bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Unpredictable Dynamics of the Cryptocurrency Market
Authors: Kim Kyungwon , Lee Minhyuk
Published: September 2021

The global economy is under great shock again in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic; it has not been long since the global financial crisis in 2008. Therefore, we investigate the evolution of the complexity of the cryptocurrency market and analyze the characteristics from the past bull market in 2017 to the present the COVID-19 pandemic. To confirm the evolutionary complexity of the cryptocurrency market, three general complexity analyses based on nonlinear measures were used: approximate entropy (ApEn), sample entropy (SampEn), and Lempel-Ziv complexity (LZ). We analyzed the market complexity/unpredictability for 43 cryptocurrency prices that have been trading until recently. In addition, three non-parametric tests suitable for non-normal distribution comparison were used to cross-check quantitatively. Finally, using the sliding time window analysis, we observed the change in the complexity of the cryptocurrency market according to events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination. This study is the first to confirm the complexity/unpredictability of the cryptocurrency market from the bull market to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. We find that ApEn, SampEn, and LZ complexity metrics of all markets could not generalize the COVID-19 effect of the complexity due to different patterns. However, market unpredictability is increasing by the ongoing health crisis.
Dynamic Robustness of Open-Source Project Knowledge Collaborative Network Based on Opinion Leader Identification
Authors: Lei Shaojuan , Zhang Xiaodong , Liu Suhui
Published: September 2021

A large amount of semantic content is generated during designer collaboration in open-source projects (OSPs). Based on the characteristics of knowledge collaboration behavior in OSPs, we constructed a directed, weighted, semantic-based knowledge collaborative network. Four social network analysis indexes were created to identify the key opinion leader nodes in the network using the entropy weight and TOPSIS method. Further, three degradation modes were designed for (1) the collaborative behavior of opinion leaders, (2) main knowledge dissemination behavior, and (3) main knowledge contribution behavior. Regarding the degradation model of the collaborative behavior of opinion leaders, we considered the propagation characteristics of opinion leaders to other nodes, and we created a susceptible–infected–removed (SIR) propagation model of the influence of opinion leaders’ behaviors. Finally, based on empirical data from the Local Motors open-source vehicle design community, a dynamic robustness analysis experiment was carried out. The results showed that the robustness of our constructed network varied for different degradation modes: the degradation of the opinion leaders’ collaborative behavior had the lowest robustness; this was followed by the main knowledge dissemination behavior and the main knowledge contribution behavior; the degradation of random behavior had the highest robustness. Our method revealed the influence of the degradation of collaborative behavior of different types of nodes on the robustness of the network. This could be used to formulate the management strategy of the open-source design community, thus promoting the stable development of OSPs.
Predicting the Intention to Use Technology in Education among Student Teachers: A Path Analysis
Authors: Luik Piret , Taimalu Merle
Published: September 2021

Teacher education must provide the knowledge and skills necessary for technology integration, but also influence attitudes and beliefs. Little research has been conducted on how knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes predict teachers’ intentions to use technology. The aim of this study was to identify how perceived knowledge about technology integration, and beliefs and attitudes towards using technology, impact the intention to use technology among student teachers. The sample consisted of 232 student teachers from the University of Tartu. Data were collected using a questionnaire based on elements of two different models. Validating the technology acceptance scale using a confirmatory factor analysis identified that perceived usefulness was split into two constructs: perceived usefulness for students and perceived usefulness for teachers. Path analysis, as a special type of structural equation modelling, was used to test 11 hypotheses. The results showed that both perceived ease of use and attitude to use have direct effects on intention to use. Still, perceived usefulness for teachers and perceived knowledge displayed an indirect influence. Based on these results, it is important that student teachers should be convinced that technology is easy to use in teaching.
Performance Assessment of W-Band Radiometers: Direct versus Heterodyne Detections
Authors: Pascual Juan Pablo , Aja Beatriz , Villa Enrique , Terán Jose Vicente , de la Fuente Luisa , Artal Eduardo
Published: September 2021

