bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Key Challenges for Land Use Planning and Its Environmental Assessments in the Abuja City-Region, Nigeria
Authors: Enoguanbhor Evidence Chinedu , Gollnow Florian , Walker Blake Byron , Nielsen Jonas Ostergaard , Lakes Tobia
Published: April 2021

Land use planning as strategic instruments to guide urban dynamics faces particular challenges in the Global South, including Sub-Saharan Africa, where urgent interventions are required to improve urban and environmental sustainability. This study investigated and identified key challenges of land use planning and its environmental assessments to improve the urban and environmental sustainability of city-regions. In doing so, we combined expert interviews and questionnaires with spatial analyses of urban and regional land use plans, as well as current and future urban land cover maps derived from Geographic Information Systems and remote sensing. By overlaying and contrasting land use plans and land cover maps, we investigated spatial inconsistencies between urban and regional plans and the associated urban land dynamics and used expert surveys to identify the causes of such inconsistencies. We furthermore identified and interrogated key challenges facing land use planning, including its environmental assessment procedures, and explored means for overcoming these barriers to rapid, yet environmentally sound urban growth. The results illuminated multiple inconsistencies (e.g., spatial conflicts) between urban and regional plans, most prominently stemming from conflicts in administrative boundaries and a lack of interdepartmental coordination. Key findings identified a lack of Strategic Environmental Assessment and inadequate implementation of land use plans caused by e.g., insufficient funding, lack of political will, political interference, corruption as challenges facing land use planning strategies for urban and environmental sustainability. The baseline information provided in this study is crucial to improve strategic planning and urban/environmental sustainability of city-regions in Sub-Saharan Africa and across the Global South, where land use planning faces similar challenges to address haphazard urban expansion patterns.
PINK1: A Bridge between Mitochondria and Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Gonçalves Filipa Barroso , Morais Vanessa Alexandra
Published: April 2021

Mitochondria are known as highly dynamic organelles essential for energy production. Intriguingly, in the recent years, mitochondria have revealed the ability to maintain cell homeostasis and ultimately regulate cell fate. This regulation is achieved by evoking mitochondrial quality control pathways that are capable of sensing the overall status of the cellular environment. In a first instance, actions to maintain a robust pool of mitochondria take place; however, if unsuccessful, measures that lead to overall cell death occur. One of the central key players of these mitochondrial quality control pathways is PINK1 (PTEN-induce putative kinase), a mitochondrial targeted kinase. PINK1 is known to interact with several substrates to regulate mitochondrial functions, and not only is responsible for triggering mitochondrial clearance via mitophagy, but also participates in maintenance of mitochondrial functions and homeostasis, under healthy conditions. Moreover, PINK1 has been associated with the familial form of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Growing evidence has strongly linked mitochondrial homeostasis to the central nervous system (CNS), a system that is replenished with high energy demanding long-lasting neuronal cells. Moreover, sporadic cases of PD have also revealed mitochondrial impairments. Thus, one could speculate that mitochondrial homeostasis is the common denominator in these two forms of the disease, and PINK1 may play a central role in maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis. In this review, we will discuss the role of PINK1 in the mitochondrial physiology and scrutinize its role in the cascade of PD pathology.
Microstructure, Mineralogical Characterization and the Metallurgical Process Reconstruction of the Zinc Calcine Relics from the Zinc Smelting Site (Qing Dynasty)
Authors: Xiao Ya , Zhou Wenli , Mo Linheng , Chen Jianli , Li Meiying , Liu Shaojun
Published: April 2021

The smelting of zinc is considered as one of the most challenging technologies in ancient civilization. Compared with non-sulfide zinc ores, the smelting of zinc sulfide ores is more complicated since they have to be roasted before smelting. The technological smelting process of the ancient zinc metallurgy technology has been studied and partly reconstructed. However, the roasting technology, including the roasting conditions and involved metallurgical processes, is still unclear. The discovery of the zinc smelting site of Doulingxia dates back to the Qing dynasty (CE 1636–1912), and for the first time provides us with critical archeological evidence to gain an insight into the roasting technology in ancient zinc metallurgy technology. In this paper, the microstructure and mineralogical features of the zinc calcine relics found at the Doulingxia site were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy coupled with X-ray energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDS). To reconstruct the metallurgical process, the original roasting temperature of the unearthed zinc calcine was estimated by thermogravimetric analysis and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), combined with reheating experiments and phase composition analysis as well as microstructural analysis. The simulation experiments were conducted to reconstruct the roasting process. The results indicated that the original roasting temperature of the unearthed zinc calcine should be in a range of 650–850 °C, most probably near 750 °C. As long as the retention time is long enough, all sphalerite can be oxidized when the roasting temperature is above 650 °C. The final roasting products mainly include tiny porous particles of ZnFe2O4, Fe2O3, PbSO4, and ZnO. These findings are helpful to reconstruct the ancient zinc metallurgy technology of zinc sulfide ores.
Microstructure, Micro-Mechanical and Tribocorrosion Behavior of Oxygen Hardened Ti–13Nb–13Zr Alloy
Authors: Łukaszczyk Alicja , Zimowski Sławomir , Pawlak Wojciech , Dubiel Beata , Moskalewicz Tomasz
Published: April 2021

