bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Do Farmers Perceive the Trends of Local Climate Variability Accurately? An Analysis of Farmers’ Perceptions and Meteorological Data in Myanmar
Authors: Hein Yarzar , Vijitsrikamol Kampanat , Attavanich Witsanu , Janekarnkij Penporn
Published: May 2019

With the existing state of issues related to global climate change, the accuracy of farmers’ perceptions of climate is critically important if they plan to implement appropriate adaptation measures in their farming. This article evaluated if farmers perceive the trends of local climate variability accurately, and was verified by the historical meteorological data analysis. Ordered probit perception models were applied in this study to determine the factors influencing the accuracy of farmer perception. It was observed that farmers’ perceptions of the rainfall amount during the early, mid, and late monsoon periods were highly accurate, and they also accurately perceived summer temperature change, but less accuracy of perception was observed of the temperate changes of the winter and monsoon seasons. Access to weekly weather information, participation in agricultural trainings, farming experience, and education level of the farmer were the major factors determining the accuracy of perception in this study. Based on the empirical results, this study suggested policy implications for (a) the locally specified weather information distribution, and (b) integration of weather information into agricultural training programs, which are available to the farming community to enhance the government implantation of the Myanmar Climate Smart Agriculture Strategy and Myanmar Climate Change Master Plan 2018–2030.
Considering Sleep, Mood, and Stress in a Family Context: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Bacaro Valeria , Feige Bernd , Ballesio Andrea , De Bartolo Paola , Johann Anna F. , Buonanno Carlo , Mancini Francesco , Lombardo Caterina , Riemann Dieter , Baglioni Chiara
Published: May 2019

Background: During the first years of life, parental sleep strongly depends on child’s sleep quality. Poor parental sleep may relate to increased stress and negative mood. However, there is a lack of sleep studies focusing on all family members. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between sleep, mood, and stress in mothers, fathers and children. Methods: Data were obtained from 65 parental couples and 65 children (2 to 36 months). Data on sleep for all family members and stress of parents were completed by both mothers and fathers through questionnaires and sleep diaries. Results: Toddlers’ positive mood before nocturnal sleep was significantly associated with reduced wake times after sleep onset. Mothers reported worse sleep quality compared to fathers. Shorter sleep onset latency in fathers and better sleep efficiency in mothers were linked with better self-reported mood upon awakening. In mothers, but not in fathers, poor sleep quality was associated with higher perceived stress. Conclusion: Results suggest bidirectional relationships between sleep and mood in children, mothers and fathers. Moreover, results evidence poorer sleep in mothers, compared to fathers, which was linked with increased parenting stress. This gender gap should be further considered in studies with larger samples and in clinical contexts.
Mammalian Cell Behavior on Hydrophobic Substrates: Influence of Surface Properties
Authors: Ferrari Michele , Cirisano Francesca , Morán M. Carmen
Published: May 2019

The influence of different surface properties holding to a modification of the substrate towards hydrophobic or superhydrophobic behavior was reviewed in this paper. Cell adhesion, their communication, and proliferation can be strongly manipulated, acting on interfacial relationship involving stiffness, surface charge, surface chemistry, roughness, or wettability. All these features can play mutual roles in determining the final properties of biomedical applications ranging from fabrics to cell biology devices. The focus of this work is the mammalian cell viability in contact with moderate to highly water repellent coatings or materials and also in combination with hydrophilic areas for more specific application. Few case studies illustrate a range of examples in which these surface properties and design can be fruitfully matched to the specific aim.
Time Reversal Symmetry Breaking Superconductors: Sr2RuO4 and Beyond
Authors: Wysokiński Karol Izydor
Published: May 2019

Recent work done on the time reversal symmetry (TRS) breaking superconductors is reviewed in this paper. The special attention is paid to Sr 2 RuO 4 believed to be spin triplet chiral p-wave superconductor which break TRS and is expected to posses non-trivial topological properties. The family of TRS breaking superconductors is growing relatively fast, with many of its newly discovered members being non-centrosymmetric. However not only Sr 2 RuO 4 but also many other superconductors which possess center of inversion also break TRS. The TRS is often identified by means of the muon spin relaxation ( μ SR) and the Kerr effect. Both methods effectively measure the appearance of the spontaneous bulk magnetic field below superconducting transition temperature. This compound provides an example of the material whose many band, multi-condensate modeling has enjoyed a number of successes, but the full understanding has not been achieved yet. We discuss in some details the properties of the material. Among them is the Kerr effect and by understanding has resulted in the discovery of the novel mechanism of the phenomenon. The mechanism is universal and thus applicable to all systems with multi-orbital character of states at the Fermi energy.
Covariance Prediction in Large Portfolio Allocation
Authors: Trucíos Carlos , Zevallos Mauricio , Hotta Luiz K. , Santos André A. P.
Published: May 2019

