bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Validation of SAM Modeling of Concentrated Solar Power Plants
Authors: Boretti Alberto , Nayfeh Jamal , Al-Kouz Wael
Published: April 2020

The paper proposes the validation of the latest System Advisor Model (SAM) vs. the experimental data for concentrated solar power energy facilities. Both parabolic trough, and solar tower, are considered, with and without thermal energy storage. The 250 MW parabolic trough facilities of Genesis, Mojave, and Solana, and the 110 MW solar tower facility of Crescent Dunes, all in the United States South-West, are modeled. The computed monthly average capacity factors for the average weather year are compared with the experimental data measured since the start of the operation of the facilities. While much higher sampling frequencies are needed for proper validation, as monthly averaging dramatically filters out differences between experiments and simulations, computational results are relatively close to measured values for the parabolic trough, and very far from for solar tower systems. The thermal energy storage is also introducing additional inaccuracies. It is concluded that the code needs further development, especially for the solar field and receiver of the solar tower modules, and the thermal energy storage. Validation of models and sub-models vs. high-frequency data collected on existing facilities, for both energy production, power plant parameters, and weather conditions, is a necessary step before using the code for designing novel facilities.
Electric Vehicle Charging and Discharging Algorithm Based on Reinforcement Learning with Data-Driven Approach in Dynamic Pricing Scheme
Authors: Lee Jaehyun , Lee Eunjung , Kim Jinho
Published: April 2020

In the smart grid environment, the penetration of electric vehicle (EV) is increasing, and dynamic pricing and vehicle-to-grid technologies are being introduced. Consequently, automatic charging and discharging scheduling responding to electricity prices that change over time is required to reduce the charging cost of EVs, while increasing the grid reliability by moving charging loads from on-peak to off-peak periods. Hence, this study proposes a deep reinforcement learning-based, real-time EV charging and discharging algorithm. The proposed method utilizes kernel density estimation, particularly the nonparametric density function estimation method, to model the usage pattern of a specific charger at a specific location. Subsequently, the estimated density function is used to sample variables related to charger usage pattern so that the variables can be cast in the training process of a reinforcement learning agent. This ensures that the agent optimally learns the characteristics of the target charger. We analyzed the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm from two perspectives, i.e., charging cost and load shifting effect. Simulation results show that the proposed method outperforms the benchmarks that simply model usage pattern through general assumptions in terms of charging cost and load shifting effect. This means that when a reinforcement learning-based charging/discharging algorithm is deployed in a specific location, it is better to use data-driven approach to reflect the characteristics of the location, so that the charging cost reduction and the effect of load flattening are obtained.
Identification of Promising Alternative Mono-Alcohol Fuel Blend Components for Spark Ignition Engines
Authors: Shirazi Saeid Aghahossein , Foust Thomas D. , Reardon Kenneth F.
Published: April 2020

Alcohols are attractive fuel blendstocks for spark ignition engines due to their high octane values and potentially positive influence on performance and emission. Although methanol, ethanol, and butanol have been widely studied, other biomass-derived alcohols may have similar or better properties. However, it is not feasible to experimentally investigate the fuel potential of every molecule. The goals of this study were to develop a methodology for rapid screening of a fuel property database for mono-alcohols and to identify alcohols with the potential of blending to produce advantaged motor gasolines. A database was developed with 13 fuel properties of all saturated C1–C10 mono-alcohols. A decision framework was used to evaluate alcohols suitable for blending in gasoline for spark ignition engines in two scenarios: low-range (up to 15 vol%) blends and high-range (greater than 40 vol%) blends. The low-range blend cases resulted in the identification of 48 alcohols. In the case of high-range blending, only six alcohols were found to be suitable. This is the first study to systematically evaluate all C1–C10 saturated alcohols for blending with gasoline using relevant fuel properties. A novel aspect of this study is the evaluation of the influence of errors in predicted property values. These scenario screenings focus attention on a smaller number of promising candidate molecules, and the approach could be modified for other classes of fuel molecules, engine types, and fuel blending goals.
Synergy of Parameters Determining the Optimal Properties of Coal as a Natural Sorbent
Authors: Godyń Katarzyna , Dutka Barbara , Chuchro Monika , Młynarczuk Mariusz
Published: April 2020

Selection of the optimal properties of coal as a natural sorbent, both as a sample collected from a seam or of the coal seam itself, requires various parameters to be determined and may not be based on the knowledge of metamorphism degree only. In order to improve the predictions of sorption capacity and the kinetics, analyses of correlation and multiple regression based on the results of laboratory studies were performed for 15 coal samples with various coal rank. The maximum vitrinite reflectance (R0) for low-rank coals was 0.78%–0.85%, and 0.98%–1.15% and 1.85%–2.03% for medium- and high-rank coals, respectively. Coal samples were subjected to technical and petrographic analysis. The gravimetric method was used to perform sorption tests using methane, in order to determine the sorption capacity and the effective diffusion coefficient for each of the coals. Pycnometric methods were used to determine the textural parameters of coals, such as the percentage porosity and specific pore volume. The studies were further supplemented with an evaluation of the mechanical properties of the coals, Vickers micro-hardness, and elastic modulus. This work shows that the statistical multiple regression method enables a computational model including the selected petrophysical parameters displaying synergy with the specific sorption property—capacity or kinetics—to be created. The results showed the usefulness of this analysis in providing improved predictions of the optimal sorption properties of coal as a natural sorbent.
Tracking Control of Modular Multilevel Converter Based on Linear Matrix Inequality without Coordinate Transformation
Authors: Liu Ming , Li Zetao , Yang Xiaoliu
Published: April 2020

