bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Anthocyanin-Rich Extract of Sour Cherry for Hyperglycemia-Induced Inflammatory Response and Impaired Endothelium-Dependent Vasodilation
Authors: Markovics Arnold , Biró Attila , Kun-Nemes Andrea , Fazekas Mónika Éva , Rácz Anna Anita , Paholcsek Melinda , Lukács János , Stündl László , Remenyik Judit
Published: November 2020

Diabetes mellitus (DM)-related morbidity and mortality are steadily rising worldwide, affecting about half a billion people worldwide. A significant proportion of diabetic cases are in the elderly, which is concerning given the increasing aging population. Proper nutrition is an important component in the effective management of diabetes in the elderly. A plethora of active substances of plant origin exhibit potency to target the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus. The nutraceutical and pharmaceutical effects of anthocyanins have been extensively studied. In this study, the effect of Hungarian sour cherry, which is rich in anthocyanins, on hyperglycemia-induced endothelial dysfunction was tested using human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). HUVECs were maintained under both normoglycemic (5 mM) and hyperglycemic (30 mM) conditions with or without two concentrations (1.50 ng/µL) of anthocyanin-rich sour cherry extract. Hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress and inflammatory response and damaged vasorelaxation processes were investigated by evaluating the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and gene expression of four proinflammatory cytokines, namely, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and interleukin-1α (IL-1α), as well as the gene expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) endothelin-1 (ET-1) and endothelin-converting enzyme-1 (ECE-1). It was found that hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress was significantly suppressed by anthocyanin-rich sour cherry extract in a concentration-dependent manner. The gene expression of the tested proinflammatory cytokines increased under hyperglycemic conditions but was significantly reduced by both 1 and 50 ng/µL anthocyanin-rich sour cherry extract. Further, although increased ET-1 and ECE-1 expression due to hyperglycemia was reduced by anthocyanin-rich sour cherry extract, NOS expression was increased by the extract. Collectively, these data suggest that anthocyanin-rich sour cherry extract could alleviate hyperglycemia-induced endothelial dysfunction due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and vasorelaxant effects.
Enhancing the Solubility of Curcumin Using a Solid Dispersion System with Hydroxypropyl-β-Cyclodextrin Prepared by Grinding, Freeze-Drying, and Common Solvent Evaporation Methods
Authors: Mai Nguyen Ngoc Sao , Nakai Riko , Kawano Yayoi , Hanawa Takehisa
Published: November 2020

Cyclodextrins (CDs) and their derivatives significantly increase drug solubility by forming drug/CD complexes known as solid dispersions (SDs), which consist of an inclusion complex (IC), where the drug is entrapped within the CD cavity, and a non-IC. Here, the SDs of curcumin (CUR) and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) were prepared using the grinding, freeze-drying (FD), and common solvent evaporation (CSE) methods and were physicochemically characterized using solubility, powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared, differential scanning calorimetry, and dissolution studies. The second or higher order complex of CUR-HPβCD indicated the co-existence of ICs and non-ICs known as the SD system. When comparing the soluble drug amount with CUR crystals, the solubility of SDs was enhanced by up to 299-, 180-, and 489-fold, corresponding to the ground mixtures (GMs), freeze-drying mixtures (FDs), and common solvent evaporation mixtures (CSEs), respectively. The total transformation into the amorphous phase of CUR was observed in GMs and in CSE12, CSE14, and CSE18. The drug was well dispersed within HPβCD in GMs and CSEs, suggesting the formation of hydrogen bonds between CUR and HPβCD, whereas the dispersed behavior of FDs was similar to that of physical mixtures. In SDs, the melting temperature of CUR was in an increased order of CUR in 1:2 ICs, CUR in 1:1 ICs, and CUR crystals. The dissolution rate of CUR was positively improved as the amount of HPβCD in SDs increased. The SD system consisting of CUR and HPβCD significantly increased the drug solubility compared to ICs.
Ecotoxicological Effects of Ibuprofen on Plant Growth of Vigna unguiculata L.
Authors: Wijaya Leonard , Alyemeni Mohammed , Ahmad Parvaiz , Alfarhan Ahmed , Barcelo Damia , El-Sheikh Mohamed A. , Pico Yolanda
Published: November 2020

