bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Regulating Scheduler (RSC): A Novel Solution for IEEE 802.1 Time Sensitive Network (TSN)
Authors: Joung Jinoo
Published: February 2019

Emerging applications such as industrial automation, in-vehicle, professional audio-video, and wide area electrical utility networks require strict bounds on the end-to-end network delay. Solutions so far to such a requirement are either impractical or ineffective. Flow based schedulers suggested in a traditional integrated services (IntServ) framework are O(N) or O(log N), where N is the number of flows in the scheduler, which can grow to tens of thousands in a core router. Due to such complexity, class-based schedulers are adopted in real deployments. The class-based systems, however, cannot provide bounded delays in networks with cycle, since the maximum burst grows infinitely along the cycled path. Attaching a regulator in front of a scheduler to limit the maximum burst is considered as a viable solution. International standards, such as IEEE 802.1 time sensitive network (TSN) and IETF deterministic network (DetNet) are adopting this approach as a standard. The regulator in TSN and DetNet, however, requires flow state information, therefore contradicts to the simple class-based schedulers. This paper suggests non-work conserving fair schedulers, called ‘regulating schedulers’ (RSC), which function as a regulator and a scheduler at the same time. A deficit round-robin (DRR) based RSC, called nw-DRR, is devised and proved to be both a fair scheduler and a regulator. Despite the lower complexity, the input port-based nw-DRR is shown to perform better than the current TSN approach, and to bind the end-to-end delay within a few milliseconds in realistic network scenarios.
Enhanced Dual-Spectrum Line Interpolated FFT with Four-Term Minimal Sidelobe Cosine Window for Real-Time Harmonic Estimation in Synchrophasor Smart-Grid Technology
Authors: Oruganti Venkata Subrahmanya Raghavendra Varaprasad , Dhanikonda Venkata Sesha Samba Siva Sarma , Paredes Helmo Kelis Morales , Simões Marcelo Godoy
Published: February 2019

The proliferation of nonlinear loads and integration of renewable energy sources require attention for accurate harmonic estimation along with estimation of fundamental amplitude, phase, and frequency for protection, improving power quality, and managing power effectively in a smart distribution grid. There are currently different Windowed Interpolated Fast Fourier Transform (WIFFT) algorithms for harmonic voltage estimation, but estimation of current harmonics using WIFFT is not explored sufficiently. The existing WIFFT algorithms, when used for current harmonic estimation result in low accuracy due to spectral leakage and picket fence effect. On the other hand, Interpolated Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) is used for synchrophasor quality metrics, but it is effective only when there are no harmonics and the fundamental frequency is constant. This paper proposes a unified solution, comprising of peak location index search (PLIS)-based Dual-Spectrum Line Interpolated Fast Fourier Transform (DSLIFFT) algorithm with 4-Term Minimal Sidelobe Cosine Window (4MSCW) for estimating both low-amplitude voltage or current harmonics and synchrophasor under variable frequency conditions for high-penetration renewable energy utility grids. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is validated by simulation studies and real-time experimentation using the National Instruments reconfigurable embedded system under nonlinear loading conditions.
Assessment of Electric Vehicle Charging Costs in Presence of Distributed Photovoltaic Generation and Variable Electricity Tariffs
Authors: Pasetti Marco , Rinaldi Stefano , Flammini Alessandra , Longo Michela , Foiadelli Federica
Published: February 2019

In this paper a general model for the estimation of the uncoordinated charging costs of Electric Vehicles (EVs) in the presence of distributed and intermittent generation, and variable electricity tariffs is presented. The proposed method aims at estimating the monthly average cost of uncoordinated charging of a single EV depending on the hour at which the EV is plugged into the EV Supply Equipment (EVSE). The feasibility and relevance of the proposed model is verified by applying the considered cost estimation method to a suitable use case. A single EV charging service offered at a public building equipped with a Photovoltaic (PV) system has been considered as reference case. The proposed model has been applied to the PV production and loads consumption data collected during one year, and the results of the study compared with the Time-Of-Use (TOU) electricity tariff. The application of the proposed model identified noticeable deviations among the computed EV charging costs and the reference TOU profile, with differences up to 40%, depending on the considered month and on the time of charging during the day. It can be concluded that such model could be used to properly detect opportunities of energy savings, and to define dedicated EV price signals that could help to promote the optimal use of distributed energy resources.
Recovery of Low-Grade Heat (Heat Waste) from a Cogeneration Unit for Woodchips Drying: Energy and Economic Analyses
Authors: Dahou Tilia , Dutournié Patrick , Limousy Lionel , Bennici Simona , Perea Nicolas
Published: February 2019

