bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of Compliance to Diet and Self-Efficacy Expectation on Quality of Life in Patients with Celiac Disease in Spain
Authors: Fueyo-Díaz Ricardo , Montoro Miguel , Magallón-Botaya Rosa , Gascón-Santos Santiago , Asensio-Martínez Ángela , Palacios-Navarro Guillermo , Sebastián-Domingo Juan J.
Published: September 2020

The purpose of this study is to understand the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with celiac disease (CD) and analyze its main determinants. A transversal descriptive study of 738 patients with celiac disease was carried out. A series of questionnaires were answered related to their HRQoL, adherence to a gluten-free diet (GFD), and self-efficacy beliefs among other relevant variables. Regression analyses were carried out in order to explore the predictive variables in adherence to the GFD and HRQoL. A total of 61.2% showed a good HRQoL, and the main predictors of HRQoL were specific self-efficacy, adherence to the diet, risk perception, time since diagnosis, and age. While 68.7% of participants showed good or excellent adherence to the GFD, and the main predictors of adherence were specific self-efficacy, perceived adoption of recommended behaviors, HRQoL and gender. The HRQoL of patients with CD, and adherence to the GFD in Spain, are good. It is the self-efficacy expectation, measured specifically and not generally, which is the best predictor of both adherence and HRQoL. It is necessary to develop programs to improve the HRQoL of patients with CD that focus on improving specific self-efficacy.
Effectiveness of Community-Based Interventions Programs in Childhood Obesity Prevention in a Spanish Population According to Different Socioeconomic School Settings
Authors: Puga Ana M. , Carretero-Krug Alejandra , Montero-Bravo Ana M. , Varela-Moreiras Gregorio , Partearroyo Teresa
Published: September 2020

Overweight and obesity amongst childhood are currently global health issues. However, this is the best stage of life to prevent diseases and to promote healthy habits. In our study, we evaluate the effectiveness of the THAO Salud Infantil, a community-based intervention program, by means of a cross-sectional study carried out from 2009 to 2019 surveying children aged 3 to 12 years old (n = 27,686). During the study timeframe, overweight and obesity prevalence, according to both the International Obesity Task Force and Orbegozo Foundation criteria, showed a downward trend. Differences in the anthropometric variables were observed from the beginning to the end of the study, mainly in girls. Analysis of the influence of the socioeconomic status revealed that children from families with lower incomes are in greater risk of suffering from overweight and obesity and showed lower effectiveness of the actions proposed by the program. The overall results of the study confirmed the effectiveness of community-based interventions in terms of childhood overweight/obesity prevention.
Occurrence of Chlamydiaceae in Raptors and Crows in Switzerland
Authors: Stalder Sandro , Marti Hanna , Borel Nicole , Sachse Konrad , Albini Sarah , Vogler Barbara Renate
Published: September 2020

Bacteria of the family Chlamydiaceae are globally disseminated and able to infect many bird species. So far, 11 species of Chlamydia have been detected in wild birds, and several studies found chlamydial strains classified as genetically intermediate between Chlamydia (C.) psittaci and C.abortus. Recently, a group of these intermediate strains was shown to form a separate species, i.e., C.buteonis. In the present study, 1128 samples from 341 raptors of 16 bird species and 253 corvids representing six species were examined using a stepwise diagnostic approach. Chlamydiaceae DNA was detected in 23.7% of the corvids and 5.9% of the raptors. In corvids, the most frequently detected Chlamydia species was C.psittaci of outer membrane protein A (ompA) genotype 1V, which is known to have a host preference for corvids. The most frequently detected ompA genotype in raptors was M56. Furthermore, one of the raptors harbored C.psittaci 1V, and two others carried genotype A. C.buteonis was not detected in the bird population investigated, so it remains unknown whether this species occurs in Switzerland. The infection rate of Chlamydiaceae in corvids was high compared to rates reported in other wild bird species, but neither Chlamydiaceae-positive corvids nor raptors showed overt signs of disease. Since the Chlamydiaceae of both, raptors and crows were identified as C.psittaci and all C.psittaci genotypes are considered to be zoonotic, it can be suggested that raptors and crows pose a potential hazard to the health of their handlers.
In Vitro Characterization of Multidrug-Resistant Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 Viruses Carrying a Dual Neuraminidase Mutation Isolated from Immunocompromised Patients
Authors: Takashita Emi , Fujisaki Seiichiro , Yokoyama Masaru , Shirakura Masayuki , Morita Hiroko , Nakamura Kazuya , Kishida Noriko , Kuwahara Tomoko , Sato Hironori , Doi Ikuko , Sato Yuji , Takao Shinichi , Shimazu Yukie , Shimomura Takeshi , Ito Takuo , Watanabe Shinji , Odagiri Takato , on behalf of The Influenza Virus Surveillance Group of Japan
Published: September 2020

Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses carrying a dual neuraminidase (NA) substitution were isolated from immunocompromised patients after administration of one or more NA inhibitors. These mutant viruses possessed an H275Y/I223R, H275Y/I223K, or H275Y/G147R substitution in their NA and showed enhanced cross-resistance to oseltamivir and peramivir and reduced susceptibility to zanamivir compared to single H275Y mutant viruses. Baloxavir could be a treatment option against the multidrug-resistant viruses because these dual H275Y mutant viruses showed susceptibility to this drug. The G147R substitution appears to stabilize the NA structure, with the fitness of the H275Y/G147R mutant virus being similar or somewhat better than that of the wild-type virus. Since the multidrug-resistant viruses may be able to transmit between humans, surveillance of these viruses must continue to improve clinical management and to protect public health.
An Update on Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs) and Their Delivery Strategies for Wound Infections
Authors: Patrulea Viorica , Borchard Gerrit , Jordan Olivier
Published: September 2020

Bacterial infections occur when wound healing fails to reach the final stage of healing, which is usually hindered by the presence of different pathogens. Different topical antimicrobial agents are used to inhibit bacterial growth due to antibiotic failure in reaching the infected site, which is accompanied very often by increased drug resistance and other side effects. In this review, we focus on antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), especially those with a high potential of efficacy against multidrug-resistant and biofilm-forming bacteria and fungi present in wound infections. Currently, different AMPs undergo preclinical and clinical phase to combat infection-related diseases. AMP dendrimers (AMPDs) have been mentioned as potent microbial agents. Various AMP delivery strategies that are used to combat infection and modulate the healing rate—such as polymers, scaffolds, films and wound dressings, and organic and inorganic nanoparticles—have been discussed as well. New technologies such as Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat (CRISPR)-associated protein (CRISPR-Cas) are taken into consideration as potential future tools for AMP delivery in skin therapy.
Role Theory: A Framework to Explore Health Professional Perceptions of Expanding Rural Community Pharmacists’ Role
Authors: Taylor Selina , Cairns Alice , Glass Beverley
Published: September 2020

Pharmaceutical care is a concept which has moved the pharmacy profession from their primary focus on the product to optimising drug therapy for the individual patient. Expanded pharmacy practice beyond pharmaceutical care will further challenge the role perceptions that other health professionals have about pharmacists. Role theory as a philosophical perspective was used to explore rural and remote health professionals’ beliefs on pharmacists expanding their clinical role by conducting twenty-three semi-structured interviews. Five role theory categories described the data, role ambiguity, role conflict, role overload, role identity and role insufficiency. The health professionals interviewed were found to be uncertain about the boundaries between the traditional roles of the pharmacist compared to that of the expanded roles. A perceived lack of accountability by pharmacists was seen as a major contributor to role conflict, which in turn was found to impact the ability of pharmacists and other health professionals to work collaboratively. Perspectives of other health professionals on pharmacists adopting expanded practice models has highlighted significant concerns with role conflict and role identity. Acknowledging and developing clear strategies to address these concerns is essential to ensure that expanded pharmacy practice can be effectively integrated to improve access to health services and thus health outcomes for rural Australians.
Encapsulation Effect on the In Vitro Bioaccessibility of Sacha Inchi Oil (Plukenetia volubilis L.) by Soft Capsules Composed of Gelatin and Cactus Mucilage Biopolymers
Authors: Otálora María Carolina , Camelo Robinson , Wilches-Torres Andrea , Cárdenas-Chaparro Agobardo , Gómez Castaño Jovanny A.
Published: September 2020

Sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.) seed oil is a rich source of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) that are beneficial for human health, whose nutritional efficacy is limited because of its low water solubility and labile bioaccessibility (compositional integrity). In this work, the encapsulation effect, using blended softgels of gelatin (G) and cactus mucilage (CM) biopolymers, on the PUFAs’ bioaccessibility of P. volubilis seed oil was evaluated during in vitro simulated digestive processes (mouth, gastric, and intestinal). Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector (GC–FID) were used for determining the chemical composition of P. volubilis seed oil both before and after in vitro digestion. The most abundant compounds in the undigested samples were α-linolenic, linoleic, and oleic acids with 59.23, 33.46, and 0.57 (g/100 g), respectively. The bioaccessibility of α-linolenic, linoleic, and oleic acid was found to be 1.70%, 1.46%, and 35.8%, respectively, along with the presence of some oxidation products. G/CM soft capsules are capable of limiting the in vitro bioaccessibility of PUFAs because of the low mucilage ratio in their matrix, which influences the enzymatic hydrolysis of gelatin, thus increasing the release of the polyunsaturated content during the simulated digestion.
Polymer Capsules with Hydrophobic Liquid Cores as Functional Nanocarriers
Authors: Szafraniec-Szczęsny Joanna , Janik-Hazuka Małgorzata , Odrobińska Joanna , Zapotoczny Szczepan
Published: September 2020

Recent developments in the fabrication of core-shell polymer nanocapsules, as well as their current and future applications, are reported here. Special attention is paid to the newly introduced surfactant-free fabrication method of aqueous dispersions of nanocapsules with hydrophobic liquid cores stabilized by amphiphilic copolymers. Various approaches to the efficient stabilization of such vehicles, tailoring their cores and shells for the fabrication of multifunctional, navigable nanocarriers and/or nanoreactors useful in various fields, are discussed. The emphasis is placed on biomedical applications of polymer nanocapsules, including the delivery of poorly soluble active compounds and contrast agents, as well as their use as theranostic platforms. Other methods of fabrication of polymer-based nanocapsules are briefly presented and compared in the context of their biomedical applications.
Quartz Sand Filter Media with Special Wettability for Continuous and Efficient Oil/Water Separation and Dye Adsorption
Authors: Wei Bigui , Luo Xuying , Song Xiaosan , Guo Hanyue , Dai Liang , Zhang Hongwei , Wang Gang
Published: September 2020

