bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Psicopatologías de la libertad (iv). Anorexia purgativa y bulimia o el descontrol de la corporalidad
Authors: Villegas i Besora Manuel
Published: May 2021

En este artículo se consideran los trastornos alimentarios situados en los extremos de dos polaridades, caracterizadas por las conductas de ingesta restrictiva o purgativa en el contexto de la teoría del desarrollo moral. Las conductas alimentarias de tipo restrictivo, como la anorexia, se atribuyen a una estructura heteronómica, mientras que las de tipo purgativo, como la bulimia, se entienden desde una estructura socionómica complaciente. La psicoterapia de estos trastornos se relaciona específicamente con el trabajo orientado al desarrollo moral hacia la autonomía.
Las emociones como constructo teórico y como práctica psicoterapéutica. El caso de la psicoterapia infantil
Authors: Sini Barbara , Graziano Grande Lino
Published: May 2021

La psicoterapia es un campo de experiencia “extra-ordinaria”, en el cual el psicoterapeuta debe tener la habilidad de tratar con emociones, con el objetivo de mejorar las habilidades del paciente de regular sus propias emociones. Esto está más allá de la experiencia ordinaria, porque en este tipo de setting, no sólo los pacientes recuerdas sus experiencias emocionales del pasado, exigiendo empatía por parte del terapeuta, sino también evocan en él, continuamente y frecuentemente, reacciones emocionales, especialmente en sesiones en las cuales las dos partes están profundamente implicadas. En esta forma de relación profunda, algo pasa que no sólo es cognitivo, sino también kinético y somático, especialmente en la psicoterapia con niños y adolescentes. Esta forma de sessión terapéutica es una preciosa ocasión para aprender a expresar, comprender y tratar con las emociones. Este artículo presenta algunas teorías sobre emociones, que explican de diferente manera los factores que evocan emociones en la vida cotidiana y qué procesos están implicados. La descripción de sesiones terapéuticas con tres preadolescentes intenta mostrar como el concepto del terapeuta sobre el modelo específico de las emociones afecta su relación con el paciente y como aumenta la competencia emocional de éste.
¿Qué es terapéutico en la psicoterapia? Aproximación sistemática a la investigación del proceso psicoterapéutico
Authors: Bastin Reiner , Fiedler Peter Fiedler y Detlev Kommer , Kommer Detlev
Published: May 2021

Una revisión del desarrollo histórico de la investigación del proceso psicoterapéutico lleva a la distinción de dos programas de investigación prototípicos: en los estudios tipo A, el proceso terapéutico se considera como una sucesión fija de condiciones de tratamiento. Los enfoques tipo B, bajo la perspectiva causal de un modelo transaccional, conciben la psicoterapia como secuencias de segmentos, períodos o fases. Es más, las influencias contextuales se consideran componentes necesarios del proceso psicoterapéutico. En este artículo se discuten las implicaciones conceptuales y metodológicas de ambos enfoques.
Las terapias cognitivas: introducción histórica y perspectivas actuales
Authors: Feixas i Viaplana Guillem
Published: May 2021

Este trabajo analiza el surgimiento y evolución de las terapias cognitivas e intenta describir las diversas tendencias que configuran el "estado de la cuestión' actual. Así se observa cómo tales terapias no han nacido del impulso de un genio creador, sino de los esfuerzos de pensadores independientes (Beck, Ellis, Kelly), y de la llamada tendencia " cognitivo-conductual". Ya en la década de los ochenta, el desarrollo de la perspectiva constructivista (Guidano, Liotti, Mahoney, Neimeyer) supone una "revolución dentro de la revolución". Todo ello conlleva el panorama plural de las terapias cognitivas que, siguiendo la propuesta de Mahoney y Gabriel (1987), se compone de dos perspectivas epistemológicas distintas con profundas implicaciones para la conceptualización y práctica terapéutica: la racionalista y la constructivista. En este artículo se presenta una clasificación de cada una de las perspectivas. En la racionalista nos encontramos con los enfoques de entrenamiento de habilidades (de auto-control, de resolución de problemas y de afrontamiento) y los de restructuración cognitiva. En la perspectiva constructivista nos encontramos con la ya clásica terapia de constructos personales y los enfoques evolutivos (estructural, procesos de cambio y piagetianos). Tal diversidad y riqueza de planteamientos no está exenta de problemas de identidad, coherencia interna, y sobre todo de la falta de una fundamentación teórica basada en la propia psicología cognitiva.
El cambio cognitivo
Authors: Villegas Manuel
Published: May 2021

El cambio cognitivo constituye una meta para la totalidad de las terapias cognitivas. No queda claro, sin embargo, si éste afecta solamente a los contenidos o también a los procesos. La mayoría de las terapias cognitivas centran su atención en la modificación de los contenidos (creencias irracionales), dado que tales terapias no se han originado de las teorías del procesamiento de la información, sino que derivan de la modificación de conducta o del psicoanálisis. El artículo examina estas circunstancias y propone una revisión del concepto de cambio cognitivo en base al modelo general del procesamiento de la información y del análisis de los diversos estadios de desarrollo epistemológico.
Terapia cognitiva de la depresión
Authors: J. Maestre Lorén Francesc
Published: May 2021

