bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modelling Future Agricultural Mechanisation of Major Crops in China: An Assessment of Energy Demand, Land Use and Emissions
Authors: García Kerdan Iván , Giarola Sara , Skinner Ellis , Tuleu Marin , Hawkes Adam
Published: December 2020

Agricultural direct energy use is responsible for about 1–2% of global emissions and is the major emitting sector for methane (2.9 GtCO2eq y−1) and nitrous oxide (2.3 GtCO2eq y−1). In the last century, farm mechanisation has brought higher productivity levels and lower land demands at the expense of an increase in fossil energy and agrochemicals use. The expected increase in certain food and bioenergy crops and the uncertain mitigation options available for non-CO2 emissions make of vital importance the assessment of the use of energy and the related emissions attributable to this sector. The aim of this paper is to present a simulation framework able to forecast energy demand, technological diffusion, required investment and land use change of specific agricultural crops. MUSE-Ag & LU, a novel energy systems-oriented agricultural and land use model, has been used for this purpose. As case study, four main crops (maize, soybean, wheat and rice) have been modelled in mainland China. Besides conventional direct energy use, the model considers inputs such as fertiliser and labour demand. Outputs suggest that the modernisation of agricultural processes in China could have the capacity to reduce by 2050 on-farm emissions intensity from 0.024 to 0.016 GtCO2eq PJcrop−1 (−35.6%), requiring a necessary total investment of approximately 319.4 billion 2017$US.
Numerical Investigation of Stable Stratification Effects on Wind Resource Assessment in Complex Terrain
Authors: Uchida Takanori , Takakuwa Susumu
Published: December 2020

In the present study, we perform numerical simulations considering various stable atmospheric conditions for a small-scale simple topography. Based on the obtained simulation results, we visualize the flow field and discuss drastic changes in the flow patterns. A flow pattern similar to the potential flow suddenly appears around an isolated hill as the stability increases, regardless of the inclination angle of the hill. We show that a critical Richardson number clearly exists. Furthermore, the effect of stable stratification on the evaluation of power generation is shown for typical complex terrain. We evaluate the capacity factor (%) of a 2 MW large wind turbine based on one-year virtual mast data and consider the effect of stable stratification. It is shown, in the case of stable stratification, that the capacity factor is 2.775 times greater than that under neutral stratification.
Studying the Level of Sustainable Energy Development of the European Union Countries and Their Similarity Based on the Economic and Demographic Potential
Authors: Tutak Magdalena , Brodny Jarosław , Siwiec Dominika , Ulewicz Robert , Bindzár Peter
Published: December 2020

The concept of sustainable economic development takes into account economic, social and environmental aspects and strives to achieve balance between them. One of the basic areas where it is required to revalue the current views on sustainable development is energy. The growing public awareness of environmental protection forces changes in this industry. Despite the global nature of this problem, its solution is perceived differently in various regions of the world. The unquestionable leader in introducing the idea of sustainable development economy is the European Union, where the energy sector is of key importance for the effectiveness of this process. In order to assess the sustainable energy development of the European Union countries, studies were conducted based on 13 selected indicators characterizing this sector in terms of energy, economy and environment. In order to assess the specificity of the European Union countries, these indicators were additionally compared to the gross domestic product value and the number of inhabitants of individual countries. For these cases, multi-criteria analyses were carried out using the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method. It allowed the authors to rank the European Union countries in terms of their adaptation to a sustainable energy economy. Based on the determined values of indicators versus the gross domestic product and the number of inhabitants of the countries in question, these countries were also divided into similar groups with the use of the Kohonen artificial neural networks. These groups can pursue a common energy policy in the field of sustainable development. The aim of the research was to present a new approach to the assessment of sustainable energy development of the European Union countries. The extensive ratio analysis (13 indicators of the sustainable energy development), including the economic and demographic potential of individual countries, and the use of modern tools made it possible to acquire new knowledge in the field of sustainable energy development in the European Union countries. The results should be utilized for more effective sustainable energy development of the European Union countries.
Modelling and Fault Current Characterization of Superconducting Cable with High Temperature Superconducting Windings and Copper Stabilizer Layer
Authors: Tsotsopoulou Eleni , Dyśko Adam , Hong Qiteng , Elwakeel Abdelrahman , Elshiekh Mariam , Yuan Weijia , Booth Campbell , Tzelepis Dimitrios
Published: December 2020

With the high penetration of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) in power systems, the short-circuit levels have changed, creating the requirement for altering or upgrading the existing switchgear and protection schemes. In addition, the continuous increase in power (accounting both for generation and demand) has imposed, in some cases, the need for the reinforcement of existing power system assets such as feeders, transformers, and other substation equipment. To overcome these challenges, the development of superconducting devices with fault current limiting capabilities in power system applications has been proposed as a promising solution. This paper presents a power system fault analysis exercise in networks integrating Superconducting Cables (SCs). This studies utilized a validated model of SCs with second generation High Temperature Superconducting tapes (2G HTS tapes) and a parallel-connected copper stabilizer layer. The performance of the SCs during fault conditions has been tested in networks integrating both synchronous and converter-connected generation. During fault conditions, the utilization of the stabilizer layer provides an alternative path for transient fault currents, and therefore reduces heat generation and assists with the protection of the cable. The effect of the quenching phenomenon and the fault current limitation is analyzed from the perspective of both steady state and transient fault analysis. This paper also provides meaningful insights into SCs, with respect to fault current limiting features, and presents the challenges associated with the impact of SCs on power systems protection.
Predicting the Amount of Electric Power Transaction Using Deep Learning Methods
Authors: Bak Gwiman , Bae Youngchul
Published: December 2020

