bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Fruit Weight and Fruit Locule Number in Bell Pepper on Industrial Waste and Quality of Roasted Pepper
Authors: Guerra Marcos , Gómez Rosa María , Sanz Miguel Ángel , Rodríguez-González Álvaro , Casquero Pedro Antonio
Published: May 2022

Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), one of the most consumed vegetables worldwide, shows great differences between its diverse varieties. These differences affect the fruit type, size and shape. Food preservation techniques prolong the availability of sweet pepper. Roasted pepper is a product marketed with the European recognition of Protected Geographical Indication ‘Pimiento Asado del Bierzo’. The objective of this work was to analyse the effect of the fruit weight and fruit locule number of the industrial fresh pepper on quality and roasted pepper yield. Large trilocular fruits and large tetralocular fruits reached higher roast yield and uniformity than small trilocular fruits. Regardless of fruit locule number and fruit weight, the overall quality of all the samples of roasted pepper was categorised as very good. Large tetralocular and large trilocular fruits are the most appropriate peppers for industrial purposes, whereas small trilocular fruits should be intended for the fresh product market. This easy method of sorting bell pepper fruit attending to fruit weight will decrease the amount of pepper waste in the industrial roasting process (around 18%), while maintaining the high overall quality of the final product. Moreover, the faster peeling of large peppers will also contribute to increasing the productivity of the industrial processing of roasted pepper.
Encapsulation in Calcium Alginate of Nodes from Stolons of Mentha spicata L.
Authors: Micheli Maurizio , Regni Luca , da Silva Daniel Fernandes
Published: May 2022

It is well known that the products of encapsulation (multifunctional beads and synthetic seeds) can be used as innovative technological tools to integrate micropropagation both for plant germplasm conservation and to simplify the management of propagation materials in nurseries. Nevertheless, the usual concept of encapsulation concerns the use of initial in vitro derived explants. In this study, for the first time, in vivo derived organs of Mentha spicata L., obtained through the excision of fragments (nodes) from stolons of cultivated mother plants, were employed. The artificial endosperm had a tenfold reduced concentration of Murashige and Skoog (MS) substrate, with the addition of sucrose (5 g L−1), 6-benzyl-aminopurine (BAP) (0.1 mg L−1) and 1-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) (0.01 mg L−1). Moreover, the calcium alginate matrix was enriched with different thiophanate-methyl (TM) concentrations (0, 10, 50, 100 and 200 mg L−1) in order to prevent possible contamination during the conversion in nonsterile conditions. Interesting results were obtained encapsulating every single node of fresh stolon as a bipolar propagule able to develop a whole plantlet (conversion), as the coated seed in other species. The synthetic seeds of spearmint without TM in the artificial endosperm showed a satisfactory ability to convert (56.7%) into plantlets after sowing in soil under nonsterile conditions. TM at 100 and 200 mg L−1 negatively affected the total emergence, which decreased to 30.0 and 33.3%, respectively. In general, in the artificial seeds without TM, higher values for most of the aboveground and belowground plants parameters were recorded compared to naked nodes.
Assessing the Impact of Artificial Recharge Ponds on Hydrological Fluxes in an Irrigated Stream–Aquifer System
Authors: Deng Chenda , Bailey Ryan T.
Published: May 2022

Artificial recharge ponds have been used increasingly in recent years to store water in underlying aquifers and modify baseline groundwater gradients or alter natural hydrologic fluxes and state variables in an aquifer system. The number of constructed ponds, their geographic spacing, and the volume of water diverted to each pond can have a significant impact on baseline system hydrologic fluxes and state variables such as groundwater head, with the latter sometimes rising to cause waterlogging in cultivated areas. This study seeks to quantify the impact of recharge ponds on groundwater state variables (head, saturated thickness) and associated fluxes within an irrigated stream-aquifer system. We use a numerical modeling approach to assess the impact of a set of 40 recharge ponds in a 246 km2 region of the South Platte River Basin, Colorado on localized groundwater head, regional groundwater flow patterns, and groundwater interactions with the South Platte River. We then use this information to determine the overall influence of recharge ponds on the hydrologic system. A linked agroecosystem–groundwater (DayCent-MODFLOW) modeling system is used to simulate irrigation, crop evapotranspiration, deep percolation to the water table, groundwater pumping, seepage from irrigation canals, seepage from recharge ponds, groundwater flow, and groundwater–surface water interactions. The DayCent model simulates the plant–soil-water dynamics in the root zone and soil profile, while MODFLOW simulates the water balance in the aquifer system. After calibration and testing, the model is used in scenario analysis to quantify the hydrologic impact of recharge ponds. Results indicate that recharge ponds can raise groundwater levels by approximately 2.5 m in localized areas, but only 15 cm when averaged over the entire study region. Ponds also increase the rate of total groundwater discharge to the South Platte River by approximately 3%, due to an increase in groundwater hydraulic gradient, which generally offsets stream depletion caused by groundwater pumping. These results can assist with groundwater resource management in the study region, and generally provide valuable information for the interplay between pumping wells and recharge ponds, and their composite effect on groundwater–surface water interactions. In addition, the developed linked DayCent-MODFLOW modeling system presented herein can be used in any region for which recharge rates should be calculated on a per-field basis.
Health Communication through Positive and Solidarity Messages Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: Automated Content Analysis of Facebook Uses
Authors: Chang Angela , Xian Xuechang , Liu Matthew Tingchi , Zhao Xinshu
Published: May 2022

