bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Focus on Clozapine Withdrawal- and Misuse-Related Cases as Reported to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) Pharmacovigilance Database
Authors: Chiappini Stefania , Schifano Fabrizio , Corkery John Martin , Guirguis Amira
Published: February 2020

Background: Clozapine is of high clinical relevance for the management of both treatment-resistant schizophrenia and psychotic disturbances with concurrent drug misuse. Although the molecule presents with a range of well-known side-effects, its discontinuation/withdrawal syndrome has been only anecdotally described. Aims: the 2005–2018 European Medicines Agency (EMA) dataset of Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) was analyzed to identify and describe possible clozapine withdrawal- and misuse-/abuse-/dependence-related issues. Method: A descriptive analysis of clozapine-related ADRs was performed when available, data on ADRs’ outcome, dosage, and possible concomitant drug(s) were considered. Results: Out of 11,847 clozapine-related ADRs, some 599 (5.05%) were related to misuse/abuse/dependence/withdrawal issues, including 258 withdrawal-related (43.1%); 241 abuse-related (40.2%); and 80 intentional product misuse-related (13.3%) ADRs. A small number of overdose- and suicide-related ADRs were reported as well. Clozapine was typically (69.2%) identified alone, and most (84.7%) fatalities/high-dosage intake instances were reported in association with a history of substance abuse. Conclusions: Previous suggestions about the possibility of a clozapine discontinuation/withdrawal occurrence are here supported, but further studies are needed. However, the misuse/abuse cases here identified might be difficult to interpret, given the lack of studies highlighting the possible recreational use of clozapine. The high-dosage intake, fatal outcomes and clozapine/polydrug abuse issues reported here may, however, be a reason for concern.
Synthesis and Surface Modification of TiO2-Based Photocatalysts for the Conversion of CO2
Authors: Al Jitan Samar , Palmisano Giovanni , Garlisi Corrado
Published: February 2020

Among all greenhouse gases, CO2 is considered the most potent and the largest contributor to global warming. In this review, photocatalysis is presented as a promising technology to address the current global concern of industrial CO2 emissions. Photocatalysis utilizes a semiconductor material under renewable solar energy to reduce CO2 into an array of high-value fuels including methane, methanol, formaldehyde and formic acid. Herein, the kinetic and thermodynamic principles of CO2 photoreduction are thoroughly discussed and the CO2 reduction mechanism and pathways are described. Methods to enhance the adsorption of CO2 on the surface of semiconductors are also presented. Due to its efficient photoactivity, high stability, low cost, and safety, the semiconductor TiO2 is currently being widely investigated for its photocatalytic ability in reducing CO2 when suitably modified. The recent TiO2 synthesis and modification strategies that may be employed to enhance the efficiency of the CO2 photoreduction process are described. These modification techniques, including metal deposition, metal/non-metal doping, carbon-based material loading, semiconductor heterostructures, and dispersion on high surface area supports, aim to improve the light absorption, charge separation, and active surface of TiO2 in addition to increasing product yield and selectivity.
Harnessing T Cells to Target Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia: CARs, BiTEs, and Beyond
Authors: Epperly Rebecca , Gottschalk Stephen , Velasquez Mireya
Published: February 2020

Outcomes for pediatric patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remain poor, highlighting the need for improved targeted therapies. Building on the success of CD19-directed immune therapy for acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), efforts are ongoing to develop similar strategies for AML. Identifying target antigens for AML is challenging because of the high expression overlap in hematopoietic cells and normal tissues. Despite this, CD123 and CD33 antigen targeted therapies, among others, have emerged as promising candidates. In this review we focus on AML-specific T cell engaging bispecific antibodies and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells. We review antigens being explored for T cell-based immunotherapy in AML, describe the landscape of clinical trials upcoming for bispecific antibodies and CAR T cells, and highlight strategies to overcome additional challenges facing translation of T cell-based immunotherapy for AML.
Analysis of Magnetic Properties of Nano-Particles Due to a Magnetic Dipole in Micropolar Fluid Flow over a Stretching Sheet
Authors: Ali Liaqat , Liu Xiaomin , Ali Bagh , Mujeed Saima , Abdal Sohaib , Khan Shahid Ali
Published: February 2020

This article explores the impact of a magnetic dipole on the heat transfer phenomena of different nano-particles Fe (ferromagnetic) and Fe3O4 (Ferrimagnetic) dispersed in a base fluid ( 60 % water + 40 % ethylene glycol) on micro-polar fluid flow over a stretching sheet. A magnetic dipole in the presence of the ferrities of nano-particles plays an important role in controlling the thermal and momentum boundary layers. The use of magnetic nano-particles is to control the flow and heat transfer process through an external magnetic field. The governing system of partial differential equations is transformed into a system of coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equations by using appropriate similarity variables, and the transformed equations are then solved numerically by using a variational finite element method. The impact of different physical parameters on the velocity, the temperature, the Nusselt number, and the skin friction coefficient is shown. The velocity profile decreases in the order Fe (ferromagnetic fluid) and Fe3O4 (ferrimagnetic fluid). Furthermore, it was observed that the Nusselt number is decreasing with the increasing values of boundary parameter ( δ ) , while there is controversy with respect to the increasing values of radiation parameter ( N ) . Additionally, it was observed that the ferromagnetic case gained maximum thermal conductivity, as compared to ferrimagnetic case. In the end, the convergence of the finite element solution was observed; the calculations were found by reducing the mesh size.
High Temperature Tribological Properties of Al2O3/NCD Films Investigated Under Ambient Air Conditions
Authors: Podgursky Vitali , Yashin Maxim , Jõgiaas Taivo , Viljus Mart , Alamgir Asad , Danilson Mati , Bogatov Andrei
Published: February 2020

