bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fish Community Structure and Environmental Correlates in Nepal’s Andhi Khola, Province No. 4, Syangja
Authors: Limbu Jash hang , BHURTEL BISHNU , ADHIKARI ASHIM , GC PUNAM , MAHARJAN MANIKA , SUNUWAR SUSANA
Published: December 2020

The study of correlations between fish diversity, environmental variables and fish habitat aspects at different space and time scales of Nepal’s rivers and streams is scanty. This study investigated spatial and temporal patterns of fish assemblage structure in Nepal’s Andhi Khola. The field survey was conducted from September 2018 to May 2019 and the fishes were sampled from three sites using a medium size cast net of mesh size ranging from 1.5 to 2.5 cm and gill net having 2-3 cm mesh size, 30-35 feet length and 3-4 feet width, with the help of local fisher man. A total of 907 individuals representing 15 species belonged to four orders, six families and 11 genera were recorded during the study time. To detect the feasible relationships between fish community structure and environmental variables, we executed a Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA). Based on similarity percentage (SIMPER) analysis, the major contributing species are Barilius barila (26.15%), Barilius vagra (20.48%), Mastacembelus armatus (8.04%), Puntius terio (6.64%), and Barilius bendelisis (5.94%). One-way analysis similarity (ANOSIM) tried out for both time and space variations in fish community structure suggested that there was a significant difference in temporal variation (R = 0.794, P = 0.0037) but no significant difference in spatial variation (R = -0.18, P = 0.923). Results from the Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) vindicated that dissolved oxygen, free carbon-dioxide and total hardness were the principle physio-chemical correlates of fish assemblage structure. One-way analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) on the Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) showed significant difference between spring, autumn and winter season but no significant difference was found in spatial variation. The extraction and transportation of boulders, cobbles, pebbles, sand mining, haphazard ongoing road development and dam construction for the irrigation without fish ladders were found to be existing threats to the fish diversity of Andhi Khola.

 

Keywords: Fish assemblage, multivariate analysis, rivers, spatio-temporal, streams
Plant Association of Lanternflies (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) from Malaysian Borneo
Authors: Abdul Razak Ahmad Irfan , Sazali Siti Nurlydia , Hazali Ratnawati , Abu Hasan Aidil Fitri Farah Nabillah
Published: December 2020

The family Fulgoridae is known for their distinct morphological structures and striking colouration. Despite so, comprehensive documentation of insect-plant interaction from this charismatic family is greatly scarce. Presented here are records of plant association across four species of Fulgoridae from Malaysian Borneo. The current study was based on voucher specimens and field samplings from selected localities in Sarawak and Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. A total of 11 species of plants belonging to 11 genera and nine families were recorded. Three fulgorid species namely Penthicodes quadrimaculata, Pyrops intricatus and Py. sultanus shares the same host plant being the mata kucing fruit tree (Dimocarpus longan ssp. malesianus). The most speciose insect-plant association belongs to Pe. farinosa and Py. sultanus with six species documented. This is the first record of host plants reported for Py. intricatus, Pe. farinosa and Pe. quadrimaculata in Malaysian Borneo.

 

Keywords: Fulgoridae, host plant, insect-plant association, Malaysian Borneo, Sabah, Sarawak
PENERAPAN JOB SHOP SCHEDULING DENGAN ONE-MACHINE SCHEDULING UNTUK PRODUKSI FURNITURE DI UD. MANDIRI MEUBEL DAN FURNITURE BOJONEGORO
Authors: Sulistiawan Agus , Nurdiansyah Denny
Published: December 2020

Mebel adalah suatu perabot yang diperlukan seperti barang yang dapat dipindah-pindahkan untuk melengkapi rumah, kantor, dsb. Mebel juga disebut furniture. Bahan yang paling mahal adalah kayu jati. Tradisi membuat kerajinan mebel dan ukir-ukiran kayu jati di Bojonegoro sudah turun temurun dan terkenal dengan kualitasnya. Kerajinan kayu jati ini membuka peluang usaha di Bojonegoro dengan adanya beberapa pengrajin yang mendirikan Usaha Dagang (UD). Permasalahan biasanya muncul ketika pesanan yang dikerjakan tidak bisa memenuhi target konsumen karena terjadi keterlambatan produksi. Untuk menyelesaikan permasalahan ini diperlukan penjadwalan produksi. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah menerapkan job shop scheduling dengan one-machine scheduling untuk penjadwalan produksi furniture di UD. Mandiri Meubel dan Furniture Bojonegoro. Metode yang digunakan adalah job shop scheduling dengan one-machine scheduling berdasarkan tujuh kaidah prioritas dengan bantuan software POM-QM dan pertimbangan multi-starting days. Sumber data penelitian adalah data primer yang diperoleh melalui proses wawancara dengan pemilik UD pada bulan maret 2020. Hasil penelitian ini diperoleh penjadwalan terbaik adalah shortest processing time (SPT) dengan rata-rata keterlambatan sebesar 39 hari. Penelitian ini memberikan kesimpulan bahwa penggunaan job shop scheduling dengan one-machine scheduling dan pertimbangan multi-starting days sangat sesuai diterapkan untuk penjadwalan produksi furniture di UD. Penjadwalan terbaik jatuh pada penjadwalan SPT dengan penjadwalan Moore sebagai alternatifnya
Kombinasi Buah Lada Hitam (Piper Ningrum L. ) dan Jahe Merah (Zingiber Officinale) Sebagai Cream Untuk Mengobati Penyakit Vitiligo
Authors: Fajrin Fitriana Ikhtiarinawati , Nasihah Mimatun
Published: December 2020