W-Band radiometers using intermediate frequency down-conversion (super-heterodyne) and direct detection are compared. Both receivers consist of two W-band low noise amplifiers and an 80-to-101 GHz filter, which conforms to the reception frequency band, in the front-end module. The back-end module of the first receiver comprises a subharmonic mixer, intermediate frequency (IF) amplification and a square-law detector. For direct detection, a W-Band detector replaces the mixer and the intermediate frequency detection stages. The performance of the whole receivers has been simulated requiring special techniques, based on data from the experimental characterization of each subsystem. In the super-heterodyne implementation a local oscillator at 27.1 GHz (with 8 dBm) with a x3 frequency multiplier is used, exhibiting an overall conversion gain around 48 dB, a noise figure around 4 dB, and an effective bandwidth over 10 GHz. In the direct detection scheme, slightly better noise performance is obtained, with a wider bandwidth, around 20 GHz, since there is no IF bandwidth limitation (~15 GHz), and even using the same 80-to-101 GHz filter, the detector can operate through the whole W-band. Moreover, W-band detector has higher sensitivity than the IF detector, increasing slightly the gain. In both cases, the receiver performance is characterized when a broadband noise input signal is applied. The radiometer characteristics have been obtained working as a total power radiometer and as a Dicke radiometer when an optical chopper is used to modulate the incoming signal. Combining this particular super-heterodyne or direct detection topologies and total power or Dicke modes of operation, four different cases are compared and discussed, achieving similar sensitivities, but better performances in terms of equivalent bandwidth and noise for the direct detection radiometer. It should be noted that this conclusion comes from a particular set of components, which we could consider as typical, but we cannot exclude other conclusions for different components, particularly for different mixers and detectors.
Exploring the Exhaust Emission and Efficiency of Algal Biodiesel Powered Compression Ignition Engine: Application of Box–Behnken and Desirability Based Multi-Objective Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Sharma Prabhakar , Chhillar Ajay , Said Zafar , Memon Saim
Published: September 2021

Sustainable Development Goals were established by the United Nations General Assembly to ensure that everyone has access to clean, affordable, and sustainable energy. Third-generation biodiesel derived from algae sources can be a feasible option in tackling climate change caused by fossil fuels as it has no impact on the human food supply chain. In this paper, the combustion and emission characteristics of Azolla Pinnata oil biodiesel-diesel blends are investigated. The multi-objective response surface methodology (MORSM) with Box–Behnken design is employed to decrease the number of trials to conserve finite resources in terms of human labor, time, and cost. MORSM was used in this study to investigate the interaction, model prediction, and optimization of the operating parameters of algae biodiesel-powered diesel engines to obtain the best performance with the least emission. For engine output prediction, a prognostic model is developed. Engine operating parameters are optimized using the desirability technique, with the best efficiency and lowest emission as the criteria. The results show Theil’s uncertainty for the model’s predictive capability (Theil’s U2) to be between 0.0449 and 0.1804. The Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency is validated to be excellent between 0.965 and 0.9988, whilst the mean absolute percentage deviation is less than 4.4%. The optimized engine operating conditions achieved are 81.2% of engine load, 17.5 of compression ratio, and 10% of biodiesel blending ratio. The proposed MORSM-based technique’s dependability and robustness validate the experimental methods.
Analysis of Allowable Unbalanced Load Conditions for T-Type Three-Level PWM Converter
Authors: Lee Kui-Jun
Published: September 2021

Since a T-type three-level PWM converter has several advantages in terms of harmonics and conduction loss, it has been widely adopted for various low voltage applications. However, a neutral point voltage control is necessarily required for stable system operation, and an offset voltage can effectively provide the required neutral point current under unbalanced load conditions. Nevertheless, all types of unbalanced loads cannot be accommodated; in other words, there is a limitation on how much unbalanced load conditions can be allowed. Therefore, this paper analyzed the maximum allowable unbalanced load conditions in the T-type three-level PWM converter. This result can be properly utilized for an effective design verification considering unbalanced load conditions as well as a comprehensive approach for the stable system operation. The feasibility of the analytical result is verified through simulation and experimental tests.
Energy Management of Microgrids for Smart Cities: A Review
Authors: Sami Muhammad Salman , Abrar Muhammad , Akram Rizwan , Hussain Muhammad Majid , Nazir Mian Hammad , Khan Muhammad Saad , Raza Safdar
Published: September 2021

Electric power reliability is one of the most important factors in the social and economic evolution of a smart city, whereas the key factors to make a city smart are smart energy sources and intelligent electricity networks. The development of cost-effective microgrids with the added functionality of energy storage and backup generation plans has resulted from the combined impact of high energy demands from consumers and environmental concerns, which push for minimizing the energy imbalance, reducing energy losses and CO2 emissions, and improving the overall security and reliability of a power system. It is now possible to tackle the problem of growing consumer load by utilizing the recent developments in modern types of renewable energy resources (RES) and current technology. These energy alternatives do not emit greenhouse gases (GHG) like fossil fuels do, and so help to mitigate climate change. They also have in socioeconomic advantages due to long-term sustainability. Variability and intermittency are the main drawbacks of renewable energy resources (RES), which affect the consistency of electric supply. Thus, utilizing multiple optimization approaches, the energy management system determines the optimum solution for renewable energy resources (RES) and transfers it to the microgrid. Microgrids maintain the continuity of power delivery, according to the energy management system settings. In a microgrid, an energy management system (EMS) is used to decrease the system’s expenses and adverse consequences. As a result, a variety of strategies and approaches are employed in the development of an efficient energy management system. This article is intended to provide a comprehensive overview of a range of technologies and techniques, and their solutions, for managing the drawbacks of renewable energy supplies, such as variability and load fluctuations, while still matching energy demands for their integration in the microgrids of smart cities.
Model of Choice Photovoltaic Panels Considering Customers’ Expectations
Authors: Siwiec Dominika , Pacana Andrzej
Published: September 2021

