bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Health Literacy as a Shared Capacity: Does the Health Literacy of a Country Influence the Health Disparities among Immigrants?
Authors: Lorini Chiara , Caini Saverio , Ierardi Francesca , Bachini Letizia , Gemmi Fabrizio , Bonaccorsi Guglielmo
Published: February 2020

Health literacy (HL) is an individual ability as well as a distributed resource available within an individual’s social network. We performed an explorative study assessing the role of HL as the country-level ecological variable in predicting the health disparities among immigrants. Country-level HL data were obtained from the publicly available first European Health Literacy Survey reports. Individual-level data on citizenship, perceived health status, body mass index, smoking habits, physical activity and attendance at breast and cervical cancer screening were extracted from the European Health Interview Survey of Eurostat. Data from both sources were obtained for Austria, Bulgaria, Greece, Poland and Spain. The country-specific odds ratio (OR) for the association between the participants’ citizenship and other individual health-relevant characteristics was pooled into summary OR using random-effects models. Meta-regression was used to explore whether the HL of a country could explain part of the between-countries heterogeneity. Results: For the perceived health status, nutritional status and attendance at cervical cancer screening, the lower was the country-level HL (as ecological variable), the higher were the health inequalities relating to citizenship. The results of our exploratory research suggest that improving the population HL may help mitigate health inequalities between residents and migrants.
Association of Geomagnetic Disturbances and Suicide Attempts in Taiwan, 1997–2013: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Nishimura Tsutomu , Tsai I-Ju , Yamauchi Hiroyuki , Nakatani Eiji , Fukushima Masanori , Hsu Chung Y.
Published: February 2020

Background: A previous study in Japan found that monthly mean K index values were related to the monthly number of male, but not female, suicides. Correlations between geomagnetic disturbances and suicide/depression have also been reported in countries such as Canada, South Africa, Finland, Australia, Russia, and Japan. We have previously shown that stronger geomagnetism is linked to a higher standardized mortality ratio for suicide. To date, however, no published studies have reported the correlation between geomagnetic disturbances and suicide attempts in Taiwan. Methods: Data on the monthly number of suicide attempts in Taiwan from January 1997 to December 2013 were obtained. We performed a multivariable analysis, with the number of suicide attempts as the response variable and monthly Kp10 index, F10.7 index, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, fine particulate matter (PM2.5), temperature, humidity, unemployment rate, and cosmic rays as the explanatory variables. Results: The multivariable analysis showed that Kp10 index, temperature, humidity, unemployment rate, and cosmic rays were associated with the number of male suicide attempts and that Kp10 index, F10.7 index, carbon monoxide, temperature, humidity, and unemployment rate were associated with the number of female suicide attempts. Conclusion: This is the first article reporting statistically significant relationships between the monthly number of male and female suicide attempts and the monthly mean Kp10 value in Taiwan.
Non-Exercise Based Estimation of Cardiorespiratory Fitness Mediates Associations between Comorbidities and Health-Related Quality of Life in Older Korean Adults with Diabetes
Authors: Lee Inhwan , Kim Shinuk , Kang Hyunsik
Published: February 2020

This study investigated whether non-exercise-based estimation of cardiorespiratory fitness (eCRF) mediates the association between health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and comorbidities in older Korean adults with diabetes. A total of 1371 Korean adults (56% women) aged 60 years and older with diabetes was drawn from those who participated in the 2008–2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys IV and V. Data on comorbidities included hypertension, heart disease (acute myocardial infarction or angina), stroke, arthritis, and chronic renal disease. HRQoL was assessed using the EuroQoL group, which consists of a health-status descriptive system and a visual analogue scale. eCRF was determined with sex-specific algorithms. Age, sex, household income, education level, marital status, smoking, alcohol consumption, and regular exercise were additionally measured as covariates. HRQoL found to be inversely associated with number of comorbidities and positively associated with increasing eCRF category (from low to high) in older Korean patients with diabetes. The Sobel mediation test showed a significant indirect effect (Z = −4.632, p < 0.001), and the result of a bootstrap procedure corroborated the Sobel test result: a non-zero range in the 95% bias-corrected confidence interval (95% CI −1.104 to −0.453) indicated that eCRF mediates the impact of comorbidities on HRQoL. Overall, the current findings suggest that enhancing CRF can facilitate positive outcomes, including better HRQoL, for patients with diabetes.
Vitamin D Exposure and Ovarian Cancer Risk and Prognosis
Authors: L’Espérance Kevin , Datta Geetanjali D. , Qureshi Samia , Koushik Anita
Published: February 2020