Black pepper and red ginger the results of natural wealth with many benefits. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of black pepper cream with red ginger combination in treating vitiligo. Using the experimental method. Data collection includes pH test, effectiveness test of black pepper cream combination of red ginger and pharmaceutical test. Data analysis used T-Paired Test to determine differences ​​area of ​​exposure before and after treatment. The pH test for the cream product resulted in a pH of 6. The pharmaceutical test explained that the cream was homogeneous, had a semi-solid form, had a distinctive odor, was brownish yellow in color and had a spreadability of 5.7 cm. The results showed that the combination of red ginger black pepper seed cream was effective in treating vitiligo with a T count value of 4.583> T table 2.131. In conclusion, there is a significant difference in the extent of vitiligo exposure to the skin before and after being given black pepper cream with red ginger combination. It is hoped that there will be further research to find out the content of black pepper and ginger which plays a role in treating vitiligo and it is hoped that the results of this study will be used as a mass-produced product and its benefits can be felt by the community, especially those with vitiligo.
Analisis Thermal Kolektor Pemanas Air Yang Dilengkapi PCM Parafin – Mentega
Authors: Firmansyah Adhe Reza , Muttaqin Aris Zainul , Triono Agus , Ilminnafik Nasrul
Published: December 2020

Kebutuhan energi semakin meningkat dengan adanya kemajuan teknologi, sehingga manusia berusaha untuk mengeksploitasi sumber energi secara maksimal. Oleh karena itu perlu inovasi baru untuk menggantikan sumber energi tersebut, salah satunya adalah penggunaan Phase Change Material (PCM) pada kolektor pemanas air. Pada penelitian ini PCM yang diguakan adalah parafin dengan penambahan mentega. Penambahan mentega pada parafin digunakan untuk meningkatkan konduktivitas termal dari PCM parafin. Tujuan penelitian ini untuk mengetahui karakteristik PCM dengan variasi campuran bahan yaitu mentega - parafin dan efisiensi kolektor pemanas air. Persentase campuran mentega dan parafin sebesar 10%, dan 20% dari volume total. Berdasarkan penelitian efisiensi tertinggi terdapat pada kolektor pemanas air yang dilengkapi PCM campuran parafin-mentega 20% sebesar 82,09%.
Development principles for preparing financial reporting in the context of digitalization
Authors: Dombrovskaya Elena
Published: December 2020

The information technology development and the digital economy have a significant impact on the business units’ information system. The impact has resulted in a significant increase in the amount of business data used. With increased information availability, development of new processing methods and algorithms, the approaches to financial reporting need to be adjusted and modified. All changes to the basic principles of financial reporting have been included in the new version of the Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting. It will come into force on January 1, 2020 for all business units developing their reporting policies under IFRS. The paper overviews the amendments and innovations introduced by the new version of this document. The Conceptual Framework dialectics has been reviewed based on all document versions since 1989. We analyzed the impact of digital technology on the transformation of accounting methods and principles and on the preparation of financial statements. The paper is of practical importance and helps to assess various areas of system development of the IFRS methodology in the context of digital economy.
COVID-19 and E-learning: challenges for Russian professors
Authors: Rozhkova Darya , Rozhkova Nadezhda
Published: December 2020

In recent years, the term E-learning has become widespread, meaning the process of learning in electronic form via the Internet or Intranet using learning management systems. We analyzed practical instruments that have been used in e-learning in Russia during the pandemic crisis of COVID-19 and students’ reaction. It is emphasized that the e-learning was obligatory for the introduction, which means that the professors and students mostly were not ready for such a decision. Both students and professors had to adapt to the new environment, find new ways of interaction and collaboration. Based on challenges, student’s attitude and perception of the e-learning process, we have shown findings of e-learning barrier factors (including personal perception and language skills). We have provided some practical ways to overcome barrier factors.
Adaptive Shell Spherical Reflector Actuated with PVDF-TrFE Thin Film Strain Actuators
Authors: Wang Kainan , Godfroid Thomas , Robert Damien , Preumont André
Published: December 2020