For continuous and efficient oil/water separation and adsorption of dyes, coconut shell powder was grafted onto the surface of quartz sand by dip-coating method to make coconut shell powder-covered quartz sand filter media (CSQS) with superhydrophilic and underwater superoleophobic properties and superoleophilic and underoil highly hydrophobic properties. The contact angles of the underwater oil and underoil water with CSQS were more than 151.2° and 134.2°, respectively. A continuous oil/water separation device was designed. The separation device filled with CSQS can separate oil/water mixture (whether heavy or light oil) into water and oil at the same time with a separation efficiency of above 99.92%. The filter layer can be recovered through reverse extrusion even after lyophobic liquid penetrated the filter layer; hence, the separation efficiency of the filter layer was still above 99.99% for diesel and water mixture. Simultaneously, CSQS can effectively adsorb methylene blue with the highest removal rate as 98.94%. CSQS can maintain stable wettability under harsh environment conditions. This paper provides a new idea on continuous and efficient oil/water separation and simultaneous dye adsorption.
Degradation Status Recognition of Axial Piston Pumps under Variable Conditions Based on Improved Information Entropy and Gaussian Mixture Models
Authors: Lu Chuanqi , Zheng Zhi , Wang Shaoping
Published: September 2020

Axial piston pumps are crucial for the safe operation of hydraulic systems and usually work under variable operating conditions. However, deterioration status recognition for such pumps under variable conditions has rarely been reported until now. Therefore, it is valuable to develop effective methods suitable for processing variable conditions. Firstly, considering that information entropy has strong robustness to variable conditions and empirical mode decomposition (EMD) has the advantages of processing nonlinear and nonstationary signals, a new degradation feature parameter, named local instantaneous energy moment entropy, which combines information entropy theory and EMD, is proposed in this paper. To obtain more accurate degradation feature, a waveform matching extrema mirror extension EMD, which is used to suppress the end effects of EMD decomposition, was employed to decompose the original pump’s outlet pressure signals, taking the quasi-periodic characteristics of the signals into consideration. Subsequently, given that different failure modes of pumps have different degradation rates in practice, which makes it difficult to effectively recognize degradation status when using the modeling methods that need the normal and failure data, a Gaussian mixture model (GMM), which has no need for failure data when building a degradation identification model, was introduced to capture the new degradation status index (DSI) to quantitatively assess the degradation state of the pumps. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed approach was validated using both simulations and experiments. It was demonstrated that the defined local instantaneous energy moment entropy is able to effectively characterize the degree of degradation of the pumps under variable operating conditions, and the DSI derived from the GMM is able to accurately identify different degradation states when compared with the previously published methods.
In Vitro Bioadsorption of Cd2+ Ions: Adsorption Isotherms, Mechanism, and an Insight to Mycoremediation
Authors: Kumar Raman , Sharma Priyanka , Umar Ahmad , Kumar Rajeev , Singh Namita , Joshi P. K. , A. Alharthi Fahad , Ali Alghamdi Abdulaziz , Al-Zaqri Nabil
Published: September 2020

The objective of this paper is to establish the significance of the mycoremediation of contaminants such as Cd2+ to achieve sustainable and eco-friendly remediation methods. Industries such as electroplating, paint, leather tanning, etc. release an enormous amount of Cd2+ in wastewater, which can drastically affect our flora and fauna. Herein, we report on the in vitro bioadsorption of Cd2+ ions using fungal isolates obtained from different contaminated industrial sites. The detailed studies revealed that two fungal species, i.e., Trichoderma fasciculatum and Trichoderma longibrachiatum, were found to be most effective against the removal of Cd2+ when screened for Cd2+ tolerance on potato dextrose agar (PDA) in different concentrations. Detailed adsorption studies were conducted by exploring various experimental factors such as incubation time, temperature, pH, inoculum size, and Cd2+ salt concentrations. Based on optimum experimental conditions, T. fasciculatum exhibited approximately 67.10% removal, while T. longibrachiatum shows 76.25% removal of Cd2+ ions at pH 5.0, 120 h incubation time, at 30°C. The inoculum sizes for T. fasciculatum and T. longibrachiatum were 2.5% and 2.0%, respectively. Finally, the morphological changes due to Cd2+ accumulation were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Further, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectroscopy reveals the presence of various functional groups (-CH, –C=O, NH and –OH), which seem to be responsible for the efficient binding of Cd2+ ions over the fungal surfaces.
CFD-DEM Simulation of a Coating Process in a Fluidized Bed Rotor Granulator
Authors: Grohn Philipp , Lawall Marius , Oesau Tobias , Heinrich Stefan , Antonyuk Sergiy
Published: September 2020

