bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vitamin B12 Supplementation in Diabetic Neuropathy: A 1-Year, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
Authors: Didangelos Triantafyllos , Karlafti Eleni , Kotzakioulafi Evangelia , Margariti Eleni , Giannoulaki Parthena , Batanis Georgios , Tesfaye Solomon , Kantartzis Kοnstantinos
Published: January 2021

Aim: To investigate the effect of normalizing vitamin B12 (B12) levels with oral B12 (methylcobalamin) 1000 μg/day for one year in patients with diabetic neuropathy (DN). Patients and methods: In this prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 90 patients with type 2 diabetes on metformin for at least four years and both peripheral and autonomic DN were randomized to an active treatment group (n = 44) receiving B12 and a control group (n = 46) receiving a placebo. All patients had B12 levels less than 400 pmol/L. Subjects underwent measurements of sural nerve conduction velocity (SNCV), sural nerve action potential (amplitude) (SNAP), and vibration perception threshold (VPT), and they performed cardiovascular autonomic reflex tests (CARTs: mean circular resultant (MCR), Valsalva test, postural index, and orthostatic hypotension). Sudomotor function was assessed with the SUDOSCAN that measures electrochemical skin conductance in hands and feet (ESCH and ESCF, respectively). We also used the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument Questionnaire and Examination (MNSIQ and MNSIE, respectively) and questionnaires to evaluate quality of life (QoL) and level of pain (pain score). Results: B12 levels increased from 232.0 ± 71.8 at baseline to 776.7 ± 242.3 pmol/L at follow-up, p < 0.0001, in the active group but not in the control group. VPT, MNSIQ, QoL, pain score, SNCV, SNAP, and ESCF significantly improved in the active group (p < 0.001, p = 0.002, p < 0.0001, p < 0.000, p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, and p = 0.014, respectively), whereas CARTS and MNSIE improved but not significantly. MCR, MNSIQ, SNCV, SNAP, and pain score significantly deteriorated in the control group (p = 0.025, p = 0.017, p = 0.045, p < 0.0001, and p < 0.0001, respectively). Conclusions: The treatment of patients with DN with 1 mg of oral methylcobalamin for twelve months increased plasma B12 levels and improved all neurophysiological parameters, sudomotor function, pain score, and QoL, but it did not improve CARTS and MNSIE.
Macro- and Micronutrient Intake in Children with Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
Authors: Schmidt Ricarda , Hiemisch Andreas , Kiess Wieland , von Klitzing Kai , Schlensog-Schuster Franziska , Hilbert Anja
Published: January 2021

Although case studies in avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) indicate severe nutritional deficiencies in those with a highly limited amount or variety of food intake, systematic analyses on food intake in treatment-seeking children and adolescents with ARFID are lacking. Within this study, n = 20 patients with an interview-based diagnosis of ARFID (0–17 years) were included and compared to n = 20 healthy controls individually matched for age and sex. Children or parents completed three-day food diaries and a food list. Macronutrient, vitamin, and mineral supply was determined based on the percentage of their recommended intake. The results showed a significantly lower total energy and protein intake in ARFID versus controls, with trends for lower fat and carbohydrate intake. ARFID subtypes of limited amount versus variety of food intake significantly differed in macro-, but not micronutrient intake. Those with ARFID met only 20–30% of the recommended intake for most vitamins and minerals, with significantly lower intake relative to controls for vitamin B1, B2, C, K, zinc, iron, and potassium. Variety of food intake was significantly reduced in ARFID versus controls in all food groups except carbohydrates. This study demonstrated that ARFID goes along with reduced everyday life macro- and micronutrient intake, which may increase the risk for developmental and health problems. Future studies additionally assessing serum nutrient levels in a larger sample may further explore differences in food intake across diverse ARFID presentations.
Fluid Balance, Sweat Na+ Losses, and Carbohydrate Intake of Elite Male Soccer Players in Response to Low and High Training Intensities in Cool and Hot Environments
Authors: Rollo Ian , Randell Rebecca K. , Baker Lindsay , Leyes Javier Yanguas , Medina Leal Daniel , Lizarraga Antonia , Mesalles Jordi , Jeukendrup Asker E. , James Lewis J. , Carter James M.
Published: January 2021

