bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Delayed Surgical Debridement in the Management of Open Tibial Fractures: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Nicolaides Marios , Vris Alexandros , Heidari Nima , Bates Peter , Pafitanis Georgios
Published: June 2021

Introduction: Open tibial fractures are complex injuries with variable outcomes that significantly impact patients’ lives. Surgical debridement is paramount in preventing detrimental complications such as infection and non-union; however, the exact timing of debridement remains a topic of great controversy. The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between timing of surgical debridement and outcomes such as infection and non-union in open tibial fractures. Materials and Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature to capture studies evaluating the association between timing of initial surgical debridement and infection or non-union, or other reported outcomes. We searched the MEDLINE, PubMed Central, EMBASE, SCOPUS, Cochrane Central and Web of Science electronic databases. Our methodology was guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement and the Cochrane handbook for systematic reviews of interventions. Results: The systematic review included 20 studies with 10,032 open tibial fractures. The overall infection rate was 14.3% (314 out of 2193) and the overall non-union rate 14.2% (116 out of 817). We did not find any statistically significant association between delayed debridement and infection rate (OR = 0.87; 95% CI, 0.68 to 1.11; p = 0.23) or non-union rate (OR = 0.70; 95% CI, 0.42 to 1.15; p = 0.13). These findings did not change when we accounted for the effect of different time thresholds used for defining early and late debridement, nor with the Gustilo–Anderson classification or varying study characteristics. Conclusion: The findings of this meta-analysis support that delayed surgical debridement does not increase the infection or non-union rates in open tibial fracture injuries. Consequently, we propose that a reasonable delay in the initial debridement is acceptable to ensure that optimal management conditions are in place, such that the availability of surgical expertise, skilled staff and equipment are prioritised over getting to surgery rapidly. We recommend changing the standard guidance around timing for performing surgical debridement to ‘as soon as reasonably possible, once appropriate personnel and equipment are available; ideally within 24-h’.
Transitioning to Combined EBUS EUS-B FNA for Experienced EBUS Bronchoscopist
Authors: Ng Jeffrey , Chan Hiang Ping , Kee Adrian , Khoo Kay Leong , See Kay Choong
Published: June 2021

Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) combined with trans-esophageal endoscopic ultrasound bronchoscope guided fine need aspirate (EUS-B FNA) of mediastinal lymph nodes is an established procedure for diagnosis. The main barrier to a combined EBUS EUS-B FNA approach is availability of trained and accredited pulmonologist who can perform procedure safely and confidently. To address this gap, we undertook a training program for experienced EBUS bronchoscopists to train, learn, and incorporate combined EBUS EUS-B FNA into their procedural practice. Thirty-two patients were selected based on CT and or PET findings. Four experienced bronchoscopists participated by reading through learning material, observing 5 cases before performing EUS-B FNA under direct supervision. Forty-one lymph nodes and 6 non-nodal lesions were sampled. EUSAT assessment was performed by supervisor. Learning curves were derived from assessment scores. We observed that learning curve tends to plateau when participant can perform 3 or more consecutive cases with EUSAT score above 50. There were no complications. Our experience suggests that there is relative ease in transition to combined EBUS EUS-B TBNA procedures for mediastinal lymphadenopathy and lung cancer diagnosis and staging for experienced bronchoscopist using a program which incorporates direct supervision, EUSAT assessment, and extension of EUS B FNA training into daily real-world practice.
Disentangling the Information in Species Interaction Networks
Authors: Stock Michiel , Hoebeke Laura , De Baets Bernard
Published: June 2021

Shannon’s entropy measure is a popular means for quantifying ecological diversity. We explore how one can use information-theoretic measures (that are often called indices in ecology) on joint ensembles to study the diversity of species interaction networks. We leverage the little-known balance equation to decompose the network information into three components describing the species abundance, specificity, and redundancy. This balance reveals that there exists a fundamental trade-off between these components. The decomposition can be straightforwardly extended to analyse networks through time as well as space, leading to the corresponding notions for alpha, beta, and gamma diversity. Our work aims to provide an accessible introduction for ecologists. To this end, we illustrate the interpretation of the components on numerous real networks. The corresponding code is made available to the community in the specialised Julia package EcologicalNetworks.jl.
Managing a World Heritage Site in the Face of Climate Change: A Case Study of the Wet Tropics in Northern Queensland
Authors: Weber Ellen T. , Catterall Carla P. , Locke John , Ota Liz S. , Prideaux Bruce , Shirreffs Leslie , Talbot Leah , Gordon Iain J.
Published: June 2021

