bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inflammatory Biomarkers are Correlated with Some Forms of Regressive Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Prosperi Margherita , Guiducci Letizia , Peroni Diego G. , Narducci Chiara , Gaggini Melania , Calderoni Sara , Tancredi Raffaella , Morales Maria Aurora , Gastaldelli Amalia , Muratori Filippo , Santocchi Elisa
Published: December 2019

Background: Several studies have tried to investigate the role of inflammatory biomarkers in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and their correlations with clinical phenotypes. Despite the growing research in this topic, existing data are mostly contradictory. Methods: Eighty-five ASD preschoolers were assessed for developmental level, adaptive functioning, gastrointestinal (GI), socio-communicative and psychopathological symptoms. Plasma levels of leptin, resistin, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), macrophage chemoattractant protein-1 (CCL2), tumor necrosis factor-alfa (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were correlated with clinical scores and were compared among different ASD subgroups according to the presence or absence of: (i) GI symptoms, (ii) regressive onset of autism. Results: Proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6 and CCL2) were lower than those reported in previous studies in children with systemic inflammatory conditions. GI symptoms were not correlated with levels of inflammatory biomarkers except for resistin that was lower in ASD-GI children (p = 0.032). Resistin and PAI-1 levels were significantly higher in the group with “regression plus a developmental delay” onset (Reg+DD group) compared to groups without regression or with regression without a developmental delay (p < 0.01 for all). Conclusions: Our results did not highlight the presence of any systemic inflammatory state in ASD subjects neither disentangling children with/without GI symptoms. The Reg + DD group significantly differed from others in some plasmatic values, but these differences failed to discriminate the subgroups as possible distinct ASD endo-phenotypes.
Individual Differences in Ethanol Drinking and Seeking Behaviors in Rats Exposed to Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor Exposure is Associated with Altered CaMKII Autophosphorylation in the Nucleus Accumbens Shell
Authors: Somkuwar Sucharita S. , Mandyam Chitra D.
Published: December 2019

Chronic intermittent ethanol vapor exposure (CIE) in rodents produces reliable and high blood ethanol concentration and behavioral symptoms associated with moderate to severe alcohol use disorder (AUD)—for example, escalation of operant ethanol self-administration, a feature suggestive of transition from recreational to addictive use, is a widely replicated behavior in rats that experience CIE. Herein, we present evidence from a subset of rats that do not demonstrate escalation of ethanol self-administration following seven weeks of CIE. These low responders (LR) maintain low ethanol self-administration during CIE, demonstrate lower relapse to drinking during abstinence and reduced reinstatement of ethanol seeking triggered by ethanol cues when compared with high responders (HR). We examined the blood ethanol levels in LR and HR rats during CIE and show higher levels in LR compared with HR. We also examined peak corticosterone levels during CIE and show that LR rats have higher levels compared with HR rats. Lastly, we evaluated the levels of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) in the nucleus accumbens shell and reveal that the activity of CaMKII, which is autophosphorylated at site Tyr-286, is significantly reduced in HR rats compared with LR rats. These findings demonstrate that dysregulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis activity and plasticity-related proteins regulating molecular memory in the nucleus accumbens shell are associated with higher ethanol-drinking and -seeking in HR rats. Future mechanistic studies should evaluate CaMKII autophosphorylation-dependent remodeling of glutamatergic synapses in the ventral striatum as a plausible mechanism for the CIE-induced enhanced ethanol drinking and seeking behaviors.
Parents’ Personality, Marriage Satisfaction, Stress, and Punishment of Children in the Family
Authors: Chumakov Mikhail , Chumakova Daria
Published: December 2019

The objective of the research is to ascertain whether emotional and volitional characteristics of the individual affect the frequency of punishment in the family (for example, prohibition to watch TY for some time, pocket money reduction, request for an apology). These types of punishments are legal in Russia. The research method is Perrez’s, Schoebi’s questionnaire on punishing behavior in education, and Chumakov’s questionnaire on volitional and emotional characteristics of a person (VEC). The data were divided into two groups (high or low level of development of volitional powers). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied to compare groups. The dependent variables were marriage satisfaction, emotional stress, and frequency of punishment of children in the family. Results and conclusions found that the gaps between the groups were significant for marriage satisfaction F (1,105) = 17.77, p < 0.001 and emotional stress F (1,105) = 23.53, p < 0.001 but were not significant for the frequency of punishment. Marriage satisfaction in a group with high VEC parameters is higher than in the group with low parameters. The stress in the group with high VEC parameters is lower than in the group with low parameters. There is a correlation between marriage satisfaction and frequency of punishment as well as between stress and frequency of punishment. Thus, the emotional and volitional qualities of the parents’ personality indirectly influence the frequency of punishment of children in the family.
Malignant Rhabdoid Tumor, an Aggressive Tumor Often Misclassified as Small Cell Variant of Hepatoblastoma
Authors: Fazlollahi Ladan , Hsiao Susan J. , Kochhar Manpreet , Mansukhani Mahesh M. , Yamashiro Darrell J. , Remotti Helen E.
Published: December 2019

