bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neuropathic Pain in Children with Sickle Cell Disease: The Hidden Side of the Vaso-Occlusive Crisis
Authors: Sigalla Jeanne , Duparc Alegria Nathalie , Le Roux Enora , Toumazi Artemis , Thiollier Anne-Françoise , Holvoet Laurent , Benkerrou Malika , Dugue Sophie , Koehl Berengere
Published: January 2021

The majority of hospitalizations of patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) are related to painful vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs). Although the pain of VOC is classically nociceptive, neuropathic pain (NP) has also been demonstrated in SCD patients. The aim of our study is to specify the prevalence of NP during VOCs in SCD children using a dedicated scale and to measure its characteristics. We performed a prospective study that included SCD children hospitalized for an acute VOC. The presence of NP was sought with the DN4 scale on the second and fourth days of hospitalization. A total of 54 SCD children were included in the study. Overall, 41% of the patients (n = 22) experienced neuropathic pain during the VOC, mostly at an early stage (Day 2). The median age, the sex ratio, the location of the pain, and the morphine consumption were similar for patients with and without NP. Our study shows that neuropathic pain is very common during VOCs in SCD children. The absence of identified risk factors should prompt us to be vigilant regardless of the patient’s age, sex, and clinical presentation.
Consistency of a Nonword Repetition Task to Discriminate Children with and without Developmental Language Disorder in Catalan–Spanish and European Portuguese Speaking Children
Authors: Ahufinger Nadia , Berglund-Barraza Amy , Cruz-Santos Anabela , Ferinu Laura , Andreu Llorenç , Sanz-Torrent Mònica , Evans Julia L.
Published: January 2021

Nonword repetition has been proposed as a diagnostic marker of developmental language disorder (DLD); however, the inconsistency in the ability of nonword repetition tasks (NRT) to identify children with DLD raises significant questions regarding its feasibility as a clinical tool. Research suggests that some of the inconsistency across NRT may be due to differences in the nature of the nonword stimuli. In this study, we compared children’s performance on NRT between two cohorts: the children in the Catalan–Spanish cohort (CS) were bilingual, and the children in the European Portuguese cohort (EP) were monolingual. NRT performance was assessed in both Spanish and Catalan for the bilingual children from Catalonia-Spain and in Portuguese for the monolingual children from Portugal. Results show that although the absolute performance differed across the two cohorts, with NRT performance being lower for the CS, in both Catalan and Spanish, as compared to the EP cohort in both, the cut-points for the likelihood ratios (LH) were similar across the three languages and mirror those previously reported in previous studies. However, the absolute LH ratio values for this study were higher than those reported in prior research due in part to differences in wordlikeness and frequency of the stimuli in the current study. Taken together, the findings from this study show that an NRT consisting of 3-, 4-, and 5-syllable nonwords, which varies in wordlikeness ratings, when presented in a random order accurately identifies and correctly differentiates children with DLD from TD controls the child is bilingual or monolingual.
General Anaesthesia Shifts the Murine Circadian Clock in a Time-Dependant Fashion
Authors: Ludin Nicola M. , Orts-Sebastian Alma , Cheeseman James F. , Chong Janelle , Merry Alan F. , Cumin David , Yamazaki Shin , Pawley Matthew D. M. , Warman Guy R.
Published: January 2021

Following general anaesthesia (GA), patients frequently experience sleep disruption and fatigue, which has been hypothesized to result at least in part by GA affecting the circadian clock. Here, we provide the first comprehensive time-dependent analysis of the effects of the commonly administered inhalational anaesthetic, isoflurane, on the murine circadian clock, by analysing its effects on (a) behavioural locomotor rhythms and (b) PER2::LUC expression in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of the mouse brain. Behavioural phase shifts elicited by exposure of mice (n = 80) to six hours of GA (2% isoflurane) were determined by recording wheel-running rhythms in constant conditions (DD). Phase shifts in PER2::LUC expression were determined by recording bioluminescence in organotypic SCN slices (n = 38) prior to and following GA exposure (2% isoflurane). Full phase response curves for the effects of GA on behaviour and PER2::LUC rhythms were constructed, which show that the effects of GA are highly time-dependent. Shifts in SCN PER2 expression were much larger than those of behaviour (c. 0.7 h behaviour vs. 7.5 h PER2::LUC). We discuss the implications of this work for understanding how GA affects the clock, and how it may inform the development of chronotherapeutic strategies to reduce GA-induced phase-shifting in patients.
Functional Ceramic Coatings
Authors: Pietrzyk Bożena , Miszczak Sebastian
Published: January 2021

Modern materials engineering, just like other areas of today’s science and technology, requires a comprehensive and balanced approach that takes into account all factors that affect not only the design and functional properties of materials, but also their economic profitability and rational management of the available resources [...]
Influence of Calcination Temperature on Crystal Growth and Optical Characteristics of Eu3+ Doped ZnO/Zn2SiO4 Composites Fabricated via Simple Thermal Treatment Method
Authors: Jaafar Suhail Huzaifa , Zaid Mohd Hafiz Mohd , Matori Khamirul Amin , Aziz Sidek Hj. Ab , Mohamed Kamari Halimah , Honda Sawao , Iwamoto Yuji
Published: January 2021

