bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of single serving form of dairy on satiety and postprandial glycaemia in young and older healthy adults
Authors: Vien Shirley , Fabek Hrvoje , Yamagishi Yurie , Lee Ying Ti , Luhovyy Bohdan L. , Anderson G. Harvey
Published: April 2019

Dairy proteins reduce appetite and improve postprandial glycaemic response in adults. However, there are no reports of dairy in amounts usually consumed on satiety and postprandial glycaemia in either young or older adults. In a randomized crossover design, 30 healthy young adults (age: 23.5 ± 0.5 years; body mass index (BMI): 21.8 ± 0.4 kg/m2) and 30 healthy/overweight older adults (age: 65.2 ± 0.5 years; BMI: 24.7 ± 0.6 kg/m2) consumed 1 serving (according to manufacturers’ labels) of skim milk (0.1% milk fat (MF)), whole milk (3.25% MF), plain Greek yogurt (2% MF), cheddar cheese (31% MF), and water (energy-free control) after a 12-h fast. Subjective appetite was measured every 15–30 min over 3 h. Blood glucose and insulin were measured at baseline and every 15–30 min over 2 h. All dairy treatments reduced post-treatment subjective appetite area under the curve (AUC) over 3 h by 8%–17% more than water. Greek yogurt reduced appetite 3-h AUC more than skim and whole milk by 9% and 7%, respectively (p < 0.0001). Post-treatment blood glucose 2-h AUC was 42% lower in young compared with older adults (p = 0.003). It was also 52%–78% lower after cheese compared with milks and yogurt (p < 0.0001). Post-treatment insulin AUC after cheese was only 10%–15% of that after milks and Greek yogurt (p < 0.0001). We conclude that single servings of dairy differ in effect on postprandial satiety and glycaemia and merit consideration in management of metabolic syndrome.
Large-scale and high-resolution analysis of food purchases and health outcomes
Authors: Aiello Luca Maria , Schifanella Rossano , Quercia Daniele , Del Prete Lucia
Published: April 2019

To complement traditional dietary surveys, which are costly and of limited scale, researchers have resorted to digital data to infer the impact of eating habits on people’s health. However, online studies are limited in resolution: they are carried out at country or regional level and do not capture precisely the composition of the food consumed. We study the association between food consumption (derived from the loyalty cards of the main grocery retailer in London) and health outcomes (derived from publicly-available medical prescription records of all general practitioners in the city). The scale and granularity of our analysis is unprecedented: we analyze 1.6B food item purchases and 1.1B medical prescriptions for the entire city of London over the course of one year. By studying food consumption down to the level of nutrients, we show that nutrient diversity and amount of calories are the two strongest predictors of the prevalence of three diseases related to what is called the “metabolic syndrome”: hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes. This syndrome is a cluster of symptoms generally associated with obesity, is common across the rich world, and affects one in four adults in the UK. Our linear regression models achieve an$R^{2}$R2of 0.6 when estimating the prevalence of diabetes in nearly 1000 census areas in London, and a classifier can identify (un)healthy areas with up to 91% accuracy. Interestingly, healthy areas are not necessarily well-off (income matters less than what one would expect) and have distinctive features: they tend to systematically eat less carbohydrates and sugar, diversify nutrients, and avoid large quantities. More generally, our study shows that analytics of digital records of grocery purchases can be used as a cheap and scalable tool for health surveillance and, upon these records, different stakeholders from governments to insurance companies to food companies could implement effective prevention strategies.
Prices of Anarchy of Selfish 2D Bin Packing Games
Authors: Fernandes Cristina G. , Ferreira Carlos E. , Miyazawa Flávio K. , Wakabayashi Yoshiko
Published: April 2019

We consider a game-theoretical problem called selfish 2-dimensional bin packing game, a generalization of the 1-dimensional case already treated in the literature. In this game, the items to be packed are rectangles, and the bins are unit squares. The game starts with a set of items arbitrarily packed in bins. The cost of an item is defined as the ratio between its area and the total occupied area of the respective bin. Each item is a selfish player that wants to minimize its cost. A migration of an item to another bin is allowed only when its cost is decreased. We show that this game always converges to a Nash equilibrium (a stable packing where no single item can decrease its cost by migrating to another bin). We show that the pure price of anarchy of this game is unbounded, so we address the particular case where all items are squares. We show that the pure price of anarchy of the selfish square packing game is at least [Formula: see text] and at most [Formula: see text]. We also present analogous results for the strong Nash equilibrium (a stable packing where no nonempty set of items can simultaneously migrate to another common bin and decrease the cost of each item in the set). We show that the strong price of anarchy when all items are squares is at least [Formula: see text] and at most [Formula: see text].
Approximation Algorithms for Barrier Sweep Coverage
Authors: Gorain Barun , Mandal Partha Sarathi
Published: April 2019