Coating of particles is a widely used technique in order to obtain the desired surface modification of the final product, e.g., specific color or taste. Especially in the pharmaceutical industry, rotor granulators are used to produce round, coated pellets. In this work, the coating process in a rotor granulator is investigated numerically using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) coupled with the discrete element method (DEM). The droplets are generated as a second particulate phase in DEM. A liquid bridge model is implemented in the DEM model to take the capillary and viscous forces during the wet contact of the particles into account. A coating model is developed, where the drying of the liquid layer on the particles, as well as the particle growth, is considered. The simulation results of the dry process compared to the simulations with liquid injection show an important influence of the liquid on the particle dynamics. The formation of liquid bridges and the viscous forces in the liquid layer lead to an increase of the average particle velocity and contact time. Changing the injection rate of water has an influence on the contact duration but no significant effect on the particle dynamics. In contrast, the aqueous binder solution has an important influence on the particle movement.
Freeze-Drying with Structured Sublimation Fronts—Visualization with Neutron Imaging
Authors: Vorhauer-Huget Nicole , Mannes David , Hilmer Mathias , Gruber Sebastian , Strobl Markus , Tsotsas Evangelos , Foerst Petra
Published: September 2020

The particular structure of the sublimation front in vacuum freeze-drying of porous media is, in most situations, not accessible at the pore scale. The classical measurement techniques access the process only globally. Knowledge about the structure of the front, however, is necessary for prescriptive analysis of freeze-drying, as it dictates not only drying velocity, drying time, and overall energy consumption, but also the material properties after drying. This is especially relevant in situations in which the freeze-drying process is carried out close to the collapse temperature of the product. We, therefore, study the sublimation of ice with neutron tomography and analyze the spatial formation of the dry space using the example of frozen cylindrical maltodextrin with drying parameters at the limit of material collapse. We show that the sublimation front forms unique fractal structures that differ strongly from the usual form of a flat front. Distinct dry fingers covering the sample, in addition to a fractal peripheral sublimation front, were observed. The findings are important for the understanding of freeze-drying processes and will serve as a basis for the development of microscale models of freeze-drying.
Building Extraction from Airborne LiDAR Data Based on Min-Cut and Improved Post-Processing
Authors: Liu Ke , Ma Hongchao , Ma Haichi , Cai Zhan , Zhang Liang
Published: September 2020

Building extraction from LiDAR data has been an active research area, but it is difficult to discriminate between buildings and vegetation in complex urban scenes. A building extraction method from LiDAR data based on minimum cut (min-cut) and improved post-processing is proposed. To discriminate building points on the intersecting roof planes from vegetation, a point feature based on the variance of normal vectors estimated via low-rank subspace clustering (LRSC) technique is proposed, and non-ground points are separated into two subsets based on min-cut after filtering. Then, the results of building extraction are refined via improved post-processing using restricted region growing and the constraints of height, the maximum intersection angle and consistency. The maximum intersection angle constraint removes large non-building point clusters with narrow width, such as greenbelt along streets. Contextual information and consistency constraint are both used to eliminate inhomogeneity. Experiments of seven datasets, including five datasets provided by the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS), one dataset with high-density point data and one dataset with dense buildings, verify that most buildings, even with curved roofs, are successfully extracted by the proposed method, with over 94.1% completeness and a minimum 89.8% correctness at the per-area level. In addition, the proposed point feature significantly outperforms the comparison alternative and is less sensitive to feature threshold in complex scenes. Hence, the extracted building points can be used in various applications.
Application of Crowd Simulations in the Evaluation of Tracking Algorithms
Authors: Staniszewski Michał , Foszner Paweł , Kostorz Karol , Michalczuk Agnieszka , Wereszczyński Kamil , Cogiel Michał , Golba Dominik , Wojciechowski Konrad , Polański Andrzej
Published: September 2020

Tracking and action-recognition algorithms are currently widely used in video surveillance, monitoring urban activities and in many other areas. Their development highly relies on benchmarking scenarios, which enable reliable evaluations/improvements of their efficiencies. Presently, benchmarking methods for tracking and action-recognition algorithms rely on manual annotation of video databases, prone to human errors, limited in size and time-consuming. Here, using gained experiences, an alternative benchmarking solution is presented, which employs methods and tools obtained from the computer-game domain to create simulated video data with automatic annotations. Presented approach highly outperforms existing solutions in the size of the data and variety of annotations possible to create. With proposed system, a potential user can generate a sequence of random images involving different times of day, weather conditions, and scenes for use in tracking evaluation. In the design of the proposed tool, the concept of crowd simulation is used and developed. The system is validated by comparisons to existing methods.
A COVID-19-Based Modified Epidemiological Model and Technological Approaches to Help Vulnerable Individuals Emerge from the Lockdown in the UK
Authors: Anderez Dario Ortega , Kanjo Eiman , Pogrebna Ganna , Kaiwartya Omprakash , Johnson Shane D. , Hunt John Alan
Published: September 2020