Modular multilevel converters (MMCs) play an important role in the power electronics industry due to their many advantages such as modularity and reliability. However, one of the challenges is to suppress fluctuations of circulating current and capacitor voltage and to ensure the quality of the output current. In this paper, the upper and lower arm voltages are employed as control inputs to control the output current and circulating current which are fed back to track the desired value. Based on linear matrix inequality (LMI), the control law of the MMC with multi-input system is designed to optimize the control value. The optimum arm voltage is divided by the SM nominal capacitor voltage to determine the number of SMs inserted into the upper/lower arm. The Voltage Sorting Algorithm (VSA) is then used to suppress the capacitor voltage fluctuation. The proposed tracking control strategy is implemented in MATLAB/Simulink. The results show that even under a small number of SMs (4 per arm), the output current can track the desired values and have better harmonic performance (current THD: 5.42%,voltage THD: 5.67%), and the fluctuations of the circulating current can be suppressed. Furthermore, it has better robustness and three-phase variable load fault tolerance.
Leaf Structural Carbohydrate Decreased for Pinus thunbergii along Coast–Inland Gradients
Authors: Zhang Peng , Wen Yuxiang , Wang Lei , Zhang Hui , Wang G. Geoff , Wu Tonggui
Published: April 2020

Although photosynthesis (carbohydrate production) decreases under wind load, it is unclear how carbohydrate categories allocation changes. We determined the leaf morphology (specific leaf area (SLA), needle thickness), anatomy (cuticle thickness, epidermal thickness), photosynthesis (effective quantum yield of Photosystem II (Y(II)), carbohydrate (structure carbohydrate (SC) and non-structure carbohydrate (NSC)), and environmental variables in Pinus thunbergii plantations from coast to inland, with wind speed decreasing. As expected, wind, accounting for 19–69% of the total variation, was the most dominant environmental variable determining the leaf traits. Y(II) and NSC increased, while SC and SC/NSC decreased along the coast-inland gradients (p < 0.01). These results confirmed that, although carbohydrate production decreased, SC allocation increased with increasing wind load. SLA and needle thickness decreased, while cuticle thickness and epidermal thickness increased from coast to inland. Needle thickness and cuticle thickness showed strong correlations to SC/NSC. These variations indicated that carbohydrate categories allocation related to variations of needle morphology and anatomy for P. thunbergii under wind, because of more SC allocation in leaf to support tensile strength and hardness of the cell wall under wind. Therefore, allocation between SC and NSC may be helpful for understanding the long-term adaptation of plants to wind load.
Flow in Fractured Porous Media Modeled in Closed-Form: Augmentation of Prior Solution and Side-Stepping Inconvenient Branch Cut Locations
Authors: Weijermars Ruud , Khanal Aadi
Published: April 2020

Carefully chosen complex variable formulations can solve flow in fractured porous media. Such a calculus approach is attractive, because the gridless method allows for fast, high-resolution model results. Previously developed complex potentials to describe flow in porous media with discrete heterogeneities such as natural fractures can be modified to expand the accuracy of the solution range. The prior solution became increasingly inaccurate for flows with fractures oriented at larger angles with respect to the far-field flow. The modified solution, presented here, based on complex analysis methods (CAM), removes the limitation of the earlier solution. Benefits of the CAM model are (1) infinite resolution, and (2) speed of use, as no gridding is required. Being gridless and meshless, the CAM model is computationally faster than integration methods based on solutions across discrete volumes. However, branch cut effects may occur in impractical locations due to mathematical singularities. This paper demonstrates how the augmented formulation corrects physically unfeasible refraction of streamlines across high-permeability bands (natural fractures) oriented at high angles with respect to a far-field flow. The current solution is an important repair. An application shows how a drained rock volume in hydraulically fractured hydrocarbon wells will be affected by the presence of natural fractures.
Excitability of Neural Activity is Enhanced, but Neural Discrimination of Odors is Slightly Decreased, in the Olfactory Bulb of Fasted Mice
Authors: Wu Jing , Liu Penglai , Chen Fengjiao , Ge Lingying , Lu Yifan , Li Anan
Published: April 2020

