bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Time-Scale Economic Dispatch of Electricity-Heat Integrated System Based on Users’ Thermal Comfort
Authors: Liu Xin-Rui , Sun Si-Luo , Sun Qiu-Ye , Zhong Wei-Yang
Published: October 2020

The electricity-heat integrated system can realize the cascade utilization of energy and the coordination and complementarity between multiple energy sources. In this paper, considering the thermal comfort of users, taking into account the difference in dynamic characteristics of electric and heating networks and the response of users’ demands, a dispatch model is constructed. In this model, taking into account the difference in the time scale of electric and thermal dispatching, optimization of the system can be improved by properly extending the thermal balance cycle of the combined heat and power (CHP) unit. Based on the time-of-use electricity prices and heat prices to obtain the optimal energy purchase cost, a user demand response strategy is adopted. Therefore, a minimum economic cost on the energy supply side and a minimum energy purchase cost on the demand side are considered as a bilevel optimization strategy for the operation of the system. Finally, using an IEEE 30 nodes power network and a 31 nodes heating network to form an electricity-heat integrated system, the simulation results show that the optimal thermal balance cycle can maximize the economic benefits on the premise of meeting the users’ thermal comfort and the demand response can effectively realize the wind curtailment and improve the system economy.
A Solar PV-Based Inverter-Less Grid-Integrated Cooking Solution for Low-Cost Clean Cooking
Authors: Khan M. Rezwan , Alam Intekhab
Published: October 2020

The cost of solar PV has been reduced to a level such that the levelized cost of solar electricity is either cheaper or competitive relative to the grid electricity. So, a low-cost integration of solar PV with grid can be a cost-effective solution for clean cooking. The usual technique of using grid-tied inverters contribute ~20% towards the energy cost. The proposed system incorporates a control circuit that connects grid electricity to the solar PV via a DC link and provides a DC output eliminating the requirement of grid-tied inverters. Most of the cooking utensils either have a resistive heating element or an electronic control circuit that is insensitive to input AC or DC and no modification is needed for the cooking utensils while using with DC voltage. In the proposed system, preference for power delivery is always given to the solar PV and the grid effectively operates as the backup for the system when solar PV output fluctuates due to varying weather and climatic conditions. As the absence of a grid-tied inverter in the system restricts the excess solar energy to be transferred to the grid, some kind of energy storage device is essential to run the system efficiently. A novel idea of storing solar PV energy in the form of hot water has been presented in this paper, with a cost-effective clean cooking concept. A simple and low-cost heat preservation technique has been suggested that requires a minimal change in habit for the users. Experimental results with multiple cooking utensils and foods have been presented and energy cost for cooking has been found to be as low as 4.75 USD/month, which is significantly lower (32%) than that of the grid-connected regular cooking system.
Impact Analysis of Large-Scale Wind Farms Integration in Weak Transmission Grid from Technical Perspectives
Authors: Abbas Shah Rukh , Kazmi Syed Ali Abbas , Naqvi Muhammad , Javed Adeel , Naqvi Salman Raza , Ullah Kafait , Khan Tauseef-ur-Rehman , Shin Dong Ryeol
Published: October 2020

The integration of commercial onshore large-scale wind farms into a national grid comes with several technical issues that predominately ensure power quality in accordance with respective grid codes. The resulting impacts are complemented with the absorption of larger amounts of reactive power by wind generators. In addition, seasonal variations and inter-farm wake effects further deteriorate the overall system performance and restrict the optimal use of available wind resources. This paper presented an assessment framework to address the power quality issues that have arisen after integrating large-scale wind farms into weak transmission grids, especially considering inter-farm wake effect, seasonal variations, reactive power depletion, and compensation with a variety of voltage-ampere reactive (Var) devices. Herein, we also proposed a recovery of significant active power deficits caused by the wake effect via increasing hub height of wind turbines. For large-scale wind energy penetration, a real case study was considered for three wind farms with a cumulative capacity of 154.4 MW integrated at a Nooriabad Grid in Pakistan to analyze their overall impacts. An actual test system was modeled in MATLAB Simulink for a composite analysis. Simulations were performed for various scenarios to consider wind intermittency, seasonal variations across four seasons, and wake effect. The capacitor banks and various flexible alternating current transmission systems (FACTS) devices were employed for a comparative analysis with and without considering the inter-farm wake effect. The power system parameters along with active and reactive power deficits were considered for comprehensive analysis. Unified power flow controller (UPFC) was found to be the best compensation device through comparative analysis, as it maintained voltage at nearly 1.002 pu, suppressed frequency transient in a range of 49.88–50.17 Hz, and avoided any resonance while maintaining power factors in an allowable range. Moreover, it also enhanced the power handling capability of the power system. The 20 m increase in hub height assisted the recovery of the active power deficit to 48%, which thus minimized the influence of the wake effect.
Scenario Analysis for GHG Emission Reduction Potential of the Building Sector for New City in South Korea
Authors: Kim Seo-Hoon , Lee SungJin , Han Seol-Yee , Kim Jong-Hun
Published: October 2020

