bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detecting Oropharyngeal and Esophageal Emptying by Submental Ultrasonography and High-Resolution Impedance Manometry: Intubated vs. Non-Intubated Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery
Authors: Lai Chih-Jun , Chen Jin-Shing , Ho Shih-I , Lu Zhi-Yin , Huang Yi-Ju , Cheng Ya-Jung
Published: December 2020

Postoperative swallowing, affected by general anesthesia and intubation, plays an important part in airway and oral intake safety regarding effective oropharyngeal and esophageal emptying. However, objective evidence is limited. This study aimed to determine the time required from emergence to effective oropharyngeal and esophageal emptying in patients undergoing non-intubated (N) or tracheal-intubated (I) video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Hyoid bone displacement (HBD) by submental ultrasonography and high-resolution impedance manometry (HRIM) measurements were used to assess oropharyngeal and esophageal emptying. HRIM was performed every 10 min after emergence, up to 10 times. The primary outcome was to determine whether intubation affects the time required from effective oropharyngeal to esophageal emptying. The secondary outcome was to verify if HBD is comparable to preoperative data indicating effective oropharyngeal emptying. Thirty-two patients suitable for non-intubated VATS were recruited. Our results showed that comparable HBDs were achieved in all patients after emergence. Effective esophageal emptying was achieved at the first HRIM measurement in 11 N group patients and 2 I group patients (p = 0.002) and was achieved in all N (100%) and 13 I group patients (81%) within 100 min (p = 0.23). HBD and HRIM are warranted for detecting postoperative oropharyngeal and esophageal emptying.
The Challenge of Evaluating Response to Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy in Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: The Present and the Future
Authors: Liberini Virginia , Huellner Martin W. , Grimaldi Serena , Finessi Monica , Thuillier Philippe , Muni Alfredo , Pellerito Riccardo E. , Papotti Mauro G. , Piovesan Alessandro , Arvat Emanuela , Deandreis Désirée
Published: December 2020

The NETTER-1 study has proven peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) to be one of the most effective therapeutic options for metastatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), improving progression-free survival and overall survival. However, PRRT response assessment is challenging and no consensus on methods and timing has yet been reached among experts in the field. This issue is owed to the suboptimal sensitivity and specificity of clinical biomarkers, limitations of morphological response criteria in slowly growing tumors and necrotic changes after therapy, a lack of standardized parameters and timing of functional imaging and the heterogeneity of PRRT protocols in the literature. The aim of this article is to review the most relevant current approaches for PRRT efficacy prediction and response assessment criteria in order to provide an overview of suitable tools for safe and efficacious PRRT.
Exploring the Neighborhood of q-Exponentials
Authors: Santos Lima Henrique , Tsallis Constantino
Published: December 2020

The q-exponential form eqx≡[1+(1−q)x]1/(1−q)(e1x=ex) is obtained by optimizing the nonadditive entropy Sq≡k1−∑ipiqq−1 (with S1=SBG≡−k∑ipilnpi, where BG stands for Boltzmann–Gibbs) under simple constraints, and emerges in wide classes of natural, artificial and social complex systems. However, in experiments, observations and numerical calculations, it rarely appears in its pure mathematical form. It appears instead exhibiting crossovers to, or mixed with, other similar forms. We first discuss departures from q-exponentials within crossover statistics, or by linearly combining them, or by linearly combining the corresponding q-entropies. Then, we discuss departures originated by double-index nonadditive entropies containing Sq as particular case.
Financial Stress Index and Economic Activity in South Africa: New Evidence
Authors: Ilesanmi Kehinde Damilola , Tewari Devi Datt
Published: December 2020

The importance of a sound and stable financial system and by extension economic stability was brought to the fore by the global financial crisis (GFC). The economic and social costs of the GFC have renewed the commitment of stakeholders in the financial sector including central banks to develop instruments and methodologies that will be useful in monitoring financial stress within the financial system and the real economy. This study contributes to the growing literature by developing a financial stress indicator for the South African financial market. The financial stress indicator (FSI) is a single aggregate indicator that is constructed to reflect the systemic nature of financial instability and also to measure the vulnerability of the financial system to both internal and external shocks. Using the principal component analysis (PCA), the results show that financial stress can be identified by the financial stress indicator. Furthermore, using a recursive Vector Autoregression (VAR) model to estimate the impact of financial stress on output and investment, the result shows that financial stress has a negative impact on economic growth and investment, though not immediately. FSI is very useful for gauging the effectiveness of government measures to mitigate the impact of financial stress. Concerted effort to stimulate investment and domestic production by relevant stakeholders is necessary to mitigate the impact of financial stress. This will go a long way to alleviating the impact of the financial stress on industrial production, employment and the economy at large.
An Augmented Reality-Based Mobile Application Facilitates the Learning about the Spinal Cord
Authors: Fernandes Jacks , Teles Ariel , Teixeira Silmar
Published: December 2020

