bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Customer Experience in Retail: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Bascur Camila , Rusu Cristian
Published: October 2020

The customer experience (CX) is a concept that has been closely studied by companies in recent years. This is because it is one of the most important factors in maintaining a competitive advantage. In addition, it is customers who seek to create an experience that goes beyond the acquisition of a product. In this article, we present a systematic literature review of the CX in retail. We reviewed articles published over the last ten years related to (1) the definition of the CX; (2) dimensions, attributes, and factors that influence the CX in retail; (3) methods used to evaluate the CX in retail; and (4) potential heuristics to evaluate the CX in general and, in particular, in retail. We analyzed 67 articles, and the obtained result shows that (1) multiple definitions exist in different contexts; (2) the dimensions, such as the conceptualization of the CX, vary depending on the context; (3) the evaluation methods found do not comprehensively evaluate the CX; (4) there is no evidence of heuristics used to evaluate the CX.
Construction of an Enzymatically-Conjugated DNA Aptamer–Protein Hybrid Molecule for Use as a BRET-Based Biosensor
Authors: Mie Masayasu , Hirashima Rena , Mashimo Yasumasa , Kobatake Eiry
Published: October 2020

DNA-protein conjugates are useful molecules for construction of biosensors. Herein, we report the development of an enzymatically-conjugated DNA aptamer–protein hybrid molecule for use as a bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET)-based biosensor. DNA aptamers were enzymatically conjugated to a fusion protein via the catalytic domain of porcine circovirus type 2 replication initiation protein (PCV2 Rep) comprising residues 14–109 (tpRep), which was truncated from the full catalytic domain of PCV2 Rep comprising residues 1–116 by removing the flexible regions at the N- and C-terminals. For development of a BRET-based biosensor, we constructed a fusion protein in which tpRep was positioned between NanoLuc luciferase and a fluorescent protein and conjugated to single-stranded DNA aptamers that specifically bind to either thrombin or lysozyme. We demonstrated that the BRET ratios depended on the concentration of the target molecules.
Analytical Determination of Geometric Parameters of the Rotary Kiln by Novel Approach of TLS Point Cloud Segmentation
Authors: Kovanič Ľudovít , Blistan Peter , Urban Rudolf , Štroner Martin , Pukanská Katarína , Bartoš Karol , Palková Jana
Published: October 2020

This research focused on determining a rotary kiln’s geometric parameters in a non-traditional geodetic way—by deriving them from a survey realized by a terrestrial laser scanner (TLS). The point cloud obtained by TLS measurement was processed to derive the longitudinal axis of the RK. Subsequently, the carrier tires’ geometric parameters and shell of the RK during the shutdown were derived. Manual point cloud selection (segmentation) is the base method for removing unnecessary points. This method is slow but precise and controllable. The proposed analytical solution is based on calculating the distance from each point to the RK’s nominal axis (local radius). Iteration using a histogram function was repeatedly applied to detect points with the same or similar radiuses. The most numerous intervals of points were selected and stored in separate files. In the comparison, we present the conformity of analytically and manually obtained files and derived geometric values of the RK-radiuses’ spatial parameters and coordinates of the carrier tires’ centers. The horizontal (X and Y directions) and vertical (Z-direction) of root–mean–square deviation (RMSD) values are up to 2 mm. RMSD of the fitting of cylinders is also up to 2 mm. The center of the carrier tires defines the longitudinal axis of the RK. Analytical segmentation of the points was repeated on the remaining point cloud for the selection of the points on the outer shell of the RK. Deformation analysis of the shell of the RK was performed using a cylinder with a nominal radius. Manually and analytically processed point clouds were investigated and mutually compared. The calculated RMSD value is up to 2 mm. Parallel cuts situated perpendicularly to the axis of the RK were created. Analysis of ovality (flattening) of the shell was performed. Additionally, we also present the effect of gradually decreasing density (number) of points on the carrier tires for their center derivation.
Comparison of Approaches for Data Analysis of Multi-Parametric Monitoring Systems: Insights from the Acuto Test-Site (Central Italy)
Authors: Fiorucci Matteo , Martino Salvatore , Bozzano Francesca , Prestininzi Alberto
Published: October 2020

This paper deals with monitoring systems to manage the risk due to fast slope failures that involve rock masses, in which important elements (such as infrastructures or cultural heritages, among the others) are exposed. Three different approaches for data analysis were here compared to evaluate their suitability for detecting mutual relations among destabilising factors, acting on different time windows, and induced strain effects on rock masses: (i) an observation-based approach (OBA), (ii) a statistics-based approach (SBA) and (iii) a semi-empirical approach (SEA). For these purposes, a test-site has been realised in an abandoned quarry in Central Italy by installing a multi-parametric monitoring sensor network on a rock wall able to record strain effects induced by natural and anthropic forcing actions (like as temperature, rainfall, wind and anthropic vibrations). The comparison points out that the considered approaches allow one to identify forcing actions, responsible for the strain effects on the rock mass over several time windows, regarding a specific size (i.e., rock block dimensional scale). The OBA was more suitable for computing the relations over short- to medium time windows, as well as the role of impulsive actions (i.e., hourly to seasonal and/or instantaneous). The SBA was suitable for computing the relations over medium- to long time windows (i.e., daily to seasonal), also returning the time lag between forcing actions and induced strains using the cross-correlation statistical function. Last, the SEA was highly suitable for detecting irreversible strain effects over long- to very long-time windows (i.e., plurennial).
Instrument-Free Protein Microarray Fabrication for Accurate Affinity Measurements
Authors: Celebi Iris , Geib Matthew T. , Chiodi Elisa , Lortlar Ünlü Nese , Ekiz Kanik Fulya , Ünlü Selim
Published: October 2020