Hypohydration increases physiological strain and reduces physical and technical soccer performance, but there are limited data on how fluid balance responses change between different types of sessions in professional players. This study investigated sweat and fluid/carbohydrate intake responses in elite male professional soccer players training at low and high intensities in cool and hot environments. Fluid/sodium (Na+) losses and ad-libitum carbohydrate/fluid intake of fourteen elite male soccer players were measured on four occasions: cool (wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT): 15 ± 7 °C, 66 ± 6% relative humidity (RH)) low intensity (rating of perceived exertion (RPE) 2–4, m·min−1 40–46) (CL); cool high intensity (RPE 6–8, m·min−1 82–86) (CH); hot (29 ± 1 °C, 52 ± 7% RH) low intensity (HL); hot high intensity (HH). Exercise involved 65 ± 5 min of soccer-specific training. Before and after exercise, players were weighed in minimal clothing. During training, players had ad libitum access to carbohydrate beverages and water. Sweat [Na+] (mmol·L−1), which was measured by absorbent patches positioned on the thigh, was no different between conditions, CL: 35 ± 9, CH: 38 ± 8, HL: 34 ± 70.17, HH: 38 ± 8 (p = 0.475). Exercise intensity and environmental condition significantly influenced sweat rates (L·h−1), CL: 0.55 ± 0.20, CH: 0.98 ± 0.21, HL: 0.81 ± 0.17, HH: 1.43 ± 0.23 (p =0.001), and percentage dehydration (p < 0.001). Fluid intake was significantly associated with sweat rate (p = 0.019), with no players experiencing hypohydration > 2% of pre-exercise body mass. Carbohydrate intake varied between players (range 0–38 g·h−1), with no difference between conditions. These descriptive data gathered on elite professional players highlight the variation in the hydration status, sweat rate, sweat Na+ losses, and carbohydrate intake in response to training in cool and hot environments and at low and high exercise intensities.
Potential Therapeutic Effects of Curcumin on Glycemic and Lipid Profile in Uncomplicated Type 2 Diabetes—A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Altobelli Emma , Angeletti Paolo Matteo , Marziliano Ciro , Mastrodomenico Marianna , Giuliani Anna Rita , Petrocelli Reimondo
Published: January 2021

Diabetes mellitus is an important issue for public health, and it is growing in the world. In recent years, there has been a growing research interest on efficacy evidence of the curcumin use in the regulation of glycemia and lipidaemia. The molecular structure of curcumins allows to intercept reactive oxygen species (ROI) that are particularly harmful in chronic inflammation and tumorigenesis models. The aim of our study performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of curcumin on glycemic and lipid profile in subjects with uncomplicated type 2 diabetes. The papers included in the meta-analysis were sought in the MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Clinicaltrials.gov, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases as of October 2020. The sizes were pooled across studies in order to obtain an overall effect size. A random effects model was used to account for different sources of variation among studies. Cohen’s d, with 95% confidence interval (CI) was used as a measure of the effect size. Heterogeneity was assessed while using Q statistics. The ANOVA-Q test was used to value the differences among groups. Publication bias was analyzed and represented by a funnel plot. Curcumin treatment does not show a statistically significant reduction between treated and untreated patients. On the other hand, glycosylated hemoglobin, homeostasis model assessment (HOMA), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) showed a statistically significant reduction in subjects that were treated with curcumin, respectively (p = 0.008, p < 0.001, p = 0.021). When considering HBA1c, the meta-regressions only showed statistical significance for gender (p = 0.034). Our meta-analysis seems to confirm the benefits on glucose metabolism, with results that appear to be more solid than those of lipid metabolism. However, further studies are needed in order to test the efficacy and safety of curcumin in uncomplicated type 2 diabetes.
Influence of Estrogenic Metabolic Pathway Genes Polymorphisms on Postmenopausal Breast Cancer Risk
Authors: Almeida Micaela , Soares Mafalda , Fonseca-Moutinho José , Ramalhinho Ana Cristina , Breitenfeld Luiza
Published: January 2021

Estrogen metabolism plays an important role in tumor initiation and development. Lifetime exposure to high estrogens levels and deregulation of enzymes involved in estrogen biosynthetic and metabolic pathway are considered risk factors for breast cancer. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of mutations acquisition during the lifetime in low penetrance genes that codify enzymes responsible for estrogen detoxification. Genotype analysis of GSTM1 and GSTT1 null polymorphisms, CYP1B1 Val432Leu and MTHFR C677T polymorphisms was performed in 157 samples of women with hormone-dependent breast cancer and correlated with the age at diagnosis. The majority of patients with GSTT1 null genotype and with both GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes were 50 years old or more at the diagnosis (p-value = 0.021 and 0.018, respectively). Older women with GSTM1 null genotype were also carriers of the CYP1B1Val allele (p-value = 0.012). As well, GSTT1 null and CYP1B1Val genotypes were correlated with diagnosis at later ages (p-value = 0.022). Similar results were found associating MTHFR C677T and GSTT1 null polymorphism (p-value = 0.034). Our results suggest that estrogen metabolic pathway polymorphisms constitute a factor to be considered simultaneously with models for breast cancer risk assessment.
Immobilization of Chondroitin Sulfate A onto Monolithic Epoxy Silica Column as a New Chiral Stationary Phase for High-Performance Liquid Chromatographic Enantioseparation
Authors: Ratih Ratih , Wätzig Hermann , Azminah Azminah , Asmari Mufarreh , Peters Benjamin , El Deeb Sami
Published: January 2021