Given the poor prognosis of ovarian cancer and limited population-level strategies for early detection and long-term treatment success, knowledge of modifiable risk factors for prevention and improved prognosis is important. Vitamin D has received wide scientific interest in cancer research as having the potential to be one such factor. We carried out a systematic narrative review of the literature on vitamin D and ovarian cancer risk and survival. We included 17 case-control and cohort studies on ovarian cancer incidence. Five analyses were of sun exposure, among which three reported an inverse association. Of 11 analyses of dietary vitamin D, two reported an inverse association. Among five studies of 25(OH)D levels, an inverse association was reported in two. Across all studies the findings were inconsistent, but some recent studies have suggested that vitamin D exposure at earlier ages may be important. Only three studies examining vitamin D exposure in relation to survival among ovarian cancer survivors were identified and the findings were inconsistent. The evidence to date supports a null influence of vitamin D on both ovarian cancer risk and survival. Future research should ensure that exposure assessment captures vitamin D exposure from all sources and for the etiologically or prognostically pertinent period.
Factors Associated with Maternal Deaths in a Hard-To-Reach Marginalized Rural Community of Bangladesh: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Biswas Animesh , Halim Abdul , Md. Abdullah Abu Sayeed , Rahman Fazlur , Doraiswamy Sathyanaraynan
Published: February 2020

Every year in Bangladesh, approximately 5200 mothers die (172 maternal deaths/100,000 live births) due to maternal complications. The death rate is much higher in hard-to-reach areas and underprivileged communities, such as Bangladesh’s tea gardens. The women living in the tea garden areas are deprived of quality health care services due to inadequate knowledge, education, and access to health care services. Poverty and early marriage, followed by early pregnancy, are also triggering factors of maternal deaths in this community. This study explored the factors associated with maternal deaths in the underprivileged tea garden community in the Moulvibazar district of Bangladesh. It was a cross-sectional study conducted between January and March 2018. All maternal deaths reported by government health care providers in two sub-districts of Moulvibazar during 2017 were selected for community verbal autopsy using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive analysis was performed on quantitative data, and content analysis was performed on qualitative data. A total of 34 maternal deaths were reported in the two sub-districts in 2017, among which 15 deaths (44%) occurred in the tea garden catchment areas, where about 34% people live in the two upazilas. The majority of the mothers who died in the tea gardens delivered their babies at home (80%), many of whom also died at home (40%). Only 27% of women who died in the tea gardens received four or more antenatal care visits. Post-partum hemorrhage was found to be the leading cause of death (47%), followed by anemia (33%) and eclampsia (20%). There is a persistent high maternal mortality observed in the marginalized tea gardens, as compared to the general community of the Moulvibazar district, Bangladesh. The sustainable development goal (SDG) that has been set for maternal mortality rate (MMR) is 70/100,000 live births in Bangladesh. The findings of our study show that focused intervention is needed to reduce the burden of maternal deaths, which will improve the overall maternal health situation and also reach the SDG on time.
Passive Smoking Exposure and Perceived Health Status in Children Seeking Pediatric Care Services at a Vietnamese Tertiary Hospital
Authors: Ngo Chau Quy , Vu Giap Van , Phan Phuong Thu , Chu Hanh Thi , Doan Lan Phuong Thi , Duong Anh Tu , Vuong Quan-Hoang , Ho Manh-Tung , Nguyen Minh-Hoang , Nguyen Hong-Kong T. , Phan Hai Thanh , Ha Giang Hai , Vu Giang Thu , Pham Kiet Tuan Huy , Tran Tung Hoang , Tran Bach Xuan , Latkin Carl A. , Ho Cyrus S. H. , Ho Roger C. M.
Published: February 2020

Understanding the predictors of health conditions and exposure to secondhand smoke among children is necessary to determine the severity of the issues and identify effective solutions. Despite the significant prevalence in smoking and child exposure to secondhand smoke, there have been only a few studies focusing on this area in Vietnam, and thus the current study aims to fill in this gap. The questionnaires of 435 children aged between 0 and 6 and their caregivers, who agreed to participate in the research, were collected at the Pediatric Department of Bach Mai hospital, Hanoi, in 2016. Multivariable logistic regression was employed to identify factors associated with perceived health status and exposure to secondhand smoke among children in the last 24 h and the last 7 days from the date of the survey. Our study found that 43% of the respondents had smokers in the family, and 46.4% of children were exposed to passive smoking in the last 7 days. Urban children were most frequently exposed to passive smoking at home and in public, whereas in the rural area, the home and relatives’ houses were the most common places for exposure. Compared to children whose caregivers were farmers, children of non-government workers were more likely to be exposed to passive smoking in the last 7 days. Moreover, children in a family having smoking rules and no smokers were less likely to be exposed to passive smoking in the last 24 h and 7 days than those living in a family allowing smoking and having smokers. In conclusion, our study shows that the government needs to implement better public smoking monitoring and encourage caregivers to implement smoke-free households or smoking rules in their houses.
A Systematic Review Protocol of the Barriers to Both Physical Activity and Obesity Counselling in the Secondary Care Setting as Reported by Healthcare Providers
Authors: Sooknarine-Rajpatty Jaishri , B. Auyeung Austin , Doyle Frank
Published: February 2020

