bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thermal Transmittance, Dimensional Stability, and Mechanical Properties of a Three-Layer Laminated Wood Made from Fir and Meranti and Its Potential Application for Wood-Frame Windows
Authors: Koutsianitis Dimitrios , Ninikas Konstantinos , Mitani Andromachi , Ntalos George , Miltiadis Nikolakakos , Vasilios Argyris , Taghiyari Hamid R. , Papadopoulos Antonios N.
Published: March 2021

The aim of this paper was to investigate the physical (thermal transmittance and dimensional stability) and mechanical properties of two types of three layer laminated wood made from fir and meranti; fir in surface layers and meranti in core (FMF) and vice versa (MFM) and to examine its potential application for wood-frame windows. An additional objective was to compare the properties of the laminated wood with those of solid wood, namely meranti and fir. Both types of laminated wood had by far substantial lower bending properties than solid wood. MFM laminated wood performed better than the FMF as far as the physical and mechanical properties are concerned. Water absorption and thickness swelling of MFM laminated wood were substantially lower than those of the FMF type, and all the differences were statistically significant. Longitudinal width swelling, and bending properties of MFM laminated wood were higher than those of FMF but these differences were not statistically significant. The thermal transmittance (rate of the heat transferred) of the FMF window is 13.3% better (less) compared to the MFM window. The main reason for this is believed to be the lower overall density of the FMF window, which also makes it more competitive as a result of the reduced manufacturing cost since fir is less expensive compared tomeranti. It was concluded that wood-frame windows can be successfully made from these types of laminated wood, employing therefore easily renewable materials, with low environmental impact, recyclable and manageable in the medium term.
Chemical Solution Deposition of La-Substituted BiFe0.5Sc0.5O3 Perovskite Thin Films on Different Substrates
Authors: Griesiute Diana , Karoblis Dovydas , Mikoliunaite Lina , Zarkov Aleksej , Salak Andrei N. , Kareiva Aivaras
Published: March 2021

In the present work, polycrystalline Bi0.67La0.33Fe0.5Sc0.5O3 thin films were synthesized using a simple and cost-effective chemical solution deposition process employing the spin coating technique. In order to check the feasibility of the fabrication of thin films on various types of substrates, the films were deposited on Pt-coated silicon, silicon, sapphire, corundum, fused silica and glass. Based on the results of thermogravimetric analysis of precursor and thermal stability study, it was determined that the optimal annealing temperature for the formation of perovskite structure is 600 °C. It was observed that the relative intensity of the pseudocubic peaks (001)p and (011)p in the XRD patterns is influenced by the nature of substrates, suggesting that the formed crystallites have some preferred orientation. Roughness of the films was determined to be dependent on the nature of the substrate.
Comparison between Demand and Supply of Some Ecosystem Services in National Parks: A Spatial Analysis Conducted Using Italian Case Studies
Authors: Marino Davide , Palmieri Margherita , Marucci Angelo , Tufano Massimo
Published: March 2021

In recent decades, modeling approaches of ecosystem services (ES) have been used extensively at the international level, providing useful tools during the decision-making process by integrating both physical and economic information, thus improving its management. The relationship between supply and demand may impact social welfare: for example, a deficit in ES could negatively influence demand (either potential or effective). For this reason, the relational study between supply and demand is necessary for the sustainable management of natural resources; particularly since the demand for some ES must be fulfilled not only on a local scale but also globally (as in the case of regulatory ES). This paper proposes an ES analysis framework that links the flow of services (supply) generated by the interaction between natural, human and social capital with consumption (demand) connected to potential beneficiaries. Specifically, we analyze three ES: Forage production, regulation of local climate (PM10), and carbon sequestration in three national parks (Aspromonte National Park, Circeo National Park, and Appennino Tosco Emiliano National Park). The use of synthetic (biophysical) indicators, on a spatial basis, made it possible to quantify the supply and demand of specific catchments with the aim of accounting for the surplus/deficit through the calculation of the ES supply and demand ratio (ESDR). In fact, sustainable land management requires a balance between supply and demand in relation to the different needs of the stakeholders and local community. The relationship between supply and demand of ES can help identify resource use trade-offs, thus rendering the achievement of management and protection objectives more efficient. Lastly, through the use of monetary coefficients, it was possible to calculate the benefits of increasing the awareness of public decision-makers of ES’s value and the importance of implementing integrated strategies for environmental protection and enhancement.
Effect of Metal Powder Characteristics on Structural Defects of Graphene Nanosheets in Metal Composite Powders Dispersed by Ball Milling
Authors: Yan Qi , Chen Biao , Zhou Xinyi , Kondoh Katsuyoshi , Li Jinshan
Published: March 2021