Chondroitin sulfate A was covalently immobilized onto a monolithic silica epoxy column involving a Schiff base formation in the presence of ethylenediamine as a spacer and evaluated in terms of its selectivity in enantioseparation. The obtained column was utilized as a chiral stationary phase in enantioseparation of amlodipine and verapamil using a mobile phase consisting of 50 mM phosphate buffer pH 3.5 and UV detection. Sample dilution by organic solvents (preferably 25% v/v acetonitrile-aqueous solution) was applied to achieve baseline enantioresolution (Rs > 3.0) of the individual drug models within 7 min, an excellent linearity (R2 = 0.999) and an interday repeatability of 1.1% to 1.8% RSD. The performance of the immobilized column for quantification of racemate in commercial tablets showed a recovery of 86–98% from tablet matrices. Computational modeling by molecular docking was employed to investigate the feasible complexes between enantiomers and the chiral selector.
Gellan-Based Composite System as a Potential Tool for the Treatment of Nervous Tissue Injuries: Cross-Linked Electrospun Nanofibers Embedded in a RC-33-Loaded Freeze-Dried Matrix
Authors: Vigani Barbara , Valentino Caterina , Cavalloro Valeria , Catenacci Laura , Sorrenti Milena , Sandri Giuseppina , Bonferoni Maria Cristina , Bozzi Chiara , Collina Simona , Rossi Silvia , Ferrari Franca
Published: January 2021

Injuries to the nervous system affect more than one billion people worldwide, and dramatically impact on the patient’s quality of life. The present work aimed to design and develop a gellan gum (GG)-based composite system for the local delivery of the neuroprotective sigma-1 receptor agonist, 1-[3-(1,1′-biphen)-4-yl] butylpiperidine (RC-33), as a potential tool for the treatment of tissue nervous injuries. The system, consisting of cross-linked electrospun nanofibers embedded in a RC-33-loaded freeze-dried matrix, was designed to bridge the lesion gap, control drug delivery and enhance axonal regrowth. The gradual matrix degradation should ensure the progressive interaction between the inner fibrous mat and the surrounding cellular environment. Nanofibers, prepared by electrospinning polymeric solutions containing GG, two different grades of poly (ethylene oxide) and poloxamer, were cross-linked with calcium ions. GG-based matrices, loaded with different amounts of RC-33, were prepared by freeze-drying. Dialysis studies and solid-state characterization pointed out the formation of an interaction product between GG and RC-33. RC-33-loaded freeze-dried matrices were characterized by the capability to absorb a high buffer content, forming a gel with marked viscoelastic properties, and by RC-33 controlled release properties. The presence of cross-linked nanofibers increased matrix mechanical resistance.
Accumulation of As, Ag, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn by Native Plants Growing in Soils Contaminated by Mining Environmental Liabilities in the Peruvian Andes
Authors: Cruzado-Tafur Edith , Bierla Katarzyna , Torró Lisard , Szpunar Joanna
Published: January 2021

The capability of native plant species grown in polluted post-mining soils to accumulate metals was evaluated in view of their possible suitability for phytoremediation. The study areas included two environmental liabilities in the Cajamarca region in the Peruvian Andes. The content of As, Ag, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn was determined in individual plant organs and correlated with soil characteristics. The degree of the pollution depended on the metal with results ranging from uncontaminated (Cd) to moderately (Zn), strongly (As, Cu), and extremely contaminated (Pb, Ag) soils. The metals were mainly present in the fractions with limited metal mobility. The bioaccumulation of the metals in plants as well the translocation into overground organs was determined. Out of the 21 plants evaluated, Pernettya prostrata and Gaultheria glomerate were suitable for Zn, and Gaultheria glomerata and Festuca sp. for Cd, phytostabilization. The native species applicable for Cd phytoremediation were Ageratina glechonophylla, Bejaria sp., whereas Pernettya prostrata Achyrocline alata,Ageratina fastigiate, Baccharis alnifolia, Calceolaria tetragona, Arenaria digyna, Hypericum laricifolium, Brachyotum radula, and Nicotiana thyrsiflora were suitable for both Cd and Zn. None of the studied plants appeared to be suitable for phytoremediation of Pb, Cu, As and Ag.
Effect of Mineral Fillers on the Mechanical Properties of Commercially Available Biodegradable Polymers
Authors: Post Wouter , Kuijpers Lambertus J. , Zijlstra Martin , van der Zee Maarten , Molenveld Karin
Published: January 2021

