bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Performance-Based Airspace Model for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Traffic Management
Authors: Pongsakornsathien Nichakorn , Bijjahalli Suraj , Gardi Alessandro , Symons Angus , Xi Yuting , Sabatini Roberto , Kistan Trevor
Published: October 2020

Recent evolutions of the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Traffic Management (UTM) concept are driving the introduction of new airspace structures and classifications, which must be suitable for low-altitude airspace and provide the required level of safety and flexibility, particularly in dense urban and suburban areas. Therefore, airspace classifications and structures need to evolve based on appropriate performance metrics, while new models and tools are needed to address UTM operational requirements, with an increasing focus on the coexistence of manned and unmanned Urban Air Mobility (UAM) vehicles and associated Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) infrastructure. This paper presents a novel airspace model for UTM adopting Performance-Based Operation (PBO) criteria, and specifically addressing urban airspace requirements. In particular, a novel airspace discretisation methodology is introduced, which allows dynamic management of airspace resources based on navigation and surveillance performance. Additionally, an airspace sectorisation methodology is developed balancing the trade-off between communication overhead and computational complexity of trajectory planning and re-planning. Two simulation case studies are conducted: over the skyline and below the skyline in Melbourne central business district, utilising Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) and Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B). The results confirm that the proposed airspace sectorisation methodology promotes operational safety and efficiency and enhances the UTM operators’ situational awareness under dense traffic conditions introducing a new effective 3D airspace visualisation scheme, which is suitable both for mission planning and pre-tactical UTM operations. Additionally, the proposed performance-based methodology can accommodate the diversity of infrastructure and vehicle performance requirements currently envisaged in the UTM context. This facilitates the adoption of this methodology for low-level airspace integration of UAS (which may differ significantly in terms of their avionics CNS capabilities) and set foundations for future work on tactical online UTM operations.
Animal Welfare Assessment in Sows and Piglets—Introduction of a New German Protocol for Farm’s Self-Inspection and of New Animal-Based Indicators for Piglets
Authors: Friedrich Lena , Krieter Joachim , Kemper Nicole , Czycholl Irena
Published: October 2020

We compare the Kuratorium für Technik und Bauwesen in der Landwirtschaft e.V. (KTBL) protocol, a German protocol for sows and piglets developed for farm’s self-inspection, to the Welfare Quality® protocol for sows and piglets (WQ). The KTBL protocol introduces new indicators for piglets to be assessed at pen level (face lesions, carpal joint lesions, undersized animals). The reliability of their assessment at pen level was analysed by comparison to assessments at individual level. Both protocols were applied by one observer in 65 farm visits. The protocols are highly similar, although the composition varies (WQ protocol: focus on animal-based, KTBL protocol: focus on management-based indicators). Consequently, the WQ protocol detected more welfare issues (e.g., welfare issues related to appropriate behaviour: 62.9% (WQ) vs. 21.0% (KTBL protocol)). The comparison between pen and individual level of piglets’ indicators was determined using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (RS), intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and limits of agreement (LoA). Carpal joint lesions and undersized animals (RS 0.73/0.80 ICC 0.55/0.57 LoA −0.12 to 0.03/−0.01 to 0.01) are reliably assessed at pen level but face lesions (RS 0.19 ICC 0.18 LoA −0.42 to 0.03) are not. Concluding, we present advantages and disadvantages of the KTBL protocol and introduce indicators for piglets which may enhance existing protocols.
Classification Binary Trees with SSR Allelic Sizes: Combining Regression Trees with Genetic Molecular Data in Order to Characterize Genetic Diversity between Cultivars of Olea europaea L.
Authors: Avramidou Evangelia V. , Koubouris Georgios C. , Petrakis Panos V. , Lambrou Katerina K. , Metzidakis Ioannis T. , Doulis Andreas G.
Published: October 2020

During recent centuries, cultivated olive has evolved to one of the major tree crops in the Mediterranean Basin and lately expanded to America, Australia, and Asia producing an estimated global average value of over USD 18 billion. A long-term research effort has been established with the long-term goal to preserve biodiversity, characterize agronomic behavior, and ultimately utilize genotypes suitable for cultivation in areas of unfavorable environmental conditions. In the present study, a combination of 10 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers with the classification binary tree (CBT) analysis was evaluated as a method for discriminating genotypes within cultivated olive trees, while Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata was also used as an outgroup. The 10 SSR loci employed in this study, were highly polymorphic and gave reproducible amplification patterns for all accessions analyzed. Genetic analysis indicated that the group of SSR loci employed was highly informative. A further analysis revealed that two sub populations and pairwise relatedness gave insight about synonymies. In conclusion, the CBT method which employed SSR allelic sizes proved to be a valuable tool in order to distinguish olive cultivars over the traditional unweighted pair group method with the arithmetic mean (UPGMA) algorithm. Further research which will combine phenotyping characterization of olive germplasm will have the potential to enable the utilization of existing, and breeding of new, superior cultivars.
Positive and Negative Effects of Metal Oxide Nanoparticles on Antibiotic Resistance Genes Transfer
Authors: Otinov Georgy D. , Lokteva Alina V. , Petrova Anastasia D. , Zinchenko Irina V. , Isaeva Maria V. , Kovtunov Evgeny A. , Koshel Elena I.
Published: October 2020

