bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficient Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction with MIL-100(Fe)-CsPbBr3 Composites
Authors: Cheng Ruolin , Debroye Elke , Hofkens Johan , Roeffaers Maarten B. J.
Published: November 2020

Bromide-based metal halide perovskites (MHPs) are promising photocatalysts with strong blue-green light absorption. Composite photocatalysts of MHPs with MIL-100(Fe), as a powerful photocatalyst itself, have been investigated to extend the responsiveness towards red light. The composites, with a high specific surface area, display an enhanced solar light response, and the improved charge carrier separation in the heterojunctions is employed to maximize the photocatalytic performance. Optimization of the relative composition, with the formation of a dual-phase CsPbBr3 to CsPb2Br5 perovskite composite, shows an excellent photocatalytic performance with 20.4 μmol CO produced per gram of photocatalyst during one hour of visible light irradiation.
SIRT3 Deficiency Sensitizes Angiotensin-II-Induced Renal Fibrosis
Authors: Feng Xiaomeng , Su Han , He Xiaochen , Chen Jian-Xiong , Zeng Heng
Published: November 2020

Background: Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) has a crucial role in the cardiovascular diseases. Our previous study revealed that SIRT3 knockout (SIRT3KO) promoted cardiac pericyte–fibroblast transition. In this study, we investigated the involvement of pericyte and iron in angiotensin II (Ang-II)-mediated renal fibrosis in the SIRT3KO mice. Methods and Results: NG2-DsRed mice and NG2-DsRed-SIRT3 knockout (SIRT3KO) mice were infused with saline or Ang-II (1000 ng/kg/min) for 4 weeks. Renal fibrosis, iron content and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured. Masson’s trichrome staining showed that SIRT3KO enhanced Ang-II-induced renal fibrosis. Immunostaining showed that Ang-II treatment increased the number of NG2-DsRed+ cells in the kidney, and SIRT3KO further enhanced NG2-DsRed+ cells. Moreover, SIRT3KO promoted pericyte differentiation into fibroblasts as evidenced by co-staining NG2-DsRed/FSP-1. Furthermore, DsRed/FSP-1+ and DsRed/transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)+ fibroblasts were elevated by SIRT3KO after Ang-II infusion. Ang-II-induced collagen I and TGF-β1 expression was also enhanced in the SIRT3KO mice. SIRT3KO significantly exacerbated Ang-II-induced iron accumulation. This was accompanied by an increase in acetyl-p53, HO-1 and FPN expression. Further, SIRT3KO sensitized Ang-II-induced upregulation of p47phox and gp91phox together with increased ROS formation in the kidney. Conclusion: Our study suggests that SIRT3 deficiency sensitized Ang-II-induced renal fibrosis by the mechanisms involved in promoting differentiation of pericytes into fibroblasts, exacerbating iron overload and accelerating NADPH oxidase-derived ROS formation.
Understanding Catalysis—A Simplified Simulation of Catalytic Reactors for CO2 Reduction
Authors: Terreni Jasmin , Borgschulte Andreas , Hillestad Magne , Patterson Bruce D.
Published: November 2020

The realistic numerical simulation of chemical processes, such as those occurring in catalytic reactors, is a complex undertaking, requiring knowledge of chemical thermodynamics, multi-component activated rate equations, coupled flows of material and heat, etc. A standard approach is to make use of a process simulation program package. However for a basic understanding, it may be advantageous to sacrifice some realism and to independently reproduce, in essence, the package computations. Here, we set up and numerically solve the basic equations governing the functioning of plug-flow reactors (PFR) and continuously stirred tank reactors (CSTR), and we demonstrate the procedure with simplified cases of the catalytic hydrogenation of carbon dioxide to form the synthetic fuels methanol and methane, each of which involves five chemical species undergoing three coupled chemical reactions. We show how to predict final product concentrations as a function of the catalyst system, reactor parameters, initial reactant concentrations, temperature, and pressure. Further, we use the numerical solutions to verify the “thermodynamic limit” of a PFR and a CSTR, and, for a PFR, to demonstrate the enhanced efficiency obtainable by “looping” and “sorption-enhancement”.
A Complementary Sensory Tool for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Barrios-Fernández Sabina , Gozalo Margarita , Díaz-González Beatriz , García-Gómez Andrés
Published: November 2020

Background: Sensory integration (SI) issues are widely described in people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), impacting in their daily life and occupations. To improve their quality of life and occupational performance, we need to improve clinical and educational evaluation and intervention processes. We aim to develop a tool for measuring SI issues for Spanish children and adolescents with ASD diagnosis, to be used as a complementary tool to complete the Rivière’s Autism Spectrum Inventory, a widely used instrument in Spanish speaking places to describe the severity of ASD symptoms, recently updated with a new sensory scale with three dimensions. Methods: 458 Spanish participants complemented the new questionnaire, initially formed by 73 items with a 1–5 Likert scale. Results: The instrument finally was composed of 41 items grouped in three factors: modulation disorders (13 items), discrimination disorders (13 items), and sensory-based motor disorders (15 items). The goodness-of-fit indices from factor analyses, reliability, and the analysis of the questionnaire’s classification capability offered good values. Conclusions: The new questionnaire shows good psychometric properties and seems to be a good complementary tool to complete new the sensory scale in the Rivière’s Autism Spectrum Inventory.
Sorption of Methylene Blue for Studying the Specific Surface Properties of Biomass Carbohydrates
Authors: Skripkina Tatiana , Podgorbunskikh Ekaterina , Bychkov Aleksey , Lomovsky Oleg
Published: November 2020