Many financial decisions, such as portfolio allocation, risk management, option pricing and hedge strategies, are based on forecasts of the conditional variances, covariances and correlations of financial returns. The paper shows an empirical comparison of several methods to predict one-step-ahead conditional covariance matrices. These matrices are used as inputs to obtain out-of-sample minimum variance portfolios based on stocks belonging to the S&P500 index from 2000 to 2017 and sub-periods. The analysis is done through several metrics, including standard deviation, turnover, net average return, information ratio and Sortino’s ratio. We find that no method is the best in all scenarios and the performance depends on the criterion, the period of analysis and the rebalancing strategy.
A Disaggregated Analysis of Wealth Status and Educational Attainment in Nigeria Using the Multinomial Logit Approach
Authors: Nevo Chinedu Miracle , Egenti Stanley
Published: May 2019

For most studies that have been carried out, a country’s level of income and aggregate wealth go a long way in shaping the overall welfare of citizens therein. This study seeks to investigate the relationship between wealth status and educational attainment, as a manifestation of income inequality, especially when the wealth status is disaggregated. With data obtained from the National Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) 2013 and the adoption of the multinomial logit model, this study captured exogenous variables such as wealth index, the core variable; household sex preference, a dummy variable that takes the value of 1 if a household prefers a male child and 0 otherwise; and place, another control variable. This study finds that there is a very significant relationship between wealth status and educational attainment, especially for the individual categories of wealth index, hence, educational inequality hinders the quest to achieve higher educational levels for individuals from low wealth families. This study therefore recommends that the government should engender state-based subsidized education cost programs that will be targeted at poor households, as well as intensify efforts in solidifying the overall educational framework in the country, especially in the rural areas bereft of facilities.
Industrial Policy in the EU and Its Neighbourhood: Learning from Policy Experimentation
Authors: Benner Maximilian
Published: May 2019

Newer approaches of industrial policy that focus on catalytic and facilitating interventions of government have become a rivalling model to neoclassical laissez-faire approaches. Inspired by the success stories of East Asian newly industrialised economies (NIEs), newer approaches advocate a more experimental policy stance. Newer industrial policies, including the concept of the “entrepreneurial state”, call upon governments to play a catalytic and facilitating role in increasing innovation and, thus, economic growth. During the past three decades, countries have experimented with some of these new approaches, and so has the European Union (EU). Currently, two major policy frameworks of the EU, Horizon 2020 and smart specialisation, shape the European approach to industrial policy and are gaining in importance for enlargement and neighbourhood countries, too. At the same time, these countries outside the EU have pursued their own experiments in industrial policy. The article argues that to better understand what contributes to the success or failure of industrial policies, learning from experiences made both by the EU and its neighbours is valuable. The article draws conclusions from three countries in the EU’s neighbourhood, Israel, Tunisia, and North Macedonia. In particular, the article examines the role EU approaches and programs, such as smart specialisation or Horizon 2020, can play in anchoring more entrepreneurial industrial policies in enlargement and neighbourhood countries and addresses problems to be expected when governments are to engage in policy experimentation.
Soil Silicon Amendment Increases Phyllostachys praecox Cold Tolerance in a Pot Experiment
Authors: Qian Zhuang Zhuang , Zhuang Shun Yao , Li Qiang , Gui Ren Yi
Published: May 2019

Cultivated bamboos are occasionally subjected to cold stress in winter, and silicon could improve their cold tolerance. However, evidence of the effect of Si on bamboos is still limited. Therefore, a batch and pot experiment was conducted for six months to investigate the effects of different Si fertilizer application rates (0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, and 8.0 g kg−1 of soil weight) on the physiological responses and photosynthesis parameters of Phyllostachys praecox under a simulated cold stress condition. The cold temperature was set to 5 °C, 0 °C, and −5 °C, successively. The bamboo biomass increased significantly when the Si amendment rate was at least 2.0 g kg−1 (P = 0.002), and the highest biomass increase and root-to-canopy ratio were obtained with the 4.0 g kg−1 Si amendment. Furthermore, the Si contents in all organs of the bamboos increased with the increase of the Si amendment rate. The highest content of Si among the other organs was observed in the leaf, and the content was 68.95 mg kg−1 with the treatment of 4.0 g kg−1. With the application of Si, the photosynthesis rate of bamboo leaves was significantly increased (P = 0.008). The Si-amended bamboo exhibited a cold tolerance that was associated with stimulating antioxidant systems, and the enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase increased with the increase of the Si amendment rate, whereas the malondialdehyde content and cell membrane permeability decreased with all Si treatments. A low temperature of −5 °C exerted effects on the bamboo leaf chloroplasts, but the ultrastructures of the chloroplasts remained intact after Si treatment. These findings suggest that Si fertilizer enhances bamboo growth and the tolerance of bamboo plants to cold stress. However, a high application rate (8.0 g kg−1) caused a decline in the bamboo biomass, compared to T4. Thus, a Si fertilization rate of 2.0~8.0 g kg−1 is recommended for bamboos under cold conditions.
Evaluating Forwarding Protocols in Opportunistic Networks: Trends, Advances, Challenges and Best Practices
Authors: Kuppusamy Vishnupriya , Thanthrige Udaya , Udugama Asanga , Förster Anna
Published: May 2019

