bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Relational Conceptual Model in GIS for the Management of Photovoltaic Systems
Authors: Piccinini Fabio , Pierdicca Roberto , Malinverni Eva Savina
Published: June 2020

The aim of this manuscript is to define an operational pipeline of work, from data acquisition to the report creation, for the smart management of PV plants. To achieve such an ambitious result, we exploit the implementation of a conceptual model, deployed through a relational database to retrieve any kind of information related to the PV plant. The motivation that drove this research is due to the increasing construction of PV plants. In fact, following European and international investments that heavily stimulated the use of clean energy, the need to maintain PV plants in their maximum efficiency for their whole lifecycle emerged, to bring about benefits from both the ecological and the economic points of view. While the research community focuses on finding new and automatic ways to detect faults automatically, few efforts have been made considering the so-called Operation and Maintenance (O&M). A relational conceptual model may facilitate the management of heterogeneous sources of information, which are common in complex PV plants. The purpose of the present study is to provide companies and insiders with a GIS-based tool to maintain the energy efficiency of a PV plant. Indeed, it is a common practice used by companies dealing with O&M of PV plants to create technical reports about the health status of the plants. This operation, made manually, is very time consuming and error prone. To overcome this latter drawback, this work attempts to encourage the use of GIS in the PV plants O&M, which proves to be efficient to deal with fault management and to assure a good level of energy production. The developed conceptual model, tested on two real case studies, proved to be complete, cost-effective and efficient to be replicated in other existing plants.
Original Solution of Coupled Nonlinear Schrödinger Equations for Simulation of Ultrashort Optical Pulse Propagation in a Birefringent Fiber
Authors: Zhavdatovich Sakhabutdinov Airat , Ivanovich Anfinogentov Vladimir , Gennadievich Morozov Oleg , Alexandrovich Burdin Vladimir , Vladimirovich Bourdine Anton , Mudarrisovich Gabdulkhakov Ildaris , Anatolievich Kuznetsov Artem
Published: June 2020

This paper discusses approaches to the numerical integration of the coupled nonlinear Schrödinger equations system, different from the generally accepted approach based on the method of splitting according to physical processes. A combined explicit/implicit finite-difference integration scheme based on the implicit Crank–Nicolson finite-difference scheme is proposed and substantiated. It allows the integration of a nonlinear system of equations with a choice of nonlinear terms from the previous integration step. The main advantages of the proposed method are: its absolute stability through the use of an implicit finite-difference integration scheme and an integrated mechanism for refining the numerical solution at each step; integration with automatic step selection; performance gains (or resolutions) up to three or more orders of magnitude due to the fact that there is no need to produce direct and inverse Fourier transforms at each integration step, as is required in the method of splitting according to physical processes. An additional advantage of the proposed method is the ability to calculate the interaction with an arbitrary number of propagation modes in the fiber.
Personal and Psychological Traits Influencing the Willingness to Pay for Food with Nutritional Claims: A Comparison between Vice and Virtue Food Products
Authors: López-Galán Belinda , de-Magistris Tiziana
Published: June 2020

Several studies have demonstrated the usefulness of nutritional claims (NCs) to help consumers make more informed food decisions. However, fewer studies have investigated the effect of personal and psychological consumer characteristics on their food purchase decision. Hence, the main aim of this study is to examine the impact of body image, emotional eating style, anxiety traits, and body mass index on consumer preferences for multiple NCs on the front of the package (FOP) of hedonic (potato chips) and utilitarian (toasted bread) products carrying the same NCs. Therefore, a real choice experiment (RCE) has been used and the willingness-to-pay-space model was estimated to analyse the interaction between personal and psychological characteristics and consumer preferences. The main finding suggests differences in purchase behaviour between potato chips and toasted bread. In particular, consumers are willing to pay more for toasted bread with one NC than potato chips with one NC. Moreover, personal and psychological consumer characteristics influence the purchase behaviour regarding food products with nutritional claims. However, only the anxiety trait appears to explain the differences between the selection of both types of food products. In line with this new evidence, we proposed some behavioural, political, and managerial implications.
Fermented Cereal-based Products: Nutritional Aspects, Possible Impact on Gut Microbiota and Health Implications
Authors: Tsafrakidou Panagiota , Michaelidou Alexandra-Maria , G. Biliaderis Costas
Published: June 2020

Fermentation, as a process to increase the security of food supply, represents an integral part of food culture development worldwide. Nowadays, in the evolving functional food era where new sophisticated technological tools are leading to significant transformations in the field of nutritional sciences and science-driven approaches for new product design, fermentation technology is brought to the forefront again since it provides a solid foundation for the development of safe food products with unique nutritional and functional attributes. Therefore, the objective of the present review is to summarize the most recent advances in the field of fermentation processes related to cereal-based products. More specifically, this paper addresses issues that are relevant to nutritional and health aspects, including their interrelation with intestinal (gut) microbiome diversity and function, although clinical trials and/or in vitro studies testing for cereal-based fermented products are still scarce.
Semi-Industrial Production of Kashkaval of Pindos Cheese Using Sheep or a Mixture of Sheep–Goat Milk and Utilization of the Whey for Manufacturing Urda Cheese
Authors: Pappa Eleni C. , Kondyli Efthymia , Bosnea Loulouda , Mataragas Marios , Giannouli Agathi , Tsiraki Maria
Published: June 2020

