bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Transition to Renewable Energy Technologies—Impact on Economic Performance of North Rhine-Westphalia
Authors: Aniello Gianmarco , Többen Johannes , Kuckshinrichs Wilhelm
Published: September 2019

The economic impacts of the German Renewable Energy Act (EEG) are of considerable importance for the discussion of the energy transition in Germany (Energiewende). The Energiewende implies structural changes of the energy system by deploying Renewable Energy (and energy efficiency) Technologies (RET), but it also may induce structural changes for the overall economy, with uneven effects on a sub-national level. North-Rhine Westphalia (NRW) is an ideal case to study such regional disparities, since this federal state has scarce per-capita renewable energy sources, whereas it stands out for its energy intensive industry and fossil-fuel based power plants. In order to support renewable energy policies, mostly gross impact assessments of RET deployment have been carried out both on national and regional levels. By definition, such analyses result in positive assessments, since only expansionary effects resulting from additional demand for RET are accounted for. This paper, in contrast, presents a net impact assessment of the EEG on the NRW economy of both expansionary and contractionary effects. The latter consist of negative income effects, increased production costs and, the crowding-out of conventional energy due to the renewable energy financing mechanism (i.e., electricity surcharge), as well as its preferential status for feed-in. Our findings show how North-Rhine Westphalia, with regard to the operation of RET, suffers disproportionally from negative effects in relation to the value addition of its economy in comparison to the rest the country, whereas it benefits marginally from the production of such facilities.
PDDL Planning with Natural Language-Based Scene Understanding for UAV-UGV Cooperation
Authors: Moon Jiyoun , Lee Beom-Hee
Published: September 2019

Natural-language-based scene understanding can enable heterogeneous robots to cooperate efficiently in large and unconstructed environments. However, studies on symbolic planning rarely consider the semantic knowledge acquisition problem associated with the surrounding environments. Further, recent developments in deep learning methods show outstanding performance for semantic scene understanding using natural language. In this paper, a cooperation framework that connects deep learning techniques and a symbolic planner for heterogeneous robots is proposed. The framework is largely composed of the scene understanding engine, planning agent, and knowledge engine. We employ neural networks for natural-language-based scene understanding to share environmental information among robots. We then generate a sequence of actions for each robot using a planning domain definition language planner. JENA-TDB is used for knowledge acquisition storage. The proposed method is validated using simulation results obtained from one unmanned aerial and three ground vehicles.
The Algorithms of Image Processing and Analysis in the Textile Fabrics Abrasion Assessment
Authors: Jasińska Izabela
Published: September 2019

The abrasion resistance and susceptibility of textiles to surface damage is an important issue for their utility properties. The currently used test method for abrasion resistance assessment has been based on criteria that define the breakage point of fabrics, visually identified and highly depended on observer perception. Taking under consideration the character of abrasion assessment process the efforts were made to elaborate the new alternative test technique which supports this evaluation. The abrasion resistance tests using instrumental method (based on image analysis tools) parallel with standard method were carried out. There were two steps of analysis. Firstly, the preliminary analysis for selecting the most effective and sensitive algorithm was carried out. Secondly, the final analysis, involving whole range of captured image samples, using chosen algorithm, based on image histogram calculation was done. Summarizing the abrasion resistance tests results obtained using both standard and instrumental methods it was found that the instrumental method gave more complex results during identification of surface changes caused directly by the abrasion process. The instrumental method is more sensitive to surface texture modifications and colour fade and its discrimination threshold is significantly lower than standard methods with qualitative breakage criteria (such as broken threads, loss of pile).
A Method of Ontology Integration for Designing Intelligent Problem Solvers
Authors: Do Nhon V. , Nguyen Hien D. , Mai Thanh T.
Published: September 2019

Nowadays, designing knowledge-based systems which involve knowledge from different domains requires deep research of methods and techniques for knowledge integration, and ontology integration has become the foundation for many recent knowledge integration methods. To meet the requirements of real-world applications, methods of ontology integration need to be studied and developed. In this paper, an ontology model used as the knowledge kernel is presented, consisting of concepts, relationships between concepts, and inference rules. Additionally, this kernel is also added to other knowledge, such as knowledge of operators and functions, to form an integrated knowledge-based system. The mechanism of this integration method works upon the integration of the knowledge components in the ontology structure. Besides this, problems and the reasoning method to solve them on the integrated knowledge domain are also studied. Many related problems in the integrated knowledge domain and the reasoning method for solving them are also studied. Such an integrated model can represent the real-world knowledge domain about operators and functions with high accuracy and effectiveness. The ontology model can also be applied to build knowledge bases for intelligent problem solvers (IPS) in many mathematical courses in college, such as linear algebra and graph theory. These IPSs have great potential in helping students perform better in those college courses.
Progress in the Development of Chitosan-Based Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
Authors: Sultankulov Bolat , Berillo Dmitriy , Sultankulova Karina , Tokay Tursonjan , Saparov Arman
Published: September 2019