La terapia cognitiva de la depresión, expuesta por Beck, Rush, Shaw & Emery (1979), está constituida por un modelo cognitivo, que da cuenta de la concepción teórica de la depresión, y unos procedimientos de cambio, de carácter cognitivo-conductual, que son la manera cómo se intenta producir modificaciones en el estado depresivo. Este artículo revisa, fundamentalmente, dos aspectos de la terapia cognitiva de la depresión: los constructos clínico-cognitivos que integran el modelo cognitivo, encuadrándolos en el planteamiento más amplio del procesamiento de la información, y el fenómeno del cambio terapéutico, desde la perspectiva de la eficacia de la terapia, la naturaleza del cambio y las posibilidades de cambio de la persona.
Investigación clínica y practica psicoterapéutica: un abismo que salvar
Authors: Scilligo Pio
Published: May 2021

El artículo revisa de forma crítica los distintos intentos que se han llevado a cabo en el campo de la investigación de la eficacia psicoterapéutica. Los resultados desconcertantes que se derivan de tales estudios llevan a replantear la filosofía de investigación en psicoterapia, poniendo el acento en la dificultad de diseñar modelos capaces de recoger toda la complejidad del proceso psicoterapéutico.
Psicopatologias de la libertad (ii): la anorexia o la restriccion de la corporalidad
Authors: Villegas Besora Manuel
Published: May 2021

En el presente artículo se considera la anorexia, como una restricción de la corporalidad. Este punto de vista se ilustra a través del análisis textual del discurso de anoréxicas de diversas épocas y estratos sociales. Se evalúa finalmente la naturaleza de este discurso en el contexto de la sociedad y la cultura actuales.
Anorexia nerviosa en el varón, alexitimia e hipnoterapia ericksoniana
Authors: Espina Alberto
Published: May 2021

En este artículo el autor propone el uso de la hipnoterapia ericksoniana en la anorexia nerviosa para corregir el trastorno alexitímico y afrontar dificultades específicas que se presentan en estos casos. Finalmente describe un caso de un varón con anorexia nerviosa.
Anorexia y santidad en santa Catalina de Siena
Authors: Reda Mario Antonio
Published: May 2021

Algunos autores hablan de «santa anorexia» refiriéndose a los ayunos de las mujeres ascéticas del Medioevo. Este artículo pasa revista al contexto histórico, social, religioso y familiar en el que se desarrolló el cuadro anoréxico de Catalina de Siena.
Entrevista con Leslie S. Greenberg
Authors: Mateu Marqués Carmen , Vázquez Sanchís Guadalupe
Published: May 2021

Entrevista con Leslie S. Greenberg
Effects of Activated Charcoal on Growth, Immunity, Oxidative Stress Markers, and Physiological Responses of Nile Tilapia Exposed to Sub-Lethal Imidacloprid Toxicity
Authors: Abd El-hameed Samah A. A. , Negm Samar S. , Ismael Nahla E. M. , Naiel Mohammed A. E. , Soliman Mohamed Mohamed , Shukry Mustafa , Abdel-Latif Hany M. R.
Published: May 2021

The existing study was designed to assess the influences of dietary activated charcoal (AC) on the growth performance, immune responses, antioxidative status, and its mitigating roles against the physiological responses of Nile tilapia exposed a sub-lethal dose of a neonicotinoid agriculture pesticide, namely, as imidacloprid (IMID). Nile tilapia juveniles were fed on diets supplemented with graded AC levels as 0 (control), 5, 10, 15, and 20 g/kg diet for eight weeks. Growth, hemato-biochemical indices, and antioxidant and immune responses of fish in all groups were evaluated at the end of the feeding experiment. Afterward, fish in all experimental groups were subjected to a sub-lethal dose of IMID (0.0109 μg/L) for two weeks. Then, fish mortalities, stress indicators, and IMID residual levels in liver and flesh were examined. Results of the feeding experiment showed that total feed intake, weight gain, final body weights, and feed efficiency ratio were significantly increased in all AC groups compared with the control group. The survival rate was 100% in all experimental groups. No statistical differences were observed in the hematological picture of all experimental groups except the lymphocyte count, which was significantly increased in all AC groups compared to the control group. Total protein, albumin, globulin, nitric oxide levels, lysozyme, and respiratory burst activities were significantly increased in all AC groups. Serum alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase activities, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly decreased in all AC groups compared with the AC0 group. After exposure to a sub-lethal dose of IMID, survival rates were significantly elevated, and IMID residual levels in liver and flesh were significantly decreased in all AC groups than in the control group. Moreover, second-order polynomial regression showed that dietary supplementation with 14.30 g AC/kg diet resulted in the lowest blood glucose and serum MDA levels. Conclusively, we suggest dietary supplementation with 14.30 g AC/kg diet to modulate physiological responses of Nile tilapia to sub-lethal IMID toxicity.
Advanced Monitoring and Prediction of the Thermal State of Intelligent Battery Cells in Electric Vehicles by Physics-Based and Data-Driven Modeling
Authors: Kleiner Jan , Stuckenberger Magdalena , Komsiyska Lidiya , Endisch Christian
Published: May 2021