In the present work, an oxygen hardening of near-β phase Ti–13Nb–13Zr alloy in plasma glow discharge at 700–1000 °C was studied. The influence of the surface treatment on the alloy microstructure, tribological and micromechanical properties, and corrosion resistance is presented. A strong influence of the treatment on the hardened zone thickness, refinement of the α’ laths and grain size of the bulk alloy were found. The outer hardened zone contained mainly an oxygen-rich Ti α’ (O) solid solution. The microhardness and elastic modulus of the hardened zone decreased with increasing hardening temperature. The hardened zone thickness, size of the α’ laths, and grain size of the bulk alloy increased with increasing treatment temperature. The wear resistance of the alloy oxygen-hardened at 1000 °C was about two hundred times, and at 700 °C, even five hundred times greater than that of the base alloy. Oxygen hardening also slightly improved the corrosion resistance. Tribocorrosion tests revealed that the alloy hardened at 700 °C was wear-resistant in a corrosive environment, and when the friction process was completed, the passive film was quickly restored. The results show that glow discharge plasma oxidation is a simple and effective method to enhance the micromechanical and tribological performance of the Ti–13Nb–13Zr alloy.
Reuse of Industrial and Agricultural Waste in the Fabrication of Geopolymeric Binders: Mechanical and Microstructural Behavior
Authors: Payá Jordi , Soriano Lourdes , Font Alba , Borrachero Rosado Maria Victoria , Nande Javier Alejandro , Monzo Balbuena Jose María
Published: April 2021

Resource recovery from waste is one of the most important ways to implement the so-called circular economy, and the use of alkali activated materials can become an alternative for traditional PC-based materials. These types of materials are based on waste resources involving a lower carbon footprint and present similar or high properties and good durability compared to that Portland cement (PC). This research work proposes using new waste generated in different types of industries. Four waste types were employed: fluid catalytic cracking residue (FCC) from the petrochemical industry; ceramic sanitary ware (CSW) from the construction industry; rice husk ash (RHA); diatomaceous waste from beer filtration (DB) (food industry). FCC and CSW were employed as precursor materials, and mixtures of both showed good properties of the obtained alkali activated materials generated with commercial products as activators (NaOH/waterglass). RHA and DB were herein used as an alternative silica source to prepare the alkaline activating solution. Mechanical behavior was studied by the compressive strength development of mortars. The corresponding pastes were characterized by X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and microscopy studies. The results were satisfactory, and demonstrated that employing these alternative activators from waste produces alkali activated materials with good mechanical properties, which were sometimes similar or even better than those obtained with commercial reagents.
Chitosan-Based Nanocomposite Polymeric Membranes for Water Purification—A Review
Authors: Spoială Angela , Ilie Cornelia-Ioana , Ficai Denisa , Ficai Anton , Andronescu Ecaterina
Published: April 2021

During the past few years, researchers have focused their attention on developing innovative nanocomposite polymeric membranes with applications in water purification. Natural and synthetic polymers were considered, and it was proven that chitosan-based materials presented important features. This review presents an overview regarding diverse materials used in developing innovative chitosan-based nanocomposite polymeric membranes for water purification. The first part of the review presents a detailed introduction about chitosan, highlighting the fact that is a biocompatible, biodegradable, low-cost, nontoxic biopolymer, having unique structure and interesting properties, and also antibacterial and antioxidant activities, reasons for using it in water treatment applications. To use chitosan-based materials for developing nanocomposite polymeric membranes for wastewater purification applications must enhance their performance by using different materials. In the second part of the review, the performance’s features will be presented as a consequence of adding different nanoparticles, also showing the effect that those nanoparticles could bring on other polymeric membranes. Among these features, pollutant’s retention and enhancing thermo-mechanical properties will be mentioned. The focus of the third section of the review will illustrate chitosan-based nanocomposite as polymeric membranes for water purification. Over the last few years, researchers have demonstrated that adsorbent nanocomposite polymeric membranes are powerful, important, and potential instruments in separation or removal of pollutants, such as heavy metals, dyes, and other toxic compounds presented in water systems. Lastly, we conclude this review with a summary of the most important applications of chitosan-based nanocomposite polymeric membranes and their perspectives in water purification.
The Effect of Er:YAG Laser on a Shear Bond Strength Value of Orthodontic Brackets to Enamel—A Preliminary Study
Authors: Kiryk Jan , Matys Jacek , Nikodem Anna , Burzyńska Karolina , Grzech-Leśniak Kinga , Dominiak Marzena , Dobrzyński Maciej
Published: April 2021