Rapid development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria is a critical public health problem in the world. One of the main routes of resistance development is the transfer of genes containing antibiotic resistance cassettes. Gene transfer can be done through horizontal transfer of genes: transduction, conjugation, and transformation. Many factors in the environment influence these processes, and one of them is the action of metal oxide nanoparticles (MONPs), which can appear in the milieu through both biological synthesis and the release of engineered nanomaterial. In this study, the effect of AlOOH, CuO, Fe3O4, TiO2, and ZnO MONPs on the transformation (heat shock transformation) of bacteria Escherichia coli K12, and the conjugation between E. coli cc118 and E. coli Nova Blue were studied. The MONPs were synthesized by one method and fully characterized. ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) have significantly increased the efficiency of transformation (more than 9-fold), while the other NPs have reduced it to 31 times (TiO2 NPs). AlOOH NPs increased the number of transconjugants more than 1.5-fold, while CuO and Fe3O4 NPs did not have a significant effect on transformation and conjugation. Thus, the data shows that different types of MONPs can enhance or inhibit different gene transfer mechanisms, affecting the spread of antibiotic resistance genes.
Occurrence of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and Genes in Two Drinking Water Treatment and Distribution Systems in the North-West Province of South Africa
Authors: Ateba Collins Njie , Tabi Naledi Mahalia , Fri Justine , Bissong Marie Ebob Agbortabot , Bezuidenhout Cornelius Carlos
Published: October 2020

With the increasing spread of antimicrobial resistance, there is growing attention to the contribution made by drinking water systems. The potential health impact of two drinking water treatment and distribution systems (A and B) in the North-West Province of South Africa was determined by investigating the water quality and occurrence of antimicrobial-resistant heterotrophic bacteria and genes in the raw and treated water over four seasons. Most of the physicochemical parameters except for electrical conductivity were within permissible limits. Coliform bacteria reduced from raw to potable water except for counts higher than the threshold recorded in Summer and Winter. A total of 203 heterotrophic bacterial isolates were recovered on chromogenic R2A medium and subjected to susceptibility testing to twelve antibiotics. Most of the isolates were resistant to β-lactam antibiotics and Trimethoprim, whereas they were susceptible to Ciprofloxacin, Erythromycin, and Neomycin. The proportions of Cephalothin and Kanamycin-resistant isolates were significantly higher (p < 0.05) after treatment for site A, compared to significantly lower β-lactam, Oxytetracycline, and Trimethoprim-resistant isolates for B. Over 50% of isolates were of high risk, indicating their origin from high antibiotic-use sources. Seventy-one (35%) isolates were multidrug-resistant, out of which the majority (53.5%, n = 38) possessed the strA gene, followed by strB 21 (29.6%), dfrB 13 (18.3%), aadA 11 (15.5%), blaCTX-M 5 (7.0%), and tetA 3 (4.2%). The 16S rRNA gene sequences of the isolates revealed strains belonging to eight bacterial families, some of which are clinically important.
Impacts of Green Tea on Joint and Skeletal Muscle Health: Prospects of Translational Nutrition
Authors: Luk Hui-Ying , Appell Casey , Chyu Ming-Chien , Chen Chung-Hwan , Wang Chien-Yuan , Yang Rong-Sen , Shen Chwan-Li
Published: October 2020

Osteoarthritis and sarcopenia are two major joint and skeletal muscle diseases prevalent during aging. Osteoarthritis is a multifactorial progressive degenerative and inflammatory disorder of articular cartilage. Cartilage protection and pain management are the two most important strategies in the management of osteoarthritis. Sarcopenia, a condition of loss of muscle mass and strength, is associated with impaired neuromuscular innervation, the transition of skeletal muscle fiber type, and reduced muscle regenerative capacity. Management of sarcopenia requires addressing both skeletal muscle quantity and quality. Emerging evidence suggests that green tea catechins play an important role in maintaining healthy joints and skeletal muscle. This review covers (i) the prevalence and etiology of osteoarthritis and sarcopenia, such as excessive inflammation and oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and reduced autophagy; (ii) the effects of green tea catechins on joint health by downregulating inflammatory signaling mediators, upregulating anabolic mediators, and modulating miRNAs expression, resulting in reduced chondrocyte death, collagen degradation, and cartilage protection; (iii) the effects of green tea catechins on skeletal muscle health via maintaining a dynamic balance between protein synthesis and degradation and boosting the synthesis of mitochondrial energy metabolism, resulting in favorable muscle homeostasis and mitigation of muscle atrophy with aging; and (iv) the current study limitations and future research directions.
Dietary Antioxidants and the Mitochondrial Quality Control: Their Potential Roles in Parkinson’s Disease Treatment
Authors: Lee Davin , Jo Min Gu , Kim Seung Yeon , Chung Chang Geon , Lee Sung Bae
Published: October 2020