Over the last few decades, chitosan has become a good candidate for tissue engineering applications. Derived from chitin, chitosan is a unique natural polysaccharide with outstanding properties in line with excellent biodegradability, biocompatibility, and antimicrobial activity. Due to the presence of free amine groups in its backbone chain, chitosan could be further chemically modified to possess additional functional properties useful for the development of different biomaterials in regenerative medicine. In the current review, we will highlight the progress made in the development of chitosan-containing bioscaffolds, such as gels, sponges, films, and fibers, and their possible applications in tissue repair and regeneration, as well as the use of chitosan as a component for drug delivery applications.
Driving Forces of Liquid–Liquid Phase Separation in Biological Systems
Authors: Zaslavsky Boris Y. , Ferreira Luisa A. , Uversky Vladimir N.
Published: September 2019

Analysis of liquid–liquid phase separation in biological systems shows that this process is similar to the phase separation observed in aqueous two-phase systems formed by nonionic polymers, proteins, and polysaccharides. The emergence of interfacial tension is a necessary condition of phase separation. The situation in this regard is similar to that of phase separation in mixtures of partially miscible solvents. It is suggested that the evaluation of the effects of biological macromolecules on the solvent properties of aqueous media and the measurement of the interfacial tension as a function of these solvent properties may be more productive for gaining insights into the mechanism of liquid–liquid phase separation than the study of structural details of proteins and RNAs engaged in the process.
Balancing Socio-Efficiency and Resilience of Energy Provisioning on a Regional Level, Case Oulun Energia in Finland
Authors: Fedorova Elena , Caló Antonio , Pongrácz Eva
Published: September 2019

The need to reduce CO2 emissions makes companies find new sustainable solutions for energy production. Diverse multiple sourcing energy production value chains became an important strategical development used at a regional level in Finland. This article presents a social sustainability state data visualization framework that allows us to communicate key social aspects to stakeholders and local communities. Core social aspects are defined through the assessment of multiple sourced electricity supply chains available within one region. This framework was tested on a case study covering regional electricity production supply chains in the Oulu sub-region, Finland. The evaluation of social indicators and their impacts presented along regional electricity production supply chains was performed via the conversion of collected data into visual objects. A cumulative social impact assessment of a local energy supply chain revealed that social sustainability impacts have the tendency to accumulate within the region. The results indicate that multiple sourced electricity supply chains are a socially sustainable solution that improve energy security and provide affordable electricity to local communities. The results indicate how by using multiple-sourcing value chains, companies can improve regional social resilience and balance socio-efficiency through building an effective relation between a company’s value added and its social impact on local communities.
Molecular Dynamics of Water Embedded Carbon Nanocones: Surface Waves Observation
Authors: Karataraki Georgia , Sapalidis Andreas , Tocci Elena , Gotzias Anastasios
Published: September 2019

We employed molecular dynamics simulations on the water solvation of conically shaped carbon nanoparticles. We explored the hydrophobic behaviour of the nanoparticles and investigated microscopically the cavitation of water in a conical confinement with different angles. We performed additional molecular dynamics simulations in which the carbon structures do not interact with water as if they were in vacuum. We detected a waving on the surface of the cones that resembles the shape agitations of artificial water channels and biological porins. The surface waves were induced by the pentagonal carbon rings (in an otherwise hexagonal network of carbon rings) concentrated near the apex of the cones. The waves were affected by the curvature gradients on the surface. They were almost undetected for the case of an armchair nanotube. Understanding such nanoscale phenomena is the key to better designed molecular models for membrane systems and nanodevices for energy applications and separation.
Action Functional for a Particle with Damping
Authors: de Bettin Federico , Cappellaro Alberto , Salasnich Luca
Published: September 2019

In this brief report we discuss the action functional of a particle with damping, showing that it can be obtained from the dissipative equation of motion through a modification which makes the new dissipative equation invariant for time reversal symmetry. This action functional is exactly the effective action of Caldeira-Leggett model but, in our approach, it is derived without the assumption that the particle is weakly coupled to a bath of infinite harmonic oscillators.
Numerical Laplace Inversion Method for Through-Silicon Via (TSV) Noise Coupling in 3D-IC Design
Authors: Ait Belaid Khaoula , Belahrach Hassan , Ayad Hassan
Published: September 2019

Typical 3D integrated circuit structures based on through-silicon vias (TSVs) are complicated to study and analyze. Therefore, it seems important to find some methods to investigate them. In this paper, a method is proposed to model and compute the time-domain coupling noise in 3D Integrated Circuit (3D-IC) based on TSVs. It is based on the numerical inversion Laplace transform (NILT) method and the chain matrices. The method is validated using some experimental results and the Pspice and Matlab tools. The results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed technique and the noise is analyzed in several cases. It is found that TSV noise coupling is affected by different factors such as source characteristics, horizontal interconnections, and the type of Inputs and Outputs (I/O) drivers.
Large Floating Structure with Free-Floating, Self-Stabilizing Tanks for Hydrocarbon Storage
Authors: Dai Jian , Ang Kok Keng , Jin Jingzhe , Wang Chien Ming , Hellan Øyvind , Watn Arnstein
Published: September 2019