Health education is one of the knowledge areas in which augmented reality (AR) technology is widespread, and it has been considered as a facilitator of the learning process. In literature, there are still few studies detailing the role of mobile AR in neuroanatomy. Specifically, for the spinal cord, the teaching–learning process may be hindered due to its abstract nature and the absence of three-dimensional models. In this sense, we implemented a mobile application with AR technology named NitLabEduca for studying the spinal cord with an interactive exploration of 3D rotating models in the macroscopic scale, theoretical content of its specificities, animations, and simulations regarding its physiology. To investigate NitLabEduca’s effects, eighty individuals with and without previous neuroanatomy knowledge were selected and grouped into control and experimental groups. Divided, they performed learning tasks through a questionnaire. We used the System Usability Scale (SUS) to evaluate the usability level of the mobile application and a complimentary survey to verify the adherence level to the use of mobile applications in higher education. As a result, we observed that participants of both groups who started the task with the application and finished with text had more correct results in the test (p < 0.001). SUS results were promising in terms of usability and learning factor. We concluded that studying the spinal cord through NitLabEduca seems to favor learning when used as a complement to the printed material.
Analysis of State-of-the-Art Spin-Transfer-Torque Nonvolatile Flip-Flops Considering Restore Yield in the Near/Sub-Threshold Voltage Region
Authors: Choi Gwang Hui , Na Taehui
Published: December 2020

Recently, the leakage power consumption of Internet of Things (IoT) devices has become a main issue to be tackled, due to the fact that the scaling of process technology increases the leakage current in the IoT devices having limited battery capacity, resulting in the reduction of battery lifetime. The most effective method to extend the battery lifetime is to shut-off the device during standby mode. For this reason, spin-transfer-torque magnetic-tunnel-junction (STT-MTJ) based nonvolatile flip-flop (NVFF) is being considered as a strong candidate to store the computing data. Since there is a risk that the MTJ resistance may change during the read operation (i.e., the read disturbance problem), NVFF should consider the read disturbance problem to satisfy reliable data restoration. To date, several NVFFs have been proposed. Even though they satisfy the target restore yield of 4σ, most of them do not take the read disturbance into account. Furthermore, several recently proposed NVFFs which focus on the offset-cancellation technique to improve the restore yield have obvious limitation with decreasing the supply voltage (VDD), because the offset-cancellation technique uses switch operation in the critical path that can exacerbate the restore yield in the near/sub-threshold region. In this regard, this paper analyzes state-of-the-art STT-MTJ based NVFFs with respect to the voltage region and provides insight that a simple circuit having no offset-cancellation technique could achieve a better restore yield in the near/sub-threshold voltage region. Monte–Carlo HSPICE simulation results, using industry-compatible 28 nm model parameters, show that in case of VDD of 0.6 V, complex NVFF circuits having offset tolerance characteristic have a better restore yield, whereas in case of VDD of 0.4 V with sizing up strategy, a simple NVFF circuit having no offset tolerance characteristic has a better restore yield.
Medical Prior Knowledge Guided Automatic Detection of Coronary Arteries Calcified Plaque with Cardiac CT
Authors: Zhao Mengxue , Che Xiangjiu , Liu Hualuo , Liu Quanle
Published: December 2020

Calcified plaque in coronary arteries is one major cause and prediction of future coronary artery disease risk. Therefore, the detection of calcified plaque in coronary arteries is exceptionally significant in clinical for slowing coronary artery disease progression. At present, the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) is exceedingly popular in natural images’ object detection field. Therefore, CNN in the object detection field of medical images also has a wide range of applications. However, many current calcified plaque detection methods in medical images are based on improving the CNN model algorithm, not on the characteristics of medical images. In response, we propose an automatic calcified plaque detection method in non-contrast-enhanced cardiac CT by adding medical prior knowledge. The training data merging with medical prior knowledge through data augmentation makes the object detection algorithm achieve a better detection result. In terms of algorithm, we employ a deep learning tool knows as Faster R-CNN in our method for locating calcified plaque in coronary arteries. To reduce the generation of redundant anchor boxes, Region Proposal Networks is replaced with guided anchoring. Experimental results show that the proposed method achieved a decent detection performance.
A Comparative Analysis between Standard and mm-Wave Optimized BEOL in a Nanoscale CMOS Technology
Authors: Ragonese Egidio , Nocera Claudio , Cavarra Andrea , Papotto Giuseppe , Spataro Simone , Palmisano Giuseppe
Published: December 2020

This paper presents an extensive comparison of two 28-nm CMOS technologies, i.e., standard and mm-wave-optimized (i.e., thick metals and intermetal oxides) back-end-of-line (BEOL). The proposed comparison is carried out at both component and circuit level by means of a quantitative analysis of the actual performance improvements due to the adoption of a mm-wave-optimized BEOL. To this end, stand-alone transformer performance is first evaluated and then a complete mm-wave macroblock is investigated. A 77-GHz down-converter for frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) long-range/medium range (LR/MR) radar applications is exploited as a testbench. For the first time, it is demonstrated that thicker metals and intermetal oxides do not guarantee significant improvements at mm-wave frequencies and a standard (low-cost) BEOL is competitive in comparison with more complex (expensive) ones.
An Efficient Elliptic-Curve Point Multiplication Architecture for High-Speed Cryptographic Applications
Authors: Rashid Muhammad , Imran Malik , Sajid Asher
Published: December 2020