A variety of applications and forwarding protocols have been proposed for opportunistic networks (OppNets) in the literature. However, the methodology of evaluation, testing and comparing these forwarding protocols are not standardized yet, which leads to large levels of ambiguity in performance evaluation studies. Performance results depend largely on the evaluation environment, and on the used parameters and models. More comparability in evaluation scenarios and methodologies would largely improve also the availability of protocols and the repeatability of studies, and thus would accelerate the development of this research topic. In this survey paper, we focus our attention on how various OppNets data forwarding protocols are evaluated rather than what they actually achieve. We explore the models, parameters and the evaluation environments and make observations about their scalability, realism and comparability. Finally, we deduce some best practices on how to achieve the largest impact of future evaluation studies of OppNets data dissemination/forwarding protocols.
Bio-Polyamide 11 Hybrid Composites Reinforced with Basalt/Flax Interwoven Fibers: A Tough Green Composite for Semi-Structural Applications
Authors: Russo Pietro , Simeoli Giorgio , Vitiello Libera , Filippone Giovanni
Published: May 2019

Intraply hybrid green composites were prepared by film stacking and hot-pressing of bio-based polyamide 11 (PA11) sheets and commercial hybrid fabrics made by interweaving flax and basalt fibers (2/2 twill structure). Two matrices were considered, one of them containing a plasticizing agent. After preliminary thermal and rheological characterizations of the neat matrices, the laminates were studied in terms of flexural properties at low and high deformation rates, and the results were interpreted in the light of morphological analyses (scanning electron and optical microscopy). Despite the poor interfacial adhesion detected for all investigated composite samples, the latter exhibited a good combination of flexural strength, modulus, and impact resistance. Such well-balanced mechanical properties make the studied samples potential candidates for semi-structural applications, e.g., in the transportation sector.
Storage Time and Temperature on the Sensory Properties Broccoli
Authors: Pellegrino Robert , Wheeler Jennifer , Sams Carl E. , Luckett Curtis R.
Published: May 2019

Typically, broccoli arrives at the store within 7–14 days of harvest and is kept refrigerated until purchased or considered waste. To date, information has been limited on how this time on the shelf or storage temperature affects the sensory attributes that contribute to broccoli purchase or repurchase. In this study, 100 consumers performed acceptance tests and a check-all-that-apply (CATA) section to characterize sensory changes in two cultivars of broccoli (‘Diplomat’ and ‘Emerald Crown’) stored at two temperatures (0 °C and 4 °C) over five time points: 0, 14, 21, 28, and 42 days. Due to quality degradation during storage, the overall liking of broccoli decreased regardless of holding temperature and variety. This was in accordance with a decrease in sweetness and an increase in bitterness intensity. However, there were differences between varieties in which Diplomat had more sensory changes at higher temperatures and only Emerald showed negative changes to its appearance in color. Lastly, the CATA data revealed the attributes responsible for modulating the consumer acceptance of broccoli such as tastes, colors and flavors (e.g., grassy, musty, dirt-like). This information can be used to better inform shelf-life determinations of broccoli. Additionally, these changes in taste, odor, texture, and color can inform those interested in investigating the biochemical processes related to broccoli storage.
Genome-Wide Identification of WRKY Transcription Factors in Chinese jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) and Their Involvement in Fruit Developing, Ripening, and Abiotic Stress
Authors: Chen Xin , Chen Ruihong , Wang Yanfeng , Wu Cuiyun , Huang Jian
Published: May 2019

Chinese jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) is an economically important fruit crop in China and mainly cultivated on land with high salinity and drought conditions in northern China. WRKY transcription factors (TFs) are involved in plant development and in responses to multiple abiotic stresses. In this study, we identified 61 and 52 putative ZjWRKY TFs in ‘Junzao’ and ‘Dongzao’ at the genome-wide level. Tissue expression profiling showed that 7 genes were constitutively expressed at high level in all tissues of ‘Junzao’. Transcriptome analysis revealed that 39 ZjWRKY genes were expressed during ‘Junzao’ jujube fruit ripening. Among these genes, the transcript abundance of 19 genes were differentially expressed between ‘Junzao’ and ‘Qingjiansuanzao’ fruit. In addition, RT-qPCR analyses revealed that 30, 14, and 18 ZjWRKY genes responded to drought, NaCl, and ABA treatments, respectively. Taken together, ZjWRKY genes expression dynamics during jujube fruit development, ripening, and their differences between jujube and wild jujube would provide insights into their possible roles regulating fruit ripening. In addition, those ZjWRKY genes responded strongly to drought and salt stress, which provide candidate ZjWRKY genes for facilitating tolerance breeding.
Enhancing Chlorobenzene Biodegradation by Delftia tsuruhatensis Using a Water-Silicone Oil Biphasic System
Authors: Ye Jie-Xu , Lin Tong-Hui , Hu Jing-Tao , Poudel Rabin , Cheng Zhuo-Wei , Zhang Shi-Han , Chen Jian-Meng , Chen Dong-Zhi
Published: May 2019