World Heritage is the pinnacle of the recognition of the natural, aesthetic, and cultural value of a place on the planet. Since its inception in 1972, over 1100 sites have received World Heritage status. Many of these places are being challenged by the effects of climate change. Urgent action is needed to build the resilience and adaptive capacity of World Heritage sites in the face of climate change threats to come. The Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area (WTWHA) is one of the most effectively regulated and managed protected Areas in the world. This includes the scientific evidence upon which that regulation and management is based. However, there is growing evidence that climate change impacts are a clear and present threat to the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) upon which the listing is based. This challenges the very concept of OUV and points to the business-as-usual regulation and management not being sufficient to deal with the threat. It also calls for quantum changes in the approaches to protecting natural and cultural heritage and the OUV in World Heritage Areas. This WTWHA case study gives insights into the journey travelled and the pathways that need to be laid out to protect our most cherished internationally recognised natural and cultural landscapes. We demonstrate the importance of evidence in support of advocacy and management action to address the clear impacts of climate change on species, ecosystems, people, and societies living in the WTWHA. The strategic and climate adaptation plans provide the framework upon which these actions take place. Community engagement in the delivery of mitigation, adaptation, and resilience policy is key to the long-term future of the WTWHA.
Determining the Household Consumption Expenditure’s Resilience towards Petrol Price, Disposable Income and Exchange Rate Volatilities
Authors: Habanabakize Thomas
Published: June 2021

One of the core objectives of economic development is to improve people’s standards of living. However, both standards of living and consumption expenditures are often determined by disposable income, crude oil prices and exchange rate volatility. The current paper employed quarterly time series data from 2002 to 2020 to analyse the responsiveness of household consumption expenditure to the petrol price, disposable income and exchange rate volatility in South African. The empirical outcome suggested that a long-run relationship exists between variables under consideration. Additionally, the current level of consumption expenditure was found to be determined by income level and exchange rate volatility whilst changes in petrol price had no significant effect on short-term consumption expenditure. Based on these findings, the study suggests that the South African policymakers and government authorities implement policies and strategies that enhance both household income and exchange rate. Those strategies may include strengthening the country’s currency, production improvement, inflation rate reduction, and the creation of job opportunities.
Real Fault Location in a Distribution Network Using Smart Feeder Meter Data
Authors: Mirshekali Hamid , Dashti Rahman , Handrup Karsten , Shaker Hamid Reza
Published: June 2021

Distribution networks transmit electrical energy from an upstream network to customers. Undesirable circumstances such as faults in the distribution networks can cause hazardous conditions, equipment failure, and power outages. Therefore, to avoid financial loss, to maintain customer satisfaction, and network reliability, it is vital to restore the network as fast as possible. In this paper, a new fault location (FL) algorithm that uses the recorded data of smart meters (SMs) and smart feeder meters (SFMs) to locate the actual point of fault, is introduced. The method does not require high-resolution measurements, which is among the main advantages of the method. An impedance-based technique is utilized to detect all possible FL candidates in the distribution network. After the fault occurrence, the protection relay sends a signal to all SFMs, to collect the recorded active power of all connected lines after the fault. The higher value of active power represents the real faulty section due to the high-fault current. The effectiveness of the proposed method was investigated on an IEEE 11-node test feeder in MATLAB SIMULINK 2020b, under several situations, such as different fault resistances, distances, inception angles, and types. In some cases, the algorithm found two or three candidates for FL. In these cases, the section estimation helped to identify the real fault among all candidates. Section estimation method performs well for all simulated cases. The results showed that the proposed method was accurate and was able to precisely detect the real faulty section. To experimentally evaluate the proposed method’s powerfulness, a laboratory test and its simulation were carried out. The algorithm was precisely able to distinguish the real faulty section among all candidates in the experiment. The results revealed the robustness and effectiveness of the proposed method.
Regional Solar Irradiance Forecast for Kanto Region by Support Vector Regression Using Forecast of Meso-Ensemble Prediction System
Authors: Takamatsu Takahiro , Ohtake Hideaki , Oozeki Takashi , Nakaegawa Tosiyuki , Honda Yuki , Kazumori Masahiro
Published: June 2021

From the perspective of stable operation of the power transmission system, the transmission system operators (TSO) needs to procure reserve adjustment power at the stage of the previous day based on solar power forecast information from global horizontal irradiance (GHI). Because the reserve adjustment power is determined based on information on major outliers in past forecasts, reducing the maximum forecast error in addition to improving the average forecast accuracy is extremely important from the perspective of grid operation. In the past, researchers have proposed various methods combining the numerical weather prediction (NWP) and machine learning techniques for the one day-ahead solar power forecasting, but the accuracy of NWP has been a bottleneck issue. In recent years, the development of the ensemble prediction system (EPS) forecasts based on probabilistic approaches has been promoted to improve the accuracy of NWP, and in Japan, EPS forecasts in the mesoscale domain, called mesoscale ensemble prediction system (MEPS), have been distributed by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). The use of EPS as a machine learning model is expected to improve the maximum forecast error, as well as the accuracy, since the predictor can utilize various weather scenarios as information. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of EPS on the GHI prediction and the structure of the machine learning model that can effectively use EPS. In this study, we constructed the support vector regression (SVR)-based predictors with multiple network configurations using MEPS as input and evaluated the forecast error of the Kanto region GHI by each model. Through the comparison of the prediction results, it was shown that the machine learning model can achieve average accuracy improvement while reducing the maximum prediction error by MEPS, and knowledge was obtained on how to effectively provide EPS information to the predictor. In addition, machine learning was found to be useful in improving the systematic error of MEPS.
Valve Plate Structural Optimal Design and Flow Field Analysis for the Aviation Bidirectional Three-Port Piston Pump
Authors: Li Xiangyang , Xi Yiting , Xiao Dunhui , Tao Jiaxin
Published: June 2021

