bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metallic Nanoparticle-Decorated Polydopamine Thin Films and Their Cell Proliferation Characteristics
Authors: Aysin Ferhunde , Yilmaz Asli , Yilmaz Mehmet
Published: August 2020

Plasmonic metal nanoparticle (NP)-decorated thin films of biobased and biocompatible polymers provide significant opportunities in various biomedical applications. Inspired from the adhesive proteins of the marine mussels, polydopamine (PDA) serves as a versatile, biocompatible, and simple thin-film material and enhances cell growth and proliferation. Herein, we report the fabrication of the gold NPs (AuNPs) or silver NPs (AgNPs)-deposited thin films of PDA and their employment in cell growth and proliferation. PDA thin film with its numerous functional groups enabled well-controlled adsorption of NPs. The number density of NPs was manipulated simply by tuning the deposition time. Cell viability test for human lung cancer (A549) and human colon cancer (CaCO2) cell lines indicated that a thin layer of PDA film remarkably enhanced the cell growth and proliferation. The lower number density of NPs for the 24 h of the culture time resulted in a higher proliferation rate. However, the increase in both the number density of NPs and culture time led to a decrease in cell growth.
The Future of Carbon: An Update on Graphene’s Dermal, Inhalation, and Gene Toxicity
Authors: Moghimian Nima , Nazarpour Soroush
Published: August 2020

Recent studies on gene, inhalation and dermal toxicity of few-layer graphene have revealed much lower health risk than expected. This could pave the way for graphene as a young member of the nanocarbons family to become the “heir presumptive” to the long-reigning carbon black.
Preparation and Electrochemical Properties of Co3O4 Supercapacitor Electrode Materials
Authors: Wang Xuelei , Fu Jiawei , Wang Qiufeng , Dong Zhaojun , Wang Xiaoliang , Hu Anyu , Wang Wei , Yang Shaobin
Published: August 2020

A special gas-phase diffusion precipitation method with ammonia as the gas-phase diffusion precipitant was adopted. After fully reacting with different cobalt sources in a sealed space, the liquid funnel was separated and dried, and calcined at different temperatures for 2 h. The prepared Co3O4 powder was used as a supercapacitor (SCs) electrode to measure the electrochemical properties of the prepared material. The influences of different cobalt sources and sodium phosphate monobasic dehydrate on the preparation of Co3O4 SCs electrodes were investigated. The optimal performance of Co3O4 was 640 F·g−1 before modification, and this reached 1140 F·g−1 after modification, which was an improvement of 78.1%.
Multiple Retinal Anomalies in Wfs1-Deficient Mice
Authors: Waszczykowska Arleta , Zmysłowska Agnieszka , Braun Marcin , Ivask Marilin , Koks Sulev , Jurowski Piotr , Młynarski Wojciech
Published: August 2020

Background: Wolfram syndrome (WFS, OMIM: #222300) is an ultrarare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic nerve atrophy and deafness. It has been reported that the average retinal thickness in WFS patients decreases with the progression of the disease. Aim: To investigate retinal thickness and wolframin expression disorders in Wolfram syndrome 1 gene knockout (Wfs1KO) mice compared to their wild-type (WT) littermates. Materials and methods: Both bulbs with optic nerves of three mice Wfs1WT and three Wfs1KO were taken for the histopathological examination. A strain of knockout mice with mutation in exon 8 was used. Results: No expression of wolframin protein in the retina and neurodegeneration of the optic nerve of Wfs1KO mice as compared among Wfs1WT mice was observed. The mean central retinal thickness was thinner and the retinal thickness/longitudinal diameter ratio was significantly lower in hte Wfs1KO as compared to the Wfs1WT mice. In four (67%) eyeballs of Wfs1KO mice, intra-retinal neovessels were observed. Conclusions: Wfs1KO mice retina with mutation in exon 8 present similar clinical features as patients with WFS in the form of reduced retinal thickness and neurodegeneration of the optic nerve. The presence of proliferative retinopathy observed in Wfs1KO mice requires further investigation.
Evaluation of the Usefulness of CO-RADS for Chest CT in Patients Suspected of Having COVID-19
Authors: Fujioka Tomoyuki , Takahashi Marie , Mori Mio , Tsuchiya Junichi , Yamaga Emi , Horii Toshihiro , Yamada Hirofumi , Kimura Mizuki , Kimura Koichiro , Kitazume Yoshio , Kishino Mitsuhiro , Tateishi Ukihide
Published: August 2020