This paper discusses the design and manufacturing of a thin polymer spherical adaptive reflector of diameter D=200 mm, controlled by an array of 25 independent electrodes arranged in a keystone configuration actuating a thin film of PVDF-TrFE in d31-mode. The 5 μm layer of electrostrictive material is spray-coated. The results of the present study confirm that the active material can be modelled by a unidirectional quadratic model and that excellent properties can be achieved if the material is properly annealed. The experimental influence functions of the control electrodes are determined by a quasi-static harmonic technique; they are in good agreement with the numerical simulations and their better circular symmetry indicates a clear improvement in the manufacturing process, as compared to a previous study. The low order optical modes can be reconstructed by combining the 25 influence functions; a regularization technique is used to alleviate the ill-conditioning of the Jacobian and allow to approximate the optical modes with reasonable voltages.
Sugar Beet Shoot and Root Phenotypic Plasticity to Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium and Lime Omission
Authors: Hadir Sofia , Gaiser Thomas , Hüging Hubert , Athmann Miriam , Pfarr Daniel , Kemper Roman , Ewert Frank , Seidel Sabine
Published: December 2020

In low input agriculture, a thorough understanding of the plant-nutrient interactions plays a central role. This study aims to investigate the effects of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) and liming omission on shoot growth as well as on topsoil root biomass, growth and morphology (tuber and fibrous roots) of sugar beet grown under field conditions at the Dikopshof long-term fertilizer experiment (Germany). Classical shoot observation methods were combined with root morphology and link measurements using an image analysis program. Omission of the nutrients N, P and K as well as of liming led to a significant decrease in shoot growth. Tuber yield was lowest for the unfertilized and the K omission treatment. The root shoot ratio was highest in the N deficient treatment. In the K omission treatment, a strategic change from a less herringbone root type (early stage) to a more herringbone root type (late stage), which is more efficient for the acquisition of mobile nutrients, was observed. By contrast, a change from a more herringbone (early stage) to a less herringbone root type (late stage) which is less expensive to produce and maintain was observed in the unfertilized treatment. We conclude that sugar beet alters its root morphology as a nutrient acquisition strategy.
Equine Responses to Acceleration and Deceleration Cues May Reflect Their Exposure to Multiple Riders
Authors: McKenzie Jessica , Fenner Kate , Hyde Michelle , Anzulewicz Ashley , Burattini Bibiana , Romness Nicole , Wilson Bethany , McGreevy Paul
Published: December 2020

It is logical to assume that horses with multiple riders encounter variation in application of training cues. When training cues are inconsistent, we expect to see a decrease in trained responses or an increase in conflict behaviours. This study investigated the relationship between the number of people that regularly ride or handle a horse and the horse’s response to operant cues. Data on 1819 equids were obtained from the Equine Behavior Assessment and Research Questionnaire (E-BARQ), an online global survey of horse owners and caregivers. Three mutually independent indices (acceleration, deceleration, and responsiveness) were derived from a parallel analysis of E-BARQ items related to acceleration and deceleration cues. These indices were then subjected to multivariable modelling against a range of dependent variables including horse and human demographics, horse management, and the number of riders or handlers. The number of riders or handlers was a significant predictor for two out of three indices. As the number of riders or handlers increased, horses were more difficult to accelerate (regression coefficient = 0.0148 ± 0.0071; p = 0.0366) and less difficult to decelerate (regression coefficient = −0.017 ± 0.008; p = 0.030) than those with fewer riders or handlers. These findings suggest that horses’ responses to rein tension cues are more persistent than their responses to leg pressure or whip cues. Alternatively, horses with these responses may be actively selected for multiple rider roles. Longitudinal studies of this sort should reveal how the number of riders or handlers affects horse behaviour and could lead to safer and more humane equestrian practices.
Rapid Liquid Chromatography—Tandem Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Two Urinary Oxidative Stress Biomarkers: 8-oxodG and 8-isoprostane
Authors: Sambiagio Nicolas , Sauvain Jean-Jacques , Berthet Aurélie , Auer Reto , Schoeni Anna , Hopf Nancy B.
Published: December 2020

Human biomonitoring of oxidative stress relies on urinary effect biomarkers such as 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG), and 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (8-isoprostane); however, their levels reported for similar populations are inconsistent in the scientific literature. One of the reasons is the multitude of analytical methods with varying degrees of selectivity used to quantify these biomarkers. Single-analyte methods are often used, requiring multiple injections that increase both time and cost. We developed a rapid ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method to quantify both urinary biomarkers simultaneously. A reversed-phase column using a gradient consisting of 0.1% acetic acid in water and 0.1% acetic acid in methanol/acetonitrile (70:30) was used for separation. The MS detection was by positive (8-oxodG) and negative (8-isoprostane) ion-mode by multiple reaction monitoring. Very low limit of detection (<20 pg/mL), excellent linearity (R2 > 0.999), accuracy (near 100%), and precision (CV < 10%) both for intra-day and inter-day experiments were achieved, as well as high recovery rates (>91%). Matrix effects were observed but were compensated by using internal standards. Our newly developed method is applicable for biomonitoring studies as well as large epidemiological studies investigating the effect of oxidative damage, as it requires only minimal clean up using solid phase extraction.
Challenges and Opportunities of Light-Emitting Diode (LED) as Key to Modulate Antioxidant Compounds in Plants. A Review
Authors: Loi Martina , Villani Alessandra , Paciolla Francesco , Mulè Giuseppina , Paciolla Costantino
Published: December 2020