Ball milling (BM) is the prime method to disperse graphene into metal powders; however, it inevitably introduces structural defects to graphene. The balance between dispersion quality and structural damage of graphene during BM is a significant issue for fabricating graphene/metal composite powders. In this study two metal powder characteristics, namely type and size, were investigated to understand the effect of the BM process on graphene structure in graphene/metal composite powders. Graphene nanosheets (GNSs) were added into commercial Ti-6Al-4V and pure Al powders with different diameters by three kinds of BM processes with distinct energy levels. According to the microstructure and Raman spectra, the results suggested that metal particle size had a minor influence in low-energy BM, while it played an important role in high-energy BM (HEBM). The structural defects of GNS crystals increase with increasing BM energy. However, increasing energy in BM has limited damage as the discrepancy in particle size is quite large. Furthermore, Al powders with lower hardness tend to deform with lower BM effect, which will cause less damage to GNSs compared to that in the harder Ti powder. Those findings may have implications for the development of high-performance metal matrix composites reinforced with nanocarbon materials.
Control of Oxygen Impurities in a Continuous-Feeding Czochralski-Silicon Crystal Growth by the Double-Crucible Method
Authors: Zhao Wenhan , Li Jiancheng , Liu Lijun
Published: March 2021

The continuous-feeding Czochralski method is a cost-effective method to grow single silicon crystals. An inner crucible is used to prevent the un-melted silicon feedstock from transferring to the melt-crystal interface in this method. A series of global simulations were carried out to investigate the impact of the inner crucible on the oxygen impurity distributions at the melt-crystal interface. The results indicate that, the inner crucible plays a more important role in affecting the O concentration at the melt-crystal interface than the outer crucible. It can prevent the oxygen impurities from being transported from the outer crucible wall effectively. Meanwhile, it also introduces as a new source of oxygen impurity in the melt, likely resulting in a high oxygen concentration zone under the melt-crystal interface. We proposed to enlarge the inner crucible diameter so that the oxygen concentration at the melt-crystal interface can be controlled at low levels.
The Effectiveness of the DIC as a Measurement System in SRG Shear Strengthened Reinforced Concrete Beams
Authors: Funari Marco Francesco , Verre Salatore
Published: March 2021

Steel Reinforced Grout (SRG) materials are generating considerable interest as strengthening system of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. They are finding increasing use in several civil engineering applications mainly due to the advantages they offer over traditional material such as high strength to weight ratio, ease of application, durability and low price. This paper describes the results of an experimental investigation carried out on SRG shear strengthened RC beams and gives evidence of the Digital Image Correlation (DIC) effectiveness as a measurement system. The tests performed had two main objectives: (i) assess the effectiveness of continuous and discontinuous U-wrapped jackets comprising a different number of layers and strips; (ii) assess the shear crack distribution during the tests by means of the DIC measurements. The results confirmed that reinforcing RC beams with SRG jackets can increase the load-bearing capacity; when the beam was reinforced with a continuous two-layered SRG strip, an increase of 84% was observed (compared to the unreinforced beam). The Linear Variable Differential Transformers (LVDT) measurements validated the results obtained by means of the DIC.
Application of Reactive Oxygen Species-Based Nanomaterials in Dentistry: A Review
Authors: Liu Fenglin , Hong Tingting , Xie Jingxian , Zhan Xuehui , Wang Yuehong
Published: March 2021

Maintenance of dental health has attracted attention of researchers at present. Various materials have been constructed and applied for curing different dental diseases, although limitation of biocompatibility and safety is still a big challenge. To overcome these limitations, nanomaterials with unique properties are incorporated into various dental treatment materials used in dental applications, including endodontic treatment, periodontal treatment, implant treatment, oral surgery, and restorative treatment, etc. Especially, reactive oxygen species-based nanomaterials equipped with nanoscale properties and reactive oxygen activities can be used as sterilization agents in dentistry, along with being used as good fillers in the dental field. This review concludes the common reactive oxygen species (ROS) nanomaterials and reviews the utilization of ROS in dentistry, highlighting the potential application and safety in clinical treatment. The future prospect will also be proposed to conduct the clinic dental cure.
An Overview of DNA-Based Applications for the Assessment of Benthic Macroinvertebrates Biodiversity in Mediterranean Aquatic Ecosystems
Authors: Tzafesta Eftychia , Zangaro Francesco , Specchia Valeria , Pinna Maurizio
Published: March 2021

The loss of aquatic biodiversity is increasing at a rapid rate globally. There is a worldwide effort to protect, preserve and restore aquatic ecosystems. For efficient biodiversity monitoring and reliable management tools, comprehensive biodiversity data are required. The abundance and species diversity of benthic macroinvertebrates are commonly used as indicators of the aquatic ecosystem condition. Currently, macroinvertebrate species biodiversity assessment is based on morpho-taxonomy, which could be enhanced by recent advances in DNA-based tools for species identification. In particular, DNA metabarcoding has the potential to identify simultaneously many different taxa in a pool of species and to improve aquatic biomonitoring significantly, especially for indicator species. This review is focused on the current state of DNA-based aquatic biomonitoring using benthic macroinvertebrates in the Mediterranean region.
Assessing Assemblage Composition of Reproductively Mature Resource Fishes at a Community Based Subsistence Fishing Area (CBSFA)
Authors: Weible Rebecca M. , Rodgers Ku‘ulei S. , Friedlander Alan M. , Hunter Cynthia L.
Published: March 2021