Novel intelligent battery systems are gaining importance with functional hardware on the cell level. Cell-level hardware allows for advanced battery state monitoring and thermal management, but also leads to additional thermal interactions. In this work, an electro-thermal framework for the modeling of these novel intelligent battery cells is provided. Thereby, a lumped thermal model, as well as a novel neural network, are implemented in the framework as thermal submodels. For the first time, a direct comparison of a physics-based and a data-driven thermal battery model is performed in the same framework. The models are compared in terms of temperature estimation with regard to accuracy. Both models are very well suited to represent the thermal behavior in novel intelligent battery cells. In terms of accuracy and computation time, however, the data-driven neural network approach with a Nonlinear AutoregRessive network with eXogeneous input (NARX) shows slight advantages. Finally, novel applications of temperature prediction in battery electric vehicles are presented and the applicability of the models is illustrated. Thereby, the conventional prediction of the state of power is extended by simultaneous temperature prediction. Additionally, temperature forecasting is used for pre-conditioning by advanced cooling system regulation to enable energy efficiency and fast charging.
Reactive and Proactive Adaptation of Cognitive and Motor Neural Signals during Performance of a Stop-Change Task
Authors: Brockett Adam T. , Roesch Matthew R.
Published: May 2021

The ability to inhibit or suppress unwanted or inappropriate actions, is an essential component of executive function and cognitive health. The immense selective pressure placed on maintaining inhibitory control processes is exemplified by the relatively small number of instances in which these systems completely fail in the average person’s daily life. Although mistakes and errors do inevitably occur, inhibitory control systems not only ensure that this number is low, but have also adapted behavioral strategies to minimize future failures. The ability of our brains to adapt our behavior and appropriately engage proper motor responses is traditionally depicted as the primary domain of frontal brain areas, despite evidence to the fact that numerous other brain areas contribute. Using the stop-signal task as a common ground for comparison, we review a large body of literature investigating inhibitory control processes across frontal, temporal, and midbrain structures, focusing on our recent work in rodents, in an effort to understand how the brain biases action selection and adapts to the experience of conflict.
Seismic Vulnerability Assessment of Portuguese Adobe Buildings
Authors: Momin Samar , Lovon Holger , Silva Vitor , Ferreira Tiago Miguel , Vicente Romeu
Published: May 2021

Adobe construction represents 5.3% of the total Portuguese building stock according to the latest National Housing Census. The distribution of these adobe buildings is scattered across the country, with higher density in the central region and in Algarve in the south, where the seismic hazard is highest. A large proportion of these buildings are still in use for residential and commercial purposes and are of historical significance, contributing to the cultural heritage of the country. Adobe buildings are known to exhibit low seismic resistance due to their brittle behavior, thus making them vulnerable to ground shaking and more prone to structural damage that can potentially cause human fatalities. Three buildings with one-story, two-stories, and two-stories plus an attic were numerically modeled using solid and contact elements. Calibration and validation of material properties were carried out following experimental results. A set of 30 ground motion records with bi-directional components were selected, and non-linear time-history analyses were performed until complete collapse occurred. Two novel engineering demand parameters (EDPs) were used, and damage thresholds were proposed. Finally, fragility and fatality vulnerability functions were derived. These functions can be used directly in seismic risk assessment studies.
Perioperative Predictors of Early Recurrence for Resectable and Borderline-Resectable Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Imamura Masafumi , Nagayama Minoru , Kyuno Daisuke , Ota Shigenori , Murakami Takeshi , Kimura Akina , Yamaguchi Hiroshi , Kato Toru , Kimura Yasutoshi , Takemasa Ichiro
Published: May 2021

We aimed to identify the perioperative predictors of the early recurrence (ER) of resectable and borderline-resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs). After surgery for a PDAC, most patients develop a recurrence. Predictive factors may therefore guide therapeutic decision-making. Patients (n = 234) who underwent a pancreatectomy for a PDAC between 2006 and 2019 were included. The postrecurrence survival (PRS) was estimated using Kaplan–Meier curves. Predictive factors for an ER were assessed using logistic regression analyses; 93 patients (39.7%) were recurrence-free at the last follow-up. Patients with an ER (n = 85, 36.3%), defined as a recurrence within the first 12 months after surgery, had 1- and 2-year PRS rates of 38.7% and 9.5%, respectively, compared with 66.9% and 37.2% for those with a late recurrence (n = 56, 23.9%; both p < 0.001). The most common site of an ER was the liver (55.3%) with a significantly shorter median overall survival time than that with either a local or a lung recurrence (14.5 months; p < 0.001). Preoperative and postoperative risk factors for an ER included a tumor size >3.0 cm (odds ratio (OR): 3.11, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.35–7.14) and preoperative carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) levels >52 U/mL (OR: 3.25, 95% CI: 1.67–6.30) and a pathological tumor size >3.0 cm (OR: 2.00, 95% CI: 1.03–3.90) and postoperative carbohydrate antigen 19-9 levels >37 U/mL (OR: 2.11, 95% CI: 1.02–4.36), respectively. Preoperatively (>52 U/mL) and postoperatively (>37 U/mL) elevated CA19-9 and a tumor size >3.0 cm were independent predictors for an ER after a pancreatectomy for a PDAC.
How Do We Define and Measure Optimal Care for Cancer Survivors? An Online Modified Reactive Delphi Study
Authors: Lisy Karolina , Ly Lena , Kelly Helana , Clode Melanie , Jefford Michael
Published: May 2021