Comparative analysis of dry sliding wear behavior of nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) films and NCD films coated with a thin Al2O3 layer (Al2O3/NCD) is the main goal of the present study. Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) and atomic layer deposition (ALD) methods were used to prepare the NCD and alumina films, respectively. Sliding wear tests were conducted at room temperature (RT), 300 and 450 °C in air. Independent of type of specimen, superlubricating behavior with the coefficient of friction (COF) in the range of 0.004‒0.04 was found for the tests at 300 °C. However, the COF value measured on the Al2O3/NCD films in the tests at 450 °C is lower than that for the NCD film. A relatively short run-in period and a stable COF value of about 0.15 were observed at this temperature for the Al2O3/NCD films. The width of the wear scars measured on the Al2O3/NCD films after the tests at 450 °C is significantly smaller in comparison with the NCD film. The apparent wear volume of the wear scar on the NCD film tested at 450 °C was noticeably higher than that on the Al2O3/NCD films.
Property of TiO2-15MgAl2O4 Electrical-Heating Coating Prepared by Atmospheric Plasma Spraying and Hydrogen Heat Treatment
Authors: Li Xiyang , Yang Kun , Wang Dezhi , Deng Chunming , Zhou Yanzhe
Published: February 2020

Using TiO2-15MgAl2O4 mixed powder as spray-feed, an electrical-heating coating was successfully fabricated by atmospheric plasma spraying technology. The phase composition, microstructure, and electrical-heating performance of the coating were characterized by XRD, SEM, and cyclic electrification tests, respectively. The coating samples were heat-treated at 350 °C in a hydrogen atmosphere. The results show that TiO2-15MgAl2O4 coating can be heated over 300 °C within 30 m at 55.1 V which preserves heat for a long time. Before heat treatment, the available heating temperature of the coating decreases significantly with electrification cycles. The resistivity of coating rises rapidly during the cyclic electricity test. After hydrogen heat treatment, the electrical-heating property of coatings is significantly enhanced.
Study of TiO2-Modified Sol Coating Material in the Protection of Stone-Built Cultural Heritage
Authors: Shu Hui , Yang Ming , Liu Qiang , Luo Maobin
Published: February 2020

Coating materials can effectively protect stone-built cultural heritage and, as such, research into coating materials has gained comprehensive attention from researchers. The aim of this work is to prepare a TiO2-modified sol coating material (TSCM) and study its protective effects on stone-built cultural heritage. TSCM and pure TiO2 sol (p-sol, unmodified; for comparison) were applied evenly over the entire surface of stone samples. The prepared stone samples included untreated stone, stone treated with pure sol, and stone treated with TSCM. The protective effects of TSCM were evaluated by water absorption, water vapor permeability, acid resistance, and weather resistance experiments. The results show that stone treated with TSCM has excellent water absorption and water vapor permeability, strong acid resistance, and good weather resistance, compared with untreated stone or stone treated with p-sol. The acid resistance of stone treated by TSCM was 1.75 times higher than that treated with traditional coating materials. The weather resistance cycle number of stone treated by TSCM was four times higher than that treated with organic protective materials. These findings are expected to provide useful suggestions for the protection of stone-built cultural heritage.
The Antibacterial Effects of Quaternary Ammonium Salts in the Simulated Presence of Inhibitors in Root Canals: A Preliminary In-Vitro Study
Authors: Tiwari Sanjay Kumar , Wang Suping , Huang Yannan , Zhou Xuedong , Xu Hockin H. K. , Ren Biao , Peng Xian , Weir Michael D. , Li Mingyun , Cheng Lei
Published: February 2020