The clinical management of pediatric liver tumors involves stratification into risk groups. One previously defined, high-risk group of hepatoblastomas is the small cell undifferentiated variant. In light of molecular studies showing SMARCB1 deletion in these tumors, it is now recognized that most small cell, undifferentiated liver tumors represent an aggressive unrelated tumor—the malignant rhabdoid tumor (MRT). SMARCB1 is a member of the chromatin remodeling SWI/SNF complex and encodes the INI1 protein. The histologic diagnosis of MRT is currently based on INI1 negative immunoreactivity and the presence of rhabdoid morphology. INI1-negative small cell liver tumors lacking classic rhabdoid morphology are often misclassified as small cell undifferentiated hepatoblastomas (SCUD-HB), according to the current classification. Pediatric liver tumors diagnosed between 2003–2017 as SCUD-HB (four cases) or MRT (two cases) were identified from the Columbia University Pathology Department Archives. All tumors were associated with normal or low serum alpha fetoprotein levels, and showed an absence of immunohistochemical staining of hepatocellular markers (Hep-par1, Arginase) and loss of INI1 staining. Two cases were initially diagnosed as MRT, one with prominent rhabdoid morphology, the other with predominant small cell morphology. The remaining four cases with small cell morphology were classified as SCUD-HB. Ancillary molecular studies confirmed the loss of SMARCB1, supporting the diagnosis of MRT in all cases, proving morphology an unreliable criterion. It is critical to eliminate the term INI1-negative hepatoblastoma from the current classification scheme, and classify INI1-negative tumors as MRT, particularly since high-risk HB-chemotherapy regimens are not effective for treating MRT.
Effect of Trajectory Curvature on the Microstructure and Properties of Surfacing Wall Formed with the Process of Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Feng Tao , Wang Lishi , Tang Zhongmin , Yu Shanwen , Bu Zhixiang , Hu Xinbin , Cheng Yihang
Published: December 2019

Curvature effects are typically present in the process of additive manufacturing (AM), particularly for wire arc additive manufacturing. In this paper, stainless-steel wire was adopted to deposit thin-walled samples with different curvatures. Optical microscopy, SEM, EDS and micro-hardness was used to analyse the microstructure, composition and properties of the samples. The result shows that the bottom region of the thin-walled sample had a mainly planar and cellular crystal microstructure. For the middle region, the microstructure revealed mainly dendrites, and the top layer has equiaxed dendrite morphology. The microhardness value of the bottom was greater than that of the middle, and the microhardness value of the middle was greater than that of the top. Moreover, the grain size of the inner part (direct to curvature radius) was larger than that of the outer part, and the micro-hardness value exhibited an increasing tendency from the inner to the outer side. With enlarging curvature, the degree of grain size differences and micro-hardness variants decreased. Finally, an investigation with a low carbon steel wire showed that it had a similar curvature effect for its AM specimen.
Treatment of Peri-Implant Mucositis with Repeated Application of Chlorhexidine Chips or Gel during Supportive Therapy—A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Sahrmann Philipp , Bettschart Cyrill , Wiedemeier Daniel B. , Al-Majid Ahmed , Attin Thomas , Schmidlin Patrick R.
Published: December 2019

Background: To assess the effect of chlorhexidine (CHX) chip application in patients with peri-implant mucositis as compared to CHX gel application. Methods: In peri-implant sites with mucositis, CHX gel was applied in the control group (GC) and CHX chips in the test group (CC) at baseline and after three months. At baseline and after six months, peri-implant pocket depths (PPD), bleeding-on-probing (BOP) and activated matrix metalloproteinase-8 (aMMP8) were assessed. Longitudinal changes were tested for inter-group differences. Results: Thirty-two patients were treated. BOP was more reduced (p = 0.006) in CC than in GC, with means and standard deviations of 46 ± 28% and 17 ± 27%, respectively. PPD was more reduced (p = 0.002) in CC than in GC with 0.65 ± 0.40 mm and 0.18 ± 0.32 mm, respectively. Regarding BOP, the percentages of improved, unchanged and worsened sites accounted for 32%, 61% and 7% in GC and 46%, 53% and 1% in CC, respectively. For probing pocket depth, the according values were 26%, 66% and 8% (GC) versus 57%, 38% and 5% (CC). Conclusions: During supportive therapy, repeated CHX chip application might resolve marginal peri-implant inflammation in terms of bleeding better than CHX gel.
A Phasor Measurement Unit Algorithm Using IIR Filters for FPGA Implementation
Authors: Jan Kikkert Cornelis
Published: December 2019

