bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluating the Impacts of ACP Management on the Energy Performance of Hydrothermal Liquefaction via Nutrient Recovery
Authors: Bauer Sarah K. , Cheng Fangwei , Colosi Lisa M.
Published: February 2019

Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) is of interest in producing liquid fuels from organic waste, but the process also creates appreciable quantities of aqueous co-product (ACP) containing high concentrations of regulated wastewater pollutants (e.g., organic carbon, nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P)). Previous literature has not emphasized characterization, management, or possible valorization of ACP wastewaters. This study aims to evaluate one possible approach to ACP management via recovery of valuable scarce materials. Equilibrium modeling was performed to estimate theoretical yields of struvite (MgNH4PO4·6H2O) from ACP samples arising from HTL processing of selected waste feedstocks. Experimental analyses were conducted to evaluate the accuracy of theoretical yield estimates. Adjusted yields were then incorporated into a life-cycle energy modeling framework to compute energy return on investment (EROI) for the struvite precipitation process as part of the overall HTL life-cycle. Observed struvite yields and residual P concentrations were consistent with theoretical modeling results; however, residual N concentrations were lower than model estimates because of the volatilization of ammonia gas. EROI calculations reveal that struvite recovery is a net-energy producing process, but that this benefit offers little to no improvement in EROI performance for the overall HTL life-cycle. In contrast, corresponding economic analysis suggests that struvite precipitation may be economically appealing.
Improved Consistent Interpretation Approach of Fault Type within Power Transformers Using Dissolved Gas Analysis and Gene Expression Programming
Authors: Abu-Siada Ahmed
Published: February 2019

Dissolved gas analysis (DGA) of transformer oil is considered to be the utmost reliable condition monitoring technique currently used to detect incipient faults within power transformers. While the measurement accuracy has become relatively high since the development of various off-line and on-line measuring sensors, interpretation techniques of DGA results still depend on the level of personnel expertise more than analytical formulation. Therefore, various interpretation techniques may lead to different conclusions for the same oil sample. Moreover, ratio-based interpretation techniques may fail in interpreting DGA data in case of multiple fault conditions and when the oil sample comprises insignificant amount of the gases used in the specified ratios. This paper introduces an improved approach to overcome the limitations of conventional DGA interpretation techniques, automate and standardize the DGA interpretation process. The approach is built based on incorporating all conventional DGA interpretation techniques in one expert system to identify the fault type in a more consistent and reliable way. Gene Expression Programming is employed to establish this expert system. Results show that the proposed approach provides more reliable results than using individual conventional methods that are currently adopted by industry practice worldwide.
Optimization Study on Fluids for the Gravity-Driven Organic Power Cycle
Authors: Shi Weixiu , Pan Lisheng
Published: February 2019

The organic Rankine cycle (ORC) is efficient in using low-grade heat energy, while low pump efficiency and high pump leakage are usually serious problems. A gravity-driven organic power cycle (GDOPC) uses gravity instead of a pump to pressurize working fluid and has the potential to avoid problems associated with the pump. A theoretical method is used to study the performance and suitability of several fluids for GDOPC. The results show that the flow efficiency in high vertical pipes and the pump efficiency determine whether GDOPC gives better performance than ORC or not. When R245fa is selected as working fluid and evaporating temperature is 62 °C, specific energy of GDOPC (flow efficiency is 80%) is 2.5% higher than that of ORC (pump efficiency is 60%). The improvement degree of specific energy and the liquid column height increase with increasing evaporating temperature. R1234yf and R227ea give good performance with specific energy of 4.84 kJ/kg and 4.82 kJ/kg, respectively, while they need a liquid column as much as 76.55 m and 45.65 m, respectively. Although R365mfc and cyclopentane do not give the most excellent cycle performance, they need liquid column height as low as 9.04 m and 10.88 m, respectively. Fluid with low saturated pressure and high density may need low liquid column height and has the advantage to be used in practical applications.
Forest Soil Profile Inversion and Mixing Change the Vertical Stratification of Soil CO2 Concentration without Altering Soil Surface CO2 Flux
Authors: Wang Xiaoling , Fu Shenglei , Li Jianxiong , Zou Xiaoming , Zhang Weixin , Xia Hanping , Lin Yongbiao , Tian Qian , Zhou Lixia
Published: February 2019

