bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How Much Energy Do We Need to Fly with Greater Agility? Energy Consumption and Performance of an Attitude Stabilization Controller in a Quadcopter Drone: A Modified MPC vs. PID
Authors: Okulski Michał , Ławryńczuk Maciej
Published: February 2022

Increasing demand for faster and more agile Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs, drones) is observed in many scenarios, including but not limited to medical supply or Search-and-Rescue (SAR) missions. Exceptional maneuverability is critical for robust obstacle avoidance during autonomous flights. A novel modification to the Model Predictive Controller (MPC) is proposed, which drastically improves the speed of the attitude controller of our quadcopter drone. The modified MPC is suitable for the onboard microcontroller and the 400 Hz main control loop. The peak and total energy consumption and the performance of the attitude controllers are assessed: the modified MPC and the default Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID). The tests were conducted in a custom-implemented Flight Mode in the ArduCopter software stack, securing the drone in a test harness, which guarantees the experiments are repetitive. The ultimate MPC greatly increases maneuverability of the drone and may inspire more research related to faster obstacle avoidance and new types of hybrid attitude controllers to balance the agility and the power consumption.
Genetic-Algorithm-Based Optimization of a 3D Transmitting Coil Design with a Homogeneous Magnetic Field Distribution in a WPT System
Authors: Bilandžija Domagoj , Vinko Davor , Barukčić Marinko
Published: February 2022

In magnetically coupled resonant wireless power transfer (MCR-WPT) systems, the nonhomogeneous magnetic field of the transmitting coil can lead to frequency splitting phenomena and lower efficiency. In this paper, a 3D transmitting coil (TX) with a homogeneous magnetic field distribution is proposed. The proposed coil structure consists of two layers with different numbers of turns per layer, i.e., with different current distributions. To achieve a homogeneous magnetic field distribution with a high magnetic field value and a low profile of the 3D coil structure, the optimal layer placement and current distribution were optimized using a genetic algorithm (GA). The prototype of the optimized coil was fabricated, and its magnetic field distribution was measured. The measurement results agreed more than 95% with the simulation results. The measured homogeneous area was at least 12.5% larger than reported in the literature. By using a different current distribution, the profile of the 3D coil structure was successfully reduced by 29% and the average magnetic field value was increased by 25% compared to our previous work.
Economic and Production-Related Implications for Industrial Energy Efficiency: A Logistic Regression Analysis on Cross-Cutting Technologies
Authors: Neves Fábio de Oliveira , Ewbank Henrique , Roveda José Arnaldo Frutuoso , Trianni Andrea , Marafão Fernando Pinhabel , Roveda Sandra Regina Monteiro Masalskiene
Published: February 2022

Increased industrial energy efficiency (EE) has become one of the main environmental actions to mitigate carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, contributing also to industrial competitiveness, with several implications on the production system and cost management. Unfortunately, literature is currently lacking empirical evidence on the impact of energy efficiency solutions on production. Thus, this work primarily aims at investigating the economic and production-related influence on the reduction in industrial energy consumption, considering the cross-cutting technologies HVAC, motors, lighting systems and air compressor systems. The analysis is performed using data from previous studies that characterized the main EE measures for the cross-cutting technologies. Four logistic models were built to understand how costs and production influence energy efficiency across such cross-cutting technologies. In this way, motivating industries to implement measures to reduce electrical consumption, offering an economic cost–benefit analysis and optimizing industry processes so that the reduction in electricity consumption adds to industrial energy efficiency were the aims of this study. The results of this work show through the adjusted indicators that senior management is mainly responsible for energy savings. The operational measures of each piece of equipment can be oriented in the industry towards a specific maintenance process for each technology, becoming an active procedure in industrial productions to obtain EE. Additionally, maintenance planning and control is essential to the reliability of the reduced energy consumption of cross-cutting technologies. This article concludes with managerial implications and suggestions for future research in this field.
The Social Acceptance of Airborne Wind Energy: A Literature Review
Authors: Schmidt Helena , de Vries Gerdien , Renes Reint Jan , Schmehl Roland
Published: February 2022

Airborne wind energy (AWE) systems use tethered flying devices to harvest higher-altitude winds to produce electricity. For the success of the technology, it is crucial to understand how people perceive and respond to it. If concerns about the technology are not taken seriously, it could delay or prevent implementation, resulting in increased costs for project developers and a lower contribution to renewable energy targets. This literature review assessed the current state of knowledge on the social acceptance of AWE. A systematic literature search led to the identification of 40 relevant publications that were reviewed. The literature expected that the safety, visibility, acoustic emissions, ecological impacts, and the siting of AWE systems impact to which extent the technology will be accepted. The reviewed literature viewed the social acceptance of AWE optimistically but lacked scientific evidence to back up its claims. It seemed to overlook the fact that the impact of AWE’s characteristics (e.g., visibility) on people’s responses will also depend on a range of situational and psychological factors (e.g., the planning process, the community’s trust in project developers). Therefore, empirical social science research is needed to increase the field’s understanding of the acceptance of AWE and thereby facilitate development and deployment.
Dynamic Price-Based Demand Response through Linear Regression for Microgrids with Renewable Energy Resources
Authors: Hassan Muhammad Arshad Shehzad , Assad Ussama , Farooq Umar , Kabir Asif , Khan Muhammad Zeeshan , Bukhari S. Sabahat H. , Jaffri Zain ul Abidin , Oláh Judit , Popp József
Published: February 2022

