bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Telephone Aftercare Intervention for Obese Hispanic Children on Body Fat Percentage, Physical Fitness, and Blood Lipid Profiles
Authors: Garza Carlos , Martinez David A. , Yoon Jihyung , Nickerson Brett S. , Park Kyung-Shin
Published: December 2019

We investigated effects of 10-month telephone aftercare intervention following primary obesity intervention on changes in body fat percentage, physical fitness, and lipid profiles in obese Hispanic children. Seventy-one obese children were randomly assigned to (1) primary intervention and 10-month telephone aftercare intervention (PITI; N = 26), (2) primary intervention only (PI; n = 25), and (3) control (CON; N = 20). Anthropometric data, physical fitness, and blood samples were obtained before (PRE) and after (POST) eight-week primary intervention, and 10-month telephone aftercare intervention (1YEAR). Eight weeks of primary intervention significantly reduced body fat percentage, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) with increases in VO2max, flexibility, muscular strength, and HDL-C (PITI and PI, p < 0.05). 1YEAR measurements returned to baseline for the PI whereas those measurements in PITI remained significantly different when compared to PRE (p < 0.05). CON observed negative changes in all variables at POST, which were improved slightly during the subsequent school year. Levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL-C are correlated to changes in body fat percentage, suggesting that fat loss is effective in preventing and managing obesity-related disorders. Results indicate that telephone intervention is an effective aftercare in stabilizing positive changes obtained from a short-term intensive intervention.
Implementation of Financial Incentives for Successful Smoking Cessation in Real-Life Company Settings: A Qualitative Needs Assessment among Employers
Authors: van den Brand Floor A. , Magnée Tessa , de Haan-Bouma Lotte , Barendregt Cas , Chavannes Niels H. , van Schayck Onno C. P. , Nagelhout Gera E.
Published: December 2019

Randomized studies have shown that financial incentives can significantly increase the effect of smoking cessation treatment in company settings. Evidence of effectiveness alone is, however, not enough to ensure that companies will offer this intervention. Knowledge about the barriers and facilitators for implementation in the workplace is needed, in order to develop an implementation strategy. We performed a qualitative needs assessment among 18 employers working in companies with relatively many employees with a low educational level, and our study revealed priority actions that aim to improve the implementation process in these types of workplaces. First, employers need training and support in how to reach their employees and convince them to take part in the group training. Second, employers need to be convinced that their non-smoking employees will not consider the incentives unfair, or they should be enabled to offer alternative incentives that are considered less unfair. Third, the cost-effectiveness of smoking cessation group trainings including financial incentives should be explained to employers. Finally, smoking cessation should become a standard part of workplace-based health policies.
Analysis of Factors Influencing Hospitals’ Implementation of a Green E-Procurement System Using a Cloud Model
Authors: Fu Hsin-Pin , Chang Tsung-Sheng , Yeh Hsiao-Ping , Chen Yu-Xuan
Published: December 2019

Currently, the green procurement activities of private hospitals in Taiwan follow the self-built green electronic-procurement (e-procurement) system. This requires professional personnel to take the time to regularly update the green specification and software and hardware of the e-procurement system, and the information system maintenance cost is high. In the case of a green e-procurement system crash, the efficiency of green procurement activities for hospitals is affected. If the green e-procurement can be moved to a convenient and trusty cloud computing model, this will enhance the efficiency of procurement activities and reduce the information maintenance cost for private hospitals. However, implementing a cloud model is an issue of technology innovation application and the technology-organization-environment (TOE) framework has been widely applied as the theoretical framework in technology innovation application. In addition, finding the weight of factors is a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) issue. Therefore, the present study first collected factors influencing implementation of the cloud mode together with the TOE as the theoretical framework, by reviewing the literature. Therefore, an expert questionnaire was designed and distributed to top managers of 20 private hospitals in southern Taiwan. The fuzzy analysis hierarchical process (FAHP), which is a MCDM tool, finds the weights of the factors influencing private hospitals in southern Taiwan when they implement a cloud green e-procurement system. The research results can enable private hospitals to successfully implement a green e-procurement system through a cloud model by optimizing resource allocation according to the weight of each factor. In addition, the results of this research can help cloud service providers of green e-procurement understand users’ needs and develop relevant cloud solutions and marketing strategies.
Reliability of a Virtual Prosthodontic Project Realized through a 2D and 3D Photographic Acquisition: An Experimental Study on the Accuracy of Different Digital Systems
Authors: Lavorgna Luca , Cervino Gabriele , Fiorillo Luca , Di Leo Giovanni , Troiano Giuseppe , Ortensi Marco , Galantucci Luigi , Cicciù Marco
Published: December 2019