In order to gain more detailed knowledge of the CO2 concentration gradient in forest soil profiles and to better understand the factors that control CO2 concentration along forest soil profiles, we examined the soil surface CO2 flux, soil properties and soil profile CO2 concentration in upright (CK), inverted and mixed soil columns with a depth of 60 cm in two subtropical forests in China from May 2008 to December 2009. The results showed that: (1) The SOC (soil organic carbon), TN (total N) and microbial biomass were higher in the deeper layers in the inverted soil column, which was consistent with an increase in CO2 concentration in the deeper soil layer. Furthermore, the biogeochemical properties were homogenous among soil layers in the mixed soil column. (2) CO2 concentration in the soil profile increased with depth in CK while soil column inversion significantly intensified this vertical stratification as the most active layer (surface soil) was now at the bottom. The stratification of CO2 concentration along the soil profile in the mixed soil column was similar to that in CK but it was not intensified after soil was mixed. (3) The soil surface CO2 flux did not significantly change after the soil column was inverted. The surface CO2 flux rate of the mixed soil column was higher compared to that of the inverted soil column but was not significantly different from CK. Our results indicated that the profile soil CO2 production was jointly controlled by soil properties related to CO2 production (e.g., SOC content and soil microbial biomass) and those related to gas diffusion (e.g., soil bulk density and gas molecular weight), but the soil surface CO2 flux was mainly determined by soil surface temperature and may be affected by the intensity of soil disturbance.
Characterisation of Physical and Mechanical Properties of Unthinned and Unpruned Plantation-Grown Eucalyptus nitens H.Deane & Maiden Lumber
Authors: Derikvand Mohammad , Kotlarewski Nathan , Lee Michael , Jiao Hui , Nolan Gregory
Published: February 2019

The use of fast-growing plantation eucalypt (i.e., pulpwood eucalypt) in the construction of high-value structural products has received special attention from the timber industry in Australia and worldwide. There is still, however, a significant lack of knowledge regarding the physical and mechanical properties of the lumber from such plantation resources as they are mainly being managed to produce woodchips. In this study, the physical and mechanical properties of lumber from a 16-year-old pulpwood Eucalyptus nitens H.Deane & Maiden resource from the northeast of Tasmania, Australia was evaluated. The tests were conducted on 318 small wood samples obtained from different logs harvested from the study site. The tested mechanical properties included bending modulus of elasticity (10,377.7 MPa) and modulus of rupture (53 MPa), shear strength parallel (5.5 MPa) and perpendicular to the grain (8.5 MPa), compressive strength parallel (42.8 MPa) and perpendicular to the grain (4.1 MPa), tensile strength perpendicular to the grain (3.4 MPa), impact bending (23.6 J/cm2), cleavage (1.6 kN) and Janka hardness (23.2 MPa). Simple linear regression models were developed using density and moisture content to predict the mechanical properties. The variations in the moisture content after conventional kiln drying within randomly selected samples in each test treatment were not high enough to significantly influence the mechanical properties. A relatively high variation in the density values was observed that showed significant correlations with the changes in the mechanical properties. The presence of knots increased the shear strength both parallel and perpendicular to the grain and significantly decreased the tensile strength of the lumber. The results of this study created a profile of material properties for the pulpwood E. nitens lumber that can be used for numerical modelling of any potential structural product from such a plantation resource.
Spatial Autocorrelation Analysis of Multi-Scale Damaged Vegetation in the Wenchuan Earthquake-Affected Area, Southwest China
Authors: Li Jian , He Jingwen , Liu Ying , Wang Daojie , Rafay Loretta , Chen Can , Hong Tao , Fan Hailan , Lin Yongming
Published: February 2019

Major earthquakes can cause serious vegetation destruction in affected areas. However, little is known about the spatial patterns of damaged vegetation and its influencing factors. Elucidating the main influencing factors and finding out the key vegetation type to reflect spatial patterns of damaged vegetation are of great interest in order to improve the assessment of vegetation loss and the prediction of the spatial distribution of damaged vegetation caused by earthquakes. In this study, we used Moran’s I correlograms to study the spatial autocorrelation of damaged vegetation and its potential driving factors in the nine worst-hit Wenchuan earthquake-affected cities and counties. Both dependent and independent variables showed a positive spatial autocorrelation but with great differences at four aggregation levels (625 × 625 m, 1250 × 1250 m, 2500 × 2500 m, and 5000 × 5000 m). Shrubs can represent the characteristics of all damaged vegetation due to the significant linear relationship between their Moran’s I at the four aggregation levels. Clustering of similar high coverage of damaged vegetation occurred in the study area. The residuals of the standard linear regression model also show a significantly positive autocorrelation, indicating that the standard linear regression model cannot explain all the spatial patterns in damaged vegetation. Spatial autoregressive models without spatially autocorrelated residuals had the better goodness-of-fit to deal with damaged vegetation. The aggregation level 8 × 8 is a scale threshold for spatial autocorrelation. There are other environmental factors affecting vegetation destruction. Our study provides useful information for the countermeasures of vegetation protection and conservation, as well as the prediction of the spatial distribution of damaged vegetation, to improve vegetation restoration in earthquake-affected areas.
The Cumulative Effects of Forest Disturbance and Climate Variability on Streamflow in the Deadman River Watershed
Authors: Giles-Hansen Krysta , Li Qiang , Wei Xiaohua
Published: February 2019