A new government report on climate change shows that global emissions of greenhouse gases have increased to very high levels despite various policies to reduce climate change. Building energy accounts for 40% of the world’s energy consumption and accounts for 33% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. This study applied the LEAP (Long-range energy alternatives planning) model and Bass diffusion method for predicting the total energy consumption and GHG (Greenhouse Gas) emissions from the residential and commercial building sector of Sejong City in South Korea. Then, using the Bass diffusion model, three scenarios were analyzed (REST: Renewable energy supply target, BES: Building energy saving, BEP: Building energy policy) for GHG reduction. The GHG emissions for Sejong City for 2015–2030 were analyzed, and the past and future GHG emissions of the city were predicted in a Business-as-Usual (BAU) scenario. In the REST scenario, the GHG emissions would attain a 24.5% reduction and, in the BES scenario, the GHG emissions would attain 12.81% reduction by 2030. Finally, the BEP scenario shows the potential for a 19.81% GHG reduction. These results could be used to guide the planning and development of the new city.
Influence of FACTS Device Implementation on Performance of Distribution Network with Integrated Renewable Energy Sources
Authors: Relić Filip , Marić Predrag , Glavaš Hrvoje , Petrović Ivica
Published: October 2020

In the modern power system, Flexible Alternating Current Transmission System (FACTS) devices are widely used. An increased share of the distributed generation (DG) and the development of microgrids change the power flows in the existing distribution networks as well as a conventional power flow direction from the transmission to the distribution network level which may affect the overall stability aspects. The paper shows the FACTS devices’ implementation influence on the performance of the distribution network with integrated renewable energy sources (RES) observing the aspects of the oscillatory stability and the low-voltage motor starting. The FACTS devices, in particular the static var compensators (SVC), have been allocated according to a novel algorithm proposed in the paper. The algorithm uses an iterative process to determine an optimal location for implementation and rating power of SVC considering active power losses minimization, improvement of the voltage profile and maximizing return of investment (ROI) of FACTS devices. Novel constraints—transformer station construction constraint, SVC industrial nominal power value constraint and the constraint of distribution system operator (DSO) economic willingness to investment in the distribution network development are considered in the proposed algorithm. The analysis has been performed on 20 kV rural distribution network model in DIgSILENT PowerFactory software.
Distributed Battery Energy Storage Co-Operation for Renewable Energy Sources Integration
Authors: Abdeltawab Hussein M. , Mohamed Yasser A. I.
Published: October 2020

This paper presents a multiagent system (MAS) day-ahead co-operation framework between renewable energy resources (RESs) and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESSs) owned by different stakeholders. BESSs offer their storage services to RESs by shifting RES power to sell it during profitable peak-hours (aka; time-shifting). The MAS framework consists of three phases. Phase-one is a pre-auction phase that defines the maximum charging and discharging BESS power limits. These limits guarantee a reliable distribution system operation without violating the buses’ voltage limits or the ampacity of the branches. Phase-two is an auctioning phase between the BESS-agents and the RES-agents. Each agent has a different owner with a specific profit agenda and risk levels. The agent tries to maximize the profit potential of the owner. The agents use historical trade data and expected weather conditions to maximize profitability. Phase-three is called the post-auctioning phase, in which the agreement between the BESS- and RES-agents is finalized, and the agents are ready for another 3-phases trade. Case studies compare different auctioning strategies and prove the effectiveness of the proposed MAS system.
Virtual Reality System and Scientific Visualisation for Smart Designing and Evaluating of Lighting
Authors: Krupiński Rafał
Published: October 2020

The current lighting solutions, both in terms of design process and later implementation, are becoming more and more intelligent. It mainly arises from higher opportunities to use information technology (IT) processes for these purposes. Designs cover many aspects, from physiological to including technical. The paper describes the problems faced by any designers while creating, evaluating them, and presenting the final results of their work in a visualisation form. Development of virtual reality (VR) technology and augmented reality, which is now taking place before our eyes, makes us inclined to think how to use this reality in lighting technology. The article presents some examples of applying VR technology in various types of smart lighting designs, for interiors and outdoor objects. The performed computer simulations are compared to reality. Some surveys, in terms of visualization rendering, were carried out. In the article, the current capabilities and main limitations of virtual reality of lighting are discussed, as well as what can be expected in the future. The luminance analysis of the virtual reality display is carried out, which shows that this equipment can be used in lighting technology after the appropriate calibration. Moreover, an innovative lighting design system based on virtual reality is presented.
Improved Weighted k-Nearest Neighbor Based on PSO for Wind Power System State Recognition
Authors: Lee Chun-Yao , Huang Kuan-Yu , Shen Yi-Xing , Lee Yao-Chen
Published: October 2020

