bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Epidemiologic Characteristics of Domestic Patients with Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome in Taiwan: A 19-Year Retrospective Study
Authors: Hsieh Chi-Jeng , Li Chuan-Wang , Cheng Chun-An , Wu Ding-Chung , Wu Wen-Chih , Lin Fu-Huang , Chou Yu-Ching , Yu Chia-Peng
Published: July 2020

Background: Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is an illness caused by hantaviruses. Numerous factors modify the risk of hantavirus transmission. This study explored the epidemiological characteristics, differences, and trends in terms of gender, age, season, and living areas of those diagnosed with domestically acquired HFRS in Taiwan from 2001 to 2019. Methods: We examined publicly available annual summary data on the domestic cases with HFRS from 2001 to 2019; these data were obtained from the web database of Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Results: This study analyzed 21 domestic cases with HFRS from Taiwan’s CDC databases. In this study of the cases of HFRS in Taiwan, a gradual increase in the cases of those aged ≥40 years acquiring the disease was noted, and a distinct pattern of seasonal variation (spring) was observed. Furthermore, more men had domestically acquired HFRS, and living in Taipei metropolitan area (6 cases [28.6%]) and the rural areas (Gao-Ping region, 9 cases [42.9%]) was identified as a potential risk factor. This study represents the first report of confirmed cases of domestically acquired HFRS from surveillance data from Taiwan’s CDC, 2001–2019. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of longitudinal studies covering a wide geographical area, particularly for highly fluctuating pathogens, to understanding the implications of the transmission of zoonotic diseases in human populations. Important data were identified to inform future surveillance and research efforts in Taiwan.
Are the Chinese Moving toward a Healthy Diet? Evidence from Macro Data from 1961 to 2017
Authors: Han Aixi , Sun Tianhao , Ming Jing , Chai Li , Liao Xiawei
Published: July 2020

The change in diet structure is one of the critical features of social transformation, and diet structure is directly related to human health. In China, with rapid economic development, changes in the diet structure of the population have begun and are proceeding at a fairly rapid rate. In order to reveal how the Chinese diet is approaching or deviating from the nutritional goal, a novel index, NDBI (National Dietary Balance Index), is developed in this study to investigate the Chinese diet from 1961 to 2017 at a national level. The results show that the Chinese diet has transitioned from the under-intake stage to the over-intake stage. Before the 1980s, Chinese people ate all foods inadequately except staple foods; after the 1980s, the issue of under-intake began to fade, and the intake of meats even became excessive. The intake of staple foods is always excessive during this period. Currently, the Chinese diet is still unhealthy because of the inadequate intake of dairy products and the excessive intake of staple foods and meats. By evaluating diet structure on a national level, this study can help people to better understand how the Chinese diet deviated from the nutritional goal and provides information for policymakers intervening in China’s food consumption.
Analysis of Benzene Exposure in Gas Station Workers Using Trans,Trans-Muconic Acid
Authors: Geraldino Barbara Rodrigues , Nunes Rafaella Ferreira Nascimento , Gomes Juliana Barroso , Giardini Isabela , da Silva Paula Vieira Baptista , Campos Élida , da Poça Katia Soares , Hassan Rocio , Otero Ubirani Barros , Sarpa Marcia
Published: July 2020

In Brazil, gas station workers are occupationally exposed to the benzene present in gasoline. Brazilian law indicates the use of trans,trans-muconic acid(t,t-MA) as a biomarker of benzene exposure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of exposure to benzene in gas station workers, through the quantification of t,t-MA present in urine. A total number of 269 gas station workers divided into 179 filling station attendants exposed by inhalation and dermal route and 90 convenience store workers exposed only by inhalation were included. A control group was formed by 100 office workers, without occupational exposure to benzene. The urinary levels of t,t-MA were evaluated by HPLC with a UV detector. Gas station workers showed higher mean values of t,t-MA (0.204 mg/g creatinine; 95% CI 0.170–0.237) than office workers (0.126 mg/g creatinine; 95% CI 0.0817–0.1693). T,t-MA levels were higher in convenience store workers exposed to gasoline only by inhalation (0.221 mg/g creatinine; 95% CI 0.160–0.282), than in those exposed to gasoline by inhalation and dermal route—filling station attendants (0.195 mg/g creatinine; 95% CI 0.155–0.235). Gas station workers with a higher level of t,t-MA had epistaxis. T,t-MA values were higher in the Downtown (0.15 mg/g creatinine) region’s workers than in the more affluent South Zone region’s workers (0.07 mg/g creatinine). Smoking habits influenced the urinary t,t-MA values, while the frequency of consumption of industrialized and frozen foods showed no influence.
Effects of an Alternative Sports Program Using Kin-Ball in Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities
Authors: Zurita-Ortega Félix , Ubago-Jiménez José Luis , Puertas-Molero Pilar , Ramírez-Granizo Irwin Andrés , Muros José Joaquín , González-Valero Gabriel
Published: July 2020