The aim of this paper is to improve the operating share of a biomass cogeneration unit by using unavoidable heat waste heat recovered from a district network heating used for drying woody biomass’ return water (law-grade temperature heat). The optimal operating conditions of a drying unit added to the system were estimated from an energy and a financial point of view, applying four objective functions (drying time, energy consumption, energy balance, and financial performance of the cogeneration unit). An experimental design methodology used heat for the implementation of these functions and to obtain an operating chart. Numerical modelling was performed to develop a simulation tool able to illustrate the unsteady operations able to take into account the available waste heat. Surprisingly, the model shows that the right strategy to increase the financial gain is to produce more warm water than necessary and to consequently dispose higher quantities of unavoidable heat in the network’s return water, which heat up the drying air at a higher temperature. This result contrasts with the current approaches of setting-up cogeneration units that are based on the minimization of the heat production.
Seepage Safety Assessment of Concrete Gravity Dam Based on Matter-Element Extension Model and FDA
Authors: Wang Xiaoling , Yu Hongling , Lv Peng , Wang Cheng , Zhang Jun , Yu Jia
Published: February 2019

As an important infrastructure project, the concrete gravity dam plays an extremely important role in hydropower generation, irrigation, flood control, and other aspects. Seepage is an important factor affecting the stability of concrete gravity dams. Seepage safety assessment is of great significance to the safe operation of the dams. However, the existing seepage safety assessment models are not dynamic, and the correlation among indicators is often neglected and the overall seepage safety of the concrete gravity dams has not been considered. To solve these problems, this research proposes a dynamic matter-element extension (D-MEE) model. First, the D-MEE model is established through adroit integration of the matter-element extension (MEE) model and functional data analysis (FDA). Second, a dynamic criteria importance through the intercriteria correlation (D-CRITIC) method that can effectively consider the correlation among indicators is proposed to determine the weights. Third, the influence of different dam blocks on the overall seepage safety status is considered by constructing a spatial weight matrix. Finally, the proposed method is applied to the concrete gravity dam X in southwest China. The results show that the proposed method is effective and superior to the existing evaluation methods of seepage safety.
Comparison Study of Induction Motor Models Considering Iron Loss for Electric Drives
Authors: Wang Kang , Huai Ruituo , Yu Zhihao , Zhang Xiaoyang , Li Fengjuan , Zhang Luwei
Published: February 2019

In a variety of motor models, the effects of iron-loss (ILS) on motor control accuracy and efficiency are generally ignored. This makes it difficult for the motor control system to obtain accurate control parameters (especially on high speed and low load conditions), and limits the improvement of motor control accuracy. This paper aims to clarify the influence of different ILS modeling and observation methods on motor control performance. Three equivalent models of motors with iron losses are compared. These models are: A parallel model, a series model and the simplified traditional model. Three tests are conducted to obtain the effect of ILS perturbation on ILS estimation results, and then to derive the sensitivity of the motor state and torque to the perturbation. These test conditions include: Ideal no-load, heavy-load, locked-rotor, and ILS perturbations during speed regulation. Simulation results show that the impedance and excitation characteristics of the series model and the parallel model are similar, and the traditional model has the best speed regulation smoothness. The ILS estimation errors of the series model is nearly constant and easy to compensate. For accurate ILS observation results, the series model can achieve better control accuracy.
DG System Using PFNN Controllers for Improving Islanding Detection and Power Control
Authors: Tan Kuang-Hsiung , Lan Chien-Wu
Published: February 2019

In this study, an intelligent controlled distributed generator (DG) system is proposed for tracking control and islanding detection. First, a DC/AC inverter with DC power supply is adopted to emulate a DG system and control the active and reactive power outputs. Moreover, in order to comply with the standard for interconnection with the power grid, a novel active islanding detection method is proposed for the inverter-based DG system. In the proposed active islanding detection method, a perturbation signal is designed to inject into the d-axis current of the DG system which causes the frequency at the terminal of the RLC load to deviate when the power grid breaks down. The feasibility of the proposed active islanding detection method is verified according to the UL 1741 test configuration. Furthermore, in order to improve the tracking control of the active and reactive powers of the inverter-based DG system, and to effectively reduce the detection time of islanding phenomenon, two probabilistic fuzzy neural network (PFNN) controllers are adopted to take the place of the conventional proportional-integral (PI) controllers. In addition, the network structure and the online learning algorithm of the adopted PFNN are presented in details. Finally, some experimental results of the proposed active islanding detection method using PFNN controllers are proposed to validate the effectiveness and feasibility of the tracking control and islanding detection.
Online Diagnosis of Inter-turn Short Circuit for Dual-Redundancy Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor Based on Reactive Power Difference
Authors: Chen Yiguang , Zhao Xiaobin , Yang Yukai , Shi Yichen
Published: February 2019

The Dual-Redundancy Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (DRPMSM) with weak thermal coupling and no electromagnetic coupling among phase windings has two sets of three-phase symmetrical windings. Under normal conditions, two sets of windings can operate simultaneously, and once one set has an inter-turn short circuit fault (ISCF), the other set will operate alone, so a DRPMSM can be applied in fields with high reliability requirements. According to the equivalent circuit principle, a simplified model of a DRPMSM when ISCF occurs is established in this paper, and mathematical equations for the equivalent resistance, inductance and induction electromotive force (EMF) are derived. Based on the simplified circuit principle and instantaneous power theory, combined with the analysis of the fundamental wave in the two sets, an online diagnosis method of the ISCF for DRPMSM is proposed based on the reactive power difference and the feasibility of the method is verified by experiments.
Techno-Economic and Environmental Analysis of a Hybrid PV-WT-PSH/BB Standalone System Supplying Various Loads
Authors: Guezgouz Mohammed , Jurasz Jakub , Bekkouche Benaissa
Published: February 2019