Plant antioxidants are important compounds involved in plant defense, signaling, growth, and development. The quantity and quality of such compounds is genetically driven; nonetheless, light is one of the factors that strongly influence their synthesis and accumulation in plant tissues. Indeed, light quality affects the fitness of the plant, modulating its antioxidative profile, a key element to counteract the biotic and abiotic stresses. With this regard, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are emerging as a powerful technology which allows the selection of specific wavelengths and intensities, and therefore the targeted accumulation of plant antioxidant compounds. Despite the unique advantages of such technology, LED application in the horticultural field is still at its early days and several aspects still need to be investigated. This review focused on the most recent outcomes of LED application to modulate the antioxidant compounds of plants, with particular regard to vitamin C, phenols, chlorophyll, carotenoids, and glucosinolates. Additionally, future challenges and opportunities in the use of LED technology in the growth and postharvest storage of fruits and vegetables were also addressed to give a comprehensive overview of the future applications and trends of research.
Mutual Information and Meta-Heuristic Classifiers Applied to Bearing Fault Diagnosis in Three-Phase Induction Motors
Authors: Bazan Gustavo Henrique , Goedtel Alessandro , Castoldi Marcelo Favoretto , Godoy Wagner Fontes , Duque-Perez Oscar , Morinigo-Sotelo Daniel
Published: December 2020

Three-phase induction motors are extensively used in industrial processes due to their robustness, adaptability to different operating conditions, and low operation and maintenance costs. Induction motor fault diagnosis has received special attention from industry since it can reduce process losses and ensure the reliable operation of industrial systems. Therefore, this paper presents a study on the use of meta-heuristic tools in the diagnosis of bearing failures in induction motors. The extraction of the fault characteristics is performed based on mutual information measurements between the stator current signals in the time domain. Then, the Artificial Bee Colony algorithm is used to select the relevant mutual information values and optimize the pattern classifier input data. To evaluate the classification accuracy under various levels of failure severity, the performance of two different pattern classifiers was compared: The C4.5 decision tree and the multi-layer artificial perceptron neural networks. The experimental results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Analysis of Meteorological Factor Multivariate Models for Medium- and Long-Term Photovoltaic Solar Power Forecasting Using Long Short-Term Memory
Authors: Son Namrye , Jung Mina
Published: December 2020

Solar power generation is an increasingly popular renewable energy topic. Photovoltaic (PV) systems are installed on buildings to efficiently manage energy production and consumption. Because of its physical properties, electrical energy is produced and consumed simultaneously; therefore solar energy must be predicted accurately to maintain a stable power supply. To develop an efficient energy management system (EMS), 22 multivariate numerical models were constructed by combining solar radiation, sunlight, humidity, temperature, cloud cover, and wind speed. The performance of the models was compared by applying a modified version of the traditional long short-term memory (LSTM) approach. The experimental results showed that the six meteorological factors influence the solar power forecast regardless of the season. These are, from most to least important: solar radiation, sunlight, wind speed, temperature, cloud cover, and humidity. The models are rated for suitability to provide medium- and long-term solar power forecasts, and the modified LSTM demonstrates better performance than the traditional LSTM.
Reducing Motion Blur in Ghost Imaging Via the Hessian Matrix
Authors: Chang Chen , Yang Dongyue , Wu Guohua , Luo Bin , Yin Longfei
Published: December 2020

Different from conventional imaging, ghost imaging (GI) is an indirect modality of imaging that needs multiple measurements of the second-order correlation of data collected from two detectors. In some particular cases, the exposure time of two detectors or the rotation speed of the ground glass may not meet the need of experimental condition, resulting in motion blur that reduces the quality of the reconstructed image. In this paper, we propose a method to solve this problem. By convolving the data from the reference arm with the Hessian matrix, the intensity of the light in the data is replaced by the gradient of intensity and the influence of the motion blur in the reconstructed image can be reduced.
A Pilot Experience with Software Programming Environments as a Service for Teaching Activities
Authors: Calatrava Arroyo Amanda , Ramos Montes Marcos , Segrelles Quilis J. Damian
Published: December 2020

Software programming is one of the key abilities for the development of Computational Thinking (CT) skills in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). However, specific software tools to emulate realistic scenarios are required for effective teaching. Unfortunately, these tools have some limitations in educational environments due to the need of an adequate configuration and orchestration, which usually assumes an unaffordable work overload for teachers and is inaccessible for students outside the laboratories. To mitigate the aforementioned limitations, we rely on cloud solutions that automate the process of orchestration and configuration of software tools on top of cloud computing infrastructures. This way, the paper presents ACTaaS as a cloud-based educational resource that deploys and orchestrates a whole realistic software programming environment. ACTaaS provides a simple, fast and automatic way to set up a professional integrated environment without involving an overload to the teacher, and it provides an ubiquitous access to the environment. The solution has been tested in a pilot group of 28 students. Currently, there is no tool like ACTaaS that allows such a high grade of automation for the deployment of software production environments focused on educational activities supporting a wide range of cloud providers. Preliminary results through a pilot group predict its effectiveness due to the efficiency to set up a class environment in minutes without overloading the teachers, and providing ubiquitous access to students. In addition, the first student opinions about the experience were greatly positive.
Performance Evaluation of High-Resolution Simulations with COSMO over South Italy
Authors: Bucchignani Edoardo , Mercogliano Paola
Published: December 2020

