bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of COVID-19 Waste Flows During the Emergency State in Romania and Related Public Health and Environmental Concerns
Authors: Mihai Florin-Constantin
Published: July 2020

This paper provides a rapid assessment method of potentially infectious waste flow related to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Romania focusing on the emergency state (from 16 March to 14 May 2020) where a national lockdown was in force with restrictive and social distancing measures concerning population mobility and economic activities. Medical and municipal waste management systems are critical services in combating the virus spread in the community. This assessment is useful due to poor available data of medical waste flow in environmental reports and it covers COVID-19 patients, quarantined, and self-isolated persons as the main potential infectious waste sources. The proposed model estimates that COVID-19 related waste flow is 4312 t at the national level from 25 February to 15 June of which 2633 t in the emergency state period. This assessment is correlated with deficiencies of medical and municipal waste management systems in Romania before the COVID-19 pandemic as stress factors of public health and environment. This study points out the main challenges of waste operators and reveals some best practices during this pandemic crisis. Based on the results and discussion section, several recommendations are proposed to COVID-19 waste-related issues and points out the crucial role of the reliable medical and municipal waste database in managing such biologic hazards at national and EU levels. Monitoring of COVID-19 waste flow through such models are important for decision-makers, particularly in low and middle-income countries which are facing waste management deficiencies and gaps in waste statistics, to reduce other contamination risks or related environmental threats.
How Do Economic Growth, Urbanization, and Industrialization Affect Fine Particulate Matter Concentrations? An Assessment in Liaoning Province, China
Authors: Shi Tuo , Hu Yuanman , Liu Miao , Li Chunlin , Zhang Chuyi , Liu Chong
Published: July 2020

With China’s rapid development, urban air pollution problems occur frequently. As one of the principal components of haze, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has potential negative health effects, causing widespread concern. However, the causal interactions and dynamic relationships between socioeconomic factors and ambient air pollution are still unclear, especially in specific regions. As an important industrial base in Northeast China, Liaoning Province is a representative mode of social and economic development. Panel data including PM2.5 concentration and three socio-economic indicators of Liaoning Province from 2000 to 2015 were built. The data were first-difference stationary and the variables were cointegrated. The Granger causality test was used as the main method to test the causality. In the results, in terms of the causal interactions, economic activities, industrialization and urbanization processes all showed positive long-term impacts on changes of PM2.5 concentration. Economic growth and industrialization also significantly affected the variations in PM2.5 concentration in the short term. In terms of the contributions, industrialization contributed the most to the variations of PM2.5 concentration in the sixteen years, followed by economic growth. Though Liaoning Province, an industry-oriented region, has shown characteristics of economic and industrial transformation, policy makers still need to explore more targeted policies to address the regional air pollution issue.
Association between Compliance with the 24-Hour Movement Guidelines and Fundamental Movement Skills in Preschoolers: A Network Perspective
Authors: Lucena Martins Clarice Maria de , Clark Cain Craig Truman , Ribeiro Bandeira Paulo Felipe , Mota Jorge , Duncan Michael Joseph
Published: July 2020

The present study aimed to analyze the compliance with the 24-h movement guidelines and its association with fundamental motor skills (FMS) in early childhood, considering sex and Body Mass Index (BMI) in a network perspective. Two hundred and twelve preschoolers (109 boys, 4.45 ± 0.78 years old) provided physical activity (PA), sleep duration, screen time, fundamental motor skills (FMS) and BMI data. Relationships between compliance with movement behaviors guidelines, FMS, sex and BMI were calculated using a network analysis. Only two percent of the entire sample complied with the overall 24-h movement behaviors recommendations; while the emerged network in the present study emphasized ball skills as the most critical centrality variable, according to age, reinforcing the importance of ball skills for the engagement and maintenance of PA in children. The present study presents a novel statistical and theoretical perspective that permits hitherto unseen insight into the associations between movement behavior, FMS and their correlates, that appropriately consider the inherent, multifaceted, complexity of these relationships.
Assessing the Anthropometric Profile of Spanish Elite Reserve Soccer Players by Playing Position over a Decade
Authors: Vega Jon Manuel , Gonzalez-Artetxe Asier , Aguinaco Jon Ander , Los Arcos Asier
Published: July 2020

The aims of this study were to describe the evolution of the anthropometric profile of soccer players over a decade and to compare the anthropometric profiles of players promoted from an elite reserve team to high-level soccer with those players who were not promoted. We examined the body mass, height, body-mass index, and body fat of 98 players enrolled in the reserve team from 2008 to 2018. The players were classified in terms of (a) the highest competitive level they achieved up to the 2019/2020 season (i.e., Spanish 1st–2nd divisions or semi-professional); (b) the period in which they played their last season on the team; and (c) their playing position. Over time, the height of goalkeepers, lateral midfielders, and attackers has increased (effect size = 0.66 ± 1.13) but has decreased in central midfielders (effect size = 0.83). The body fat of defenders has also fallen (effect size = 0.55 ± 0.95). Spanish high-level goalkeepers, lateral midfielders, and attackers were taller than their semi-professional player counterparts (effect size = 1.20 ± 1.98). Body fat did not determine promotion from a reserve team to high-level soccer, but height may be an advantage for several playing positions. The assessment of the anthropometric profile and the application of interventions should be designed according to the playing position.
Long-Term Assessment of Air Quality and Identification of Aerosol Sources at Setúbal, Portugal
Authors: Silva Alexandra Viana , Oliveira Cristina M. , Canha Nuno , Miranda Ana Isabel , Almeida Susana Marta
Published: July 2020