This research paper proposes the usage of a simple thermal treatment method to synthesis the pure and Eu3+ doped ZnO/Zn2SiO4 based composites which undergo calcination process at different temperatures. The effect of calcination temperatures on the structural, morphological, and optical properties of ZnO/Zn2SiO4 based composites have been studied. The XRD analysis shows the existence of two major phases which are ZnO and Zn2SiO4 crystals and supported by the finding in the FT-IR. The FESEM micrograph further confirms the existence of both ZnO and Zn2SiO4 crystal phases, with progress in the calcination temperature around 700–800 °C which affects the existence of the necking-like shape particle. Absorption humps discovered through UV-Vis spectroscopy revealed that at the higher calcination temperature effects for higher absorption intensity while absorption bands can be seen at below 400 nm with dropping of absorption bands at 370–375 nm. Two types of band gap can be seen from the energy band gap analysis which occurs from ZnO crystal and Zn2SiO4 crystal progress. It is also discovered that for Eu3+ doped ZnO/Zn2SiO4 composites, the Zn2SiO4 crystal (5.11–4.71 eV) has a higher band gap compared to the ZnO crystal (3.271–4.07 eV). While, for the photoluminescence study, excited at 400 nm, the emission spectra of Eu3+ doped ZnO/Zn2SiO4 revealed higher emission intensity compared to pure ZnO/Zn2SiO4 with higher calcination temperature exhibit higher emission intensity at 615 nm with 700 °C being the optimum temperature. The emission spectra also show that the calcination temperature contributed to enhancing the emission intensity.
A Giant Ostrich from the Lower Pleistocene Nihewan Formation of North China, with a Review of the Fossil Ostriches of China
Authors: Buffetaut Eric , Angst Delphine
Published: January 2021

A large incomplete ostrich femur from the Lower Pleistocene of North China, kept at the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle (Paris), is described. It was found by Father Emile Licent in 1925 in the Nihewan Formation (dated at about 1.8 Ma) of Hebei Province. On the basis of the minimum circumference of the shaft, a mass of 300 kg, twice that of a modern ostrich, was obtained. The bone is remarkably robust, more so than the femur of the more recent, Late Pleistocene, Struthio anderssoni from China, and resembles in that regard Pachystruthio Kretzoi, 1954, a genus known from the Lower Pleistocene of Hungary, Georgia and the Crimea, to which the Nihewan specimen is referred, as Pachystruthio indet. This find testifies to the wide geographical distribution of very massive ostriches in the Early Pleistocene of Eurasia. The giant ostrich from Nihewan was contemporaneous with the early hominins who inhabited that region in the Early Pleistocene.
Diagnostic Added-Value of Serum CA-125 on the IOTA Simple Rules and Derivation of Practical Combined Prediction Models (IOTA SR X CA-125)
Authors: Phinyo Phichayut , Patumanond Jayanton , Saenrungmuaeng Panprapha , Chirdchim Watcharin , Pipanmekaporn Tanyong , Tantraworasin Apichat , Tongsong Theera , Tantipalakorn Charuwan
Published: January 2021

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic added-value of serum CA-125 to the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis (IOTA) Simple Rules in order to facilitate differentiation between malignant and benign ovarian tumors before surgery. Methods: A secondary analysis of a cross-sectional cohort of women scheduled for surgery in Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital between April 2010 and March 2018 was carried out. Demographic and clinical data were prospectively collected. Histopathologic diagnosis was used as the reference standard. Logistic regression was used for development of the model. Evaluation of the diagnostic added-value was based on the increment of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AuROC). Results: One hundred and forty-five women (30.3%) out of a total of 479 with adnexal masses had malignant ovarian tumors. The model that included information from the IOTA Simple Rules and serum CA-125 was significantly more superior to the model that used only information from the IOTA Simple Rules (AuROC 0.95 vs. 0.89, p < 0.001 for pre-menopause and AuROC 0.98 vs 0.83, p < 0.001 for post-menopause). Conclusions: The IOTA SR X CA-125 model showed high discriminative ability and is potentially useful as a decision tool for guiding patient referrals to oncologic specialists.
The Novel Perspectives Opened by ST2 in the Pandemic: A Review of Its Role in the Diagnosis and Prognosis of Patients with Heart Failure and COVID-19
Authors: Miftode Radu-Stefan , Petriș Antoniu Octavian , Onofrei Aursulesei Viviana , Cianga Corina , Costache Irina-Iuliana , Mitu Ovidiu , Miftode Ionela-Larisa , Șerban Ionela-Lăcrămioara
Published: January 2021