Photovoltaic electricity generation is key to achieving deep decarbonization with a high degree of electrification. It is predicted that the energy sector will reduce carbon dioxide by producing electricity mainly from photovoltaic (PV) power. Although dynamic development of the implementation of photovoltaic panels has been observed, their choice considering customer specificity is still a problem. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to propose the model of choice photovoltaic panels considering customers’ expectations. It can support the choice of a photovoltaic panel of a certain quality (satisfaction of concrete customer) in combination with the cost of its purchase. The proposed model includes acquiring and then processing customers’ expectations into technical criteria, while simultaneously considering the weighting of these criteria. It is realized in a standardized way, i.e., the zero-unitarization method (MUZ), after which normalized values of the quality of the photovoltaic panels’ criteria are obtained. In turn, the quality of these products is estimated by the weighted sum model (WSM) and then integrated with purchase cost in qualitative cost analysis (AKJ). As a result, using the scale of relative states, it is possible to categorize customer satisfaction from indicating qualitative cost and selecting the photovoltaic panel expected by customers (the most satisfactory). The effectiveness of the model was demonstrated by a sensitivity analysis, after which the key PV criteria were indicated. The proposed model is intended for any entity who selects a photovoltaic panel for customers. The computerization of calculations may contribute to its utilitarian dissemination.
Hydrodynamic Analysis of Twin-Hull Structures Supporting Floating PV Systems in Offshore and Coastal Regions
Authors: Magkouris Alexandros , Belibassakis Kostas , Rusu Eugen
Published: September 2021

In this paper, a novel model based on the boundary element method (BEM) is presented for the hydrodynamic analysis of floating twin-hull structures carrying photovoltaic panels, supporting the study of wave responses and their effects on power performance in variable bathymetry regions. The analysis is restricted to two spatial dimensions for simplicity. The method is free of any mild-slope assumptions. A boundary integral representation is applied for the near field in the vicinity of the floating body, which involved simple (Rankine) sources, while the far field is modeled using complete (normal-mode) series expansions that are derived using separation of variables in the constant depth half-strips on either side of the middle, non-uniform domain, where the depth exhibited a general variation, overcoming a mild bottom-slope assumption. The numerical solution is obtained by means of a low-order panel method. Numerical results are presented concerning twin-hull floating bodies of simple geometry lying over uniform and sloping seabeds. With the aid of systematic comparisons, the effects of the bottom slope and curvature on the hydrodynamic characteristics (hydrodynamic coefficients and responses) of the floating bodies are illustrated and discussed. Finally, the effects of waves on the floating PV performance are presented, indicating significant variations of the performance index ranging from 0 to 15% depending on the sea state.
Experimental Analysis of Nucleation Triggering in a Thermal Energy Storage Based on Xylitol Used in a Portable Solar Box Cooker
Authors: Coccia Gianluca , Aquilanti Alessia , Tomassetti Sebastiano , Muciaccia Pio , Di Nicola Giovanni
Published: September 2021

Sugar alcohols have interesting thermodynamic properties that make them good options as heat storage materials (HSMs) to be used in solar cookers. Among sugar alcohols, xylitol is affected by severe supercooling that can significantly alter its usefulness in thermal energy storage (TES) systems. To overcome the supercooling issue, in this work the thermal behavior of a xylitol-based TES installed in a portable solar box cooker was investigated experimentally. The solar cooker has a 4.08 concentration ratio and the TES is a double-pot system filled with 2.5 kg of commercial-grade xylitol. The TES includes a manual mixing device that can be used to trigger the nucleation of xylitol. The effectiveness of the TES system with and without triggering was assessed through several outdoor tests, divided into heating and cooling phases, using silicone oil as absorbing media. It was found that the average load cooling time, in the temperature range of the test fluid from 110 to 80 °C, increased by about 346% when the solar cooker was equipped with the xylitol-triggered TES. The mixing device can therefore be considered an effective solution for regarding xylitol as an actual and performing phase change material.
Exploring Sustainable Aspects Regarding the Food Supply Chain, Agri-Food Quality Standards, and Global Trade: An Empirical Study among Experts from the European Union and the United States
Authors: Pietrzyck Katja , Jarzębowski Sebastian , Petersen Brigitte
Published: September 2021