The first aim of the present work was to examine the effects of a physical activity sports program, specifically Kin-Ball, within a group of individuals with intellectual disabilities, on decreasing sedentary behavior and improving basic physical skills. The second aim was to evaluate social validity and acceptability of the intervention. In this pre-experimental study, 47 individuals participated (46.8% male and 53.2% female) with an average age of 29.85 (SD = 10.41). All participants were administered an intervention program based on the alternative sport of Kin-Ball. BMI was calculated for body composition and age-related Z-scores were interpreted with the tables provided by the WHO. Endurance was measured through a modified six-minute test, speed was analyzed using a 50 m test, and strength was estimated according to a hand-grip dynamometer. Likewise, balance and coordination were examined in line with adaptations proposed by the scientific literature. Results indicated that all cases experienced statistically significant differences following the intervention program (p = 0.000). Improvement effects were detected in all post-intervention tests (endurance, strength, speed, balance, and coordination). As a main conclusion, it is indicated that an alternative sports-based program improves physical ability and motor skills in individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Urban Stress Indirectly Influences Psychological Symptoms through Its Association with Distress Tolerance and Perceived Social Support among Adults Experiencing Homelessness
Authors: Hernandez Daphne C. , Daundasekara Sajeevika S. , Zvolensky Michael J. , Reitzel Lorraine R. , Maria Diane Santa , Alexander Adam C. , Kendzor Darla E. , Businelle Michael S.
Published: July 2020

Traditionally, intrapersonal characteristics (distress tolerance) and interpersonal characteristics (social support) have been studied separately rather than simultaneously. In the current study, we address this gap by simultaneously examining these characteristics as potential indirect associations linking established urban stress–depression and urban stress–Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) relationships. Adults experiencing homelessness were recruited from six homeless shelters in Oklahoma City (n = 567). Participants self-reported urban life stress (Urban Life Stress Scale), distress tolerance (Distress Tolerance Scale), social support (Interpersonal Support Evaluation List 12), major depressive disorder (Patient Health Questionnaire-8), and PTSD symptoms (Primary Care Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder screener). Covariate-adjusted structural equation models indicated a significant indirect effect of distress tolerance on the urban stress–depression (b = 0.101, 95% CI = 0.061, 0.147) and urban stress–PTSD (b = 0.065, 95% CI = 0.023, 0.112) relationships. Additionally, a significant indirect effect of social support on the urban stress–depression (b = 0.091, 95% CI = 0.053, 0.133) and urban stress-PTSD relationships (b = 0.043, 95% CI = 0.006, 0.082) was evident. Further, both the urban stress–depression (b = 0.022, 95% CI = 0.011, 0.037) and urban stress–PTSD relationships (b = 0.014, 95% CI = 0.005, 0.026) were associated indirectly through social support to distress tolerance. Interventions that aim to increase social support may also increase distress tolerance skills and indirectly reduce depressive and PTSD symptoms in the context of urban stress among adults experiencing homelessness.
Relationship between Unilateral Posterior Crossbite and Human Static Body Posture
Authors: Zurita-Hernandez Jorge , Ayuso-Montero Raul , Cuartero-Balana Meritxell , Willaert Eva , Martinez-Gomis Jordi
Published: July 2020

Background: We compared photogrammetry-assessed body posture between young adults with and without unilateral posterior crossbite (UPCB). Assessments were controlled by vision, mandibular position and sitting/standing position. In addition, we aimed to determine the relationship between UPCB laterality and the direction of body posture using photogrammetry and a static postural platform. Methods: Adults with natural dentition, with and without UPCB, were enrolled. Static body posture was assessed by photogrammetry based on horizontal acromial alignment and horizontal anterior-superior iliac spine (ASIS) alignment. Frontal photographs were taken with participants asked to open or close their eyes and hold their jaws at rest, at an intercuspal position, and at left or right lateral positions. Distribution of foot pressure was recorded using a static postural platform at different visual input and mandibular positions. General linear models with repeated measures were used to assess the effect of the various within- and between-subject factors. Results: In total, 36 adults (left UPCB = 12; Right UPCB = 6; controls = 18) participated. There were significant differences between the control and UPCB groups in horizontal alignment at the acromion (p = 0.035) and ASIS (p = 0.026) levels when controlled by visual input and mandibular position. No significant differences in horizontal alignment or foot pressure distribution were observed by laterality in the UPCB group. Conclusion: The presence of UPCB affects static body posture, but the side of crossbite is not related to the direction of effect on static body posture.
Autonomy Need Dissatisfaction in Daily Life and Problematic Mobile Phone Use: The Mediating Roles of Boredom Proneness and Mobile Phone Gaming
Authors: Hong Wei , Liu Ru-De , Ding Yi , Zhen Rui , Jiang Ronghuan , Fu Xinchen
Published: July 2020

