bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Work-Related Fatalities Involving Children in New Zealand, 1999–2014
Authors: Lilley Rebbecca , McNoe Bronwen , Davie Gabrielle , de Graaf Brandon , Driscoll Tim
Published: December 2020

In high income countries, children under 15 years of age are exposed to workplace hazards when they visit or live on worksites or participate in formal or informal work. This study describes the causes and circumstances of unintentional child work-related fatal injuries (child WRFI) in New Zealand. Potential cases were identified from the Mortality Collection using International Classification of Disease external cause codes: these were matched to Coronial records and reviewed for work-relatedness. Data were abstracted on the socio-demographic, employment and injury-related circumstances. Of the 1335 unintentional injury deaths in children from 1999 through 2014, 206 (15%) were identified as dying from a work-related injury: 9 workers and 197 bystanders—the majority involving vehicle crashes or being stuck by moving objects in incidents occurring on farms or public roads. Those at highest risk were males, preschoolers, and those of Māori or European ethnicity. Work made a notable contribution to the burden of unintentional fatal injury in children with most deaths highly preventable, largely by adult intervention and legislation. To address the determinants of child WRFI greater attention on rural farm and transport settings would result in a significant reduction in the injury mortality rates of New Zealand children.
Exploring the Impact of Remoteness and Socio-Economic Status on Child and Adolescent Injury-Related Mortality in Australia
Authors: Peden Amy E. , Franklin Richard C.
Published: December 2020

Injuries are a leading cause of harm for children. This study explores the impact of determinants of health on children (0–19 years) injury-related mortality (namely remoteness and socio-economic disadvantage, calculated using the index of relative socio-economic advantage and disadvantage (IRSAD)). Cause of death data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics were sourced for children in Australia between 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2017. Fifteen injury categories (ICD-10-AM external cause codes) were used. Burden and trends by injury mechanism were explored. A total of 5153 children died; with road traffic incidents (3.39 per 100,000 population), intentional self-harm (2.46) and drowning (0.72) being the leading mechanisms. Female fatality rates in very remote areas (8.73) were nine times higher than in major cities (Relative Risk [RR] = 8.73; 95% Confidence Interval [95% CI]: 4.23–18.00). Fatality rates increased with remoteness; very remote areas recording an injury-related fatality rated six times (RR = 5.84; 95% CI: 3.76–9.12) that of major city residents. Accidental poisoning and intentional self-harm fatalities were more likely in high IRSAD areas, while road traffic fatalities were more likely in low and mid socio-economic areas (X2 = 69.1; p < 0.001). People residing in regional and remote areas and from low socio-economic backgrounds already face significant health and lifestyle challenges associated with disadvantage. It is time to invest in injury prevention interventions for these populations, as well as upstream policy strategies to minimize any further preventable loss of life.
Improving Deep Interactive Evolution with a Style-Based Generator for Artistic Expression and Creative Exploration
Authors: Tejeda-Ocampo Carlos , López-Cuevas Armando , Terashima-Marin Hugo
Published: December 2020

Deep interactive evolution (DeepIE) combines the capacity of interactive evolutionary computation (IEC) to capture a user’s preference with the domain-specific robustness of a trained generative adversarial network (GAN) generator, allowing the user to control the GAN output through evolutionary exploration of the latent space. However, the traditional GAN latent space presents feature entanglement, which limits the practicability of possible applications of DeepIE. In this paper, we implement DeepIE within a style-based generator from a StyleGAN model trained on the WikiArt dataset and propose StyleIE, a variation of DeepIE that takes advantage of the secondary disentangled latent space in the style-based generator. We performed two AB/BA crossover user tests that compared the performance of DeepIE against StyleIE for art generation. Self-rated evaluations of the performance were collected through a questionnaire. Findings from the tests suggest that StyleIE and DeepIE perform equally in tasks with open-ended goals with relaxed constraints, but StyleIE performs better in close-ended and more constrained tasks.
A Multi-Timescale Integrated Operation Model for Balancing Power Generation, Ecology, and Water Supply of Reservoir Operation
Authors: Yuan Wenlin , Yu Xueyan , Su Chengguo , Yan Denghua , Wu Zening
Published: December 2020

In traditional ecological scheduling, a single monthly or daily model will lead to the incomplete transmission of ecological information or increase the complexity of solving problems. Therefore, a multi-timescale nested model (MTNM) is proposed. Although the MTNM can express the daily flow process of environmental flow, the quadratic nested calculation method cannot obtain the optimal solution for the daily scheduling scheme. Targeting the problem that long and short-term objectives cannot obtain the optimal solution at the same time, this paper proposes a multi-timescale integrated model (MTIM) which considers the monthly, 10-day, and daily scale. The model is applied to the Liujiaxia reservoir. The scheduling results show that, compared with the MTNM, the MTIM can better meet the multi-objective demand. In a wet year, when both models can guarantee water supply and ecological demand, the MTIM increases electricity generation by 0.91%. In a dry year, electricity generation can still be increased by 4.35% without sacrificing the ecological and water supply benefits of the lower reaches. In different typical years, the MTIM can improve the contradictory relationship between multi-objective by improving the utilization efficiency of water. The results can improve the decision support for the operation process of other reservoirs with ecological needs.
Absorption Refrigeration Systems Based on Ammonia as Refrigerant Using Different Absorbents: Review and Applications
Authors: Lima Alvaro A. S. , Leite Gustavo de N. P. , Ochoa Alvaro A. V. , Santos Carlos A. C. dos , Costa José A. P. da , Michima Paula S. A. , Caldas Allysson M. A.
Published: December 2020