Protein microarrays have gained popularity as an attractive tool for various fields, including drug and biomarker development, and diagnostics. Thus, multiplexed binding affinity measurements in microarray format has become crucial. The preparation of microarray-based protein assays relies on precise dispensing of probe solutions to achieve efficient immobilization onto an active surface. The prohibitively high cost of equipment and the need for trained personnel to operate high complexity robotic spotters for microarray fabrication are significant detriments for researchers, especially for small laboratories with limited resources. Here, we present a low-cost, instrument-free dispensing technique by which users who are familiar with micropipetting can manually create multiplexed protein assays that show improved capture efficiency and noise level in comparison to that of the robotically spotted assays. In this study, we compare the efficiency of manually and robotically dispensed α-lactalbumin probe spots by analyzing the binding kinetics obtained from the interaction with anti-α-lactalbumin antibodies, using the interferometric reflectance imaging sensor platform. We show that the protein arrays prepared by micropipette manual spotting meet and exceed the performance of those prepared by state-of-the-art robotic spotters. These instrument-free protein assays have a higher binding signal (~4-fold improvement) and a ~3-fold better signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in binding curves, when compared to the data acquired by averaging 75 robotic spots corresponding to the same effective sensor surface area. We demonstrate the potential of determining antigen-antibody binding coefficients in a 24-multiplexed chip format with less than 5% measurement error.
Cannabidiol (CBD) as a Promising Anti-Cancer Drug
Authors: Seltzer Emily S. , Watters Andrea K. , MacKenzie Danny , Granat Lauren M. , Zhang Dong
Published: October 2020

Recently, cannabinoids, such as cannabidiol (CBD) and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), have been the subject of intensive research and heavy scrutiny. Cannabinoids encompass a wide array of organic molecules, including those that are physiologically produced in humans, synthesized in laboratories, and extracted primarily from the Cannabis sativa plant. These organic molecules share similarities in their chemical structures as well as in their protein binding profiles. However, pronounced differences do exist in their mechanisms of action and clinical applications, which will be briefly compared and contrasted in this review. The mechanism of action of CBD and its potential applications in cancer therapy will be the major focus of this review article.
Synthesis of Titanium Dioxide/Silicon Dioxide from Beach Sand as Photocatalyst for Cr and Pb Remediation
Authors: Eddy Diana Rakhmawaty , Ishmah Soraya Nur , Permana Muhamad Diki , Firdaus M. Lutfi
Published: October 2020

Heavy metals are non-biodegradable and have a high toxicity effect on microorganisms which makes their presence in the environment extremely dangerous. The method of handling heavy metal waste by photocatalysis techniques using TiO2/SiO2 composite showed a good performance in reducing harmful pollutants. In this study, SiO2 from Bengkulu beach sand, Indonesia, was used as a support material for TiO2 photocatalyst to remove Cr(VI) and Pb(II). SiO2 was obtained through leaching techniques using NaOH as a solvent. The TiO2/SiO2 composite photocatalyst was synthesized using a solvothermal method at 130 °C and then characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and a particle size analyzer (PSA). Based on the XRD diffractogram, the synthesized TiO2 showed the anatase structure while the SiO2 showed the amorphous structure. The Ti–O–Si bond is defined in the infrared (IR) spectra, which indicates that the relationship between TiO2 and SiO2 is a chemical interaction. The results of SEM and PSA characterizations show agglomerated spherical (round) particles with a mean particle size of 616.9 nm. The TiO2/SiO2 composite of 7:1 ratio showed the highest photocatalytic activity after 180 min of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, with a concentration-decrease percentage of 93.77% and 93.55% for Cr(VI) and Pb(II), respectively.
Obesity in Qatar: A Case-Control Study on the Identification of Associated Risk Factors
Authors: Khondaker Md. Tawkat Islam , Khan Junaed Younus , Refaee Mahmoud Ahmed , Hajj Nady El , Rahman M. Sohel , Alam Tanvir
Published: October 2020