In the successful transition towards a circular materials economy, the implementation of biobased and biodegradable plastics is a major prerequisite. To prevent the accumulation of plastic material in the open environment, plastic products should be both recyclable and biodegradable. Research and development actions in the past few decades have led to the commercial availability of a number of polymers that fulfil both end-of-life routes. However, these biobased and biodegradable polymers typically have mechanical properties that are not on par with the non-biodegradable plastic products they intend to replace. This can be improved using particulate mineral fillers such as talc, calcium carbonate, kaolin, and mica. This study shows that composites thereof with polybutylene succinate (PBS), polyhydroxybutyrate-hexanoate (PHBH), polybutylene succinate adipate (PBSA), and polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) as matrix polymers result in plastic materials with mechanical properties ranging from tough elastic towards strong and rigid. It is demonstrated that the balance between the Young’s modulus and the impact resistance for this set of polymer composites is subtle, but a select number of investigated compositions yield a combination of industrially relevant mechanical characteristics. Finally, it is shown that the inclusion of mineral fillers into biodegradable polymers does not negate the microbial disintegration of these polymers, although the nature of the filler does affect the biodegradation rate of the matrix polymer.
Effects of Mould Temperature on Rice Bran-Based Bioplastics Obtained by Injection Moulding
Authors: Alonso-González María , Felix Manuel , Guerrero Antonio , Romero Alberto
Published: January 2021

The high production rate of conventional plastics and their low degradability result in severe environmental problems, such as plastic accumulation and some other related consequences. One alternative to these materials is the production of oil-free bioplastics, based on wastes from the agro-food industry, which are biodegradable. Not only is rice bran an abundant and non-expensive waste, but it is also attractive due to its high protein and starch content, which can be used as macromolecules for bioplastic production. The objective of this work was to develop rice-bran-based bioplastics by injection moulding. For this purpose, this raw material was mixed with a plasticizer (glycerol), analysing the effect of three mould temperatures (100, 130 and 150 °C) on the mechanical and microstructural properties and water absorption capacity of the final matrices. The obtained results show that rice bran is a suitable raw material for the development of bioplastics whose properties are strongly influenced by the processing conditions. Thus, higher temperatures produce stiffer and more resistant materials (Young’s modulus improves from 12 ± 7 MPa to 23 ± 6 and 33 ± 6 MPa when the temperature increases from 100 to 130 and 150 °C, respectively); however, these materials are highly compact and, consequently, their water absorption capacity diminishes. On the other hand, although lower mould temperatures lead to materials with lower mechanical properties, they exhibit a less compact structure, resulting in enhanced water absorption capacity.
Fused Filament Deposition of PLA: The Role of Interlayer Adhesion in the Mechanical Performances
Authors: Liparoti Sara , Sofia Daniele , Romano Aldo , Marra Francesco , Pantani Roberto
Published: January 2021

A set of criteria to enhance mechanical performances of standard specimens (Type V, ANSI D368) made of polylactic acid (PLA) were proposed. Fused PLA deposition was conducted with nozzle temperature ranging from 180 to 230 °C and deposition plate temperature ranging from 70 to 110 °C. Optical microscopy, elastic modulus analysis and density measurement allowed emphasizing the effect of temperature field, also measured during the process, on the morphology and the mechanical characteristics of the specimen. Atomic force microscopy revealed a morphology typical of amorphous samples with globular structures. Poor interlayer adhesion was detected in the part of the specimen located at larger distance from the deposition plate, showing an elastic modulus lower than those measured in the central part (220 MPa vs. 500 MPa). The specimen crystallinity degree was below 3%. The molecular weight between entanglements was adopted as a measure of the interlayer molecular diffusion. A successful diffusion and re-entanglement of the polymer melt at the interface was the key to improving mechanical performance. A mathematical model describing the transient heat transfer during the fused PLA deposition and accounting for solidification and the nonisothermal crystallization kinetics was introduced. Simulated temperature evolutions were consistent with the experimental ones. They were related to the mechanical performances, the morphology, and the molecular weight between entanglements of the parts.
New Hybrid Copper Nanoparticles/Conjugated Polyelectrolyte Composite with Antibacterial Activity
Authors: Jessop Ignacio A. , Pérez Yasmín P. , Jachura Andrea , Nuñez Hipólito , Saldías Cesar , Isaacs Mauricio , Tundidor-Camba Alain , Terraza Claudio A. , Araya-Durán Ingrid , Camarada María B. , Cárcamo-Vega José J.
Published: January 2021

In the search for new materials to fight against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, a hybrid composite from metallic copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) and a novel cationic π-conjugated polyelectrolyte (CPE) were designed, synthesized, and characterized. The CuNPs were prepared by chemical reduction in the presence of CPE, which acts as a stabilizing agent. Spectroscopic analysis and electron microscopy showed the distinctive band of the metallic CuNP surface plasmon and their random distribution on the CPE laminar surface, respectively. Theoretical calculations on CuNP/CPE deposits suggest that the interaction between both materials occurs through polyelectrolyte side chains, with a small contribution of its backbone electron density. The CuNP/CPE composite showed antibacterial activity against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Salmonella enteritidis) bacteria, mainly attributed to the CuNPs’ effect and, to a lesser extent, to the cationic CPE.
The Morphology of Evolved Urban Fabric around Farm Ponds
Authors: Shih Naai-Jung , Qiu Yi-Ting
Published: January 2021