This work presents an efficient high-speed hardware architecture for point multiplication (PM) computation of Elliptic-curve cryptography using binary fields over GF(2163) and GF(2571). The efficiency is achieved by reducing: (1) the time required for one PM computation and (2) the total number of required clock cycles. The required computational time for one PM computation is reduced by incorporating two modular multipliers (connected in parallel), a serially connected adder after multipliers and two serially connected squarer units (one after the first multiplier and another after the adder). To optimize the total number of required clock cycles, the point addition and point double instructions for PM computation of the Montgomery algorithm are re-structured. The implementation results after place-and-route over GF(2163) and GF(2571) on a Xilinx Virtex-7 FPGA device reveal that the proposed high-speed architecture is well-suited for the network-related applications, where millions of heterogeneous devices want to connect with the unsecured internet to reach an acceptable performance.
Practical Evidence-Based Evaluation of a Combined Heat Reduction Technique for Power Transformer Buildings
Authors: Dursun İlker , Güner Sıtkı , Şengör İbrahim , Erenoğlu Ayşe Kübra , Erdinç Ozan , Catalão João P. S.
Published: December 2020

Transformer buildings are at the heart of the effective operation of distribution systems, and heating problems of transformers under severe operational conditions are among the main factors affecting the lifetime, efficiency, technical losses, etc., of such important power system assets. It is crucial that the inside temperature of transformer buildings is higher than the outside temperature due to the operation of the transformer and the effect of ambient conditions. This issue may cause several problems such as additional transformer aging, losses, and moisture. The main purpose of this study is to decrease the inside temperature of transformer buildings; in other words, to prevent the inside temperature from being higher than the outside temperature. To realize this, it is recommended to apply a combined heat reduction technique by covering the outer surface with a reflective surface and use a low-emitting material on the inner surface. The relevant results of the practical evidence in this manner are presented in detail at a distribution system in Turkey with different climate and loading conditions in the summertime.
A Data-Driven Energy Platform: From Energy Performance Certificates to Human-Readable Knowledge through Dynamic High-Resolution Geospatial Maps
Authors: Cerquitelli Tania , Di Corso Evelina , Proto Stefano , Bethaz Paolo , Mazzarelli Daniele , Capozzoli Alfonso , Baralis Elena , Mellia Marco , Casagrande Silvia , Tamburini Martina
Published: December 2020

The energy performance certificate (EPC) is a document that certifies the average annual energy consumption of a building in standard conditions and allows it to be classified within a so-called energy class. In a period such as this, when greenhouse gas emissions are of considerable importance and where the objective is to improve energy security and reduce energy costs in our cities, energy certification has a key role to play. The proposed work aims to model and characterize residential buildings’ energy efficiency by exploring heterogeneous, geo-referenced data with different spatial and temporal granularity. The paper presents TUCANA (TUrin Certificates ANAlysis), an innovative data mining engine able to cover the whole analytics workflow for the analysis of the energy performance certificates, including cluster analysis and a model generalization step based on a novel spatial constrained K-NN, able to automatically characterize a broad set of buildings distributed across a major city and predict different energy-related features for new unseen buildings. The energy certificates analyzed in this work have been issued by the Piedmont Region (a northwest region of Italy) through open data. The results obtained on a large dataset are displayed in novel, dynamic, and interactive geospatial maps that can be consulted on a web application integrated into the system. The visualization tool provides transparent and human-readable knowledge to various stakeholders, thus supporting the decision-making process.
Improved Finite Set-Predictive Torque Control of PMSM Fed by Indirect Matrix Converter with Discrete Space Vector Modulation
Authors: Alsofyani Ibrahim Mohd , Bak Yeongsu , Lee Kyo-Beum
Published: December 2020

This study presents finite set-predictive torque control (FS-PTC) with discrete space vector modulation (DSVM) for indirect matrix converter (IMC)-fed permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs). The implementation of FS-PTC with DSVM in an IMC requires high computation time due to the large number of synthesized voltage vectors (VVs). To reduce computation time caused by considering all VVs, a new preselection strategy is proposed to reduce the computational numerations from 37 to 6 VVs. The proposed algorithm can reduce torque and flux ripples and achieve robust characteristics against parameter variations. Additionally, the increased degree of VVs can improve the correlation between the rectifier and inverter sides of the IMC. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by simulation and experimental results.
Forest Cover Mapping Based on a Combination of Aerial Images and Sentinel-2 Satellite Data Compared to National Forest Inventory Data
Authors: Ganz Selina , Adler Petra , Kändler Gerald
Published: December 2020