Despite the prevalence of the common pharmaceutical ibuprofen (IBU) in water and sediments worldwide, the effects of IBU on plants are largely unknown. This study was designed to assess the ecotoxicological effects of emerging pharmaceutical pollutant IBU on plant growth and development in a series of toxicity experiments using cowpea (Vigna unguiculata). Plant growth parameters (morphological and physicochemical) were investigated under a series of IBU concentrations (0, 400, 800, 1200, 1600, 2000 ppm IBU). IBU exposure reduced the shoot and root lengths, fresh and dry weights, leaf area, and chlorophyll a and b, carotenoid, total chlorophyll, mineral (K and Mg), glutathione reductase, and soluble protein contents. Simultaneously, increases in Ca and Mn contents, sodium translocation from roots to shoots, H2O2, malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and IBU uptake were observed. The amount of bioaccumulated IBU varied between 7% and 8%. IBU was translocated from roots to shoots with a translocation factor of 3–16%. The IC50 values for biomass and plant length were 1253 and 1955 ppm IBU, respectively, which is much higher than the reported levels of IBU in the environment. This study demonstrates that cowpea plants develop several morphological and physicochemical adaptations to cope under ibuprofen stress; environmentally relevant concentrations of IBU are unlikely to produce negative impacts.
Polysaccharide Extracted from Bletilla striata Promotes Proliferation and Migration of Human Tenocytes
Authors: Chen Zhi-Yu , Chen Shih-Heng , Chen Chih-Hao , Chou Pang-Yun , Yang Chun-Chen , Lin Feng-Huei
Published: November 2020

Tendon healing after injury is relatively slow, mainly because of the weak activity and metabolic properties of tendon cells (tenocytes). Bletilla striata polysaccharide (BSP) has been reported to enhance cell proliferation. Here, we aimed to increase tendon cell proliferation by BSP treatment. We isolated tenocytes from the flexor tendon of human origin. Moreover, we improved the process of extracting BSP. When human tenocytes (HTs) were treated with 100 μg/mL BSP, the MEK/ERK1/2 and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways were activated, thereby enhancing the proliferation ability of tenocytes. BSP treatment also increased the migration of HTs and their ability to secrete the extracellular matrix (Col-I and Col-III). In conclusion, BSP was successfully extracted from a natural Chinese herbal extract and was shown to enhance tenocytes proliferation, migration and collagen release ability. This study is the first to demonstrate improved healing of tendons using BSP.
Unravelling the Phases of Melamine Formaldehyde Resin Cure by Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Multivariate Curve Resolution (MCR)
Authors: Weiss Stephanie , Seidl Regina , Kessler Waltraud , Kessler Rudolf W. , Zikulnig-Rusch Edith M. , Kandelbauer Andreas
Published: November 2020

Here, we study resin cure and network formation of solid melamine formaldehyde pre-polymer over a large temperature range via dynamic temperature curing profiles. Real-time infrared spectroscopy is used to analyze the chemical changes during network formation and network hardening. By applying chemometrics (multivariate curve resolution, MCR), the essential chemical functionalities that constitute the network at a given stage of curing are mathematically extracted and tracked over time. The three spectral components identified by MCR were methylol-rich, ether linkages-rich and methylene linkages-rich resin entities. Based on dynamic changes of their characteristic spectral patterns in dependence of temperature, curing is divided into five phases: (I) stationary phase with free methylols as main chemical feature, (II) formation of flexible network cross-linked by ether linkages, (III) formation of rigid, ether-cross-linked network, (IV) further hardening via transformation of methylols and ethers into methylene-cross-linkages, and (V) network consolidation via transformation of ether into methylene bridges. The presented spectroscopic/chemometric approach can be used as methodological basis for the functionality design of MF-based surface films at the stage of laminate pressing, i.e., for tailoring the technological property profile of cured MF films using a causal understanding of the underlying chemistry based on molecular markers and spectroscopic fingerprints.
The Transferability and Design of Commercial Printer Settings in PLA/PBAT Fused Filament Fabrication
Authors: Wang Sisi , D’hooge Dagmar R. , Daelemans Lode , Xia Hesheng , Clerck Karen De , Cardon Ludwig
Published: November 2020

In many fused filament fabrication (FFF) processes, commercial printers are used, but rarely are printer settings transferred from one commercial printer to the other to give similar final tensile part performance. Here, we report such translation going from the Felix 3.0 to Prusa i3 MK3 printer by adjusting the flow rate and overlap of strands, utilizing an in-house developed blend of polylactic acid (PLA) and poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT). We perform a sensitivity analysis for the Prusa printer, covering variations in nozzle temperature, nozzle diameter, layer thickness, and printing speed (Tnozzle, dnozzle, LT, and vprint), aiming at minimizing anisotropy and improving interlayer bonding. Higher mass, larger width, and thickness are obtained with larger dnozzle, lower vprint, higher LT, and higher Tnozzle. A higher vprint results in less tensile strain at break, but it remains at a high strain value for samples printed with dnozzle equal to 0.5 mm. vprint has no significant effect on the tensile modulus and tensile and impact strength of the samples. If LT is fixed, an increased dnozzle is beneficial for the tensile strength, ductility, and impact strength of the printed sample due to better bonding from a wider raster structure, while an increased LT leads to deterioration of mechanical properties. If the ratio dnozzle/LT is greater than 2, a good tensile performance is obtained. An improved Tnozzle leads to a sufficient flow of material, contributing to the performance of the printed device. The considerations brought forward result in a deeper understanding of the FFF process and offer guidance about parameter selection. The optimal dnozzle/vprint/LT/Tnozzle combination is 0.5 mm/120 mm s−1/0.15 mm/230 °C.
Equilibrium, Kinetic and Thermodynamic Studies for Sorption of Phosphate from Aqueous Solutions Using ZnO Nanoparticles
Authors: Do Tra Huong , Nguyen Van Tu , Nguyen Quoc Dung , Chu Manh Nhuong , Ngo Thi Cam Quyen , Tan Lam Van
Published: November 2020