Climatic variability and cumulative forest cover change are the two dominant factors affecting hydrological variability in forested watersheds. Separating the relative effects of each factor on streamflow is gaining increasing attention. This study adds to the body of literature by quantifying the relative contributions of those two drivers to the changes in annual mean flow, low flow, and high flow in a large forested snow dominated watershed, the Deadman River watershed (878 km2) in the Southern Interior of British Columbia, Canada. Over the study period of 1962 to 2012, the cumulative effects of forest disturbance significantly affected the annual mean streamflow. The effects became statistically significant in 1989 at the cumulative forest disturbance level of 12.4% of the watershed area. The modified double mass curve and sensitivity-based methods consistently revealed that forest disturbance and climate variability both increased annual mean streamflow during the disturbance period (1989–2012), with an average increment of 14 mm and 6 mm, respectively. The paired-year approach was used to further investigate the relative contributions to low and high flows. Our analysis showed that low and high flow increased significantly by 19% and 58%, respectively over the disturbance period (p < 0.05). We conclude that forest disturbance and climate variability have significantly increased annual mean flow, low flow and high flow over the last 50 years in a cumulative and additive manner in the Deadman River watershed.
Prevalence and Risk of Anisakid Larvae in Fresh Fish Frequently Consumed in Spain: An Overview
Authors: Debenedetti Ángela L. , Madrid Elena , Trelis María , Codes Francisco J. , Gil-Gómez Florimar , Sáez-Durán Sandra , Fuentes Màrius V.
Published: February 2019

Anisakidosis is a fish-borne zoonosis caused by parasitic nematodes of the family Anisakidae, of which the species belonging to Anisakis simplex complex are the most representative. It is considered an emerging disease in Spain. The objective of this study is to analyse the presence of larvae in fish frequently consumed in Spanish supermarkets, inferring the risk of infection. In total 1,786 specimens of 9 different fish species, from two geographical origins (Atlantic and Mediterranean), acquired fresh and not eviscerated were examined for anisakid nematodes. Analysis showed that 33.7% of the samples were parasitized by Anisakis larvae. The horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) presented the highest total prevalence (66.0%), followed by the silver hake (Merluccius bilinearis) (59.5%), the mackerel (Scomber scombrus) (58.4%), the blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou) (53.9%) and the European hake (Merlucius merlucius) (45.0%). In general, the prevalence was higher in Atlantic than in Mediterranean fish. In all the species analysed, a higher presence of the parasite was detected in the viscera than in the flesh, although in the most parasitized species a noteworthy prevalence and abundance was observed in the flesh. In conclusion, risk factors, like fish species and origin, should be considered by consumers, in addition of following the recommendations established by Commission Regulation (EU) No1276/2011 and the Spanish Royal Decree 1420/2006.
Investigation of the Performance of a Hybrid Dryer Designed for the Food Industry
Authors: Çelen Soner , Karataser Mehmet Akif
Published: February 2019

In this study, a microwave energy conveyor dryer with the support of solar energy was researched with respect to its usability in the food industry and its short drying time and low energy requirements. The hot air produced using a collector (which was designed in the shape of a hemisphere for the purpose of getting high efficiency from solar energy) was transferred to a conveyor drying chamber operating with microwave energy at the speed of 0.245 m/min. Drying kinetics of the selected black radishes for the experiments were determined using samples sliced into 4, 6, and 8 mm. At the end of the drying, the duration and specific energy consumption for the drying process as well as color changes in the samples were measured, and the collector’s efficiency was calculated. In addition, as a result of statistical analysis, the most suitable model among the seven drying models was determined.
Linkage Based on the Kandori Norm Successfully Sustains Cooperation in Social Dilemmas
Authors: Inaba Misato , Takahashi Nobuyuki
Published: February 2019

Since social dilemmas among n-persons are often embedded in other types of social exchanges, the exclusion of defectors in social dilemmas from other exchanges functions as a costless selective incentive. Recently, such “linkage” has been considered as a promising solution to resolve the social dilemma problem. However, previous research showed that cooperation sustained by linkage is fragile when subjective perception errors exist. The purpose of this study is to find linkage strategies that are robust against subjective perception errors. Based on the strategies presented in previous studies on indirect reciprocity, we devised several linkage strategies and examined their evolutionary stability by agent-based simulation. The simulation results showed that the linkage strategy based on kandori was evolutionarily stable even when perception errors existed. Our study provides substantial support for the argument that linkage is a plausible solution to the social dilemma problem.
Evolution of Cooperation with Peer Punishment under Prospect Theory
Authors: Uchida Satoshi , Yamamoto Hitoshi , Okada Isamu , Sasaki Tatsuya
Published: February 2019