This research sought to answer the question ‘what quality criteria do survivorship experts consider to be important in achieving optimal cancer survivorship care?’. An online modified reactive Delphi survey consisting of two rounds was completed with experts including consumers, clinicians, researchers, policymakers and quality and accreditation professionals. Survey items were based on international literature and considered three domains: Policy, process and outcome. In round 1 (R1), experts ranked the importance of 68 criteria on a five-point Likert scale. Criteria were retained if scored 4 (important) or 5 (very important) by >75% participants. In round 2 (R2), experts ranked top 10 criteria per domain. Response rates were 79% (70/89) and 84% (76/91), respectively. After R1, six criteria were removed and six were added. From R2, ten items for each domain were retained. These 30 items formed the Quality Framework. A consensus meeting considered priority items from the Quality Framework and feasibility of data collection. Prioritized items included having a policy on survivorship care; the existence of a multidisciplinary survivorship program (policy); appropriate processes to assess survivors’ emotional, psychological and physical needs following treatment and stratification to appropriate models of care (process); and collecting patient-reported outcomes, quality of life and survival rates (outcome).
Insight into the Promoting Role of Er Modification on SO2 Resistance for NH3-SCR at Low Temperature over FeMn/TiO2 Catalysts
Authors: Du Huan , Han Zhitao , Wu Xitian , Li Chenglong , Gao Yu , Yang Shaolong , Song Liguo , Dong Jingming , Pan Xinxiang
Published: May 2021

Er-modified FeMn/TiO2 catalysts were prepared through the wet impregnation method, and their NH3-SCR activities were tested. The results showed that Er modification could obviously promote SO2 resistance of FeMn/TiO2 catalysts at a low temperature. The promoting effect and mechanism were explored in detail using various techniques, such as BET, XRD, H2-TPR, XPS, TG, and in-situ DRIFTS. The characterization results indicated that Er modification on FeMn/TiO2 catalysts could increase the Mn4+ concentration and surface chemisorbed labile oxygen ratio, which was favorable for NO oxidation to NO2, further accelerating low-temperature SCR activity through the “fast SCR” reaction. As fast SCR reaction could accelerate the consumption of adsorbed NH3 species, it would benefit to restrain the competitive adsorption of SO2 and limit the reaction between adsorbed SO2 and NH3 species. XPS results indicated that ammonium sulfates and Mn sulfates formed were found on Er-modified FeMn/TiO2 catalyst surface seemed much less than those on FeMn/TiO2 catalyst surface, suggested that Er modification was helpful for reducing the generation or deposition of sulfate salts on the catalyst surface. According to in-situ DRIFTS the results of, the presence of SO2 in feeding gas imposed a stronger impact on the NO adsorption than NH3 adsorption on Lewis acid sites of Er-modified FeMn/TiO2 catalysts, gradually making NH3-SCR reaction to proceed in E–R mechanism rather than L–H mechanism.
Isoquinolone Syntheses by Annulation Protocols
Authors: Hua Ruimao
Published: May 2021

Isoquinolones (isoquinolin-1(2H)-ones) are one of the important nitrogen-heterocyclic compounds having versatile biological and physiological activities, and their synthetic methods have been recently developed greatly. This short review illustrates the significant advances in the construction of isoquinolone ring with atom- and step-economy, focusing on the intermolecular annulation protocols and intramolecular cyclization in the presence of a variety of catalyst systems. The syntheses of isoquinolone-fused rings are also included.
Motor Cortex Stimulation Reversed Hypernociception, Increased Serotonin in Raphe Neurons, and Caused Inhibition of Spinal Astrocytes in a Parkinson’s Disease Rat Model
Authors: Campos Ana Carolina P. , Berzuíno Miriã B. , Barbosa Gabriela R. , Freire Helena M. R. C. , Lopes Patricia S. , Assis Danielle V. , Fonoff Erich T. , Pagano Rosana L.
Published: May 2021

Persistent pain is a prevalent symptom of Parkinson’s disease (PD), which is related to the loss of monoamines and neuroinflammation. Motor cortex stimulation (MCS) inhibits persistent pain by activating the descending analgesic pathways; however, its effectiveness in the control of PD-induced pain remains unclear. Here, we evaluated the analgesic efficacy of MCS together with serotonergic and spinal glial modulation in an experimental PD (ePD) rat model. Wistar rats with unilateral striatal 6-OHDA and MCS were assessed for behavioral immobility and nociceptive responses. The immunoreactivity of dopamine in the substantia nigra and serotonin in the nucleus raphe magnus (NRM) and the neuronal, astrocytic, and microglial activation in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord were evaluated. MCS, without interfering with dopamine loss, reversed ePD-induced immobility and hypernociception. This response was accompanied by an exacerbated increase in serotonin in the NRM and a decrease in neuronal and astrocytic hyperactivation in the spinal cord, without inhibiting ePD-induced microglial hypertrophy and hyperplasia. Taken together, MCS induces analgesia in the ePD model, while restores the descending serotonergic pathway with consequent inhibition of spinal neurons and astrocytes, showing the role of MCS in PD-induced pain control.
Silencing of Transposable Elements Mediated by 5-mC and Compensation of the Heterochromatin Content by Presence of B Chromosomes in Astyanax scabripinnis
Authors: Barbosa Patrícia , Schemczssen-Graeff Zelinda , Marques André , da Silva Maelin , Favero Giovani Marino , Sobreiro Bernardo Passos , de Almeida Mara Cristina , Moreira-Filho Orlando , Silva Duílio Mazzoni Zerbinato de Andrade , Porto-Foresti Fábio , Foresti Fausto , Artoni Roberto Ferreira
Published: May 2021