The surface area is an important parameter in setting any biorefining technology. The aim of this study was to investigate the applicability of sorption of methylene blue to characterize the surface of the main biomass carbohydrates: α-cellulose, sigmacell cellulose, natural gum, β-glucan, and starch. The morphology of particles of the model objects was studied by scanning electron microscopy. Nitrogen adsorption isotherms demonstrate that the selected carbohydrates are macroporous adsorbents. The monolayer capacities, the energy constants of the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) equation, and specific surface areas were calculated using the BET theory, the comparative method proposed by Gregg and Sing, and the Harkins–Jura method. The method of methylene blue sorption onto biomass carbohydrates was adapted and mastered. It was demonstrated that sorption of methylene blue proceeds successfully in ethanol, thus facilitating surface characterization for carbohydrates that are either soluble in water or regain water. It was found that the methylene blue sorption values correlate with specific surface area determined by nitrogen adsorption/desorption and calculated from the granulometric data. As a result of electrostatic attraction, the presence of ion-exchanged groups on the analyte surface has a stronger effect on binding of methylene blue than the surface area does. Sorption of methylene blue can be used in addition to gas adsorption/desorption to assess the accessibility of carbohydrate surface for binding large molecules.
Galvanic Corrosion Due to a Heterogeneous Sulfate Reducing Bacteria Biofilm
Authors: Liu Hongwei , Liu Haixian , Zhang Yuxuan
Published: November 2020

In this work, the galvanic corrosion behavior of sulfate reducing Desulfotomaculum nigrificans biofilm-covered and uncovered carbon steel was investigated using various electrochemical measurements. The results showed that the bare specimen in the abiotic solution functions as the anode; whereas the biofilm-covered specimen in the SRB-containing solution functions as the cathode after two electrodes being coupled. The anodic reaction of specimen in the biotic solution containing SRB was inhibited; whereas the cathodic reaction was considerably promoted after coupling. Hence, localized corrosion of specimen in the abiotic solution was observed due to the galvanic corrosion effect. SRB could still accelerate steel corrosion even after coupling, but the results indicate that the contribution of SRB to steel corrosion decreased. The localized corrosion of steel in the SRB-containing environments not only involved the SRB biofilm, but also a galvanic corrosion effect. The flow of electrons from the anodic dissolution of Fe in the abiotic solution to the SRB cells of cathodic area decreased the acceptance capacity of electrons by SRB from steel beneath biofilm. As a result, the steel corrosion beneath SRB biofilm decreased after coupling.
Development of Arabinoxylan-Reinforced Apple Pectin/Graphene Oxide/Nano-Hydroxyapatite Based Nanocomposite Scaffolds with Controlled Release of Drug for Bone Tissue Engineering: In-Vitro Evaluation of Biocompatibility and Cytotoxicity against MC3T3-E1
Authors: Al-Arjan Wafa Shamsan , Aslam Khan Muhammad Umar , Nazir Samina , Abd Razak Saiful Izwan , Abdul Kadir Mohammed Rafiq
Published: November 2020

Fabrication of reinforced scaffolds to repair and regenerate defected bone is still a major challenge. Bone tissue engineering is an advanced medical strategy to restore or regenerate damaged bone. The excellent biocompatibility and osteogenesis behavior of porous scaffolds play a critical role in bone regeneration. In current studies, we synthesized polymeric nanocomposite material through free-radical polymerization to fabricate porous nanocomposite scaffolds by freeze drying. Functional group, surface morphology, porosity, pore size, and mechanical strength were examined through Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Single-Electron Microscopy (SEM), Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET), and Universal Testing Machine (UTM), respectively. These nanocomposites exhibit enhanced compressive strength (from 4.1 to 16.90 MPa), Young’s modulus (from 13.27 to 29.65 MPa) with well appropriate porosity and pore size (from 63.72 ± 1.9 to 45.75 ± 6.7 µm), and a foam-like morphology. The increasing amount of graphene oxide (GO) regulates the porosity and mechanical behavior of the nanocomposite scaffolds. The loading and sustained release of silver-sulfadiazine was observed to be 90.6% after 260 min. The in-vitro analysis was performed using mouse pre-osteoblast (MC3T3-E1) cell lines. The developed nanocomposite scaffolds exhibited excellent biocompatibility. Based on the results, we propose these novel nanocomposites can serve as potential future biomaterials to repair defected bone with the load-bearing application, and in bone tissue engineering.
Inter-Relationship between Coating Micro/Nanostructure and the Tribological Performance of Zr–C Gradient Coatings
Authors: Ratajski Jerzy , Gilewicz Adam , Mydłowska Katarzyna , Szparaga Łukasz
Published: November 2020