Social dilemmas are among the most puzzling issues in the biological and social sciences. Extensive theoretical efforts have been made in various realms such as economics, biology, mathematics, and even physics to figure out solution mechanisms to the dilemma in recent decades. Although punishment is thought to be a key mechanism, evolutionary game theory has revealed that the simplest form of punishment called peer punishment is useless to solve the dilemma, since peer punishment itself is costly. In the literature, more complex types of punishment, such as pool punishment or institutional punishment, have been exploited as effective mechanisms. So far, mechanisms that enable peer punishment to function as a solution to the social dilemma remain unclear. In this paper, we propose a theoretical way for peer punishment to work as a solution mechanism for the dilemma by incorporating prospect theory into evolutionary game theory. Prospect theory models human beings as agents that estimate small probabilities and loss of profit as greater than they actually are; thus, those agents feel that punishments are more frequent and harsher than they really are. We show that this kind of cognitive distortion makes players decide to cooperate to avoid being punished and that the cooperative state achieved by this mechanism is globally stable as well as evolutionarily stable in a wide range of parameter values.
Physicochemical, Complexation and Catalytic Properties of Polyampholyte Cryogels
Authors: Kudaibergenov Sarkyt E.
Published: February 2019

Polyampholyte cryogels are a less considered subject in comparison with cryogels based on nonionic, anionic and cationic precursors. This review is devoted to physicochemical behavior, complexation ability and catalytic properties of cryogels based on amphoteric macromolecules. Polyampholyte cryogels are able to exhibit the stimuli-responsive behavior and change the structure and morphology in response to temperature, pH of the medium, ionic strength and water–organic solvents. Moreover, they can uptake transition metal ions, anionic and cationic dyes, ionic surfactants, polyelectrolytes, proteins, and enzymes through formation of coordination bonds, hydrogen bonds, and electrostatic forces. The catalytic properties of polyampholyte cryogels themselves and with immobilized metal nanoparticles suspended are outlined following hydrolysis, transesterification, hydrogenation and oxidation reactions of various substrates. Application of polyampholyte cryogels as a protein-imprinted matrix for separation and purification of biomacromolecules and for sustained release of proteins is demonstrated. Comparative analysis of the behavior of polyampholyte cryogels with nonionic, anionic and cationic precursors is given together with concluding remarks.
Protein-Based Nanostructures for Food Applications
Authors: Bourbon Ana I. , Pereira Ricardo N. , Pastrana Lorenzo M. , Vicente António A. , Cerqueira Miguel A.
Published: February 2019

Proteins are receiving significant attention for the production of structures for the encapsulation of active compounds, aimed at their use in food products. Proteins are one of the most used biomaterials in the food industry due to their nutritional value, non-toxicity, biodegradability, and ability to create new textures, in particular, their ability to form gel particles that can go from macro- to nanoscale. This review points out the different techniques to obtain protein-based nanostructures and their use to encapsulate and release bioactive compounds, while also presenting some examples of food grade proteins, the mechanism of formation of the nanostructures, and the behavior under different conditions, such as in the gastrointestinal tract.
The Effect of DNA Topology on Observed Rates of R-Loop Formation and DNA Strand Cleavage by CRISPR Cas12a
Authors: van Aelst Kara , Martínez-Santiago Carlos J. , Cross Stephen J. , Szczelkun Mark D.
Published: February 2019

Here we explored the mechanism of R-loop formation and DNA cleavage by type V CRISPR Cas12a (formerly known as Cpf1). We first used a single-molecule magnetic tweezers (MT) assay to show that R-loop formation by Lachnospiraceae bacterium ND2006 Cas12a is significantly enhanced by negative DNA supercoiling, as observed previously with Streptococcus thermophilus DGCC7710 CRISPR3 Cas9. Consistent with the MT data, the apparent rate of cleavage of supercoiled plasmid DNA was observed to be >50-fold faster than the apparent rates for linear DNA or nicked circular DNA because of topology-dependent differences in R-loop formation kinetics. Taking the differences into account, the cleavage data for all substrates can be fitted with the same apparent rate constants for the two strand-cleavage steps, with the first event >15-fold faster than the second. By independently following the ensemble cleavage of the non-target strand (NTS) and target strand (TS), we could show that the faster rate is due to NTS cleavage, the slower rate due to TS cleavage, as expected from previous studies.
IPCT: Integrated Pharmacogenomic Platform of Human Cancer Cell Lines and Tissues
Authors: Shoaib Muhammad , Ansari Adnan Ahmad , Haq Farhan , Ahn Sung Min
Published: February 2019