Phasor measurement units (PMU) are increasingly used in electrical power transmission networks, to maintain stability and protect the network. PMUs accurately measure voltage, phase, frequency, and rate of change of frequency (ROCOF). For reliability, it is desirable to implement a PMU using an FPGA. This paper describes a novel algorithm, suited to implementation in an FPGA and based on a simple PMU block diagram. A description of its realization using low hardware complexity infinite impulse response (IIR) filters is given. The IEC/IEEE standard 60255-118-1:2018 Part 118-1: Synchrophasor measurements for power systems, describes “reference” Finite Impulse Response (FIR) filters for implementing PMU hardware. At the 10 kHz sampling frequency used for our implementation, each “reference” FIR filter requires 100 multipliers, while an 8th order IIR filter only requires 12 multipliers. This paper compares the performance of different order IIR filter-based PMUs with the performance of the same PMU algorithm using the IEC/IEEE FIR reference filter. The IIR-based PMU easily satisfies all the requirements of IEC/IEEE standard and has a much better out of band signal rejection performance than a FIR-based PMU. Steady state errors for a rated voltage ± 10% and a rated frequency ± 5 Hz are < 0.000001% for total vector error (TVE) and < 1 µHz for frequency, with a latency of two mains cycles.
Ammonium Sulphate from a Bio-Refinery System as a Fertilizer—Agronomic and Economic Effectiveness on the Farm Scale
Authors: Szymańska Magdalena , Sosulski Tomasz , Szara Ewa , Wąs Adam , Sulewski Piotr , van Pruissen Gijs W.P. , Cornelissen René L.
Published: December 2019

This paper presents the results of a pot experiment aimed at the assessment of the agronomic and economic effectiveness of ammonium sulphate from an agro bio-refinery (Bio-AS). The Bio-AS was obtained by means of the ammonia stripping process from effluent after struvite precipitation from a liquid fraction of digestate. The agronomic effectiveness of Bio-AS in a pot experiment with maize and grass in two different soils, silty loam (SL) and loamy sand (LS), was investigated. The fertilising effect of Bio-AS was compared to commercial ammonium sulphate fertilizer (Com-AS) and control treatment (without fertilisation). The crop yields were found to depend on both soil type and nitrogen treatment. Crop yields produced under Bio-AS and Com-AS exceeded those under control treatments, respectively for SL and LS soils, by 88% and 125% for maize and 73% and 94% for grass. Crop yields under Bio-AS were similar to those under the Com-AS treatment. The fertilizer use of Bio-AS affected the chemical composition of plants and soil properties similarly as Com-AS. This suggests that Bio-AS from a bio-refinery can replace industrial ammonium sulphate, resulting in both economic and environmental benefits.
Feasibility Study of Integrating Renewable Energy Generation System in Sark Island to Reduce Energy Generation Cost and CO2 Emissions
Authors: Robinson Shamir , Papadopoulos Savvas , Jadraque Gago Eulalia , Muneer Tariq
Published: December 2019

The island of Sark, located in the English Channel, has endured an electricity distribution crisis for the past few years, resulting in high electricity costs almost six times higher than UK mainland energy prices. This article is focused on a methodology for finding the best renewable energy system with the lowest levelized cost of energy (LCOE) in comparison to the current energy rate of 66 p/kWh. Three different main cases of study have been compared in performance for different levels of renewable energy integration and energy storage, evaluating the estimated size of the system, installation cost and CO2 emissions. The results, which depend on the assumptions outlined, show that Case 2 renewable energy generation system is the most suitable in terms of reduction of CO2 emissions and expected earnings from a lower LCOE. Uncertainty in the results could be minimized if actual data from the island is made available by following the same methodology to find the best solution to the island’s current energy generation problem. Due to non-available data for the load profiles and wind velocity a set of assumption were required to be implemented. As such, two different load profiles were selected—one with a peak of energy consumption in winter and the other with a summer peak.
Analysis and Exploitation of the Star-Point Voltage of Synchronous Machines for Sensorless Operation
Authors: Grasso Emanuele , Mandriota Riccardo , König Niklas , Nienhaus Matthias
Published: December 2019

In the field of sensorless drive of synchronous machines (SMs), many techniques have been proposed that can be applied successfully in most applications. Nevertheless, these techniques rely on the measurement of the phase currents to extract the rotor position information. In the particular case of low-power machines, the application of such techniques is challenging due to the limited bandwidth of the available current sensors. An alternative is offered by those techniques that exploit the star-point voltage rather than phase currents. This work aims at providing a model of the dynamic behavior of the star-point voltage and presenting a technique for extracting the rotor electrical position needed for sensorless operation of SMs. Two different circuitries for measuring the star-point voltage are also presented and then compared. The presented mathematical analysis and the measurement methods are validated both numerically and experimentally on a test machine.
Advanced Asset Management Tools in Photovoltaic Plant Monitoring: UAV-Based Digital Mapping
Authors: Niccolai Alessandro , Grimaccia Francesco , Leva Sonia
Published: December 2019

Photovoltaic (PV) plant monitoring and maintenance has become an often critical activity: the high efficiency requirements of the new European policy have often been in contrast with the many low-quality plants installed in several countries over the past few years. In actual industrial practices, heterogeneous information is produced, and they are often managed in a fragmented way. Several software tools have been developed for obtaining reliable and valuable information from the PV plant’s raw data. With the aim of gathering and managing all these data in a more complex and integrated manner, an information managing system is proposed in this work—it is composed of a structured database, called the Photovoltaic Indexed Database, and a user interface, called the Digital Map, that allows for easy access and completion of the information present in the database. This information managment system and PV plant digitalization process is able to analyze and properly index the IR in the database, as well as the visual images obtained in photovoltaic plant monitoring.
An Actuator Surface Model to Simulate Vertical Axis Turbines
Authors: Massie Lucy , Ouro Pablo , Stoesser Thorsten , Luo Qianyu
Published: December 2019