This study aims to assess the capabilities of a weather forecasting system based on simulations performed with the COSMO (COnsortium for Small-scale Modeling) model over a domain located in southern Italy, employing a spatial resolution of about 1 km, driven by ECMWF-IFS global data. The model is run daily at the Italian Aerospace Research Center (CIRA), and the evaluation was performed from January to May 2018 using a combination of observational data, specifically data provided by the CIRA meteorological station, wind profiler and ceilometer. Moreover, data provided by radio sounding located at Pratica di Mare and ground stations at two other locations were also used. A model configuration optimized through a tuning procedure over the domain considered was employed, while the evaluation was performed by comparing daily values of several variables and using standard monitoring indices. The results highlight that the model has good capability in reproducing daily values of temperature, while precipitation intensity is generally underestimated, even if rain patterns are well captured (alternating rainy and dry days). Good agreement is also reported for wind speed, especially at 100 and 500 m altitude. Regarding radio sounding data, the COSMO model configuration selected can reproduce the vertical profile of temperature and dew point, with the exception of inversion points. Evaluation against ceilometer data is achieved in terms of cloud height and planetary boundary layer height.
Statistical Characteristics and Environmental Conditions of the Warm-Season Severe Convective Events over North China
Authors: Ma Ruoyun , Feng Shuanglei , Jin Shuanglong , Sun Jianhua , Fu Shenming , Sun Shijun , Han Hong
Published: December 2020

Based on severe weather reports, surface precipitation observations, surface routine observations, and the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts ERA5 reanalysis dataset during the warm seasons (May–September) of 2011–2018 over North China, this paper analyzes the statistical characteristics and environmental conditions of three types of severe convective events. Results are compared between events with different altitudes (i.e., mountains and plains), severities (i.e., ordinary and significant), and months. Hail and thunderstorm high winds (THWs) are more common over the mountains whereas short-duration heavy rainfall (SDHR) is more frequent over the plains. The occurrence frequency of severe convective events exhibits distinct monthly and diurnal variations. Analyses of the environmental parameters provide reference for the potential forecasting of severe convective events over this region. Specifically, the 850–500 hPa temperature lapse rate (LR85), pseudo-equivalent potential temperature at 500 hPa (thetase500), and precipitable water (PW) are skillful in distinguishing hail and THW environments from SDHR environments, and thetase500 is useful in discriminating between hail and THW environments. The convective environments over the plains are characterized by significantly higher (lower) PW (LR85) compared with mountains. The skill of these parameters in forecasting the severity of the convective hazards is limited. Probability distributions in the two parameters space indicate that the occurrence of significant hail requires both higher most unstable convective available potential energy (MUCAPE) and stronger 0–6 km bulk wind shear (SHR6) compared with ordinary hail. Compared with ordinary THWs, the significant THWs over the mountains depend more on the SHR6 whereas those over the plains rely more on the MUCAPE. The significant SDHR events over the plains tend to occur under a variety of instability conditions. The thermodynamic parameters (i.e., MUCAPE, thetase500, and downdraft convective available potential energy), and PW are significantly higher in July–August, whereas the LR85 and vertical wind shear are apparently higher in May, June and September.
Road Traffic Dynamic Pollutant Emissions Estimation: From Macroscopic Road Information to Microscopic Environmental Impact
Authors: De Nunzio Giovanni , Laraki Mohamed , Thibault Laurent
Published: December 2020

Air pollution poses a major threat to health and climate, yet cities lack simple tools to quantify the costs and effects of their measures and assess those that are most effective in improving air quality. In this work, a complete modeling framework to estimate road traffic microscopic pollutant emissions from common macroscopic road and traffic information is proposed. A machine learning model to estimate driving behavior as a function of traffic conditions and road infrastructure is coupled with a physics-based microscopic emissions model. The up-scaling of the individual vehicle emissions to the traffic-level contribution is simply performed via a meta-model using both statistical vehicles fleet composition and traffic volume data. Validation results with real-world driving data show that: the driving behavior model is able to maintain an estimation error below 10% for relevant boundary parameter of the speed profiles (i.e., mean, initial, and final speed) on any road segment; the traffic microscopic emissions model is able to reduce the estimation error by more than 50% with respect to reference macroscopic models for major pollutants such as NOx and CO2. Such a high-resolution road traffic emissions model at the scale of every road segment in the network proves to be highly beneficial as a source for air quality models and as a monitoring tool for cities.
Evaluation and Expected Changes of Summer Precipitation at Convection Permitting Scale with COSMO-CLM over Alpine Space
Authors: Adinolfi Marianna , Raffa Mario , Reder Alfredo , Mercogliano Paola
Published: December 2020