Obesity is an emerging public health problem in the Western world as well as in the Gulf region. Qatar, a tiny wealthy county, is among the top-ranked obese countries with a high obesity rate among its population. Compared to Qatar’s severity of this health crisis, only a limited number of studies focused on the systematic identification of potential risk factors using multimodal datasets. This study aims to develop machine learning (ML) models to distinguish healthy from obese individuals and reveal potential risk factors associated with obesity in Qatar. We designed a case-control study focused on 500 Qatari subjects, comprising 250 obese and 250 healthy individuals- the later forming the control group. We obtained the most extensive collection of clinical measurements for the Qatari population from the Qatar Biobank (QBB) repertoire, including (i) Physio-clinical Biomarkers, (ii) Spirometry, (iii) VICORDER, (iv) DXA scan composition, and (v) DXA scan densitometry readings. We developed several machine learning (ML) models to distinguish healthy from obese individuals and applied multiple feature selection techniques to identify potential risk factors associated with obesity. The proposed ML model achieved over 90% accuracy, thereby outperforming the existing state of the art models. The outcome from the ablation study on multimodal clinical datasets revealed physio-clinical measurements as the most influential risk factors in distinguishing healthy versus obese subjects. Furthermore, multiple feature ranking techniques confirmed known obesity risk factors (c-peptide, insulin, albumin, uric acid) and identified potential risk factors linked to obesity-related comorbidities such as diabetes (e.g., HbA1c, glucose), liver function (e.g., alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transferase), lipid profile (e.g., triglyceride, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol), etc. Most of the DXA measurements (e.g., bone area, bone mineral composition, bone mineral density, etc.) were significantly (p-value < 0.05) higher in the obese group. Overall, the net effect of hypothesized protective factors of obesity on bone mass seems to have surpassed the hypothesized harmful factors. All the identified factors warrant further investigation in a clinical setup to understand their role in obesity.
Context-Aware Link Embedding with Reachability and Flow Centrality Analysis for Accurate Speed Prediction for Large-Scale Traffic Networks
Authors: Lee Chanjae , Yoon Young
Published: October 2020

This paper presents a novel method for predicting the traffic speed of the links on large-scale traffic networks. We first analyze how traffic flows in and out of every link through the lowest cost reachable paths. We aggregate the traffic flow conditions of the links on every hop of the inbound and outbound reachable paths to represent the traffic flow dynamics. We compute a new measure called traffic flow centrality (i.e., the Z value) for every link to capture the inherently complex mechanism of the traffic links influencing each other in terms of traffic speed. We combine the features regarding the traffic flow centrality with the external conditions around the links, such as climate and time of day information. We model how these features change over time with recurrent neural networks and infer traffic speed at the subsequent time windows. Our feature representation of the traffic flow for every link remains invariant even when the traffic network changes. Furthermore, we can handle traffic networks with thousands of links. The experiments with the traffic networks in the Seoul metropolitan area in South Korea reveal that our unique ways of embedding the comprehensive spatio-temporal features of links outperform existing solutions.
Variability of Leaf Wetting and Water Storage Capacity of Branches of 12 Deciduous Tree Species
Authors: Anna Klamerus-Iwan , Sylwia Łagan , Marcin Zarek , Ewa Słowik-Opoka , Wojtan Bartłomiej
Published: October 2020

Leaf surface wettability and factors which determine it are key in determining the water storage capacity of tree crowns and thus the interception of entire stands. Leaf wettability, expressed as the droplet inclination angle, and the surface free energy largely depend not only on the chemical composition of the leaves but also on their texture. The study concerns 12 species of trees common in Central Europe. The content of epicuticular waxes was determined in the leaves, and values ranging from 9.145 [µg/cm2] for horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum L.) to 71.759 [µg/cm2] for birch (Betula pendula Roth.) were obtained. Each additional µg/cm2 increases the canopy water storage capacity by 0.067 g g−1. For all species, the inclination angles of water, diiodomethane and glycerin droplets to the leaf surface were measured and the surface free energy was calculated. It is shown that it is the wax content and the species that constitute independent predictors of water storage capacity. These factors explain the 95.56% effect on the value of canopy water storage capacity. The remaining 4.44% indicate non-species-related individual features or the ability to mitigate pollutants as well as possible environmental factors. Wax analyzed separately from other factors causes a slight increase (by 0.067 g/g) of S. Nevertheless, the influence of the surface condition as a result of species-related variability is decisive for the value of the canopy water storage capacity.
Genetic Diversity, Population Structure, and Andean Introgression in Brazilian Common Bean Cultivars after Half a Century of Genetic Breeding
Authors: Almeida Caléo Panhoca de , Paulino Jean Fausto de Carvalho , Morais Carbonell Sérgio Augusto , Chiorato Alisson Fernando , Song Qijian , Di Vittori Valerio , Rodriguez Monica , Papa Roberto , Benchimol-Reis Luciana Lasry
Published: October 2020

Brazil is the largest consumer and third highest producer of common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) worldwide. Since the 1980s, the commercial Carioca variety has been the most consumed in Brazil, followed by Black and Special beans. The present study evaluates genetic diversity and population structure of 185 Brazilian common bean cultivars using 2827 high-quality single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The Andean allelic introgression in the Mesoamerican accessions was investigated, and a Carioca panel was tested using an association mapping approach. The results distinguish the Mesoamerican from the Andean accessions, with a prevalence of Mesoamerican accessions (94.6%). When considering the commercial classes, low levels of genetic differentiation were seen, and the Carioca group showed the lowest genetic diversity. However, gain in gene diversity and allelic richness was seen for the modern Carioca cultivars. A set of 1060 ‘diagnostic SNPs’ that show alternative alleles between the pure Mesoamerican and Andean accessions were identified, which allowed the identification of Andean allelic introgression events and shows that there are putative introgression segments in regions enriched with resistance genes. Finally, genome-wide association studies revealed SNPs significantly associated with flowering time, pod maturation, and growth habit, showing that the Carioca Association Panel represents a powerful tool for crop improvements.
Seismogenic-Triggering Mechanism of Gas Emission Activizations on the Arctic Shelf and Associated Phases of Abrupt Warming
Authors: Lobkovsky Leopold
Published: October 2020