The research presented in this article concerns Zr–C gradient coatings that were deposited on HS6-5-2 steel by reactive magnetron sputtering from the Zr target in appropriately programmed C2H2 mass flow rate, resulting in various profiles of atomic carbon concentrations in the coating and consequently in spatial change of the properties (H, E, …) and behavior (H/E, H3/E2, We). In particular, the characteristic changes in hardness and Young’s modulus in the Zr–C coatings represented approximately by the bell curve, which has a maximum at the content of about 50 at.% C, were an inspiration to study the behavior of gradient coatings with carbon content in the range of 0–50 and 50–85 at.% with the same hardness change profile. The obtained results indicate that, firstly, the gradient of spatial changes in the coating composition increases their resistance to cohesive damage in comparison to non-gradient coatings, and, secondly, the results show that high hardness is a desired property but not sufficient to ensure adequate coating performance. Independently, an appropriate nano/microstructural structure is necessary, which determines their tribological behavior. In particular, in the case of the tested Zr–C coatings, the obtained results indicate that gradient coatings with a carbon content in the range of 50–85 at.% have better properties, characterized by the critical force Lc2, wear, coefficient of friction, H/E and H3/E2 ratios.
Circulating Bile Acids Profiles in Obese Children and Adolescents: A Possible Role of Sex, Puberty and Liver Steatosis
Authors: Montagnana Martina , Danese Elisa , Giontella Alice , Bonafini Sara , Benati Marco , Tagetti Angela , Dalbeni Andrea , Cavarzere Paolo , Gaudino Rossella , Pucci Mairi , Salvagno Gian Luca , Antoniazzi Franco , Lippi Giuseppe , Maffeis Claudio , Fava Cristiano
Published: November 2020

Background. Childhood obesity is becoming a major health issue and contributes to increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease in adulthood. Since dysregulated metabolism of bile acids (BAs) plays a role in progression of obesity-related disorders, including steatosis and hypertension, this study aimed to investigate BAs profiles in obese children with and without steatosis and hypertension, as well as exploring the interplay between BAs profile and vascular function. Methods. BAs concentrations were quantified with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in 69 overweight/obese children and adolescents (mean age, 11.6 ± 2.5 years; 30 females). Liver steatosis was defined with abdomen ultrasonography, whilst hypertension was defined according to the current European guidelines. Vascular function was assessed with ultrasound technique, by measuring carotid intima media thickness (cIMT) and common carotid artery distensibility (cDC). Results. Total and individual glycine-conjugated BAs concentrations were found to be significantly higher in males compared to females, as well as in pre-pubertal compared to pubertal stage (p < 0.05 for both). No difference in BAs concentration was observed between hypertensive and normotensive subjects. Total BAs and glycine conjugated BAs were significantly higher in participants with steatosis compared to those without (p = 0.004 for both). The values of total glycine-conjugate acids were positively correlated with cDC and this association remained significant in linear regression after adjusting for sex, age, pubertal stage, body mass index and aspartate aminotransferase. Conclusion. The results suggest a possible role of BAs in the pathogenesis of liver and/or vascular damage in children and adolescent. Further studies are hence needed to validate these preliminary findings.
Spectrophotometric Color Measurement to Assess Temperature of Exposure in Cortical and Medullar Heated Human Bones: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Rubio Leticia , Díaz-Vico Ramona , Smith-Fernández Inés , Smith-Fernández Aníbal , Suárez Juan , Martin-de-las-Heras Stella , Santos Ignacio
Published: November 2020

Heated-bone color changes may provide information about temperature of exposure, with interest for anthropologists and forensic experts. The aim of this study was to assess heat-induced color changes by spectrophotometry in cortical and medullar human bones heated at different temperatures and times. CIELAB (International Commission on Illumination-LAB) color parameters (L*, a*, and b*) and whiteness (WI) and yellowness (YI) indexes were obtained by spectrophotometry in the cortical and medullar zones of 36 bone sections exposed at 200, 400, 600, and 800 °C for 30 and 60 min. The accuracy of color-based temperature estimations was evaluated by Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) analysis. Chromaticity a* showed the best significant discrimination power with the area under the ROC curve (AUC) values ranged from 0.9 to 1.0 in cortical zones and 0.7 to 1.0 in medullar zones for all temperatures of exposures and both time of exposures. Chromaticity b*, and WI and YI indexes showed an AUC of 1.0 at 400, 600, and 800 °C for 30 and 60 min in the cortical and medullar zones. The spectrophotometric color parameters provided a highly accurate estimation of the temperature of exposure to discriminate between temperatures and exposure times in the cortical and medullar zones. Spectrophotometric bone color measurement in cortical and medullar zones can be an objective and reproducible method to estimate the temperature of exposition, and it can be considered useful for forensic and anthropological purposes.
Seed Sourcing Strategies Considering Climate Change Forecasts: A Practical Test in Scots Pine
Authors: Notivol Eduardo , Santos-del-Blanco Luis , Chambel Regina , Climent Jose , Alía Ricardo
Published: November 2020