The COVID-19 outbreak has caused significant stress in our lives, which potentially increases frustration, fear, and resentful emotions. Managing stress is complex, but helps to alleviate negative psychological effects. In order to understand how the public coped with stress during the COVID-19 pandemic, we used Macao as a case study and collected 104,827 COVID-19 related posts from Facebook through data mining, from 1 January to 31 December 2020. Divominer, a big-data analysis tool supported by computational algorithm, was employed to identify themes and facilitate machine coding and analysis. A total of 60,875 positive messages were identified, with 24,790 covering positive psychological themes, such as “anti-epidemic”, “solidarity”, “hope”, “gratitude”, “optimism”, and “grit”. Messages that mentioned “anti-epidemic”, “solidarity”, and “hope” were the most prevalent, while different crisis stages, key themes and media elements had various impacts on public involvement. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first-ever study in the Chinese context that uses social media to clarify the awareness of solidarity. Positive messages are needed to empower social media users to shoulder their shared responsibility to tackle the crisis. The findings provide insights into users’ needs for improving their subjective well-being to mitigate the negative psychological impact of the pandemic.
Paroxysmal and Non-Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation in Middle Eastern Patients: Clinical Features and the Use of Medications. Analysis of the Jordan Atrial Fibrillation (JoFib) Study
Authors: Al-Makhamreh Hanna , Alrabadi Nasr , Haikal Lubna , Krishan Mohammad , Al-Badaineh Noor , Odeh Osama , Barqawi Tawfiq , Nawaiseh Mohammed , Shaban Ala , Abdin Basil , Khamies Lama , Hammoudeh Ayman
Published: May 2022

(1) Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia causing an increased risk of mortality and morbidity. It is classified into paroxysmal and non-paroxysmal AF depending on the duration and frequency of the episodes. (2) Aims: Our goal was to investigate and compare the clinical profiles, risk of co-morbidities, the use of oral anticoagulation, and outcomes of patients with paroxysmal and non-paroxysmal AF in inpatient and outpatient settings. (3) Methods: Data were extracted from 28 different hospitals and centers in Jordan with a total of 2160 patients enrolled in the study using an observational non-interventional study model. The clinical features and the use of oral anticoagulants were compared in patients with paroxysmal and non-paroxysmal AF. (4) Results: Paroxysmal AF was documented in 35.6% (769) of the patients and non-paroxysmal types in 63.9% (1380); in addition, the type of AF was unknown in 11 (0.5%) patients. Our results showed that non-paroxysmal AF patients tend to be older with more co-morbidities and higher CHA2DS2-VASC and HAS-BLED scores. They also have higher rates of hypertension and diabetes. Anticoagulant, antiarrhythmic, and diuretic agents, overall, were used more in non-paroxysmal AF than paroxysmal AF. Hospital admissions were also more frequent in non-paroxysmal AF due to various factors, some of which are heart failure, bleeding risk, and COPD. (5) Conclusions: Non-paroxysmal AF is more common among Jordanian AF patients. The prevalence of comorbidities and the use of different types of therapies, especially anticoagulants, were higher in these patients.
Planning a Collection of Virtual Patients to Train Clinical Reasoning: A Blueprint Representative of the European Population
Authors: Mayer Anja , Da Silva Domingues Vital , Hege Inga , Kononowicz Andrzej A. , Larrosa Marcos , Martínez-Jarreta Begoña , Rodriguez-Molina Daloha , Sousa-Pinto Bernardo , Sudacka Małgorzata , Morin Luc
Published: May 2022

Background: Virtual patients (VPs) are a suitable method for students to train their clinical reasoning abilities. We describe a process of developing a blueprint for a diverse and realistic VP collection (prior to VP creation) that facilitates deliberate practice of clinical reasoning and meets educational requirements of medical schools. Methods: An international and interdisciplinary partnership of five European countries developed a blueprint for a collection of 200 VPs in four steps: (1) Defining the criteria (e.g., key symptoms, age, sex) and categorizing them into disease-, patient-, encounter- and learner-related, (2) Identifying data sources for assessing the representativeness of the collection, (3) Populating the blueprint, and (4) Refining and reaching consensus. Results: The blueprint is publicly available and covers 29 key symptoms and 176 final diagnoses including the most prevalent medical conditions in Europe. Moreover, our analyses showed that the blueprint appears to be representative of the European population. Conclusions: The development of the blueprint required a stepwise approach, which can be replicated for the creation of other VP or case collections. We consider the blueprint an appropriate starting point for the actual creation of the VPs, but constant updating and refining is needed.
Design and Testing of a Separation and Desalination Device for Farmland Saline–Alkaline Water in Arid Areas
Authors: Yang Qiaonan , Hu Can , Li Jie , Yi Xiaokang , Zhang Jie , Sun Zhilin
Published: May 2022