The interest in employing absorption refrigeration systems is usually related to electricity’s precariousness since these systems generally use thermal rejects for their activation. The application of these systems is closely linked to the concept of energy polygeneration, in which the energy demand to operate them is reduced, which represents their main advantage over the conventional vapor compression system. Currently, the solution pairs used in commercial absorption chillers are lithium bromide/water and ammonia/water. The latter pair has been used in air conditioning and industrial processes due to the ammonia operation’s low temperature. Few review papers on absorption chillers have been published, discussing the use of solar energy as the input source of the systems, the evolution of the absorption refrigeration cycles over the last decades, and promising alternatives to increase the performance of absorption refrigeration systems. There is a lack of consistent studies about designing requirements for absorption chillers, so an updated review covering recent advances and suggested solutions to improve the use and operation of those absorption refrigeration systems using different working fluids is relevant. Hence, this presents a review of the state-of-the-art of ammonia/absorbent based absorption refrigeration systems, considering the most relevant studies, describing the development of this equipment over the years. The most relevant studies in the open literature were collected to describe this equipment’s development over the years, including thermodynamic properties, commercial manufacturers, experimental and numerical studies, and the prototypes designed and tested in this area. The manuscript focuses on reviewing studies in absorption refrigeration systems that use ammonia and absorbents, such as water, lithium nitrate, and lithium nitrate plus water. As a horizon to the future, the uses of absorption systems should be rising due to the increasing values of the electricity, and the environmental impact of the synthetic refrigerant fluids used in mechanical refrigeration equipment. In this context, the idea for a new configuration absorption chiller is to be more efficient, pollutant free to the environment, activated by a heat substantiable source, such as solar, with low cost and compactness structure to attend the thermal needs (comfort thermal) for residences, private and public buildings, and even the industrial and health building sector (thermal processes). To conclude, future recommendations are presented to deal with the improvement of the refrigeration absorption chiller by using solar energy, alternative fluids, multiple-effects, and advanced and hybrid configurations to reach the best absorption chiller to attend to the thermal needs of the residential and industrial sector around the world.
Integrated Assessment Modeling of China’s Shale Gas Resource: Energy System Optimization, Environmental Cobenefits, and Methane Risk
Authors: Yang Xi , Gu Alun , Jiang Fujie , Xie Wenli , Wu Qi
Published: December 2020

Comprehensive evaluation of shale gas resource, which plays a role in energy system optimization, atmospheric environmental cobenefit, and methane risk, has long been ignored in China. This research aims to fill this gap and conduct a study based on the China-Multi-pollutant Abatement Planning and Long-term benefit Evaluation model to answer the research question, “When considering environmental and climate risks, does the shale gas resource in China exert a negative or positive effect?” Results show that shale gas plays an important role in replacing coal and optimizing the energy structure. Shale gas can also effectively help reduce the key local pollutant emissions. Approximately 84.85 thousand of deaths (persons) and 32.24 billion yuan of economic loss can be avoided in 2030 with the reduction of SO2 and NOx. The methane risk, which has been disregarded in China when evaluating cobenefits, is also considered in this study. The economic loss due to methane leakage is estimated to reach approximately 2.76 billion yuan on average in 2030. Overall, the net atmospheric environmental cobenefit could reach 68.61 billion yuan on average in 2030, accounting for 0.04% of China’s GDP. This study provides positive evidence for an integrated assessment of shale gas resource in coal-dominant developing countries.
Experimental Study of the Effect of Fuel Catalytic Additive on Specific Fuel Consumption and Exhaust Emissions in Diesel Engine
Authors: Tkaczyk Marcin , Sroka Zbigniew J. , Krakowian Konrad , Wlostowski Radoslaw
Published: December 2020

Fuel catalytic additives have been tested for many years. Herein, their influence on the overall efficiency of combustion engines is investigated, and their pro-ecological impact is assessed. The majority of this research concerns diesel engines. Despite many advantages, to this day, the use of catalytic additives has not become widespread. Wishing to clarify the situation, a research group from the Wroclaw University of Science and Technology decided to investigate this matter, starting with verification tests. This article presents the methodology and results of testing an actual diesel engine, and evaluates the effects of the use of a fuel catalytic additive. The focus was on the analysis of fuel consumption and exhaust gas emissions from a Doosan MD196TI engine. The tested additive was a commercial fuel performance catalyst (FAMAX) with up to 5% ferric chloride as an organometallic compound. The proportion of the mixture with the fuel was 1:2000. These studies provide an energy and ecological assessment of propulsion in inland vehicles relative to current exhaust emission standards. The tests were carried out in accordance with the ISO 8178 standard, albeit on a much broader scale regarding engine operation than required by the standard. In this way, a set of previously published data was more than doubled in scope. Detailed conclusions indicate the positive effect of the tested fuel additive. The emission values decreased, on average by 16.7% for particulate matter (PM), 10.1% for carbon monoxide (CO), and 7.9% for total hydrocarbons (THC). Unfortunately, the amount of nitrogen oxides (NOx) increased by 1.2%. The average difference in specific fuel consumption (BSFC) between the fuel with additive and pure diesel fuel was 0.5%, i.e. below the level of measurement error. The authors formulated the following scientific relationship between the thermal efficiency of the engine and the operation of the catalyst: the effect of the catalyst on the combustion process decreases with the increase of the thermodynamic efficiency of the engine. This conclusion indicates that despite the proven positive effect of catalysts on the combustion process, they can only be used in markets where engines with low thermal efficiency are used, i.e., older generation engines.
Dual and Ternary Biofuel Blends for Desalination Process: Emissions and Heat Recovered Assessment
Authors: Elfasakhany Ashraf
Published: December 2020