This paper designed and optimized a bidirectional three-port valve plate structure for solving the matching problem of flow rate and pressure in the aerospace pump-controlled differential hydraulic cylinder. This design aims to make the valve plate work well under the bidirectional high-speed condition. The model was set up using dynamic mesh and sliding mesh, and the simulation is conducted by FLUENT. In addition, the flow field of inlet and outlet flow rate pulsations, pressure pulsation in cylinder, and non-dead-point transition zone of four cases are analyzed to optimize the valve plate in this work. The numerical results show that different angles of non-dead-point transition zones of the valve plate have a big impact on the performance of the piston pump. For example, the flow rate pulsation reaches the minimum when the angle of non-dead point transition zone is greater than or equal to the angle of a cylinder port. However, at this time, the closed compression would occur and the pressure inside the cylinder would rise rapidly as the piston moves to the non-dead point zone, thus resulting in serious pressure overshoot. In addition, if the angle of non-dead point transition zone is reduced within a certain range, the pressure overshoot will be reduced drastically, and the flow pulsation rate will rise a bit. The study suggests that it is necessary to adjust the angle of non-dead point transition zone to balance the pressure overshoot and flow pulsation of the pump to obtain the optimal kidney structure of the valve plate.
An Overview of Fully Integrated Switching Power Converters Based on Switched-Capacitor versus Inductive Approach and Their Advanced Control Aspects
Authors: Kiran Kumar G , Kobaku Tarakanath , Sahoo Subham , Subudhi Bidyadhar , Elangovan Devaraj , Blaabjerg Frede
Published: June 2021

This paper reviews and discusses the state of the art of integrated switched-capacitor and integrated inductive power converters and provides a perspective on progress towards the realization of efficient and fully integrated DC–DC power conversion. A comparative assessment has been presented to review the salient features in the utilization of transistor technology between the switched-capacitor and switched inductor converter-based approaches. First, applications that drive the need for integrated switching power converters are introduced, and further implementation issues to be addressed also are discussed. Second, different control and modulation strategies applied to integrated switched-capacitor (voltage conversion ratio control, duty cycle control, switching frequency modulation, Ron modulation, and series low drop out) and inductive converters (pulse width modulation and pulse frequency modulation) are then discussed. Finally, a complete set of integrated power converters are related in terms of their conditions and operation metrics, thereby allowing a categorization to provide the suitability of converter technologies.
Wind Turbine Tower Deformation Measurement Using Terrestrial Laser Scanning on a 3.4 MW Wind Turbine
Authors: Helming Paula , von Freyberg Axel , Sorg Michael , Fischer Andreas
Published: June 2021

Wind turbine plants have grown in size in recent years, making an efficient structural health monitoring of all of their structures ever more important. Wind turbine towers deform elastically under the loads applied to them by wind and inertial forces acting on the rotating rotor blades. In order to properly analyze these deformations, an earthbound system is desirable that can measure the tower’s movement in two directions from a large measurement working distance of over 150 m and a single location. To achieve this, a terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) in line-scanning mode with horizontal alignment was applied to measure the tower cross-section and to determine its axial (in the line-of-sight) and lateral (transverse to the line-of-sight) position with the help of a least-squares fit. As a result, the proposed measurement approach allowed for analyzing the tower’s deformation. The method was validated on a 3.4 MW wind turbine with a hub height of 128 m by comparing the measurement results to a reference video measurement, which recorded the nacelle movement from below and determined the nacelle movement with the help of point-tracking software. The measurements were compared in the time and frequency domain for different operating conditions, such as low/strong wind and start-up/braking of the turbine. There was a high correlation between the signals from the laser-based and the reference measurement in the time domain, and the same peak of the dominant tower oscillation was determined in the frequency domain. The proposed method was therefore an effective tool for the in-process structural health monitoring of tall wind turbine towers.
Stress Reversals near Hydraulically Fractured Wells Explained with Linear Superposition Method (LSM)
Authors: Weijermars Ruud , Wang Jihoon
Published: June 2021

Prior studies have noted that the principal stress orientations near the hydraulic fractures of well systems used for energy extraction may wander over time. Typically, the minimum and maximum principal stresses—in the horizontal map view—swap their respective initial directions, due to (1) fracture treatment interventions, and (2) pressure depletion resulting from production. The present analysis shows with stress trajectory visualizations, using a recently developed linear superposition method (LSM), that at least two generations of stress reversals around hydraulic fractures occur. The first generation occurs during the fracture treatment; the second occurs immediately after the onset of so-called flow-back. During each of these stress swaps in the vicinity of the hydraulic fractures, reservoir directions that were previously in compression subsequently exhibit extension, and directions previously stretching subsequently exhibit shortening. The pressure change in the hydraulic fractures—from over-pressured to under-pressured (only held open by proppant packs)—caused the neutral points that separate domains with different stress states to migrate from locations transverse to the fracture to locations beyond the fracture tips. Understanding such detailed geo-mechanical dynamics, related to the pressure evolution in energy reservoirs, is extremely important for improving both the fracture treatment and the well operation, as future hydrocarbon and geothermal energy extraction projects emerge.
Deterministic vs. Random Modulated Interference on G3 Power Line Communication
Authors: Sayed Waseem El , Lezynski Piotr , Smolenski Robert , Madi Amr , Pazera Marcin , Kempski Adam
Published: June 2021