Nearshore fisheries in Hawai‘i have been steadily decreasing for over a century. Marine protected areas (MPAs) have been utilized as a method to both conserve biodiversity and enhance fisheries. The composition of resource fishes within and directly outside of the recently established Hā‘ena Community Based Subsistence Fishing Area (CBSFA) on the island of Kaua‘i were assessed to determine temporal and spatial patterns in assemblage structure. In situ visual surveys of fishes, invertebrates, and benthos were conducted using a stratified random sampling design to evaluate the efficacy of the MPA between 2016 and 2020. L50 values—defined as the size at which half of the individuals in a population have reached reproductive maturity—were used as proxies for identifying reproductively mature resource fishes both inside and outside the CBSFA. Surveys between 2016 and 2020 did not indicate strong temporal or spatial changes in overall resource fish assemblage structure; however, some species-specific changes were evident. Although overall resource species diversity and richness were significantly higher by 2020 inside the MPA boundaries, there is currently no strong evidence for a reserve effect.
The Role in Teledermoscopy of an Inexpensive and Easy-to-Use Smartphone Device for the Classification of Three Types of Skin Lesions Using Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Veronese Federica , Branciforti Francesco , Zavattaro Elisa , Tarantino Vanessa , Romano Valentina , Meiburger Kristen M. , Salvi Massimo , Seoni Silvia , Savoia Paola
Published: March 2021

Background. The use of teledermatology has spread over the last years, especially during the recent SARS-Cov-2 pandemic. Teledermoscopy, an extension of teledermatology, consists of consulting dermoscopic images, also transmitted through smartphones, to remotely diagnose skin tumors or other dermatological diseases. The purpose of this work was to verify the diagnostic validity of images acquired with an inexpensive smartphone microscope (NurugoTM), employing convolutional neural networks (CNN) to classify malignant melanoma (MM), melanocytic nevus (MN), and seborrheic keratosis (SK). Methods. The CNN, trained with 600 dermatoscopic images from the ISIC (International Skin Imaging Collaboration) archive, was tested on three test sets: ISIC images, images acquired with the NurugoTM, and images acquired with a conventional dermatoscope. Results. The results obtained, although with some limitations due to the smartphone device and small data set, were encouraging, showing comparable results to the clinical dermatoscope and up to 80% accuracy (out of 10 images, two were misclassified) using the NurugoTM demonstrating how an amateur device can be used with reasonable levels of diagnostic accuracy. Conclusion. Considering the low cost and the ease of use, the NurugoTM device could be a useful tool for general practitioners (GPs) to perform the first triage of skin lesions, aiding the selection of lesions that require a face-to-face consultation with dermatologists.
MDCT-Based Finite Element Analyses: Are Measurements at the Lumbar Spine Associated with the Biomechanical Strength of Functional Spinal Units of Incidental Osteoporotic Fractures along the Thoracolumbar Spine?
Authors: Sollmann Nico , Rayudu Nithin Manohar , Yeung Long Yu , Sekuboyina Anjany , Burian Egon , Dieckmeyer Michael , Löffler Maximilian T. , Schwaiger Benedikt J. , Gersing Alexandra S. , Kirschke Jan S. , Baum Thomas , Subburaj Karupppasamy
Published: March 2021

Assessment of osteoporosis-associated fracture risk during clinical routine is based on the evaluation of clinical risk factors and T-scores, as derived from measurements of areal bone mineral density (aBMD). However, these parameters are limited in their ability to identify patients at high fracture risk. Finite element models (FEMs) have shown to improve bone strength prediction beyond aBMD. This study aims to investigate whether FEM measurements at the lumbar spine can predict the biomechanical strength of functional spinal units (FSUs) with incidental osteoporotic vertebral fractures (VFs) along the thoracolumbar spine. Multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) data of 11 patients (5 females and 6 males, median age: 67 years) who underwent MDCT twice (median interval between baseline and follow-up MDCT: 18 months) and sustained an incidental osteoporotic VF between baseline and follow-up scanning were used. Based on baseline MDCT data, two FSUs consisting of vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs (IVDs) were modeled: one standardly capturing L1-IVD–L2-IVD–L3 (FSU_L1–L3) and one modeling the incidentally fractured vertebral body at the center of the FSU (FSU_F). Furthermore, volumetric BMD (vBMD) derived from MDCT, FEM-based displacement, and FEM-based load of the single vertebrae L1 to L3 were determined. Statistically significant correlations (adjusted for a BMD ratio of fracture/L1–L3 segments) were revealed between the FSU_F and mean load of L1 to L3 (r = 0.814, p = 0.004) and the mean vBMD of L1 to L3 (r = 0.745, p = 0.013), whereas there was no statistically significant association between the FSU_F and FSU_L1–L3 or between FSU_F and the mean displacement of L1 to L3 (p > 0.05). In conclusion, FEM measurements of single vertebrae at the lumbar spine may be able to predict the biomechanical strength of incidentally fractured vertebral segments along the thoracolumbar spine, while FSUs seem to predict only segment-specific fracture risk.
Temporomandibular Disorders: Current Concepts and Controversies in Diagnosis and Management
Authors: Li Dion Tik Shun , Leung Yiu Yan
Published: March 2021

