bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Parent and Child’s Negative Emotions During COVID-19: The Moderating Role of Parental Attachment Style
Authors: Liang Ziqin , Delvecchio Elisa , Cheng Yucong , Mazzeschi Claudia
Published: March 2021

In February 2020, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) appeared and spread rapidly in Italy. With the health emergency and social isolation, parents started spending more time with their children, and they might have experienced greater distress. Attachment style is considered as an effective emotion regulation strategy in the parent–child relationship. However, few empirical studies have addressed this issue. Based on attachment theory, this study aimed to find parental attachment style as a candidate to moderate the relation between parents’ negative emotions and their perceptions of their children’s negative emotions related to COVID-19. Parents (Mage = 42.55 ± 6.56, 88.2% female) of 838 Italian children and adolescents aged 3 to 18 years participated in an online survey. Results showed that parents with a fearful attachment style had significantly higher negative emotions when facing COVID-19 than those with other attachment styles. Moreover, parents with a dismissing attachment style perceived fewer negative emotions in their children than parents with fearful and preoccupied styles. At last, higher parents’ negative emotions were associated with greater perception of children’s negative emotions only in parents classified as secure and fearful. These findings suggest that parents with dismissing and fearful attachment styles and their children may be at higher risk during the COVID-19 pandemic and they should be given long-term attention.
Green Infrastructure Can Improve the Lives of Slum Dwellers in African Cities
Authors: Adegun Olumuyiwa Bayode
Published: March 2021

Slums and informal settlements in African cities are notably connected to green spaces and natural ecosystems serving as green infrastructure. Green Infrastructure holds the potential for improvement of the quality of life and the environment by harnessing benefits for people's livelihoods, food security, environmental regulation, socio-cultural appropriation, etc., and by addressing constraints to greening. Policy initiatives and relevant greening programs, especially those utilizing participatory, low-cost, socio-economically empowering approaches, are recommended.
Scalar Containment of Energy Justice and Its Democratic Discontents: Solar Power and Energy Poverty Alleviation
Authors: Nordholm Amber , Sareen Siddharth
Published: March 2021

The threats climate change poses require rapid and wide decarbonization efforts in the energy sector. Historically, large-scale energy operations, often instrumental for a scaled and effective approach to meet decarbonization goals, undergird energy-related injustices. Energy poverty is a multi-dimensional form of injustice, with relevance to low-carbon energy transitions. Defined as the condition of being unable to access an adequate level of household energy services, energy poverty persists despite the emergence of affordable renewable energy technologies, such as solar photovoltaics (PV). Historical injustices and the modularity of solar PV combine to offer new possibilities in ownership, production and distribution of cost-competitive, clean and collectively scalable energy. Consequently, emerging policy priorities for positive energy districts call into question the traditional large-scale modality of energy operations. We report from a case study of solar power in Lisbon, a frontrunner in urban energy transitions while also home to high energy poverty incidence. The study focuses on scalar aspects of justice in energy transitions to investigate whether and how solar PV can alleviate urban energy poverty. It features 2 months of fieldwork centered on community and expert perspectives, including semi-structured interviews and field observations. We mobilize a spatial energy justice framework to identify justice aspects of multi-scalar solar PV uptake. By showing how energy justice is shaped in diverse ways at different scales, we demonstrate ways in which scale matters for just urban energy transitions. We argue that small- and medium-scaled approaches to electricity distribution, an integral component of positive energy districts, can address specific justice concerns. However, even as such approaches gain attention and legitimacy, they risk structurally excluding socio-economically vulnerable users, and proceed slowly relative to large-scale solar rollout.
Prudent Use of Antibiotics in Dairy Cows: The Nordic Approach to Udder Health
Authors: Rajala-Schultz Päivi , Nødtvedt Ane , Halasa Tariq , Persson Waller Karin
Published: March 2021

Global concerns regarding bacterial antibiotic resistance demand prudent use of antibiotics in livestock production. Dairy production in the Nordic countries has a low consumption of antibiotics, while animal health, productivity and milk quality are at high levels. Here, we describe the basis of Nordic mastitis control and treatment strategies, as a model for production of high-quality milk with prudent use of antibiotics. We hope this will be beneficial for dairy producers and advisors in other countries and regions that consider limiting antibiotic use in cattle herds. In this perspectives paper we describe the dairy sector in the Nordic countries, and present regulatory aspects of antibiotic use, diagnostics and current guidelines for treatment of clinical mastitis as well as dry cow therapy. We also show summary statistics of udder health indicators in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, to illustrate the effects of the implemented udder health management practices.
Surface Roughness-Governed Shape Stability of the Coal Fly Ash-Based Phase Change Material: Molten Salt Processing and Thermal Properties
Authors: Li Denian , Yang Jizhang , Chang Menglei , Zhao Yue , Yuan Haoran , Chen Yong
Published: March 2021