Desalination using fossil fuels is so far the most common technique for freshwater production worldwide. However, such a technique faces some challenges due to limited fossil fuels, high pollutants in our globe, and its high energy demand. In this study, solutions for such challenges were proposed and investigated. Renewable biofuel blends were introduced and examined as energy/sources for desalination plants and, in turn, reduced dependency on fossil fuels, enhanced pollutants, and recovered energy for desalinations. Eight different blended biofuels in terms of dual and ternary blend approaches were investigated. Results displayed that dual and ternary blends of gasoline/n-butanol, gasoline/isobutanol, gasoline/n-butanol/isobutanol, gasoline/bioethanol/isobutanol, and gasoline/bioethanol/biomethanol were all not highly recommended as energy sources for desalination units due to their low heat recovery (they showed much lower than the gasoline, G, fuel); however, they could provide reasonable emissions. Both gasoline/bioethanol (E) and gasoline/biomethanol (M) provided high heat recovery and sensible emissions (CO and UHC). Gasoline/bio-acetone was the best one among all blends and, accordingly, it was upper recommended for both heat recovery and emissions for desalination plants. In addition, both E and M were recommended subsequently. Concerning emissions, all blends showed lower emissions than the G fuel in different levels.
Dietary Constituents: Relationship with Breast Cancer Prognostic (MCC-SPAIN Follow-Up)
Authors: Dierssen-Sotos Trinidad , Gómez-Acebo Inés , Gutiérrez-Ruiz Nuria , Aragonés Nuria , Amiano Pilar , Molina de la Torre Antonio José , Guevara Marcela , Alonso-Molero Jessica , Obon-Santacana Mireia , Fernández-Tardón Guillermo , Molina-Barceló Ana , Alguacil Juan , Marcos-Gragera Rafael , Rodríguez-Cundín Paz , Castaño-Vinyals Gemma , Canseco Fernandez Rosario , Castilla Jesús , Molinuevo Amaia , Pérez-Gómez Beatriz , Kogevinas Manolis , Pollán Marina , Llorca Javier
Published: December 2020

The aim of this study was to characterize the relationship between the intake of the major nutrients and prognosis in breast cancer. A cohort based on 1350 women with invasive (stage I-IV) breast cancer (BC) was followed up. Information about their dietary habits before diagnosis was collected using a semi-quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire. Participants without FFQ or with implausible energy intake were excluded. The total amount consumed of each nutrient (Kcal/day) was divided into tertiles, considering as “high intakes” those above third tertile. The main effect studied was overall survival. Cox regression was used to assess the association between death and nutrient intake. During a median follow-up of 6.5 years, 171 deaths were observed. None of the nutrients analysed was associated with mortality in the whole sample. However, in normal-weight women (BMI 18.5–25 kg/m2) a high intake of carbohydrates (≥809 Kcal/day), specifically monosaccharides (≥468 Kcal/day), worsened prognostic compared to lowest (≤352 Kcal/day). Hazard Ratios (HRs) for increasing tertiles of intake were HR:2.22 95% CI (1.04 to 4.72) and HR:2.59 95% CI (1.04 to 6.48), respectively (p trend = 0.04)). Conversely, high intakes of polyunsaturated fats (≥135 Kcal/day) improved global survival (HR: 0.39 95% CI (0.15 to 1.02) p-trend = 0.05) compared to the lowest (≤92.8 kcal/day). In addition, a protective effect was found substituting 100 kcal of carbohydrates with 100 kcal of fats in normal-weight women (HR: 0.76 95% CI (0.59 to 0.98)). Likewise, in premenopausal women a high intake of fats (≥811 Kcal/day) showed a protective effect (HR:0.20 95% CI (0.04 to 0.98) p trend = 0.06). Finally, in Estrogen Receptors (ER) negative tumors, we found a protective effect of high intake of animal proteins (≥238 Kcal/day, HR: 0.24 95% CI (0.06 to 0.98). According to our results, menopausal status, BMI and ER status could play a role in the relationship between diet and BC survival and must be taken into account when studying the influence of different nutrients.
Two Unconventional Metallothioneins in the Apple Snail Pomacea bridgesii Have Lost Their Metal Specificity during Adaptation to Freshwater Habitats
Authors: García-Risco Mario , Calatayud Sara , Niederwanger Michael , Albalat Ricard , Palacios Òscar , Capdevila Mercè , Dallinger Reinhard
Published: December 2020