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are a group of orofacial pain conditions which are the most common non-dental pain complaint in the maxillofacial region. Due to the complexity of the etiology, the diagnosis and management of TMD remain a challenge where consensus is still lacking in many aspects. While clinical examination is considered the most important process in the diagnosis of TMD, imaging may serve as a valuable adjunct in selected cases. Depending on the type of TMD, many treatment modalities have been proposed, ranging from conservative options to open surgical procedures. In this review, the authors discuss the present thinking in the etiology and classification of TMD, followed by the diagnostic approach and the current trend and controversies in management.
Angina Simultaneously Diagnosed with the Recurrence of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Authors: Li Koki , Otsuka Yuki , Nakano Yasuhiro , Omura Daisuke , Hasegawa Kou , Obika Mikako , Ueda Keigo , Kataoka Hitomi , Otsuka Fumio
Published: March 2021

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) mainly affects young adults and can have a potential impact on social functioning. As this syndrome is associated with endothelial dysfunction, the heart can be damaged via ischemia due to endothelial damage. This might potentially lead to heart failure, which accounts for approximately 20% of deaths among patients with ME/CFS. While cardiac ischemia is thought be a pathophysiologically important manifestation of this syndrome, this is not yet reported. Herein, we present a case of a young female with newly diagnosed vasospastic or microvascular angina and concurrent exacerbation of ME/CFS severity. Her anginal symptoms, including exertional chest pain and transient chest discomfort, mimicked those of ME/CFS but were relieved after the administration of a calcium channel blocker. We emphasize the possibility of concurrent angina and exacerbation of ME/CFS and the importance of detecting cardiac ischemia to avoid unfavorable outcomes.
Effect of Aging, Gender and Sensory Stimulation of TRPV1 Receptors with Capsaicin on Spontaneous Swallowing Frequency in Patients with Oropharyngeal Dysphagia: A Proof-of-Concept Study
Authors: Nascimento Weslania , Tomsen Noemí , Acedo Saray , Campos-Alcantara Cristina , Cabib Christopher , Alvarez-Larruy Marta , Clavé Pere
Published: March 2021

Spontaneous swallowing contributes to airway protection and depends on the activation of brainstem reflex circuits in the central pattern generator (CPG). We studied the effect of age and gender on spontaneous swallowing frequency (SSF) in healthy volunteers and assessed basal SSF and TRPV1 stimulation effect on SSF in patients with post-stroke oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD). The effect of age and gender on SSF was examined on 141 healthy adult volunteers (HV) divided into three groups: GI—18–39 yr, GII—40–59 yr, and GIII—>60 yr. OD was assessed by the Volume–Viscosity Swallowing Test (VVST). The effect of sensory stimulation with capsaicin 10−5 M (TRPV1 agonist) was evaluated in 17 patients with post-stroke OD, using the SSF. SSF was recorded in all participants during 10 min using surface electromyography (sEMG) of the suprahyoid muscles and an omnidirectional accelerometer placed over the cricothyroid cartilage. SSF was significantly reduced in GII (0.73 ± 0.50 swallows/min; p = 0.0385) and GIII (0.50 ± 0.31 swallows/min; p < 0.0001) compared to GI (1.03 ± 0.62 swallows/min), and there was a moderate significant correlation between age and SFF (r = −0.3810; p < 0.0001). No effect of gender on SSF was observed. Capsaicin caused a strong and significant increase in SSF after the TRPV1 stimulation when comparing to basal condition (pre-capsaicin: 0.41 ± 0.32 swallows/min vs post-capsaicin: 0.81 ± 0.51 swallow/min; p = 0.0003). OD in patients with post-stroke OD and acute stimulation with TRPV1 agonists caused a significant increase in SSF, further suggesting the potential role of pharmacological stimulation of sensory pathways as a therapeutic strategy for CPG activation in patients with OD.
Isolated Cognitive Decline in Neurologically Stable Patients with Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Motyl Jiri , Friedova Lucie , Vaneckova Manuela , Krasensky Jan , Lorincz Balazs , Blahova Dusankova Jana , Andelova Michaela , Fuchs Tom A. , Kubala Havrdova Eva , Benedict Ralph H. B. , Horakova Dana , Uher Tomas
Published: March 2021

(1) Background: Cognitive deterioration is an important marker of disease activity in multiple sclerosis (MS). It is vital to detect cognitive decline as soon as possible. Cognitive deterioration can take the form of isolated cognitive decline (ICD) with no other clinical signs of disease progression present. (2) Methods: We investigated 1091 MS patients from the longitudinal GQ (Grant Quantitative) study, assessing their radiological, neurological, and neuropsychological data. Additionally, the confirmatory analysis was conducted. Clinical disease activity was defined as the presence of new relapse or disability worsening. MRI activity was defined as the presence of new or enlarged T2 lesions on brain MRI. (3) Results: Overall, 6.4% of patients experienced cognitive decline and 4.0% experienced ICD without corresponding clinical activity. The vast majority of cognitively worsening patients showed concomitant progression in other neurological and radiologic measures. There were no differences in disease severity between completely stable patients and cognitively worsening patients but with normal cognition at baseline. (4) Conclusions: Only a small proportion of MS patients experience ICD over short-term follow-up. Patients with severe MS are more prone to cognitive decline; however, patients with normal cognitive performance and mild MS might benefit from the early detection of cognitive decline the most.
Cardio-Ankle Vascular Index in the Persons with Pre-Diabetes and Diabetes Mellitus in the Population Sample of the Russian Federation
Authors: Sumin Alexei N. , Bezdenezhnykh Natalia A. , Bezdenezhnykh Andrey V. , Artamonova Galina V.
Published: March 2021