The green innovations in the energy sector are smart solutions to meet the excessive power requirements through renewable energy resources (RERs). These resources have forwarded the revolutionary relief in control of carbon dioxide gaseous emissions from traditional energy resources. The use of RERs in a heuristic manner is necessary to meet the demand side management in microgrids (MGs). The pricing scheme limitations hinder the profit maximization of MG and their customers. In addition, recent pricing schemes lack mechanistic underpinning. Therefore, a dynamic electricity pricing scheme through linear regression is designed for RERs to maximize the profit of load customers (changeable and unchangeable) in MG. The demand response optimization problem is solved through the particle swarm optimization (PSO) technique. The proposed dynamic electricity pricing scheme is evaluated under two different scenarios. The simulation results verified that the proposed dynamic electricity pricing scheme sustained the profit margins and comforts for changeable and unchangeable load customers as compared to fixed electricity pricing schemes in both scenarios. Hence, the proposed dynamic electricity pricing scheme can readily be used for real microgrids (MGs) to grasp the goal for cleaner energy production.
Surrogate DC Microgrid Models for Optimization of Charging Electric Vehicles under Partial Observability
Authors: Veviurko Grigorii , Böhmer Wendelin , Mackay Laurens , de Weerdt Mathijs
Published: February 2022

Many electric vehicles (EVs) are using today’s distribution grids, and their flexibility can be highly beneficial for the grid operators. This flexibility can be best exploited by DC power networks, as they allow charging and discharging without extra power electronics and transformation losses. From the grid control perspective, algorithms for planning EV charging are necessary. This paper studies the problem of EV charging planning under limited grid capacity and extends it to the partially observable case. We demonstrate how limited information about the EV locations in a grid may disrupt the operation planning in DC grids with tight constraints. We introduce two methods to change the grid topology such that partial observability of the EV locations is resolved. The suggested models are evaluated on the IEEE 16 bus system and multiple randomly generated grids with varying capacities. The experiments show that these methods efficiently solve the partially observable EV charging planning problem and offer a trade-off between computational time and performance.
Modelling the Potential Impacts of Nuclear Energy and Renewables in the Turkish Energy System
Authors: Korkmaz Ozan , Önöz Bihrat
Published: February 2022

With heightening global concerns about the impacts of climate change, the debate around different carbon mitigation options is gaining momentum. A widespread argument is between those for and against utilizing nuclear energy as a low-carbon energy source. This debate is also relevant for Turkey, a country that is set to introduce nuclear energy to its electricity generation mix over the coming years. The purpose of the study is to assess the potential merits and drawbacks of the utilization of nuclear energy in the country versus the increased utilization of renewable energy sources. A fundamental merit order model is used for modeling the Turkish electricity market until 2025 under three scenarios. The comparative effects of renewable energy sources and nuclear energy are evaluated in terms of their impact on electricity generation costs, CO2 emissions and energy security. The results of the study show that the increased utilization of renewable energy has a more effective role in achieving the country’s energy targets in comparison to nuclear energy.
Use of CO2 in Pressurized, Fluidized Bed Gasification of Waste Biomasses
Authors: Szul Mateusz , Iluk Tomasz , Zuwała Jarosław
Published: February 2022

This research discusses the results of experiments performed on a large-scale gasification installation to determine the influence of total system pressure and partial pressure of CO2 on the efficiency of conversion and the quality of the produced gas. The three tested feedstocks were bark, lignin and a blend of bark and wheat straw, while softwood pellet (SWP) was used as a reference fuel. A mixture of O2/CO2/H2O was used as a gasification agent. The tests were devised to validate the previously proposed process parameters, verify whether similar ash agglomeration problems would occur and compare the thermal behaviour of the feedstocks converted in close-to-industrial process conditions. An understanding of the effect of using CO2 for gasification was further deepened, especially regarding its influence on the yield of H2 and temperature profiles of the fluidized bed. The influence of gasification pressure was predominantly visible in higher yields of all hydrocarbons (including CH4) and lower overall production of producer gas. At the process development unit (PDU), all tested feedstocks were converted at similar process conditions and no signs of potential bed agglomeration could be noticed. This opposes the findings observed in smaller-scale bubbling fluidized bed (BFB) tests. The discussion behind these discrepancies is also presented.
The Effects of Moisture and Temperature on the Microwave Absorption Power of Poplar Wood
Authors: Wang Di , Li Xianjun , Hao Xiaofeng , Lv Jianxiong , Chen Xinyi
Published: February 2022

Herein, the coupling interactions between moisture and temperature on the microwave absorption of poplar were investigated quantitatively under microwave heating at 2450 MHz. The inverse physics problems have been solved based on the microwave heating curve of poplar wood by a genetic algorithm approach. Meanwhile, the quantitative characterization equation of the microwave absorption power of poplar was obtained. The accuracy of the microwave absorption power equation was verified experimentally, and the interaction mechanism was explained. The results indicated that the microwave absorption power increased with temperature and decreased with a higher original moisture content. Compared with that, the temperature influenced the microwave absorption of poplar wood slightly more than the initial moisture content.
Modelling Aboveground Biomass of Miombo Woodlands in Niassa Special Reserve, Northern Mozambique
Authors: Macave Orlando A. , Ribeiro Natasha S. , Ribeiro Ana I. , Chaúque Aniceto , Bandeira Romana , Branquinho Cristina , Washington-Allen Robert
Published: February 2022

