bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A TERÜLETI TŐKE IDENTITÁS FAKTORÁNAK ERŐSÍTÉSE A SPORTOLÓI IDENTITÁS ÁLTAL
Authors: FARAGÓ Beatrix , KONCZOSNÉ SZOMBATHELYI Márta
Published: May 2020

Az identitás és a sport viszonyának egyik megnyilvánulása, amikor a sport a közösségi életet erősíti, a közösség pedig aktív tagja és támogatója a sportnak. A nemzeti, illetve területi identitás kulturális örökség. Ebben az aspektusban a sporttal kapcsolatos identitás értelmezhető a társadalmi kultúra részeként. A tanulmány bemutatja a sport és a lokális identitás összefüggéseit, valamint ezek hatását a társadalmi tőkére. Kutatásunk célja a sportolói identitás felmérése és annak hatásának vizsgálata egy terület társadalmi tőkéjére. Kérdésként jelenik meg, hogy a sportba való integráció identitássá válik-e; illetve, hogy milyen mértékben maradnának/maradtak a sportban, illetve az adott régióban a sportolói karrierjük után a megkérdezettek? Vizsgáljuk, hogy a sportolók identitása milyen hatással van az oktatási és a gazdasági környezetre, hiszen a képzés és a munkaerő-piac meghatározó szegmensét képezik. Az identitások sporthoz viszonyított attitűdjeiben megmutatkoznak azok a tőkeelemek, amelyek a régió fejlődésében, versenyképességében növeli a hatékonyságot. Az identitás mintázatok által bemutatásra kerül a sportolói, regionális, nemzeti identitás meghatározása, azok hatásai egymásra. Az empirikus kutatás megmutatja, hogy a sportolói identitás megjelenik a sportolóknál, annak hatása a területi tőkére a területi-, társadalmi-, humán tőke elemeként érvényesül. A kutatás eredménye a versenyképesség fejlesztő mechanizmusának elemeiben nyújt új irányt, amely a sportolói szegmens tőkeértékét mutatja be.
Workplace Harassment, Work Overload, and Psychological Distress in Female Police Officers
Authors: Shahid Shiza , Farooq Zaeema
Published: May 2020

Current correlational study was carried out to assess the relationship among workplace harassment, work overload, and psychological distress in female police officers. It was hypothesized that there would be a positive relationship between workplace harassment, work overload, and psychological distress. The sample comprised of 100 female police officers with age range from 21- 40 years selected from different police stations and training centers of Lahore by using purposive sampling technique. Self-translated Urdu version of Negative Acts Questionnaire (Einarsen, Hoel, & Notelaers, 2009), Reilly’s Role Overload Scale (Reilly, 1982), and Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (Kessler et al., 2009) were used to assess study variables. Correlational analysis revealed that workplace harassment was positively correlated with work overload and psychological distress. Moreover, regression analysis revealed that workplace harassment was a positive predictor for psychological distress. The study has implications in police force to develop harassment control strategies and effective work hours to reduce psychological distress and promote healthy work environment for female employees.
Edukasi Kesehatan Stunting di Kabupaten Bengkulu Utara
Authors: Angraini Wulan , Pratiwi Bintang Agustina , M. Amin  , Yanuarti Riska , Febriawati Henni , Shaleh M. Ismail
Published: May 2020

Pemantauan status gizi Kabupaten Bengkulu Utara bulan Juni 2018 menunjukkan prevalensi stunting 9,03% dari total 1.289 balita yang diukur status gizi dalam status gizi stunting. Puskesmas Argamakmur merupakan salah satu yang tertinggi jumlah balita dengan status gizi stuntingberjumlah 143 orang. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengedukasi kesehatan stunting terhadap pengetahuan dan sikap ibu di Puskesmas Arga Makmur Kabupaten Bengkulu Utara. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode quasy experimentdengan pre danpost test one group pada 29 Juli sampai dengan 19 Agustus 2019 di Puskesmas Arga Makmur Kabupaten Bengkulu Utara. Populasi dalam penelitian ini seluruh ibu yang memiliki balita sedangkan sampel merupakan sebagian ibu yang memiliki anak usia 24-36 bulan dengan teknik accedental samplingsebanyak 19 responden. Analisis data menggunakan uji Compare Means Paired T-Test. Analisis data didapatkan rerata sebelum diberikan edukasi kesehatan terhadap pengetahuan (4,95), sikap (24,21), rata- rata sesudah di berikan edukasi kesehatan terhadap pengetahuan (7,89), sikap (29,58). Rerata pengetahuan dan sikap meningkat tentang stuntingsetelah edukasi pendidikan kesehatan dalam bentuk flipchat (lembar balik) di Puskesmas Arga Makmur Kabupaten Bengkulu Utara.
Competitiveness of Portuguese Montado Ewe Production Systems among the European Ewe Production Systems
Authors: Costa Freitas Maria de Belém , Ventura-Lucas Maria Raquel , Izquierdo Lola , Deblitz Claus
Published: May 2020

