytes was investigated. Tyrosinase activity, melanin contents and the expression of melanin-related genes and proteins were determined in B16F10 cells. NBI reduced melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity. Furthermore, NBI treatment reduced the mRNA and protein expression levels of MITF, TRP-1, and tyrosinase. NBI also works by phosphorylating and activating proteins that inhibit melanogenesis, such as GSK3β and ERK. Specific inhibitors of Akt/GSK-3β (LY294002) and MEK/ERK (PD98059) signaling prevented the inhibition of melanogenesis by NBI. NBI inhibited melanin production through the regulation of MEK/ERK and Akt/GSK-3β signaling pathways in α-MSH-stimulated B16F10 cells. NBI suppresses tyrosinase activity and melanogenesis through inhibition of α-glucosidase activity. Besides, NBI significantly reduced melanogenesis in a reconstructed human 3D skin model. In conclusion, these results suggest that NBI has potential as a skin-whitening agent for hyperpigmentation.
Long-Distance Movement of mRNAs in Plants
Authors: Xia Chao , Zhang Cankui
Published: June 2020

Long-distance transport of information molecules in the vascular tissues could play an important role in regulating plant growth and enabling plants to cope with adverse environments. Various molecules, including hormones, proteins, small peptides and small RNAs have been detected in the vascular system and proved to have systemic signaling functions. Sporadic studies have shown that a number of mRNAs produced in the mature leaves leave their origin cells and move to distal tissues to exert important physiological functions. In the last 3–5 years, multiple heterograft systems have been developed to demonstrate that a large quantity of mRNAs are mobile in plants. Further comparison of the mobile mRNAs identified from these systems showed that the identities of these mRNAs are very diverse. Although species-specific mRNAs may regulate the unique physiological characteristic of the plant, mRNAs with conserved functions across multiple species are worth more effort in identifying universal physiological mechanisms existing in the plant kingdom.
Generalization of the FOPDT Model for Identification and Control Purposes
Authors: Muresan Cristina I. , Ionescu Clara M.
Published: June 2020

This paper proposes a theoretical framework for generalization of the well established first order plus dead time (FOPDT) model for linear systems. The FOPDT model has been broadly used in practice to capture essential dynamic response of real life processes for the purpose of control design systems. Recently, the model has been revisited towards a generalization of its orders, i.e., non-integer Laplace order and fractional order delay. This paper investigates the stability margins as they vary with each generalization step. The relevance of this generalization has great implications in both the identification of dynamic processes as well as in the controller parameter design of dynamic feedback closed loops. The discussion section addresses in detail each of this aspect and points the reader towards the potential unlocked by this contribution.
Understanding the Effect of Granulation and Milling Process Parameters on the Quality Attributes of Milled Granules
Authors: Kotamarthy Lalith , Metta Nirupaplava , Ramachandran Rohit
Published: June 2020

Milling is an essential unit operation used for particle size reduction in solid oral dosage manufacturing. The breakage of particles in a comil is due to the intense shear applied on the particles between impeller and the screen. Breakage also occurs due to the impact from a rotating impeller. Particles exit the mill based on their size relative to the aperture size of the screen bores. This study was set up to understand the working of the comil better. A new CPP (Critical Process Parameter), in the form of batch loading was identified. It was found that there are two different regimes (quasi static regime and impact regime) in which a comil generally operates, and the effect of the CPP’s (batch loading and impeller speed) on these regimes was studied. Knowledge of the effect of upstream operations on a particular unit operation is of significant importance, especially for pharmaceutical industry. For this reason, the effect of granulation variables such as liquid-to-solid ratio, granulator impeller speed and the amount of binder in the formulation were analyzed. Milled particle size distribution and other critical quality attributes such as bulk density, friability, and porosity were studied. Batch loading and the interaction effect of batch loading with impeller speed are significant parameters that affect the quality attributes of the mill. Predictive regression models were developed for throughput of the mill, milled product bulk density and milled product tapped density (with an R2 of 0.987, 0.953, 0.995 respectively) to enable their use in downstream process modeling.
TUM-MLS-2016: An Annotated Mobile LiDAR Dataset of the TUM City Campus for Semantic Point Cloud Interpretation in Urban Areas
Authors: Zhu Jingwei , Gehrung Joachim , Huang Rong , Borgmann Björn , Sun Zhenghao , Hoegner Ludwig , Hebel Marcus , Xu Yusheng , Stilla Uwe
Published: June 2020