Hydrocarbon is a major source of energy for sustainable development. Storage of hydrocarbon products, however, requires a significant amount of land space to land-scarce countries like Singapore. This paper presents an alternative way of storing hydrocarbon in Singapore coastal waters through the innovative design of a floating hydrocarbon storage facility. The design comprises free-floating and self-stabilizing tanks enclosed by barges that form a floating hydrocarbon storage facility. The tanks are made of prestressed concrete and they are designed to be self-stabilized when floating in the sea water. Owing to the lack of available design guidelines, design requirements on the stability and motion criteria for floating storage tanks are developed based on a review of existing codes of practice and design specifications for both onshore tanks and offshore vessels. A comprehensive study on the hydrostatic performance of various proposed floating tank design concepts with different storage capacities is carried out. This paper aims to give design recommendations on the tank’s storage capacity and dimensional aspect ratios that fulfill the recommended stability requirements and motion criteria.
Solving the Coupled Aerodynamic and Thermal Problem for Modeling the Air Distribution Devices with Perforated Plates
Authors: Khovanskyi Serhii , Pavlenko Ivan , Pitel Jan , Mizakova Jana , Ochowiak Marek , Grechka Irina
Published: September 2019

The article is focused on the comprehensive analysis of the aerodynamics of air distribution devices with the combined heat and mass exchange, with the aim to improve the following hydro- and thermodynamic parameters of ventilation systems: flow rate, air velocity, hydraulic losses, and temperature. The inadequacy of the previously obtained characteristics has confirmed the need for more rational designs of air distribution systems. Consequently, the use of perforated plates was proposed to increase hydraulic losses for reducing the average velocity and ensuring a uniform distribution of the velocity field on the outlet of the device. The effectiveness of one of the five possible designs usage is confirmed by the results of numerical simulation. The coefficient of hydraulic losses decreased by 2.5–3.0 times, as well as the uniformity of the outlet velocity field for the air flow being provided. Based on the three-factor factorial experiment, the linear mathematical model was obtained for determining the dependence of the average velocity on the flow rate, plate’s area, and diameter of holes. This model was significantly improved using the multiparameter quasi-linear regression analysis. As a result, the nonlinear mathematical models were obtained, allowing the analytical determination of the hydraulic losses and average velocity of the air flow. Additionally, the dependencies for determining the relative error of measuring the average velocity were obtained.
Naut Your Everyday Jellyfish Model: Exploring How Tentacles and Oral Arms Impact Locomotion
Authors: Miles Jason G. , Battista Nicholas A.
Published: September 2019

Jellyfish are majestic, energy-efficient, and one of the oldest species that inhabit the oceans. It is perhaps the second item, their efficiency, that has captivated scientists for decades into investigating their locomotive behavior. Yet, no one has specifically explored the role that their tentacles and oral arms may have on their potential swimming performance. We perform comparative in silico experiments to study how tentacle/oral arm number, length, placement, and density affect forward swimming speeds, cost of transport, and fluid mixing. An open source implementation of the immersed boundary method was used (IB2d) to solve the fully coupled fluid–structure interaction problem of an idealized flexible jellyfish bell with poroelastic tentacles/oral arms in a viscous, incompressible fluid. Overall tentacles/oral arms inhibit forward swimming speeds, by appearing to suppress vortex formation. Nonlinear relationships between length and fluid scale (Reynolds Number) as well as tentacle/oral arm number, density, and placement are observed, illustrating that small changes in morphology could result in significant decreases in swimming speeds, in some cases by upwards of 80–90% between cases with or without tentacles/oral arms.
BRCA2 Deletion Induces Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres in Telomerase Positive Colon Cancer Cells
Authors: Pompili Luca , Maresca Carmen , Dello Stritto Angela , Biroccio Annamaria , Salvati Erica
Published: September 2019

BRCA1/2 are tumor suppressor genes controlling genomic stability also at telomeric and subtelomeric loci. Their mutation confers a predisposition to different human cancers but also sensitivity to antitumor drugs including poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors and G-quadruplex stabilizers. Here we demonstrate that BRCA2 deletion triggers TERRA hyperexpression and alternative lengthening mechanisms (ALT) in colon cancer cells in presence of telomerase activity. This finding opens the question if cancer patients bearing BRCA2 germline or sporadic mutation are suitable for anti-telomerase therapies, or how ALT activation could influence the short or long-term response to anti-PARP inhibitors or anti-G-quadruplex therapies.
On Well-Being, Activism and Ethical Practice: Response to Trentin, Lisa. Sharing Histories: Teaching and Learning from Displaced Youth in Greece. Humanities 2018, 7, 53
Authors: Kamash Zena
Published: September 2019

In this response to Lisa Trentin’s article, I explore themes that bring together research and activism, through engagement with the past, and the ethics that concerns such endeavours. I demonstrate the overlaps with my own work into well-being and heritage and suggest that broadening out work to include mixed groups may increase the effects of reciprocity noted by Lisa Trentin. I argue that research, as well as teaching, which takes on the decolonizing principles that Lisa Trentin espouses, especially that which includes disenfranchised communities, needs to be done equitably and in ways that are ethical, compassionate and respectful.
Developing A Model of Mobility Capital for An Ageing Population
Authors: Musselwhite Charles , Scott Theresa
Published: September 2019