Advances in medicine and dietary standards over recent decades have remarkably increased human life expectancy. Unfortunately, the chance of developing age-related diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs), increases with increased life expectancy. High metabolic demands of neurons are met by mitochondria, damage of which is thought to contribute to the development of many NDDs including Parkinson’s disease (PD). Mitochondrial damage is closely associated with the abnormal production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are widely known to be toxic in various cellular environments, including NDD contexts. Thus, ways to prevent or slow mitochondrial dysfunction are needed for the treatment of these NDDs. In this review, we first detail how ROS are associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and review the cellular mechanisms, such as the mitochondrial quality control (MQC) system, by which neurons defend against both abnormal production of ROS and the subsequent accumulation of damaged mitochondria. We next highlight previous studies that link mitochondrial dysfunction with PD and how dietary antioxidants might provide reinforcement of the MQC system. Finally, we discuss how aging plays a role in mitochondrial dysfunction and PD before considering how healthy aging through proper diet and exercise may be salutary.
Different Effects of Metformin and A769662 on Sodium Iodate-Induced Cytotoxicity in Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells: Distinct Actions on Mitochondrial Fission and Respiration
Authors: Chan Chi-Ming , Sekar Ponarulselvam , Huang Duen-Yi , Hsu Shu-Hao , Lin Wan-Wan
Published: October 2020

Oxidative stress-associated retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell death is critically implicated in the pathogenesis of visual dysfunction and blindness of retinal degenerative diseases. Sodium iodate (NaIO3) is an oxidative retinotoxin and causes RPE damage. Previously, we found that NaIO3 can induce human ARPE-19 cell death via inducing mitochondrial fission and mitochondrial dysfunction. Although metformin has been demonstrated to benefit several diseases possibly via AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation, it remains unknown how AMPK affects retinopathy in NaIO3 model. Therefore, in this study, we compared the effects of metformin and AMPK activator A769662 on NaIO3-induced cellular stress and toxicity. We found that A769662 can protect cells against NaIO3-induced cytotoxicity, while metformin exerts an enhancement in cell death. The mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production as well as mitochondrial membrane potential loss induced by NaIO3 were not altered by both agents. In addition, NaIO3-induced cytosolic ROS production, possibly from nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase activation and counteracting cell death, was not altered by A769662 and metformin. Notably, NaIO3-induced mitochondrial fission and inhibition of mitochondrial respiration for ATP turnover were reversed by A769662 but not by metformin. In agreement with the changes on mitochondrial morphology, the ERK-Akt signal axis dependent Drp-1 phosphorylation at S616 (an index of mitochondrial fission) under NaIO3 treatment was blocked by A769662, but not by metformin. In summary, NaIO3-induced cell death in ARPE cells primarily comes from mitochondrial dysfunction due to dramatic fission and inhibition of mitochondrial respiration. AMPK activation can exert a protection by restoring mitochondrial respiration and inhibition of ERK/Akt/Drp-1 phosphorylation, leading to a reduction in mitochondrial fission. However, inhibition of respiratory complex I by metformin might deteriorate mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death under NaIO3 stress.
Process Parameters Optimization of Thin-Wall Machining for Wire Arc Additive Manufactured Parts
Authors: Grossi Niccolò , Scippa Antonio , Venturini Giuseppe , Campatelli Gianni
Published: October 2020

Additive manufacturing (AM) is an arising production process due to the possibility to produce monolithic components with complex shapes with one single process and without the need for special tooling. AM-produced parts still often require a machining phase, since their surface finish is not compliant with the strict requirements of the most advanced markets, such as aerospace, energy, and defense. Since reduced weight is a key requirement for these parts, they feature thin walls and webs, usually characterized by low stiffness, requiring the usage of low productivity machining parameters. The idea of this paper is to set up an approach which is able to predict the dynamics of a thin-walled part produced using AM. The knowledge of the workpiece dynamics evolution throughout the machining process can be used to carry out cutting parameter optimization with different objectives (e.g., chatter avoidance, force vibrations reduction). The developed approach exploits finite element (FE) analysis to predict the workpiece dynamics during the machining process, updating its changing geometry. The developed solution can automatically optimize the toolpath for the machining operation, generated by any Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) software updating spindle speed in accordance with the selected optimization strategies. The developed approach was tested using as a test case an airfoil.
Intracranial Hemorrhage Detection in Head CT Using Double-Branch Convolutional Neural Network, Support Vector Machine, and Random Forest
Authors: Sage Agata , Badura Pawel
Published: October 2020