In this study, ZnO nanoparticles were fabricated by using the hydrothermal method for adsorption of phosphate from wastewater. The obtained ZnO nanorods were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), specific surface area (BET) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The ZnO materials were applied for adsorption of phosphate from water using batch experiments. The effects of pH (4–10), adsorption time (30–240 min), the amount of adsorbent (0.1–0.7 g/L) and initial concentration of phosphate (147.637–466.209 mg/L) on the adsorption efficiency were investigated. The optimum condition was found at pH = 5 and at an adsorption time of 150 min. The adsorption was fitted well with the Langmuir isotherm and the maximum adsorption capacity was calculated to be 769.23 mg/g. These results show that ZnO nanomaterial would highly promising for adsorbing phosphate from water. The adsorption of phosphate on ZnO nanomaterials follows the isothermal adsorption model of Langmuir, Tempkin and Freundlich with single-layer adsorption. There is weak interaction between the adsorbent and the adsorbate. Phosphate adsorption of the ZnO nanomaterials follows Lagergren’s apparent second-order kinetic model and was spontaneous and exothermic.
Performance Evaluation of Biodiesel Produced from Waste Tire Pyrolytic Oil as a Lubricant Additive in Oil Drilling Systems
Authors: Okoro Emmanuel E. , Iwuajoku Sandra , Sanni Samuel E.
Published: November 2020

This study investigates the performance of biodiesel produced from distilled waste tire pyrolytic oil through transesterification as a lubricant additive for aqueous drilling fluid systems. Aqueous-based drilling fluids have a high coefficient of friction as compared to oil-based drilling fluids. The inclusion of a biodiesel additive was for smooth application/operation. The friction-reducing physicochemical properties of the additive were analyzed and compared with the guidelinesof the United States specification (ASTM Standard) and the European specification (EN Standard). The chemical structure of the produced biodiesel was analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results show that the distilled waste tire pyrolytic oil contains aliphatic, naphthenic, and aromatic hydrocarbons. The free fatty acid value reduced from 5.6% (for pyrolytic oil) to 0.64% after the transesterification process. A saponification value of 203.36 mg/g was recorded for the pyrolytic oil, and this value was also reduced to 197.35 mg/g after the transesterification process. The kinematic viscosity was reduced from 11.2 to 5.3 mm2/s for the obtained biodiesel, and this value is within the ASTM D6751 and EN 14214 standard values (1.9 to 6 and 3.5 to 5 mm2/s, respectively). The cetane number (47.75) was obtained for the biodiesel, and this is within the minimum range stipulated in ASTM D6751 guidelines. The produced biodiesel’s chemical structure analysis using GC-MS shows that it comprises of decanoic acid methyl ester and methyl ester. Furthermore, comparative analysis of the quantified friction-reducing physicochemical properties of the additive shows that the biodiesel produced from the distilled pyrolytic oil is a suitable additive for the improved lubrication of the friction-prone metallic parts of drill bits when water-based drilling fluids are employed for drilling oil and gas wells.
The Lavic Lake Fault: A Long-Term Cumulative Slip Analysis via Combined Field Work and Thermal Infrared Hyperspectral Airborne Remote Sensing
Authors: Witkosky Rebecca A. , Stock Joann M. , Tratt David M. , Buckland Kerry N. , Adams Paul M. , Johnson Patrick D. , Lynch David K. , Sousa Francis J.
Published: November 2020

The 1999 Hector Mine earthquake ruptured to the surface in eastern California, with >5 m peak right-lateral slip on the Lavic Lake fault. The cumulative offset and geologic slip rate of this fault are not well defined, which inhibits tectonic reconstructions and risk assessment of the Eastern California Shear Zone (ECSZ). With thermal infrared hyperspectral airborne imagery, field data, and auxiliary information from legacy geologic maps, we created lithologic maps of the area using supervised and unsupervised classifications of the remote sensing imagery. We optimized a data processing sequence for supervised classifications, resulting in lithologic maps over a test area with an overall accuracy of 71 ± 1% with respect to ground-truth geologic mapping. Using all of the data and maps, we identified offset bedrock features that yield piercing points along the main Lavic Lake fault and indicate a 1036 +27/−26 m net slip, with 1008 +14/−17 m horizontal and 241 +51/−47 m vertical components. For the contribution from distributed shear, modern off-fault deformation values from another study imply a larger horizontal slip component of 1276 +18/−22 m. Within the constraints, we estimate a geologic slip rate of <4 mm/yr, which does not increase the sum geologic Mojave ECSZ rate to current geodetic values. Our result supports previous suggestions that transient tectonic activity in this area may be responsible for the discrepancy between long-term geologic and present-day geodetic rates.
Flood Hazard and Risk Assessment of Extreme Weather Events Using Synthetic Aperture Radar and Auxiliary Data: A Case Study
Authors: Gebremichael Esayas , Molthan Andrew L. , Bell Jordan R. , Schultz Lori A. , Hain Christopher
Published: November 2020