(1) Motivation: The exponential increase in multilayered data, including omics, pathways, chemicals, and experimental models, requires innovative strategies to identify new linkages between drug response information and omics features. Despite the availability of databases such as the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE), the Cancer Therapeutics Response Portal (CTRP), and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), it is still challenging for biologists to explore the relationship between drug response and underlying genomic features due to the heterogeneity of the data. In light of this, the Integrated Pharmacogenomic Database of Cancer Cell Lines and Tissues (IPCT) has been developed as a user-friendly way to identify new linkages between drug responses and genomic features, as these findings can lead not only to new biological discoveries but also to new clinical trials. (2) Results: The IPCT allows biologists to compare the genomic features of sensitive cell lines or small molecules with the genomic features of tumor tissues by integrating the CTRP and CCLE databases with the REACTOME, cBioPortal, and Expression Atlas databases. The input consists of a list of small molecules, cell lines, or genes, and the output is a graph containing data entities connected with the queried input. Users can apply filters to the databases, pathways, and genes as well as select computed sensitivity values and mutation frequency scores to generate a relevant graph. Different objects are differentiated based on the background color of the nodes. Moreover, when multiple small molecules, cell lines, or genes are input, users can see their shared connections to explore the data entities common between them. Finally, users can view the resulting graphs in the online interface or download them in multiple image or graph formats. (3) Availability and Implementation: The IPCT is available as a web application with an integrated MySQL database. The web application was developed using Java and deployed on the Tomcat server. The user interface was developed using HTML5, JQuery v.3.1.0, and the Cytoscape Graph API v.1.0.4. The IPCT web and the source code are available in Sample Availability section.
The Use of Gigapixel Photogrammetry for the Understanding of Landslide Processes in Alpine Terrain
Authors: Romeo Saverio , Di Matteo Lucio , Kieffer Daniel , Tosi Grazia , Stoppini Aurelio , Radicioni Fabio
Published: February 2019

The work in this paper illustrates an experimental application for geosciences by coupling new and low cost photogrammetric techniques: Gigapixel and Structure-from-Motion (SfM). Gigapixel photography is a digital image composed of billions of pixels (≥1000 megapixels) obtained from a conventional Digital single-lens reflex camera (DSLR), whereas the SfM technique obtains three-dimensional (3D) information from two-dimensional (2D) image sequences. The field test was carried out at the Ingelsberg slope (Bad Hofgastein, Austria), which hosts one of the most dangerous landslides in the Salzburg Land. The stereographic analysis carried out on the preliminary 3D model, integrated with Ground Based Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (GBInSAR) data, allowed us to obtain the main fractures and discontinuities of the unstable rock mass.
Marine Geohazards: A Bibliometric-Based Review
Authors: Camargo João M. R. , Silva Marcos V. B. , Ferreira Júnior Antônio V. , Araújo Tereza C. M.
Published: February 2019

Marine geohazard research has developed during recent decades, as human activities intensified towards deeper waters. Some recent disastrous events (e.g., the 2004 Indian Ocean and 2011 Japan tsunamis) highlighted geohazards socioeconomic impacts. Marine geohazards encompass an extensive list of features, processes, and events related to Marine Geology. In the scientific literature there are few systematic reviews concerning all of them. Using the search string ‘geohazard*’, this bibliometric-based review explored the scientific databases Web of Science and Scopus to analyze the evolution of peer-reviewed scientific publications and discuss trends and future challenges. The results revealed qualitative and quantitative aspects of 183 publications and indicated 12 categories of hazards, the categories more studied and the scientific advances. Interdisciplinary surveys focusing on the mapping and dating of past events, and the determination of triggers, frequencies, and current perspectives of occurrence (risk) are still scarce. Throughout the upcoming decade, the expansion and improvement of seafloor observatories’ networks, early warning systems, and mitigation plans are the main challenges. Hazardous marine geological events may occur at any time and the scientific community, marine industry, and governmental agencies must cooperate to better understand and monitor the processes involved in order to mitigate the resulting unpredictable damages.
Language Vitality of Spanish in Equatorial Guinea: Language Use and Attitudes
Authors: Gomashie Grace A.
Published: February 2019

This study investigates the use of and attitudes towards, Spanish in the multilingual Republic of Equatorial Guinea, the only African country with Spanish as an official language. The Spanish dialect of Equatorial Guinea is an understudied area, although descriptive research on the Spanish language spoken there began in the 1950s. Very few research studies have been carried out on the sociolinguistic dynamic of this multilingual country. Four scales of language vitality were utilized and it was demonstrated that Spanish in Equatorial Guinea is not endangered and continues to thrive. An online survey was also performed to assess Spanish language use and attitudes towards the Equatoguinean variety of Spanish. Respondents were highly educated, middle-class and spoke at least two languages. It was observed that Spanish was the functional language in almost all the sociocultural contexts or domains. Equatorial Guineans share that Spanish is important to their identity as the only Spanish-speaking country in Africa.
Biological Composition of Respirable Particulate Matter in an Industrial Vicinity in South Africa
Authors: Morakinyo Oyewale Mayowa , Mokgobu Matlou Ingrid , Mukhola Murembiwa Stanley , Godobedzha Tshifhiwa
Published: February 2019