Research Highlights: We experimentally tested different seed sourcing strategies (local, predictive, climate-predictive, climate-adjusted, composite and admixture) under a climate change high emissions scenario using a Scots pine multi-site provenance test. Background and Objectives: There is an urgent need to conserve genetic resources and to support resilience of conifer species facing expected changes and threats. Seed sourcing strategies have been proposed to maximize the future adaptation and resilience of our forests. However, these proposals are yet to be tested, especially in long-lived organisms as forest trees, due to methodological constraints. In addition, some methods rely on the transfer of material from populations matching the future conditions of the sites. However, at the rear edge of the species, some specific problems (high fragmentation, high genetic differentiation, role of genetic drift) challenge the theoretical expectations of some of these methods. Materials and Methods: We used a Scots pine multi-site provenance test, consisting of seventeen provenances covering the distribution range of the species in Spain tested in five representative sites. We measured height, diameter and survival at 5, 10 and 15 years after planting. We simulated populations of 50 trees by bootstrapping material of the provenance test after removing the intra-site environmental effects, simulating different seed sourcing strategies. Results: We found that local and predictive methods behaved better than methods based on the selection of future climate-matching strategies (predictive-climate and climate-adjusted) and those combining several seed sources (composite and admixture seed sourcing strategies). Conclusions: Despite the theoretical expectations, for Scots pine, a forest tree species at its rear edge of its distribution, seed-sourcing methods based on climate matching or a combination of seed sources do not perform better than traditional local or predictive methods or they are not feasible because of the lack of future climate-matching populations.
Effects of Medium Components on Isocitric Acid Production by Yarrowia lipolytica Yeast
Authors: Kamzolova Svetlana V. , Samoilenko Vladimir A. , Lunina Julia N. , Morgunov Igor G.
Published: November 2020

The microbiological production of isocitric acid (ICA) is more preferable for its application in medicine and food, because the resulting product contains only the natural isomer—threo-DS. The aim of the present work was to study ICA production by yeast using sunflower oil as carbon source. 30 taxonomically different yeast strains were assessed for their capability for ICA production, and Y. lipolytica VKM Y-2373 was selected as a promising producer. It was found that ICA production required: the limitation of Y. lipolytica growth by nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur or magnesium, and an addition of iron, activating aconitate hydratase, a key enzyme of isocitrate synthesis. Another regulatory approach capable to shift acid formation to a predominant ICA synthesis is the use of inhibitors (itaconic and oxalic acids), which blocks the conversion of isocitrate at the level of isocitrate lyase. It is recommended to cultivate Y. lipolytica VKM Y-2373 under nitrogen deficiency conditions with addition of 1.5 mg/L iron and 30 mM itaconic acid. Such optimized nutrition medium provides 70.6 g/L ICA with a ratio between ICA and citric acid (CA) equal 4:1, a mass yield (YICA) of 1.25 g/g and volume productivity (QICA) of 1.19 g/L·h.
Digital Competence and Gender: Teachers in Training. A Case Study
Authors: Grande-de-Prado Mario , Cañón Ruth , García-Martín Sheila , Cantón Isabel
Published: November 2020

The ICTs are simultaneously an important tool and subject in teacher training. It, therefore, follows that digital competence is fundamental and constitutes a significant educational challenge, particularly the digital divide or gap by gender. The aim is to identify and analyze self-perceptions of digital skills, and the possible relationship of these to gender, in first-year university students taking a degree in primary education teacher training at a Spanish faculty of education. This is a descriptive study using ex-post-facto method and collecting data from a questionnaire administered for four consecutive years to the above-mentioned subjects. The results revealed gender differences in the students’ reported perceptions. Men were more likely to perceive themselves as competent in the use of ICTs, reporting better information management and online collaboration skills using digital media. Besides, they made more use of computers as their sole device for browsing, downloading, and streaming and felt more confident about solving problems with devices. In contrast, women reported making more use of mobile phones and were more familiar with social media and aspects related to image and text processing and graphic design.
Failure Mode and Effect Analysis for Cyber-Physical Systems
Authors: Oliveira João , Carvalho Gonçalo , Cabral Bruno , Bernardino Jorge
Published: November 2020

Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) are a prominent component of the modern digital transformation, which combines the dynamics of the physical processes with those of software and networks. Critical infrastructures have built-in CPS, and assessing its risk is crucial to avoid significant losses, both economic and social. As CPS are increasingly attached to the world’s main industries, these systems’ criticality depends not only on software efficiency and availability but also on cyber-security awareness. Given this, and because Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) is one of the most effective methods to assess critical infrastructures’ risk, in this paper, we show how this method performs in the analysis of CPS threats, also exposing the main drawbacks concerning CPS risk assessment. We first propose a risk prevention analysis to the Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) system, which involves exploiting cyber vulnerabilities, and we introduce a novel approach to the failure modes’ Risk Priority Number (RPN) estimation. We also propose how to adapt the FMEA method to the requirement of CPS risk evaluation. We applied the proposed procedure to the CBTC system use case since it is a CPS with a substantial cyber component and network data transfer.
A Stochastic Characterization of the Capture Zone in Pursuit-Evasion Games
Authors: Battistini Simone
Published: November 2020

Pursuit-evasion games are used to define guidance strategies for multi-agent planning problems. Although optimal strategies exist for deterministic scenarios, in the case when information about the opponent players is imperfect, it is important to evaluate the effect of uncertainties on the estimated variables. This paper proposes a method to characterize the game space of a pursuit-evasion game under a stochastic perspective. The Mahalanobis distance is used as a metric to determine the levels of confidence in the estimation of the Zero Effort Miss across the capture zone. This information can be used to gain an insight into the guidance strategy. A simulation is carried out to provide numerical results.
Prioritizing Black Self-Determination: The Last Strident Voice of Twentieth-Century Black Nationalism
Authors: Jeffries Bayyinah S.
Published: November 2020