The way in which transcriptional activity overcomes the physical DNA structure and gene regulation mechanisms involves complex processes that are not yet fully understood. Modifications in the cytosine-guanine sequence of DNA by 5-mC are preferentially located in heterochromatic regions and are related to gene silencing. Herein, we investigate evidence of epigenetic regulation related to the B chromosome model and transposable elements in A. scabripinnis. Indirect immunofluorescence using anti-5-mC to mark methylated regions was employed along with quantitative ELISA to determine the total genomic DNA methylation level. 5-mC signals were dispersed in the chromosomes of both females and males, with preferential accumulation in the B chromosome. In addition to the heterochromatic methylated regions, our results suggest that methylation is associated with transposable elements (LINE and Tc1-Mariner). Heterochromatin content was measured based on the C-band length in relation to the size of chromosome 1. The B chromosome in A. scabripinnis comprises heterochromatin located in the pericentromeric region of both arms of this isochromosome. In this context, individuals with B chromosomes should have an increased heterochromatin content when compared to individuals that do not. Although, both heterochromatin content and genome methylation showed no significant differences between sexes or in relation to the occurrence of B chromosomes. Our evidence suggests that the B chromosome can have a compensation effect on the heterochromatin content and that methylation possibly operates to silence TEs in A. scabripinnis. This represents a sui generis compensation and gene activity buffering mechanism.
Diagnosis of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in a Presymptomatic Infant Using Next-Generation Sequencing and Chromosomal Microarray Analysis: A Case Report
Authors: Park Eun-Woo , Shim Ye-Jee , Ha Jung-Sook , Shin Jin-Hong , Lee Soyoung , Cho Jang-Hyuk
Published: May 2021

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a progressive and lethal X-linked recessive neuromuscular disease caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene. It has a high rate of diagnostic delay; early diagnosis and treatment are often not possible due to delayed recognition of muscle weakness and lack of effective treatments. Current treatments based on genetic therapy can improve clinical results, but treatment must begin as early as possible before significant muscle damage. Therefore, early diagnosis and rehabilitation of Duchenne muscular dystrophy are needed before symptom aggravation. Creatine kinase is a diagnostic marker of neuromuscular disorders. Herein, the authors report a case of an infant patient with Duchenne muscular dystrophy with a highly elevated creatine kinase level but no obvious symptoms of muscle weakness. The patient was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy via next-generation sequencing and chromosomal microarray analysis to identify possible inherited metabolic and neuromuscular diseases related to profound hyperCKemia. The patient is enrolled in a rehabilitation program and awaits the approval of the genetic treatment in Korea. This is the first report of an infantile presymptomatic Duchenne muscular dystrophy diagnosis using next-generation sequencing and chromosomal microarray analysis.
The Influence of Recrystallization on Zinc Oxide Microstructures Synthesized with Sol–Gel Method on Scintillating Properties
Authors: Nowak Ewelina , Szybowicz Mirosław , Stachowiak Alicja , Piechowiak Daria , Miklaszewski Andrzej , Witkowski Marcin E. , Makowski Michał , Drozdowski Winicjusz , Paprocki Kazimierz , Fabisiak Kazimierz , Łoś Szymon , Trzcinski Marek
Published: May 2021

Zinc oxide (ZnO) is one of the wide-bandgap semiconductors, which may be useful in a plethora of electronic, optical, piezoelectric, and scintillating applications. The following article consists in a structural and luminescence analysis of ZnO microfilms grown on a sapphire substrate with a sol–gel method. The films were annealed at different temperatures. The structures were investigated with the XRD and Raman methods, by which the influence of the substrate on the structure of the film was determined. The luminescence of films was investigated with room-temperature fluorescence, radioluminescence, and thermoluminescence.
Development of Immunochromatographic Test Kit for Rapid Detection of Specific IgG4 Antibody in Whole-Blood Samples for Diagnosis of Human Gnathostomiasis
Authors: Janwan Penchom , Intapan Pewpan M. , Sadaow Lakkhana , Rodpai Rutchanee , Yamasaki Hiroshi , Boonroumkaew Patcharaporn , Sanpool Oranuch , Thanchomnang Tongjit , Sadee Phuangphaka , Maleewong Wanchai
Published: May 2021