Brain hemorrhage is a severe threat to human life, and its timely and correct diagnosis and treatment are of great importance. Multiple types of brain hemorrhage are distinguished depending on the location and character of bleeding. The main division covers five subtypes: subdural, epidural, intraventricular, intraparenchymal, and subarachnoid hemorrhage. This paper presents an approach to detect these intracranial hemorrhage types in computed tomography images of the head. The model trained for each hemorrhage subtype is based on a double-branch convolutional neural network of ResNet-50 architecture. It extracts features from two chromatic representations of the input data: a concatenation of the image normalized in different intensity windows and a stack of three consecutive slices creating a 3D spatial context. The joint feature vector is passed to the classifier to produce the final decision. We tested two tools: the support vector machine and the random forest. The experiments involved 372,556 images from 11,454 CT series of 9997 patients, with each image annotated with labels related to the hemorrhage subtypes. We validated deep networks from both branches of our framework and the model with either of two classifiers under consideration. The obtained results justify the use of a combination of double-source features with the random forest classifier. The system outperforms state-of-the-art methods in terms of F1 score. The highest detection accuracy was obtained in intraventricular (96.7%) and intraparenchymal hemorrhages (93.3%).
Deformation Analysis of Large Diameter Monopiles of Offshore Wind Turbines under Scour
Authors: Wang Zhaoyao , Hu Ruigeng , Leng Hao , Liu Hongjun , Bai Yifan , Lu Wenyan
Published: October 2020

The displacement of monopile supporting offshore wind turbines needs to be strictly controlled, and the influence of local scour can not be ignored. Using p–y curves to simulate the pile–soil interaction and the finite difference method to calculate iteratively, a numerical frame for analysis of lateral loaded pile was discussed and then verified. On the basis of the field data from Dafeng Offshore Wind Farm in Jiangsu Province, the local scour characteristics of large diameter monopile were concluded, and a new method of considering scour effect applicable to large diameter monopile was put forward. The results show that, for scour of large diameter monopiles, there was no obvious scour pit, but local erosion and deposition. Under the test conditions, the displacement errors between the proposed and traditional method were 46.4%. By the proposed method, the p–y curves of monopile considering the scour effect were obtained through ABAQUS, and the deformation of large diameter monopile under scour was analyzed by the proposed frame. The results show that, with the increase of scour depth, the horizontal displacement of the pile head increases nonlinearly, the depth of rotation point moves downward, and both of the changes are related to the load level. Under the test conditions, the horizontal displacement of the pile head after scour could reach 1.4~3.6 times of that before scour. Finally, for different pile parameters, the pile head displacement was compared, and further, the susceptibility to scour was quantified by a proposed concept of scour sensitivity. The analysis indicates that increasing pile length is a more reasonable way than pile diameter and wall thickness to limit the scour effect on the displacement of large diameter pile.
Comparison of Numerical Methods and Open-Source Libraries for Eigenvalue Analysis of Large-Scale Power Systems
Authors: Tzounas Georgios , Dassios Ioannis , Liu Muyang , Milano Federico
Published: October 2020

This paper discusses the numerical solution of the generalized non-Hermitian eigenvalue problem. It provides a comprehensive comparison of existing algorithms, as well as of available free and open-source software tools, which are suitable for the solution of the eigenvalue problems that arise in the stability analysis of electric power systems. The paper focuses, in particular, on methods and software libraries that are able to handle the large-scale, non-symmetric matrices that arise in power system eigenvalue problems. These kinds of eigenvalue problems are particularly difficult for most numerical methods to handle. Thus, a review and fair comparison of existing algorithms and software tools is a valuable contribution for researchers and practitioners that are interested in power system dynamic analysis. The scalability and performance of the algorithms and libraries are duly discussed through case studies based on real-world electrical power networks. These are a model of the All-Island Irish Transmission System with 8640 variables; and, a model of the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity, with 146,164 variables.
Technology Identification, Evaluation, Selection, and Optimization of a HALE Solar Aircraft
Authors: Yun Ju-Yeol , Hwang Ho-Yon
Published: October 2020

In this paper, sensitivity analysis and optimization of a high altitude long endurance (HALE) solar aircraft was implemented. Zephyr S was referred to for the aircraft conference configuration, and OpenVSP and XFLR5 were employed to create configuration and perform aerodynamic analysis. In the conceptual design stage of the HALE solar aircraft, technology identification, evaluation, and selection (TIES) methodology was employed. According to the design requirements, problem definition was established, and design goal, variations, and targeted values were set up to implement independent design variables to meet the design requirements. Based on the design of experiments (DOE), modeling of the relationship between design objective parameters and independent design values was implemented. The independent design variables with the largest influence were selected in the screening test. By employing the selected independent design variables, regression equations and sensitivity profiles were produced through response surface method. Inter-factor relationship was easily analyzed through the sensitivity profile. Regression equations were employed in the Monte Carlo simulation to draw design objective parameter values for 10,000 combinations of independent design variables. As a result of the Monte Carlo simulation, the design feasibility of design objective parameters was assessed. Optimization was performed using the desirability function of JMP software, and constraints were applied to each design objective parameter to derive the optimum values of independent design variables. Then, the values of optimized design independent variables were applied to the solar aircraft design framework and analyzed for the endurance flight performance. By comparing the endurance of the optimized configuration with the reference configuration, it was confirmed that the endurance could be improved by using the methodology proposed in this study.
Safe and Sustainable Design of Composite Smart Poles for Wireless Technologies
Authors: Di Vito Donato , Kanerva Mikko , Järveläinen Jan , Laitinen Alpo , Pärnänen Tuomas , Saari Kari , Kukko Kirsi , Hämmäinen Heikki , Vuorinen Ville
Published: October 2020