Aims: The study aims to assess the accuracy of digital planning in dentistry, evaluating the characteristics of different intraoral 3D scanners and comparing it with traditional imaging 2D recording methods. Specifically, using computer aided design (CAD) software and measuring inside CAD software, authors want to verify the reliability of different models obtained with different techniques and machines. Methods: 12 patients that needed aesthetic restorative treatment were enrolled in the study. All the patients underwent recording data of the height and width dental elements 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 size using different technologies and comparing 2D with 3D methods. A T test was then applied in order to verify whether there was a statistically significant difference between the measurements obtained, comparing the different tools data (Emerald, TRIOS, Photogrammetry and DSS (Digital Smile System)) with the reference values. Results: No significant differences emerged in the measurements made with the different scanners (Trios 3Shape ®, Planmeca Emerald ®) and photogrammetry. Therefore, what should be underlined regarding the 2D measurements is the speed and simplicity compared to all 3D techniques, so this work can help to better define the field of application and the limits connected to 2D techniques, giving a good window of the technique. Conclusions: The low number of patients is not sufficient to provide statistically significant results, but the digital planning future prospects seem to be promising. This study results highlighted how a photogrammetric scanner for dental arches would only have a much smaller shooting field size and greater accuracy. Despite these considerations, the photogrammetric facial scanner provided excellent results for the measurement of individual teeth, showing a great versatility of use.
Complement and Complement Targeting Therapies in Glomerular Diseases
Authors: Andrighetto Sofia , Leventhal Jeremy , Zaza Gianluigi , Cravedi Paolo
Published: December 2019

The complement cascade is part of the innate immune system whose actions protect hosts from pathogens. Recent research shows complement involvement in a wide spectrum of renal disease pathogenesis including antibody-related glomerulopathies and non-antibody-mediated kidney diseases, such as C3 glomerular disease, atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. A pivotal role in renal pathogenesis makes targeting complement activation an attractive therapeutic strategy. Over the last decade, a growing number of anti-complement agents have been developed; some are approved for clinical use and many others are in the pipeline. Herein, we review the pathways of complement activation and regulation, illustrate its role instigating or amplifying glomerular injury, and discuss the most promising novel complement-targeting therapies.
Investigation on the Thermal Conductivity of Mineral Oil-Based Alumina/Aluminum Nitride Nanofluids
Authors: Xiang Dong , Shen Liangping , Wang Hanbin
Published: December 2019

Al2O3/AlN–mineral oil nanofluids were prepared by dispersing commercially available Al2O3 and AlN nanoparticles into mineral oil. SEM measurements showed that the average diameter of the Al2O3 and AlN nanoparticles was about 55 and 50 nm, respectively. The experiments showed that the thermal conductivity systematically improved as the Al2O3 and AlN nanoparticles were introduced into the mineral oil. The thermal conductivity of the mineral oil-based nanofluids increased by 18% with a 1% volume fraction of Al2O3 and increased by 7% with a 0.5% volume fraction of AlN. The experimental data were compared with the values that were predicted by four typical thermal conductivity models, and a large disparity was disclosed between the models and the experimental data. After considering the thermal dynamic factors in the Al2O3/AlN–mineral oil nanofluids, a universal model is proposed that agrees well with the variation of thermal conductivity of the nanofluids.
Functionalized rGO Interlayers Improve the Fill Factor and Current Density in PbS QDs-Based Solar Cells
Authors: Babaev Anton A. , Parfenov Peter S. , Onishchuk Dmitry A. , Dubavik Aliaksei , Cherevkov Sergei A. , Rybin Andrei V. , Baranov Mikhail A. , Baranov Alexander V. , Litvin Aleksandr P. , Fedorov Anatoly V.
Published: December 2019

Graphene-quantum dot nanocomposites attract significant attention for novel optoelectronic devices, such as ultrafast photodetectors and third-generation solar cells. Combining the remarkable optical properties of quantum dots (QDs) with the exceptional electrical properties of graphene derivatives opens a vast perspective for further growth in solar cell efficiency. Here, we applied (3-mercaptopropyl) trimethoxysilane functionalized reduced graphene oxide (f-rGO) to improve the QDs-based solar cell active layer. The different strategies of f-rGO embedding are explored. When f-rGO interlayers are inserted between PbS QD layers, the solar cells demonstrate a higher current density and a better fill factor. A combined study of the morphological and electrical parameters of the solar cells shows that the improved efficiency is associated with better layer homogeneity, lower trap-state densities, higher charge carrier concentrations, and the blocking of the minor charge carriers.
Microstructure Evolution and Mechanical Properties of AZ80 Mg Alloy during Annular Channel Angular Extrusion Process and Heat Treatment
Authors: Zhao Xi , Li Shuchang , Yan Fafa , Zhang Zhimin , Wu Yaojin
Published: December 2019

Microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of AZ80 Mg alloy during annular channel angular extrusion (350 °C) and heat treatment with varying parameters were investigated, respectively. The results showed that dynamic recrystallization of Mg grains was developed and the dendritic eutectic β-Mg17Al12 phases formed during the solidification were broken into small β-phase particles after hot extrusion. Moreover, a weak texture with two dominant peaks formed owing to the significant grain refinement and the enhanced activation of pyramidal  slip at relative high temperature. The tension tests showed that both the yield strength and ultimate tensile strength of the extruded alloy were dramatically improved owing to the joint strengthening effect of fine grain and β-phase particles as compared with the homogenized sample. The solution treatment achieved the good plasticity of the alloy resulting from the dissolution of β-phases and the development of more equiaxed grains, while the direct-aging process led to poor alloy elongation as a result of residual eutectic β-phases. After solution and aging treatment, simultaneous bonding strength and plasticity of the alloy were achieved, as a consequence of dissolution of coarse eutectic β-phases and heterogeneous precipitation of a large quantity of newly formed β-phases with both the morphologies of continuous and discontinuous precipitates.
Plakinamine P, A Steroidal Alkaloid with Bactericidal Activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Rodrigues Felix Carolina , Roberts Jill C. , Winder Priscilla L. , Gupta Rashmi , Diaz M. Cristina , Pomponi Shirley A. , Wright Amy E. , Rohde Kyle H.
Published: December 2019