Olfaction and satiety status influence each other: cues from the olfactory system modulate eating behavior, and satiety affects olfactory abilities. However, the neural mechanisms governing the interactions between olfaction and satiety are unknown. Here, we investigate how an animal’s nutritional state modulates neural activity and odor representation in the mitral/tufted cells of the olfactory bulb, a key olfactory center that plays important roles in odor processing and representation. At the single-cell level, we found that the spontaneous firing rate of mitral/tufted cells and the number of cells showing an excitatory response both increased when mice were in a fasted state. However, the neural discrimination of odors slightly decreased. Although ongoing baseline and odor-evoked beta oscillations in the local field potential in the olfactory bulb were unchanged with fasting, the amplitude of odor-evoked gamma oscillations significantly decreased in a fasted state. These neural changes in the olfactory bulb were independent of the sniffing pattern, since both sniffing frequency and mean inhalation duration did not change with fasting. These results provide new information toward understanding the neural circuit mechanisms by which olfaction is modulated by nutritional status.
Multiple Sulfur Isotope Records of the 3.22 Ga Moodies Group, Barberton Greenstone Belt
Authors: Saitoh Masafumi , Nabhan Sami , Thomazo Christophe , Olivier Nicolas , Moyen Jean-François , Ueno Yuichiro , Marin-Carbonne Johanna
Published: April 2020

The Moodies Group, the uppermost unit in the Barberton Greenstone Belt (BGB) in South Africa, is a ~3.7-km-thick coarse clastic succession accumulated on terrestrial-to-shallow marine settings at around 3.22 Ga. The multiple sulfur isotopic composition of pyrite of Moodies intervals was newly obtained to examine the influence of these depositional settings on the sulfur isotope record. Conglomerate and sandstone rocks were collected from three synclines north of the Inyoka Fault of the central BGB, namely, the Eureka, Dycedale, and Saddleback synclines. The sulfur isotopic composition of pyrite was analyzed by Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) for 6 samples from the three synclines and by Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IR-MS) for 17 samples from a stratigraphic section in the Saddleback Syncline. The present results show a signal of mass-independent fractionation of sulfur isotopes (S-MIF), although t-tests statistically demonstrated that the Moodies S-MIF signals (mostly 0‰ < ∆33S < +0.5‰) are significantly small compared to the signal of the older Paleoarchean (3.6–3.2 Ga) records. These peculiar signatures might be related to initial deposition of detrital pyrite of juvenile origin from the surrounding intrusive (tonalite–trondhjemite–granodiorite; TTG) and felsic volcanic rocks, and/or to secondary addition of hydrothermal sulfur during late metasomatism. Moreover, fast accumulation (~0.1–1 mm/year) of the Moodies sediments might have led to a reduced accumulation of sulfur derived from an atmospheric source during their deposition. As a result, the sulfur isotopic composition of the sediments may have become susceptible to the secondary addition of metasomatic sulfur on a mass balance point of view. The sulfur isotopic composition of Moodies pyrite is similar to the composition of sulfides from nearby gold mines. It suggests that, after the Moodies deposition, metasomatic pyrite formation commonly occurred north of the Inyoka Fault in the central BGB at 3.1–3.0 Ga.
Development and Evaluation of the Psychometric Properties of a Brief Wisdom Development Scale
Authors: Fung Sai-fu , Chow Esther Oi-wah , Cheung Chau-kiu
Published: April 2020

This study was to develop an 18-item Brief Wisdom Development Scale, based on the original 66-item Wisdom Development Scale, and evaluate the psychometric properties of the proposed scale using a sample of older adults. This longitudinal study recruited 153 community-dwelling adults (mean = 72.55 years old; SD = 8.47) from older adult service centres. Using a repeated measures design, the study obtained four waves of data from the participants over 12 months. The Brief Wisdom Development Scale (BWDS) was developed based on the Stepwise Confirmatory Factor Analytical approach (SCOFA), with further verification of its factorial validity using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The results suggest that the BWDS comprising 18 items with a six-factor structure is comparable with its full version and possesses good psychometric properties in internal consistency, concurrent validity, and factorial validity. The BWDS provides an efficient, reliable, and valid construct to measure wisdom. The implications for research development are discussed here.
Fostering Health Literacy Responsiveness in a Remote Primary Health Care Setting: A Pilot Study
Authors: Laing Rachael , Thompson Sandra C , Elmer Shandell , Rasiah Rohan L
Published: April 2020

Primary healthcare organisations have an important role in addressing health literacy as this is a barrier to accessing and utilising health care. Until recently, no organisational development tool operationalising health literacy in an Australian context existed. This research evaluated the efficacy of the Organisational Health Literacy Responsiveness (Org-HLR) tool and associated assessment process in a primary healthcare organisation in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. This study utilised a sequential explanatory mixed methods research design incorporating the collection and analysis of data in two phases: (1) Pre- and post-survey data and; (2) seven semi-structured interviews. Survey results showed that participants’ confidence in core health literacy concepts improved from baseline following the intervention. Analysis of the interview data revealed participants’ initial understanding of health literacy was limited, and this impeded organisational responsiveness to health literacy needs. Participants reported the workshop and tool content were relevant to their organisation; they valued involving members from all parts of the organisation and having an external facilitator to ensure the impartiality of the process. External barriers to improving their internal organisational health literacy responsiveness were identified, with participants acknowledging the management style and culture of open communication within the organisation as enablers of change. Participants identified actionable changes to improve their organisational health literacy responsiveness using the process of organisational assessment and change.
Fetuin-A and Fetuin-B in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression
Authors: Pan Xiongfeng , Kaminga Atipatsa C. , Chen Jihua , Luo Miyang , Luo Jiayou
Published: April 2020