Physical activity and obesity counselling have both been gaining increasing interest in preventive health and treatment. However, most healthcare professionals do not provide advice on these topics nearly as often as they should. There are many reasons for this. Common barriers for the provision of brief advice on physical activity and obesity in both primary and secondary care are lack of time, motivation and knowledge. Systematic reviews have been published on the barriers of physical activity and obesity counselling in the primary care setting, but there is no published work on the barriers present in secondary care. This systematic review aims to assess all published data that discuss the barriers of physical activity and obesity counselling as noted by healthcare providers in secondary care. Four databases will be searched using the same search strategy, and the findings will be compiled using the COM-B model to explore the frequency of a reported barrier. This systematic review will be beneficial not only to practicing healthcare providers, but also the educational and managerial staff of secondary care facilities, as it may highlight the need for further training to fill gaps in the provision of preventive healthcare.
Aflatoxins: Producing-Molds, Structure, Health Issues and Incidence in Southeast Asian and Sub-Saharan African Countries
Authors: Benkerroum Noreddine
Published: February 2020

This review aims to update the main aspects of aflatoxin production, occurrence and incidence in selected countries, and associated aflatoxicosis outbreaks. Means to reduce aflatoxin incidence in crops were also presented, with an emphasis on the environmentally-friendly technology using atoxigenic strains of Aspergillus flavus. Aflatoxins are unavoidable widespread natural contaminants of foods and feeds with serious impacts on health, agricultural and livestock productivity, and food safety. They are secondary metabolites produced by Aspergillus species distributed on three main sections of the genus (section Flavi, section Ochraceorosei, and section Nidulantes). Poor economic status of a country exacerbates the risk and the extent of crop contamination due to faulty storage conditions that are usually suitable for mold growth and mycotoxin production: temperature of 22 to 29 °C and water activity of 0.90 to 0.99. This situation paralleled the prevalence of high liver cancer and the occasional acute aflatoxicosis episodes that have been associated with these regions. Risk assessment studies revealed that Southeast Asian (SEA) and Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries remain at high risk and that, apart from the regulatory standards revision to be more restrictive, other actions to prevent or decontaminate crops are to be taken for adequate public health protection. Indeed, a review of publications on the incidence of aflatoxins in selected foods and feeds from countries whose crops are classically known for their highest contamination with aflatoxins, reveals that despite the intensive efforts made to reduce such an incidence, there has been no clear tendency, with the possible exception of South Africa, towards sustained improvements. Nonetheless, a global risk assessment of the new situation regarding crop contamination with aflatoxins by international organizations with the required expertise is suggested to appraise where we stand presently.
Mathematical Model of ATM Activation and Chromatin Relaxation by Ionizing Radiation
Authors: Li Yongfeng , Cucinotta Francis A.
Published: February 2020

We propose a comprehensive mathematical model to study the dynamics of ionizing radiation induced Ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) activation that consists of ATM activation through dual mechanisms: the initiative activation pathway triggered by the DNA damage-induced local chromatin relaxation and the primary activation pathway consisting of a self-activation loop by interplay with chromatin relaxation. The model is expressed as a series of biochemical reactions, governed by a system of differential equations and analyzed by dynamical systems techniques. Radiation induced double strand breaks (DSBs) cause rapid local chromatin relaxation, which is independent of ATM but initiates ATM activation at damage sites. Key to the model description is how chromatin relaxation follows when active ATM phosphorylates KAP-1, which subsequently spreads throughout the chromatin and induces global chromatin relaxation. Additionally, the model describes how oxidative stress activation of ATM triggers a self-activation loop in which PP2A and ATF2 are released so that ATM can undergo autophosphorylation and acetylation for full activation in relaxed chromatin. In contrast, oxidative stress alone can partially activate ATM because phosphorylated ATM remains as a dimer. The model leads to predictions on ATM mediated responses to DSBs, oxidative stress, or both that can be tested by experiments.
Differential Expression of Circulating Inflammatory Proteins Following Sport-Related Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Begum Ghazala , Reddy Rahul , Yakoub Kamal M. , Belli Antonio , Davies David J. , Di Pietro Valentina
Published: February 2020

Sport-related traumatic brain injury (TBI) elicits a multifaceted inflammatory response leading to brain injury and morbidity. This response could be a predictive tool for the progression of TBI and to stratify the injury of which mild TBI is most prevalent. Therefore, we examined the differential expression of serum inflammatory markers overtime and identified novel markers in repetitively concussed athletes. Neuropsychological assessment by Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) and Immediate Post Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Test (ImPACT) was performed on rugby players and serum was taken from healthy, concussed and repetitively concussed athletes. Serum was also obtained <1 week and >1 week after trauma and analyzed for 92 inflammatory protein markers. Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) and interleukin-7 (IL-7) differentiated repetitively concussed athletes. Macrophage chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), tumor necrosis factor superfamily member 14 (TNFSF14) were significantly reduced >1 week and chemokine (C-X3-C motif) ligand 1 (CX3CL1) upregulated <1 week after injury. FGF21 and MCP-1 negatively correlated with symptoms and their severity. We have identified dynamic changes in the inflammatory response overtime and in different classes of concussion correlating with disease progression. This data supports the use of inflammatory biomarkers as predictors of symptom development due to secondary complications of sport-related mTBI.
Oxathiapiprolin, a Novel Chemical Inducer Activates the Plant Disease Resistance
Authors: Peng Qin , Wang Zhiwen , Liu Pengfei , Liang Yinping , Zhao Zhenzhen , Li Wenhui , Liu Xili , Xia Ye
Published: February 2020