COVID-19 has shown a relatively low case fatality rate in young healthy individuals, with the majority of this group being asymptomatic or having mild symptoms. However, the severity of the disease among the elderly as well as in individuals with underlying health conditions has caused significant mortality rates worldwide. Understanding this variance amongst different sectors of society and modelling this will enable the different levels of risk to be determined to enable strategies to be applied to different groups. Long-established compartmental epidemiological models like SIR and SEIR do not account for the variability encountered in the severity of the SARS-CoV-2 disease across different population groups. The objective of this study is to investigate how a reduction in the exposure of vulnerable individuals to COVID-19 can minimise the number of deaths caused by the disease, using the UK as a case study. To overcome the limitation of long-established compartmental epidemiological models, it is proposed that a modified model, namely SEIR-v, through which the population is separated into two groups regarding their vulnerability to SARS-CoV-2 is applied. This enables the analysis of the spread of the epidemic when different contention measures are applied to different groups in society regarding their vulnerability to the disease. A Monte Carlo simulation (100,000 runs) along the proposed SEIR-v model is used to study the number of deaths which could be avoided as a function of the decrease in the exposure of vulnerable individuals to the disease. The results indicate a large number of deaths could be avoided by a slight realistic decrease in the exposure of vulnerable groups to the disease. The mean values across the simulations indicate 3681 and 7460 lives could be saved when such exposure is reduced by 10% and 20% respectively. From the encouraging results of the modelling a number of mechanisms are proposed to limit the exposure of vulnerable individuals to the disease. One option could be the provision of a wristband to vulnerable people and those without a smartphone and contact-tracing app, filling the gap created by systems relying on smartphone apps only. By combining very dense contact tracing data from smartphone apps and wristband signals with information about infection status and symptoms, vulnerable people can be protected and kept safer.
A Simplified Numerical Approach to Examine the Sensitivity of Two-Electrode Capacitance Sensor Orientation to Capture Different Gas–Liquid Flow Patterns in a Small Circular Pipe
Authors: Al-Alweet Fayez M. , Jaworski Artur J. , Alghamdi Yusif A. , Almutairi Zeyad , Kołłątaj Jerzy
Published: September 2020

This work involved the simulation of both a multiphase gas–liquid flow and the electromagnetic field representing a two-electrode capacitance sensor in a circular pipe. The simulation investigates in particular the sensitivity of the sensor orientation around the pipe (i.e., top-to-bottom or side-to-side) that best capture the induced flow patterns. The presented numerical work is a simplified simulation by COMSOL multi-physics which was validated by a systematic and an extensive experimental work, using (a) a specially designed simple capacitance sensor (i.e., concave two electrodes), (b) different gas–liquid superficial velocity combinations, (c) different flow section inclinations, and (d) high-speed camera images. The numerical modelling capacitance values were validated against the experimentally measured values which shows a satisfactory level of agreement with a deviation of less than ±2%. The quantity of finite points was between 280,000 and 340,000, which was influenced by the simulated flow pattern. The simulated cases captured the generated flow patterns and their variation inside the pipe, which was in a good agreement when compared to the experimental work as time-dependent values. It was found that the best orientation for the utilized two-electrode capacitance sensor was the top-to-bottom configuration. This is because the sensor’s electrical field distribution was more sensitive, and capable of detecting a greater range of capacitance values. The sensitivity of the top-to-bottom configuration was 1.25–1.64 times greater than that of the side-to-side configuration. Therefore, for design purposes and performance optimization, it is recommended to use the top-to-bottom configuration.
Dissipation Analysis Methods and Q-Enhancement Strategies in Piezoelectric MEMS Laterally Vibrating Resonators: A Review
Authors: Tu Cheng , Lee Joshua E.-Y. , Zhang Xiao-Sheng
Published: September 2020

Over the last two decades, piezoelectric resonant sensors based on micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) technologies have been extensively studied as such sensors offer several unique benefits, such as small form factor, high sensitivity, low noise performance and fabrication compatibility with mainstream integrated circuit technologies. One key challenge for piezoelectric MEMS resonant sensors is enhancing their quality factors (Qs) to improve the resolution of these resonant sensors. Apart from sensing applications, large values of Qs are also demanded when using piezoelectric MEMS resonators to build high-frequency oscillators and radio frequency (RF) filters due to the fact that high-Q MEMS resonators favor lowering close-to-carrier phase noise in oscillators and sharpening roll-off characteristics in RF filters. Pursuant to boosting Q, it is essential to elucidate the dominant dissipation mechanisms that set the Q of the resonator. Based upon these insights on dissipation, Q-enhancement strategies can then be designed to target and suppress the identified dominant losses. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the substantial progress that has been made during the last two decades for dissipation analysis methods and Q-enhancement strategies of piezoelectric MEMS laterally vibrating resonators.
Non-Timber Forest Products in Brazil: A Bibliometric and a State of the Art Review
Authors: Silva Thiago Cardoso , Araujo Emmanoella Costa Guaraná , Lins Tarcila Rosa da Silva , Reis Cibelle Amaral , Sanquetta Carlos Roberto , Rocha Márcio Pereira da
Published: September 2020

Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) are a consolidated source of income and acquisition of inputs from forest environments. Therefore, the objective of this work was to carry out a collection of publications on NTFPs in Brazil, until 2019, available in the Scopus database, presenting a bibliometric review and the state of the art of this theme from the evaluation of these publications, discussing the challenges of Brazilian legislation on NTFPs. After screening the articles of interest, 196 documents were evaluated, in which they were observed institutions and authors, analyzing networks of citations and terms used, areas of forest sciences and sciences that encompass the most explored biomes and the most studied species. The results showed that the concern to research on NTFPs in Brazil began in the 1990s, with an increase in the number of publications over the years. Besides that, the research on NTFPs is multidisciplinary, with emphasis on the areas of Agricultural and Biological Sciences and Environmental Science. For better regulation of the process of exploration and management of NTFPs in Brazil, the need to create specific legislation that takes into account factors such as the phytogeographic domain the explored area, producing species, and the products and co-products obtained was observed.
Form and Function in Two Traditional Markets of the Middle East: Souq Mutrah and Souq Waqif
Authors: Major Mark David , Tannous Heba O.
Published: September 2020

This paper presents some of the findings of a study comparing the form and function of two traditional markets on the Arabian Peninsula: Souq Mutrah in Muscat, Oman, and Souq Waqif in Doha, Qatar. Globalization and rapid urbanization characterize both Doha and Muscat, which share similar historical origins as coastal settlements despite stark differences in topography; Oman is mountainous, whereas Qatar is flat. We investigate the urban morphology, land use and function of the two souqs using several representational techniques typical of morphological research, including space syntax analysis. The purpose is to develop a deeper understanding of (1) the evolution of space and form in these marketplaces over time, and (2) the possible implications for their functioning as urban places. The analysis demonstrates the critical importance of the contextual relations at the macro- and micro-scale of the urban environment for understanding the complex nature of these souqs as places today, helping to deepen our knowledge about traditional markets in the Middle East.
Growth of Fagus sylvatica L. and Picea abies (L.) Karst. Seedlings Grown in Hiko Containers in the First Year after Planting
Authors: Banach Jacek , Małek Stanisław , Kormanek Mariusz , Durło Grzegorz
Published: September 2020

In forest management in Poland, there are no standards for the quality and suitability for planting seedlings produced in nursery containers; therefore, research contributing to the development of such guidelines is important. We investigated the growth reaction of European beech and Norway spruce seedlings growing in container technology one year after planting on an experimental forest plantation. The seedlings used in the study were three experimental variants grown in a container nursery differing in fertilization. Two heights of seedlings were measured, i.e., after the first growing season on the experimental plantation and the initial (obtained in the forest nursery), and the annual (AHI, cm) and relative height increments (RHI, %) were calculated. The regression of the RHI of seedlings to their initial height was calculated, and the equations obtained were used to determine the optimal range of seedling height at the stage of nursery growth at which they will achieve the maximum increment in the first year of growth on the plantation. The change from foliar fertilization to a mixed one affected beech and spruce seedling parameters; however, it did not affect the diversity of their survival on the experimental plantation. Higher seedlings planted on the experimental plantation were characterized by a smaller RHI. The optimal range for the height of seedlings obtained at the nursery stage of growing, which determined the maximum value of the AHI after the first year of growth after planting, was 18–36 cm for beech and 14–25 cm for spruce.
Culture as Inspiration: A Metaphorical Framework for Designing Products with Traditional Cultural Properties (TCPs)
Authors: Qin Zhenzhen , Ng Sandy
Published: September 2020

There is a lack of emerging methods for guiding designers in innovating cultural contents beyond superficial manifestations in the process of product design with the consideration of modern lifestyles. Grounded in metaphor theory from cognitive linguistics, this article proposes a theoretical model—as a diagrammatic tool for design practice—assisting designers and/or researchers in analyzing and integrating the elements derived from Traditional Cultural Properties (TCPs) into product functions meeting modern needs. A quasi-experiment was conducted to illustrate how this theoretical model was applied in two design cases, which aimed to blend the value of TCPs and modern lifestyles metaphorically. We argue that this theoretical model can assist designers and/or researchers in designing products, which can spur reflections on culture, enhance the user experience, and improve modern life with local identity through metaphorically blending of TCPs and modern lifestyles.
Access Over Ownership: Case Studies of Libraries of Things
Authors: Baden Denise , Peattie Ken , Oke Adekunle
Published: September 2020

Over the last decade there has been increasing interest in the concept of the sharing economy, which replaces the focus on individual ownership with a focus on access to goods and services through borrowing, hiring or sharing. This study investigates the efficacy of extending the library concept to include more items, such as those that are used infrequently. The aim is to explore how Libraries of Things (LoTs) operate and the potential to broaden their appeal, reach and sustainability. This study adopts a multiple case study method to provide a snapshot of six LoTs in the UK. Findings indicate that all LoTs shared common environmental and social values, with the most prevalent values being to use the library concept to reduce resource use and waste and to enable more equitable access to goods. All relied on volunteers and public support, in the form of free or discounted space and none were yet economically self-sufficient. This poses important questions about the future for LoTs and whether they could or even should, transition towards the mainstream to make a more substantive contribution to creating a more socially equitable and environmentally sustainable economy.
Using Multivariate Statistical Methods to Analyze High-Quality Bicycle Path Service Systems: A Case Study of Popular Bicycle Paths in Taiwan
Authors: Lin Shinn-Jou , Shyu Guey-Shin , Fang Wei-Ta , Cheng Bai-You
Published: September 2020