Research Highlights: This study developed the first remote sensing-based forest cover map of Baden-Württemberg, Germany, in a very high level of detail. Background and Objectives: As available global or pan-European forest maps have a low level of detail and the forest definition is not considered, administrative data are often oversimplified or out of date. Consequently, there is an important need for spatio-temporally explicit forest maps. The main objective of the present study was to generate a forest cover map of Baden-Württemberg, taking the German forest definition into account. Furthermore, we compared the results to NFI data; incongruences were categorized and quantified. Materials and Methods: We used a multisensory approach involving both aerial images and Sentinel-2 data. The applied methods are almost completely automated and therefore suitable for area-wide forest mapping. Results: According to our results, approximately 37.12% of the state is covered by forest, which agrees very well with the results of the NFI report (37.26% ± 0.44%). We showed that the forest cover map could be derived by aerial images and Sentinel-2 data including various data acquisition conditions and settings. Comparisons between the forest cover map and 34,429 NFI plots resulted in a spatial agreement of 95.21% overall. We identified four reasons for incongruences: (a) edge effects at forest borders (2.08%), (b) different forest definitions since NFI does not specify minimum tree height (2.04%), (c) land cover does not match land use (0.66%) and (d) errors in the forest cover layer (0.01%). Conclusions: The introduced approach is a valuable technique for mapping forest cover in a high level of detail. The developed forest cover map is frequently updated and thus can be used for monitoring purposes and for assisting a wide range of forest science, biodiversity or climate change-related studies.
Multi-Physics Modeling of Electrochemical Deposition
Authors: Kauffman Justin , Gilbert John , Paterson Eric
Published: December 2020

Electrochemical deposition (ECD) is a common method used in the field of microelectronics to grow metallic coatings on an electrode. The deposition process occurs in an electrolyte bath where dissolved ions of the depositing material are suspended in an acid while an electric current is applied to the electrodes. The proposed computational model uses the finite volume method and the finite area method to predict copper growth on the plating surface without the use of a level set method or deforming mesh because the amount of copper layer growth is not expected to impact the fluid motion. The finite area method enables the solver to track the growth of the copper layer and uses the current density as a forcing function for an electric potential field on the plating surface. The current density at the electrolyte-plating surface interface is converged within each PISO (Pressure Implicit with Splitting Operator) loop iteration and incorporates the variance of the electrical resistance that occurs via the growth of the copper layer. This paper demonstrates the application of the finite area method for an ECD problem and additionally incorporates coupling between fluid mechanics, ionic diffusion, and electrochemistry.
Thermophysical Properties of Nanofluids Composed of Ethylene Glycol and Long Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Brzóska Karolina , Jóźwiak Bertrand , Golba Adrian , Dzida Marzena , Boncel Sławomir
Published: December 2020

In this work, thermal conductivity, viscosity, isobaric heat capacity, and density of stable carbon-based nanofluids are presented. The nanofluids under study are composed of 1,2-ethanediol (ethylene glycol, EG) and long multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), so-called ‘in-house 16h’ (synthesized in our laboratory via catalytic chemical vapor deposition during 16 h with a diameter of 60–80 nm and length of 770 μm). Poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) was used to increase the stability of nanofluids. The nanofluids were prepared via an ultrasonication-assisted, three-step method while their key thermophysical characteristics were obtained using the hot-wire technique and rotary viscometer. As a result, the addition of MWCNTs significantly improved the thermal conductivity of nanofluids by 31.5% for the highest 1.0 wt% (0.498 vol%) long MWCNT content, leaving the Newtonian character of the nanofluids practically intact.
Numerical Analysis of Tube Heat Exchanger with Perforated Star-Shaped Fins
Authors: Bošnjaković Mladen , Muhič Simon
Published: December 2020

This article discusses the possibility of further reducing the mass of the heat exchanger with stainless steel star-shaped fins while achieving good heat transfer performance. For this purpose, we perforated the fins with holes Ø2, Ø3, and Ø4 mm. Applying computational fluid dynamics (CFD) numerical analysis, we determined the influence of each perforation on the characteristics of the flow field in the liquid–gas type of heat exchanger and the heat transfer for the range of Re numbers from 2300 to 16,000. With a reduction in the mass of the fins to 17.65% (by Ø4 mm), perforated fins had greater heat transfer from 5.5% to 11.3% than fins without perforation. A comparison of perforated star-shaped fins with annular fins was also performed. Perforated fins had 51.8% less mass than annular fins, with an increase in heat transfer up to 26.5% in terms of Nusselt number.
Functional Tea-Infused Set Yoghurt Development by Evaluation of Sensory Quality and Textural Properties
Authors: Świąder Katarzyna , Florowska Anna , Konisiewicz Zuzanna , Chen Yen-Po
Published: December 2020