Time-varying coverage, namely sweep coverage is a recent development in the area of wireless sensor networks, where a few mobile sensors sweep or monitor a comparatively large number of locations periodically. In this article, we study barrier sweep coverage with mobile sensors where the barrier is considered as a finite length continuous curve on a plane. The coverage at every point on the curve is time-variant. We propose an optimal solution for sweep coverage of a finite length continuous curve. Usually, energy source of a mobile sensor is a battery with limited power, so energy restricted sweep coverage is a challenging problem for long running applications. We propose an energy-restricted sweep coverage problem where every mobile sensor must visit an energy source frequently to recharge or replace its battery. We propose a [Formula: see text]-approximation algorithm for this problem. The proposed algorithm for multiple curves achieves the best possible approximation factor 2 for a special case. We propose a 5-approximation algorithm for the general problem. As an application of the barrier sweep coverage problem for a set of line segments, we formulate a data gathering problem. In this problem a set of mobile sensors is arbitrarily monitoring the line segments one for each. A set of data mules periodically collects the monitoring data from the set of mobile sensors. We prove that finding the minimum number of data mules to collect data periodically from every mobile sensor is NP-hard and propose a 3-approximation algorithm to solve it.
Generalized exponential rational function method for extended Zakharov–Kuzetsov equation with conformable derivative
Authors: Ghanbari Behzad , Osman M. S. , Baleanu Dumitru
Published: April 2019

In this paper, new analytical obliquely propagating wave solutions for the time fractional extended Zakharov–Kuzetsov (FEZK) equation of conformable derivative are investigated. By using the main properties of the conformable derivative, the FEZK equation is transformed into integer-order differential equations, and the reduced equations are solved via the generalized exponential rational function method (GERFM). The shape and features for the resulting solutions are illustrated through three-dimensional (3D) plots and corresponding contour plots for various values of the free parameters.
Run-Time Deep Learning Enhanced Fast Coding Unit Decision for High Efficiency Video Coding
Authors: Li Xin , Gong Na
Published: April 2019

The state-of-the-art high efficiency video coding (HEVC/H.265) adopts the hierarchical quadtree-structured coding unit (CU) to enhance the coding efficiency. However, the computational complexity significantly increases because of the exhaustive rate-distortion (RD) optimization process to obtain the optimal coding tree unit (CTU) partition. In this paper, we propose a fast CU size decision algorithm to reduce the heavy computational burden in the encoding process. In order to achieve this, the CU splitting process is modeled as a three-stage binary classification problem according to the CU size from [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] to [Formula: see text]. In each CU partition stage, a deep learning approach is applied. Appropriate and efficient features for training the deep learning models are extracted from spatial and pixel domains to eliminate the dependency on video content as well as on encoding configurations. Furthermore, the deep learning framework is built as a third-party library and embedded into the HEVC simulator to speed up the process. The experiment results show the proposed algorithm can achieve significant complexity reduction and it can reduce the encoding time by 49.65%(Low Delay) and 48.81% (Random Access) on average compared with the traditional HEVC encoders with a negligible degradation (2.78% loss in BDBR, 0.145[Formula: see text]dB loss in BDPSNR for Low Delay, and 2.68% loss in BDBR, 0.128[Formula: see text]dB loss in BDPSNR for Random Access) in the coding efficiency.
Concordances from the standard surface in S2 × S2
Authors: Miller Maggie
Published: April 2019

In this paper, we combine the recent four-dimensional light bulb theorem of David Gabai and a construction of concordances for knots in [Formula: see text] due to Eylem Zeliha Yildiz to construct an explicit concordance between the standard surface of genus [Formula: see text] in [Formula: see text] and any homologous surface using elementary methods.
A note on O. Frolkina’s paper “pairwise disjoint moebius bands in space”
Authors: Melikhov Sergey A.
Published: April 2019

We note a simple algebraic proof of Frolkina’s result that [Formula: see text] does not contain uncountably many pairwise disjoint copies of the Möbius band, and of a similar result in higher dimensions.
CRYPTOCURRENCIES IN FINANCE: REVIEW AND APPLICATIONS
Authors: FLORI ANDREA
Published: April 2019

The literature has recently begun to investigate the properties of cryptocurrency markets to identify key drivers for the use of cryptocurrencies in investment strategies. This paper provides a comprehensive review on the financial applications of Bitcoin. The focus is on three lines of research: price formation, detection of market inefficiency, and diversified portfolio construction. Topics such as market micro-structure and the interplay between different cryptocurrencies are only touched on briefly. We observe that many empirical studies find that Bitcoin markets are inefficient, with huge price fluctuations and long-range memory, and that these markets are heavily influenced by news and sector-specific events, or by infrastructure conditions such as volume trading and market liquidity. Nevertheless, astonishing price appreciations and modest correlation values versus other asset classes have contributed significantly to motivate applications of Bitcoin to investment and diversification. Future research may address practical implementations of such solutions and investigate the long-term sustainability and viability of these investment strategies.
Benefits of Additional Procedures for Metacarpophalangeal Hyperextension on Simple Trapeziectomy in Thumb Basal Osteoarthritis: A Biomechanical Cadaver Study
Authors: Dumont Charles E. , von Campe Arndt
Published: April 2019

Background: Patients with advanced osteoarthritis of the first carpometacarpal joint (CMC-1) may develop hyperextension of the first metacarpophalangeal joint (MCP-1). No clear clinical benefice has been reported consecutively to the surgical treatment of the MCP-hyperextension combined to a trapeziectomy. The reason of the missing benefit may be due to changes in the thumb position impairing the thumb stability secondary to the surgical procedures. We assessed changes in the transmission of forces at the thumb’s end phalanx following a trapeziectomy combined with the surgical adjustment of the hyperextension of the MCP-1-joint in a biomechanical investigation using cadavers.