Understanding air pollution in urban areas is crucial to identify mitigation actions that may improve air quality and, consequently, minimize human exposure to air pollutants and their impact. This study aimed to assess the temporal evolution of the air quality in the city of Setúbal (Portugal) during a time period of 10 years (2003–2012), by evaluating seasonal trends of air pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, O3, NO, NO2 and NOx) measured in nine monitoring stations. In order to identify emission sources of particulate matter, PM2.5 and PM2.5–10 were characterized in two different areas (urban traffic and industrial) in winter and summer and, afterwards, source apportionment was performed by means of Positive Matrix Factorization. Overall, the air quality has been improving over the years with a decreasing trend of air pollutant concentration, with the exception of O3. Despite this improvement, levels of PM10, O3 and nitrogen oxides still do not fully comply with the requirements of European legislation, as well as with the guideline values of the World Health Organization (WHO). The main anthropogenic sources contributing to local PM levels were traffic, industry and wood burning, which should be addressed by specific mitigation measures in order to minimize their impact on the local air quality.
Screen Time and Sleep of Rural and Urban South African Preschool Children
Authors: Tomaz Simone A. , Hinkley Trina , Jones Rachel A. , Watson Estelle D. , Twine Rhian , Kahn Kathleen , Norris Shane A. , Draper Catherine E.
Published: July 2020

This study aimed to investigate the extent to which preschool children meet guidelines for screen time (<1 h/day) and sleep (10–13 h/24-h) and explored home factors that affect these behaviors. Parents of preschoolers across income settings in South Africa (urban high-income n = 27, urban low-income n = 96 and rural low-income n = 142) completed a questionnaire. Urban high-income children had higher rates of exceeding screen time guidelines (67.0%) than children from urban low-income (26.0%) and rural low-income (3.5%) settings. Most children (81.0%) met sleep guidelines on weekdays and on weekends (75.0%). More urban high-income children met the sleep guideline, in comparison to both low-income settings. Fewer urban high-income parents (50.0%) thought that screen time would not affect their preschooler’s health, compared to urban low-income (90.4%) and rural low-income (81.7%) parents. Weeknight bedtime was positively correlated with both weekday screen time (p = 0.001) and weekday TV time (p = 0.005), indicating that more time on screens correlated with later bedtimes. Meeting screen time and sleep guidelines differs across income settings, but it is evident that parents of preschoolers across all income settings would benefit from greater awareness about guidelines.
Attributable Risk and Economic Cost of Cardiovascular Hospital Admissions Due to Ambient Particulate Matter in Wuhan, China
Authors: Wang Xuyan , Yu Chuanhua , Zhang Yunquan , Shi Fang , Meng Runtang , Yu Yong
Published: July 2020

Although the adverse effects of ambient particulate matter (PM) on cardiovascular disease (CVD) have been previously documented, information about their economic consequence was insufficient. This study aimed to evaluate the attributable risk and economic cost of cardiovascular hospitalizations due to ambient PM. Data of CVD hospitalizations and PM concentrations from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2017 were collected in Wuhan, China. A generalized additive model was applied to quantify the PM-attributable CVD hospitalizations, and total attributable hospitalization costs were calculated via multiplying the total attributable cases by the case-average hospitalization costs. A total of 45,714 CVD hospitalizations were included in this study. The results showed that a 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations at lag7 day, respectively, contributed to a 1.01% (95% confidence interval: 0.67–1.34) and 0.48% (0.26–0.70) increase in CVD hospitalizations. During the study period, 1487 and 983 CVD hospitalizations were attributable to PM2.5 and PM10, equaling an economic cost of 29.27 and 19.34 million RMB (1 RMB = 0.1424 USD), respectively, and significant differences in PM-attributable hospitalizations and economic burden were found between gender and age groups. Our study added evidence in heavily polluted megacities regarding the increased health risk and economic cost of CVD hospitalizations associated with ambient particulate pollution.
Non-Cancer Chronic Pain Conditions and Risk for Incident Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Study of United States Medicare Beneficiaries, 2001–2013
Authors: Khalid Sumaira , Sambamoorthi Usha , Innes Kim E.
Published: July 2020