Metallothioneins (MTs) are a diverse group of proteins responsible for the control of metal homeostasis and detoxification. To investigate the impact that environmental conditions might have had on the metal-binding abilities of these proteins, we have characterized the MTs from the apple snail Pomacea bridgesii, a gastropod species belonging to the class of Caenogastropoda with an amphibious lifestyle facing diverse situations of metal bioavailability. P. bridgesii has two structurally divergent MTs, named PbrMT1 and PbrMT2, that are longer than other gastropod MTs due to the presence of extra sequence motifs and metal-binding domains. We have characterized the Zn(II), Cd(II), and Cu(I) binding abilities of these two MTs after their heterologous expression in E. coli. Our results have revealed that despite their structural differences, both MTs share an unspecific metal-binding character, and a great ability to cope with elevated amounts of different metal ions. Our analyses have also revealed slight divergences in their metal-binding features: PbrMT1 shows a more pronounced Zn(II)-thionein character than PbrMT2, while the latter has a stronger Cu(I)-thionein character. The characterization of these two unconventional PbrMTs supports the loss of the metal-binding specificity during the evolution of the MTs of the Ampullariid family, and further suggests an evolutionary link of this loss with the adaptation of these gastropod lineages to metal-poor freshwater habitats.
GPER1 and microRNA: Two Players in Breast Cancer Progression
Authors: Vivacqua Adele
Published: December 2020

Breast cancer is the main cause of morbidity and mortality in women worldwide. However, the molecular pathogenesis of breast cancer remains poorly defined due to its heterogeneity. Several studies have reported that G Protein-Coupled Estrogen Receptor 1 (GPER1) plays a crucial role in breast cancer progression, by binding to estrogens or synthetic agonists, like G-1, thus modulating genes involved in diverse biological events, such as cell proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and metastasis. In addition, it has been established that the dysregulation of short sequences of non-coding RNA, named microRNAs (miRNAs), is involved in various pathophysiological conditions, including breast cancer. Recent evidence has indicated that estrogens may regulate miRNA expression and therefore modulate the levels of their target genes, not only through the classical estrogen receptors (ERs), but also activating GPER1 signalling, hence suggesting an alternative molecular pathway involved in breast tumor progression. Here, the current knowledge about GPER1 and miRNA action in breast cancer is recapitulated, reporting recent evidence on the liaison of these two players in triggering breast tumorogenic effects. Elucidating the role of GPER1 and miRNAs in breast cancer might provide new tools for innovative approaches in anti-cancer therapy.
Neuroprotective Effects of Coffee Bioactive Compounds: A Review
Authors: Socała Katarzyna , Szopa Aleksandra , Serefko Anna , Poleszak Ewa , Wlaź Piotr
Published: December 2020

Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages worldwide. It is usually identified as a stimulant because of a high content of caffeine. However, caffeine is not the only coffee bioactive component. The coffee beverage is in fact a mixture of a number of bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, especially chlorogenic acids (in green beans) and caffeic acid (in roasted coffee beans), alkaloids (caffeine and trigonelline), and the diterpenes (cafestol and kahweol). Extensive research shows that coffee consumption appears to have beneficial effects on human health. Regular coffee intake may protect from many chronic disorders, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and some types of cancer. Importantly, coffee consumption seems to be also correlated with a decreased risk of developing some neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and dementia. Regular coffee intake may also reduce the risk of stroke. The mechanism underlying these effects is, however, still poorly understood. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the neuroprotective potential of the main bioactive coffee components, i.e., caffeine, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, trigonelline, kahweol, and cafestol. Data from both in vitro and in vivo preclinical experiments, including their potential therapeutic applications, are reviewed and discussed. Epidemiological studies and clinical reports on this matter are also described. Moreover, potential molecular mechanism(s) by which coffee bioactive components may provide neuroprotection are reviewed.
Molecular Aspects and Prognostic Significance of Microcalcifications in Human Pathology: A Narrative Review
Authors: Bonfiglio Rita , Granaglia Annarita , Giocondo Raffaella , Scimeca Manuel , Bonanno Elena
Published: December 2020

The presence of calcium deposits in human lesions is largely used as imaging biomarkers of human diseases such as breast cancer. Indeed, the presence of micro- or macrocalcifications is frequently associated with the development of both benign and malignant lesions. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms involved in the formation of these calcium deposits, as well as the prognostic significance of their presence in human tissues, have not been completely elucidated. Therefore, a better characterization of the biological process related to the formation of calcifications in different tissues and organs, as well as the understanding of the prognostic significance of the presence of these calcium deposits into human tissues could significantly improve the management of patients characterized by microcalcifications associated lesions. Starting from these considerations, this narrative review highlights the most recent histopathological and molecular data concerning the formation of calcifications in breast, thyroid, lung, and ovarian diseases. Evidence reported here could deeply change the current point of view concerning the role of ectopic calcifications in the progression of human diseases and also in the patients’ management. In fact, the presence of calcifications can suggest an unfavorable prognosis due to dysregulation of normal tissues homeostasis.
Bankruptcy Prediction Models Based on Value Measures
Authors: Jaki Andrzej , Ćwięk Wojciech
Published: December 2020

