bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Operating Hydrogen-Based Energy Storage Systems in Wind Farms for Smooth Power Injection: A Penalty Fees Aware Model Predictive Control
Authors: Mariani Valerio , Zenith Federico , Glielmo Luigi
Published: August 2022

Smooth power injection is one of the possible services that modern wind farms could provide in the not-so-far future, for which energy storage is required. Indeed, this is one among the three possible operations identified by the International Energy Agency (IEA)-Hydrogen Implementing Agreement (HIA) within the Task 24 final report, that may promote their integration into the main grid, in particular when paired to hydrogen-based energy storages. In general, energy storage can mitigate the inherent unpredictability of wind generation, providing that they are deployed with appropriate control algorithms. On the contrary, in the case of no storage, wind farm operations would be strongly affected, as well as their economic performances since the penalty fees wind farm owners/operators incur in case of mismatches between the contracted power and that actually delivered. This paper proposes a Model Predictive Control (MPC) algorithm that operates a Hydrogen-based Energy Storage System (HESS), consisting of one electrolyzer, one fuel cell and one tank, paired to a wind farm committed to smooth power injection into the grid. The MPC relies on Mixed-Logic Dynamic (MLD) models of the electrolyzer and the fuel cell in order to leverage their advanced features and handles appropriate cost functions in order to account for the operating costs, the potential value of hydrogen as a fuel and the penalty fee mechanism that may negatively affect the expected profits generated by the injection of smooth power. Numerical simulations are conducted by considering wind generation profiles from a real wind farm in the center-south of Italy and spot prices according to the corresponding market zone. The results show the impact of each cost term on the performances of the controller and how they can be effectively combined in order to achieve some reasonable trade-off. In particular, it is highlighted that a static choice of the corresponding weights can lead to not very effective handling of the effects given by the combination of the system conditions with the various exogenous’, while a dynamic choice may suit the purpose instead. Moreover, the simulations show that the developed models and the set-up mathematical program can be fruitfully leveraged for inferring indications on the devices’ sizing.
Water Level Control in the Thermal Power Plant Steam Separator Based on New PID Tuning Method for Integrating Processes
Authors: Kvascev Goran S. , Djurovic Zeljko M.
Published: August 2022

The paper presents an analysis of water-level control in a thermal power plant (TPP) steam separator. This control structure is vital for the entire plant’s stable, reliable, and efficient operation. This process belongs to processes with an integrator because it concerns a level-control issue, and the control variable is the feedwater flow. Said industrial processes are challenging to control and apply standard methods for tuning the PID controller, so a new procedure has been proposed. A procedure for tuning a PID controller for integrating processes is proposed based on the IFOPDT model, obtained from the wide step response of the process. Based on the process parameters estimated, the tuning of the controller is proposed. Results from the TPP TEKO-B2 (350 MW) are presented as an experimental verification. Compared with standard tuning methods, better results are achieved in the form of rise time and disturbance elimination rate. A significantly less risky and faster experiment for parameter estimation and controller tuning is also obtained. In addition, one adjustable parameter is provided to select the relation between performance and robustness. This method can be applied to various industrial processes with an integrator.
Simulation and Prediction of the Potential Geographical Distribution of Acer cordatum Pax in Different Climate Scenarios
Authors: Liu Mi-Li , Sun Hong-Yuan , Jiang Xin , Zhou Tong , Zhang Qi-Jing , Su Zi-Dong , Zhang Ya-Ni , Liu Jian-Ni , Li Zhong-Hu
Published: August 2022

By analyzing the effects of environmental variables on plants, changes in plant distribution as a result of climate oscillations can be studied, which is of great significance to plant protection and management policies. Acer cordatum Pax (Aceraceae) is a non-deciduous tree distributed in valleys and streams in eastern China. Due to the effects of changing climate (warmer, drier conditions) and human impacts, the number of wild individuals of A. cordatum has exhibited a decrease trend, which is in urgent need of protection. In this study, the maximum entropy algorithm (MaxEnt) was used to predict the potential geographical distribution of A. cordatum during the Last Interglacial (LIG), and Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), current, 2060s, and 2080s periods. The model used geographic location information of 337 A. cordatum and six climatic variables. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) of the simulation results were more than 0.95, indicating high accuracy in the simulation result. The mean temperature of coldest quarter, precipitation of warmest quarter, precipitation of driest month, and precipitation of seasonality were important climatic variables influencing the geographic distribution of A. cordatum. Based on the simulate results, the potential distribution areas of A. cordatum experienced a process of expansion and then contraction from LIG to the future. In the future, some potential suitable areas provinces will likely shrink (Guizhou, Fujian, and Anhui), even almost disappear (Chongqing), and the general distribution will trend to transfer in a northeastward direction. It is hoped that this study can provide a theoretical reference for the future protection of A. cordatum.
Metabolic Engineering of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for Production of Fragrant Terpenoids from Agarwood and Sandalwood
Authors: Promdonkoy Peerada , Sornlek Warasirin , Preechakul Thanchanok , Tanapongpipat Sutipa , Runguphan Weerawat
Published: August 2022