Sustainability is increasingly a priority in the policies of the European Union, especially in the Common Agricultural Policy. This paper focuses on Sustainable Development Goals, the European Green Deal, and the Farm to Fork Strategy in an attempt to establish a relationship with the European Union’s trade policy. Three selected components of the agri-food sector—the food supply chain, agri-food quality standards, and global trade—are examined in relation to defined sustainability aspects. The aim is to understand the interrelationship between the three components with specific regard to sustainability, to highlight their high complexity and current relevance, to contribute to systematic analysis in this area, and to present current progress. This qualitative–explorative study is empirically supported by a survey of market experts, and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership between the European Union and the United States is used as an example. The results show the complexity between the relationships of the three components with a focus on sustainability and reveal a deep uncertainty. The most notable results are the limited level of knowledge and the insufficient attention from business representatives to sustainability aspects. Finally, the study identifies the state of integrating a sustainable perspective into European Union trade policy and provides suggestions for further research.
Addressing European Ocean Energy Challenge: The DTOceanPlus Structured Innovation Tool for Concept Creation and Selection
Authors: Tunga Inès , Garcia-Teruel Anna , Noble Donald R. , Henderson Jillian
Published: September 2021

The whole energy system requires renewables that scale and produce reliable, valuable energy at an acceptable cost. The key to increasing the deployment of ocean energy is bringing down development and operating costs. This paper proposes a structured approach to innovation in ocean energy systems that would spur innovation and expand the market for ocean energy. This approach can be used by a wide range of stakeholders—including technology and project developers and investors—when considering creating or improving designs. The Structured Innovation design tool within the DTOceanPlus suite is one of a kind beyond the current state-of-the-art. It enables the adaptation and integration of systematic problem-solving tools based on quality function deployment (QFD), the theory of inventive thinking (TRIZ), and the failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) methodologies for the ocean energy sector. In obtaining and assessing innovative concepts, the integration of TRIZ into QFD enables the designers to define the innovation problem, identifies trade-offs in the system, and, with TRIZ as a systematic inventive problem-solving methodology, generates potential design concepts for the contradicting requirements. Additionally, the FMEA is used to assess the technical risks associated with the proposed design concepts. The methodology is demonstrated using high-level functional requirements for a small array of ten tidal turbines to improve the devices layout and power cabling architecture. The Structured Innovation design tool output comprises critical functional requirements with the highest overall impact and the least organisational effort to implement, along with appropriate alternative solutions to conflicting requirements.
Critical Review of Intelligent Battery Systems: Challenges, Implementation, and Potential for Electric Vehicles
Authors: Komsiyska Lidiya , Buchberger Tobias , Diehl Simon , Ehrensberger Moritz , Hanzl Christian , Hartmann Christoph , Hölzle Markus , Kleiner Jan , Lewerenz Meinert , Liebhart Bernhard , Schmid Michael , Schneider Dominik , Speer Sascha , Stöttner Julia , Terbrack Christoph , Hinterberger Michael , Endisch Christian
Published: September 2021

This review provides an overview of new strategies to address the current challenges of automotive battery systems: Intelligent Battery Systems. They have the potential to make battery systems more performant and future-proof for coming generations of electric vehicles. The essential features of Intelligent Battery Systems are the accurate and robust determination of cell individual states and the ability to control the current of each cell by reconfiguration. They enable high-level functions like fault diagnostics, multi-objective balancing strategies, multilevel inverters, and hybrid energy storage systems. State of the art and recent advances in these topics are compiled and critically discussed in this article. A comprising, critical discussion of the implementation aspects of Intelligent Battery Systems complements the review. We touch on sensing, battery topologies and management, switching elements, communication architecture, and impact on the single-cell. This review contributes to transferring the best technologies from research to product development.
Design of a Hybrid Energy System with Energy Storage for Standalone DC Microgrid Application
Authors: Juma Mwaka I. , Mwinyiwiwa Bakari M. M. , Msigwa Consalva J. , Mushi Aviti T.
Published: September 2021

This paper presents microgrid-distributed energy resources (DERs) for a rural standalone system. It is made up of a solar photovoltaic (solar PV) system, battery energy storage system (BESS), and a wind turbine coupled to a permanent magnet synchronous generator (WT-PMSG). The DERs are controlled by maximum power point tracking (MPPT)-based proportional integral (PI) controllers for both maximum power tracking and error feedback compensation. The MPPT uses the perturb and observe (P&O) algorithm for tracking the maximum power point of the DERs. The PI gains are tuned using the Ziegler–Nichols method. The developed system was built and simulated in MATLAB/Simulink under two conditions—constant load, and step-load changes. The controllers enabled the BESS to charge even during conditions of varying load and other environmental factors such as change of irradiance and wind speed. The reference was tracked extremely well by the output voltage of the DC microgrid. This is useful research for electrifying the rural islanded areas which are too far from the grid.
Experimental and Numerical Study on the Sooting Behaviors of Furanic Biofuels in Laminar Counterflow Diffusion Flames
Authors: Mu Qianqian , Yan Fuwu , Zhang Jizhou , Xu Lei , Wang Yu
Published: September 2021