The multiplicity of targets of the 5G and further future technologies, set by the modern societies and industry, lacks the establishment of design methods for the highly multidisciplinary application of wireless platforms for small cells. Constraints are set by the overall energy concept, structural safety and sustainability. Various Smart poles and Light poles exist but it is challenging to define the design drivers especially for a composite load-carrying structure. In this study, the design drivers of a composite 5G smart pole are determined and the connecting design between finite element modelling (FEM), signal penetration and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for thermal analysis are reported as an interdisciplinary process. The results emphasize the significant effects of thermal loading on the material selection. The physical architecture, including various cutouts, is manipulated by the needs of the mmW radios, structural safety and the societal preferences of sustainable city planning, i.e., heat management and aesthetic reasons. Finally, the paint thickness and paint type must be optimized due to radome-integrated radios. In the future, sustainability regulations and realized business models will define the cost-structure and the response by customers.
Research on Constant Power Control Strategy of Pure Electric Excavator
Authors: Guo Tong , Lin Tianliang , Chen Qihuai , Ren Haoling , Fu Shengjie
Published: October 2020

Electric construction machinery can achieve zero emissions and be pollution free in the process of construction. In an electric excavator, to make full use of the output power of the power source, the output power of the electric motor (EM) should be absorbed by a hydraulic pump on the most attainable level. Therefore, constant power control is generally employed to achieve power matching between the power source and hydraulic pump. In this paper, considering the shortcomings of a single constant power point in a traditional load sensing system of electric construction machinery, combining the discharge characteristics of the li-ion battery and the overload capability of EM, a piecewise constant power control strategy is proposed to realize the organic unity of power and safety for a novel electric construction machinery power train system. The control strategy is verified by simulations and experiments. The results show that the system can not only satisfy the large power output but also ensure the normal and stable operation of the system when the electric excavator meets the heavy load through the piecewise constant power control. The proposed control strategy improves the dynamic performance of the system on the basis of ensuring the safety of the system.
Iron-Storage Protein Ferritin Is Upregulated in Endometriosis and Iron Overload Contributes to a Migratory Phenotype
Authors: Woo Jeong-Hwa , Choi Youn Seok , Choi Jung-Hye
Published: October 2020

High levels of iron in the peritoneal cavity during menstruation have been implicated in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. However, whether iron directly affects the growth or migration of human endometriotic cells is poorly understood. This study demonstrated the presence of increased levels of the iron storage protein, ferritin, in the endometriotic tissues of patients with endometriosis. Furthermore, iron treatment stimulated the migration and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), but not growth, of 12Z human endometriotic cells. The expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2/-9 was markedly increased through iron treatment in 12Z cells. Interestingly, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were significantly increased by iron in 12Z cells, and N-acetyl-L-cysteine significantly reduced iron-induced migration and MMP-2/-9 expression. Additionally, iron stimulated the activation of the NFκB pathway, and the activation was associated with iron-induced migration and MMP-2/-9 expression in 12Z cells. Moreover, iron markedly increased EMT and MMP-2/-9 expression in endometriotic lesions in an endometriosis mouse model. Taken together, these results suggest that iron may contribute to the migration abilities of human endometriotic cells via MMP expression through the ROS–NFκB pathway.
The Phenotypic Spectrum of PRRT2-Associated Paroxysmal Neurologic Disorders in Childhood
Authors: Döring Jan Henje , Saffari Afshin , Bast Thomas , Brockmann Knut , Ehrhardt Laura , Fazeli Walid , Janzarik Wibke G. , Kluger Gerhard , Muhle Hiltrud , Møller Rikke S. , Platzer Konrad , Santos Joana Larupa , Bache Iben , Bertsche Astrid , Bonfert Michaela , Borggräfe Ingo , Broser Philip J. , Datta Alexandre N. , Hammer Trine Bjørg , Hartmann Hans , Hasse-Wittmer Anette , Henneke Marco , Kühne Hermann , Lemke Johannes R. , Maier Oliver , Matzker Eva , Merkenschlager Andreas , Opp Joachim , Patzer Steffi , Rostasy Kevin , Stark Birgit , Strzelczyk Adam , von Stülpnagel Celina , Weber Yvonne , Wolff Markus , Zirn Birgit , Hoffmann Georg Friedrich , Kölker Stefan , Syrbe Steffen
Published: October 2020