Methods: The thumb muscles were loaded with nylon cables connected to a tension meter in 8 forearm cadavers. A 6-axis force sensor assessed the termino-lateral key-pinch orthogonal strength vectors at the level of the thumb distal phalanx prior to any surgery, and following a simple trapeziectomy, a trapeziectomy combined to a MCP-1-capsulodesis and the transfer of the extensor pollicis brevis over the metacarpal-1 head, or to an MCP-1-arthrodesis.

Results: Combination of the trapeziectomy with the MCP-1- joint palmar capsulodesis and EPB-transfer or with a MCP-arthrodesis in neutral pronation-supination resulted in a significant shift of the thumb in pronation-abduction with respect to the preoperative assessment. The lowest shift was achieved when performing the arthrodesis in 20° supination or by overloading of the adductor pollicis.

Conclusions: Combining the trapeziectomy with surgeries addressing the MCP-1-joint hyperextension induced a shift of the thumb in pronation-abduction that could impair the key-pinch stability. When considering additional procedures for MCP-1-joint hyperextension deformities, it should be recommended to fix the EPB-tendon on the radial aspect of the metacarpal head if a tendon transfer is considered, otherwise the MCP joint arthrodesis should be performed in supinated position, in order to achieve lateral key-pinch stability.
Graft Reposition on Flap: Mid-Term Result in Allen Type IV Amputation
Authors: Malshikare Vijay A.
Published: April 2019

Background: The preferable reconstructive surgical options for Allen type IV finger amputation is replantation. The viable alternate option is bone and nail bed graft repositioning on local flaps. The wider scope of this “graft reposition on flap” (GRF) technique was introspected.

Methods: Fifteen patients who sustained type IV amputations of finger tip were operated between 2013 and 2017 by GRF technique. The results, range of motions, functional out come and its feasibility were analyzed and evaluated. A technical modification of GRF was also described within this series of patients.

Results: All patients had good nail bed survival and well settled local flaps. Static two-point discrimination (2PD) was of 6.4 mm (average). 14/15 patients had an acceptable shortening of 4mm (average). Overall patients were happy after surgery and returned back to their work. All had excellent range of movements and 0 VAS. The follow up was 1 to 5 years (mean 2.8 years). Wound infection was seen in one patient whom after debridement developed gross shortening and thick nail. None developed nail deformity.

Conclusions: The GRF provided an alternative option for Allen type IV amputations of finger tip. It can be well executed in all reconstructive surgical units and in those with a learning curve for replantations surgeries. The results of GRF were proportionate with the available surgical options in terms of appearance, function and outcomes.
From the chair
Authors: Hollingsworth Jeff
Published: April 2019

Summer is here in the Northern Hemisphere and the signs are everywhere-the weather has warmed, those of us in academia are attending graduations, and the crush of reviews for SC is nearly complete. This issue of CONNECT appears just before PASC, one of SIGHPC's three co-sponsored conferences, takes place (July 2 to 4, 2018 in Basel Switzerland). The call for papers for PPoPP'19, another cosponsored conference, just came out. I am honored to serve as the general chair of PPoPP'19.
From the chair
Authors: Hollingsworth Jeff
Published: April 2019

This is the first newsletter after SC18 and this issue recaps highlights from SIGHPC's flagship event. Among the many great activities was that Dhairya Malhotra received the inaugural ACM SIGHPC Dissertation award. (Dhairya also guest-writes this issue's recommended reading column.) For the 2019 Dissertation Award, the deadline to nominate someone is February 28th.
Crop Biodiversity: An Unfinished Magnum Opus of Nature
Authors: Hufford Matthew B. , Berny Mier y Teran Jorge C. , Gepts Paul
Published: April 2019

Crop biodiversity is one of the major inventions of humanity through the process of domestication. It is also an essential resource for crop improvement to adapt agriculture to ever-changing conditions like global climate change and consumer preferences. Domestication and the subsequent evolution under cultivation have profoundly shaped the genetic architecture of this biodiversity. In this review, we highlight recent advances in our understanding of crop biodiversity. Topics include the reduction of genetic diversity during domestication and counteracting factors, a discussion of the relationship between parallel phenotypic and genotypic evolution, the role of plasticity in genotype × environment interactions, and the important role subsistence farmers play in actively maintaining crop biodiversity and in participatory breeding. Linking genotype and phenotype remains the holy grail of crop biodiversity studies.
Heterotrimeric G-Protein Signaling in Plants: Conserved and Novel Mechanisms
Authors: Pandey Sona
Published: April 2019

Heterotrimeric GTP-binding proteins are key regulators of a multitude of signaling pathways in all eukaryotes. Although the core G-protein components and their basic biochemistries are broadly conserved throughout evolution, the regulatory mechanisms of G proteins seem to have been rewired in plants to meet specific needs. These proteins are currently the focus of intense research in plants due to their involvement in many agronomically important traits, such as seed yield, organ size regulation, biotic and abiotic stress responses, symbiosis, and nitrogen use efficiency. The availability of massive sequence information from a variety of plant species, extensive biochemical data generated over decades, and impressive genetic resources for plant G proteins have made it possible to examine their role, unique properties, and novel regulation. This review focuses on some recent advances in our understanding of the mechanistic details of this critical signaling pathway to enable the precise manipulation and generation of plants to meet future needs.
Legal Consciousness Reconsidered
Authors: Chua Lynette J. , Engel David M.
Published: April 2019