Furanic biofuels have received increasing research interest over recent years, due to their potential in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating the production of harmful pollutants. Nevertheless, the heterocyclic structure in furans make them readily to produce soot, which requires an in-depth understanding. In this study, the sooting characteristic of several typical furanic biofuels, i.e., furan, 2-methylfuran (MF), and 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF), were investigated in laminar counterflow flames. Combined laser-based soot measurements with numerical analysis were performed. Special focus was put on understanding how the fuel structure of furans could affect soot formation. The results show that furan has the lowest soot volume fraction, followed by DMF, while MF has the largest value. Kinetic analyses revealed that the decomposition of MF produces high amounts of C3 species, which are efficient benzene precursors. This may be the reason for the enhanced formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and soot in MF flames, as compared to DMF and furan flames. The major objectives of this work are to: (1) understand the sooting behavior of furanic fuels in counterflow flames, (2) elucidate the fuel structure effects of furans on soot formation, and (3) provide database of quantitative soot concentration for model validation and refinements.
Searching for Differences in Chemical Composition and Biological Activity of Crude Drone Brood and Royal Jelly Useful for Their Authentication
Authors: Sidor Ewelina , Miłek Michał , Zaguła Grzegorz , Bocian Aleksandra , Dżugan Małgorzata
Published: September 2021

Drone brood is a little-known bee product which is frequently considered as a male equivalent of royal jelly and is sometimes used as its adulterant. The aim of the study was to compare the chemical composition and biological activity of both bee products originated from the same apiaries (n = 3) limiting the influence of genetic and environmental factors. Moreover, for drone brood study covered testing three stages of larval development (days 7, 11, and 14). The comparison included mineral composition (ICP-OES method), protein content and protein profile (SDS-PAGE), testosterone and estradiol content (ELISA tests). HPTLC method was used to analyze of sugar, amino acids, and polyphenolic profile of drone brood and royal jelly. Moreover, their antioxidant and enzymatic properties were compared. A lot of similarities between drone brood and royal jelly were found in terms of chemical components. However, drone brood was more abundant in iron and manganese, reducing sugars and some amino acids, especially proline, tyrosine, and leucine. It contained more testosterone (especially on the 14th day) and estradiol (on the 7th day). The greatest differences in the enzymatic activities and polyphenolic profile were found. Diastase and α-glucosidase activity were found as specific enzymes of the drone brood. Similarly, ferulic and ellagic acids were characteristic for brood and were not present in royal jelly. The study showed a lot of similar features for both tested bee products, however, some specific markers which can serve to differentiate drone brood and royal jelly were found.
Multiple Breeds and Countries’ Predictions of Mineral Contents in Milk from Milk Mid-Infrared Spectrometry
Authors: Christophe Octave S. , Grelet Clément , Bertozzi Carlo , Veselko Didier , Lecomte Christophe , Höeckels Peter , Werner Andreas , Auer Franz-Josef , Gengler Nicolas , Dehareng Frédéric , Soyeurt Hélène
Published: September 2021

Measuring the mineral composition of milk is of major interest in the dairy sector. This study aims to develop and validate robust multi-breed and multi-country models predicting the major minerals through milk mid-infrared spectrometry using partial least square regressions. A total of 1281 samples coming from five countries were analyzed to obtain spectra and in ICP-AES to measure the mineral reference contents. Models were built from records coming from four countries (n = 1181) and validated using records from the fifth country, Austria (n = 100). The importance of including local samples was tested by integrating 30 Austrian samples in the model while validating with the remaining 70 samples. The best performances were achieved using this second set of models, confirming the need to cover the spectral variability of a country before making a prediction. Validation root mean square errors were 54.56, 63.60, 7.30, 59.87, and 152.89 mg/kg for Na, Ca, Mg, P, and K, respectively. The built models were applied on the Walloon milk recording large-scale spectral database, including 3,510,077. The large-scale predictions on this dairy herd improvement database provide new insight regarding the minerals’ variability in the population, as well as the effect of parity, stage of lactation, breeds, and seasons.
Effect of Salt Content Reduction on Food Processing Technology
Authors: Rysová Jana , Šmídová Zuzana
Published: September 2021