The magnitude of the effect of fetuin-A and fetuin-B on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains undefined. Therefore, the aim of this study was to synthesize previous findings to obtain a reliable estimation of this relationship. This study was registered in PROSPERO with the number CRD42019126314. Studies published not later than March 2019, examining the relationship between fetuin-A, fetuin-B, and NAFLD, were identified by a systematic search in the electronic databases of the Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library. Pooled estimates of standardized mean difference (SMD), calculated using the random-effects model in a meta-analysis, were applied to estimate the strength of the association between fetuin-A, fetuin-B, and NAFLD. Thirty publications were identified and analyzed based on specified inclusion criteria. Collectively, they consisted of 3800 NAFLD participants and 3614 controls. Compared with the controls, significant higher values of the fetuin-A (SMD = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.59 to 1.07, Z = 6.82, p < 0.001) and fetuin-B (SMD = 0.18, 95% CI: 0.02 to 0.33, Z = 2.27, p = 0.023) were observed in NAFLD patients. Meanwhile, in the subgroup analysis, the effect value of fetuin-A in the NASH group was significantly higher than that in the NAFL group (p = 0.036). The findings of this study suggest that elevated fetuin-A and fetuin-B may independently indicate the occurrence of NAFLD. Nevertheless, further research is needed to confirm these results.
Selected Papers from 2019 IEEE Eurasia Conference on Biomedical Engineering, Healthcare and Sustainability (IEEE ECBIOS 2019)
Authors: Meen Teen-Hang , Matsumoto Yusuke , Hsu Kuei-Shu
Published: April 2020

Recently, healthcare has undergone a sector-wide transformation thanks to advances in computing, networking technologies, big data, and artificial intelligence. Healthcare is not only changing from being reactive and hospital-centered to preventive and personalized, but it is also changing from being disease focused to well-being centered. Healthcare systems, as well as fundamental medicine research, are becoming smarter and enabled in biomedical engineering. This special issue on “Selected Papers from 2019 IEEE Eurasia Conference on Biomedical Engineering, Healthcare, and Sustainability (IEEE ECBIOS 2019)” selected nine excellent papers from 160 papers presented at IEEE ECBIOS 2019 on the topics of environmental health sciences and public health. Our aim is to encourage scientists to publish their experimental and theoretical research to promote scientific predictions and impact assessments of global change and development.
Risk Factors for Upper Limb Injury in Tennis Players: A Systematic Review
Authors: Kekelekis Afxentios , Nikolaidis Pantelis Theodoros , Moore Isabel Sarah , Rosemann Thomas , Knechtle Beat
Published: April 2020

Studies in tennis injuries have successfully identified the incident rate, the location, and the type of the injury. The majority of the studies have multiple perspectives (epidemiology, biomechanics, performance), however only a few studies were able to identify risk factors or mechanisms that contribute to tennis injuries. Until now, there has not been a systematic literature review that identifies risk factors for tennis injuries. The objective of this review was to identify and critically appraise the evidence related to risk factors for upper limb injury in tennis players. A systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework, using a research question developed by the Patient Problem, (or Population) Intervention, Comparison or Control, and Outcome (PICO) methodology. The quality of the studies included was moderate to low, indicating prolonged tennis (exposure to tennis), scapular dyskinesis, muscle fatigue, scapulothoracic properties, shoulder kinetics or kinematics, skill level, and technique as risk factors for upper limb injury in tennis players. In this review, it is evidenced that the majority of tennis injuries are associated with overuse and a chronic time course, however, tennis injuries do not arise from a linear combination of isolated and predictive factors. Therefore, the multifactorial and complex nature of tennis injuries has to be further examined. The necessity of more randomized control trial studies is highly recommended.
Internet Addiction in the Web of Science Database: A Review of the Literature with Scientific Mapping
Authors: Moreno-Guerrero Antonio-José , Gómez-García Gerardo , López-Belmonte Jesús , Rodríguez-Jiménez Carmen
Published: April 2020

Information and communication technologies (ICT) is a major element of today’s society with great potential that can offer both advantages and disadvantages. Addiction to the Internet and social networks is a growing problem in all age groups. Education is the context in which to work and train in the correct use of these media. The objective of the study focuses on knowing the scientific production and the performance of the concepts “addiction” and “internet” (ADIN). A bibliometric methodology complemented with the scientific mapping technique was followed. Different processes related to the quantification, analysis, evaluation, and estimation of scientific documents were carried out. The literature was analyzed by specific programs such as SciMAT, Analyze Results, and Creation Citation Report. The unit of analysis was specified in 5644 scientific publications extracted from Web of Science (WoS), belonging to the period of years between 1996 and 2019. The results showed that the evolution in the study of the addiction to the Internet is constant and continuous, with articles in English being the most used means to present the information on the part of the investigators. In addition, the subject of study was based on time, given that the coincidence of key words between the periods analyzed was high. In conclusion, the importance of promoting healthy living habits that include responsible use of the Internet are discussed.
Effectiveness of Motivational Interviewing in Regard to Activities of Daily Living and Motivation for Rehabilitation among Stroke Patients
Authors: Chen Hsiao-Mei , Lee Hsiao-Lu , Yang Fu-Chi , Chiu Yi-Wen , Chao Shu-Yuan
Published: April 2020