Coal fly ash (FA) valorization is of great significance and sustainable interests to addressing the current environmental challenges faced by coal power industry. Herein, this work attempted a novel molten salt Na2CO3 treatment for processing FA into a robust matrix to support lauric acid (LA) toward construction of latent phase change composite. Their micromorphology, physiochemical, and thermal properties were monitored with scanning and transmission microscopy, X-ray diffraction and FT-IR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, among others. As Na2CO3 dosage increased from 20% to 40%, the FA experienced firstly higher loss of SiO2 and then substantial loss of Al2O3, and yet exhibited merely varied porosity. Then, both the composites revealed a maximum LA content of 20% that doubled that of pristine FA. Nevertheless, the optimal composite was disclosed with thermal conductivity of 0.5668 W/mK, which was 69% higher than its FA-based counterpart. It was proposed that the surface roughness evidenced by the formation of tremendous grooves and gaps during thermal alkaline processing were accountable for the promoted carrying capacity toward organic component. Furthermore, the latent phase change composite revealed excellent durability, including negligibly varied phase transition temperature and enthalpy even after 1500 thermal cycling, which promised great interest in passive building cooling. Meanwhile, the finds here led to a new understanding into the structural origin of adsorption capacity by inorganic FA, and may provide guidance for better exploration of its characteristics for other applications.
The Influence of Smoking Status on Exhaled Breath Profiles in Asthma and COPD Patients
Authors: Principe Stefania , van Bragt Job J.M.H. , Longo Cristina , de Vries Rianne , Sterk Peter J. , Scichilone Nicola , Vijverberg Susanne J.H. , Maitland-van der Zee Anke H.
Published: March 2021

Breath analysis using eNose technology can be used to discriminate between asthma and COPD patients, but it remains unclear whether results are influenced by smoking status. We aim to study whether eNose can discriminate between ever- vs. never-smokers and smoking <24 vs. >24 h before the exhaled breath, and if smoking can be considered a confounder that influences eNose results. We performed a cross-sectional analysis in adults with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and healthy controls. Ever-smokers were defined as patients with current or past smoking habits. eNose measurements were performed by using the SpiroNose. The principal component (PC) described the eNose signals, and linear discriminant analysis determined if PCs classified ever-smokers vs. never-smokers and smoking <24 vs. >24 h. The area under the receiver–operator characteristic curve (AUC) assessed the accuracy of the models. We selected 593 ever-smokers (167 smoked <24 h before measurement) and 303 never-smokers and measured the exhaled breath profiles of discriminated ever- and never-smokers (AUC: 0.74; 95% CI: 0.66–0.81), and no cigarette consumption <24h (AUC 0.54, 95% CI: 0.43–0.65). In healthy controls, the eNose did not discriminate between ever or never-smokers (AUC 0.54; 95% CI: 0.49–0.60) and recent cigarette consumption (AUC 0.60; 95% CI: 0.50–0.69). The eNose could distinguish between ever and never-smokers in asthma and COPD patients, but not recent smokers. Recent smoking is not a confounding factor of eNose breath profiles.
Highly Norbornylated Cellulose and Its “Click” Modification by an Inverse-Electron Demand Diels–Alder (iEDDA) Reaction
Authors: Wappl Christina , Schallert Viktor , Slugovc Christian , Knall Astrid-Caroline , Spirk Stefan
Published: March 2021

A facile, catalyst-free synthesis of a norbornylated cellulosic material (NC) with a high degree of substitution (2.9) is presented by direct reaction of trimethylsilyl cellulose with norbornene acid chloride. The resulting NC is highly soluble in organic solvents and its reactive double bonds were exploited for the copper-free inverse-electron demand Diels–Alder (iEDDA) “click” reaction with 3,6-di(pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4,5-tetrazine. Reaction kinetics are comparable to the well-known Huisgen type 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azide with alkynes, while avoiding toxic catalysts.
Structure Revision of Isocereulide A, an Isoform of the Food Poisoning Emetic Bacillus cereus Toxin Cereulide
Authors: Walser Veronika , Kranzler Markus , Ehling-Schulz Monika , Stark Timo D. , Hofmann Thomas F.
Published: March 2021

The emetic Bacillus cereus toxin cereulide presents an enormous safety hazard in the food industry, inducing emesis and nausea after the consumption of contaminated foods. Additional to cereulide itself, seven structurally related isoforms, namely the isocereulides A–G, have already been elucidated in their chemical structure and could further be identified in B. cereus contaminated food samples. The newly performed isolation of isocereulide A allowed, for the first time, 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopy of a biosynthetically produced isocereulide, revealing results that contradict previous assumptions of an l-O-Leu moiety within its chemical structure. By furthermore applying posthydrolytical dipeptide analysis, amino acid and α-hydroxy acid analysis by means of UPLC-ESI-TOF-MS, as well as MSn sequencing, the structure of previously reported isocereulide A could be corrected. Instead of the l-O-Leu as assumed to date, one l-O-Ile unit could be verified in the cyclic dodecadepsipeptide, revising the structure of isocereulide A to [(d-O-Leu-d-Ala-l-O-Val-l-Val)2(d-O-Leu-d-Ala-l-O-Ile-l-Val)].
Assessment of Bleached and Unbleached Nanofibers from Pistachio Shells for Nanopaper Making
Authors: Robles Eduardo , Izaguirre Nagore , Martin Ander , Moschou Dimitra , Labidi Jalel
Published: March 2021