Power line communication (PLC), which is often used in advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), may be disturbed by adjacent high-power converters. Due to the inherent features of this type of communication, classic methods of improving communication reliability (filtration and circuit separation) cannot be fully applied. Information coding (modulation) methods are used in PLC to increase the data transfer rate and improve noise immunity. Random modulations (RanM) are used in converters to lower emission levels. Therefore, we investigate how the converters’ modulation parameters and coding methods may affect PLC communication reliability in the paper. To this end, we employ an experimental approach. In particular, the analysis of the influence of deterministic modulation (DetM) and (RanM) on the performance of narrowband G3-PLC is shown. We emulated an actual situation where EMI generated by the DC/DC converter disturbed the PLC transmission. The experimental results show the transmission error rates for different operating scenarios. The natural (experimental) system results, due to the complexity of the disturbing signals, differ from the literature data obtained by simulation for normalized signals.
Elevator Regenerative Energy Applications with Ultracapacitor and Battery Energy Storage Systems in Complex Buildings
Authors: Kermani Mostafa , Shirdare Erfan , Abbasi Saram , Parise Giuseppe , Martirano Luigi
Published: June 2021

Due to the dramatic growth of the global population, building multi-story buildings has become a necessity, which strongly requires the installation of an elevator regardless of the type of building being built. This study focuses on households, which are the second-largest electricity consumers after the transportation sector. In residential buildings, elevators impose huge electricity costs because they are used by many consumers. The novelty of this paper is implementing a Hybrid Energy Storage System (HESS), including an ultracapacitor Energy Storage (UCES) and a Battery Energy Storage (BES) system, in order to reduce the amount of power and energy consumed by elevators in residential buildings. The control strategy of this study includes two main parts. In the first stage, an indirect field-oriented control strategy is implemented to provide new features and flexibility to the system and take benefit of the regenerative energy received from the elevator’s motor. In the second stage, a novel control strategy is proposed to control the HESS efficiently. In this context, the HESS is only fed by regenerated power so the amount of energy stored in the UC can be used to reduce peak consumption. Meanwhile, the BES supplies common electrical loads in the building, e.g., washing machines, heating services (both boiler and heat pump), and lighting, which helps to achieve a nearly zero energy building.
Public-Private Partnership and Circular Economy—What Croatian Students Learn at University
Authors: Bogovac Jasna , Dodig Domagoj , Lugarić Tereza Rogić
Published: June 2021

The global economy has been hit by crises in recent decades and the COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to great uncertainty in the possibility of a lasting recovery and an energy transition that will enable sustainable green growth. Budgetary constraints impede the regular delivery of public services, especially in developing countries. Energy efficiency and sustainable economic growth in Croatia can be improved with public-partnership models providing public services. However, this concept is often considered as not appropriate due to many misconceptions in public opinion. We analysed a survey of almost 1500 Croatian students with the aim of verifying the importance of formal education in the recognition of realistic aspects of PPP among the population, which represents important social capital. In comparison to other students, students who have been taught about public-private partnership models at university are more likely to recognise certain misconceptions about public-private partnerships and are more likely to think that it is possible to successfully implement such projects in Croatia. Compared with others, students in the field of energy have shown a greater tendency to apply models of public-private partnership in the energy sector, even though these concern the exploitation of natural resources where there is a traditional tendency to protect the autonomy of public governance. Compared to their male colleagues, female students are more prone to misconceptions about PPPs and are less supportive of private management of public infrastructure.
Comparison of Two Energy Management Strategies Considering Power System Durability for PEMFC-LIB Hybrid Logistics Vehicle
Authors: Liang Jianying , Li Yankun , Jia Wenya , Lin Weikang , Ma Tiancai
Published: June 2021

For commercial applications, the durability and economy of the fuel cell hybrid system have become obstacles to be overcome, which are not only affected by the performance of core materials and components, but also closely related to the energy management strategy (EMS). This paper takes the 7.9 t fuel cell logistics vehicle as the research object, and designed the EMS from two levels of qualitative and quantitative analysis, which are the composite fuzzy control strategy optimized by genetic algorithm and Pontryagin’s minimum principle (PMP) optimized by objective function, respectively. The cost function was constructed and used as the optimization objective to prolong the life of the power system as much as possible on the premise of ensuring the fuel economy. The results indicate that the optimized PMP showed a comprehensive optimal performance, the hydrogen consumption was 3.481 kg/100 km, and the cost was 13.042 $/h. The major contribution lies in that this paper presents a method to evaluate the effect of different strategies on vehicle performance including fuel economy and durability of the fuel cell and battery. The comparison between the two totally different strategies helps to find a better and effective solution to reduce the lifetime cost.
Aeration and Stirring in Yarrowia lipolytica Lipase Biosynthesis during Batch Cultures with Waste Fish Oil as a Carbon Source
Authors: Snopek Paulina , Nowak Dorota , Zieniuk Bartłomiej , Fabiszewska Agata
Published: June 2021