The Algerian power system is currently dominated by conventional (gas- and oil-fueled) power stations. A small portion of the electrical demand is covered by renewable energy sources. This work is intended to analyze two configurations of renewables-based hybrid (solar–wind) power stations. One configuration was equipped with batteries and the second with pumped-storage hydroelectricity as two means of overcoming: the stochastic nature of the two renewable generators and resulting mismatch between demand and supply. To perform this analysis, real hourly load data for eight different electricity consumers were obtained for the area of Mostaganem. The configuration of hybrid power stations was determined for a bi-objective optimization problem (minimization of electricity cost and maximization of reliability) based on a multi-objective grey-wolf optimizer. The results of this analysis indicate that, in the case of Algeria, renewables-based power generation is still more expensive than electricity produced from the national grid. However, using renewables reduces the overall CO2 emissions up to 9.3 times compared to the current emissions from the Algerian power system. Further analysis shows that the system performance may benefit from load aggregation.
Fuel Switch to LNG in Heavy Truck Traffic
Authors: Smajla Ivan , Karasalihović Sedlar Daria , Drljača Branko , Jukić Lucija
Published: February 2019

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) use as a fuel in road and maritime traffic has increased rapidly, and it is slowly entering railroad traffic as well. The trend was pushed by the state administrations of mainly EU countries and international organizations seeing LNG as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to diesel. Different infrastructural projects for the widespread use of LNG in transport have been launched around the world. The main goal of this paper was to analyze use of LNG as a fuel for heavy trucks. Different aspects of LNG chain were analyzed along with economical and ecological benefits of LNG application. Filling stations network for LNG were described for the purpose of comparative analysis of diesel and LNG heavy trucks. Conclusion has shown that using LNG as propellant fuel has numerous advantages over the use of conventional fuels. The higher initial investment of the LNG road vehicles could be amortized in their lifetime use, and in the long-term they are more affordable than the classic diesel vehicles. In addition to cost-effectiveness, LNG road vehicles reduce CO2 emissions. Therefore, the environmental goals in transport, not only of the member states but worldwide, could not be met without LNG in heavy truck traffic.
Hydrothermal Carbonization Kinetics of Lignocellulosic Agro-Wastes: Experimental Data and Modeling
Authors: Lucian Michela , Volpe Maurizio , Fiori Luca
Published: February 2019

Olive trimmings (OT) were used as feedstock for an in-depth experimental study on the reaction kinetics controlling hydrothermal carbonization (HTC). OT were hydrothermally carbonized for a residence time τ of up to 8 h at temperatures between 180 and 250 °C to systematically investigate the chemical and energy properties changes of hydrochars during HTC. Additional experiments at 120 and 150 °C at τ = 0 h were carried out to analyze the heat-up transient phase required to reach the HTC set-point temperature. Furthermore, an original HTC reaction kinetics model was developed. The HTC reaction pathway was described through a lumped model, in which biomass is converted into solid (distinguished between primary and secondary char), liquid, and gaseous products. The kinetics model, written in MATLABTM, was used in best fitting routines with HTC experimental data obtained using OT and two other agro-wastes previously tested: grape marc and Opuntia Ficus Indica. The HTC kinetics model effectively predicts carbon distribution among HTC products versus time with the thermal transient phase included; it represents an effective tool for R&D in the HTC field. Importantly, both modeling and experimental data suggest that already during the heat-up phase, biomass greatly carbonizes, in particular at the highest temperature tested of 250 °C.
Design and Implementation of a New Algorithm for Enhancing MPPT Performance in Solar Cells
Authors: Norouzzadeh Ehsan , Ale Ahmad Ahmad , Saeedian Meysam , Eini Gholamreza , Pouresmaeil Edris
Published: February 2019

This paper presents a new algorithm for improving the maximum power point tracking method in solar cells. The perturb and observe and the constant voltage algorithms are combined intelligently in order to have a fast response and a high power efficiency. Furthermore, a two-phase interleaved boost converter with a coupled inductor is used with the proposed algorithm. The input capacitor and inductor of this converter are much smaller than those of the conventional types of converters. Therefore, its inherent delay is too short. Computer simulations carried out in PowerSIM and experimental results using a 100 W prototype verify the superior performance of the proposed algorithm and converter. The operating principle and comparisons with the conventional algorithms and other methods are presented in this paper. Moreover, a cost function is presented to compare the new algorithm with the others. The experimental results show that the presented system tracks any changes in power in less than 10 ms, and a quick response to the maximum power point is achieved.
Species Diversity Associated with Foundation Species in Temperate and Tropical Forests
Authors: Ellison Aaron M. , Buckley Hannah L. , Case Bradley S. , Cardenas Dairon , Duque Álvaro J. , Lutz James A. , Myers Jonathan A. , Orwig David A. , Zimmerman Jess K.
Published: February 2019