Kashkaval of Pindos cheese was successfully produced using 100% sheep milk (KS) or with the addition of 10% goat milk (KG). Urda cheese was manufactured using 100% sheep (US) or 90% sheep–10% goat (UG) whey from the production of kashkaval of Pindos cheese. Both cheeses were made taking into account their traditional cheese-making methods. The cheeses were assessed for their chemical, microbiological and organoleptic characteristics. Generally, no significant differences were observed between KS and KG cheese and between US and UG cheese regarding their physicochemical, textural characteristics, soluble nitrogen fraction and total fatty acid content. The fat content of Urda cheese was low, in accordance with the demand of consumers for healthy products. KS cheeses showed higher total volatile compounds than KG cheeses at 60 and 90 days of ripening and storage as well as lower counts of thermophilic–mesophilic lactic acid bacteria. No differences were observed in the microbial counts between US and UG cheeses. Acetone, hexanal, 2 heptanone, ethanol and toluene were found in abundance in Urda cheeses. Both kashkaval of Pindos and Urda cheeses received high scores during the organoleptic evaluation. The obtained data may lead to the production of both cheeses with standard characteristics according to the traditional recipes and improve their recognition.
Event-Based Landslide Modeling in the Styrian Basin, Austria: Accounting for Time-Varying Rainfall and Land Cover
Authors: Knevels Raphael , Petschko Helene , Proske Herwig , Leopold Philip , Maraun Douglas , Brenning Alexander
Published: June 2020

In June 2009 and September 2014, the Styrian Basin in Austria was affected by extreme events of heavy thunderstorms, triggering thousands of landslides. Since the relationship between intense rainfall, land cover/land use (LULC), and landslide occurrences is still not fully understood, our objective was to develop a model design that allows to assess landslide susceptibility specifically for past triggering events. We used generalized additive models (GAM) to link land surface, geology, meteorological, and LULC variables to observed slope failures. Accounting for the temporal variation in landslide triggering, we implemented an innovative spatio-temporal approach for landslide absence sampling. We assessed model performance using k-fold cross-validation in space and time to estimate the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). Furthermore, we analyzed the variable importance and its relationship to landslide occurrence. Our results showed that the models had on average acceptable to outstanding landslide discrimination capabilities (0.81–0.94 mAUROC in space and 0.72–0.95 mAUROC in time). Furthermore, meteorological and LULC variables were of great importance in explaining the landslide events (e.g., five-day rainfall 13.6–17.8% mean decrease in deviance explained), confirming their usefulness in landslide event analysis. Based on the present findings, future studies may assess the potential of this approach for developing future storylines of slope instability based on climate and LULC scenarios.
Current Guidelines for Protecting Health Workers from Occupational Tuberculosis Are Necessary, but Not Sufficient: Towards a Comprehensive Occupational Health Approach
Authors: Ehrlich Rodney , Spiegel Jerry M. , Adu Prince , Yassi Annalee
Published: June 2020

Health workers globally are at elevated occupational risk of tuberculosis infection and disease. While a raft of guidelines have been published over the past 25 years on infection prevention and control (IPC) in healthcare, studies in different settings continue to show inadequate implementation and persistence of risk. The aim of this commentary is to argue, based on the literature and our own research, that a comprehensive occupational health approach is an essential complement to IPC guidelines. Such an approach includes a health system framework focusing on upstream or mediating components, such as a statutory regulation, leadership, an information system, and staff trained in protective disciplines. Within the classical prevention framework, primary prevention needs to be complemented by occupational health services (secondary prevention) and worker’s compensation (tertiary prevention). A worker-centric approach recognises the ethical implications of screening health workers, as well as the stigma perceived by those diagnosed with tuberculosis. It also provides for the voiced experience of health workers and their participation in decision-making. We argue that such a comprehensive approach will contribute to both the prevention of occupational tuberculosis and to the ability of a health system to withstand other crises of infectious hazards to its workforce.
Midregional Proadrenomedullin Can Reflect the Accumulation of Visceral Adipose Tissue—A Key to Explaining the Obesity Paradox
Authors: Koyama Teruhide , Kuriyama Nagato , Uehara Ritei
Published: June 2020

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate whether plasma midregional proadrenomedullin (MR-proADM) reflected body composition, such as body mass index (BMI), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), VAT/SAT ratio, body fat mass (BFM), and skeletal muscle mass (SMM). Methods: A total of 2244 individuals (727 men and 1517 women) were included in the study. Multiple regression analysis was performed to assess the combined influence of variables: age, daily alcohol consumption, Brinkman index, sleeping time, metabolic equivalents, anamnesis for hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, and body composition of MR-proADM, by using a stepwise forward selection method. Results: MR-proADM was significantly related to all anthropometric indices (BMI, VAT, SAT, VAT/SAT ratio, BFM, and SMM) in men and women. On the basis of a stepwise forward selection method, VAT (men: beta = 0.184, p < 0.001, women: beta = 0.203, p < 0.001) and BFM (beta = 0.181, p < 0.001) in women, were found to be significantly associated with MR-proADM. Conclusion: This study suggests that plasma MR-proADM concentration is a more reliable indicator of VAT for fat distribution, and thus, MR-proADM may help better understand the obesity paradox. Changes in circulating levels of MR-proADM could possibly reflect changes in body composition, endocrine, and metabolic milieu.
A Visual Approach for the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) Outbreak Data Analysis
Authors: Hua Jie , Wang Guohua , Huang Maolin , Hua Shuyang , Yang Shuanghe
Published: June 2020