We sought to evaluate the effects of Er:YAG laser (LightTouch, LightInstruments, Israel) conditioning on enamel roughness and shear bond strength of orthodontic brackets on enamel. Eighteen human molars (n = 9) and premolars (n = 9), were divided into 3 groups depending on the enamel conditioning method; Er:YAG laser (G1, n = 6), conventional etching with 37% orthophosphoric acid (G2, n = 6), Er:YAG laser combined with conventional etching (G3, n = 6). Er:YAG laser parameters were as follows: energy: 100 mJ, frequency: 10 Hz, exposure time: 10 s, applicator diameter: 600 μm, fluence: 35.37 J/cm2, distance: 1 mm away from a tooth, cooling: 80%. An MTS 858 MiniBionix® machine was used to determine the shear bond strength (MTS System, Eden Prairie, MN, USA). The enamel structure was assessed using X-ray microtomography (SkyScan 1172, Bruker, Kontich, Belgium). The highest values of shear bond strength were obtained in the G3 group (9.23 ± 2.38 MPa) and the lowest values in the G2 group (6.44 ± 2.11 MPa) (p < 0.05). A significant change in the enamel surface was noted after applying laser, reaching up to 9% of enamel thickness, which was not observed in the etched samples. Moreover, the Er:YAG laser-irradiated enamel surface was characterized by the greatest roughness. The combined use of an Er:YAG laser with a conventional etching improves the adhesion of composite materials to the tooth.
Modulation of Lithium Disilicate Translucency through Heat Treatment
Authors: Jung Seok-Ki , Kim Dae Woon , Lee Jeongyol , Ramasamy Selvaponpriya , Kim Hyun Sik , Ryu Jae Jun , Shim Ji Suk
Published: April 2021

The aim of this study was to present a control method for modulating the translucency of lithium disilicate ceramics through thermal refinement. Identical lithium disilicate blocks were thermally refined using four different heat treatment schedules, and the microstructure, translucency, and flexural strength of the ceramics were investigated in detail by SEM, spectroscopy, and a piston-on-three-ball test. The results showed that ceramics treated under higher heat had larger grains, with an average size between 240 and 1080 nm. In addition, a higher transmittance of all wavelengths was observed in ceramics treated under lower heat, and the transmittance in the 550 nm wavelength ranged from 27 to 34%. The results suggest that the translucency of ceramics can be modified through thermal refinement under two conditions: (1) the particle size of the ceramic is small enough to achieve minimal grain-boundary light scattering, and (2) the percentage of particles allowing visible light transmission is altered by the heat treatment.
Analysis of the Region of Interest According to CNN Structure in Hierarchical Pattern Surface Inspection Using CAM
Authors: Moon In Yong , Lee Ho Won , Kim Se-Jong , Oh Young-Seok , Jung Jaimyun , Kang Seong-Hoon
Published: April 2021

A convolutional neural network (CNN), which exhibits excellent performance in solving image-based problem, has been widely applied to various industrial problems. In general, the CNN model was applied to defect inspection on the surface of raw materials or final products, and its accuracy also showed better performance compared to human inspection. However, surfaces with heterogeneous and complex backgrounds have difficulties in separating defects region from the background, which is a typical challenge in this field. In this study, the CNN model was applied to detect surface defects on a hierarchical patterned surface, one of the representative complex background surfaces. In order to optimize the CNN structure, the change in inspection performance was analyzed according to the number of layers and kernel size of the model using evaluation metrics. In addition, the change of the CNN’s decision criteria according to the change of the model structure was analyzed using a class activation map (CAM) technique, which can highlight the most important region recognized by the CNN in performing classification. As a result, we were able to accurately understand the classification manner of the CNN for the hierarchical pattern surface, and an accuracy of 93.7% was achieved using the optimized model.
Review of the Applications of Biomedical Compositions Containing Hydroxyapatite and Collagen Modified by Bioactive Components
Authors: Sobczak-Kupiec Agnieszka , Drabczyk Anna , Florkiewicz Wioletta , Głąb Magdalena , Kudłacik-Kramarczyk Sonia , Słota Dagmara , Tomala Agnieszka , Tyliszczak Bożena
Published: April 2021

Regenerative medicine is becoming a rapidly evolving technique in today’s biomedical progress scenario. Scientists around the world suggest the use of naturally synthesized biomaterials to repair and heal damaged cells. Hydroxyapatite (HAp) has the potential to replace drugs in biomedical engineering and regenerative drugs. HAp is easily biodegradable, biocompatible, and correlated with macromolecules, which facilitates their incorporation into inorganic materials. This review article provides extensive knowledge on HAp and collagen-containing compositions modified with drugs, bioactive components, metals, and selected nanoparticles. Such compositions consisting of HAp and collagen modified with various additives are used in a variety of biomedical applications such as bone tissue engineering, vascular transplantation, cartilage, and other implantable biomedical devices.
Impact of Backbone Amide Substitution at the Meta- and Para-Positions on the Gas Barrier Properties of Polyimide
Authors: Wen Qian , Tang Ao , Chen Chengliang , Liu Yiwu , Xiao Chunguang , Tan Jinghua , Li Duxin
Published: April 2021