Driving a car meets older people’s needs, providing utility (getting from A to B), psychosocial (providing identity and roles and feelings of independence and normality) and aesthetic (mobility for its own sake) mobilities. Giving up driving is related to poorer health and wellbeing. This paper addresses how older people cope when they give up driving, using Bourdieu’s theory of capital as a way of categorising different barriers and enablers to managing without a car in a hypermobile society. Older people are most likely to mention barriers and enablers to mobility relating to infrastructure capital (technology, services, roads, pavements, finance and economics), followed by social capital (friends, family, neighbourhood and community). Cultural capital (norms, expectations, rules, laws) and individual capital (skills, abilities, resilience, adaptation and desire and willingness to change) are less important but still significantly contribute to older people’s mobility. Implications for policy and practice suggest that provision for older people beyond the car must explore capital across all four of the domains.
What Proportion Counts? Disaggregating Access to Safely Managed Sanitation in an Emerging Town in Tanzania
Authors: Komakech Hans C. , Moyo Francis , Roda Oscar Veses , Machunda Revocatus L. , Smith Kyla M. , Gautam Om P. , Cairncross Sandy
Published: September 2019

Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.2 sets an ambitious target of leaving no-one without adequate and equitable sanitation by 2030. The key concern is the lack of local human and financial capital to fund the collection of reliable information to monitor progress towards the goal. As a result, national and local records may be telling a different story of the proportion of safely managed sanitation that counts towards achieving the SDG. This paper unveils such inconsistency in sanitation data generated by urban authorities and proposes a simple approach for collecting reliable and verifiable information on access to safely managed sanitation. The paper is based on a study conducted in Babati Town Council in Tanzania. Using a smartphone-based survey tool, city health officers were trained to map 17,383 housing units in the town. A housing unit may comprise of two or more households. The findings show that 5% practice open defecation, while 82% of the housing units have some form of sanitation. Despite the extensive coverage, only 31% of the fecal sludge generated is safely contained, while 64% is not. This study demonstrates the possibility of using simple survey tools to collect reliable data for monitoring progress towards safely managed sanitation in the towns of global South.
Decrease in HDL-C is Associated with Age and Household Income in Adults from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017: Correlation Analysis of Low HDL-C and Poverty
Authors: Cho Kyung-Hyun , Park Hye-Jeong , Kim Suk-Jeong , Kim Jae-Ryong
Published: September 2019

A low serum high-density lipoproteins-cholesterol (HDL-C) level is a risk factor of cardiovascular disease and dementia. On the other hand, no study has elucidated the correlation between household income and the HDL-C level in the adult population. In the present study, 5535 subjects (20–80 year-old individuals) were selected from the Korean national health and nutrition examination survey 2017 (KNHANES VII-2, n = 2469 men, n = 3066 women). They were classified into five levels of household income grades ranging from one (the lowest) to five (the highest). They were also classified according to the HDL-C level: category 1 (<40 mg/dL, n = 943), category 2 (40–49 mg/dL, n = 1764), category 3 (50–59 mg/dL, n = 1572), category 4 (60–69 mg/dL, n = 820), and category 5 (≥70 mg/dL, n = 436). Generally, in both genders, a higher HDL-C level is associated with a larger percentage of income grades 4 and 5. Moreover, the lowest HDL-C group showed the largest percentage of income grade 1. In both groups, a significant increase in the average income grade was associated with a concomitant increase in the HDL-C level (men, p = 0.03, women, p < 0.001). In the low HDL-C category, a lower income grade is associated directly with a lower HDL-C level, which suggests that poverty is associated directly with a low HDL-C. Women showed a 3.3-fold higher incidence of dementia than men did at later-life. The sharp decrease in HDL-C in the female group older than 50 was accompanied by a dramatic increase in the incidence of dementia. However, the male group showed a relatively mild decrease in the HDL-C level after mid-life and weak elevation in the incidence of dementia. In conclusion, in both genders, the lower income group showed a larger prevalence of low-HDL-C levels. The decrease in HDL-C after middle age was strongly associated with the considerable increase in dementia in later-life.
Prohibition on Changing Workplaces and Fatal Occupational Injuries among Chinese Migrant Workers in South Korea
Authors: Lee Ju-Yeun , Cho Sung-il
Published: September 2019

We assessed the risk of fatal occupational injuries among migrant workers with two different types of employment permits in South Korea. This observational study used national data from January 2007 to September 2018 and analyzed 42,089 cases of occupationally injured migrant workers of Chinese nationality. Fatality rates were analyzed according to year, sex, age, occupation, industry, and type of employment permit. Chinese workers were permitted to work for one employer and prohibited from changing employers, whereas Korean-Chinese workers were permitted to change their employer. The adjusted fatality rate of occupational injuries of Chinese migrant workers was significantly higher (1.80-fold, 95% confidence interval 1.31–2.46) than that of Korean-Chinese migrant workers. The prohibition on changing workplaces; male sex; age ≥ 45 years; machine operator; construction industry; and agriculture, livestock, and fisheries industry were risk factors for fatal occupational injuries. The results imply a need for revision of the migrant-worker employment permit systems and implementation of occupational safety and health policies for all workers to promote health equity.
Effects of Microbial Activity and Environmental Parameters on the Degradation of Extracellular Environmental DNA from a Eutrophic Lake
Authors: Zulkefli Nur Syahidah , Kim Keon-Hee , Hwang Soon-Jin
Published: September 2019