Higher salt intake is associated with the risk of cardiovascular and kidney diseases, hypertension and gastric cancer. Salt intake reduction represents an effective way to improve people’s health, either by the right choice of food or by a reduction of added salt. Salt substitutes are often used and also herb homogenates are treated by high pressure technology. Salt reduction significantly influences the shelf life, texture, pH, taste, and aroma of cheese. The composition of emulsifying salts or starter cultures must be modified to enact changes in microbial diversity, protease activity and the ripening process. The texture becomes softer and aroma atypical. In bakery products, a salt reduction of only 20–30% is acceptable. Water absorption, dough development, length and intensity of kneading and stability of dough are changed. Gluten development and its viscoelastic properties are affected. The salt reduction promotes yeast growth and CO2 production. Specific volume and crust colour intensity decreased, and the crumb porosity changed. In meat products, salt provides flavour, texture, and shelf life, and water activity increases. In this case, myofibrillar proteins’ solubility, water binding activity and colour intensity changes were found. The composition of curing nitrite salt mixtures and starter cultures must be modified.
Novel Approach Combining Transcriptional and Evolutionary Signatures to Identify New Multiciliation Genes
Authors: Defosset Audrey , Merlat Dorine , Poidevin Laetitia , Nevers Yannis , Kress Arnaud , Poch Olivier , Lecompte Odile
Published: September 2021

Multiciliogenesis is a complex process that allows the generation of hundreds of motile cilia on the surface of specialized cells, to create fluid flow across epithelial surfaces. Dysfunction of human multiciliated cells is associated with diseases of the brain, airway and reproductive tracts. Despite recent efforts to characterize the transcriptional events responsible for the differentiation of multiciliated cells, a lot of actors remain to be identified. In this work, we capitalize on the ever-growing quantity of high-throughput data to search for new candidate genes involved in multiciliation. After performing a large-scale screening using 10 transcriptomics datasets dedicated to multiciliation, we established a specific evolutionary signature involving Otomorpha fish to use as a criterion to select the most likely targets. Combining both approaches highlighted a list of 114 potential multiciliated candidates. We characterized these genes first by generating protein interaction networks, which showed various clusters of ciliated and multiciliated genes, and then by computing phylogenetic profiles. In the end, we selected 11 poorly characterized genes that seem like particularly promising multiciliated candidates. By combining functional and comparative genomics methods, we developed a novel type of approach to study biological processes and identify new promising candidates linked to that process.
The Mitochondrial DNA Landscape of Modern Mexico
Authors: Bodner Martin , Perego Ugo A. , Gomez J. Edgar , Cerda-Flores Ricardo M. , Rambaldi Migliore Nicola , Woodward Scott R. , Parson Walther , Achilli Alessandro
Published: September 2021

Mexico is a rich source for anthropological and population genetic studies with high diversity in ethnic and linguistic groups. The country witnessed the rise and fall of major civilizations, including the Maya and Aztec, but resulting from European colonization, the population landscape has dramatically changed. Today, the majority of Mexicans do not identify themselves as Indigenous but as admixed, and appear to have very little in common with their pre-Columbian predecessors. However, when the maternally inherited mitochondrial (mt)DNA is investigated in the modern Mexican population, this is not the case. Control region sequences of 2021 samples deriving from all over the country revealed an overwhelming Indigenous American legacy, with almost 90% of mtDNAs belonging to the four major pan-American haplogroups A2, B2, C1, and D1. This finding supports a very low European contribution to the Mexican gene pool by female colonizers and confirms the effectiveness of employing uniparental markers as a tool to reconstruct a country’s history. In addition, the distinct frequency and dispersal patterns of Indigenous American and West Eurasian clades highlight the benefit such large and country-wide databases provide for studying the impact of colonialism from a female perspective and population stratification. The importance of geographical database subsets not only for forensic application is clearly demonstrated.
Editorial of Special Issue "Modern Surveying and Geophysical Methods for Soil and Rock"
Authors: Kovačević Meho Saša , Bačić Mario
Published: September 2021

Thanks to the rapid development of technology, the field of soil and rock investigation has made significant progress in recent decades [...]
Morphoneotectonics of the Abruzzo Periadriatic Area (Central Italy): Morphometric Analysis and Morphological Evidence of Tectonics Features
Authors: Miccadei Enrico , Carabella Cristiano , Paglia Giorgio
Published: September 2021

Drainage basin-scale morphometric analysis and morphological evidence of tectonics represent helpful tools to evaluate and investigate morphoneotectonic processes in tectonically active regions. In this perspective, we applied an integrated analysis to the Abruzzo Periadriatic Area, between the Tronto and Sinello rivers (Central Italy). It involved morphometric analysis, structural geomorphological field mapping, and detailed analysis of fluvial terraces. Geomorphic indexes and markers (e.g., Irta, SL index, ksn, and knickpoints) were used in this study to detect the response of landscapes to drainage systems’ unsteadiness and tectonic deformation processes, possibly induced by the ongoing activity of the buried tectonic structures. Furthermore, the investigation of morphological field evidence of tectonics, integrated with the analysis of fluvial terraces’ spatial and temporal arrangement, was performed to assign relative, geomorphologically-based, age constraints of the landscape evolution. The resulting data allowed us to define domains affected by different morphostructural and morphoneotectonic processes, related to the impact and ongoing activity of the five detected families of structural elements (S1, F1, F2, F3, and F4), mainly characterized by compressive, extensional, and transtensive kinematics. Finally, this study could represent a scientific basis for integrating morphometric, fluvial, and tectonic geomorphology analysis to better define the main phases of the landscape evolution and the impact of morphoneotectonic processes on fluvial environments in uplifting piedmont areas.
Breast Cancer and p16: Role in Proliferation, Malignant Transformation and Progression
Authors: Jovanovic Dalibor V. , Mitrovic Slobodanka L. , Milosavljevic Milos Z. , Ilic Milena B. , Stankovic Vesna D. , Vuletic Milena S. , Dimitrijevic Stojanovic Milica N. , Milosev Danijela B. , Azanjac Goran L. , Nedeljkovic Vladica M. , Radovanovic Dragce
Published: September 2021