To investigate the antibacterial effects of two newly developed quaternary ammonium salts (QAMs)-dimethylaminododecyl methacrylate (DMADDM) and dimethylaminohexadecyl methacrylate (DMAHDM), in the presence of various root canal inhibitors. Streptococcus gordonii, Enterococcus faecalis, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Actinomyces naeslundii were used. Dentine, dentine matrix and dead bacteria were selected as inhibitors. The antimicrobial efficacy of monomers of DMADDM and DMAHDM was tested against suspensions formed by mixtures of four bacterial species in or without the presence of inhibitors. The inhibition results were compared with chlorhexidine (CHX) and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl). One-way analyses of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey’s multiple comparison test was performed to determine significant differences. The antibacterial effects of DMADDM and DMAHDM were variably inhibited dentine, dentine matrix and dead bacteria. CHX and NaOCl showed substantivity and they inhibited bacteria present in suspension. The concentration of compound decreased in the dentine block due to constant release. Bacterial colonies on the dentine surface and dentine tubules were significantly inhibited by DMADDM and DMAHDM. The antibacterial effects of DMADDM and DMAHDM could be inactivated by dentine, dentine matrix and dead bacteria, while DMADDM and DMAHDM could inhibit bacteria colonization on the dentine surface and kill bacteria present in dentinal tubules. The antibacterial effects of DMADDM and DMAHDM as free monomers in the presence of inhibitors was evaluated for the first time. They could help inhibit the residual bacteria on the dentine surface and in dentinal tubules that may cause persisting infection. Therefore the novel QAMs showed great potentials as root canal medication.
Properties of a Plasma-Nitrided Coating and a CrNx Coating on the Stainless Steel Bipolar Plate of PEMFC
Authors: Xu Meiling , Kang Shumei , Lu Jinlin , Yan Xinyong , Chen Tingting , Wang Zimeng
Published: February 2020

PEMFC are considered to be the most promising for automotive energy because of their good working effect, low temperature, high efficiency, and zero pollution. Stainless steel as a PEMFC bipolar plate has unparalleled advantages in strength, cost, and processability, but it is easy to corrode in a PEMFC working environment. In order to improve the corrosion resistance, the surface modification of 316L stainless steel is a feasible solution for PEMFC bipolar plates. In the present study, the plasma-nitrided coating and CrNx coating were prepared by the plasma-enhanced balanced magnetron sputtering technology on the 316L stainless steel surface. The microstructures, phase compositions, and corrosion resistance behavior of the coatings were investigated. The corrosion behavior of the prepared plasma-nitrided coating and CrNx coating was investigated by potentiodynamic polarization, potentiostatic polarization, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in both cathodic and anodic environments. The experimental results show that corrosion resistance of the CrNx coating was better than the plasma-nitrided coating. It was indicated that the technology process of nitriding first and then depositing Cr was better than nitriding only.
Synthesis, X-ray Single Crystal, Conformational Analysis and Cholinesterase Inhibitory Activity of a New Spiropyrrolidine Scaffold Tethered Benzo[b]Thiophene Analogue
Authors: Barakat Assem , Soliman Saied M. , Alshahrani Saeed , Islam Mohammad Shahidul , Ali M. , Al-Majid Abdullah Mohammed , Yousuf Sammer
Published: February 2020

Described herein is a one-pot protocol for the synthesis of a substituted spiropyrrolidine scaffold tethered benzo[b]thiophene analogue from (E)-3-(benzo[b]thiophen-2-yl)-1-(4-fluoro- phenyl)-prop-2-en-1-one. The described protocol has the advantage of the high purity of the cyclized adduct and high chemical yield. To assign the chemical structure, different spectrophotometric tools have been applied, including 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, FTIR, and the X-ray single crystal technique. The X-ray structure showed that the studied compound exist in two disordered parts with equal partial occupancies. The energies of the two conformers were found to be very similar and not exceed 1 kcal/mol, which justifies their coexistence in the crystal with equal percentage. The molecular packing in the crystal was analyzed using Hirshfeld topology analysis. The packing described as two dimensional hydrogen bond network extended along the ac-plane in both conformers but the intermolecular interactions included in each conformer are not similar. The synthesized spiropyrrolidine scaffold tethered benzo[b]thiophene analogue was examined against cholinesterase inhibitory activity and show moderate activity compared to standard drug galantamine.
Flexible and Structural Coloured Composite Films from Cellulose Nanocrystals/Hydroxypropyl Cellulose Lyotropic Suspensions
Authors: Saraiva Diogo V. , Chagas Ricardo , Abreu Beatriz M. de , Gouveia Cláudia N. , Silva Pedro E. S. , Godinho Maria Helena , Fernandes Susete N.
Published: February 2020

Lyotropic colloidal aqueous suspensions of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) can, after solvent evaporation, retain their chiral nematic arrangement. As water is removed the pitch value of the suspension decreases and structural colour-generating films, which are mechanically brittle in nature, can be obtained. Increasing their flexibility while keeping the chiral nematic structure and biocompatible nature is a challenging task. However, if achievable, this will promote their use in new and interesting applications. In this study, we report on the addition of different amounts of hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) to CNCs suspension within the coexistence of the isotropic-anisotropic phases and infer the influence of this cellulosic derivative on the properties of the obtained solid films. It was possible to add 50 wt.% of HPC to a CNCs aqueous suspension (to obtain a 50/50 solids ratio) without disrupting the LC phase of CNCs and maintaining a left-handed helical structure in the obtained films. When 30 wt.% of HPC was added to the suspension of CNCs, a strong colouration in the film was still observed. This colour shifts to the near-infrared region as the HPC content in the colloidal suspension increases to 40 wt.% or 50 wt.% The all-cellulosic composite films present an increase in the maximum strain as the concentration of HPC increases, as shown by the bending experiments and an improvement in their thermal properties.
A Snap-Shot of Domatial Mite Diversity of Coffea arabica in Comparison to the Adjacent Umtamvuna Forest in South Africa
Authors: Situngu Sivuyisiwe , Barker Nigel P. , Vetter Susanne
Published: February 2020