Taiwan has promoted bicycle tourism for nearly 20 years, and the bicycle paths it has constructed throughout the island are diverse in design. In the present study, an evaluation scale for bicycle path sightseeing potential was devised with a focus on the overall service quality of the paths; 30 popular bicycle paths were analyzed using a field survey, with expert consultation on quantitative indicators, and a qualitative analysis entailing interviews with people regarding the bicycle paths. A multivariate statistical analysis was performed on the quality of the service systems for these paths. The results revealed that the quality of these service systems is influenced by four principal components, namely, landscape attractiveness, image management, bicycle-specific paths, and accessibility, for a total explanatory power of 76.21%; the individual explanatory power of these components was 25.89%, 21.49%, 16.81%, and 12.03%, respectively. Bicycle path conditions, service maintenance, and cleanliness and bicycle specificity are required for future high-quality bicycle paths; diverse bicycle rental services and bicycle types, entrance visibility, and ecological introduction boards along paths are value-added factors to bicycle path quality.
Supervised Learning-Based Fast, Stealthy, and Active NAT Device Identification Using Port Response Patterns
Authors: Lee Seungwoon , Kim Si Jung , Lee Jungtae , Roh Byeong-hee
Published: September 2020

Although network address translation (NAT) provides various advantages, it may cause potential threats to network operations. For network administrators to operate networks effectively and securely, it may be necessary to verify whether an assigned IP address is using NAT or not. In this paper, we propose a supervised learning-based active NAT device (NATD) identification using port response patterns. The proposed model utilizes the asymmetric port response patterns between NATD and non-NATD. In addition, to reduce the time and to solve the security issue that supervised learning approaches exhibit, we propose a fast and stealthy NATD identification method. The proposed method can perform the identification remotely, unlike conventional methods that should operate in the same network as the targets. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method is effective, exhibiting a F1 score of over 90%. With the efficient features of the proposed methods, we recommend some practical use cases that can contribute to managing networks securely and effectively.
Hydrogel-Based Technologies for the Diagnosis of Skin Pathology
Authors: Wiraja Christian , Ning Xiaoyu , Cui Mingyue , Xu Chenjie
Published: September 2020

Hydrogels, swellable hydrophilic polymer networks fabricated through chemical cross-linking or physical entanglement are increasingly utilized in various biomedical applications over the past few decades. Hydrogel-based microparticles, dressings and microneedle patches have been explored to achieve safe, sustained and on-demand therapeutic purposes toward numerous skin pathologies, through incorporation of stimuli-responsive moieties and therapeutic agents. More recently, these platforms are expanded to fulfill the diagnostic and monitoring role. Herein, the development of hydrogel technology to achieve diagnosis and monitoring of pathological skin conditions are highlighted, with proteins, nucleic acids, metabolites, and reactive species employed as target biomarkers, among others. The scope of this review includes the characteristics of hydrogel materials, its fabrication procedures, examples of diagnostic studies, as well as discussion pertaining clinical translation of hydrogel systems.
Association between Heavy Metals and Rare Earth Elements with Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Case-Control Study Conducted in the Canary Islands (Spain)
Authors: Medina-Estévez Florián , Zumbado Manuel , Luzardo Octavio P. , Rodríguez-Hernández Ángel , Boada Luis D. , Fernández-Fuertes Fernando , Santandreu-Jimenez María Elvira , Henríquez-Hernández Luis Alberto
Published: September 2020

The role of inorganic elements as risk factors for stroke has been suggested. We designed a case-control study to explore the role of 45 inorganic elements as factors associated with stroke in 92 patients and 83 controls. Nineteen elements were detected in >80% of patients and 21 were detected in >80% of controls. Blood level of lead was significantly higher among patients (11.2 vs. 9.03 ng/mL) while gold and cerium were significantly higher among controls (0.013 vs. 0.007 ng/mL; and 18.0 vs. 15.0 ng/mL). Lead was associated with stroke in univariate and multivariate analysis (OR = 1.65 (95% CI, 1.09–2.50) and OR = 1.91 (95% CI, 1.20–3.04), respectively). Gold and cerium showed an inverse association with stroke in multivariate analysis (OR = 0.81 (95% CI, 0.69–0.95) and OR = 0.50 (95% CI, 0.31–0.78)). Future studies are needed to elucidate the potential sources of exposure and disclose the mechanisms of action.
Estimated Dietary Bisphenol-A Exposure and Adiposity in Samoan Mothers and Children
Authors: Heinsberg Lacey W. , Bui Christina N.N. , Hartle Jennifer C. , Sereika Susan M. , Choy Courtney C. , Wang Dongqing , Soti-Ulberg Christina , Naseri Take , Reupena Muagututia Sefuiva , Duckham Rachel L. , Park Jennifer J. , Hawley Nicola L. , Deziel Nicole C.
Published: September 2020