Cellulose and lignocellulose nanofibrils were extracted from pistachio shells utilizing environmentally friendly pulping and totally chlorine-free bleaching. The extracted nanofibers were used to elaborate nanopaper, a continuous film made by gravimetric entanglement of the nanofibers and hot-pressed to enhance intramolecular bonding. The elaborated nanopapers were analyzed through their mechanical, optical, and surface properties to evaluate the influence of non-cellulosic macromolecules on the final properties of the nanopaper. Results have shown that the presence of lignin augmented the viscoelastic properties of the nanopapers by ≈25% compared with fully bleached nanopaper; moreover, the hydrophobicity of the lignocellulose nanopaper was achieved, as the surface free energy was diminished from 62.65 to 32.45 mNm−1 with an almost non-polar component and a water contact angle of 93.52°. On the other hand, the presence of lignin had an apparent visual effect on the color of the nanopapers, with a ΔE of 51.33 and a ΔL of −44.91, meaning a substantial darkening of the film. However, in terms of ultraviolet transmittance, the presence of lignin resulted in a practically nonexistent transmission in the UV spectra, with low transmittance in the visible wavelengths. In general, the presence of lignin resulted in the enhancement of selected properties which are desirable for packaging materials, which makes pistachio shell nano-lignocellulose an attractive option for this field.
Effect of Gel Structure on the In Vitro Gastrointestinal Digestion Behaviour of Whey Protein Emulsion Gels and the Bioaccessibility of Capsaicinoids
Authors: Luo Nan , Ye Aiqian , Wolber Frances M. , Singh Harjinder
Published: March 2021

This study investigated the effect of gel structure on the digestion of heat-set whey protein emulsion gels containing capsaicinoids (CAP), including the bioaccessibility of CAP. Upon heat treatment at 90 °C, whey protein emulsion gels containing CAP (10 wt% whey protein isolate, 20 wt% soybean oil, 0.02 wt% CAP) with different structures and gel mechanical strengths were formed by varying ionic strength. The hard gel (i.e., oil droplet size d4,3 ~ 0.5 μm, 200 mM NaCl), with compact particulate gel structure, led to slower disintegration of the gel particles and slower hydrolysis of the whey proteins during gastric digestion compared with the soft gel (i.e., d4,3 ~ 0.5 μm, 10 mM NaCl). The oil droplets started to coalesce after 60 min of gastric digestion in the soft gel, whereas minor oil droplet coalescence was observed for the hard gel at the end of the gastric digestion. In general, during intestinal digestion, the gastric digesta from the hard gel was disintegrated more slowly than that from the soft gel. A power-law fit between the bioaccessibility of CAP (Y) and the extent of lipid digestion (X) was established: Y = 49.2 × (X − 305.3)0.104, with R2 = 0.84. A greater extent of lipid digestion would lead to greater release of CAP from the food matrix; also, more lipolytic products would be produced and would participate in micelle formation, which would help to solubilize the released CAP and therefore result in their higher bioaccessibility.
Betulinic Acid Restricts Human Bladder Cancer Cell Proliferation In Vitro by Inducing Caspase-Dependent Cell Death and Cell Cycle Arrest, and Decreasing Metastatic Potential
Authors: Kim So Young , Hwangbo Hyun , Kim Min Yeong , Ji Seon Yeong , Kim Da Hye , Lee Hyesook , Kim Gi-Young , Moon Sung-Kwon , Leem Sun-Hee , Yun Seok Joong , Kim Wun-Jae , Cheong JaeHun , Park Cheol , Choi Yung Hyun
Published: March 2021

Betulinic acid (BA) is a naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpenoid and generally found in the bark of birch trees (Betula sp.). Although several studies have been reported that BA has diverse biological activities, including anti-tumor effects, the underlying anti-cancer mechanism in bladder cancer cells is still lacking. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the anti-proliferative effect of BA in human bladder cancer cell lines T-24, UMUC-3, and 5637, and identify the underlying mechanism. Our results showed that BA induced cell death in bladder cancer cells and that are accompanied by apoptosis, necrosis, and cell cycle arrest. Furthermore, BA decreased the expression of cell cycle regulators, such as cyclin B1, cyclin A, cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) 2, cell division cycle (Cdc) 2, and Cdc25c. In addition, BA-induced apoptosis was associated with mitochondrial dysfunction that is caused by loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, which led to the activation of mitochondrial-mediated intrinsic pathway. BA up-regulated the expression of Bcl-2-accociated X protein (Bax) and cleaved poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP), and subsequently activated caspase-3, -8, and -9. However, pre-treatment of pan-caspase inhibitor markedly suppressed BA-induced apoptosis. Meanwhile, BA did not affect the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), indicating BA-mediated apoptosis was ROS-independent. Furthermore, we found that BA suppressed the wound healing and invasion ability, and decreased the expression of Snail and Slug in T24 and 5637 cells, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 in UMUC-3 cells. Taken together, this is the first study showing that BA suppresses the proliferation of human bladder cancer cells, which is due to induction of apoptosis, necrosis, and cell cycle arrest, and decrease of migration and invasion. Furthermore, BA-induced apoptosis is regulated by caspase-dependent and ROS-independent pathways, and these results provide the underlying anti-proliferative molecular mechanism of BA in human bladder cancer cells.
Cyanogenic Glycoside Analysis in American Elderberry
Authors: Appenteng Michael K. , Krueger Ritter , Johnson Mitch C. , Ingold Harrison , Bell Richard , Thomas Andrew L. , Greenlief C. Michael
Published: March 2021