Some plant species possess structures known as leaf domatia, which house mites. The association between domatia-bearing plants and mites has been proposed to be mutualistic, and has been found to be important in species of economic value, such as grapes, cotton, avocado and coffee. This is because leaf domatia affect the distribution, diversity and abundance of predatory and mycophagous mites found on the leaf surface. As a result, plants are thought to benefit from increased defence against pathogens and small arthropod herbivores. This study assesses the relative diversity and composition of mites on an economically important plant host (Coffea aribica) in comparison to mites found in a neighbouring indigenous forest in South Africa. Our results showed that the coffee plantations were associated with only predatory mites, some of which are indigenous to South Africa. This indicates that coffee plantations are able to be successfully colonised by indigenous beneficial mites. We also found an “edge effect”, in that coffee trees at the edge of the plantation hosted fewer mite species. These results are a snap-shot from a single sampling period. Nonetheless, they highlight the potential importance of this mutualism in commercial crop species and the possible role of faunal exchanges between indigenous and exotic crop species. This study expands our understanding of the mite–plant mutualism in Southern Africa, a region where acarological studies are sparse.
Microsatellite Instability and MMR Genes Abnormalities in Canine Mammary Gland Tumors
Authors: Khand Faiz Muhammad , Yao Da-Wei , Hao Pan , Wu Xin-Qi , Kamboh Asghar Ali , Yang De-Ji
Published: February 2020

Early diagnosis of mammary gland tumors is a challenging task in animals, especially in unspayed dogs. Hence, this study investigated the role of microsatellite instability (MSI), MMR gene mRNA transcript levels and SNPs of MMR genes in canine mammary gland tumors (CMT). A total of 77 microsatellite (MS) markers in 23 primary CMT were selected from four breeds of dogs. The results revealed that 11 out of 77 MS markers were unstable and showed MSI in all the tumors (at least at one locus), while the other markers were stable. Compared to the other markers, the ABC9TETRA, MEPIA, 9A5, SCNA11 and FJL25 markers showed higher frequencies of instability. All CMT demonstrated MSI, with eight tumors presenting MSI-H. The RT-qPCR results revealed significant upregulation of the mRNA levels of cMSH3, cMLH1, and cPMSI, but downregulation of cMSH2 compared to the levels in the control group. Moreover, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were observed in the cMSH2 gene in four exons, i.e., 2, 6, 15, and 16. In conclusion, MSI, overexpression of MMR genes and SNPs in the MMR gene are associated with CMT and could be served as diagnostic biomarkers for CMT in the future.
Sociophysics Analysis of Multi-Group Conflicts
Authors: Kaufman Miron , Diep Hung T. , Kaufman Sanda
Published: February 2020

We present our research on the application of statistical physics techniques to multi-group social conflicts. We identify real conflict situations of which the characteristics correspond to the model. We offer realistic assumptions about conflict behaviors that get factored into model-generated scenarios. The scenarios can inform conflict research and strategies for conflict management. We discuss model applications to two- and three-group conflicts. We identify chaotic time evolution of mean attitudes and the occurrence of strange attractors. We examine the role that the range of interactions plays with respect to the occurrence of chaotic behavior.
Second Law Analysis for the Experimental Performances of a Cold Heat Exchanger of a Stirling Refrigeration Machine
Authors: Djetel-Gothe Steve , Lanzetta François , Bégot Sylvie
Published: February 2020

The second law of thermodynamics is applied to evaluate the influence of entropy generation on the performances of a cold heat exchanger of an experimental Stirling refrigeration machine by means of three factors: the entropy generation rate N S , the irreversibility distribution ratio ϕ and the Bejan number B e | N S based on a dimensionless entropy ratio that we introduced. These factors are investigated as functions of characteristic dimensions of the heat exchanger (hydraulic diameter and length), coolant mass flow and cold gas temperature. We have demonstrated the role of these factors on the thermal and fluid friction irreversibilities. The conclusions are derived from the behavior of the entropy generation factors concerning the heat transfer and fluid friction characteristics of a double-pipe type heat exchanger crossed by a coolant liquid (55/45 by mass ethylene glycol/water mixture) in the temperature range 240 K < TC < 300 K. The mathematical model of entropy generation includes experimental measurements of pressures, temperatures and coolant mass flow, and the characteristic dimensions of the heat exchanger. A large characteristic length and small hydraulic diameter generate large entropy production, especially at a low mean temperature, because the high value of the coolant liquid viscosity increases the fluid frictions. The model and experiments showed the dominance of heat transfer over viscous friction in the cold heat exchanger and B e | N S → 1 and ϕ → 0 for mass flow rates m ˙ → 0.1 kg.s−1.
Magnetic Resonance Image Quality Assessment by Using Non-Maximum Suppression and Entropy Analysis
Authors: Obuchowicz Rafał , Oszust Mariusz , Bielecka Marzena , Bielecki Andrzej , Piórkowski Adam
Published: February 2020