Tuberculosis is the leading cause of death due to infectious disease worldwide. There is an urgent need for more effective compounds against this pathogen to control the disease. Investigation of the anti-mycobacterial activity of a deep-water sponge of the genus Plakina revealed the presence of a new steroidal alkaloid of the plakinamine class, which we have given the common name plakinamine P. Its structure is most similar to plakinamine L, which also has an acyclic side chain. Careful dissection of the nuclear magnetic resonance data, collected in multiple solvents, suggests that the dimethyl amino group at the 3 position is in an equatorial rather than axial position unlike previously reported plakinamines. Plakinamine P was bactericidal against M. tuberculosis, and exhibited moderate activity against other mycobacterial pathogens, such as M. abscessus and M. avium. Furthermore, it had low toxicity against J774 macrophages, yielding a selectivity index (SI, or IC50/MIC) of 8.4. In conclusion, this work provides a promising scaffold to the tuberculosis drug discovery pipeline. Future work to determine the molecular target of this compound may reveal a pathway essential for M. tuberculosis survival during infection.
Multimodal Laser Stimulation and Traditional Needle Acupuncture in Post-Stroke Patients—A Pilot Cross-Over Study with Results from Near Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Litscher Gerhard , Zhang Xiaoning , Sheng Zemin , Jing Xiang-Hong , Wang Lu
Published: December 2019

Background: The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate the cerebral effects of laser stimulation and traditional needle acupuncture in patients after stroke. Methods: Seventeen stroke patients (12 female and five male; mean age ± SD: 66.5 ± 12.9 years) were randomly selected in a stroke rehabilitation hospital. Patients’ regional cerebral blood oxygen saturation (rSO2) values were recorded before, during, and after needle acupuncture (scalp, ear and body) as well as before, during, and after corresponding laser stimulation (red laser, four points: 100 mW, 658 nm, 500 µm; yellow laser, one point: 50 mW, 589 nm, 500 µm; infrared laser, three points: 100 mW, 810 nm, 500 µm; green laser, one point: 5 mW, 532 nm, 500 µm) in a cross-over study design. Results: There were no significant changes after needle acupuncture in the phases immediately after needle insertion or during acupuncture stimulation. However, after manual needle acupuncture and after laser stimulation, the majority of the rSO2 values showed increases. The highest value (+3%) was reached after laser stimulation treatment. Heart rate and blood pressure before and after the treatments did not show significant alterations. Conclusions: Changes in local cerebral oxygen saturation could be quantified, although confirmation may only be expected after extensive follow-up studies.
Influence of Crystal Structure of Nitride Compound Layer on Torsion Fatigue Strength of Alloy Steel
Authors: Yamada Yoshitomi , Hirohito Eto , Takahashi Koji
Published: December 2019

The demand for high-strength components for commercial vehicles has recently increased. Conventional gas nitrocarburizing has been used to increase strength and productivity of the crankshaft. A potential-controlled nitriding process was recently developed to control the crystal structure of the nitride compound layer. It has been found that this treatment improves the bending fatigue strength compared with conventional treatment, and has the potential to cope with the increase in crankshaft strength. However, the effect of torsional fatigue strength has not been studied. Therefore, in this study, the influence of the crystal structure of the nitride compound layer on torsional fatigue strength was investigated. Two kinds of test specimens with different crystal structures of the compound layer were prepared using gas nitriding treatment with controlled nitriding potential for an alloy steel bar (JIS-SCM435). Torsional fatigue tests were carried out using these test specimens. Although the compound layer of these test specimens had different crystal structures, the hardness distribution and residual stress distribution on the diffusion layer were almost the same. The relationship between stress amplitude and number of cycles to failure (S-N curve) showed that the torsional fatigue limits of the specimens were almost the same. This indicates that the crystal structure of the nitride compound layer did not affect the torsional fatigue limits, because the origin of the torsional fatigue failure is inside the specimen.
Corrosion Study of Pipeline Steel under Stress at Different Cathodic Potentials by EIS
Authors: Galván-Martínez Ricardo , Orozco-Cruz Ricardo , Carmona-Hernández Andrés , Mejía-Sánchez Edgar , Morales-Cabrera Miguel A. , Contreras Antonio
Published: December 2019