Human gnathostomiasis is a harmful food-borne zoonosis caused by roundworms of the genus Gnathostoma. The parasite can occasionally migrate to the central nervous system, causing life-threatening disease and death. Here, we report a new point-of-care (POC) test kit, the gnathostomiasis blood immunochromatographic test (GB-ICT) kit. The kit is based on recombinant Gnathostoma spinigerum antigen and detects specific IgG4 antibody in whole-blood samples (WBSs). The GB-ICT kit showed potentially high diagnostic values with simulated WBSs (n = 248), which were obtained by spiking patients’ sera with red blood cells. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were 95.2%, 100%, 93.8%, 81.5%, and 100%, respectively. Ten WBSs from clinically suspected gnathostomiasis patients were all positive according to the GB-ICT kit, while 10 WBSs from healthy volunteers were negative. The GB-ICT kit is a simple and convenient POC testing tool using finger-prick blood samples: venous blood sampling and serum separation processes are not required. The GB-ICT kit can support clinical diagnosis in remote areas and field settings without sophisticated equipment facilities.
Uncertainty Relation between Detection Probability and Energy Fluctuations
Authors: Thiel Felix , Mualem Itay , Kessler David , Barkai Eli
Published: May 2021

A classical random walker starting on a node of a finite graph will always reach any other node since the search is ergodic, namely it fully explores space, hence the arrival probability is unity. For quantum walks, destructive interference may induce effectively non-ergodic features in such search processes. Under repeated projective local measurements, made on a target state, the final detection of the system is not guaranteed since the Hilbert space is split into a bright subspace and an orthogonal dark one. Using this we find an uncertainty relation for the deviations of the detection probability from its classical counterpart, in terms of the energy fluctuations.
The Investability of PV Systems under Descending Feed-In Tariffs: Taiwan Case
Authors: Chen Chun-Nan , Yang Chun-Ting
Published: May 2021

The Taiwanese government has set an energy transition roadmap of 20% renewable energy supply by 2025, including a 20 GW installed PV capacity target, composed of 8 GW rooftop and 12 GW ground-mounted systems. The main trend of feed-in tariffs is downwards, having fallen by 50% over a ten-year period. Predicting the future ten-year equity internal rate of return (IRR) in this study, we examine the investability of PV systems in Taiwan when subsidies and investment costs descend. We have found that the projected subsidies scheme favours investment in small-sized PV systems. Unless the investment costs of medium-sized PV systems fall or subsidies rise over the next decade, investing in medium-sized PV systems will be less attractive. Nonlinear and linear degradation causes slight IRR differences when using higher-reliability modules.
Combustion Thermodynamics of Ethanol, n-Heptane, and n-Butanol in a Rapid Compression Machine with a Dual Direct Injection (DDI) Supply System
Authors: Pielecha Ireneusz , Wierzbicki Sławomir , Sidorowicz Maciej , Pietras Dariusz
Published: May 2021

The development of internal combustion engines involves various new solutions, one of which is the use of dual-fuel systems. The diversity of technological solutions being developed determines the efficiency of such systems, as well as the possibility of reducing the emission of carbon dioxide and exhaust components into the atmosphere. An innovative double direct injection system was used as a method for forming a mixture in the combustion chamber. The tests were carried out with the use of gasoline, ethanol, n-heptane, and n-butanol during combustion in a model test engine—the rapid compression machine (RCM). The analyzed combustion process indicators included the cylinder pressure, pressure increase rate, heat release rate, and heat release value. Optical tests of the combustion process made it possible to analyze the flame development in the observed area of the combustion chamber. The conducted research and analyses resulted in the observation that it is possible to control the excess air ratio in the direct vicinity of the spark plug just before ignition. Such possibilities occur as a result of the properties of the injected fuels, which include different amounts of air required for their stoichiometric combustion. The studies of the combustion process have shown that the combustible mixtures consisting of gasoline with another fuel are characterized by greater combustion efficiency than the mixtures composed of only a single fuel type, and that the influence of the type of fuel used is significant for the combustion process and its indicator values.
Energy as a Factor of Investment Attractiveness of Regions for Agricultural Enterprises
Authors: Godlewska-Majkowska Hanna , Komor Agnieszka
Published: May 2021

The aim of the article is to identify and assess the relationship between the investment attractiveness of regions for agricultural enterprises and the energy factor. Classical theories of the location of agriculture emphasise the importance of the market factor. The energy factor has so far been ignored, despite the global trend related to the increasing importance of production scales and rising energy consumption in agriculture. There are also no methodological proposals that allow a comprehensive assessment of the investment attractiveness of regions for agricultural enterprises, taking into account the leading location factors. The article presents the author’s methodological model based on the weight-correlation method of valorisation of investment attractiveness of regions for economic entities that invest in agricultural production. It contains a sub-aggregate describing the energy factor. This proposal is a contribution to the theory of the location of agriculture in the field of location factor analysis. The developed methodological model is used to explain location decisions of agricultural enterprises at the regional level. Access to energy as well as energy management increase locational advantages and reduce the economic risk of carrying out agricultural activities in economic units, which contributes to an increase in the sustainability of agricultural production. This is especially true in areas dominated in the past by state-owned and cooperative enterprises, which are the dominant group of enterprises in this area after privatization. The proposed methodology was positively verified on the example of Polish regions, as a significant influence of the energy factor on investment attractiveness at the local level was demonstrated.
Modeling and Analysis of Transient Reactive Power Characteristics of DFIG Considering Crowbar Circuit under Ultra HVDC Commutation Failure
Authors: Nian Heng , Jin Xiao
Published: May 2021

