bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Extraction of Alkaloids Using Ultrasound from Pulp and By-Products of Soursop Fruit (Annona muricata L.)
Authors: Aguilar-Hernández Gabriela , Zepeda-Vallejo Luis Gerardo , García-Magaña María de Lourdes , Vivar-Vera María de los Ángeles , Pérez-Larios Alejandro , Girón-Pérez Manuel I. , Coria-Tellez Ana Velia , Rodríguez-Aguayo Cristian , Montalvo-González Efigenia
Published: July 2020

The main goal of this work was to measure the total alkaloid content (TALC) from pulp, peel, seed, and columella of soursop fruit (Annona muricata L.) by ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and to obtain the best conditions of the UAE with the response surface methodology (RSM). We evaluated the effect of amplitude (40%, 70%, and 100%), time (5, 10, and 15 min) and pulse-cycles (0.4, 0.7, and 1 s) and compared the best UAE conditions of alkaloids with a conventional extraction (maceration). The structural characterization of the raw material with the highest TALC was developed using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques [1H, 13C, heteronuclear single quantum correlation (HSQC), heteronuclear multiple bond correlation (HMBC), and homonuclear correlation spectroscopy (COSY)]. According to the RSM, the best conditions in the UAE for extracting alkaloids varied depending on the type of plant tissue. It took 5 min with an amplitude of 70% and pulse-cycles of 1, 0.4, and 1 s, respectively, to extract the highest TALC in peel, seed, and columella while the optimal conditions for extracting the largest amount of alkaloids from the pulp were obtained at 5 min in UAE with pulse-cycles of 0.55 s and 100% amplitude. The TALC was highest in the peel (7.48 mg/g), which was followed by the seed (2.31 mg/g), the pulp (1.20 mg/g), and the columella (0.79 mg/g) and was positively correlated (R2 = 0.98–0.88) with the predicted values. In addition, the extraction alkaloids from the peel, pulp, seed, and columella using the UAE was 56.31, 5.45, 3.06, and 2.96 times higher, respectively, than the extraction by maceration. The alkaloids identified in the peel have not been reported and were nornuciferin, assimilobin, anonaine, and isolaureline. This study showed that the soursop fruit peel can be a source of alkaloids and that UAE has an important potential for extracting these compounds.
Enhancing the Ballistic Performances of 3D Warp Interlock Fabric Through Internal Structure as New Material for Seamless Female Soft Body Armor Development
Authors: Abtew Mulat Alubel , Boussu Francois , Bruniaux Pascal , Loghin Carmen , Cristian Irina
Published: July 2020

This paper investigates the effects of warp yarns ratios on the ballistic performances of three-dimensional (3D) warp interlock p-aramid fabrics. Four 3D warp interlock variants with different binding and stuffer warp yarns ratios were designed and developed. Except for warp yarns ratios, similar fabric parameters and manufacturing conditions were considered. Two-dimensional (2D) woven fabric having similar material characteristics and recommended for female seamless soft body armor are also considered for comparisons. Five ballistic panels, one from 2D plain weave fabric and the rest four from the other 3D warp interlock variants were prepared in a non-angled layer alignment and non-stitched but bust-shaped molded form. The ballistic test is carried out according to NIJ (National Institute of Justice) standard-level IIIA. Back Face Signature (BFS) was then modeled and measured to compute both trauma and panels’ energy-absorbing capability. The result showed significant ballistic improvement in the 3D warp interlock variant with optimum warp yarns ratios over traditional 2D plain weave fabrics. 3D warp interlock fabric panel made with 66.6% binding and 33.3% stuffer warp yarn ratio revealed both lower BFS depth and higher energy absorbing capacity (%) than other panels made of 2D plain weave and 3D warp interlock fabric variants.
Hf-Doping Effect on the Thermoelectric Transport Properties of n-Type Cu0.01Bi2Te2.7Se0.3
Authors: Hwang Jeong Yun , Choi Sura , Kim Sang-il , Lim Jae-Hong , Choi Soon-Mok , Yang Heesun , Kim Hyun-Sik , Lee Kyu Hyoung
Published: July 2020

Polycrystalline bulks of Hf-doped Cu0.01Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 are prepared via a conventional melt-solidification process and subsequent spark plasma sintering technology, and their thermoelectric performances are evaluated. To elucidate the effect of Hf-doping on the thermoelectric properties of n-type Cu0.01Bi2Te2.7Se0.3, electronic and thermal transport parameters are estimated from the measured data. An enlarged density-of-states effective mass (from ~0.92 m0 to ~1.24 m0) is obtained due to the band modification, and the power factor is improved by Hf-doping benefitting from the increase in carrier concentration while retaining carrier mobility. Additionally, lattice thermal conductivity is reduced due to the intensified point defect phonon scattering that originated from the mass difference between Bi and Hf. Resultantly, a peak thermoelectric figure of merit zT of 0.83 is obtained at 320 K for Cu0.01Bi1.925Hf0.075Te2.7Se0.3, which is a ~12% enhancement compared to that of the pristine Cu0.01Bi2Te2.7Se0.3.
Mineral Carbonation of CO2 in Mafic Plutonic Rocks, I—Screening Criteria and Application to a Case Study in Southwest Portugal
Authors: Pedro Jorge , Araújo António A. , Moita Patrícia , Beltrame Massimo , Lopes Luis , Chambel António , Berrezueta Edgar , Carneiro Júlio
Published: July 2020