There is an ongoing debate in the climate community about the benefits of convection-permitting models that explicitly resolve convection and other thermodynamical processes. An increasing number of studies show improvements in Regional Climate Model (RCM) performances when the grid spacing is increased to 1-km scale. Up until now, such studies have revealed that convection-permitting models confer significant advantages in representing orographic regions, producing high-order statistics, predicting events with small temporal and spatial scales, and representing convective organization. The focus of this work is on the analysis of summer precipitation over the Alpine space. More specifically, the driving data are downscaled using the RCM COSMO-CLM first at an intermediate resolution (12 km) over the European Domain of Coordinated Downscaling Experiment (EURO-CORDEX domain). Then, a further downscaling at 3 km, nested into the previous one, is performed over the Alpine domain to exploit the results over a complex orography context. Experiments of evaluation, historical and far future under the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) RCP8.5 scenario have been considered. Indices as mean precipitation, frequency, intensity, and heavy precipitation are employed in daily and hourly analyses. The results, observed from the analysis of 10 year-long simulations, provide preliminary indications, highlighting significant differences of the convection permitting simulations with respect to the driving one, especially at an hourly time scale. Moreover, future projections suggest that the convection permitting simulation refines and enhances the projected patterns, compared with the coarser resolution.
Epidemiological Forecasting with Model Reduction of Compartmental Models. Application to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Bakhta Athmane , Boiveau Thomas , Maday Yvon , Mula Olga
Published: December 2020

We propose a forecasting method for predicting epidemiological health series on a two-week horizon at regional and interregional resolution. The approach is based on the model order reduction of parametric compartmental models and is designed to accommodate small amounts of sanitary data. The efficiency of the method is shown in the case of the prediction of the number of infected people and people removed from the collected data, either due to death or recovery, during the two pandemic waves of COVID-19 in France, which took place approximately between February and November 2020. Numerical results illustrate the promising potential of the approach.
Inclusion of Hydroxycinnamic Acids in Methylated Cyclodextrins: Host-Guest Interactions and Effects on Guest Thermal Stability
Authors: Hunt Lee E. , Bourne Susan A. , Caira Mino R.
Published: December 2020

There is ongoing interest in exploiting the antioxidant activity and other medicinal properties of natural monophenolic/polyphenolic compounds, but their generally low aqueous solubility limits their applications. Numerous studies have been undertaken to solubilize such compounds via supramolecular derivatization with co-crystal formation with biocompatible coformer molecules and cyclodextrin (CD) complexation being two successful approaches. In this study, eight new crystalline products obtained by complexation between methylated cyclodextrins and the bioactive phenolic acids (ferulic, hydroferulic, caffeic, and p-coumaric acids) were investigated using thermal analysis (hot stage microscopy, thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry) and X-ray diffraction. All of the complexes crystallized as ternary systems containing the host CD, a phenolic acid guest, and water. On heating each complex, the primary thermal events were dehydration and liberation of the respective phenolic acid component, the mass loss for the latter step enabling determination of the host-guest stoichiometry. Systematic examination of the X-ray crystal structures of the eight complexes enabled their classification according to the extent of inclusion of each guest molecule within the cavity of its respective CD molecule. This revealed three CD inclusion compounds with full guest encapsulation, three with partial guest inclusion, and two that belong to the rare class of ‘non-inclusion’ compounds.
Rheumatoid Arthritis in the View of Osteoimmunology
Authors: Auréal Mélanie , Machuca-Gayet Irma , Coury Fabienne
Published: December 2020

Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by synovial inflammation and irreversible bone erosions, both highlighting the immense reciprocal relationship between the immune and bone systems, designed osteoimmunology two decades ago. Osteoclast-mediated resorption at the interface between synovium and bone is responsible for the articular bone erosions. The main triggers of this local bone resorption are autoantibodies directed against citrullinated proteins, as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines and the receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand, that regulate both the formation and activity of the osteoclast, as well as immune cell functions. In addition, local bone loss is due to the suppression of osteoblast-mediated bone formation and repair by inflammatory cytokines. Similarly, inflammation affects systemic bone remodeling in rheumatoid arthritis with the net increase in bone resorption, leading to systemic osteoporosis. This review summarizes the substantial progress that has been made in understanding the pathophysiology of systemic and local bone loss in rheumatoid arthritis.
Enzymatically Modified Fats Applied in Emulsions Stabilized by Polysaccharides
Authors: Woźniak Magdalena , Kowalska Małgorzata , Tavernier Serge , Żbikowska Anna
Published: December 2020