Background: Stroke patients urgently need rehabilitation to enhance activities of daily living. This study aims to determine whether motivational interviewing (MI) improves the performance of activities of daily living and enhances motivation for rehabilitation among first-stroke patients. Methods: A quasi-experimental design was used in this study. The study recruited 65 patients between March and October 2016. Before the intervention, all patients received routine care. The experimental group (n = 33) received weekly sessions of MI for 6 weeks, whereas the control group (n = 32) received individual attention from a research nurse weekly for 6 weeks. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data, including demographic data, activities of daily living data (Barthel index {BI} and instrumental activities of daily living {IADLs} scale), and rehabilitation motivation data. Results: The BI and IADLs scores significantly improved with time in both the experimental and control groups. The generalized estimating equation approach showed that at 6 weeks and 3 months after the intervention, the rehabilitation motivation scores in the experimental group were respectively 3.10 and 2.54 points higher than those in the control group, with significant differences. Conclusions: MI could effectively enhance motivation for rehabilitation among stroke patients.
Validity and Internal Consistency of the Preschool-FLAT, a New Tool for the Assessment of Food Literacy in Young Children from the Training-To-Health Project
Authors: Tabacchi Garden , Battaglia Giuseppe , Messina Giuseppe , Paoli Antonio , Palma Antonio , Bellafiore Marianna
Published: April 2020

Background: The importance of assessing “food literacy” since youth has been highlighted and, to this purpose, valid and consistent instruments are needed. This study aimed to assess the validity and internal consistency of the preschool-FLAT (Food Literacy Assessment Tool). Methods. 505 children from 21 kindergartens, recruited within the Training-to-Health Project in Palermo (Italy), underwent oral sessions and activities on food-related aspects. Their knowledge/skills were recorded in the preschool-FLAT. The following scale measures were assessed: Content validity; internal consistency (Chronbach’s alpha coefficients); construct validity (Structural Equation Modeling—SEM); discriminant validity (intervention subgroup of 100 children vs. control group of 27 children). Results. Acceptable content validity of a 16-items scale and overall adequate internal consistency were revealed: Content validity index (CVI) 0.94, content validity ratio (CVR) 0.88, Chronbach’s alpha 0.76. The SEM revealed a 4-factor model fitting the data well (comparative fit index 0.939, root mean square error of approximation 0.033). Discriminant validity was good (intervention group scoring higher than control, p < 0.001, unpaired Student’s t-test). Conclusion. The preschool-FLAT revealed good psychometric properties, adequate validity and internal consistency. This is the only instrument in the literature specifically targeted to 3–6 years old children that could be effectively used to assess food literacy.
Successfully Recruiting Adults with a Low Socioeconomic Position into Community-Based Lifestyle Programs: A Qualitative Study on Expert Opinions
Authors: Stuber Josine M. , Middel Cédric N. H. , Mackenbach Joreintje D. , Beulens Joline W. J. , Lakerveld Jeroen
Published: April 2020

We explored experts’ perceived challenges and success factors in the recruitment of adults with a low socioeconomic position (SEP) for participation in community-based lifestyle modification programs. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 11 experienced project coordinators, based on a topic list that included experiences with recruitment, perceived barriers and success factors, and general views on recruitment strategies. Results revealed challenges related to the context of the program (e.g., limited program resources), psychosocial barriers of the participants (e.g., mistrust or skepticism), practical barriers (e.g., low literacy or having other priorities), and reasons to decline participation (e.g., lack of interest or motivation). Success factors were related to securing beneficial contextual and program-related factors (e.g., multi-layered recruitment strategy), establishing contact with the target group (e.g., via existing networks, community key-members), methods to increase engagement (e.g., personal approach and involvement of the target group in the program process) and making participation easier (e.g., providing transport), and providing various types of incentives. Concluding, the group of participants with low SEP covers a wide spectrum of individuals. Therefore, multiple recruitment strategies at multiple layers should be employed, and tailored. The lessons learned of those with hands-on experiences will help to enhance recruitment in future programs.
Protein Deimination Signatures in Plasma and Plasma-EVs and Protein Deimination in the Brain Vasculature in a Rat Model of Pre-Motor Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Sancandi Marco , Uysal-Onganer Pinar , Kraev Igor , Mercer Audrey , Lange Sigrun
Published: April 2020