Oxathiapiprolin was developed as a specific plant pathogenic oomycete inhibitor, previously shown to have highly curative and protective activities against the pepper Phytophthora blight disease under field and greenhouse tests. Therefore, it was hypothesized that oxathiapiprolin might potentially activate the plant disease resistance against pathogen infections. This study investigated the potential and related mechanism of oxathiapiprolin to activate the plant disease resistance using the bacterium Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato (Pst) and plant Arabidopsis interaction as the targeted system. Our results showed that oxathiapiprolin could activate the plant disease resistance against Pst DC3000, a non-target pathogen of oxathiapiprolin, in Arabidopsis, tobacco, and tomato plants. Our results also showed the enhanced callose deposition and H2O2 accumulation in the oxathiapiprolin-treated Arabidopsis under the induction of flg22 as the pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) treatment. Furthermore, increased levels of free salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) were detected in the oxathiapiprolin-treated Arabidopsis plants compared to the mock-treated ones under the challenge of Pst DC3000. Besides, the gene expression results confirmed that at 24 h after the infiltration with Pst DC3000, the oxathiapiprolin-treated Arabidopsis plants had upregulated expression levels of the respiratory burst oxidase homolog D (RBOHD), JA-responsive gene (PDF1.2), and SA-responsive genes (PR1, PR2, and PR5) compared to the control. Taken together, oxathiapiprolin is identified as a novel chemical inducer which activates the plant disease resistance against Pst DC3000 by enhancing the callose deposition, H2O2 accumulation, and hormone SA and JA production.
Differential Signaling Profiles of MC4R Mutations with Three Different Ligands
Authors: Paisdzior Sarah , Dimitriou Ioanna Maria , Schöpe Paul Curtis , Annibale Paolo , Scheerer Patrick , Krude Heiko , Lohse Martin J. , Biebermann Heike , Kühnen Peter
Published: February 2020

The melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) is a key player in hypothalamic weight regulation and energy expenditure as part of the leptin–melanocortin pathway. Mutations in this G protein coupled receptor (GPCR) are the most common cause for monogenetic obesity, which appears to be mediated by changes in the anorectic action of MC4R via GS-dependent cyclic adenosine-monophosphate (cAMP) signaling as well as other signaling pathways. To study potential bias in the effects of MC4R mutations between the different signaling pathways, we investigated three major MC4R mutations: a GS loss-of-function (S127L) and a GS gain-of-function mutant (H158R), as well as the most common European single nucleotide polymorphism (V103I). We tested signaling of all four major G protein families plus extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation and β-arrestin2 recruitment, using the two endogenous agonists, α- and β-melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH), along with a synthetic peptide agonist (NDP-α-MSH). The S127L mutation led to a full loss-of-function in all investigated pathways, whereas V103I and H158R were clearly biased towards the Gq/11 pathway when challenged with the endogenous ligands. These results show that MC4R mutations can cause vastly different changes in the various MC4R signaling pathways and highlight the importance of a comprehensive characterization of receptor mutations.
Discrete Hedgehog Factor Expression and Action in the Developing Phallus
Authors: Tarulli Gerard A. , Pask Andrew J. , Renfree Marilyn B.
Published: February 2020

Hypospadias is a failure of urethral closure within the penis occurring in 1 in 125 boys at birth and is increasing in frequency. While paracrine hedgehog signalling is implicated in the process of urethral closure, how these factors act on a tissue level to execute closure itself is unknown. This study aimed to understand the role of different hedgehog signalling members in urethral closure. The tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii) provides a unique system to understand urethral closure as it allows direct treatment of developing offspring because mothers give birth to young before urethral closure begins. Wallaby pouch young were treated with vehicle or oestradiol (known to induce hypospadias in males) and samples subjected to RNAseq for differential expression and gene ontology analyses. Localisation of Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) and Indian Hedgehog (IHH), as well as the transcription factor SOX9, were assessed in normal phallus tissue using immunofluorescence. Normal tissue culture explants were treated with SHH or IHH and analysed for AR, ESR1, PTCH1, GLI2, SOX9, IHH and SHH expression by qPCR. Gene ontology analysis showed enrichment for bone differentiation terms in male samples compared with either female samples or males treated with oestradiol. Expression of SHH and IHH localised to specific tissue areas during development, akin to their compartmentalised expression in developing bone. Treatment of phallus explants with SHH or IHH induced factor-specific expression of genes associated with bone differentiation. This reveals a potential developmental interaction involved in urethral closure that mimics bone differentiation and incorporates discrete hedgehog activity within the developing phallus and phallic urethra.
RhoA/ROCK Regulates Prion Pathogenesis by Controlling Connexin 43 Activity
Authors: Kim Hee-Jun , Kim Mo-Jong , Mostafa Mohd Najib , Park Jeong-Ho , Choi Hong-Seok , Kim Yong-Sun , Choi Eun-Kyoung
Published: February 2020