Resilience, water-based ecosystems, and regional urbanization are closely related. Ponds, as a part of water-based ecosystems, are subject to the indicators of urbanization. The farm ponds in Taoyuan, Taiwan, represent a sustainable fulfillment of irrigation demand and are a system that has been resilient to the topological change in plate elevation over time. The old system was developed in three stages and gradually replaced by canals and reservoirs, with lands abolished or demolished for other purposes. This study aimed to investigate the resilience of farm ponds based on a quantitative estimation of the morphologically evolved urban fabric. Based on five types of map resources, case studies were made on the ponds located near or away from the Green Line of the Taoyuan Rapid Transit System in order to explore their potential relationship with urbanization and the concept of transit-oriented development (TOD). The results show high dynamics of land-use changes while each one was surrounded by a specific urban fabric and contributed to the individual history, designated role, and major type of buildings developed. Quantitative estimation made from satellite images found the developing patterns of resilience in different convergence stages. Each of the four pond cases represents a different stage and application pattern to the integration of water and urban resilience and, in the meantime, maintains the old pond culture. The verification of the water surface area was compared between former 3D scans and satellite images.
Reduced-Complexity End-to-End Variational Autoencoder for on Board Satellite Image Compression
Authors: Alves de Oliveira Vinicius , Chabert Marie , Oberlin Thomas , Poulliat Charly , Bruno Mickael , Latry Christophe , Carlavan Mikael , Henrot Simon , Falzon Frederic , Camarero Roberto
Published: January 2021

Recently, convolutional neural networks have been successfully applied to lossy image compression. End-to-end optimized autoencoders, possibly variational, are able to dramatically outperform traditional transform coding schemes in terms of rate-distortion trade-off; however, this is at the cost of a higher computational complexity. An intensive training step on huge databases allows autoencoders to learn jointly the image representation and its probability distribution, possibly using a non-parametric density model or a hyperprior auxiliary autoencoder to eliminate the need for prior knowledge. However, in the context of on board satellite compression, time and memory complexities are submitted to strong constraints. The aim of this paper is to design a complexity-reduced variational autoencoder in order to meet these constraints while maintaining the performance. Apart from a network dimension reduction that systematically targets each parameter of the analysis and synthesis transforms, we propose a simplified entropy model that preserves the adaptability to the input image. Indeed, a statistical analysis performed on satellite images shows that the Laplacian distribution fits most features of their representation. A complex non parametric distribution fitting or a cumbersome hyperprior auxiliary autoencoder can thus be replaced by a simple parametric estimation. The proposed complexity-reduced autoencoder outperforms the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems standard (CCSDS 122.0-B) while maintaining a competitive performance, in terms of rate-distortion trade-off, in comparison with the state-of-the-art learned image compression schemes.
Acknowledgment to Reviewers of Remote Sensing in 2020
Authors:   Remote Sensing Editorial Office
Published: January 2021

Peer review is the driving force of journal development, and reviewers are gatekeepers who ensure that Remote Sensing maintains its standards for the high quality of its published papers [...]
An Aided Navigation Method Based on Strapdown Gravity Gradiometer
Authors: Gao Duanyang , Hu Baiqing , Chang Lubin , Qin Fangjun , Lyu Xu
Published: January 2021

The gravity gradient is the second derivative of gravity potential. A gravity gradiometer can measure the small change of gravity at two points, which contains more abundant navigation and positioning information than gravity. In order to solve the problem of passive autonomous, long-voyage, and high-precision navigation and positioning of submarines, an aided navigation method based on strapdown gravity gradiometer is proposed. The unscented Kalman filter framework is used to realize the fusion of inertial navigation and gravity gradient information. The performance of aided navigation is analyzed and evaluated from six aspects: long voyage, measurement update period, measurement noise, database noise, initial error, and inertial navigation system device level. When the parameters are set according to the benchmark parameters and after about 10 h of simulation, the results show that the attitude error, velocity error, and position error of the gravity gradiometer aided navigation system are less than 1 arcmin, 0.1 m/s, and 33 m, respectively.
Affimer-Based Europium Chelates Allow Sensitive Optical Biosensing in a Range of Human Disease Biomarkers
Authors: Al-Enezi Eiman , Vakurov Alexandre , Eades Amy , Ding Mingyu , Jose Gin , Saha Sikha , Millner Paul
Published: January 2021

The protein biomarker measurement has been well-established using ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), which offers good sensitivity and specificity, but remains slow and expensive. Certain clinical conditions, where rapid measurement or immediate confirmation of a biomarker is paramount for treatment, necessitate more rapid analysis. Biosensors offer the prospect of reagent-less, processing-free measurements at the patient’s bedside. Here, we report a platform for biosensing based on chelated Eu3+ against a range of proteins including biomarkers of cardiac injury (human myoglobin), stroke (glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)), inflammation (C-reactive protein (CRP)) and colorectal cancer (carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)). The Eu3+ ions are chelated by modified synthetic binding proteins (Affimers), which offer an alternative targeting strategy to existing antibodies. The fluorescence characteristics of the Eu3+ complex with modified Affimers against human myoglobin, GFAP, CRP and CEA were measured in human serum using λex = 395 nm, λem = 590 and 615 nm. The Eu3+-Affimer based complex allowed sensitive detection of human myoglobin, GFAP, CRP and CEA proteins as low as 100 fM in (100-fold) diluted human serum samples. The unique dependence on Eu3+ fluorescence in the visible region (590 and 615 nm) was exploited in this study to allow rapid measurement of the analyte concentration, with measurements in 2 to 3 min. These data demonstrate that the Affimer based Eu3+ complexes can function as nanobiosensors with potential analytical and diagnostic applications.
Comfortable and Convenient Turning Skill Assessment for Alpine Skiers Using IMU and Plantar Pressure Distribution Sensors
Authors: Matsumura Seiji , Ohta Ken , Yamamoto Shin-ichiroh , Koike Yasuharu , Kimura Toshitaka
Published: January 2021