The Greater Houston metropolitan area has experienced recurring flooding events in the past two decades related to tropical cyclones and heavy inland rainfall. With the projected recurrence of severe weather events, an approach that outlines the susceptibility of different localities within the study area to potential floods based on analyses of the impacts from earlier events would be beneficial. We applied a novel C-band Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)-based flood detection method to map floodwater distribution following three recent severe weather events with the goal of identifying areas that are prone to future flood hazards. Attempts were made to calibrate and validate the C-band-based results and analyses to compensate for possible sources of error. These included qualitative and quantitative assessments on L-band aerial SAR data, as well as aerial imagery acquired after one of the events. The findings included the following: (1) most urban centers of Harris county, with few exceptions, are not believed to be prone to flooding hazards in contrast to the densely populated areas on the outskirts of Harris county; (2) nearly 44% of the mapped flood-prone areas lie within a 1 km distance of major drainage networks; (3) areas experiencing high subsidence rates have persistently experienced flooding, possibly exacerbated by morphological changes to the land surface induced by subsidence.
Remote Sensing of Burn Severity Using Coupled Radiative Transfer Model: A Case Study on Chinese Qinyuan Pine Fires
Authors: Yin Changming , He Binbin , Quan Xingwen , Yebra Marta , Lai Gengke
Published: November 2020

Burn severity mapping is critical to quantifying fire impact on key ecological processes and post-fire forest management. Satellite remote sensing has the advantages of high spatial-temporal resolution and large-scale monitoring and provides a more efficient way to evaluate forest fire burn severity than traditional field or aerial surveys. However, the proportion of tree canopy cover (TCC) affects the spectral signal received by remote sensing sensors from the background charcoal and ash. Consequently, not considering this factor normally leads a spectral confusion in burn severity retrieval. In this study, the burn severity of two Qinyuan forest fires was estimated using a coupled Radiative Transfer Model (RTM) and Sentinel-2A Multi-Spectral Instrument (MSI) reflectance data. A two-layer Canopy Reflectance Model (ACRM) RTM was coupled with the GeoSail RTM by replacing the spectra of the background input of GeoSail RTM to simulate the spectra of the three-layered forests for burn severity retrieval measured as the Composite Burn Index (CBI). The TCC data was then served to RTM parameterization and constrain the backward inversion procedure of the coupled RTM to alleviate spectral confusion. Finally, the inversion retrievals were evaluated using 163 field measured CBI. The coupled RTM can simulate the radiative transfer characteristics of three-layer vegetation and has greater potential to accurately estimate burn severity worldwide. To evaluate the merit of our proposed method, the CBI was estimated through coupled RTM inversion with TCC constraint (CP_RTM+TCC), coupled RTM inversion with global optimal search (CP-RTM+GOS), Forest Reflectance and Transmittance (FRT) RTM inversion with TCC constraint (FRT+TCC), and random forest (RF) algorithm. The results showed that the method proposed in this study (CP_RTM+TCC) yielded the highest estimation accuracy (R2 = 0.92, RMSE = 0.2) among the four methods used as benchmark, indicating its reasonable ability to assist forest managers to better understand post-fire vegetation regeneration and forest management.
Apple Tree Branch Information Extraction from Terrestrial Laser Scanning and Backpack-LiDAR
Authors: Zhang Chengjian , Yang Guijun , Jiang Youyi , Xu Bo , Li Xiao , Zhu Yaohui , Lei Lei , Chen Riqiang , Dong Zhen , Yang Hao
Published: November 2020

The branches of fruit trees provide support for the growth of leaves, buds, flowers, fruits, and other organs. The number and length of branches guarantee the normal growth, flowering, and fruiting of fruit trees and are thus important indicators of tree growth and yield. However, due to their low height and the high number of branches, the precise management of fruit trees lacks a theoretical basis and data support. In this paper, we introduce a method for extracting topological and structural information on fruit tree branches based on LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) point clouds and proved its feasibility for the study of fruit tree branches. The results show that based on Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS), the relative errors of branch length and number are 7.43% and 12% for first-order branches, and 16.75% and 9.67% for second-order branches. The accuracy of total branch information can reach 15.34% and 2.89%. We also evaluated the potential of backpack-LiDAR by comparing field measurements and quantitative structural models (QSMs) evaluations of 10 sample trees. This comparison shows that in addition to the first-order branch information, the information about other orders of branches is underestimated to varying degrees. The root means square error (RMSE) of the length and number of the first-order branches were 3.91 and 1.30 m, and the relative root means square error (NRMSE) was 14.62% and 11.96%, respectively. Our work represents the first automated classification of fruit tree branches, which can be used in support of precise fruit tree pruning, quantitative forecast of yield, evaluation of fruit tree growth, and the modern management of orchards.
Correction: Kolbe, C., et al. Precipitation Retrieval over the Tibetan Plateau from the Geostationary Orbit—Part 2: Precipitation Rates with Elektro-L2 and Insat-3D. Remote Sensing 2020, 12, 2114
Authors: Kolbe Christine , Thies Boris , Turini Nazli , Liu Zhiyu , Bendix Jörg
Published: November 2020