Sandalwood and agarwood essential oils are rare natural oils comprising fragrant terpenoids that have been used in perfumes and incense for millennia. Increasing demand for these terpenoids, coupled with difficulties in isolating them from natural sources, have led to an interest in finding alternative production platforms. Here, we engineered the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to produce fragrant terpenoids from sandalwood and agarwood. Specifically, we constructed strain FPPY005_39850, which overexpresses all eight genes in the mevalonate pathway. Using this engineered strain as the background strain, we screened seven distinct terpene synthases from agarwood, sandalwood, and related plant species for their activities in the context of yeast. Five terpene synthases led to the production of fragrant terpenoids, including α-santalene, α-humulene, δ-guaiene, α-guaiene, and β-eudesmol. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of β-eudesmol production in yeast. We further improved the production titers by downregulating ERG9, a key enzyme from a competing pathway, as well as employing enzyme fusions. Our final engineered strains produced fragrant terpenoids at up to 101.7 ± 6.9 mg/L. We envision our work will pave the way for a scalable route to these fragrant terpenoids and further establish S. cerevisiae as a versatile production platform for high-value chemicals.
Intelligent Reflecting Surface-Aided Device-to-Device Communication: A Deep Reinforcement Learning Approach
Authors: Sultana Ajmery , Fernando Xavier
Published: August 2022

Recently, the growing demand of various emerging applications in the realms of sixth-generation (6G) wireless networks has made the term internet of Things (IoT) very popular. Device-to-device (D2D) communication has emerged as one of the significant enablers for the 6G-based IoT network. Recently, the intelligent reflecting surface (IRS) has been considered as a hardware-efficient innovative scheme for future wireless networks due to its ability to mitigate propagation-induced impairments and to realize a smart radio environment. Such an IRS-assisted D2D underlay cellular network is investigated in this paper. Our aim is to maximize the network’s spectrum efficiency (SE) by jointly optimizing the transmit power of both the cellular users (CUs) and the D2D pairs, the resource reuse indicators, and the IRS reflection coefficients. Instead of using traditional optimization solution schemes to solve this mixed integer nonlinear optimization problem, a reinforcement learning (RL) approach is used in this paper. The IRS-assisted D2D communication network is structured by the Markov Decision Process (MDP) in the RL framework. First, a Q-learning-based solution is studied. Then, to make a scalable solution with large dimension state and action spaces, a deep Q-learning-based solution scheme using experience replay is proposed. Lastly, an actor-critic framework based on the deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG) scheme is proposed to learn the optimal policy of the constructed optimization problem considering continuous-valued state and action spaces. Simulation outcomes reveal that the proposed RL-based solution schemes can provide significant SE enhancements compared to the existing optimization schemes.
Effect of Oudemansiella raphanipies Powder on Physicochemical and Textural Properties, Water Distribution and Protein Conformation of Lower-Fat Pork Meat Batter
Authors: Zhao Yingying , Wang Yanqiu , Li Ke , Mazurenko Igor
Published: August 2022

The effects of the addition of different amounts (0%, 1%, 2%, 3% and 4%) of Oudemansiella raphanipies powder (ORP) to lower-fat pork batter on its physicochemical, textural and rheological properties, water distribution and protein conformation were evaluated. The results showed that the addition of ORP from 0% to 4% significantly decreased the pH and L* value of pork batter (p < 0.05); however, it also increased the a* value and enhanced the cooking yield of pork batter from 77% to 92%. Pork batter with 1–2% ORP added had an improved texture profile and a higher storage modulus (G’), but the addition of 3–4% ORP resulted in an inferior texture of pork batter and G’. LF-NMR showed that the addition of ORP significantly increased the peak area ratio of immobile water and reduced the peak area ratio of free water (p < 0.05). ORP significantly affected protein secondary structure of pork batter. The α-helix content of pork batter with 1–2% ORP decreased and β-sheet content increased. Overall, the addition level of 1–2% ORP effectively improved the texture and water holding capacity of lower-fat emulsified sausage and provides a new reference for developing nutritional meat products.
Positive Solutions for a System of Riemann–Liouville Type Fractional-Order Integral Boundary Value Problems
Authors: Zhang Keyu , Alshammari Fehaid Salem , Xu Jiafa , O’Regan Donal
Published: August 2022

In this paper, we use the fixed-point index to establish positive solutions for a system of Riemann–Liouville type fractional-order integral boundary value problems. Some appropriate concave and convex functions are used to characterize coupling behaviors of our nonlinearities.
TeV Dark Matter Searches in the Extragalactic Gamma-ray Sky
Authors: Hütten Moritz , Kerszberg Daniel
Published: August 2022