A seismogenic trigger mechanism is proposed to explain the abrupt climate warming phases in the Arctic as a result of strong mechanical disturbances in the marginal region of the Arctic lithosphere. Those disturbances might have been caused by great earthquakes in the Aleutian subduction zone, and slowly propagated across the Arctic shelf and adjacent regions, triggering the methane release from permafrost and metastable gas hydrates, followed by greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. The proposed mechanism is based on the identified correlation between the series of the great earthquakes in the Aleutian island arc, which occurred in the early and middle of the 20th century, and the two phases of sharp climate warming, which began in 1920 and 1980. There is a 20-year time lag between these events, which is explained by the time of arrival of deformation waves in the lithosphere (propagating with a velocity of about 100 km per year) at the Arctic shelf and adjacent land from the Aleutian subduction zone, the region of their generation. The trigger mechanism causing the methane release from permafrost and metastable gas hydrates is related to the destruction of micro-sized ice films covering gas hydrate particles, the elements highly important for hydrate self-preservation, as well as destruction of gas-saturated micropores in permafrost rocks due to the slight additional stresses associated with deformation waves, and thus emergence of conditions favorable for gas filtration and its subsequent emission.
‘As Long as It Comes off as a Cigarette Ad, Not a Civil Rights Message’: Gender, Inequality and the Commercial Determinants of Health
Authors: Hill Sarah E. , Friel Sharon
Published: October 2020

Scholarship on the commercial determinants of health (CDoH) has sought to understand the multiple ways corporate policies, practices and products affect population health. At the same time, gender is recognised as a key determinant of health and an important axis of health inequalities. To date, there has been limited attention paid to the ways in which the CDoH engage with and impact on gender inequalities and health. This review seeks to address this gap by examining evidence on the practices and strategies of two industries—tobacco and alcohol—and their interaction with gender, with a particular focus on women. We first describe the practices by which these industries engage with women in their marketing and corporate social responsibility activities, reinforcing problematic gender norms and stereotypes that harm women and girls. We then examine how tobacco and alcohol companies contribute to gender inequalities through a range of strategies intended to protect their market freedoms and privileged position in society. By reinforcing gender inequalities at multiple levels, CDoH undermine the health of women and girls and exacerbate global health inequalities.
Using Flickr Geotagged Photos to Estimate Visitor Trajectories in World Heritage Cities
Authors: Domènech Antoni , Mohino Inmaculada , Moya-Gómez Borja
Published: October 2020

World tourism dynamics are in constant change, as well as they are deeply shaping the trajectories of cities. The “call effect” for having the World Heritage status has boosted tourism in many cities. The large number of visitors and the side effects, such as the overcrowding of central spaces, are arousing the need to develop and protect heritage assets. Hence, the analysis of tourist spatial behaviour is critical for tackling the needs of touristified cities correctly. In this article, individual visitor spatiotemporal trajectories are reconstructed along with the urban network using thousands of geotagged Flickr photos taken by visitors in the historic centre of the World Heritage City of Toledo (Spain). A process of trajectory reconstruction using advanced GIS techniques has been implemented. The spatial behaviour has been used to classify the tourist sites offered on the city’s official tourist map, as well as to identify the association with the land uses. Results bring new knowledge to understand visitor spatial behaviour and new visions about the influence of the urban environment and its uses on the visitor spatial behaviour. Our findings illustrate how tourist attractions and the location of mixed commercial and recreational uses shape the visitor spatial behaviour. Overflowed streets and shadow areas underexplored by visitors are pinpointed.
Antibacterial and Anti-Fungal Biological Activities for Acrylonitrile, Acrylamide and 2-Acrylamido-2-Methylpropane Sulphonic Acid Crosslinked Terpolymers
Authors: Farag Reem K. , Atta Ayman M. , Labena Ahmed , AlHawari Salma H. , Safwat Gehan , Diab Ayman
Published: October 2020

