bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interleukin-34 Enhances the Tumor Promoting Function of Colorectal Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts
Authors: Franzè Eleonora , Di Grazia Antonio , Sica Giuseppe Sigismondo , Biancone Livia , Laudisi Federica , Monteleone Giovanni
Published: November 2020

The stromal compartment of colorectal cancer (CRC) is marked by the presence of large numbers of fibroblasts, termed cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which promote CRC growth and progression through the synthesis of various molecules targeting the neoplastic cells. Interleukin (IL)-34, a cytokine over-produced by CRC cells, stimulates CRC cell growth. Since IL-34 also regulates the function of inflammatory fibroblasts, we hypothesized that it could regulate the tumor promoting function of colorectal CAFs. By immunostaining and real-time PCR, we initially showed that IL-34 was highly produced by CAFs and to lesser extent by normal fibroblasts isolated from non-tumoral colonic mucosa of CRC patients. CAFs and normal fibroblasts expressed the functional receptors of IL-34. IL-34 induced normal fibroblasts to express α-SMA, vimentin and fibroblast activation protein and enhanced fibroblast growth, thus generating a cellular phenotype resembling that of CAFs. Consistently, knockdown of IL-34 in CAFs with an antisense oligonucleotide (AS) decreased expression of such markers and inhibited cell proliferation. Co-culture of CRC cells with IL-34 AS-treated CAFs supernatants resulted in less cancer cell proliferation and migration. Among CAF-derived molecules known to promote CRC cell growth/migration, only netrin-1 and basic-fibroblast growth factor were induced by IL-34. Data suggest a role for IL-34 in the control of colorectal CAF function.
Disulfiram as a Therapeutic Agent for Metastatic Malignant Melanoma—Old Myth or New Logos?
Authors: Meraz-Torres Francisco , Plöger Sarah , Garbe Claus , Niessner Heike , Sinnberg Tobias
Published: November 2020

New therapeutic concepts such as anti-PD-1-based immunotherapy or targeted therapy with BRAF and MEK inhibitors have significantly improved the survival of melanoma patients. However, about 20% of patients with targeted therapy and up to 50% with immunotherapies do not respond to their first-line treatment or rapidly develop resistance. In addition, there is no approved targeted therapy for certain subgroups, namely BRAF wild-type melanomas, although they often bear aggressive tumor biology. A repurposing of already approved drugs is a promising strategy to fill this gap, as it will result in comparatively low costs, lower risks and time savings. Disulfiram (DSF), the first drug to treat alcoholism, which received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration more than 60 years ago, is such a drug candidate. There is growing evidence that DSF has great potential for the treatment of various human cancers, including melanoma. Several mechanisms of its antitumor activity have been identified, amongst them the inhibition of the ubiquitin-proteasome system, the induction of reactive oxygen species and various death signaling pathways. This article provides an overview of the application of DSF in humans, its molecular mechanisms and targets in cancer therapy with a focus on melanoma. The results of clinical studies and experimental combination approaches of DSF with various cancer therapies are discussed, with the aim of exploring the potential of DSF in melanoma therapy.
Development of Sensitive Droplet Digital PCR Assays for Detecting Urinary TERT Promoter Mutations as Non-Invasive Biomarkers for Detection of Urothelial Cancer
Authors: Hosen Md Ismail , Forey Nathalie , Durand Geoffroy , Voegele Catherine , Bilici Selin , Avogbe Patrice Hodonou , Delhomme Tiffany Myriam , Foll Matthieu , Manel Arnaud , Vian Emmanuel , Meziani Sonia , De Tilly Berengere , Polo Gilles , Lole Olesia , Francois Pauline , Boureille Antoine , Pisarev Eduard , Salas Andrei R. O. S. E. , Monteiro-Reis Sara , Henrique Rui , Byrnes Graham , Jeronimo Carmen , Scelo Ghislaine , McKay James D. , Calvez-Kelm Florence Le , Zvereva Maria
Published: November 2020