Scrapie infection, which converts cellular prion protein (PrPC) into the pathological and infectious isoform (PrPSc), leads to neuronal cell death, glial cell activation and PrPSc accumulation. Previous studies reported that PrPC regulates RhoA/Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) signaling and that connexin 43 (Cx43) expression is upregulated in in vitro and in vivo prion-infected models. However, whether there is a link between RhoA/ROCK and Cx43 in prion disease pathogenesis is uncertain. Here, we investigated the role of RhoA/ROCK signaling and Cx43 in prion diseases using in vitro and in vivo models. Scrapie infection induced RhoA activation, accompanied by increased phosphorylation of LIM kinase 1/2 (LIMK1/2) at Thr508/Thr505 and cofilin at Ser3 and reduced phosphorylation of RhoA at Ser188 in hippocampal neuronal cells and brains of mice. Scrapie infection-induced RhoA activation also resulted in PrPSc accumulation followed by a reduction in the interaction between RhoA and p190RhoGAP (a GTPase-activating protein). Interestingly, scrapie infection significantly enhanced the interaction between RhoA and Cx43. Moreover, RhoA and Cx43 colocalization was more visible in both the membrane and cytoplasm of scrapie-infected hippocampal neuronal cells than in controls. Finally, RhoA and ROCK inhibition reduced PrPSc accumulation and the RhoA/Cx43 interaction, leading to decreased Cx43 hemichannel activity in scrapie-infected hippocampal neuronal cells. These findings suggest that RhoA/ROCK regulates Cx43 activity, which may have an important role in the pathogenesis of prion disease.
Intrathecal Injection in a Rat Model: A Potential Route to Deliver Human Wharton’s Jelly-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells into the Brain
Authors: Kim Hyeongseop , Na Duk L. , Lee Na Kyung , Kim A Ran , Lee Seunghoon , Jang Hyemin
Published: February 2020

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are considered as promising therapeutic agents for neurodegenerative disorders because they can reduce underlying pathology and also repair damaged tissues. Regarding the delivery of MSCs into the brain, intravenous and intra-arterial routes may be less feasible than intraparenchymal and intracerebroventricular routes due to the blood–brain barrier. Compared to the intraparenchymal or intracerebroventricular routes, however, the intrathecal route may have advantages: this route can deliver MSCs throughout the entire neuraxis and it is less invasive since brain surgery is not required. The objective of this study was to investigate the distribution of human Wharton’s jelly-derived MSCs (WJ-MSCs) injected via the intrathecal route in a rat model. WJ-MSCs (1 × 106) were intrathecally injected via the L2-3 intervertebral space in 6-week-old Sprague Dawley rats. These rats were then sacrificed at varying time points: 0, 6, and 12 h following injection. At 12 h, a significant number of MSCs were detected in the brain but not in other organs. Furthermore, with a 10-fold higher dose of WJ-MSCs, there was a substantial increase in the number of cells migrating to the brain. These results suggest that the intrathecal route can be a promising route for the performance of stem cell therapy for CNS diseases.
An Empirical Study of Social Commerce Intention: An Example of China
Authors: Lee Chao-Hsing , Chen Chien-Wen
Published: February 2020

The rise of social networks is rapidly spreading in China. Using social platforms, individuals are no longer just receivers of Internet information, as consumers generate and share contents with others. Social interaction and spontaneous promotion activities are carried out among consumers, but with the growth of traditional e-commerce slowing down, social commerce derived from social networks is gradually taking shape. Based on Hajli’s theoretical model, this study uses the social support theory and social commerce construct to study consumers’ social commerce behavior from a total of 1277 valid sample questionnaires that were distributed in a social platform environment in China. Through the empirical research evaluation using PLS-SEM, the statistical analysis results prove that social commerce constructs do promote social interaction of consumers. Such constructs have a positive effect on social support and social commerce intentions. In this regard, social support is embodied in information support and emotional support, and has a positive effect on social commerce intention. This study also conducts cross-cultural empirical comparisons. In comparison with Hajli’s research, this study has the same results in evaluation of Chinese samples. Among the users who exhibit social commerce intentions, social commerce construction is more important than social support.
A Real-World-Oriented Multi-Task Allocation Approach Based on Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning in Mobile Crowd Sensing
Authors: Han Junying , Zhang Zhenyu , Wu Xiaohong
Published: February 2020

Mobile crowd sensing is an innovative and promising paradigm in the construction and perception of smart cities. However, multi-task allocation in real-world scenarios is a huge challenge. There are many unexpected factors in the execution of mobile crowd sensing tasks, such as traffic jams or accidents, that make participants unable to reach the target area. In addition, participants may quit halfway due to equipment failure, network paralysis, dishonest behavior, etc. Previous task allocation approaches mainly ignored some of the heterogeneity of participants and tasks in the real-world scenarios. This paper proposes a real-world-oriented multi-task allocation approach based on multi-agent reinforcement learning. Firstly, under the premise of fully considering the heterogeneity of participants and tasks, the approach enables participants as agents to learn multiple solutions independently, based on modified soft Q-learning. Secondly, two cooperation mechanisms are proposed for obtaining the stable joint action, which can minimize the total sensing time while meeting the sensing quality constraint, which optimizes the sensing quality of mobile crowd sensing (MCS) tasks. Experiments verify that the approach can effectively reduce the impact of emergencies on the efficiency of large-scale MCS platform and outperform baselines based on a real-world dataset under different experiment settings.
First Comprehensive Study of a Giant among the Insects, Titanus giganteus: Basic Facts from Its Biochemistry, Physiology, and Anatomy
Authors: Dvořáček Jiří , Sehadová Hana , Weyda František , Tomčala Aleš , Hejníková Markéta , Kodrík Dalibor
Published: February 2020