Extracellular DNA (exDNA) pool in aquatic environments is a valuable source for biomonitoring and bioassessment. However, degradation under particular environmental conditions can hamper exDNA detectability over time. In this study, we analyzed how different biotic and abiotic factors affect the degradation rate of extracellular environmental DNA using 16S rDNA sequences extracted from the sediment of a eutrophic lake and Anabaena variabilis cultured in the laboratory. We exposed the extracted exDNA to different levels of temperature, light, pH, and bacterial activity, and quantitatively analyzed the concentration of exDNA during 4 days. The solution containing bacteria for microbial activity treatment was obtained from the lake sediment using four consecutive steps of filtration; two mesh filters (100 μm and 60 μm mesh) and two glass fiber filters (2.7 μm and 1.2 μm pore-sized). We found that temperature individually and in combination with bacterial abundance had significant positive effects on the degradation of exDNA. The highest degradation rate was observed in samples exposed to high microbial activity, where exDNA was completely degraded within 1 day at a rate of 3.27 day−1. Light intensity and pH had no significant effects on degradation rate of exDNA. Our results indicate that degradation of exDNA in freshwater ecosystems is driven by the combination of both biotic and abiotic factors and it may occur very fast under particular conditions.
Exerting Explanatory Accounts of Safety Behavior of Older Construction Workers within the Theory of Planned Behavior
Authors: Peng Lu , Chan Alan H.S.
Published: September 2019

Older construction workers are vulnerable to accident risks at work. Work behavior affects the occurrence of accidents at construction sites. This study aims to investigate the organizational and personal factors that underlie the safety behaviors of older construction workers considering their age-related characteristics. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey, which involves 260 older construction workers (aged 50 and over), was conducted, and an integrative old-construction-worker safety behavior model (OSBM) was established on the basis of the theory of planned behavior (TPB). Results showed that the OSBM provides a considerably good explanation of the safety behaviors of older construction workers. The explained variances for safety participation and compliance are 74.2% and 63.1%, respectively. Subjective norms and perceived behavioral control are two critical psychological drivers that proximally affect the safety behaviors of workers. Moreover, safety knowledge, management commitment, and aging expectation are the distal antecedents that significantly influence psychological drivers. This study proves the mediating role of psychological factors on predicting safety behaviors among older construction workers, thereby promoting an understanding of “how” and “why” their safety behaviors occur. Furthermore, the identified effects of several critical organizational and personal factors, particularly age-related factors, provide new insights into the safety behaviors of older construction workers.
The Evolution of the Role of External Ventricular Drainage in Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Chau Charlene Y. C. , Craven Claudia L. , Rubiano Andres M. , Adams Hadie , Tülü Selma , Czosnyka Marek , Servadei Franco , Ercole Ari , Hutchinson Peter J. , Kolias Angelos G.
Published: September 2019

External ventricular drains (EVDs) are commonly used in neurosurgery in different conditions but frequently in the management of traumatic brain injury (TBI) to monitor and/or control intracranial pressure (ICP) by diverting cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Their clinical effectiveness, when used as a therapeutic ICP-lowering procedure in contemporary practice, remains unclear. No consensus has been reached regarding the drainage strategy and optimal timing of insertion. We review the literature on EVDs in the setting of TBI, discussing its clinical indications, surgical technique, complications, clinical outcomes, and economic considerations.
The Effect of Perioperative Pregabalin on Pain after Arthroscopic Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Cho Eun-Ah , Kim Namo , Lee Bora , Song Jeehyun , Choi Yong Seon
Published: September 2019

Pain after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is usually intense in the early postoperative period, but the efficacy of a multimodal analgesia approach remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate the analgesic efficacy of pregabalin in multimodal analgesia after ACL reconstruction. Patients who underwent ACL reconstruction under spinal anesthesia and agreed to use intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) were randomly administered placebo (control group, n = 47) or pregabalin 150 mg (pregabalin group, n = 46) 1 h before surgery and 12 h after initial treatment. Pain by verbal numerical rating scale (VNRS) at rest and with passive flexion of knee was assessed at postoperative 12, 24, and 36 h and 2 weeks. IV-PCA consumption, rescue analgesic use, and side effects were also evaluated. Lower scores of VNRS were obtained with passive flexion of knee in the pregabalin group than in the control group at postoperative 24 (7(4–8) vs. 8(6–9), p = 0.043) and 36 h (4(3–7) vs. 5(4–9), p = 0.042), and lower value of VNRS at rest was observed in the pregabalin group [0(0–1)] than in the control group [1(0–2)] at postoperative 2 weeks (p < 0.001). No differences were obtained for IV-PCA consumption, rescue analgesic use, and side effects except for dizziness for postoperative 12 h. Pregabalin as an adjuvant to multimodal analgesic regimen significantly reduced early postoperative pain in patients undergoing ACL reconstruction.
The Effects of Using Pancreases Obtained from Brain-Dead Donors for Clinical Islet Transplantation in Japan
Authors: Ito Taihei , Kenmochi Takashi , Kurihara Kei , Kawai Akihiro , Aida Naohiro , Akashi Yumi , Kato Sakurako
Published: September 2019