Virus outbreaks are threats to humanity, and coronaviruses are the latest of many epidemics in the last few decades in the world. SARS-CoV (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Associated Coronavirus) is a member of the coronavirus family, so its study is useful for relevant virus data research. In this work, we conduct a proposed approach that is non-medical/clinical, generate graphs from five features of the SARS outbreak data in five countries and regions, and offer insights from a visual analysis perspective. The results show that prevention measures such as quarantine are the most common control policies used, and areas with strict measures did have fewer peak period days; for instance, Hong Kong handled the outbreak better than other areas. Data conflict issues found with this approach are discussed as well. Visual analysis is also proved to be a useful technique to present the SARS outbreak data at this stage; furthermore, we are proceeding to apply a similar methodology with more features to future COVID-19 research from a visual analysis perfective.
Perinatal Exposure to Triclosan Results in Abnormal Brain Development and Behavior in Mice
Authors: Tran Dinh Nam , Jung Eui-Man , Yoo Yeong-Min , Lee Jae-Hwan , Jeung Eui-Bae
Published: June 2020

Triclosan (TCS) is one of the most common endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) present in household and personal wash products. Recently, concerns have been raised about the association between abnormal behavior in children and exposure to EDC during gestation. We hypothesized that exposure to TCS during gestation could affect brain development. Cortical neurons of mice were exposed in vitro to TCS. In addition, we examined in vivo whether maternal TCS administration can affect neurobehavioral development in the offspring generation. We determined that TCS can impair dendrite and axon growth by reducing average length and numbers of axons and dendrites. Additionally, TCS inhibited the proliferation of and promoted apoptosis in neuronal progenitor cells. Detailed behavioral analyses showed impaired acquisition of spatial learning and reference memory in offspring derived from dams exposed to TCS. The TCS-treated groups also showed cognition dysfunction and impairments in sociability and social novelty preference. Furthermore, TCS-treated groups exhibited increased anxiety-like behavior, but there was no significant change in depression-like behaviors. In addition, TCS-treated groups exhibited deficits in nesting behavior. Taken together, our results indicate that perinatal exposure to TCS induces neurodevelopment disorder, resulting in abnormal social behaviors, cognitive impairment, and deficits in spatial learning and memory in offspring.
Link between Diabetes and Alzheimer’s Disease Due to the Shared Amyloid Aggregation and Deposition Involving Both Neurodegenerative Changes and Neurovascular Damages
Authors: Stanciu Gabriela Dumitrita , Bild Veronica , Ababei Daniela Carmen , Rusu Razvan Nicolae , Cobzaru Alina , Paduraru Luminita , Bulea Delia
Published: June 2020

Diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease are two highly prevalent diseases among the aging population and have become major public health concerns in the 21st century, with a significant risk to each other. Both of these diseases are increasingly recognized to be multifactorial conditions. The terms “diabetes type 3” or “brain diabetes” have been proposed in recent years to provide a complete view of the potential common pathogenic mechanisms between these diseases. While insulin resistance or deficiency remains the salient hallmarks of diabetes, cognitive decline and non-cognitive abnormalities such as impairments in visuospatial function, attention, cognitive flexibility, and psychomotor speed are also present. Furthermore, amyloid aggregation and deposition may also be drivers for diabetes pathology. Here, we offer a brief appraisal of social impact and economic burden of these chronic diseases and provide insight into amyloidogenesis through considering recent advances of amyloid-β aggregates on diabetes pathology and islet amyloid polypeptide on Alzheimer’s disease. Exploring the detailed knowledge of molecular interaction between these two amyloidogenic proteins opens new opportunities for therapies and biomarker development.
Oral Fluid Biomarkers for Diagnosing Gingivitis in Human: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Hong Inpyo , Pae Hyung-Chul , Song Young Woo , Cha Jae-Kook , Lee Jung-Seok , Paik Jeong-Won , Choi Seong-Ho
Published: June 2020