The purpose of this study was to use the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Reporting and Data System (CO-RADS) to evaluate the chest computed tomography (CT) images of patients suspected of having COVID-19, and to investigate its diagnostic performance and interobserver agreement. The Dutch Radiological Society developed CO-RADS as a diagnostic indicator for assessing suspicion of lung involvement of COVID-19 on a scale of 1 (very low) to 5 (very high). We investigated retrospectively 154 adult patients with clinically suspected COVID-19, between April and June 2020, who underwent chest CT and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The patients’ average age was 61.3 years (range, 21–93), 101 were male, and 76 were RT-PCR positive. Using CO-RADS, four radiologists evaluated the chest CT images. Sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were calculated. Interobserver agreement was calculated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) by comparing the individual reader’s score to the median of the remaining three radiologists. The average sensitivity was 87.8% (range, 80.2–93.4%), specificity was 66.4% (range, 51.3–84.5%), and AUC was 0.859 (range, 0.847–0.881); there was no significant difference between the readers (p > 0.200). In 325 (52.8%) of 616 observations, there was absolute agreement among observers. The average ICC of readers was 0.840 (range, 0.800–0.874; p < 0.001). CO-RADS is a categorical taxonomic evaluation scheme for COVID-19 pneumonia, using chest CT images, that provides outstanding performance and from substantial to almost perfect interobserver agreement for predicting COVID-19.
Does Routine Triple-Time-Point FDG PET/CT Imaging Improve the Detection of Liver Metastases?
Authors: Yen Yu-An , Huang Wen-Sheng , Chiu Chuang-Hsin , Tyan Yu-Chang , Wang Jhi-Joung , Wu Li-Chun , Feng I Jung , Lee Chiang Hsuan
Published: August 2020

Prior reports have demonstrated the improved ability of delayed fluorine-18 (18F) fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging (dual-time-point imaging) in detecting more patients with liver metastases. To evaluate whether routine triple-time-point FDG PET/CT imaging improves the detection of liver metastasis not visualized on initial imaging. To our knowledge, no triple-time-point imaging has been reported. This retrospective study included total 310 patients with various malignancies who underwent PET/CT scans. Triple-time-point imaging including the liver was obtained. The comparison between negative and positive liver lesions on delayed imaging for patients with initial negative imaging were analyzed. Of the 310 patients, 286 did not exhibit liver lesions on initial imaging, but six of the 286 patients exhibited lesions on delayed imaging. No additional liver lesions were detected on further delayed imaging in the 286 patients. The other 24 patients with liver lesions identified on initial imaging still showed lesions on delayed and further delayed imaging. The analysis showed a significant difference in the percentage of colorectal cancer (66.7%) and liver lesions before the PET scan (50.0%) compared with unchanged results (22.1% and 3.9%, respectively). Routine triple-time-point imaging did not improve the detection of liver metastases; however, it may be recommended in patients with colorectal cancer and liver lesions before the PET scan.
A Software Tool for Exploring the Relation between Diagnostic Accuracy and Measurement Uncertainty
Authors: Chatzimichail Theodora , Hatjimihail Aristides T.
Published: August 2020

Screening and diagnostic tests are used to classify people with and without a disease. Diagnostic accuracy measures are used to evaluate the correctness of a classification in clinical research and practice. Although this depends on the uncertainty of measurement, there has been limited research on their relation. The objective of this work was to develop an exploratory tool for the relation between diagnostic accuracy measures and measurement uncertainty, as diagnostic accuracy is fundamental to clinical decision-making, while measurement uncertainty is critical to quality and risk management in laboratory medicine. For this reason, a freely available interactive program was developed for calculating, optimizing, plotting and comparing various diagnostic accuracy measures and the corresponding risk of diagnostic or screening tests measuring a normally distributed measurand, applied at a single point in time in non-diseased and diseased populations. This is done for differing prevalence of the disease, mean and standard deviation of the measurand, diagnostic threshold, standard measurement uncertainty of the tests and expected loss. The application of the program is illustrated with a case study of glucose measurements in diabetic and non-diabetic populations. The program is user-friendly and can be used as an educational and research tool in medical decision-making.
Static Thermal Coupling Factors in Multi-Finger Bipolar Transistors: Part I—Model Development
Authors: Gupta Aakashdeep , Nidhin K , Balanethiram Suresh , Yadav Shon , Chakravorty Anjan , Fregonese Sebastien , Zimmer Thomas
Published: August 2020

In this part, we propose a step-by-step strategy to model the static thermal coupling factors between the fingers in a silicon based multifinger bipolar transistor structure. First we provide a physics-based formulation to find out the coupling factors in a multifinger structure having no-trench isolation (cij,nt). As a second step, using the value of cij,nt, we propose a formulation to estimate the coupling factor in a multifinger structure having only shallow trench isolations (cij,st). Finally, the coupling factor model for a deep and shallow trench isolated multifinger device (cij,dt) is presented. The proposed modeling technique takes as inputs the dimensions of emitter fingers, shallow and deep trench isolations, their relative locations and the temperature dependent material thermal conductivity. Coupling coefficients obtained from the model are validated against 3D TCAD simulations of multifinger bipolar transistors with and without trench isolations. Geometry scalability of the model is also demonstrated.
Low-Cost Monitoring and Diagnosis System for Rolling Bearing Faults of the Induction Motor Based on Neural Network Approach
Authors: Ewert Pawel , Kowalski Czeslaw T. , Orlowska-Kowalska Teresa
Published: August 2020