Improving ski-turn skills is of interest to both competitive and recreational skiers, but it is not easy to improve on one’s own. Although studies have reported various methods of ski-turn skill evaluation, a simple method that can be used by oneself has not yet been established. In this study, we have proposed a comfortable method to assess ski-turn skills; this method enables skiers to easily understand the relationship between body control and ski motion. One expert skier and four intermediate skiers participated in this study. Small inertial measurement units (IMUs) and mobile plantar pressure distribution sensors were used to capture data while skiing, and three ski-turn features—ski motion, waist rotation, and how load is applied to the skis—as well as their symmetry, were assessed. The results showed that the motions of skiing and the waist in the expert skier were significantly larger than those in intermediate skiers. Additionally, we found that the expert skier only slightly used the heel to apply a load to the skis (heel load ratio: approximately 60%) and made more symmetrical turns than the intermediate skiers did. This study will provide a method for recreational skiers, in particular, to conveniently and quantitatively evaluate their ski-turn skills by themselves.
Pilot Study: Quantitative Photoacoustic Evaluation of Peripheral Vascular Dynamics Induced by Carfilzomib In Vivo
Authors: Mai Thi Thao , Vo Manh-Cuong , Chu Tan-Huy , Kim Jin Young , Kim Chulhong , Lee Je-Jung , Jung Sung-Hoon , Lee Changho
Published: January 2021

Carfilzomib is mainly used to treat multiple myeloma. Several side effects have been reported in patients treated with carfilzomib, especially those associated with cardiovascular events, such as hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease. However, the side effects, especially the manifestation of cardiovascular events through capillaries, have not been fully investigated. Here, we performed a pilot experiment to monitor peripheral vascular dynamics in a mouse ear under the effects of carfilzomib using a quantitative photoacoustic vascular evaluation method. Before and after injecting the carfilzomib, bortezomib, and PBS solutions, we acquired high-resolution three-dimensional PAM data of the peripheral vasculature of the mouse ear during each experiment for 10 h. Then, the PAM maximum amplitude projection (MAP) images and five quantitative vascular parameters, i.e., photoacoustic (PA) signal, diameter, density, length fraction, and fractal dimension, were estimated. Quantitative results showed that carfilzomib induces a strong effect on the peripheral vascular system through a significant increase in all vascular parameters up to 50%, especially during the first 30 min after injection. Meanwhile, bortezomib and PBS do not have much impact on the peripheral vascular system. This pilot study verified PAM as a comprehensive method to investigate peripheral vasculature, along with the effects of carfilzomib. Therefore, we expect that PAM may be useful to predict cardiovascular events caused by carfilzomib.
Application of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in the Health Monitoring and Maintenance Process: A Systematic Review
Authors: Panah Reihane Shafie , Kioumarsi Mahdi
Published: January 2021

Improvements in the science of health monitoring and maintenance have facilitated the observation of damage and defects in existing structures and infrastructures, such as bridges and railways. The need to extend sensing technology through the use of wireless sensors as well as the lack of description tools for understanding, visualizing, and documenting sensor outputs has encouraged researchers to use powerful tools such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) systems. BIM has become important because of conducting tools widely used in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry to present and manage information on structural systems and situations. Since combining health monitoring and maintenance results with BIM models is a new field of study, and most projects utilize various aspects of it, we have conducted a review of important work related to this subject published from 2010 to November of 2020. After reviewing 278 journal articles, research trends, approaches, methods, gaps, and future agenda related to BIM in monitoring and maintenance were highlighted. This paper, through a bibliometric and content analysis, concludes that besides main improvements, some limitations now exist which affect the modeling and maintenance process. These limitations are related to extending the IFC schema, optimizing sensor data, interoperability among various BIM platforms, optimization of various sensing technologies for fault detection and management of huge amounts of data, besides consideration of environmental effects on monitoring hazards and underground objects. Finally, this paper aims to help to solve the mentioned limitation through a comprehensive review of existing research.
Saliency Detection with Bilateral Absorbing Markov Chain Guided by Depth Information
Authors: Wu Jiajia , Han Guangliang , Liu Peixun , Yang Hang , Luo Huiyuan , Li Qingqing
Published: January 2021