Diagnoses based on oral fluid biomarkers have been introduced to overcome limitations of periodontal probe-based diagnoses. Diagnostic ability of certain biomarkers for periodontitis have been identified and widely studied, however, such studies targeting gingivitis is scarce. The aims of this study were to determine and compare the efficacies and accuracies of eight biomarkers in diagnosing gingivitis with the aid of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The probing depth (PD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), bleeding on probing (BOP), gingival index (GI), and plaque index (PI) were examined in 100 participants. Gingival crevicular fluid was collected using paper points, and whole-saliva samples were collected using cotton roll. Samples were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits for the different biomarkers. The levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-8, MMP-9, lactoferrin, cystatin C, myeloperoxidase (MPO), platelet-activating factor, cathepsin B, and pyridinoline cross-linked carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen were analyzed. MPO and MMP-8 levels in saliva were strongly correlated with gingivitis, with Pearson’s correlation coefficients of 0.399 and 0.217, respectively. The area under the curve (AUC) was largest for MMP-8, at 0.814, followed by values of 0.793 and 0.777 for MPO and MMP-9, respectively. The clinical parameters of GI and PI showed strong correlations and large AUC values, whereas PD and CAL did not. MMP-8 and MPO were found to be effective for diagnosing gingivitis. Further investigations based on the results of this study may identify clinically useful biomarkers for the accurate and early detection of gingivitis.
Photobiomodulation—Underlying Mechanism and Clinical Applications
Authors: Dompe Claudia , Moncrieff Lisa , Matys Jacek , Grzech-Leśniak Kinga , Kocherova Ievgeniia , Bryja Artur , Bruska Małgorzata , Dominiak Marzena , Mozdziak Paul , Skiba Tarcio , Shibli Jamil , Angelova Volponi Ana , Kempisty Bartosz , Dyszkiewicz-Konwińska Marta
Published: June 2020

The purpose of this study is to explore the possibilities for the application of laser therapy in medicine and dentistry by analyzing lasers’ underlying mechanism of action on different cells, with a special focus on stem cells and mechanisms of repair. The interest in the application of laser therapy in medicine and dentistry has remarkably increased in the last decade. There are different types of lasers available and their usage is well defined by different parameters, such as: wavelength, energy density, power output, and duration of radiation. Laser irradiation can induce a photobiomodulatory (PBM) effect on cells and tissues, contributing to a directed modulation of cell behaviors, enhancing the processes of tissue repair. Photobiomodulation (PBM), also known as low-level laser therapy (LLLT), can induce cell proliferation and enhance stem cell differentiation. Laser therapy is a non-invasive method that contributes to pain relief and reduces inflammation, parallel to the enhanced healing and tissue repair processes. The application of these properties was employed and observed in the treatment of various diseases and conditions, such as diabetes, brain injury, spinal cord damage, dermatological conditions, oral irritation, and in different areas of dentistry.
Platelet-to-lymphocyte and Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte Ratios Predict Target Vessel Restenosis after Infrainguinal Angioplasty with Stent Implantation
Authors: Lee Silvia , Hoberstorfer Timothy , Wadowski Patricia P. , Kopp Christoph W. , Panzer Simon , Gremmel Thomas
Published: June 2020

Platelet-to-lymphocyte (PLR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (NLR) and lymphocyte-to-monocyte (LMR) ratios are associated with the occurrence of critical limb ischemia in peripheral artery disease (PAD). We therefore investigated whether PLR, NLR or LMR are linked to target vessel restenosis (TVR) following infrainguinal angioplasty and stenting. Moreover, we studied on-treatment platelet reactivity and neutrophil-platelet aggregate (NPA) formation as potential underlying mechanisms. Platelet, neutrophil, lymphocyte and monocyte counts were determined one day after angioplasty and stenting in 95 stable PAD patients. Platelet reactivity and NPA formation in response to protease-activated receptor−1 stimulation were measured by light transmission aggregometry (LTA) and flow cytometry, respectively. PLR and NLR were significantly higher in patients who subsequently developed TVR (both p < 0.05). In contrast, LMR did not differ significantly between patients without and with TVR (p = 0.28). A PLR ≥ 91 and NLR ≥2.75 were identified as the best thresholds to predict TVR, providing sensitivities of 87.5% and 81.3%, and specificities of 34.9% and 50.8%, respectively, and were therefore defined as high PLR and high NLR. TVR occurred significantly more often in patients with high PLR and high NLR than in those with lower ratios (both p < 0.05). Patients with high PLR and high NLR exhibited significantly increased on-treatment platelet aggregation compared to those with lower ratios, and patients with high PLR had higher levels of NPA formation (all p < 0.01). In conclusion, PLR and NLR predict TVR after infrainguinal angioplasty with stent implantation. Platelet activation and neutrophil-platelet interaction may be involved in the underlying pathomechanisms
Impact of COVID-19 on Urology Practice: A Global Perspective and Snapshot Analysis
Authors: Gravas Stavros , Bolton Damien , Gomez Reynaldo , Klotz Laurence , Kulkarni Sanjay , Tanguay Simon , de la Rosette Jean
Published: June 2020