Aboveground biomass (AGB) estimation plays a crucial role in forest management and carbon emission reporting, especially for developing countries wishing to address REDD+ projects. Both passive and active remote-sensing technologies can provide spatially explicit information of AGB by using a limited number of field samples, thus reducing the substantial budgetary cost of field inventories. The aim of the current study was to estimate AGB in the Niassa Special Reserve (NSR) using fusion of optical (Landsat 8/OLI and Sentinel 2A/MSI) and radar (Sentinel 1B and ALOS/PALSAR-2) data. The performance of multiple linear regression models to relate ground biomass with different combinations of sensor data was assessed using root-mean-square error (RMSE), and the Akaike and Bayesian information criteria (AIC and BIC). The mean AGB and carbon stock (CS) estimated from field data were estimated at 56 Mg ha−1 (ranging from 11 to 95 Mg ha−1) and 28 MgC ha−1, respectively. The best model estimated AGB at 63 ± 20.3 Mg ha−1 for NSR, ranging from 0.6 to 200 Mg ha−1 (r2 = 87.5%, AIC = 123, and BIC = 51.93). We obtained an RMSE % of 20.46 of the mean field estimate of 56 Mg ha−1. The estimation of AGB in this study was within the range that was reported in the existing literature for the miombo woodlands. The fusion of vegetation indices derived from Landsat/OLI and Sentinel 2A/MSI, and backscatter from ALOS/PALSAR-2 is a good predictor of AGB.
Chemical Characterization, Antibacterial Activity, and Embryo Acute Toxicity of Rhus coriaria L. Genotype from Sicily (Italy)
Authors: Lo Vecchio Giovanna , Cicero Nicola , Nava Vincenzo , Macrì Antonio , Gervasi Claudio , Capparucci Fabiano , Sciortino Marzia , Avellone Giuseppe , Benameur Qada , Santini Antonello , Gervasi Teresa
Published: February 2022

This study reports a full characterization of the Sicilian sumac, Rhus coriaria L. This fruit represents a potential source of fiber (33.21 ± 1.02%) and unsaturated fatty acids, being the contents of linoleic and α-linolenic acids, 30.82 ± 1.21% and 1.85 ± 0.07%, respectively. In addition, the content of phenolic and total anthocyanin was 71.69 ± 1.23 mg/g as gallic acid equivalents, and 6.71 ± 0.12 mg/g as cyanidin-3-O-glucoside equivalents, respectively. The high content in mineral elements, consisting mainly of potassium, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus, followed by aluminum, iron, sodium, boron, and zinc, was detected by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Moreover, its antimicrobial activity was evaluated against multidrug resistant (MDR) microorganisms, represented by Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae strains isolated from poultry. The activity of seven different sumac fruit extracts obtained using the following solvents—ethanol (SE), methanol (SM), acetone (SA), ethanol and water (SEW), methanol and water (SMW), acetone and water (SAW), water (SW)—was evaluated. The polyphenol profile of SM extract, which showed better activity, was analyzed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS). The major component identified was gallic acid, followed by quercetin, methyl digallate, pentagalloyl-hexoside, and kaempferol 3-O-glucoside. The non-toxicity of Sicilian R. coriaria was confirmed by testing the effect of the same extract on zebrafish embryos.
Multifunctionality of Rapeseed Meal Protein Isolates Prepared by Sequential Isoelectric Precipitation
Authors: Georgiev Radoslav , Kalaydzhiev Hristo , Ivanova Petya , Silva Cristina L. M. , Chalova Vesela I.
Published: February 2022

Rapeseed meal is a by-product of the oil-producing industry with a currently underestimated application. Two protein isolates, PI2.5–8.5 or PI10.5–2.5, were obtained from industrial rapeseed meal after treatment with an aqueous ethanol solution. The alkaline-extracted proteins were sequentially precipitated by two different modes, from pH 10.5 to 2.5, and vice versa, from 2.5 to 8.5, with a step of 1 pH unit. The preparation approach influenced both the functional and antioxidant properties of the isolates. The PI10.5–2.5 exhibited higher water and oil absorption capacities than PI2.5–8.5, reaching 2.68 g H2O/g sample and 2.36 g oil/g sample, respectively. The emulsion stability of the PI2.5–8.5, evaluated after heating at 80 °C, was either 100% or close to 100% for all pH values studied (from 2 to 10), except for pH 6 where it reached 93.87%. For the PI10.5–2.5, decreases in the emulsion stability were observed at pH 8 (85.71%) and pH 10 (53.15%). In the entire concentration range, the PI10.5–2.5 exhibited a higher scavenging ability on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals than PI2.5–8.5 as evaluated by DPPH and 2-deoxyribose assays, respectively. At the highest concentration studied, 1.0%, the neutralization of DPPH radicals by PI10.5–2 reached half of that exhibited by synthetic antioxidant butylhydroxytoluene (82.65%). At the same concentration, the inhibition of hydroxyl radicals by PI10.5–2 (71.25%) was close to that achieved by mannitol (75.62%), which was used as a positive control. Established antioxidant capacities add value to the protein isolates that can thus be used as both emulsifiers and antioxidants.
Additive Soft Matter Design by UV-Induced Polymer Hydrogel Inter-Crosslinking
Authors: Neuendorf Talika A. , Weigel Niclas , Vigogne Michelle , Thiele Julian
Published: February 2022