This study designed and synthesised a meta-amide-substituted dianiline monomer (m-DABA) as a stereoisomer of DABA, a previously investigated para-amide-substituted dianiline monomer. This new monomer was polymerised with pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) to prepare a polyimide film (m-DABPI) in a process similar to that employed in a previous study. The relationship between the substitution positions on the monomer and the gas barrier properties of the polyimide film was investigated via molecular simulation, wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WXRD), and positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) to gain deeper insights into the gas barrier mechanism. The results showed that compared with the para-substituted DABPI, the m-DABPI exhibited better gas barrier properties, with a water vapour transmission rate (WVTR) and an oxygen transmission rate (OTR) as low as 2.8 g·m−2·d−1 and 3.3 cm3·m−2·d−1, respectively. This was because the meta-linked polyimide molecular chains were more tightly packed, leading to a smaller free volume and lower molecular chain mobility. These properties are not conducive to the permeation of small molecules into the film; thus, the gas barrier properties were improved. The findings have significant implications for the structural design of high-barrier materials and could promote the development of flexible display technology.
Crumpled Graphene-Storage Media for Hydrogen and Metal Nanoclusters
Authors: Safina Liliya R. , Krylova Karina A. , Murzaev Ramil T. , Baimova Julia A. , Mulyukov Radik R.
Published: April 2021

Understanding the structural behavior of graphene flake, which is the structural unit of bulk crumpled graphene, is of high importance, especially when it is in contact with the other types of atoms. In the present work, crumpled graphene is considered as storage media for two types of nanoclusters—nickel and hydrogen. Crumpled graphene consists of crumpled graphene flakes bonded by weak van der Waals forces and can be considered an excellent container for different atoms. Molecular dynamics simulation is used to study the behavior of the graphene flake filled with the nickel nanocluster or hydrogen molecules. The simulation results reveal that graphene flake can be considered a perfect container for metal nanocluster since graphene can easily cover it. Hydrogen molecules can be stored on graphene flake at 77 K, however, the amount of hydrogen is low. Thus, additional treatment is required to increase the amount of stored hydrogen. Remarkably, the size dependence of the structural behavior of the graphene flake filled with both nickel and hydrogen atoms is found. The size of the filling cluster should be chosen in comparison with the specific surface area of graphene flake.
Mixed-Mode Interlaminar Fracture Toughness of Glass and Carbon Fibre Powder Epoxy Composites—For Design of Wind and Tidal Turbine Blades
Authors: Floreani Christophe , Robert Colin , Alam Parvez , Davies Peter , Ó Brádaigh Conchúr M.
Published: April 2021

Powder epoxy composites have several advantages for the processing of large composite structures, including low exotherm, viscosity and material cost, as well as the ability to carry out separate melting and curing operations. This work studies the mode I and mixed-mode toughness, as well as the in-plane mechanical properties of unidirectional stitched glass and carbon fibre reinforced powder epoxy composites. The interlaminar fracture toughness is studied in pure mode I by performing Double Cantilever Beam tests and at 25% mode II, 50% mode II and 75% mode II by performing Mixed Mode Bending testing according to the ASTM D5528-13 test standard. The tensile and compressive properties are comparable to that of standard epoxy composites but both the mode I and mixed-mode toughness are shown to be significantly higher than that of other epoxy composites, even when comparing to toughened epoxies. The mixed-mode critical strain energy release rate as a function of the delamination mode ratio is also provided. This paper highlights the potential for powder epoxy composites in the manufacturing of structures where there is a risk of delamination.
Interventions after Arterial Switch: A Single Low Case-Volume Center Experience
Authors: Jonas Karolis , Jakutis Virginijus , Sudikienė Rita , Lebetkevičius Virgilijus , Tarutis Virgilijus
Published: April 2021

Background and Objectives: With the growing population of arterial switch operation survivors, the rate of late complications associated with the operation is growing as well. The aim of this publication is to share our experience and encourage collaboration between congenital cardiac surgeons and interventional cardiologists in treating late complications after arterial switch operation. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of Vilnius University Santaros Clinics Cardiothoracic Surgery Centre arterial switch operation survivors who underwent additional treatment for late neo-pulmonary artery stenosis and aortic arch obstruction between 1989 and 2019 was conducted. Results: Out of 95 arterial switch operation survivors 14 (15%) underwent 36 reinterventions. The majority were treated for neo-pulmonary stenosis. The median time from arterial switch operation to the first reintervention was 1.4 years (interquartile range, 2 months to 2.4 years). 1, 3, 5, and 10 years intervention-free survival in patients treated for neo-pulmonary stenosis and aortic arch obstruction was 98, 94, 94, and 93% vs. 95, 94, 94, and 93%, respectively. There were no complications associated with redo surgical procedures, while eight patients who underwent catheter-based interventional treatment had treatment-related complications, including one death. Conclusions: Both neo-pulmonary stenosis and aortic arch obstruction (new aortic coarctations or aortic recoarctations) tend to develop in the first decade after an arterial switch operation. Surgical and catheter-based interventional treatment with good results is possible even in a small volume center. Close collaboration of the congenital heart team (congenital cardiac surgeons and interventional cardiologists) in choosing the best treatment option for an individual patient helps to minimize the risk of potential complications.
The Influence Mechanism of Temperature and Storage Period on Polarization Properties of Poly (Vinylidene Fluoride–Trifluoroethylene) Ultrathin Films
Authors: Li Xingjia , Shi Zhi , Zhang Xiuli , Meng Xiangjian , Huang Zhiqiang , Zhang Dandan
Published: April 2021