In this article, a low-cost computer system for the monitoring and diagnosis of the condition of the induction motor (IM) rolling bearings is demonstrated and tested. The system allows the on-line monitoring of the IM bearings and subsequent fault diagnostics based on analysis of the vibration measurement data. The evaluation of the bearing condition is made by a suitably trained neural network (NN), on the basis of the spectral and envelope analysis of the mechanical vibrations. The system was developed in the LabVIEW environment in such a way that it could be run on any PC. The functionality of the application has been tested on a real object. The study was conducted on a low-power IM equipped with a set of specially prepared bearings so as to model the different damages. In the designed computer system, a selected NN for detecting and identifying the defects of individual components of the induction motor’s bearings was implemented. The training data for NNs were obtained from real experiments. The magnitudes of the characteristic harmonics, obtained from the spectral analysis and the envelope analysis, were used for training and testing the developed neural detectors based on Matlab toolbox. The experimental test results of the developed monitoring and diagnosis system are presented in the article. The evaluation of the system’s ability to detect and identify the defects of individual components of bearings, such as the rolling element, and outer race and inner race, was made. It was also shown that the developed NN-based detectors are insensitive to other motor faults, such as short-circuits of the stator winding, broken rotor bars or motor misalignment.
Real-Time Video Stitching for Mine Surveillance Using a Hybrid Image Registration Method
Authors: Bai Zongwen , Li Ying , Chen Xiaohuan , Yi Tingting , Wei Wei , Wozniak Marcin , Damasevicius Robertas
Published: August 2020

Video stitching technology provides an effective solution for a wide viewing angle monitoring mode for industrial applications. At present, the observation angle of a single camera is limited, and the monitoring network composed of multiple cameras will have many overlapping images captured. Monitoring surveillance cameras can cause the problems of viewing fatigue and low video utilization rate of involved personnel. In addition, current video stitching technology has poor adaptability and real-time performance. We propose an effective hybrid image feature detection method for fast video stitching of mine surveillance video using the effective information of the surveillance video captured from multiple cameras in the actual conditions in the industrial coal mine. The method integrates the Moravec corner point detection and the scale-invariant feature transform (SIFT) feature extractor. After feature extraction, the nearest neighbor method and the random sampling consistency (RANSAC) algorithm are used to register the video frames. The proposed method reduces the image stitching time and solves the problem of feature re-extraction due to the change of observation angle, thus optimizing the entire video stitching process. The experimental results on the real-world underground mine videos show that the optimized stitching method can stitch videos at a speed of 21 fps, effectively meeting the real-time requirement, while the stitching effect has a good stability and applicability in real-world conditions.
Optical Camera Communications: Principles, Modulations, Potential and Challenges
Authors: Cahyadi Willy Anugrah , Chung Yeon Ho , Ghassemlooy Zabih , Hassan Navid Bani
Published: August 2020

Optical wireless communications (OWC) are emerging as cost-effective and practical solutions to the congested radio frequency-based wireless technologies. As part of OWC, optical camera communications (OCC) have become very attractive, considering recent developments in cameras and the use of fitted cameras in smart devices. OCC together with visible light communications (VLC) is considered within the framework of the IEEE 802.15.7m standardization. OCCs based on both organic and inorganic light sources as well as cameras are being considered for low-rate transmissions and localization in indoor as well as outdoor short-range applications and within the framework of the IEEE 802.15.7m standardization together with VLC. This paper introduces the underlying principles of OCC and gives a comprehensive overview of this emerging technology with recent standardization activities in OCC. It also outlines the key technical issues such as mobility, coverage, interference, performance enhancement, etc. Future research directions and open issues are also presented.
GaN Single Crystalline Substrates by Ammonothermal and HVPE Methods for Electronic Devices
Authors: Grabianska Karolina , Jaroszynska Arianna , Sidor Aneta , Bockowski Michal , Iwinska Malgorzata
Published: August 2020

Recent results of GaN bulk growth performed in Poland are presented. Two technologies are described in detail: halide vapor phase epitaxy and basic ammonothermal. The processes and their results (crystals and substrates) are demonstrated. Some information about wafering procedures, thus, the way from as-grown crystal to an epi-ready wafer, are shown. Results of other groups in the world are briefly presented as the background for our work.
SNP Genotyping with Target Amplicon Sequencing Using a Multiplexed Primer Panel and Its Application to Genomic Prediction in Japanese Cedar, Cryptomeria japonica (L.f.) D.Don
Authors: Nagano Soichiro , Hirao Tomonori , Takashima Yuya , Matsushita Michinari , Mishima Kentaro , Takahashi Makoto , Iki Taiichi , Ishiguri Futoshi , Hiraoka Yuichiro
Published: August 2020