In recent years, stimuli-responsive hydrogels have gained tremendous interest in designing complex smart 4D materials for applications ranging from biomedicine to soft electronics that can change their properties on demand over time. However, at present, a hydrogel’s response is often induced by merely a single stimulus, restricting its broader applicability. The controlled hierarchical assembly of various hydrogel building blocks, each with a tailored set of mechanical and physicochemical properties as well as programmed stimulus response, may potentially enable the design and fabrication of multi-responsive polymer parts that process complex operations, like signal routing dependent on different stimuli. Since inter-connection stability of such building blocks directly accompanies the transmission of information across building blocks and is as important as the building property itself to create complex 4D materials, we provide a study on the utility of an inter-crosslinking mechanism based on UV-induced 2,3-dimethylmaleimide (DMMI) dimerization to inter-connect acrylamide-based and N-isopropylacrylamide-based millimeter-sized cubic building blocks, respectively. The resulting dual-crosslinked assemblies are freestanding and stable against contraction–expansion cycles in solution. In addition, the approach is also applicable for connecting microfluidically fabricated, micrometer-sized hydrogel spheres, with the resulting assemblies being processable and mechanical stable, likewise resisting contraction–expansion in different solvents, for instance.
Do Polymeric Nanoparticles Really Enhance the Bioavailability of Oral Drugs? A Quantitative Answer Using Meta-Analysis
Authors: Hathout Rania M.
Published: February 2022

The oral route remains one of the most popular and important routes of administration for drugs—one that warrants the development of advanced drug delivery systems, such as polymeric nanoparticles capable of enhancing the absorption and bioavailability of the used drugs. In this work, a systematic review of published works on several databases, followed by a meta-analysis, were utilized in order to navigate the published studies and access literature-based evidence about the capability of polymeric nanoparticulate systems to augment the absorption and bioavailability of orally administered drugs. The pharmacokinetic parameter of the area under the curve (AUC) was utilized as the “effect” of this meta-analytical study. The meta-analysis demonstrated a significant increase in AUC compared to conventional formulations. Furthermore, comparing the synthetic polymeric nanoparticles, versus their naturally-based administered counterparts, as subgroups of the meta-analysis, revealed no significant differences.
Development of an Injectable Shear-Thinning Nanocomposite Hydrogel for Cardiac Tissue Engineering
Authors: Soltani Samaneh , Emadi Rahmatollah , Haghjooy Javanmard Shaghayegh , Kharaziha Mahshid , Rahmati Abbas , Thakur Vijay Kumar , Lotfian Saeid
Published: February 2022

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) offer a promising therapeutic method for cardiac tissue regeneration. However, to monitor the fate of MSCs for tissue repair, a better stem cell delivery carrier is needed. Developing a unique injectable and shear-thinning dual cross-linked hybrid hydrogel for MSC delivery for cardiac tissue engineering is highly desirable. This hydrogel was synthesised using guest: host reaction based on alginate-cyclodextrin (Alg-CD) and adamantane-graphene oxide (Ad-GO). Here, the role of macromere concentration (10 and 12%) on the MSC function is discussed. Our hybrid hydrogels reveal a suitable oxygen pathway required for cell survival. However, this value is strongly dependent on the macromere concentrations, while the hydrogels with 12% macromere concentration (2DC12) significantly enhanced the oxygen permeability value (1.16-fold). Moreover, after two weeks of culture, rat MSCs (rMSCs) encapsulated in Alg-GO hydrogels expressed troponin T (TNT) and GATA4 markers. Noticeably, the 2DC12 hydrogels enhance rMSCs differentiation markers (1.30-times for TNT and 1.21-times for GATA4). Overall, our findings indicate that tuning the hydrogel compositions regulates the fate of encapsulated rMSCs within hydrogels. These outcomes may promote the advancement of new multifunctional platforms that consider the spatial and transient guidelines of undifferentiated cell destiny and capacity even after transplantation for heart tissue regeneration.
Identification of QTLs Controlling Resistance to Anthracnose Disease in Water Yam (Dioscorea alata)
Authors: Agre Paterne Angelot , Darkwa Kwabena , Olasanmi Bunmi , Kolade Olufisayo , Mournet Pierre , Bhattacharjee Ranjana , Lopez-Montes Antonio , De Koeyer David , Adebola Patrick , Kumar Lava , Asiedu Robert , Asfaw Asrat
Published: February 2022