High-energetic gamma rays from astrophysical targets constitute a unique probe for annihilation or decay of heavy particle dark matter (DM). After several decades, diverse null detections have resulted in strong constraints for DM particle masses up to the TeV scale. While the gamma-ray signature is expected to be universal from various targets, uncertainties of astrophysical origin strongly affect and weaken the limits. At the same time, spurious signals may originate from non-DM related processes. The many gamma-ray targets in the extragalactic sky being searched for DM play a crucial role to keep these uncertainties under control and to ultimately achieve an unambiguous DM detection. Lately, a large progress has been made in combined analyses of TeV DM candidates towards different targets by using data from various instruments and over a wide range of gamma-ray energies. These approaches not only resulted in an optimal exploitation of existing data and an improved sensitivity, but also helped to level out target- and instrument-related uncertainties. This review gathers all searches in the extragalactic sky performed so far with the space-borne Fermi-Large Area Telescope, the ground-based imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes, and the High-Altitude Water Cherenkov Gamma-Ray Observatory (HAWC). We discuss the different target classes and provide a complete list of all analyses so far.
Material Properties and Cell Compatibility of Photo-Crosslinked Sericin Urethane Methacryloyl Hydrogel
Authors: Kader Safaa , Jabbari Esmaiel
Published: August 2022

There is a need to develop novel cytocompatible hydrogels for cell encapsulation and delivery in regenerative medicine. The objective of this work was to synthesize isocyanato ethyl methacryloyl-functionalized sericin and determine its material properties as a natural hydrogel for the encapsulation and delivery of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in regenerative medicine. Sericin extracted from silk cocoons was reacted with 2-isocyanatoethyl methacrylate (IEM) or methacrylic anhydride (MA) to produce sericin urethane methacryloyl (SerAte-UM) or sericin methacryloyl (SerAte-M, control) biopolymers, respectively. The hydrogels produced by photo-crosslinking of the biopolymers in an aqueous solution were characterized with respect to gelation kinetics, microstructure, compressive modulus, water content, degradation, permeability, and viability of encapsulated cells. The secondary structure of citric acid-extracted sericin was not affected by functionalization with IEM or MA. SerAte-UM hydrogel was slightly more hydrophilic than SerAte-M. The gelation time of SerAte-UM hydrogel decreased with an increasing degree of modification. The photo-polymerized SerAte-UM hydrogel had a highly porous, fibrous, honeycomb microstructure with an average pore size in the 40–50 µm range. The compressive modulus, swelling ratio, and permeability of SerAte-UM hydrogel depended on the degree of modification of sericin, and the mass loss after 21 days of incubation in aqueous solution was <25%. Both SerAte-UM and SerAte-M hydrogels supported viability and growth in encapsulated MSCs. The SerAte-UM hydrogel, with its higher hydrophilicity compared to SerAte-M, is promising as a matrix for encapsulation and delivery of stem cells in tissue engineering.
Expression of Transcription Factor ZBTB20 in the Adult Primate Neurogenic Niche under Physiological Conditions or after Ischemia
Authors: Stoyanov Dimo S. , Ivanov Martin N. , Yamashima Tetsumori , Tonchev Anton B.
Published: August 2022

The Zbtb20 gene encodes for a transcription factor that plays an important role in mammalian cortical development. Recently, its expression was reported in the adult mouse subventricular zone (SVZ), a major neurogenic niche containing neural stem cells throughout life. Here, we analyzed its expression in the adult primate anterior SVZ (SVZa) and rostral migratory stream (RMS) using macaque monkeys (Macaca fuscata). We report that the majority of Ki67+ cells, 71.4% in the SVZa and 85.7% in the RMS, co-label for ZBTB20. Nearly all neuroblasts, identified by their Doublecortin expression, were positive for ZBTB20 in both regions. Nearly all GFAP+ neural stem cells/astrocytes were also positive for ZBTB20. Analysis of images derived from a public database of gene expression in control/ischemic monkey SVZa, showed evidence for ZBTB20 upregulation in postischemic monkey SVZa. Furthermore, the co-localization of ZBTB20 with Doublecortin and Ki67 was increased in the postischemic SVZa. Our results suggest that ZBTB20 expression is evolutionarily conserved in the mammalian neurogenic niche and is reactive to ischemia. This opens the possibility for further functional studies on the role of this transcription factor in neurogenesis in primates.
Beliefs and Use of Palpatory Findings in Osteopathic Clinical Practice: A Qualitative Descriptive Study among Italian Osteopaths
Authors: Bergna Andrea , Galli Matteo , Todisco Francesco , Berti Francesca
Published: August 2022

The Italian government has started the regulatory process of osteopathy to include it among the healthcare professions mentioning terms, such as “perceptual palpation” and “somatic dysfunction” within the professional profile. ‘Palpatory findings’ are one of the multidimensional aspects that can inform osteopathic clinical reasoning. The non-regulated educational system has led to heterogenic professionals working in Italy, thus, the aim of this study was to investigate how Italian experts use palpatory findings in their clinical practice. A total of 12 experts were selected to participate in four virtual focus groups. A qualitative inductive approach with a constructivist paradigm was chosen to describe the results. The themes that emerged were: osteopathic identity; evaluation; osteopathic diagnosis; and sharing with different recipients. Participants agreed on the peculiarity and distinctiveness of osteopathic palpation, but there was some disagreement on the clinical significance of the findings, highlighting a complex multidimensional approach to diagnosis and treatment. The results seem to reflect the history of the profession in Italy, which has evolved quickly, leading professionals to seek new paradigms blending tradition and scientific evidence. The authors suggest further investigation to verify the state of art among osteopaths not involved in research or a broader consensus of the results.
Changes in the Brain in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy with Unilateral Hippocampal Sclerosis: An Initial Case Series
Authors: Lim Sung Chul , Oh Juhee , Hong Bo Young , Lim Seong Hoon
Published: August 2022