Titanus giganteus is one of the largest insects in the world, but unfortunately, there is a lack of basic information about its biology. Previous papers have mostly described Titanus morphology or taxonomy, but studies concerning its anatomy and physiology are largely absent. Thus, we employed microscopic, physiological, and analytical methods to partially fill this gap. Our study focused on a detailed analysis of the antennal sensilla, where coeloconic sensilla, grouped into irregularly oval fields, and sensilla trichoidea were found. Further, the inspection of the internal organs showed apparent degeneration of the gut and almost total absence of fat body. The gut was already empty; however, certain activity of digestive enzymes was recorded. The brain was relatively small, and the ventral nerve cord consisted of three ganglia in the thorax and four ganglia in the abdomen. Each testis was composed of approximately 30 testicular follicles filled with a clearly visible sperm. Chromatographic analysis of lipids in the flight muscles showed the prevalence of storage lipids that contained 13 fatty acids, and oleic acid represented 60% of them. Some of our findings indicate that adult Titanus rely on previously accumulated reserves rather than feeding from the time of eclosion.
Perceived Well-Being and Quality of Life in People with Typical and Atypical Development: The Role of Sports Practice
Authors: Ingrassia Massimo , Mazza Francesco , Totaro Piera , Benedetto Loredana
Published: February 2020

Sports and physical activity are recognized as a source of psycho-physical well-being. Therefore, practicing sports can improve the perception of the quality of life (QoL). The study investigated in adults with atypical development (AD) and typical development (TD) if the perceptions of well-being and QoL may depend on the frequency of practicing sports. Participants were 51 AD (age M = 32.98, SD = 7.81; 45.1% female) and 270 TD adults (age M = 26.50, SD = 6.52; 79.3% female) subsequently divided into three groups: 1) people not practicing sports, or 2) practicing it occasionally, or 3) practicing it regularly. We adopted general self-efficacy, life satisfaction, positive well-being, and psychological distress related to physical exercise as measures of well-being, WHOQOL-BREF as QoL, and I-TIPI-R as indicators of Big Five personality factors. Questionnaires were completed online. Practicing sports influenced the perception of well-being and QoL. For the AD group, sporting practice seems to have assumed an equalization effect, eliminating the statistical differences between well-being and QoL measures of AD and TD groups. Associations emerged between Big Five and well-being and QoL indices with some differences as a function of group characteristics. In summary, results suggest that practicing sports is strongly associated with improvements in perceptions of well-being and QoL, especially in disabled persons.
Using Video Monitoring to Test a Fetch-Based Aeolian Sand Transport Model
Authors: Hage Pam , Ruessink Gerben , van Aartrijk Zilla , Donker Jasper
Published: February 2020

Transport of beach sand to the foredune by wind is essential for dunes to grow. The aeolian sand transport rate is related to wind velocity, but wind-based models often overpredict this transport for narrow beaches (<100 m). To better predict aeolian sand transport, the fetch-based Aeolus model was developed. Here, we qualitatively test this model by comparing its transport-rate output to visual signs of aeolian transport on video imagery collected at Egmond aan Zee, the Netherlands, during a six-month winter period. The Aeolus model and the Argus images often agree on the timing of aeolian transport days, except when transport is small; that is not always visible on the Argus images. Consistent with the imagery (minimal signs of aeolian activity in strong winds), the Aeolus model sometimes predicts the actual transport to be smaller than the potential transport. This difference is largest when wind velocity is large, and its direction is cross-shore. Although transport limitations are not predicted to be common, the results suggest that their effect on the total transport in the study period was substantial. This indicates that the fetch distance should be taken into account when calculating aeolian transport for narrow beaches on longer timescales (>weeks).
Quantifying the Effect of Land Use Change Model Coupling
Authors: Stepanov Oleg , Câmara Gilberto , Verstegen Judith A.
Published: February 2020

Land-use change (LUC) is a complex process that is difficult to project. Model collaboration, an aggregate term for model harmonization, comparison and/or coupling, intends to combine the strengths of different models to improve LUC projections. Several model collaborations have been performed, but to the authors’ knowledge, the effect of coupling has not been evaluated quantitatively. Therefore, for a case study of Brazil, we harmonized and coupled the partial equilibrium model GLOBIOM-Brazil and the demand-driven spatially explicit model PLUC, and then compared the coupled-model projections with those by GLOBIOM-Brazil individually. The largest differences between projections occurred in Mato Grosso and Pará, frontiers of agricultural expansion. In addition, we validated both projections for Mato Grosso using land-use maps from remote sensing images. The coupled model clearly outperformed GLOBIOM-Brazil. Reductions in the root mean squared error (RMSE) for LUC dynamics ranged from 31% to 80% and for total land use, from 10% to 57%. Only for pasture, the coupled model performed worse in total land use (RMSE 9% higher). Reasons for a better performance of the coupled model were considered to be, inter alia, the initial map, more spatially explicit information about drivers, and the path-dependence effect in the allocation through the cellular-automata approach of PLUC.
Rural in Town: Traditional Agriculture, Population Trends, and Long-Term Urban Expansion in Metropolitan Rome
Authors: Egidi Gianluca , Halbac-Cotoara-Zamfir Rares , Cividino Sirio , Quaranta Giovanni , Salvati Luca , Colantoni Andrea
Published: February 2020