The most important thing to operate a power system is that the power supply should be close to the power demand. In order to predict the amount of electric power transaction (EPT), it is important to choose and decide the variable and its starting date. In this paper, variables that could be acquired one the starting day of prediction were chosen. This paper designated date, temperature and special day as variables to predict the amount of EPT of the Korea Electric Power company. This paper also used temperature data from a year ago to predict the next year. To do this, we proposed single deep learning algorithms and hybrid deep learning algorithms. The former included multi-layer perceptron (MLP), convolution neural network (CNN), long short-term memory (LSTM), gated recurrent unit (GRU), support vector machine regression (SVR), and adaptive network-based fuzzy inference system (ANFIS). The latter included LSTM + CNN and CNN + LSTM. We then confirmed the improvement of accuracy for prediction using pre-processed variables compared to original variables We also assigned two years of test data during 2017–2018 as variable data to measure high prediction accuracy. We then selected a high-accuracy algorithm after measuring root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute percent error (MAPE). Finally, we predicted the amount of EPT in 2018 and then measured the error for each proposed algorithm. With these acquired error data, we obtained a model for predicting the amount of EPT with a high accuracy.
Proton Competition and Free Ion Activities Drive Cadmium, Copper, and Nickel Accumulation in River Biofilms in a Nordic Ecosystem
Authors: Laderriere Vincent , Paris Louise-Emmanuelle , Fortin Claude
Published: December 2020

Biofilms can be used as a biomonitoring tool to determine metal bioavailability in streams affected by mining and other anthropogenic activities. Surface water and biofilm were sampled over two years from rivers located in the vicinity of a mine located in a Nordic ecosystem (Nunavik, Quebec). Biofilm metal content (Cd, Cu, and Ni) as well as a variety of physicochemical properties were determined to examine relationships between metal accumulation and water quality. Among the three metals of interest, copper and nickel had the highest levels of accumulation and cadmium had the lowest. When considering the exposure levels, nickel was the most abundant metal in our sampling sites. Both exposure and accumulation levels were consistent over time. Biofilm metal content was highly correlated to the ambient free metal ion concentration for sites of circumneutral pHs for all three metals. When the surface water pH was below 6, biofilm metal content was much lower than at other sites with similar aqueous metal concentrations of exposure. This apparent protective effect of decreasing pH can be explained by proton competition with dissolved metals for uptake binding sites at the surface of the organisms within the biofilm as described by the Biotic Ligand Model principles. The relationships obtained for Cd and Cu were overlapping those observed in previous publications, indicating strong similarities in metal accumulation processes in biofilms over very large geographical areas. Although more data are needed for Ni, our results show that biofilms represent a promising metal biomonitoring tool.
Methods for Nondestructive Testing of Urban Trees
Authors: Allison Richard Bruce , Wang Xiping , Senalik Christopher A.
Published: December 2020

Researchers have developed various methods and tools for nondestructively testing urban trees for decay and stability. A general review of these methods includes simple visual inspection, acoustic measuring devices, microdrills, pull testing, ground penetrating radar, x-ray scanning, remote sensing, electrical resistivity tomography and infra-red thermography. Along with these testing methods have come support literature to interpret the data.
Nutrient Effect on the Taste of Mineral Waters: Evidence from Europe
Authors: Honig Vladimir , Procházka Petr , Obergruber Michal , Roubík Hynek
Published: December 2020

In this study, 15 selected bottled mineral waters from chosen European countries were tested for their mineral nutrient contents. In particular, six important nutrients (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, HCO3−, Cl−) were measured using atomic absorption spectroscopy. The content of mineral nutrients in all sampled mineral waters were compared to their expected content based on the label. Consequently, their taste was evaluated by 60 trained panelists who participated in the sensory analysis. The results from both the atomic absorption spectroscopy and sensory analysis were analyzed using the regression framework. On the basis of the results from the regression analysis, we determined to what extent the individual mineral nutrients determined the taste of the mineral water. According to the regression results, four out of six analyzed nutrients had a measurable impact on taste. These findings can help producers to provide ideal, health-improving nutrients for mineral water buyers.
Enhancing the Hydrogen Storage Properties of AxBy Intermetallic Compounds by Partial Substitution: A Short Review
Authors: Lys Andrii , Fadonougbo Julien O. , Faisal Mohammad , Suh Jin-Yoo , Lee Young-Su , Shim Jae-Hyeok , Park Jihye , Cho Young Whan
Published: December 2020