Ultra high voltage direct current (UHVDC) transmission is an effective means of long-distance transmission of renewable power generation, which has obtained a lot of research and practical applications. The commutation failure is a common DC transmission fault, which will cause the voltage amplitude of the sending ac grid in UHVDC system to first decrease then increase. The existing transient mathematical models of the wind power generation system (WPGS) are difficult to apply to scenarios where the grid voltage changes continuously. A mathematical model suitable for commutation failure is established to analyze the transient reactive power characteristics of the doubly fed induction generator (DFIG)-based WPGS with the consideration of the crowbar circuit trigger. The correctness of the mathematical model is validated by an experiment based on the control hardware-in-loop (CHIL) platform. Based on the proposed mathematical model, the influence of the crowbar parameters on the reactive power output of the DFIG is analyzed, and the selection of crowbar parameters to suppress the overvoltage of the sending ac grid is investigated. A simulation model is built based on Matlab/Simulink to verify the overvoltage suppression effect of the proposed selection scheme.
Sustainability Evaluation of Non-Toxic Jatropha curcas in Rural Marginal Soil for Obtaining Biodiesel Using Life-Cycle Assessment
Authors: Pérez Guadalupe , Islas-Samperio Jorge M.
Published: May 2021

Using information from an experimental planting of non-toxic Jatropha curcas (NTJC) with minimal water and fertilization resources on rural marginal soil the objective of this article is to determine the sustainability of this raw material for producing biodiesel and the possibilities for improving it through life-cycle assessment (LCA). Three production scenarios were studied: minimal resources (MR), which focuses on the obtaining of biodiesel; minimal resources and utilization of sub-products (MRUS), which includes the utilization of the residual products in order to produce food and solid biofuels, as well as biodiesel; and utilization of biofertilizers, flood irrigation, and sub-products (UBIS), which incorporates the use of bio-fertilizers and irrigation in the production system. This study includes the selection of six sustainability indicators, as well as indicators by means of LCA methodology Finally, a sustainability index (SI) for each scenario was determined on the basis of an index of environmental sustainability of energy products (IESEP). Our results indicated that the MR scenario yielded the lowest SI 0.673, while the MRUS scenario had the highest SI 0.956. It concludes that sustainability is greater when it utilizes minimal water and fertilization resources during the raw material production stage, and the residual products are used for food and energy products made possible by the non-toxic properties of Jatropha curcas.
D-PMU and 5G-Network-Based Coordination Control Method for Three-Phase Imbalance Mitigation Units in the LVDN
Authors: Xiao Mengmeng , Wang Shaorong , Ullah Zia
Published: May 2021

Three-phase imbalance is a long-term issue existing in low-voltage distribution networks (LVDNs), which consequently has an inverse impact on the safe and optimal operation of LVDNs. Recently, the increasing integration of single-phase distributed generations (DGs) and flexible loads has increased the probability of imbalance occurrence in LVDNs. To overcome the above challenges, this paper proposes a novel methodology based on the concept of “Active Asymmetry Energy-Absorbing (AAEA)” utilizing loads with a back-to-back converter, denoted as “AAEA Unit” in this paper. AAEA Units are deployed and coordinated to actively absorb asymmetry power among three phases for imbalance mitigation in LVDNs based on the high-precision, high-accuracy, and real-time distribution-level phasor measurement unit (D-PMU) data acquisition system and the 5th generation mobile networks (5G) communication channels. Furthermore, the control scheme of the proposed method includes three control units. Specifically, the positive-sequence control unit is designed to maintain the voltage of the DC-capacitor of the back-to-back converter. Likewise, the negative-sequence and zero-sequence control units are expected to mitigate the imbalanced current components. A simple imbalanced LVDN is modeled and tested in Simulink/Matlab (MathWorks, US). The obtained results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology.
Improved IMPES Scheme for the Simulation of Incompressible Three-Phase Flows in Subsurface Porous Media
Authors: Liang Runhong , Fan Xiaolin , Luo Xianbing , Sun Shuyu , Zhu Xingyu
Published: May 2021

In this work, an improved IMplicit Pressure and Explicit Saturation (IMPES) scheme is proposed to solve the coupled partial differential equations to simulate the three-phase flows in subsurface porous media. This scheme is the first IMPES algorithm for the three-phase flow problem that is locally mass conservative for all phases. The key technique of this novel scheme relies on a new formulation of the discrete pressure equation. Different from the conventional scheme, the discrete pressure equation in this work is obtained by adding together the discrete conservation equations of all phases, thus ensuring the consistency of the pressure equation with the three saturation equations at the discrete level. This consistency is important, but unfortunately it is not satisfied in the conventional IMPES schemes. In this paper, we address and fix an undesired and well-known consequence of this inconsistency in the conventional IMPES in that the computed saturations are conservative only for two phases in three-phase flows, but not for all three phases. Compared with the standard IMPES scheme, the improved IMPES scheme has the following advantages: firstly, the mass conservation of all the phases is preserved both locally and globally; secondly, it is unbiased toward all phases, i.e., no reference phases need to be chosen; thirdly, the upwind scheme is applied to the saturation of all phases instead of only the referenced phases; fourthly, numerical stability is greatly improved because of phase-wise conservation and unbiased treatment. Numerical experiments are also carried out to demonstrate the strength of the improved IMPES scheme.
The Placenta as a Target of Epigenetic Alterations in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Potential Implications for the Offspring
Authors: Lizárraga Dennise , García-Gasca Alejandra
Published: May 2021