Foundation species define and structure ecological communities but are difficult to identify before they are declining. Yet, their defining role in ecosystems suggests they should be a high priority for protection and management while they are still common and abundant. We used comparative analyses of six large forest dynamics plots spanning a temperate-to-tropical gradient in the Western Hemisphere to identify statistical “fingerprints” of potential foundation species based on their size-frequency and abundance-diameter distributions, and their spatial association with five measures of diversity of associated woody plant species. Potential foundation species are outliers from the common “reverse-J” size-frequency distribution, and have negative effects on alpha diversity and positive effects on beta diversity at most spatial lags and directions. Potential foundation species also are more likely in temperate forests, but foundational species groups may occur in tropical forests. As foundation species (or species groups) decline, associated landscape-scale (beta) diversity is likely to decline along with them. Preservation of this component of biodiversity may be the most important consequence of protecting foundation species while they are still common.
Correspondence: Uncertainty in Climate-Vegetation Feedbacks on Fire Regimes Challenges Reliable Long-Term Projections of Burnt Area from Correlative Models
Authors: Brotons Lluís , Duane Andrea
Published: February 2019

Recent studies have explored the use of simple correlative models to project changes in future burnt areas (BAs) around the globe. However, estimates of future fire danger suffer from the critical shortcoming that feedbacks on climate change effects on vegetation are not explicitly included in purely correlative approaches causing potential major unknown biases on BA projections. In a recent application of this approach led by Marco Turco and co-workers in the journal Nature Communications (doi:10.1038/s41467-018-06358-z), a simple correlative model was used to project an increase in future burnt areas for the Mediterranean region. The authors related BAs to regional estimates of cumulative drought surrogates, and later used this relationship to infer changes derived from future climate data. To account for negative climate-vegetation feedback on fire regimes, they used regional variability in the BA–drought relationship. The main assumption behind the approach used was that fire–drought relationships currently measured under a given productivity gradient (i.e., sensitivity of fire activity to dry periods is stronger in cooler/productive sites) can be consistently used to infer new relationships arising in the future. While representing a step forward in acknowledging the pitfalls of current projections of BAs, this short-cut falls short in allowing to account for the key process behind climate–vegetation-fire feedbacks. We argue that a series of mechanisms, ranging from the dynamic nature of fire–drought relationships to the human influences they experience, do not ensure that these relationships are to be maintained in the future with major, overall still unknown, consequences on future fire danger projections. Resolving this challenge will greatly benefit from the development of mechanistic approaches that explicitly consider the processes by which vegetation changes derived from climate influence fire regimes.
Assessment of RNAlater® as a Potential Method to Preserve Bovine Muscle Proteins Compared with Dry Ice in a Proteomic Study
Authors: Zhu Yao , Mullen Anne Maria , Rai Dilip K. , Kelly Alan L. , Sheehan David , Cafferky Jamie , Hamill Ruth M.
Published: February 2019

RNAlater® is regarded as a potential preservation method for proteins, while its effect on bovine muscle proteins has rarely been evaluated. Bovine muscle protein samples (n = 12) collected from three tender (Warner–Bratzler shear force: 30.02–31.74 N) and three tough (Warner–Bratzler shear force: 54.12–66.25 N) Longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) samples, preserved using two different sampling preservation methods (RNAlater® and dry ice), at two post mortem time points (day 0 and day 14), were characterized using one-dimensional electrophoresis. Fourteen bands with molecular weights ranging from 15 to 250 kDa were verified, both in the dry ice and RNAlater® storage groups, at each time point, using image analysis. A shift from high to low molecular weight fragments, between day 0 and day 14, indicated proteolysis of the muscle proteins during post mortem storage. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analyses and database searching resulted in the identification of 10 proteins in four bands. Protein profiles of muscle preserved in RNAlater® were similar to those of muscle frozen on dry ice storage, both at day 0 and day 14. The results demonstrate that RNAlater® could be a simple and efficient way to preserve bovine muscle proteins for bovine muscle proteomic studies.
Ará Òrun Kìn-ìn Kin-in: Òyó-Yòrùbá Egúngún Masquerade in Communion and Maintenance of Ontological Balance †
Authors: Akande Abiodun Olasupo
Published: February 2019

The belief that there is life after death and that the spirits of the deceased are directly involved in the daily affairs of the living are strong among the Òyó-Yorùbá people of south-western Nigeria. These beliefs are evident in their egúngún culture, a decidedly Yorùbá masking culture in which the spirits of long-dead ancestors are believed to manifest in bodily form as egúngún, in re-visitations to the people they once knew and community they once lived in. The present study explores the connexion processes through which egúngún Mowuru and Jeńjù have engaged in establishing and maintaining contact between the living and the dead in the Òyó community. In this ethnographic study, two egúngún personages (eléégún) who have been directly involved in actual masking of egúngún were interrogated about their first-hand experiences. Fifteen other worshipers and stakeholders of egúngún were also interviewed. It was observed that the art and performances that institute contact by human with the spirits of the egúngún share basic worship principles as found in other religions. Such principles include regular worship, invocations, sacrificing of materials and spilling of blood to the spirit of Jeńjù and Mowuru to ensure communication and provoke ontological balance between the two worlds.
Female Relays, Rice-Workers and flâneuse: The geo parler femme in Renata Viganò’s Work
Authors: Stefanovska Ana
Published: February 2019