Black self-determination, like the movement for civil rights, has long been a struggle on both the national and international stage. From the Black consciousness campaign of South Africa to the Black Power crusades of the United States and Caribbean, and the recent global affirmations of Black Lives Matter, Black nationalist ideology and desires for equity and independence seem ever more significant. While marginal characteristics of Black nationalism clearly persist in the calls for justice and equality, only one voice of twentieth-century Black nationalism remains committed to the full dimensions of the Black nationalist agenda. This essay documents the one leader and movement that has remained committed to a Black nationalist platform as a response to persistent white supremacy. The author reflects on the valuable contributions of twentieth-century Black nationalism and what form, if any, Black nationalism will take when this last Black nationalist movement leader is gone.
Elevated CO2 Emissions during Magmatic-Hydrothermal Degassing at Awu Volcano, Sangihe Arc, Indonesia
Authors: Bani Philipson , Le Glas Etienne , Kristianto Kristianto , Aiuppa Alessandro , Bitetto Marcello , Syahbana Devy Kamil
Published: November 2020

Awu is a remote and little known active volcano of Indonesia located in the northern part of Molucca Sea. It is the northernmost active volcano of the Sangihe arc with 18 eruptions in less than 4 centuries, causing a cumulative death toll of 11,048. Two of these eruptions were classified with a Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 4. Since 2004, a lava dome has occupied the centre of Awu crater, channelling the fumarolic gas output along the crater wall. A combined Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS) and Multi-component Gas Analyzer System (Multi-GAS) study highlight a relatively small SO2 flux (13 t/d) sustained by mixed magmatic–hydrothermal emissions made-up of 82 mol.% H2O, 15 mol.% CO2, 2.55 mol.% total S (ST) and 0.02 mol.% H2. The CO2 emission budget, as observed during a short observation period in 2015, corresponds to a daily contribution to the atmosphere of 2600 t/d, representing 1% of the global CO2 emission budget from volcanoes. The gas CO2/ST ratio of 3.7 to 7.9 is at the upper limit of the Indonesian gas range, which is ascribed to (i) some extent of S loss during hydrothermal processing, and perhaps (ii) a C-rich signature of the feeding magmatic gas phase. The source of this high CO2 signature and flux is yet to be fully understood; however, given the peculiar geodynamic context of the region, dominated by the arc-to-arc collision, this may result from either the prolonged heating of the slab and consequent production of carbon-rich fluids, or the recycling of crustal carbon.
Intensity Reassessment of the 2017 Pohang Earthquake Mw = 5.4 (South Korea) Using ESI-07 Scale
Authors: Naik Sambit Prasanajit , Gwon Ohsang , Porfido Sabina , Park Kiwoong , Jin Kwangmin , Kim Young-Seog , Kyung Jai-Bok
Published: November 2020

The earthquake environmental effects (EEEs) around the epicentral area of the Pohang earthquake (Mw-5.4) that occurred on 15 November 2017 have been collected and classified using the Environmental Seismic Intensity Scale (ESI-07 scale) proposed by the International Union for Quaternary Research (INQUA) focus group. The shallow-focus 15 November Pohang earthquake did not produce any surface rupture, but caused extensive secondary environmental effects and damage to life-line structures. This earthquake was one of the most damaging earthquakes during the instrumental seismic era of the Korean Peninsula. The EEEs included extensive liquefaction, ground cracks, ground settlement, localized rockfall, and variation of the water table. The main objective of this paper was to carry forward a comparative assessment of the Pohang earthquake’s intensity based on traditional macroseismic scales and the ESI-07 scale. With that objective, this study will also make a substantial contribution to any future revision of the ESI-07 scale, which mostly comprises case studies from Europe and South America. The comparison of the ESI-07 scale with traditional intensity scales similar to the intensity scale used by the Korean Meteorological Administration for the epicentral areas showed 1–2-degree differences in intensity. Moreover, the ESI scale provided a clearer picture of the intensity around the epicentral area, which is mostly agricultural land with a lack of urban units or buildings. This study urges the integration of the traditional and ESI-07 scale for such small magnitude earthquakes in the Korean Peninsula as well as around the world in future. This will predict seismic intensity more precisely and hence provide a more-effective seismic hazard estimation, particularly in areas of low seismic activity. The present study will also provide a useful and reliable tool for the seismic hazard assessment of similar earthquakes around the study area and land-use planning at a local scale considering the secondary effects.
Phylogenetic Analysis and Molecular Diversity of Capsicum Based on rDNA-ITS Region
Authors: Shiragaki Kumpei , Yokoi Shuji , Tezuka Takahiro
Published: November 2020