The identification of biomarkers for early diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease (PD) is of pivotal importance for improving approaches for clinical intervention. The use of translatable animal models of pre-motor PD therefore offers optimal opportunities for novel biomarker discovery in vivo. Peptidylarginine deiminases (PADs) are a family of calcium-activated enzymes that contribute to protein misfolding through post-translational deimination of arginine to citrulline. Furthermore, PADs are an active regulator of extracellular vesicle (EV) release. Both protein deimination and extracellular vesicles (EVs) are gaining increased attention in relation to neurodegenerative diseases, including in PD, while roles in pre-motor PD have yet to be investigated. The current study aimed at identifying protein candidates of deimination in plasma and plasma-EVs in a rat model of pre-motor PD, to assess putative contributions of such post-translational changes in the early stages of disease. EV-cargo was further assessed for deiminated proteins as well as three key micro-RNAs known to contribute to inflammation and hypoxia (miR21, miR155, and miR210) and also associated with PD. Overall, there was a significant increase in circulating plasma EVs in the PD model compared with sham animals and inflammatory and hypoxia related microRNAs were significantly increased in plasma-EVs of the pre-motor PD model. A significantly higher number of protein candidates were deiminated in the pre-motor PD model plasma and plasma-EVs, compared with those in the sham animals. KEGG (Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes) pathways identified for deiminated proteins in the pre-motor PD model were linked to “Alzheimer’s disease”, “PD”, “Huntington’s disease”, “prion diseases”, as well as for “oxidative phosphorylation”, “thermogenesis”, “metabolic pathways”, “Staphylococcus aureus infection”, gap junction, “platelet activation”, “apelin signalling”, “retrograde endocannabinoid signalling”, “systemic lupus erythematosus”, and “non-alcoholic fatty liver disease”. Furthermore, PD brains showed significantly increased staining for total deiminated proteins in the brain vasculature in cortex and hippocampus, as well as increased immunodetection of deiminated histone H3 in dentate gyrus and cortex. Our findings identify EVs and post-translational protein deimination as novel biomarkers in early pre-motor stages of PD.
Role of Exosomes in Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Koh Yong Qin , Tan Chia Jie , Toh Yi Long , Sze Siu Kwan , Ho Han Kiat , Limoli Charles L. , Chan Alexandre
Published: April 2020

A decline in cognitive function following cancer treatment is one of the most commonly reported post-treatment symptoms among patients with cancer and those in remission, and include memory, processing speed, and executive function. A clear understanding of cognitive impairment as a result of cancer and its therapy can be obtained by delineating structural and functional changes using brain imaging studies and neurocognitive assessments. There is also a need to determine the underlying mechanisms and pathways that impact the brain and affect cognitive functioning in cancer survivors. Exosomes are small cell-derived vesicles formed by the inward budding of multivesicular bodies, and are released into the extracellular environment via an exocytic pathway. Growing evidence suggests that exosomes contribute to various physiological and pathological conditions, including neurological processes such as synaptic plasticity, neuronal stress response, cell-to-cell communication, and neurogenesis. In this review, we summarize the relationship between exosomes and cancer-related cognitive impairment. Unraveling exosomes’ actions and effects on the microenvironment of the brain, which impacts cognitive functioning, is critical for the development of exosome-based therapeutics for cancer-related cognitive impairment.
Correction: Argenziano, M., et al. The Endocannabinoid System in Pediatric Inflammatory and Immune Diseases. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20, 5875
Authors: Argenziano Maura , Tortora Chiara , Bellini Giulia , Di Paola Alessandra , Punzo Francesca , Rossi Francesca
Published: April 2020

The authors wish to make the following corrections to this paper [...]
A Multivalent ICAM-1 Binding Nanoparticle which Inhibits ICAM-1 and LFA-1 Interaction Represents a New Tool for the Investigation of Autoimmune-Mediated Dry Eye
Authors: Hsueh Pang-Yu , Ju Yaping , Vega Adrianna , Edman Maria C. , MacKay J. Andrew , Hamm-Alvarez Sarah F.
Published: April 2020

The autoimmune disorder, Sjögren’s syndrome (SS), is characterized by lymphocytic infiltration and loss of function of exocrine glands such as the lacrimal gland (LG) and salivary gland. SS-associated changes in the LG are associated with the development of autoimmune-mediated dry eye disease. We have previously reported the accumulation of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) in the LG of Non-Obese Diabetic (NOD) mice, a murine model of autoimmune-mediated dry eye in SS, in both LG acinar cells and infiltrating lymphocytes. ICAM-1 initiates T-cell activation and can trigger T-cell migration through binding to lymphocyte function-associated 1 antigen (LFA). To modulate this interaction, this study introduces a new tool, a multivalent biopolymeric nanoparticle assembled from a diblock elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) using the S48I48 (SI) ELP scaffold fused with a mouse ICAM-1 targeting peptide to form IBP-SI. IBP-SI forms a multivalent, monodisperse nanoparticle with a radius of 21.9 nm. Unlike the parent SI, IBP-SI binds mouse ICAM-1 and is internalized by endocytosis into transfected HeLa cells before it accumulates in lysosomes. In vitro assays measuring lymphocyte adhesion to Tumor Necrosis Factor TNF-α-treated bEnd.3 cells, which express high levels of ICAM-1, show that adhesion is inhibited by IBP-SI but not by SI, with IC50 values of 62.7 μM and 81.2 μM, respectively, in two different assay formats. IBP-SI, but not SI, also blocked T-cell proliferation in a mixed lymphocyte reaction by 74% relative to proliferation in an untreated mixed cell reaction. These data suggest that a biopolymeric nanoparticle with affinity for ICAM-1 can disrupt ICAM-1 and LFA interactions in vitro and may have further utility as an in vivo tool or potential therapeutic.
Roles of Interaction between CCN2 and Rab14 in Aggrecan Production by Chondrocytes
Authors: Hoshijima Mitsuhiro , Hattori Takako , Aoyama Eriko , Nishida Takashi , Kubota Satoshi , Kamioka Hiroshi , Takigawa Masaharu
Published: April 2020