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is a network disorder of the brain. Network disorders predominately involve dysregulation of hippocampal function caused by neuronal hyperexcitability. However, the relationship between the macro- and microscopic changes in specific brain regions is uncertain. In this study, the pattern of brain atrophy in patients with TLE and hippocampal sclerosis (HS) was investigated using volumetry, and microscopic changes in specific lesions were observed to examine the anatomical correspondence with specific target lesions using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) with statistical parametric mapping (SPM). This retrospective cross-sectional study enrolled 17 patients with TLE and HS. We manually measured the volumes of the hippocampus (HC), amygdala (AMG), entorhinal cortex, fornix, and thalamus (TH) bilaterally. The mean diffusivity and fractional anisotropy of each patient were then quantified and analyzed by a voxel-based statistical correlation method using SPM8. In right TLE with HS, there was no evidence of any abnormal diffusion properties associated with the volume reduction in specific brain regions. In left TLE with HS, there were significant changes in the volumes of the AMG, HC, and TH. Despite the small sample size, these differences in conditions were considered meaningful. Chronic left TLE with HS might cause structural changes in the AMG, HC, and TH, unlike right TLE with HS.
Healthy Sleep Every Day Keeps the Doctor Away
Authors: Feingold Cailan Lindsay , Smiley Abbas
Published: August 2022

When one considers the big picture of their health, sufficient sleep may often go overlooked as a keystone element in this picture. Insufficient sleep in either quality or duration is a growing problem for our modern society. It is essential to look at what this means for our health because insufficient sleep increases our risks of innumerable lifechanging diseases. Beyond increasing the risk of developing these diseases, it also makes the symptoms and pathogenesis of many diseases worse. Additionally, consistent quality sleep can not only improve our physical health but has also been shown to improve mental health and overall quality of life. Substandard sleep health could be a root cause for numerous issues individuals may be facing in their lives. It is essential that physicians take the time to learn about how to educate their patients on sleep health and try to work with them on an individual level to help motivate lifestyle changes. Facilitating access to sleep education for their patients is one way in which physicians can help provide patients with the tools to improve their sleep health. Throughout this paper, we will review the mechanisms behind the relationship between insufficient sleep health and chronic disease and what the science says about how inadequate sleep health negatively impacts the overall health and the quality of our lives. We will also explain the lifechanging effects of sufficient sleep and how we can help patients get there.
Description of ROM-SPORT I Battery: Keys to Assess Lower Limb Flexibility
Authors: Cejudo Antonio
Published: August 2022

Limited range of motion (ROM) is considered one of the most important intrinsic and modifiable risk factors for the most common sports-related injuries. In addition, controlling and monitoring an athlete’s ROM is a strategy to achieve optimal ROM and improve athletic performance in sports, especially those that require high ROM in the major joints. Therefore, assessing ROM (pre-participation, during a rehabilitation process, on return to play, etc.) is important not only as a method to prevent sports injuries, but also as a quantitative determinant of the potential of athletic performance. However, despite the variety of different ROM assessment methods described in the literature, there is no consensus on which methods are best suited for this goal. Recently, the ROM-SPORT I battery has been shown to have advantages over other ROM assessment methods. This tool has not yet been fully described in detail for researchers, sports professionals, and clinicians to learn. The main objective of this study is to describe the ROM-SPORT I battery tests in detail using the following criteria: test description, simplicity of the test procedure, low need for human and material resources, predictive validity, and reliability.
Comparison of the Effectiveness and Safety of Heterologous Booster Doses with Homologous Booster Doses for SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Deng Jie , Ma Yirui , Liu Qiao , Du Min , Liu Min , Liu Jue
Published: August 2022