To solve the problem of soil salination and to desalinate saline–alkaline water in arid areas, this study involved the design and testing of a separation and desalination device for farmland saline–alkaline water that is suitable for arid areas. The results of this study indicate that after the pretreatment of farmland saline–alkaline water, the water yielded by the pretreatment device had a mean turbidity of <1 and a mean silt density index (SDI) of <3, which met the working conditions of nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO) membranes. When used to filter saline–alkaline water, the composite NF–RO membrane system achieved a desalination rate of 97.06%, a total hardness removal rate of 97.83%, and a Cl− removal rate of 99.65%, which satisfied the standard for irrigation water quality. Some indicators of the yielded water reached the hygienic standard for drinking water, thus successfully reutilizing water resources. The circulating solar collector tube of the device was designed with a collection area of 6 m2, which could basically satisfy the heat demand of the flash tank for distillation. The design of the flash tank and the shell-and-tube circulating condenser met the requirements for vapor condensation. The crystals in the solar salt box precipitated under solar action. X-ray diffraction was used to identify the primary compound of the crystals as NaCl, suggesting that the precipitates have potential value as industrial salts. This study offers new technical references and helpful engineering guidance for arid saline–alkaline enrichment areas facing the problem of saline farmland irrigation water.
Does the Compact City Paradigm Help Reduce Poverty? Evidence from China
Authors: Liu Lu , Tian Yu
Published: May 2022

City shape is an essential reflection of spatial structure, but it has largely been ignored in urban form research. This study employs night-time satellite imagery to depict the scope of urban economic activity to investigate its impact on urban poverty. It is the first study to provide a comprehensive assessment of the mechanisms of city shape on urban poverty by using the fixed-effect estimate methodology for panel data of 285 Chinese cities from 2000 to 2018. The results showed that city compactness has an inverted U-shaped relationship with poverty incidence, which was verified by several robustness tests. Compactness can significantly attract more population into the city, and space costs and commuting costs are important influence channels. Furthermore, there exists heterogeneous nexus between city shape and urban poverty. Compactness has more significant poverty reduction effects in low-attractive cities with low productivity, low wages, and high illiteracy rates.
Systematic Literature Review on Indicators Use in Safety Management Practices among Utility Industries
Authors: Ali Mohamad Xazaquan Mansor , Arifin Kadir , Abas Azlan , Ahmad Mohd Akhir , Khairil Muhammad , Cyio Muhammad Basir , Samad Muhammad Ahsan , Lampe Ilyas , Mahfudz Mahfudz , Ali Muhammad Nur
Published: May 2022

Background: Workers in utility industries are exposed to occupational accidents due to inadequate safety management systems. Accordingly, it is necessary to characterize and compare the available literature on indicators used in safety management practices in the utility industries. Methods: The systematic literature review was based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis statement. This study considered 25 related studies from Web of Science and Scopus databases. Results: Further review of these articles resulted in three mains performance indicators; namely, driven leading indicators, observant leading indicators, and lagging indicators consisting of 15 sub-indicators. Conclusions: Future studies should consider researching a more comprehensive range of utility industries, measuring subjective and objective indicators, integrating risk management into safety management practices, and validating the influence of leading indicators on safety outcomes. Further, researchers recommend including accidents, fatalities, lost time injuries, and near misses in safety outcomes.
Associations between COVID-19 Work-Related Stressors and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms among Chinese Doctors and Nurses: Application of Stress-Coping Theory
Authors: She Rui , Li Lijuan , Yang Qian , Lin Jianyan , Ye Xiaoli , Wu Suliu , Yang Zhenggui , Guan Suzhen , Zhang Jianxin , Ling Rachel Hau Yin , Lau Joseph Tak Fai
Published: May 2022

Healthcare workers are vulnerable to posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) due to stressful work during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to investigate whether the associations between COVID-19 work-related stressors and PTSS would be mediated by maladaptive and adaptive coping strategies and moderated by perceived family support based on stress-coping theory. An anonymous online survey was conducted among 1449 doctors and nurses in five hospitals in China between October and November 2020 during the “post-outbreak” period. The prevalence of PTSS assessed by the Posttraumatic Symptom Scale Self-Report was 42%. Logistic regression analysis revealed that worries about being infected with COVID-19, perceived difficulties in family caregiving, coping strategies of rumination, catastrophizing, acceptance, and perceived family support were independently associated with PTSS. Furthermore, maladaptive and adaptive coping partially mediated the association between COVID-19 work-related stressors and PTSS.The results of multi-group analyses showed that perceived family support tended to intensify the associations between COVID-19 work-related stressors and adaptive coping and between adaptive coping and PTSS, whereas perceived family support attenuated the positive association between COVID-19 work-related stressors and PTSS. The findings suggest tailor-made health interventions with respect to alleviation of work-related stressors and coping skill training to reduce the risk of PTSS among healthcare workers, especially for those with lower perceived family support.
Effects of Two Short-Term Aerobic Exercises on Cognitive Function in Healthy Older Adults during COVID-19 Confinement in Japan: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Miyazaki Atsuko , Okuyama Takashi , Mori Hayato , Sato Kazuhisa , Kumamoto Keigo , Hiyama Atsushi
Published: May 2022