Accumulating evidence suggests that certain chronic pain conditions may increase risk for incident Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). Rigorous longitudinal research remains relatively sparse, and the relation of overall chronic pain condition burden to ADRD risk remains little studied, as has the potential mediating role of sleep and mood disorders. In this retrospective cohort study, we investigated the association of common non-cancer chronic pain conditions (NCPC) at baseline to subsequent risk for incident ADRD, and assessed the potential mediating effects of mood and sleep disorders, using baseline and 2-year follow-up data using 11 pooled cohorts (2001–2013) drawn from the U.S. Medicare Current Beneficiaries Survey (MCBS). The study sample comprised 16,934 community-dwelling adults aged ≥65 and ADRD-free at baseline. NCPC included: headache, osteoarthritis, joint pain, back or neck pain, and neuropathic pain, ascertained using claims data; incident ADRD (N = 1149) was identified using claims and survey data. NCPC at baseline remained associated with incident ADRD after adjustment for sociodemographics, lifestyle characteristics, medical history, medications, and other factors (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) for any vs. no NCPC = 1.21, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.04–1.40; p = 0.003); the strength and magnitude of this association rose significantly with increasing number of diagnosed NCPCs (AOR for 4+ vs. 0 conditions = 1.91, CI = 1.31–2.80, p-trend < 0.00001). Inclusion of sleep disorders and/or depression/anxiety modestly reduced these risk estimates. Sensitivity analyses yielded similar findings. NCPC was significantly and positively associated with incident ADRD; this association may be partially mediated by mood and sleep disorders. Additional prospective studies with longer-term follow-up are warranted to confirm and extend our findings.
Turbinate Submucosal Reduction Operation Reduced Migraine Admission among Patients with Chronic Hypertrophic Rhinitis
Authors: Cheng Chun-An , Chang Yin-Han , Cheng Chun-Gu , Lin Hung-Che , Chung Chi-Hsiang , Chien Wu-Chien
Published: July 2020

Rhinitis increases migraine risk. Chronic hypertrophic rhinitis can be treated with turbinate submucosal reduction operation. The relationship between migraine and chronic hypertrophic rhinitis after turbinate submucosal reduction operation is still unclear. The goal of this study was to evaluate the correlation between turbinate submucosal reduction operation and subsequent migraine admission in Asian chronic hypertrophic rhinitis patients. We identified patients suffering from chronic hypertrophic rhinitis and receiving turbinate submucosal reduction operation. The control group was selected from patients with chronic hypertrophic rhinitis without operation. The event was migraine admission. The risk factors of migraine admission were established using multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression. The risk of migraine admission after turbinate submucosal reduction operation is represented by a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.858 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.633–0.962). The higher risk of migraine included depression with HR 4.348 (95% CI: 2.826–6.69), anxiety with HR 3.75 (95% CI: 2.267–6.203), fibromyalgia with HR of 7.326 (95% CI: 3.427–15.661), and asthma with HR 1.969 (95% CI: 1.11–3.491). Our study revealed that turbinate submucosal reduction operation led to a 14.2% reduction in migraine admission. Clinicians should understand the benefit of turbinate submucosal reduction operation and provide suitable treatments for comorbid conditions. Further prospective studies are required to confirm our findings.
Source of Social Support and Caregiving Self-Efficacy on Caregiver Burden and Patient’s Quality of Life: A Path Analysis on Patients with Palliative Care Needs and Their Caregivers
Authors: Leung Doris Y. P. , Chan Helen Y. L. , Chiu Patrick K. C. , Lo Raymond S. K. , Lee Larry L. Y.
Published: July 2020

Few studies have explored the inter-relationships of sources of social support and caregiving self-efficacy with caregiver burden and patient’s quality of life among patients with palliative care needs and their caregivers. This study tested the associations of two sources of social support (family and friends) and the mediating role of caregiving self-efficacy on caregiver burden and patient’s quality of life. A convenience sample of 225 patient–caregiver dyads recruited between September 2016 and May 2017 from three hospitals in Hong Kong was included in the current analysis. Results showed that the final model provided a satisfactory fit (SRMR = 0.070, R-RMSEA = 0.055 and R-CFI = 0.926) with the data, as good as the hypothesized model did (p = 0.326). Significant associations were detected. Family support had a significant negative indirect effect on caregiver burden and a significant positive indirect effect on patient’s quality of life through caregiving self-efficacy, whereas friend support had a significant positive direct effect on caregiver burden but a minimal effect, if any, on patient’s quality of life. These findings emphasized (1) the importance of caregiving self-efficacy in improving caregiver burden and patient’s quality of life and that (2) sources of social support may be an important dimension moderating the associations of caregiving self-efficacy with caregiver burden and patient’s quality of life.
Health System Response during the European Refugee Crisis: Policy and Practice Analysis in Four Italian Regions
Authors: Mammana Leonardo , Milani Chiara , Bordin Paola , Paglione Lorenzo , Salvia Chiara
Published: July 2020

The decentralization of the provision of health services at the subnational level produces variations in healthcare offered to asylum seekers (ASs) across the different Italian regions, even if they are entitled to healthcare through the national health service. The present study aims to map the healthcare path and regional policies for ASs upon arrival and identify challenges and best practices. This is a multicentric, qualitative study of migrant health policies and practices at the regional level within four Italian regions. For the analysis, a dedicated tool for the systematic comparison of policies and practices was developed. The collection and analysis of data demonstrated the presence of many items of international recommendations, even if many gaps exist and differences between regions remain. The analysis of practices permitted the identification of three models of care and access. Some aspects identified are as follows: fragmentation and barriers to access; a weakness in or lack of a governance system, with the presence of many actors involved; variability in the response between territories. The inclusion of ASs in healthcare services requires intersectoral actions, involving healthcare sectors and other actors within local social structures, in order to add value to local resources and practices, reinforce networks and contribute to social integration.
The Acceptance of Key Public Health Interventions by the Polish Population Is Related to Health Literacy, But Not eHealth Literacy
Authors: Duplaga Mariusz
Published: July 2020