In this paper, we propose using particle swarm optimization (PSO) which can improve weighted k-nearest neighbors (PWKNN) to diagnose the failure of a wind power system. PWKNN adjusts weight to correctly reflect the importance of features and uses the distance judgment strategy to figure out the identical probability of multi-label classification. The PSO optimizes the weight and parameter k of PWKNN. This testing is based on four classified conditions of the 300 W wind generator which include healthy, loss of lubrication in the gearbox, angular misaligned rotor, and bearing fault. Current signals are used to measure the conditions. This testing tends to establish a feature database that makes up or trains classifiers through feature extraction. Not lowering the classification accuracy, the correlation coefficient of feature selection is applied to eliminate irrelevant features and to diminish the runtime of classifiers. A comparison with other traditional classifiers, i.e., backpropagation neural network (BPNN), k-nearest neighbor (k-NN), and radial basis function network (RBFN) shows that PWKNN has a higher classification accuracy. The feature selection can diminish the average features from 16 to 2.8 and can reduce the runtime by 61%. This testing can classify these four conditions accurately without being affected by noise and it can reach an accuracy of 83% in the condition of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is 20dB. The results show that the PWKNN approach is capable of diagnosing the failure of a wind power system.
Research on Economic Evaluation Methods of Offshore Oil Multi-Platform Interconnected Power System Considering Petroleum Production Characteristics
Authors: Liu Yuming , Yu Qingguang , Long Gaoxiang , Jiang Zhicheng
Published: October 2020

Offshore oil multi-platform interconnected power system is developing rapidly. The proposal of an effective economic evaluation method that fits the actual production situation of offshore oilfields is very meaningful for the planning and construction of multi-platform interconnected power systems. This article proposes the electric depreciation, depletion, and amortization (DD&A) barrel oil cost S and maximum expected benefit per unit power generation Ie as economic indicators, considering the actual production characteristics and life cycle of the oil field. In order to build a complete economic evaluation system, this article also introduces the N−1 pass rate ηN−1, voltage qualification rate γ, power supply reliability ASAI (Average Service Availability Index), and other reliability indicators to evaluate the offshore power system. When calculating the weight of the indicators, analytic hierarchy method (AHP) was applied to calculate subjective weights, and an entropy method was applied to calculate objective weights. To unify the two weights, the ideal point method is proposed to obtain compound weights. Finally, this article selects an offshore oil field in Bohai Bay, China as example, and analyses short-term small-scale, long-term large-scale, and actual power system as calculation examples in different planning periods. The analysis result verifies the effectiveness of the economic evaluation method.
One Cycle Control of a PWM Rectifier a New Approach
Authors: Teixeira Rodrigo De A. , Silva Werbet L. A. , Pessoa Guilherme A. P. De C. A. , Neto Joao T. Carvalho , Villarreal Elmer R. L. , Salazar Andrés O. , Lock Alberto S.
Published: October 2020

This paper analyzes a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) based One Cycle Control (OCC) strategy for a Power Factor Corrector (PFC) rectifier with Common-mode Voltage (CMV) immunity. It is proposed a strategy that utilizes an emulated-resistance-controller in closed-loop configuration to set the dc-link voltage to achieve unity power factor (UPF). It is shown that if the PFC can achieve UPF condition and if the phase voltage is only affected by CMV, then phase current is free from CMV, as well as a lead-lag compensator (LLC) to average phase current.
Discovering Douglas-Fir Woodlands in the Historical Forests of Umatilla National Forest, Eastern Oregon and Washington
Authors: Hanberry Brice B. , Justice Donald C. , Powell David C.
Published: October 2020

We discovered unique Douglas-fir open woodlands in the Umatilla National Forest using historical surveys. Historical ponderosa pine forests of the western United States are transitioning to denser forests comprised of a greater proportion of fire-sensitive species, including true firs. We used historical (1879 to 1887) surveys to quantify the composition and structure of the Umatilla National Forest in eastern Oregon and Washington and provided contemporary forest information for comparison. We also modeled fir and pine distributions using environmental predictors and the random forests and extreme gradient boosting classifiers. Historically, ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir comprised about 80% of all trees, with western larch relatively abundant at 10% of all trees. Currently, ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir are about 40% of all trees, while grand fir and lodgepole pine increased from rare species to about 40% of all trees. Historical density was about 165 trees/ha (trees > 12.7 cm in diameter). The wetter north unit of steep slopes and predominantly Douglas-fir was about 120 trees/ha, or open woodlands, whereas the drier, flatter south units of predominantly ponderosa pine were about 210 trees/ha, and densities of 160 and 190 trees/ha occurred on flat and gentle slopes, respectively, with predominantly ponderosa pine. Currently, Umatilla National Forest averages about 390 trees/ha; the north unit of grand fir and Douglas-fir tripled in density to 365 trees/ha, whereas the south units of ponderosa and lodgepole pines doubled in density to 410 trees/ha. Douglas-fir woodlands are an unusual combination of a relatively fire-sensitive tree species with an open structure, which may result from surface fires that remove tree regeneration, resulting in one layer of trees over an understory of herbaceous and shrubby vegetation. We interpreted that a spatially and temporally variable fire return interval favored Douglas-fir, but fires were frequent enough to allow herbaceous vegetation and shrubs to out-compete trees, maintaining the balance between trees and other vegetation in woodlands. Fire exclusion has resulted in forest-type transition and also an information deficit about circumstances under which relatively fire-sensitive Douglas-fir instead of fire-tolerant ponderosa pine would establish at low densities over large extents.
Verification of Red Flag Warnings across the Northwestern U.S. as Forecasts of Large Fire Occurrence
Authors: Clark Joshua , Abatzoglou John T. , Nauslar Nicholas J. , Smith Alistair M.S.
Published: October 2020