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a pregnancy complication first detected in the second or third trimester in women that did not show evident glucose intolerance or diabetes before gestation. In 2019, the International Diabetes Federation reported that 15.8% of live births were affected by hyperglycemia during pregnancy, of which 83.6% were due to gestational diabetes mellitus, 8.5% were due to diabetes first detected in pregnancy, and 7.9% were due to diabetes detected before pregnancy. GDM increases the susceptibility to developing chronic diseases for both the mother and the baby later in life. Under GDM conditions, the intrauterine environment becomes hyperglycemic, while also showing high concentrations of fatty acids and proinflammatory cytokines, producing morphological, structural, and molecular modifications in the placenta, affecting its function; these alterations may predispose the baby to disease in adult life. Molecular alterations include epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA and RNA methylation, chromatin remodeling, histone modifications, and expression of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs). The placenta is a unique organ that originates only in pregnancy, and its main function is communication between the mother and the fetus, ensuring healthy development. Thus, this review provides up-to-date information regarding two of the best-documented (epigenetic) mechanisms (DNA methylation and miRNA expression) altered in the human placenta under GDM conditions, as well as potential implications for the offspring.
30-Year Changes in Oak-Hornbeam Forest after Windthrow
Authors: Gabrysiak Karolina Anna , Paluch Rafał , Gawryś Radosław
Published: May 2021

Hurricane winds are one of the most important abiotic factors in shaping the structure of the forest and the processes that occur in it. The aim of research was to determine regeneration processes and changes in the structure of forest stands caused by the windstorm in 1983. The research, based on stand tables from the years 1982, 1984, 1989 and 2014, was carried out on nine permanent research plots in the Białowieża Forest. The mean number of trees (MNT) taller than 1.30 m decreased by 13.7% after the windstorm. In 2014, MNT increased compared to 1984 (142%) and 1989 (53%). A significant decrease in the share of Picea abies (L.) H. Karst., thicker than 7 cm DBH and a significant increase in the share of Carpinus betulus L. was observed. Species richness for trees thicker than 7 cm DBH indicated a significantly lower species richness in 1982 and 1984 (12 species) compared to 1989 (14) and 2014 (16). The windstorm did not have a direct effect on the species richness, species composition of stands or the distinguished tree layers, except for trees thicker than 55 cm DBH. The observed changes in tree density in the lower layers of the stand prove that the regeneration process does not start immediately and continues even 30 years after the windstorm. Intermediate-severity windthrow accelerated natural changes in the stand structure.
Utilization of Whey for Red Pigment Production by Monascus purpureus in Submerged Fermentation
Authors: Mehri Dilara , Perendeci N. Altinay , Goksungur Yekta
Published: May 2021

Various biotechnological approaches have been employed to convert food waste into value-added bioproducts through fermentation processes. Whey, a major waste generated by dairy industries, is considered an important environmental pollutant due to its massive production and high organic content. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of different fermentation parameters in simultaneous hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF) of whey for pigment production with Monascus purpureus. The submerged culture fermentation parameters optimized were type and pretreatment of whey, pH, inoculation ratio, substrate concentration and monosodium glutamate (MSG) concentration. Demineralized (DM), deproteinized (DP), and raw whey (W) powders were used as a substrate for pigment production by simultaneous hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF). The maximum red pigment production was obtained as 38.4 UA510 nm (absorbance units) at the optimized condition of SHF. Optimal conditions of SHF were 2% (v/v) inoculation ratio, 75 g/L of lactose as carbon source, 25 g/L of MSG as nitrogen source, and fermentation medium pH of 7.0. The specific growth rate of M. purpureus on whey and the maximum pigment production yield values were 0.023 h−1 and 4.55 UAd−1, respectively. This study is the first in the literature to show that DM whey is a sustainable substrate in the fermentation process of the M. purpureus red pigment.
Development of Knowledge Graph for Data Management Related to Flooding Disasters Using Open Data
Authors: Son Jiseong , Lim Chul-Su , Shim Hyoung-Seop , Kang Ji-Sun
Published: May 2021

Despite the development of various technologies and systems using artificial intelligence (AI) to solve problems related to disasters, difficult challenges are still being encountered. Data are the foundation to solving diverse disaster problems using AI, big data analysis, and so on. Therefore, we must focus on these various data. Disaster data depend on the domain by disaster type and include heterogeneous data and lack interoperability. In particular, in the case of open data related to disasters, there are several issues, where the source and format of data are different because various data are collected by different organizations. Moreover, the vocabularies used for each domain are inconsistent. This study proposes a knowledge graph to resolve the heterogeneity among various disaster data and provide interoperability among domains. Among disaster domains, we describe the knowledge graph for flooding disasters using Korean open datasets and cross-domain knowledge graphs. Furthermore, the proposed knowledge graph is used to assist, solve, and manage disaster problems.