As vaccine resources were distributed unevenly worldwide, sometimes there might have been shortages or delays in vaccine supply; therefore, considering the use of heterogeneous booster doses for Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) might be an alternative strategy. Therefore, we aimed to review the data available to evaluate and compare the effectiveness and safety of heterologous booster doses with homologous booster doses for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines. We searched relevant studies up to 27 April 2022. Random-effects inverse variance models were used to evaluate the vaccine effectiveness (VE) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) of COVID-19 outcomes and odds ratio (OR) and its CI of safety events. The Newcastle–Ottawa quality assessment scale and Cochrane Collaboration’s tool were used to assess the quality of the included cohort studies. A total of 23 studies involving 1,726,506 inoculation cases of homologous booster dose and 5,343,580 inoculation cases of heterologous booster dose was included. The VE of heterologous booster for the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection (VEheterologous = 96.10%, VEhomologous = 84.00%), symptomatic COVID-19 (VEheterologous = 56.80%, VEhomologous = 17.30%), and COVID-19-related hospital admissions (VEheterologous = 97.40%, VEhomologous = 93.20%) was higher than homologous booster. Compared with homologous booster group, there was a higher risk of fever (OR = 1.930, 95% CI, 1.199–3.107), myalgia (OR = 1.825, 95% CI, 1.079–3.089), and malaise or fatigue (OR = 1.745, 95% CI, 1.047–2.906) within 7 days after boosting, and a higher risk of malaise or fatigue (OR = 4.140, 95% CI, 1.729–9.916) within 28 days after boosting in heterologous booster group. Compared with homologous booster group, geometric mean neutralizing titers (GMTs) of neutralizing antibody for different SARS-CoV-2 variants and response rate of antibody and gama interferon were higher in heterologous booster group. Our findings suggested that both homologous and heterologous COVID-19 booster doses had great effectiveness, immunogenicity, and acceptable safety, and a heterologous booster dose was more effective, which would help make appropriate public health decisions and reduce public hesitancy in vaccination.
Teachers’ Perceptions of Supporting Young Carers in Schools: Identifying Support Needs and the Importance of Home–School Relationships
Authors: Warhurst Amy , Bayless Sarah , Maynard Emma
Published: August 2022

Recognition and support for young carers has improved steadily in the past two decades; with stronger legislation and more visibility and awareness of the challenges that many of the YC face, especially with respect to their education. Recent UK-based initiatives providing toolkits and guidance for school staff have provided much needed direction for schools, to support the loosely defined statutory requirements. The aim of the current research was to hear from school staff about their experiences in identifying and supporting young carers, to better understand any enablers and barriers. The thematic analysis of the interview data from 18 school staff was organized into two main themes: perceptions regarding the characteristics of young carers; and perceptions regarding the importance of home–school communication. Each superordinate theme contained several sub-themes. Overall, the teachers perceived many difficulties identifying young carers who did not volunteer this information and felt that the main enabler of identification was the trust relationships between the school and the pupil and parents. Once identified, the schools perceived the main areas of need that they could provide support for were the emotional wellbeing of the pupils and additional academic opportunities. They spoke too of the difficulties balancing the provision of this extra support within the constraints of the school context, both in terms of the school day, and the competing priorities relating to academic and social–emotional needs. School staff recognized that extra time outside of school was difficult for young carers to attend. Other subthemes are discussed with consideration to enablers and barriers. The implications for the dissemination of good practice, and addressing policy are considered.
Why Are We Frequently Ordering Urinalyses in Patients without Symptoms of Urinary Tract Infections in the Emergency Department?
Authors: van Horrik Tessa M. Z. X. K. , Laan Bart J. , Huizinga Allard B. , Hoitinga Gercora , Poortvliet Walter P. , Geerlings Suzanne E.
Published: August 2022

(1) Background: In the emergency department (ED), ordering urine tests in patients without symptoms of a urinary tract infection can lead to inappropriate antimicrobial treatment. We aimed to identify factors contributing to the unnecessary ordering of urinalyses in the ED. (2) Methods: An online survey study among nurses and physicians working in the EDs of five hospitals in the Netherlands was conducted. (3) Results: The overall response rate was 26% (221/850; 85 nurses and 136 physicians). The vast majority of the respondents reported knowing when to order urine tests (197/221; 90%). Almost two-thirds of the respondents (145/221; 66%) agreed that they ordered urinalyses because it is rapid and non-invasive to patients. Most nurses (66/86; 78%) said they informed the doctor if they thought the urine test would not contribute to the patient’s diagnosis, but only one-third of the physicians agreed with this statement (44/136; 32%). Most respondents (160/221; 72%) thought guidelines or protocols about urinalyses in the ED would be functional. (4) Conclusions: These results suggest urinalyses were frequently ordered in the ED to achieve a fast work process. Nurses and physicians could improve their communication about the indications for urine tests. Developing diagnostic guidelines for urine testing may be convenient.
Intervention for Better Knee Alignment during Jump Landing: Is There an Effect of Internally vs. Externally Focused Instructions?
Authors: Werner Inge , Peer-Kratzer Monika , Mohr Maurice , van-Andel Steven , Federolf Peter
Published: August 2022

Externally focused attention is known to induce superior results in the movement outcome, whereas focusing attention on the moving body (internal focus) causes conscious control and constrains action. The study investigated effects on knee trajectory and whole-body movement complexity when addressing knee alignment using externally (EF) vs. internally (IF) focused instructions. Young ski racers, n = 24 (12 male), performed landings with subsequent jumps to submaximal height. Movements were tracked and analyzed during the ground contact phase. Sets of jumps were executed without instruction (CON), followed by EF and IF instructions on knee alignment in a random order. Medial–lateral displacement of the knee in landing quantified task achievement, and whole-body principal component analysis was used to compute movement complexity. Knee alignment instructions led to a significantly lower medial knee displacement compared to CON (p = 0.001, ηp2 = 0.35). EF vs. IF did not reach significance. EF, as well as IF instructions increased the prominence of the first movement pattern (p = 0.01, ηp2 = 0.22) with a reduction of higher-order patterns (p = 0.002, W = 0.11), suggesting a strategy of freezing degrees of freedom. Both instructions addressing the movement form positively influenced knee displacement during landing, and both led to a freezing strategy, simplifying whole-body coordination.
Financial Measures to Reduce Carbon Emissions in Britain, Japan and the United States: A SWOT Analysis
Authors: Hu Sheng , Zhang Pan , Wei Taoyuan
Published: August 2022