In the present study, the potential to design natural tea-infused set yoghurt was investigated. Three types of tea (Camellia sinensis): black, green and oolong tea as well as lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) were used to produce set yoghurt. The sensory quality (using Quantitative Descriptive Profile analysis and consumer hedonic test) and texture analysis, yield stress, physical stability and colour analysis were assessed to describe the profile of the yoghurt and influence of quality attributes of the product on the consumer acceptability of infused yoghurts in comparison with plain yoghurt. Among the analyzed plant additives for yoghurt, addition of 2% oolong tea to the yoghurt allows a functional food to be obtained with satisfactory texture and sensory properties, accepted by consumers at the same level as for control yoghurt. Both types of yoghurt were also characterised by high consumer willingness to buy, which confirms the legitimacy of using oolong tea as a natural, functional yoghurt additive that improves the sensory quality of the product. The high overall quality of yoghurt with oolong tea in comparison to other plant extracts was associated with the intensive peach flavour and odour, nectar and sweet odour and flavour, and the highest creaminess and thickness. That was confirmed by principal component analysis (PCA) where the overall sensory quality of yoghurts was mainly positively correlated with peach flavour and odour, sweet odour and yoghurt odour, while it was negatively correlated with herbs flavor and odour, and green tea flavour and odour. The sensory profile confirmed no differences in textural profile between plain yoghurt and the tea-infused one measured in the mouth, which corresponds to the result of textural properties such as firmness and adhesiveness.
Relationship of Compositional, Mechanical, and Textural Properties of Gluten-Free Pasta Using Different Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) Varieties
Authors: Ramos-Diaz Jose Martin , Kince Tatjana , Sabovics Martins , Gürbüz Göker , Rauma Asta , Lampi Anna-Maija , Piironen Vieno , Straumite Evita , Klava Dace , Jouppila Kirsi
Published: December 2020

Quinoa epitomizes the drive for healthier foods with ethnic concepts in developed countries, particularly among millennials. As a result, the popularity of quinoa as a gluten-free alternative has steadily grown over the last 20 years. Despite this, little is known about the impact of specific varieties on processed foods. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of quinoa varieties (variety and content) on the mechanical and textural properties of buckwheat-based extruded pasta (spaghetti). Peruvian native (var. rosada taraco, kuchivila, negra collana, and mistura) and Latvian-grown (var. titicaca) varieties were independently incorporated to pasta between 5 and 20% (w/w). Pasta containing 20% quinoa var. negra collana, which presented the largest content of fiber and lowest content of saponin, was strongly associated to structural resilience (i.e., cohesiveness, firmness). Conversely, pasta containing 20% quinoa var. Titicaca appeared structurally weak (i.e., smooth). The addition of saponin-containing varieties to pasta (20%), such as rosada taraco and mistura, resulted in resilient structures with little effect on taste (incl. bitterness). Despite initial stability, pasta containing 20% quinoa var. kuchivila suffered heavy structural damage. In conclusion, the relationship of compositional, mechanical, and textural properties of pasta was strongly variety-dependent.
Rose Wine Market: Anything but Colour?
Authors: Peres Stephanie , Giraud-Heraud Eric , Masure Anne-Sophie , Tempere Sophie
Published: December 2020

In many countries, the consumption of still wine is in strong decline. The market for rose wine, however, stands in stark contrast to this trend, seeing worldwide growth of almost 30% over the last 15 years. For most observers/experts, product colour plays an important role in this paradigm shift. For this reason, companies’ marketing efforts often focus on this purely visual characteristic. There is, however, no certainty that other emerging consumer demands, related to environmental concerns or how “natural” a wine is (organic wines, natural wines, etc.), do not also play a role in the enthusiasm seen in new wine consumers. This article proposes an assessment of expectations related to colour and the decisions made by rose wine consumers, using two complementary experiments carried out in France. The first experiment is based on an online survey studying only consumers’ colour preferences. We will show that, contrary to popular belief, there is no consensus on this criterion, although regional trends can be identified. Typically, the “salmon” shade, which is generally the leader on the global market—and characteristic of Provence wines—does not win unanimous support across all regions. In contrast, an “apricot” shade seems to be preferred by consumers in the Bordeaux region. The second experiment confirms this result within the framework of an experimental market revealing consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP). This market also offers consumers the opportunity to taste wines and provides information on organic certification and “naturalness” (symbolised by the absence of added sulphites). We will then demonstrate how the latter criteria, although often popular, play only a small role—compared with colour—in consumer decisions. We will conclude this article with observations on the atypical nature of the rose wine market and on possible avenues for further research related to the emotional role colour plays in wine tasting and its possible specificity in the world of food and drink products.
Determination of Mercury in Fish Sauces by Thermal Decomposition Gold Amalgamation Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy after Preconcentration by Diffusive Gradients in Thin Films Technique
Authors: Diviš Pavel , Reichstädter Marek , Gao Yue , Leermakers Martine , Křikala Jakub
Published: December 2020

The analysis of mercury in food presents a challenge for analytical chemists. Sample pre-treatment and the preconcentration of mercury prior to measurement are required, even when highly sensitive analytical methods are used. In this work, the Diffusive Gradients in Thin Films technique (DGT), combined with thermal decomposition gold amalgamation atomic absorption spectrometry (TDA-AAS), was investigated for the determination of the total dissolved mercury in fish sauces. Moreover, a new type of binding gel with Purolite S924 resin was used in DGT. Linearity assays for DGT provided determination coefficients around 0.995. Repeatability tests showed a relative standard deviation of less than 10%. pH values in the range of 3–6, as well as NaCl concentrations up to 50 g·L−1, did not affect the performance of DGT. The effective diffusion coefficient of mercury in five-fold diluted fish sauce was determined to be (3.42 ± 0.23)·10−6 cm2·s−1. Based on the 24 h deployment time of DGT, the limit of detection (LOD) for the investigated method was 0.071 µg·L−1. The proposed method, which combines DGT and TDA-AAS, allows for the analysis of fish sauces with mercury concentrations below the LOD of TDA-AAS, and significantly reduces the wear and corrosion of the TDA-AAS components.
Experience of Elderly People Regarding the Effect of Yoga/Light Exercise on Sedentary Behavior: A Longitudinal Qualitative Study in Madhya Pradesh, India
Authors: Gour Priyanka , Choudhary Anita , Sahoo Krushna Chandra , Jirwe Maria , Hallgren Mats , Diwan Vinod Kumar , Mahadik Vijay K. , Diwan Vishal
Published: December 2020