Psychological needs dissatisfaction has been identified as hindering adaptive development, in which autonomy need dissatisfaction, as one core component, may be associated with adolescents’ maladaptive online behaviors. Sporadic research has examined the association between autonomy need dissatisfaction and problematic mobile phone use (PMPU). Boredom proneness and mobile phone gaming were suggested to be linked to this association. This study aimed to examine the mediating effects of boredom proneness and mobile phone gaming in the association between autonomy need dissatisfaction and PMPU. A total of 358 secondary school students completed questionnaires at three waves; autonomy need dissatisfaction was measured in time 1 (T1); boredom proneness and mobile phone gaming were measured one year later (time 2, T2); PMPU was measured two years later (time 3, T3). The structural equation model results showed that T1 autonomy need dissatisfaction not only directly predicted T3 PMPU, but also exerted effects via the mediating role of T2 boredom proneness and the chain mediating role of T2 boredom proneness and T2 mobile phone gaming. These findings reveal the unique role of specific psychological need in engaging PMPU, which provides support to targeted interventions, such that promoting autonomy need satisfaction may be an instrumental procedure to prevent adolescents from addiction-like online behaviors.
Exploring Connections among Ecosystem Services Supply, Demand and Human Well-Being in a Mountain-Basin System, China
Authors: Wang Bojie , Tang Haiping , Zhang Qin , Cui Fengqi
Published: July 2020

Stakeholder perception and supply–demand relations are the main challenges and future directions for research on ecosystem services (ES). Based on spatial data and statistical data, we mapped eight key ES supply between 2005–2015 in the Huailai mountain-basin area. Using data from 507 survey questionnaires, we identified the ES demand and the public perceptions of the changes in ES. In addition, we also reveal the characteristics of the spatial distribution of ES demand, analyze the spatial supply–demand matching of ES, and explore the relationships between ES supply–demand and human well-being. From 2005 to 2015, a general upward trend was observed in the supply of four types of product provisioning services, which is different from the trend perceived by the stakeholders. An increasing trend was observed for carbon sequestration and forest recreation, which was in line with the perceptions of change. A spatial mismatch existed between the ES demand and supply, whereby the supply of carbon sequestration, soil conservation, habitat quality, and forest recreation services exceeded the demand in townships in the mountainous and hilly regions. On the other hand, townships located in the valley plains experienced a high imbalance between the demand and the supply. For the four types of product provisioning services, most towns and villages showed a balance in demand and supply. Linking ES supply–demand and human well-being showed that a threshold may exist in the supply–demand imbalance of regulating and supporting services before it begins to impact human well-being. Our study would enrich the theory and methodology research on relationships between ecosystem services and human well-being, and support knowledge to land allocation and management.
Cohort Analysis of Epithelial Cancer Mortality Male-to-Female Sex Ratios in the European Union, USA, and Japan
Authors: Carioli Greta , Bertuccio Paola , Levi Fabio , Boffetta Paolo , Negri Eva , La Vecchia Carlo , Malvezzi Matteo
Published: July 2020

Objective: To illustrate trends in sex ratios in epithelial cancer mortality in the EU, USA, and Japan, with a focus on age-specific and cohort patterns. Methods: We obtained certified deaths and resident populations from the World Health Organisation for the period of 1970–2014 for the USA, Japan, and the EU for 12 epithelial cancer sites. From these, we calculated both the age-specific and age-standardised male-to-female mortality sex ratios. We applied an age-period-cohort model to the sex ratios in order to disentangle the effects of age, period of death, and birth cohort. Results: Age-standardised mortality sex ratios were found to be unfavourable to males, apart from thyroid cancer. The highest standardised rates were in laryngeal cancer: 7·7 in the 1970s in the USA, 17·4 in the 1980s in the EU, and 16·8 in the 2000s in Japan. Cohort patterns likely to be due to excess smoking (1890 cohort) and drinking (1940 cohort) in men were identified in the USA, and were present but less defined in the EU and Japan for the oral cavity, oesophagus, liver, pancreas, larynx, lung, bladder, and kidney. Conclusion: Mortality sex ratio patterns are partly explained by the differences in exposure to known and avoidable risk factors. These are mostly tobacco, alcohol, and obesity/overweight, as well as other lifestyle-related factors.
An Open-Source Framework of Generating Network-Based Transit Catchment Areas by Walking
Authors: Lin Diao , Zhu Ruoxin , Yang Jian , Meng Liqiu
Published: July 2020

The transit catchment area is an important concept for public transport planning. This study proposes a methodological framework to generate network-based transit catchment areas by walking. Three components of the framework, namely subgraph construction, extended shortest path tree construction and contour generation are presented step by step. Methods on how to generalize the framework to the cases of the directed road network and non-point facilities are developed. The implementation of the framework is provided as an open-source project. Using metro stations in Shanghai as a case study, we illustrate the feasibility of the proposed framework. Experiments show that the proposed method generates catchment areas of high geospatial accuracy and significantly increases computational efficiency. The open-source program can be applied to support research related to transit catchment areas and has the potential to be extended to include more routing-related factors.
Map Generalization for the Future: Editorial Comments on the Special Issue
Authors: Kronenfeld Barry J , Buttenfield Barbara P. , Stanislawski Lawrence V.
Published: July 2020

Generalization of geospatial data is a cornerstone of cartography, a sequence of often unnoticed operations that lays the foundation of visual communication [...]
AES–CP–IDABE: A Privacy Protection Framework against a DoS Attack in the Cloud Environment with the Access Control Mechanism
Authors: Chandel Sonali , Yang Geng , Chakravarty Sumit
Published: July 2020