The definition of new molecular biomarkers could provide a more reliable approach in predicting the prognosis of invasive breast cancers (IBC). The aim of this study is to analyze the expression of p16 protein in IBC, as well as its participation in malignant transformation. The study included 147 patients diagnosed with IBC. The presence of non-invasive lesions (NIL) was noted in each IBC and surrounding tissue. p16 expression was determined by reading the percentage of nuclear and/or cytoplasmic expression in epithelial cells of IBC and NIL, but also in stromal fibroblasts. Results showed that expression of p16 increases with the progression of cytological changes in the epithelium; it is significantly higher in IBC compared to NIL (p < 0.0005). Cytoplasmic p16 expression is more prevalent in IBC (76.6%), as opposed to nuclear staining, which is characteristic of most NIL (21.1%). There is a difference in p16 expression between different molecular subtypes of IBC (p = 0.025). In the group of p16 positive tumors, pronounced mononuclear infiltrates (p = 0.047) and increased expression of p16 in stromal fibroblasts (p = 0.044) were noted. In conclusion, p16 protein plays an important role in proliferation, malignant transformation, as well as in progression from NIL to IBC.
Validation and Psychometric Properties of the Chinese Version of the Fear of Missing Out Scale
Authors: Li Yan-Yu , Huang Yi-Ting , Dou Kai
Published: September 2021

Objectives: The present study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of Przybylski’s 10-item Fear of Missing Out scale and to investigate the measurement invariance across age and gender among Chinese adolescents and emerging adults. Methods: A convenient sample of 2886 subjects (Mage = 14.79, SD = 4.03; 47.96% male) was recruited in south China. Item analysis, EFA, CFA, testing of measurement invariance across gender and age, reliability analysis, and concurrent validity analysis were conducted. A subsample of 154 subjects (Mage = 15.3, SD = 2.22; 54% male) completed the scale again after 6 months to assess the test–retest reliability. Results: The EFA strongly indicated a two-dimensional solution, including fear of missing novel information and fear of missing social opportunities, for the Chinese version of the FoMO scale, which the CFA confirmed. Adequate internal consistency was found. Concurrent validity and discriminant validity were also demonstrated. Conclusions: Based on the results, the Chinese version of the FoMO scale is suitable for use among young Chinese people.
Shot Distribution and Accuracy in Senior and Youth International Basketball Games: Changes over the Decade of the 2010s
Authors: Madarame Haruhiko
Published: September 2021

This study aimed to investigate the changes in shot distribution and accuracy in senior and under-17 international basketball tournaments in the 2010s. A retrospective cross-sectional design was employed, and a total of 1055 games from 20 world-level tournaments held between 2010 and 2019 were analyzed. The tournaments held in 2010 were played under the old three-point line (6.25 m), and the rest of the tournaments were played under the new three-point line (6.75 m). The numbers of two- and three-point shot attempts in each game were normalized to 100 possessions. Differences in mean values of two- and three-point shot attempts were analyzed by a two-way (category × year) between-subjects analysis of variance (ANOVA). Differences in the success rates of two- and three-point shots were analyzed by Fisher’s exact test. There was no significant category × year interaction for two-point shot attempts. However, there were significant main effects of category and year for two-point shot attempts. The number of two-point shot attempts increased significantly in 2012 and, in 2016, returned to a level not significantly different from that in 2010, independent of categories. There was a significant category × year interaction for three-point shot attempts. The number of three-point shot attempts decreased significantly in 2012 and, by 2016, returned to a level not significantly different from that in 2010 in senior men and under-17 women. There was no significant change in the number of three-point shot attempts in under-17 men. The effect of the extension of the three-point line on shot accuracy was limited. Differences in shot accuracy were prominent between age categories: the accuracy was lower in under-17 games than in senior games for both sexes. Although under-17 men attempted fewer three-point shots than senior men, under-17 women attempted a similar number of or more three-point shots than senior women. These findings can contribute to a better understanding of age and sex differences in recent trends in international basketball.
Defining Adjustment to Address the Missing Link between Refugees and Their Resettlement Communities
Authors: Modesti Camilla , Talamo Alessandra
Published: September 2021