The aim of this article was to reflect on how settings are used as narrative practices in the work of Renata Viganò, one of the most famous Italian female writers. Drawing upon Well’s concept of geo parler femme, this article examined the extent to which the setting plays a role in Viganò’s fictional works and essays. Focusing on the most common stereotypes of gendered spatiality, the intention of the analysis was to point out that at specific historical moments, such as the Italian resistance movement and the post-war years, the traditional gender assignment of spaces was no longer valid. The idea of a well distinguished ‘limit’ that separates certain places as feminine from others as masculine in time of war becomes blurred and destabilizes the traditional dichotomy of public–private spaces. The dialectic masculine–feminine places are nonexistent and often completely reversed, turning the setting into one of the main narrative practices in novels, such as L’Agnese va a morire or Una storia di ragazze, as well as in politically engaged essays dedicated to female partisans and rice-workers.
Effects of Co-Inoculation of Indole-3-Acetic Acid-Producing and -Degrading Bacterial Endophytes on Plant Growth
Authors: Dhungana Sabitri Adhikari , Itoh Kazuhito
Published: February 2019

Bacterial production of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and its effects on plant growth have been frequently studied but there have been few studies on the ecology of IAA-degrading bacteria. In this study, among eight endophytic bacterial strains previously isolated from the same sweet potato sample including two IAA producers, Klebsiella sp. Sal 1 and Enterobacter sp. Sal 3, all of the strains showed IAA-degrading ability to some extent. Herbaspirillum sp. Sal 6 had the highest activity for IAA and tryptophan. When the IAA producers and the degrader were co-cultured in tryptophan-amended N+MR liquid medium, the concentrations of IAA decreased. Inoculation with Klebsiella sp. Sal 1, the highest IAA producer among the test strains, increased fresh root weight of tomato and radish, but the effect decreased by co-inoculation with IAA-degrading Herbaspirillum sp. Sal 6. Since both strains colonized plant parts at high populations, it was likely that the IAA degrader decreased IAA levels in the plants by degrading IAA and/or its precursor tryptophan. When IAA-producing biofertilizers are used, interactions with IAA degraders in plants should be considered.
Assessing the Relation between Plasma PCB Concentrations and Elevated Autistic Behaviours using Bayesian Predictive Odds Ratios
Authors: Bernardo Brendan , Lanphear Bruce , Venners Scott , Arbuckle Tye , Braun Joseph , Muckle Gina , Fraser William , McCandless Lawrence
Published: February 2019

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by impaired social communication and repetitive or stereotypic behaviours. In utero exposure to environmental chemicals, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), may play a role in the etiology of ASD. We examined the relation between plasma PCB concentrations measured during pregnancy and autistic behaviours in a subset of children aged 3–4 years old in the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC) Study, a pregnancy and birth cohort of 546 mother-infant pairs from Canada (enrolled: 2008–2011). We quantified the concentrations of 6 PCB congeners that were detected in >40% of plasma samples collected during the 1st trimester. At age 3–4 years, caregivers completed the Social Responsiveness Scale-2 (SRS), a valid and reliable measure of children’s reciprocal social and repetitive behaviours and restricted interests. We examined SRS scores as both a continuous and binary outcome, and we calculated Bayesian predictive odds ratios for more autistic behaviours based on a latent variable model for SRS scores >60. We found no evidence of an association between plasma PCB concentrations and autistic behaviour. However, we found small and imprecise increases in the mean SRS score and odds of more autistic behaviour for the highest category of plasma PCB concentrations compared with the lowest category; for instance, an average increase of 1.4 (95%PCI: −0.4, 3.2) in the mean SRS (exposure contrast highest versus lowest PCB category) for PCB138 translated to an odds ratio of 1.8 (95%PCI: 1.0, 2.9). Our findings illustrate the importance of measuring associations between PCBs and autistic behaviour on both continuous and binary scales.
Differences in Prenatal Tobacco Exposure Patterns among 13 Race/Ethnic Groups in California
Authors: Hoshiko Sumi , Pearl Michelle , Yang Juan , Aldous Kenneth M. , Roeseler April , Dominguez Martha E. , Smith Daniel , DeLorenze Gerald N. , Kharrazi Martin
Published: February 2019