The number of ewes in Portugal registers a decrease since 1998. This decrease is felt particularly in the south of the country, which concentrates almost half of the existing ewes, mainly for meat production. One of the most important ewe production systems is the Montado, a High Nature Value ecosystem, occupying ca. 1.2 million ha in Portugal. The competitiveness of this system among the European ewe production systems is an important issue for the future of the Montado ecosystem. So, the objective of this paper is to analyze the ewe production systems in the Montado, using the agri benchmark database, and compare these systems with other European countries’ systems, ranking their competitiveness and efficiency among other systems in the European Union. We concluded that this methodology facilitated an in-depth understanding not only of the competitiveness and efficiency of ewe production systems in Portugal but also of their positioning regarding other systems in the European Union. The pattern of returns assures that these farms are competitive in the sense that they depend on the market on their decisions, and thus it is important that market values sheep products. Nevertheless, the diversification to other income sources would be a good option for the future sustainability of these farms and the opportunities and risks that these systems will deal with in a new green economy, with probable new functions and new opportunities for land, will be a challenge for the future.
Detection and Location of Dead Trees with Pine Wilt Disease Based on Deep Learning and UAV Remote Sensing
Authors: Deng Xiaoling , Tong Zejing , Lan Yubin , Huang Zixiao
Published: May 2020

Pine wilt disease causes huge economic losses to pine wood forestry because of its destructiveness and rapid spread. This paper proposes a detection and location method of pine wood nematode disease at a large scale adopting UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) remote sensing and artificial intelligence technology. The UAV remote sensing images were enhanced by computer vision tools. A Faster-RCNN (Faster Region Convolutional Neural Networks) deep learning framework based on a RPN (Region Proposal Network) network and the ResNet residual neural network were used to train the pine wilt diseased dead tree detection model. The loss function and the anchors in the RPN of the convolutional neural network were optimized. Finally, the location of pine wood nematode dead tree was conducted, which generated the geographic information on the detection results. The results show that ResNet101 performed better than VGG16 (Visual Geometry Group 16) convolutional neural network. The detection accuracy was improved and reached to about 90% after a series of optimizations to the network, meaning that the optimization methods proposed in this paper are feasible to pine wood nematode dead tree detection.
Effects of Feeding and Maturation System on Qualitative Characteristics of Buffalo Meat (Bubalus bubalis)
Authors: Marrone Raffaele , Salzano Angela , Di Francia Antonio , Vollano Lucia , Di Matteo Roberto , Balestrieri Anna , Anastasio Aniello , Barone Carmela Maria Assunta
Published: May 2020

We aimed to evaluate the effects of post dry ageing (PDA) period on meat colour and rheological characteristics in 16 buffalo bulls fed two different diets: with (FRS) or without (CTL) rye grass. Animals were randomly divided into two feeding groups and slaughtered at 540 ± 4.7 and 533 ± 7.0 kg of live body weight, respectively, for the CTL and FRS group. After five days post-mortem ageing (T0), Semitendinosus muscle (ST) and Longissimus muscle (LD) underwent a prolonged maturation process in a controlled meat chamber for 30 days (ST) and until 60 days (LD). After 30 days (T1), significant changes (p < 0.01) in meat colour (ΔE) in both muscles of the FRS group was recorded, while no significant change was observed in CTL group. The FRS diet had a positive effect on textural properties of ST muscle compared to CTL diet, as well as hardness, chewiness and gumminess. All qualitative characteristics improved in the first period of PDA but, whereas LD showed to keep improving, extending the post-ageing period by further 30 days, the ST becomes un-processable at 60 days. In conclusion, a combined used of fresh feeding and PDA period could enhance both tenderness and colour in animal fed FSR.
Lactic Acid Modified Natural Rubber–Bacterial Cellulose Composites
Authors: Phomrak Sirilak , Phisalaphong Muenduen
Published: May 2020

Green composite films of natural rubber/bacterial cellulose composites (NRBC) were prepared via a latex aqueous microdispersion process. The acid modified natural rubber/bacterial cellulose composites (ANRBC), in which lactic acid was used, showed significant improvement in mechanical properties, melting temperature, and high resistance to polar and non-polar solvents. The ANRBC films exhibited improved water resistance over that of BC and NRBC films, and possessed a higher resistance to non-polar solvents, such as toluene, than NR and NRBC films. The modification had a slight effect on the degradability of the composite films in soil. The NRBC and ANRBC films were biodegradable; the NRBC80 and ANRBC80 films were degraded completely within 3 months in soil. NRBC and ANRBC showed no antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus and did not show cytotoxic effects on the HEK293 and HaCaT cell lines.
Parameter Selection of Local Search Algorithm for Design Optimization of Automotive Rubber Bumper
Authors: Huri Dávid , Mankovits Tamás
Published: May 2020

In rubber bumper design, the most important mechanical property of the product is the force–displacement curve under compression and its fulfillment requires an iterative design method. Design engineers can handle this task with the modification of the product shape, which can be solved with several optimization methods if the parameterization of the design process is determined. The numerical method is a good way to evaluate the working characteristics of the rubber product; furthermore, automation of the whole process is feasible with the use of Visual Basic for Application. An axisymmetric finite element model of a rubber bumper was built with the use of a calibrated two-term Mooney–Rivlin material model. A two-dimensional shape optimization problem was introduced where the objective function was determined as the difference between the initial and the optimum characteristics. Our goal was to integrate a surrogate model-based parameter selection of local search algorithms for the optimization process. As a metamodeling technique, cubic support vector regression was selected and seemed to be suitable to accurately predict the nonlinear objective function. The novel optimization procedure which applied the support vector regression model in the parameter selection process of the stochastic search algorithm proved to be an efficient method to find the global optimum of the investigated problem.
Analysis of the Impact of Residential Property and Equipment on Building Energy Efficiency and Consumption—A Data Mining Approach
Authors: Nazeriye Mahsa , Haeri Abdorrahman , Martínez-Álvarez Francisco
Published: May 2020