The subject of the study was emulsions based on enzymatically modified fats and stabilized with polysaccharides (xanthan gum and scleroglucan). Emulsion oil phases (blends of mutton tallow and hemp seed oil in a ratio of 3:1, 3:2, 3:3, 2:3 and 1:3) were characterized in the terms of acid value, melting point and mono- and diacylglycerols content before and after the modification. Emulsions containing modified fat blends and various amount (0.6, 0.8 and 1.0% w/w) of polysaccharides were investigated in the terms of their color, rheological properties, microstructure, droplet size and stability. The obtained results confirmed that enzymatic modification allowed to produce new fats, which can successfully be applied as an emulsion oil phases equipped with a sufficient amount of emulsifiers. The use of a variable amount of texture modifier in the proposed formulations did not show clear differences in the stability of the systems. Therefore, it does not seem justified to use greater amounts of a modifier (above 0.6% w/w) in this type of emulsions. The proposed formulations could be of interest to the cosmetics, food or pharmaceutical industry.
Common Challenges and Solutions Associated with the Preparation of Silicone-Injected Human Head and Neck Vessels for Anatomical Study
Authors: Çırak Musa , Yağmurlu Kaan , Soldozy Sauson , Norat Pedro , Shaffrey Mark E. , Kalani Mohammad Yashar S.
Published: December 2020

Neuroanatomy laboratory training is crucial for the education of neurosurgery residents and medical students. Since the brain is a complex and three-dimensional structure, it is challenging to understand the anatomical relationship of the cortex, internal structures, arteries, and veins without appropriate adjuncts. Several injection agents—including the inks/dyes, latex, polyester, acrylic resins, phenol, polyethylene glycol, and phenoxyethanol—have been explored. Colored silicon injection protocols for the head and neck vessels’ perfusion have greatly aided the study of neuroanatomy and surgical planning. This report presents a colored silicone injection method in detail, and also highlights the technical shortcomings of the standard techniques and workarounds for common challenges during 35 human cadaveric head injections. The human cadaveric head preparation and the coloring of the head vessels are divided into decapitation, tissue fixation with 10% formalin, the placement of the Silastic tubing into the parent vessels, the cleaning of the vessels from clots, and the injection of the colored silicone into the vessels. We describe the technical details of the preparation, injection, and preservation of cadaveric heads, and outline common challenges during colored silicone injection, which include the dislocation of the Silastic tubing during the injection, the injection of the wrong or inappropriate colored silicone into the vessel, intracranial vessel perforation, the incomplete silicone casting of the vessel, and silicone leakage from small vessels in the neck. Solutions to these common challenges are provided. Ethyl alcohol fixed, colored human heads provided the long-term preservation of tissue, and improve the sample consistency and preservation for the teaching of neuroanatomy and surgical technique.
A Bibliometric Insight of Genetic Factors in ASD: Emerging Trends and New Developments
Authors: Wang Kang , Duan Weicheng , Duan Yijie , Yu Yuxin , Chen Xiuyi , Xu Yinhui , Chen Haihong , Huang Hongzhi , Xiong Bo
Published: December 2020

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) cases have increased rapidly in recent decades, which is associated with various genetic abnormalities. To provide a better understanding of the genetic factors in ASD, we assessed the global scientific output of the related studies. A total of 2944 studies published between 1997 and 2018 were included by systematic retrieval from the Web of Science (WoS) database, whose scientific landscapes were drawn and the tendencies and research frontiers were explored through bibliometric methods. The United States has been acting as a leading explorer of the field worldwide in recent years. The rapid development of high-throughput technologies and bioinformatics transferred the research method from the traditional classic method to a big data-based pipeline. As a consequence, the focused research area and tendency were also changed, as the contribution of de novo mutations in ASD has been a research hotspot in the past several years and probably will remain one into the near future, which is consistent with the current opinions of the major etiology of ASD. Therefore, more attention and financial support should be paid to the deciphering of the de novo mutations in ASD. Meanwhile, the effective cooperation of multi-research centers and scientists in different fields should be advocated in the next step of scientific research undertaken.
Oscillatory EEG Signatures of Affective Processes during Interaction with Adaptive Computer Systems
Authors: Vukelić Mathias , Lingelbach Katharina , Pollmann Kathrin , Peissner Matthias
Published: December 2020

Affect monitoring is being discussed as a novel strategy to make adaptive systems more user-oriented. Basic knowledge about oscillatory processes and functional connectivity underlying affect during naturalistic human–computer interactions (HCI) is, however, scarce. This study assessed local oscillatory power entrainment and distributed functional connectivity in a close-to-naturalistic HCI-paradigm. Sixteen participants interacted with a simulated assistance system which deliberately evoked positive (supporting goal-achievement) and negative (impeding goal-achievement) affective reactions. Electroencephalography (EEG) was used to examine the reactivity of the cortical system during the interaction by studying both event-related (de-)synchronization (ERD/ERS) and event-related functional coupling of cortical networks towards system-initiated assistance. Significantly higher α-band and β-band ERD in centro-parietal and parieto-occipital regions and β-band ERD in bi-lateral fronto-central regions were observed during impeding system behavior. Supportive system behavior activated significantly higher γ-band ERS in bi-hemispheric parietal-occipital regions. This was accompanied by functional coupling of remote β-band and γ-band activity in the medial frontal, left fronto-central and parietal regions, respectively. Our findings identify oscillatory signatures of positive and negative affective processes as reactions to system-initiated assistance. The findings contribute to the development of EEG-based neuroadaptive assistance loops by suggesting a non-obtrusive method for monitoring affect in HCI.
A Within-Sample Comparison of Two Innovative Neuropsychological Tests for Assessing ADHD
Authors: Baader Anna , Kiani Behnaz , Brunkhorst-Kanaan Nathalie , Kittel-Schneider Sarah , Reif Andreas , Grimm Oliver
Published: December 2020