Aerobic exercise improves executive function—which tends to decline with age—and dual-task training with aerobic exercise improves the global cognitive function. However, home-based older adults could not follow these programs due to social isolation during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Therefore, we conducted a single-blind randomized controlled trial with 88 healthy older adults without dementia or sarcopenia who were randomly assigned into the Nordic walking (aerobic exercise), dance (dual-task training with aerobic exercise), or control group. The participants in both exercise intervention groups trained for 30 min, three times per week, for 4 weeks. All groups consumed amino acid-containing foods three times per week. We found that both exercise intervention groups showed improvements in executive function, while the dance group showed additional improvement in global cognitive function. The dance group showed a higher maximum gait speed, greater improvement in imitation ability, and improved executive function and cognitive function than the Nordic walking group. The intervention programs did not significantly affect the muscle mass or muscle output than the control group; however, both programs improved the participant neurological functions such as the heel lift, with dance training being the most effective intervention. In conclusion, dance training effectively improves cognitive function.
The Relationship between Parent–Child Attachment, Belief in a Just World, School Climate and Cyberbullying: A Moderated Mediation
Authors: Li Shengnan , Wang Xiaoxian , Nie Yangang
Published: May 2022

The present study investigated the relationship between parental attachment and cyberbullying, with the just world belief of the mediator and school climate being the moderator. We collected survey data from 750 middle school students and analyzed the data through mediation and moderation models. The results indicated that after controlling for gender and age, parent–child attachment was negatively related to cyberbullying, with a just world belief significantly mediating this relationship. What is more, school climate moderated the second half of this relationship, as we predicted. We offered possible reasons for the results. Limitations and direction for future studies were discussed.
Uncoupling Proteins as Therapeutic Targets for Neurodegenerative Diseases
Authors: Barnstable Colin J. , Zhang Mingliang , Tombran-Tink Joyce
Published: May 2022

Most of the major retinal degenerative diseases are associated with significant levels of oxidative stress. One of the major sources contributing to the overall level of stress is the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by mitochondria. The driving force for ROS production is the proton gradient across the inner mitochondrial membrane. This gradient can be modulated by members of the uncoupling protein family, particularly the widely expressed UCP2. The overexpression and knockout studies of UCP2 in mice have established the ability of this protein to provide neuroprotection in a number of animal models of neurological disease, including retinal diseases. The expression and activity of UCP2 are controlled at the transcriptional, translational and post-translational levels, making it an ideal candidate for therapeutic intervention. In addition to regulation by a number of growth factors, including the neuroprotective factors LIF and PEDF, small molecule activators of UCP2 have been found to reduce mitochondrial ROS production and protect against cell death both in culture and animal models of retinal degeneration. Such studies point to the development of new therapeutics to combat a range of blinding retinal degenerative diseases and possibly other diseases in which oxidative stress plays a key role.
HSPA4 Is a Biomarker of Placenta Accreta and Enhances the Angiogenesis Ability of Vessel Endothelial Cells
Authors: Li Sung-Chou , Lan Kuo-Chung , Hung Hsuan-Ning , Huang Wan-Ting , Lai Yun-Ju , Cheng Hsin-Hsin , Tsai Chih-Chang , Huang Kun-Long , You Huey-Ling , Hsu Te-Yao
Published: May 2022

Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) accounts for 7% of maternal mortality and is associated with intraoperative and postoperative morbidity caused by massive blood loss, infection, and adjacent organ damage. The aims of this study were to identify the protein biomarkers of PAS and to further explore their pathogenetic roles in PAS. For this purpose, we collected five placentas from pregnant subjects with PAS complications and another five placentas from normal pregnancy (NP) cases. Then, we enriched protein samples by specifically isolating the trophoblast villous, deeply invading into the uterine muscle layer in the PAS patients. Next, fluorescence-based two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) and MALDI-TOF/MS were used to identify the proteins differentially abundant between PAS and NP placenta tissues. As a result, nineteen spots were determined as differentially abundant proteins, ten and nine of which were more abundant in PAS and NP placenta tissues, respectively. Then, specific validation with western blot assay and immunohisto/cytochemistry (IHC) assay confirmed that heat shock 70 kDa protein 4 (HSPA4) and chorionic somatomammotropin hormone (CSH) were PAS protein biomarkers. Further tube formation assays demonstrated that HSPA4 promoted the in vitro angiogenesis ability of vessel endothelial cells, which is consistent with the in vivo scenario of PAS complications. In this study, we not only identified PAS protein biomarkers but also connected the promoted angiogenesis with placenta invasion, investigating the pathogenetic mechanism of PAS.
The Protein L-Isoaspartyl (D-Aspartyl) Methyltransferase Regulates Glial-to-Mesenchymal Transition and Migration Induced by TGF-β1 in Human U-87 MG Glioma Cells
Authors: Belkourchia Fatima , Desrosiers Richard R.
Published: May 2022