Anthracnose disease caused by a fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides is the primary cause of yield loss in water yam (Dioscorea alata), the widely cultivated species of yam. Resistance to yam anthracnose disease (YAD) is a prime target in breeding initiatives to develop durable-resistant cultivars for sustainable management of the disease in water yam cultivation. This study aimed at tagging quantitative trait loci (QTL) for anthracnose disease resistance in a bi-parental mapping population of D. alata. Parent genotypes and their recombinant progenies were genotyped using the Genotyping by Sequencing (GBS) platform and phenotyped in two crop cycles for two years. A high-density genetic linkage map was built with 3184 polymorphic Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (NSP) markers well distributed across the genome, covering 1460.94 cM total length. On average, 163 SNP markers were mapped per chromosome with 0.58 genetic distances between SNPs. Four QTL regions related to yam anthracnose disease resistance were identified on three chromosomes. The proportion of phenotypic variance explained by these QTLs ranged from 29.54 to 39.40%. The QTL regions identified showed genes that code for known plant defense responses such as GDSL-like Lipase/Acylhydrolase, Protein kinase domain, and F-box protein. The results from the present study provide valuable insight into the genetic architecture of anthracnose resistance in water yam. The candidate markers identified herewith form a relevant resource to apply marker-assisted selection as an alternative to a conventional labor-intensive screening for anthracnose resistance in water yam.
Conserved MicroRNAs in Human Nasopharynx Tissue Samples from Swabs Are Differentially Expressed in Response to SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Eichmeier Ales , Kiss Tomas , Kocanova Maria , Hakalova Eliska , Spetik Milan , Cechova Jana , Tichy Boris
Published: February 2022

The use of high-throughput small RNA sequencing is well established as a technique to unveil the miRNAs in various tissues. The miRNA profiles are different between infected and non-infected tissues. We compare the SARS-CoV-2 positive and SARS-CoV-2 negative RNA samples extracted from human nasopharynx tissue samples to show different miRNA profiles. We explored differentially expressed miRNAs in response to SARS-CoV-2 in the RNA extracted from nasopharynx tissues of 10 SARS-CoV-2-positive and 10 SARS-CoV-2-negative patients. miRNAs were identified by small RNA sequencing, and the expression levels of selected miRNAs were validated by real-time RT-PCR. We identified 943 conserved miRNAs, likely generated through posttranscriptional modifications. The identified miRNAs were expressed in both RNA groups, NegS and PosS: miR-148a, miR-21, miR-34c, miR-34b, and miR-342. The most differentially expressed miRNA was miR-21, which is likely closely linked to the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in nasopharynx tissues. Our results contribute to further understanding the role of miRNAs in SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis, which may be crucial for understanding disease symptom development in humans.
Clinical Management of Intraosseous Access in Adults in Critical Situations for Health Professionals
Authors: Astasio-Picado Álvaro , Cobos-Moreno Paula , Gómez-Martín Beatriz , Zabala-Baños María del Carmen , Aranda-Martín Claudia
Published: February 2022

There are health professionals who are unaware of the ideal management of the intraosseous route, despite the fact that it has been scientifically considered an alternative to the peripheral venous route when the patient is in critical condition. Thanks to continuous development, there has been a need to provide emergency services with materials that manage to provide satisfactory care, despite the difficulties faced by health personnel. Objectives: The objective of this systematic bibliographic review is to update the theoretical and practical knowledge and strategies for the insertion and proper management of the intraosseous route as an emergency vascular access for nursing professionals. Data sources, study eligibility criteria: The search for the articles was carried out in various scientific databases with the help of a search string (January 2015 and May 2021), which combined the keywords and Boolean operators. Study appraisal and synthesis methods: Eighteen articles were chosen after a review of 1920 database articles, following the application of the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: Intraosseous infusion is an effective and safe technique, which increases patient survival. Therefore, it is of crucial importance that all nursing professionals know how to handle the different intraosseous devices in situations in which it is not possible to achieve immediate peripheral venous access. Conclusions and implications of key findings: It is of great need to have devices or fast and effective alternatives that allow us to develop safe interventions by health professionals.
Intelligent Diagnostic Prediction and Classification Models for Detection of Kidney Disease
Authors: Poonia Ramesh Chandra , Gupta Mukesh Kumar , Abunadi Ibrahim , Albraikan Amani Abdulrahman , Al-Wesabi Fahd N. , Hamza Manar Ahmed , B Tulasi
Published: February 2022

Kidney disease is a major public health concern that has only recently emerged. Toxins are removed from the body by the kidneys through urine. In the early stages of the condition, the patient has no problems, but recovery is difficult in the later stages. Doctors must be able to recognize this condition early in order to save the lives of their patients. To detect this illness early on, researchers have used a variety of methods. Prediction analysis based on machine learning has been shown to be more accurate than other methodologies. This research can help us to better understand global disparities in kidney disease, as well as what we can do to address them and coordinate our efforts to achieve global kidney health equity. This study provides an excellent feature-based prediction model for detecting kidney disease. Various machine learning algorithms, including k-nearest neighbors algorithm (KNN), artificial neural networks (ANN), support vector machines (SVM), naive bayes (NB), and others, as well as Re-cursive Feature Elimination (RFE) and Chi-Square test feature-selection techniques, were used to build and analyze various prediction models on a publicly available dataset of healthy and kidney disease patients. The studies found that a logistic regression-based prediction model with optimal features chosen using the Chi-Square technique had the highest accuracy of 98.75 percent. White Blood Cell Count (Wbcc), Blood Glucose Random (bgr), Blood Urea (Bu), Serum Creatinine (Sc), Packed Cell Volume (Pcv), Albumin (Al), Hemoglobin (Hemo), Age, Sugar (Su), Hypertension (Htn), Diabetes Mellitus (Dm), and Blood Pressure (Bp) are examples of these traits.
Evaluation of Reference Genes for Quantitative PCR in Eustoma grandiflorum under Different Experimental Conditions
Authors: Xue Wanjie , Wang Lishan , Li Xueqi , Tang Mingwei , Li Jingyao , Ding Bing , Kawabata Saneyuki , Li Yuhua , Zhang Yang
Published: February 2022