This study is set on the background of a randomized control trial (RCT) in which intervention was carried to observe the effects of yoga/light exercise on the improvement in health and well-being among the elderly population. A longitudinal qualitative study was conducted as part of RCT interventions to explore the experience of the elderly practicing yoga/light exercise in relation to sedentary behavior in the Ujjain district of Madhya Pradesh, India. Participants of the RCT were selected for this study. Eighteen focus group discussions were conducted—six during each phase of RCT interventions (before, during, and after). The findings regarding motivating and demotivating factors in various phases of intervention were presented in three categories: experience and perception of the effects of yoga/light exercise on sedentary behavior (1) before, (2) during, and (3) after intervention. This study explores the positive effect of yoga/light exercise on sedentary behavior and subjective well-being on the elderly population. They were recognized to have undergone changes in their physical and emotional well-being by consistently practicing yoga/light exercise. The main driving factors were periodic health check-ups and the encouragement of qualified trainers without any cost. This study concludes with the notion that these interventions should be encouraged in the community to use physical exercise as a method to better control the physical and social effects of aging.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Manual Therapy Service Utilization within the Australian Private Healthcare Setting
Authors: Lystad Reidar P. , Brown Benjamin T. , Swain Michael S. , Engel Roger M.
Published: December 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted a wide range of health services. This study aimed to quantify the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on manual therapy service utilization within the Australian private healthcare setting during the first half of 2020. Quarterly data regarding the number and total cost of services provided were extracted for each manual therapy profession (i.e., chiropractic, osteopathy, and physiotherapy) for the period January 2015 to June 2020 from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority. Time series forecasting methods were used to estimate absolute and relative differences between the forecasted and observed values of service utilization. An estimated 1.3 million (13.2%) fewer manual therapy services, with a total cost of AUD 84 million, were provided within the Australian private healthcare setting during the first half of 2020. Reduction in service utilization was considerably larger in the second quarter (21.7%) than in the first quarter (5.7%), and was larger in physiotherapy (20.6%) and osteopathy (12.7%) than in chiropractic (5.2%). The impact varied across states and territories, with the largest reductions in service utilization observed in New South Wales (17.5%), Australian Capital Territory (16.3%), and Victoria (16.2%). The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on manual therapy service utilization in Australia. The magnitude of the decline in service utilization varied considerably across professions and locations. The long-term consequences of this decline in manual therapy utilization remain to be determined.
Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase Activity Is Increased in Myelodysplastic Syndrome Patients
Authors: Yamaguchi Kimihiro , Ninomiya Soranobu , Matsumoto Takuro , Nakamura Nobuhiko , Nakamura Hiroshi , Kitagawa Junichi , Kanemura Nobuhiro , Hara Takeshi , Fujigaki Suwako , Yamamoto Yasuko , Saito Kuniaki , Tsurumi Hisashi , Shimizu Masahito
Published: December 2020

Tryptophan (TRP) metabolism via the indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) subset of the kynurenine (KYN) pathway is one of the most important mechanisms of immune escape in cancer. TRP is converted into several biologically active KYN metabolites. However, the role of KYN metabolic products and related enzymes has not been clarified in patients with hematological malignant tumors. Here, we examined the serum concentrations of TRP, KYN, and the KYN metabolites kynurenic acid, anthranilic acid, and 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid in 157 patients stratified into five different hematological malignant tumors. KYN was the most abundant product of the TRP metabolic pathway among all five diagnostic categories. Serum KYN was increased in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients. The KYN/TRP ratio was significantly higher in MDS patients than in acute myeloid leukemia patients. In conclusion, IDO activity is increased in MDS patients, and IDO inhibitors might represent a new therapeutic approach for MDS treatment.
Automatic Workflow for Roof Extraction and Generation of 3D CityGML Models from Low-Cost UAV Image-Derived Point Clouds
Authors: Murtiyoso Arnadi , Veriandi Mirza , Suwardhi Deni , Soeksmantono Budhy , Harto Agung
Published: December 2020