In this study, a water–silicone oil biphasic system was developed to enhance the biodegradation of monochlorobenzene (CB) by Delftia tsuruhatensis LW26. Compared to the single phase, the biphasic system with a suitable silicone oil fraction (v/v) of 20% allowed a 2.5-fold increase in the maximum tolerated CB concentration. The CB inhibition on D. tsuruhatensis LW26 was reduced in the presence of silicone oil, and the electron transport system activity was maintained at high levels even under high CB stress. Adhesion of cells to the water–oil interface at the water side was observed using confocal laser scanning microscopy. Nearly 75% of cells accumulated on the interface, implying that another interfacial substrate uptake pathway prevailed besides that initiated by cells in the aqueous phase. The 8-fold increase in cell surface hydrophobicity upon the addition of 20% (v/v) silicone oil showed that silicone oil modified the surface characteristics of D. tsuruhatensis LW26. The protein/polysaccharide ratio of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) from D. tsuruhatensis LW26 presented a 3-fold enhancement. These results suggested that silicone oil induced the increase in the protein content of EPS and rendered cells hydrophobic. The resulting hydrophobic cells could adhere on the water–oil interface, improving the mass transfer by direct CB uptake from silicone oil.
Conditions Leading to Elevated PM2.5 at Near-Road Monitoring Sites: Case Studies in Denver and Indianapolis
Authors: Brown Steven G. , Penfold Bryan , Mukherjee Anondo , Landsberg Karin , Eisinger Douglas S.
Published: May 2019

We examined two near-road monitoring sites where the daily PM2.5 readings were among the highest of any near-road monitoring location in the U.S. during 2014–2016: Denver, Colorado, in February 2014 and Indianapolis, Indiana, in November 2016. At the Denver site, which had the highest measured U.S. near-road 24-hr PM2.5 concentrations in 2014, concentrations exceeded the daily National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) on three days during one week in 2014; the Indianapolis site had the second-highest number of daily exceedances of any near-road site in 2016 and the highest 3-year average PM2.5 of any near-road site during 2014–2016. Both sites had hourly pollutant, meteorological, and traffic data available, making them ideal for case studies. For both locations, we compared air pollution observations at the near-road site to observations at other sites in the urban area to calculate the near-road PM2.5 “increment” and evaluated the effects of changes in meteorology and traffic. The Denver near-road site consistently had the highest PM2.5 values in the Denver area, and was typically highest when winds were near-downwind, rather than directly downwind, to the freeway. Complex Denver site conditions (near-road buildings and roadway alignment) likely contributed to higher PM2.5 concentrations. The increment at Indianapolis was also highest under near-downwind, rather than directly downwind, conditions. At both sites, while the near-road site often had higher PM2.5 concentrations than nearby sites, there was no clear correlation between traffic conditions (vehicle speed, fleet mix) and the high PM2.5 concentrations.
Development and Evaluation of a Novel HNB Based Isothermal Amplification Assay for Fast Detection of Pyrimethamine Resistance (S108N) in Plasmodium falciparum
Authors: Chahar Madhvi , Anvikar Anup , Valecha Neena
Published: May 2019

Sulphadoxine and pyrimethamine (SP) have been used as long-acting partner antimalarial drugs in artemisinin combination therapy (ACT) for falciparum malaria. The emergence and increasing spread of SP resistance in malaria-endemic areas have become a challenge for the control of malaria. Therefore, regular monitoring of the mutation status of partner drugs is important for the better management of drug policy. There are limitations with traditional molecular methods and there is an urgent need for an easy method for diagnosis of drug resistance. In this study we have introduced and developed a novel single nucleotide polymorphism loop-mediated isothermal amplification (SNP–LAMP) approach based on a hydroxynaphthol blue (HNB) indicator for the easier and quicker detection of pyrimethamine resistance in Plasmodium falciparum malaria. To implement this novel approach, many sets of LAMP primers were designed and tested. Finally, one set of forward inner primer M1 (FIPM1) of LAMP primer was selected that specifically distinguishes pyrimethamine-resistant P. falciparum malaria. The LAMP reactions were optimized at 60–66 °C for 45 min. High sensitivity (7 parasites/µL) was observed with 10−4 fold dilutions (<2 ng DNA) of genomic DNA. Moreover, this approach has the potential to be applied even in laboratories unfamiliar with PCR or other molecular methods, and in future, this can be helpful for the better management of anti-malarial policy.
The Impact of Foreign Direct Investment on Environment Degradation: Evidence from Emerging Markets in Asia
Authors: To Anh Hoang , Ha Dao Thi-Thieu , Nguyen Ha Minh , Vo Duc Hong
Published: May 2019

This study is conducted to examine the concerns of the foreign direct investment (FDI) causing environment degradation and also to test the validity of the traditional Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) in the context of emerging markets in the Asian region. Data of these countries from 1980–2016 are utilised. This study employs panel cointegration Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS), which treats the endogeneity problem, and its estimators are adjusted for serial correlation. Moreover, this study also uses panel Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS), which includes contemporaneous value, leads and, lags of the first difference of the regressors to correct endogeneity problems and serial correlations. Findings from this study indicate that the pollution heaven hypothesis and the EKC curve are generally valid in the region. In addition, FDI has a strong impact on the environment.
Direct and Indirect Influences of Objective Socioeconomic Position on Adolescent Health: The Mediating Roles of Subjective Socioeconomic Status and Lifestyles
Authors: Moreno-Maldonado Concepción , Ramos Pilar , Moreno Carmen , Rivera Francisco
Published: May 2019