The effectiveness of depth information in saliency detection has been fully proved. However, it is still worth exploring how to utilize the depth information more efficiently. Erroneous depth information may cause detection failure, while non-salient objects may be closer to the camera which also leads to erroneously emphasis on non-salient regions. Moreover, most of the existing RGB-D saliency detection models have poor robustness when the salient object touches the image boundaries. To mitigate these problems, we propose a multi-stage saliency detection model with the bilateral absorbing Markov chain guided by depth information. The proposed model progressively extracts the saliency cues with three level (low-, mid-, and high-level) stages. First, we generate low-level saliency cues by explicitly combining color and depth information. Then, we design a bilateral absorbing Markov chain to calculate mid-level saliency maps. In mid-level, to suppress boundary touch problem, we present the background seed screening mechanism (BSSM) for improving the construction of the two-layer sparse graph and better selecting background-based absorbing nodes. Furthermore, the cross-modal multi-graph learning model (CMLM) is designed to fully explore the intrinsic complementary relationship between color and depth information. Finally, to obtain a more highlighted and homogeneous saliency map in high-level, we structure a depth-guided optimization module which combines cellular automata and suppression-enhancement function pair. This optimization module refines the saliency map in color space and depth space, respectively. Comprehensive experiments on three challenging benchmark datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed method both qualitatively and quantitatively.
Machine-Learning Based Determination of Gait Events from Foot-Mounted Inertial Units
Authors: Zago Matteo , Tarabini Marco , Delfino Spiga Martina , Ferrario Cristina , Bertozzi Filippo , Sforza Chiarella , Galli Manuela
Published: January 2021

A promising but still scarcely explored strategy for the estimation of gait parameters based on inertial sensors involves the adoption of machine learning techniques. However, existing approaches are reliable only for specific conditions, inertial measurements unit (IMU) placement on the body, protocols, or when combined with additional devices. In this paper, we tested an alternative gait-events estimation approach which is fully data-driven and does not rely on a priori models or assumptions. High-frequency (512 Hz) data from a commercial inertial unit were recorded during 500 steps performed by 40 healthy participants. Sensors’ readings were synchronized with a reference ground reaction force system to determine initial/terminal contacts. Then, we extracted a set of features from windowed data labeled according to the reference. Two gray-box approaches were evaluated: (1) classifiers (decision trees) returning the presence of a gait event in each time window and (2) a classifier discriminating between stance and swing phases. Both outputs were submitted to a deterministic algorithm correcting spurious clusters of predictions. The stance vs. swing approach estimated the stride time duration with an average error lower than 20 ms and confidence bounds between ±50 ms. These figures are suitable to detect clinically meaningful differences across different populations.
A Radiometric Technique for Monitoring the Desulfurization Process of Blister Copper
Authors: Vásquez Alejandro , Pérez Francisco , Roa Maximiliano , Sanhueza Ignacio , Rojas Hugo , Parra Victor , Balladares Eduardo , Parra Roberto , Torres Sergio
Published: January 2021

In this paper, a novel optical technique for following the progress of the blister copper desulfurization process is presented. The technique is based on the changes observed in the continuous spectrum of the visible–near-infrared (VIS–NIR) radiation that the blister melt emits while the chemical reactions of the sulfur elimination process are taking place. Specifically, the proposed technique uses an optical probe composed of an optical fiber, a collimating lens, and a quartz tube, which is immersed in the melt. This optical probe provides a field of view of the blowing zone where the desulfurization reaction occurs. The experimental results show that the melt VIS–NIR total irradiance evolves inversely to the SO2 concentration reported by a gas analyzer based on differential optical absorption spectroscopy. Furthermore, the blister copper spectral emissivity as well as the total emissivity observed throughout the process show strong correlation with the sulfur content during desulfurization reaction.
Acknowledgment to Reviewers of Smart Cities in 2020
Authors:   Smart Cities Editorial Office
Published: January 2021

Peer review is the driving force of journal development, and reviewers are gatekeepers who ensure that Smart Cities maintains its standards for the high quality of its published papers [...]
AHP as a Useful Tool in the Assessment of the Technical Condition of Hydrotechnical Constructions
Authors: Hämmerling Mateusz , Kocięcka Joanna , Zaborowski Stanisław
Published: January 2021