This article describes the screening, ranking and characterization of ultramafic and mafic rocks in southern Portugal for mineral carbonation as an alternative to conventional CO2 storage in sedimentary rocks. A set of criteria including mineralogy, structure, surface area, distance to CO2 sources, expected volume, and socioeconomic conditions was applied to screen ultramafic and mafic rock massifs in the Alentejo region, southern Portugal. Ranking of the massifs indicated that the plutonic massifs of Sines and of Torrão‒Odivelas were the most promising. A characterization was made of the Sines massif, a subvolcanic massif composed mostly of gabbros and diorites, located immediately adjacent to the CO2 sources and outcropping along 300 km2 onshore and offshore. These studies confirmed that these rock samples exhibited the appropriate mineralogical and geochemical features, but also indicated that the secondary porosity provided by the fracture patterns was very small.
Modeling Future Streamflow for Adaptive Water Allocation under Climate Change for the Tanjung Karang Rice Irrigation Scheme Malaysia
Authors: Ismail Habibu , Kamal Md Rowshon , Abdullah Ahmad Fikri b. , Jada Deepak Tirumishi , Sai Hin Lai
Published: July 2020

Spatial and temporal climatic variability influence on the productivity of agricultural watershed and irrigation systems. In a large irrigation system, the quantification and regulation of the flow at different locations of the channel is quite difficult manually, leading to a poor delivery of supply and demand. Water shortage is a crucial issue due to mismatch between available water and demand at intake point of Tanjung-Karang Irrigation Scheme. This study assessed the potential impacts of climate change on basin outflow for 2010–2039, 2040–2069, and 2070–2099 to the baseline period (1976–2005) and used it as input hydrograph to simulate river discharge. A Hydrologic Engineering Corps Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS) model driven by projections from ten global climate models (GCMs) with three scenarios (Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) 4.5, 6.0, and 8.5) used to simulate the outflow and the Hydrologic Engineering Centers River Analysis System (HEC-RAS) model applied for hydraulic modeling. The projected seasonal streamflow showed a decreasing trend for future periods. The average available irrigation supply for historical period is 15.97 m3/s, which would decrease by 12%, 18%, and 21% under RCPs 4.5, 6.0, and 8.5, respectively. Projected irrigation supply showed oversupply and undersupply to the required supply during the growing season. Simulated discharge could therefore be incorporated into cropping practices to boost the sustainable distribution of water under the new realities of climate change in the future.
Recombination Parameters of the Diffusion Region and Depletion Region for Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells under Different Injection Levels
Authors: Bai Qiaoqiao , Yang Hong , Cheng Xiaoli , Wang He
Published: July 2020

In order to maximize performance in all conditions of use, and to model exactly the performance of solar cells, it is very important to study the recombination parameters under different injection levels. In this paper, the recombination parameters and their effect on the output performance of solar cells are investigated under different injection levels for the full-area aluminum back surface field (Al-BSF) solar cell and passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) solar cell for the first time. It is found that the recombination parameter J01 of the diffusion region and the recombination parameter J02 of the depletion region for the PERC solar cell are smaller than those of the Al-BSF solar cell under the same injection level. A new finding is that the recombination parameter J01 of Al-BSF solar cells increases quickly with the decreasing injection level compared with PERC solar cells. Finally, the J01/J02 of Al-BSF and PERC solar cells is investigated, and the effects of J01/J02 on the electrical parameters are also analyzed for Al-BSF and PERC solar cells under different injection levels. The obtained conclusions not only clarify the relationship between the recombination parameters and injection levels, but also help to improve cell processes and accurately model daily energy production.
Climate Change and the Future Heat Stress Challenges among Smallholder Farmers in East Africa
Authors: Yengoh Genesis Tambang , Ardö Jonas
Published: July 2020

Agricultural production in sub-Saharan Africa remains dependent on high inputs of human labor, a situation associated with direct exposure to daylight heat during critical periods of the agricultural calendar. We ask the question: how is the Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) going to be distributed in the future, and how will this affect the ability of smallholder farmers to perform agricultural activities? Data from general circulation models are used to estimate the distribution of WBGT in 2000, 2050 and 2100, and for high activity periods in the agricultural calendar. The distribution of WBGT is divided into recommended maximum WBGT exposure levels (°C) at different work intensities, and rest/work ratios for an average acclimatized worker wearing light clothing (ISO, 18). High WBGTs are observed during the two periods of the East African. In February to March, eastern and coastal regions of Kenya and Tanzania witness high WBGT values—some necessitating up to 75% rest/hour work intensities in 2050 and 2100. In August to September, eastern and northern Kenya and north and central Uganda are vulnerable to high WBGT values. Designing policies to address this key challenge is a critical element in adaptation methods to address the impact of climate change.
Design of a BIM Integrated Structural Health Monitoring System for a Historic Offshore Lighthouse
Authors: O’Shea Michael , Murphy Jimmy
Published: July 2020