Human living could become very difficult due to a lack of energy. The household sector plays a significant role in energy consumption. Trying to optimize and achieve efficient energy consumption can lead to large-scale energy savings. The aim of this paper is to identify the equipment and property affecting energy efficiency and consumption in residential homes. For this purpose, a hybrid data-mining approach based on K-means algorithms and decision trees is presented. To analyze the approach, data is modeled once using the approach and then without it. A data set of residential homes of England and Wales is arranged in low, medium and high consumption clusters. The C5.0 algorithm is run on each cluster to extract factors affecting energy efficiency. The comparison of the modeling results, and also their accuracy, prove that the approach employed has the ability to extract the findings with greater accuracy and detail than in other cases. The installation of boilers, using cavity walls, and installing insulation could improve energy efficiency. Old homes and the usage of economy 7 electricity have an unfavorable effect on energy efficiency, but the approach shows that each cluster behaved differently in these factors related to energy efficiency and has unique results.
Study on the Vibration Isolation Performance of Composite Subgrade Structure in Seasonal Frozen Regions
Authors: Han Leilei , Wei Haibin , Wang Fuyu
Published: May 2020

Silty clay modified by fly ash and crumb rubber is a kind of sustainable subgrade filler that has good freeze–thaw resistance stability, but weak vibration isolation performance. The objective of this study was to improve the vibration isolation of the modified soil and investigate the vibration isolation effect of the composite subgrade structure of extruded polystyrene (XPS) plates and the modified soil by the indoor impact test. First, the vibration isolation performance of silty clay, modified soil, and composite subgrade structure was respectively evaluated. Second, the effect of the XPS plate’s thickness and vibration intensity on the vibration performance of the composite subgrade structure were evaluated. Third, the vibration isolation performance of the test groups under the condition of freeze–thaw cycles was assessed. The results show that the vibration isolation performance of the subgrade can be effectively improved by setting XPS plates. The composite subgrade structure has a certain vibration isolation effect, especially in the vertical direction. Considering the vibration isolation performance and costs, 5 cm was the optimum XPS plate thickness. The composite subgrade structure showed a great vibration isolation performance under the condition of freeze–thaw cycles, so it is suitable for application in road subgrade in seasonal frozen regions.
Predictability of the Strong Ural blocking Event in January 2012 in the Subseasonal to Seasonal Models of Europe and Canada
Authors: Chen Dong , Qiao Shaobo , Tang Shankai , Cheung Ho Nam , Liu Jieyu , Feng Guolin
Published: May 2020

The occurrence of a Ural blocking (UB) event is an important precursor of severe cold air outbreaks in Siberia and East Asia, and thus is significant to accurately predict UB events. Using subseasonal to seasonal (S2S) models of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) and the Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), we evaluated the predictability of a persistent UB event on 18 to 26 January 2012. Results showed that the ECCC model was superior to the ECMWF model in predicting the development stage of the UB event ten days in advance, while the ECMWF model had better predictions than the ECCC model for more than ten days in advance and the decaying stage of the UB event. By comparing the dynamic and thermodynamic evolution of the UB event predicted by the two models via the geostrophic vorticity tendency equation and temperature tendency equation, we found that the ECCC model better predicted the vertical vorticity advection, ageostrophic vorticity tendency, the tilting effect, horizontal temperature advection, and adiabatic heating during the development stage, whereas the ECMWF model better predicted the three dynamic and the two thermodynamic terms during the decaying stage. In addition, during both the development and decaying stages, the two models were good (bad) at predicting the vortex stretching term (horizontal vorticity advection), with the PCC between both the predictions and the observations larger (smaller) than +0.70 (+0.10) Thus, we suggest that the prediction of the persistent UB event in the S2S model might be improved by the better prediction of the horizontal vorticity advection.
The Left Posterior Parietal Cortex Contributes to the Selection Process for the Initial Swing Leg in Gait Initiation
Authors: Hiraoka Koichi , Gonno Shintaro , Inomoto Ryota
Published: May 2020

The present study examined whether the left posterior parietal cortex contributes to the selection process for the initial swing leg in gait initiation. Healthy humans initiated the gait in response to an auditory start cue. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was given over P3, P4, F3 or F4 simultaneously, with the auditory start cue, in the on-TMS condition. A coil was placed over one of the four TMS sites, but TMS was not given in the off-TMS condition. The probability of right leg selection in the on-TMS condition was significantly lower than in the off-TMS condition when the coil was placed over P3, indicating that the left posterior parietal cortex contributes to the selection process of the initial swing leg of gait initiation. The latency of the anticipatory postural adjustment for gait initiation with the left leg was shortened by TMS over F4 or P4, but with the right leg was shortened by TMS over P3 or P4. Thus, the cortical process affecting the time taken to execute the motor process of gait initiation with the right leg may be related to the selection process of the initial swing leg of gait initiation.
Transcriptional Regulation of CCL2 by PARP1 Is a Driver for Invasiveness in Breast Cancer
Authors: Dutta Pranabananda , Paico Kimberly , Gomez Gabriela , Wu Yanyuan , Vadgama Jaydutt
Published: May 2020