Solid-state hydrogen storage covers a broad range of materials praised for their gravimetric, volumetric and kinetic properties, as well as for the safety they confer compared to gaseous or liquid hydrogen storage methods. Among them, AxBy intermetallics show outstanding performances, notably for stationary storage applications. Elemental substitution, whether on the A or B site of these alloys, allows the effective tailoring of key properties such as gravimetric density, equilibrium pressure, hysteresis and cyclic stability for instance. In this review, we present a brief overview of partial substitution in several AxBy alloys, from the long-established AB5 and AB2-types, to the recently attractive and extensively studied AB and AB3 alloys, including the largely documented solid-solution alloy systems. We not only present classical and pioneering investigations, but also report recent developments for each AxBy category. Special care is brought to the influence of composition engineering on desorption equilibrium pressure and hydrogen storage capacity. A simple overview of the AxBy operating conditions is provided, hence giving a sense of the range of possible applications, whether for low- or high-pressure systems.
What Motivates Internet Users to Search for Asperger Syndrome and Autism on Google?
Authors: Tárraga-Mínguez Raúl , Gómez-Marí Irene , Sanz-Cervera Pilar
Published: December 2020

Social campaigns are carried out to promote autism spectrum disorder (ASD) awareness, normalization, and visibility. The internet helps to shape perceptions of Asperger syndrome and autism. In fact, these campaigns often coincide with the increase in searches for both diagnoses on Google. We have two study objectives: to use Google Trends to identify the annual time points from 2015 to 2019 with the highest Google search traffic in Spain for the terms “autism” and “Asperger”, and to identify news and trending topics related to ASD that took place during the weeks with the highest number of Google searches for these terms. Google Trend, MyNews and Trendinalia were used to analyze the volume of searches and trending topics related to ASD. As a result, social marketing campaigns, social networks and the publication of news items act as powerful voices that can provide a realistic or sensationalist picture of the disorder. For this reason, we concluded that campaigns play an important role in the normalization of ASD, and that it is important for organizations concerned with the visibility and social inclusion of people with ASD to check the way ASD is portrayed through the internet, media, and social networks.
Two-Source Capture-Recapture Method to Estimate the Incidence of Acute Flaccid Paralysis in the Marches Region (Italy)
Authors: Barbadoro Pamela , Luciani Aurora , Ciotti Matteo , D’Errico Marcello ,   on behalf of the AFP Working Collaborative Group
Published: December 2020

A combination of high infant immunization coverage and surveillance of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases, plays a critical role in polio eradication. This study aimed to estimate the incidence of AFP, to evaluate the completeness of AFP ascertainment during the years, age groups and gender, and to define the main associated diagnosis among children aged under 15 in the Marches region of Italy. Analysis was performed on data from the active AFP surveillance system and the hospital discharge records in the 2006–2014 period. The two-source capture-recapture method was applied. After cross-validation, 30 AFP compatible conditions as defined by the WHO were identified, with an incidence estimate of 1.91 cases of AFP per 100,000 children under 15 years (95% CI = 1.4–2.6/100,000). Guillain–Barrè syndrome was the most common diagnosis. A significant difference (p < 0.05) has been registered in the estimated probability of case ascertainment in females. The reasons for the lower reporting of cases in females are unknown. Specific research and the implementation of a more sensitive surveillance system are essential in verifying potential inequalities and to succeed in the polio eradication initiative.
Emotional Intelligence as a Protective Factor against Victimization in School Bullying
Authors: León-del-Barco Benito , Lázaro Santiago Mendo , Polo-del-Río María-Isabel , López-Ramos Víctor-María
Published: December 2020

Previous research has identified the main predictors of being a victim of school bullying. This study focused on the phenomenon of school bullying and its relationship with self-perceived emotional intelligence. The main aim was to analyze the mediating effect of emotional attention, clarity, and repair in relation to school victimization. The sample was made up of 822 primary school pupils from 10 public schools. Data were collected through self-reports, exploring the profile of victims of school bullying, and the dimensions of self-perceived emotional intelligence (PEI). A multivariate analysis and multinomial regression showed a relationship between the two variables; the probability of being a victim of school bullying was 5.14 times higher among pupils with low clarity, 2.72 times higher among pupils with low repair, and 2.62 times higher among pupils with excessive attention. The results demonstrated that the better their emotional regulation and understanding, the less likely pupils are to be victims of school bullying. This confirmed that adequate emotional attention and excellent emotional clarity and repair are protective factors against victimization.
Application of Lean 6s Methodology in an Engineering Education Environment during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic
Authors: Jiménez Mariano , Romero Luis , Fernández Jon , Espinosa María del Mar , Domínguez Manuel
Published: December 2020