Developments in UAV sensors and platforms in recent decades have stimulated an upsurge in its application for 3D mapping. The relatively low-cost nature of UAVs combined with the use of revolutionary photogrammetric algorithms, such as dense image matching, has made it a strong competitor to aerial lidar mapping. However, in the context of 3D city mapping, further 3D modeling is required to generate 3D city models which is often performed manually using, e.g., photogrammetric stereoplotting. The aim of the paper was to try to implement an algorithmic approach to building point cloud segmentation, from which an automated workflow for the generation of roof planes will also be presented. 3D models of buildings are then created using the roofs’ planes as a base, therefore satisfying the requirements for a Level of Detail (LoD) 2 in the CityGML paradigm. Consequently, the paper attempts to create an automated workflow starting from UAV-derived point clouds to LoD 2-compatible 3D model. Results show that the rule-based segmentation approach presented in this paper works well with the additional advantage of instance segmentation and automatic semantic attribute annotation, while the 3D modeling algorithm performs well for low to medium complexity roofs. The proposed workflow can therefore be implemented for simple roofs with a relatively low number of planar surfaces. Furthermore, the automated approach to the 3D modeling process also helps to maintain the geometric requirements of CityGML such as 3D polygon coplanarity vis-à-vis manual stereoplotting.
Quantifying the Spatial Heterogeneity and Driving Factors of Aboveground Forest Biomass in the Urban Area of Xi’an, China
Authors: Zhao Xuan , Liu Jianjun , Hao Hongke , Yang Yanzheng
Published: December 2020

Investigating the spatial distribution of urban forest biomass and its potential influencing factors would provide useful insights for configuring urban greenspace. Although China is experiencing an unprecedented scale of urbanization, the spatial pattern of the urban forest biomass distribution as a critical component in the urban landscape has not been fully examined. Using the geographic detector method, this research examines the impacts of four geographical factors (GFs)—dominant tree species, forest categories, land types, and age groups—on the aboveground biomass distribution of urban forests in 1480 plots in Xi’an, China. The results indicate that (1) the aboveground biomass and four GFs show obvious heterogeneity regarding their spatial distribution in Xi’an; (2) the dominant tree species and age group which impacts the patterns of aboveground biomass are the primary GFs, with the independent q value (a statistic metric used to quantify the impacts of GFs in this study) reaching 0.595 and 0.202, respectively, while the forest category and land type were weakly linked to the spatial variation of aboveground biomass, with a q value of 0.087 and 0.076, respectively; and (3) the interactions among these four GFs also tend to contribute to the distribution pattern of aboveground biomass. The interactions between GFs achieved a larger impact than the sum of impacts that were independently obtained from the factors. Our results showed that the method of using a geographical detector is a useful tool in the urban area, and can reveal the driver pattern of aboveground biomass and provide a reference for city planning and management.
Exercise as an Adjuvant to Cartilage Regeneration Therapy
Authors: Smith John Kelly
Published: December 2020

This article provides a brief review of the pathophysiology of osteoarthritis and the ontogeny of chondrocytes and details how physical exercise improves the health of osteoarthritic joints and enhances the potential of autologous chondrocyte implants, matrix-induced autologous chondrocyte implants, and mesenchymal stem cell implants for the successful treatment of damaged articular cartilage and subchondral bone. In response to exercise, articular chondrocytes increase their production of glycosaminoglycans, bone morphogenic proteins, and anti-inflammatory cytokines and decrease their production of proinflammatory cytokines and matrix-degrading metalloproteinases. These changes are associated with improvements in cartilage organization and reductions in cartilage degeneration. Studies in humans indicate that exercise enhances joint recruitment of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells and upregulates their expression of osteogenic and chondrogenic genes, osteogenic microRNAs, and osteogenic growth factors. Rodent experiments demonstrate that exercise enhances the osteogenic potential of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells while diminishing their adipogenic potential, and that exercise done after stem cell implantation may benefit stem cell transplant viability. Physical exercise also exerts a beneficial effect on the skeletal system by decreasing immune cell production of osteoclastogenic cytokines interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interferon-γ, while increasing their production of antiosteoclastogenic cytokines interleukin-10 and transforming growth factor-β. In conclusion, physical exercise done both by bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell donors and recipients and by autologous chondrocyte donor recipients may improve the outcome of osteochondral regeneration therapy and improve skeletal health by downregulating osteoclastogenic cytokine production and upregulating antiosteoclastogenic cytokine production by circulating immune cells.
Sodium Intake and Heart Failure
Authors: Patel Yash , Joseph Jacob
Published: December 2020

Sodium is an essential mineral and nutrient used in dietary practices across the world and is important to maintain proper blood volume and blood pressure. A high sodium diet is associated with increased expression of β—myosin heavy chain, decreased expression of α/β—myosin heavy chain, increased myocyte enhancer factor 2/nuclear factor of activated T cell transcriptional activity, and increased salt-inducible kinase 1 expression, which leads to alteration in myocardial mechanical performance. A high sodium diet is also associated with alterations in various proteins responsible for calcium homeostasis and myocardial contractility. Excessive sodium intake is associated with the development of a variety of comorbidities including hypertension, chronic kidney disease, stroke, and cardiovascular diseases. While the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association/Heart Failure Society of America guidelines recommend limiting sodium intake to both prevent and manage heart failure, the evidence behind such recommendations is unclear. Our review article highlights evidence and underlying mechanisms favoring and contradicting limiting sodium intake in heart failure.
A Thermodynamic Investigation of Ni on Thin-Film Titanates (ATiO3)
Authors: Lin Chao , Foucher Alexandre C. , Stach Eric A. , Gorte Raymond J.
Published: December 2020