The effect of testing temperature and storage period on the polarization fatigue properties of poly (vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF–TrFE)) ultrathin film devices were investigated. The experimental results show that, even after stored in air for 150 days, the relative remanent polarization (Pr/Pr(0)) of P(VDF–TrFE) of ultrathin films can keep at a relatively high level of 0.80 at 25 °C and 0.70 at 60 °C. To account for this result, a hydrogen fluoride (HF) formation inhibition mechanism was proposed, which correlated the testing temperature and the storage period with the microstructure of P(VDF–TrFE) molecular chain. Moreover, a theoretical model was constructed to describe the polarization fatigue evolution of P(VDF–TrFE) samples.
Microscopic Image Segmentation and Morphological Characterization of Novel Chitosan/Silica Nanoparticle/Nisin Films Using Antimicrobial Technique for Blueberry Preservation
Authors: Sami Rokayya , Soltane Schahrazad , Helal Mahmoud
Published: April 2021

In the current work, the characterization of novel chitosan/silica nanoparticle/nisin films with the addition of nisin as an antimicrobial technique for blueberry preservation during storage is investigated. Chitosan/Silica Nanoparticle/N (CH-SN-N) films presented a stable suspension as the surface loads (45.9 mV) and the distribution was considered broad (0.62). The result shows that the pH value was increased gradually with the addition of nisin to 4.12, while the turbidity was the highest at 0.39. The content of the insoluble matter and contact angle were the highest for the Chitosan/Silica Nanoparticle (CH-SN) film at 5.68%. The use of nano-materials in chitosan films decreased the material ductility, reduced the tensile strength and elongation-at-break of the membrane. The coated blueberries with Chitosan/Silica Nanoparticle/N films reported the lowest microbial contamination counts at 2.82 log CFU/g followed by Chitosan/Silica Nanoparticle at 3.73 and 3.58 log CFU/g for the aerobic bacteria, molds, and yeasts population, respectively. It was observed that (CH) film extracted 94 regions with an average size of 449.10, at the same time (CH-SN) film extracted 169 regions with an average size of 130.53. The (CH-SN-N) film presented the best result at 5.19%. It could be observed that the size of the total region of the fruit for the (CH) case was the smallest (1663 pixels), which implied that the fruit lost moisture content. As a conclusion, (CH-SN-N) film is recommended for blueberry preservation to prolong the shelf-life during storage.
Cationic Single-Chained Surfactants with a Functional Group at the End of the Hydrophobic Tail DNA Compacting Efficiency
Authors: Lebrón José Antonio , López-Cornejo Pilar , García-Dionisio Elena , Huertas Pablo , García-Calderón Margarita , Moyá María Luisa , Ostos Francisco José , López-López Manuel
Published: April 2021

The interaction between calf-thymus DNA, ctDNA, and various single-chained surfactants with different functional groups at the end of hydrophobic tail was studied with the goal of investigating the influence of the functional group nature on surfactant DNA compacting efficiency. The surfactants investigated were dodecyltriethylammonium bromide (DTEABr), triethyl(1-phenoxydodecyl)ammonium bromide (12PhBr), triethyl(2-naphthoxydodecyl)ammonium bromide (12NBr) and 11-(isonicotinoyloxy)-N,N,N-triethyl-1-undecanaminium bromide (11PyBr). Results made evident that the surfactants’ tendencies to self-aggregation is the key factor determining their efficiency to compact the nucleic acid. Subsequently, DOPE/12NBr/pEGFP-C1 lipoplexes, with different cationic surfactant molar fractions (α) and mass ratios (L/D), were prepared and characterized. DOPE is a zwitterionic phospholipid 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine, and the plasmid pEGFP-C1 carries a GFP coding sequence with the necessary regulatory elements for constitutive expression of the gene in human cells. 12NBr was chosen because it was the most efficient DNA compacting agent among the surfactants investigated. Finally, the cytotoxicity and transfection efficiency (TE) of DOPE/12NBr/pDNA lipoplexes, with different compositions, were investigated.
Enhancing Student Knowledge of Diabetes through Virtual Choose Your Own Adventure Patient Case Format
Authors: Kiles Tyler Marie , Hall Elizabeth A. , Scott Devin , Cernasev Alina
Published: April 2021

Educational strategies to teach pharmacy students about diabetes are necessary to prepare future pharmacists to manage complex patients. The Choose Your Own Adventure (CYOA) patient case format is an innovative activity that presents a patient case in an engaging way. The objectives of this study were (1) to describe the development of the innovative teaching activity and (2) to assess its effect on student knowledge and confidence in outpatient management of diabetes. The CYOA patient case activity was designed by transforming a traditional paper patient case involving outpatient diabetes management into an interactive format utilizing an online platform. The activity was conducted with 186 second-year pharmacy students in a skills-based course. This activity was administered virtually through a combination of small group work and large group discussion. After completion of the activity, students completed an online self-assessment questionnaire. Of 178 completed questionnaires, there was a statistically significant difference in students’ self-ratings after versus before the activity for all survey items (p < 0.001). The CYOA activity improved self-reported knowledge of outpatient diabetes management and increased self-reported confidence in clinical decision-making skills. This format shows promise as an educational tool that may be adapted for other disease states to enhance clinical decision-making skills.
Medicines as Common Commodities or Powerful Potions? What Makes Medicines Reusable in People’s Eyes
Authors: Chauhan Monica , Alhamad Hamza , McCrindle Rachel , Hui Terence K. L. , Sherratt R. Simon , Donyai Parastou
Published: April 2021