To identify proteins that cooperate with cellular communication network factor 2 (CCN2), we carried out GAL4-based yeast two-hybrid screening using a cDNA library derived from the chondrocytic cell line HCS-2/8. Rab14 GTPase (Rab14) polypeptide was selected as a CCN2-interactive protein. The interaction between CCN2 and Rab14 in HCS-2/8 cells was confirmed using the in situ proximity ligation assay. We also found that CCN2 interacted with Rab14 through its IGFBP-like domain among the four domains in CCN2 protein. To detect the colocalization between CCN2 and Rab14 in the cells in detail, CCN2, wild-type Rab14 (Rab14WT), a constitutive active form (Rab14CA), and a dominant negative form (Rab14DN) of Rab14 were overexpressed in monkey kidney-tissue derived COS7 cells. Ectopically overexpressed Rab14 showed a diffuse cytosolic distribution in COS7 cells; however, when Rab14WT was overexpressed with CCN2, the Rab14WT distribution changed to dots that were evenly distributed within the cytosol, and both Rab14 and CCN2 showed clear colocalization. When Rab14CA was overexpressed with CCN2, Rab14CA and CCN2 also showed good localization as dots, but their distribution was more widespread within cytosol. The coexpression of Rab14DN and CCN2 also showed a dotted codistribution but was more concentrated in the perinuclear area. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis revealed that the reduction in RAB14 or CCN2 mRNA by their respective siRNA significantly enhanced the expression of ER stress markers, BIP and CHOP mRNA in HCS-2/8 chondrocytic cells, suggesting that ER and Golgi stress were induced by the inhibition of membrane vesicle transfer via the suppression of CCN2 or Rab14. Moreover, to study the effect of the interaction between CCN2 and its interactive protein Rab14 on proteoglycan synthesis, we overexpressed Rab14WT or Rab14CA or Rab14DN in HCS-2/8 cells and found that the overexpression of Rab14DN decreased the extracellular proteoglycan accumulation more than the overexpression of Rab14WT/CA did in the chondrocytic cells. These results suggest that intracellular CCN2 is associated with Rab14 on proteoglycan-containing vesicles during their transport from the Golgi apparatus to endosomes in chondrocytes and that this association may play a role in proteoglycan secretion by chondrocytes.
Non-Coding RNAs in Lung Tumor Initiation and Progression
Authors: Santos Ruben Mercado , Moreno Cerena , Zhang Wen Cai
Published: April 2020

Lung cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer affecting society today. Non-coding RNAs, such as microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), through the transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and epigenetic changes they impose, have been found to be dysregulated to affect lung cancer tumorigenesis and metastasis. This review will briefly summarize hallmarks involved in lung cancer initiation and progression. For initiation, these hallmarks include tumor initiating cells, immortalization, activation of oncogenes and inactivation of tumor suppressors. Hallmarks involved in lung cancer progression include metastasis and drug tolerance and resistance. The targeting of these hallmarks with non-coding RNAs can affect vital metabolic and cell signaling pathways, which as a result can potentially have a role in cancerous and pathological processes. By further understanding non-coding RNAs, researchers can work towards diagnoses and treatments to improve early detection and clinical response.
A Guide to Targeting the Endocannabinoid System in Drug Design
Authors: Stasiulewicz Adam , Znajdek Katarzyna , Grudzień Monika , Pawiński Tomasz , Sulkowska Joanna I.
Published: April 2020

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is one of the most crucial systems in the human organism, exhibiting multi-purpose regulatory character. It is engaged in a vast array of physiological processes, including nociception, mood regulation, cognitive functions, neurogenesis and neuroprotection, appetite, lipid metabolism, as well as cell growth and proliferation. Thus, ECS proteins, including cannabinoid receptors and their endogenous ligands’ synthesizing and degrading enzymes, are promising therapeutic targets. Their modulation has been employed in or extensively studied as a treatment of multiple diseases. However, due to a complex nature of ECS and its crosstalk with other biological systems, the development of novel drugs turned out to be a challenging task. In this review, we summarize potential therapeutic applications for ECS-targeting drugs, especially focusing on promising synthetic compounds and preclinical studies. We put emphasis on modulation of specific proteins of ECS in different pathophysiological areas. In addition, we stress possible difficulties and risks and highlight proposed solutions. By presenting this review, we point out information pivotal in the spotlight of ECS-targeting drug design, as well as provide an overview of the current state of knowledge on ECS-related pharmacodynamics and show possible directions for needed research.
“Mitotic Slippage” and Extranuclear DNA in Cancer Chemoresistance: A Focus on Telomeres
Authors: Salmina Kristine , Bojko Agnieszka , Inashkina Inna , Staniak Karolina , Dudkowska Magdalena , Podlesniy Petar , Rumnieks Felikss , Vainshelbaum Ninel M , Pjanova Dace , Sikora Ewa , Erenpreisa Jekaterina
Published: April 2020