Cyanogenic glycosides (CNGs) are naturally occurring plant molecules (nitrogenous plant secondary metabolites) which consist of an aglycone and a sugar moiety. Hydrogen cyanide (HCN) is released from these compounds following enzymatic hydrolysis causing potential toxicity issues. The presence of CNGs in American elderberry (AE) fruit, Sambucus nigra (subsp. canadensis), is uncertain. A sensitive, reproducible and robust LC-MS/MS method was developed and optimized for accurate identification and quantification of the intact glycoside. A complimentary picrate paper test method was modified to determine the total cyanogenic potential (TCP). TCP analysis was performed using a camera-phone and UV-Vis spectrophotometry. A method validation was conducted and the developed methods were successfully applied to the assessment of TCP and quantification of intact CNGs in different tissues of AE samples. Results showed no quantifiable trace of CNGs in commercial AE juice. Levels of CNGs found in various fruit tissues of AE cultivars studied ranged from between 0.12 and 6.38 µg/g. In pressed juice samples, the concentration range measured was 0.29–2.36 µg/mL and in seeds the levels were 0.12–2.38 µg/g. TCP was highest in the stems and green berries. Concentration levels in all tissues were generally low and at a level that poses no threat to consumers of fresh and processed AE products.
Neuroprotective Effect of Gallocatechin Gallate on Glutamate-Induced Oxidative Stress in Hippocampal HT22 Cells
Authors: Park Do Hwi , Park Jun Yeon , Kang Ki Sung , Hwang Gwi Seo
Published: March 2021

Oxidative stress leads to protein degeneration or mitochondrial dysfunction, causing neuronal cell death. Glutamate is a neurotransmitter that nerve cells use to send signals. However, the excess accumulation of glutamate can cause excitotoxicity in the central nervous system. In this study, we deciphered the molecular mechanism of catechin-mediated neuroprotective effect on glutamate-induced oxidative stress in mouse hippocampal neuronal HT22 cells. Cellular antioxidant activity was determined using the 1,1-diphenyl-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) assay and 2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFDA) staining. Furthermore, the levels of intracellular calcium (Ca2+) as well as nuclear condensation and protein expression related to neuronal damage were assessed. All five catechins (epigallocatechin gallate, gallocatechin gallate (GCG), gallocatechin, epicatechin gallate, and epicatechin) showed strong antioxidant effects. Among them, GCG exhibited the highest neuroprotective effect against glutamate excitotoxicity and was used for further mechanistic studies. The glutamate-induced increase in intracellular Ca2+ was reduced after GCG treatment. Moreover, GCG reduced nuclear condensation and the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) involved in cell death. The neuroprotective effect of GCG against glutamate-induced oxidative stress in HT22 cells was attributed to the reduction in intracellular free radicals and Ca2+ influx and also the inhibition of phosphorylation of ERK and JNK. Furthermore, the antioxidant effect of GCG was found to be likely due to the inhibition of phosphorylation of ERK and JNK that led to the effective suppression of neurocytotoxicity caused by glutamate in HT22 cells.
1,3,5-Triaza-7-Phosphaadamantane (PTA) as a 31P NMR Probe for Organometallic Transition Metal Complexes in Solution
Authors: Shenderovich Ilya G.
Published: March 2021

Due to the rigid structure of 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA), its 31P chemical shift solely depends on non-covalent interactions in which the molecule is involved. The maximum range of change caused by the most common of these, hydrogen bonding, is only 6 ppm, because the active site is one of the PTA nitrogen atoms. In contrast, when the PTA phosphorus atom is coordinated to a metal, the range of change exceeds 100 ppm. This feature can be used to support or reject specific structural models of organometallic transition metal complexes in solution by comparing the experimental and Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculated values of this 31P chemical shift. This approach has been tested on a variety of the metals of groups 8–12 and molecular structures. General recommendations for appropriate basis sets are reported.
Effects of Abiotic Elicitors on Expression and Accumulation of Three Candidate Benzophenanthridine Alkaloids in Cultured Greater Celandine Cells
Authors: Hashemi Seyed , Naghavi Mohammad , Bakhshandeh Esmaeil , Ghorbani Mehdi , Priyanatha Chanditha , Zandi Peiman
Published: March 2021