Background: The pool of brain-dead donors (BDDs) was increased with the revision to the relevant law in 2010, and islet transplantation from BDDs was started in 2013. The present study assessed the influence of using pancreases from BDDs on islet transplantation in Japan. Methods: The donor information registered with the secretariat of islet transplants from 2012 was reviewed, and the results of 86 clinical islet isolations performed in Japan between 2003 and 2018 with non-heart-beating donors (NHBDs) (n = 71) and BDDs (n = 15) were investigated. Results: The number of cases for which donor information was registered with the secretariat of islet transplants increased to 1.84 cases/month from 2013 to 2018 in comparison to 1.44/month in 2012, when only NHBDs were used. The median pancreatic islet yield was 275,550 IEQ (Islet equivalents) in the NHBD group but 362,700 in the BDD group, which amounted to a statistically significant difference (p = 0.02). As a result, 38/71 cases (53.5%) were achieved successful islet isolation (>5000 IEQ per recipient weight (kg)) was achieved in 38/71 cases (53.5%) in the NHBD group, and 12/15 cases (80.0%) in the BDD group; thus, the rate of successful islet transplantation was higher in the BDD group. Conclusion: The use of pancreases from BDDs has increased the overall number of cases for which donor information is registered with the secretariat of islet transplants and has improved the performance of islet isolation, thereby increasing the probability of successfully achieving islet transplantation.
Cardiac and Vascular Sympathetic Baroreflex Control during Orthostatic Pre-Syncope
Authors: Furlan Raffaello , Heusser Karsten , Minonzio Maura , Shiffer Dana , Cairo Beatrice , Tank Jens , Jordan Jens , Diedrich André , Gauger Peter , Zamuner Antonio Roberto , Dipaola Franca , Porta Alberto , Barbic Franca
Published: September 2019

We hypothesized that sympathetic baroreflex mediated uncoupling between neural sympathetic discharge pattern and arterial pressure (AP) fluctuations at 0.1 Hz during baroreceptor unloading might promote orthostatic pre-syncope. Ten volunteers (32 ± 6 years) underwent electrocardiogram, beat-to-beat AP, respiratory activity and muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) recordings while supine (REST) and during 80° head-up tilt (HUT) followed by −10 mmHg stepwise increase of lower body negative pressure until pre-syncope. Cardiac and sympathetic baroreflex sensitivity were quantified. Spectrum analysis of systolic and diastolic AP (SAP and DAP) and calibrated MSNA (cMSNA) variability assessed the low frequency fluctuations (LF, ~0.1 Hz) of SAP, DAP and cMSNA variability. The squared coherence function (K2) quantified the coupling between cMSNA and DAP in the LF band. Analyses were performed while supine, during asymptomatic HUT (T1) and at pre-syncope onset (T2). During T2 we found that: (1) sympathetic baroreceptor modulation was virtually abolished compared to T1; (2) a progressive decrease in AP was accompanied by a persistent but chaotic sympathetic firing; (3) coupling between cMSNA and AP series at 0.1 Hz was reduced compared to T1. A negligible sympathetic baroreceptor modulation during pre-syncope might disrupt sympathetic discharge pattern impairing the capability of vessels to constrict and promote pre-syncope.
Modeling the Impact of Agricultural Shocks on Oil Price in the US: A New Approach
Authors: Vu Tan , Vo Duc , Ho Chi , Van Loan
Published: September 2019

The current literature has generally considered prices of the agricultural commodity as an endogenous factor to crude oil price. As such, the role of the agricultural market in the energy sector has been largely ignored. We argue that the expansion of agricultural production may trigger a significant increase in oil price. In addition, the world has recently witnessed a growth in biofuel production, leading to an increase in the size of the agricultural sector. This study is conducted to examine the impact of different agricultural shocks on the oil and agricultural markets in the US for the period from 1986 to 2018. The study utilizes the Structural Vector Autoregressive (SVAR) model to estimate the relationship between the agricultural market and the crude oil market. Moreover, the variance decomposition is also used to quantify the contribution of agricultural demand shocks on oil price variations. Findings from this paper indicate that different agricultural shocks can have different effects on oil price and that corn use in ethanol plays an important role in the impact of corn demand shocks on oil price. We find evidence that the agricultural market can have an impact on oil prices through two main channels: indirect cost push effect and direct biofuel effect. Of these, the biofuel channel unexpectedly suggests that the expansion of bioethanol may in fact foster the dependency of the economy on fossil fuel use and prices.
Effect of Reaction Time on Microwave Absorption Properties of Fe3O4 Hollow Spheres Synthesized via Ostwald Ripening
Authors: Huang Wei , Wang Yujiang , Wei Shicheng , Wang Bo , Liang Yi , Huang Yuwei , Xu Binshi
Published: September 2019