Legal consciousness is a vibrant research field attracting growing numbers of scholars worldwide. Yet differing assumptions about aims and methods have generated vigorous debate, typically resulting from a failure to recognize that three different clusters of scholars—identified here as the Identity, Hegemony, and Mobilization schools—are pursuing different goals and deploying the concept of legal consciousness in different ways. Scholarship associated with these three schools demonstrates that legal consciousness is actually a flexible paradigm with multiple applications rather than a monolithic approach. Furthermore, a new generation of scholars has energized the field in recent years, focusing on marginalized peoples and non-Western settings. Through their findings, and as a result of broader trends across the social sciences, relational legal consciousness has taken on greater importance. Legal consciousness research should be imagined on a continuum ranging from individualistic conceptualizations of thought and action to interactive, co-constitutive approaches.
Farmers’ Demand and the Traits and Diffusion of Agricultural Innovations in Developing Countries
Authors: Macours Karen
Published: April 2019

International agricultural research is often motivated by the potential benefits it could bring to smallholder farmers in developing countries. A recent experimental literature has emerged on why innovations resulting from such research, which often focuses on yield enhancement, fail to be adopted due to either external or internal constraints. This article reviews this literature, focusing on the traits of the different technologies and their complexity and distinguishing between yield-enhancing, variance-reducing, and water- or labor-reducing technologies. It also discusses how farmers’ reallocation of inputs and investments when external constraints are lifted suggests that they often do not seek to increase yield or input intensity. The article further reviews evidence indicating that a technology's potential as observed in agronomical trials is not necessarily a good predictor for smallholder farmers’ demands for the technology in real-life conditions. The last section derives conclusions for the research and policy agenda.
Technology, Work, and Family: Digital Cultural Capital and Boundary Management
Authors: Ollier-Malaterre Ariane , Jacobs Jerry A. , Rothbard Nancy P.
Published: April 2019

In this essay, we develop a framework for understanding the evolving relationships between technology, work, and family. We focus primarily on the temporal, spatial, and relational boundaries between work and family and the ways in which technology is changing boundary management practices. We suggest that the ubiquity and power of communications technologies require active technology management and, specifically, the development of a form of cultural capital that we call digital cultural capital. We are concerned that the technological changes currently underway may deepen and reinforce social and economic inequalities in new and unanticipated ways. We endeavor to synthesize and connect the disparate bodies of research on these nascent issues and lay out an agenda for future lines of inquiry.
Sex modulates hepatic mitochondrial adaptations to high-fat diet and physical activity
Authors: McCoin Colin S. , Von Schulze Alex , Allen Julie , Fuller Kelly N. Z. , Xia Qing , Koestler Devin C. , Houchen Claire J. , Maurer Adrianna , Dorn Gerald W. , Shankar Kartik , Morris E. Matthew , Thyfault John P.
Published: April 2019

The impact of sexual dimorphism and mitophagy on hepatic mitochondrial adaptations during the treatment of steatosis with physical activity are largely unknown. Here, we tested if deficiencies in liver-specific peroxisome proliferative activated-receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), a transcriptional coactivator of biogenesis, and BCL-2/ADENOVIRUS EIB 19-kDa interacting protein (BNIP3), a mitophagy regulator, would impact hepatic mitochondrial adaptations (respiratory capacity, H2O2production, mitophagy) to a high-fat diet (HFD) and HFD plus physical activity via voluntary wheel running (VWR) in both sexes. Male and female wild-type (WT), liver-specific PGC-1α heterozygote (LPGC-1α), and BNIP3 null mice were thermoneutral housed (29–31°C) and divided into three groups: sedentary-low-fat diet (LFD), 16 wk of (HFD), or 16 wk of HFD with VWR for the final 8 wk (HFD + VWR) ( n = 5–7/sex/group). HFD did not impair mitochondrial respiratory capacity or coupling in any group; however, HFD + VWR significantly increased maximal respiratory capacity only in WT and PGC-1α females. Males required VWR to elicit mitochondrial adaptations that were inherently present in sedentary females including greater mitochondrial coupling control and reduced H2O2production. Females had overall reduced markers of mitophagy, steatosis, and liver damage. Steatosis and markers of liver injury were present in sedentary male mice on the HFD and were effectively reduced with VWR despite no resolution of steatosis. Overall, reductions in PGC-1α and loss of BNIP3 only modestly impacted mitochondrial adaptations to HFD and HFD + VWR with the biggest effect seen in BNIP3 females. In conclusion, hepatic mitochondrial adaptations to HFD and treatment of HFD-induced steatosis with VWR are more dependent on sex than PGC-1α or BNIP3.
A Full‐Scale Field Study on Bearing Characteristics of Cast‐in‐Place Piles with Different Hole‐Forming Methods in Loess Area
Authors: Zhou Zhijun , Yang Tao , Fan Haobo
Published: April 2019