The use of composite indices and subjective measures to evaluate socioeconomic position, taking into account the effect of inequalities on adolescent health-related behaviors, can contribute to understanding the effect of inequalities on health during adolescence. The aim of this study was to examine the direct and indirect contribution of objective and subjective socioeconomic factors in a broad range of health and lifestyles outcomes. The data come from a representative sample of adolescents (N = 15,340; M age = 13.69) of the Health Behavior in School-aged Children study in Spain. Structural equation modeling was used for data analysis. A global index for evaluating objective socioeconomic position predicted both health and healthy lifestyles. Subjective socioeconomic status mediated the relationship between objective socioeconomic position and health but did not have a significant effect on healthy lifestyles when objective indicators were considered. Lastly, fit indices of the multiple-mediator model—including the direct effect of objective socioeconomic position on health and its indirect effects through the subjective perception of wealth and lifestyles—explained 28.7% of global health variance. Interventions aimed at reducing the impact of health inequalities should address, in addition to material deprivation, the psychological and behavioral consequences of feeling poor.
Coupling and Coordination Degrees of the Core Water–Energy–Food Nexus in China
Authors: Xu Shasha , He Weijun , Shen Juqin , Degefu Dagmawi Mulugeta , Yuan Liang , Kong Yang
Published: May 2019

Achieving sustainable development in the water–energy–food (WEF) nexus is gaining global attention. The coupling and coordination degrees are a way to measure sustainable development levels of a complex system. This study assessed the coupling and coordination degrees of the core WEF nexus and identified key factors that affect sustainable development. First, an index system for assessing coupling and coordination degrees of the core WEF nexus was built. Second, the development levels of three subsystems as well as the coupling and coordination degrees of the core WEF nexus in China were calculated. The results showed that from 2007 to 2016, the mean value of the coupling degree was 0.746 (range (0.01, 1)), which was a high level. This proved that the three resources were interdependent. Hence, it was necessary to study their relationship. However, the mean value of the coordination degree was 0.395 (range (0, 1)), which was a low level. This showed that the coordination development of the core WEF nexus in China was low. It is necessary to take some measures to improve the situation. According to the key factors that affect the development levels of water, energy, and food subsystems, the authors put forward some suggestions to improve the coordination development of the WEF system in China.
Self-Reported Exposure to ETS (Environmental Tobacco Smoke), Urinary Cotinine, and Oxidative Stress Parameters in Pregnant Women—The Pilot Study
Authors: Argalasova Lubica , Zitnanova Ingrid , Vondrova Diana , Dvorakova Monika , Laubertova Lucia , Jurkovicova Jana , Stofko Juraj , Weitzman Michael , Waczulikova Iveta , Simko Martin
Published: May 2019

Background: Exposure to ETS (environmental tobacco smoke) is one of the most toxic environmental exposures. Objective: To investigate the association of ETS with physiological, biochemical, and psychological indicators, as well as with urine antioxidant capacity (AC) and oxidative damage to lipids in a pilot sample of healthy pregnant women. Methods: Exposure to ETS was investigated via a validated questionnaire, and urine cotinine and the marker of oxidative damage to lipids via 8-isoprostane concentrations using an ELISA kit. Urine AC was determined by the spectrophotometric Trolox-equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) method. From a sample of pregnant women (n = 319, average age 30.84 ± 5.09 years) in 80, the levels of cotinine and oxidative stress markers were analyzed. Results: Among the 80 pregnant women, 5% (7.4% confirmed by cotinine) reported being current smokers and 25% reported passive smoking in the household (18.8% confirmed by cotinine). The Kappa was 0.78 for smokers and 0.22 for ETS-exposed nonsmokers. Pregnant women in the ETS-exposed group had significantly reduced AC compared to both the nonsmoker (ETS−) and the smoker groups (p < 0.05). Nonsmokers had significantly lower levels of 8-isoprostane than smokers (p < 0.01) and ETS-exposed nonsmokers (p < 0.05). Correlations between urine levels of cotinine and AC were positive in ETS-exposed nonsmokers. Conclusion: A harmful association of active and passive smoking and oxidative stress parameters among pregnant women has been indicated.
Durable Bridge Columns using Stay-In-Place UHPC Shells for Accelerated Bridge Construction
Authors: Caluk Nerma , Mantawy Islam , Azizinamini Atorod
Published: May 2019

Ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) is a durable material that allows the construction of innovative structural elements and conforms with accelerated bridge construction (ABC) goals. The main idea of this research is to utilize UHPC to prefabricate a shell that acts as a stay-in-place form for bridge columns. The prefabricated shell eliminates the conventional formwork while reducing the on-site construction time and acting as a durable protective layer for the normal concrete inside the shell against environmental attacks. In addition, the UHPC shell provides additional confinement to the column concrete, which improves the column’s structural performance. During construction and after completing the column reinforcement work onsite, based on the conventional construction methods, the prefabricated UHPC shell is placed around the column reinforcement, followed by casting a portion of UHPC for a column-to-footing connection, which improves the capacity of the connection and shifts the plastic hinge zone above the connection. Once the UHPC portion hardens, normal concrete is placed inside the shell, forming a permanent concrete-filled UHPC shell. The construction process is finalized by placing and connecting a prefabricated cap beam to the column through the same developed connection as that in this research. This technical note presents the development of two test specimens using an UHPC shell in lieu of a conventional formwork with the advantage of improving the column performance and durability.
High-Pressure Synthesis of Non-Stoichiometric LixWO3 (0.5 ≤ x ≤ 1.0) with LiNbO3 Structure
Authors: Ishida Kohdai , Ikeuchi Yuya , Tassel Cédric , Takatsu Hiroshi , Brown Craig M. , Kageyama Hiroshi
Published: May 2019

Compounds with the LiNbO3-type structure are important for a variety of applications, such as piezoelectric sensors, while recent attention has been paid to magnetic and electronic properties. However, all the materials reported are stoichiometric. This work reports on the high-pressure synthesis of lithium tungsten bronze LixWO3 with the LiNbO3-type structure, with a substantial non-stoichiometry (0.5 ≤ x ≤ 1). Li0.8WO3 exhibit a metallic conductivity. This phase is related to an ambient-pressure perovskite phase (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) by the octahedral tilting switching between a−a−a− and a+a+a+.
Consequences of EMT-Driven Changes in the Immune Microenvironment of Breast Cancer and Therapeutic Response of Cancer Cells
Authors: Singh Snahlata , Chakrabarti Rumela
Published: May 2019

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process through which epithelial cells lose their epithelial characteristics and cell–cell contact, thus increasing their invasive potential. In addition to its well-known roles in embryonic development, wound healing, and regeneration, EMT plays an important role in tumor progression and metastatic invasion. In breast cancer, EMT both increases the migratory capacity and invasive potential of tumor cells, and initiates protumorigenic alterations in the tumor microenvironment (TME). In particular, recent evidence has linked increased expression of EMT markers such as TWIST1 and MMPs in breast tumors with increased immune infiltration in the TME. These immune cells then provide cues that promote immune evasion by tumor cells, which is associated with enhanced tumor progression and metastasis. In the current review, we will summarize the current knowledge of the role of EMT in the biology of different subtypes of breast cancer. We will further explore the correlation between genetic switches leading to EMT and EMT-induced alterations within the TME that drive tumor growth and metastasis, as well as their possible effect on therapeutic response in breast cancer.
Tendency toward Mega Containerships and the Constraints of Container Terminals
Authors: Park Nam Kyu , Suh Sang Cheol
Published: May 2019

This paper focuses on the coping ability of the existing container terminals when mega containerships call at a port. The length of 30,000 TEU (Twenty Equivalent Unit) ships are predicted to be 453 m and occupy 498 m of a quay wall. As a result, the length of berth should be more than a minimum of 500 m. If a 25,000 TEU ship or 30,000 TEU ship call at a terminal, the outreach of QC (Quay Crane) should be a minimum 74.3 m or 81.0 m respectively. As mega ships are calling at the port, the ship waiting time, the available stacking area, and the number of handling equipment can be limited. The analysis reveals that larger ships wait for longer than the smaller ones because they have difficulty allocating the proper seat on berth. As a result of the survey in a terminal, the average occupancy is shown to be 60.4%, the minimum is 52.4%, and the maximum is 73.3%. Surveying the monthly equipment operation rate for 3 years, the average is 85.8%, the minimum is 80.1%, and the maximum is 90.1%. If a mega ship of more than 25,000 TEU appears, the rate will be excessively increased during peak time.
Dynamic Impedances of Offshore Rock-Socketed Monopiles
Authors: He Rui , Ji Ji , Zhang Jisheng , Peng Wei , Sun Zufeng , Guo Zhen
Published: May 2019

With the development of offshore wind energy in China, more and more offshore wind turbines are being constructed in rock-based sea areas. However, the large diameter and thin-walled steel rock-socketed monopiles are very scarce at present, and both the construction and design are very difficult. For the design, the dynamic safety during the whole lifetime of the wind turbine is difficult to guarantee. Dynamic safety of a turbine is mostly controlled by the dynamic impedances of the rock-socketed monopile, which are still not well understood. How to choose the appropriate impedances of the socketed monopiles so that the wind turbines will neither resonant nor be too conservative is the main problem. Based on a numerical model in this study, the accurate impedances are obtained for different frequencies of excitation, different soil and rock parameters, and different rock-socketed lengths. The dynamic stiffness of monopile increases, while the radiative damping decreases as rock-socketed depth increases. When the weathering degree of rock increases, the dynamic stiffness of the monopile decreases, while the radiative damping increases.
Effect of Girder Spacing and Depth on the Solitary Wave Impact on Coastal Bridge Deck for Different Airgaps
Authors: Moideen Rameeza , Ranjan Behera Manasa , Kamath Arun , Bihs Hans
Published: May 2019