In the past decade, a vast amount of strategies, methods, and algorithms have been developed to explore the semantic interpretation of 3D point clouds for extracting desirable information. To assess the performance of the developed algorithms or methods, public standard benchmark datasets should invariably be introduced and used, which serve as an indicator and ruler in the evaluation and comparison. In this work, we introduce and present large-scale Mobile LiDAR point clouds acquired at the city campus of the Technical University of Munich, which have been manually annotated and can be used for the evaluation of related algorithms and methods for semantic point cloud interpretation. We created three datasets from a measurement campaign conducted in April 2016, including a benchmark dataset for semantic labeling, test data for instance segmentation, and test data for annotated single 360 ° laser scans. These datasets cover an urban area of approximately 1 km long roadways and include more than 40 million annotated points with eight classes of objects labeled. Moreover, experiments were carried out with results from several baseline methods compared and analyzed, revealing the quality of this dataset and its effectiveness when using it for performance evaluation.
Comparison of the Lunar Models Using the Hyper-Spectral Imager Observations in Lijiang, China
Authors: Wang Yang , Hu Xiuqing , Chen Lin , Huang Yu , Li Zhanfeng , Wang Shurong , Zhang Peng , Wu Ronghua , Zhang Lu , Wang Wei
Published: June 2020

A lunar observation campaign was conducted using a hyper-spectral imaging spectrometer in Lijiang, China from December 2015 to February 2016. The lunar hyper-spectral images in the visible to near-infrared region (VNIR) have been obtained in different lunar phases with absolute scale established by the National Institute of Metrology (NIM), China using the lamp–plate calibration system. At the same time, the aerosol optical depth (AOD) is measured regularly by a lidar and a lunar CE318U for atmospheric characterization to provide nightly atmosphere extinction correction of lunar observations. This paper addressed the complicated data processing procedure in detail from raw images of the spectrometer into the spectral lunar irradiance in different lunar phases. The result of measurement shows that the imaging spectrometer can provide lunar irradiance with uncertainties less than 3.30% except for absorption bands. Except for strong atmosphere absorption region, the mean spectral irradiance difference between the measured irradiance and the ROLO (Robotic Lunar Observatory) model is 8.6 ± 2% over the course of the lunar observation mission. The ROLO model performs more reliable to clarify absolute and relative accuracy of lunar irradiance than that of the MT2009 model in different Sun–Moon–Earth geometry. The spectral ratio analysis of lunar irradiance shows that band-to-band variability in the ROLO model is consistent within 2%, and the consistency of the models in the lunar phase and spectrum is well analyzed and evaluated from phase dependence and phase reddening analysis respectively.
Low-Cost Hyperspectral Imaging System: Design and Testing for Laboratory-Based Environmental Applications
Authors: Stuart Mary B. , Stanger Leigh R. , Hobbs Matthew J. , Pering Tom D. , Thio Daniel , McGonigle Andrew J.S. , Willmott Jon R.
Published: June 2020

The recent surge in the development of low-cost, miniaturised technologies provides a significant opportunity to develop miniaturised hyperspectral imagers at a fraction of the cost of currently available commercial set-ups. This article introduces a low-cost laboratory-based hyperspectral imager developed using commercially available components. The imager is capable of quantitative and qualitative hyperspectral measurements, and it was tested in a variety of laboratory-based environmental applications where it demonstrated its ability to collect data that correlates well with existing datasets. In its current format, the imager is an accurate laboratory measurement tool, with significant potential for ongoing future developments. It represents an initial development in accessible hyperspectral technologies, providing a robust basis for future improvements.
Integrating IoT and Blockchain for Ensuring Road Safety: An Unconventional Approach
Authors: Prashar Deepak , Jha Nishant , Jha Sudan , Joshi Gyanendra Prasad , Seo Changho
Published: June 2020