This paper presents the results from a full‐scale field study on the 3 different types of cast‐in‐place piles: rotary drilling piles (RDPs), manual digging piles (MDPs), and impact drilling piles (IDPs), for a bridge construction project of Wuqi–Dingbian Expressway, in Shaanxi. The results indicate that under the similar conditions, MDP exhibits the largest bearing capacity (11000 kN) in the loess area, followed by RDP (9000 kN) and IDP (8000 kN). And all tested values exceed the estimated value (7797.9 KN), indicating that the calculation formula of bearing capacity recommended by the Chinese standard is safe and conservative. During the load transfer process, the axial force attenuation rate of the pile body increases with pile side resistance. The average attenuation rate of MDP is the largest (24.2%), followed by RDP (19.72%) and IDP (16.69%). The bearing characteristics of these test piles are mainly pile side resistance, but the manual digging method created the least amount of disturbance to the soil around the pile, and due to its hole wall being rough, this enhances the pile‐soil interactions. Hole‐forming methods mainly affect the exertion of pile side resistance compared with pile end resistance. In view of pile side resistance and pile end resistance not taking effect at the same time, degree of exertion of these 2 resistances should be considered when designing cast‐in‐place piles in loess areas, and different partial coefficients should be used.
Modification of Ceramic Membranes by Silica Nanoparticles with Thiourea Functions
Authors: Tomina Veronika V. , Nazarchuk Galyna I. , Melnyk Inna V.
Published: April 2019

Sol-gel approach based on hydrolytic copolycondensation of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) with ethylthiocarbamidepropyl triethoxysilane (ETUS) was used to deposit functional layers with thiourea functions on the surface of macroporous ceramic alumina membrane supports. According to SEM images, such layers are composed of nanoparticles of about 60-70 nm in diameter, while IR spectroscopy data confirmed the presence of functional groups introduced during the synthesis. Such functionalization technique allows combining sorption and membrane technology and could be successfully used to remove trace quantities of copper, cadmium, and silver metal ions from aqueous solutions.
Impact of a 6-Month Micronutrient-Dense Plant-Rich Nutrition Intervention on Health and Well-Being at the Worksite
Authors: Sutliffe Jay T. , Gardner Julia C. , Gorman Michelle M. , Carnot Mary Jo , Wetzel Wendy S. , Fortin Tricia , Sutliffe Chloe A. , Adams Alison
Published: April 2019

This nonrandomized pilot study utilized the health belief model and the theory of planned behavior to assess the effectiveness of perceived behavioral control to determine the impact of a micronutrient-dense plant-rich (mNDPR) dietary intervention on employee health and wellness at the worksite. Seventy-one employees and/or spouses (≥18 years) who met the inclusion criteria were recruited from a regional medical center and a local university. Participants were provided more than 14 hours of in-person lecture combined with take-home materials, and electronic resources to support participants in their transition and adherence to the dietary plan. The study consisted of a 6-hour introductory session followed by weekly 1-hour meetings for 7 consecutive weeks and then monthly 1-hour meetings, for 4 consecutive months over the span of 6 months. Retention of participants was approximately 55 percent. Participants were assessed for measures of weight, waist circumference, and blood pressure; physiological measures of blood cholesterol, triglycerides, blood glucose, and hemoglobin A1c; and well-being measures of gastroesophageal reflux disease, depression, sleep, pain, and worksite productivity, pre-, mid-, and post-intervention. A significant reduction was seen in weight (F(2, 78) = 19.81, p<0.001) with a mean reduction of 6.65 lb., waist circumference (F(2, 72) = 40.914, p<0.001) with a mean reduction of 2.8 inches, total cholesterol (F(2, 70) = 19.09, p<0.001) with a mean reduction of 17.81 mg/dL, HDL (F(2, 70) = 4.005, p=0.023) with a mean reduction of 3.61 mg/dL, LDL (F(2, 56) = 10.087, p<0.001) with a mean reduction of 13.1 mg/dL, blood glucose (F(2, 70) = 6.995, p=0.002) with a mean reduction of 3.7 mg/dL, hemoglobin A1c (paired samples t (39) = 2.689, p=0.01) with a mean reduction of 0.118%, GERD (F(2, 72) = 7.940, p=0.001, MSE = 4.225) with a mean reduction of 1.4, depressive symptoms as measured by the PHQ 9 (F(2, 72) = 10.062, p<0.001, MSE = 5.174) with a mean reduction of 2.0, and an improvement in sleep quality was seen as measured by the PSQI (F(2, 74) = 11.047, p<0.001, MSE = 2.269) with a mean improvement of 1.3. In most cases, improvement occurred across the first two time periods and then leveled off. Blood pressure, triglycerides, pain measurements, and WPAI did not change over time. Effect sizes for significant pairwise comparisons indicated medium to large effects of practical significance. This intervention was therefore effective at improving employee health and well-being. Widespread worksite implementation should be considered to improve the overall wellness of employees.
Quantitative Characteristics of Toxic Compounds According to the Solvent Type
Authors: An Young-Ji , Choi Seong-Jin , Kim Yong-Hyun , Lee Kyuhong
Published: April 2019