The genus Capsicum is comprised of 5 domesticated and more than 30 wild species. The region of nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacers (rDNA-ITS) has widely been used for species identification, but has rarely been used in Capsicum. In this study, the evaluation of genetic diversity and a phylogenetic analysis were conducted using rDNA-ITS of 28 Capsicum accessions, including five domesticated and two wild species. We surveyed six conventional keys of domesticated species and another five traits in Capsicum accessions. Specific morphological characteristics were found in C. annuum, C. baccatum, and C.pubescens. Three subclones of each accession were sequenced, and rDNA-ITS polymorphisms were detected in all accessions excluding C. annuum, suggesting that incomplete concerted evolution occurred in rDNA-ITS of Capsicum. The genetic diversity was evaluated using nucleotide polymorphism and diversity. C. annuum had the lowest genetic diversity of all species in this study. The phylogenetic tree formed a species-specific clade for C. annuum, C. baccatum, and C. pubescens. The C. chinense clade existed in the C. frutescens clade, implying that it was a cultivated variant of C. frutescens. C. chacoense likely belonged to the C. baccatum complex according to its morphologic and genetic features. This study indicated that the rDNA-ITS region can be used for simple identification of domesticated Capsicum species.
Advances in Watermelon Grafting to Increase Efficiency and Automation
Authors: Devi Pinki , Lukas Scott , Miles Carol
Published: November 2020

Grafting watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) onto resistant rootstocks is an effective technique in the management of biotic and abiotic stresses. Since the first reported grafting of watermelon for disease resistance in 1927, adoption of the practice has been steadily increasing up to 95% in Japan, Korea, Greece, Israel and Turkey. However, for grafting to be further adopted in the United States and other regions of the world with high labor costs and high plant volume demands, the watermelon grafting method must be more time and labor efficient as well as suitable for automation. To accomplish these goals, recent advances have been achieved in splice grafting of watermelon, where both cotyledons are removed from the rootstock. This review provides a summary of the new discoveries regarding watermelon grafting and an overview of the anatomy of cucurbit stems and the physiological processes that occur at the time of grafting and during the healing process in order to enhance the understanding of the complex nature of the cucurbit vascular system, which limits grafting success. This review article further provides insights to guide future research and technology development that will support the expansion of watermelon grafting.
Presenteeism, Overcommitment, Workplace Bullying, and Job Satisfaction: A Moderated Mediation Relationship
Authors: Rodríguez-Cifuentes Francisco , Fernández-Salinero Samuel , Moriano Juan Antonio , Topa Gabriela
Published: November 2020

Presenteeism is a hazardous behaviour that may have personal and organizational consequences. The main objective of this research was to investigate the relationship between presenteeism and job satisfaction and evaluate the role of overcommitment as a mediator and the role of work-related and personal bullying as moderators in these relationships. Results from 377 subjects showed that presenteeism and overcommitment are positively related to job satisfaction, with overcommitment being a mediator in the relationships. These relationships are moderated by work-related bullying but not by personal bullying. The findings are discussed, and implications, future research pathways, and limitations are noted.
Are Heated Tobacco Product Users Less Likely to Quit than Cigarette Smokers? Findings from THINK (Tobacco and Health IN Korea) Study
Authors: Lee Cheol Min , Kim Choon-Young , Lee Kiheon , Kim Sungroul
Published: November 2020

Since the advent of heated tobacco products in June 2017 in South Korea, the sale of heated tobacco products accounted for 10.5% of total tobacco sales in 2019. However, the decreasing trend in total tobacco sales is gradually weakening and the number of visitors using stop smoking services has also dropped. This study examines the association between the use of new tobacco products and related products and cessation behaviors. A cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire was conducted from March 2019 to July 2019 for 2831 adult tobacco users. The difference in rates of quit attempts using the type of tobacco products and related products in the past year were noted (55.6% (any cigarette smoker), 46.7% (any e-cigarette user), and 39.6% (any heated tobacco product user)). About a 30% increase in quit attempts was observed for the triple users of either conventional cigarette or heated tobacco product than exclusive users. Exclusive heated tobacco product and e-cigarette users were approximately 40% and 20% less likely to quit the product they used than exclusive cigarette smokers, respectively. These findings can explain recent occurrences in South Korea, such as the reduction of visitors at smoking cessation clinics and the attenuation of the decline in tobacco sales.
“It’s Worse to Breathe It Than to Smoke It”: Secondhand Smoke Beliefs in a Group of Mexican and Central American Immigrants in the United States
Authors: Arcury Thomas A. , Trejo Grisel , Moore DaKysha , Howard Timothy D. , Quandt Sara A. , Ip Edward H. , Sandberg Joanne C.
Published: November 2020

This analysis describes beliefs about secondhand smoke and its health effects held by Mexican and Central American immigrants in North Carolina. Data from 60 semistructured, in-depth interviews were subjected to saliency analysis. Participant discussions of secondhand smoke centered on four domains: (1) familiarity and definition of secondhand smoke, (2) potency of secondhand smoke, (3) general health effects of secondhand smoke, and (4) child health effects of secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke was generally believed to be more harmful than primary smoke. Mechanisms for the potency and health effects of secondhand smoke involved the smell of secondhand smoke, secondhand smoke being an infection and affecting the immune system, and personal strength being protective of secondhand smoke. Understanding these health beliefs informs a framework for further health education and intervention to reduce smoking and secondhand smoke exposure in this vulnerable population.
Remote Monitoring of Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices in Patients Undergoing Hybrid Comprehensive Telerehabilitation in Comparison to the Usual Care. Subanalysis from Telerehabilitation in Heart Failure Patients (TELEREH-HF) Randomised Clinical Trial
Authors: Pluta Sławomir , Piotrowicz Ewa , Piotrowicz Ryszard , Lewicka Ewa , Zaręba Wojciech , Kozieł Monika , Kowalik Ilona , Pencina Michael J. , Oręziak Artur , Cacko Andrzej , Szalewska Dominika , Główczyńska Renata , Banach Maciej , Opolski Grzegorz , Orzechowski Piotr , Irzmański Robert , Kalarus Zbigniew
Published: November 2020