Along with progress in sequencing technology and accumulating knowledge of genome and gene sequences, molecular breeding techniques have been developed for predicting the genetic potential of individual genotypes and for selecting superior individuals. For Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica (L.f.) D.Don), which is the most common coniferous species in Japanese forestry, we constructed a custom primer panel for target amplicon sequencing in order to simultaneously determine 3034 informative single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). We performed primary evaluation of the custom primer panel with actual sequencing and in silico PCR. Genotyped SNPs had a distribution over almost the entire region of the C. japonica linkage map and verified the high reproducibility of genotype calls compared to SNPs obtained by genotyping arrays. Genotyping was performed for 576 individuals of the F1 population, and genomic prediction models were constructed for growth and wood property-related traits using the genotypes. Amplicon sequencing with the custom primer panel enables efficient obtaining genotype data in order to perform genomic prediction, manage clones, and advance forest tree breeding.
The Dynamics of Beech Roundwood Prices in Selected Central European Markets
Authors: Kożuch Anna , Banaś Jan
Published: August 2020

The European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) is the most prevalent deciduous tree species in Central Europe. The implementation of sustainable, close-to-nature silvicultural practices increased the percentage share of beech in forest species composition, raising the economic significance of beech roundwood, especially in terms of revenues from timber sales. The elucidation of roundwood price mechanisms as well as long-term equilibrium relations between international markets may be helpful in calculating the profitability of beech roundwood production. The study material consists of quarterly time series of beech roundwood prices from Austria, Czechia, Germany, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia in the years 2005–2018. The price time series were described with a multiplicative model incorporating seasonal, cyclical, and irregular, as well as long-term trend components. The time series were decomposed using the Census X11 method. Stationarity was tested by means of the augmented Dickey–Fuller test (ADF) and the Kwiatkowski–Phillips–Schmidt–Shin test (KPSS). Cointegration was assessed using the Johansen and Engle–Granger methods. From 2005–2018, the highest mean beech roundwood prices were found for Austria (77.5 € m−3) and Germany, and the lowest for Poland and Slovakia. Roundwood prices were badly affected by the 2008/2009 financial crisis, which caused an approx. 27% decline. The prices of large-diameter beech logs exhibited seasonal fluctuations, typically reaching a maximum in Q1 and a minimum in Q3. The amplitude of those fluctuations was the highest in Slovenia in 2005 (10.1%), while in Czechia and Germany, seasonal effects increased over the period of study. The lowest seasonality was found in Slovakia and Austria (in the latter country it was not statistically significant). On an annual scale, cyclical changes generally accounted for the largest proportion of price variation, and were particularly pronounced in Poland (78.9%), Slovakia (78.6%), and Austria (69.2%). On the other hand, seasonal effects were predominant in the Slovenian (40.6%), German (34.1%), and Czech (33.3%) markets. In countries with price series of type I(0), simple correlation between stationary beech roundwood prices is positive and the strongest between Czechia–Poland and Czechia–Austria; on the other hand they are the weakest in the German market. In Slovakia and Slovenia with nonstationary price series, both Johansen’s and Engle-Granger’s cointegration tests indicated the absence of a long-term equilibrium between the analyzed beech timber markets. Results revealed integration between the prices of large-diameter beech logs in Czechia, Austria, and Poland. It should be mentioned that in this study, the time series of price used are rather short for long time cointegration analysis, which might prevent the proper detection of cointegration between all analyzed countries.
From Color-Avoiding to Color-Favored Percolation in Diluted Lattices
Authors: Giusfredi Michele , Bagnoli Franco
Published: August 2020

We study the problem of color-avoiding and color-favored percolation in a network, i.e., the problem of finding a path that avoids a certain number of colors, associated with vulnerabilities of nodes or links, or is attracted by them. We investigate here regular (mainly directed) lattices with a fractions of links removed (hence the term “diluted”). We show that this problem can be formulated as a self-organized critical problem, in which the asymptotic phase space can be obtained in one simulation. The method is particularly effective for certain “convex” formulations, but can be extended to arbitrary problems using multi-bit coding. We obtain the phase diagram for some problem related to color-avoiding percolation on directed models. We also show that the interference among colors induces a paradoxical effect in which color-favored percolation is permitted where standard percolation for a single color is impossible.
Validating Structural Styles in the Flysch Basin Northern Rif (Morocco) by Means of Thermal Modeling
Authors: Atouabat Achraf , Corrado Sveva , Schito Andrea , Haissen Faouziya , Gimeno-Vives Oriol , Mohn Geoffroy , Frizon de Lamotte Dominique
Published: August 2020

Vitrinite reflectance and a micro-Raman spectroscopy parameters data set have been acquired on dispersed organic matter of the Maghrebian flysch basin and the Tangiers unit across a NE-SW section in the north-western Rif belt (North Morocco). Thermal maturity shows increasing values from the hinterland to the external unit (from NE to SW). Paleo-thermal indicators show that the internal flysch basin (i.e., the Mauretanian unit) is less mature than the external one, (i.e., the Massylian unit), with Ro% and Ro eq. Raman values ranging from 0.64% to 1.02% (from early mature to late mature stages of hydrocarbon generation). 1D thermal modeling estimates the overburden now totally eroded ranging from 3.1 km to 6.0 km, and has been used as constraint to reconstruct the complete thrust wedge geometry in Miocene times. The reconstructed geometry accounts for high shortening (about 63%) due to the development of an antiformal stack in the frontal part of the wedge made up by the flysch succession. This stacking is interpreted as a consequence of the western translation of the Alboran Domain in the core of the Betic-Rif orogenic system.
Detecting Associations between Archaeological Site Distributions and Landscape Features: A Monte Carlo Simulation Approach for the R Environment
Authors: Hewitt Richard J. , Wenban-Smith Francis F. , Bates Martin R.
Published: August 2020