The quantitative analysis of target substances is an important part of assessing the toxicity of diverse materials. Usually, the quantitation of target compounds is conducted by instrumental analysis such as chromatography and capillary electrophoresis. If solvents are used in the pretreatment step of the target analyte quantification, it would be crucial to examine the solvent effect on the quantitative analysis. Therefore, in this study, we assessed the solvent effects using four different solvents (methanol, hexane, phosphate buffered saline (PBS), and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)) and three toxic compounds (benzene, toluene, and methylisothiazolinone (MIT)). Liquid working standards containing the toxic compounds were prepared by dilution with each solvent and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). As a result, we found that the response factor (RF) values of the target analytes were different, depending on the solvent types. In particular, benzene and toluene exhibited their highest RF values (33,674 ng−1 and 78,604 ng−1, respectively) in hexane, while the RF value of MIT was the highest (9,067 ng−1) in PBS. Considering the correlation (R2) and relative standard deviation (RSD) values, all target analytes showed fairly good values (R2 > 0.99 and RSD < 10%) in methanol and DMSO. In contrast, low R2 (0.0562) and high RSD (10.6%) values of MIT were detected in hexane, while benzene and toluene exhibited relatively low R2 and high RSD values in PBS (mean R2 = 0.9892 ± 0.0146 and mean RSD = 13.3 ± 4.1%). Based on these findings, we concluded that the results and reliability of the quantitative analysis change depending on the analyte and solvent types. Therefore, in order to accurately assess the toxicity of target compounds, reliable analytical data should be obtained, preferentially by considering the solvent types.
Theoretical Analysis and Experimental Evaluation of Road Dynamic Behavior on Different Subgrades
Authors: Zhao Xiaoxia , Wang Jun , Ding Guangya
Published: April 2019

The dynamic characteristics of a road on a subgrade filled with different materials under traffic loads are studied. An elastic double‐layer plate model on a viscoelastic subgrade is established to describe the dynamic behavior of the road. The load diffusion path in the form of a cone in the stabilised layer under single vibration source and three vibration sources is considered, and the equations for the displacement and effective soil pressure of the elastic double‐layer plate on the viscoelastic subgrade are derived. The relevant empirical formulae are then properly revised to reflect the dynamic behavior of the road. The dynamic response of the road is analysed by adjusting factors such as the excitation load, excitation frequency, and subgrade filling materials. The results show that gravel as a subgrade filling material has a better vibration reduction effect than sand bag. In addition, the test data not only have good consistency with the theoretical formulae but also validate the reliability of the empirical formulae.
A Retrospective Analysis of Three Antiviral Regimens of Peramivir in the Treatment of Severe Influenza A with Primary Viral Pneumonia
Authors: Wang Jin-na , Wang Xu , Yu Shu-le , Ding Yue-hui , Wang Meng-lei , Chen Hong-dou
Published: April 2019

Objective. To evaluate the difference of clinical efficacy of peramivir alone and peramivir combined with immunomodulators (either ribonucleic acid or thymopetidum) in the treatment of severe influenza A with primary viral pneumonia. Methods. A retrospective analysis was applied to 45 patients who were diagnosed with severe influenza A with primary viral pneumonia in our hospital from December 2017 to March 2018. The cases were divided into three groups: the peramivir group, the peramivir combined with ribonucleic acid group, and the peramivir combined with thymopetidum group. Results. The duration of viral nucleic acid positivity in the peramivir group, the peramivir combined with ribonucleic acid group, and the peramivir combined with thymopetidum group was 6.13 ± 2.06, 6.53 ± 2.72, and 6.10 ± 1.37 days, respectively. The remission time of the clinical symptoms of the peramivir group, the peramivir combined with ribonucleic acid group, and the peramivir combined with thymopetidum group was 8.06 ± 2.73, 7.94 ± 2.89, and 7.67 ± 1.58 days, respectively. Comparisons between the peramivir group and the peramivir combined with ribonucleic acid group or the peramivir combined with thymopetidum group revealed no significant differences in the duration of virus nucleic acid positivity, remission time of clinical symptoms, time to fever alleviation, and time to cough alleviation. Conclusions. There is no observed benefit in the addition of ribonucleic acid or thymopetidum when peramivir sodium chloride injection is used in the treatment of severe influenza A with primary viral pneumonia. This trial is registered with ChiCTR1800019417.
Investigation of Three‐Dimensional Deformation Behavior due to Long and Large Excavation in Soft Clays
Authors: lou Chunhui , Xia Tangdai , Liu Nianwu , Gong Xiaonan
Published: April 2019

By analyzing the extensive field data from a long and large excavation in soft clay, this study investigates the three‐dimensional deformation behavior induced by excavation. Significant inhibition effects of corner on both wall deflections and ground settlements were observed and quantified. Thus, a modified function for estimating the distribution of deformation parallel to the excavation is proposed and evaluated. Further analyzing shows that the pipeline settlement can be well estimated by the modified function combining with settlements profile proposed by Hsieh and Ou, and the reduction coefficient is about 0.8; the calculated maximum distortion of the pipeline can provide reliable reference. In addition, it is found that the cement‐soil partition walls can also considerably reduce the wall deflections and ground settlements even after the part that is above the excavation base were removed.
Effect of Selected Nanospheres on the Mechanical Strength of Lime‐Stabilized High‐Plasticity Clay Soils
Authors: Ghorbani Ali , Hasanzadehshooiili Hadi , Mohammadi Mostafa , Sianati Fariborz , Salimi Mahdi , Sadowski Lukasz , Szymanowski Jacek
Published: April 2019