Yarrowia lipolytica is one of the most studied non-conventional forms of yeast, exhibiting a high secretory capacity and producing many industrially important and valuable metabolites. The yeast conceals a great biotechnological potential to synthesize organic acids, sweeteners, microbial oil, or fragrances. The vast majority of bioprocesses are carried out in bioreactors, where suitable culture conditions are provided. In the current study, the effect of agitation speed (200–600 rpm) and air flow rate (0.0375–2.0 dm3/(dm3 × min)) on the biomass yield and lipase activity of Y. lipolytica KKP 379 is analyzed in a growth medium containing waste fish oil. The increase of aeration intensity limited the period of oxygen deficit in the medium. Simultaneously, an increase in lipolytic activity was observed from 2.09 U/cm3 to 14.21 U/cm3; however, an excessive agitation speed likely caused oxidative or shear stresses, and a reduction in lipolytic activity was observed. Moreover, it is confirmed that the synthesis of lipases is related to oxygen consumption, pH, and the yeast growth phase, and appropriate process selection may provide two advantages, namely, the maximum use of the waste carbon source and the production of lipolytic enzymes that are valuable in many industries.
Application of Capillary Polypropylene Membranes for Microfiltration of Oily Wastewaters: Experiments and Modeling
Authors: Tomczak Wirginia , Gryta Marek
Published: June 2021

Oily wastewaters are considered as one of the most dangerous types of environmental pollution. In the present study, the microfiltration (MF) process of model emulsions and real oily wastewaters was investigated. For this purpose, capillary polypropylene (PP) membranes were used. The experiments were conducted under transmembrane pressure (TMP) and feed flow rate (VF) equal to 0.05 MPa and 0.5 m/s, respectively. It was found that the used membranes ensured a high-quality permeate with turbidity equal to about 0.4 NTU and oil concentration of 7–15 mg/L. As expected, a significant decrease in the MF process performance was noted. However, it is shown that the initial decline of permeate flux could be slightly increased by increasing the feed temperature from 25 °C to 50 °C. Furthermore, Hermia’s models were used to interpret the fouling phenomenon occurring in studied experiments. It was determined that cake formation was the dominant fouling mechanism during filtration of both synthetic and real feeds. Through detailed studies, we present different efficient methods of membrane cleaning. Results, so far, are very encouraging and may have an important impact on increasing the use of polypropylene MF membranes in oily wastewater treatments.
Five-Wave Resonances in Deep Water Gravity Waves: Integrability, Numerical Simulations and Experiments
Authors: Lucas Dan , Perlin Marc , Liu Dian-Yong , Walsh Shane , Ivanov Rossen , Bustamante Miguel D.
Published: June 2021

In this work we consider the problem of finding the simplest arrangement of resonant deep-water gravity waves in one-dimensional propagation, from three perspectives: Theoretical, numerical and experimental. Theoretically this requires using a normal-form Hamiltonian that focuses on 5-wave resonances. The simplest arrangement is based on a triad of wavevectors K1+K2=K3 (satisfying specific ratios) along with their negatives, corresponding to a scenario of encountering wavepackets, amenable to experiments and numerical simulations. The normal-form equations for these encountering waves in resonance are shown to be non-integrable, but they admit an integrable reduction in a symmetric configuration. Numerical simulations of the governing equations in natural variables using pseudospectral methods require the inclusion of up to 6-wave interactions, which imposes a strong dealiasing cut-off in order to properly resolve the evolving waves. We study the resonance numerically by looking at a target mode in the base triad and showing that the energy transfer to this mode is more efficient when the system is close to satisfying the resonant conditions. We first look at encountering plane waves with base frequencies in the range 1.32–2.35 Hz and steepnesses below 0.1, and show that the time evolution of the target mode’s energy is dramatically changed at the resonance. We then look at a scenario that is closer to experiments: Encountering wavepackets in a 400-m long numerical tank, where the interaction time is reduced with respect to the plane-wave case but the resonance is still observed; by mimicking a probe measurement of surface elevation we obtain efficiencies of up to 10% in frequency space after including near-resonant contributions. Finally, we perform preliminary experiments of encountering wavepackets in a 35-m long tank, which seem to show that the resonance exists physically. The measured efficiencies via probe measurements of surface elevation are relatively small, indicating that a finer search is needed along with longer wave flumes with much larger amplitudes and lower frequency waves. A further analysis of phases generated from probe data via the analytic signal approach (using the Hilbert transform) shows a strong triad phase synchronisation at the resonance, thus providing independent experimental evidence of the resonance.
The Seasonal Variability of the Ocean Energy Cycle from a Quasi-Geostrophic Double Gyre Ensemble
Authors: Uchida Takaya , Deremble Bruno , Penduff Thierry
Published: June 2021