Detecting association between archaeological sites and physical landscape elements like geological deposits, vegetation, drainage networks, or areas of modern disturbance like mines or quarries is a key goal of archaeological projects. This goal is complicated by the incomplete nature of the archaeological record, the high degree of uncertainty of typical point distribution patterns, and, in the case of deeply buried archaeological sites, the absence of reliable information about the ancient landscape itself. Standard statistical approaches may not be applicable (e.g., X2 test) or are difficult to apply correctly (regression analysis). Monte Carlo simulation, devised in the late 1940s by mathematical physicists, offers a way to approach this problem. In this paper, we apply a Monte Carlo approach to test for association between Lower and Middle Palaeolithic sites in Hampshire and Sussex, UK, and quarries recorded on historical maps. We code our approach in the popular ‘R’ software environment, describing our methods step-by-step and providing complete scripts so others can apply our method to their own cases. Association between sites and quarries is clearly shown. We suggest ways to develop the approach further, e.g., for detecting associations between sites or artefacts and remotely-sensed deposits or features, e.g., from aerial photographs or geophysical survey.
Tomographic Experiments for Defining the 3D Velocity Model of an Unstable Rock Slope to Support Microseismic Event Interpretation
Authors: Zhang Zhiyong , Arosio Diego , Hojat Azadeh , Zanzi Luigi
Published: August 2020

To monitor the stability of a mountain slope in northern Italy, microseismic monitoring technique has been used since 2013. Locating microseismic events is a basic step of this technique. We performed a seismic tomographic survey on the mountain surface above the rock face to obtain a reliable velocity distribution in the rock mass for the localization procedure. Seismic travel-time inversion showed high heterogeneity of the rock mass with strong contrast in velocity distribution. Low velocities were found at shallow depth on the top of the rock cliff and intermediate velocities were observed in the most critical area of the rock face corresponding to a partially detached pillar. Using the 3D velocity model obtained from inversion, localization tests were performed based on the Equal Differential Time (EDT) localization method. The results showed hypocenter misfits to be around 15 m for the five geophones of the microseismic network and the error was significantly decreased compared to the results produced by a constant velocity model. Although the localization errors are relatively large, the accuracy is sufficient to distinguish microseismic events occurring in the most critical zone of the monitored rock mass from microseismic events generated far away. Thus, the 3D velocity model will be used in future studies to improve the classification of the recorded events.
“The One Who Comes from the Sea”: Marine Crisis and the New Oceanic Weird in Rita Indiana’s La mucama de Omicunlé (2015)
Authors: Deckard Sharae , Oloff Kerstin
Published: August 2020

Caribbean literature is permeated by submarine aesthetics registering the environmental histories of colonialism and capitalism. In this essay, we contribute to the emergent discipline of critical ocean studies by delineating the contours of the “Oceanic Weird”. We begin with a brief survey of Old Weird tales by authors such as William Hope Hodgson and, most famously, H.P. Lovecraft, who were writing in the context of a world still dominated by European colonialism, but increasingly reshaped by an emergent US imperialism. We explore how these tales are both ecophobic and racialized, teeming with fears of deep geological time and the alterity of both nonhuman life and non-European civilizations, and argue that they register the oil-fuelled, militarised emergence of US imperial naval dominance. Subsequently, we turn to Rita Indiana’s neo-Lovecraftian novel, La mucama de Omicunlé [Tentacle, trans. Achy Obejas 2019], set in the Dominican Republic, as a key example of the contemporary efflorescence of ecocritical New Weird Caribbean fiction. We explore how the novel refashions Oceanic Weird tropes to represent the intertwining of marine ecological crisis in an era of global climate emergency with forms of oppression rooted in hierarchies of gender, sexuality, race, and class.
Factors Related to Sports Participation in Brazil: An Analysis Based on the 2015 National Household Survey
Authors: Magno Felipe , ten Caten Carla Schwengber , Reppold Filho Alberto Reinaldo , Callegaro Aline Marian , Ferreira Alan de Carvalho Dias
Published: August 2020