In this work, the application of the Lean 6S methodology is exposed, which includes the Safety-Security activity in response to the demands caused by the epidemiological situation due to exposure to SARS-CoV-2, as well as its implementation through a standardized process in n higher education environment in the engineering field. The application of methodologies based on lean principles in the organizational system of an educational institution, causes an impact on the demands of organizational efficiency, where innovation and continuous improvement mark the path to success. The Lean 6S methodology, based on the development of six phases, guarantees, thanks to the impact of all its phases and especially of three of them: cleaning, standardize and safety, the control of the health risk against SARS-CoV-2. This guarantee is achieved through the permanent review of safety in the workplace. The areas of selected implementation to verify the effect have been the essential spaces for the development of the teaching activity: center accesses, learning rooms and practical laboratories. The laboratories are adapted to the security and organization conditions that are required in the regulations required by the Occupational Risk Prevention Services against exposure to SARS-CoV-2, since the appropriate protective equipment for the risk level is reviewed, the ordering of the workstations, the class attendance through the shifts organization and the rearrangement of the common places where the maintenance of a minimum interpersonal safety distance between the teaching staff, auxiliary services and students is guaranteed. The effort of the teaching staff in terms of following the established rules is notably increased. To balance this dedication, it is necessary to increase and rely on auxiliary personnel who guarantee rules compliance control in different spaces than the classroom and the laboratory.
A Meta-Regression Analysis of Utility Weights for Breast Cancer: The Power of Patients’ Experience
Authors: Gong Jiryoun , Han Juhee , Lee Donghwan , Bae Seungjin
Published: December 2020

To summarize utility estimates of breast cancer and to assess the relative impacts of study characteristics on predicting breast cancer utilities. We searched Medline, Embase, RISS, and KoreaMed from January 1996 to April 2019 to find literature reporting utilities for breast cancer. Thirty-five articles were identified, reporting 224 utilities. A hierarchical linear model was used to conduct a meta-regression that included disease stages, assessment methods, respondent type, age of the respondents, and scale bounds as explanatory variables. The utility for early and late-stage breast cancer, as estimated by using the time-tradeoff with the scales anchored by death to perfect health with non-patients, were 0.742 and 0.525, respectively. The severity of breast cancer, assessment method, and respondent type were significant predictors of utilities, but the age of the respondents and bounds of the scale were not. Patients who experienced the health states valued 0.142 higher than did non-patients (p < 0.001). Besides the disease stage, the respondent type had the highest impact on breast cancer utility.
Scaling Down the PGCM Scale to Assess Views on Ageing More Efficiently: Finding a New Alternative
Authors: Doseděl Tomáš , Menšíková Tereza , Vidovićová Lucie
Published: December 2020

The aim of the study is to present a new and efficient way of measuring the quality of life among older populations, with special attention to morale, positive outlook on life and ageing. The measure is based on the Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale (PGCM), originally consisting of 22 items. The growing numbers and proportions of older people among European populations has increased the need to obtain more reliable data on their needs, values, life experiences and overall quality of life. Using data from six surveys conducted in the Czech Republic, we have formulated a three-item positive outlook on life and ageing (POLA) scale. Our analyses are divided into three steps: (1) constructing the scale and testing its internal consistency; (2) testing the scale’s external validity using mean comparisons and correlation coefficients; and (3) determining the factors affecting a positive outlook on later life, such as gender and education. We have confirmed that the three-item approach to measuring positive outlook on ageing as a part of morale is highly applicable to surveys, producing compelling results in assessing important quality-of-life sub-concepts, such as subjective health, subjective age, and loneliness.
The Impacts of National Centralized Drug Procurement Policy on Drug Utilization and Drug Expenditures: The Case of Shenzhen, China
Authors: Chen Lei , Yang Ying , Luo Mi , Hu Borui , Yin Shicheng , Mao Zongfu
Published: December 2020

In 2019, the Chinese government implemented the first round of the National Centralized Drug Procurement (NCDP) pilot (so-called “4 + 7” policy) in mainland China, in which 25 drugs were included. We conducted this study to examine the impacts of NCDP policy on drug utilization and expenditures, and to clarify the main factors contributing to drug expenditure changes. This study used drug purchasing order data from the Centralized Drug Procurement Survey in Shenzhen 2019. Drugs related to the “4 + 7” policy were selected as study samples, including 23 “4 + 7” policy-related varieties and 15 basic alternative drugs. Driving factors for drug expenditures changes were analyzed using A.M. index system analysis (Addis A. & Magrini N.’ method). After the implementation of the NCDP policy, the volume of “4 + 7” policy-related varieties increased by 73.8%, among which winning products jumped by 1638.2% and non-winning products dropped by 70.8%; the expenditures of “4 + 7” policy-related varieties decreased by 36.9%. Structure effects (0.47) and price effects (0.78) negatively contributed to the increase in drug expenditures of “4 + 7” policy-related varieties, while volume effects (1.73) had positive influence. NCDP policy successfully decreased drug expenditures of “4 + 7” policy-related varieties with structure effects playing a leading role. However, total drug expenditures were not effectively controlled due to the increasing use of alternative drugs.
Orofacial Trauma on the Anterior Zone of a Trumpet’s Player Maxilla: Concept of the Oral Rehabilitation—A Case Report
Authors: Clemente Miguel Pais , Moreira André , Carvalho Nádia , Bernardes Gilberto , Ferreira Afonso Pinhão , Amarante José Manuel , Mendes Joaquim
Published: December 2020