Background: Medicines reuse involves dispensing quality-checked, unused medication returned by one patient for another, instead of disposal as waste. This is prohibited in UK community pharmacy because storage conditions in a patient’s home could potentially impact on the quality, safety and efficacy of returned medicines. Our 2017 survey examining patients’ intentions to reuse medicines found many favoured medicines reuse. Our aim was to analyse the qualitative comments to explore people’s interpretations of what makes medicines (non-)reusable. Methods: Thematic analysis was used to scrutinize 210 valid qualitative responses to the survey to delineate the themes and super-ordinate categories. Results: Two categories were “medicines as common commodities” versus “medicines as powerful potions”. People’s ideas about medicines aligned closely with other common commodities, exchanged from manufacturers to consumers, with many seeing medicines as commercial goods with economic value sanctioning their reuse. Fewer of the comments aligned with the biomedical notion of medicines as powerful potions, regulated and with legal and ethical boundaries limiting their (re)use. Conclusion: People’s pro-medicines-reuse beliefs align with perceptions of medicines as common commodities. This helps explain why patients returning their medicines to community pharmacies want these to be recycled. It could also explain why governments permit medicines reuse in emergencies.
A Higher-Order Graph Convolutional Network for Location Recommendation of an Air-Quality-Monitoring Station
Authors: Kang Yu , Chen Jie , Cao Yang , Xu Zhenyi
Published: April 2021

The location recommendation of an air-quality-monitoring station is a prerequisite for inferring the air-quality distribution in urban areas. How to use a limited number of monitoring equipment to accurately infer air quality depends on the location of the monitoring equipment. In this paper, our main objective was how to recommend optimal monitoring-station locations based on existing ones to maximize the accuracy of a air-quality inference model for inferring the air-quality distribution of an entire urban area. This task is challenging for the following main reasons: (1) air-quality distribution has spatiotemporal interactions and is affected by many complex external influential factors, such as weather and points of interest (POIs), and (2) how to effectively correlate the air-quality inference model with the monitoring station location recommendation model so that the recommended station can maximize the accuracy of the air-quality inference model. To solve the aforementioned challenges, we formulate the monitoring station location as an urban spatiotemporal graph (USTG) node recommendation problem in which each node represents a region with time-varying air-quality values. We design an effective air-quality inference model-based proposed high-order graph convolution (HGCNInf) that could capture the spatiotemporal interaction of air-quality distribution and could extract external influential factor features. Furthermore, HGCNInf can learn the correlation degree between the nodes in USTG that reflects the spatiotemporal changes in air quality. Based on the correlation degree, we design a greedy algorithm for minimizing information entropy (GMIE) that aims to mark the recommendation priority of unlabeled nodes according to the ability to improve the inference accuracy of HGCNInf through the node incremental learning method. Finally, we recommend the node with the highest priority as the new monitoring station location, which could bring about the greatest accuracy improvement to HGCNInf.
Unsupervised Multi-Level Feature Extraction for Improvement of Hyperspectral Classification
Authors: Sun Qiaoqiao , Liu Xuefeng , Bourennane Salah
Published: April 2021

Deep learning models have strong abilities in learning features and they have been successfully applied in hyperspectral images (HSIs). However, the training of most deep learning models requires labeled samples and the collection of labeled samples are labor-consuming in HSI. In addition, single-level features from a single layer are usually considered, which may result in the loss of some important information. Using multiple networks to obtain multi-level features is a solution, but at the cost of longer training time and computational complexity. To solve these problems, a novel unsupervised multi-level feature extraction framework that is based on a three dimensional convolutional autoencoder (3D-CAE) is proposed in this paper. The designed 3D-CAE is stacked by fully 3D convolutional layers and 3D deconvolutional layers, which allows for the spectral-spatial information of targets to be mined simultaneously. Besides, the 3D-CAE can be trained in an unsupervised way without involving labeled samples. Moreover, the multi-level features are directly obtained from the encoded layers with different scales and resolutions, which is more efficient than using multiple networks to get them. The effectiveness of the proposed multi-level features is verified on two hyperspectral data sets. The results demonstrate that the proposed method has great promise in unsupervised feature learning and can help us to further improve the hyperspectral classification when compared with single-level features.
Intelligent LED Certification System in Mass Production
Authors: Malykhina Galina , Tarkhov Dmitry , Shkodyrev Viacheslav , Lazovskaya Tatiana
Published: April 2021