Cloud computing technology has revolutionized the field of data management as it has enhanced the barriers of storage restrictions and high-cost establishment for its users. The benefits of the cloud have paved the way for its extensive implementation in large enterprises. However, the data in the cloud have succumbed to various security threats, and its privacy issues remain one of the biggest and topmost concerns for the data owners. Several techniques, such as Attribute-based Encryption (ABE), have been proposed by several researchers to preserve the privacy of the data. However, the issue of security still looms largely over the cloud. In the present work, we introduce the novel encryption model called “Advanced Encryption Standard–Cipher-text-Identity and Attribute-based Encryption” (AES–CP–IDABE) to preserve data privacy along with its access control. In the proposed scheme, the data have been double encrypted initially through the ABE, along with the attributes and the identity of the user. Secondly, the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is used to encrypt the encrypted data and provide it to the authorized users. The user access control is established using the digital signature with the help of user ID and security keys. Additionally, the set up includes Denial-of-Service (DoS) detection through IP address monitoring and control. The proposed scheme has also been evaluated for its performance in the communication between the user and the data owner, along with the user’s execution time. From the outcome, it is evident that the proposed scheme was more effective than the existing scheme of ABE over execution, encryption, and decryption time. Additionally, the performance over DoS detection and impact of attribute numbers for the proposed scheme was also studied to prove its effectiveness.
Evaluating Machine Learning Methods for Predicting Diabetes among Female Patients in Bangladesh
Authors: Pranto Badiuzzaman , Mehnaz Sk. Maliha , Mahid Esha Bintee , Sadman Imran Mahmud , Rahman Ahsanur , Momen Sifat
Published: July 2020

Machine Learning has a significant impact on different aspects of science and technology including that of medical researches and life sciences. Diabetes Mellitus, more commonly known as diabetes, is a chronic disease that involves abnormally high levels of glucose sugar in blood cells and the usage of insulin in the human body. This article has focused on analyzing diabetes patients as well as detection of diabetes using different Machine Learning techniques to build up a model with a few dependencies based on the PIMA dataset. The model has been tested on an unseen portion of PIMA and also on the dataset collected from Kurmitola General Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The research is conducted to demonstrate the performance of several classifiers trained on a particular country’s diabetes dataset and tested on patients from a different country. We have evaluated decision tree, K-nearest neighbor, random forest, and Naïve Bayes in this research and the results show that both random forest and Naïve Bayes classifier performed well on both datasets.
Simultaneous Increase in CO2 and Temperature Alters Wheat Growth and Aphid Performance Differently Depending on Virus Infection
Authors: Moreno-Delafuente Ana , Viñuela Elisa , Fereres Alberto , Medina Pilar , Trębicki Piotr
Published: July 2020

Climate change impacts crop production, pest and disease pressure, yield stability, and, therefore, food security. In order to understand how climate and atmospheric change factors affect trophic interactions in agriculture, we evaluated the combined effect of elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) and temperature on the interactions among wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), Barley yellow dwarf virus species PAV (BYDV-PAV) and its vector, the bird cherry-oat aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi L.). Plant traits and aphid biological parameters were examined under two climate and atmospheric scenarios, current (ambient CO2 and temperature = 400 ppm and 20 °C), and future predicted (elevated CO2 and temperature = 800 ppm and 22 °C), on non-infected and BYDV-PAV-infected plants. Our results show that combined elevated CO2 and temperature increased plant growth, biomass, and carbon to nitrogen (C:N) ratio, which in turn significantly decreased aphid fecundity and development time. However, virus infection reduced chlorophyll content, biomass, wheat growth and C:N ratio, significantly increased R. padi fecundity and development time. Regardless of virus infection, aphid growth rates remained unchanged under simulated future conditions. Therefore, as R. padi is currently a principal pest in temperate cereal crops worldwide, mainly due to its role as a plant virus vector, it will likely continue to have significant economic importance. Furthermore, an earlier and more distinct virus symptomatology was highlighted under the future predicted scenario, with consequences on virus transmission, disease epidemiology and, thus, wheat yield and quality. These research findings emphasize the complexity of plant–vector–virus interactions expected under future climate and their implications for plant disease and pest incidence in food crops.
The Effect of the Queen’s Presence on Thermal Behavior and Locomotor Activity of Small Groups of Worker Honey Bees
Authors: Grodzicki Przemysław , Piechowicz Bartosz , Caputa Michał
Published: July 2020

We examined effects of the queen’s presence on diurnal rhythms of temperature preference (TP) and locomotor activity (LA) in worker honeybees’ groups. TP and LA of six queenless and six queenright (with the queen) groups of bees, consisting of 7–8 worker bees, were recorded in a thermal gradient system for four days, under light to darkness (LD) 12:12 photoperiod. The same experiments were conducted on five virgin queens (of the same age as those in the queenright groups), which were placed individually in the gradient chambers. The single virgin queens showed signs of distress and no rhythms of TP and LA. In contrast, there were diurnal rhythms of TP and LA in both group variants with daytime activity and nighttime rest. However, the queen’s presence exerted a strong calming effect, reducing LA of bees both at day- and nighttime. The nighttime minimum LA of queenright groups was five times lower than that in queenless groups. Moreover, there was a reversal of the diurnal pattern of TP in queenright groups. The results are discussed in terms of the bee colony organization as a superorganism.
Diagnostic Performances of Urinary Methylmalonic Acid/Creatinine Ratio in Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Authors: Supakul Sopak , Chabrun Floris , Genebrier Steve , N’Guyen Maximilien , Valarche Guillaume , Derieppe Arthur , Villoteau Adeline , Lacombe Valentin , Urbanski Geoffrey
Published: July 2020