The increasing incidence of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) and its polymorphic clinical manifestations due to local and systemic inflammation represent a high burden for many public health systems. Multiple evidence revealed the interdependence between the presence of cardiovascular comorbidities and a severe course of COVID-19, with heart failure (HF) being incriminated as an independent predictor of mortality. Suppression of tumorigenicity-2 ST2 has emerged as one of the most promising biomarkers in assessing the evolution and prognosis of patients with HF. The uniqueness of ST2 is determined by its structural particularities. Its transmembrane isoform exerts cardioprotective effects, while the soluble isoform (sST2), which is detectable in serum, is associated with myocardial fibrosis and poor outcome in patients with HF. Some recent data also suggested the potential role of sST2 as a marker of inflammation, while other studies highlighted it as a valuable prognostic factor in patients with COVID-19. In this review, we summarized the pathways by which sST2 is related to myocardial injury and its connection to the severity of inflammation in patients with COVID-19. Also, we reviewed possible perspectives of using it as a dual cardio-inflammatory biomarker, for both early diagnosis, risk stratification and prognosis assessment of patients with concomitant HF and COVID-19.
Ultrasound Imaging of Crural Fascia and Epimysial Fascia Thicknesses in Basketball Players with Previous Ankle Sprains Versus Healthy Subjects
Authors: Pirri Carmelo , Fede Caterina , Stecco Antonio , Guidolin Diego , Fan Chenglei , De Caro Raffaele , Stecco Carla
Published: January 2021

Background: Fascial layers may play an important role in locomotor mechanics. Recent researches have revealed an association between increases of fascia thickness and reduced joint flexibility in patients with chronic pain. The purpose of this study was to measure and compare, through the use of ultrasound imaging, the thickness of the deep/crural fascia in different points of the leg as well as the epimysial fascia thickness at level 2 of anterior compartment of leg, in male basketball players with history of recurrent ankle sprain and in healthy participants. Methods: A cross-sectional study has been performed using ultrasound imaging to measure deep/crural fascia thickness of anterior, lateral and posterior compartment of the leg at different levels with a new protocol in a sample of 30 subjects, 15 basketball players and 15 healthy participants. Results: Findings of fascial thickness revealed statistically significant differences (p < 0.01) in epimysial fascia thickness and in deep/crural fascia thickness between levels/compartments of the same group and between two groups. Moreover, Post 3 deep/crural fascia thicknesses (p < 0.001) were decreased showing statistically significant difference for the basketball players group respect the healthy participants group. Conclusions: These findings suggested that the posterior compartment was thicker than anterior compartment, probably due to a postural reason in both groups. Moreover, they showed an increase of thickness of the epimysial fascia in basketball players with previous ankle sprains. This variability underlines the importance to assess the fasciae and to make results comparable.
Two-Stage Seebeck Effect in Charged Colloidal Suspensions
Authors: Chikina Ioulia , Nakamae Sawako , Shikin Valeriy , Varlamov Andrey
Published: January 2021

We discuss the peculiarities of the Seebeck effect in stabilized electrolytes containing the colloidal particles. Its unusual feature is the two stage character, with the linear increase of differential thermopower as the function of colloidal particles concentration n⊙ during the first stage (“initial state”) and dramatic drop of it at small n⊙ during the second one (“steady state”). We show that the properties of the initial state are governed by the thermo-diffusion flows of the mobile ions of the stabilizing electrolyte medium itself and how the colloidal particles participate in the formation of the electric field in the bulk of the suspension. In its turn, we attribute the specifics of the steady state thermoelectric effect the massive colloidal particles undergoing slow thermal diffusion and the break down of their electro-neutrality in the vicinity of electrodes.
Common Information Components Analysis
Authors: Sula Erixhen , Gastpar Michael C.
Published: January 2021

Wyner’s common information is a measure that quantifies and assesses the commonality between two random variables. Based on this, we introduce a novel two-step procedure to construct features from data, referred to as Common Information Components Analysis (CICA). The first step can be interpreted as an extraction of Wyner’s common information. The second step is a form of back-projection of the common information onto the original variables, leading to the extracted features. A free parameter γ controls the complexity of the extracted features. We establish that, in the case of Gaussian statistics, CICA precisely reduces to Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA), where the parameter γ determines the number of CCA components that are extracted. In this sense, we establish a novel rigorous connection between information measures and CCA, and CICA is a strict generalization of the latter. It is shown that CICA has several desirable features, including a natural extension to beyond just two data sets.
Thermal Management and Modeling of Forced Convection and Entropy Generation in a Vented Cavity by Simultaneous Use of a Curved Porous Layer and Magnetic Field
Authors: Selimefendigil Fatih , Öztop Hakan F.
Published: January 2021