In the existing studies devoted to predicting bankruptcy, the authors of such models only used book measures. Considering the fact that the evolution of corporate measure efficiency (in addition to book measures) brought into existence and exposed the importance of cash measures, market measures, and measures based on the economic profit concept, it is justified to carry out research into the possibility of using these measures as variables within the discriminant function. The studied dataset was divided into a training set and a testing set based on two variants of the sample division. The assessment of the statistical significance of the built discriminant functions as well as the diagnostic variables was conducted using the STATISTICA package. The research was conducted separately for each variant. In the first step, a total of 30 discriminant models were created. This enabled us to select 20 diagnostic variables that were considered within the two models that were characterised by the highest predictive abilities—one for each variant. The discriminant function that was estimated for the first variant was based on the use of eight diagnostic variables, and 13 diagnostic variables were used in the function that was estimated for the second variant. The conducted analysis has proven that shareholder value measures are a useful tool that can be applied for the needs of corporate risk management in the area of the assessment of a firm’s bankruptcy risk. Using two variants of the division of the research sample into the training and testing sets, it turned out that the division affects the predictive efficiency of the discriminant functions. At the same time, the obtained findings tend to claim that the presence of the value measures from all four of the studied groups in the output set of the diagnostic variables is necessary for possibly building the most efficient tool for the early warning signs of bankruptcy risk.
Analysis of the In Situ Crack Evolution Behavior in a Solid Solution Mg-13Gd-5Y-3Zn-0.3Zr Alloy
Authors: Yang Yaqin , Mu Chongli , Han Zhongjian , Xu Jian , Li Baocheng
Published: December 2020

The low plasticity of high strength Mg-Gd-Y alloy has become the main obstacle to its application in engineering. In this paper, the origin, propagation and fracture processes of cracks of a solution of treated Mg-13Gd-5Y-3Zn-0.3Zr alloy were observed and studied with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in an in situ tensile test to provide theoretical references for the development of a new high-performance Mg-Gd-Y alloy. The results showed that there was still some bulk long period stacking order (LPSO) phase remaining in solid solution Mg-13Gd-5Y-3Zn-0.3Zr alloy. Most importantly, it was found that the locations of micro-cracks vary with the different solution treatment processes, mainly including the following three types. (1) At 480 × 10 h and 510 °C × 10 h, much bulk LPSO phase with higher elastic modulus remains in the alloy, which can lead to micro-cracks in the LPSO phase due to stress concentration. (2) At 510 °C × 13 h and 510 °C × 16 h, the phase structure of bulk LPSO changes, and the stress concentration easily appears at the LPSO/α-Mg interface, which leads to micro-cracks at the interface. (3) At 510 °C × 19 h and 510 °C × 22 h, the grain size increases, and the stress concentration is obvious at the grain boundary of coarse grains, which leads to the formation of micro-cracks.
Relevant Properties of Carbon Support Materials in Successful Fe-N-C Synthesis for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction: Study of Carbon Blacks and Biomass-Based Carbons
Authors: Hülstede Julia , Schonvogel Dana , Schmies Henrike , Wagner Peter , Schröter Frank , Dyck Alexander , Wark Michael
Published: December 2020

Fe-N-C materials are promising non-precious metal catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction in fuel cells and batteries. However, during the synthesis of these materials less active Fe-containing nanoparticles are formed in many cases which lead to a decrease in electrochemical activity and stability. In this study, we reveal the significant properties of the carbon support required for the successful incorporation of Fe-N-related active sites. The impact of two carbon blacks and two activated biomass-based carbons on the Fe-N-C synthesis is investigated and crucial support properties are identified. Carbon supports having low portions of amorphous carbon, moderate surface areas (>800 m2/g) and mesopores result in the successful incorporation of Fe and N on an atomic level and improved oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity. A low surface area and especially amorphous parts of the carbon promote the formation of metallic iron species covered by a graphitic layer. In contrast, highly microporous systems with amorphous carbon provoke the formation of less active iron carbides and carbon nanotubes. Overall, a phosphoric acid activated biomass is revealed as novel and sustainable carbon support for the formation of Fe-Nx sites. Overall, this study provides valuable and significant information for the future development of novel and sustainable carbon supports for Fe-N-C catalysts.
Composite Behavior of RC-HPFRC Tension Members under Service Loads
Authors: Zanuy Carlos , Irache Pedro Javier , García-Sainz Alejandro
Published: December 2020