Efforts to develop the necessary biotechnologies in Greater Celandine (Chelidonium majus L.), a leading plant resource for the development of plant-derived medicines, have been hampered by the lack of knowledge about transcriptome and metabolome regulations of its medicinal components. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effect of abiotic elicitors, methyl jasmonate (MJ) and salicylic acid (SA), at different time courses (12, 24, 48, and 72 h), on expression and metabolome of key benzophenanthridine alkaloids (BPAs) in an optimized in vitro culture. Gene expression analysis indicated the upregulation of CFS (cheilanthifoline synthase) to 2.62, 4.85, and 7.28 times higher than the control at 12, 24, and 48 h respectively, under MJ elicitation. Besides, MJ upregulated the expression of TNMT (tetrahydroprotoberberine N-methyltransferase) to 2.79, 4.75, and 7.21 times at 12, 24, and 48 h respectively, compared to the control. Investigation of BPAs revealed a significant enhancement in the chelidonine content (9.86 µg/mg) after 72 h of MJ elicitation. Additionally, sanguinarine content increased to its highest level (3.42 µg/mg) after 24 h of MJ elicitation; however, no significant enhancement was detected in its content in shorter elicitation time courses. Generally, higher gene expression and BPAs’ level was observed through longer elicitation courses (48 and 72 h). Our findings take part in improving the understanding of transcription and metabolic regulation of BPAs in cultured Greater Celandine cells.
Assessing G4-Binding Ligands In Vitro and in Cellulo Using Dimeric Carbocyanine Dye Displacement Assay
Authors: Desai Nakshi , Shah Viraj , Datta Bhaskar
Published: March 2021

G-quadruplexes (G4) are the most actively studied non-canonical secondary structures formed by contiguous repeats of guanines in DNA or RNA strands. Small molecule mediated targeting of G-quadruplexes has emerged as an attractive tool for visualization and stabilization of these structures inside the cell. Limited number of DNA and RNA G4-selective assays have been reported for primary ligand screening. A combination of fluorescence spectroscopy, AFM, CD, PAGE, and confocal microscopy have been used to assess a dimeric carbocyanine dye B6,5 for screening G4-binding ligands in vitro and in cellulo. The dye B6,5 interacts with physiologically relevant DNA and RNA G4 structures, resulting in fluorescence enhancement of the molecule as an in vitro readout for G4 selectivity. Interaction of the dye with G4 is accompanied by quadruplex stabilization that extends its use in primary screening of G4 specific ligands. The molecule is cell permeable and enables visualization of quadruplex dominated cellular regions of nucleoli using confocal microscopy. The dye is displaced by quarfloxin in live cells. The dye B6,5 shows remarkable duplex to quadruplex selectivity in vitro along with ligand-like stabilization of DNA G4 structures. Cell permeability and response to RNA G4 structures project the dye with interesting theranostic potential. Our results validate that B6,5 can serve the dual purpose of visualization of DNA and RNA G4 structures and screening of G4 specific ligands, and adds to the limited number of probes with such potential.
Pore-Scale Simulations of Particles Migration and Deposition in Porous Media Using LBM-DEM Coupling Method
Authors: Zhou Yanjie , Chen Liping , Gong Yanfeng , Wang Shilin
Published: March 2021

This paper studies the migration and deposition of suspended particles in porous media. This problem results from the fact that during the operation of a groundwater source heat pump, the recharging process will contribute to the impairment of soil permeability. A coupling lattice Boltzmann method, discrete element method and immersed moving boundary method were used to investigate the migration of particles in porous media. The DKT (Drifting, Kissing, Tumbling) phenomena were employed to validate our program. The coupled effects of concentration, flow rate and pH on the clogging mechanism of the porous media were analyzed. Results show that, due to the repulsive barrier between the particles and porous media, there is a critical velocity. At a low flow rate, the deposition ratio increases with the increase in velocity. Beyond the critical velocity, the deposition ratio decreases when the velocity increases due to higher shear force. Permeability impairment increases with the increase in concentration, especially in the low flow rate condition. Changes in pH mainly affect the repulsive barrier. For a low flow rate, the decrease in repulsive barrier greatly promotes the deposition of particles. Under the condition of favorable deposition, the increase in flow rate reduces the deposition phenomenon. Under the condition of unfavorable deposition, the lower flow rate condition has a lower deposition ratio. The process of particle deposition and the dynamic motion after deposition were observed such as particles gliding over the surface. Accumulated particles in the downstream form bridges and hinder fluid flow. At a high flow rate, strong shear force is more capable of destroying bridges and recovering permeability. Adsorbed particles glide on the surface of the grain and deposit in the downstream. This paper aims to help understanding of the micro-events of particle deposition and the clogging process.
Maximal Instance Algorithm for Fast Mining of Spatial Co-Location Patterns
Authors: Zhou Guoqing , Li Qi , Deng Guangming
Published: March 2021

The explosive growth of spatial data and the widespread use of spatial databases emphasize the need for spatial data mining. The subsets of features frequently located together in a geographic space are called spatial co-location patterns. It is difficult to discover co-location patterns because of the huge amount of data brought by the instances of spatial features. A large fraction of the computation time is devoted to generating row instances and candidate co-location patterns. This paper makes three main contributions for mining co-location patterns. First, the definition of maximal instances is given and a row instance (RI)-tree is constructed to find maximal instances from a spatial data set. Second, a fast method for generating all row instances and candidate co-locations is proposed and the feasibility of this method is proved. Third, a maximal instance algorithm with no join operations for mining co-location patterns is proposed. Finally, experimental evaluations using synthetic data sets and a real data set show that maximal instance algorithm is feasible and has better performance.
Parametric Analysis of the Combustion Cycle of a Diesel Engine for Operation on Natural Gas
Authors: Lebedevas Sergejus , Čepaitis Tomas
Published: March 2021