Prenatal tobacco exposure is a significant, preventable cause of childhood morbidity, yet little is known about exposure risks for many race/ethnic subpopulations. We studied active smoking and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure in a population-based cohort of 13 racially/ethnically diverse pregnant women: white, African American, Hispanic, Native American, including nine Asian/Pacific Islander subgroups: Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Filipino, Cambodian, Vietnamese, Laotian, Samoan, and Asian Indians (N = 3329). Using the major nicotine metabolite, cotinine, as an objective biomarker, we analyzed mid-pregnancy serum from prenatal screening banked in 1999–2002 from Southern California in an effort to understand differences in tobacco exposure patterns by race/ethnicity, as well as provide a baseline for future work to assess secular changes and longer-term health outcomes. Prevalence of active smoking (based on age- and race-specific cotinine cutpoints) was highest among African American, Samoan, Native Americans and whites (6.8–14.1%); and lowest among Filipinos, Chinese, Vietnamese and Asian Indians (0.3–1.0%). ETS exposure among non-smokers was highest among African Americans and Samoans, followed by Cambodians, Native Americans, Vietnamese and Koreans, and lowest among Filipinos, Japanese, whites, and Chinese. At least 75% of women had detectable cotinine. While for most groups, levels of active smoking corresponded with levels of ETS, divergent patterns were also found. For example, smoking prevalence among white women was among the highest, but the group’s ETS exposure was low among non-smokers; while Vietnamese women were unlikely to be active smokers, they experienced relatively high ETS exposure. Knowledge of race/ethnic differences may be useful in assessing disparities in health outcomes and creating successful tobacco interventions.
Current and Emerging Disaster Risks Perceptions in Oceania: Key Stakeholders Recommendations for Disaster Management and Resilience Building
Authors: Cuthbertson Joseph , Rodriguez-Llanes Jose M. , Robertson Andrew , Archer Frank
Published: February 2019

Identification and profiling of current and emerging disaster risks is essential to inform effective disaster risk management practice. Without clear evidence, readiness to accept future threats is low, resulting in decreased ability to detect and anticipate these new threats. A consequential decreased strategic planning for mitigation, adaptation or response results in a lowered resilience capacity. This study aimed to investigate threats to the health and well-being of societies associated with disaster impact in Oceania. The study used a mixed methods approach to profile current and emerging disaster risks in selected countries of Oceania, including small and larger islands. Quantitative analysis of the International Disaster Database (EM-DAT) provided historical background on disaster impact in Oceania from 2000 to 2018. The profile of recorded events was analyzed to describe the current burden of disasters in the Oceania region. A total of 30 key informant interviews with practitioners, policy managers or academics in disaster management in the Oceania region provided first-hand insights into their perceptions of current and emerging threats, and identified opportunities to enhance disaster risk management practice and resilience in Oceania. Qualitative methods were used to analyze these key informant interviews. Using thematic analysis, we identified emerging disaster risk evidence from the data and explored new pathways to support decision-making on resilience building and disaster management. We characterized perceptions of the nature and type of contemporary and emerging disaster risk with potential impacts in Oceania. The study findings captured not only traditional and contemporary risks, such as climate change, but also less obvious ones, such as plastic pollution, rising inequality, uncontrolled urbanization, and food and water insecurity, which were perceived as contributors to current and/or future crises, or as crises themselves. The findings provided insights into how to improve disaster management more effectively, mainly through bottom-up approaches and education to increase risk-ownership and community action, enhanced political will, good governance practices and support of a people-centric approach.
Smartphone Sensors for Monitoring Cancer-Related Quality of Life: App Design, EORTC QLQ-C30 Mapping and Feasibility Study in Healthy Subjects
Authors: Asensio-Cuesta Sabina , Sánchez-García Ángel , Conejero J. Alberto , Saez Carlos , Rivero-Rodriguez Alejandro , García-Gómez Juan M.
Published: February 2019

Quality of life (QoL) indicators are now being adopted as clinical outcomes in clinical trials on cancer treatments. Technology-free daily monitoring of patients is complicated, time-consuming and expensive due to the need for vast amounts of resources and personnel. The alternative method of using the patients’ own phones could reduce the burden of continuous monitoring of cancer patients in clinical trials. This paper proposes monitoring the patients’ QoL by gathering data from their own phones. We considered that the continuous multiparametric acquisition of movement, location, phone calls, conversations and data use could be employed to simultaneously monitor their physical, psychological, social and environmental aspects. An open access phone app was developed (Human Dynamics Reporting Service (HDRS)) to implement this approach. We here propose a novel mapping between the standardized QoL items for these patients, the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) and define HDRS monitoring indicators. A pilot study with university volunteers verified the plausibility of detecting human activity indicators directly related to QoL.
Health Literacy and People with Intellectual Disabilities: What We Know, What We Do Not Know, and What We Need: A Theoretical Discourse
Authors: Geukes Cornelia , Bröder Janine , Latteck Änne-Dörte
Published: February 2019

Although health literacy is widely discussed and many heterogeneous conceptualizations exist, people with intellectual disabilities have remained largely unconsidered. The purpose of this conceptual paper is to analyze the particularities of this target group and discuss and consider implications that arise when conceptualizing the health literacy of people with intellectual disabilities. Therefore, we explore relevant approaches from multiple disciplines and examine their transferability to a conceptual understanding of health literacy for people with intellectual disabilities. For future directions we identified three main dimensions: (1) disentangle health literacy from empowerment; (2) apply a positive, asset-based focus to health literacy; and (3) focus on health literacy as a distributed resource across individuals and their individual life-world.
Obesity and Urban Environments
Authors: Congdon Peter
Published: February 2019