There is a pressing demand to synthesize polymers that have antibacterial and antifungal properties. The aim of this study was to synthesize a crosslinked hydrophilic terpolymer with acrylamide, acrylonitrile, acrylic acid, acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulphonic acid and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as a crosslinker. The chemical structure and thermal stability of the prepared cross-linked terpolymers were confirmed by spectroscopic and thermal analyses. Moreover, the swelling experiments were performed to investigate their swelling capacity. Furthermore, the efficiency of the synthesized cross-linked polymer gels was assessed as an antimicrobial agent against Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria and fungal strains. The synthesized polymers showed broad inhibition effect, with more antibacterial activity by the AM4 polymer sample containing high percentage of acrylonitrile monomer in the prepared terpolymers (4 mol ratio of acrylic acid: 1 mol ratio of acrylamide: 16 mole ratio of acrylonitrile against Gram negative bacterial strain), while sample M3 terpolymer (1 mol ratio of acrylamide: 1 mole ratio acrylonitrile: 3 mole ratio of acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulphonic acid) showed a promising anti-fungal activity.
Selective Precipitation of Metal Oxalates from Lithium Ion Battery Leach Solutions
Authors: Gerold Eva , Luidold Stefan , Antrekowitsch Helmut
Published: October 2020

The separation of cobalt and nickel from sulfatic leach liquors of spent lithium-ion batteries is described in this paper. In addition to the base metals (e.g., cobalt and nickel), components such as manganese and lithium are also present in such leach liquors. The co-precipitation of these contaminants can be prevented during leach liquor processing by selective precipitation. For the recovery of a cobalt-nickel mixed material, oxalic acid serves as a suitable reagent. For the optimization of the precipitation retention time and yield, the dependence of the oxalic acid addition must be taken into account. In addition to efficiency, attention must also be given to the purity of the product. After this procedure, further processing of the products by calcination into oxides leads to better marketability. A series of experiments confirms the suitability of oxalic acid for precipitation of cobalt and nickel as a mixed oxalate from sulfatic liquors and also suggests a possible route for further processing of the products with increased marketability. The impurities in the resulting oxides are below 3%, whereby a sufficiently high purity of the mixed oxide can be achieved.
Influence of Exposure to Environment on Degradation of a Friction Stir Welded Aluminum Alloy
Authors: Lv Shengli , Li Zhi , Gao Xiaosheng , Srivatsan Tirumalai S.
Published: October 2020

We carried out a comparative study on both the stress corrosion response and corrosion damage characteristics of aluminum alloy 2219, both the base material and a friction stir welding (FSW) counterpart upon exposure to exfoliation corrosion (EXCO) solution. The results reveal that the test specimen containing an FSW joint reveals better electrochemical corrosion resistance than that taken from the base metal. When test specimens upon exposure to EXCO solution are concurrently subjected to a tensile stress, since the mechanical properties of the FSW joint are lower than the base metal, a test specimen containing an FSW joint is more easily prone to the early initiation of fine microscopic cracks. This makes the test specimen containing the FSW joint to be less resistant to stress corrosion damage than that taken from the base metal for the various levels of applied stress and exposure time to EXCO solution. The average corrosion depth of the test specimen containing the FSW joint is less than that of the base metal, while the maximum corrosion depth of it is greater than that of the base metal. This reveals that test specimen containing the FSW joint is more susceptible to damage and degradation than test specimen taken from the base metal.
Nucleation and Condensation of Magnesium Vapor in Argon Carrier
Authors: Han Jibiao , Fu Daxue , Guo Junhua , Ji Zonghui , Dou Zhihe , Zhang Ting’an
Published: October 2020

The nucleation and condensation of Magnesium (Mg) vapor carried by argon gas (Ar) were examined. The condensation of Mg vapor at a heat source temperature of 1273–1473 K and Ar flow rate of 0.1–0.4 m3/h was analyzed. The result indicated that the condensation temperature is affected by the heat source temperature and Ar flow rate, and the condensation temperature of Mg vapor was 1013.3 K at a heat source temperature of 1473 K and Ar flow rate of 0.2 m3/h. The effects of Mg vapor partial pressure and temperature of the condensation zone on the nucleation and condensation of Mg vapor carried by Ar were calculated and analyzed in terms of atomic collisions and critical nucleation radius. Increased vapor oversaturation and decreased condensation temperature were favorable for liquid nucleation growth. The Mg condensation products in Ar flow rate of 0.2 m3/h at a heat source temperature of 1473 K were analyzed by XRD, SEM, and EDS, which indicated that the condensed product was of high purity and not easily oxidized in Ar flow. In this paper, the quality of Mg vapor condensation was controlled, which provided the theoretical and experimental basis for a continuous Mg production process.
Influence of the Miniaturisation Effect on the Effective Stiffness of Lattice Structures in Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Meyer Guillaume , Brenne Florian , Niendorf Thomas , Mittelstedt Christian
Published: October 2020