The publication research task is related to one of the solution aspects in reference to decarbonization of transport by transferring the operation of diesel engines to natural gas. The results of converted diesel engines into operation with dual-fuel (D-NG) without significant constructive modifications are focused on forecasting the energy efficiency parameters of in-service engine models and evaluation of the reserves improvement. This paper presents energy efficiency parameters and characteristics of the combustion cycle methodological optimization of high-speed 79.5/95.5 mm diesel engine with a conventional fuel injection system. Interrelations between the indicated efficiency (ηi), combustion cycle performance parameters (excess air ratio (α), compression ratio (ε), degree of pressure increase in the cylinder (λ), maximum cycle pressure (pmax), air pressure (pk), air temperature (Tk) after compression, etc.), and heat release characteristics were determined and researched. Directions of the optimization when the engines were operating in a wide range of load (pmi) modes were also obtained: the low energy efficiency in the low-load mode were due to reduced heat release dynamics (combustion time increased up to 200° CA). The main influencing factors for ηi were the pilot-injection portion phase (φinj) and α, optimization of ε was inefficient. To avoid exceeding the permissible limits of reliability for pmax, the realized reserve of ηi increase was estimated as 10%. Methodological tools for the practical application of parametric analysis to the conversion of diesel to dual-fuel operation have been developed and adapted in the form of a numerical modeling algorithm, which was presented in nomogram form. For improvement of initial energy parameters for a specific engine models heat release characteristics identification, accurate methods must be used. The proposed methodology is seen as a theoretical tool for a dual-fuel conversion models for in-service engines and has benefit of a practical use of a fast application in the industrial field.
Precarization or protection? The impact of trade and labour policies on informality
Authors: Almeida Rita K. , Paz Lourenço S. , Poole Jennifer P.
Published: March 2021

Several episodes of market-oriented reforms in developing countries have been accompanied by a significant rise in work outside of the formal economy. This paper investigates whether the impact of increased exposure to trade on formal employment is mediated by the strength of labour regulations. We rely on data from the Brazilian Census which provides information on workers’ demographics and employment, including job formality status. Our estimation strategy exploits quasi-exogenous changes in industry-level real exchange rates to explore the likelihood of informality across employers exposed to varying degrees of de facto labour regulations. To instrument for labour enforcement, we utilize two key features of Brazilian labour institutions—budgetary decisions about the availability of resources occur at the federal level, while decisions about where to inspect occur at the local level. Our instrumental variables results suggest that strict labour regulations may lead to a precarization of employment, rather than offering protection for workers.
Experimental Study of the Pressure Effects on Stopping Power for Alpha Particles in Air
Authors: QADR Hiwa Mohammad
Published: March 2021

This paper is to investigate stopping power of α-particles in air at various pressure of 0 to 1 bar, using a surface barrier silicon detector. The energy loss has been obtained at a different distance from 0 to 10 cm. It was found that the energy of the passed α-particles has been decreased in a small vacuum chamber with increasing pressure. It is also studied that the amount of α-particles reaching the detector follows a decreasing behavior as the distance increases. The result of stopping power was compared with ICRU and SRIM result. Experimental, ICRU and SRIM results for stopping power are closely in good agreement.
Pemanfaatan Augmented Reality sebagai Media Pembelajaran mengenai Peralatan Konstruksi dalam Dunia Pendidikan Berbasis Android
Authors: Firdanu Rizha , Achmadi Sentot , Adi Wibowo Suryo
Published: March 2021

Pembangunan di bidang konstruksi  saat ini mengalami kemajuan yang sangat pesat. Hal ini tidak lepas dari tuntutan dan kebutuhan masyarakat terhadap infrastruktur yang semakin maju. Untuk menunjang pembangunan di bidang konstruksi dibutuhkan bermacam-macam alat berat. Pengembangan media pembelajaran mengenai peralatan konstruksi tentu sangat dibutuhkan sehingga pengenalan peralatan konstruksi dapat disajikan dalam bentuk yang lebih atraktif. Media pembelajaran berupa pengenalan peralatan konstruksi saat ini telah memungkinkan untuk di buat dalam bentuk aplikasi yang menggunakan teknologi Augmented Reality (AR).

Augmented Reality adalah teknologi yang dapat menggabungkan dunia maya dan nyata yang diproyeksikan menggunakan alat elektronik secara real time. Dengan memanfaatkan teknologi AR untuk membuat aplikasi pengenalan alat konstruksi menggunakan metode marker based tracking. Marker sendiri adalah image target  untuk mengenali objek dan informasi.