Mediterranean regions have experienced a shift from accelerated urban growth typical of a post-industrial phase to a more recent spatial delocalization of population and economic activities reflecting discontinuous settlement expansion, land take, and the abandonment of cultivated areas around central cities. On the basis of a comprehensive analysis of land-use, settlement, and demographic indicators, the present study explores urban growth and population density over a sufficiently long time period in a metropolitan region of Southern Europe (Rome, Italy). Local-scale population trends were compared with the evolution of the primary sector (workers in agriculture, number of farms, cultivated land) between 1951 and 2011. Our results indicate non-linear growth waves alternating compact and discontinuous expansion shaping fringe land. The future development of metropolitan regions is increasingly dependent on the relationship between urban diffusion and economic viability of peri-urban agriculture. Crop abandonment and land take rates increase in local contexts where peri-urban agriculture rapidly declines. Policies managing ex-urban development and promoting the recovery of fringe soils are increasingly required to contain the expansion of dispersed settlements and preserve relict agricultural systems from land conversion to urban use.
The Stages of the Cultural Landscape Transformation of Seaside Resorts in Poland against the Background of the Evolving Nature of Tourism
Authors: Bal Wojciech , Czalczynska-Podolska Magdalena
Published: February 2020

The development of tourism determines the cultural landscape transformation, spatial development of coastal localities, scale of recreational architecture and other forms of development related to tourism services. The article presents research aiming to analyze tourism development in the context of its impact on the cultural landscape of Polish coastal localities, taking into account the specificity of post-communist countries and supra-regional tendencies. The main objective of this study was to analyze the development of tourism in the context of its impact on the cultural landscape seaside towns and to identify, on the basis of the changes, the nature of tourism and forms of recreation in particular stages of the shaping of elements in coastal locality spaces and recreational architecture. The research was based on historical-interpretation studies, field studies of selected coastal localities, including urban-planning inventories, landscape, and functional and spatial analyses. The research carried out resulted in the identification of the stages of the cultural landscape transformation of coastal localities and indication of characteristic features of architecture and landscape. The journey along the coastline is a temporal journey through the changing nature of buildings, allowing observation of the stage-by-stage nature of investment processes in response to the changing needs of tourists.
A Novel Integrated FUCOM-MARCOS Model for Evaluation of Human Resources in a Transport Company
Authors: Stević Željko , Brković Nikola
Published: February 2020

The application of different evaluation approaches in logistics requires considering many factors with different significance for making the final decision. Multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods are often applied in logistics to create different strategies and evaluations. In this paper, research has been carried out in a transport system of an international transport company. An MCDM model has been created for the purpose of human resource evaluation, on which the overall efficiency of the company depends. A total of 23 drivers were evaluated on the basis of five crucial criteria in order to increase employees’ motivation through their periodic remuneration. The Full Consistency Method (FUCOM) was applied to determine the significance of the criteria, while the evaluation of potential solutions was performed using Measurement Alternatives and Ranking according to COmpromise Solution (MARCOS). After the results had been obtained, the created model was validated throughout comparisons with seven other MCDM methods.
Effective and Green Removal of Trichloroacetic Acid from Disinfected Water
Authors: Trabelsi Keren , Meistelman Michael , Ciriminna Rosaria , Albo Yael , Pagliaro Mario
Published: February 2020

An innovative catalyst is reported for removing suspect carcinogen trichloroacetic acid (TCA) found in water after chlorination. SilverSil, a methyl-modified silica xerogel doped with Ag nanoparticles, shows remarkably high and stable activity as heterogeneous catalyst for the reductive dehalogenation of TCA with NaBH4 as reducing agent. Chloroacetic acid and acetic acid are the main products of the highly reproducible reductive dehalogenation. The low cost, high stability and ease of application of the SilverSil sol-gel catalyst to continuous processes open the route to the industrial uptake of SilverSil to free chlorinated waters from a probable human carcinogenic agent exerting significant genotoxic and cytotoxic effects.
Porous Coatings Containing Copper and Phosphorus Obtained by Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation of Titanium
Authors: Rokosz Krzysztof , Hryniewicz Tadeusz , Kacalak Wojciech , Tandecka Katarzyna , Raaen Steinar , Gaiaschi Sofia , Chapon Patrick , Malorny Winfried , Matýsek Dalibor , Pietrzak Kornel , Czerwińska Ewa , Iwanek Anna , Dudek Łukasz
Published: February 2020