With the advent of submesoscale O(1km) permitting basin-scale ocean simulations, the seasonality of mesoscale O(50km) eddies with kinetic energies peaking in summer has been commonly attributed to submesoscale eddies feeding back onto the mesoscale via an inverse energy cascade under the constraint of stratification and Earth’s rotation. In contrast, by running a 101-member, seasonally forced, three-layer quasi-geostrophic (QG) ensemble configured to represent an idealized double-gyre system of the subtropical and subpolar basin, we find that the mesoscale kinetic energy shows a seasonality consistent with the summer peak without resolving the submesoscales; by definition, a QG model only resolves small Rossby and Froude number dynamics (O(Ro)≪1,O(Fr)≪1) while submesoscale dynamics are associated with O(Ro)∼1,O(Fr)≳1. Here, by quantifying the Lorenz cycle of the mean and eddy energy, defined as the ensemble mean and fluctuations about the mean, respectively, we propose a different mechanism from the inverse energy cascade. During summer, when the Western Boundary Current is stabilized and strengthened due to increased stratification, stronger mesoscale eddies are shed from the separated jet. Conversely, the opposite occurs during the winter; the separated jet destablizes and results in overall lower mean and eddy kinetic energies despite the domain being more susceptible to baroclinic instability from weaker stratification.
Impact of Dry Hopping on Beer Flavor Stability
Authors: Titus Bradley M. , Lerno Larry A. , Beaver Jordan W. , Byrnes Nadia K. , Heymann Hildegarde , Oberholster Anita
Published: June 2021

To investigate the chemical and sensorial impact of dry hopping time on typical pale ale, a standardized beer was produced and separated into ten vessels. Nine vessels were dry hopped, and one vessel remained un-hopped as a control. Impact of dry hopping contact time was investigated over 96 h. Polyphenols and iso-α-acid t/c ratio were analyzed in both Young and Aged beer samples. Total polyphenol content generally increased in both young and aged treatments compared to controls. Analysis of the t/c ratio suggests that both Young and Aged beers were chemically preserved to some degree after approximately 12 h at the given dry hopping rate regardless of age. Within the Aged beer trials, 96 h of dry hop contact yielded a significant increase in t/c ratio compared to all other Aged trials. This suggests that a 4-day dry hop regime may yield additional oxidative protection of iso-α-acids in beers stored unrefrigerated for 30 days. Descriptive analysis was also performed with an 8-person, trained panel; however, beers were sensorially distinguished by their aging time as opposed to their dry hopping time.
Processing Mixed Mesopelagic Biomass from the North-East Atlantic into Aquafeed Resources; Implication for Food Safety
Authors: Berntssen Marc H. G. , Thoresen Lars , Albrektsen Sissel , Grimaldo Eduardo , Grimsmo Leif , Whitaker Ragnhild Dragøy , Sele Veronika , Wiech Martin
Published: June 2021

Aquaculture produces most of the world’s seafood and is a valuable food source for an increasing global population. Low trophic mesopelagic biomasses have the potential to sustainably supplement aquafeed demands for increased seafood production. The present study is a theoretical whole-chain feed and food safety assessment on ingredients from mesopelagic biomass and the resulting farmed fish fed these ingredients, based on analysis of processed mesopelagic biomass. Earlier theoretical estimations have indicated that several undesirable compounds (e.g., dioxins and metals and fluoride) would exceed the legal maximum levels for feed and food safety. Our measurements on processed mesopelagic biomasses show that only fluoride exceeds legal feed safety limits. Due to high levels of fluoride in crustaceans, their catch proportion will dictate the fluoride level in the whole biomass and can be highly variable. Processing factors are established that can be used to estimate the levels of undesirables in mesopelagic aquafeed ingredients from highly variable species biomass catches. Levels of most the studied undesirables (dioxins, PCBs, organochlorine pesticides, brominated flame retardant, metals, metalloids) were generally low compared to aquafeed ingredients based on pelagic fish. Using a feed-to-fillet aquaculture transfer model, the use of mesopelagic processed aquafeed ingredients was estimated to reduce the level of dioxins and PCBs by ~30% in farmed seafood such as Atlantic salmon.
Mediterranean Diet and White Blood Cell Count—A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Hernáez Álvaro , Lassale Camille , Castro-Barquero Sara , Babio Nancy , Ros Emilio , Castañer Olga , Tresserra-Rimbau Anna , Pintó Xavier , Martínez-González Miguel Ángel , Corella Dolores , Salas-Salvadó Jordi , Alonso-Gómez Ángel M. , Lapetra José , Fiol Miquel , Gómez-Gracia Enrique , Serra-Majem Lluis , Sacanella Emilio , García-Arellano Ana , Sorlí José V. , Díaz-López Andrés , Cofán Montserrat , Estruch Ramón
Published: June 2021