The effect of different cathodic potentials applied to the X70 pipeline steel immersed in acidified and aerated synthetic soil solution under stress using a slow strain rate test (SSRT) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was studied. According to SSRT results and the fracture surface analysis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the steel susceptibility to stress corrosion cracking (SCC) increased as the cathodic polarization increased (Ecp). This behavior is attributed to the anodic dissolution at the tip of the crack and the increment of the cathodic reaction (hydrogen evolution) producing hydrogen embrittlement. Nevertheless, when the Ecp was subjected to the maximum cathodic potential applied (−970 mV), the susceptibility decreased; this behavior is attributed to the fact that the anodic dissolution was suppressed and the process of the SCC was dominated only by hydrogen embrittlement (HE). The EIS results showed that the cathodic process was influenced by the mass transport (hydrogen diffusion) due to the steel undergoing so many changes in the metallic surface as a result of the applied strain that it generated active sites at the surface.
Convergent Synthesis of Polysubstituted Furans via Catalytic Phosphine Mediated Multicomponent Reactions
Authors: Fan Xia , Chen Rongshun , Han Jie , He Zhengjie
Published: December 2019

Tri- or tetrasubstituted furans have been prepared from terminal activated olefins and acyl chlorides or anhydrides by a multicomponental convergent synthesis mode. Instead of stoichiometric nBu3P, only catalytic nBu3P or nBu3P=O is needed to furnish the furans in modest to excellent yields with a good functional group tolerance under the aid of reducing agent silane. This synthetic method features a silane-driven catalytic intramolecular Wittig reaction as a key annulation step and represents the first successful application of catalytic Wittig reaction in multicomponent cascade reaction.
Antimicrobial Secondary Metabolites from the Seawater-Derived Fungus Aspergillus sydowii SW9
Authors: Liu Yu-Jing , Zhang Jian-Long , Li Chen , Mu Xue-Gen , Liu Xiao-Li , Wang Lei , Zhao Yan-Cui , Zhang Peng , Li Xiao-Dong , Zhang Xing-Xiao
Published: December 2019

Marine-derived fungi are considered to be valuable producers of bioactive secondary metabolites used as lead compounds with medicinal importance. In this study, chemical investigation of the seawater-derived fungus Aspergillus sydowii SW9 led to the isolation and identification of one new quinazolinone alkaloid, 2-(4-hydroxybenzyl)-4-(3-acetyl)quinazolin-one (1), one new aromatic bisabolene-type sesquiterpenoid, (2) and one new chorismic acid analogue (3), as well as two known alkaloids (compounds 4 and 5). Their structures were determined by extensive 1D/2D NMR and mass spectrometric data, and the absolute configurations of 2 and 3 were assigned by the analysis of ECD spectra aided by quantum chemical computations. Compounds 1, 2, and 4 exhibited selective inhibitory activities against the human pathogenic bacteria Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, and Streptococcus pneumoniae, with MIC values ranging from 2.0 to 16 μg/mL.
Investigation of Grignard Reagent as an Advanced Base for Aza-Claisen Rearrangement
Authors: Song Bo Reum , Ha Min Woo , Kim Donghwan , Park Chanin , Lee Keun Woo , Paek Seung-Mann
Published: December 2019

Employing iPrMgCl as an advanced base instead of lithium hexamethyldisilazane (LHMDS) resulted in dramatic improvements in aza-Claisen rearrangement. This advance is considered responsible for the increased bulkiness of the alkoxide moiety (including magnesium cation and ligands), followed by a resultant conformational change of the transition state. To support this hypothesis, various substrates of aza-Claisen rearrangement were prepared and screened. In addition, a molecular dynamic simulation study was performed to investigate and compare the structural stability of reaction intermediates.
Glycan Mimetics from Natural Products: New Therapeutic Opportunities for Neurodegenerative Disease
Authors: Wang Wenyue , Gopal Sandeep , Pocock Roger , Xiao Zhicheng
Published: December 2019

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) affect millions of people worldwide. Characterized by the functional loss and death of neurons, NDs lead to symptoms (dementia and seizures) that affect the daily lives of patients. In spite of extensive research into NDs, the number of approved drugs for their treatment remains limited. There is therefore an urgent need to develop new approaches for the prevention and treatment of NDs. Glycans (carbohydrate chains) are ubiquitous, abundant, and structural complex natural biopolymers. Glycans often covalently attach to proteins and lipids to regulate cellular recognition, adhesion, and signaling. The importance of glycans in both the developing and mature nervous system is well characterized. Moreover, glycan dysregulation has been observed in NDs such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Huntington’s disease (HD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), multiple sclerosis (MS), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Therefore, glycans are promising but underexploited therapeutic targets. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of glycans in NDs. We also discuss a number of natural products that functionally mimic glycans to protect neurons, which therefore represent promising new therapeutic approaches for patients with NDs.
The Flexible Lubrication Performance of Graphene Used in Diamond Interface as a Solid Lubricant: First-Principles Calculations
Authors: Wang Jianjun , Li Lin , Yang Wentao , Li Meng , Guo Peng , Zhao Bin , Yang Linfeng , Fang Lili , Sun Bin , Jia Yu
Published: December 2019