To fabricate porous copper coatings on titanium, we used the process of plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) with voltage control. For all experiments, the three-phase step-up transformer with six-diode Graetz bridge was used. The voltage and the amount of salt used in the electrolyte were determined so as to obtain porous coatings. Within the framework of this study, the PEO process was carried out at a voltage of 450 VRMS in four electrolytes containing the salt as copper(II) nitrate(V) trihydrate. Moreover, we showed that the content of salt in the electrolyte needed to obtain a porous PEO coating was in the range 300–600 g/dm3. After exceeding this amount of salts in the electrolyte, some inclusions on the sample surface were observed. It is worth noting that this limitation of the amount of salts in the electrolyte was not connected with the maximum solubility of copper(II) nitrate(V) trihydrate in the concentrated (85%) orthophosphoric acid. To characterize the obtained coatings, numerous techniques were used. In this work, we used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with electron-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), conducted surface analysis using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), and studied the surface layer chemical composition of the obtained coatings by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), glow discharge of optical emission spectroscopy (GDOES), and biological tests. It was found that the higher the concentration of Cu(NO3)2∙3H2O in the electrolyte, the higher the roughness of the coatings, which may be described by 3D roughness parameters, such as Sa (1.17–1.90 μm) and Sp (7.62–13.91 μm). The thicknesses of PEO coatings obtained in the electrolyte with 300–600 g/dm3 Cu(NO3) 2∙3H2O were in the range 7.8 to 10 μm. The Cu/P ratio of the whole volume of coating measured by EDS was in the range 0.05–0.12, while the range for the top layer (measured using XPS) was 0.17–0.24. The atomic concentration of copper (0.54–0.72 at%) resulted in antibacterial and fungicidal properties in the fabricated coatings, which can be dedicated to biocompatible applications.
Correlation between High Temperature Deformation and β Relaxation in LaCe-Based Metallic Glass
Authors: Chen Yinghong , Qiao Jichao
Published: February 2020

High-temperature deformation around the glass transition temperature Tg and the dynamic mechanical behavior of La30Ce30Al15Co25 metallic glass were investigated. According to dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) results, La30Ce30Al15Co25 metallic glass exhibits a pronounced slow β relaxation process. In parallel, strain-rate jump experiments around the glass transition temperature were performed in a wide range of strain rate ranges. The apparent viscosity shows a strong dependence on temperature and strain rate, which reflects the transition from non-Newtonian to Newtonian flow. At low strain or high temperature, a transition was observed from a non-Newtonian viscous flow to Newtonian viscous flow. It was found that the activation volume during plastic deformation of La30Ce30Al15Co25 metallic glass is higher than that of other metallic glasses. Higher values of activation volume in La30Ce30Al15Co25 metallic glass may be attributed to existence of a pronounced slow β relaxation. It is reasonable to conclude that slow β relaxation in La30Ce30Al15Co25 metallic glass corresponds to the “soft” regions (structural heterogeneities) in metallic glass.
Preparation and Performance of a Low-Carbon Foam Material of Fly-Ash-Based Foamed Geopolymer for the Goaf Filling
Authors: Su Lijuan , Fu Guosheng , Wang Yunlong , Yao Guangchun , Zhang Jianing , Xu Xinchao , Jia Baoxin
Published: February 2020

The treatment of goaf subsidence is important for sustainable development. Geopolymer is a new type of cementing material with excellent mechanical properties, durability, corrosion resistance, and other advantages owing to its unique three-dimensional spatial aggregation structure. Herein, a type of preparation technology of fly-ash-based foamed geopolymer suitable for goaf filling was developed by adding a chemical foaming agent to the matrix of fly-ash-based geopolymer. The mechanical properties, chemical composition, and pore structure characteristics of the samples were discussed. When the samples with different contents of fly ash, sodium metasilicate, sodium stearate, H2O2, and NaOH were prepared, a uniaxial compression test was performed to analyze the uniaxial compression failure characteristics and compression strength of the samples. The mineralogical composition of each sample was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) test, and the microstructure images of different samples were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effects of the content of each component on the properties of the samples were discussed. Finally, the CO2 emission, energy consumption, and cost of producing fly-ash-based foamed geopolymer were analyzed. Overall, the material had the advantages of low energy consumption, low CO2 emission, environmental-protection ability, and waste utilization and thus has a broad application prospect in treating subsidence.
Special Issue: Advances in Electrochemical Energy Materials
Authors: Li Shiqi , Fan Zhaoyang
Published: February 2020

Electrochemical energy storage is becoming essential for portable electronics, electrified transportation, integration of intermittent renewable energy into grids, and many other energy or power applications. The electrode materials and their structures, in addition to the electrolytes, play key roles in supporting a multitude of coupled physicochemical processes that include electronic, ionic, and diffusive transport in electrode and electrolyte phases, electrochemical reactions and material phase changes, as well as mechanical and thermal stresses, thus determining the storage energy density and power density, conversion efficiency, performance lifetime, and system cost and safety. Different material chemistries and multiscale porous structures are being investigated for high performance and low cost. The aim of this Special Issue is to report the recent advances of materials used in electrochemical energy storage that encompasses supercapacitors and rechargeable batteries.