The advent of wireless sensors and internet of things connectivity combined with increased open source cloud based digital sharing among the architecture, engineering, and construction industry has helped expand the range of applications for building information modelling. As the rate of adoption of BIM as a standard practice for planning, designing, and constructing new infrastructure increases, the research focus is moving towards other applications. Utilizing BIM in innovative ways such as for building energy performance, carbon capture, and asset management are now being explored. An area which receives less focus is the application of BIM on existing structures. This study explores the potential for implementing BIM on an existing structure for asset management and structural health monitoring. A method of integrating sensors to enhance the visualisation of structural health monitoring through BIM is developed. The study describes how monitoring data can be integrated within the BIM of an offshore lighthouse.
Validation of an Automatic Arousal Detection Algorithm for Whole-Night Sleep EEG Recordings
Authors: Chylinski Daphne , Rudzik Franziska , Coppieters ‘t Wallant Dorothée , Grignard Martin , Vandeleene Nora , Van Egroo Maxime , Thiesse Laurie , Solbach Stig , Maquet Pierre , Phillips Christophe , Vandewalle Gilles , Cajochen Christian , Muto Vincenzo
Published: July 2020

Arousals during sleep are transient accelerations of the EEG signal, considered to reflect sleep perturbations associated with poorer sleep quality. They are typically detected by visual inspection, which is time consuming, subjective, and prevents good comparability across scorers, studies and research centres. We developed a fully automatic algorithm which aims at detecting artefact and arousal events in whole-night EEG recordings, based on time-frequency analysis with adapted thresholds derived from individual data. We ran an automated detection of arousals over 35 sleep EEG recordings in healthy young and older individuals and compared it against human visual detection from two research centres with the aim to evaluate the algorithm performance. Comparison across human scorers revealed a high variability in the number of detected arousals, which was always lower than the number detected automatically. Despite indexing more events, automatic detection showed high agreement with human detection as reflected by its correlation with human raters and very good Cohen’s kappa values. Finally, the sex of participants and sleep stage did not influence performance, while age may impact automatic detection, depending on the human rater considered as gold standard. We propose our freely available algorithm as a reliable and time-sparing alternative to visual detection of arousals.
Cardiovascular Risk and Statin Therapy Considerations in Women
Authors: Gheorghe Gina , Toth Peter P. , Bungau Simona , Behl Tapan , Ilie Madalina , Pantea Stoian Anca , Bratu Ovidiu Gabriel , Bacalbasa Nicolae , Rus Marius , Diaconu Camelia Cristina
Published: July 2020

Despite major progress in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, women remain an underdiagnosed and insufficiently treated group, with higher hospitalization and death rates compared to men. Obesity, more frequently encountered in women, raises the risk of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases as women age. There are some differences based on sex regarding the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of dyslipidemia, as it has been observed that women are less frequently prescribed statins and, when they are, they receive lower doses, even after myocardial infarction or coronary revascularization. Real-life data show that, compared to men, women are at higher risk of non-adherence to statin treatment and are more predisposed to discontinue treatment because of side effects. Statin metabolism has some particularities in women, due to a lower glomerular filtration rate, higher body fat percentage, and overall faster statin metabolism. In women of fertile age, before initiating statin treatment, contraception methods should be discussed because statins may have teratogenic effects. Older women have a higher likelihood of polypharmacy, with greater potential for drug interactions when prescribing a statin.
Analysis of Unsteady Pressure Fluctuation in a Semi-Open Cutting Pump
Authors: Cao Weidong , Mao Jiayu , Li Wei
Published: July 2020

In order to understand the pressure fluctuation characteristics of a semi-open cutting pump, the three-dimensional unsteady flow fields were calculated. External and internal flow characteristics of four schemes with different relative angles between the rotary cutter and the impeller were studied. The pressure fluctuations in the lower plate, the upper plate, the clearance between the rotary cutter and the fixed cutter, the first section in volute and nearby parts of the tongue were all analyzed, which are all the places that pressure distributions are greatly affected by the static and dynamic interaction, and at the same time, the force on the impeller was also analyzed. The results show that the fluctuations at different positions change periodically; the main frequency is blade frequency. The amplitude of pressure fluctuation decreases from near the rotating part to far away, from near the tongue to far from the tongue. Due to the influence of both impeller and rotary cutter, the pressure fluctuation on the lower plate is the largest. The pressure fluctuation is affected by flow rate, the larger the flow rate, the greater the pressure fluctuation. The radial and axial forces of the impeller change periodically with time, and the number of wave peaks and wave valleys is the same as the number of blades.
Impact of Lossy Compression Techniques on the Impedance Determination
Authors: Plenz Maik , Meyer Marc Florian , Grumm Florian , Becker Daniel , Schulz Detlef , McCulloch Malcom
Published: July 2020

One of the essential parameters to measure the stability and power-quality of an energy grid is the network impedance. Including distinct resonances which may also vary over time due to changing load or generation conditions in a network, the frequency characteristic of the impedance is an import part to analyse. The determination and analysis of the impedance go hand in hand with a massive amount of data output. The reduction of this high-resolution voltage and current datasets, while maintaining the fidelity of important information, is the main focus of this paper. The presented approach takes measured impedance datasets and a set of lossy compression procedures, to monitor the performance success with known key metrics. Afterwards, it continually compares the results of various lossy compression techniques. The innovative contribution is the combination of new and existing procedures as well as metrics in one approach, to reduce the size of the impedance datasets for the first time. The approach needs to be efficient, suitable, and exact, otherwise the decompression results are useless.
On the Acceptability of Electricity Demand Side Management by Time of Day
Authors: Nakano Satoshi , Washizu Ayu
Published: July 2020