The interfacial friction performances of graphene covered and hydrogen-terminated diamond surfaces were investigated comparatively by first-principles calculations within density functional theory (DFT). Both systems exhibit similar excellent lubricating effects under small load, but the graphene covered interface presents small friction than that of hydrogenated system for the larger load. The calculated interfacial friction between two sheets of graphene covered diamond surface increases slowly than that of hydrogenated system in a wide range of pressure scale, and the friction difference between the two systems increases with increasing external pressure, indicating that graphene has flexible lubricating properties with high load-carrying capacity. This behavior can be attributed to the large interlayer space and a more uniform interlayer charge distribution of graphene covered diamond interface. Our investigations suggest that graphene is a promising candidate as solid lubricate used in diamond film, and are helpful for the understanding of interfacial friction properties of diamond film.
Modified Epoxy Resin Synthesis from Phosphorus—Containing Polyol and Physical Changes Studies in the Synthesized Products
Authors: Jang Jeong Beom , Kim Tae Hee , Kim Taeyoon , Kim Hye Jin , Seo Bongkuk , Lim Choong-Sun , Lee Wonjoo
Published: December 2019

Epoxy resins are commonly used to manufacture the molding compounds, reinforced plastics, coatings, or adhesives required in various industries. However, the demand for new epoxy resins has increased to satisfy diverse industrial requirements such as enhanced mechanical properties, thermal stability, or electrical properties. Therefore, in this study, we synthesized new epoxy resin (PPME) by modifying phosphorous-containing polyol. The prepared resin was analyzed and added to epoxy compositions in various quantities. The compositions were cured at high temperatures to obtain plastics to further test the mechanical and thermal properties of the epoxy resin. The measured tensile and flexural strength of epoxy compositions were similar to the composition without synthesized epoxy resin. However, the heat release rates of the compositions exhibited tendencies of a decrease proportional to the amount of PPME.
Hyperspectral Anomaly Detection with Harmonic Analysis and Low-Rank Decomposition
Authors: Xiang Pei , Song Jiangluqi , Li Huan , Gu Lin , Zhou Huixin
Published: December 2019

Hyperspectral anomaly detection methods are often limited by the effects of redundant information and isolated noise. Here, a novel hyperspectral anomaly detection method based on harmonic analysis (HA) and low rank decomposition is proposed. This paper introduces three main innovations: first and foremost, in order to extract low-order harmonic images, a single-pixel-related HA was introduced to reduce dimension and remove redundant information in the original hyperspectral image (HSI). Additionally, adopting the guided filtering (GF) and differential operation, a novel background dictionary construction method was proposed to acquire the initial smoothed images suppressing some isolated noise, while simultaneously constructing a discriminative background dictionary. Last but not least, the original HSI was replaced by the initial smoothed images for a low-rank decomposition via the background dictionary. This operation took advantage of the low-rank attribute of background and the sparse attribute of anomaly. We could finally get the anomaly objectives through the sparse matrix calculated from the low-rank decomposition. The experiments compared the detection performance of the proposed method and seven state-of-the-art methods in a synthetic HSI and two real-world HSIs. Besides qualitative assessment, we also plotted the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of each method and report the respective area under the curve (AUC) for quantitative comparison. Compared with the alternative methods, the experimental results illustrated the superior performance and satisfactory results of the proposed method in terms of visual characteristics, ROC curves and AUC values.
Crustal Deformation of Northeastern China Following the 2011 Mw 9.0 Tohoku, Japan Earthquake Estimated from GPS Observations: Strain Heterogeneity and Seismicity
Authors: Meng Guojie , Su Xiaoning , Wu Weiwei , Nikolay Shestakov , Takahashi Hiroaki , Ohzono Mako , Gerasimenko Mikhail
Published: December 2019

Using global positioning system (GPS) observations of northeastern China and the southeast of the Russian Far East over the period 2012–2017, we derived an ITRF2014-referenced velocity field by fitting GPS time series with a functional model incorporating yearly and semiannual signals, linear trends, and offsets. We subsequently rotated the velocity field into a Eurasia-fixed velocity field and analyzed its spatial characteristics. Taking an improved multiscale spherical wavelet algorithm, we computed strain rate tensors and analyzed their spatial distribution at multiple scales. The derived Eurasia-referenced velocity field shows that northeastern China generally moved southeastward. Extensional deformation was identified at the Yilan–Yitong Fault (YYF) and the Dunhua–Mishan Fault (DMF), with negligible strike–slip rates. The principal strain rates were characterized by NE–SW compression and NW–SE extension. The dilation rates show compressional deformation in the southern segment of the YYF, northern end of the Nenjiang Fault (NJF), and southeast of the Russian Far East. We also investigated the impact of the 2011 Tohoku Mw 9.0 earthquake on the crustal deformation of northeastern China, generated by its post-seismic viscoelastic relaxation. The velocities generated by the post-seismic viscoelastic relaxation of the giant earthquake are generally orientated southeast, with magnitudes inversely proportional with the epicentral distances. The principal strain rates caused by the viscoelastic relaxation were also characterized by NW–SE stretching and NE–SW compression. The dilation rates show that compressional deformation appeared in the southern segment of the DMF and the YYF and southeast of the Russian Far East. Significant maximum shear rates were identified around the southern borderland between northeastern China and the southeast of the Russian Far East. Finally, we compared the multiple strain rates and the seismicity of northeastern China after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake. Our finding shows that the ML ≥ 4.0 earthquakes were mostly concentrated around the zones of high areal strain rates and shear rates at scales of 4 and 5, in particular, at the DMF and YYF fault zones.
Remote-Sensing Monitoring of Grassland Degradation Based on the GDI in Shangri-La, China
Authors: Yang Yanlin , Wang Jinliang , Chen Yun , Cheng Feng , Liu Guangjie , He Zenghong
Published: December 2019