An investigation of diseases using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging requires automatic image quality assessment methods able to exclude low-quality scans. Such methods can be also employed for an optimization of parameters of imaging systems or evaluation of image processing algorithms. Therefore, in this paper, a novel blind image quality assessment (BIQA) method for the evaluation of MR images is introduced. It is observed that the result of filtering using non-maximum suppression (NMS) strongly depends on the perceptual quality of an input image. Hence, in the method, the image is first processed by the NMS with various levels of acceptable local intensity difference. Then, the quality is efficiently expressed by the entropy of a sequence of extrema numbers obtained with the thresholded NMS. The proposed BIQA approach is compared with ten state-of-the-art techniques on a dataset containing MR images and subjective scores provided by 31 experienced radiologists. The Pearson, Spearman, Kendall correlation coefficients and root mean square error for the method assessing images in the dataset were 0.6741, 0.3540, 0.2428, and 0.5375, respectively. The extensive experimental evaluation of the BIQA methods reveals that the introduced measure outperforms related techniques by a large margin as it correlates better with human scores.
The Ohm Law as an Alternative for the Entropy Origin Nonlinearities in Conductivity of Dilute Colloidal Polyelectrolytes
Authors: Chikina Ioulia , Shikin Valeri , Varlamov Andrey
Published: February 2020

We discuss the peculiarities of the Ohm law in dilute polyelectrolytes containing a relatively low concentration n ⊙ of multiply charged colloidal particles. It is demonstrated that in these conditions, the effective conductivity of polyelectrolyte is the linear function of n ⊙ . This happens due to the change of the electric field in the polyelectrolyte under the effect of colloidal particle polarization. The proposed theory explains the recent experimental findings and presents the alternative to mean spherical approximation which predicts the nonlinear I–V characteristics of dilute colloidal polyelectrolytes due to entropy changes.
Adaptive Safety Early Warning Device for Non-contact Measurement of HVDC Electric Field
Authors: Suo Chunguang , Sun Hao , Zhang Wenbin , Zhou Nianrong , Chen Weiren
Published: February 2020

In order to prevent electric shock accidents during the maintenance and repair of high-voltage direct current (DC) live equipment, an intelligent safety early warning system device based on non-contact electric field measurement is developed in this paper, to ensure the life safety of electrical workers and the stable operation of equipment. Firstly, the self-developed electric field sensor is used to measure the electric field strength of the space around the charged device. The STM32 microprocessor in the sensor will compare the measured electric field value with a preset safety threshold. If the safety threshold is exceeded, the early warning device issues an audible alarm. It prompts the electric power operator to exit to a safe distance. In addition, the alarm prompt symbol and the real-time waveform of the measured electric field can be seen intuitively on the mobile smart APP interface. Secondly, for devices with different voltage levels, the sensor electric field measurement range and sensitivity can be dynamically adjusted by changing the motor speed. In addition, according to the voltage level identification algorithm, this is also to achieve an adaptive safety early warning of different live equipment. Finally, field experiments were performed at a ±500 kV DC converter station and an ±800 kV DC transmission line experimental platform. The measured values of the electric field are basically consistent with the simulated values, and the safety early warning device has no false positives or false negatives during the test. The experimental results show that the design of the safety warning device in this paper meets the actual needs, and it can alert the electric workers to the specified safety distance.
Litter Management as a Key Factor Relieves Soil Respiration Decay in an Urban-Adjacent Camphor Forest under a Short-Term Nitrogen Increment
Authors: Zhang Xuyuan , Li Yong , Ning Chen , Zheng Wei , Zhao Dayong , Li Ziqian , Yan Wende
Published: February 2020

Increases in bioavailable nitrogen (N) level can impact the soil carbon (C) sequestration in many forest ecosystems through its influences on litter decomposition and soil respiration (Rs). This study aims to detect whether the litter management can affect the influence of N addition on Rs. We conducted a one-year field experiment in a camphor forest of central-south China to investigate the responses of available N status and soil Rs to N addition and litter manipulation. Four N addition plots (NH4NO3; 0, 5, 15, 30 g N m−2 year−1 as N0, N1, N2, N3, respectively) were established with three nested litter treatments: natural litter input (CK), double litter input (LA), and non-litter input (LR). We found a short-lived enhancement effect of N addition on soil (NO3-N) and net nitrification (RN), but not on (NH4-N), net ammonification (RA), or mineralization (RM). N addition also decreased Rs in CK spots, but not in LA or LR spots, in which the negative effects of N additions on Rs were alleviated by either litter addition or reduction. A priming effect was also observed in LA treatments. A structural equation modeling analysis showed that litter treatments had direct positive effects on soil available N contents and Rs, which suggested that litter decomposition may benefit from litter management when N is not a limiting factor in subtropical forests.
Fire Suppression Resource Scarcity: Current Metrics and Future Performance Indicators
Authors: Belval Erin J , Stonesifer Crystal S , Calkin David E
Published: February 2020