The key challenge for sustainable water management is to carry out a proper assessment of the technical condition of hydrotechnical constructions. Maintaining them in a good state is a prerequisite for ensuring the safety of objects, as well as adjacent areas. This paper compares the results of field research obtained by three methods to assess the technical condition of structures located on the Wełna River. The main objective is to determine the differences between the methods and to indicate the most important assessment elements and criteria. Moreover, it was checked if the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) can be used to carry out the correct assessment of hydrotechnical construction. An assessment that will be based on the hierarchy of factors, which is not often used in other methods. The AHP was applied for the first time to assess the technical condition of hydrotechnical constructions. Based on AHP, three variants of different weights for factors, including exploitation problems and damage to construction elements, were selected. The new variants developed by the authors allow for a more accurate, multifactor assessment. The use of scales to determine the importance of individual elements contributes to the actual representation of the technical condition of the object, which is often over- or underestimated by other assessment methods. The analysis shows that the AHP method is a useful tool to support the assessment of the technical condition of hydrotechnical construction. The use of AHP as a universal assessment method will compare the technical condition of hydrotechnical constructions located all over the world.
BIM Integrated LCA for Promoting Circular Economy towards Sustainable Construction: An Analytical Review
Authors: Xue Kai , Hossain Md. Uzzal , Liu Meng , Ma Mingjun , Zhang Yizhi , Hu Mengqiang , Chen XiaoYi , Cao Guangyu
Published: January 2021

Sustainable construction is widely regarded as one of the best decisions to reduce the environmental impact of the buildings. Numerous scientific efforts have been devoted to promoting sustainability by adopting different techniques such as life cycle assessment (LCA) and building information modeling (BIM). The recent circular economy (CE) agenda is prioritizing in different sectors including construction due to increasing concern on the materials efficiency and resources consumption. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the implications, considerations, contributions and challenges of BIM integrated LCA and the CE adoption in the industry by critically analyzing the recent literature. A scientometric analysis was applied to the selected studies to show the knowledge among BIM, LCA and CE relationships. With a comprehensive analysis of major challenges and opportunities of LCA and BIM for construction sustainability, key drivers for sustainable building design were identified and analyzed. A prospective integrated framework for CE adoption into BIM-based LCA of buildings and an evaluation method are proposed by analyzing the contemporary issues. It is believed that the analyzed critical issues, identified future research direction and proposed frameworks and this methodology should contribute to effective implementation of CE into the building for promoting sustainable construction.
Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture and Its Mitigation Strategies: A Review
Authors: Malhi Gurdeep Singh , Kaur Manpreet , Kaushik Prashant
Published: January 2021

Climate change is a global threat to the food and nutritional security of the world. As greenhouse-gas emissions in the atmosphere are increasing, the temperature is also rising due to the greenhouse effect. The average global temperature is increasing continuously and is predicted to rise by 2 °C until 2100, which would cause substantial economic losses at the global level. The concentration of CO2, which accounts for a major proportion of greenhouse gases, is increasing at an alarming rate, and has led to higher growth and plant productivity due to increased photosynthesis, but increased temperature offsets this effect as it leads to increased crop respiration rate and evapotranspiration, higher pest infestation, a shift in weed flora, and reduced crop duration. Climate change also affects the microbial population and their enzymatic activities in soil. This paper reviews the information collected through the literature regarding the issue of climate change, its possible causes, its projection in the near future, its impact on the agriculture sector as an influence on physiological and metabolic activities of plants, and its potential and reported implications for growth and plant productivity, pest infestation, and mitigation strategies and their economic impact.
Exploring Domestic Precycling Behavior: A Social Identity Perspective
Authors: Wenzel Klara , Süßbauer Elisabeth
Published: January 2021

Increasing amounts of disposable food packaging waste are contributing towards a global environmental crisis, and approaches to successfully preventing such waste—called precycling—are urgently needed. The human ability to define oneself as a member of a group (social identity) may represent a powerful source for realizing environmental endeavors. Therefore, in this article we conceptualize precycling behavior in households as pro-environmental behavior embedded in social identity processes. To explore precycling, we combined food diaries and qualitative virtual interviews with 26 households in Berlin, Germany. We analyzed our data based on the Social Identity Model of Pro-Environmental Action (SIMPEA). Starting from the behavioral element of the model (response), we substantiate the concept of precycling suggesting that it can be distinguished into six types of behavior. Furthermore, we propose that the enactment of these precycling behaviors is shaped by social identity processes and social influence in different groups, including: the household itself, neighbors, family and friends, or food collectives. We conclude that these processes are important to realizing precycling in small and private groups as well as in larger collectives. Implications are derived for empirical research and theoretical development as well as for public programs and intervention studies.
The Stress-Induced Impact of COVID-19 on Tourism and Hospitality Workers
Authors: Kang Sung-Eun , Park Changyeon , Lee Choong-Ki , Lee Seunghoon
Published: January 2021

This study explores how COVID-19-induced stress (CID) influences organizational trust, job satisfaction, self-esteem, and commitment in tourism and hospitality organizations. A total of 427 tourism affiliated employees in South Korea participated in an online survey. Using structural equation modelling (SEM), the proposed conceptual model reveals that CID stress in tourism/hospitality employees is negatively related to organizational trust, job satisfaction, and self-esteem which, in turn, is positively related to organizational commitment. CID stress also indirectly affects organizational commitment. The findings have significant strategic implications for tourism and hospitality organizations‒specifically, the provision of instrumental resources (e.g., safety glasses, latex gloves, hand sanitizers, facial masks) to alleviate their employees’ work-related stress during pandemics.