Background: PolyADP ribosylation (PARylation) by PARP1 is a significant post-translational modification affecting protein function in various cancers. However, PARP1 mediated cellular processes in the context of breast cancer are not fully understood. Method: To identify potential targets of PARP1, we carried out whole transcriptome sequencing with shRNA mediated PARP1 knockdown in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell line and inhibited PARP1 with a known PARP1 inhibitor, PJ34. Results: Analysis of the transcriptomics data revealed that PARP1 is involved in regulating multiple chemokines under basal conditions, including the chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2). PARP1 knockdown and PJ34 mediated inhibition showed reduced CCL2 transcript levels in breast cancer cells, corroborating the findings from the sequencing data. We further showed that PARP1 interacts with the NFκB P65 subunit to regulate transcription of CCL2. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation, we confirm that both PARP1 and P65 localize to the promoter of CCL2, suggesting direct regulation of CCL2 promoter activity. CCL2, in turn, can positively affect the PARP1 pathway, as global PARylation levels increased upon CCL2 treatment. Conclusion: Our results indicate crosstalk between PARP1 and CCL2, which is critical for maintaining CCL2 levels in breast cancer cells and subsequently drives cellular invasiveness.
WRN-Mutated Colorectal Cancer Is Characterized by a Distinct Genetic Phenotype
Authors: Zimmer Kai , Puccini Alberto , Xiu Joanne , Baca Yasmine , Spizzo Gilbert , Lenz Heinz-Josef , Battaglin Francesca , Goldberg Richard M. , Grothey Axel , Shields Anthony F. , Salem Mohamed E. , Marshall John L. , Korn W. Michael , Wolf Dominik , Kocher Florian , Seeber Andreas
Published: May 2020

Werner syndrome gene (WRN) contributes to DNA repair. In cancer, WRN mutations (WRN-mut) lead to genomic instability. Thus, WRN is a promising target in cancers with microsatellite instability (MSI). We assessed this study to investigate the molecular profile of WRN-mut in colorectal cancer (CRC). Tumor samples were analyzed using next-generation sequencing (NGS) in-situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Tumor mutational burden (TMB) was calculated based on somatic nonsynonymous missense mutations. Determination of tumor mismatch repair (MMR) or microsatellite instability (MSI) status was conducted by fragment analysis. WRN-mut were detected in 80 of 6854 samples (1.2%). WRN-mut were more prevalent in right-sided compared to left-sided CRC (2.5% vs. 0.7%, p < 0.0001). TMB, PD-L1 and MSI-H/dMMR were significantly higher in WRN-mut than in WRN wild-type (WRN-wt). WRN-mut were associated with a higher TMB in the MSI-H/dMMR and in the MSS (microsatellite stable) subgroups. Several genetic differences between WRN-mut and WRN-wt CRC were observed, i.e., TP53 (47% vs. 71%), KRAS (34% vs. 49%) and APC (56% vs. 73%). This is the largest molecular profiling study investigating the genetic landscape of WRN-mut CRCs so far. A high prevalence of MSI-H/dMMR, higher TMB and PD-L1 in WRN-mut tumors were observed. Our data might serve as an additional selection tool for trials testing immune checkpoint antibodies in WRN-mut CRC.
Insights into the Molecular Mechanisms Behind Intralesional Immunotherapies for Advanced Melanoma
Authors: Vidovic Dejan , Giacomantonio Carman
Published: May 2020

The incidence of cutaneous melanoma, a highly malignant skin cancer, is increasing yearly. While surgical removal of the tumor is the mainstay of treatment for patients with locally confined disease, those with metastases face uncertainty when it comes to their treatment. As melanoma is a relatively immunogenic cancer, current guidelines suggest using immunotherapies that can rewire the host immune response to target melanoma tumor cells. Intralesional therapy, where immunomodulatory agents are injected directly into the tumor, are an emerging aspect of treatment for in-transit melanoma because of their ability to mitigate severe off-target immune-related adverse events. However, their immunomodulatory mechanisms are poorly understood. In this review, we will summarize and discuss the different intralesional therapies for metastatic melanoma with respect to their clinical outcomes and immune molecular mechanisms.
Metabolic Reprogramming in Metastatic Melanoma with Acquired Resistance to Targeted Therapies: Integrative Metabolomic and Proteomic Analysis
Authors: Soumoy Laura , Schepkens Corentin , Krayem Mohammad , Najem Ahmad , Tagliatti Vanessa , Ghanem Ghanem E. , Saussez Sven , Colet Jean-Marie , Journe Fabrice
Published: May 2020