An actuator surface model (ASM) to be employed to simulate the effect of a vertical axis turbine on the hydrodynamics in its vicinity, particularly its wake is introduced. The advantage of the newly developed ASM is that it can represent the complex flow inside the vertical axis turbine’s perimeter reasonably well, and hence, is able to predict, with a satisfying degree of accuracy, the turbine’s near-wake, with a low computational cost. The ASM appears to overcome the inadequacy of actuator line models to account for the flow blockage of the rotor blades when they are on the up-stream side of the revolution, because the ASM uses a surface instead of a line to represent the blade. The ASM was used on a series of test cases to prove its validity, demonstrating that first order flow statistics—in our study, profiles of the stream-wise velocity—in the turbine’s vicinity, can be produced with reasonable accuracy. The prediction of second order statistics, here in the form of the turbulent kinetic energy (TKE), exhibited dependence on the chosen grid; the finer the grid, the better the match between measured and computed TKE profiles.
A New Secure and Anonymous Metering Scheme for Smart Grid Communications
Authors: Xie Shaohao , Zhang Fangguo , Lin Huizhi , Tian Yangtong
Published: December 2019

The smart meter is one of the most important components of the smart grid, which enables bi-directional communication between electric power providers and in-home appliances. However, the fine-grained metering mechanism that reports real-time electricity usage to the provider may result in some privacy and security issues for the owner of the smart meter. In this paper, we propose a new secure and anonymous smart metering scheme based on the technique of direct anonymous attestation and identity-based signatures. We utilize the trusted platform module to realize the tamper resistance of the smart meter. Moreover, our scheme is able to detect malfunctioning meters in which data is reported more than once in a time period. Finally, the performance and security results show that our proposed scheme is efficient and satisfies the security requirements of the smart grid communication system.
Screening for the Brewing Ability of Different Non-Saccharomyces Yeasts
Authors: Methner Yvonne , Hutzler Mathias , Matoulková Dagmar , Jacob Fritz , Michel Maximilian
Published: December 2019

Non-Saccharomyces yeasts have aroused interest in brewing science as an innovative and seminal way of creating new beer flavors. A screening system for potential brewing strains of non-Saccharomyces yeasts was set up to investigate the yeast’s utilization of wort sugars and to examine the effect of hop acids as well as ethanol on the growth of different yeast strains. Additionally, phenolic off-flavor (POF) and sensory odor tests of fermented wort samples were performed. The promising strains were further investigated for their propagation ability and for following fermentation trials. The produced beers were analyzed for secondary metabolites, ethanol content and judged by trained panelists. Subsequently to the screening, it was discovered that among the 110 screened yeast strains, approx. 10 strains of the species Saccharomycopsis fibuligera, Schizosaccharomyces pombe and Zygosaccharomyces rouxii generate promising fruity flavors during fermentation and were able to metabolize maltose and maltotriose as a prerequisite for the production of alcoholic beers. Consequently, the screening method described in this study makes it possible to investigate a tremendous number of different non-Saccharomyces yeasts and to test their brewing ability in a relatively short period of time.
Partial Pre-Emphasis for Pluggable 400 G Short-Reach Coherent Systems
Authors: Abdo Ahmad , Li Xueyang , Alam Md Samiul , Parvizi Mahdi , Ben-Hamida Naim , D’Amours Claude , Plant David
Published: December 2019

Pre-emphasis filters are used to pre-compensate for the transmitter frequency response of coherent systems to mitigate receiver noise enhancement. This is particularly essential for low-cost, low-power coherent transceivers due to having an extremely bandlimited transmitter. However, the pre-emphasis filter also increases the signal peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR), thus posing a higher effective number of bits (ENoB) requirement for the arbitrary waveform generator (AWG). In this paper, we first numerically study the PAPR impact of partial pre-emphasis filters. We show that with partial pre-emphasis, an ENoB reduction from 5 to 4.5 bits is attainable at the same signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) out of the AWG. Next, we experimentally investigate the overall performance penalty of partial pre-emphasis in a 50 Gbaud 16QAM coherent system. A manageable Q factor penalty of around 0.5 dB is found for both single-polarization and dual-polarization systems with a 0.8 dB PAPR reduction.
Numerical Investigation of Air-Side Heat Transfer and Pressure Drop Characteristics of a New Triangular Finned Microchannel Evaporator with Water Drainage Slits
Authors: Rogie Brice , Brix Markussen Wiebke , Honore Walther Jens , Ryhl Kærn Martin
Published: December 2019

The present study investigated a new microchannel profile design encompassing condensate drainage slits for improved moisture removal with use of triangular shaped plain fins. Heat transfer and pressure drop correlations were developed using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and defined in terms of Colburn j-factor and Fanning f-factor. The microchannels were square 2.00 × 2.00 mm and placed with 4.50 mm longitudinal tube pitch. The transverse tube pitch and the triangular fin pitch were varied from 9.00 to 21.00 mm and 2.50 to 10.00 mm, respectively. Frontal velocity ranged from 1.47 to 4.40 m·s−1. The chosen evaporator geometry corresponds to evaporators for industrial refrigeration systems with long frosting periods. Furthermore, the CFD simulations covered the complete thermal entrance and developed regions, and made it possible to extract virtually infinite longitudinal heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics. The developed Colburn j-factor and Fanning f-factor correlations are able to predict the numerical results with 3.41% and 3.95% deviation, respectively.
High-Hydrostatic-Pressure (HHP) Processing Technology as a Novel Control Method for Listeria monocytogenes Occurrence in Mediterranean-Style Dry-Fermented Sausages
Authors: Meloni Domenico
Published: December 2019