Advances in the introduction of fluctuating renewable energies, such as photovoltaics (PV), have caused power-system destabilization. However, stability can be improved if consumers change the way they use power, moving to time slots when the PV output in an area is high. In large cities in developed countries, where the types of distributed energy resources are varied, demand side management (DSM) in which consumers share power supplies and adjust the demand has received considerable attention. Under effective DSM that uses the latest information and communication technology to maximize the use of renewable energy, we believe that sparing use of appliances is not the only solution to address global warming. If behavioral change shifts the use of domestic appliances from one time slot to other time slots, we do not have to abandon the use of these appliances. The aim of this study is to determine the possibility of such behavioral changes in people in order to provide basic information for operating an effective DSM. To that end, we conducted a questionnaire-based survey of 10,000 households in Japan. We investigated the proportion of people responding to a request for a demand response (DR) under the given presented reward in time slots when DSM by DR is required. We also analyzed the factors influencing people’s response to a request for a DR. Furthermore, based on the rewards likely to be achieved in the adjustable power market, we estimated how much adjustable power would be realized.
Optimal Sizing of a Real Remote Japanese Microgrid with Sea Water Electrolysis Plant Under Time-Based Demand Response Programs
Authors: Gamil Mahmoud M. , Sugimura Makoto , Nakadomari Akito , Senjyu Tomonobu , Howlader Harun Or Rashid , Takahashi Hiroshi , Hemeida Ashraf M.
Published: July 2020

Optimal sizing of power systems has a tremendous effective role in reducing the total system cost by preventing unneeded investment in installing unnecessary generating units. This paper presents an optimal sizing and planning strategy for a completely hybrid renewable energy power system in a remote Japanese island, which is composed of photovoltaic (PV), wind generators (WG), battery energy storage system (BESS), fuel cell (FC), seawater electrolysis plant, and hydrogen tank. Demand response programs are applied to overcome the performance variance of renewable energy systems (RESs) as they offer an efficient solution for many problems such as generation cost, high demand peak to average ratios, and assist grid reliability during peak load periods. Real-Time Pricing (RTP), which is deployed in this work, is one of the main price-based demand response groups used to regulate electricity consumption of consumers. Four case studies are considered to confirm the robustness and effectiveness of the proposed schemes. Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) is utilized to optimize the size of the system’s components to decrease the total system cost and maximize the profits at the same time.
Analysis of the Thermal Environment in Pedestrian Space Using 3D Thermal Imaging
Authors: Zhao Xuexiu , Luo Yanwen , He Jiang
Published: July 2020

Pedestrian space is an important place for people’s outdoor activities. Its thermal environment affects pedestrian walking experience, route selection and physical health. This study presents a 3D thermography-based method to analyze and evaluate the spatial distribution of thermal comfort. The proposed 3D thermal image was generated using 3D city models captured by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and thermal images gathered by an infrared camera. It can visualize construction elements, but also simply output surface temperatures at selected points. This paper described the process of using 3D thermal images to analyze the built environment, and selected two pedestrian spaces as case study objects. Their thermal images and mean radiant temperatures (MRT) were obtained from field measurement data collected by a drone and infrared camera. The following findings were obtained: (a) the MRT difference in the pedestrian space between sunlit and shaded areas was more than 3 °C; (b) the MRT values at the measurement points near vegetation were lower; (c) when the ratio of street height to width (H/W) was larger, the MRT values at all measurement points varied slightly. These findings can be used for the designers to evaluate and improve the thermal environment in pedestrian space.
Alluvial Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining in A River Stream—Rutsiro Case Study (Rwanda)
Authors: Macháček Jan
Published: July 2020

Artisanal and small-scale mining is a significant economic sector in Rwanda. Mining activities often use a watercourse, in which secondary extraction takes place and minerals are washed. Mining thus greatly affects the geomorphological conditions in the area. The aim of this paper is a digest of environmental impacts of alluvial artisanal and small-scale mining with a focus on anthropogenic influences on topography with regard to the methods used in raw material mining. The author draws on a case study from the mining site of Rutsiro district in Rwanda. Main findings of alluvial artisanal mining in a riverscape are changes in landscape structure, deforestation, intensification of geomorphological processes, new relief shapes (suffosion depressions, check dams, gravel benches, anthropogenic channels) and hydrological river regime, chemical pollution of soil and watercourses. Artisanal and small-scale mining may lead to a significant change and acceleration of fluvial processes. This paper covers a broad understanding of environmental impacts of alluvial artisanal and small-scale mining with a focus on anthropogenic influencing.
Quality of Palliative and End-Of-Life Care in Hong Kong: Perspectives of Healthcare Providers
Authors: Wong Eliza Lai-Yi , Kiang Nicole , Chung Roger Yat-Nork , Lau Janice , Chau Patsy Yuen-Kwan , Wong Samuel Yeung-Shan , Woo Jean , Chan Emily Ying-Yang , Yeoh Eng-Kiong
Published: July 2020