Hasil penelitian ini berupa aplikasi pengenalan alat konstruksi, yang bertujuan sebagai media untuk meningkatkan minat belajar siswa. Marker yang terdeteksi akan menampilkan objek(alat konstruksi) yang dilengkapi dengan informasi dalam bentuk text dan audio. Objek pada aplikasi pengenalan alat konstruksi berjumlah 33 objek dan telah dilakukan pengujian user atau kuisoner kepada 10 orang responden dan 5 orang dari anak smk dan mendaptkan hasil penilaian 62 poin baik dan 12 point cukup baik.
Um olhar pedagógico no ensino técnico de nível médio
Authors: Lopes Theoffillo Da Silva , Moura Amanda Da Rocha , Silva Karine Da , Lima Sonia Keilany Leite De
Published: March 2021

This article presents an experience report about the dynamics of Pedagogical Coordination in the Technical Higher Education at the Escola Técnica de Saúde da Paraíba, highlighting the challenges faced and the strategies outlined for overcoming of the same. In order to do so, the work is presented from the perspective of four dimensions that permeate the educational processes: the curriculum, understood as an articulator between theory and the educational praxis, seeking to meet the skills and competences required by the regulations governing technical education; planning, promoting the intermediation of an understanding that the teaching process starts from the planning, in line with the curriculum and expected outcomes of the teaching-learning process; the evaluation, in the promotion of didactic-pedagogical support, emphasizing the evaluation of qualitative form, before a culture of quantification of the learning; and educational and pedagogical orientation, where a communication channel is established between the sectors of the institution and all the actors involved, providing the development of the objectives outlined. In this sense, the pedagogical performance in technical teaching becomes effective in what it is proposed for and the search for effectiveness of the teaching-learning process.
The Impact of a National Accreditation Program on Patient Safety Culture in a Tertiary Hospital: Pre- and Post-Evaluation Study
Authors: Al-Surimi Khaled , Najjar Shahenaz , Al Quidaihi Abdulrazak , Masuadi Emad
Published: March 2021

Introduction

The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of the Saudi national accreditation program on patient safety culture in a secondary-tertiary public hospital in Saudi Arabia.

Methods

Three hundred health professionals were randomly selected to participate in a survey. The survey was used in three phases: baseline, before accreditation, and after accreditation. Primary and secondary outcome measures were teamwork within hospital units, feedback and communication about errors, hospital handoffs and transitions, overall perceptions of safety, frequency of event reporting, and perception of patient safety grade.

Results

The survey response rate was 100%. A statistically significant impact of accreditation was found for teamwork within hospital units, feedback and communication about errors, and hospital handoffs and transitions (p = 0.002, 0.009, and 0.010, respectively). Ordinal logistic regression confirmed that the accreditation program had a significant effect on overall perceptions of safety (odds ratio [OR] [1.42–13.56], p = 0.010), frequency of event reporting (OR [0.91–7.96], p = 0.073), and staff awareness of grading safety culture (OR [0.02–0.70]) and reporting behavior (OR 0.10 [0.03–0.37]).

Conclusion

The Saudi national accreditation program had a significant positive impact on some patient safety culture dimensions and outcomes. These findings provide local empirical evidence on the benefits of implementing national accreditation programs. Further research on a larger scale is highly recommended.
University and Political Awareness among Students: A Study in the Role of University in Promoting Political Awareness
Authors: Al-Khaza’leh Mohammad Salman , Lahiani Hanene
Published: March 2021

This research work has aimed at investigating the level of political awareness among the Al Ain University students and the role of the university in boosting it by using the descriptive survey method. Indeed, this study has relied upon the questionnaire and the interview as research tools, as well as on the intentional sample where 10 teaching team members were interviewed to answer the third question, and on the random sample where the questionnaire was distributed among 980 students- males and females to answer the first and second questions. The findings of this study revealed that there was a considerably high level of political awareness among the university students. It was also found that there were differences in the level of political awareness among students depending on the faculty, which favoured the students belonging to faculties of humanities. The differences also favoured male students when the variable was gender and 4th year students when the variable was the year of study. In addition, the study showed that the university played 15 important roles in developing political awareness as was unanimously agreed by the members of the sample. These roles were identified by using recurrences and percentages ranging between 50 and 90%, while those with percentages lower than 50% were not taken into account.

 

Received: 17 December 2020 / Accepted: 26 January 2021 / Published: 5 March 2021
Proof of concept: digital clock drawing behaviors prior to transcatheter aortic valve replacement may predict length of hospital stay and cost of care
Authors: Wiggins Margaret Ellenora , Dion Catherine , Formanski Erin Formanski , Davoudi Anis Davoud , Amini Shawna , Heilman Kenneth M. , Penney Dana , Davis Randall , Garvan Cynthia W. , Arnaoutakis George J. , Tighe Patrick , Libon David J. , Price Catherine C.
Published: March 2021