We aimed to assess the effects of the antioxidant-rich Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) on white blood cell count. Our study population included participants in the PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea study (average age 67 years old, 58% women, high cardiovascular risk). We assessed whether a MedDiet intervention enriched in extra-virgin olive oil or nuts, versus a low-fat control diet, modified the incidence of leukocytosis (>11 × 109 leukocytes/L), mild leukopenia (<4.5 × 109 leukocytes/L), or severe leukopenia (<3.5 × 109 leukocytes/L) in individuals without the condition at baseline (n = 3190, n = 2925, and n = 3190, respectively). We also examined whether MedDiet modified the association between leukocyte count alterations and all-cause mortality. Both MedDiet interventions were associated with a lower risk of developing leukopenia (incidence rates: 5.06% in control diet, 3.29% in MedDiet groups combined; hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]: 0.54 [0.36–0.80]) and severe leukopenia (incidence rates: 1.26% in control diet, 0.46% in MedDiet groups combined; hazard ratio: 0.25 [0.10–0.60]). High cumulative adherence to a MedDiet was linked to lower risk of leukocytosis (incidence rates: 2.08% in quartile 1, 0.65% in quartile 4; HRQ4-Q1: 0.29 [0.085–0.99]) and attenuated the association between leukopenia and all-cause mortality (P-interaction = 0.032). In brief, MedDiet decreased the incidence of white blood cell count-related alterations in high cardiovascular risk individuals.
Patient Experiences with the Transition to Telephone Counseling during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Kang Augustine W. , Walton Mary , Hoadley Ariel , DelaCuesta Courtney , Hurley Linda , Martin Rosemarie
Published: June 2021

Background: To identify and document the treatment experiences among patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) in the context of the rapid move from in-person to telephone counseling due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Participants (n = 237) completed a survey with open-ended questions that included the following domains: (1) satisfaction with telephone counseling, (2) perceived convenience, (3) changes to the therapeutic relationship, (4) perceived impact on substance use recovery, and (5) general feedback. Responses were coded using thematic analysis. Codes were subsequently organized into themes and subthemes (covering 98% of responses). Interrater reliability for coding of participants’ responses ranged from 0.89 to 0.95. Results: Overall, patients reported that telephone counseling improved the therapeutic experience. Specifically, 74% of respondents were coded as providing responses consistently indicating “positive valency”. “Positive valency” responses include: (1) feeling supported, (2) greater comfort and privacy, (3) increased access to counselors, and (4) resolved transportation barriers. Conversely, “negative valency” responses include: (1) impersonal experience and (2) reduced privacy. Conclusions: Telephone counseling presents its own set of challenges that should be investigated further to improve the quality of care and long-term patient outcomes.
Hemophagocytic Syndrome in a Patient with ALL: Morphology Still Matters
Authors: Duminuco Andrea , Palumbo Giuseppe , Garibaldi Bruno , Foti Rosario , Di Raimondo Francesco , Maugeri Cinzia , Mauro Elisa , Fiumara Paolo , Vetro Calogero
Published: June 2021

We report a case of a young patient suffering from very-high risk B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) refractory to first-line therapy with early central nervous system relapse, sequentially treated with inotuzumab. At this timepoint, the patient showed persistent transfusion-refractory thrombocytopenia (platelets < 5000/uL), fever and cytomegalovirus infection. A bone marrow revaluation showed complete remission of ALL, but hemophagocytic elements and activated macrophages were present. At physical examination, the spleen was palpable. Blood chemistry showed hyperferritinemia (1419 ng/mL, normal range 24–336), NK cells suppression (11 cells/microL, minimum value 90) and IL-6 increase (119.1 pg/dL, normal values < 1.8). Triglycerides and fibrinogen were normal. A diagnosis of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) was made according to HLH-2004 criteria. The patient was treated with the IL-1 inhibitor anakinra at escalating dosage. After an initial improvement in altered HLH parameters, a clinical worsening occurred with progressing thrombocytopenia and anemia and a remarkable increase in ferritin (4066 ng/mL). The patient then underwent rituximab-based salvage treatment but died due to HLH and B-ALL progression. HLH could be a rare complication in ALL patients. Despite increasing biological knowledge, prognosis remains poor, and more efforts are needed in order to improve survival in these patients.
A Proposal for a User-Oriented Spatial Metadata Profile
Authors: Kalantari Mohsen , Syahrudin Syahrudin , Rajabifard Abbas , Hubbard Hannah
Published: June 2021

Spatial metadata profiles have been designed and evolved by data custodians to manage, share, discover, and use spatial data. The end-users of spatial data often do not have much input in designing the profiles. The spatial data infrastructure literature reveals that they question the usability of spatial metadata. This paper analyzes the usability of metadata profiles by engaging end-users and clarifying their requirements in response to this problem. Over 60 users from 18 countries were engaged using an online survey based on a purposive sampling method. The results show that the most widely used metadata standard, ISO 19115, provides metadata elements to accommodate most user requirements for searches. However, an extension to the standard is necessary to assist users in discovery and selection. Two new metadata elements are proposed as part of the extension. The extension also involves changing the obligation type of existing elements to improve data discovery.
Mechanisms of TDP-43 Proteinopathy Onset and Propagation
Authors: Chen Han-Jou , Mitchell Jacqueline C.
Published: June 2021