Sole measurement of plasma vitamin B12 is no longer enough to identify vitamin B12 (B12) deficiency. When plasma vitamin B12 is in the low-normal range, especially between 201 and 350 ng/L, B12 deficiency should be assessed by measurements of plasma homocysteine and/or plasma methylmalonic acid (MMA). However, these biomarkers also accumulate during renal impairment, leading to a decreased specificity for B12 deficiency. In such cases, urinary methylmalonic acid/creatinine ratio (uMMA/C) could be of interest, due to the stable urinary excretion of MMA. The objectives were to evaluate the influence of renal impairment on uMMA/C compared to plasma homocysteine and plasma methylmalonic acid, and to determine the diagnostic performances of uMMA/C in the diagnosis of B12 deficiency. We prospectively studied 127 patients with a plasma B12 between 201 and 350 ng/L. We noticed that uMMA/C was not dependent on renal function (p = 0.34), contrary to plasma homocysteine and plasma methylmalonic acid. uMMA/C showed a perspective diagnostic performance (AUC 0.71 [95% CI: 0.62–0.80]) and the threshold of 1.45 umol/mmol presented a high degree of specificity (87.9% [95% CI: 72.0–98.9]). In conclusion, uMMA/C is a promising biomarker to assess vitamin B12 status in doubtful cases, notably during renal impairment.
Estimation of Background Erosion Rate at Janghang Beach due to the Construction of Geum Estuary Tidal Barrier in Korea
Authors: Lee Sahong , Lee Jung Lyul
Published: July 2020

In this study, a reduction in sediment budget due to the development of a river watershed, resulting in coastal erosion, was reviewed, and the rate of background erosion was calculated through an examination of the loss of coastal sediment into the open sea. The west coast of the Korean peninsula is severely impacted by the intercept of inflowing sediments from rivers, owing to the watershed development. However, the effects have not fully propagated into the entire coastal area, and thus, the long-term coastal erosion remains insignificant. However, a serious and irrevocable disaster may occur once the coastal erosion begins. Therefore, an analysis of the coastal erosion resulting from changes in the sediment budget, due to the development of the watershed, was conducted on Janghang Songrim Beach. A littoral cell of the Geum River was selected for a quantitative analysis of the decrease in the sediment budget from the watershed development. The rate of coastal sediment loss offshore, which reflects the characteristics of the Janghang Songrim Beach, and the future rate of coastal erosion were calculated. Then, the results were verified by employing geometrically corrected satellite photographs from previous years. This will enable us to predict the time of coastal erosion in the future due to a reduction in the sediment budget and watershed development, and prepare for future disasters resulting from the coastal erosion. Based on research into the components constituting the coastal development, the present study presents theoretical formulae allowing the prediction of the sediment budget and providing a practical contribution to the prevention of coastal erosion, for which additional reliable studies need to be conducted.
An Implementation Science Framework to Develop a Clinical Decision Support Tool for Familial Hypercholesterolemia
Authors: Bangash Hana , Pencille Laurie , Gundelach Justin H. , Makkawy Ahmed , Sutton Joseph , Makkawy Lenae , Dikilitas Ozan , Kopecky Stephen , Freimuth Robert , Caraballo Pedro J. , Kullo Iftikhar J.
Published: July 2020

Electronic health record (EHR)-based clinical decision support (CDS) can address the low awareness and undertreatment of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), a disorder associated with a markedly increased risk of coronary heart disease. We aimed to incorporate provider perspectives into the development and implementation of a CDS tool for FH. An implementation science framework and a user-centered design process were used to create a CDS tool for FH. Primary care physicians and specialist physicians participated in qualitative interviews, usability testing and an implementation survey. The CDS was configured in two formats—a best practice alert (BPA) and an in-basket message and subsequently deployed in the EHR in silent mode. The key themes that emerged from the analysis of interview transcripts included understanding and awareness of FH, clinical workflow, physician preferences and value of CDS tools, perspectives on patient needs and values and dissemination and implementation. Recommendations related to usability included preferred CDS format and placement, content, timing and frequency, and level of alert urgency/prioritization. In response to the survey, 84.6% of physicians agreed that the CDS would improve early FH diagnosis and 92.3% agreed that it would help them identify and manage FH patients. Physician feedback led to iterative CDS refinement. In summary, we developed a CDS tool for FH using an implementation science framework and physician feedback. Initial deployment revealed a significant burden of FH and the potential for the CDS tool to have a large impact.
A Conceptual Framework to Design Green Infrastructure: Ecosystem Services as an Opportunity for Creating Shared Value in Ground Photovoltaic Systems
Authors: Semeraro Teodoro , Aretano Roberta , Barca Amilcare , Pomes Alessandro , Del Giudice Cecilia , Gatto Elisa , Lenucci Marcello , Buccolieri Riccardo , Emmanuel Rohinton , Gao Zhi , Scognamiglio Alessandra
Published: July 2020