The global impact of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on urology practice remains unknown. Self-selected urologists worldwide completed an online survey by the Société Internationale d’Urologie (SIU). A total of 2494 urologists from 76 countries responded, including 1161 (46.6%) urologists in an academic setting, 719 (28.8%) in a private practice, and 614 (24.6%) in the public sector. The largest proportion (1074 (43.1%)) were from Europe, with the remainder from East/Southeast Asia (441 (17.7%)), West/Southwest Asia (386 (15.5%)), Africa (209 (8.4%)), South America (198 (7.9%)), and North America (186 (7.5%)). An analysis of differences in responses was carried out by region and practice setting. The results reveal significant restrictions in outpatient consultation and non-emergency surgery, with nonspecific efforts towards additional precautions for preventing the spread of COVID-19 during emergency surgery. These restrictions were less notable in East/Southeast Asia. Urologists often bear the decision-making responsibility regarding access to elective surgery (40.3%). Restriction of both outpatient clinics and non-emergency surgery is considerable worldwide but is lower in East/Southeast Asia. Measures to control the spread of COVID-19 during emergency surgery are common but not specific. The pandemic has had a profound impact on urology practice. There is an urgent need to provide improved guidance for this and future pandemics.
Neural Correlates of Gender Face Perception in Transgender People
Authors: Fisher Alessandra Daphne , Ristori Jiska , Castellini Giovanni , Cocchetti Carlotta , Cassioli Emanuele , Orsolini Stefano , Sensi Carolina , Romani Alessia , Mazzoli Francesca , Cipriani Agnese , Ricca Valdo , Vignozzi Linda , Viggiano Maria Pia , Mascalchi Mario , Maggi Mario , Gavazzi Gioele
Published: June 2020

To date, MRI studies focused on brain sexual dimorphism have not explored the presence of specific neural patterns in gender dysphoria (GD) using gender discrimination tasks. Considering the central role of body image in GD, the present study aims to evaluate brain activation patterns with 3T-scanner functional MRI (fMRI) during gender face discrimination task in a sample of 20 hormone-naïve transgender and 20 cisgender individuals. Additionally, participants were asked to complete psychometric measures. The between-group analysis of average blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) activations of female vs. male face contrast showed a significant positive cluster in the bilateral precuneus in transmen when compared to the ciswomen. In addition, the transwomen group compared to the cismen showed higher activations also in the precuneus, as well as in the posterior cingulate gyrus, the angular gyrus and the lateral occipital cortices. Moreover, the activation of precuneus, angular gyrus, lateral occipital cortices and posterior cingulate gyrus was significantly associated with higher levels of body uneasiness. These results show for the first time the existence of a possible specific GD-neural pattern. However, it remains unclear if the differences in brain phenotype of transgender people may be the result of a sex-atypical neural development or of a lifelong experience of gender non-conformity.
A Cohort of Patients with COVID-19 in a Major Teaching Hospital in Europe
Authors: Borobia Alberto , Carcas Antonio , Arnalich Francisco , Álvarez-Sala Rodolfo , Monserrat-Villatoro Jaime , Quintana Manuel , Figueira Juan , Torres Santos-Olmo Rosario , García-Rodríguez Julio , Martín-Vega Alberto , Buño Antonio , Ramírez Elena , Martínez-Alés Gonzalo , García-Arenzana Nicolás , Núñez M. , Martí-de-Gracia Milagros , Moreno Ramos Francisco , Reinoso-Barbero Francisco , Martin-Quiros Alejandro , Rivera Núñez Angélica , Mingorance Jesús , Carpio Segura Carlos , Prieto Arribas Daniel , Rey Cuevas Esther , Prados Sánchez Concepción , Rios Juan , Hernán Miguel , Frías Jesús , Arribas José ,   on behalf of the COVID@HULP Working Group
Published: June 2020

Background: Since the confirmation of the first patient infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Spain in January 2020, the epidemic has grown rapidly, with the greatest impact on the region of Madrid. This article describes the first 2226 adult patients with COVID-19, consecutively admitted to La Paz University Hospital in Madrid. Methods: Our cohort included all patients consecutively hospitalized who had a final outcome (death or discharge) in a 1286-bed hospital of Madrid (Spain) from 25 February (first case admitted) to 19 April 2020. The data were manually entered into an electronic case report form, which was monitored prior to the analysis. Results: We consecutively included 2226 adult patients admitted to the hospital who either died (460) or were discharged (1766). The patients’ median age was 61 years, and 51.8% were women. The most common comorbidity was arterial hypertension (41.3%), and the most common symptom on admission was fever (71.2%). The median time from disease onset to hospital admission was 6 days. The overall mortality was 20.7% and was higher in men (26.6% vs. 15.1%). Seventy-five patients with a final outcome were transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) (3.4%). Most patients admitted to the ICU were men, and the median age was 64 years. Baseline laboratory values on admission were consistent with an impaired immune-inflammatory profile. Conclusions: We provide a description of the first large cohort of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in Europe. Advanced age, male sex, the presence of comorbidities and abnormal laboratory values were more common among the patients with fatal outcomes.
Main Anthropogenic Impacts on Benthic Macrofauna of Sandy Beaches: A Review
Authors: Afghan Afghan , Cerrano Carlo , Luzi Giorgia , Calcinai Barbara , Puce Stefania , Pulido Mantas Torcuato , Roveta Camilla , Di Camillo Cristina Gioia
Published: June 2020