A significant increase of the use of high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (HPFRC) to strengthen reinforced concrete structures (RC) has been noted for the past few years, thereby achieving composite RC-HPFRC elements. Such a technique tries to take advantage of the superior material properties of HPFRC in the ultimate and service load regimes. Many of the existing works on RC-HPFRC elements have focused on the strength increase at the ultimate load state and much less effort has been devoted to the serviceability response. The in-service performance of RC structures is governed by the behavior of the tension chord, which determines the crack pattern (crack widths are critical for durability) and deformations. The presence of HPFRC is supposed to improve serviceability due to its strain-hardening and tension-softening capacities. In this paper, the experimental analysis of composite RC-HPFRC tension members is dealt with. Specimens consisting of a RC tie strengthened with two 35 mm thick HPFRC layers have been subjected to loads in the service range so that the deformational and cracking response can be analyzed. The HPFRC has been a cement-based mortar with 3% volumetric amount of short straight steel fibers with a compressive and tensile strength of 144 MPa and 8.5 MPa, respectively. The experiments have shown that RC-HPFRC has higher stiffness, first cracking strength and reduced crack widths and deformations compared to companion unstrengthened RC. To understand the observed behavioral stages, the experimental results are compared with an analytical tension chord model, which is a simplified version of a previous general model by the authors consisting of 4 key points. In addition, the influence of time-dependent shrinkage has been included in the presented approach.
Magnetic Resonance and CT Imaging Biomarkers for Prediction of Acute and Chronic Radiation-Induced Xerostomia
Authors: Katsavochristou Anastasia , Koumoulis Dimitrios
Published: December 2020

Xerostomia is a common adverse effect of radiation therapy at the head and neck area. Radiation-induced xerostomia can be severe and detrimental for the quality of life. Clinicians and radiologists have focused on the prevention of xerostomia as feasible, which has been significantly improved in the recent decades with the use of the contemporary radiation technology. However, radiation-induced xerostomia still remains one of the most devastating side effects of radiation therapy. Clinical risk factors have been identified, but the variation of its incidence and presentation has turned the focus on the investigation of parameters that would be able to predict the onset of acute or chronic xerostomia for each individual patient. Recently, potential imaging parameters and biomarkers are investigated in order for early prediction of the incidence and severity of xerostomia. Here, we compile the resulting imaging biomarkers as have been identified in the recent literature based on MRI and CT performed in correlation with radiation therapy. The identification of such biomarkers is very promising for the prevention and control of xerostomia in the head and neck radiation setting.
Antibacterial Activity and Mode of Action of Lactoquinomycin A from Streptomyces bacillaris
Authors: Chung Beomkoo , Kwon Oh-Seok , Shin Jongheon , Oh Ki-Bong
Published: December 2020

This study aims to isolate and identify the structure of antibacterial compounds having potent activity on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from marine actinomycetes, and also to identify their mode of action. Lactoquinomycin A (LQM-A) (compound 1) and its derivatives (2–4) were isolated from marine-derived Streptomyces bacillaris strain MBTC38, and their structures were determined using extensive spectroscopic methods. These compounds showed potent antibacterial activities against Gram-positive bacteria, with MIC values of 0.06–4 μg/mL. However, the tested compounds exhibited weak inhibitory activity against Gram-negative bacteria, although they were effective against Salmonella enterica (MIC = 0.03–1 μg/mL). LQM-A exhibited the most significant inhibitory activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (MIC = 0.25–0.5 μg/mL), with a low incidence of resistance. An in vivo dual-reporter assay designed to distinguish between compounds that inhibit translation and those that induce DNA damage was employed to assess the mode of action of LQM-A. LQM-A-induced DNA damage and did not inhibit protein synthesis. The gel mobility shift assay showed that LQM-A switched plasmid DNA from the supercoiled to relaxed form in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. These data suggest that LQM-A intercalated into double-stranded DNA and damaged DNA repair.
Betulinic Acid Protects DOX-Triggered Cardiomyocyte Hypertrophy Response through the GATA-4/Calcineurin/NFAT Pathway
Authors: Yoon Jung Joo , Son Chan Ok , Kim Hye Yoom , Han Byung Hyuk , Lee Yun Jung , Lee Ho Sub , Kang Dae Gill
Published: December 2020

Cardiac hypertrophy is a major risk factor for heart failure and leads to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Doxorubicin (DOX) is regarded as one of the most potent anthracycline antibiotic agents; however, its clinical usage has some limitations because it has serious cardiotoxic side effects such as dilated cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure. Betulinic acid (BA) is a pentacyclic-cyclic lupane-type triterpene that has been reported to have anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-vascular neogenesis, and anti-fibrotic effects. However, there is no study about its direct effect on DOX induced cardiac hypertrophy and apoptosis. The present study aims to investigate the effect of BA on DOX-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and apoptosis in vitro in H9c2 cells. The H9c2 cells were stimulated with DOX (1 µM) in the presence or absence of BA (0.1–1 μM) and incubated for 24 h. The results of the present study indicated that DOX induces the increase cell surface area and the upregulation of hypertrophy markers including atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), beta-myosin heavy chain (β-MHC), and Myosin Light Chain-2 (MLC2) in H9c2 cells. However, the pathological hypertrophic responses were downregulated after BA treatment. Moreover, phosphorylation of JNK, ERK, and p38 in DOX treated H9c2 cells was blocked by BA. As a result of measuring the change in ROS generation using DCF-DA, BA significantly inhibited DOX-induced the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) when BA was treated at a concentration of over 0.1 µM. DOX-induced activation of GATA-4 and calcineurin/NFAT-3 signaling pathway were remarkably improved by pre-treating of BA to H9c2 cells. In addition, BA treatment significantly reduced DOX-induced cell apoptosis and protein expression levels of Bax and cleaved caspase-3/-9, while the expression of Bcl-2 was increased by BA. Therefore, BA can be a potential treatment for cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and apoptosis that lead to sudden heart failure.
GAN-Based Differential Private Image Privacy Protection Framework for the Internet of Multimedia Things
Authors: Yu Jinao , Xue Hanyu , Liu Bo , Wang Yu , Zhu Shibing , Ding Ming
Published: December 2020