Background: The occurrence of an orofacial trauma can originate health, social, economic and professional problems. A 13-year boy suffered the avulsion of tooth 11 and 21, lost at the scenario. Methods: Three intraoral appliances were manufactured: A Hawley appliance with a central expansion screw and two central incisors (1), trumpet edentulous anterior tooth appliance (2) and a customized splint (3) were designed as part of the rehabilitation procedure. Objectively assessing the sound quality of the trumpet player with these new devices in terms of its spectral, temporal, and spectro-temporal audio properties. A linear frequency response microphone was adopted for precision measurement of pitch, loudness, and timbre descriptors. Results: Pitch deviations may result from the different intra-oral appliances due to the alteration of the mouth cavity, respectively, the area occupied and modification/interaction with the anatomy. This investigation supports the findings that the intra-oral appliance which occupies less volume is the best solution in terms of sound quality. Conclusions: Young wind instrumentalists should have dental impressions of their teeth made, so their dentist has the most reliable anatomy of the natural teeth in case of an orofacial trauma. Likewise, the registration of their sound quality should be done regularly to have standard parameters for comparison.
Promoting Physical Activity during School Closures Imposed by the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Physical Education Teachers’ Behaviors in France, Italy and Turkey
Authors: Gobbi Erica , Maltagliati Silvio , Sarrazin Philippe , di Fronso Selenia , Colangelo Alessandra , Cheval Boris , Escriva-Boulley Géraldine , Tessier Damien , Demirhan Giyasettin , Erturan Gokce , Yüksel Yilmaz , Papaioannou Athanasios , Bertollo Maurizio , Carraro Attilio
Published: December 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically reduced physical activity (PA) behaviors of many people. Physical education (PE) is considered one of the privileged instruments to promote youths’ PA. We aimed to investigate the effects of lockdown on PE teachers’ behaviors promoting their students’ out-of-school PA and differences between three European countries. A sample of 1146 PE teachers (59.5% females) from France, Italy, and Turkey answered an online questionnaire about guiding students to engage in out-of-school PA, helping them to set PA goals, encouraging in self-monitoring PA, the pedagogical formats of these behaviors and feedback asked to students. RM-MANCOVAs were performed with a two-time (before and during the lockdown), three country (France, Italy, Turkey), two gender factorial design, using teaching years and perceived health as covariates. A significant multivariate main effect time × country × gender (p < 0.001) was reported for the behaviors promoting students’ PA, with French and Italian teachers increasing some behaviors, while Turkish teachers showing opposite trends. Significant multivariate main effects time × country were found for formats supporting the behaviors (p < 0.001) and for asked feedback formats (p < 0.001). The massive contextual change imposed by lockdown caused different reactions in teachers from the three countries. Findings are informative for PA promotion and PE teachers’ education.
Validity of Bioimpedance Spectroscopy in the Assessment of Total Body Water and Body Composition in Wrestlers and Untrained Subjects
Authors: Shiose Keisuke , Kondo Emi , Takae Rie , Sagayama Hiroyuki , Motonaga Keiko , Yamada Yosuke , Uehara Yoshinari , Higaki Yasuki , Takahashi Hideyuki , Tanaka Hiroaki
Published: December 2020

Bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) is an easy tool to assess hydration status and body composition. However, its validity in athletes remains controversial. We investigated the validity of BIS on total body water (TBW) and body composition estimation in Japanese wrestlers and untrained subjects. TBW of 49 young Japanese male subjects (31 untrained, 18 wrestlers) were assessed using the deuterium dilution method (DDM) and BIS. De Lorenzo’s and Moissl’s equations were employed in BIS for TBW estimation. To evaluate body composition, Siri’s 3-compartment model and published TBW/fat-free mass (FFM) ratio were applied in DDM and BIS, respectively. In untrained subjects, DDM and BIS with de Lorenzo’s equation showed consistent TBW estimates, whereas BIS with Moissl’s equation overestimated TBW (p < 0.001 vs. DDM). DDM and BIS with de Lorenzo’s equation estimated FFM and percent of fat mass consistently, whereas BIS with Moissl’s equation over-estimated and under-estimated them (p < 0.001 vs. DDM). In wrestlers, BIS with de Lorenzo’s and Moissl’s equations assessed TBW similarly with DDM. However, the Bland–Altman analysis revealed a proportional bias for TBW in BIS with de Lorenzo’s equation (r = 0.735, p < 0.001). Body composition assessed with BIS using both equations and DDM were not different. In conclusion, BIS with de Lorenzo’s equation accurately estimates the TBW and body composition in untrained subjects, whereas BIS with Moissl’s equation is more valid in wrestlers. Our results demonstrated the usefulness of BIS for assessing TBW and body composition in Japanese male wrestlers.
Towards Self-Service GIS—Combining the Best of the Semantic Web and Web GIS
Authors: Rowland Alexandra , Folmer Erwin , Beek Wouter
Published: December 2020