The enzyme PIMT methylates abnormal aspartyl residues in proteins. U-87 MG cells are commonly used to study the most frequent brain tumor, glioblastoma. Previously, we reported that PIMT isoform I possessed oncogenic features when overexpressed in U-87 MG and U-251 MG glioma cells. Higher levels of wild-type PIMT stimulated migration and invasion in both glioma cell lines. Conversely, PIMT silencing reduced these migratory abilities of both cell lines. These results indicate that PIMT could play a critical role in glioblastoma growth. Here, we investigated for the first time, molecular mechanisms involving PIMT in the regulation of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) upon TGF-β1 treatments. Gene array analyses indicated that EMT genes but not PIMT gene were regulated in U-87 MG cells treated with TGF-β1. Importantly, PIMT silencing by siRNA inhibited in vitro migration in U-87 MG cells induced by TGF-β1. In contrast, overexpressed wild-type PIMT and TGF-β1 had additive effects on cell migration. When PIMT was inhibited by siRNA, this prevented Slug induction by TGF-β1, while Snail stimulation by TGF-β1 was increased. Indeed, overexpression of wild-type PIMT led to the opposite effects on Slug and Snail expression dependent on TGF-β1. These data highlighted the importance of PIMT in the EMT response dependent on TGF-β1 in U-87 MG glioma cells by an antagonist regulation in the expression of transcription factors Slug and Snail, which are critical players in EMT.
The Impact of Postoperative Radiotherapy on Dietary Function of Head and Neck Cancer Patients after Pharyngoesophageal Reconstruction with Free Jejunal Flap
Authors: Chang Lan Sook , Wang Hyun , Ahn Hee Chang , Lee Tae Hyeon , Tae Kyung , Park Seong Oh
Published: May 2022

This study investigated the impact of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) on dietary function in patients who underwent pharyngoesophageal defect reconstruction using a free jejunal flap. A retrospective chart review of 36 patients who underwent circumferential pharyngoesophageal defect reconstruction using a free jejunal flap was performed. The European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer head and neck cancer module questionnaire was used. Five items related to dietary function were selected and analyzed for changes in scores before and after PORT. Both the PORT and non-PORT groups showed improved dietary function before surgery, and no significant changes were noted at 3 and 12 months postoperatively. Repeated measures ANOVA showed that PORT had no significant impact on dietary function. In univariate analysis, no variable was a significant predictor of the score at 12 months, postoperatively. Previous radiotherapy and neck dissection had a close statistically significant relation. The multivariate analysis showed that neoadjuvant chemotherapy, previous radiotherapy, and neck dissection were significant predictors of the score at 12 months, postoperatively. PORT did not show a significant effect on the 12 months postoperative score. Free jejunal flap is an effective pharyngoesophageal defect reconstruction method that does not cause any dietary function disruption after PORT.
Low-Overhead Reinforcement Learning-Based Power Management Using 2QoSM
Authors: Giardino Michael , Schwyn Daniel , Ferri Bonnie , Ferri Aldo
Published: May 2022

With the computational systems of even embedded devices becoming ever more powerful, there is a need for more effective and pro-active methods of dynamic power management. The work presented in this paper demonstrates the effectiveness of a reinforcement-learning based dynamic power manager placed in a software framework. This combination of Q-learning for determining policy and the software abstractions provide many of the benefits of co-design, namely, good performance, responsiveness and application guidance, with the flexibility of easily changing policies or platforms. The Q-learning based Quality of Service Manager (2QoSM) is implemented on an autonomous robot built on a complex, powerful embedded single-board computer (SBC) and a high-resolution path-planning algorithm. We find that the 2QoSM reduces power consumption up to 42% compared to the Linux on-demand governor and 10.2% over a state-of-the-art situation aware governor. Moreover, the performance as measured by path error is improved by up to 6.1%, all while saving power.
Seaweed Beds and Community Structure in the East and South Coast of Korea
Authors: Jung Seung Wook , Rho Hyun Soo , Choi Chang Geun
Published: May 2022