There is a growing concern that exposure to particulate matter of aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 µm (PM2.5) with biological composition (bioaerosols) may play a key role in the prevalence of adverse health outcomes in humans. This study determined the bacterial and fungal concentrations in PM2.5 and their inhalation health risks in an industrial vicinity in South Africa. Samples of PM2.5 collected on a 47-mm glass fiber filter during winter and summer months were analysed for bacterial and fungal content using standard methods. The health risks from inhalation of bioaerosols were done by estimating the age-specific dose rate. The concentration of bacteria (168–378 CFU/m3) was higher than fungi (58–155 CFU/m3). Bacterial and fungal concentrations in PM2.5 were lower in winter than in the summer season. Bacteria identified in summer were similar to those identified in winter: Staphylococcus sp., Bacillus sp., Micrococcus sp., Flavobacterium sp., Klebsiella sp. and Pseudomonas sp. Moreover, the fungal floras identified include Cladosporium spp., Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp., Fusarium spp. and Alternaria spp. Children inhaled a higher dose of bacterial and fungal aerosols than adults. Bacteria and fungi are part of the bioaerosol components of PM2.5. Bioaerosol exposure may present additional health risks for children.
Association Between the Activity Space Exposure to Parks in Childhood and Adolescence and Cognitive Aging in Later Life
Authors: Cherrie Mark P.C. , Shortt Niamh K. , Ward Thompson Catharine , Deary Ian J. , Pearce Jamie R.
Published: February 2019

The exposure to green space in early life may support better cognitive aging in later life. However, this exposure is usually measured using the residential location alone. This disregards the exposure to green spaces in places frequented during daily activities (i.e., the ‘activity space’). Overlooking the multiple locations visited by an individual over the course of a day is likely to result in poor estimation of the environmental exposure and therefore exacerbates the contextual uncertainty. A child’s activity space is influenced by factors including age, sex, and the parental perception of the neighborhood. This paper develops indices of park availability based on individuals’ activity spaces (home, school, and the optimal route to school). These measures are used to examine whether park availability in childhood is related to cognitive change much later in life. Multi-level linear models, including random effects for schools, were used to test the association between park availability during childhood and adolescence and cognitive aging (age 70 to 76) in the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 participants (N = 281). To test for the effect modification, these models were stratified by sex and road traffic accident (RTA) density. Park availability during adolescence was associated with better cognitive aging at a concurrently low RTA density (β = 0.98, 95% CI: 0.36 to 1.60), but not when the RTA density was higher (β = 0.22, 95% CI: −0.07 to 0.51). Green space exposure during early life may be important for optimal cognitive aging; this should be evidenced using activity space-based measures within a life-course perspective.
Maternal Exposure to Particulate Matter during Pregnancy and Adverse Birth Outcomes in the Republic of Korea
Authors: Kim Yu Jin , Song In Gyu , Kim Kyoung-Nam , Kim Min Sun , Chung Sung-Hoon , Choi Yong-Sung , Bae Chong-Woo
Published: February 2019

Air pollution has become a global concern due to its association with numerous health effects. We aimed to assess associations between birth outcomes in Korea, such as preterm births and birth weight in term infants, and particulate matter < 10 µm (PM10). Records from 1,742,183 single births in 2010–2013 were evaluated. Mean PM10 concentrations during pregnancy were calculated and matched to birth data by registered regions. We analyzed the frequency of birth outcomes between groups using WHO criteria for PM10 concentrations with effect sizes estimated using multivariate logistic regression. Women exposed to PM10 > 70 µg/m3 during pregnancy had a higher rate of preterm births than women exposed to PM10 ≤ 70 µg/m3 (7.4% vs. 4.7%, P < 0.001; adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.570; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.487–1.656). The rate of low birth weight in term infants increased when women were exposed to PM10 > 70 µg/m3 (1.9% vs. 1.7%, P = 0.278), but this difference was not statistically significant (aOR 1.060, 95% CI: 0.953–1.178). In conclusion, PM10 exposure > 70 µg/m3 was associated with preterm births. Further studies are needed to explore the pathophysiologic mechanisms and guide policy development to prevent future adverse effects on birth outcomes.
Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Disability Index in a Spanish Population and Its Association with Sociodemographic and Clinical Factors
Authors: López-Cortés Rafael , Herrero-Hahn Raquel , De la Rosa-Eduardo Rosanna , Montoya-Juárez Rafael , García-Caro María Paz , Marín-Fernández Blanca , Hueso-Montoro César
Published: February 2019

Inflammatory bowel diseases generate disability. We aimed to adapt and validate the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Disability Index in a Spanish population and to analyze the sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with disability in patients with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Cultural adaptation and validation of psychometric properties in the index were done, along with an observational, cross-sectional, and analytical approach to determine associations with sociodemographic and clinical factors. Sociodemographic data, quality of life (using the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire-32), and indicators of disease activity were collected, among others. A total of 170 subjects participated. The index showed high internal consistency, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.869 and concurrent validity with the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire-32 (r = 0.723, p < 0.001). The average score of the index was −3.91. Greater degrees of disability were found in women (mean = −6.77) than in men (mean = −1.25) (p = 0.018), in patients with Crohn’s disease (mean = −5.94) rather than those with ulcerative colitis (mean = −0.94) (p = 0.028), and in patients in the moderately active disease phase (mean = −20.94) rather than those in the mildly active disease phase (mean = −2.65) and/or those in remission (mean = −1.40) (p < 0.001). The Disability Index is a valid tool for the Spanish population and is associated with sex, type of illness, and disease activity. It is a useful index in evaluating and monitoring disability in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
Nutrient Profiling and Child-Targeted Supermarket Foods: Assessing a “Made in Canada” Policy Approach
Authors: Elliott Charlene , Scime Natalie V.
Published: February 2019