The field of geographic information science has grown exponentially over the last few decades and, particularly within the context of the pervasiveness of the internet, bears witness to a rapid transition of its associated technologies from stand-alone systems to increasingly networked and distributed systems as geospatial information becomes increasingly available online. With its long-standing history for innovation, the field has adopted many disruptive technologies from the fields of computer and information sciences through this transition towards web geographic information systems (GIS); most interestingly in the context of this research is the limited uptake of semantic web technologies by the field and its associated technologies, the lack of which has resulted in a technological disjoint between these fields. As the field seeks to make geospatial information more accessible to more users and in more contexts through ‘self-service’ applications, the use of these technologies is imperative to support the interoperability between distributed data sources. This paper aims to provide insight into what linked data tooling already exists, and based on the features of these, what may be possible for the achievement of self-service GIS. Findings include what visualisation, interactivity, analytics and usability features could be included in the realisation of self-service GIS, pointing to the opportunities that exist in bringing GIS technologies closer to the user.
Cellular, Extracellular and Extracellular Vesicular miRNA Profiles of Pre-Ovulatory Follicles Indicate Signaling Disturbances in Polycystic Ovaries
Authors: Rooda Ilmatar , Hasan Mohammad Mehedi , Roos Kristine , Viil Janeli , Andronowska Aneta , Smolander Olli-Pekka , Jaakma Ülle , Salumets Andres , Fazeli Alireza , Velthut-Meikas Agne
Published: December 2020

Cell-free RNAs have the potential to act as a means of gene expression regulation between cells and are therefore used as diagnostic markers describing the state of tissue environment. The origin and functions of such RNAs in human ovarian follicle, the environment of oocyte maturation, are unclear. The current study investigates the difference in the microRNA profiles of fertile women and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients in three compartments from the same preovulatory follicle: mural granulosa cells (MGC), cell-free follicular fluid (FF), and extracellular vesicles (EV) of the FF by small RNA sequencing. In silico analysis was used for the prediction and over-representation of targeted pathways for the detected microRNAs. PCOS follicles were distinguished from normal tissue by the differential expression of 30 microRNAs in MGC and 10 microRNAs in FF (FDR < 0.1) that commonly regulate cytokine signaling pathways. The concentration of EV-s was higher in the FF of PCOS patients (p = 0.04) containing eight differentially expressed microRNAs (p < 0.05). In addition, we present the microRNA profiles of MGC, FF, and EV in the fertile follicle and demonstrate that microRNAs loaded into EVs target mRNAs of distinct signaling pathways in comparison to microRNAs in FF. To conclude, the three follicular compartments play distinct roles in the signaling disturbances associated with PCOS.
Genetic Factors in Antiphospholipid Syndrome: Preliminary Experience with Whole Exome Sequencing
Authors: Barinotti Alice , Radin Massimo , Cecchi Irene , Foddai Silvia Grazietta , Rubini Elena , Roccatello Dario , Sciascia Savino , Menegatti Elisa
Published: December 2020

As in many autoimmune diseases, the pathogenesis of the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is the result of a complex interplay between predisposing genes and triggering environmental factors, leading to a loss of self-tolerance and immune-mediated tissue damage. While the first genetic studies in APS focused primarily on the human leukocytes antigen system (HLA) region, more recent data highlighted the role of other genes in APS susceptibility, including those involved in the immune response and in the hemostatic process. In order to join this intriguing debate, we analyzed the single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) derived from the whole exome sequencing (WES) of two siblings affected by APS and compared our findings with the available literature. We identified genes encoding proteins involved in the hemostatic process, the immune response, and the phospholipid metabolism (PLA2G6, HSPG2, BCL3, ZFAT, ATP2B2, CRTC3, and ADCY3) of potential interest when debating the pathogenesis of the syndrome. The study of the selected SNPs in a larger cohort of APS patients and the integration of WES results with the network-based approaches will help decipher the genetic risk factors involved in the diverse clinical features of APS.
Effect of Different Crowding Agents on the Architectural Properties of the Bacterial Nucleoid-Associated Protein HU
Authors: Lin Szu-Ning , Wuite Gijs J.L. , Dame Remus T.
Published: December 2020

HU is a nucleoid-associated protein expressed in most eubacteria at a high amount of copies (tens of thousands). The protein is believed to bind across the genome to organize and compact the DNA. Most of the studies on HU have been carried out in a simple in vitro system, and to what extent these observations can be extrapolated to a living cell is unclear. In this study, we investigate the DNA binding properties of HU under conditions approximating physiological ones. We report that these properties are influenced by both macromolecular crowding and salt conditions. We use three different crowding agents (blotting grade blocker (BGB), bovine serum albumin (BSA), and polyethylene glycol 8000 (PEG8000)) as well as two different MgCl2 conditions to mimic the intracellular environment. Using tethered particle motion (TPM), we show that the transition between two binding regimes, compaction and extension of the HU protein, is strongly affected by crowding agents. Our observations suggest that magnesium ions enhance the compaction of HU–DNA and suppress filamentation, while BGB and BSA increase the local concentration of the HU protein by more than 4-fold. Moreover, BGB and BSA seem to suppress filament formation. On the other hand, PEG8000 is not a good crowding agent for concentrations above 9% (w/v), because it might interact with DNA, the protein, and/or surfaces. Together, these results reveal a complex interplay between the HU protein and the various crowding agents that should be taken into consideration when using crowding agents to mimic an in vivo system.
Evolution of MicroRNA Biogenesis Genes in the Sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) and Other Polyploid Vertebrates
Authors: Fofanov Mikhail V. , Prokopov Dmitry Yu. , Kuhl Heiner , Schartl Manfred , Trifonov Vladimir A.
Published: December 2020