Sandy beaches provide several ecosystem services such as coastal protection and resilience, water filtration and nutrient mineralization. Beaches also represent a hub for social, cultural and economic relationships as well as educational activities. Increasing urbanization, recreational activities and mechanical beach cleaning represent major anthropogenic disturbances on sandy beaches leading to loss of biodiversity as well as good and services. Information about the impacts of anthropogenic pressures on benthic macrofaunal communities could be useful to assess the environmental status of sandy beaches and to promote a sustainable use of beach ecosystem. Here, scientific articles about three major anthropogenic impacts on sandy beach macrofauna were reviewed to provide the state of knowledge about these impacts, to highlight gaps, to supply considerations about the methodologies and the used indicators and to give insights for future studies. The stressors considered in our review are: 1) trampling, 2) breakwater barriers, 3) mechanical beach cleaning. This review underlined that there are few studies regarding individual human disturbances on sandy beach macrofauna and specifically, there is a lack of sufficient indicator species for the assessment of such stressors. Similarly, the researches have covered specific regions, highlighting the need for such studies in other parts of the world. In particular, the impacts of breakwater barriers on surrounding communities has been found to be given less attention in the literature and there is enough that could be explored.
Industrial Life-Cycle and the Development of the Russian Tourism Industry
Authors: Sheresheva Marina , Valitova Lilia , Tsenzharik Maria , Oborin Matvey
Published: June 2020

The purpose of the study presented in the paper is to highlight the influence of the microeconomic factors related to the evolutionary stage of the industry’s life cycle on the industry dynamics. The authors use the example of the Russian tourism industry to show that microeconomic factors are important, along with the macroeconomic, market, and demand characteristics external to the industry. Data mining was applied to obtain data from the industrial enterprise database and Rostourism official documents since there are no regular Russian statistics on firms’ exit and new entry. The authors used annual ranked listing of firms by their revenues to determine the structural indicators of the industry. The results confirm that it is important to consider not only the demand and macroeconomic indicators, which are external risks in relation to the industry, but also the internal processes at the different stages of the product cycle. In a sufficiently long period, the influence of microeconomic indicators may be no less strong than the business factors of financial risk. One should take this into consideration in econometric modeling on long time-series.
A Comparison of SCC Behaviors for Two States of Fe85Ga15 Alloys in a 3.5 wt % NaCl Solution
Authors: Zhao Suli , He Junliang , Zhang Xuewei , Li Jinxu
Published: June 2020

The new magnetostrictive material Fe-Ga alloy has drawn considerable attention due to its excellent performance. The microstructure of the Fe-Ga alloy, which varies with the state of preparation or processing, not only affects the magnetostriction but also the mechanical service stability, i.e., the stress corrosion cracking (SCC) property. In this paper, we report a comparison of the SCC behaviors for two states of Fe85Ga15 alloys by using constant load experiments and the electrochemical method. Results showed that the hot-rolled Fe85Ga15 alloy exhibited better mechanical properties compared to the as-cast Fe85Ga15 alloy. SCC was found in both Fe85Ga15 alloys in a 3.5 wt % NaCl solution, and the as-cast alloy was more sensitive to SCC. The normalized thresholds of SCC for the as-cast and hot-rolled Fe85Ga15 alloys are 0.34 and 0.81, respectively. Furthermore, results also indicated that the SCC mechanism is an anodic dissolution for the Fe85Ga15 alloy.
Magnesium Oxychloride Cement Composites with Silica Filler and Coal Fly Ash Admixture
Authors: Pivák Adam , Pavlíková Milena , Záleská Martina , Lojka Michal , Jankovský Ondřej , Pavlík Zbyšek
Published: June 2020

Worldwide, Portland cement-based materials are the most commonly used construction materials. As the Portland cement industry negatively affects the environment due to the excessive emission of carbon dioxide and depletion of natural resources, new alternative materials are being searched. Therefore, the goal of the paper was to design and develop eco-friendly, low-cost, and sustainable magnesium oxychloride cement (MOC)-based building material with a low carbon footprint, which is characterized by reduced porosity, high mechanical resistance, and durability in terms of water damage. To make new material eco-efficient and functional, silica sand which was used in the composition of the control composite mixture was partially replaced with coal fly ash (FA), a byproduct of coal combustion. The chemical and mineralogical composition, morphology, and particle morphology of FA were characterized. For silica sand, FA, and MgO, specific density, loose bulk density, and particle size distribution were measured. Additionally, Blaine specific surface was for FA and MgO powder assessed. The workability of fresh mixtures was characterized by spread diameter. For the hardened MOC composites, basic structural, mechanical, hygric, and thermal properties were measured. Moreover, the phase composition of precipitated MOC phases and their thermal stability were investigated for MOC-FA pastes. The use of FA led to the great decrease in porosity and pore size compared to the control material with silica sand as only filler which was in agreement with the workability of fresh composite mixtures. The compressive strength increased with the replacement of silica sand with FA. On the contrary, the flexural strength slightly decreased with silica sand substitution ratio. It clearly proved the assumption of the filler function of FA, whereas its assumed reactivity with MOC cement components was not proven. The water transport and storage were significantly reduced by the use of FA in composites, which greatly improved their resistance against moisture damage. The heat transport and storage parameters were only slightly affected by FA incorporation in composite mixtures.
Experimental Research on Quality Parameters of Recycled Concrete
Authors: Žurauskienė Ramunė , Valentukevičienė Marina
Published: June 2020