This study conducted a community investigation via scuba-diving excursions into the subtidal regions of seven sea areas on the eastern coasts and three sea areas on the southern coasts, from October to December 2017, to determine the characteristics of seaweed communities and the current status of barren ground in natural seaweed beds in Korea. The results showed that species composition and average biomass in the sea area were 5–48 species and an average of 114.42 g/m2 (0.29–273.60 g/m2) in the eastern coasts, where red algae—an annual opportunity species—were dominant, and 21–48 species and an average of 1056.84 g/m2 (53.03–2683.02 g/m2) in the southern coasts, where perennial large brown algae were dominant. Using Orfanidis’ EEI-c model, evaluations of the community states showed they varied significantly depending on the inclusion of melobesidean algae, and this model was determined to be inappropriate for direct application in sea areas with a low coverage of all macroalgae. A comprehensive review of the seaweed community characteristics of seaweed beds, the marine environment, the coverage of melobesidean algae, and the analysis results regarding the density of grazers showed that a decrease in the seaweed community, according to the barren ground phenomenon, was more severe in the eastern than southern coasts. Furthermore, there were also significant differences in seaweed community characteristics according to sea area and barren ground. Therefore, suitable countermeasures corresponding to the characteristics of each sea area are necessary; for example, the creation of growth substrates for the colonization of macroalgae in Deoksin and Saido Is., the transplantation of large brown algae in Gangyang and Daedurado Is., action plans for marine forest monitoring in Geomundo Is., and an improvement in substrates in Yeongjin, Mangsang, Daejin, Chogok, and Geundeok are possible countermeasures.
Utilizing Marine Cultural Heritage for the Preservation of Coastal Systems in East Africa
Authors: Holly Georgia , Rey da Silva Arturo , Henderson Jon , Bita Caesar , Forsythe Wes , Ombe Zacarias Alexandre , Poonian Christopher , Roberts Hayley
Published: May 2022

This paper presents the key contributions of marine cultural heritage to the survival of coastal ecosystems and the communities that rely on them in East Africa. Marine cultural heritage (MCH) describes the evidence of past human interactions with coastal and marine space, encompassing tangible material culture remains and associated intangible cultural expressions within coastal communities. By incorporating the protection of MCH into local and regional environmental frameworks, we gain an essential indicator to monitor change dynamics in natural habitats, the cumulative impacts of climate change, and the development of social adaptation strategies. An essential aspect of this development is the move away from global sustainability strategies towards community-centric management and stewardship. Such processes utilise a combination of traditional knowledge systems and scientific approaches designed to harness targeted economic, ecological, and social sustainable development. To argue for the incorporation of MCH into local and regional environmental frameworks in the area, this paper presents four case studies from the Rising from the Depths Network, a challenge-led research network focusing on harnessing the potential of MCH to bring sustainable development strategies to East Africa.
Dynamic Appointment Rescheduling of Trucks under Uncertainty of Arrival Time
Authors: Xu Bowei , Liu Xiaoyan , Li Junjun , Yang Yongsheng , Wu Junfeng , Shen Yi , Zhou Ye
Published: May 2022

The uncertainty of the arrival time of trucks has increased the complexity of terminal operations. The truck appointment system (TAS) cannot respond to this problem in time, which can easily cause appointment invalidation and reduce the efficiency of truck operations and terminal operations. This paper comprehensively considers the related constraints of truck re-scheduling costs, gate waiting costs, and idle emission costs. With the goal of minimizing the comprehensive operating costs of truck companies and port companies, a dynamic appointment rescheduling model for external trucks based on mixed integer nonlinear programming is established. This paper designs an adaptive quantum revolving door update mechanism and proposes a double-chain real quantum genetic algorithm. The simulation experiment results show that compared with the traditional scheduling, the truck dynamic appointment rescheduling model can effectively reduce the comprehensive operating costs of the truck company and the port company and alleviate the congestion of the port. The probability that the truck cannot arrive at the port on time, the advance time for the truck to confirm the arrival time, and the length of time that the external truck cannot arrive at the port on time have a significant impact on the cost of the reschedule of the TAS. This paper favorably supports the manager’s operational decision-making.
Statistical Damage Model of Rock Based on Compaction Stage and Post-Peak Shape under Chemical-Freezing-Thawing-Loading
Authors: Hu Bin , Zhang Zhen , Li Jing , Xiao Huiping , Cui Kai
Published: May 2022

The deterioration of rock mechanical properties under chemical-freezing-thawing-loading will seriously threaten the stability and safety of engineering rock mass, so the study of its constitutive model has very important theoretical and engineering application significance. In view of the deficiency that the existing statistical damage constitutive model cannot describe the nonlinear characteristics of the compaction stage and the post-peak shape, the compaction index is introduced to measure the stress-strain nonlinear characteristics caused by the iso-compression of the pores in the rock, and the post-peak correction coefficient is introduced to optimize the post-peak shape of rock loading. Assuming that the strength and failure of rock microunits obey the Weibull distribution, on the basis of using the Drucker-Prager strength criterion to measure the strength of rock microunits, a statistical damage model for rock considering the compaction stage and post-peak shape under chemical-freezing-thawing-loading is established. Finally, it is compared with the test curve. The results show that the calculation curve of the established chemical-freezing-thawing-loading rock statistical damage model has the same trend as the rock uniaxial compression test curve. Furthermore, it can better describe the rock stress-strain law with different chemical solutions and different freeze-thaw cycles, which fully reflects the rationality and accuracy of the constructed constitutive model. The research results can provide a theoretical basis for the calculation of deformation and failure of rocks under chemical-freezing-thawing-loading.
Deep Partial Hedging
Authors: Hou Songyan , Krabichler Thomas , Wunsch Marcus
Published: May 2022