MicroRNAs play a crucial role in eukaryotic gene regulation. For a long time, only little was known about microRNA-based gene regulatory mechanisms in polyploid animal genomes due to difficulties of polyploid genome assembly. However, in recent years, several polyploid genomes of fish, amphibian, and even invertebrate species have been sequenced and assembled. Here we investigated several key microRNA-associated genes in the recently sequenced sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) genome, whose lineage has undergone a whole genome duplication around 180 MYA. We show that two paralogs of drosha, dgcr8, xpo1, and xpo5 as well as most ago genes have been retained after the acipenserid-specific whole genome duplication, while ago1 and ago3 genes have lost one paralog. While most diploid vertebrates possess only a single copy of dicer1, we strikingly found four paralogs of this gene in the sterlet genome, derived from a tandem segmental duplication that occurred prior to the last whole genome duplication. ago1,3,4 and exportins1,5 look to be prone to additional segment duplications producing up to four-five paralog copies in ray-finned fishes. We demonstrate for the first time exon microsatellite amplification in the acipenserid drosha2 gene, resulting in a highly variable protein product, which may indicate sub- or neofunctionalization. Paralogous copies of most microRNA metabolism genes exhibit different expression profiles in various tissues and remain functional despite the rediploidization process. Subfunctionalization of microRNA processing gene paralogs may be beneficial for different pathways of microRNA metabolism. Genetic variability of microRNA processing genes may represent a substrate for natural selection, and, by increasing genetic plasticity, could facilitate adaptations to changing environments.
Application of WES towards Molecular Investigation of Congenital Cataracts: Identification of Novel Alleles and Genes in a Hospital-Based Cohort of South India
Authors: Kandaswamy Dinesh Kumar , Prakash Makarla Venkata Sathya , Graw Jochen , Koller Samuel , Magyar István , Tiwari Amit , Berger Wolfgang , Santhiya Sathiyaveedu Thyagarajan
Published: December 2020

Congenital cataracts are the prime cause for irreversible blindness in children. The global incidence of congenital cataract is 2.2–13.6 per 10,000 births, with the highest prevalence in Asia. Nearly half of the congenital cataracts are of familial nature, with a predominant autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance. Over 38 of the 45 mapped loci for isolated congenital or infantile cataracts have been associated with a mutation in a specific gene. The clinical and genetic heterogeneity of congenital cataracts makes the molecular diagnosis a bit of a complicated task. Hence, whole exome sequencing (WES) was utilized to concurrently screen all known cataract genes and to examine novel candidate factors for a disease-causing mutation in probands from 11 pedigrees affected with familial congenital cataracts. Analysis of the WES data for known cataract genes identified causative mutations in six pedigrees (55%) in PAX6, FYCO1 (two variants), EPHA2, P3H2,TDRD7 and an additional likely causative mutation in a novel gene NCOA6, which represents the first dominant mutation in this gene. This study identifies a novel cataract gene not yet linked to human disease. NCOA6 is a transcriptional coactivator that interacts with nuclear hormone receptors to enhance their transcriptional activator function.
Structural Characterization of Glycerol Kinase from the Thermophilic Fungus Chaetomium thermophilum
Authors: Wilk Piotr , Kuśka Katarzyna , Wątor Elżbieta , Małecki Piotr H. , Woś Klaudia , Tokarz Piotr , Dubin Grzegorz , Grudnik Przemysław
Published: December 2020

Glycerol is an organic compound that can be utilized as an alternative source of carbon by various organisms. One of the ways to assimilate glycerol by the cell is the phosphorylative catabolic pathway in which its activation is catalyzed by glycerol kinase (GK) and glycerol-3-phosphate (G3P) is formed. To date, several GK crystal structures from bacteria, archaea, and unicellular eukaryotic parasites have been solved. Herein, we present a series of crystal structures of GK from Chaetomium thermophilum (CtGK) in apo and glycerol-bound forms. In addition, we show the feasibility of an ADP-dependent glucokinase (ADPGK)-coupled enzymatic assay to measure the CtGK activity. New structures described in our work provide structural insights into the GK catalyzed reaction in the filamentous fungus and set the foundation for understanding the glycerol metabolism in eukaryotes.
Mitochondrial Localization of the Yeast Forkhead Factor Hcm1
Authors: Rodríguez Colman María José , Ros Joaquim , Cabiscol Elisa
Published: December 2020