The effects of using a partly curved porous layer on the thermal management and entropy generation features are studied in a ventilated cavity filled with hybrid nanofluid under the effects of inclined magnetic field by using finite volume method. This study is performed for the range of pertinent parameters of Reynolds number (100≤Re≤1000), magnetic field strength (0≤Ha≤80), permeability of porous region (10−4≤Da≤5×10−2), porous layer height (0.15H≤tp≤0.45H), porous layer position (0.25H≤yp≤0.45H), and curvature size (0≤b≤0.3H). The magnetic field reduces the vortex size, while the average Nusselt number of hot walls increases for Ha number above 20 and highest enhancement is 47% for left vertical wall. The variation in the average Nu with permeability of the layer is about 12.5% and 21% for left and right vertical walls, respectively, while these amounts are 12.5% and 32.5% when the location of the porous layer changes. The entropy generation increases with Hartmann number above 20, while there is 22% increase in the entropy generation for the case at the highest magnetic field. The porous layer height reduced the entropy generation for domain above it and it give the highest contribution to the overall entropy generation. When location of the curved porous layer is varied, the highest variation of entropy generation is attained for the domain below it while the lowest value is obtained at yp=0.3H. When the size of elliptic curvature is varied, the overall entropy generation decreases from b = 0 to b=0.2H by about 10% and then increases by 5% from b=0.2H to b=0.3H.
Bridgeless Boost Converter with an Interleaving Manner for PFC Applications
Authors: Tseng Sheng-Yu , Fan Jun-Hao
Published: January 2021

Power quality is a critical issue in power systems. This paper proposes a bridgeless boost converter to increase the power factor of power systems using a utility line source for raising power quality. To reduce input and output current ripple, an interleaving manner is adopted in the proposed power system. When the interleaving bridgeless boost converter is used to implement power factor correction (PFC), it needs two bridgeless boost converters to process power during one switching cycle. In order to simplify the proposed bridgeless boost converter, two sets of switches in the conventional bridgeless boost one are integrated to reduce component counts. With this approach, the proposed bridgeless boost converter uses four switches to implement PFC features. Therefore, the proposed boost converter can increase conversion efficiency and decrease component counts, resulting in a higher conversion efficiency, lower cost and more simplicity for driving circuits. Finally, a prototype with a universal input voltage source (AC 90 V~265 V) under an output voltage of 400 V and a maximum output power of 1 kW has been implemented to verify the feasibility of the proposed bridgeless boost converter.
Modified Power Factor Correction (PFC) Control and Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Design for High-Efficiency and High-Power Density On-Board Charger
Authors: Baek Jaeil , Park Moo-Hyun , Kim Taewoo , Youn Han-Shin
Published: January 2021

This paper presents a modified power factor correction (PFC) ON/OFF control and three-dimensional (3D) printed circuit board (PCB) design for a high-efficiency and high-power density onboard charger (OBC). By alternately operating one of two boost modules of the PFC stage at a 50% or less load condition, the proposed PFC control can reduce the load-independent power loss of the PFC stage, such as core loss and capacitor charging loss of switches. It enables OBCs to have high efficiency across a wide output power range and better thermal performance. The 3D-PCB design decouples a trade-off relationship of the PCB trace design and heat spreader design, increasing the power density of OBCs. A 3.3 kW prototype composed of an interleaved totem-pole bridgeless boost PFC converter and full-bridge (FB) LLC converter has been built and tested to verify the proposed PFC control and 3D-PCB effectiveness design. The prototype has 95.7% full power efficiency (98.2% PFC stage efficiency) and 52 W/in3 power density.
The Silent Path: The Development of the Single Sleeve Valve Two-Stroke Engine over the Last 110 Years
Authors: Head Robert , Turner James
Published: January 2021

At the beginning of the 20th century the operational issues of the Otto engine had not been fully resolved. The work presented here seeks to chronicle the development of one of the alternative design pathways, namely the replacement for the gas exchange mechanism of the more conventional poppet valve arrangement with that of a sleeve valve. There have been several successful engines built with these devices, which have a number of attractive features superior to poppet valves. This review moves from the initial work of Charles Knight, Peter Burt, and James McCollum, in the first decade of the 20th century, through the work of others to develop a two-stroke version of the sleeve-valve engine, which climaxed in the construction of one of the most powerful piston aeroengines ever built, the Rolls-Royce Crecy. After that period of high activity in the 1940s, there have been limited further developments. The patent efforts changed over time from design of two-stroke sleeve-drive mechanisms through to cylinder head cooling and improvements in the control of the thermal expansion of the relative components to improve durability. These documents provide a foundation for a design of an internal combustion engine with potentially high thermal efficiency.
Combined Aggregated Sampling Stochastic Dynamic Programming and Simulation-Optimization to Derive Operation Rules for Large-Scale Hydropower System
Authors: Wu Xinyu , Guo Rui , Cheng Xilong , Cheng Chuntian
Published: January 2021

Simulation-optimization methods are often used to derive operation rules for large-scale hydropower reservoir systems. The solution of the simulation-optimization models is complex and time-consuming, for many interconnected variables need to be optimized, and the objective functions need to be computed through simulation in many periods. Since global solutions are seldom obtained, the initial solutions are important to the solution quality. In this paper, a two-stage method is proposed to derive operation rules for large-scale hydropower systems. In the first stage, the optimal operation model is simplified and solved using sampling stochastic dynamic programming (SSDP). In the second stage, the optimal operation model is solved by using a genetic algorithm, taking the SSDP solution as an individual in the initial population. The proposed method is applied to a hydropower system in Southwest China, composed of cascaded reservoir systems of Hongshui River, Lancang River, and Wu River. The numerical result shows that the two-stage method can significantly improve the solution in an acceptable solution time.
Interpretation of Gas/Water Relative Permeability of Coal Using the Hybrid Bayesian-Assisted History Matching: New Insights
Authors: Zhang Jiyuan , Zhang Bin , Xu Shiqian , Feng Qihong , Zhang Xianmin , Elsworth Derek
Published: January 2021