Red Flag Warnings (RFWs) issued by the National Weather Service in the United States (U.S.) are an important early warning system for fire potential based on forecasts of critical fire weather that promote increased fire activity, including the occurrence of large fires. However, verification of RFWs as they relate to fire activity is lacking, thereby limiting means to improve forecasts as well as increase value for end users. We evaluated the efficacy of RFWs as forecasts of large fire occurrence for the Northwestern U.S.—RFWs were shown to have widespread significant skill and yielded an overall 124% relative improvement in forecasting large fire occurrences than a reference forecast. We further demonstrate that the skill of RFWs is significantly higher for lightning-ignited large fires than for human-ignited fires and for forecasts issued during periods of high fuel dryness than those issued in the absence of high fuel dryness. The results of this first verification study of RFWs related to actualized fire activity lay the groundwork for future efforts towards improving the relevance and usefulness of RFWs and other fire early warning systems to better serve the fire community and public.
Comparative Transcriptome Profiling of Skeletal Muscle from Black Muscovy Duck at Different Growth Stages Using RNA-seq
Authors: Hu Zhigang , Cao Junting , Liu Guangyu , Zhang Huilin , Liu Xiaolin
Published: October 2020

In China, the production for duck meat is second only to that of chicken, and the demand for duck meat is also increasing. However, there is still unclear on the internal mechanism of regulating skeletal muscle growth and development in duck. This study aimed to identity candidate genes related to growth of duck skeletal muscle and explore the potential regulatory mechanism. RNA-seq technology was used to compare the transcriptome of skeletal muscles in black Muscovy ducks at different developmental stages (day 17, 21, 27, 31, and 34 of embryos and postnatal 6-month-olds). The SNPs and InDels of black Muscovy ducks at different growth stages were mainly in “INTRON”, “SYNONYMOUS_CODING”, “UTR_3_PRIME”, and “DOWNSTREAM”. The average number of AS in each sample was 37,267, mainly concentrated in TSS and TTS. Besides, a total of 19 to 5377 DEGs were detected in each pairwise comparison. Functional analysis showed that the DEGs were mainly involved in the processes of cell growth, muscle development, and cellular activities (junction, migration, assembly, differentiation, and proliferation). Many of DEGs were well known to be related to growth of skeletal muscle in black Muscovy duck, such as MyoG, FBXO1, MEF2A, and FoxN2. KEGG pathway analysis identified that the DEGs were significantly enriched in the pathways related to the focal adhesion, MAPK signaling pathway and regulation of the actin cytoskeleton. Some DEGs assigned to these pathways were potential candidate genes inducing the difference in muscle growth among the developmental stages, such as FAF1, RGS8, GRB10, SMYD3, and TNNI2. Our study identified several genes and pathways that may participate in the regulation of skeletal muscle growth in black Muscovy duck. These results should serve as an important resource revealing the molecular basis of muscle growth and development in duck.
Is IDDSI an Evidence-Based Framework? A Relevant Question for the Frail Older Population
Authors: Côté Claudia , Giroux Amélie , Villeneuve-Rhéaume Annie , Gagnon Cynthia , Germain Isabelle
Published: October 2020

To delay impacts of aging, optimal nutritional status is essential. Several factors can reduce food intake, such as isolation, income, and cognitive/physical decline. Additionally, chewing and swallowing difficulties, or dysphagia, often disrupt the ability to consume life-long favorite dishes. Food and liquids could require modification of texture or consistency to ensure a comfortable or safe swallow. The food industry, foodservices facilities, and caregivers need quality control benchmarks to provide adequate nourishment and meet these new feeding challenges. The International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) is proposing the IDDSI framework and testing methods to describe food used in nutritional care plans to circumvent dysphagia and improve communication among caregivers. This systematic review assesses the validity and reliability of the IDDSI testing methods using the Consensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN). Two publications presented content validity whereas 19 publications looked at construct validity or reliability for the IDDSI testing methods. One study was conducted in older adults presenting dysphagia. This review concludes that there is insufficient evidence to recommend the IDDSI testing methods. Further research, conducted with robust methodological design and reporting, is needed to develop and assess nutritious adapted food for frail older populations.
Passive Coagulability Assay Based on Coherence-Gated Light Scattering
Authors: Batarseh Mahed , Guzman-Sepulveda Jose Rafael , Wu Ruitao , M. DeCampli William , Dogariu Aristide
Published: October 2020