Background: The impact of cardiac rehabilitation on the number of alerts in patients with remote monitoring (RM) of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) is unknown. We compared alerts in RM and outcomes in patients with CIEDs undergoing hybrid comprehensive telerehabilitation (HCTR) versus usual care (UC). Methods: Patients with heart failure (HF) after a hospitalization due to worsening HF within the last 6 months (New York Heart Association (NYHA) class I-III and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤40%) were enrolled in the TELEREH-HF study and randomised 1:1 to HCTR or UC. Patients with HCTR and CIEDs received RM (HCTR-RM). Patients with UC and CIEDs were offered RM optionally (UC-RM). Data from the initial 9 weeks of the study were analysed. Results: Of 850 enrolled patients, 208 were in the HCTR-RM group and 62 in the UC-RM group. The HCTR-RM group was less likely to have alerts of intrathoracic impedance (TI) decrease (p < 0.001), atrial fibrillation (AF) occurrence (p = 0.031) and lower mean number of alerts per patient associated with TI decrease (p < 0.0001) and AF (p = 0.019) than the UC-RM group. HCTR significantly decreased the occurrence of alerts in RM of CIEDs, 0.360 (95%CI, 0.189–0.686; p = 0.002), in multivariable regression analysis. There were two deaths in the HCTR-RM group (0.96%) and no deaths in the UC-RM group (p = 1.0). There were no differences in the number of hospitalised patients between the HCTR-RM and UC-RM group (p = 1.0). Conclusions: HCTR significantly reduced the number of patients with RM alerts of CIEDs related to TI decrease and AF occurrence. There were no differences in mortality or hospitalisation rates between HCTR-RM and UC-RM groups.
The Architectural Design Requirements of a Blockchain-Based Port Community System
Authors: Irannezhad Elnaz
Published: November 2020

This paper presents the value proposition of blockchain for Port Community Systems (PCS) by dissecting the business processes in port logistics and unfolding functionalities of blockchain in lowering the transaction cost. This paper contributes to the research by a detailed technical assessment of the plethora of currently available blockchain platforms and consensus mechanisms, against the identified requirements in this specific use case. The results of this technical assessment highlight the central value proposition of blockchain for landlord ports, which is independency from a central authority as the controlling agent. Bridging between two research domains of Information Technology and Logistics, this paper proposes the preferred architectural design requirements of a blockchain-based PCS, including provisioning private sidechains, modular design with inter-chain interoperability, and encrypted off-chain data storage. Availability—the readiness for correct service, and reliability—the continuity of correct service, are heavily reliant on the right choice being made for blockchain design for such a complex use case. A preliminary comparative analysis among different decentralisation levels in this paper suggests that a permissioned public blockchain offers the best trade-off in performance measures for this use case. This technical review identifies six research agenda from a design perspective.
Contactless Measurement of Sheet Resistance of Nanomaterial Using Waveguide Reflection Method
Authors: Ye Ming , Tariq Raja Usman , Zhao Xiao-Long , Li Wei-Da , He Yong-Ning
Published: November 2020

Conductive nanomaterials are widely studied and used. The four-point probe method has been widely used to measure nanomaterials’ sheet resistance, denoted as Rs. However, for materials sensitive to contamination or physical damage, contactless measurement is highly recommended if not required. Feasibility of Rs evaluation using a one-port rectangular waveguide working on the microwave band in a contact-free mode is studied. Compared with existed waveguide methods, the proposed method has three advantages: first, by introducing an air gap between the waveguide flange and the sample surface, it is truly contactless; second, within the specified range of Rs, the substrate’s effect may be neglected; third, it does not require a matched load and/or metallization at the sample backside. Both theoretical derivation and simulation showed that the magnitude of the reflection coefficient S11 decreased monotonously with increasing Rs. Through calibration, a quantitative correlation of S11 and Rs was established. Experimental results with various conductive glasses showed that, for Rs in the range of ~10 to 400 Ohm/sq, the estimation error of sheet resistance was below ~20%. The potential effects of air gap size, sample size/location and measurement uncertainty of S11 are discussed. The proposed method is particularly suitable for characterization of conductive glass or related nanomaterials with Rs in the range of tens or hundreds of Ohm/sq.
Application of Ultraviolet Laser Working in Cold Ablation Conditions for Cutting Labels Used in Packaging in the Food Industry
Authors: Bohdal Łukasz , Kukiełka Leon , Patyk Radosław , Gryglicki Rafał , Kasprzak Piotr
Published: November 2020