This paper presents a conceptual framework that looks at photovoltaic systems in synergy with ecosystem services. The focus is to connect business success with social and ecological progress based on the operative concept of multifunctional land use. Such an approach attempts to harmonise the needs of the industrial processes of photovoltaic systems and the ecological and social needs of the landscape context. Different from the usual design of ground photovoltaic systems in farmlands or brownfields, a new framework is proposed, combining photovoltaic panels and vegetation. A case study is considered, applying the framework to existing photovoltaic systems in the Apulia region (southern Italy). The analysis shows how the framework has, among others, the major functions of increasing solar energy production, recycling wastewater, creating raw material for biofuel, as well as providing animal habitat and mitigating air temperature. The latter is preliminarily evaluated by means of modelling simulations performed with a computational fluid dynamics and microclimate model, ENVI-met. This approach opens up a new vision of the infrastructure design of photovoltaic systems which can produce new social and economic income.
Finite Beam Element for Curved Steel–Concrete Composite Box Beams Considering Time-Dependent Effect
Authors: Wang Guang-Ming , Zhu Li , Ji Xin-Lin , Ji Wen-Yu
Published: July 2020

Curved steel–concrete composite box beams are widely used in urban overpasses and ramp bridges. In contrast to straight composite beams, curved composite box beams exhibit complex mechanical behavior with bending–torsion coupling, including constrained torsion, distortion, and interfacial biaxial slip. The shear-lag effect and curvature variation in the radial direction should be taken into account when the beam is sufficiently wide. Additionally, long-term deflection has been observed in curved composite box beams due to the shrinkage and creep effects of the concrete slab. In this paper, an equilibrium equation for a theoretical model of curved composite box beams is proposed according to the virtual work principle. The finite element method is adopted to obtain the element stiffness matrix and nodal load matrix. The age-adjusted effective modulus method is introduced to address the concrete creep effects. This 26-DOF finite beam element model is able to simulate the constrained torsion, distortion, interfacial biaxial slip, shear lag, and time-dependent effects of curved composite box beams and account for curvature variation in the radial direction. An elaborate finite element model of a typical curved composite box beam is established. The correctness and applicability of the proposed finite beam element model is verified by comparing the results from the proposed beam element model to those from the elaborate finite element model. The proposed beam element model is used to analyze the long-term behavior of curved composite box beams. The analysis shows that significant changes in the displacement, stress and shear-lag coefficient occur in the curved composite beams within the first year of loading, after which the variation tendency becomes gradual. Moreover, increases in the central angle and shear connection stiffness both reduce the change rates of displacement and stress with respect to time.
Matrix Decomposition of Carbon-Fiber-Reinforced Plastics via the Activation of Semiconductors
Authors: Böhnke Philippa Ruth Christine , Kruppke Iris , Hoffmann David , Richter Mirko , Häntzsche Eric , Gereke Thomas , Kruppke Benjamin , Cherif Chokri
Published: July 2020

The present study proposed a novel process for the matrix decomposition of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRPs). For this purpose, the influence of ultraviolet (UV) radiation paired with semiconductors on CFRP was analyzed. Then, suitable process parameters for superficial and in-depth matrix decomposition in CFRP were evaluated. The epoxy resin was decomposed most effectively without damaging the embedded carbon fiber by using a UV light-emitting diode (LED) spotlight (395 nm, Semray 4103 by Heraeus Noblelight) at a power level of 66% compared to the maximum power of the spotlight. Using a distance of 10 mm and a treatment duration of only 35–40 s achieved a depth of two layers with an area of 750 mm2, which is suitable for technological CFRP repair procedures. In addition to the characterization of the process, the treated CFRP samples were analyzed based on several analytical methods, namely, light microscopy (LM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Subsequently, the prepared carbon fibers (CFs) were tested using filament tensiometry, single filament tensile tests, and thermogravimetric measurements. All analyses showed the power level of 66% to be superior to the use of 96% power. The gentle (“fiber friendly”) matrix destruction reduced the damage to the surface of the fibers and maintained their properties, such as maximum elongation and maximum tensile strength, at the level of the reference materials.
Experimental Study on the Evaluation of Physical Performance and Durability of Cement Mortar Mixed with Water Repellent Impregnated Natural Zeolite
Authors: Yoon Chang Bok , Lee Han Seung
Published: July 2020

To complement the shortcomings of concrete surface treatment technology and improve the durability of concrete structure, the purpose of this study was to impregnate water-repellent performance into natural zeolite, which has many pores inside, to achieve water-repellent performance inside concrete. The physical performance and durability of cement mortar mixed with water-repellent natural zeolite was evaluated. Cement mortars were prepared by mixing ZWR1%, 3%, and 5% (ZWR: Zeolite + Water Repellent impregnation) in cement powder, and compressive strength, contact angle, water penetration test, resistance chloride penetration test, chloride diffusion coefficient, and accelerated carbonation test were evaluated. When the mixing ratio of ZWR increased, the compressive strength of the test specimen was reduced compared to OPC. In contact angle measurement, water penetration test, chloride penetration resistance test, chloride diffusion coefficient, and accelerated carbonation test, the ZWR-containing samples showed superior properties compared to OPC. It was found that the durability test results improved as the amount of mixing was increased, and the durability of the test specimen containing 5% ZWR was found to be the best.
Automated Kinematic Analysis of Closed-Loop Planar Link Mechanisms
Authors: Yamamoto Tatsuya , Iwatsuki Nobuyuki , Ikeda Ikuma
Published: July 2020