Background: In response to population aging, there is a need for health systems to focus on care for chronic disease, specifically palliative care, while focusing on people-centered care. The objective of this study is to explore the healthcare system enablers and barriers to the provision of quality palliative and end-of-life care from the perspective of healthcare professionals. Materials and Methods: Using purposive sampling, fifteen focus group interviews and nine individual interviews involving 72 healthcare providers were conducted. Primary qualitative data were collected between May 2016 and July 2017. All recorded discussions were transcribed verbatim and analyzed. A thematic framework was developed. Results: The provision of quality palliative and end-of-life care is influenced by the interaction and integration of nine sub-themes under four identified themes: (1) political context; (2) organization setting; (3) support to patients, caregivers, and family members, and (4) healthcare workers and the public. Conclusions: Integration of palliative and end-of-life care is an important pillar of healthcare service to improve quality of life by addressing patients’ values, wishes and preference, and assist their family to handle challenges at the end stage of life. Further improvements to the service framework would be required, specifically in the political framework, multidisciplinary approach, and readiness and competence in healthcare workers and community. These were highlighted in our study as key components in service provision to ensure that patients can receive continuous and integrated care between hospitals and the community as well as dignified care at the end stage of life.
Effect of Post-Stroke Rehabilitation on Body Mass Composition in Relation to Socio-Demographic and Clinical Factors
Authors: Przysada Grzegorz , Czenczek-Lewandowska Ewelina , Wyszyńska Justyna , Weres Aneta , Baran Joanna , Kwolek Andrzej , Leszczak Justyna
Published: July 2020

Background and objectives: Stroke is one of the leading causes of morbidity, mortality and long-term adult disability. The aim of this study was to assess the changes in body mass composition in patients after stroke in connection with selected socio-demographic and clinical factors (sex, age, type of stroke and time from the first symptoms) following the rehabilitation process. Materials and Methods: The study group consisted of 100 post-stroke subjects who participated in a comprehensive rehabilitation program for a duration of five weeks. The measurements of body composition by a Tanita MC 780 MA analyser were performed on the day of admission to hospital, on the day of discharge (after 5 weeks) and 12 weeks after discharge from hospital. Results: It was shown that before rehabilitation (Exam I) in the study group there were significant differences in body composition relative to sex, age and time from stroke. The rates of fat mass % and visceral fat level decreased after rehabilitation (Exam II) in both males and females. Exam II, at the end hospital rehabilitation, showed lower levels of fat mass %, visceral fat level, as well as fat-free mass % and higher values of total body water % and muscle mass %. In Exam III, i.e., 12 weeks after discharge, all of the parameters retained their values. Conclusions: The study shows an association between stroke risk factors (primarily age, sex and time from the onset of the first symptoms of stroke) and body mass composition resulting from rehabilitation. The type of stroke and the effects of rehabilitation on body mass components showed no differences. Comprehensive rehabilitation had a positive effect on the body mass components.
Investigation of the Impact of Land-Use Distribution on PM2.5 in Weifang: Seasonal Variations
Authors: Li Chengming , Zhang Kuo , Dai Zhaoxin , Ma Zhaoting , Liu Xiaoli
Published: July 2020

As air pollution becomes highly focused in China, the accurate identification of its influencing factors is critical for achieving effective control and targeted environmental governance. Land-use distribution is one of the key factors affecting air quality, and research on the impact of land-use distribution on air pollution has drawn wide attention. However, considerable studies have mostly used linear regression models, which fail to capture the nonlinear effects of land-use distribution on PM2.5 (fine particulate matter with a diameter less than or equal to 2.5 microns) and to show how impacts on PM2.5 vary with land-use magnitudes. In addition, related studies have generally focused on annual analyses, ignoring the seasonal variability of the impact of land-use distribution on PM2.5, thus leading to possible estimation biases for PM2.5. This study was designed to address these issues and assess the impacts of land-use distribution on PM2.5 in Weifang, China. A machine learning statistical model, the boosted regression tree (BRT), was applied to measure nonlinear effects of land-use distribution on PM2.5, capture how land-use magnitude impacts PM2.5 across different seasons, and explore the policy implications for urban planning. The main conclusions are that the air quality will significantly improve with an increase in grassland and forest area, especially below 8% and 20%, respectively. When the distribution of construction land is greater than around 10%, the PM2.5 pollution can be seriously substantially increased with the increment of their areas. The impact of gardens and farmland presents seasonal characteristics. It is noted that as the weather becomes colder, the inhibitory effect of vegetation distribution on the PM2.5 concentration gradually decreases, while the positive impacts of artificial surface distributions, such as construction land and roads, are aggravated because leaves drop off in autumn (September–November) and winter (December–February). According to the findings of this study, it is recommended that Weifang should strengthen pollution control in winter, for instance, expand the coverage areas of evergreen vegetation like Pinus bungeana Zucc. and Euonymus japonicus Thunb, and increase the width and numbers of branches connecting different main roads. The findings also provide quantitative and optimal land-use planning and strategies to minimize PM2.5 pollution, referring to the status of regional urbanization and greening construction.
Injuries in Korean Elite Taekwondo Athletes: A Prospective Study
Authors: Son Boae , Cho Young Jae , Jeong Hee Seong , Lee Sae Yong
Published: July 2020