The aim of this study was to evaluate Cardio-Ankle Vascular Index (CAVI) and increased arterial stiffness predictors in patients with carbohydrate metabolism disorders (CMD) in the population sample of Russian Federation. Methods: 1617 patients (age 25–64 years) were enrolled in an observational cross-sectional study Epidemiology of Cardiovascular Diseases and Their Risk Factors in the Regions of the Russian Federation (ESSE-RF). The standard ESSE-RF protocol has been extended to measure the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), a marker of arterial stiffness. Patients were divided into three groups: patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (n = 272), patients with prediabetes (n = 44), and persons without CMD (n = 1301). Results: Median CAVI was higher in diabetes and prediabetes groups compared with group without CMD (p = 0.009 and p < 0.001, respectively). Elevated CAVI (≥9.0) was detected in 16.8% of diabetes patients, in 15.9% of those with prediabetes, and in 9.0% of those without CMD (p < 0.001). The factors affecting on CAVI did not differ in CVD groups. In logistic regression the visceral obesity, increasing systolic blood pressure (SBP) and decreasing glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were associated with a pathological CAVI in CMD patients, and age, diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and cholesterol in persons without CMD. Conclusions: the CAVI index values in the prediabetes and diabetes patients were higher than in normoglycemic persons in a population sample of the Russian Federation. Since the identified disorders of arterial stiffness in prediabetes are similar to those in diabetes, their identification is important to prevent further cardiovascular complications.
Additional Value of [18F]FDG PET or PET/CT for Response Assessment of Patients with Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor Undergoing Molecular Targeted Therapy: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Yokoyama Kota , Tsuchiya Junichi , Nakamoto Yuji , Tateishi Ukihide
Published: March 2021

To assess the additional value of 2-deoxy-2-[18F] fluoro-d-glucose ([18F]FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) or PET/CT over conventional morphological imaging techniques in the treatment response assessment of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) to molecular targeted therapy (MTT), we performed a meta-analysis of all the available studies to compare the predictive value of [18F]FDG PET or PET/CT and conventional imaging techniques for assessing the response to MTT in GIST. We determined the sensitivities and specificities across studies, we calculated the positive and negative likelihood ratios (LR) and made summary receiver operating characteristic curves (SROC) using hierarchical regression models. Pooled analysis included 4 studies comprising 88 patients. The performance characteristics in [18F]FDG PET or PET/CT and CT were as follows: sensitivity, 89% (95% confidence interval (CI) 78, 95), 52% (39, 64); specificity, 65% (44, 83), 92% (75, 99); diagnostic odds ratios (DOR), 5.8 (2.0, 16.8 4.9 (1.5, 16.1); positive LR, 1.9 (1.1, 3.4), 3.0 (1.1, 8.1); and negative LR, 0.23 (0.03, 1.6), 0.66 (0.42, 1.0), respectively. In SROC curves, the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.81 (SE, 0.11) and 0.71 (SE, 0.13) and the Q* index was 0.74 and 0.66, respectively. [18F]FDG PET/CT had higher sensitivity, while DOR and SROC curves showed better diagnostic performance in [18F]FDG PET and PET/CT studies as compared to CT.
Association of Circulating miRNA Expression with Preeclampsia, Its Onset, and Severity
Authors: Kolkova Zuzana , Holubekova Veronika , Grendar Marian , Nachajova Marcela , Zubor Pavol , Pribulova Terezia , Loderer Dusan , Zigo Imrich , Biringer Kamil , Hornakova Andrea
Published: March 2021

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are one of the important regulators of cellular functions fundamental for healthy pregnancy processes, including angiogenesis and differentiation of trophoblast cells, and their deregulation could be implicated in the pathogenesis of pregnancy complications, including preeclampsia (PE). The aim of this study was to assess the association of miRNA expression in plasma samples with PE, its onset, and severity. Our study enrolled 59 pregnant women, 27 in the preeclamptic study group and 32 in the control group with physiological pregnancy. Preeclamptic pregnancies were divided into subgroups based on the severity and onset of disease. Relative expression of miR-21-5p, miR-155-5p, miR-210-5p, miR-16-5p, and miR-650 isolated from plasma samples was analysed by quantitative real-time PCR and normalised to experimentally established reference genes. Our results revealed upregulation of miR-21-5p (1.16-fold change, p = 0.0015), miR-155-5p (1.62-fold change, p = 0.0005) in preeclamptic pregnancies, compared to controls. Overexpression of these two miRNAs was observed, especially in subgroups of severe and late-onset PE compared to healthy pregnancies. Although we hypothesised that the expression level of studied miRNAs could vary between PE subtypes (mild vs. severe, early onset vs. late-onset), no obvious differences were detected. In conclusion, our study could contribute to the large-scale studies for the identification of non-invasive biomarkers for PE detection to improve outcomes for women and their new-borns.
Assessment of Health-Promoting Lifestyle among Dental Students in Zagreb, Croatia
Authors: Musić Larisa , Mašina Tonći , Puhar Ivan , Plančak Laura , Kostrić Valentina , Kobale Mihaela , Badovinac Ana
Published: March 2021