To mitigate global warming, China, the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitter, has set the goals of achieving carbon peak by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060, and financial measures could play an important role. To avoid unnecessary costs, China could learn from the experience of other countries to better understand the potential role of financial measures in achieving carbon emission reduction goals. Hence, this article adopts a SWOT analysis to compare the financial measures taken by Britain, Japan and the United States in the process of carbon emission reduction in the last twenty years. This article finds that government funds and financial innovation have contributed markedly to carbon emission reduction in those three countries. With the help of the SWOT analysis, we recommend that China take financial measures to help achieve carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals from four aspects: formulating proper policy, regulating carbon trading market, strengthening international cooperation, and promoting innovation.
Prophylactic Instillation of Hydrogen-Rich Water Decreases Corneal Inflammation and Promotes Wound Healing by Activating Antioxidant Activity in a Rat Alkali Burn Model
Authors: Kasamatsu Momoko , Arima Takeshi , Ikebukuro Toyo , Nakano Yuji , Tobita Yutaro , Uchiyama Masaaki , Shimizu Akira , Takahashi Hiroshi
Published: August 2022

Many studies have demonstrated the therapeutic effects of hydrogen in pathological conditions such as inflammation; however, little is known about its prophylactic effects. The purpose of this study is to investigate the prophylactic effects of hydrogen-rich water instillation in a rat corneal alkali burn model. Hydrogen-rich water (hydrogen group) or physiological saline (vehicle group) was instilled continuously to the normal rat cornea for 5 min. At 6 h after instillation, the cornea was exposed to alkali. The area of corneal epithelial defect (CED) was measured every 6 h until 24 h after alkali exposure. In addition, at 6 and 24 h after injury, histological and immunohistochemical observations were made and real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed to investigate superoxide dismutase enzyme (SOD)1, SOD2, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α) mRNA expression. CED at 12 h and the number of inflammatory infiltrating cells at 6 h after injury were significantly smaller in the hydrogen group than the vehicle group. Furthermore, SOD1 expression was significantly higher in the hydrogen group than the vehicle group at both 6 and 24 h, and the number of PGC-1α-positive cells was significantly larger in the hydrogen group than the vehicle group at 6 h after injury. In this model, prophylactic instillation of hydrogen-rich water suppressed alkali burn-induced inflammation, likely by upregulating expression of antioxidants such as SOD1 and PGC-1α. Hydrogen has not only therapeutic potential but also prophylactic effects that may suppress corneal scarring following injury and promote wound healing.
Chronic Alcohol Exposure Promotes Cancer Stemness and Glycolysis in Oral/Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Lines by Activating NFAT Signaling
Authors: Nguyen Anthony , Kim Anna H. , Kang Mo K. , Park No-Hee , Kim Reuben H. , Kim Yong , Shin Ki-Hyuk
Published: August 2022

Alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of several cancers, including oral/oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Alcohol also enhances the progression and aggressiveness of existing cancers; however, its underlying molecular mechanism remains elusive. Especially, the local carcinogenic effects of alcohol on OSCC in closest contact with ingestion of alcohol are poorly understood. We demonstrated that chronic ethanol exposure to OSCC increased cancer stem cell (CSC) populations and their stemness features, including self-renewal capacity, expression of stem cell markers, ALDH activity, and migration ability. The ethanol exposure also led to a significant increase in aerobic glycolysis. Moreover, increased aerobic glycolytic activity was required to support the stemness phenotype of ethanol-exposed OSCC, suggesting a molecular coupling between cancer stemness and metabolic reprogramming. We further demonstrated that chronic ethanol exposure activated NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T cells) signaling in OSCC. Functional studies revealed that pharmacological and genetic inhibition of NFAT suppressed CSC phenotype and aerobic glycolysis in ethanol-exposed OSCC. Collectively, chronic ethanol exposure promotes cancer stemness and aerobic glycolysis via activation of NFAT signaling. Our study provides a novel insight into the roles of cancer stemness and metabolic reprogramming in the molecular mechanism of alcohol-mediated carcinogenesis.
Role of Muscle LIM Protein in Mechanotransduction Process
Authors: Germain Philippe , Delalande Anthony , Pichon Chantal
Published: August 2022