This work presents experimental studies aiming at the development of new technology and guidelines for shaping labels from polypropylene multilayer foil using an ultraviolet (UV) laser cutting operation. Currently on production lines, the shaping of labels is undertaken by mechanical cutting or laser cutting, taking into account the phenomenon of hot ablation. These technologies cause many problems such as burr formation on labels sheared edges, rapid tool wear, or heat-affected zone (HAZ) formation. The experimental tests were carried out on a specially designed laser system for cutting polypropylene foil using the phenomenon of cold ablation. Parametric analyses were conducted for several foil thicknesses t = 50, 60, 70 and 80 µm. The process parameters were optimized in terms of high efficiency and high labels-cut surface quality. A new criterion has been developed for assessing the quality of UV laser cutting of polypropylene foils. The results indicate a significant effect of the cutting speed and laser frequency on the width of the degraded zone on the sheet cut edge. As a result of a developed optimization task and reverse task solution it is possible to cut labels at high speeds (v = 1.5 m/s) while maintaining a high quality of cut edge free of carbon, delamination and color changes. A degraded zone does not exceed in the examined cases s ≤ 0.17 mm.
Effects of Crack Tip Constraint on the Fracture Toughness Assessment of 9% Ni Steel for Cryogenic Application in Liquefied Natural Gas Storage Tanks
Authors: Kim Young Kyun , Oh Byung Taek , Kim Jae Hoon
Published: November 2020

Recently, increasing demand for the accurate assessment of the structural integrity and fitness-for-service (FFS) analysis of engineering structures has elevated constraint effects to one of the most important issues in fracture mechanics and structural integrity research. In this paper, the effect of crack tip constraints are investigated on the fracture toughness assessment of 9% Ni steel for application in liquefied natural gas storage tanks. Crack tip opening displacement (CTOD) tests were conducted using both conventional standard three-point bending (3PB) and wide plate (WP) specimens at a cryogenic temperature of −196 °C. The distribution of the stress and strain fields near the crack tip in the 3PB and WP specimens were then obtained by FE (Finite Elements) analysis. Based on both the experimental and numerical results, the parameters of the Weibull distribution were obtained to evaluate the critical Weibull stress at brittle fracture. The equivalent CTOD ratio β is defined as the ratio of the CTOD of the 3PB specimen to the CTOD of the WP specimen at the same Weibull stress. The application of the proposed CTOD toughness correction method to the WP results was then demonstrated in the context of a failure assessment diagram (FAD). It was determined that the conventional evaluation yields an excessively conservative result for WP specimens, but can be reasonably reduced by applying β.
Experimental Research on the Cutting of Metal Materials by Electrical Discharge Machining with Contact Breaking with Metal Band as Transfer Object
Authors: Țîțu Aurel Mihail , Vizureanu Petrică , Țîțu Ștefan , Sandu Andrei Victor , Pop Alina Bianca , Bucur Viorel , Ceocea Costel , Boroiu Alexandru
Published: November 2020

The scientific paper presents practical research carried out by a mixed team of Romanian researchers from universities and the business environment. The research consists in applying the process of cutting metallic materials through electrical discharge machining with contact breaking using a metal band as a transfer object. The research was implemented with the help of a specially designed installation in the laboratory and subsequently all the necessary steps were taken to obtain the patent for it. Various metallic materials were cut using this process, but first of all, high alloy steels. In the global research conducted by the authors, active experimental programs and classic experimental programs were used. The composite central factorial experiment was the method that led to the most effective results in terms of interpretations and conclusions. The research as a whole includes unique elements from an engineering point of view and here we can highlight the use of a metal band as a transfer object for this type of process as well as the designed, realized, and subsequently patented installation.
Multiple Solutions for a Class of New p(x)-Kirchhoff Problem without the Ambrosetti-Rabinowitz Conditions
Authors: Zhang Bei-Lei , Ge Bin , Cao Xiao-Feng
Published: November 2020

In this paper, we consider a nonlocal p(x)-Kirchhoff problem with a p+-superlinear subcritical Caratheodory reaction term, which does not satisfy the Ambrosetti–Rabinowitz condition. Under some certain assumptions, we prove the existence of nontrivial solutions and many solutions. Our results are an improvement and generalization of the corresponding results obtained by Hamdani et al. (2020).
Latent Class Regression Utilizing Fuzzy Clusterwise Generalized Structured Component Analysis
Authors: Park Seohee , Kim Seongeun , Ryoo Ji Hoon
Published: November 2020

Latent class analysis (LCA) has been applied in many research areas to disentangle the heterogeneity of a population. Despite its popularity, its estimation method is limited to maximum likelihood estimation (MLE), which requires large samples to satisfy both the multivariate normality assumption and local independence assumption. Although many suggestions regarding adequate sample sizes were proposed, researchers continue to apply LCA with relatively smaller samples. When covariates are involved, the estimation issue is encountered more. In this study, we suggest a different estimating approach for LCA with covariates, also known as latent class regression (LCR), using a fuzzy clustering method and generalized structured component analysis (GSCA). This new approach is free from the distributional assumption and stable in estimating parameters. Parallel to the three-step approach used in the MLE-based LCA, we extend an algorithm of fuzzy clusterwise GSCA into LCR. This proposed algorithm has been demonstrated with an empirical data with both categorical and continuous covariates. Because the proposed algorithm can be used for a relatively small sample in LCR without requiring a multivariate normality assumption, the new algorithm is more applicable to social, behavioral, and health sciences.