The relative permeability of coal to gas and water exerts a profound influence on fluid transport in coal seams in both primary and enhanced coalbed methane (ECBM) recovery processes where multiphase flow occurs. Unsteady-state core-flooding tests interpreted by the Johnson–Bossler–Naumann (JBN) method are commonly used to obtain the relative permeability of coal. However, the JBN method fails to capture multiple gas–water–coal interaction mechanisms, which inevitably results in inaccurate estimations of relative permeability. This paper proposes an improved assisted history matching framework using the Bayesian adaptive direct search (BADS) algorithm to interpret the relative permeability of coal from unsteady-state flooding test data. The validation results show that the BADS algorithm is significantly faster than previous algorithms in terms of convergence speed. The proposed method can accurately reproduce the true relative permeability curves without a presumption of the endpoint saturations given a small end-effect number of <0.56. As a comparison, the routine JBN method produces abnormal interpretation results (with the estimated connate water saturation ≈33% higher than and the endpoint water/gas relative permeability only ≈0.02 of the true value) under comparable conditions. The proposed framework is a promising computationally effective alternative to the JBN method to accurately derive relative permeability relations for gas–water–coal systems with multiple fluid–rock interaction mechanisms.
Experimental Investigation on CIRCE-HERO for the EU DEMO PbLi/Water Heat Exchanger Development
Authors: Lorusso Pierdomenico , Martelli Emanuela , Del Nevo Alessandro , Narcisi Vincenzo , Giannetti Fabio , Tarantino Mariano
Published: January 2021

The present paper describes the experimental campaign executed at the ENEA Brasimone Research Centre aiming at supporting the development of a PbLi/water heat exchanger suitable for the lithium–lead loops of the dual coolant lithium lead and the water cooled lithium lead breeding blankets of the EU DEMO fusion reactor. The experiments were performed in a test section named HERO, installed inside the main vessel of the lead–bismuth eutectic-cooled pool-type facility CIRCE. The test section hosts a steam generator bayonet tube mock-up in relevant scale, which was selected as a promising configuration for DEMO purposes. For the thermal-hydraulic characterization of the component, five tests were executed at different water pressures (6, 8, 12 MPa, two tests at 10 MPa), and liquid metal flow rates (40, 33, 27, 20, 10 kg/s). The experimental outcomes proved the technological feasibility of this novel steam generator and its suitability for the DEMO PbLi loops. The activity was completed with a post-test analysis using two versions of the system code RELAP5. Because the experiments were executed with lead–bismuth eutectic, a scaling analysis is proposed to find the equivalence with PbLi. RELAP5 code was applied to recalculate the experimental data using PbLi as working fluid.
The Transition of Dutch Social Housing Corporations to Sustainable Business Models for New Buildings and Retrofits
Authors: Lambrechts Wim , Mitchell Andrew , Lemon Mark , Mazhar Muhammad Usman , Ooms Ward , van Heerde Rikkert
Published: January 2021

Social housing corporations play an important role in society as they provide affordable and good-quality housing for vulnerable citizens. Yet, the sector has to deal with the historical legacy of a high number of old and poorly insulated buildings. While research into the processes that drive or hinder business model innovation in this sector is scarce, this paper draws upon multiple qualitative case studies of social housing in the Netherlands to identify critical success factors for the transition to sustainable business models for new buildings and retrofits. Results show that there are four key attributes for a successful transition process: collaboration (both with supply chain partners as well as other social housing associations); continuous innovation; vision; and the role of the government (including subsidies and fiscal regulations). While economic performance was an important boundary condition, sustainability was not always seen as a strategic organizational objective, a finding that might be explained through considering the legacy of social housing corporations. Furthermore, a number of barriers were identified including the need for customer acceptance, a lack of support from the construction sector and government and macroeconomic factors such as increased construction costs.
Impacts of Climate Change on Hydroclimatic Conditions of U.S. National Forests and Grasslands
Authors: Heidari Hadi , Warziniack Travis , Brown Thomas C. , Arabi Mazdak
Published: January 2021