The induction of protein synthesis is crucial to counteract the deconditioning of neuromuscular system and its atrophy. In the past, hormones and cytokines acting as growth factors involved in the intracellular events of these processes have been identified, while the implications of signaling pathways associated with the anabolism/catabolism ratio in reference to the molecular mechanism of skeletal muscle hypertrophy have been recently identified. Among them, the mechanotransduction resulting from a mechanical stress applied to the cell appears increasingly interesting as a potential pathway for therapeutic intervention. At present, there is an open question regarding the type of stress to apply in order to induce anabolic events or the type of mechanical strain with respect to the possible mechanosensing and mechanotransduction processes involved in muscle cells protein synthesis. This review is focused on the muscle LIM protein (MLP), a structural and mechanosensing protein with a LIM domain, which is expressed in the sarcomere and costamere of striated muscle cells. It acts as a transcriptional cofactor during cell proliferation after its nuclear translocation during the anabolic process of differentiation and rebuilding. Moreover, we discuss the possible opportunity of stimulating this mechanotransduction process to counteract the muscle atrophy induced by anabolic versus catabolic disorders coming from the environment, aging or myopathies.
Histone Deacetylases Function in the Control of Early Hematopoiesis and Erythropoiesis
Authors: Vong Pascal , Ouled-Haddou Hakim , Garçon Loïc
Published: August 2022

Numerous studies have highlighted the role of post-translational modifications in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation and death. Among these modifications, acetylation modifies the physicochemical properties of proteins and modulates their activity, stability, localization and affinity for partner proteins. Through the deacetylation of a wide variety of functional and structural, nuclear and cytoplasmic proteins, histone deacetylases (HDACs) modulate important cellular processes, including hematopoiesis, during which different HDACs, by controlling gene expression or by regulating non-histone protein functions, act sequentially to provide a fine regulation of the differentiation process both in early hematopoietic stem cells and in more mature progenitors. Considering that HDAC inhibitors represent promising targets in cancer treatment, it is necessary to decipher the role of HDACs during hematopoiesis which could be impacted by these therapies. This review will highlight the main mechanisms by which HDACs control the hematopoietic stem cell fate, particularly in the erythroid lineage.
Physiological and Molecular Response Modifications by Ultraviolet-C Radiation in Plutella xylostella and Its Compatibility with Cordyceps fumosorosea
Authors: Khan Muhammad Musa , Fan Ze-Yun , Sabir Irfan Ali , Hafeez Muhammad , Wen Sang , Wu Jian-Hui , Qiu Bao-Li
Published: August 2022

Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) radiation significantly impacts living organisms. UV-C radiation can also be used as a pest management tool. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the effect of UV-C radiation on the physiology and gene expression level of Plutella xylostella, a destructive vegetable pest. Results showed that, after exposure to UV-C radiation for 3, 6, 12, and 24 h, the activity of SOD (superoxide dismutase) and CAT (catalase) of P. xylostella increased, while the activity of PPO (polyphenol oxidase), POD (peroxidase), AChE (acetylcholinesterase), CarE (carboxylesterase), and ACP (acid phosphatase) decreased with increased exposure time. Correlation coefficient analyses indicated that the activity of CAT correlated positively, while PPO and CarE correlated negatively, with exposure time. Gene regulation analysis via qRT-PCR confirmed a significant increase in regulation in CAT, CarE, and PPO-related genes. We also investigated the effect of UV-C exposure on the virulence of Cordyceps fumosorosea against P. xylostella. Here, results indicated that when the fungal treatment was applied to larvae before UV-C radiation, the virulence of C. fumosorosea was significantly reduced. However, this decline in virulence of C. fumosorosea due to UV-C exposure remained only for one generation, and no effect was observed on secondary infection. On the other hand, when larvae were exposed to UV-C radiation before fungal application, the mortality rate significantly increased as the exposure time to UV-C radiation increased. From the current study, it could be concluded that UV-C exposure suppressed the immunity to P. xylostella, which later enhanced the virulence of entomopathogenic fungi. Moreover, the study also suggested that UV irradiation is an effective pest management tool that could be incorporated into pest management strategies, which could help reduce pesticide application, be economically beneficial for the farmer, and be environmentally safe.
Transcription Factor CmNAC34 Regulated CmLCYB-Mediated β-Carotene Accumulation during Oriental Melon Fruit Ripening
Authors: Zhao Yaping , Duan Xiaoyu , Wang Lixia , Gao Ge , Xu Chuanqiang , Qi Hongyan
Published: August 2022