Background: Public health and health promotion rely on many different interventions, which range from health education and communication, through community mobilisation and changes to environmental conditions, to legal and fiscal actions. The introduction of the increased tax on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB), popularly called sugar tax (ST), and a mandatory programme of vaccinations are the strategies inciting the most vivid discussions in Polish society. The study was intended to assess the determinants of the attitudes of Polish society regarding the ST and to vaccinations. Methods: For the analysis, the data originating from the survey of a representative adult sample of Polish society (n = 1000) was used. The survey was based on computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI). The assessment of the relationships between the selected variables and the opinions about the introduction of the ST and the safety and effectiveness of vaccinations were carried out using the chi2 test and univariate logistic regression models. Results: The acceptance of the ST and vaccination showed a significant relationship to the level of health literacy (HL) but not to eHealth literacy (eHL). Respondents having a higher rather than lower HL; older rather than younger; married rather than singles; retired, or on a disability pension, rather than vocationally active and nonusers of the Internet rather than users were more likely to show an acceptance for both interventions. Those more frequently using health care services and those with chronic diseases showed a greater belief in the safety and effectiveness of vaccinations. Conclusions: The relationship between the opinions of the two public health interventions analysed and the sociodemographic variables demonstrated similar patterns. Interestingly, the opinions were associated only with HL and not with eHL and users of the Internet were more sceptical about the interventions.
The Employability Process of Spanish Retired Elite Athletes: Gender and Sport Success Comparison
Authors: López de Subijana Cristina , Ramos Javier , Garcia Carlos , Chamorro Jose L.
Published: July 2020

The aims of the study were: (i) to describe the work integration after retirement in elite athletes, (ii) to compare the working integration of women and men, and Olympic and non-Olympic athletes, and (iii) to specify the factors that affect their employment status and current monthly income. A total of 476 former elite athletes were surveyed. Non-parametric statistics were applied to compare the differences between groups and a classification tree analysis was performed for the dependent variables. The former elite athlete’s unemployment rate was better than the general population. At the gender comparison, a wage gap appeared between women and men. At the comparison between Olympic and non-Olympic athletes, the link to first employment differed in both groups. In the prediction models, finishing higher education arose as a key factor of the working status and the monthly salary. Among those without higher education studies, planning arose as a factor determining their salary, while among those with high qualifications, gender was the key factor. This study supports the importance of a holistic view of athletic career development and it offers practical insights into the process of reaching first employment after retirement.
Spatial Intensity in Tourism Accommodation: Modelling Differences in Trends for Several Types through Poisson Models
Authors: Rodríguez-Rangel Mª Cristina , Sánchez-Rivero Marcelino , Ramajo-Hernández Julián
Published: July 2020

The distribution pattern of tourist activity in space represents valuable information to improve the management of a tourist destination. This is why there is a trend in the current literature in proposing modelling that allows for the incorporation of how tourist activity is distributed in an operational way in order to characterize and measure the patterns identified for tourism management. The present study focuses on carrying out this modelling in an inland territory in an expansion phase which, according to the knowledge available from previous work, presents a strong territorial imbalance in the distribution of its housing pool, the region of Extremadura in Spain. For this reason, tourism intensity is modelled through a Poisson process to determine which model best fits the pattern of accommodation in the region. The results represent a valuable tool for public–private management of the tourism sector in the area under study.
Spatiotemporal Varying Effects of Built Environment on Taxi and Ride-Hailing Ridership in New York City
Authors: Zhang Xinxin , Huang Bo , Zhu Shunzhi
Published: July 2020

The rapid growth of transportation network companies (TNCs) has reshaped the traditional taxi market in many modern cities around the world. This study aims to explore the spatiotemporal variations of built environment on traditional taxis (TTs) and TNC. Considering the heterogeneity of ridership distribution in spatial and temporal aspects, we implemented a geographically and temporally weighted regression (GTWR) model, which was improved by parallel computing technology, to efficiently evaluate the effects of local influencing factors on the monthly ridership distribution for both modes at each taxi zone. A case study was implemented in New York City (NYC) using 659 million pick-up points recorded by TT and TNC from 2015 to 2017. Fourteen influencing factors from four groups, including weather, land use, socioeconomic and transportation, are selected as independent variables. The modeling results show that the improved parallel-based GTWR model can achieve better fitting results than the ordinary least squares (OLS) model, and it is more efficient for big datasets. The coefficients of the influencing variables further indicate that TNC has become more convenient for passengers in snowy weather, while TT is more concentrated at the locations close to public transportation. Moreover, the socioeconomic properties are the most important factors that caused the difference of spatiotemporal patterns. For example, passengers with higher education/income are more inclined to select TT in the western of NYC, while vehicle ownership promotes the utility of TNC in the middle of NYC. These findings can provide scientific insights and a basis for transportation departments and companies to make rational and effective use of existing resources.
Single Cell Transcriptome Analysis of Niemann–Pick Disease, Type C1 Cerebella
Authors: Cougnoux Antony , Yerger Julia C. , Fellmeth Mason , Serra-Vinardell Jenny , Martin Kyle , Navid Fatemeh , Iben James , Wassif Christopher A. , Cawley Niamh X. , Porter Forbes D.
Published: July 2020