The conterminous United States includes national forests and grasslands that provide ecological, social, economic, recreational, and aesthetic services. Future climate change can alter long-term hydroclimatic conditions of national forests and grasslands and lead to negative consequences. This study characterizes shifts in hydroclimatology and basin characteristics of US National Forests (NFs) and National Grasslands (NGs) in response to climate change over the 21st century under the DRY, MIDDLE, and WET climate models with the representative concentration pathway (RCP) 8.5 emission scenario. Climatic projections for three climate models ranging from the driest to wettest conditions were obtained from the Multivariate Adaptive Constructed Analogs (MACA) dataset. Then, the variable infiltration capacity (VIC) model was used to model hydrological responses of the selected future climates. Changes in regional hydroclimatic conditions of NFs and NGs were assessed by the magnitude and direction of movements in the Budyko space. The Fu’s equation was applied to estimate changes in basin characteristics. The results indicate that NFs and NGs are likely to experience larger changes in basin characteristics compared to the average of the United States. In general, across the conterminous US, the NFs in mountainous regions are likely to have larger changes in hydroclimatic variables than NFs with lower elevation and NGs. Comparing Forest Service regions, Pacific Northwest, Intermountain, and Northern regions may have a less arid climate with lower freshwater availability. The Southwestern, Northern, Intermountain, and Rocky Mountain regions are likely to experience higher shifts in their basin characteristics. This study can help environmental scientists, and land and water managers improve future land management plans.
Achieving Sea Lamprey Control in Lake Champlain
Authors: Young Bradley , Allaire BJ , Smith Stephen
Published: January 2021

The control of parasitic sea lamprey in Lake Champlain has been a necessary component of its fishery restoration and recovery goals for 30 years. While adopting the approach of the larger and established sea lamprey control program of the Laurentian Great Lakes, local differences emerged that shifted management focus and effort as the program evolved. Increased investment in lamprey assessment and monitoring revealed under-estimations of population density and distribution in the basin, where insufficient control efforts went unnoticed. As control efforts improved in response to a better understanding of the population, the effects of lamprey on the fishery lessened. A long-term evaluation of fishery responses when lamprey control was started, interrupted, delayed, and enhanced provided evidence of a recurring relationship between the level of control effort applied and the measured suppression of the parasitic sea lamprey population. Changes in levels of control efforts over time showed repeatedly that measurable suppression of the parasitic population required effective control of 80% of the known larval population. Understanding the importance of assessment and monitoring and the relationship between control effort and population suppression has led to recognition that a comprehensive, not incremental, approach is needed to achieve effective control of sea lamprey in Lake Champlain.
Evaluating the Role of Circulating Dendritic Cells in Methimazole-Treated Pediatric Graves’ Disease Patients
Authors: Starosz Aleksandra , Stożek Karolina , Moniuszko Marcin , Grubczak Kamil , Bossowski Artur
Published: January 2021

Graves’ disease (GD) is hyperthyroidism associated with organ-specific autoimmune inflammation. GD occurs more frequently in adults than in children; however, pediatric patients are a therapeutic challenge due to cycles of remissions and relapses requiring constant monitoring at every stage of treatment administered. Dendritic cells (DCs) are considered to be a link between innate and adaptive immunity. DCs, as antigen-presenting cells (APCs), are involved in antigen presentation to T lymphocytes, thereby initiating a shift towards effector cells. In accordance, DCs also participate in the modulation of tolerance to specific antigens. To date, the data on DCs’ role in Graves’ pathological processes are scarce. Therefore, here, we evaluated the frequencies and role of circulating DCs in GD pediatric patients treated with methimazole. Flow cytometric analysis was implemented to evaluate three subsets of dendritic cells and their correlation with clinical GD-related parameters. We found significantly higher levels of DC subsets in patients at diagnosis. Furthermore, methimazole treatment seemed to effectively reduce subsets of DCs, which, in addition, were found to differentially correlate with thyroid function. Our study shed new light on DCs’ role in the pediatric GD pathomechanism. Further studies are required for the mechanistic assessment of DCs’ exact role in disease progression and influence on thyroid function.
Burnout, Psychological Capital and Health during COVID-19 Social Isolation: A Longitudinal Analysis
Authors: Meseguer de Pedro Mariano , Fernández-Valera María Magdalena , García-Izquierdo Mariano , Soler Sánchez María Isabel
Published: January 2021

Background: Drawing on the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic and its sanitary measures on coping strategies for preserving health, it is also necessary to add exposure to certain work stressors, such as burnout. The aim of the study was to assess the influence of the confinement situation caused by COVID-19 on the levels of self-perceived health and psychological capital in a sample of workers, as well as to analyze whether exposure to burnout before social isolation would help to explain the levels of health and psychological capital. Methods: Data were collected in a longitudinal design. Time 1 surveys (December 2019) were sent to a sample of 354 Spanish workers while in Time 2 (April 2020) the employees completed 235 questionnaires. Results: Our findings indicate a significant worsening of employees’ health perception (t = −4.13; p < 0.01) and psychological capital (4.10, p < 0.01) levels during mandatory confinement in Spain. Our results also revealed that emotional exhaustion is the only burnout dimension capable of explaining the variance of health while self-efficacy does regarding psychological capital. Conclusion: We conclude a significant reduction in self-perceived health and psychological capital during COVID-19 mandatory confinement, and that burnout acts as a predictor variable in both health and psychological capital variance.
How Does the Appeal of Environmental Values Influence Sustainable Entrepreneurial Intention?
Authors: Peng Huatao , Li Bingbing , Zhou Chen , Sadowski Bert M.
Published: January 2021