Using techniques from deep learning, we show that neural networks can be trained successfully to replicate the modified payoff functions that were first derived in the context of partial hedging by Föllmer and Leukert. Not only does this approach better accommodate the realistic setting of hedging in discrete time, it also allows for the inclusion of transaction costs as well as general market dynamics. It needs to be noted that, without further modifications, the approach works only if the risk aversion is beyond a certain level.
The Transgression of Word-Formation Rules as a Sign of Linguistic Change in Catalan: The Case of -isme, -itis, and -metre
Authors: Llopart-Saumell Elisabet
Published: May 2022

In Catalan, -isme ‘-ism’, -itis, and -metre ‘-meter’ create new words that do not follow the WFRs described in grammar books and dictionaries. As a result, these lexical innovations, such as panxacontentisme (panxacontent ‘carefree’ + -ism ‘-ism’), titulitis (títol ‘certificate’ + ‘-itis’), and emocionòmetre (emoció ‘emotion’ + -metre ‘-meter’), tend to be considered transgressive. The main aim of this paper is to provide a close review of grammar books and dictionaries among other sources to compare the rules described in the literature and the data provided by the bank of neologisms of the Observatori de Neologia. Since language changes and variations are inherent phenomena of any living language, the deviation experienced by these bound morphemes could be conceived as an example of linguistic change and not only as a one-time transgression. In addition, in order to check whether these linguistic changes are specific to the Catalan language, I reviewed some English, French, and Spanish literature. Finally, a set of diachronic corpora, that covers the time span from the 11th century until the present day, is used to study the first examples of these phenomena in the Catalan language. The results point out that in Catalan, these changes can be traced back to the second half of the 19th century or the beginning of the 20th century, and that they cannot be considered language-specific, since they affect the different languages under study.
SIRT1: Genetic Variants and Serum Levels in Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Authors: Kaikaryte Kriste , Gedvilaite Greta , Vilkeviciute Alvita , Kriauciuniene Loresa , Mockute Ruta , Cebatoriene Dzastina , Zemaitiene Reda , Balciuniene Vilma Jurate , Liutkeviciene Rasa
Published: May 2022

Background: The aim of this paper was to determine the frequency of SIRT1 rs3818292, rs3758391, rs7895833 single nucleotide polymorphism genotypes and SIRT1 serum levels associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in the Lithuanian population. Methods: Genotyping of SIRT1 rs3818292, rs3758391 and rs7895833 was performed using RT-PCR. SIRT1 serum level was determined using the ELISA method. Results: We found that rs3818292 and rs7895833 were associated with an increased risk of developing exudative AMD. Additional sex-differentiated analysis revealed only rs7895833 was associated with an increased risk of developing exudative AMD in women after strict Bonferroni correction. The analysis also revealed that individuals carrying rs3818292, rs3758391 and rs7895833 haplotype G-T-G are associated with increased odds of exudative AMD. Still, the rare haplotypes were associated with the decreased odds of exudative AMD. After performing an analysis of serum SIRT1 levels and SIRT1 genetic variant, we found that carriers of the SIRT1 rs3818292 minor allele G had higher serum SIRT1 levels than the AA genotype. In addition, individuals carrying at least one SIRT1 rs3758391 T allele also had elevated serum SIRT1 levels compared with individuals with the wild-type CC genotype. Conclusions: Our study showed that the SIRT1 polymorphisms rs3818292 and rs7895833 and rs3818292-rs3758391-rs7895833 haplotype G-T-G could be associated with the development of exudative AMD. Also, two SNPs (rs3818292 and rs3758391) are associated with elevated SIRT1 levels.
Prevention and Treatment of Life-Threatening COVID-19 May Be Possible with Oxygen Treatment
Authors: Ylikoski Jukka , Lehtimäki Jarmo , Pääkkönen Rauno , Mäkitie Antti
Published: May 2022

Most SARS CoV-2 infections probably occur unnoticed or cause only cause a mild common cold that does not require medical intervention. A significant proportion of more severe cases is characterized by early neurological symptoms such as headache, fatigue, and impaired consciousness, including respiratory distress. These symptoms suggest hypoxia, specifically affecting the brain. The condition is best explained by primary replication of the virus in the nasal respiratory and/or the olfactory epithelia, followed by an invasion of the virus into the central nervous system, including the respiratory centers, either along a transneural route, through disruption of the blood-brain barrier, or both. In patients, presenting with early dyspnea, the primary goal of therapy should be the reversal of brain hypoxia as efficiently as possible. The first approach should be intermittent treatment with 100% oxygen using a tight oronasal mask or a hood. If this does not help within a few hours, an enclosure is needed to increase the ambient pressure. This management approach is well established in the hypoxia-related diseases in diving and aerospace medicine and preserves the patient’s spontaneous breathing. Preliminary research evidence indicates that even a small elevation of the ambient pressure might be lifesaving. Other neurological symptoms, presenting particularly in long COVID-19, suggest imbalance of the autonomous nervous system, i.e., dysautonomia. These patients could benefit from vagal nerve stimulation.
A Review on Biomaterials for Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology: From Past to Present
Authors: Szczęsny Grzegorz , Kopec Mateusz , Politis Denis J. , Kowalewski Zbigniew L. , Łazarski Adam , Szolc Tomasz
Published: May 2022