This prospective cohort study aimed to identify the incidence and characteristics of Taekwondo-related injuries according to age, sex, and event type (i.e., practice or competition) based on a web-based injury surveillance system (ISS) with a follow-up period of 12 months. A total of 285 members of the Korea Taekwondo Association who competed in the 2016 season participated. Injury incidence rates (IRs) were calculated per 1000 athlete-exposures (AEs). Injury rate ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals were calculated and compared regarding age, sex, and event type. During the season, 336 injuries were reported, resulting in a rate of 6.31/1000 AEs. The most common location, type, and mechanism of injury in Taekwondo athletes were the foot/ankle, ligament sprain, and contact with another player, respectively. The overall injury IRs associated with Taekwondo practicing and competition were 4.79/1000 AEs and 24.86/1000 AEs, respectively. The overall injury RR related to both practice and competition was higher in youth athletes than in adult athletes. However, adult athletes were more likely to sustain more severe injuries. Korean elite Taekwondo athletes were commonly exposed to injury, especially youth and female athletes. Therefore, continuation of the ISS suggests the development of interventions for preventing injuries sustained by Taekwondo athletes.
Blood Meal Sources of Anopheles spp. in Malaria Endemic Areas of Honduras
Authors: Escobar Denis , Ascencio Krisnaya , Ortiz Andrés , Palma Adalid , Sánchez Ana , Fontecha Gustavo
Published: July 2020

Malaria remains a life-threatening disease in many tropical countries. Honduras has successfully reduced malaria transmission as different control methods have been applied, focusing mainly on indoor mosquitoes. The selective pressure exerted by the use of insecticides inside the households could modify the feeding behavior of the mosquitoes, forcing them to search for available animal hosts outside the houses. These animal hosts in the peridomicile could consequently become an important factor in maintaining vector populations in endemic areas. Herein, we investigated the blood meal sources and Plasmodium spp. infection on anophelines collected outdoors in endemic areas of Honduras. Individual PCR reactions with species-specific primers were used to detect five feeding sources on 181 visibly engorged mosquitoes. In addition, a subset of these mosquitoes was chosen for pathogen analysis by a nested PCR approach. Most mosquitoes fed on multiple hosts (2 to 4), and 24.9% of mosquitoes had fed on a single host, animal or human. Chicken and bovine were the most frequent blood meal sources (29.5% and 27.5%, respectively). The average human blood index (HBI) was 22.1%. None of the mosquitoes were found to be infected with Plasmodium spp. Our results show the opportunistic and zoophilic behavior of Anopheles mosquitoes in Honduras.
The Effects of Different Types of Eccentric Overload Training on Strength, Speed, Power and Change of Direction in Female Basketball Players
Authors: O Brien Joey , Browne Declan , Earls Des
Published: July 2020

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of two types of eccentric (ECC) overload training on strength, speed, power and change of direction in female basketball players. Twenty amateur basketball players (mean ± SD: age: 23.67 ± 6.05 years; height: 1.73 ± 0.05 m; body mass: 80.28 ± 17.67 kg) participated in a randomized trial. The players performed either flywheel inertial training (FIT) (n = 11) or tempo ECC training (TET) (n = 9) for 4 weeks, performing two sessions weekly. Performance characteristics, one repetition back squat (1RM), counter-movement jump (CMJ), squat jump (SJ), 10-metre sprint (10 m), change of direction (COD) and sit and reach flexibility (S&R) were tested pre and post intervention. Post-hoc testing revealed significant improvements in the FIT group for 1RM (p ≤ 0.001; ES = 0.59), 10 m (p = 0.003; ES = −0.54) and CMJ (p ≤ 0.001; ES = 1.04), while significant improvements were revealed in the TET group for 1RM (p = 0.007; ES = 0.71) and S&R (p ≤ 0.001; ES = 0.58). In conclusion, both FIT and TET groups demonstrated a positive training stimulus for increasing muscular strength. FIT may produce superior adaptions in CMJ and 10-m sprint, while TET may produce superior adaptions in S&R. Neither group achieved increases in either SJ or COD.
Atelocollagen Application in Human Periodontal Tissue Treatment—A Pilot Study
Authors: Wyganowska-Swiatkowska Marzena , Duda-Sobczak Anna , Corbo Andrea , Matthews-Brzozowska Teresa
Published: July 2020

Background: The aim of this study is the clinical observation of gingival tissue condition after atelocollagen injection. Methods: In 18 patients, 97 gingival class I Miller recessions were divided according to recession height, gingival papillae loss and thickness of gingivae. Atelocollagen (Linerase, 100 mg) was injected into keratinized gingivae twice or thrice, at two-week intervals. Results: Statistically significant changes in gingival recession, amount of gingival papillae loss and thickness of gingiva were observed, after both two and three collagen injections. Although the degree (height) of recession decreased and gingival tissue thickness increased with every injection; there was no difference in gingival papillae loss between second and third collagen injections. Conclusions: The injectable form of atelocollagen is a promising material for gingival soft tissue regeneration and stimulation and allows for reduction in the number of procedures and support in a variety of surgical scenarios. This is a pilot study that clinically measures the impact of injected atelocollagen on periodontal tissue biotype, including the thickness of gingivae and gingival papillae regeneration.
Study on Functionality and Surface Modification of a Stair-Step Liquid-Triggered Valve for On-Chip Flow Control
Authors: Chen Xi , Chen Sihui , Zhang Yi , Yang Hui
Published: July 2020