Concrete itself, and issues relating to the recycling and management of reinforced concrete waste, are highly relevant, especially when urban expansion is being achieved by increased building construction volumes. This research investigates concrete waste and its (re)usage possibilities and resolves several major issues related to the question of how natural materials can be replaced by compounds made from concrete waste, thereby saving natural resources. The experiment was carried out using concrete mixtures, which were combined with natural aggregates and crushed concrete waste (fraction 4/16). The resulting mix of concrete was achieved using natural aggregates, thus replacing natural aggregates with waste, which had partially and fully replaced bulky aggregates with crushed concrete waste. The main aim of the investigation was to investigate how aggregates made from crushed concrete waste impact the properties of concrete. The exothermic effect on the concrete mixture during the hardening process was investigated. Furthermore, a macrostructural analysis of hardened concrete was conducted using scanned sample images; the adhesion zone between newly formed concrete stone and aggregates derived from natural rock from crushed concrete waste was investigated. Using an electron microscope to observe aggregate from crushed concrete waste and the contact zone of hardened cement stone revealed that the aggregate from waste adheres poorly with hardened cement stone. Furthermore, both the mechanical properties of new, hardened concrete and determined resistance to frost indicators are weak. Concrete density and compression strength decreased (by up to 8% and up to 18%, respectively), and absorption increased almost twofold due to aggregates derived from crushed concrete waste, since their cleavage strength indicator was twice as high, while water absorption was four times higher than that of natural aggregate. The results indicate that recycled concrete obtained from demolished buildings is environmentally sustainable and can be recommended for lower quality concrete for use in related engineering projects.
Research of the Fatigue Life of Welded Joints of High Strength Steel S960 QL Created Using Laser and Electron Beams
Authors: Sága Milan , Blatnická Mária , Blatnický Miroslav , Dižo Ján , Gerlici Juraj
Published: June 2020

This study investigated the fatigue life of welded joints, in particular, the welds of the high-strength steel S960 QL. The welds were created using unconventional technologies by utilising laser and electron beams. The direct application of the research is intended to be carried out through implementing the results towards the design of tracks for the track-wheel chassis of the demining system Božena 5. The producer’s experience shows the damage found in the current track design. The damage occurred during reversing the vehicle on a sand surface. Our goal was to solve this problem. The information acquired in this research will be a very important input factor for further designs of the track made of the tested material and its welds. The analysis of the residual stresses was also part of this study. The experimental research of the tested material’s fatigue life and welded joints was realised on the specimens loaded using cyclic bending and cyclic torsion. These loads were dominant during the track operation. The fatigue life of the tested material was detected using a device designed by us. The measurement results were processed in the form of the Wöhler’s S–N curves (alternating stress versus number cycles to failure) and compared with the current regulations issued by the International Institute of Welding (IIW) in the form of the FAT curves (IIW fatigue class). The achieved research results indicate that the modern welding technologies (laser and electron beams) used on the high-strength steel had no principal influence on the fatigue life of the tested material.
Self-Healing Potential and Phase Evolution Characterization of Ternary Cement Blends
Authors: Mohammadi Mojtaba , Youssef-Namnoum Carol , Robira Maxime , Hilloulin Benoit
Published: June 2020

The autogenous self-healing of cementitious material micro-cracks might lead to the service-life extension of structures. However, most of its aspects are still unknown. This paper investigates the self-healing capacity of ternary cement blends including metakaolin (MK), ground granulated blast-furnace slag (BFS), limestone (LS), and siliceous filler (F). Morphology and healing precipitation patterns were studied through the optical microscopy of artificial micro-cracks, global healing product mass monitoring, and XRD and TGA used to identify and quantify mineral formation. The self-healing potential index is introduced based on the mass measurements. It was found that the formulation containing 10% MK presented the highest healing potential at an early age (<28 days), while the formulations containing 20% BFS with 10% LS/F showed a higher healing potential at an older age (cracked after 28 days of curing). Calcite, C-S-H, and portlandite were found to be the main healing products alongside specific formulation-dependent compounds, and it was observed that the calcite’s relative quantity generally increased with time. Finally, the evolution of the self-healing product phases was accurately monitored through XRD and TGA measurements.
Reply to Comment “Assessing Porous Media Permeability in Non-Darcy Flow: A Re-Evaluation Based on the Forchheimer Equation”
Authors: Castro A. P. G. , Pires T. , Santos J. E. , Gouveia B. P. , Fernandes P. R.
Published: June 2020

In the name of the authors of the paper “Permeability versus Design in TPMS Scaffolds”, published in Materials in 2019 and already counting six citations in Google Scholar to date, I would like to formally respond to the comment manuscript now entitled “Assessing Porous Media Permeability in Non-Darcy Flow: A Re-Evaluation Based on the Forchheimer Equation” [...]
A Peridynamic Computational Scheme for Thermoelectric Fields
Authors: Zeleke Migbar Assefa , Lai Xin , Liu Lisheng
Published: June 2020