Hcm1 is a member of the forkhead transcription factor family involved in segregation, spindle pole dynamics, and budding in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Our group described the role of Hcm1 in mitochondrial biogenesis and stress resistance, and in the cellular adaptation to mitochondrial respiratory metabolism when nutrients decrease. Regulation of Hcm1 activity occurs at the protein level, subcellular localization, and transcriptional activity. Here we report that the amount of protein increased in the G1/S transition phase when the factor accumulated in the nucleus. In the G2/M phases, the Hcm1 amount decreased, and it was translocated outside the nucleus with a network-like localization. Preparation of highly purified mitochondria by a sucrose gradient density demonstrated that Hcm1 colocalized with mitochondrial markers, inducing expression of COX1, a mitochondrial encoded subunit of cytochrome oxidase, in the G2/M phases. Taken together, these results show a new localization of Hcm1 and suggest that it acts as a mitochondrial transcription factor regulating the metabolism of this organelle.
Towards Performant Design of Carbon-Based Nanomotors for Hydrogen Separation through Molecular Dynamics Simulations
Authors: Muraru Sebastian , Ionita Mariana
Published: December 2020

Clean energy technologies represent a hot topic for research communities worldwide. Hydrogen fuel, a prized alternative to fossil fuels, displays weaknesses such as the poisoning by impurities of the precious metal catalyst which controls the reaction involved in its production. Thus, separating H2 out of the other gases, meaning CH4, CO, CO2, N2, and H2O is essential. We present a rotating partially double-walled carbon nanotube membrane design for hydrogen separation and evaluate its performance using molecular dynamics simulations by imposing three discrete angular velocities. We provide a nano-perspective of the gas behaviors inside the membrane and extract key insights from the filtration process, pore placement, flux, and permeance of the membrane. We display a very high selectivity case (ω = 180° ps−1) and show that the outcome of Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations can be both intuitive and counter-intuitive when increasing the ω parameter (ω = 270° ps−1; ω = 360° ps−1). Thus, in the highly selective, ω = 180° ps−1, only H2 molecules and 1–2 H2O molecules pass into the filtrate area. In the ω = 270° ps−1, H2, CO, CH4, N2, and H2O molecules were observed to pass, while, perhaps counter-intuitively, in the third case, with the highest imposed angular velocity of 360° ps−1 only CH4 and H2 molecules were able to pass through the pores leading to the filtrate area.
The Antennal Pathway of Dragonfly Nymphs, from Sensilla to the Brain
Authors: Piersanti Silvana , Rebora Manuela , Salerno Gianandrea , Anton Sylvia
Published: December 2020

Dragonflies are hemimetabolous insects, switching from an aquatic life style as nymphs to aerial life as adults, confronted to different environmental cues. How sensory structures on the antennae and the brain regions processing the incoming information are adapted to the reception of fundamentally different sensory cues has not been investigated in hemimetabolous insects. Here we describe the antennal sensilla, the general brain structure, and the antennal sensory pathways in the last six nymphal instars of Libellula depressa, in comparison with earlier published data from adults, using scanning electron microscopy, and antennal receptor neuron and antennal lobe output neuron mass-tracing with tetramethylrhodamin. Brain structure was visualized with an anti-synapsin antibody. Differently from adults, the nymphal antennal flagellum harbors many mechanoreceptive sensilla, one olfactory, and two thermo-hygroreceptive sensilla at all investigated instars. The nymphal brain is very similar to the adult brain throughout development, despite the considerable differences in antennal sensilla and habitat. Like in adults, nymphal brains contain mushroom bodies lacking calyces and small aglomerular antennal lobes. Antennal fibers innervate the antennal lobe similar to adult brains and the gnathal ganglion more prominently than in adults. Similar brain structures are thus used in L. depressa nymphs and adults to process diverging sensory information.
Musculoskeletal Pain and Non-Classroom Teaching in Times of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Analysis of the Impact on Students from Two Spanish Universities
Authors: Leirós-Rodríguez Raquel , Rodríguez-Nogueira Óscar , Pinto-Carral Arrate , Álvarez-Álvarez Mª José , Galán-Martín Miguel Á. , Montero-Cuadrado Federico , Benítez-Andrades José Alberto
Published: December 2020

The lockdown, due to the coronavirus, has led to a change in lifestyle and physical activity in Spanish university students. The objective of this study was to analyze the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain and changes in physical activity and self-perceived stress in the student bodies of two Spanish Universities during the lockdown. A cross-sectional study was carried out in a sample of 1198 students (70.6% women). The main instruments used for measuring were the Standardized Kuorinka Modified Nordic Questionnaire and the Perceived stress scale (the questionnaire regarding the practice of physical activity). A reduction in the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain (p < 0.001) was identified in the sample of men and women, an increase (12.5%) in the frequency of carrying out physical activity from moderate to frequent, and the preference for strength training (15.1%), especially among women, was identified. All of this may be taken into account by health institutions when implementing measures to encourage physical activity in both suitable amounts and types, which improves the quality of life of the students.