The proper design of protective structures may start from improving the characteristics of soils. In order to obtain reasonable safety criteria, several research studies have recently been dedicated to enhancing complex civil engineering structural systems with the use of nanotechnology. Thus, the following paper investigates the effect of nanospheres, including nanosilica (nano‐SiO2) and nano zinc oxide (nano‐ZnO), on lime‐stabilized high‐plasticity clay soil. For this purpose, unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and California bearing ratio (CBR) tests were performed on samples. The results showed that the use of the selected nanospheres greatly increased the UCS of the samples compared to untreated soil. The UCS value of samples containing 6% lime and 1.5% nano‐ZnO after 28 days of treatment increased by 5‐fold compared to the UCS of untreated samples. In addition, the samples containing 6% lime and 2% nano‐SiO2, with similar curing conditions, experienced a 5.3‐fold increase in their UCS value compared to the untreated samples. These compounds were considered as the optimal amounts and showed the highest mechanical strength in both UCS and CBR tests. The same trend was achieved in the CBR test, in which the CBR value for the optimal mixtures containing nano‐ZnO and nano‐SiO2 was 14.8 and 16.6 times higher than that of high‐plasticity clay soil, respectively. Finally, the results obtained from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed that the nanospheres caused a dense and compact matrix to form in the soil, which led to the enhancement of the mechanical strength of the treated samples.
Regional Variation in Comorbid Prediabetes and Diabetes and Associated Factors among Hypertensive Individuals in Rural Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka
Authors: Feng Liang , Naheed Aliya , de Silva H. Asita , Jehan Imtiaz , Raqib Rubhana , Islam Md Tauhidul , Luke Nathasha , Kasturiratne Anuradhani , Farazdaq Hamida , Senan Sahar , Jafar Tazeen H. , COBRA-BPS Study Group
Published: April 2019

We aimed to explore the cross-country variation in the prevalence of comorbid prediabetes or diabetes and determine the sociodemographic, lifestyle, and clinical factors, especially body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference, associated with comorbid diabetes in individuals with hypertension in rural South Asia. We analyzed cross-sectional data of 2426 hypertensive individuals of ≥40 years from 30 randomly selected rural communities in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Prediabetes was defined as fasting plasma glucose (FPG) between 100 and 125 mg/dL without use of antidiabetic treatment and diabetes as FPG ≥126 mg/dL or use of antidiabetic medication. The prevalence (95% CI) of prediabetes or diabetes (53.5% (51.5%, 55.5%)) and diabetes (27.7% (25.9%, 29.5%)) was high in the overall hypertensive study population in rural communities in 3 countries. Rural communities in Sri Lanka had the highest crude prevalence of prediabetes or diabetes and diabetes (73.1% and 39.3%) with hypertension, followed by those in Bangladesh (47.4% and 23.1%) and Pakistan (39.2% and 20.5%). The factors independently associated with comorbid diabetes and hypertension were residing in rural communities in Sri Lanka, higher education, international wealth index, waist circumference, pulse pressure, triglyceride, and lower high-density lipoprotein. The association of diabetes with waist circumference was stronger than with BMI in hypertensive individuals. Prediabetes or diabetes are alarmingly common among adults with hypertension and vary among countries in rural South Asia. The high prevalence of comorbid diabetes in Sri Lanka among hypertensives is not fully explained by conventional risk factors and needs further etiological research. Urgent public health efforts are needed to integrate diabetes control within hypertension management programs in rural South Asia, including screening waist circumference.
Outcomes among Mothers Who Gave Birth in the Health Facility: Does Birth Preparedness and Complication Readiness Have a Role?
Authors: Gudayu Temesgen Worku , Araya Bilen Mekonnen
Published: April 2019

Background. Giving childbirth is a natural reward for human beings to replace themselves to exist in the world. Despite all the efforts made to improve maternal health, maternal morbidity and mortality continue during childbirth. Hence, this study aimed to determine the proportion of maternal birth outcomes and identify their predictors among mothers who gave birth in hospitals. Method. A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April 9 to June 7, 2016, among 384 postnatal mothers in Debre Tabor Hospital. Randomly selected mothers were interviewed by trained data collectors. Data were checked for completeness, entered using Epi Info version 7, and analyzed using STATA 14 software. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to control confounders and identify predictors of maternal birth outcomes. Statistical significance was declared by adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval and a p value ≤0.05. Result. About 77% (95% CI: 72.9, 81.3) of the mothers had good maternal birth outcomes. Antenatal care utilization (AOR: 2.60; 95% CI: 1.16, 5.83); BPCR practice (AOR: 2.10; 95% CI: 1.12, 3.96); self-preference of health institution (AOR: 2.34; 95% CI: 1.11, 4.50); and mode of delivery: caesarean (AOR: 0.46; 95% CI: 0.23, 0.87), assisted breech (AOR: 0.17; 95% CI: 0.04, 0.69), and instrumental (AOR: 0.27; 95% CI: 0.09, 0.79) were associated with good maternal birth outcome. Conclusion. In this study, the maternal birth outcome among postnatal mothers was good in more than three-fourth of the cases. Hence, encouraging mothers to utilize health-care services and counseling and supporting them on BPCR practice are recommended.
Metaloxide Nanomaterials and Nanocomposites of Ecological Purpose
Authors: Dontsova Tetiana A. , Nahirniak Svitlana V. , Astrelin Ihor M.
Published: April 2019