Thin-walled and cellular structures are characterised by superior lightweight potential due to their advantageous stiffness to weight ratio. They find particular interest in the field of additive manufacturing due to robust and reproducible manufacturability. However, the mechanical performance of such structures strongly depends on the manufacturing process and resultant geometrical imperfections such as porosity, deviations in strut thickness or surface roughness, for which an understanding of their influence is crucially needed. So far, many authors conducted empirical investigations, while analytical methods are rarely applied. In order to obtain efficient design rules considering both mechanical properties and process induced characteristics, analytical descriptions are desirable though. Available analytical models for the determination of effective properties are mostly based on the simple advancement of beam theories, mostly ignoring manufacturing characteristics that, however, strongly influence the mechanical properties of additive manufactured thin-walled structures. One example is the miniaturisation effect, a microstructural effect that has been identified as one of the main drivers of the effective elasto-plastic properties of lightweight structures processed by additive manufacturing. The current work highlights the need to quantify further microstructural effects and to encourage combining them into mesostructural approaches in order to assess macrostructural effective properties. This multi-scale analysis of lattice structures is performed through a comparison between effective stiffness calculated through an analytical approach and compression tests of lattice structures, coupled with an investigation of the arrangement of their struts. In order to cover different potential loading scenarios, bending-dominated and stretch-dominated lattice structures made of the commonly used materials 316L and Ti6Al4V are considered, whereby the impact of microstructural phase transformation during processing is taken into account.
Assessment of Metabolic Profiles in Florets of Carthamus Species Using Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Kim Jiseon , Assefa Awraris Derbie , Song Jaeeun , Mani Vimalaj , Park Soyoung , Lee Seon-Kyeong , Lee Kijong , Kim Dong-Gwan , Hahn Bum-Soo
Published: October 2020

The genus Carthamus is a diverse group of plants belonging to the family Compositae. Florets of Carthamus species exhibit various colors, including white, yellow, orange, and red, which are related to their metabolite compositions. We aimed to investigate the metabolites accumulated in florets of three wild (C. lanatus, C. palaestinus, and C. turkestanicus) and one cultivated (C. tinctorius) species of safflower at three developmental stages. Metabolites were extracted from freeze-dried florets using 70% methanol; qualification and quantification were carried out using liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry in positive and negative ion modes followed by extraction of the peaks. Fifty-six metabolites, including phenylpropanoids, chalcones, isoflavonoids, flavanones, flavonols, flavones, and other primary metabolites, were identified for the first time in safflower wild species. The orange florets contained high abundances of safflomin A, anhydrosafflor yellow B, and baimaside, whereas white/cream and light-yellow pigmented florets had high abundances of 1,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, luteolin 7-O-glucuronide, and apigenin 7-O-β-D-glucuronide. The principal component analysis clearly distinguished the samples based on their pigment types, indicating that color is a dominant factor dictating the identity and amount of the metabolites. Pearson correlation data based on levels of metabolites showed that orange and yellow florets were significantly correlated to each other. White and cream pigmented species were also highly correlated. Comparison between three developmental stages of safflower wild species based on their metabolite profile showed inconsistent. The findings of this study broaden the current knowledge of safflower metabolism. The wide diversity of metabolites in safflower materials also helps in efforts to improve crop quality and agronomic traits.
Formation of the Submicron Oxidative LIPSS on Thin Titanium Films During Nanosecond Laser Recording
Authors: Sinev Dmitry A. , Yuzhakova Daria S. , Moskvin Mikhail K. , Veiko Vadim P.
Published: October 2020

Laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSSs) spontaneously appearing on the laser-treated (melted or evaporated) surfaces of bulk solid materials seem to be a well-studied phenomenon. Peculiarities of oxidative mechanisms of LIPSS formation on thin films though are far less clear. In this work, the appearance of oxidative LIPSSs on thin titanium films was demonstrated under the action of commercially available nanosecond-pulsed Yb-fiber laser. The temperature and energy regimes favoring their formation were revealed, and their geometric characteristics were determined. The period of these LIPSSs was found to be about 0.7 λ, while the modulation depth varied between 70 and 110 nm, with high stability and reproducibility. It was shown that LIPSS orientation is rather easily manageable in the regimes of our interest, which could provide a way of controlling their properties.
Hydrothermal Activation of Porous Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Materials for Electrochemical Capacitors and Sodium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Fedoseeva Yuliya V. , Lobiak Egor V. , Shlyakhova Elena V. , Kovalenko Konstantin A. , Kuznetsova Viktoriia R. , Vorfolomeeva Anna A. , Grebenkina Mariya A. , Nishchakova Alina D. , Makarova Anna A. , Bulusheva Lyubov G. , Okotrub Alexander V.
Published: October 2020

Highly porous nitrogen-doped carbon nanomaterials have distinct advantages in energy storage and conversion technologies. In the present work, hydrothermal treatments in water or ammonia solution were used for modification of mesoporous nitrogen-doped graphitic carbon, synthesized by deposition of acetonitrile vapors on the pyrolysis products of calcium tartrate. Morphology, composition, and textural characteristics of the original and activated materials were studied by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and nitrogen gas adsorption method. Both treatments resulted in a slight increase in specific surface area and volume of micropores and small mesopores due to the etching of carbon surface. Compared to the solely aqueous medium, activation with ammonia led to stronger destruction of the graphitic shells, the formation of larger micropores (1.4 nm vs. 0.6 nm), a higher concentration of carbonyl groups, and the addition of nitrogen-containing groups. The tests of nitrogen-doped carbon materials as electrodes in 1M H2SO4 electrolyte and sodium-ion batteries showed improvement of electrochemical performance after hydrothermal treatments especially when ammonia was used. The activation method developed in this work is hopeful to open up a new route of designing porous nitrogen-doped carbon materials for electrochemical applications.
Improved Nutritional Knowledge in the Obese Adult Population Modifies Eating Habits and Serum and Anthropometric Markers
Authors: López-Hernández Lourdes , Martínez-Arnau Francisco Miguel , Pérez-Ros Pilar , Drehmer Eraci , Pablos Ana
Published: October 2020