Grassland resources are important land resources. However, grassland degradation has become evident in recent years, which has reduced the function of soil and water conservation and restricted the development of animal husbandry. Timely and accurate monitoring of grassland changes and understanding the degree of degradation are the foundation for the scientific use of grasslands. The grassland degradation index of ground comprehensive evaluation (grassland degradation index, GDIg) is a digital expression of grassland growth that can accurately indicate the degradation of grasslands. In this research, the accuracy of GDIg in evaluating grassland degradation is discussed; the typical areas of grassland degradation in Shangri-La City, i.e., the towns of Jiantang and Xiaozhongdian, are selected as the research area. Through a field survey and spectroscopy combined with Huanjing-1 (HJ-1) satellite image data, grassland degradation was monitored in the study area from 2008 to 2017. The results show that: (1) GDIg based on six indicators, namely, above-ground biomass, cover level, height, biomass of edible herbage, biomass of toxic weeds, and species richness, can effectively indicate grassland degradation, with the accuracy of the degradation grade assessment reaching 98.6%. (2) The correlation between the GDIg and the grey values of 4 wavebands and 7 types of vegetation indexes derived from the HJ-1 is analysed, and the degraded grassland inversion model was built and revised based on HJ-1 data. The grassland degradation evaluation index of remote sensing (GDIrs) model indicates that grassland degradation is proportional to the ratio vegetation index (RVI). (3) The grassland area was 405.40 km2 in the initial monitoring period, accounting for 17.26% of the study area, while at the end of the monitoring period, the area was 338.87 km2, with a loss of 66.53 km2. From 2008 to 2017, the area of non-degraded and slightly degraded grassland in the study area presented a downward trend, with decreases of 59.87 km2 and 49.93 km2, respectively. In contrast, the area of moderately degraded grassland increased by 41.17 km2 from 91.58 km2 in 2008 to 132.74 km2 in 2017, accounting for 39.17% of the grassland. The area of severely degraded grassland was 78.32 km2, accounting for 23.11% of the grassland in 2017. (4) The degraded grasslands in the study area mainly transformed into the degradation-enhanced (deterioration) type. As the transformation rate gradually slows down, the current situation of grassland degradation is not hopeful.
An Efficient Routing Protocol Based on Stretched Holding Time Difference for Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Wadud Zahid , Ullah Khadem , Qazi Abdul Baseer , Jan Sadeeq , Khan Farrukh Aslam , Minallah Nasru
Published: December 2019

Underwater Wireless Sensors Networks (UWSNs) use acoustic waves as a communication medium because of the high attenuation to radio and optical waves underwater. However, acoustic signals lack propagation speed as compared to radio or optical waves. In addition, the UWSNs also pose various intrinsic challenges, i.e., frequent node mobility with water currents, high error rate, low bandwidth, long delays, and energy scarcity. Various UWSN routing protocols have been proposed to overcome the above-mentioned challenges. Vector-based routing protocols confine the communication within a virtual pipeline for the sake of directionality and define a fixed pipeline radius between the source node and the centerline station. Energy-Scaled and Expanded Vector-Based Forwarding (ESEVBF) protocol limits the number of duplicate packets by expanding the holding time according to the propagation delay, and thus reduces the energy consumption via the remaining energy of Potential Forwarding Nodes (PFNs) at the first hop. The holding time mechanism of ESEVBF is restricted only to the first-hop PFNs of the source node. The protocol fails when there is a void or energy hole at the second hop, affecting the reliability of the system. Our proposed protocol, Extended Energy-Scaled and Expanded Vector-Based Forwarding Protocol (EESEVBF), exploits the holding time mechanism to suppress duplicate packets. Moreover, the proposed protocol tackles the hidden terminal problem due to which a reasonable reduction in duplicate packets initiated by the reproducing nodes occurs. The holding time is calculated based on the following four parameters: (i) the distance from the boundary of the transmission area relative to the PFNs’ inverse energy at the 1st and 2nd hop, (ii) distance from the virtual pipeline, (iii) distance from the source to the PFN at the second hop, and (iv) distance from the first-hop PFN to its destination. Therefore, the proposed protocol stretches the holding time difference based on two hops, resulting in lower energy consumption, decreased end-to-end delay, and increased packet delivery ratio. The simulation results demonstrate that compared to ESEVBF, our proposed protocol EESEVBF experiences 20.2 % lesser delay, approximately 6.66 % more energy efficiency, and a further 11.26 % reduction in generating redundant packets.
Electrochemical Detection of C-Reactive Protein in Human Serum Based on Self-Assembled Monolayer-Modified Interdigitated Wave-Shaped Electrode
Authors: Chinnadayyala Somasekhar R. , Park Jinsoo , Kim Young Hyo , Choi Seong Hye , Lee Sang-Myung , Cho Won Woo , Lee Ga-Yeon , Pyun Jae-Chul , Cho Sungbo
Published: December 2019