The features of the properties and creation of nanocomposite metal oxide materials, especially TiO2, ZnO, SnO2, ZrO2, and Fe3O4, and their applications for ecology are considered in the article. It is shown that nanomaterials based on them are very promising for use in the ecological direction, especially as sorbents, photocatalysts, and sensitive layers of gas sensors. The crystallochemical characteristics, surface structure, and surface phenomena that occur when they enter the water and air environment are given for these metal oxides, and it is shown that they play a significant role in obtaining the sorption and catalytic characteristics of these nanomaterials. Particular attention is paid to the dispersion and morphology of metal oxide particles by which their physical and chemical properties can be controlled. Synthesis methods of metal oxide nanomaterials and ways for creating of nanocomposites based on them are characterized, and it is noted that there are many methods for obtaining individual nanoparticles of metal oxides with certain properties. The main task is the correct selection and testing of parameters. The prospects for the production of metal oxide nanocomposites and their application for environmental applications are noted, which will lead to a fundamentally new class of materials and new environmental technologies with their participation.
Effects of Constant Amplitude Cyclic Loading on the Nonuniform Deformation of Sandstone Specimens
Authors: Yang Xiao-Bin , Han Xin-Xing , Wang Xiao-Yao , Zhang Zi-Peng
Published: April 2019

In order to explore the mechanical response mechanism of rock materials under cyclic loading, uniaxial constant amplitude cyclic loading tests for sandstone specimens were carried out. The images of specimen deformation during the tests were captured by charge‐coupled device (CCD) cameras. Based on the digital image correlation method (DICM), the evolution laws of nonuniform deformation and displacements around localization bands during cyclic loading were investigated. The experimental results show that, during the cyclic loading process, the nonuniform deformation continually escalates with the number of cycles increasing and fluctuates with the cyclic loading stress condition; the nonuniform deformation lags behind the variation of loading stress; and the whole nonuniform deformation experiences a slow evolution stage and a fast evolution stage. At the loading stage or unloading stage, the nonuniform deformation of rock deteriorates with the number of cycles increasing under the same stress condition. In each loading cycle, the nonuniform deformation at the unloading stage is more than that at the loading stage under the same stress condition. The time of dislocation displacements and tension displacements meets hysteresis, compared with the time of stress change. In addition, the dislocation displacements and tension displacements around localization bands in general increase with the number of cycles increasing. The displacement evolution around localization bands has the same hysteresis and accumulation laws as that of nonuniform deformation.
TEEG Induced A549 Cell Autophagy by Regulating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathway
Authors: Shi Lu , Tu Yijun , Xia Yu , Ye Siqi , Ma Chaozhi , Liu Yanwen , You Pengtao
Published: April 2019

TEEG (3β,16β,23-trihydroxy-13,28-epoxyurs-11-ene-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside) is derived from the chloroform extract of the Chinese medicine formula Shenqi San (CE-SS). In the present study, we aimed to elucidate the anticancer effect and possible molecular mechanism underlying the action of TEEG against the human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell line A549 in vitro. A549 cells were incubated with different concentrations of TEEG. Cell proliferation was assessed by MTT assay. Autophagy was evaluated by immunofluorescence staining. Autophagy-associated proteins were examined by Western blot analysis. TEEG markedly inhibited A549 cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner. Immunofluorescence staining showed that TEEG induced autophagy in A549 cells. The LC3-II : LC3-I conversion ratio and the expression of Beclin-1, Atg5, Atg7, and Atg12 increased with the concentration of TEEG. In addition, increased TEEG concentration enhanced the expression of Class III p-PI3K and reduced the expression of Class I p-PI3K, p-AKT, p-mTOR, and p-P70S6K. These results indicate that TEEG induces autophagy of A549 cells through regulation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.
A Novel Multicriteria Decision‐Making Method Based on Distance, Similarity, and Correlation: DSC TOPSIS
Authors: Erpolat Taşabat Semra
Published: April 2019

Decision‐making, briefly defined as choosing the best among the possible alternatives within the possibilities and conditions available, is a far more comprehensive process than instant. While in the decision‐making process, there are often a lot of criteria as well as alternatives. In this case, methods referred to as Multicriteria Decision‐Making (MCDM) are applied. The main purpose of the methods is to facilitate the decision‐maker′s job, to guide the decision‐maker and help him to make the right decisions if there are too many options. In cases where there are many criteria, effective and useful decisions have been taken for granted at the beginning of the 1960s for the first time and supported by day‐to‐day work. A variety of methods have been developed for this purpose. The basis of some of these methods is based on distance measures. The most known method in the literature based on the concept of distance is, of course, a method called Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). In this study, a new MCDM method that uses distance, similarity, and correlation measures has been proposed. This new method is shortly called DSC TOPSIS to include the initials of distance, similarity, and correlation words, respectively, prefix of TOPSIS name. In the method, Euclidean was used as distance measure, cosine was used as similarity measure, and Pearson correlation was used as relation measure. Using the positive ideal and negative‐ideal values obtained from these measures, respectively, a common positive ideal value and a common negative‐ideal value were obtained. Afterward DSC TOPSIS is discussed in terms of standardization and weighting. The study also proposed three different new ranking indexes from the ranking index used in the traditional TOPSIS method. The proposed method has been tested on the variables showing the development levels of the countries that have a very important place today. The results obtained were compared with the Human Development Index (HDI) value developed by the United Nations.