The authors wish to make the following corrections to this paper [...]
An Agave Counting Methodology Based on Mathematical Morphology and Images Acquired through Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Authors: Calvario Gabriela , Alarcón Teresa E. , Dalmau Oscar , Sierra Basilio , Hernandez Carmen
Published: November 2020

Blue agave is an important commercial crop in Mexico, and it is the main source of the traditional mexican beverage known as tequila. The variety of blue agave crop known as Tequilana Weber is a crucial element for tequila agribusiness and the agricultural economy in Mexico. The number of agave plants in the field is one of the main parameters for estimating production of tequila. In this manuscript, we describe a mathematical morphology-based algorithm that addresses the agave automatic counting task. The proposed methodology was applied to a set of real images collected using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle equipped with a digital Red-Green-Blue (RGB) camera. The number of plants automatically identified in the collected images was compared to the number of plants counted by hand. Accuracy of the proposed algorithm depended on the size heterogeneity of plants in the field and illumination. Accuracy ranged from 0.8309 to 0.9806, and performance of the proposed algorithm was satisfactory.
Measurement of Electrical Discharge Machining Oil Quality by Analyzing Variations in the Equivalent Relative Permittivity of the Capacitive Sensor
Authors: Chen Shih-Jui , Chen Yi-Li , Chang Yu-Jui , Chuang Dong-Lin , Chen Yi-Chun , Tsui Hai-Ping , Hwang Yean-Ren
Published: November 2020

In this study, a concentration monitoring system was successfully developed. A sensor was immersed in electrical discharge machining oil, and the capacitance of the sensor changed as a function of the impurity concentration. Thus, DC voltage variations were produced via a conversion circuit. Carbon black and iron particles with different concentrations were successfully characterized. The capacitance increments were positively correlated with the particle concentration. The linear fitting results based on the impurity concentration were used to express the degree of influence of particles with different weight percentage concentrations on the increase in the overall capacitance value. An equivalent medium theory model was then developed according to the electrical characteristics of the impurities to predict different particle volume percentages.
Evaluation of Dust Deposition on Parabolic Trough Collectors in the Visible and Infrared Spectrum
Authors: Usamentiaga Rubén , Fernández Alberto , Carús Juan Luis
Published: November 2020

Solar energy is mostly harnessed in arid areas where a high concentration of atmospheric dust represents a major environmental degradation factor. Gravitationally settled particles and other solid particles on the surface of the photovoltaic panels or thermal collectors greatly reduce the absorbed solar energy. Therefore, frequent cleaning schedules are required, consuming high quantities of water in regions where water precipitation is rare. The efficiency of this cleaning maintenance is greatly improved when methods to estimate the degree of cleanness are introduced. This work focuses on the need for better detecting the degradation created by dust deposition, considering experimental data based on different air pollutants, and analyzing the resulting thermal and visible signatures under different operating environments. Experiments are performed using six different types of pollutants applied to the surface of parabolic trough collectors while varying the pollutant density. The resulting reflectivity in the visible and infrared spectrum is calculated and compared. Results indicate that the pollutants can be distinguished, although the reflectivity greatly depends on the combination of the particle size of the pollutant and the applied amount, with greater impact from pollutants with small particles.
Feature Analysis of Smart Shoe Sensors for Classification of Gait Patterns
Authors: Sunarya Unang , Sun Hariyani Yuli , Cho Taeheum , Roh Jongryun , Hyeong Joonho , Sohn Illsoo , Kim Sayup , Park Cheolsoo
Published: November 2020

Gait analysis is commonly used to detect foot disorders and abnormalities such as supination, pronation, unstable left foot and unstable right foot. Early detection of these abnormalities could help us to correct the walking posture and avoid getting injuries. This paper presents extensive feature analyses on smart shoes sensor data, including pressure sensors, accelerometer and gyroscope signals, to obtain the optimum combination of the sensors for gait classification, which is crucial to implement a power-efficient mobile smart shoes system. In addition, we investigated the optimal length of data segmentation based on the gait cycle parameters, reduction of the feature dimensions and feature selection for the classification of the gait patterns. Benchmark tests among several machine learning algorithms were conducted using random forest, k-nearest neighbor (KNN), logistic regression and support vector machine (SVM) algorithms for the classification task. Our experiments demonstrated the combination of accelerometer and gyroscope sensor features with SVM achieved the best performance with 89.36% accuracy, 89.76% precision and 88.44% recall. This research suggests a new state-of-the-art gait classification approach, specifically on detecting human gait abnormalities.
Determining Factors of Innovative Performance: Case Studies in Extremaduran Agri-Food Companies
Authors: Corchuelo Martínez-Azúa Beatriz , López-Salazar Pedro Eugenio , Sama-Berrocal Celia
Published: November 2020