The academic interest in analyzing the correlates of sports participation in several countries has increased recently. Nevertheless, in developing countries, which do not monitor sportive data, this type of investigation is still scarce. This study aims to analyze socioeconomic, motivational, and supportive factors related to sports participation in Brazil. Data from the 2015 National Household Survey—Supplementary Questionnaire of Sports and Physical Activities are examined. In the survey, 71,142 individuals older than 15 years were interviewed (mean age 43.12 years; 53.83% women and 46.17% men). Logistic regression is used for analyzing the data. Results demonstrate a low participation in sports (23.38%). Sports participation declines with increasing age (2% less per year), increases with higher educational level (graduated 5.9 times more), and males prevail in the sporting context (2.3 times more). The main obstacle to women’s participation is the lack of sports facilities, and for men the lack of time and health problems. Men practice sports mainly due to socialization, fun, and competition, and women due to medical recommendation. Soccer was the most practiced sport (28.1%), predominating among men. Public policies on sports promotion for fun and socialization may increase male participation, and investments in sports facilities may increase female participation.
Association between Childhood Maltreatment and Suicidal Ideation and Suicide Attempts among Chinese Adolescents: The Moderating Role of Depressive Symptoms
Authors: Gong Meiqian , Zhang Sheng , Li Wenyan , Wang Wanxin , Wu Ruipeng , Guo Lan , Lu Ciyong
Published: August 2020

Suicidal behavior is a major public health concern worldwide and has become the second-leading cause of death among adolescents. The purposes of this study were to investigate the associations between childhood maltreatment and suicidal behavior and to test whether depressive symptoms have moderating effects on these associations. A multistage stratified cluster randomized sampling method was adopted to collect data from 21,019 high school students in Guangdong Province, China. The prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among Chinese adolescents were 18.2% and 3.6%, respectively. Physical abuse (adjusted odds ratios (AOR) = 1.35, 95% confidence intervals (CI) = 1.32–1.38), emotional abuse (AOR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.25–1.28), sexual abuse (AOR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.21–1.30), physical neglect (AOR = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.08–1.11), and emotional neglect (AOR = 1.08, 95% CI = 1.08–1.09) were all associated with an increased risk of suicidal ideation, and these associations were also found for suicide attempts. According to stratification analyses, physical abuse/emotional abuse/sexual abuse had a stronger effect on suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among students without depressive symptoms than among students with depressive symptoms. Childhood maltreatment was associated with an increased risk of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in Chinese adolescents. Depressive symptoms play a moderating role in the association between childhood maltreatment and suicidal behaviors.
Clearing the Smoke Screen: Smoking, Alcohol Consumption, and Stress Management Techniques among Canadian Long-Term Care Workers
Authors: Syed Iffath Unissa
Published: August 2020

Background: Currently, there is abundant research indicating that smoking and alcohol consumption have significant impacts on morbidity and mortality, though little is known about these behaviors among Canadian health care workers. The objective of this study was to examine health and coping behaviors, such as smoking and alcohol consumption as well as stress management techniques, among health care workers consisting of gendered, racialized, and immigrant employees. Methods: Drawing on a single-case, mixed-methods study in Ontario, Canada, this paper presents under-researched data about smoking practices, alcohol consumption, and stress management techniques among health care workers in labor-intensive, high-stress, high-turnover environments. In particular, it identifies the various mechanisms for maintaining health and well-being. Results: The findings suggest that 7.7% of survey respondents reported smoking while 43.4% reported alcohol consumption, which were reported more frequently among immigrants than among non-immigrants. Participants also reported health-promoting activities in face-to-face interviews, such as mindful breathing techniques and drawing upon social support, while a few respondents reported alcohol consumption to specifically cope with sleep disturbances and job stress. Conclusions: Although smoking and alcohol consumption were both connected with coping strategies and leisure, they were predominant in immigrant groups compared to non-immigrant groups.
Application of Well Drainage on Treating Seepage-Induced Reservoir Landslides
Authors: Zou Zongxing , Lu Sha , Wang Fei , Tang Huiming , Hu Xinli , Tan Qinwen , Yuan Yi
Published: August 2020

In the process of rapid drawdown of reservoir water level, the seepage force in the slide mass is an important factor for the stability reduction and deformation increment of many landslides in the reservoir areas. It is feasible to improve the stability of seepage-induced landslide by employing a drainage well to reduce or eliminate the water head difference that generates the seepage force. In this paper, the Shuping landslide, a typical seepage-induced landslide in the Three Gorges Reservoir area of China, is taken as an example. A series of numerical simulations were carried out to figure out the seepage field, and the Morgenstein–Price method was adopted to calculate the landslide stability. Then the influence of horizontal location of the drainage well, drainage well depth, drainage mode on the landslide treatment effect, and the applicability of drainage well were analyzed. The results show that: (1) landslide stability increases obviously with the well depth in the slide mass, while the increment of landslide stability with the well depth is limited in the slide bed; (2) the sensitivity of the stability improvement with the depth is greater than that with the horizontal positions of the drainage wells in the slide mass; (3) the drainage well is suggested to be operated when the reservoir water falls rather than operates all the time; and (4) the drainage method is most suitable for landslides with low and medium permeability. These results provide deep insights into the treatment of seepage-induced landslides.
A Critical Analysis of the Drivers of Human Migration Patterns in the Presence of Climate Change: A New Conceptual Model
Authors: Parrish Rebecca , Colbourn Tim , Lauriola Paolo , Leonardi Giovanni , Hajat Shakoor , Zeka Ariana
Published: August 2020