Treatments of metastatic melanoma underwent an impressive development over the past few years, with the emergence of small molecule inhibitors targeting mutated proteins, such as BRAF, NRAS, or cKIT. However, since a significant proportion of patients acquire resistance to these therapies, new strategies are currently being considered to overcome this issue. For this purpose, melanoma cell lines with mutant BRAF, NRAS, or cKIT and with acquired resistances to BRAF, MEK, or cKIT inhibitors, respectively, were investigated using both 1H-NMR-based metabonomic and protein microarrays. The 1H-NMR profiles highlighted a similar go and return pattern in the metabolism of the BRAF, NRAS, and cKIT mutated cell lines. Indeed, melanoma cells exposed to mutation-specific inhibitors underwent metabolic disruptions following acute exposure but partially recovered their basal metabolism in long-term exposure, most likely acquiring resistance skills. The protein microarrays inquired about the potential cellular mechanisms used by the resistant cells to escape drug treatment, by showing decreased levels of proteins linked to the drug efficacy, especially in the downstream part of the MAPK signaling pathway. Integrating metabonomic and proteomic findings revealed some metabolic pathways (i.e., glutaminolysis, choline metabolism, glutathione production, glycolysis, oxidative phosphorylation) and key proteins (i.e., EPHA2, DUSP4, and HIF-1A) as potential targets to discard drug resistance.
High Temperature Water Gas Shift Reactivity of Novel Perovskite Catalysts
Authors: Popovic Janko , Lindenthal Lorenz , Rameshan Raffael , Ruh Thomas , Nenning Andreas , Löffler Stefan , Opitz Alexander Karl , Rameshan Christoph
Published: May 2020

High temperature water-gas shift (HT-WGS) is an industrially highly relevant reaction. Moreover, climate change and the resulting necessary search for sustainable energy sources are making WGS and reverse-WGS catalytic key reactions for synthetic fuel production. Hence, extensive research has been done to develop improved or novel catalysts. An extremely promising material class for novel highly active HT-WGS catalysts with superior thermal stability are perovskite-type oxides. With their large compositional flexibility, they enable new options for rational catalyst design. Particularly, both cation sites (A and B in ABO3) can be doped with promoters or catalytically active elements. Additionally, B-site dopants are able to migrate to the surface under reducing conditions (a process called exsolution), forming catalytically active nanoparticles and creating an interface that can strongly boost catalytic performance. In this study, we varied A-site composition and B-site doping (Ni, Co), thus comparing six novel perovskites and testing them for their HT-WGS activity: La0.9Ca0.1FeO3-δ, La0.6Ca0.4FeO3-δ, Nd0.9Ca0.1FeO3-δ, Nd0.6Ca0.4FeO3-δ, Nd0.6Ca0.4Fe0.9Ni0.1O3-δ and Nd0.6Ca0.4Fe0.9Co0.1O3-δ. Cobalt and Nickel doping resulted in the highest activity observed in our study, highlighting that doped perovskites are promising novel HT-WGS catalysts. The effect of the compositional variations is discussed considering the kinetics of the two partial reactions of WGS-CO oxidation and water splitting.
From Tank to Treatment: Modeling Melanoma in Zebrafish
Authors: Frantz William Tyler , Ceol Craig J
Published: May 2020

Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer and one of few cancers with a growing incidence. A thorough understanding of its pathogenesis is fundamental to developing new strategies to combat mortality and morbidity. Zebrafish—due in large part to their tractable genetics, conserved pathways, and optical properties—have emerged as an excellent system to model melanoma. Zebrafish have been used to study melanoma from a single tumor initiating cell, through metastasis, remission, and finally into relapse. In this review, we examine seminal zebrafish studies that have advanced our understanding of melanoma.
The Environmental Kuznets Curve and the Energy Mix: A Structural Estimation
Authors: Bongers Anelí
Published: May 2020

The Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis establishes the existence of an inverted U-shaped relationship between income and environmental deterioration. This paper studies the relationship between the energy mix and pollutant emissions and uses an environmental dynamic general equilibrium model to carry out a structural estimation of the EKC hypothesis. The model considers a three-input production function, including energy. Energy is a composite of fossil fuels and renewable energy sources. The flow of pollutant emissions depends on fossil fuels’ consumption, which accumulates in a pollution stock, resulting in a negative externality that adversely impacts aggregate productivity. Simulations of the model support the existence of a steady-state EKC relationship between Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the stock of pollution, where the negative slope side of the curve is very flat. We find that (i) the EKC hypothesis is only fulfilled when the elasticity of substitution between fossil fuel and renewable energy is high enough; (ii) the higher the elasticity of the productivity to the stock of pollution, the lower the optimal stock of pollution as a function of output; and (iii) emissions efficiency has a positive impact on the environment in the short-run, but negative in the long-run.
Energy and Cost Analysis of Building Envelope Components Using BIM: A Systematic Approach
Authors: Pučko Zoran , Maučec Damjan , Šuman Nataša
Published: May 2020