Distinctive from other forms of microfluidic system, capillary microfluidics is of great interest in autonomous micro-systems due to its well-engineered fluidic control based on capillary force. As an essential component of fluidic control in capillaric circuits, micro-valves enable sequential fluidic operations by performing actions such as stopping and triggering. In this paper, we present a stair-step liquid-triggered valve; the functionality of the valve and its dependencies on geometry and surface modification are studied. The surface contact angle of the microfabricated valves that are coated by polyethylene glycol (PEG) or (3-Aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES) is evaluated experimentally, and the corresponding reliability of the valve structure is discussed. Moreover, the variation in the surface contact angle over time is investigated, indicating the shelf time of the device. We further discuss the overall fluidic behavior in such capillary valves, which benefits the capillaric circuit designs at the initial stage.
High Surface Phonon-Polariton in-Plane Thermal Conductance along Coupled Films
Authors: Tachikawa Saeko , Ordonez-Miranda Jose , Wu Yunhui , Jalabert Laurent , Anufriev Roman , Volz Sebastian , Nomura Masahiro
Published: July 2020

Surface phonon-polaritons (SPhPs) are evanescent electromagnetic waves that can propagate distances orders of magnitude longer than the typical mean free paths of phonons and electrons. Therefore, they are expected to be powerful heat carriers capable of significantly enhancing the in-plane thermal conductance of polar nanostructures. In this work, we show that a SiO2/Si (10 μm thick)/SiO2 layered structure efficiently enhances the SPhP heat transport, such that its in-plane thermal conductance is ten times higher than the corresponding one of a single SiO2 film, due to the coupling of SPhPs propagating along both of its polar SiO2 nanolayers. The obtained results thus show that the proposed three-layer structure can outperform the in-plane thermal performance of a single suspended film while improving significantly its mechanical stability.
Argovit™ Silver Nanoparticles Effects on Allium cepa: Plant Growth Promotion without Cyto Genotoxic Damage
Authors: Casillas-Figueroa Francisco , Arellano-García María Evarista , Leyva-Aguilera Claudia , Ruíz-Ruíz Balam , Luna Vázquez-Gómez Roberto , Radilla-Chávez Patricia , Chávez-Santoscoy Rocío Alejandra , Pestryakov Alexey , Toledano-Magaña Yanis , García-Ramos Juan Carlos , Bogdanchikova Nina
Published: July 2020

Due to their antibacterial and antiviral effects, silver nanoparticles (AgNP) are one of the most widely used nanomaterials worldwide in various industries, e.g., in textiles, cosmetics and biomedical-related products. Unfortunately, the lack of complete physicochemical characterization and the variety of models used to evaluate its cytotoxic/genotoxic effect make comparison and decision-making regarding their safe use difficult. In this work, we present a systematic study of the cytotoxic and genotoxic activity of the commercially available AgNPs formulation Argovit™ in Allium cepa. The evaluated concentration range, 5–100 µg/mL of metallic silver content (85–1666 µg/mL of complete formulation), is 10–17 times higher than the used for other previously reported polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-AgNP formulations and showed no cytotoxic or genotoxic damage in Allium cepa. Conversely, low concentrations (5 and 10 µg/mL) promote growth without damage to roots or bulbs. Until this work, all the formulations of PVP-AgNP evaluated in Allium cepa regardless of their size, concentration, or the exposure time had shown phytotoxicity. The biological response observed in Allium cepa exposed to Argovit™ is caused by nanoparticles and not by silver ions. The metal/coating agent ratio plays a fundamental role in this response and must be considered within the key physicochemical parameters for the design and manufacture of safer nanomaterials.
Relationship between Magnesium Intake and Chronic Pain in U.S. Adults
Authors: Tarleton Emily K. , Kennedy Amanda G. , Rose Gail L. , Littenberg Benjamin
Published: July 2020

Chronic pain is a public health concern and additional treatment options are essential. Inadequate magnesium intake has been associated with chronic pain in some populations. We sought to examine the relationship between dietary magnesium intake and chronic pain in a large, representative cohort of U.S. adults (NHANES). Of the 13,434 eligible adults surveyed between 1999 and 2004, 14.5% reported chronic pain while 66% reported inadequate magnesium intake. The univariate analysis showed a protective effect of increased magnesium intake adjusted for body weight (odds ratio 0.92; 95%; CI 0.88, 0.95; p < 0.001). It remained so even after correcting for socioeconomic and clinical factors as well as total calorie intake (odds ratio 0.93; 95% CI 0.87, 0.99; p = 0.02). The association was stronger in females (odds ratio 0.91; 95% CI 0.85, 0.98; p = 0.01) than males (odds ratio 0.96; 95% CI 0.89, 1.04; p = 0.32). The potential protective effect of magnesium intake on chronic pain warrants further investigation.
Associations of Food-Chewing Discomfort with Health Behaviors and Cognitive and Physical Health Using Pooled Data from the Korean Health Panel (2010–2013)
Authors: Shin Sun Mi
Published: July 2020