Both climate change and migration present key concerns for global health progress. Despite this, a transparent method for identifying and understanding the relationship between climate change, migration and other contextual factors remains a knowledge gap. Existing conceptual models are useful in understanding the complexities of climate migration, but provide varying degrees of applicability to quantitative studies, resulting in non-homogenous transferability of knowledge in this important area. This paper attempts to provide a critical review of climate migration literature, as well as presenting a new conceptual model for the identification of the drivers of migration in the context of climate change. It focuses on the interactions and the dynamics of drivers over time, space and society. Through systematic, pan-disciplinary and homogenous application of theory to different geographical contexts, we aim to improve understanding of the impacts of climate change on migration. A brief case study of Malawi is provided to demonstrate how this global conceptual model can be applied into local contextual scenarios. In doing so, we hope to provide insights that help in the more homogenous applications of conceptual frameworks for this area and more generally.
Path Meander of Male Codling Moths (Cydia pomonella) Foraging for Sex Pheromone Plumes: Field Validation of a Novel Method for Quantifying Path Meander of Random Movers Developed Using Computer Simulations
Authors: Adams Christopher , Schenker Jeffrey , Weston Paul , Gut Lawrence , Miller James
Published: August 2020

Measures of path meander are highly relevant to studies of optimal foraging by animals. However, directly recording paths of small animals such as insects can be difficult because of small size or crepuscular activity. Computer simulations of correlated random walkers demonstrated that the rates of decay in captures across a rectangular grid of traps when movers were released at its corner can be used to produce calibration curves for quantifying path meander indirectly. Simulations using spatial parameters matching those previously documented for male codling moths (Cydia pomonella (L.)) foraging for female pheromone plumes in the field predicted that meander, as measured in circular standard deviation (c.s.d.) of turn angles between track segments, should be ca. 50° and 30° when the target population density is high vs. low, respectively. Thus, if optimized, the mean value measured for C. pomonella populations encountering an unknown target density should fall between these limits. We recorded decay in C. pomonella catch across a 5 × 5 grid of pheromone-baited traps each separated by 15 m on 39 occasions where batches of ca. 800 males were released 10 m outside the corner of trapping grids arranged in five large Michigan apple orchards. This decay constant was translated into mean c.s.d value for path meander using the standard curve generated by the computer simulations. The measured decay constant for C. pomonella males was negative 0.99 ± 0.02 (S.E.M.), which translates to a path meander of 37 ± 2° c.s.d. Thus, the measured path meander of 37° fell between the 50° and 30° values optimal for dense and sparse populations, respectively. In addition to providing a rare documented example of optimal foraging for odor plumes, this research offers proof-of-concept for a novel approach to quantifying path meander of movers that could prove useful across diverse taxa.
Antimicrobial Properties of the Polyaniline Composites against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae
Authors: Maruthapandi Moorthy , Saravanan Arumugam , Luong John H. T. , Gedanken Aharon
Published: August 2020

CuO, TiO2, or SiO2 was decorated on polyaniline (PANI) by a sonochemical method, and their antimicrobial properties were investigated for two common Gram-negative pathogens: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP). Without PANI, CuO, TiO2, or SiO2 with a concentration of 220 µg/mL exhibited no antimicrobial activities. In contrast, PANI-CuO and PANI-TiO2 (1 mg/mL, each) completely suppressed the PA growth after 6 h of exposure, compared to 12 h for the PANI-SiO2 at the same concentration. The damage caused by PANI-SiO2 to KP was less effective, compared to that of PANI-TiO2 with the eradication time of 12 h versus 6 h, respectively. This bacterium was not affected by PANI-CuO. All the composites bind tightly to the negative groups of bacteria cell walls to compromise their regular activities, leading to the damage of the cell wall envelope and eventual cell lysis.
Predicting External Influences to Ship’s Average Fuel Consumption Based on Non-Uniform Time Set
Authors: Vujović Igor , Šoda Joško , Kuzmanić Ivica , Petković Miro
Published: August 2020

Nowadays, the impact of the ships on the World economy is enormous, considering that every ship needs fuel to sail from source to destination. It requires a lot of fuel, and therefore, there is a need to monitor and predict a ship’s average fuel consumption. However, although there are much models available to predict a ship’s consumption, most of them rely on a uniform time set. Here we show the model of predicting external influences to ship’s average fuel consumption based on a non-uniform time set. The model is based on the numeric fitting of recorded data. The first set of recorded data was used to develop the model, while the second set was used for validation. Statistical quality measures have been used to choose the optimal fitting function for the model. According to statistical measures, the Gaussian 7, Fourier 8, and smoothing spline fitting functions were chosen as optimal algorithms for model development. In addition to extensive data analysis, there is an algorithm for filter length determination for the preprocessing of raw data. This research is of interest to corporate logistics departments in charge of ensuring adequate fuel for fleets when and where required.
Research on Wind Speed Inversion Method for X-Band Networked SAR Satellite
Authors: Wan Yong , Shi Xiaolei , Dai Yongshou , Li Ligang , Qu Xiaojun , Zhang Xiaoyu
Published: August 2020