Pathogenic variants in PRRT2, encoding the proline-rich transmembrane protein 2, have been associated with an evolving spectrum of paroxysmal neurologic disorders. Based on a cohort of children with PRRT2-related infantile epilepsy, this study aimed at delineating the broad clinical spectrum of PRRT2-associated phenotypes in these children and their relatives. Only a few recent larger cohort studies are on record and findings from single reports were not confirmed so far. We collected detailed genetic and phenotypic data of 40 previously unreported patients from 36 families. All patients had benign infantile epilepsy and harbored pathogenic variants in PRRT2 (core cohort). Clinical data of 62 family members were included, comprising a cohort of 102 individuals (extended cohort) with PRRT2-associated neurological disease. Additional phenotypes in the cohort of patients with benign sporadic and familial infantile epilepsy consist of movement disorders with paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia in six patients, infantile-onset movement disorders in 2 of 40 individuals, and episodic ataxia after mild head trauma in one girl with bi-allelic variants in PRRT2. The same girl displayed a focal cortical dysplasia upon brain imaging. Familial hemiplegic migraine and migraine with aura were reported in nine families. A single individual developed epilepsy with continuous spikes and waves during sleep. In addition to known variants, we report the novel variant c.843G>T, p.(Trp281Cys) that co-segregated with benign infantile epilepsy and migraine in one family. Our study highlights the variability of clinical presentations of patients harboring pathogenic PRRT2 variants and expands the associated phenotypic spectrum.
Exposure of Biomimetic Composite Materials to Acidic Challenges: Influence on Flexural Resistance and Elastic Modulus
Authors: Scribante Andrea , Gallo Simone , Scarantino Stefano , Dagna Alberto , Poggio Claudio , Colombo Marco
Published: October 2020

Acidic conditions of the oral cavity, including soft drinks and cariogenic bacteria, represent a damage for restorative biomimetic composite materials. The aim of this study is to assess the influence of two different acidic challenges on the flexural strength and elastic modulus of five composites: x-tra fil (Group 1, XTF), GrandioSO x-tra (Group 2, GXT), Admira Fusion x-tra (Group 3, AFX), VisCalor bulk (Group 4, VCB), and Enamel Plus HRi (Group 5, EPH). Thirty samples for each group were randomly divided and assigned to three different treatments: storage in distilled water as the controls (subgroups 1a–5a), 3 weeks distilled water + 1 week Coca-Cola (subgroups 1b-5b), and 4 weeks Coca-Cola (subgroups 1c–5c). For each subgroup, the flexural strength and elastic modulus were measured using an Instron universal testing machine, and data were submitted to statistical analysis. Considering subgroups B, no material showed a significant difference in the flexural strength with the controls (p > 0.05), whereas for subgroups C, only GXT and VCB showed significantly lower values (p < 0.05). AFX reported the lowest flexural strength among the materials tested. As regards the elastic modulus, no material showed a significant variation after acidic storages when compared with the respective control (p > 0.05). AFX and EPH reported the lowest elastic modulus compared to the other materials. All composites tested showed adequate flexural properties according to the standards, except for AFX. This biomimetic material, along with EPH, might be indicated for V class (cervical) restorations considering the lowest values of elasticity reported.
Adolescent Alcohol Exposure Produces Protracted Cognitive-Behavioral Impairments in Adult Male and Female Rats
Authors: Macht Victoria , Elchert Natalie , Crews Fulton
Published: October 2020

Binge drinking is common in adolescence. Rodent studies modeling adolescent binge drinking find persistent effects on the brain’s physiology, including increased expression of neuroimmune genes, impaired neurogenesis, and changes in behavioral flexibility. This study used females and males to investigate the effects of adolescent intermittent ethanol (AIE) on a battery of behaviors assessing spatial navigation using a radial arm water maze, working memory using the Hebb-Williams maze, non-spatial long-term memory using novel object recognition, and dominance using a tube dominance test. Results indicate that AIE impairs adult acquisition in spatial navigational learning with deficits predominantly driven by females. Surprisingly, AIE slowed the transition from random to serial search strategies in both sexes, suggesting AIE impairs flexibility in problem-solving processing. In the Hebb-Williams maze working memory task, adult AIE rats exhibited deficits in problem solving, resulting in more errors across the 12 maze configurations, independent of sex. Conversely, AIE decreased dominance behaviors in female rats, and at 7 months post-alcohol, female AIE rats continued to exhibit deficits in novel object recognition. These results suggest that cognitive-behavioral alterations after adolescent binge drinking persist well into middle age, despite abstinence. Future studies should focus on intervening treatment strategies in both females and males.
BDNF Outperforms TrkB Agonist 7,8,3′-THF in Preserving the Auditory Nerve in Deafened Guinea Pigs
Authors: Vink Henk A. , van Dorp Willem C. , Thomeer Hans G. X. M. , Versnel Huib , Ramekers Dyan
Published: October 2020