Thin, ~1-nm films of CaTiO3, SrTiO3, and BaTiO3 were deposited onto MgAl2O4 by Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) and then studied as catalyst supports for ~5 wt % of Ni that was added to the perovskite thin films by Atomic Layer Deposition. Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy demonstrated that both the Ni and the perovskites uniformly covered the surface of the support following oxidation at 1073 K, even after redox cycling, but large Ni particles formed following a reduction at 1073 K. When compared to Ni/MgAl2O4, the perovskite-containing catalysts required significantly higher temperatures for Ni reduction. Equilibrium constants for Ni oxidation, as determined from Coulometric Titration, indicated that the oxidation of Ni shifted to lower PO2 on the perovskite-containing materials. Based on Ni equilibrium constants, Ni interactions are strongest with CaTiO3, followed by SrTiO3 and BaTiO3. The shift in the equilibrium constant was shown to cause reversible deactivation of the Ni/CaTiO3/MgAl2O4 catalyst for CO2 reforming of CH4 at high CO2 pressures, due to the oxidation of the Ni.
Screening of Helicoverpa armigera Mobilome Revealed Transposable Element Insertions in Insecticide Resistance Genes
Authors: KLAI Khouloud , CHÉNAIS Benoît , ZIDI Marwa , DJEBBI Salma , CARUSO Aurore , DENIS Françoise , CONFAIS Johann , BADAWI Myriam , CASSE Nathalie , MEZGHANI KHEMAKHEM Maha
Published: December 2020

The cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is an important pest of many crops that has developed resistance to almost all groups of insecticides used for its management. Insecticide resistance was often related to Transposable Element (TE) insertions near specific genes. In the present study, we deeply retrieve and annotate TEs in the H. armigera genome using the Pipeline to Retrieve and Annotate Transposable Elements, PiRATE. The results have shown that the TE library consists of 8521 sequences representing 236,132 TE copies, including 3133 Full-Length Copies (FLC), covering 12.86% of the H. armigera genome. These TEs were classified as 46.71% Class I and 53.29% Class II elements. Among Class I elements, Short and Long Interspersed Nuclear Elements (SINEs and LINEs) are the main families, representing 21.13% and 19.49% of the total TEs, respectively. Long Terminal Repeat (LTR) and Dictyostelium transposable element (DIRS) are less represented, with 5.55% and 0.53%, respectively. Class II elements are mainly Miniature Inverted Transposable Elements (MITEs) (49.11%), then Terminal Inverted Repeats (TIRs) (4.09%). Superfamilies of Class II elements, i.e., Transib, P elements, CACTA, Mutator, PIF-harbinger, Helitron, Maverick, Crypton and Merlin, were less represented, accounting for only 1.96% of total TEs. In addition, we highlighted TE insertions in insecticide resistance genes and we successfully identified nine TE insertions belonging to RTE, R2, CACTA, Mariner and hAT superfamilies. These insertions are hosted in genes encoding cytochrome P450 (CyP450), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter belonging to the G and C1 family members. These insertions could therefore be involved in insecticide resistance observed in this pest.
Combining DL-Methionine and Bacillus thuringiensis Subspecies israelensis: Prospects for a Mosquito Larvicide
Authors: Richardson Elise A. , Abruzzo Nicole O. , Taylor Caitlin E. , Stevens Bruce R. , Cuda James P. , Weeks Emma N. I.
Published: December 2020

Mosquito larvicides can reduce mosquito populations at the source, potentially decreasing biting rates and pathogen transmission. However, there is a growing need for mosquito larvicides that are environmentally sustainable. Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis (BTI) is a naturally occurring bacterium commonly used as a larvicide to manage mosquito populations. Methionine is an essential amino acid that has demonstrated toxic properties against larval mosquitoes in laboratory experiments, while having minimal effects on non-target organisms. The goal of this study was to evaluate the potential for a novel combination larvicide by testing for compatibility between these two active ingredients. We began by determining the lethal concentration values (LCs) of BTI and DL-methionine against Anopheles quadrimaculatus Say and Aedes aegypti Linnaeus (Diptera: Culicidae) larvae. These bioassays were conducted in glass jars and mortality was observed 48 h post-treatment. We found that while DL-methionine was more toxic to An. quadrimaculatus than Ae. aegypti, the opposite was true for BTI. Then, we used these LCs to conduct bioassays with a combination of BTI and DL-methionine to determine the relationship between the two active ingredients when used against An. quadrimaculatus and Ae. aegypti larvae. The findings of this study demonstrate that BTI and DL-methionine have the potential to be complementary due to their additive properties at higher concentrations and effect levels when tested against An. quadrimaculatus. However, an antagonistic relationship was detected at the concentrations tested with Ae. aegypti. These results are encouraging and imply that a DL-methionine or BTI/DL-methionine combination larvicide could be used in management of Anopheles species.