The systematic kinematic analysis method for planar link mechanisms based on their unique procedures can clearly show the analysis process. The analysis procedure is expressed by a combination of many kinds of conversion functions proposed as the minimum calculation units for analyzing a part of the mechanism. When it is desired to perform this systematic kinematics analysis for a specific linkage mechanism, expert researchers can accomplish the analysis by searching for the procedure by themselves, however, it is difficult for non-expert users to find the procedure. This paper proposes the automatic procedure extraction algorithm for the systematic kinematic analysis of closed-loop planar link mechanisms. By limiting the types of conversion functions to only geometric calculations that are related to the two-link chain, the analysis procedure can be represented by only one type transformation function, and the procedure extraction algorithm can be described as a algorithm searching computable 2-link chain. The configuration of mechanism is described as the “LJ-matrix”, which shows the relationship of connections between links with pairs. The algorithm consists of four sub-processes, namely, “LJ-matrix generator”, “Solver process”, “Add-link process”, and “Over-constraint resolver”. Inputting the sketch of the mechanism into the proposed algorithm, it automatically extracts unique analysis procedure and generate a kinematic analysis program as a MATLAB code based on it. Several mechanisms are analyzed as examples to show the usefulness of the proposed method.
Management of a Patient with Tuberous Sclerosis with Urological Clinical Manifestations
Authors: Padureanu Vlad , Dragoescu Octavian , Stoenescu Victor Emanuel , Padureanu Rodica , Pirici Ionica , Cimpeanu Radu Cristian , Dalia Dop , Mihailovici Alexandru Radu , Tomescu Paul
Published: July 2020

The tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is highly variable as far as its clinical presentation is concerned. For the implementation of appropriate medical surveillance and treatment, an accurate diagnosis is compulsory. TSC may affect the heart, skin, kidneys, central nervous system (epileptic seizures and nodular intracranial tumors—tubers), bones, eyes, lungs, blood vessels and the gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this paper is to report renal manifestations as first clinical signs suggestive of TSC diagnosis. A 20-year-old patient was initially investigated for hematuria, dysuria and colicky pain in the left lumbar region. The ultrasound examination of the kidney showed bilateral hyperechogenic kidney structures and pyelocalyceal dilatation, both suggestive of bilateral obstructive lithiasis, complicated by uretero-hydronephrosis. The computer tomography (CT) scan of the kidney showed irregular kidney margins layout, undifferentiated images between cortical and medullar structures, with non-homogenous round components, suggestive of kidney angiomyolipomas, bilateral renal cortical retention cysts, images of a calculous component in the right middle calyceal branches and a smaller one on the left side. The clinical manifestations and imaging findings (skull and abdominal and pelvis CT scans) sustained the diagnosis.
Numerical Analysis of Radiative Heat Transfer and Direct Reduction of Three-Dimensional Multilayer Ellipsoidal Carbon-Containing Pellet Unit in the Rotary Hearth Furnace
Authors: Li Nan , Wang Feng
Published: July 2020

It is very important for a multilayer pellet bed to have a proper description of the radiant heat transfer and direct reduction process in the rotary hearth furnace. Ellipsoidal pellets may also be used in industrial production. The research on this ellipsoidal pellet bed will provide comprehensive data support for the production process. Besides, the view factor is one of the important factors affecting the heat transfer of the multilayer pellet bed. It is of great significance to study its value and distribution. In this study, the effects of the gas field and the bottom of the furnace on the direct reduction of multilayer ellipsoidal pellets were considered. The local environmental viewing angle coefficient in the model was obtained through the mechanism calculation method, which is more accurate than the calculation through the radiation exchange network. Furthermore, the porosity variation in the pellet during the direct reduction process was also considered. According to the calculation, it was found that the higher initial temperature at the furnace bottom is beneficial to increase the degree of metallization (DOM) and zinc removal rate (ZRR) for all pellets, and is more advantageous to the lower pellets in the material bed. Nevertheless, the reduction degree of the lower pellets is still smaller than that of the upper pellets. The results also show that increasing the offset ξ has a greater effect on increasing the ambient view factor and each position reduction degree in the ellipsoidal pellets layer. Results can be applied for the optimization of pellets distribution in a rotary hearth furnace.
Characterization of Microstructure in High-Hardness Surface Layer of Low-Carbon Steel
Authors: Xiao Haitao , Zheng Shaobo , Xin Yan , Xu Jiali , Han Ke , Li Huigai , Zhai Qijie
Published: July 2020