Niemann–Pick disease, type C1 (NPC1) is a lysosomal disease characterized by endolysosomal storage of unesterified cholesterol and decreased cellular cholesterol bioavailability. A cardinal symptom of NPC1 is cerebellar ataxia due to Purkinje neuron loss. To gain an understanding of the cerebellar neuropathology we obtained single cell transcriptome data from control (Npc1+/+) and both three-week-old presymptomatic and seven-week-old symptomatic mutant (Npc1−/−) mice. In seven-week-old Npc1−/− mice, differential expression data was obtained for neuronal, glial, vascular, and myeloid cells. As anticipated, we observed microglial activation and increased expression of innate immunity genes. We also observed increased expression of innate immunity genes by other cerebellar cell types, including Purkinje neurons. Whereas neuroinflammation mediated by microglia may have both neuroprotective and neurotoxic components, the contribution of increased expression of these genes by non-immune cells to NPC1 pathology is not known. It is possible that dysregulated expression of innate immunity genes by non-immune cells is neurotoxic. We did not anticipate a general lack of transcriptomic changes in cells other than microglia from presymptomatic three-week-old Npc1−/− mice. This observation suggests that microglia activation precedes neuronal dysfunction. The data presented in this paper will be useful for generating testable hypotheses related to disease progression and Purkinje neurons loss as well as providing insight into potential novel therapeutic interventions.
Regulation of Filaggrin, Loricrin, and Involucrin by IL-4, IL-13, IL-17A, IL-22, AHR, and NRF2: Pathogenic Implications in Atopic Dermatitis
Authors: Furue Masutaka
Published: July 2020

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an eczematous, pruritic skin disorder with extensive barrier dysfunction and elevated interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 signatures. The barrier dysfunction correlates with the downregulation of barrier-related molecules such as filaggrin (FLG), loricrin (LOR), and involucrin (IVL). IL-4 and IL-13 potently inhibit the expression of these molecules by activating signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)6 and STAT3. In addition to IL-4 and IL-13, IL-22 and IL-17A are probably involved in the barrier dysfunction by inhibiting the expression of these barrier-related molecules. In contrast, natural or medicinal ligands for aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) are potent upregulators of FLG, LOR, and IVL expression. As IL-4, IL-13, IL-22, and IL-17A are all capable of inducing oxidative stress, antioxidative AHR agonists such as coal tar, glyteer, and tapinarof exert particular therapeutic efficacy for AD. These antioxidative AHR ligands are known to activate an antioxidative transcription factor, nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (NRF2). This article focuses on the mechanisms by which FLG, LOR, and IVL expression is regulated by IL-4, IL-13, IL-22, and IL-17A. The author also summarizes how AHR and NRF2 dual activators exert their beneficial effects in the treatment of AD.
The Early History of PKU
Authors: Woolf Louis I. , Adams John
Published: July 2020

The story of phenylketonuria (PKU) started in 1934 with Asbjørn Følling’s examination of two mentally retarded siblings from a Norwegian family. However, if their mother had not been so persistent in her search for somebody who could give her a reason why both her children were retarded, Asbjørn Følling’s name might never have been associated with PKU and surely the history of PKU would have started differently. In the short review below, the authors give a partly personal and therefore rare account of the early history of PKU, its treatment and the start of neonatal screening. Prof. Woolf is a pioneer of both the dietary treatment of PKU and neonatal screening; Mr. Adams is a long-time advocate for PKU patient interests.
Multimodal Interaction: Correlates of Learners’ Metacognitive Skill Training Negotiation Experience
Authors: Spiliotopoulos Dimitris , Makri Eleni , Vassilakis Costas , Margaris Dionisis
Published: July 2020

Metacognitive training reflects knowledge, consideration and control over decision-making and task performance evident in any social and learning context. Interest in understanding the best account of effective (win-win) negotiation emerges in different social and cultural interactions worldwide. The research presented in this paper explores an extended study of metacognitive training system during negotiation using an embodied conversational agent. It elaborates on the findings from the usability evaluation employing 40 adult learners pre- and postinteraction with the system, reporting on the usability and metacognitive, individual- and community-level related attributes. Empirical evidence indicates (a) higher levels of self-efficacy, individual readiness to change and civic action after user-system experience, (b) significant and positive direct associations between self-efficacy, self-regulation, interpersonal and problem-solving skills, individual readiness to change, mastery goal orientation and civic action pre- and postinteraction and (c) gender differences in the perceptions of system usability performance according to country of origin. Theoretical and practical implications in tandem with future research avenues are discussed in light of embodied conversational agent metacognitive training in negotiation.
Sewage Sludge Bio-Oil Development and Characterization
Authors: Shah Zeban , Veses Renato Cataluña , Brum Jonatan , Klunk Marcos Antônio , Rocha Luiz Alberto Oliveira , Missaggia André Brum , Oliveira Andressa Padilha de , Caetano Nattan Roberto
Published: July 2020