Wildland fire occurrence is highly variable in time and space, and in the United States where total area burned can vary substantially, acquiring resources (firefighters, engines, aircraft, etc.) to respond to fire demand is an important consideration. To determine the composition and scale of this set of suppression resources managers may utilize data produced by past supply and demand information. The key challenge with this approach is that there is currently no clear system of record to track suppression resource supply and demand, and there are potential pitfalls within existing systems that may provide misleading information regarding the true levels of resource scarcity. In this manuscript, we investigate the issue of resource scarcity by examining two key resources that operations personnel have identified as both high value and scarce: type 1 firefighting crews and large airtankers. We examine data from the Resource Ordering and Status System and analyze the level of resource scarcity indicated by these data over the 2014–2018 fire seasons. We focus on data metrics with potential utility for managers responsible for annual national-level decisions regarding crew and airtanker acquisition; some of these metrics are already used to inform such decisions. We examine the limitations of each metric and suggest new metrics that could more accurately reflect true resource use and scarcity. Such metrics could lead to a substantially improved decision-making process.
Dynamics of Territorial Occupation by North American Beavers in Canadian Boreal Forests: A Novel Dendroecological Approach
Authors: Labrecque-Foy Julie-Pascale , Morin Hubert , Girona Miguel Montoro
Published: February 2020

Research Highlights: Our study highlights a new, simple, and effective method for studying the habitat use by beavers in Canadian boreal forests. Information regarding the presence of beaver colonies and their habitat occupation is essential for proper forest management and damage prevention in the boreal forest. Background and Objectives: The North American beaver (Castor canadensis) is a major element of natural disturbance, altering the dynamics and structure of boreal forest landscapes. Beaver-related activities also affect human infrastructure, cause floods, and lead to important monetary losses for forestry industries. Our study aimed to determine the spatiotemporal patterns of beaver occupation of lodges over time. Materials and Methods: Using a dendroecological approach to date browsing activity, we studied the occupation of two lodges per water body for eight water bodies located in the boreal forest of Québec, Canada. Results: Three sites showed alternating patterns of lodge use (occupation) over time, three sites (37.5%) demonstrated no alternating patterns of use, and two sites (25%) presented unclear patterns of lodge use. Conclusions: Alternating patterns of lodge use can be linked to food depletion and the need to regenerate vegetation around lodges, while non-alternating patterns may be related to fluctuations in water levels, the specific shrub and tree species surrounding the lodges, the size of the beaver territory, and the number of lodges present on a water body.
Demonstrating the Effect of Height Variation on Stand-Level Optimization with Diameter-Structured Matrix Model
Authors: Pyy Johanna , Laitinen Erkki , Ahtikoski Anssi
Published: February 2020

The weakness of the population matrix models is that they do not take into account the variation inside the class. In this study, we introduce an approach to add height variation of the trees to the diameter-structured matrix models. In this approach, a new sub-model that describes the height growth of the trees is included in the diameter-structured model. We used this height- and diameter-structured matrix model to maximize the net present value (NPV) for the remaining part of the ongoing rotation for Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stand and studied how the height variation affects to the results obtained through stand-level optimization. In the optimization, the height variation was taken into account by setting the lower saw-log price for the short trees. The results show that including the height variation into the optimization reduced the financial outcome by 16–18% and considerably changed the structure of optimal management (e.g., timings for thinnings, rotation period and intensity of thinnings). We introduced an approach that can be applied to include not only height variation but also variation of other tree properties (such as branchiness or the amount of heartwood and sapwood) into the matrix models.
Impact of Urban Vegetation on Outdoor Thermal Comfort: Comparison between a Mediterranean City (Lecce, Italy) and a Northern European City (Lahti, Finland)
Authors: Gatto Elisa , Buccolieri Riccardo , Aarrevaara Eeva , Ippolito Fabio , Emmanuel Rohinton , Perronace Leonardo , Santiago Jose Luis
Published: February 2020

This paper is devoted to the application of the modelling approach, as one of the methods for the evaluation of thermal comfort, to neighborhoods located in two cities characterized by a different climate, i.e., a Mediterranean city in southern Italy (Lecce) and a northern European city in southern Finland (Lahti). The impact of the presence of vegetation in both places is evaluated and compared, further considering alternative scenarios for thermal comfort improvement. The thermal comfort condition is expressed in terms of indices (mean radiant temperature (MRT) and predicted mean vote (PMV)). Results show that at pedestrian level the presence of vegetation lead to an improvement of thermal comfort in summer of about 2 points in both neighborhoods. This improvement is also evident observing the spatial distribution of MRT with a difference of 7 °C in the Lecce neighborhood and 3 °C in Lahti. In winter, thermal discomfort is observed in the presence of vegetation with a difference of 1.3 °C in the Lecce neighborhood and 1.5 °C in Lahti in terms of MRT. However, trees and green cover have the important potential to offset climate change impact and to make urban environments less thermally stressful. This study aims to guide urban planners towards a motivated and necessary transaction towards new green infrastructure whose effect should, however, be analyzed and investigated case by case.
Robotic Cell Printing for Constructing Living Yeast Cell Microarrays in Microfluidic Chips
Authors: Yvanoff Charlotte , Torino Stefania , Willaert Ronnie G.
Published: February 2020