In deaf subjects using a cochlear implant (CI) for hearing restoration, the auditory nerve is subject to degeneration, which may negatively impact CI effectiveness. This nerve degeneration can be reduced by neurotrophic treatment. Here, we compare the preservative effects of the naturally occurring tyrosine receptor kinase B (TrkB) agonist brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and the small-molecule TrkB agonist 7,8,3′-trihydroxyflavone (THF) on the auditory nerve in deafened guinea pigs. THF may be more effective than BDNF throughout the cochlea because of better pharmacokinetic properties. The neurotrophic compounds were delivered by placement of a gelatin sponge on the perforated round window membrane. To complement the histology of spiral ganglion cells (SGCs), electrically evoked compound action potential (eCAP) recordings were performed four weeks after treatment initiation. We analyzed the eCAP inter-phase gap (IPG) effect and measures derived from pulse-train evoked eCAPs, both indicative of SGC healthiness. BDNF but not THF yielded a significantly higher survival of SGCs in the basal cochlear turn than untreated controls. Regarding IPG effect and pulse-train responses, the BDNF-treated animals exhibited more normal responses than both untreated and THF-treated animals. We have thus confirmed the protective effect of BDNF, but we have not confirmed previously reported protective effects of THF with our clinically applicable delivery method.
Catalysts Prepared with Matured Compost Derived from Mechanical-Biological Treatment Plants for the Wet Peroxide Oxidation of Pollutants with Different Lipophilicity
Authors: Diaz de Tuesta Jose L. , F. Pantuzza Gabriel , M. T. Silva Adrián , Praça Paulo , Faria Joaquim L. , Gomes Helder T.
Published: October 2020

The current work proposes a strategy for the valorization of compost obtained from municipal solid waste, through its activation with H2SO4 and thermal treatment at 400–800 °C to produce low-cost catalysts for wet peroxide oxidation. All the developed materials were catalytically active for the aqueous solution oxidation of 2-nitrophenol (C2-NP,0 = 0.5 g L−1) and 4-nitrophenol (C4-NP,0 = 5.0 g L−1). In particular, using the catalysts prepared by thermal activation of the compost (with and without subsequent treatment with H2SO4), complete removal of both model pollutants was achieved after 24 h (at 50 °C, initial pH 3, Ccat = 2.5 g L−1, and employing a stoichiometric quantity of H2O2 needed for the total mineralization of the pollutants). In a cyclohexane–water mixture (simulating biphasic oily wastewater), 4-nitrophenol is also completely removed by the catalyst not treated with H2SO4. In contrast, the removal of 2-nitrophenol decreased to 93% due to its higher lipophilic character. Thus, this work demonstrates that active catalysts for wet peroxide oxidation can be obtained by using as a precursor a matured compost derived from municipal solid waste.
The Dwindling Microbiota of Aerobic Vaginitis, an Inflammatory State Enriched in Pathobionts with Limited TLR Stimulation
Authors: Oerlemans Eline F. M. , Wuyts Sander , Bellen Gert , Wittouck Stijn , De Boeck Ilke , Ruban Kateryna , Allonsius Camille Nina , van den Broek Marianne F. L. , Donders Gilbert G. G. , Lebeer Sarah
Published: October 2020

While bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a well-known type of vaginal dysbiosis, aerobic vaginitis (AV) is an inflammatory condition that remains understudied and under-recognised. It predisposes women to serious complications including urogenital infections and pregnancy problems. Here, we investigated the bacterial community in AV to explore its possible role in AV pathogenesis. We collected vaginal lavage fluid samples of women (n = 58) classified by wet-mount microscopy as suffering from AV or BV and included an asymptomatic reference group without signs of AV or BV. AV samples showed reduced absolute abundances of bacteria in general and specifically of lactobacilli by qPCR, but 16S rRNA gene sequencing and amplicon sequence variant analysis revealed that Lactobacillus remained the dominant taxon in 25% of the AV samples studied. The other AV samples showed high relative abundances of Streptococcus agalactiae and, unexpectedly, the anaerobes Gardnerella vaginalis and Prevotella bivia in more than half of the AV samples studied. Yet, despite increased relative abundance of these potential pathogens or pathobionts in the AV bacterial communities, the AV samples only slightly stimulated Toll-like receptor 4 and showed reduced activation of Toll-like receptor 2/6, receptors of two pathways central to mucosal immunity. Our findings indicate that the reduced total bacterial abundance with associated enrichment in certain pathobionts in AV might be mainly a consequence of the inflammatory conditions and/or altered hormonal regulation rather than bacteria being a major cause of the inflammation.
Nowcasting Avalanches as Earthquakes and the Predictability of Strong Avalanches in the Olami-Feder-Christensen Model
Authors: Perez-Oregon Jennifer , Angulo-Brown Fernando , Sarlis Nicholas Vassiliou
Published: October 2020

Nowcasting earthquakes, suggested recently as a method to estimate the state of a fault and hence the seismic risk, is based on the concept of natural time. Here, we generalize nowcasting to a prediction method the merits of which are evaluated by means of the receiver operating characteristics. This new prediction method is applied to a simple (toy) model for the waiting (natural) time of the stronger earthquakes, real seismicity, and the Olami-Feder-Christensen earthquake model with interesting results revealing acceptable to excellent or even outstanding performance.
Overcoming Equity-Related Challenges for the Education and Training Systems of Europe
Authors: Gorard Stephen
Published: October 2020