Marketing unhealthy food and beverages to children is a pervasive problem despite the negative impact it has on children’s taste preferences, eating habits and health. In an effort to mitigate this influence on Canadian children, Health Canada has developed a nutrient profile model with two options for national implementation. This study examined the application of Health Canada’s proposed model to 374 child-targeted supermarket products collected in Calgary, AB, Canada and compared this with two international nutrient profile models. Products were classified as permitted or not permitted for marketing to children using the Health Canada model (Option 1 and Option 2), the WHO Regional Office for Europe model, and the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) model. Results were summarized using descriptive statistics. Overall, Health Canada’s Option 1 was the most stringent, permitting only 2.7% of products to be marketed to children, followed by PAHO (7.0%), WHO (11.8%), and Health Canada’s Option 2 (28.6%). Across all models, six products (1.6%) were universally permitted, and nearly 60% of products were universally not permitted on the basis of nutritional quality. Such differences in classification have significant policy and health-related consequences, given that different foods will be framed as “acceptable” for marketing to children—and understood as more or less healthy—depending on the model used.
Early Discharge for Anterior Cervical Fusion Surgery: Prediction of Readmission and Special Considerations for Older Adults
Authors: Chen Yu-Chun , Wu Jau-Ching , Chang Hsuan-Kan , Huang Wen-Cheng
Published: February 2019

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is the standard surgical management for disc herniation and spondylosis worldwide and reportedly performed with short hospitalization and early discharge (ED). However, it is unknown if ED improves the outcomes of ACDF including among older adults. This cohort study included patients who underwent ACDF surgery in Taiwan over two years analyzed in two groups: the ED group (discharged within 48 hours), and the comparison group (hospitalized for more than 48 h). Both groups were followed-up for at least 180 days. Pre- and post-operative comorbidities, re-admissions and re-operations were analyzed using a multivariate cox-regression model, with bootstrapping, and Kaplan–Meier analysis. Among 5565 ACDF patients, the ED group (n = 405) had a higher chance (crude and adjusted hazard ratio = 2.33 and 2.39, both p < 0.001) of re-admission than the comparison group (n = 5160). The ED group had an insignificant trend toward more re-admissions for spinal problems and re-operations within 180 days. In the ED group, older age (≥60) and hypertension were predictive of re-admission. For ACDF surgery, the ED group had higher rates of re-admission within 180 days of post-op, suggesting that the current approach to ED requires modification or more cautious selection criteria be adopted, particularly for older adults.
Assessment of Lexicographic Minimax Allocations of Blue and Green Water Footprints in the Yangtze River Economic Belt Based on Land, Population, and Economy
Authors: Liu Gang , Hu Fan , Wang Yixin , Wang Huimin
Published: February 2019

To assess different impacts of land, population and economy factors on the lexicographic minimax optimal allocation of blue and green water footprints, a comprehensive discriminant rule is constructed in this paper based on the Gini coefficient and Theil entropy index. The proposed rule is employed to estimate the influence of the aforesaid factors (land, population and economy) on the corresponding allocation schemes from a fairness perspective. To demonstrate its applicability, the proposed approach is applied to a water resources allocation study for 11 provinces in the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB). The results indicate that: (1) the economy-based lexicographic allocation of water footprints (LAWF) is more equalitarian for the provinces with high water footprint quotas. The land area-based LAWF is more equalitarian for the provinces with low water footprint quotas. The population-based LAWF is more equalitarian for the provinces with medium water footprint quotas. (2) The contribution of intra-regional variation in the population-based LAWF scheme is the largest of the three schemes. The inter-regional variation contributed the largest in the land area-based LAWF scheme. (3) Two synthetic schemes which integrate multiple factors among land area, economy and population are more equalitarian than the three single-factor schemes. Compared with the original situation which is an equalitarian but ineffective allocation, the two synthetic schemes have greater effect on the improvement of the supply-demand balance of water resources carrying capacity. Therefore, the defect of the population, economy and land area factors acting alone should be resolved by designing a weighting system, in order to optimize the allocation of water resources.
Robustness and Findings of a Web-Based System for Depression Assessment in a University Work Context
Authors: Asensio-Cuesta Sabina , Bresó Adrián , Saez Carlos , García-Gómez Juan M.
Published: February 2019