Coastal bridge damage has become a severe issue of concern in the recent past with the destruction of a considerable number of bridges under the impact of waves during tsunami and storm surges. These events have become more frequent, with waves reaching the bridge deck and causing upliftment and destruction. Past studies have demonstrated the establishment of various theoretical equations which works well for the submerged deck and regular wave types but show much scatter and uncertainty in case of a deck that is above still water level (SWL). The present study aims to generate a solitary wave to represent an extreme wave condition like a tsunami in the numerical wave tank modeled using the open source computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model REEF3D and to study the vertical impact force on the coastal bridge deck. A parametric study is carried out for increasing wave heights, girders spacing and depth for varying airgaps to analyze the effect of these parameters on the peak vertical impact force. It is observed that increasing the girder spacing and girder depth is effective in reducing the peak vertical impact force for the cases considered.
An Ecological Assessment of Isaria fumosorosea Applications Compared to a Neonicotinoid Treatment for Regulating Invasive Ficus Whitefly
Authors: Avery Pasco B. , Kumar Vivek , Skvarch Edward A. , Mannion Catharine M. , Powell Charles A. , McKenzie Cindy L. , Osborne Lance S.
Published: May 2019

A pilot study was conducted on a weeping fig, Ficus benjamina shrub hedge in a Florida urban landscape to determine the efficacy of a fungal biopesticide, PFR-97™ which contains blastospores of Isaria fumosorosea, and a neonicotinoid treatment (Admire Pro™) applied against the invasive ficus whitefly pest, Singhiella simplex (Singh). Post treatment, an ecological assessment of the study was conducted by observing the impact of the fungal biopesticide and neonicotinoid treatment on natural enemies, e.g., predators, parasitoids and enzootic fungal pathogens occurring in the whitefly-infested hedge. Both treatments provided a significant reduction in the whitefly population compared to control and were compatible with the natural enemies present. Various natural enemies including fungal entomopathogens were identified associated with the whitefly population infesting the weeping fig hedge. The parasitoids, Encarsia protransvena Viggiani and Amitus bennetti Viggiani & Evans combined parasitized a similar mean number of whitefly nymphs in both treatments and control; however, the number parasitized decreased over time. Natural enzootic fungi isolated from the ficus whitefly nymphs were I. fumosorosea, Purpureocillium lilacinum and Lecanicillium, Aspergillus and Fusarium species. Results from this pilot study suggest there is much potential for using repeated applications of the fungal biopesticide, PFR-97™ as a foliar spray compared to a neonicitionid as a soil drench for managing S. simplex on Ficus species for ≥28 days.
Feasibility of a Comprehensive Home Monitoring Program for Sarcoidosis
Authors: Moor Catharina C. , Gür-Demirel Yasmin , Wijsenbeek Marlies S.
Published: May 2019

Sarcoidosis is a chronic, heterogeneous disease which most commonly affects the lungs. Currently, evidence-based and individually tailored treatment options in sarcoidosis are lacking. We aimed to evaluate patient experiences with a home monitoring program for sarcoidosis and assess whether home monitoring is a feasible tool to enhance personalized treatment. Outpatients with pulmonary sarcoidosis tested the home monitoring program “Sarconline” for one month. This is a secured personal platform which consists of online patient-reported outcomes, real-time wireless home spirometry, an activity tracker, an information library, and an eContact option. Patients wore an activity tracker, performed daily home spirometry, and completed patient-reported outcomes at baseline and after one month. Patient experiences were evaluated during a phone interview. Ten patients were included in the study. Experiences with the home monitoring program were positive; 90% of patients considered the application easy to use, none of the patients found daily measurements burdensome, and all patients wished to continue the home monitoring program after the study. Mean adherence to daily spirometry and activity tracking was, respectively, 94.6% and 91.3%. In conclusion, a comprehensive home monitoring program for sarcoidosis is feasible and can be used in future research and clinical practice.
The Effect of Diversification under Different Ownership Structures and Economic Conditions: Evidence from the Great Recession
Authors: Liebenberg Ivonne A. , Lin Zhilu
Published: May 2019

The effect of corporate diversification on firm performance has been extensively documented in the literature. In the general finance literature, Kuppuswamy and Villalonga (2015) studied the diversification effect during the 2007–2009 financial crisis and found that diversification adds value in the presence of external financing constraints. Motivated by this finding, we investigate whether a similar effect applies to insurance firms and we develop hypotheses for their different ownership structures (stock vs. mutual insurers; and group vs. non-group affiliated insurers). Using a sample of property-liability insurers over a period of 2004 to 2013, we find that the effect of diversification on performance is contingent on ownership structures and economic conditions. The diversification effect for stock insurers and insurers affiliated with a group is not significantly affected by economic conditions. However, the diversification effect for mutual insurers and non-affiliated insurers is reversed during the financial crisis. More specifically, diversified firms with these kinds of ownership structures perform better than focused firms during normal economic conditions, but their performance was significantly worse during the financial crisis. Our results are robust to alternative measures of performance and diversification, and to corrections for endogeneity. Our study contributes to the diversification literature by showing how the effect of diversification varies with ownership structure under different economic conditions and the results shed light on the specific circumstances in which diversification can improve or reduce performance.
Should Vietnamese Banks Need More Equity? Evidence on Risk-Return Trade-Off in Dynamic Models of Banking
Authors: Dan Dang Van
Published: May 2019