The selection of cost-effective components of the building envelope plays a significant role in a sustainable building design solution. Therefore, in terms of effective decision-making, it is important to have a complete insight into construction and running costs throughout the lifespan of the building. A systematic building information modelling (BIM) approach as a new trend in the innovative approaches in the construction (AECO) industry provides appropriate support for improvement of environmental assessments. Our study presents a new approach to automated/semi-automated comprehensive energy and the whole life-cycle cost analysis of building envelope components using BIM, and, as such, it represents a novelty for Advanced Construction Project Management. It focuses on the sequence of steps required for evaluation of energy and economic assessment, from the basic 3D BIM model, through the energy and cost analysis, to the final evaluation and decision-making. The energy balance was calculated with dynamic simulation, the results of which formed the basis for the cost analysis. Economic assessment of construction and operating costs was performed by implementation of the cost-optimal methodology. Our proposed approach contributes to the environmental assessment of building envelope components throughout the life cycle and includes the economic valuation. The applicability of the systematic approach in our case study considered 24 different variants of building envelope components at three different U-values, namely U0 = 0.28 W/m2K for external wall, U0 = 0.20 W/m2K for roof, U1 = 0.15 W/m2K and U2 = 0.10 W/m2K. Sophisticated project BIM management software was used for the economic evaluation of all elements of the life-cycle costs (LCC). In summary, the main contribution of this approach is provision of a comprehensive and simple insight into all costs in a transparent way, because a 5D BIM model allows for optimal decision-making on appropriate energy and cost-efficient envelope components.
Flexible Plate in the Wake of a Square Cylinder for Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting—Parametric Study Using Fluid–Structure Interaction Modeling
Authors: Binyet Emmanuel Mbondo , Chang Jen-Yuan , Huang Chih-Yung
Published: May 2020

Piezoelectric energy harvesters can scavenge energy from their ambient environment in order to power low-consumption electronic devices. The last two decades have seen a growing interest towards vortex-induced vibration harvesters; most harvesters consist in rigid splitter plates oscillating at higher frequencies. The concept presented here is a low-frequency undulating flexible plate placed in the wake of a square cylinder. Piezoelectric patches can be placed at the plate surface to harvest the strain energy arising when the plate bends. The flapping pattern mimics an anguilliform swimming motion. There is a great need to establish correlation between wake generating bluff body size, plate dimensions and power output. Geometric parameters were investigated using water tunnel experiments, particle image velocimetry and fluid–structure interaction modeling. Results showed that for a given plate length and within a given freestream velocity range, there is a square cylinder diameter and a thickness that optimize the plate–wake interaction. Longer plates yield greater power output but have lower flapping frequencies. Additionally, the more frequent curvature changes occurring can result in charge cancellation among the piezoelectric cells. Consequently, the estimated conversion efficiency from mechanical strain to electricity is higher for shorter plates.
Active Disturbance Rejection Control of Differential Drive Assist Steering for Electric Vehicles
Authors: Wang Junnian , Wang Xiandong , Luo Zheng , Assadian Francis
Published: May 2020

The differential drive assist steering (DDAS) system makes full use of the advantages of independent control of wheel torque of electric vehicle driven by front in-wheel motors to achieve steering assistance and reduce the steering effort of the driver, as the electric power steering (EPS) system does. However, as an indirect steering assist technology that applies steering system assistance via differential drive, its linear control algorithm, like existing proportion integration differentiation (PID) controllers, cannot take the nonlinear characteristics of the tires’ dynamics into account which results in poor performance in road feeling and tracking accuracy. This paper introduces an active disturbance rejection control (ADRC) method into the control issue of the DDAS. First, the third-order ADRC controller of the DDAS is designed, and the simulated annealing algorithm is used to optimize the parameters of ADRC controller offline considering that the parameters of ADRC controller are too many and the parameter tuning is complex. Finally, the 11-DOF model of the electric vehicle driven by in-wheel motors is built, and the standard working conditions are selected for simulation and experimental verification. The results show that the ADRC controller designed in this paper can not only obviously reduce the steering wheel effort of the driver like PID controller, but also have better nonlinear control performance in tracking accuracy and smooth road feeling of the driver than the traditional PID controller.
Design of Power Cable Lines Partially Exposed to Direct Solar Radiation—Special Aspects
Authors: Czapp Stanislaw , Szultka Seweryn , Tomaszewski Adam
Published: May 2020

Power cable lines are usually buried in the ground. However, in some cases, their ending sections are mounted along the supports of overhead lines. This leads to a situation where the cables are exposed to direct solar radiation and, consequentially, overheat. The paper presents the advanced computer modelling of power cables’ heating, considering their insolation as well as the effect of wind. The temperature and current-carrying capacity of power cables—during exposure to direct solar radiation—are evaluated. An effective method of limiting the unfavourable impact of the sun is discussed. In the presence of solar radiation, the proposed method enables a significant increase in the power cables current-carrying capacity.
Local People’s Participation in Mangrove Restoration Projects and Impacts on Social Capital and Livelihood: A Case Study in the Philippines
Authors: B. Valenzuela Roswin , Yeo-Chang Youn , Park Mi Sun , Chun Jung-Nam
Published: May 2020

Participatory forest management has been considered as a practical and effective strategy for sustainable forest management, especially in situations where land tenure is not securely settled. For effective forest restoration, local communities, as the cornerstone of participatory management, should be provided with incentives to facilitate their participation and active role. We postulate that participation in mangrove restoration projects can not only provide financial rewards but also yield intangible benefits for communities, i.e., social capital. The study was conducted in the province of Quezon, Philippines, using face-to-face interviews as the main method for data collection. Regression analyses were undertaken to assess the impact of local community participation in mangrove restoration projects on social capital and its potential benefits to people in terms of access to information and services, which are key components of livelihood. Results revealed that people’s participation in mangrove restoration projects contributes to increasing social capital, consequently improving their access to information and services. Local people’s participation is beneficial to communities, as it can improve their livelihoods.
Effects of Storage Conditions on Degradation of Chlorophyll and Emulsifying Capacity of Thylakoid Powders Produced by Different Drying Methods
Authors: Östbring Karolina , Sjöholm Ingegerd , Rayner Marilyn , Erlanson-Albertsson Charlotte
Published: May 2020