TDP-43 is an RNA-binding protein that has been robustly linked to the pathogenesis of a number of neurodegenerative disorders, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia. While mutations in the TARDBP gene that codes for the protein have been identified as causing disease in a small subset of patients, TDP-43 proteinopathy is present in the majority of cases regardless of mutation status. This raises key questions regarding the mechanisms by which TDP-43 proteinopathy arises and spreads throughout the central nervous system. Numerous studies have explored the role of a variety of cellular functions on the disease process, and nucleocytoplasmic transport, protein homeostasis, RNA interactions and cellular stress have all risen to the forefront as possible contributors to the initiation of TDP-43 pathogenesis. There is also a small but growing body of evidence suggesting that aggregation-prone TDP-43 can recruit physiological TDP-43, and be transmitted intercellularly, providing a mechanism whereby small-scale proteinopathy spreads from cell to cell, reflecting the spread of clinical symptoms observed in patients. This review will discuss the potential role of the aforementioned cellular functions in TDP-43 pathogenesis, and explore how aberrant pathology may spread, and result in a feed-forward cascade effect, leading to robust TDP-43 proteinopathy and disease.
Hyaluronan Hydrogels for Injection in Superficial Dermal Layers: An In Vitro Characterization to Compare Performance and Unravel the Scientific Basis of Their Indication
Authors: La Gatta Annalisa , Aschettino Maria , Stellavato Antonietta , D’Agostino Antonella , Vassallo Valentina , Bedini Emiliano , Bellia Gilberto , Schiraldi Chiara
Published: June 2021

Background: Skinboosters represent the latest category of hyaluronan (HA) hydrogels released for aesthetic purposes. Different from originally developed gels, they are intended for more superficial injections, claiming a skin rejuvenation effect through hydration and possibly prompting biochemical effects in place of the conventional volumetric action. Here, three commercial skinboosters were characterized to unravel the scientific basis for such indication and to compare their performances. Methods: Gels were evaluated for water-soluble/insoluble-HA composition, rheology, hydration, cohesivity, stability and effect, in vitro, on human dermal fibroblasts towards the production of extracellular matrix components. Results: Marked differences in the insoluble-hydrogel amount and in the hydrodynamic parameters for water-soluble-HA chains were evidenced among the gels. Hydration, rigidity and cohesivity also varied over a wide range. Sensitivity to hyaluronidases and Reactive Oxygen Species was demonstrated allowing a stability ranking. Slight differences were found in gels’ ability to prompt elastin expression and in ColIV/ColI ratio. Conclusions. A wide panel of biophysical and biochemical parameters for skinboosters was provided, supporting clinicians in the conscious tuning of their use. Data revealed great variability in gels’ behavior notwithstanding the same clinical indication and unexpected similarities to the volumetric formulations. Data may be useful to improve customization of gel design toward specific uses.
Structural Features and Toxicity of α-Synuclein Oligomers Grown in the Presence of DOPAC
Authors: Palazzi Luana , Fongaro Benedetta , Leri Manuela , Acquasaliente Laura , Stefani Massimo , Bucciantini Monica , Polverino de Laureto Patrizia
Published: June 2021

The interplay between α-synuclein and dopamine derivatives is associated with oxidative stress-dependent neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s disease (PD). The formation in the dopaminergic neurons of intraneuronal inclusions containing aggregates of α-synuclein is a typical hallmark of PD. Even though the biochemical events underlying the aberrant aggregation of α-synuclein are not completely understood, strong evidence correlates this process with the levels of dopamine metabolites. In vitro, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde (DOPAL) and the other two metabolites, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethanol (DOPET), share the property to inhibit the growth of mature amyloid fibrils of α-synuclein. Although this effect occurs with the formation of differently toxic products, the molecular basis of this inhibition is still unclear. Here, we provide information on the effect of DOPAC on the aggregation properties of α-synuclein and its ability to interact with membranes. DOPAC inhibits α-synuclein aggregation, stabilizing monomer and inducing the formation of dimers and trimers. DOPAC-induced oligomers did not undergo conformational transition in the presence of membranes, and penetrated the cell, where they triggered autophagic processes. Cellular assays showed that DOPAC reduced cytotoxicity and ROS production induced by α-synuclein aggregates. Our findings show that the early radicals resulting from DOPAC autoxidation produced covalent modifications of the protein, which were not by themselves a primary cause of either fibrillation or membrane binding inhibition. These findings are discussed in the light of the potential mechanism of DOPAC protection against the toxicity of α-synuclein aggregates to better understand protein and catecholamine biology and to eventually suggest a scaffold that can help in the design of candidate molecules able to interfere in α-synuclein aggregation.