It is impossible to effectively use light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in medicine and telecommunication systems without knowing their main characteristics, the most important of them being efficiency. Reliable measurement of LED efficiency holds particular significance for mass production automation. The method for measuring LED efficiency consists in comparing two cooling curves of the LED crystal obtained after exposure to short current pulses of positive and negative polarities. The measurement results are adversely affected by noise in the electrical measuring circuit. The widely used instrumental noise suppression filters, as well as classical digital infinite impulse response (IIR), finite impulse response (FIR) filters, and adaptive filters fail to yield satisfactory results. Unlike adaptive filters, blind methods do not require a special reference signal, which makes them more promising for removing noise and reconstructing the waveform when measuring the efficiency of LEDs. The article suggests a method for sequential blind signal extraction based on a cascading neural network. Statistical analysis of signal and noise values has revealed that the signal and the noise have different forms of the probability density function (PDF). Therefore, it is preferable to use high-order statistical moments characterizing the shape of the PDF for signal extraction. Generalized statistical moments were used as an objective function for optimization of neural network parameters, namely, generalized skewness and generalized kurtosis. The order of the generalized moments was chosen according to the criterion of the maximum Mahalanobis distance. The proposed method has made it possible to implement a multi-temporal comparison of the crystal cooling curves for measuring LED efficiency.
Application of Artificial Neural Networks to Streamline the Process of Adaptive Cruise Control
Authors: David Jiří , Brom Pavel , Starý František , Bradáč Josef , Dynybyl Vojtěch
Published: April 2021

This article deals with the use of neural networks for estimation of deceleration model parameters for the adaptive cruise control unit. The article describes the basic functionality of adaptive cruise control and creates a mathematical model of braking, which is one of the basic functions of adaptive cruise control. Furthermore, an analysis of the influences acting in the braking process is performed, the most significant of which are used in the design of deceleration prediction for the adaptive cruise control unit using neural networks. Such a connection using artificial neural networks using modern sensors can be another step towards full vehicle autonomy. The advantage of this approach is the original use of neural networks, which refines the determination of the deceleration value of the vehicle in front of a static or dynamic obstacle, while including a number of influences that affect the braking process and thus increase driving safety.
The Mechanisms for Business Ecosystem Members to Capture Part of a Business Ecosystem’s Joint Created Value
Authors: Awano Haruo , Tsujimoto Masaharu
Published: April 2021

Research into business ecosystems has rarely examined the success of business ecosystem members. Business ecosystem leaders tend to focus on their own success rather than carefully monitoring the success of business ecosystem members, and each member must find a mechanism to capture part of the business ecosystem’s joint created value. This study examines the mechanisms by which business ecosystem members capture part of a business ecosystem’s joint created value in the cases of linear tape open (LTO) ecosystems and how these mechanisms contribute to the sustainability of a business ecosystem. A case study was conducted with a review of both the author’s experience with Sony and third-party resources. We confirm the results by panel data analysis. We identified three mechanisms. First, a business ecosystem member can establish a new business ecosystem on their own through newly created complementary innovation. Essentially, a business ecosystem member can become a business ecosystem leader in a new business ecosystem. Second, a business ecosystem member gains market shares from technology leadership, the experience of mass production, and collaboration with the business ecosystem leader. Third, a business ecosystem member who creates complementary innovations can obtain patent royalties. These mechanisms help business ecosystem members stay within business ecosystems and contribute to its success and sustainability.
The Dual Impacts of Green Credit on Economy and Environment: Evidence from China
Authors: Wang Yanli , Lei Xiaodong , Zhao Dongxiao , Long Ruyin , Wu Meifen
Published: April 2021

Green credit is regarded as an important means to promote sustainable growth. Based on the provincial panel dataset of China from 2007 to 2017, this paper investigates the dual impacts of green credit on the economy and environment, and it establishes mediating effect models to analyze the Porter hypothesis. The results show that the green credit policy significantly improves economic performance and reduces pollutant emissions. The above results are robust to employing methods with alternative variables and instrumental variables. Second, the green credit policy contributes to innovation; that is, the green credit increases the innovation scale and improves innovation efficiency. The results of mediating effect models suggest that the Porter effect of green credit can be achieved by improving innovation efficiency. The findings of the current study indicate that the green credit policy helps achieve the win–win situation for economic goals and environmental targets.
How Clusters Create Shared Value in Rural Areas: An Examination of Six Case Studies
Authors: Martinidis George , Adamseged Muluken Elias , Dyjakon Arkadiusz , Fallas Yannis , Foutri Angeliki , Grundmann Philipp , Hamann Karen , Minta Stanislaw , Ntavos Nikolaos , Råberg Tora , Russo Silvia , Viaggi Davide
Published: April 2021