Thermoelectric materials are materials that involve the coexistence of heat flux and electric current in the absence of magnetic field. In such materials, there is a coupling among electric potential and temperature gradients, causing the thermoelectric effects of Seebeck and Peltier. Those coupling effects make the design and analysis of thermoelectric materials complicated and sophisticated. The main aim of this work is dealing with thermoelectric materials with discontinuities. Since heat and electric fluxes are undefined at the crack tip and the temperature and electric fields across the crack surface are discontinuous, it is better to apply peridynamic (PD) theory to capture such details at the crack tips. Hence, we propose in this paper a PD theory which is suitable in tackling such discontinuities in thermal and electric fields. In this study, the continuum-based electrical potentials and temperature fields are written in the form of nonlocal integrals of the electrical potentials and temperature that are effective whether we have discontinuities or not. To illustrate the consistency of the peridynamic technique, a number of examples were presented and witnessed that PD results were in good agreement with those results from the literature, finite element solutions and analytical solutions.
Integrated Application of GPR and Ultrasonic Testing in the Diagnostics of a Historical Floor
Authors: Rucka Magdalena , Wojtczak Erwin , Zielińska Monika
Published: June 2020

The paper presents the results of integrated ground penetrating radar (GPR) and ultrasonic testing (UT) measurements conducted on a historical floor in St. Nicholas’ Church, Gdańsk, Poland. The described inspection was the first stage of the technical state assessment of the building. The aim of the study was the detection of underfloor air gaps, which were observed in a few trial pits. The condition of the ground under the floor was determined by localizing other inclusions such as rubble, human remains, brick walls and pipes. To identify the phenomenon of electromagnetic and ultrasonic wave propagation within the air gap, laboratory tests were conducted on physical models consisting of two concrete slabs stacked on top of each other and gradually moved apart to simulate a slot of varying thickness. The conducted research was supported by the numerical models of electromagnetic wave propagation. The obtained results showed that the integration of the GPR and UT methods provided an effective imaging of the floor and the area under it. Ultrasonic testing was proved to be a good technique for identifying air voids, while the GPR method allowed detecting concentrated anomalies and determining the degree of ground homogeneity under the floor.
Mechanical Behavior and Failure Mode of Steel–Concrete Connection Joints in a Hybrid Truss Bridge: Experimental Investigation
Authors: Tan Yingliang , Zhu Bing , Qi Le , Yan Tingyi , Wan Tong , Yang Wenwei
Published: June 2020

The core part of a hybrid truss bridge is the connection joint which combines the concrete chord and steel truss-web members. To study the mechanical behavior and failure mode of steel–concrete connection joints in a hybrid truss bridge, static model tests were carried out on two connection joints with the scale of 1:3 under the horizontal load which was provided by a loading jack mounted on the vertical reaction wall. The specimen design, experimental setup and testing procedure were introduced. In the experiment, the displacement, strain level, concrete crack and experimental phenomena were factually recorded. Compared with the previous study results, the experimental results in this study demonstrated that the connection joints had the excellent bearing capacity and deformability. The minimum ultimate load and displacement of the two connection joints were 5200 kN and 59.01 mm, respectively. Moreover, the connection joints exhibited multiple failure modes, including the fracture of gusset plates, the slippage of high-strength bolts, the local buckling of compressive splice plates, the fracture of tensile splice plates and concrete cracking. Additionally, the strain distribution of the steel–concrete connection joints followed certain rules. It is expected that the findings from this paper may provide a reference for the design and construction of steel–concrete connection joints in hybrid truss bridges.
Sintering Temperature Effect on Structural and Optical Properties of Heat Treated Coconut Husk Ash Derived SiO2 Mixed with ZnO Nanoparticles
Authors: Anuar Muhammad Fahmi , Fen Yap Wing , Zaid Mohd Hafiz Mohd , Omar Nur Alia Sheh , Khaidir Rahayu Emilia Mohamed
Published: June 2020

In this work, waste coconut husk ash was used to prepare a ZnO-SiO2 composite. Solid-state technique was used to fabricate the composite due to its producibility, simple procedure as well as lower production cost. At high sintering temperatures ranging from 600 °C to 1000 °C, the X-ray diffraction (XRD) peaks of the Zn2SiO4 showed high intensity, which indicated high crystallinity. Furthermore, the formation of broad bands of ZnO4, Si-O-Si, and SiO4 were detected by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and the bands became narrower with the increment of sintering temperature. Besides, the morphological image from field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) showed the formation of densely packed grains and smooth surface composite with the increase of sintering temperature. Upon obtaining the absorbance spectrum from Ultraviolet–Visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy, the optical band gap was calculated to be 4.05 eV at 1000 °C. The correlation between the structural and optical properties of ZnO-SiO2 composite was discussed in detail.
Special Issue on “Fruit Metabolism and Metabolomics”
Authors: Moing Annick , Pétriacq Pierre , Osorio Sonia
Published: June 2020

Over the past 10 years, knowledge about several aspects of fruit metabolism has been greatly improved. Notably, high-throughput metabolomic technologies have allowed quantifying metabolite levels across various biological processes, and identifying the genes that underly fruit development and ripening. This Special Issue is designed to exemplify the current use of metabolomics studies of temperate and tropical fruit for basic research as well as practical applications. It includes articles about different aspects of fruit biochemical phenotyping, fruit metabolism before and after harvest, including primary and specialized metabolisms, and bioactive compounds involved in growth and environmental responses. The effect of genotype, stages of development or fruit tissue on metabolomic profiles and corresponding metabolism regulations are addressed, as well as the combination of other omics with metabolomics for fruit metabolism studies.