Somatic mutations in the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter regions are frequent events in urothelial cancer (UC) and their detection in urine (supernatant cell-free DNA or DNA from exfoliated cells) could serve as putative non-invasive biomarkers for UC detection and monitoring. However, detecting these tumor-borne mutations in urine requires highly sensitive methods, capable of measuring low-level mutations. In this study, we developed sensitive droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) assays for detecting TERT promoter mutations (C228T, C228A, CC242-243TT, and C250T). We tested the C228T and C250T ddPCR assays on all samples with sufficient quantity of urinary DNA (urine supernatant cell-free DNA (US cfDNA) or urine pellet cellular DNA (UP cellDNA)) from the DIAGURO (n = 89/93 cases and n = 92/94 controls) and from the IPO-PORTO (n = 49/50 cases and n = 50/50 controls) series that were previously screened with the UroMuTERT assay and compared the performance of the two approaches. In the DIAGURO series, the sensitivity and specificity of the ddPCR assays for detecting UC using either US cfDNA or UP cellDNA were 86.8% and 92.4%. The sensitivity was slightly higher than that of the UroMuTERT assay in the IPO-PORTO series (67.4% vs. 65.3%, respectively), but not in the DIAGURO series (86.8% vs. 90.7%). The specificity was 100% in the IPO-PORTO controls for both the UroMuTERT and ddPCR assays, whereas in the DIAGURO series, the specificity dropped for ddPCR (92.4% versus 95.6%). Overall, an almost perfect agreement between the two methods was observed for both US cfDNA (n = 164; kappa coefficient of 0.91) and UP cellDNA (n = 280; kappa coefficient of 0.94). In a large independent series of serial urine samples from DIAGURO follow-up BC cases (n = 394), the agreement between ddPCR and UroMuTERT was (i) strong (kappa coefficient of 0.87), regardless of urine DNA types (kappa coefficient 0.89 for US cfDNA and 0.85 for UP cellDNA), (ii) the highest for samples with mutant allelic fractions (MAFs) > 2% (kappa coefficient of 0.99) and (iii) only minimal for the samples with the lowest MAFs (< 0.5%; kappa coefficient 0.32). Altogether, our results indicate that the two methods (ddPCR and UroMuTERT) for detecting urinary TERT promoter mutations are comparable and that the discrepancies relate to the detection of low-allelic fraction mutations. The simplicity of the ddPCR assays makes them suitable for implementation in clinical settings.
Implications of ABCC4–Mediated cAMP Efflux for CRC Migration
Authors: Kryczka Jakub , Sochacka Ewelina , Papiewska-Pająk Izabela , Boncela Joanna
Published: November 2020

Colorectal cancer (CRC) presents significant molecular heterogeneity. The cellular plasticity of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is one of the key factors responsible for the heterogeneous nature of metastatic CRC. EMT is an important regulator of ATP binding cassette (ABC) protein expression; these proteins are the active transporters of a broad range of endogenous compounds and anticancer drugs. In our previous studies, we performed a transcriptomic and functional analysis of CRC in the early stages of metastasis induced by the overexpression of Snail, the transcription factor involved in EMT initiation. Interestingly, we found a correlation between the Snail expression and ABCC4 (MRP4) protein upregulation. The relationship between epithelial transition and ABCC4 expression and function in CRC has not been previously defined. In the current study, we propose that the ABCC4 expression changes during EMT and may be differentially regulated in various subpopulations of CRC. We confirmed that ABCC4 upregulation is correlated with the phenotype conversion process in CRC. The analysis of Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) sets showed that the ABCC4 expression was elevated in CRC patients. The results of a functional study demonstrated that, in CRC, ABCC4 can regulate cell migration in a cyclic nucleotide-dependent manner.
Muscle Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Reverse Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Mouse Myotubes
Authors: Shuler Kyle T. , Wilson Brittany E. , Muñoz Eric R. , Mitchell Andrew D. , Selsby Joshua T. , Hudson Matthew B.
Published: November 2020