Although conventional microbial control techniques are currently employed and largely successful, their major drawbacks are related to their effects on quality of processed food. In recent years, there has been a growing demand for high-quality foods that are microbially safe and retain most of their natural freshness. Therefore, several modern and innovative methods of microbial control in food processing have been developed. High-hydrostatic-pressure (HHP) processing technology has been mainly used to enhance the food safety of ready-to-eat (RTE) products as a new pre-/post-packaging, non-thermal purification method in the meat industry. Listeria monocytogenes is a pertinent target for microbiological safety and shelf-life; due to its capacity to multiply in a broad range of food environments, is extremely complicated to prevent in fermented-sausage-producing plants. The frequent detection of L. monocytogenes in final products emphasizes the necessity for the producers of fermented sausages to correctly overcome the hurdles of the technological process and to prevent the presence of L. monocytogenes by applying novel control techniques. This review discusses a collection of recent studies describing pressure-induced elimination of L. monocytogenes in fermented sausages produced in the Mediterranean area.
Effect of Cutting Styles on Quality and Antioxidant Activity of Stored Fresh-Cut Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) Cultivars
Authors: Dovene Atigan Komlan , Wang Li , Bokhary Syed Umar Farooq , Madebo Miilion Paulos , Zheng Yonghua , Jin Peng
Published: December 2019

The effect of cutting styles (slice, pie, and shred) on the quality characteristics and antioxidant activity of purple and yellow flesh sweet potato cultivars during six days of storage at 4 °C was investigated. The results indicated that the sliced and pie samples showed no significant difference (p > 0.05) on the firmness, weight loss, and vitamin C content compared with the whole sweet potato in both cultivars during storage. The pie sample exhibited the highest wound-induced phenolic, flavonoid, and carotenoid accumulation and DPPH radical scavenging activity among the cuts in both cultivars. Moreover, the shredded sample showed significantly (p < 0.05) higher polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity but lower total phenolic and flavonoid content and the lowest antioxidant activity among the samples. Thus, the finding of this study revealed that pie-cut processing has potential in improving the quality and increasing the antioxidant activity of fresh-cut purple and yellow flesh sweet potato cultivars while shredding accelerated the quality deterioration of both sweet potato cultivars.
Identification of Shoot Differentiation-Related Genes in Populus euphratica Oliv.
Authors: Fu Yaru , Dong Tianyu , Tan Lizhi , Yin Danni , Zhang Miaomiao , Zhao Guomiao , Ye Meixia , Wu Rongling
Published: December 2019

De novo shoot regeneration is one of the important manifestations of cell totipotency in organogenesis, which reflects a survival strategy organism evolved when facing natural selection. Compared with tissue regeneration, and somatic embryogenesis, de novo shoot regeneration denotes a shoot regeneration process directly from detatched or injured tissues of plant. Studies on plant shoot regeneration had identified key genes mediating shoot regeneration. However, knowledge was derived from Arabidopsis; the regeneration capacity is hugely distinct among species. To achieve a comprehensive understanding of the shoot regeneration mechanism from tree species, we select four genetic lines of Populus euphratica from a natural population to be sequenced at transcriptome level. On the basis of the large difference of differentiation capacity, between the highly differentiated (HD) and low differentiated (LD) groups, the analysis of differential expression identified 4920 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which were revealed in five groups of expression patterns by clustering analysis. Enrichment showed crucial pathways involved in regulation of regeneration difference, including “plant hormone signal transduction”, “cell differentiation”, "cellular response to auxin stimulus", and “auxin-activated signaling pathway”. The expression of nine genes reported to be associated with shoot regeneration was validated using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). For the specificity of regeneration mechanism with P. euphratica, large amount of DEGs involved in "plant-pathogen interaction", ubiquitin-26S proteosome mediated proteolysis pathway, stress-responsive DEGs, and senescence-associated DEGs were summarized to possibly account for the differentiation difference with distinct genotypes of P. euphratica. The result in this study helps screening of key regulators in mediating the shoot differentiation. The transcriptomic characteristic in P. euphratica further enhances our understanding of key processes affecting the regeneration capacity of de novo shoots among distinct species.
Geophysical Surveys for Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Preservation
Authors: Barone Pier Matteo , Ruffell Alastair , Tsokas Gregory N. , Rizzo Enzo
Published: December 2019