Background: data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) show that, in 2020, among 82.4 million refugees, only 251,000 returned to their home countries, indicating the desire for refugees to stay, for the long-term, in their new homelands. The paper contributes to the scientific–psychological debate on the social representation of refugee populations, by studying this population, not simply as “foreigners”, traumatized and resourceless people, but rather focusing on the factors that lead to their positive adjustments within local communities. Method: a scoping review was carried out to explore the phenomenon of adjustment (RQ1) and to identify the factors that foster adjustment among refugees and their resettlement communities (RQ2). A research protocol and eligibility criteria were defined prior to conducting the literature research through the Scopus database. Afterwards, data charting and items were conducted to organize the results. Results: a process of data mapping outlined three dimensions of adjustment—psychological, social, and scholastic. In addition, six macro factors emerged that ease refugee adjustments—context characteristics, time, social integration markers, acculturation, social support, and psychological capital. Results show that adjustment is the result of the inter-relations among sociological and psychological factors. Conclusions: the lack of studies addressing the inner resources of refugees and community participation confirms that research in this field needs a change of paradigm, to identify the resources that refugees use to adjust to their new communities and promote their development.
Lifestyle Parameters in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus and in the General Adult Population—Trends over Five Years: Results of the Austrian National Health Interview Series
Authors: Dorner Thomas Ernst , Lackinger Christian , Haider Sandra , Stein Katharina Viktoria
Published: September 2021

Background: Not smoking, performing >150 min of aerobic physical activity (PA) and muscle strengthening exercises/week, and consuming >5 portions of fruit and vegetables/day are lifestyle recommendations for both the general population and people with diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods: A total of 15,771 and 15,461 persons from the Austrian Health Interview Surveys 2014 and 2019, respectively, including 4.9% and 6.0% of people with DM, were analysed in terms of their smoking, PA, and nutritional behaviours. Logistic regression models were performed for the lifestyle factors, adjusted for socio-demographic and health-related factors. Adjusted interactions between the survey year and DM on the lifestyle factors were computed. Results: The proportions of smokers were 23.9% and 20.2%, of people complying with the PA recommendations were 24.9% and 21.4%, and with fruit and vegetables recommendations were 7.1% and 5.5%, respectively, with significantly lower proportions of smokers and persons complying with the PA recommendations among people with DM. The fully adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for people with DM were 1.09 (0.94–1.26), 1.44 (1.23–1.69), and 0.90 (0.71–1.13) for smoking, not complying with PA recommendations, and not complying with fruit and vegetables recommendations, respectively. The proportion of people complying with PA recommendations decreased to a greater extent (p < 0.001) in people with DM (16.5% to 8.3%) compared to people without DM (25.3% to 22.3%). Conclusion: Diabetogenic lifestyle behaviours increased in the general Austrian population in recent years, which was especially true for people with DM regarding PA.
Assessing Patient-Perceived Hospital Service Quality and Sentiment in Malaysian Public Hospitals Using Machine Learning and Facebook Reviews
Authors: A. Rahim Afiq Izzudin , Ibrahim Mohd Ismail , Musa Kamarul Imran , Chua Sook-Ling , Yaacob Najib Majdi
Published: September 2021

Social media is emerging as a new avenue for hospitals and patients to solicit input on the quality of care. However, social media data is unstructured and enormous in volume. Moreover, no empirical research on the use of social media data and perceived hospital quality of care based on patient online reviews has been performed in Malaysia. The purpose of this study was to investigate the determinants of positive sentiment expressed in hospital Facebook reviews in Malaysia, as well as the association between hospital accreditation and sentiments expressed in Facebook reviews. From 2017 to 2019, we retrieved comments from 48 official public hospitals’ Facebook pages. We used machine learning to build a sentiment analyzer and service quality (SERVQUAL) classifier that automatically classifies the sentiment and SERVQUAL dimensions. We utilized logistic regression analysis to determine our goals. We evaluated a total of 1852 reviews and our machine learning sentiment analyzer detected 72.1% of positive reviews and 27.9% of negative reviews. We classified 240 reviews as tangible, 1257 reviews as trustworthy, 125 reviews as responsive, 356 reviews as assurance, and 1174 reviews as empathy using our machine learning SERVQUAL classifier. After adjusting for hospital characteristics, all SERVQUAL dimensions except Tangible were associated with positive sentiment. However, no significant relationship between hospital accreditation and online sentiment was discovered. Facebook reviews powered by machine learning algorithms provide valuable, real-time data that may be missed by traditional hospital quality assessments. Additionally, online patient reviews offer a hitherto untapped indication of quality that may benefit all healthcare stakeholders. Our results confirm prior studies and support the use of Facebook reviews as an adjunct method for assessing the quality of hospital services in Malaysia.