Thylakoid membranes isolated from spinach have previously been shown to inhibit lipase/co-lipase and prolong satiety in vivo. There is a need to develop thylakoid products that not only have the desired characteristics and functionality after processing, but also are stable and provide equivalent effect on appetite over the promised shelf life. The aim of the present study was therefore to evaluate how the thylakoid powders’ characteristics and functionality were affected by moisture during storage. Thylakoids produced by drum-drying, spray-drying, and freeze-drying were incubated in controlled atmosphere with different relative humidity (10 RH%, 32 RH%, 48 RH% and 61 RH%) for 8 months. The water content in all powders was increased during storage. The water absorption was moisture-dependent, and the powders were considered hygroscopic. Relative humidity showed a definite influence on the rate of chlorophyll degradation and loss of green color in thylakoid powders after storage which correlated with impaired emulsifying capacity. Spray-dried powder had the overall highest chlorophyll content and emulsifying capacity at all RH-levels investigated. Spray drying was therefore considered the most suitable drying method yielding a powder with best-maintained functionality after storage. The results can be applied towards quality control of high-quality functional foods with appetite suppressing abilities.
Light Microscopy as a Tool to Evaluate the Functionality of Starch in Food
Authors: Błaszczak Wioletta , Lewandowicz Grażyna
Published: May 2020

Light microscopy (LM) is commonly used in the study of biological materials to determine the morphology of cells and tissues. The potential of this technique for studying the structure of food products is also recognized but less known. Especially rare are information regarding LM studies of the supramolecular structure of starch. The aim of the work was to fill this gap by providing data on the possibilities for application of LM in starch studies. It was shown that in spite of an enormous progress in the development of microscopic techniques, including both increase of resolution and improvement of image analysis methods, light microscopy still has a huge potential for starch studies. The advantage of LM over other microscopic techniques is the possibility of differentiating between amylose and amylopectin by iodine staining. That makes LM especially useful in the analysis of the process of gelatinization of starch, the extent of molecular dispersion of its macromolecules, and the changes in its structure caused by modification. Moreover, it can be particularly useful for studying the changes in the supramolecular structure of starch in a food product matrix, providing more information than scanning electron microscopy (SEM)–the most common technique used for these purposes.
Characterization of Enriched Meat-Based Pâté Manufactured with Oleogels as Fat Substitutes
Authors: Martins Artur J. , Lorenzo José M. , Franco Daniel , Pateiro Mirian , Domínguez Rubén , Munekata Paulo E. S. , Pastrana Lorenzo M. , Vicente António A. , Cunha Rosiane L. , Cerqueira Miguel A.
Published: May 2020

Nowadays, one of the strongest factors affecting consumers’ choice at the moment of purchasing food products is their nutritional features. The population is increasingly aware of the diet–health relationship and they are opting for a healthy lifestyle. Concerns with the increasing number of heart-related diseases, which are associated to the consumption of fats, are placing the functional food market in a relevant growth position. Considering that, our goal was to develop, under semi-industrial processing conditions, a healthy meat-based spreadable product (pâté) with reduced fat content through replacement of pork fat by healthier structured oil. Beeswax was used to develop an edible oleogel based on linseed oil with a high content of linolenic acid. A decrease of the hardness and adhesivity was verified for pâtés with oleogel incorporation. Linseed oil inclusion was the main factor leading to an increase of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) content in pâté samples. A decrease up to 90% in the n-6/n-3 (omega-6/omega-3) ratio can signify a better nutritional value of the obtained pâté samples, which can result in a possible upsurge in omega-3 bioavailability through digestion of these pâtés. This could be an interesting option for the consumption of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, targeting, for example, the reduction of cardiovascular diseases.
Comparative Analysis of ANDE 6C Rapid DNA Analysis System and Traditional Methods
Authors: Ragazzo Michele , Melchiorri Stefano , Manzo Laura , Errichiello Valeria , Puleri Giulio , Nicastro Fabio , Giardina Emiliano
Published: May 2020

Rapid DNA analysis is an ultrafast and fully automated DNA-typing system, which can produce interpretable genetic profiles from biological samples within 90 minutes. This “swab in—profile out” method comprises DNA extraction, amplification by PCR multiplex, separation and detection of DNA fragments by capillary electrophoresis. The aim of study was the validation of the Accelerated Nuclear DNA Equipment (ANDE) 6C system as a typing method for reference samples according to the ISO/IEC 17025 standard. Here, we report the evaluation of the validity and reproducibility of results by the comparison of the genetic profiles generated by the ANDE 6C System with those generated by standard technologies. A quantity of 104 buccal swabs were analyzed both through the ANDE 6C technology and the traditional method (DNA extraction and quantification, amplification and separation by capillary electrophoresis). Positive typing was observed in 97% of cases for ANDE 6C technology with only three buccal swabs failing to reveal interpretable signals. Concordance was determined by comparing the allele calls generated by ANDE 6C and conventional technology. Comparison of 2800 genotypes revealed a concordance rate of 99.96%. These results met the ISO/IEC 17025 requirements, enabling us to receive the accreditation for this method. Finally, rapid technology has certainly reached a level of reliability which has made its use in laboratories of forensic genetics a reality.
The Contribution of Non-Food-Based Exposure to Gluten on the Management of Coeliac Disease
Authors: Hall Sophie W. , Shaoul Ron , Day Andrew S.
Published: May 2020