Hollow magnetic structures have great potential to be used in the microwave absorbing field. Herein, Fe3O4 hollow spheres with different levels of hollowness were synthesized by the hydrothermal method under Ostwald ripening effect. In addition to their microstructures, the microwave absorption properties of such spheres were investigated. The results show that the grain size and hollowness of Fe3O4 hollow spheres both increase as the reaction time increases. With increasing hollowness, the attenuation ability of electromagnetic wave of Fe3O4 spheres increases first and then decreases, finally increases sharply after the spheres break down. Samples with strong attenuation ability can achieve good impedance matching, which it does preferentially as the absorber thickness increases. Fe3O4 hollow spheres show the best microwave absorption performance when the reaction time is 24 h. The minimum reflection loss (RL (min)) can reach −40 dB, while the thickness is only 3.2 mm.
Combined Pulmonary Fibrosis and Emphysema: Pulmonary Function Testing and a Pathophysiology Perspective
Authors: Amariei Diana E. , Dodia Neal , Deepak Janaki , Hines Stella E. , Galvin Jeffrey R. , Atamas Sergei P. , Todd Nevins W.
Published: September 2019

Combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) has been increasingly recognized over the past 10–15 years as a clinical entity characterized by rather severe imaging and gas exchange abnormalities, but often only mild impairment in spirometric and lung volume indices. In this review, we explore the gas exchange and mechanical pathophysiologic abnormalities of pulmonary emphysema, pulmonary fibrosis, and combined emphysema and fibrosis with the goal of understanding how individual pathophysiologic observations in emphysema and fibrosis alone may impact clinical observations on pulmonary function testing (PFT) patterns in patients with CPFE. Lung elastance and lung compliance in patients with CPFE are likely intermediate between those of patients with emphysema and fibrosis alone, suggesting a counter-balancing effect of each individual process. The outcome of combined emphysema and fibrosis results in higher lung volumes overall on PFTs compared to patients with pulmonary fibrosis alone, and the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio in CPFE patients is generally preserved despite the presence of emphysema on chest computed tomography (CT) imaging. Conversely, there appears to be an additive deleterious effect on gas exchange properties of the lungs, reflecting a loss of normally functioning alveolar capillary units and effective surface area available for gas exchange, and manifested by a uniformly observed severe reduction in the diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO). Despite normal or only mildly impaired spirometric and lung volume indices, patients with CPFE are often severely functionally impaired with an overall rather poor prognosis. As chest CT imaging continues to be a frequent imaging modality in patients with cardiopulmonary disease, we expect that patients with a combination of pulmonary emphysema and pulmonary fibrosis will continue to be observed. Understanding the pathophysiology of this combined process and the abnormalities that manifest on PFT testing will likely be helpful to clinicians involved with the care of patients with CPFE.
Diversity of Nanoporous Metals
Authors: Fujita Takeshi
Published: September 2019

Nanoporous metals have been attracting considerable research and industrial attention because of the structural uniqueness of their bicontinuous metallic structure [...]
Site Selective Antibody-Oligonucleotide Conjugation via Microbial Transglutaminase
Authors: Huggins Ian J. , Medina Carlos A. , Springer Aaron D. , van den Berg Arjen , Jadhav Satish , Cui Xianshu , Dowdy Steven F.
Published: September 2019

Nucleic Acid Therapeutics (NATs), including siRNAs and AntiSense Oligonucleotides (ASOs), have great potential to drug the undruggable genome. Targeting siRNAs and ASOs to specific cell types of interest has driven dramatic improvement in efficacy and reduction in toxicity. Indeed, conjugation of tris-GalNAc to siRNAs and ASOs has shown clinical efficacy in targeting diseases driven by liver hepatocytes. However, targeting non-hepatic diseases with oligonucleotide therapeutics has remained problematic for several reasons, including targeting specific cell types and endosomal escape. Monoclonal antibody (mAb) targeting of siRNAs and ASOs has the potential to deliver these drugs to a variety of specific cell and tissue types. However, most conjugation strategies rely on random chemical conjugation through lysine or cysteine residues resulting in conjugate heterogeneity and a distribution of Drug:Antibody Ratios (DAR). To produce homogeneous DAR-2 conjugates with two siRNAs per mAb, we developed a novel two-step conjugation procedure involving microbial transglutaminase (MTGase) tagging of the antibody C-terminus with an azide-functionalized linker peptide that can be subsequently conjugated to dibenzylcyclooctyne (DBCO) bearing oligonucleotides through azide-alkyne cycloaddition. Antibody-siRNA (and ASO) conjugates (ARCs) produced using this strategy are soluble, chemically defined targeted oligonucleotide therapeutics that have the potential to greatly increase the number of targetable cell types.
Combined Analysis of Primary Metabolites and Phenolic Compounds to Authenticate Commercial Monovarietal Peach Purees and Pear Juices
Authors: Delpino-Rius Antoni , Eras Jordi , Gatius Ferran , Balcells Mercè , Canela-Garayoa Ramon
Published: September 2019