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) can extract sea surface wind speed information. To extract wind speed information through the geophysical model function (GMF), the corresponding wind direction information must be input. This article introduces some concepts about networked SAR satellites. The networked satellites enable multiple SARs to observe the same sea surface at different incidence angles at the same time. Aiming at the X-band networked SAR data with different incident angles, the cost function is established by using the GMF. By minimizing the cost function, accurate wind speed information can be extracted without inputting wind direction information. When the noise is small, the wind direction information is introduced, and the accuracy of the extracted wind speed will be improved. When the noise is less than 1 dB and the incident angle is greater than 30°, the root-mean-square error (RMSE) of the wind speed extracted by this method is basically less than 2 m/s.
Bitcoin Network Mechanics: Forecasting the BTC Closing Price Using Vector Auto-Regression Models Based on Endogenous and Exogenous Feature Variables
Authors: Ibrahim Ahmed , Kashef Rasha , Li Menglu , Valencia Esteban , Huang Eric
Published: August 2020

The Bitcoin (BTC) market presents itself as a new unique medium currency, and it is often hailed as the “currency of the future”. Simulating the BTC market in the price discovery process presents a unique set of market mechanics. The supply of BTC is determined by the number of miners and available BTC and by scripting algorithms for blockchain hashing, while both speculators and investors determine demand. One major question then is to understand how BTC is valued and how different factors influence it. In this paper, the BTC market mechanics are broken down using vector autoregression (VAR) and Bayesian vector autoregression (BVAR) prediction models. The models proved to be very useful in simulating past BTC prices using a feature set of exogenous variables. The VAR model allows the analysis of individual factors of influence. This analysis contributes to an in-depth understanding of what drives BTC, and it can be useful to numerous stakeholders. This paper’s primary motivation is to capitalize on market movement and identify the significant price drivers, including stakeholders impacted, effects of time, as well as supply, demand, and other characteristics. The two VAR and BVAR models are compared with some state-of-the-art forecasting models over two time periods. Experimental results show that the vector-autoregression-based models achieved better performance compared to the traditional autoregression models and the Bayesian regression models.
Can Bioactive Lipid Arachidonic Acid Prevent and Ameliorate COVID-19?
Authors: Das Undurti
Published: August 2020

It is proposed that the bioactive lipid, arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4 n-6), can inactivate severe acute respiratory syndrome(SARS-CoV-2), facilitate M1 and M2 macrophage generation, suppress inflammation, prevent vascular endothelial cell damage, and regulate inflammation resolution processes based on the timely formation of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and lipoxin A4 (LXA4) based on the context. Thus, AA may be useful both to prevent and manage coronavrus disease-2019(COVID-19).
Towards Upscaling of La5.5WO11.25−δ Manufacture for Plasma Spraying-Thin Film Coated Hydrogen Permeable Membranes
Authors: Escolástico Sonia , Solís Cecilia , Comite Antonio , Azzurri Fiorenza , Gindrat Malko , Moser Stefan , Rauch Johannes , Szyndelman Gregory , Damani Rajiv , Serra Jose M.
Published: August 2020

Lanthanum tungstate (La6WO12) is a promising material for the development of hydrogen separation membranes, proton ceramic electrolyzer cells and protonic ceramic fuel cells due to its interesting transport properties and stability under different operation conditions. In order to improve the hydrogen transport through the La6WO12 membranes, thin membranes should be manufactured. This work is based on the industrial production of La5.5WO11.25−δ (LWO) powder by spray drying and the manufacturing of thin membranes by low-pressure plasma spraying (LPPS-TF) technique. LPPS-TF allows the production of dense thin films of high quality in an industrial scale. The powders produced by spray drying were morphological and electrochemically characterized. Hydrogen permeation fluxes of a membrane manufactured with these powders were evaluated and fluxes are similar to those reported previously for LWO powder produced in the lab scale. Finally, the transport properties of LWO thin films deposited on Al2O3 indicate that LPPS-TF produces high-quality LWO films with potential for integration in different applications.
Spark Plasma Sintering and Characterization of Al-TiB2 Composites
Authors: Annamalai A. Raja , Srikanth Muthe , Muthuchamy A. , Acharya Shashank , Khisti Anup , Agrawal Dinesh K. , Jen Chun-Ping
Published: August 2020

In this study, Al-TiB2 compacts fabricated by spark plasma sintering methods at different temperatures were characterized for densification, microstructural development, and mechanical properties. Sintering parameters used were temperatures of 500 °C and 550 °C under the pressure of 30 MPa. A very dense microstructure with uniform phase distribution and porosity was produced in the sample sintered at 550 °C with 2.5 wt% TiB2. The same sample exhibited excellent hardness value, and a high-tensile strength attributed to full metallurgical bonding, presence of sub-micron sized grains, and their uniform distribution. These results show that the TiB2 addition enhanced the composite’s hardness, sintered density, and tensile strength. In all the sintered samples, the fractographs revealed a mixed-mode fracture (ductile and brittle).