The agri-food industry plays an important role in the manufacturing industry in the Autonomous Community of Extremadura (Spain). The main objective of this study is to identify which business factors influence the success of the innovative performance in this regional industry. We proposed a novel theoretical model in which we analyzed the effect of six business variables. Using a multiple-case study, five in-depth interviews were carried out to measure the level of importance that managers gave to each of the variables. The study validated the proposed model in which all the contrasted variables (Management, Strategy, Structure, Culture, Climate, and Market Orientation) had a great weight for the achievement of the innovative performance. The study contributes to the promotion of the capacities and competences of the agri-food companies’ managers for the development of innovative activities favoring the knowledge, the external visibility, and the competitiveness of the companies. It is also useful for Public Administrations when developing policies to promote and encourage innovation in a sector of vital importance in the rural and regional development of this Spanish region.
COVID-19 Pandemic Severity, Lockdown Regimes, and People’s Mobility: Early Evidence from 88 Countries
Authors: Rahman Md. Mokhlesur , Thill Jean-Claude , Paul Kamal Chandra
Published: November 2020

This study empirically investigates the complex interplay between the severity of the coronavirus pandemic, mobility changes in retail and recreation, transit stations, workplaces, and residential areas, and lockdown measures in 88 countries around the world during the early phase of the pandemic. To conduct the study, data on mobility patterns, socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of people, lockdown measures, and coronavirus pandemic were collected from multiple sources (e.g., Google, UNDP, UN, BBC, Oxford University, Worldometer). A Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) framework is used to investigate the direct and indirect effects of independent variables on dependent variables considering the intervening effects of mediators. Results show that lockdown measures have significant effects to encourage people to maintain social distancing so as to reduce the risk of infection. However, pandemic severity and socioeconomic and institutional factors have limited effects to sustain social distancing practice. The results also explain that socioeconomic and institutional factors of urbanity and modernity have significant effects on pandemic severity. Countries with a higher number of elderly people, employment in the service sector, and higher globalization trend are the worst victims of the coronavirus pandemic (e.g., USA, UK, Italy, and Spain). Social distancing measures are reasonably effective at tempering the severity of the pandemic.
Recent Developments of Exploration and Detection of Shallow-Water Hydrothermal Systems
Authors: Zhang Zhujun , Fan Wei , Bao Weicheng , Chen Chen-Tung A , Liu Shuo , Cai Yong
Published: November 2020

A hydrothermal vent system is one of the most unique marine environments on Earth. The cycling hydrothermal fluid hosts favorable conditions for unique life forms and novel mineralization mechanisms, which have attracted the interests of researchers in fields of biological, chemical and geological studies. Shallow-water hydrothermal vents located in coastal areas are suitable for hydrothermal studies due to their close relationship with human activities. This paper presents a summary of the developments in exploration and detection methods for shallow-water hydrothermal systems. Mapping and measuring approaches of vents, together with newly developed equipment, including sensors, measuring systems and water samplers, are included. These techniques provide scientists with improved accuracy, efficiency or even extended data types while studying shallow-water hydrothermal systems. Further development of these techniques may provide new potential for hydrothermal studies and relevant studies in fields of geology, origins of life and astrobiology.
Decrypting the Belt and Road Initiative: Barriers and Development Paths for Global Logistics Networks
Authors: Nitsche Benjamin
Published: November 2020

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is an ambitious infrastructure and development project promoting sustainable economic growth through facilitating prosperous trade across Eurasia and Africa; however, its potential remains underexploited. Logistics networks along BRI routes face several challenges that hinder efficient operations. In addition, although uncertain of how the initiative will develop, logistics and supply chain management (LSCM) practitioners must align their networks with future developments. This study aims to synthesize current barriers to the BRI from an LSCM perspective; propose strategies for dealing with them; and outline and assess conceivable BRI development scenarios to create awareness for possible international logistics network developments. The study builds on a structured and moderated Nominal Group Technique exercise among 15 LSCM professionals to extract current barriers, mitigation strategies, and potential development scenarios, followed by a survey among 52 LSCM professionals to assess those issues. The study synthesizes and assesses 17 BRI barriers for LSCM practice and proposes 20 strategies for dealing with them, assessed in terms of effectiveness and complexity. Moreover, 14 development scenarios are assessed in terms of their probability of becoming reality and impact on the vulnerability of logistics networks, categorized into four scenario clusters (monitor, prepare, propel, and exploit) for guiding LSCM practice.
Sustainable Family Life and Child Welfare: A Conceptual Framework
Authors: Hämäläinen Juha , Pihlainen Kaisa , Vornanen Riitta
Published: November 2020