Global challenges posed by climate change and environmental deterioration are increasingly driving entrepreneurship with sustainable entrepreneurial intention as a key driver in predicting entrepreneurial activities. Together with experience, the environmental values of an entrepreneur are vital for sustainable entrepreneurial intention. However, the extent to which experience is a key factor to start up a sustainable enterprise is still rather unclear. To study the role of experience, we derive from the theory of planned behaviour three factors (personal attitude, social norm and self-efficacy) to examine their impact on environmental values and sustainable entrepreneurial intention. Based on a meta-analysis, the overall directions and effect intensity of the different factors in this relationship can be investigated. We develop a structural equation model to explore the mechanism behind the interaction between the different variables. We utilize information from 37 scientific articles using 40 empirical samples, 117 effect sizes and 192,015 observations. We found that environmental values are indeed positively related to a sustainable entrepreneurial intention. Furthermore, the relationship between environmental values and sustainable entrepreneurial intention is moderated by experience, as well as personal attitude, social norms and self-efficacy. In addition, environmental values are more positively related to the intention to set up a sustainable venture for entrepreneurs with low-experience compared to those entrepreneurs with high-experience. For policy makers and managers, it becomes important to stimulate environmental values to promote sustainable entrepreneurial intentions in order to stimulate the growth of sustainable enterprises. By enhancing these three factors, sustainable entrepreneurial behaviour can be facilitated by increasing entrepreneurs’ sustainable intention.
Numerical Analysis of Electromagnetic Field Exposure from 5G Mobile Communications at 28 GHZ in Adults and Children Users for Real-World Exposure Scenarios
Authors: Morelli Maria Sole , Gallucci Silvia , Siervo Beatrice , Hartwig Valentina
Published: January 2021

The recent development of millimeter-wave (mmW) technologies, such as the fifth-generation (5G) network, comes with concerns related to user exposure. A quite large number of dosimetry studies above 6 GHz have been conducted, with the main purpose being to establish the correlation between different dosimetric parameters and the skin surface temperature elevation. However, the dosimetric studies from 28 GHz user equipment using different voxel models have not been comprehensively discussed yet. In this study, we used the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method for the estimation of the absorption of radiofrequency (RF) energy from a microstrip patch antenna array (28 GHz) in different human models. Specifically, we analyzed different exposure conditions simulating three real common scenarios (a phone call scenario, message writing scenario, and browsing scenario) regarding the use of smartphones/tablets by four different individuals (adult male and female, child male and female). From the results of Absorbed Power Density (Sab), it is possible to conclude that all the considered exposure scenarios comply with the safety limits, both for adult and children models. However, the high values of the local Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) in the superficial tissues and the slight differences in its distribution between adults and children suggest the need for further and more detailed analysis.
Multifactorial Predictors of Late Epileptic Seizures Related to Stroke: Evaluation of the Current Possibilities of Stratification Based on Existing Prognostic Models—A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Wiśniewski Adam , Jatužis Dalius
Published: January 2021

Background: Epilepsy associated with strokes is a significant clinical and public health problem and has a negative impact on prognosis and clinical outcome. A late epileptic seizure occurring seven days after stroke is actually equated with poststroke epilepsy due to the high risk of recurrence. Predictive models evaluated in the acute phase of stroke would allow for the stratification and early selection of patients at higher risk of developing late seizures. Methods: The most relevant papers in this field were reviewed to establish multifactorial predictors of late seizures and attempt to standardize and unify them into a common prognostic model. Results: Clinical and radiological factors have become the most valuable and reproducible predictors in many reports, while data on electroencephalographic, genetic, and blood biomarkers were limited. The existing prognostic models, CAVE and SeLECT, based on relevant, readily available, and routinely assessed predictors, should be validated and improved in multicenter studies for widespread use in stroke units. Conclusions: Due to contradictory reports, a common and reliable model covering all factors is currently not available. Further research might refine forecasting models by incorporating advanced radiological neuroimaging or quantitative electroencephalographic analysis.
Measuring Subjective Sleep Quality: A Review
Authors: Fabbri Marco , Beracci Alessia , Martoni Monica , Meneo Debora , Tonetti Lorenzo , Natale Vincenzo
Published: January 2021