Living cell microarrays in microfluidic chips allow the non-invasive multiplexed molecular analysis of single cells. Here, we developed a simple and affordable perfusion microfluidic chip containing a living yeast cell array composed of a population of cell variants (green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged Saccharomyces cerevisiae clones). We combined mechanical patterning in 102 microwells and robotic piezoelectric cell dispensing in the microwells to construct the cell arrays. Robotic yeast cell dispensing of a yeast collection from a multiwell plate to the microfluidic chip microwells was optimized. The developed microfluidic chip and procedure were validated by observing the growth of GFP-tagged yeast clones that are linked to the cell cycle by time-lapse fluorescence microscopy over a few generations. The developed microfluidic technology has the potential to be easily upscaled to a high-density cell array allowing us to perform dynamic proteomics and localizomics experiments.
Privileged Rebels: A Longitudinal Analysis of Distinctive Economic Traits of Catalonian Secessionism
Authors: Oller Josep M. , Satorra Albert , Tobeña Adolf
Published: February 2020

During the last decade, the Catalonian secessionist challenge induced a chronic crisis within Spain’s politics that does not offer hints of a viable arrangement. The rapidly escalating demands for secession ran almost in parallel with the accentuation of the economic recession that followed the disruption of the world financial system in 2008–2010. Such secession claims reached maximums during 2012–2014, attaining support levels of nearly 50% of citizenry in favour of independence. These figures subsequently diminished a bit but remained close to that level until today. Despite the coincident course, previous studies had shown that the impact of economic hardships was not a major factor in explaining the segregation urgencies, connecting them instead to triggers related to internecine political struggles in the region: Harsh litigations that resulted in an abrupt polarization along nationalistic features in wide segments of the population. In this longitudinal analysis based on the responses of 88,538 individuals through a regular series of 45 official surveys, in the period 2006–2019, we show that economic factors did play a role in the secessionist wave. Our findings showed that the main idiomatic segmentation (Catalan vs. Spanish, as family language) interacted with economic segmentations in inducing variations on national identity feelings that resulted in erosions of the dual CatSpanish identity. Moreover, our findings also showed that the more privileged segments of Catalonian citizenry where those that mostly supported secession, whereas poorer and unprotected citizenry was clearly against it. All the data points to the conclusion that the secessionist challenge was, in fact, a rebellion of the wealthier and well-situated people.
Post-War Cultural Heritage Preservation in Kosovo: Rethinking the Implementation of Ahtisaari Plan Annex V
Authors: Hisari Lorika , Fouseki Kalliopi
Published: February 2020

Current works have focused on the role of urban heritage to sustainable development in postwar cities and have highlighted the significance of participatory and inclusive approaches that involve citizens and key stakeholders in the conservation and regeneration of heritage areas. However, this task is rather complex and challenging, especially in areas inhabited by multiple ethnic groups. Skills in negotiation and building trust are as important as skills in restoration and conservation of the physical fabric. However, the current literature lacks in-depth understandings of how negotiations in these contexts work and what we can learn from the past. The aim of this paper is to explore this issue by using a case study analysis, in particular, that of Kosovo. This paper looks at how the process developed during the implementation period of Annex V of the Comprehensive Proposal for the Kosovo Status Settlement (CSP) related to cultural heritage preservation. We analyze the sociocultural and political dynamics on the ground by focusing on Article 4 that deals with protective zones. With a critical examination of the approaches taken by stakeholders, including the public discourse and the example of the historic centre of Prizren, we suggest rethinking the implementation of Annex V as a sustainable option, rather than looking at other (beyond Annex V) alternatives that could potentially undermine the inter-community rebuilding efforts, and instead of creating the basis for sustainable cultural heritage preservation and reconciliation would eventually contribute to escalation and deepening of the conflict.
A Study on Ranking Fusion Approaches for the Retrieval of Medical Publications
Authors: Clipa Teofan , Di Nunzio Giorgio Maria
Published: February 2020

In this work, we compare and analyze a variety of approaches in the task of medical publication retrieval and, in particular, for the Technology Assisted Review (TAR) task. This problem consists in the process of collecting articles that summarize all evidence that has been published regarding a certain medical topic. This task requires long search sessions by experts in the field of medicine. For this reason, semi-automatic approaches are essential for supporting these types of searches when the amount of data exceeds the limits of users. In this paper, we use state-of-the-art models and weighting schemes with different types of preprocessing as well as query expansion (QE) and relevance feedback (RF) approaches in order to study the best combination for this particular task. We also tested word embeddings representation of documents and queries in addition to three different ranking fusion approaches to see if the merged runs perform better than the single models. In order to make our results reproducible, we have used the collection provided by the Conference and Labs Evaluation Forum (CLEF) eHealth tasks. Query expansion and relevance feedback greatly improve the performance while the fusion of different rankings does not perform well in this task. The statistical analysis showed that, in general, the performance of the system does not depend much on the type of text preprocessing but on which weighting scheme is applied.
Breaking the Chains of Open Innovation: Post-Blockchain and the Case of Sensorica
Authors: Pazaitis Alex
Published: February 2020