The management of coeliac disease involves the life-long adherence to a strict gluten free diet. There have been concerns about exposure to gluten or other cereal components that are not contained in foods. This manuscript reviews the available literature focused on the potential for exposure to non-food-based gluten and the potential relevance of this to the ongoing management of individuals with coeliac disease. The products of consideration included dental and oral hygiene products, cosmetics and packaging products. Each of these items has been considered, with caution noted in regards to dental products and potential concern about novel packaging applications. Accidental ingestion by younger children of items such as play-dough during play also requires care. In conclusion, there is currently little firm data to guide individuals with coeliac disease, other than caution about specific items.
Applying Data Mining to Investigate Cancer Risk in Patients with Pyogenic Liver Abscess
Authors: Hon Jau-Shin , Shi Zhi-Yuan , Cheng Chen-Yang , Li Zong-You
Published: May 2020

Pyogenic liver abscess is usually a complication of biliary tract disease. Taiwan features among the countries with the highest incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Few studies have investigated whether patients with pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) have higher incidence rates of CRC and HCC. However, these findings have been inconclusive. The risks of CRC and HCC in patients with PLA and the factors contributing to cancer development were assessed in these patients. The clinical tests significantly associated with cancers in these patients with PLA were determined to assist in the early diagnosis of these cancers. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were determined using binary logistic regression Cancer classification models were constructed using the decision tree algorithm C5.0 to compare the accuracy among different models with those risk factors of cancers and then determine the optimal model. Thereafter, the rules were summarized using the decisi8on tree model to assist in the diagnosis. The results indicated that CRC and HCC (OR, 3.751; 95% CI, 1.149–12.253) and CRC (OR, 6.838; 95% CI, 2.679–17.455) risks were higher in patients with PLA than those without PLA. The decision tree analysis demonstrated that the model with the PLA variable had the highest accuracy, and that classification could be conducted using fewer factors, indicating that PLA is critical in HCC and CRC. Two rules were determined for assisting in the diagnosis of CRC and HCC using the decision tree model.
Clinical Usefulness of the Inhibitory Control Test (ICT) in the Diagnosis of Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy
Authors: Stawicka Agnieszka , Jaroszewicz Jerzy , Zbrzeźniak Justyna , Sołowianowicz Natalia , Woszczenko Aleksandra , Świderska Magdalena , Flisiak Robert
Published: May 2020

Background: Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) refers to a number of neuropsychiatric and neurophysiological disorders in patients with cirrhosis who do not show abnormalities on physical examination or in clinical tests. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, risk factors, and predictive value of minimal hepatic encephalopathy and the usefulness of the inhibitory control test (ICT) in the diagnosis. Methods: Seventy patients (mean age 53 years, range 24−77) with liver cirrhosis were enrolled in the study. MHE was diagnosed based on PHES (psychometric hepatic encephalopathy score) and ICT. PHES and ICT were validated in a group of 56 control subjects. Results: Minimal hepatic encephalopathy was diagnosed using PHES in 21 patients (30%). ICT diagnosed MHE in 30 patients (42%), and the test had a sensitivity of 65% and a specificity of 57% compared to PHES. The ICT score (lures/target accuracy rate) correlated with the age of subjects (R = 0.35, p = 0.002) and only slightly with education (education in years R = −0.22, p = 0.06). MHE diagnosed with PHES or ICT was associated with a significantly higher model of end-stage liver disease (MELD) score in the follow-up. MHE diagnosed with ICT was correlated with a significantly higher incidence of symptoms of decompensated cirrhosis (p = 0.02) in the follow-up. Conclusions: ICT had moderate sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing MHE compared to PHES. Importantly, MHE detected with PHES or ICT was associated with poorer survival and a more severe progression of the disease.
Applying the Modified Health Belief Model (HBM) to Korean Medical Tourism
Authors: Ban Hyun-Jeong , Kim Hak-Seon
Published: May 2020

The purpose of this study is to investigate how foreigners’ health beliefs influence their visiting intentions to Korean medical tourism. This study used an online survey engine (docs.google.com/forms) to collect data from foreigners who are from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Mongolia, who are potential Korean medical tourists. Out of 213 questionnaires collected, 200 questionnaires (93.9%) were used for the statistical analysis. The Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) revealed that six dimensions, “Experience”, “Susceptibility”, “Severity”, “Barrier”, “Benefit”, and “Visiting Intention”, had construct validity; Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was tested for item reliability. It is expected that four variables in the health belief model (HBM) that are determined by objective and logical thinking processes will affect the choice of Korean medical tourism. The results showed that Susceptibility, Severity, Barrier, and Benefit had significant effects on Visiting Intention and was a valid measurement to determine “Visiting Intention”.