Sleep quality is an important clinical construct since it is increasingly common for people to complain about poor sleep quality and its impact on daytime functioning. Moreover, poor sleep quality can be an important symptom of many sleep and medical disorders. However, objective measures of sleep quality, such as polysomnography, are not readily available to most clinicians in their daily routine, and are expensive, time-consuming, and impractical for epidemiological and research studies., Several self-report questionnaires have, however, been developed. The present review aims to address their psychometric properties, construct validity, and factorial structure while presenting, comparing, and discussing the measurement properties of these sleep quality questionnaires. A systematic literature search, from 2008 to 2020, was performed using the electronic databases PubMed and Scopus, with predefined search terms. In total, 49 articles were analyzed from the 5734 articles found. The psychometric properties and factor structure of the following are reported: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Mini-Sleep Questionnaire (MSQ), Jenkins Sleep Scale (JSS), Leeds Sleep Evaluation Questionnaire (LSEQ), SLEEP-50 Questionnaire, and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). As the most frequently used subjective measurement of sleep quality, the PSQI reported good internal reliability and validity; however, different factorial structures were found in a variety of samples, casting doubt on the usefulness of total score in detecting poor and good sleepers. The sleep disorder scales (AIS, ISI, MSQ, JSS, LSEQ and SLEEP-50) reported good psychometric properties; nevertheless, AIS and ISI reported a variety of factorial models whereas LSEQ and SLEEP-50 appeared to be less useful for epidemiological and research settings due to the length of the questionnaires and their scoring. The MSQ and JSS seemed to be inexpensive and easy to administer, complete, and score, but further validation studies are needed. Finally, the ESS had good internal consistency and construct validity, while the main challenges were in its factorial structure, known-group difference and estimation of reliable cut-offs. Overall, the self-report questionnaires assessing sleep quality from different perspectives have good psychometric properties, with high internal consistency and test-retest reliability, as well as convergent/divergent validity with sleep, psychological, and socio-demographic variables. However, a clear definition of the factor model underlying the tools is recommended and reliable cut-off values should be indicated in order for clinicians to discriminate poor and good sleepers.
Cost-Effective Mitigation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Agriculture of Aragon, Spain
Authors: Baccour Safa , Albiac Jose , Kahil Taher
Published: January 2021

Climate change represents a serious threat to life in earth. Agriculture releases significant emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG), but also offers low-cost opportunities to mitigate GHG emissions. This paper assesses agricultural GHG emissions in Aragon, one important and representative region for agriculture in Spain. The Marginal Abatement Cost Curve (MACC) approach is used to analyze the abatement potential and cost-efficiency of mitigation measures under several scenarios, with and without taking into account the interaction among measures and their transaction costs. The assessment identifies the environmental and economic outcomes of different combinations of measures, including crop, livestock and forest measures. Some of these measures are win-win, with pollution abatement at negative costs to farmers. Moreover, we develop future mitigation scenarios for agriculture toward the year 2050. Results highlight the trade-offs and synergies between the economic and environmental outcomes of mitigation measures. The biophysical processes underlying mitigation efforts are assessed taking into account the significant effects of interactions between measures. Interactions reduce the abatement potential and worsen the cost-efficiency of measures. The inclusion of transaction costs provides a better ranking of measures and a more accurate estimation of implementation costs. The scenario analysis shows how the combinations of measures could reduce emissions by up to 75% and promote sustainable agriculture in the future.
Using Virtual Reality to Stimulate Healthy and Environmentally Friendly Food Consumption among Children: An Interview Study
Authors: Smit Eline Suzanne , Meijers Marijn Hendrika Catharina , van der Laan Laura Nynke
Published: January 2021

Since habits formed during childhood are predictive of adult behaviour, children form an important target group when it comes to improving healthy and environmentally friendly food consumption. To explore the potential of immersive virtual reality (VR) in this respect, we conducted a semi-structured interview study (N = 22) among children aged 6–13 years. This study consisted of two parts: (1) a VR experience and (2) a semi-structured interview to investigate (1) to what extent children are able to recall and understand information about the impact of food products on their health and the environment when provided to them as pop-ups in a VR supermarket; (2) what rational and emotional processes are triggered by this information; and (3) what children’s expectations about the real-life application and impact of the pop-ups are, and why. Interview data were analysed using the framework method. Results showed that although all participants were able to recall the information, only children from an average age of ten years old also understood the information. When participants understood the information, they were often aware of and felt sorry for their negative behavioural impact. Most participants expected their behaviour to positively change when imagining real-life application of the pop-ups.
Adherence to COVID-19 Preventive Measures in Mozambique: Two Consecutive Online Surveys
Authors: Júnior António , Dula Janeth , Mahumane Sérgio , Koole Olivier , Enosse Sónia , Fodjo Joseph Nelson Siewe , Colebunders Robert
Published: January 2021

We assessed adherence to government recommendations implemented shortly after the introduction of COVID-19 in Mozambique in March 2020, through two online cross-sectional surveys in April and June 2020. We quantified adherence to preventive measures by a composite score comprising of five measures: physical distancing, face mask use, hand hygiene, cough hygiene, and avoidance of touching the face. 3770 and 1115 persons participated in the first and second round respectively. Wearing face masks, regular handwashing and cough hygiene all reached compliance rates of over 90% while physical distancing and avoiding to touch the face reached a compliance rate of 80–90%. A multivariable model investigating factors associated with adherence found that being older, more educated, and belonging to the healthcare sector increased the odds for higher adherence. Private workers and retired people, respondents receiving COVID-19 information through social media, and those who reported flu-like symptoms were less likely to adhere. 6% of respondents reported flu-like symptoms which aligned with the WHO clinical definition of COVID-19, suggesting low level community transmission. In conclusion, most respondents in this online survey in Mozambique complied well with strategies to prevent COVID-19. Whether the good preventive behaviour explains the low grade COVID-19 transmission requires further study.