Here we authenticated single-varietal peach purees and pear juices on the basis of primary metabolite and phenolic compound analysis by Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H-NMR) and Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled to Photodiode Array and Tandem Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-PDA-MS/MS), respectively. After suitable preprocessing, the 1H-NMR and chromatographic data were evaluated by principal component analysis (PCA). The PCA combining data from primary metabolites and phenolic compounds allowed the separation of the clusters in all cases, allowing discrimination of processed and unprocessed peach purees, both separately and pooled. The PCA of primary metabolites allowed the cluster separation of purees of distinct peach varieties but not between processed and non-processed purees. The PCA of phenolic compounds allowed better cluster separation than of primary metabolites. For pear juices, both PCA approaches allowed satisfactory discrimination of Alejandrina, Conference, and Blanquilla cultivars. These approaches may help to better control cultivar authenticity in fruit products. It could therefore contribute to the development of a process to achieve products characterized by a quality characteristic of a given cultivar.
Attainment Targets for Protein Intake Using Standardised, Concentrated and Individualised Neonatal Parenteral Nutrition Regimens
Authors: Morgan Colin , Tan Maw
Published: September 2019

Neonatal parenteral nutrition (NPN) regimens that are individualised (iNPN) or standardised concentrated NPN (scNPN) are both currently used in preterm clinical practice. Two recent trials (one iNPN and one scNPN) each compared standard (control) and high (intervention) parenteral protein and energy dosage regimens and provided data about actual protein intake. We hypothesised that scNPN regimens would achieve a higher percentage of the target parenteral protein intake than their corresponding iNPN regimens. We calculated the daily individual target parenteral protein intake and used the daily parenteral protein intake to calculate the target attainment for protein intake in each infant for the two control (iNPN: n = 59, scNPN: n = 76) and two intervention (iNPN: n = 65; scNPN: n = 74) groups. The median (IQR) target attainment of high-dose protein was 75% (66–85) versus 94% (87–97) on days 1–15 for iNPN and scNPN regimens respectively (p < 0.01). The median (IQR) target attainment of standard dose protein was 77% (67–85) versus 94% (91–96) on days 1–15 for iNPN and scNPN regimens, respectively (p < 0.01). This was associated with improved weight gain (p = 0.050; control groups only) and head growth (p < 0.001; intervention groups only). scNPN regimens have better target attainment for parenteral protein intakes than iNPN regimens.
The Removal of Silicate(IV) by Adsorption onto Hydrocalumite from the Sodium Hydroxide Leaching Solution of Black Dross
Authors: Nguyen Thi Thuy Nhi , Lee Man Seung
Published: September 2019

Alkaline leaching of mechanically activated black dross resulted in an aluminate(III) solution with a small amount of silicate(IV). To obtain pure aluminate(III) solution, the removal of silicate(IV) from the alkaline leaching solution was investigated by adsorption with hydrocalumite (Ca2Al(OH)6Cl·2H2O). The hydrocalumite was synthesized by the coprecipitation method. The characterization of the synthesized hydrocalumite was analyzed via X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). In our experimental conditions, silicate(IV) was selectively adsorbed onto hydrocalumite over aluminate(III). The reaction time greatly affected the removal percentage of aluminate(III) owing to mass action effect. When the reaction time was longer than 2 h, no aluminate(III) was adsorbed onto hydrocalumite and thus it was possible to selectively remove silicate(IV). When the dosage of hydrocalumite was in excess, the removal percentage of silicate(IV) was rather reduced. Complete removal of silicate(IV) from the solution was accomplished in the reaction temperature between 50 and 70 °C. By selective adsorption of silicate(IV) from the solution at the optimum condition (30 g/L hydrocalumite, 50 °C, 400 rpm, and 2 h), an aluminate(III) solution with purity higher than 99.9% was obtained. The adsorption of silicate(IV) onto hydrocalumite followed the Freundlich isotherm.
Explicit Residence Time Distribution of a Generalised Cascade of Continuous Stirred Tank Reactors for a Description of Short Recirculation Time (Bypassing)
Authors: Toson Peter , Doshi Pankaj , Jajcevic Dalibor
Published: September 2019

The tanks-in-series model (TIS) is a popular model to describe the residence time distribution (RTD) of non-ideal continuously stirred tank reactors (CSTRs) with limited back-mixing. In this work, the TIS model was generalised to a cascade of n CSTRs with non-integer non-negative n. The resulting model describes non-ideal back-mixing with n > 1. However, the most interesting feature of the n-CSTR model is the ability to describe short recirculation times (bypassing) with n < 1 without the need of complex reactor networks. The n-CSTR model is the only model that connects the three fundamental RTDs occurring in reactor modelling by variation of a single shape parameter n: The unit impulse at n→0, the exponential RTD of an ideal CSTR at n = 1, and the delayed impulse of an ideal plug flow reactor at n→∞. The n-CSTR model can be used as a stand-alone model or as part of a reactor network. The bypassing material fraction for the regime n < 1 was analysed. Finally, a Fourier analysis of the n-CSTR was performed to predict the ability of a unit operation to filter out upstream fluctuations and to model the response to upstream set point changes.