The Pacific Island nation of Samoa is marked by prevalent obesity and an increasing dependence on packaged foods likely to contain the endocrine disruptor bisphenol-A (BPA). We evaluated participant- and household-level characteristics associated with estimated dietary BPA exposure in Samoan mothers and their children and examined associations between dietary BPA exposure and body mass index (BMI) and abdominal circumference (AC). Dietary BPA exposure indices were estimated for 399 mother–child pairs by combining information from dietary questionnaires and relative concentrations of BPA measured in foods/beverages. We observed moderate to strong correlation between mother–child daily BPA indices (Spearman’s rho = 0.7, p < 0.0001). In mothers, we observed lower daily BPA indices in those who were less physically active (p = 0.0004) and living in homes with higher income (p = 0.00001). In children, we observed lower daily BPA indices in those living in homes with higher income (p = 0.0003) and following a less modern dietary pattern (p = 0.002), and higher daily BPA indices in those who were less physically active (p = 0.02). No significant associations were observed between daily BPA indices and BMI or AC. Despite this, the application of the daily BPA index identified factors associated with dietary BPA exposure and warrants further examination in Samoa and other understudied populations.
Mechanisms of Tolerance and Resistance to Chlorhexidine in Clinical Strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae Producers of Carbapenemase: Role of New Type II Toxin-Antitoxin System, PemIK
Authors: Bleriot Ines , Blasco Lucia , Delgado-Valverde Mercedes , Gual-de-Torrella Ana , Ambroa Anton , Fernandez-Garcia Laura , Lopez Maria , Oteo-Iglesias Jesus , Wood Thomas K. , Pascual Alvaro , Bou German , Fernandez-Cuenca Felipe , Tomas Maria
Published: September 2020

Although the failure of antibiotic treatment is normally attributed to resistance, tolerance and persistence display a significant role in the lack of response to antibiotics. Due to the fact that several nosocomial pathogens show a high level of tolerance and/or resistance to chlorhexidine, in this study we analyzed the molecular mechanisms associated with chlorhexidine adaptation in two clinical strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae by phenotypic and transcriptomic studies. These two strains belong to ST258-KPC3 (high-risk clone carrying β-lactamase KPC3) and ST846-OXA48 (low-risk clone carrying β-lactamase OXA48). Our results showed that the K. pneumoniae ST258-KPC3CA and ST846-OXA48CA strains exhibited a different behavior under chlorhexidine (CHLX) pressure, adapting to this biocide through resistance and tolerance mechanisms, respectively. Furthermore, the appearance of cross-resistance to colistin was observed in the ST846-OXA48CA strain (tolerant to CHLX), using the broth microdilution method. Interestingly, this ST846-OXA48CA isolate contained a plasmid that encodes a novel type II toxin/antitoxin (TA) system, PemI/PemK. We characterized this PemI/PemK TA system by cloning both genes into the IPTG-inducible pCA24N plasmid, and found their role in persistence and biofilm formation. Accordingly, the ST846-OXA48CA strain showed a persistence biphasic curve in the presence of a chlorhexidine-imipenem combination, and these results were confirmed by the enzymatic assay (WST-1).
White Adipose Tissue as a Site for Islet Transplantation
Authors: Sakata Naoaki , Yoshimatsu Gumpei , Kodama Shohta
Published: September 2020

Although islet transplantation is recognized as a useful cellular replacement therapy for severe diabetes, surgeons face difficulties in islet engraftment. The transplant site is a pivotal factor that influences the engraftment. Although the liver is the current representative site for clinical islet transplantation, it is not the best site because of limitations in immunity, inflammation, and hypoxia. White adipose tissue, including omentum, is recognized as a useful candidate site for islet transplantation. Its effectiveness has been evaluated in not only various basic and translational studies using small and large animals but also in some recent clinical trials. In this review, we attempt to shed light on the characteristics and usefulness of white adipose tissue as a transplant site for islets.
A Zika Vaccine Generated Using the Chimeric Insect-Specific Binjari Virus Platform Protects against Fetal Brain Infection in Pregnant Mice
Authors: Hazlewood Jessamine E. , Rawle Daniel J. , Tang Bing , Yan Kexin , Vet Laura J. , Nakayama Eri , Hobson-Peters Jody , Hall Roy A. , Suhrbier Andreas
Published: September 2020

Zika virus (ZIKV) is the etiological agent of congenital Zika syndrome (CZS), a spectrum of birth defects that can lead to life-long disabilities. A range of vaccines are in development with the target population including pregnant women and women of child-bearing age. Using a recently described chimeric flavivirus vaccine technology based on the novel insect-specific Binjari virus (BinJV), we generated a ZIKV vaccine (BinJ/ZIKA-prME) and illustrate herein its ability to protect against fetal brain infection. Female IFNAR−/− mice were vaccinated once with unadjuvanted BinJ/ZIKA-prME, were mated, and at embryonic day 12.5 were challenged with ZIKVPRVABC59. No infectious ZIKV was detected in maternal blood, placenta, or fetal heads in BinJ/ZIKA-prME-vaccinated mice. A similar result was obtained when the more sensitive qRT PCR methodology was used to measure the viral RNA. BinJ/ZIKA-prME vaccination also did not result in antibody-dependent enhancement of dengue virus infection or disease. BinJ/ZIKA-prME thus emerges as a potential vaccine candidate for the prevention of CSZ.