Surface hardening improves the strength of low-carbon steel without interfering with the toughness of its core. In this study, we focused on the microstructure in the surface layer (0–200 μm) of our low-carbon steel, where we discovered an unexpectedly high level of hardness. We confirmed the presence of not only upper bainite and acicular ferrite but also lath martensite in the hard surface layer. In area of 0–50 μm, a mixed microstructure of lath martensite and B1 upper bainite was formed as a result of high cooling rate (about 50–100 K/s). In area of 50–200 μm, a mixed microstructure of acicular ferrite and B2 upper bainite was formed. The average nanohardness of the martensite was as high as 9.87 ± 0.51 GPa, which was equivalent to the level reported for steel with twenty times the carbon content. The ultrafine laths with an average width of 128 nm was considered to be a key cause of high nanohardness. The average nanohardness of the ferrites was much lower than for martensite: 4.18 ± 0.39 GPa for upper bainite and 2.93 ± 0.30 GPa for acicular ferrite. Yield strength, likewise, was much higher for martensite (2378 ± 123 MPa) than for upper bainite (1007 ± 94 MPa) or acicular ferrite (706 ± 72 MPa). The high yield strength value of martensite gave the surface layer an exceptional resistance to abrasion to a degree that would be unachievable without additional heat treatment in other steels with similar carbon content.
Safe Coated Microneedles with Reduced Puncture Occurrence after Administration
Authors: Jeong Hye-Rin , Jun Hyesun , Cha Hye-Ran , Lee Jae , Park Jung-Hwan
Published: July 2020

The goal of this study is the preparation of safer coated microneedles so that tips remaining after the initial use are less likely to be reinserted on a second use. Twelve groups of uncoated microneedles (u-MNs) were prepared from the combination of three different aspect ratios (height to base width) and four kinds of polymer (polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), nylon and polylactic acid (PLA)). After coating the u-MNs with polyvinyl alcohol formulation to make coated MNs (c-MNs), the force displacement of the u-MNs and the c-MNs was measured. The aspect ratio was reduced from 2.2, 2.5 and 3.0 with u-MNs to 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 with c-MNs, respectively, after the coating formulation was applied to the MNs. All PLA MNs had a puncture performance of more than 95%. However, the puncture performance of u-MNs made of PE and of PP with a 3.0 aspect ratio was only 8% and 53%, respectively, whereas the rates of c-MNs made of PE and of PP were 82% and 95%, respectively. In animal experiments with PP MNs with a 3.0 aspect ratio, the 59% rate of puncture performance with u-MNs increased to above 96% with c-MNs and fell to 13% for r-MNs. Safe c-MNs can overcome the disadvantages of standard c-MNs by reducing the probable contamination of remaining tips after use. Safe c-MNs have advantages over standard c-MNs in terms of humidity resistance, reasonable cost, sterilization process and short processing time through the separate process of u-MN preparation and simple dip-coating.
3D-Printing Piezoelectric Composite with Honeycomb Structure for Ultrasonic Devices
Authors: Zeng Yushun , Jiang Laiming , Sun Yizhe , Yang Yang , Quan Yi , Wei Shuang , Lu Gengxi , Li Runze , Rong Jiahui , Chen Yong , Zhou Qifa
Published: July 2020

Piezoelectric composites are considered excellent core materials for fabricating various ultrasonic devices. For the traditional fabrication process, piezoelectric composite structures are mainly prepared by mold forming, mixing, and dicing-filing techniques. However, these techniques are limited on fabricating shapes with complex structures. With the rapid development of additive manufacturing (AM), many research fields have applied AM technology to produce functional materials with various geometric shapes. In this study, the Mask-Image-Projection-based Stereolithography (MIP-SL) process, one of the AM (3D-printing) methods, was used to build BaTiO3-based piezoelectric composite ceramics with honeycomb structure design. A sintered sample with denser body and higher density was achieved (i.e., density obtained 5.96 g/cm3), and the 3D-printed ceramic displayed the expected piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties using the complex structure (i.e., piezoelectric constant achieved 60 pC/N). After being integrated into an ultrasonic device, the 3D-printed component also presents promising material performance and output power properties for ultrasound sensing (i.e., output voltage reached 180 mVpp). Our study demonstrated the effectiveness of AM technology in fabricating piezoelectric composites with complex structures that cannot be fabricated by dicing-filling. The approach may bring more possibilities to the fabrication of micro-electromechanical system (MEMS)-based ultrasonic devices via 3D-printing methods in the future.
Comprehensive Host Cell-Based Screening Assays for Identification of Anti-Virulence Drugs Targeting Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella Typhimurium
Authors: von Ambüren Julia , Schreiber Fynn , Fischer Julia , Winter Sandra , van Gumpel Edeltraud , Simonis Alexander , Rybniker Jan
Published: July 2020

The prevalence of bacterial pathogens being resistant to antibiotic treatment is increasing worldwide, leading to a severe global health challenge. Simultaneously, the development and approval of new antibiotics stagnated in the past decades, leading to an urgent need for novel approaches to avoid the spread of untreatable bacterial infections in the future. We developed a highly comprehensive screening platform based on quantification of pathogen driven host-cell death to detect new anti-virulence drugs targeting Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (ST), both known for their emerging antibiotic resistance. By screening over 10,000 small molecules we could identify several substances showing promising effects on Pa and ST pathogenicity in our in vitro infection model. Importantly, we could detect compounds potently inhibiting bacteria induced killing of host cells and one novel comipound with impact on the function of the type 3 secretion system (T3SS) of ST. Thus, we provide proof of concept data of rapid and feasible medium- to high-throughput drug screening assays targeting virulence mechanisms of two major Gram-negative pathogens.