Eustoma grandiflorum, commonly known as prairie gentian or Texas bluebells, is among the most popular agriculturally propagated species of cut flowers. Due to its widespread appeal, there is increasing interest in understanding the molecular genetic factors underlying floral development and resistance to abiotic stresses. We analyzed 18 potential reference genes in different organs, at different floral developmental stages and under drought- and salt-stress treatments, for use in RT-qPCR analysis. A total of four analytical tool packages, including geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, and RefFinder were employed to determine the most appropriate reference genes under each treatment condition. The results demonstrate that different reference genes should be used for normalization under different experimental treatments. EgPP and EgPP2A2 were the most stable internal control genes across different organ types, EgPP and Eg18S were the most stable under salt-stress, EgPP and EgACT1 were the most stable across different floral development stages, and EgEF1A and EgTUA were the most stable reference genes under drought-stress. Additional gene expression analyses of EgMIXTA1, EgTOE1, and EgP5CS1 further confirmed the applicability of these reference genes. The results represent a significant contribution to future studies of reference gene selection for the normalization of gene expression in Eustoma grandiflorum.
The Influence of COVID-19 on Influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus Activities
Authors: Mondal Pritish , Sinharoy Ankita , Gope Suparna
Published: February 2022

Background: Respiratory viral diseases have considerably declined since the COVID-19 outbreak, perhaps through influence by nonpharmaceutical interventions. We conducted a cross-sectional study using the CDC database to compare the pre- vs. post-pandemic flu activity (incidence) between the US states. Our secondary objectives were to estimate the association between flu activity and flu vaccination rates and compare the national trends of flu and RSV activities since the pandemic outbreak. Methods: We estimated the difference between pre-pandemic (April 2019–March 2020) and post-pandemic (April 2020–March 2021) flu activity between individual states using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The association between flu activity and immunization rates was also measured. Finally, parallel time trend graphs for flu and RSV activities were illustrated with a time series modeler. Results: The median (IQR) pre-pandemic flu activity was 4.10 (1.38), higher than the post-pandemic activity (1.38 (0.71)) (p-value < 0.001). There was no difference between pre-pandemic (45.50% (39.10%)) and post-pandemic (45.0% (19.84%)) flu vaccine acceptance (p-value > 0.05). Flu activity and vaccination rates were not associated (p-value > 0.05). Flu activity has declined since the COVID-19 outbreak, while RSV made a strong comeback in June 2021. Conclusion: Flu activity has significantly diminished throughout the pandemic while a sudden upsurge in RSV is a public health concern indicative of possible resurgence of other viruses. Flu vaccine acceptance neither changed during the pandemic nor influenced the diminished Flu activity.
Analysis of Ventilation Efficiency as Simultaneous Control of Radon and Carbon Dioxide Levels in Indoor Air Applying Transient Modelling
Authors: Dovjak Mateja , Vene Ožbej , Vaupotič Janja
Published: February 2022

The impact of ventilation efficiency on radon (222Rn) and carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations in the indoor air of a residential building was studied by applying transient data analysis within the CONTAM 3.4 program. Continuous measurements of 222Rn and CO2 concentrations, together with basic meteorological parameters, were carried out in an apartment (floor area about 27 m2) located in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Throughout the experiment (October 3–15), frequent ventilation (several times per day), poor ventilation (once to twice per day) and no ventilation scenarios were applied, and the exact ventilation and occupancy schedule were recorded. Based on the measurements, a transient simulation of 222Rn and CO2 concentrations was performed for six sets of scenarios, where the design ventilation rate (DVR) varied based on the ventilation requirements and recommendations. On the days of frequent ventilation, a moderate correlation between the measured and simulated concentrations (r = 0.62 for 222Rn, r = 0.55 for CO2) was found. The results of the simulation indicated the following optimal DVRs: (i) 36.6 m3 h−1 (0.5 air changes per hour, ACH) to ensure a CO2 concentration below 1000 ppm and a 222Rn concentration below 100 Bq m−3; and (ii) 46.9 m3 h−1 (0.7 ACH) to ensure a CO2 concentration below 800 ppm. These levels are the most compatible with the 5C_Cat I (category I of indoor environmental quality, defined by EN 16798-1:2019) scenario, which resulted in concentrations of 656 ± 121 ppm for CO2 and 57 ± 13 Bq m−3 for 222Rn. The approach presented is applicable to various types of residential buildings with high overcrowding rates, where a sufficient amount of air volume to achieve category I indoor environmental quality has to be provided. Lower CO2 and 222Rn concentrations indoors minimise health risk, which is especially important for protecting sensitive and fragile occupants.
Psychological Well-Being of Left-Behind Children in China: Text Mining of the Social Media Website Zhihu
Authors: Lyu Yuwen , Chow Julian Chun-Chung , Hwang Ji-Jen , Li Zhi , Ren Cheng , Xie Jungui
Published: February 2022