This work presents the production of sewage sludge oil by pyrolysis, shows the physicochemical properties and compares it with commercial diesel. The sewage sludge was dried and mixed to discarded cooking oil to increase the fuel conversion rate due to the pyrolysis process at an initial temperature of 25 °C and a final of 650 °C. The oil was distilled and analyzed in a Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR), Gas Chromatogram and Mass spectrometry (GC-MS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to perform a structural characterization on the molecular distribution, groups of functions and the product thermal stability. The authors measured fundamental physicochemical properties like viscosity, density and flashpoint and compared the results with the corresponding commercial S-10 diesel properties observing good agreement.
No Passport Required: Crossing Interdisciplinary Borders in an Australian Legal Clinic
Authors: Bozin Doris , Ballard Allison , de Prazer Vicki , Weekes Jenny
Published: July 2020

How can disparate professions better collaborate in a legal clinic environment to improve the health and wellbeing, legal and social outcomes for patients/clients? In this paper, we explore how an intentional blurring of the boundaries between the health and legal professions in practice—between lawyers, general practitioners and psychologists, in particular—in the context of clinical legal education may result in better patient/client outcomes. We find that direct interdisciplinary professional referrals for patient/clients within a legal clinic environment can promote effective and timely therapeutic interventions for those with complex and interrelated legal and health problems. Drawing upon the literature around cross-disciplinary professional client referrals and two client case studies from a health–justice legal clinic environment in which doctors, psychologists and lawyers personally cross-refer patients with legal and health problems, we recommend some steps to break down the interdisciplinary borders so as to improve access to justice and health outcomes for vulnerable clients.
Prevalence and Clinical Characteristics of Children and Adolescents with Metabolically Healthy Obesity: Role of Insulin Sensitivity
Authors: Vinciguerra Federica , Tumminia Andrea , Baratta Roberto , Ferro Alfredo , Alaimo Salvatore , Hagnäs Maria , Graziano Marco , Vigneri Riccardo , Frittitta Lucia
Published: July 2020

Obesity represents a major risk factor for metabolic disorders, but some individuals, “metabolically healthy” (MHO), show less clinical evidence of these complications, in contrast to “metabolically unhealthy” (MUO) individuals. The aim of this cross-sectional study is to assess the prevalence of the MHO phenotype in a cohort of 246 overweight/obese Italian children and adolescents, and to evaluate their characteristics and the role of insulin resistance. Homeostasis model assessment–insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), insulin sensitivity index (ISI), insulinogenic index (IGI) and disposition index (DI) were all calculated from the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). MHO was defined by either: (1) HOMA-IR < 2.5 (MHO-IRes), or (2) absence of the criteria for metabolic syndrome (MHO-MetS). The MHO prevalence, according to MHO-MetS or MHO-IRes criteria, was 37.4% and 15.8%, respectively. ISI was the strongest predictor of the MHO phenotype, independently associated with both MHO-IRes and MHO-MetS. The MHO-MetS group was further subdivided into insulin sensitive or insulin resistant on the basis of HOMA-IR (either < or ≥ 2.5). Insulin sensitive MHO-MetS patients had a better metabolic profile compared to both insulin resistant MHO-MetS and MUO-MetS individuals. These data underscore the relevance of insulin sensitivity to identifying, among young individuals with overweight/obesity, the ones who have a more favorable metabolic phenotype.
Acid-Free Hydrothermal-Extraction and Molecular Structure of Carbon Quantum Dots Derived from Empty Fruit Bunch Biochar
Authors: Jamaludin Norhanisah , Tan Tong Ling , Zaman Alif Syafiq Kamarol , Sadrolhosseini Amir Reza , Rashid Suraya Abdul
Published: July 2020

Carbon quantum dots (CQD) have great potential to be used in various applications due to their unique electrical and optical properties. Herein, a facile, green and eco-friendly hydrothermal method for the preparation of carbon quantum dots was achieved using empty fruit bunch (EFB) biochar as a renewable and abundant carbon source. In the current study, the role of the hydrothermal process was observed and studied by comparing the morphology and optical characteristics of CQD obtained from EFB biochar. Interestingly, based on the high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) result, a considerably similar carbon quantum dots structure can be observed for the EFB biochar sample, showing the similar size and distribution of CQD. To further discuss the extraction of CQD from EFB biochar, a mechanism based on hydrothermal-induced extraction of CQD is proposed. The optimal structure of CQD deduced by density functional theory (DFT) in energy and dipole momentum was about 2057.4905 Hatree and 18.1699 Debye, respectively. This study presents a practical experimental approach in elucidating the molecular structure of photoluminescence CQD based on the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results.
The Effect of Physicochemical Properties of Perfluoroalkylsilanes Solutions on Microtribological Features of Created Self-Assembled Monolayers
Authors: Cichomski Michał , Borkowska Ewelina , Prowizor Milena , Batory Damian , Jedrzejczak Anna , Dudek Mariusz
Published: July 2020