The knowledge that archaeological prospection is shaped by modern attitudes and procedures is important to the future of archaeology. Although geophysical studies have been applied to archaeological and historical sites over time with intermittent success, it is possible to derive great effects when used appropriately. It is most significant when applied in a well-integrated research design where interpretations are established and explored. The representation of survey data involves the knowledge of both archaeological evidence and the way it is stated in geophysical terms. Proper instrumentation, study design, and information processing are important for success, and these must be adapted according to the specific geology and archaeological evidence of each survey location. In this context, the regulation of information quality and spatial quality are important. This Special Issue of the Heritage journal expects to accumulate unique research articles on geophysical surveys for archaeology and cultural heritage preservation.
Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics Affected by Drip Irrigation Methods and Fertilization Practices in a Pomegranate Orchard
Authors: Tirado-Corbalá Rebecca , Gao Suduan , Ayars James E. , Wang Dong , Phene Claude J. , Phene Rebecca C.
Published: December 2019

Knowledge of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics under different irrigation practices in pomegranate orchards is novel and essential to develop sustainable production systems. The aim of this research was to determine the effect of high-frequency drip irrigation and different rates of N fertilizer on C and N distribution in the soil and N uptake by pomegranate fruit and leaves. The main treatments were surface drip irrigation (DI) and subsurface drip irrigation (SDI), and the sub-treatments used were three initial N rates (N1, N2, and N3). As trees grew larger, the N application rate increased. From 2013–2015, trees received the following rates of N: 62–113 (N1), 166–263 (N2), or 244–342 kg/ha (N3). Soil and leaf total C (TC) and N (TN), soil dissolved organic C (DOC), soil nitrate (NO3−), and total N uptake by fruit were evaluated between 2012 and 2015. Soil samples were collected to 120 cm depth at 15 cm increments. DI resulted in higher concentrations of TN, TC, NO3−, and DOC in the upper 75 cm depth than SDI. The N3 treatment resulted in higher concentrations of TN, TC, NO3−, and DOC under both DI and SDI. Neither DI nor SDI at the N1 or N2 levels increased TN and NO3− concentrations at 105–120 cm soil depth, indicating reduced leaching risk using high-frequency drip irrigation. Higher N uptake by fruit was observed in SDI than in DI in 2014 and 2015, and in N2 and N3 treatments compared with N1 in 2013 and 2014. The data indicate that the application rate at 166–263 kg/ha (N2) provided sufficient N for a 4–6-year-old pomegranate orchard and that high-frequency SDI is a promising technology for achieving higher N use efficiency and minimizing leaching loss of NO3− and DOC.
A Susceptible Scion Reduces Rootstock Tolerance to Ralstonia solanacearum in Grafted Eggplant
Authors: Huang Chaokun , Wang Yuexia , Yang Yanjuan , Zhong Chuan , Notaguchi Michitaka , Yu Wenjin
Published: December 2019

The bacterial wilt pathogen (Ralstonia solanacearum) is a highly pathogenic soil-borne bacterium that invades the vascular system of a host plant leading to plant wilting and death. In agricultural systems, tolerant rootstocks are usually used to enhance disease resistance and tolerance in crop plants to soil-borne pathogens. Here, two distinct eggplant cultivars with different tolerances to R. solanacearum infection, the disease-tolerant cultivar ‘S21′ and the disease-susceptible cultivar ‘Rf’, were used to investigate if scion tolerance level can affect tolerance of rootstock upon an infection of the same pathogen. Three scion/rootstock grafted combinations were considered: Rf/S21, S21/S21, and Rf/Rf. Plants that resulted from the combination Rf/S21, composed of the susceptible scion grafts, showed weak tolerance to R. solanacearum infection, and exhibited the poorest growth compared to the tolerant scion grafts (S21/S21). As expected, the combination Rf/Rf showed the lowest level of disease tolerance. Furthermore, a high level of exopolysaccharides (EPSs) and cell wall degrading enzymes (CWDEs) were detected in susceptible scion grafts. These factors are involved in plant growth inhibition due to blocking transport between scion and rootstock and damage of vascular tissues in the plant. A high level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and active oxygen scavenging enzymes were also detected in susceptible scion grafts. Excess accumulation of these substances harms the dynamic balance in plant vascular systems. These results indicated that the use of a susceptible scion in scion/rootstock eggplant grafts contributed to a reduction in rootstock tolerance to Ralstonia solanacearum.
Physical Fighting among School-Attending Adolescents in Pakistan: Associated Factors and Contextual Influences
Authors: Shaikh Masood Ali , Abio Anne , Celedonia Karen L. , Lowery Wilson Michael
Published: December 2019

Background: Adolescent physical fighting is a problem of public health importance, with varied consequences in the form of school absenteeism, injury, and, in some cases, death. Although research on risk and protective factors exists, most has been conducted in high-income countries. Methods: The 2009 Pakistan Global School-based Health Survey (GSHS) data were used. Logistic regression models were used to determine the associations. Five independent variables were investigated at the individual level (anxiety, suicide planning, truancy, physical activity, and bullying victimization) and four independent variables at the social level (presence of supportive parental figures, presence of helpful peers, extent of social network, and food insecurity). Results: Among adolescents in this study (N = 5177), 20% reported being involved in two or more physical fights, most of whom were males (79.9%). The factors associated with physical fighting were: being male (OR = 2.78); bullying victimization (OR = 3.14); truancy (OR = 1.63), loneliness (OR = 1.44); and suicidality, as evidenced by having a suicide plan (OR = 1.75). Having few close friends (0–2) as opposed to more (>3) was found to be protective against engaging in physical fighting. Conclusion: Risk factors for physical fighting among adolescents in South Asia seem to corroborate with previously-identified risk factors using samples in high-income countries, while protective factors seemed to differ. More research needs to be conducted to understand why certain factors do not have the same protective effect among South Asian adolescents. Aim: The aim of this study was to examine demographic and contextual factors associated with physical fighting among a nationally representative sample in a rapidly developing South Asian context.
Alcohol and Drug Use in European University Health Science Students: Relationship with Self-Care Ability
Authors: Colomer-Pérez Natura , Chover-Sierra Elena , Navarro-Martínez Rut , Andriusevičienė Virginia , Vlachou Eugenia , Cauli Omar
Published: December 2019