China’s migrant population has significantly contributed to its economic growth; however, the impact on the well-being of left-behind children (LBC) has become a serious public health problem. Text mining is an effective tool for identifying people’s mental state, and is therefore beneficial in exploring the psychological mindset of LBC. Traditional data collection methods, which use questionnaires and standardized scales, are limited by their sample sizes. In this study, we created a computational application to quantitively collect personal narrative texts posted by LBC on Zhihu, which is a Chinese question-and-answer online community website; 1475 personal narrative texts posted by LBC were gathered. We used four types of words, i.e., first-person singular pronouns, negative words, past tense verbs, and death-related words, all of which have been associated with depression and suicidal ideations in the Chinese Linguistic Inquiry Word Count (CLIWC) dictionary. We conducted vocabulary statistics on the personal narrative texts of LBC, and bilateral t-tests, with a control group, to analyze the psychological well-being of LBC. The results showed that the proportion of words related to depression and suicidal ideations in the texts of LBC was significantly higher than in the control group. The differences, with respect to the four word types (i.e., first-person singular pronouns, negative words, past tense verbs, and death-related words), were 5.37, 2.99, 2.65, and 2.00 times, respectively, suggesting that LBC are at a higher risk of depression and suicide than their counterparts. By sorting the texts of LBC, this research also found that child neglect is a main contributing factor to psychological difficulties of LBC. Furthermore, mental health problems and the risk of suicide in vulnerable groups, such as LBC, is a global public health issue, as well as an important research topic in the era of digital public health. Through a linguistic analysis, the results of this study confirmed that the experiences of left-behind children negatively impact their mental health. The present findings suggest that it is vital for the public and nonprofit sectors to establish online suicide prevention and intervention systems to improve the well-being of LBC through digital technology.
Long-Term Safety of Prenatal and Neonatal Exposure to Paracetamol: A Systematic Review
Authors: Patel Ram , Sushko Katelyn , van den Anker John , Samiee-Zafarghandy Samira
Published: February 2022

Introduction: Paracetamol is the most commonly used antipyretic and analgesic in pregnancy. It is also increasingly used off-label in the neonatal intensive care unit. Despite the frequent use of paracetamol, concerns have been raised regarding the high variability in neonatal dosing regimens and the long-term safety of early life exposure. Objective: To investigate the available evidence on the long-term safety of prenatal and neonatal paracetamol exposure. Methods: We conducted a systematic search of the electronic databases Ovid Medline, Ovid Embase and Web of Science from inception to August 2021 for original research studies of any design that described the use of paracetamol in the prenatal or neonatal (within the first four weeks of life) periods and examined the occurrence of neurodevelopmental, atopic or reproductive adverse outcomes at or beyond birth. Results: We identified 1313 unique articles and included 30 studies in the final review. Of all studies, 27 (90%), two (7%) and one (3%) were on the long-term safety of prenatal, neonatal and both prenatal and neonatal exposure, respectively. Thirteen (46%), 11 (39%) and four (15%) studies examined neurodevelopmental, atopic and reproductive outcomes. Eleven (100%), 11 (100%), and three (27%) studies on prenatal exposure reported adverse neurodevelopmental, atopic and reproductive outcomes. Only one study found a possible correlation between neonatal paracetamol exposure and long-term adverse outcomes. Conclusions: The available evidence, although limited, suggests a possible association between prenatal paracetamol exposure and an increased risk of neurodevelopmental, atopic and reproductive adverse outcomes. There is an immediate need for robust data on the long-term safety of paracetamol exposure in the prenatal and neonatal periods.
Long-Term Exposure to Phenanthrene Induced Gene Expressions and Enzyme Activities of Cyprinus carpio below the Safe Concentration
Authors: Kang Xin , Li Dongpeng , Zhao Xiaoxiang , Lv Yanfeng , Chen Xi , Song Xinshan , Liu Xiangyu , Chen Chengrong , Cao Xin
Published: February 2022

Phenanthrene (PHE) is a typical compound biomagnified in the food chain which endangers human health and generally accumulates from marine life. It has been listed as one of the 16 priority PAHs evaluated in toxicology. In order to evaluate the changes of CYP1A GST mRNA expression and EROD GST enzyme activity in carp exposed to lower than safe concentrations of PHE. Long-term exposure of carp to PHE at lower than safe concentrations for up to 25 days. The mRNA expression level and cytochrome P450 (CYP1A/EROD (7-Ethoxylesorufin O-deethylase)) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity were measured in carp liver and brain tissue. The results showed that PHE stress induced low-concentration induction and high-concentration inhibition of CYP1A expression and EROD enzyme activity in the liver and brain of carp. In both two organs, GST enzyme activity was also induced. However, the expression of GST mRNA was first induced and then inhibited, after the 15th day. These results indicate that long-term exposure to PHE at lower than safe concentrations still poses a potential threat to carp’s oxidase system and gene expression.
Many Changes in Speech through Aging Are Actually a Consequence of Cognitive Changes
Authors: Martínez-Nicolás Israel , Llorente Thide E. , Ivanova Olga , Martínez-Sánchez Francisco , Meilán Juan J. G.
Published: February 2022