Depression is associated with absenteeism and presentism, problems in workplace relationships and loss of productivity and quality. The present work describes the validation of a web-based system for the assessment of depression in the university work context. The basis of the system is the Spanish version of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II). A total of 185 participants completed the BDI-II web-based assessment, including 88 males and 97 females, 70 faculty members and 115 staff members. A high level of internal consistency reliability was confirmed. Based on the results of our web-based BDI-II, no significant differences were found in depression severity between gender, age or workers’ groups. The main depression risk factors reported were: “Changes in sleep”, “Loss of energy”, “Tiredness or fatigue” and “Loss of interest”. However significant differences were found by gender in “Changes in appetite”, “Difficulty of concentration” and “Loss of interest in sex”; males expressed less loss of interest in sex than females with a statistically significant difference. Our results indicate that the data collected is coherent with previous BDI-II studies. We conclude that the web-based system based on the BDI-II is psychometrically robust and can be used to assess depression in the university working community.
Objectively Measured Sitting and Standing in Workers: Cross-Sectional Relationship with Autonomic Cardiac Modulation
Authors: Hallman David M. , Krause Niklas , Jensen Magnus Thorsten , Gupta Nidhi , Birk Jørgensen Marie , Holtermann Andreas
Published: February 2019

Excessive sitting and standing are proposed risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), possibly due to autonomic imbalance. This study examines the association of objectively measured sitting and standing with nocturnal autonomic cardiac modulation. The cross-sectional study examined 490 blue-collar workers in three Danish occupational sectors. Sitting and standing during work and leisure were assessed during 1–5 days using accelerometers. Heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) were obtained during nocturnal sleep as markers of resting autonomic modulation. The associations of sitting and standing still (h/day) with HR and HRV were assessed with linear regression models, adjusted for age, gender, body mass index, smoking, and physical activity. More sitting time during leisure was associated with elevated HR (p = 0.02), and showed a trend towards reduced HRV. More standing time at work was associated with lower HR (p = 0.02), and with increased parasympathetic indices of HRV (root mean squared successive differences of R-R intervals p = 0.05; high-frequency power p = 0.07). These findings, while cross-sectional and restricted to blue-collar workers, suggest that sitting at leisure is detrimental to autonomic cardiac modulation, but standing at work is beneficial. However, the small effect size is likely insufficient to mitigate the previously shown detrimental effects of prolonged standing on CVD.
Higher Appendicular Skeletal Muscle Mass Protects Metabolically Healthy Obese Boys but Not Girls from Cardiometabolic Abnormality
Authors: Kim Seung-Nam , Kim Jaehee
Published: February 2019

Factors related to metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) are not well characterized in adolescents. The study’s aim was to investigate the impact of skeletal muscle mass (SMM) on MHO in adolescents. A secondary analysis was performed using the data of 221 Korean overweight and obese adolescents aged 12–18 years from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Appendicular skeletal muscle (ASM) mass and total body fat mass were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Being metabolically unhealthy was defined using three definitions: Having ≥1, ≥2, or ≥3 cardiometabolic risk factors (CRFs; waist circumference, blood pressure, glucose, triglycerides, and HDL-cholesterol). Multiple logistic regression analyses adjusted for age and lifestyle factors were performed to assess the association between ASM and MHO. In boys, the risk for having either ≥2 CRFs or ≥3 CRFs was significantly lower with higher weight-adjusted ASM and ratio of ASM to fat mass after controlling for covariates, but this association was not significant with CRFs ≥ 1. In girls, all adjusted odds ratios were not significant. Findings indicate that SMM is a potentially protective factor against cardiometabolic abnormality in adolescents with MHO, showing gender difference. This heightens the importance of SMM in the management of obesity, especially in boys.
Mechanochemically Activated Aluminosilicate Clay Soils and their Application for Defluoridation and Pathogen Removal from Groundwater
Authors: Obijole Olumuyiwa A. , Gitari Mugera W. , Ndungu Patrick G. , Samie Amidou
Published: February 2019

In this study, aluminosilicate rich clay soils were prepared through mechanochemical activation. The chemical and mineralogical properties were investigated using X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The functional groups, morphology and surface area were evaluated using Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis. Batch experiments were used to evaluate its defluoridation efficiency while antibacterial activities were assessed using well diffusion method. Maximum adsorption capacity was found to be 1.87 mg/g with 32% fluoride removal. Fluoride adsorption was found to reduce in the presence of Cl−, PO42− and CO32− while it increased in the presence of SO42− and NO3−. Adsorption data fitted well to Freundlich isotherms, hence, confirming heterogeneous multilayer adsorption. Kinetic studies revealed that fluoride adsorption fitted well to pseudo-second order model. The sorption of F− onto the clays’ surface followed intra-particle diffusion mode. High correlation coefficient indicates that the sorption process was greatly controlled by particle diffusion while it is minimal in pore diffusion model. Antibacterial studies revealed no zone of inhibition for all the activated clays, hence indicating that they are not active against the bacterial strains of Escherichia coli used in this study. The results showed activated clays’ potential for defluoridation. Its effectiveness in pathogen removal is limited. Hence further modifications of the clays’ surfaces are hereby recommended.