As future healthcare professionals, dental medicine students are expected to exhibit healthy lifestyle behaviors. This study aims to assess the health-promoting behaviors among undergraduate dental medicine students of all six academic study years at the University of Zagreb, and determine their predictors. Students were invited to complete a two-part survey, consisting of a self-reported sociodemographic questionnaire and the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP II). Three hundred and forty-nine students completed the survey; the response rate was 60.3%. The total mean HPLP II score was 2.64 ± 0.34. Students in the second academic study year scored the lowest (2.50 ± 0.33), and students in the sixth academic study year scored the highest (2.77 ± 0.32). Health responsibility was the overall lowest scored subcategory, while interpersonal relations was scored the highest. Female students reported lower spiritual growth and stress management than male students. Higher body mass index (BMI) was related to lower health responsibility. Smoking, place of residence and the age of participants did not seem to have an impact on health-promoting behaviors. Dental students at our faculty exhibit moderate health-promoting behaviors, even in the absence of a formal health-promoting course in the existing curriculum.
Two-Qubit Local Fisher Information Correlation beyond Entanglement in a Nonlinear Generalized Cavity with an Intrinsic Decoherence
Authors: Mohamed A.-B. A. , Khalil E. M. , Yassen M. F. , Eleuch H.
Published: March 2021

In this paper, we study a Hamiltonian system constituted by two coupled two-level atoms (qubits) interacting with a nonlinear generalized cavity field. The nonclassical two-qubit correlation dynamics are investigated using Bures distance entanglement and local quantum Fisher information under the influences of intrinsic decoherence and qubit–qubit interaction. The effects of the superposition of two identical generalized coherent states and the initial coherent field intensity on the generated two-qubit correlations are investigated. Entanglement of sudden death and sudden birth of the Bures distance entanglement as well as the sudden changes in local Fisher information are observed. We show that the robustness, against decoherence, of the generated two-qubit correlations can be controlled by qubit–qubit coupling and the initial coherent cavity states.
Waterlogging Risk Assessment: An Undervalued Disaster Risk in Coastal Urban Community of Chattogram, Bangladesh
Authors: Islam Md. Rezuanul , Raja Debasish Roy
Published: March 2021

In recent years, rainfall-induced waterlogging has become a common hazard in the highly urbanized coastal city of Chattogram, Bangladesh, resulting in a high magnitude of property damage and economic loss. Therefore, the primary objective of this research was to prepare a waterlogging inventory map and understand the spatial variations of the risk by means of hazard intensity, exposure, and vulnerability of waterlogging. In this research, the inventory map and factors influencing waterlogging hazards were determined from a participatory survey, and other spatial data, including land elevation, population, and structural data, were collected from secondary sources. The analytical hierarchy process was applied to measure the hazard intensity, and the exposure and vulnerability were estimated by overlaying the spatial data onto the hazard intensity map. A total of 58 locations were identified as waterlogging affected, which covered ~8.42% of the city area. We showed that ~3.03% of the city area was greatly vulnerable to waterlogging in terms of their social, infrastructure, critical facilities, economic, and environmental vulnerabilities. The obtained waterlogging risk index map suggested that ~2.71% of the study area was at very high risk, followed by moderate (~0.15%), low (~3.89%), and very low (~1.67%). The risk analysis presented in this study was a simple method that can be applied to assess the relative risk of waterlogging in different regions, and the results were applicable to the prevention and mitigation of waterlogging for Chattogram City.
Ultra-Short Window Length and Feature Importance Analysis for Cognitive Load Detection from Wearable Sensors
Authors: Tervonen Jaakko , Pettersson Kati , Mäntyjärvi Jani
Published: March 2021

Human cognitive capabilities are under constant pressure in the modern information society. Cognitive load detection would be beneficial in several applications of human–computer interaction, including attention management and user interface adaptation. However, current research into accurate and real-time biosignal-based cognitive load detection lacks understanding of the optimal and minimal window length in data segmentation which would allow for more timely, continuous state detection. This study presents a comparative analysis of ultra-short (30 s or less) window lengths in cognitive load detection with a wearable device. Heart rate, heart rate variability, galvanic skin response, and skin temperature features are extracted at six different window lengths and used to train an Extreme Gradient Boosting classifier to detect between cognitive load and rest. A 25 s window showed the highest accury (67.6%), which is similar to earlier studies using the same dataset. Overall, model accuracy tended to decrease as the window length decreased, and lowest performance (60.0%) was observed with a 5 s window. The contribution of different physiological features to the classification performance and the most useful features that react in short windows are also discussed. The analysis provides a promising basis for future real-time applications with wearable sensors.
On Coding and Decoding Reconfigurable Radiation Pattern Modulation Symbols
Authors: Celis Sebastian , Farhat Mohamed , Zhang Li , Bagci Hakan , Eltawil Ahmed M. , Salama Khaled N.
Published: March 2021