Obesity is a major public health issue, affecting both developed and developing societies. Obesity increases the risk for heart disease, stroke, some cancers, and type II diabetes. While individual behaviours are important risk factors, impacts on obesity and overweight of the urban physical and social environment have figured large in the recent epidemiological literature, though evidence is incomplete and from a limited range of countries. Prominent among identified environmental influences are urban layout and sprawl, healthy food access, exercise access, and the neighbourhood social environment. This paper reviews the literature and highlights the special issue contributions within that literature.
Oxidative Stress, Induced by Sub-Lethal Doses of BDE 209, Promotes Energy Management and Cell Cycle Modulation in the Marine Fish Cell Line SAF-1
Authors: Espinosa Ruiz Cristobal , Manuguerra Simona , Cuesta Alberto , Santulli Andrea , Messina Concetta M.
Published: February 2019

The effects of sub-lethal doses of polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE)-209 in terms of toxicity, oxidative stress, and biomarkers were evaluated in the Sparus aurata fibroblast cell line (SAF-1). Vitality and oxidative stress status were studied after incubation with PBDE for 72 h. Concomitantly, the quantification of proteins related to cell cycle and DNA repair (p53), cell proliferation (extracellular signal–regulated kinase 1 (ERK1)), energetic restriction (hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF1)), and redox status (Nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (NRF2)) was also determined after prolonged exposure (7–15 days) by immunoblotting. Our results demonstrated that rising concentrations of PBDEs exposure-induced oxidative stress, and that this event modulates different cell pathways related to cell cycle, cell signaling, and energetic balance in the long term, indicating the negative impact of sub-lethal dose exposure to cell homeostasis.
Extended-Family Talk about Sex and Teen Sexual Behavior
Authors: Grossman Jennifer M. , Lynch Alicia D. , Richer Amanda M. , DeSouza Lisette M. , Ceder Ineke
Published: February 2019

Research shows that family communication about sexuality can protect against teens’ risky sexual behavior. However, few studies assess talk with extended family about sex or how this communication relates to teens’ sexual behavior. The current study includes cross-sectional survey data from 952 adolescents. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to assess associations between teens’ sexual risk behaviors and communication with extended family about protection methods, risks of sex and relational approaches to sex, defined as talk about sex within a close relationship. For sexually active teens, talk about protection methods was associated with fewer sexual partners and talk about risks of sex was associated with more sexual partners regardless of teen gender and the generation of extended family with whom teens talk. Results suggest that extended-family talk about sex may influence teens’ sexual behavior independent of effects of teen–parent communication. However, the direction of the effect depends on the content of the conversations. These findings suggest the need to explore whether and how extended family could be included in health prevention and intervention programs, because programs which include family largely focus on parents.
Shoreline Detection using Optical Remote Sensing: A Review
Authors: Toure Seynabou , Diop Oumar , Kpalma Kidiyo , Maiga Amadou Seidou
Published: February 2019

With coastal erosion and the increased interest in beach monitoring, there is a greater need for evaluation of the shoreline detection methods. Some studies have been conducted to produce state of the art reviews on shoreline definition and detection. It should be noted that with the development of remote sensing, shoreline detection is mainly achieved by image processing. Thus, it is important to evaluate the different image processing approaches used for shoreline detection. This paper presents a state of the art review on image processing methods used for shoreline detection in remote sensing. It starts with a review of different key concepts that can be used for shoreline detection. Then, the applied fundamental image processing methods are shown before a comparative analysis of these methods. A significant outcome of this study will provide practical insights into shoreline detection.
The Role of Proteases in the Virulence of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria
Authors: Figaj Donata , Ambroziak Patrycja , Przepiora Tomasz , Skorko-Glonek Joanna
Published: February 2019

A pathogenic lifestyle is inextricably linked with the constant necessity of facing various challenges exerted by the external environment (both within and outside the host). To successfully colonize the host and establish infection, pathogens have evolved sophisticated systems to combat the host defense mechanisms and also to be able to withstand adverse environmental conditions. Proteases, as crucial components of these systems, are involved in a variety of processes associated with infection. In phytopathogenic bacteria, they play important regulatory roles and modulate the expression and functioning of various virulence factors. Secretory proteases directly help avoid recognition by the plant immune systems, and contribute to the deactivation of the defense response pathways. Finally, proteases are important components of protein quality control systems, and thus enable maintaining homeostasis in stressed bacterial cells. In this review, we discuss the known protease functions and protease-regulated signaling processes associated with virulence of plant pathogenic bacteria.
Lipid Headgroup Charge and Acyl Chain Composition Modulate Closure of Bacterial β-Barrel Channels
Authors: Perini D. Aurora , Alcaraz Antonio , Queralt-Martín María
Published: February 2019

The outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria contains β-barrel proteins that form high-conducting ion channels providing a path for hydrophilic molecules, including antibiotics. Traditionally, these proteins have been considered to exist only in an open state so that regulation of outer membrane permeability was accomplished via protein expression. However, electrophysiological recordings show that β-barrel channels respond to transmembrane voltages by characteristically switching from a high-conducting, open state, to a so-called ‘closed’ state, with reduced permeability and possibly exclusion of large metabolites. Here, we use the bacterial porin OmpF from E. coli as a model system to gain insight on the control of outer membrane permeability by bacterial porins through the modulation of their open state. Using planar bilayer electrophysiology, we perform an extensive study of the role of membrane lipids in the OmpF channel closure by voltage. We pay attention not only to the effects of charges in the hydrophilic lipid heads but also to the contribution of the hydrophobic tails in the lipid-protein interactions. Our results show that gating kinetics is governed by lipid characteristics so that each stage of a sequential closure is different from the previous one, probably because of intra- or intermonomeric rearrangements.
Thermal, Mechanical, and Rheological Properties of Biocomposites Made of Poly(lactic acid) and Potato Pulp Powder
Authors: Righetti Maria Cristina , Cinelli Patrizia , Mallegni Norma , Massa Carlo Andrea , Bronco Simona , Stäbler Andreas , Lazzeri Andrea
Published: February 2019

The thermal, mechanical, and rheological properties of biocomposites of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) with potato pulp powder were investigated in order to (1) quantify how the addition of this filler modifies the structure of the polymeric material and (2) to obtain information on the possible miscibility and compatibility between PLA and the potato pulp. The potato pulp powder utilized is a residue of the processing for the production and extraction of starch. The study was conducted by analyzing the effect of the potato pulp concentration on the thermal, mechanical, and rheological properties of the biocomposites. The results showed that the potato pulp powder does not act as reinforcement but as filler for the PLA polymeric matrix. A progressive decrease in elastic modulus, tensile strength, and elongation at break was observed with increasing the potato pulp percentage. This moderate loss of mechanical properties, however, still meets the technical requirements indicated for the production of rigid packaging items. The incorporation of potato pulp powder to PLA offers the possibility to reduce the cost of the final products and promotes a circular economy approach for the valorization of agro-food waste biomass.
Inflammation and Pancreatic Cancer: Focus on Metabolism, Cytokines, and Immunity
Authors: Padoan Andrea , Plebani Mario , Basso Daniela
Published: February 2019

Systemic and local chronic inflammation might enhance the risk of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), and PDAC-associated inflammatory infiltrate in the tumor microenvironment concurs in enhancing tumor growth and metastasis. Inflammation is closely correlated with immunity, the same immune cell populations contributing to both inflammation and immune response. In the PDAC microenvironment, the inflammatory cell infiltrate is unbalanced towards an immunosuppressive phenotype, with a prevalence of myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC), M2 polarized macrophages, and Treg, over M1 macrophages, dendritic cells, and effector CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes. The dynamic and continuously evolving cross-talk between inflammatory and cancer cells might be direct and contact-dependent, but it is mainly mediated by soluble and exosomes-carried cytokines. Among these, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) plays a relevant role in enhancing cancer risk, cancer growth, and cancer-associated cachexia. In this review, we describe the inflammatory cell types, the cytokines, and the mechanisms underlying PDAC risk, growth, and progression, with particular attention on TNFα, also in the light of the potential risks or benefits associated with anti-TNFα treatments.
Altered Molecular Pathways in the Proteome of Cryopreserved Sperm in Testicular Cancer Patients before Treatment
Authors: Panner Selvam Manesh Kumar , Agarwal Ashok , Pushparaj Peter N.
Published: February 2019

Testicular cancer (TC) represents the most common cancer affecting men within the reproductive age and is often accompanied by major disturbances in semen parameters. Cryopreservation is recommended in these patients before initiating cancer treatment. Currently, there are no studies reporting the molecular mechanisms associated with altered semen quality in these men. The main objective of this study was to compare the sperm proteome of normozoospermic (motility >40%) and asthenozoospermic (motility <40%) TC patients with normozoospermic infertile men without cancer (control group). Pooled sperm samples from normozoospermic (n = 20), asthenozoospermic (n = 11) TC, and a control group (n = 9) were used for quantitative global proteomic profiling using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. A total of 1085, 846, and 982 proteins were identified in normozoospermic TC, asthenozoospermic TC, and control groups, respectively. Functional analysis revealed mitochondrial dysfunction and altered cellular pathways in both normozoospermic and asthenozoospermic TC patients. Comparison of pathway analysis showed no significant difference in fertility-associated proteins/mechanism between the normozoospermic TC patients and infertile men. Western blot analysis revealed under-expression of NDUFS1 associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and overexpression of CD63 involved in sperm maturation in both normozoospermic and asthenozoospermic TC patients. Our proteomic results confirm that defective cellular pathways are associated with reproductive functions in both normozoospermic and asthenozoospermic TC patients before the start of cancer treatment.