Ripened oriental melon (Cucumis melo) with orange-colored flesh is rich in β-carotene. Lycopene β-cyclase (LCYB) is the synthetic enzyme that directly controls the massive accumulation of β-carotene. However, the regulatory mechanism underlying the CmLCYB-mediated β-carotene accumulation in oriental melon is fairly unknown. Here, we screened and identified a transcription factor, CmNAC34, by combining bioinformatics analysis and yeast one-hybrid screen with CmLCYB promoter. CmNAC34 was located in the nucleus and acted as a transcriptional activator. The expression profile of CmNAC34 was consistent with that of CmLCYB during the fruit ripening. Additionally, the transient overexpression of CmNAC34 in oriental melon fruit promoted the expression of CmLCYB and enhanced β-carotene concentration, while transient silence of CmNAC34 in fruit was an opposite trend, which indicated CmNAC34 could modulate CmLCYB-mediated β-carotene biosynthesis in oriental melon. Finally, the yeast one-hybrid (Y1H), electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), β-glucuronidase (GUS) analysis assay, and luciferase reporter (LUC) assay indicated that CmNAC34 could bind to the promoter of CmLCYB and positively regulated the CmLCYB transcription level. These findings suggested that CmNAC34 acted as an activator to regulate β-carotene accumulation by directly binding the promoter of CmLCYB, which provides new insight into the regulatory mechanism of carotenoid metabolism during the development and ripening of oriental melon.
Morphological and Molecular Responses of Lateolabrax maculatus Skeletal Muscle Cells to Different Temperatures
Authors: Zhang Jingru , Wen Haishen , Qi Xin , Zhang Yonghang , Dong Ximeng , Zhang Kaiqiang , Zhang Meizhao , Li Jifang , Li Yun
Published: August 2022

Temperature strongly modulates muscle development and growth in ectothermic teleosts; however, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. In this study, primary cultures of skeletal muscle cells of Lateolabrax maculatus were conducted and reared at different temperatures (21, 25, and 28 °C) in both the proliferation and differentiation stages. CCK-8, EdU, wound scratch and nuclear fusion index assays revealed that the proliferation, myogenic differentiation, and migration processes of skeletal muscle cells were significantly accelerated as the temperature raises. Based on the GO, GSEA, and WGCNA, higher temperature (28 °C) induced genes involved in HSF1 activation, DNA replication, and ECM organization processes at the proliferation stage, as well as HSF1 activation, calcium activity regulation, myogenic differentiation, and myoblast fusion, and sarcomere assembly processes at the differentiation stage. In contrast, lower temperature (21 °C) increased the expression levels of genes associated with DNA damage, DNA repair and apoptosis processes at the proliferation stage, and cytokine signaling and neutrophil degranulation processes at the differentiation stage. Additionally, we screened several hub genes regulating myogenesis processes. Our results could facilitate the understanding of the regulatory mechanism of temperature on fish skeletal muscle growth and further contribute to utilizing rational management strategies and promoting organism growth and development.
Predicting Emergency Department Utilization among Older Hong Kong Population in Hot Season: A Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Zhou Huiquan , Luo Hao , Lau Kevin Ka-Lun , Qian Xingxing , Ren Chao , Chau Puihing
Published: August 2022

Previous evidence suggests that temperature is associated with the number of emergency department (ED) visits. A predictive system for ED visits, which takes local temperature into account, is therefore needed. This study aimed to compare the predictive performance of various machine learning methods with traditional statistical methods based on temperature variables and develop a daily ED attendance rate predictive model for Hong Kong. We analyzed ED utilization among Hong Kong older adults in May to September from 2000 to 2016. A total of 103 potential predictors were derived from 1- to 14-day lag of ED attendance rate and meteorological and air quality indicators and 0-day lag of holiday indicator and month and day of week indicators. LASSO regression was used to identify the most predictive temperature variables. Decision tree regressor, support vector machine (SVM) regressor, and random forest regressor were trained on the selected optimal predictor combination. Deep neural network (DNN) and gated recurrent unit (GRU) models were performed on the extended predictor combination for the previous 14-day horizon. Maximum ambient temperature was identified as a better predictor in its own value than as an indicator defined by the cutoff. GRU achieved the best predictive accuracy. Deep learning methods, especially the GRU model, outperformed conventional machine learning methods and traditional statistical methods.
Effects of Co-Solvent on the Morphology, Physicochemical Properties, and Performance of PVDF Electrospun Membranes in Comparison to Flat-Sheet Membranes
Authors: Abd El-Latif Reham A. , Aziz Marwa E. Abdel , El-Taweel Safaa H. , El-Khair Malak T. Abou , Saad Gamal R.
Published: August 2022

Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membranes were fabricated using two different methods: the electro-spinning technique and the phase inversion process. The effect of a DMF/acetone solvent composition on the quality of the electrospun fibers of the PVDF membrane was investigated. The prepared PVDF membranes have been characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and contact angle. Uniform fibrous membranes with fiber diameters ranging mainly from 6 μm to 1.5 μm were formed from 16% (w/w) PVDF solutions in 50/50 (w/w) DMF/acetone at 30 kV voltage and 0.3 mL/h flow rate. The effect of surface morphology and hydrophilicity on anti-fouling potential was also studied and compared with flat-sheet membranes. It was found that the spun fibrous membranes exhibited the best hydrophilicity and antifouling properties with an average pure water permeability up to 400 L/m2/h, higher than that of the flat-sheet membranes, which exhibited 200 L/m2/h. Performance evaluation of the prepared PVDF membranes (water flux and organic matter retention) has been done through the use of a dead-end apparatus, where the results demonstrated the efficiency of electrospun membrane over the conventionally prepared flat-sheet membrane for utilization as a pretreatment stage of ultrafiltration and microfiltration (MF/UF), before reverse osmosis (RO) in the desalination plant.