Coagulation monitoring relies on in vitro tests where the clot formation is induced using external stimuli. We report an optical method capable of revealing the propensity of coagulation based solely on the natural dynamics of erythrocytes in whole blood. In contrast to traditional techniques, our approach provides means to assess the blood coagulability without the need to chemically trigger the coagulation. Results of correlations with standard clinical methods suggest that this optical assay could be used for continuous management of blood coagulation during clinical procedures.
Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Research in Indonesian Youth: A Scoping Review
Authors: Andriyani Fitria D. , Biddle Stuart J.H. , Arovah Novita I. , Cocker Katrien De
Published: October 2020

Background: This study aimed to map physical activity and sedentary behaviour research trends, designs, and topics for Indonesian youth. Methods: This review conforms to the “Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR).” A systematic search on eight platforms was performed in August 2018 and was updated in April 2020. Results: From 10,753 documents screened, 166 met the selection criteria. Over half of the studies were cross-sectional, and the majority utilized self-reported measurements (physical activity: 81.1%, sedentary behavior: 88.5%). More than two-thirds of the studies examined physical activity only (67.5%). The top three subtopics reported were prevalence/measurement, correlates, and outcomes of physical activity (28%, 24.6%, and 17%, respectively). The prevalence of “sufficient” physical activity ranges between 12.2% and 52.3%, while the prevalence of sedentary behavior ≥3 h per day ranges between 24.5% and 33.8%. Conclusions: Future studies need to focus more on intervention and validation, and research needs to be conducted more with nationally representative samples and on youth at the junior high school level. Future studies need to investigate more on psychological, cognitive, affective, social, cultural, and environmental correlates, and in-depth personal views of physical activity and sedentary behavior. More studies using device-based measurements, longitudinal designs, as well as qualitative and mixed-methods approaches are warranted.
Association between Physical Activity and Mood States of Children and Adolescents in Social Isolation during the COVID-19 Epidemic
Authors: Zhang Xinxin , Zhu Wenfei , Kang Sifan , Qiu Longkun , Lu Zijun , Sun Yuliang
Published: October 2020

The COVID-19 epidemic adversely affects the lifestyle of people. This study aimed to examine the impacts of social isolation on physical activity (PA) levels and mood states of children and adolescents and to explore the correlation between them during the COVID-19 epidemic. A total of 9979 children and adolescents (11.63 ± 1.23 years old) from Yan’an, China volunteered to participate in this study and completed online questionnaires. PA and mood states were measured by International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF) and Profile of Mood States (POMS), respectively. The results showed that the mean of students’ moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) was 23.19 min per day. The total mood disturbance in the moderate and high-level PA groups were significantly lower than those in the low-level PA group (p < 0.05). Additionally, boys and girls had significant differences in PA levels (p < 0.01), and the PA levels of students in different grades were also significantly different (p < 0.01). Meanwhile, boys’ mood states were worse than girls’. The Grade 4 in primary schools had the worst mood states while Grade 5 had the best mood states. The results suggested that the MVPA of students has dropped badly, compared with the results of previous studies investigated in normal times. In addition, the PA level had a significantly positive impact on the mood states of children and adolescents during the COVID-19 epidemic. Sex and grades were factors which affected the PA levels and mood states. This study can help policymakers and healthcare professionals understand PA and mood states of Chinese children and adolescents during the epidemic. We should pay attention to the changes in PA levels and mood states of children and adolescents.
Understanding the Intersection of Race/Ethnicity, Socioeconomic Status, and Geographic Location: A Scoping Review of U.S. Consumer Food Purchasing
Authors: Singleton Chelsea , Winkler Megan , Houghtaling Bailey , Adeyemi Oluwafikayo , Roehll Alexandra , Pionke JJ , Anderson Steeves Elizabeth
Published: October 2020

Disparities in diet quality persist in the U.S. Examining consumer food purchasing can provide unique insight into the nutritional inequities documented by race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status (SES), and geographic location (i.e., urban vs. rural). There remains limited understanding of how these three factors intersect to influence consumer food purchasing. This study aimed to summarize peer-reviewed scientific studies that provided an intersectional perspective on U.S. consumer food purchasing. Thirty-four studies were examined that presented objectively measured data on purchasing outcomes of interest (e.g., fruits, vegetables, salty snacks, sugar-sweetened beverages, Healthy Eating Index, etc.). All studies were of acceptable or high quality. Only six studies (17.6%) assessed consumer food purchases at the intersection of race/ethnicity, SES, or geographic location. Other studies evaluated racial/ethnic or SES differences in food purchasing or described the food and/or beverage purchases of a targeted population (example: low-income non-Hispanic Black households). No study assessed geographic differences in food or beverage purchases or examined purchases at the intersection of all three factors. Overall, this scoping review highlights the scarcity of literature on the role of intersectionality in consumer food and beverage purchasing and provides recommendations for future studies to grow this important area of research.
Speech and Language Skills of Low-Risk Preterm and Full-Term Late Talkers: The Role of Child Factors and Parent Input
Authors: Suttora Chiara , Guarini Annalisa , Zuccarini Mariagrazia , Aceti Arianna , Corvaglia Luigi , Sansavini Alessandra
Published: October 2020