In this paper, we propose the theoretical framework for a reconfigurable radiation pattern modulation (RRPM) scheme, which is reminiscent of the index modulation technique. In the proposed scheme, information is encoded using far-field radiation patterns generated by a set of programmable radiating elements. A considerable effort has been invested to allow for high transmission of the reconfigurable radiation pattern symbols; yet, the receiving system has received little attention and has always been considered ideal. Depending on the number of receivers and their respective positions, two variables are considered here for data transmission: the sampling resolution and the fraction of the covered space by the receiving antennas. Hence, we quantitatively investigate their effect on the bit-error-rate (BER) by making use of a limited number of measurements that approximate the behavior of the system under real-field conditions.
Unbalanced Two-Way Filtering Power Splitter for Wireless Communication Systems
Authors: Nwajana Augustine O. , Ijemaru Gerald K. , Ang Kenneth L.-M. , Seng Jasmine K. P. , Yeo Kenneth S. K.
Published: March 2021

A compact unbalanced two-way filtering power splitter with an integrated Chebyshev filtering function is presented. The design is purely based on formulations, thereby eliminating the constant need for developing complex optimization algorithms and tuning, to deliver the desired amount of power at each of the two output ports. To achieve miniaturization, a common square open-loop resonator (SOLR) is used to distribute energy between the two integrated channel filters. In addition to distributing energy, the common resonator also contributes one pole to each integrated channel filter, hence, reducing the number of individual resonating elements used in achieving the integrated filtering power splitter (FPS). To demonstrate the proposed design technique, a prototype FPS centered at 2.6 GHz with a 3 dB fractional bandwidth of 3% is designed and simulated. The circuit model and layout results show good performances of high selectivity, less than 1.7 dB insertion loss, and better than 16 dB in-band return loss. The common microstrip SOLR and the microstrip hair-pin resonators used in implementing the proposed integrated FPS ensures that an overall compact size of 0.34 λg × 0.11 λg was achieved, where λg is the guided-wavelength of the 50 Ω microstrip line at the fundamental resonant frequency of the FPS passband.
Analysis of a DC-DC Flyback Converter Variant for Thermoelectric Generators with Partial Energy Processing
Authors: Marroquín-Arreola Ricardo , Salazar-Pérez Daniel , Ponce-Silva Mario , Hernández-De León Héctor , Aquí-Tapia Juan A. , Lezama Jinmi , Saavedra-Benítez Yesica I. , Escobar-Gómez Elías N. , Lozoya-Ponce Ricardo E. , Mota-Grajales Rafael
Published: March 2021

This paper presents a theoretical analysis of a DC-DC flyback converter variant applied in energy harvesting based on thermoelectric generators. The main contribution of the article is the analysis and obtaining the equations of the behavior of the converter with a rearrangement of the elements of the traditional flyback converter in such a way that the converter only processes part of the energy while the other part is delivered directly to the load. This is achieved by connecting the secondary of the flyback in series with the load, and this assembly, in turn, is placed in parallel with the primary and the voltage source. This configuration means that the topology can only be a boost topology; however, there are benefits such as partial power processing (R2P2) and reduced stress on converter components in both voltage and current; all this leads to increase the efficiency. A Low Frequency Averaging Analysis (LFAA) was used to determine the behavior of the proposed circuit, and a simple equivalent circuit to analyze was obtained. In order to validate the theoretical analysis, a circuit was simulated in Spice and implemented in an 18 W prototype. Experimental results showed that the converter has an efficiency of 92.65%. Moreover, the rearranged flyback processed only 56% of the input power.
Usage of Mathematical Modeling and Optimization in Development of Hydrogel Medical Dressings Production
Authors: Grytsenko Oleksandr , Pukach Petro , Suberlyak Oleh , Shakhovska Nataliya , Karovič Jr. Vincent
Published: March 2021

In connection with the significant complication of research objects of technological systems and the considerable increase in expenses for carrying out experimental research, improving the mathematical modeling methods of these systems is a current problem. By using the means of mathematical modeling and optimization, the calculation of the main technological parameters of the formation method of film hydrogel products based on silver-filled copolymers of 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate with polyvinylpyrrolidone was performed. The technological parameters of the polymerization processes, chemical reduction of silver ions, and centrifugal formation of the film cloth were substantiated. These are the components of the technological process, which occurs in one stage in the form of a centrifugal unit. By using the obtained results, silver-filled films were obtained, which are characterized by unique properties and can be used in the treatment of trophic ulcers of lower limbs.
A System-Level Exploration of Binary Neural Network Accelerators with Monolithic 3D Based Compute-in-Memory SRAM
Authors: Choi Jeong Hwan , Gong Young-Ho , Chung Sung Woo
Published: March 2021