Mitotic slippage (MS), the incomplete mitosis that results in a doubled genome in interphase, is a typical response of TP53-mutant tumors resistant to genotoxic therapy. These polyploidized cells display premature senescence and sort the damaged DNA into the cytoplasm. In this study, we explored MS in the MDA-MB-231 cell line treated with doxorubicin (DOX). We found selective release into the cytoplasm of telomere fragments enriched in telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), telomere capping protein TRF2, and DNA double-strand breaks marked by γH2AX, in association with ubiquitin-binding protein SQSTM1/p62. This occurs along with the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) and DNA repair by homologous recombination (HR) in the nuclear promyelocytic leukemia (PML) bodies. The cells in repeated MS cycles activate meiotic genes and display holocentric chromosomes characteristic for inverted meiosis (IM). These giant cells acquire an amoeboid phenotype and finally bud the depolyploidized progeny, restarting the mitotic cycling. We suggest the reversible conversion of the telomerase-driven telomere maintenance into ALT coupled with IM at the sub-telomere breakage sites introduced by meiotic nuclease SPO11. All three MS mechanisms converging at telomeres recapitulate the amoeba-like agamic life-cycle, decreasing the mutagenic load and enabling the recovery of recombined, reduced progeny for return into the mitotic cycle.
Investigation of Spoken-Language Detection and Classification in Broadcasted Audio Content
Authors: Kotsakis Rigas , Matsiola Maria , Kalliris George , Dimoulas Charalampos
Published: April 2020

The current paper focuses on the investigation of spoken-language classification in audio broadcasting content. The approach reflects a real-word scenario, encountered in modern media/monitoring organizations, where semi-automated indexing/documentation is deployed, which could be facilitated by the proposed language detection preprocessing. Multilingual audio recordings of specific radio streams are formed into a small dataset, which is used for the adaptive classification experiments, without seeking—at this step—for a generic language recognition model. Specifically, hierarchical discrimination schemes are followed to separate voice signals before classifying the spoken languages. Supervised and unsupervised machine learning is utilized at various windowing configurations to test the validity of our hypothesis. Besides the analysis of the achieved recognition scores (partial and overall), late integration models are proposed for semi-automatically annotation of new audio recordings. Hence, data augmentation mechanisms are offered, aiming at gradually formulating a Generic Audio Language Classification Repository. This database constitutes a program-adaptive collection that, beside the self-indexing metadata mechanisms, could facilitate generic language classification models in the future, through state-of-art techniques like deep learning. This approach matches the investigatory inception of the project, which seeks for indicators that could be applied in a second step with a larger dataset and/or an already pre-trained model, with the purpose to deliver overall results.
A Systematic Exploration of Deep Neural Networks for EDA-Based Emotion Recognition
Authors: Yu Dian , Sun Shouqian
Published: April 2020

Subject-independent emotion recognition based on physiological signals has become a research hotspot. Previous research has proved that electrodermal activity (EDA) signals are an effective data resource for emotion recognition. Benefiting from their great representation ability, an increasing number of deep neural networks have been applied for emotion recognition, and they can be classified as a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), a Recurrent Neural Network (RNN), or a combination of these (CNN+RNN). However, there has been no systematic research on the predictive power and configurations of different deep neural networks in this task. In this work, we systematically explore the configurations and performances of three adapted deep neural networks: ResNet, LSTM, and hybrid ResNet-LSTM. Our experiments use the subject-independent method to evaluate the three-class classification on the MAHNOB dataset. The results prove that the CNN model (ResNet) reaches a better accuracy and F1 score than the RNN model (LSTM) and the CNN+RNN model (hybrid ResNet-LSTM). Extensive comparisons also reveal that our three deep neural networks with EDA data outperform previous models with handcraft features on emotion recognition, which proves the great potential of the end-to-end DNN method.
Adoption of Sustainable Technology in the Malaysian SMEs Sector: Does the Role of Government Matter?
Authors: Bakar Muhammad Fauzan Abu , Talukder Majharul , Quazi Ali , Khan Irfanuzzaman
Published: April 2020

This paper looks at the role of government as a novel dimension in the adoption of sustainable technology by small and medium enterprises (SME) in Malaysia. This determinant stems from the fact that, in many transitional economies, private sector organizations encounter resource constraints as a barrier to innovation adoption. This is especially the case with sustainable technology incorporated into business operations. Therefore, third party intervention into the adoption process becomes inevitable and it is considered to make the adoption process more effective. A government has both the power and resources to play a pivotal role in the adoption of sustainable technology. Given this state of affairs, this study examines the government’s role as a critical factor in achieving smooth and efficient adoption. The theory of reasoned action (TRA) serves as the theoretical underpinning of this study. The data were collected from a sample of 263 SMEs in Malaysia. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyze the data. It was found that government policies and subsidies are critical in encouraging the adoption of sustainable technology in Malaysia. This paper discusses the implications for government-driven adoption of sustainable technology, identifies the limitations of the analysis, and avenues of future research in this very relevant and expanding field.