Background: During aging, changes in human speech may arise because of the neurophysiological deterioration associated with age, or as the result of an impairment in the cognitive processes underlying speech production. Some speech parameters show specific alterations under the presence of dementia. The objective of our study is to identify which of these parameters change because of age, cognitive state, or the interaction of both. Methods: The sample includes 400 people over 55 years old, who were divided into four groups, according to their age. The cognitive state of the participants was assessed through the MMSE test and three ranks were stablished. Gender was also considered in the analysis. Results: Certain temporal, fluency, rhythm, amplitude and voice quality parameters were found to be related to the cognitive state, while disturbance parameters changed due to age. Frequency parameters were exclusively influenced by gender. Conclusions: Understanding how speech parameters are specifically affected by age, cognitive state, or the interaction of both, is determinant to advance in the use of speech as a clinical marker for the detection of cognitive impairments.
Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy of a New Online Self-Help Intervention for Depression among Korean College Students’ Families
Authors: Gil Minji , Kim Suk-Sun
Published: February 2022

Applying innovative online approaches to interventions for preventing depression is necessary. Since depressive emotions are typically shared within the family, the development of interventions involving family members is critical. This study thus aimed to examine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary outcomes of a new online self-help intervention, MindGuide, among Korean college students’ families. We developed MindGuide, which integrates cognitive behavioral therapy with mindfulness and an emotional regulation approach. A one-group pretest–posttest design was used to measure the changes in the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, the Attitude Toward Suicide scale, and the Satisfaction With Life Scale before and after the intervention. Of the 34 families that began the program, completion rates were 88.2%, 85.3%, and 91.2% for fathers, mothers, and children, respectively. The findings indicated that the MindGuide program is feasible and acceptable for families of Korean college students. The results support the potential effect of MindGuide on reducing depression, improving positive attitudes toward suicide prevention, and enhancing family relationships in participants at risk of depression. However, future research is needed to thoroughly explore and evaluate the efficacy of the MindGuide program.
The Role of Off-Job Crafting in Burnout Prevention during COVID-19 Crisis: A Longitudinal Study
Authors: Pijpker Roald , Kerksieck Philipp , Tušl Martin , de Bloom Jessica , Brauchli Rebecca , Bauer Georg F.
Published: February 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic and remote working challenge employees’ possibilities to recover from work during their off-job time. We examined the relationship between off-job crafting and burnout across the COVID-19 crisis. We used a longitudinal research design, comprising one wave collected before the onset of the pandemic, in March 2019 (T1), and one wave collected during the first lockdown of the crisis in April 2020 (T2). We measured the six off-job crafting dimensions (Crafting for Detachment, Relaxation, Autonomy, Mastery, Meaning, and Affiliation) and burnout (fatigue/exhaustion) via a questionnaire among German and Swiss employees (N = 658; Age M = 47; 55% male). We found that both burnout levels and crafting for affiliation significantly decreased at T2 compared to T1. All off-job crafting dimensions and burnout correlated negatively cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Regression analyses showed that employees who crafted in their off-job time before and during the crisis experienced fewer burnout complaints during the crisis. Looking more closely at the subdimensions of off-job crafting, employees who crafted for detachment before and during, and for affiliation before the crisis, reported less burnout during the crisis. We conclude that off-job crafting may act as a buffer mechanism against burnout during the COVID-19 crisis.
Treatment Preferences for Pharmacological versus Psychological Interventions among Primary Care Providers in Nepal: Mixed Methods Analysis of a Pilot Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Bhardwaj Anvita , Gurung Dristy , Rai Sauharda , Kaiser Bonnie N. , Cafaro Cori L. , Sikkema Kathleen J. , Lund Crick , Luitel Nagendra P. , Kohrt Brandon A.
Published: February 2022

There is increasing evidence supporting the effectiveness of psychological interventions in low- and middle-income countries. However, primary care providers (PCPs) may prefer treating patients with medication. A secondary exploratory analysis of a pilot cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate psychological vs. pharmacological treatment preferences among PCPs. Thirty-four health facilities, including 205 PCPs, participated in the study, with PCPs in 17 facilities assigned to a standard version of the mental health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) training delivered by mental health specialists. PCPs in the other 17 facilities received mhGAP instruction delivered by specialists and people with lived experience of mental illness (PWLE), using a training strategy entitled Reducing Stigma among HealthcAre ProvidErs (RESHAPE). Pre- and post- intervention attitudes were measured through quantitative and qualitative tools. Qualitative interviews with 49 participants revealed that PCPs in both arms endorsed counseling’s benefits and collaboration within the health system to provide counseling. In the RESHAPE arm, PCPs were more likely to increase endorsement of statements such as “depression improves without medication” (F = 9.83, p < 0.001), “not all people with depression must be treated with antidepressants” (χ2 = 17.62, p < 0.001), and “providing counseling to people who have alcohol abuse problems is effective” (χ2 = 26.20, p < 0.001). These mixed-method secondary findings from a pilot trial suggest that in-person participation of PWLE in training PCPs may not only reduce stigma but also increase PCPs’ support of psychological interventions. This requires further investigation in a full-scale trial.