This study employs generalized method of moments (GMM) for dynamic panel data models to deal with the nature of banking behaviour, aiming at investigating the impact of bank equity on the risk and return of Vietnamese commercial banks during the period of 2006–2017. The study finds that increasing bank equity is not always the best strategy to be accompanied by absolute benefits, increasing returns and reducing risks for banks but is a trade-off instead. More precisely, banks with larger capital buffers tend to take less risk but are less profitable. In addition, the study also finds a non-linear relationship revealing that bank risk mitigates the effect of bank equity on profitability. Most estimations show strong robustness checked by some alternative techniques. Based on the findings, the study provides some important policy implications to improve the performance of the banking system in Vietnam as well as in other emerging countries.
Cost Effective Chemical Oxidative Synthesis of Soluble and Electroactive Polyaniline Salt and Its Application as Anticorrosive Agent for Steel
Authors: Shah Anwar-ul-Haq Ali , Kamran Muhammad , Bilal Salma , Ullah Rizwan
Published: May 2019

The cost effective synthesis of electroactive polyaniline (PANI) while retaining its desirable properties is one of the most debatable and challenging tasks for researchers in the field. Herein, we report a cost effective inverse emulsion polymerization pathway for the synthesis of soluble and processable PANI salt by using diesel as a novel dispersion medium. Different reaction parameters and their effects on the properties and yield of polyaniline were optimized. The polymer exhibited a highly porous morphology and was found to be stable up to 417 °C. The PANI salt showed good solubility in common solvents, such as chloroform, N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) and in a 1:3 mixtures by volume of 2-propanol and toluene. The coating of the synthesized PANI salt on stainless steel has shown good corrosion resistant behavior in marine water by reducing the corrosion rate to 67.9% as compared to uncoated stainless steel.
The Addition of Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) Fibers to Apatitic Calcium Phosphate Cement Can Improve Its Toughness
Authors: Luo Jun , Faivre Julien , Engqvist Håkan , Persson Cecilia
Published: May 2019

Calcium phosphate cements, and in particular hydroxyapatite cements, have been widely investigated for use as bone void fillers due to their chemical similarity to bone and related osteoconductivity. However, they are brittle, which limits their use to non-load-bearing applications. The aim of the current study was to improve the toughness of hydroxyapatite cements through fiber reinforcement. The effect of the addition of hydrophilic, poly(vinyl-alcohol) (PVA) fibers to hydroxyapatite cement was evaluated in terms of mechanical properties, including compressive strength, diametral tensile strength and toughness (work of fracture), as well as setting time, phase composition and cement morphology. The fiber reinforcement enhanced the fracture resistance of the hydroxyapatite cement, but also simultaneously reduced the compressive strength and setting time of the cements. However, cement with 5 wt % of fibers (of the powder component) could be considered a good compromise, with a compressive strength of 46.5 ± 4.6 MPa (compared to 62.3 ± 12.8 MPa of that without fibers), i.e., still much greater than that of human trabecular bone (0.1–14 MPa). A significantly higher diametral tensile strength (9.2 ± 0.4 MPa) was found for this cement compared to that without fibers (7.4 ± 1.5 MPa). The work of fracture increased four times to 9.1 ± 1.5 kJ/m2 in comparison to the pristine apatite. In summary, the hydroxyapatite cements could be reinforced by suitable amounts of PVA fibers, which resulted in enhancing the material’s structural integrity and ductility, and increased the material’s resistance to cracking.
Synthesis of Zeolite 4A from Kaolin and Its Adsorption Equilibrium of Carbon Dioxide
Authors: Wang Peng , Sun Qi , Zhang Yujiao , Cao Jun
Published: May 2019

Zeolite 4A was successfully prepared by hydrothermal synthesis using low-grade kaolin as a raw material. The properties of the synthesized zeolite 4A were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), 29Si magic-angle spinning (MAS)-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and 27Al MAS-NMR, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM)-energy-dispersive spectrometry (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), thermogravimetry (TG)-differential thermal analysis (DTA), and carbon dioxide adsorption analysis. The textural properties of the synthesized zeolite 4A was further studied by BET analysis technique. The thermal stability analysis showed that the heat resistance of the synthesized zeolite 4A is up to 940 °C. In addition, it is found that the Langmuir model has the best agreement with the adsorption equilibrium data for carbon dioxide by synthesized zeolite 4A and commercial zeolite 4A. Meanwhile, the carbon dioxide adsorption analysis confirmed that the maximum equilibrium adsorption amount of carbon dioxide on synthesized zeolite 4A is 59.3820 mL/g, which is higher than the 55.4303 mL/g of the commercial zeolite 4A.