An electrochemical capacitance immunosensor based on an interdigitated wave-shaped micro electrode array (IDWµE) for direct and label-free detection of C-reactive protein (CRP) was reported. A self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of dithiobis (succinimidyl propionate) (DTSP) was used to modify the electrode array for antibody immobilization. The SAM functionalized electrode array was characterized morphologically by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The nature of gold-sulfur interactions on SAM-treated electrode array was probed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The covalent linking of anti-CRP-antibodies onto the SAM modified electrode array was characterized morphologically through AFM, and electrochemically through cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The application of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and human serum (HS) samples containing different concentrations of CRP in the electrode array caused changes in the electrode interfacial capacitance upon CRP binding. CRP concentrations in PBS and HS were determined quantitatively by measuring the change in capacitance (ΔC) through EIS. The electrode immobilized with anti-CRP-antibodies showed an increase in ΔC with the addition of CRP concentrations over a range of 0.01–10,000 ng mL−1. The electrode showed detection limits of 0.025 ng mL−1 and 0.23 ng mL−1 (S/N = 3) in PBS and HS, respectively. The biosensor showed a good reproducibility (relative standard deviation (RSD), 1.70%), repeatability (RSD, 1.95%), and adequate selectivity in presence of interferents towards CRP detection. The sensor also exhibited a significant storage stability of 2 weeks at 4 °C in 1× PBS.
Compact Multifunctional Wireless Capacitive Sensor System and Its Application in Icing Detection
Authors: Stocksreiter Wolfgang , Zangl Hubert
Published: December 2019

When sensors are used for the monitoring of surfaces, for example, with respect to ice aggregation, it is of interest to have a full coverage of the surface without sensor-inherent detection gaps, so-called “blind spots”. Since the components of such a sensor, like antennas and energy harvesting, also require space on the surface, the actual, effective sensing area is usually much smaller than the total surface of the device. Consequently, with an array of such sensors, it is not possible to monitor the entire surface of an object without gaps, even if the sensors are mounted directly adjacent to each other. Furthermore, the excessive size may also prevent the application of a single sensor in space constraint situations as they occur, e.g., on aircrafts. This article investigates a sensor concept in which the electrodes of the sensors are used for both radio data transmission and energy harvesting at the same time. Thus, the wireless data transmission in the 2.45 GHz Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) band is combined with the sensor electrodes and also with a photovoltaic cell for energy harvesting. The combination of sensor technology, communication, and harvesting enables a compact system and thus reduces blind spots to a minimum. In the following article, the structure and functionality of a system is described and verified by laboratory experiments.
Comparison of Various Frequency Matching Schemes for Geometric Correction of Geostationary Ocean Color Imager
Authors: Son Jong-Hwan , Kim Han-Gyeol , Han Hee-Jeong , Kim Taejung
Published: December 2019

Current precise geometric correction of Geostationary Ocean Color Imager (GOCI) image slots is performed by shoreline matching. However, it is troublesome to handle slots with few or no shorelines, or slots covered by clouds. Geometric correction by frequency matching has been proposed to handle these slots. In this paper, we further extend previous research on frequency matching by comparing the performance of three frequency domain matching methods: phase correlation, gradient correlation, and orientation correlation. We compared the performance of each matching technique in terms of match success rate and geometric accuracy. We concluded that the three frequency domain matching method with peak search range limits was comparable to geometric correction performance with shoreline matching. The proposed method handles translation only, and assumes that rotation has been corrected. We need to do further work on how to handle rotation by frequency matching.
Improved Drought Monitoring Index Using GNSS-Derived Precipitable Water Vapor over the Loess Plateau Area
Authors: Zhao Qingzhi , Ma Xiongwei , Yao Wanqiang , Liu Yang , Du Zheng , Yang Pengfei , Yao Yibin
Published: December 2019

Standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) is an acknowledged drought monitoring index, and the evapotranspiration (ET) used to calculated SPEI is obtained based on the Thornthwaite (TH) model. However, the SPEI calculated based on the TH model is overestimated globally, whereas the more accurate ET derived from the Penman–Monteith (PM) model recommended by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is unavailable due to the lack of a large amount of meteorological data at most places. Therefore, how to improve the accuracy of ET calculated by the TH model becomes the focus of this study. Here, a revised TH (RTH) model is proposed using the temperature (T) and precipitable water vapor (PWV) data. The T and PWV data are derived from the reanalysis data and the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) observation, respectively. The initial value of ET for the RTH model is calculated based on the TH model, and the time series of ET residual between the TH and PM models is then obtained. Analyzed results reveal that ET residual is highly correlated with PWV and T, and the correlate coefficient between PWV and ET is −0.66, while that between T and ET for cases of T larger or less than 0 °C are −0.54 and 0.59, respectively. Therefore, a linear model between ET residual and PWV/T is established, and the ET value of the RTH model can be obtained by combining the TH-derived ET and estimated ET residual. Finally, the SPEI calculated based on the RTH model can be obtained and compared with that derived using PM and TH models. Result in the Loess Plateau (LP) region reveals the good performance of the RTH-based SPEI when compared with the TH-based SPEI over the period of 1979–2016. A case analysis in April 2013 over the LP region also indicates the superiority of the RTH-based SPEI at 88 meteorological and 31 GNSS stations when the PM-based SPEI is considered as the reference.
Gender and Climate Change Disclosure: An Interdimensional Policy Approach
Authors: Ararat Melsa , Sayedy Borhan
Published: December 2019