Among children in the third year of life, late talkers comprise from 9% to 20%. This range seems to increase when addressing preterm children. This study examined video-recorded child spontaneous speech during parent–child book sharing as well as linguistic skills reported through the MacArthur Bates Communicative Development Inventories (MB-CDI) Short Form in 61 late talkers aged 30 months old (26 low-risk preterm, 8 females; 35 full-term, 12 females). Differences between low-risk preterm and full-term late talkers in child language measures and parental speech input were tested, as were the roles of child and parent factors on child language. Low-risk preterm and full-term late talkers showed similar speech and language skills. Similarly, no differences were found in measures of parental speech between groups. Child cognitive score, chronological age, and low-risk preterm status were positively associated with lexical diversity, rate, and composition of child speech production, whereas family history for language and/or learning disorders as well as parent measures of lexical diversity, rate, and grammatical complexity were negatively associated with the above child variables. In addition, child cognitive score and low-risk preterm status were positively associated with the MB-CDI measures of word and sentence production. Findings are discussed in terms of the need of good practices when following up on low-risk preterm children and of interventions targeting parents’ input to preterm and full-term late talkers.
Correlation of Pre-Hypertension with Carotid Artery Damage in Middle-Aged and Older Adults
Authors: Park Jinkee , Na Yongseong , Jang Yunjung , Park Song-Young , Park Hyuntae
Published: October 2020

The intima–media thickness (IMT), luminal diameters (LDs), flow velocities (FVs), compliance, and β-stiffness of the carotid artery (CA) are considered as independent risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Pre-hypertension (PHT) is also an independent CVD risk factor. This study investigated the association between CA damage (CAD) and PHT. A total of 544 adults participated; their blood pressures (BPs) and CA characteristics were measured using a mercury-free sphygmomanometer and ultrasound. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was performed to assess the differences in the CA characteristics according to the BPs, multinomial logistic regression to evaluate the risk of CAD associated with PHT. In ANCOVA, the CA characteristics of PHT were significantly different from normotensive. The odds ratios (ORs) of IMTmax, LDmax, LDmin, peak-systolic FV (PFV), end-diastolic FV (EFV), PFV/LDmin, EFV/LDmax, compliance, and β-stiffness of PHT were 4.20, 2.70, 3.52, 2.41, 3.06, 3.55, 3.29, 2.02, and 1.84 times higher than those of the normotensive, respectively, in Model 2. In Model 3 adjusted for age, the ORs of LDmax, LDmin, EFV, PFV/LDmin, and EFV/LDmax of PHT were 2.10, 2.55, 1.96, 2.20, and 2.04 times higher than those of the normotensive, respectively. Therefore, the present study revealed that CAD is closely correlated with pre-hypertensive status in adults.
The Influence of Transformational Teacher Leadership on Academic Motivation and Resilience, Burnout and Academic Performance
Authors: Trigueros Rubén , Padilla Ana , Aguilar-Parra José M. , Mercader Isabel , López-Liria Remedios , Rocamora Patricia
Published: October 2020

Currently, the university failure rate is around 33% of students starting their studies. Among the main reasons are demanding academic situations and the use of inappropriate coping strategies. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the influence of teacher leadership on academic resilience and motivation, burnout, and academic performance. This study involved 3354 university students. A structural equation model was made to analyze the predictive relationships between the study’s variables. The results showed that teacher leadership positively predicted academic resilience and motivation; academic resilience negatively predicted burnout and positively predicted academic performance; likewise, academic motivation negatively predicted burnout and positively predicted academic performance; finally, burnout negatively predicted academic resilience.
Relation between Mother’s Taekyo, Prenatal and Postpartum Depression, and Infant’s Temperament and Colic: A Longitudinal Prospective Approach
Authors: Bang Kyung-Sook , Lee Insook , Kim Sungjae , Yi Yunjeong , Huh Iksoo , Jang Sang-Youn , Kim Dasom , Lee Sujin
Published: October 2020

This longitudinal cohort correlational study aimed to confirm the relation among taekyo or traditional prenatal practice, prenatal depression, postpartum depression, maternal–fetal interaction, and infant temperament and colic using a prospective design. We recruited 212 women 16–20 weeks pregnant from July 2017 to September 2018; they were followed up until six months postpartum. Data from 97 participants were used in the final analysis. We used the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Cranley’s Maternal–Fetal Attachment Scale, and What My Baby Is Like as measurement tools. We observed a significant correlation between prenatal maternal depression in the first to third trimesters and 6–8 weeks and six months postpartum. In addition, infant temperament at six months old showed a significant negative correlation with prenatal and postpartum depression: the higher the prenatal and postpartum depression level, the more difficult the infant’s temperament. Taekyo practice was significantly related to maternal–fetal attachment (r = 0.45−0.68, p < 0.001). Difficult infants showed more colic episodes than any other type of infant (χ2 = 18.18, p < 0.001). Prenatal and postnatal maternal depression affected infants’ temperament and colic episodes. The management of mothers’ mental health before and after pregnancy is important for infants’ and mothers’ health.
Neighborhood Social and Built Environment and Disparities in the Risk of Hypertension: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Grazuleviciene Regina , Andrusaityte Sandra , Gražulevičius Tomas , Dėdelė Audrius
Published: October 2020