The main aim of this paper is to demonstrate that clusters can support the sustainable development of rural areas through the creation of shared value. This is done via the close exam-ination of six different cases of rural clusters in Greece, Italy, Germany, Poland, Denmark, and Sweden. Qualitative as well as quantitative data were taken from the clusters, which demonstrated that their main business approaches naturally coincided with the creation of economic, social, and environmental benefits for the local communities in which they operated. The case clusters were created in a top-down manner, aimed at boosting regional R&D activities and making the local economy more competitive and more sustainable. However, private initiative took over and al-lowed these clusters to flourish because meeting the regions’ economic, social, and environmental needs successfully coincided with the target of the clusters’ own development and profitability. The results show that clusters, with their potential for shared value creation, can constitute a powerful engine for the revitalisation and development of rural areas, addressing the significant challenges which they are currently facing.
Digital Escape Rooms as Innovative Pedagogical Tools in Education: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Makri Agoritsa , Vlachopoulos Dimitrios , Martina Richard A.
Published: April 2021

This paper aims to present a systematic literature review on state-of-the-art Educational Escape Rooms (EERs) with the use of digital technologies. More specifically, the focus of the study is to present the current developments and trends concerning Digital Educational Escape Rooms (DEERs) and investigate how they foster learning outcomes for online learners. Additionally, the present study provides insights into the design process of such technology enhanced EERs. This review is attributed to identifying and covering research gaps since the current literature has focused on the pedagogical aspects of Escape Rooms (ERs) in education, but no studies seem to have been conducted in regard to the pedagogical implications of Digital Escape Rooms (DERs) in educational environments. Based on the exhaustive literature review, an agenda for future research is promised and the implications for designing innovative ER approaches have been highlighted. The anatomy of the fundamental components of conducting systematic literature reviews was followed. The results of the review could be addressed to multidisciplinary teams related to education, game researchers, educational researchers, faculty members, scholars, instructors, and protagonists of educational systems to encourage them to thoroughly study the core elements of DEERs and how they can be applied in virtual educational contexts to facilitate students’ learning achievements.
Examination and Comparison of Theta Band Connectivity in Left- and Right-Hand Dominant Individuals throughout a Motor Skill Acquisition
Authors: McDonnell Jessica , Murray Nicholas , Ahn Sungwoo , Clemens Stefan , Everhart Erik , Mizelle J.
Published: April 2021

The majority of the population identifies as right-hand dominant, with a minority 10.6% identifying as left-hand dominant. Social factors may partially skew the distribution, but it remains that left-hand dominant individuals make up approximately 40 million people in the United States alone and yet, remain underrepresented in the motor control literature. Recent research has revealed behavioral and neurological differences between populations, therein overturning assumptions of a simple hemispheric flip in motor-related activations. The present work showed differentially adaptable motor programs between populations and found fundamental differences in methods of skill acquisition highlighting underlying neural strategies unique to each population. Difference maps and descriptive metrics of coherent activation patterns showed differences in how theta oscillations were utilized. The right-hand group relied on occipital parietal lobe connectivity for visual information integration necessary to inform the motor task, while the left-hand group relied on a more frontal lobe localized cognitive based approach. The findings provide insight into potential alternative methods of information integration and emphasize the importance for inclusion of the left-hand dominant population in the growing conceptualization of the brain promoting the generation of a more complete, stable, and accurate understanding of our complex biology.
Emergent Space-Time in a Bubble Universe
Authors: Moffat James
Published: April 2021

I exploit the close connection between the tessellation of space-time in the Regge calculus and an Eilenberg homology to investigate the deep quantum nature of space-time in a simple bubble universe of a size consistent with the Planck regime. Following the mathematics allows me to define this granulated space-time as the embedding space of the skeleton of a computational spin network inside a quantum computer. This approach can be regarded as a quantum simulation of the equivalent physics. I can, therefore, define a fundamental characterisation of any high-energy physical process at the Planck scale as equivalent to a quantum simulation inside a quantum computer.
Chirality, Gelation Ability and Crystal Structure: Together or Apart? Alkyl Phenyl Ethers of Glycerol as Simple LMWGs
Authors: Bredikhin Alexander A. , Gubaidullin Aidar T. , Bredikhina Zemfira A. , Fayzullin Robert R. , Lodochnikova Olga A.
Published: April 2021

Chiral recognition plays an important role in the self-assembly of soft materials, in particular supramolecular organogels formed by low molecular weight gelators (LMWGs). Out of 14 pairs of the studied racemic and enantiopure samples of alkyl-substituted phenyl ethers of glycerol, only eight enantiopure diols form the stable gels in nonane. The formation of gels from solutions was studied by polarimetry, and their degradation with the formation of xerogels was studied by the PXRD method. The revealed crystalline characteristics of all studied xerogels corresponded to those for crystalline samples of the parent gelators. In addition to those previously investigated, crystalline samples of enantiopure para-n-alkylphenyl glycerol ethers [alkyl = pentyl (5), hexyl (6), heptyl (7), octyl (8), nonyl (9)] and racemic 3-(3,5-dimethylphenoxy)propane-1,2-diol (rac-14) have been examined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Among 22 samples of compounds 1–14 studied by SC-XRD, seven different types of supramolecular motifs are identified, of which only two are realized in crystals of supramolecular gelators. An attempt was made to relate the ability to gel formation with the characteristics of the supramolecular motif of a potential gelling agent, and the frequency of formation of the motif, required for gelation, with the chiral characteristics of the sample.