Aims: Reduced pre-operative cognitive functioning in older adults is a risk factor for postoperative complications, but it is unknown if preoperative digitally-acquired clock drawing test (CDT) cognitive screening variables, which allow for more nuanced examination of patient performance, may predict lengthier hospital stay and greater cost of hospital care. This issue is particularly relevant for older adults undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), as this surgical procedure is chosen for intermediate-risk older adults needing aortic replacement. This proof of concept research explored if specific latency and graphomotor variables indicative of planning from digitally-acquired command and copy clock drawing would predict post-TAVR duration and cost of hospitalization, over and above age, education, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification score, and frailty.
Methods: Form January 2018 to December 2019, 162 out of 190 individuals electing TAVR completed digital clock drawing as part of a hospital wide cognitive screening program. Separate hierarchical regressions were computed for the command and copy conditions of the CDT and assessed how a-priori selected clock drawing metrics (total time to completion, ideal digit placement difference, and hour hand distance from center; included within the same block) incrementally predicted outcome, as measured by R2 change significance values.
Results: Above and beyond age, education, ASA physical status classification score, and frailty, only digitally-acquired CDT copy performance explained significant variance for length of hospital stay (9.5%) and cost of care (8.9%).
Conclusions: Digital variables from clock copy condition provided predictive value over common demographic and comorbidity variables. We hypothesize this is due to the sensitivity of the copy condition to executive dysfunction, as has been shown in previous studies for subtypes of cognitive impairment. Individuals undergoing TAVR procedures are often frail and executively compromised due to their cerebrovascular disease. We encourage additional research on the value of digitally-acquired clock drawing within different surgery types. Type of cognitive impairment and the value of digitally-acquired CDT command and copy parameters in other surgeries remain unknown.
La métropole, une affaire d’élus. La mise à distance des citoyens dans la réforme territoriale (2012-2016)
Authors: Parnet Christophe
Published: March 2021

Cet article est consacré à la création des métropoles en France à travers la loi MAPTAM, conçue comme l’un des trois volets de l’« Acte III de la décentralisation », lequel poursuit un objectif de renforcement de la participation citoyenne. Or, cet objectif constitue en réalité la variable d’ajustement d’une réforme qui se caractérise au contraire par la mise à distance des citoyens. Captée par les élus locaux les plus dotés en ressources politiques, elle est contestée par d’autres élus, bien moins dotés. Ces derniers vont d’abord chercher à impliquer les citoyens pour contrer cette asymétrie de ressources, avant que cette contestation ne soit finalement réglée par des négociations discrètes entre élus.
Investigating the Effect of Family-Centered Self-Care Program based on Home Visits Regarding Dietary and Medication Regimen Adherence of Discharged Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome
Authors: Montazami Maryam , Khalifehzadeh-Esfahani Asghar , Keshvari Mahrokh
Published: March 2021

Background:

Dietary and medication regimen adherence in patients with history of Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) is very important in preventing readmission and reducing the complications of the disease. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of the family-centered self-care program based on home visits dietary and medication regimen adherence in patients with ACS discharged from Shahid Chamran Hospital during 2017-2018.

Materials and Methods:

This clinical trial was conducted on 80 ACS patients. The samples by using the random numbers table, were randomly divided into control and experimental groups. The routine interventions were administered for the control group, and family-centered self-care was conducted on patients of the experiment group. In order to obtain the quantitative data of this study, three questionnaires were used including demographic characteristics, Morisky questionnaire, and dietary adherence.

Results:

The difference between the mean score of medication and diet regimen adherence in both groups before the intervention was not significant (p > 0.05). data was demonstrated that scores of medication and diet regimen adherence were significantly higher immediately and 6 weeks after the intervention; (f = 64.06, p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

Family-centered self-care program based on home visits can be used as an effective method to increase the dietary and medication regimen adherence in ACS patients.
Internet Dependency and Its Relation to Sexual Desire and Satisfaction in Married Clients Referred to Healthcare Centers in Tabriz, Iran
Authors: Johani Jaizeh Karimi , Hosseinzadeh Mina , Mahdavi Nader , Vahidi Maryam , Hakimi Sevil
Published: March 2021

Background:

Internet dependency has become one of the 21st century dilemmas affecting different aspects of married life such as sexual relationships. Considering the importance of family in the Iranian society, this study aimed to determine how internet dependency is related to sexual desires and satisfaction among married clients of healthcare centers.

Materials and Methods:

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 326 married clients referred to healthcare centers in Tabriz City, Iran, between February and August 2019. Proportionate stratified random sampling was used based on the health complexes and the healthcare centers covered by them. One of the healthcare centers covered by each complex was selected randomly. The data collection tools included a demographic characteristics checklist, the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), the Index of Sexual Satisfaction (ISS), and the Hurlbert Index of Sexual Desire (HISD). The collected data were analyzed using the Pearson correlation coefficient test and multiple linear regression model.

Results:

The mean (SD) was 37.33 (15.37) for of internet dependency, 59.20 (17.27) for sexual desire, and 104.45 (22.81) for sexual satisfaction. There was a negative correlation between internet dependency and sexual satisfaction (r = -0.47, p < 0.001). This correlation remained significant (B = -0.41, df = 9, p < 0.001,) even when occupation (B = 3.66, p = 0.01), satisfaction with married life (B = 15.34, p < 0.001), and sexual desire (B = 0.60, p < 0.001) were adjusted as potential confounding factors.

Conclusions:

Internet dependency can cause a reduction in sexual desire and sexual satisfaction. Designing educational interventions in healthcare centers is recommended to manage the use of internet and to inform clients about the effects that internet dependency may have.