The presented article shows the influence of concentration of perfluoroalkylsilanes in solutions on tribological properties of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) deposited on three surfaces with different silicon content in the millinewton load range. The SAMs were created using the liquid phase deposition (LPD) method with 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorodecyltrichlorosilane (FDTS) and (3, 3, 3-trifluoropropyl) trichlorosilane (FPTS) solutions, for which viscosity and surface tension were estimated. Deposited layers were analyzed in terms of thickness, coverage, wettability, structure and coefficient of friction. The obtained results demonstrated that SAMs created on the silicon-incorporated diamond-like carbon (Si-DLC) coatings possess the best microtribological properties. Systems composed of perfluoroalkylsilane SAM structures deposited on Si-DLC coatings are highly promising candidates as material for microelectromechanical applications.
Robust qLPV Tracking Fault-Tolerant Control of a 3 DOF Mechanical Crane
Authors: López-Estrada Francisco-Ronay , Santos-Estudillo Oscar , Valencia-Palomo Guillermo , Gómez-Peñate Samuel , Hernández-Gutiérrez Carlos
Published: July 2020

The main aim of this paper is to propose a robust fault-tolerant control for a three degree of freedom (DOF) mechanical crane by using a convex quasi-Linear Parameter Varying (qLPV) approach for modeling the crane and a passive fault-tolerant scheme. The control objective is to minimize the load oscillations while the desired path is tracked. The convex qLPV model is obtained by considering the nonlinear sector approach, which can represent exactly the nonlinear system under the bounded nonlinear terms. To improve the system safety, tolerance to partial actuator faults is considered. Performance requirements of the tracking control system are specified in an H∞ criteria that guarantees robustness against measurement noise, and partial faults. As a result, a set of Linear Matrix Inequalities is derived to compute the controller gains. Numerical experiments on a realistic 3 DOF crane model confirm the applicability of the control scheme.
Clinical, Pathological and Microbiological Evaluation of Diabetic Foot Syndrome
Authors: Uivaraseanu Bogdan , Bungau Simona , Tit Delia Mirela , Fratila Ovidiu , Rus Marius , Maghiar Teodor Andrei , Maghiar Octavian , Pantis Carmen , Vesa Cosmin Mihai , Zaha Dana Carmen
Published: July 2020

Background and objectives: Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is one of the serious complications of diabetes, being related to frequent and long-term hospitalisation, reduced quality of life of the patient, amputations, a high rate of morbidity and mortality. The bacterial aetiology is complex, sometimes involving more than one pathogen, playing a major role in the infection prognosis and development of microbial resistance. This study evaluated the current state of the aetiology, clinical and pathological characteristics of DFU in a single diabetes centre in order to provide some specific measures to prevent it. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on patients with diabetes mellitus (252 individuals diagnosed with DFU) between January 2018–December 2019. All participants were assessed based on their clinical characteristics, including complications of diabetes and pathological and microbiological evaluations. Results: The present research revealed that diabetic foot ulcer prevalence was higher in males than in females and higher in type 2 diabetic patients than in type 1 diabetic patients. The patients with diabetic foot ulcer were older, had a higher body mass index (BMI), longer diabetic duration and had more diabetic complications, such as retinopathy, diabetic polyneuropathy and diabetic kidney disease, than patients without diabetic foot ulceration. Conclusions: Taking into account all factors involved, including the aetiology and the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of these isolates, planning the suitable treatment options of patients is possible.
As-Built EBM and DMLS Ti-6Al-4V Parts: Topography–Corrosion Resistance Relationship in a Simulated Body Fluid
Authors: Acquesta Annalisa , Monetta Tullio
Published: July 2020

Machined devices made of titanium or titanium alloys are widely used in biomedical applications. Recently, additive manufacturing technologies (AM) were proposed to reduce the cost of parts and customise their shape. While several researchers have studied the characterisation of the machined surfaces of AM products, less attention has been focused on the study of the surfaces of as-produced parts. The aim of this study was to compare the surface and bulk properties of Ti-6Al-4V alloy products obtained using two types of AM—i.e., electron beam melting and direct metal laser sintering—in comparison to the wrought material and analyse their metallographic, crystallographic, topographic, and electrochemical properties. The metallographic and crystallographic, as well as topographic, analysis showed different microstructures and surface area extensions between the tested specimens. Potentiodynamic polarisation tests highlighted the complex electrochemical behaviour of additively manufactured parts if compared to that of the traditionally fabricated ones. The tests performed on mechanically polished parts underlined similar electrochemical performance between them, even if the additive manufactured ones exhibited a certain instability. Although the as-produced additive manufactured parts present exciting surface shapes, useful in the biomedical field, significant drawbacks remain. A more in-depth study of the device surface modifications, to improve their electrochemical behaviour, is needed.
Flexible Electrocorticography Electrode Array for Epileptiform Electrical Activity Recording under Glutamate and GABA Modulation on the Primary Somatosensory Cortex of Rats
Authors: Li Xinrong , Song Yilin , Xiao Guihua , Xie Jingyu , Dai Yuchuan , Xing Yu , He Enhui , Wang Yun , Xu Shengwei , Zhang Lulu , Yu Duli , Tao Tiger H. , Cai Xinxia
Published: July 2020

Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder. There is still a lack of methods to accurately detect cortical activity and locate lesions. In this work, a flexible electrocorticography (ECoG) electrode array based on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-parylene was fabricated to detect epileptiform activity under glutamate (Glu) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) modulation on primary somatosensory cortex of rats. The electrode with a thickness of 20 μm has good flexibility to establish reliable contact with the cortex. Fourteen recording sites with a diameter of 60 μm are modified by electroplating platinum black nanoparticles, which effectively improve the performance with lower impedance, obtaining a sensitive sensing interface. The electrode enables real-time capturing changes in neural activity under drug modulation. Under Glu modulation, neuronal populations showed abnormal excitability, manifested as hypsarrhythmia rhythm and continuous or periodic spike wave epileptiform activity, with power increasing significantly. Under GABA modulation, the excitement was inhibited, with amplitude and power reduced to normal. The flexible ECoG electrode array could monitor cortical activity, providing us with an effective tool for further studying epilepsy and locating lesions.
Fungal Community in Antarctic Soil Along the Retreating Collins Glacier (Fildes Peninsula, King George Island)
Authors: Santos Juliana Aparecida dos , Meyer Edenilson , Sette Lara Durães
Published: July 2020

Glacial retreat is one of the most conspicuous signs of warming in Antarctic regions. Glacier soils harbor an active microbial community of decomposers, and under the continuous retraction of glaciers, the soil starts to present a gradient of physical, chemical, and biological factors reflecting regional changes over time. Little is known about the biological nature of fungi in Antarctic glacier soils. In this sense, this work aimed at studying the behavior of fungal community structure from samples of glacier soil collected after glacial retreat (Collins Glacier). A total of 309 fungi distributed in 19 genera were obtained from eleven soil samples. Representatives of the genera Pseudogymnoascus (Ascomycota) and Mortierella (Mortierellomycota) were the most abundant isolates in all samples. The data revealed the presence of filamentous fungi belonging to the phylum Basidiomycota, rarely found in Antarctica. Analysis of the generalized linear models revealed that the distance from the glacier as well as phosphorus and clay were able to modify the distribution of fungal species. Environmental variations proved to have influenced the genera Pseudogymnoascus and Pseudeutorium.
Vitamin C Deficiency and the Risk of Osteoporosis in Patients with an Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Ratajczak Alicja Ewa , Szymczak-Tomczak Aleksandra , Skrzypczak-Zielińska Marzena , Rychter Anna Maria , Zawada Agnieszka , Dobrowolska Agnieszka , Krela-Kaźmierczak Iwona
Published: July 2020

Recent research studies have shown that vitamin C (ascorbic acid) may affect bone mineral density and that a deficiency of ascorbic acid leads to the development of osteoporosis. Patients suffering from an inflammatory bowel disease are at a risk of low bone mineral density. It is vital to notice that patients with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis also are at risk of vitamin C deficiency which is due to factors such as reduced consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits, i.e., the main sources of ascorbic acid. Additionally, some patients follow diets which may provide an insufficient amount of vitamin C. Moreover, serum vitamin C level also is dependent on genetic factors, such as SLC23A1 and SLC23A2 genes, encoding sodium-dependent vitamin C transporters and GSTM1, GSTP1 and GSTT1 genes which encode glutathione S-transferases. Furthermore, ascorbic acid may modify the composition of gut microbiota which plays a role in the pathogenesis of an inflammatory bowel disease.
Periconceptional Folic Acid Supplementation and the Risk of Spontaneous Abortion among Women Who Prepared to Conceive: Impact of Supplementation Initiation Timing
Authors: Mao Yan-Yan , Yang Liu , Li Min , Liu Jun , Zhu Qian-Xi , He Yang , Zhou Wei-Jin
Published: July 2020

It is unclear whether periconceptional folic acid (FA) supplementation decreases the risk of spontaneous abortion (SA). The impact of supplementation initiation timing has not been ascertained. This cohort study aimed to investigate the association between maternal periconceptional FA supplementation and risk of SA, with due consideration of the supplementation initiation timing. Through the National Free Pre-conception Health Examination Project (NFPHEP), we identified 65,643 pregnancies on FA supplementation in Chongqing, China between 2010 and 2015. After adjusting for covariates, maternal periconceptional FA supplementation was associated with a lower risk of SA (adjusted risk ratio [aRR]: 0.52; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.48–0.56). Pregnant women with FA supplementation initiated at least 3 months before conception had a 10% lower risk of SA (aRR: 0.46; 95% CI: 0.42–0.50) than those with FA supplementation initiated 1–2 months before conception (aRR: 0.56; 95% CI: 0.50–0.62) or after conception (aRR: 0.56; 95% CI: 0.51–0.61). These associations might not thoroughly account for FA supplementation, and to some extent our findings confirm the role of the utilization of healthcare in preventing SAs. Women who initiated healthcare, including taking FA earlier during the periconceptional period, could have a lower risk of SA.