Open innovation is a concept in flux; from the practice of large-scale, internet-mediated collaboration, to a strategic option and business model for firms. However, the scope and breadth of its transformative dynamic is arguably restrained. Despite the theoretical and empirical benefits of openness, established firms face significant challenges deploying the coordination patterns of open innovation communities, further reducing the potential of spill-overs in the supply chain. Viewed differently, open innovation presents more user-centric and responsible innovation paths. These are manifested in the processes and outputs of open innovation by empowering participation and by successfully employing the capacities of user communities. To reap the benefits of open innovation, a rapid reconfiguration of the production and exchange structures is needed in intrafirm and interfirm relations. Sensorica is an open enterprise that achieves such forms of organization and a unique techno-social infrastructure supporting them. It illustrates a potential path that can realize the full potential of open innovation, for users, firms, and the economic system as a whole.
Outpatient Text Classification Using Attention-Based Bidirectional LSTM for Robot-Assisted Servicing in Hospital
Authors: Chen Che-Wen , Tseng Shih-Pang , Kuan Ta-Wen , Wang Jhing-Fa
Published: February 2020

In general, patients who are unwell do not know with which outpatient department they should register, and can only get advice after they are diagnosed by a family doctor. This may cause a waste of time and medical resources. In this paper, we propose an attention-based bidirectional long short-term memory (Att-BiLSTM) model for service robots, which has the ability to classify outpatient categories according to textual content. With the outpatient text classification system, users can talk about their situation to a service robot and the robot can tell them which clinic they should register with. In the implementation of the proposed method, dialog text of users in the Taiwan E Hospital were collected as the training data set. Through natural language processing (NLP), the information in the dialog text was extracted, sorted, and converted to train the long-short term memory (LSTM) deep learning model. Experimental results verify the ability of the robot to respond to questions autonomously through acquired casual knowledge.
Fastai: A Layered API for Deep Learning
Authors: Howard Jeremy , Gugger Sylvain
Published: February 2020

fastai is a deep learning library which provides practitioners with high-level components that can quickly and easily provide state-of-the-art results in standard deep learning domains, and provides researchers with low-level components that can be mixed and matched to build new approaches. It aims to do both things without substantial compromises in ease of use, flexibility, or performance. This is possible thanks to a carefully layered architecture, which expresses common underlying patterns of many deep learning and data processing techniques in terms of decoupled abstractions. These abstractions can be expressed concisely and clearly by leveraging the dynamism of the underlying Python language and the flexibility of the PyTorch library. fastai includes: a new type dispatch system for Python along with a semantic type hierarchy for tensors; a GPU-optimized computer vision library which can be extended in pure Python; an optimizer which refactors out the common functionality of modern optimizers into two basic pieces, allowing optimization algorithms to be implemented in 4–5 lines of code; a novel 2-way callback system that can access any part of the data, model, or optimizer and change it at any point during training; a new data block API; and much more. We used this library to successfully create a complete deep learning course, which we were able to write more quickly than using previous approaches, and the code was more clear. The library is already in wide use in research, industry, and teaching.
Floral Species Richness Correlates with Changes in the Nutritional Quality of Larval Diets in a Stingless Bee
Authors: Trinkl Moritz , Kaluza Benjamin F. , Wallace Helen , Heard Tim A. , Keller Alexander , Leonhardt Sara D.
Published: February 2020

Bees need food of appropriate nutritional quality to maintain their metabolic functions. They largely obtain all required nutrients from floral resources, i.e., pollen and nectar. However, the diversity, composition and nutritional quality of floral resources varies with the surrounding environment and can be strongly altered in human-impacted habitats. We investigated whether differences in plant species richness as found in the surrounding environment correlated with variation in the floral diversity and nutritional quality of larval provisions (i.e., mixtures of pollen, nectar and salivary secretions) composed by the mass-provisioning stingless bee Tetragonula carbonaria (Apidae: Meliponini). We found that the floral diversity of larval provisions increased with increasing plant species richness. The sucrose and fat (total fatty acid) content and the proportion and concentration of the omega-6 fatty acid linoleic acid decreased, whereas the proportion of the omega-3 fatty acid linolenic acid increased with increasing plant species richness. Protein (total amino acid) content and amino acid composition did not change. The protein to fat (P:F) ratio, known to affect bee foraging, increased on average by more than 40% from plantations to forests and gardens, while the omega-6:3 ratio, known to negatively affect cognitive performance, decreased with increasing plant species richness. Our results suggest that plant species richness may support T. carbonaria colonies by providing not only a continuous resource supply (as shown in a previous study), but also floral resources of high nutritional quality.