The Internet of things (IoT), the Internet of vehicles, and blockchain technology have become very popular these days because of their versatility. Road traffic, which is increasing day by day, is causing more and more deaths worldwide. The world needs a product that would reduce the number of road accidents. This paper suggests combining IoT and blockchain technology to mitigate road hazards. The new intelligent transportation system technologies and the subsequent emergence of 5G technologies will be a blessing, delivering the necessary speed to ensure both safety and quality of service (QoS). Hashgraph technology, a distributed ledger technology is used to create communication networks between the different vehicles and other relevant parameters. Scheduling the requests according to the priorities for ensuring better QoS quotient can be effectively done using hashgraph. We demonstrated how the hashgraph outstrips other equivalents platforms. The proposed model was simulated using OMNeT++ with proper design and network description files. A hardware implementation of the proposed model was also done. Messages were transferred between the vehicles and prioritized using a hashgraph. This paper proposes an effective model in reducing the accidents in terms of parameters like speed, security, stability, and fairness.
Quantifying the Computational Efficiency of Compressive Sensing in Smart Water Network Infrastructures
Authors: Tzagkarakis George , Charalampidis Pavlos , Roubakis Stylianos , Makrogiannakis Antonis , Tsakalides Panagiotis
Published: June 2020

Monitoring contemporary water distribution networks (WDN) relies increasingly on smart metering technologies and wireless sensor network infrastructures. Smart meters and sensor nodes are deployed to capture and transfer information from the WDN to a control center for further analysis. Due to difficulties in accessing the water assets, many water utility companies employ battery-powered nodes, which restricts the use of high sampling rates, thus limiting the knowledge we can extract from the recorder data. To mitigate this issue, compressive sensing (CS) has been introduced as a powerful framework for reducing dramatically the required bandwidth and storage resources, without diminishing the meaningful information content. Despite its well-established and mathematically rigorous foundations, most of the focus is given on the algorithmic perspective, while the real benefits of CS in practical scenarios are still underexplored. To address this problem, this work investigates the advantages of a CS-based implementation on real sensing devices utilized in smart water networks, in terms of execution speedup and reduced ener experimental evaluation revealed that a CS-based scheme can reduce compression execution times around 50 % , while achieving significant energy savings compared to lossless compression, by selecting a high compression ratio, without compromising reconstruction fidelity. Most importantly, the above significant savings are achieved by simultaneously enabling a weak encryption of the recorded data without the need for additional encryption hardware or software components.
Social Capital and Value Co-Creation: The Case of a Polish Car Sharing Company
Authors: Tchorek Grzegorz , Brzozowski Michał , Dziewanowska Katarzyna , Allen Agnieszka , Kozioł Waldemar , Kurtyka Michał , Targowski Filip
Published: June 2020

Based on the original and unique data collected from 1000 users of PANEK CarSharing in Poland (the biggest car sharing company in Warsaw), we explored the roles of social trust and social capital in stipulating the process of value co-creation, understood as the ability to share information (engage in dialogue) with other users and the system operator. Our results indicate that particular trust has a more positive influence on the dialogue between users and the operator than general trust. This means that the higher social capital that can be established among a relatively coherent group of people with similar interests and common goals is more important than the general trust arising from our assumption that all people can be trusted, even if we do not know them. Moreover, those customers who see a shared car as a substitute for private ownership as well as those who are more environmentally aware, reveal greater propensity to share information. An important incentive for information sharing is its positive influence on improving the quality of a car sharing system.
Problems of Infrastructure Markets with Particular Emphasis on the Postal Market in the Context of Digital Exclusion
Authors: Budziewicz-Guźlecka Agnieszka , Drab-Kurowska Anna
Published: June 2020

For many years, infrastructure markets have been treated as a strategic element of each country. Substantial technological changes forced postal and telecommunications operators to adapt their services to the information society, use new business opportunities, and take account of the emerging and rapidly developing direct and indirect competition. The aim of the presented article is developing a model of action to ensure access to information using the postal infrastructure which, until full digitization, will fulfil the constitutional needs of citizens. In order to achieve the indicated aims, the article refers to the nature of the regulation, which constitutes a point of reference to the examined problem. In addition, selected economic policy tools are presented, which allow the development of a model of action that will reduce the problem of digital exclusion. The article uses research methods such as critical analysis of scientific literature, synthesis and generalization, the Delphi method, multidimensional comparative analysis, and graphic visualization.