Although there have been developments in family and child welfare services, these have not been prioritized from a sustainability perspective. This article aims to provide a framework for supporting sustainable provisions for family and child welfare. We demonstrate how the need for a socially sustainable stance on family and child welfare arises from the recognition of global changes that constantly influence families as well as children’s rights, which ground child- and family-centered actions. The conceptual framework includes three overarching dimensions and four levels of actors that provide a body for 16 conceptual entities in providing socially sustainable family and child welfare. The analysis showed that functional child welfare and family policies, systems, and practices appear essential elements, even necessary preconditions, of sustainability and sustainable development in general. Leaning on the concept of children’s rights, we conclude that the idea of child welfare promises citizens that society has committed to promoting all children’s wellbeing. Implementation of this requires a shared understanding that the conceptual framework provided in this paper urges to actualize.
A Note on Generalized q-Difference Equations and Their Applications Involving q-Hypergeometric Functions
Authors: Srivastava Hari M. , Cao Jian , Arjika Sama
Published: November 2020

Our investigation is motivated essentially by the demonstrated applications of the basic (or q-) series and basic (or q-) polynomials, especially the basic (or q-) hypergeometric functions and basic (or q-) hypergeometric polynomials, in many diverse areas. Here, in this paper, we use two q-operators T(a,b,c,d,e,yDx) and E(a,b,c,d,e,yθx) to derive two potentially useful generalizations of the q-binomial theorem, a set of two extensions of the q-Chu-Vandermonde summation formula and two new generalizations of the Andrews-Askey integral by means of the q-difference equations. We also briefly describe relevant connections of various special cases and consequences of our main results with a number of known results.
Analog Realization of Fractional-Order Skin-Electrode Model for Tetrapolar Bio-Impedance Measurements
Authors: Alimisis Vassilis , Dimas Christos , Pappas Georgios , Sotiriadis Paul P.
Published: November 2020

This work compares two design methodologies, emulating both AgCl electrode and skin tissue Cole models for testing and verification of electrical bio-impedance circuits and systems. The models are based on fractional-order elements, are implemented with active components, and capture bio-impedance behaviors up to 10 kHz. Contrary to passive-elements realizations, both architectures using analog filters coupled with adjustable transconductors offer tunability of the fractional capacitors’ parameters. The main objective is to build a tunable active integrated circuitry block that is able to approximate the models’ behavior and can be utilized as a Subject Under Test (SUT) and electrode equivalent in bio-impedance measurement applications. A tetrapolar impedance setup, typical in bio-impedance measurements, is used to demonstrate the performance and accuracy of the presented architectures via Spectre Monte-Carlo simulation. Circuit and post-layout simulations are carried out in 90-nm CMOS process, using the Cadence IC suite.
Dietary Assessment and Self-Management Using Information Technology in Order to Improve Outcomes in Kidney Transplant Recipients
Authors: Rodrigues Fernanda G. , Borst Martin H. de , Heilberg Ita P.
Published: November 2020

Big data and artificial intelligence (AI) will transform the way research in nephrology is carried out and consequently improve the performance of clinical practice in nephrology and transplantation. Managing long-term health outcomes in kidney transplant recipients (KTR) includes the improvement of modifiable factors, such as diet. Self-management using information technology (IT) aims to facilitate lifestyle changes, manage symptoms and treatment in the course of chronic kidney disease (CKD) or any chronic condition. The advantages of health mobile applications further include the capacity of data compilation and yielding responses to numerous research questions in nephrology and transplantation. However, studies investigating the employment of such applications in KTR and its impact in kidney transplant outcomes are still lacking. The specific advantages of dietary assessment and self-management using IT in order to improve outcomes in KTR are presently discussed. This Special Issue features a great set of articles regarding IT approaches to improve kidney allograft survival and posttransplant outcomes in all areas.
Virosaurus A Reference to Explore and Capture Virus Genetic Diversity
Authors: Gleizes Anne , Laubscher Florian , Guex Nicolas , Iseli Christian , Junier Thomas , Cordey Samuel , Fellay Jacques , Xenarios Ioannis , Kaiser Laurent , Mercier Philippe Le
Published: November 2020

The huge genetic diversity of circulating viruses is a challenge for diagnostic assays for emerging or rare viral diseases. High-throughput technology offers a new opportunity to explore the global virome of patients without preconception about the culpable pathogens. It requires a solid reference dataset to be accurate. Virosaurus has been designed to offer a non-biased, automatized and annotated database for clinical metagenomics studies and diagnosis. Raw viral sequences have been extracted from GenBank, and cleaned up to remove potentially erroneous sequences. Complete sequences have been identified for all genera infecting vertebrates, plants and other eukaryotes (insect, fungus, etc.). To facilitate the analysis of clinically relevant viruses, we have annotated all sequences with official and common virus names, acronym, genotypes, and genomic features (linear, circular, DNA, RNA, etc.). Sequences have been clustered to remove redundancy at 90% or 98% identity. The analysis of clustering results reveals the state of the virus genetic landscape knowledge. Because herpes and poxviruses were under-represented in complete genomes considering their potential diversity in nature, we used genes instead of complete genomes for those in Virosaurus.
The Interplay between Immunosenescence and Microbiota in the Efficacy of Vaccines
Authors: Cianci Rossella , Franza Laura , Massaro Maria Grazia , Borriello Raffaele , De Vito Francesco , Gambassi Giovanni
Published: November 2020