New innovative neuropsychological tests in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD have been proposed as objective measures for diagnosis and therapy. The current study aims to investigate two different commercial continuous performance tests (CPT) in a head-to-head comparison regarding their comparability and their link with clinical parameters. The CPTs were evaluated in a clinical sample of 29 adult patients presenting in an ADHD outpatient clinic. Correlational analyses were performed between neuropsychological data, clinical rating scales, and a personality-based measure. Though inattention was found to positively correlate between the two tests (r = 0.49, p = 0.01), no association with clinical measures and inattention was found for both tests. While hyperactivity did not correlate between both tests, current ADHD symptoms were positively associated with Nesplora Aquarium’s motor activity (r = 0.52 to 0.61, p < 0.05) and the Qb-Test’s hyperactivity (r = 0.52 to 0.71, p < 0.05). Conclusively, the overall comparability of the tests was limited and correlation with clinical parameters was low. While our study shows some interesting correlation between clinical symptoms and sub-scales of these tests, usage in clinical practice is not recommended.
Vibrations Induced by Mechanical Rock Excavation on R.C. Buildings in an Urban Area
Authors: Leggieri Valeria , di Lernia Annamaria , Elia Gaetano , Raffaele Domenico , Uva Giuseppina
Published: December 2020

The paper describes the numerical approach adopted to investigate the effects of vibrations induced on reinforced concrete (R.C.) buildings by the excavation works needed to bury an existing railway line crossing an urban area in the south of Italy. The construction works are carried out in dolomitic rocks, characterized by a high resistance to excavation. Therefore, they may have a great impact on the surrounding environment in terms of induced vibrations. The study is conducted through an uncoupled approach, investigating the dynamic response of the geotechnical system and the above-surface structure, separately. The impulse force equivalent to the dynamic action of a breaker hammer is used as input motion for 2D finite element (FE) geotechnical simulations of the wave propagation process occurring during the excavation. Then, the acceleration time histories obtained from the geotechnical analyses are adopted to study the dynamic performance of an “index” R.C. building, representing the most recurrent structural typology in the examined area, through a 3D FE model. The results show how the adoption of a mitigation strategy consisting in the execution of a preliminary vertical cut followed by a rock crushing treatment allows to significantly reduce the vibrations induced by the excavation processes on existing buildings.
Impact of Advanced Age on the Clinical Presentation and Outcome of Sporadic Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma
Authors: Matrone Antonio , Gambale Carla , Prete Alessandro , Piaggi Paolo , Cappagli Virginia , Bottici Valeria , Romei Cristina , Ciampi Raffaele , Torregrossa Liborio , De Napoli Luigi , Molinaro Eleonora , Materazzi Gabriele , Basolo Fulvio , Elisei Rossella
Published: December 2020

Sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a rare malignancy with a heterogeneous clinical course. Several potential prognostic factors have been investigated, but the impact of some of these is controversial, such as age at diagnosis. We evaluated the data of 432 sporadic MTC patients followed-up for a median of 7.4 years. Patients were divided and compared according to their age at diagnosis in group A (<65 years—n = 338, 78.2%) and group B (≥65 years—n = 94, 21.8%). No differences were detected between the two groups. Median follow-up time was significantly longer in patients <65 than ≥65 years. We observed 41 (9.5%) cancer-related death events. The death rate was similar between the two age groups. However, the Kaplan Meier curve showed a longer survival time for younger patients compared to older patients [HR 2.5 (CI 95%: 1.27–4.94), p < 0.01]. Nevertheless, no differences in the aggressiveness of the disease at presentation and in the number and type of treatments performed were found in the two subgroups of dead patients. In patients with sporadic MTC, age at diagnosis did not correlate with any clinical and pathological features. Cancer-related death events are similar in older and younger patients, but survival time is longer in the younger.
Comment on Katsarelias, D., et al. “The Effect of Beta-Adrenergic Blocking Agents in Cutaneous Melanoma—A Nation-Wide Swedish Population-Based Retrospective Register Study” Cancers 2020, 12, 3228
Authors: de Giorgi Vincenzo , Trane Luciana , Venturi Federico , Silvestri Flavia , Scarfì Federica , Gandini Sara
Published: December 2020

We read the paper by Katsarelias et al. with great interest, regarding the effect of beta-adrenergic blocking agents on cutaneous melanoma [1]. However, the study presents some methodology biases that do not allow us to support the authors’ conclusions. The paper suffers from the unification and evaluation of multiple registries, which do not provide essential data for any of the targets for research. Unlike studies in the literature [...]