Multicomponent lifestyle interventions achieve good results in the management of obesity among the adult population. However, their implementation in certain populations poses difficulties. A good level of nutritional knowledge enables people to make changes in their diet that improve their health. This study aims to assess the relationship between nutritional knowledge and nutritional parameters such as dietary intake, anthropometric parameters and biomarkers. A before–after, non-randomized interventional study involving a two-monthly nutritional educational intervention was carried out over 8 months. Anthropometric and biomarker data were collected, and nutritional knowledge was evaluated using the Bach questionnaire and food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The study comprised 66 overweight and obese adults with mean age of 50.23 years. Females predominated (84.8%). At the end of the intervention, nutritional knowledge increased significantly, with a significant reduction in the consumption of sweets, soft drinks, high-fat products, and processed meats, and an increase in the intake of lean meat and poultry. A 3% decrease in body weight was observed. An intervention for the management of obesity in the adult population based on nutritional education achieves weight loss, modifications in eating habits and reduction of fat intake. Increased nutritional knowledge is associated with healthier eating habits and a decreased cardiovascular risk.
In-House Developed ELISA Indicates High Prevalence of Anti-Echinococcus granulosus IgG in Sheep Population—An Update from Pakistan
Authors: Alvi Mughees Aizaz , Ohiolei John Asekhaen , Li Li , Saqib Muhammad , Hussain Muhammad Hammad , Tayyab Muhammad Haleem , Ghafoor Muzafar , Qamar Warda , Faridi Noman Yousaf , Alvi Anum Aizaz , Fu Bao-Quan , Yan Hong-Bin , Jia Wan-Zhong
Published: October 2020

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a World Health Organization (WHO)-listed neglected tropical farm economy jeopardizing and public health concern disease. This study was aimed at furnishing sero-epidemiological baseline data of CE in sheep in Pakistan, where data are non-existent. For this purpose, two sheep-rich provinces of Pakistan were selected, and 728 sheep sera were collected using probability proportional to size (PPS) statistical technique. Epidemiological information was recorded on a questionnaire for the estimation of potential risk factors. The serum samples were analyzed for IgG antibodies against Echinococcus granulosus using an in-house-developed EgAgB-based ELISA kit. The overall seroprevalence recorded was 21.98% (160/728) in the tested sheep, suggesting higher seropositivity in sheep from Punjab (23.73%) as compared to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) (19.04%). The overall apparent prevalence observed by this ELISA method was almost similar to the calculated true prevalence (21.77%). Prevalence was significantly different (p < 0.05) among sheep from different districts. Higher prevalence was found in females (22.54%, OR 1.41), age group > 5 years (29.66%, OR 1.64), crossbreeds (42.85%, OR 2.70), and sheep with pasture access (25.96%, OR 3.06). Being in age group > 5 years and having pasture access were the factors significantly associated with seropositivity (p < 0.05). This study provides serological evidence of E. granulosus infection in sheep and can be used as a model for ante-mortem screening of the sheep globally.
Nanotechnology for the Treatment of Allergic Conjunctival Diseases
Authors: Liu Yu-Chi , Lin Molly Tzu-Yu , Ng Anthony Herr Cheun , Wong Tina T. , Mehta Jodhbir S.
Published: October 2020

Allergic conjunctivitis is one of the most common external eye diseases and the prevalence has been increasing. The mainstay of treatment is topical eye drops. However, low bioavailability, low ocular drug penetration, transient resident time on the ocular surface due to tear turnover, frequent topical applications and dependence on patient compliance, are the main drawbacks associated with topical administration. Nanotechnology-based medicine has emerged to circumvent these limitations, by encapsulating the drugs and preventing them from degradation and therefore providing sustained and controlled release. Using a nanotechnology-based approach to load the drug is particularly useful for the delivery of hydrophobic drugs such as immunomodulatory agents, which are commonly used in allergic conjunctival diseases. In this review, different nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems, including nanoemulsions, liposomes, nanomicelles, nanosuspension, polymeric and lipid nanoparticles, and their potential ophthalmic applications, as well as advantages and disadvantages, are discussed. We also summarize the results of present studies on the loading of immunomodulators or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to nano-scaled drug delivery systems. For future potential clinical use, research should focus on the optimization of drug delivery designs that provide adequate and effective doses with safe and satisfactory pharmacokinetic and pharmaco-toxic profiles.
Preparation and Evaluation of Amino Acid Conjugates of Celecoxib as Prodrugs to Improve the Pharmacokinetic and Therapeutic Properties of Celecoxib
Authors: Lee Yonghyun , Kim Jungyun , Kim Wooseong , Yoon In-Soo , Jung Yunjin
Published: October 2020