Using 4 years of pooled data from the Korean Health Panel (2010–2013), the prevalence of food-chewing discomfort in adults over the age of 19 was investigated and the cross-sectional relationship between food-chewing discomfort and health behaviors and cognitive and physical health was identified. The prevalence of food-chewing discomfort was 31%: young adults (<40 years), 17.9%; middle-aged adults (40–64 years), 28.9%; and older adults (≥65 years), 57.1% (p < 0.0001). When food-chewing discomfort was sometimes, often, or always rather than never, odds ratios (ORs) were analyzed after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. Significant OR results of target variables were smoking (OR 1.15, 1.37, 1.50), drinking (1.08, 0.87, 0.73), problem drinking (1.87, 1.67, 1.34), abstinence from drinking (1.23, 1.34, 1.42), nonphysical activity (OR 0.87 only significant, 0.94 nonsignificant, 1.10 nonsignificant), memory decline (2.07, 2.56, 3.31), decision-making difficulty (1.76, 2.78, 4.37), limitation of daily life due to illness (2.29, 3.60, 3.92), and the presence of a chronic disease (1.28, 1.62, 1.73), respectively. In conclusion, there were associations of food-chewing discomfort with increased smoking and decreased alcohol consumption, with increased difficulty in decision-making and memory decline, limitations in daily life due to disease, and the presence of chronic diseases. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the causal relationship between chewing and health behaviors and cognitive and physical health through longitudinal studies.
The Effect of an Atherogenic Diet and Acute Hyperglycaemia on Endothelial Function in Rabbits Is Artery Specific
Authors: Tacey Alexander , Qaradakhi Tawar , Smith Cassandra , Pittappillil Chris , Hayes Alan , Zulli Anthony , Levinger Itamar
Published: July 2020

Hyperglycaemia has a toxic effect on blood vessels and promotes coronary artery disease. It is unclear whether the dysfunction caused by hyperglycaemia is blood vessel specific and whether the dysfunction is exacerbated following an atherogenic diet. Abdominal aorta, iliac, and mesenteric arteries were dissected from New Zealand White rabbits following either a 4-week normal or atherogenic diet (n = 6–12 per group). The arteries were incubated ex vivo in control or high glucose solution (20 mM or 40 mM) for 2 h. Isometric tension myography was used to determine endothelial-dependent vasodilation. The atherogenic diet reduced relaxation as measured by area under the curve (AUC) by 25% (p < 0.05), 17% (p = 0.06) and 40% (p = 0.07) in the aorta, iliac, and mesenteric arteries, respectively. In the aorta from the atherogenic diet fed rabbits, the 20 mM glucose altered EC50 (p < 0.05). Incubation of the iliac artery from atherogenic diet fed rabbits in 40 mM glucose altered EC50 (p < 0.05). No dysfunction occurred in the mesentery with high glucose incubation following either the normal or atherogenic diet. High glucose induced endothelial dysfunction appears to be blood vessel specific and the aorta may be the optimal artery to study potential therapeutic treatments of hyperglycaemia induced endothelial dysfunction.
Erratum: Fukuyama, K., et al. Evaluation of the Immunomodulatory Ability of Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from Feedlot Cattle Against Mastitis Using a Bovine Mammary Epithelial Cells In Vitro Assay. Pathogens 2020, 9, 410
Authors: Fukuyama Kohtaro , Islam Md. Aminul , Takagi Michihiro , Ikeda-Ohtsubo Wakako , Kurata Shoichiro , Aso Hisashi , Nader-Macías Maria Elena Fatima , Vignolo Graciela , Villena Julio , Kitazawa Haruki
Published: July 2020

The authors would like to make the following corrections about the published paper [...]
Formulation Design, Statistical Optimization, and In Vitro Evaluation of a Naringenin Nanoemulsion to Enhance Apoptotic Activity in A549 Lung Cancer Cells
Authors: Md Shadab , Alhakamy Nabil A. , Aldawsari Hibah M. , Husain Mohammad , Kotta Sabna , Abdullah Samaa T. , A. Fahmy Usama , Alfaleh Mohamed A. , Asfour Hani Z.
Published: July 2020

Naringenin (NAR), a flavonoid mainly found in citrus and grapefruits, has proven anti-cancer activities. However, the poor water solubility and low bioavailability of NAR limits its use as a therapeutic agent. The aim of this study was to develop and optimize stable naringenin nanoemulsions (NAR-NE) using a Box–Behnken experimental design to obtain a formulation with a higher efficiency. Anticancer activity of optimized NAR-NE was evaluated in A549 lung cancer cells using cell viability, flow-cytometric assays, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The stabilized nanoemulsion, which showed a spherical surface morphology, had a globule size of 85.6 ± 2.1 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.263 ± 0.02, a zeta potential of −9.6 ± 1.2 mV, and a drug content of 97.34 ± 1.3%. The NAR release from the nanoemulsion showed an initial burst release followed by a stable and controlled release for a longer period of 24 h. The nanoemulsion exhibited excellent thermodynamic and physical stability against phase separation and storage. The NAR-NE showed concentration-dependent cytotoxicity in A549 lung cancer cells, which was greater than that of free NAR. The percentage of apoptotic cells and cell cycle arrest at the G2/M and pre-G1 phases induced by NAR-NE were significantly higher than those produced by free NAR (p < 0.05). NAR-NEs were more effective than the NAR solution in reducing Bcl2 expression, while increasing pro-apoptotic Bax and caspase-3 activity. Therefore, stabilized NAR-NE could be a suitable drug delivery system to enhance the effects of NAR in the treatment of lung cancer.