Binary neural networks (BNNs) are adequate for energy-constrained embedded systems thanks to binarized parameters. Several researchers have proposed the compute-in-memory (CiM) SRAMs for XNOR-and-accumulation computations (XACs) in BNNs by adding additional transistors to the conventional 6T SRAM, which reduce the latency and energy of the data movements. However, due to the additional transistors, the CiM SRAMs suffer from larger area and longer wires than the conventional 6T SRAMs. Meanwhile, monolithic 3D (M3D) integration enables fine-grained 3D integration, reducing the 2D wire length in small functional units. In this paper, we propose a BNN accelerator (BNN_Accel), composed of a 9T CiM SRAM (CiM_SRAM), input buffer, and global periphery logic, to execute the computations in the binarized convolution layers of BNNs. We also propose CiM_SRAM with the subarray-level M3D integration (as well as the transistor-level M3D integration), which reduces the wire latency and energy compared to the 2D planar CiM_SRAM. Across the binarized convolution layers, our simulation results show that BNN_Accel with the 4-layer CiM_SRAM reduces the average execution time and energy by 39.9% and 23.2%, respectively, compared to BNN_Accel with the 2D planar CiM_SRAM.
Novel BSSSO-Based Deep Convolutional Neural Network for Face Recognition with Multiple Disturbing Environments
Authors: Soni Neha , Sharma Enakshi Khular , Kapoor Amita
Published: March 2021

Face recognition technology is presenting exciting opportunities, but its performance gets degraded because of several factors, like pose variation, partial occlusion, expression, illumination, biased data, etc. This paper proposes a novel bird search-based shuffled shepherd optimization algorithm (BSSSO), a meta-heuristic technique motivated by the intuition of animals and the social behavior of birds, for improving the performance of face recognition. The main intention behind the research is to establish an optimization-driven deep learning approach for recognizing face images with multiple disturbing environments. The developed model undergoes three main steps, namely, (a) Noise Removal, (b) Feature Extraction, and (c) Recognition. For the removal of noise, a type II fuzzy system and cuckoo search optimization algorithm (T2FCS) is used. The feature extraction is carried out using the CNN, and landmark enabled 3D morphable model (L3DMM) is utilized to efficiently fit a 3D face from a single uncontrolled image. The obtained features are subjected to Deep CNN for face recognition, wherein the training is performed using novel BSSSO. The experimental findings on standard datasets (LFW, UMB-DB, Extended Yale B database) prove the ability of the proposed model over the existing face recognition approaches.
Agroforestry to Achieve Global Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Targets: Are South Asian Countries Sufficiently Prepared?
Authors: Dhyani Shalini , Murthy Indu K , Kadaverugu Rakesh , Dasgupta Rajarshi , Kumar Manoj , Adesh Gadpayle Kritika
Published: March 2021

Traditional agroforestry systems across South Asia have historically supported millions of smallholding farmers. Since, 2007 agroforestry has received attention in global climate discussions for its carbon sink potential. Agroforestry plays a defining role in offsetting greenhouse gases, providing sustainable livelihoods, localizing Sustainable Development Goals and achieving biodiversity targets. The review explores evidence of agroforestry systems for human well-being along with its climate adaptation and mitigation potential for South Asia. In particular, we explore key enabling and constraining conditions for mainstreaming agroforestry systems to use them to fulfill global climate mitigation targets. Nationally determined contributions submitted by South Asian countries to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change acknowledge agroforestry systems. In 2016, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation’s Resolution on Agroforestry brought consensus on developing national agroforestry policies by all regional countries and became a strong enabling condition to ensure effectiveness of using agroforestry for climate targets. Lack of uniform methodologies for creation of databases to monitor tree and soil carbon stocks was found to be a key limitation for the purpose. Water scarcity, lack of interactive governance, rights of farmers and ownership issues along with insufficient financial support to rural farmers for agroforestry were other constraining conditions that should be appropriately addressed by the regional countries to develop their preparedness for achieving national climate ambitions. Our review indicates the need to shift from planning to the implementation phase following strong examples shared from India and Nepal, including carbon neutrality scenarios, incentives and sustainable local livelihood to enhance preparedness.
Evaluation of Salvage Logging Productivity and Costs in the Sensitive Forests of Bulgaria
Authors: Stoilov Stanimir , Proto Andrea R. , Angelov Georgi , Papandrea Salvatore F. , Borz Stelian Alexandru
Published: March 2021

Steep terrain harvesting can only be implemented by a limited set of operational alternatives; therefore, it is important to be efficient in such conditions, in order to avoid incurring high costs. Harvesting abiotically-disturbed forests (salvage harvests caused by wet snow), which is becoming common these days, can significantly impact the operational efficiency of extraction operations. This study was implemented in order to evaluate the performance of truck-mounted uphill cable yarding operations in salvage logging deployed in coniferous stands. A time study was used to estimate the productivity and yarding costs, and predictive models were developed in order to relate the time consumption and productivity to the relevant operational factors, including the degree of wood damage. The average operational conditions were characterized by an extraction distance of 101 m and a lateral yarding distance of 18 m, resulting in a productivity rate of 20.1 m3 h−1. In response to different kind of delays, the productivity rate decreased to 12.8 m3 h−1. Under the prevailing conditions, lateral yarding accounted for 32% of the gross work cycle time, and for 50% of the delay-free work cycle time of the machine. Decreasing the lateral yarding distance and increasing the payload volume to the maximum capacity of the machine would eventually lead to a yarding productivity of close to 30 m3 per SMH (scheduled machine hour). The calculation of the gross costs of uphill yarding showed that the labor costs (35.7%) were slightly higher than the fixed costs (32.9%), and twice as high compared to the variable costs (17.7%). The remote control of the carriage, mechanical slack-pulling mechanisms, and radio-controlled chokers are just some of the improvements that would have led to increments in operational efficiency.