Vaccinations are among the most effective medical procedures and have had an incredible impact on almost everyone’s life. One of the populations that can benefit the most from them are elderly people. Unfortunately, in this group, vaccines are less effective than in other groups, due to immunosenescence. The immune system ages like the whole body and becomes less effective in responding to infections and vaccinations. At the same time, immunosenescence also favors an inflammatory microenvironment, which is linked to many conditions typical of the geriatrics population. The microbiota is one of the key actors in modulating the immune response and, in this review, we discuss the current evidence on the role of microbiota in regulating the immune response to vaccines, particularly in elderly people.
The Chicken MHC: Insights into Genetic Resistance, Immunity, and Inflammation Following Infectious Bronchitis Virus Infections
Authors: Silva Ana P. da , Gallardo Rodrigo A.
Published: November 2020

The chicken immune system has provided an immense contribution to basic immunology knowledge by establishing major landmarks and discoveries that defined concepts widely used today. One of many special features on chickens is the presence of a compact and simple major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Despite its simplicity, the chicken MHC maintains the essential counterpart genes of the mammalian MHC, allowing for a strong association to be detected between the MHC and resistance or susceptibility to infectious diseases. This association has been widely studied for several poultry infectious diseases, including infectious bronchitis. In addition to the MHC and its linked genes, other non-MHC loci may play a role in the mechanisms underlying such resistance. It has been reported that innate immune responses, such as macrophage function and inflammation, might be some of the factors driving resistance or susceptibility, consequently influencing the disease outcome in an individual or a population. Information about innate immunity and genetic resistance can be helpful in developing effective preventative measures for diseases such as infectious bronchitis, to which a systemic antibody response is often not associated with disease protection. In this review, we summarize the importance of the chicken MHC in poultry disease resistance, particularly to infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) infections and the role played by innate immunity and inflammation on disease outcome. We highlight how future studies focusing on the MHC and non-MHC genes can potentially bring clarity to observed resistance in some chicken B haplotype lines.
Assessment of the Happy River Index as an Integrated Index of River Health and Human Well-Being: A Case Study of the Yellow River, China
Authors: Zuo Qiting , Hao Minghui , Zhang Zhizhuo , Jiang Long
Published: November 2020

Acceleration urbanization and industrialization has resulted in challenges such as river ecosystem degradation and water scarcity that have hindered sustainable development in China. Healthy rivers provide ecosystem services that improve human well-being. The Happy River Index (HRI) integrates trends in river health and human well-being. This study aimed to establish an HRI assessment framework. The assessment framework was applied to the Yellow River, China at three spatial scales in which the analytic hierarchy process (AHP)-entropy weight and single index quantification-multiple indices syntheses-poly-criteria integration (SMI-P) methods were utilized. Limiting factors were diagnosed by the obstacle degree model and approaches to improve the HRI in regions along the Yellow River are suggested. The results showed that: (1) the overall HRI of the Yellow River was relatively low, with some differences among different regions; (2) the HRI for the upper, middle, and lower reaches of the Yellow River showed a decreasing trend from 0.77 to 0.65; (3) Sichuan had the highest HRI at the regional scale, followed by Gansu and Qinghai, whereas Inner Mongolia had the lowest; (4) scarcity of water resources and the fragility of the ecological environment were the two dominant factors restricting the improvement of the HRI in regions along the Yellow River. The results of this study can provide a valuable reference for protection of river health and improvement of human well-being in China.
Rainfall Induced Landslide Susceptibility Mapping Based on Bayesian Optimized Random Forest and Gradient Boosting Decision Tree Models—A Case Study of Shuicheng County, China
Authors: Rong Guangzhi , Alu Si , Li Kaiwei , Su Yulin , Zhang Jiquan , Zhang Yichen , Li Tiantao
Published: November 2020

Among the most frequent and dangerous natural hazards, landslides often result in huge casualties and economic losses. Landslide susceptibility mapping (LSM) is an excellent approach for protecting and reducing the risks by landslides. This study aims to explore the performance of Bayesian optimization (BO) in the random forest (RF) and gradient boosting decision tree (GBDT) model for LSM and applied in Shuicheng County, China. Multiple data sources are used to obtain 17 conditioning factors of landslides, Borderline-SMOTE and Randomundersample methods are combined to solve the imbalanced sample problem. RF and GBDT models before and after BO are adopted to calculate the susceptibility value of landslides and produce LSMs and these models were compared and evaluated using multiple validation approach. The results demonstrated that the models we proposed all have high enough model accuracy to be applied to produce LSM, the performance of the RF is better than the GBDT model without BO, while after adopting the Bayesian optimized hyperparameters, the prediction accuracy of the RF and GBDT models is improved by 1% and 7%, respectively and the Bayesian optimized GBDT model is the best for LSM in this four models. In summary, the Bayesian optimized RF and GBDT models, especially the GBDT model we proposed for landslide susceptibility assessment and LSM construction has a very good application performance and development prospects.