This paper is a discussion of the challenges to equity faced by the education and training systems of the 28 EU countries (at time of writing), based on secondary sources and official reports by individual countries. The data are descriptive and simply summarised for this paper. The systems of all countries are fairly similar, modelled on those set up to deal with challenges of early industrialisation, and all now face several similar problems and opportunities. There is a clear correlation between family background, average attainment, and subsequent participation in education and training. All 28 countries show some signs of progress over time, both in terms of the absolute level of attainment, and in terms of reduced gaps between social and economic groups. These trends are historical, and thus hard to link to specific policies. However, looking at the common characteristics of countries with similar levels of equity can produce a tentative guide to its determinants. Some of the main suggestions are: More countries to set up monitoring systems for school intakes and outcomes; more robust evaluations of policy interventions; fair funding and opportunities for all students; extra funding for students facing challenges; no selection by ability or anything else; all taught in mainstream settings; no tracking or grade retention; more recognition of prior experience and learning; respectful interaction with all students; and use of context when allocating places in higher education, or simply more open access.
Generation Capacity Expansion Planning Considering Hourly Dynamics of Renewable Resources
Authors: Park Heejung
Published: October 2020

As more generation capacity using renewable sources is accommodated in the power system, methods to represent the uncertainty of renewable sources become more important, and stochastic models with different methods for uncertainty representation are introduced. This paper investigates the impacts of hourly variability representation of random variables on a stochastic generation capacity expansion planning model. In order to represent the hourly variability as well as uncertainty of the random parameters such as wind power availability, solar irradiance, and load, AutoRegressive-To-Anything (ARTA) stochastic process is applied. By using autocorrelations and marginal distributions of the random parameters, a stochastic process with hourly intervals is generated, where generated random sample paths are used for scenarios. A mathematical formulation using stochastic programming is presented, and a modified IEEE 300-bus system with transmission line constraints is employed to the mathematical model as a test system. Optimal generation capacity solutions obtained using GAMS/CPLEX are compared to the ones from the model only capturing the uncertainty and seasonal variability of the random parameters. The comparison results indicate that the economic value of solar photovoltaic (PV) generation may be overestimated in the case where the hourly variability is not reflected; thus, ignoring the hourly variability may lead to higher building costs and higher capacity of solar PV systems.
Ratepayer Perspectives on Mid- to Large-Scale Solar Development on Long Island, NY: Lessons for Reducing Siting Conflict through Supported Development Types
Authors: Schelly Chelsea , Prehoda Emily , Price Jessica , Delach Aimee , Thapaliya Rupak
Published: October 2020

The state of New York has ambitious mandates for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing renewable energy generation. Solar energy will play an important role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the electric energy sector. Concerns over solar installations’ impacts to host communities and the environment have led to growing conflicts over solar energy siting on Long Island, in other parts of New York, and throughout the US. Understanding community members’ perspectives is critical for reducing conflict. Solar energy can be deployed more quickly and at lower cost if projects are structured to address the concerns and meet the needs of the community. This paper presents the results of a survey of residential utility ratepayers that examined their perceptions, preferences, and priorities concerning mid- to large-scale solar development on Long Island (250 kW and larger). The survey asked respondents to consider specific installation types, financial models, and other aspects of solar development. Results indicate that respondents were overwhelmingly supportive of mid- to large-scale solar development in their communities. The most highly supported development types were solar systems on rooftops and solar systems that are co-located with other land uses (mixed use) at a particular site, such as parking canopies, landfills, or integration with agriculture. The most highly supported financial models included privately funded projects by local developers and community solar projects. The largest concern about solar development expressed by respondents did not involve tree removal or visibility (as initially hypothesized to be the most significant considerations) but rather the fairness of the distribution of economic benefits associated with solar development. This paper provides concrete insight into particular models of solar development that may invoke less conflict and more community support.
Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring via Deep Learning Based User Model and Appliance Group Model
Authors: Peng Ce , Lin Guoying , Zhai Shaopeng , Ding Yi , He Guangyu
Published: October 2020

Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring (NILM) increases awareness on user energy usage patterns. In this paper, an efficient and highly accurate NILM method is proposed featuring condensed representation, super-state and fusion of two deep learning based models. Condensed representation helps the two models perform more efficiently and preserve longer-term information, while super-state helps the model to learn correlations between appliances. The first model is a deep user model that learns user appliances usage patterns to predict the next appliance usage behavior based on past behaviors by capturing the dynamics of user behaviors history and appliances usage habits. The second model is a deep appliance group model that learns the characteristics of appliances with temporal and electrical information. These two models are then fused to perform NILM. The case study based on REFIT datasets demonstrates that the proposed NILM method outperforms two state-of-the-art benchmark methods.