The principal features essential for the success of an orthopaedic implant are its shape, dimensional accuracy, and adequate mechanical properties. Unlike other manufactured products, chemical stability and toxicity are of increased importance due to the need for biocompatibility over an implants life which could span several years. Thus, the combination of mechanical and biological properties determines the clinical usefulness of biomaterials in orthopaedic and musculoskeletal trauma surgery. Materials commonly used for these applications include stainless steel, cobalt-chromium and titanium alloys, ceramics, polyethylene, and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) bone cement. This study reviews the properties of commonly used materials and the advantages and disadvantages of each, with special emphasis on the sensitivity, toxicity, irritancy, and possible mutagenic and teratogenic capabilities. In addition, the production and final finishing processes of implants are discussed. Finally, potential directions for future implant development are discussed, with an emphasis on developing advanced personalised implants, according to a patient’s stature and physical requirements.
Measuring the Attractiveness of Cities to Receive Investments in Regional Airport Infrastructure
Authors: Silva Cláudio Moura , Granemann Sérgio Ronaldo , Guarnieri Patricia , Da Silva Gladston Luiz
Published: May 2022

The vast Brazilian territory and the accelerated economic growth of the cities of the country’s interior in recent years have created a favourable environment for the expansion of regional aviation. In 2015, the Brazilian Government launched a program of investments in regional airports equipping them to receive commercial flights. However, the economic crisis and the scarcity of resources drive the prioritisation of projects with a greater economic and social return. This article aims to present a multicriteria decision aid (MCDA) model to measure cities’ attractiveness to receive investments in regional airports. The MCDA approach can deal with multiple indicators and different points of view and provide systematised steps for supporting decision-makers. For this purpose, we selected 12 criteria among the evaluation parameters identified in the literature, which led to the construction of the evaluation model and elaborating the ranking of the localities participating in the investment program. This study can contribute scientifically by proposing the use of an MCDA approach to support decisions related to logistics and infrastructure. It can help managers and practitioners provide a structured and systematised model to address decisions related to airport investments.
Synthetic Approaches to Colloidal Nanocrystal Heterostructures Based on Metal and Metal-Oxide Materials
Authors: Nobile Concetta , Cozzoli Pantaleo Davide
Published: May 2022

Composite inorganic nanoarchitectures, based on combinations of distinct materials, represent advanced solid-state constructs, where coexistence and synergistic interactions among nonhomologous optical, magnetic, chemical, and catalytic properties lay a basis for the engineering of enhanced or even unconventional functionalities. Such systems thus hold relevance for both theoretical and applied nanotechnology-based research in diverse areas, spanning optics, electronics, energy management, (photo)catalysis, biomedicine, and environmental remediation. Wet-chemical colloidal synthetic techniques have now been refined to the point of allowing the fabrication of solution free-standing and easily processable multicomponent nanocrystals with sophisticated modular heterostructure, built upon a programmed spatial distribution of the crystal phase, composition, and anchored surface moieties. Such last-generation breeds of nanocrystals are thus composed of nanoscale domains of different materials, assembled controllably into core/shell or heteromer-type configurations through bonding epitaxial heterojunctions. This review offers a critical overview of achievements made in the design and synthetic elaboration of colloidal nanocrystal heterostructures based on diverse associations of transition metals (with emphasis on plasmonic metals) and transition-metal oxides. Synthetic strategies, all leveraging on the basic seed-mediated approach, are described and discussed with reference to the most credited mechanisms underpinning regioselective heteroepitaxial deposition. The unique properties and advanced applications allowed by such brand-new nanomaterials are also mentioned.
Design, Analysis, and Optimization of a Plasmonic Slot Waveguide for Mid-Infrared Gas Sensing
Authors: Saeidi Parviz , Jakoby Bernhard , Pühringer Gerald , Tortschanoff Andreas , Stocker Gerald , Spettel Jasmin , Dubois Florian , Grille Thomas , Jannesari Reyhaneh
Published: May 2022

In this work, we investigated the optimization of a plasmonic slot waveguide (PSWG) in the mid-IR region particularly for a representative wavelength of 4.26 µm, which is the absorption line of CO2 and thus particularly relevant for applications. We analysed the mode features associated with metal-dielectric-metal (MDM), dielectric-metal-dielectric (DMD), and truncated metal film (TMF) structures with respect to the considered PSWG. Subsequently, the mode features of the PSWG were considered based on what we outlined for MDM, DMD, and TMF structures. Furthermore, as confinement factor and propagation length are two crucial parameters for absorption sensing applications, we optimized the PSWG based on a figure of merit (FOM) defined as the product of the aforementioned quantities. To characterize the propagation length, the imaginary part of the effective mode index of a guided mode was considered, leading to a dimensionless FOM. Finally, we investigated the PSWG also for other wavelengths and identified particularly attractive wavelengths and geometries maximizing the FOM.