With the development of the Internet of Multimedia Things (IoMT), an increasing amount of image data is collected by various multimedia devices, such as smartphones, cameras, and drones. This massive number of images are widely used in each field of IoMT, which presents substantial challenges for privacy preservation. In this paper, we propose a new image privacy protection framework in an effort to protect the sensitive personal information contained in images collected by IoMT devices. We aim to use deep neural network techniques to identify the privacy-sensitive content in images, and then protect it with the synthetic content generated by generative adversarial networks (GANs) with differential privacy (DP). Our experiment results show that the proposed framework can effectively protect users’ privacy while maintaining image utility.
ТЕОРЕТИЧЕСКИЕ ОСНОВЫ ФОРМИРОВАНИЯ РЫНКА
ИНФОРМАЦИОННО-КОММУНИКАЦИОННЫХ УСЛУГ
Authors: Чоноров Ж.К.
Published: December 2020

В статье рассматривается теоритические основы формирования рынка
информационно-коммуникационных услуг. Также проанализированы тенденции развития
рынка информационно-коммуникационных услуг.
ЛОГИСТИЧЕСКИЙ ПРОЦЕСС И ЕГО ЦИФРОВИЗАЦИЯ НА ПРИМЕРЕ
СТРОИТЕЛЬНОЙ КОМПАНИИ
Authors:   Рысалиева Б.Б., Сураева Е.А., Утуров А.Э.
Published: December 2020

В статье рассмотрен процесс логистики на примере строительной
компании. Описаны все этапы этого процесса, а так же все новшества, которые
используются на практике, чтобы сделать его более быстрым и эффективным с учетом
цифровизации в экономике.
РАЗВИТИЯ НЕТРАДИЦИОННЫХ ВОЗОБНОВЛЯЕМЫХ
ИСТОЧНИКОВ ЭНЕРГИИ В РЕШЕНИИ ЭНЕРГЕТИЧЕСКИХ
ПРОБЛЕМ
Authors:   Барпиев Б.Б., Садыков М.А.
Published: December 2020

Рассматривается роли альтернативных(возобновляемых) источников
энергии в решении энергетических проблем мировой экономики. Дан обзор развития
альтернативных источников энергии в ряд стран. Невозобновляемые источники энергии -
это природные запасы веществ и материалов, которые могут быть использованы человеком
для производства энергии. Примером могут служить ядерное топливо, уголь, нефть, газ.
Энергия невозобновляемых источников, в отличие от возобновляемых, находится в природе в
связанном состоянии и высвобождается в результате целенаправленных действий человека.
НЕКОТОРЫЕ МЕТОДЫ ОПРЕДЕЛЕНИЯ ОПТИМАЛЬНОГО
ИНТЕРВАЛА НАГРУЗОК ПРОВОДНИКОВ
Authors:   Быймырзаев Т.С., Самарбеков Э.С.
Published: December 2020

Развитие народного хозяйства, интенсификация труда в
промышленности и сельском хозяйстве требуют ускоренного развития электрических сетей
различного напряжения и типа. От правильно выбранных структуры и параметров
электрических сетей в существенной степени зависят технико-экономические показатели
работы энергосистем и надежность электроснабжения потребителей электроэнергии.
ГРАФИКИ ЭЛЕКТРИЧЕСКИХ НАГРУЗОК, ИХ НАЗНАЧЕНИЕ И
КЛАССИФИКАЦИЯ
Authors:   Самарбеков Э. С.
Published: December 2020

В статье рассмотрены вопросы по электрическим нагрузкам.
Электрическая нагрузка характеризует потребления электроэнергии отдельными приемниками,
групповой приемников в цехе, цехом и заводом ы целом. При проектировании и эксплуатации систем
электроснабжения промышленных предприятий основным является три вида нагрузок: активная
мощность P, реактивная мощность Q и ток I. Электрическая нагрузка может наблюдаться
визуально по измерительным приборам.
Практичні аспекти застосування технологій аналізу даних великих масивів (Big Data) в публічному управлінні
Authors: Грицяк Н. В. , Твердохліб О. С.
Published: December 2020

Розглянуто основні підходи до застосування технологій аналізу даних великих масивів у сучасній практиці публічного управління України. Показано, що використання новітніх технологій з метою досягнення суспільного блага є загальносвітовою тенденцією, яка здатна принести вражаючі результати усім суб’єктам і об’єктам державної політики, залученим до відповідних процесів її формування й реалізації. Продемонстровано, що нині на рівні органів державної влади інтенсифікується робота щодо ширшого застосування сучасних інструментів електронного урядування у базових галузях України з метою підтримки прийняття управлінських рішень та автоматизації адміністративних процесів. Розкрито базові принципи реалізації державної політики цифрового розвитку в сучасній Україні.
Механізми державного управління сталим розвитком аграрного сектора та сільських територій
Authors: Польська Л. О.
Published: December 2020