Although celecoxib is quite effective in the management of inflammation-related diseases, especially arthritis, its use is limited by concerns including low bioavailability (BA), non-linear pharmacokinetic (PK) profile, and peak concentration-related toxicity. To overcome these issues, we designed and prepared hydrophilic celecoxib prodrugs, namely N-glycyl-aspart-1yl celecoxib (N-GA1C), glutam-1-yl celecoxib (G1C), and aspart-1yl celecoxib (A1C), for the sustained release of celecoxib in the intestine with limited systemic absorption. The celecoxib derivatives were converted to celecoxib in the intestinal contents. The conversion rates were in order of N-GA1C > G1C > A1C. Oral administration of the celecoxib derivatives (oral celecoxib derivatives) sustained the plasma concentration of celecoxib for 24 h, improving the BA and linearity of the PK profile of celecoxib. The peak concentrations (Cmax) of celecoxib after oral celecoxib derivatives were lower than that after oral celecoxib. In a carrageenan-induced rat paw edema model, oral N-GA1C exhibited greater anti-inflammatory activity for a longer duration compared with oral celecoxib. The order of efficacy of the celecoxib derivatives was N-GA1C > G1C > A1C. Taken together, the prodrug approach is a feasible strategy to improve the PK and therapeutic properties of celecoxib, and among the celecoxib derivatives, N-GA1C may be the most promising prodrug of celecoxib.
Bactericidal Antibacterial Mechanism of Plant Synthesized Silver, Gold and Bimetallic Nanoparticles
Authors: Fanoro Olufunto T. , Oluwafemi Oluwatobi S.
Published: October 2020

As the field of nanomedicine develops and tackles the recent surge in antibiotic resistance, there is a need to have an in-depth understanding and a synergistic view of research on the effectiveness of a metal nanoparticle (NP) as an antibacterial agent especially their mechanisms of action. The constant development of bacterial resistance has led scientists to develop novel antibiotic agents. Silver, gold and its bimetallic combination are one of the most promising metal NPs because they show strong antibacterial activity. In this review we discuss the mode of synthesis and the proposed mechanism of biocidal antibacterial activity of metal NPs. These mechanisms include DNA degradation, protein oxidation, generation of reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation, ATP depletion, damage of biomolecules and membrane interaction.
Performance of a Radar Mosaic Quantitative Precipitation Estimation Algorithm Based on a New Data Quality Index for the Chinese Polarimetric Radars
Authors: Zhang Yang , Liu Liping , Wen Hao
Published: October 2020

The quality of radar data is crucial for its application. In particular, before radar mosaic and quantitative precipitation estimation (QPE) can be conducted, it is necessary to know the quality of polarimetric parameters. The parameters include the horizontal reflectivity factor, ZH; the differential reflectivity factor, ZDR; the specific differential phase, KDP; and the correlation coefficient, ρHV. A novel radar data quality index (RQI) is specifically developed for the Chinese polarimetric radars. Not only the influences of partial beam blockages and bright band upon radar data quality, but also those of bright band correction performance, signal-to-noise ratio, and non-precipitation echoes are considered in the index. RQI can quantitatively describe the quality of various polarimetric parameters. A new radar mosaic QPE algorithm based on RQI is presented in this study, which can be used in different regions with the default values adjusted according to the characteristics of local radar. RQI in this algorithm is widely used for high-quality polarimetric radar data screening and mosaic data merging. Bright band correction is also performed to errors of polarimetric parameters caused by melting ice particles for warm seasons in this algorithm. This algorithm is validated by using nine rainfall events in Guangdong province, China. Major conclusions are as follows. ZH, ZDR, and KDP in bright band become closer to those under bright band after correction than before. However, the influence of KDP correction upon QPE is not as good as that of ZH and ZDR correction in bright band. Only ZH and ZDR are used to estimate precipitation in the bright band affected area. The new mosaic QPE algorithm can improve QPE performances not only in the beam blocked areas and the bright band affected area, which are far from radars, but also in areas close to the two radars. The sensitivity tests show the new algorithm can perform well and stably for any type of precipitation occurred in warm seasons. This algorithm lays a foundation for regional polarimetric radar mosaic precipitation estimation in China.
Shaping Sustainable Employment and Social Consequences of Indigenous Australians in a Remote Region
Authors: Liu Yi , Daff Sandra , Pearson Cecil
Published: October 2020

This study aimed to identify employment barriers experienced by long-term working Indigenous Australians so that initiatives can be taken to ensure their social inclusion and participation in the workplace. A qualitative approach was carried out by interviewing 25 Australian Indigenous people in Nhulunbuy. The participants were without employment prospects and so embraced a vocational educational training (VET) program that enabled them to transition into sustainable jobs in small businesses and the mining sector. A qualitative analysis that employed the Leximancer process using data of comprehensive interviews recorded respondents’ experiences from being unemployed to the sustainable different states of wellbeing associated with long-term employment. The participants showed preparedness to confront entrenched barriers to employment in the Australian labor market, but their residual participation was a function of preferences as well as aspirations of cultural attachment. This paper offers helpful advice to decision makers at the national level to redress the high rate of Indigenous unemployment. The key message of our research is that government policies that pursue the ideal of socioeconomic equality need to examine the values of cultural diversity and differences to ensure Indigenous people successfully participate in Australian mainstream society.