This paper investigates the impact of corporate boards’ gender diversity on voluntary public disclosure of climate change risks in an emerging economy context in which environmental regulations are weak and markets are ineffective. The investigation relies on data from the CDP (formerly known as the Carbon Disclosure Project) as a corporate sustainability reporting initiative supported by institutional investors, based on a sample of Turkish firms that were invited to disclose their climate change risks and greenhouse gas emissions over the period of 2010–2019 through the CDP platform. We report that the presence of women on board committees, as a proxy for their active involvement in corporate governance, increases the likelihood of voluntary climate change disclosure. We, on the other hand, found no evidence of a positive impact on climate change reporting with women’s overall representation in boards. These findings lend support to board reforms that aim to increase effective representation of women on boards for the better management of sustainability risks and responsiveness to stakeholder demands in countries where legislators are reluctant to introduce climate change reforms.
Simultaneity and Precise Time in Rotation
Authors: Koks Don
Published: December 2019

I analyse the role of simultaneity in relativistic rotation by building incrementally on its role in simpler scenarios. Historically, rotation has been analysed in 1 + 1 dimensions; but my stance is that a 2 + 1 -dimensional treatment is necessary. This treatment requires a discussion of what constitutes a frame, how coordinate choices differ from frame choices, and how poor coordinates can be misleading. I determine how precisely we are able to define a meaningful time coordinate on a gravity-free rotating Earth, and discuss complications due to gravity on our real Earth. I end with a critique of several statements made in relativistic precision-timing literature, that I maintain contradict the tenets of relativity. Those statements tend to be made in the context of satellite-based navigation; but they are independent of that technology, and hence are not validated by its success. I suggest that if relativistic precision-timing adheres to such analyses, our civilian timing is likely to suffer in the near future as clocks become ever more precise.
Discourse of Flood Management Approaches and Policies in Bangladesh: Mapping the Changes, Drivers, and Actors
Authors: Haque C. Emdad , Azad M. Abul Kalam , Choudhury Mahed-Ul-Islam
Published: December 2019

The fundamental processes of policy shifts emphasize how policy problems emerge and how policy decisions are made to overcome previous shortcomings. In Bangladesh, flood management policies may also have been driven by policy failures and flood-disaster events. In this context, we examined how policy shifts occurred in the country from 1947 to 2019 in areas of water management and flood prevention, control, and risk mitigation. To understand the nature of these policy shifts, we examined the evolutionary processes of flood management policies, the associated drivers, and the roles of key actors. Our findings reveal that policy transitions were influenced primarily by the predominance of the structural intervention paradigm and by catastrophic flood events. Such transitions were nonlinear due to multiple interest groups who functioned as contributors to, as well as barriers against, flood prevention policies. Policy debates over environmental concerns helped bring about a shift from a primary focus on structural intervention to a mixed approach incorporating various nonstructural interventions. Furthermore, our results suggest that the shifts in flood management policies have resulted in some degree of reliance on a “people-centered” approach rather than solely an “engineering coalition”, which emphasizes the pivotal role of community members in decision making and the implementation of flood policies and programs.
Induced epidural haematoma
Authors: El Anany Sherief Ahmed , Elshamy Abd Elghany
Published: December 2019

Background: A novel case of epidural haematoma caused by general surgery

Case presentation: Fifty-four years male patient was admitted at Mansoura Emergency Hospital with Glasgow coma scale 4 on ventilator. rapid evacuation of EDH was done and the GCS became 9

Conclusion: rapid accumulation of epidural haematoma is fatal and may lead to death.
O Serviço Social brasileiro no cenário mundial
Authors: Ramos de Godoi Diniz Tânia Maria
Published: December 2019

As relações que foram estabelecidas pelo Serviço Social brasileiro no contexto mundial, foram atravessadas pela multiplicidade e diversidade que assume o trabalho professional no mundo. As reflexões sobre essa temática teve como parâmetros o projeto ético politico professional e o fortalecimento do Serviço Social brasileiro para além das fronteiras nacionais, numa perspectiva internacionalista. Incorporando uma perspectiva histórico-crítica, a análise do movimento do Serviço Social brasileiro em direção aos organismos internacionais da profissão não se fez sem contradições, diante da crise estrutural do capitalismo e das medidas de contenção parametradas sob o avanço do neoliberalismo, que provocaram a destruição dos direitos e a restrição das políticas sociais.