Досліджено нормативно-правовий та інституційно-адміністративний механізм державного управління сталим розвитком аграрного сектору та сільських територій. Проаналізовано міжнародний досвід запровадження принципів сталого розвитку. На основі проведеного аналізу запропоновано алгоритм запровадження основ концепції сталого розвитку України, а саме: прийняття національної стратегії сталого розвитку “Україна – 2030”, відповідно до Глобальних цілей сталого розвитку (далі – ЦСР), прийнятих Генеральною Асамблеєю Організації Об’єднаних Націй (далі – ООН) 25 вересня 2015 р. “Перетворення нашого світу: Порядок денний сталого розвитку 2030”, який вміщує 17 Глобальних ЦСР до 2030 р.; Указу Президента України “Цілі сталого розвитку України на період до 2030 року” від 30.09.2019 р. Зазначено, що в рамках національної стратегії повинна бути розроблена програма сталого розвитку аграрного сектору та сільських територій. Адже для досягнення 2-ї Цілі “Подолання голоду, досягнення продовольчої безпеки, поліпшення харчування та сприяння сталому сільському господарству” саме аграрний сектор та сільські громади мають вирішальну роль. Запропоновано удосконалення адміністративно-інституціонального механізму управління сталим розвитком, а саме створення державного комітету із сталого розвитку, підпорядкованого Кабінету Міністрів України, для здійснення координаційної діяльності всіх міністерств та відомств у напрямку запровадження стратегії сталого розвитку. Розглянуто методи побудови механізмів державного управління сталим розвитком, які враховують інтереси усіх зацікавлених сторін, базуються на моделі “державно-приватного” партнерства, а також методах горизонтальної та вертикальної інтеграції, враховуючи альтернативи розвитку держави, специфіку аграрного сектору економіки, потреб сільських територіальних громад у напрямку досягнення ЦСР.
Упровадження аналізу політики у діяльність органів державної влади (в умовах модернізації державного управління та реалізації парламентської реформи)
Authors: Щербак Н. В.
Published: December 2020

Досліджено актуальні питання розробки та упровадження аналізу політики у діяльності органів державної влади. Дано визначення аналізу політики як діяльності зі створення знань про процес вироблення політики й у ході цього процесу. Аргументовано, що особливого значення набуває використання цього інструменту в умовах модернізації державного управління та реалізації парламентської реформи. Всебічно проаналізовано питання причини виникнення та історичної еволюції аналізу політики як в Україні, так і в інших зарубіжних країнах. Визначено та дано комплексну характеристику трьох основних етапів виміру аналізу публічної політики, що розрізняються між собою за часом здійснення аналізу, а саме: перспективний, ретроспективний, інтегрований. На основі проведеного дослідження вироблено практичні рекомендації щодо упровадження аналізу політики у діяльність органів державної влади, зокрема Апарату Верховної Ради України.
Transporte de cargas especiais no modal rodoviário
Authors: Figueiredo Pereira de Almeida Vivian , Celso Longo Orlando
Published: December 2020

A evolução do transporte de cargas especiais é indissociável do processo de avanço industrial brasileiro. Sua influência no desenvolvimento econômico do país nos traz a questão do quanto os modais de transporte, em especial o rodoviário, está preparado para receber este tipo de demanda relativamente recente. O desenvolvimento da infraestrutura rodoviária no Brasil é realizado principalmente por financiamento privado e através da destinação de impostos. Por sua vez, os custos da travessia de cargas especiais são impactados por taxas e condições físicas das rodovias. Neste artigo, investigou-se a percepção da qualidade das rodovias por usuários deste tipo de transporte e concluiu-se a necessidade da elaboração de políticas públicas direcionadas a recuperação e readequação da capacidade portante de pontes e viadutos, aplicação de materiais mais resistentes para o pavimento, discussão ampla da reforma tributária e destinação de valores a infraestrutura de transportes, considerando-se o espectro das cargas especiais.
Las “combis” interurbanas de línea. El caso de los servicios nacionales en la provincia de Buenos Aires
Authors: Miglierina Daniela , Sánchez Jorge
Published: December 2020

El trabajo indaga en el servicio de combis interurbanas como fenómeno relativamente reciente de prestación en las cortas y medias distancias en el marco de la competencia con otros servicios de transporte y en relación a las ciudades que vinculan. El origen del servicio es relativamente reciente respecto a otros modos, con especialización en distancias entre rangos de 100 a 150 y 300 a 350 km, uniendo ciudades de porte chico/ medio con ciudades grandes. Los habitantes de las localidades de porte chico/medio tienden a recurrir a las ciudades de mayor tamaño en búsqueda de servicios que en ellas no tienen o tienen de manera escasa. Las altas frecuencias diarias, con amplitud horaria, en corredores de alto tránsito vehicular le otorgan una cierta “especialización geográfica” al servicio y una cercanía con los usuarios que las diferencian del servicio regular de ómnibus, su competidor más cercano. La visibilización del fenómeno en cuanto a la competencia que ejercen con los servicios de ómnibus regulares como también ante la falta de una entidad normativa explícita en el orden nacional para este tipo de práctica particular, deja al descubierto una cierta debilidad en el marco de la planificación territorial y del transporte.