Citizens’ participation in urban environmental quality assessment is important when identifying local problems in the sustainable development and environmental planning policy. The principal aim of this study was to analyze whether any social differences exist between the joint effect of built neighborhood quality and exposure to urban green spaces and the risk of hypertension. The study sample consisted of 580 participants residing in 11 districts in Kaunas city, Lithuania. Using geographic information systems (GIS), individual data on the socioeconomic status (SES) and health were linked to the participants’ perceptions of the environmental quality and exposure to green spaces (NDVI). We used multivariate logistic regression to estimate associations as odds ratios (OR). Those study participants with lower education and those study participants with higher education on low incomes rated their health significantly worse. Low SES persons residing in areas with low exposure to green spaces had a significantly higher risk of hypertension when sex, age, family status, smoking, and income were accounted for (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.01–3.36). This citizen science study provided evidence that the social environment and the quality of the built environment had a complex effect on disparities in the risk of hypertension.
Regulatory Connections between Iron and Glucose Metabolism
Authors: Fillebeen Carine , Lam Nhat Hung , Chow Samantha , Botta Amy , Sweeney Gary , Pantopoulos Kostas
Published: October 2020

Iron is essential for energy metabolism, and states of iron deficiency or excess are detrimental for organisms and cells. Therefore, iron and carbohydrate metabolism are tightly regulated. Serum iron and glucose levels are subjected to hormonal regulation by hepcidin and insulin, respectively. Hepcidin is a liver-derived peptide hormone that inactivates the iron exporter ferroportin in target cells, thereby limiting iron efflux to the bloodstream. Insulin is a protein hormone secreted from pancreatic β-cells that stimulates glucose uptake and metabolism via insulin receptor signaling. There is increasing evidence that systemic, but also cellular iron and glucose metabolic pathways are interconnected. This review article presents relevant data derived primarily from mouse models and biochemical studies. In addition, it discusses iron and glucose metabolism in the context of human disease.
Neurotrophic Factor BDNF, Physiological Functions and Therapeutic Potential in Depression, Neurodegeneration and Brain Cancer
Authors: Colucci-D’Amato Luca , Speranza Luisa , Volpicelli Floriana
Published: October 2020

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is one of the most distributed and extensively studied neurotrophins in the mammalian brain. BDNF signals through the tropomycin receptor kinase B (TrkB) and the low affinity p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR). BDNF plays an important role in proper growth, development, and plasticity of glutamatergic and GABAergic synapses and through modulation of neuronal differentiation, it influences serotonergic and dopaminergic neurotransmission. BDNF acts as paracrine and autocrine factor, on both pre-synaptic and post-synaptic target sites. It is crucial in the transformation of synaptic activity into long-term synaptic memories. BDNF is considered an instructive mediator of functional and structural plasticity in the central nervous system (CNS), influencing dendritic spines and, at least in the hippocampus, the adult neurogenesis. Changes in the rate of adult neurogenesis and in spine density can influence several forms of learning and memory and can contribute to depression-like behaviors. The possible roles of BDNF in neuronal plasticity highlighted in this review focus on the effect of antidepressant therapies on BDNF-mediated plasticity. Moreover, we will review data that illustrate the role of BDNF as a potent protective factor that is able to confer protection against neurodegeneration, in particular in Alzheimer’s disease. Finally, we will give evidence of how the involvement of BDNF in the pathogenesis of brain glioblastoma has emerged, thus opening new avenues for the treatment of this deadly cancer.
The bZIP Transcription Factor GmbZIP15 Negatively Regulates Salt- and Drought-Stress Responses in Soybean
Authors: Zhang Man , Liu Yanhui , Cai Hanyang , Guo Mingliang , Chai Mengnan , She Zeyuan , Ye Li , Cheng Yan , Wang Bingrui , Qin Yuan
Published: October 2020