Background: Drug abuse in university students is an emerging social and health issue. The present study assesses alcohol and abuse of other illicit drugs and the adverse consequences related to such use and its relationship with self-care agency among European university students. Methods: A multicenter cross-sectional study was performed among 592 European students from different health science degrees. The screening of alcohol abuse was evaluated with the Alcohol Use Disorder Test (AUDIT), and the screening for substance-related risks and problems was conducted with the Car, Relax, Alone, Forget, Friends, Trouble (CRAFFT) screening test. We analyzed the relationship of substance abuse with self-care agency, assessed by the Appraisal of Self-Care Agency Scale (ASA). Results: 51.4% of the surveyed students reported alcohol intake, 16.6% of the students consumed both alcohol and cannabis, 1.6 % reported alcohol and other illicit drugs, and 3.7% consumed alcohol, marijuana, and other illicit drugs (73.3% of students reported alcohol intake alone or together with cannabis/hashish and/or other illicit drugs). The self-care agency scores were significantly different among groups in relation to certain sociodemographic factors such as gender (p = 0.008) and country of residence (p = 0.031). The self-care agency scores significantly correlated (p = 0.001) with the personal motivations and consequences related to the consumption of drugs of abuse evaluated by the CRAFFT screening tool. Within the ASA domains, the most significant effects were observed regarding the subdomains of resources, awareness, and health behaviors. Conclusions: Self-care agency should be promoted to counteract the health and social consequences of the consumption of drugs of abuse among university students who will be future health care professionals.
The Local Food Environment and Food Security: The Health Behavior Role of Social Capital
Authors: Paul Christopher J. , Paul John E. , Anderson Rosa S.
Published: December 2019

Food politics and economic forces may determine the macro conditions for food supply, but the local environment has the most substantial impact on population health. Food security is determined not only by the basic availability of food, but also by social, economic, and cultural factors influencing dietary behaviors. This paper investigates the role of social institutions, specifically social capital, in affecting food security by proposing a theoretical linkage between social capital and health behavior, and an illustrative case is provided. Social capital, defined as the value of the bonding, bridging, and linking relationships between people, is well demonstrated to be related to health. Many mechanisms link social capital to health, including shared access to food and nutritional behaviors. Further, social capital influences health through social status and race. This paper further investigates the links between minority status, food security, social capital, and health. The analysis draws on empirical work in North Carolina with community gardens, faith communities, the local food environment, and other social capital-related variables. By investigating the nature of local food security, particularly for minority populations, this analysis allows for better integration of local conditions with global food politics.
Correction: Lee, J. et al. Acute Effects of Exposure to a Traditional Rural Environment on Urban Dwellers: A Crossover Field Study in Terraced Farmland. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12, 1874–1893
Authors: Lee Juyoung , Park Bum-Jin , Ohira Tatsuro , Kagawa Takahide , Miyazaki Yoshifumi
Published: December 2019

The authors wish to add the following corrections to their paper published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health [...]
Can High-Intensity Functional Suspension Training over Eight Weeks Improve Resting Blood Pressure and Quality of Life in Young Adults? A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Engel Florian A. , Rappelt Ludwig , Held Steffen , Donath Lars
Published: December 2019

The present study examined the effects of a functional high-intensity suspension training (FunctionalHIIT) on resting blood pressure, psychological well-being as well as on upper body and core strength and cardiorespiratory fitness in moderately trained participants. Twenty healthy, moderately trained adults (10 males and 10 females; age: 36.2 ± 11.1 years, BMI: 23.9 ± 3.7) were randomly assigned to a FunctionalHIIT training group or passive control group (CON). FunctionalHIIT performed 16 sessions (2× week for eight weeks, 30 min per session), whereas CON maintained their habitual lifestyle using a physical activity log. Before and after FunctionalHIIT intervention, resting blood pressure and quality of life (short version of the WHO Quality of Life questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF)) were assessed. Furthermore, maximum-repetition (leg press, chest press, pulldown, back extension) and trunk muscle strength (Bourban test) as well as cardiorespiratory fitness (Vameval test), were measured before and after the intervention. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure and WHOQOL-BREF did not change significantly but both showed moderate training-induced effects (0.62 < standardized mean difference (SMD) < 0.82). Significant improvements in the FunctionalHIIT group were evident on leg press (p < 0.01), chest press (p < 0.05), and left side Bourban test (p < 0.05). Cardiorespiratory fitness did not reveal any time effects or time × group interactions. The present study revealed that eight weeks of FunctionalHIIT represents a potent stimulus to improve health-related parameters in young adults, whereas FunctionalHIIT was not sufficient to improve cardiorespiratory fitness.
Influence of a Municipal Solid Waste Landfill on the Surrounding Environment: Landfill Vegetation as a Potential Risk of Allergenic Pollen
Authors: Vaverková Magdalena Daria , Adamcová Dana , Winkler Jan , Koda Eugeniusz , Červenková Jana , Podlasek Anna
Published: December 2019