Soybean (Glycine max), as an important oilseed crop, is constantly threatened by abiotic stress, including that caused by salinity and drought. bZIP transcription factors (TFs) are one of the largest TF families and have been shown to be associated with various environmental-stress tolerances among species; however, their function in abiotic-stress response in soybean remains poorly understood. Here, we characterized the roles of soybean transcription factor GmbZIP15 in response to abiotic stresses. The transcript level of GmbZIP15 was suppressed under salt- and drought-stress conditions. Overexpression of GmbZIP15 in soybean resulted in hypersensitivity to abiotic stress compared with wild-type (WT) plants, which was associated with lower transcript levels of stress-responsive genes involved in both abscisic acid (ABA)-dependent and ABA-independent pathways, defective stomatal aperture regulation, and reduced antioxidant enzyme activities. Furthermore, plants expressing a functional repressor form of GmbZIP15 exhibited drought-stress resistance similar to WT. RNA-seq and qRT-PCR analyses revealed that GmbZIP15 positively regulates GmSAHH1 expression and negatively regulates GmWRKY12 and GmABF1 expression in response to abiotic stress. Overall, these data indicate that GmbZIP15 functions as a negative regulator in response to salt and drought stresses.
Ligand-Based Pharmacophore Modeling, Molecular Docking, and Molecular Dynamic Studies of Dual Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor of EGFR and VEGFR2
Authors: Sangande Frangky , Julianti Elin , Tjahjono Daryono Hadi
Published: October 2020

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) play an important role in cancer growth. Both of them have close relationships. Expression of EGFR will induce an angiogenic factor (VEGF) release for binding with VEGFR2. However, the existence of VEGF up-regulation independent of EGFR leads to cancer cell resistance to anti-EGFR. Therefore, a therapeutic approach targeting EGFR and VEGFR2 simultaneously may improve the outcome of cancer treatment. The present study was designed to identify potential compounds as a dual inhibitor of EGFR and VEGFR2 by the computational method. Firstly, the ligand-based pharmacophore model for each target was setup to screen of ZINC database of purchasable compounds. The hit compounds obtained by pharmacophore screening were then further screened by molecular docking studies. Taking erlotinib (EGFR inhibitor) and axitinib (VEGFR2 inhibitor) as reference drugs, six potential compounds (ZINC08398597, ZINC12047553, ZINC16525481, ZINC17418102, ZINC21942954, and ZINC38484632) were selected based on their docking scores and binding interaction. However, molecular dynamics simulations demonstrated that only ZINC16525481 and ZINC38484632 which have good binding free energy and stable hydrogen bonding interactions with EGFR and VEGFR2. The result represents a promising starting point for developing potent dual tyrosine kinases inhibitor of EGFR and VEGFR2.
Programmed Cell Death in the Left and Right Ventricle of the Late Phase of Post-Infarction Heart Failure
Authors: Lichý Martin , Szobi Adrián , Hrdlička Jaroslav , Neckář Jan , Kolář František , Adameová Adriana
Published: October 2020

While necroptosis has been shown to contribute to the pathogenesis of post-infarction heart failure (HF), the role of autophagy remains unclear. Likewise, linkage between these two cell death modalities has not been sufficiently investigated. HF was induced by 60-min left coronary occlusion in adult Wistar rats and heart function was assessed 6 weeks later followed by immunoblotting analysis of necroptotic and autophagic proteins in both the left (LV) and right ventricle (RV). HF had no effect on RIP1 and RIP3 expression. PhosphoSer229-RIP3, acting as a pro-necroptotic signal, was increased in LV while deceased in RV of failing hearts. Total MLKL was elevated in RV only. Decrease in pSer555-ULK1, increase in pSer473-Akt and no significant elevation in beclin-1 and LC3-II/I ratio indicated rather a lowered rate of autophagy in LV. No beclin-1 upregulation and decreased LC3 processing also suggested the inhibition of both autophagosome formation and maturation in RV of failing hearts. In contrast, p89 PARP1 fragment, a marker of executed apoptosis, was increased in RV only. This is the first study showing a different signaling in ventricles of the late phase of post-infarction HF, highlighting necroptosis itself rather than its linkage with autophagy in LV, and apoptosis in RV.
Early-Onset Infantile Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy: A Timely Review
Authors: Chen Tai-Heng , Wu Yan-Zhang , Tseng Yung-Hao
Published: October 2020

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD)—the worldwide third most common inherited muscular dystrophy caused by the heterozygous contraction of a 3.3 kb tandem repeat (D4Z4) on a chromosome with a 4q35 haplotype—is a progressive genetic myopathy with variable onset of symptoms, distribution of muscle weakness, and clinical severity. While much is known about the clinical course of adult FSHD, data on the early-onset infantile phenotype, especially on the progression of the disease, are relatively scarce. Contrary to the classical form, patients with infantile FSHD more often have a rapid decline in muscle wasting and systemic features with multiple extramuscular involvements. A rough correlation between the phenotypic severity of FSHD and the D4Z4 repeat size has been reported, and the majority of patients with infantile FSHD obtain a very short D4Z4 repeat length (one to three copies, EcoRI size 10–14 kb), in contrast to the classical, slowly progressive, form of FSHD (15–38 kb). With the increasing identifications of case reports and the advance in genetic diagnostics, recent studies have suggested that the infantile variant of FSHD is not a genetically separate entity but a part of the FSHD spectrum. Nevertheless, many questions about the clinical phenotype and natural history of infantile FSHD remain unanswered, limiting evidence-based clinical management. In this review, we summarize the updated research to gain insight into the clinical spectrum of infantile FSHD and raise views to improve recognition and understanding of its underlying pathomechanism, and further, to advance novel treatments and standard care methods.