When the landfill use comes to end, important subsequent steps include aftercare, safety assurance, and ecological regeneration. Landfill revegetation is cost-effective and eco-friendly approach in the management of landfill areas, which serves the purpose of stabilization and provides a pleasant landscape. There are various vegetation types that can be planted, yet grass species are often used for low-cost reasons. Plants can be important sources of air pollution, particularly by grass pollen. The main goal of our study was to identify plant species that produce allergenic pollen. Long-term vegetation monitoring took place on three sites in the growing seasons of years 2008–2018. Studied objects were landfills located in the Czech Republic. The vegetation was assessed using a floristic survey of identified plant species. Plant species that produced allergens were recorded. During the monitoring, 298 plant species were determined. Plant species with allergenic pollen have a considerable share in the landfill vegetation. Thus, landfills are potential sources of various kinds of allergenic pollen. Moreover, our results indicated that there are three periods of pollen production: early spring, late spring, and early summer; late summer; and autumn. The second period is typical for the production of highly allergenic pollen by grasses. Most detected plant species with allergenic pollen are common for all monitored sites, which demonstrates that the vegetation of landfills is a significant source of allergenic pollen.
Classic Bioelectrical Impedance Vector Reference Values for Assessing Body Composition in Male and Female Athletes
Authors: Campa Francesco , Matias Catarina , Gatterer Hannes , Toselli Stefania , Koury Josely C. , Andreoli Angela , Melchiorri Giovanni , Sardinha Luis B. , Silva Analiza M.
Published: December 2019

Bioimpedance standards are well established for the normal healthy population and in clinical settings, but they are not available for many sports categories. The aim of this study was to develop reference values for male and female athletes using classic bioimpedance vector analysis (BIVA). In this study, 1556 athletes engaged in different sports were evaluated during their off-season period. A tetrapolar bioelectrical impedance analyzer was used to determine measurements of resistance (R) and reactance (Xc). The classic BIVA procedure, which corrects bioelectrical values for body height, was applied, and fat-free mass, fat mass, and total body water were estimated. In order to verify the need for specific references, classic bioelectrical values were compared to the reference values for the general male and female populations. Additionally, athletes were divided into three groups: endurance, velocity/power, and team sports. In comparison with the general healthy male and female populations, the mean vectors of the athletes showed a shift to the left on the R–Xc graph. Considering the same set of modalities, BIVA confidence graphs showed that male and female endurance athletes presented lower body fluids, fat mass, and fat-free mass than other sets of modalities. This study provides BIVA reference values for an athletic population that can be used as a standard for assessing body composition in male and female athletes.
Tourists’ Thermal Experience and Health in a Commercial Pedestrianized Block: A Case Study in a Hot and Humid Region of Southern China
Authors: Zhang Lei , Ma Xuan , Zhao Jingyuan , Wang Mengying
Published: December 2019

With the development of the economy in China, the tourism industry has become a form of daily entertainment for citizens. Commercial pedestrianized blocks have been designed as recreational centers for tourists, serving as outdoor public space and scenic spots. The use of these regions is directly determined by the outdoor thermal environment. So far, few studies have been conducted on tourists’ thermal experience in commercial pedestrianized blocks, especially in the hot and humid region of southern China. Using field measurement and numerical simulation of a commercial pedestrianized block in Fo Shan, China, to research tourists’ thermal experience under different conditions, the final results of this study could help to select the most suitable time for tourist travel and help local managers to improve the thermal environment.
Evaluation of an Age-Friendly City and Its Effect on Life Satisfaction: A Two-Stage Study
Authors: Flores Raquel , Caballer Antonio , Alarcón Ana
Published: December 2019

Due to the ageing of the world’s population, age-friendly cities are emerging to promote active ageing by optimising opportunities for health, participation and safety, in order to improve the quality of life of older people. Despite initiatives in different countries, there is a lack of empirical research exploring their impact on older people. The objective of this study is to evaluate an age-friendly city by analysing its relationship with life satisfaction, taking into account the age cohort variables of the elderly and whether they live alone or with someone else. A two-stage study, in which 66 subjects participated in the qualitative analysis (focus groups) in Stage I and 203 of the quantitative analysis (survey methodology) or Stage II. Despite the differences found in the different groups of elderly persons, for all of them the domains of outdoor spaces and buildings, and community support and health services, are significantly related to life satisfaction, with the latter showing itself to be a predictor of such satisfaction. It is important to take into account the different groups of elderly persons, so as to be able to establish suitable specific actions. This study aims to make a contribution to the development of public policies that influence the life satisfaction of the elderly.