Muscle stem cells (MuSCs) hold great potential as a regenerative therapeutic but have met numerous challenges in treating systemic muscle diseases. Muscle stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (MuSC-EVs) may overcome these limitations. We assessed the number and size distribution of extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by MuSCs ex vivo, determined the extent to which MuSC-EVs deliver molecular cargo to myotubes in vitro, and quantified MuSC-EV-mediated restoration of mitochondrial function following oxidative injury. MuSCs released an abundance of EVs in culture. MuSC-EVs delivered protein cargo into myotubes within 2 h of incubation. Fluorescent labeling of intracellular mitochondria showed co-localization of delivered protein and mitochondria. Oxidatively injured myotubes demonstrated a significant decline in maximal oxygen consumption rate and spare respiratory capacity relative to untreated myotubes. Remarkably, subsequent treatment with MuSC-EVs significantly improved maximal oxygen consumption rate and spare respiratory capacity relative to the myotubes that were damaged but received no subsequent treatment. Surprisingly, MuSC-EVs did not affect mitochondrial function in undamaged myotubes, suggesting the cargo delivered is able to repair but does not expand the existing mitochondrial network. These data demonstrate that MuSC-EVs rapidly deliver proteins into myotubes, a portion of which co-localizes with mitochondria, and reverses mitochondria dysfunction in oxidatively-damaged myotubes.
Hepatitis B Core Protein Is Post-Translationally Modified through K29-Linked Ubiquitination
Authors: Langerová Hana , Lubyová Barbora , Zábranský Aleš , Hubálek Martin , Glendová Kristýna , Aillot Ludovic , Hodek Jan , Strunin Dmytro , Janovec Václav , Hirsch Ivan , Weber Jan
Published: November 2020

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) core protein (HBc) plays many roles in the HBV life cycle, such as regulation of transcription, RNA encapsidation, reverse transcription, and viral release. To accomplish these functions, HBc interacts with many host proteins and undergoes different post-translational modifications (PTMs). One of the most common PTMs is ubiquitination, which was shown to change the function, stability, and intracellular localization of different viral proteins, but the role of HBc ubiquitination in the HBV life cycle remains unknown. Here, we found that HBc protein is post-translationally modified through K29-linked ubiquitination. We performed a series of co-immunoprecipitation experiments with wild-type HBc, lysine to arginine HBc mutants and wild-type ubiquitin, single lysine to arginine ubiquitin mutants, or single ubiquitin-accepting lysine constructs. We observed that HBc protein could be modified by ubiquitination in transfected as well as infected hepatoma cells. In addition, ubiquitination predominantly occurred on HBc lysine 7 and the preferred ubiquitin chain linkage was through ubiquitin-K29. Mass spectrometry (MS) analyses detected ubiquitin protein ligase E3 component N-recognin 5 (UBR5) as a potential E3 ubiquitin ligase involved in K29-linked ubiquitination. These findings emphasize that ubiquitination of HBc may play an important role in HBV life cycle.
How Degeneration of Cells Surrounding Motoneurons Contributes to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Authors: Crabé Roxane , Aimond Franck , Gosset Philippe , Scamps Frédérique , Raoul Cédric
Published: November 2020

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurological disorder characterized by the progressive degeneration of upper and lower motoneurons. Despite motoneuron death being recognized as the cardinal event of the disease, the loss of glial cells and interneurons in the brain and spinal cord accompanies and even precedes motoneuron elimination. In this review, we provide striking evidence that the degeneration of astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, in addition to inhibitory and modulatory interneurons, disrupt the functionally coherent environment of motoneurons. We discuss the extent to which the degeneration of glial cells and interneurons also contributes to the decline of the motor system. This pathogenic cellular network therefore represents a novel strategic field of therapeutic investigation.
Correlation between Malocclusion and Allergic Rhinitis in Pediatric Patients: A Systematic Review
Authors: Farronato Marco , Lanteri Valentina , Fama Andrea , Maspero Cinzia
Published: November 2020

Background: Oral breathing, nasal obstruction and airway space reduction are usually reported as associated to allergic rhinitis. They have been linked to altered facial patterns and dento-skeletal changes. However, no firm correlation based on the evidence has been established. This systematic review has been undertaken to evaluate the available evidence between malocclusion and allergic rhinitis in pediatric patients. Methods: The research refers to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols (PRISMA-P) guidelines, databases (Medline, Cochrane Library, Pubmed, Embase and Google Scholar) were screened, the quality was evaluated through Quality Assessment of Diagnosfic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2). Results: The articles selected (6 out of initial 1782) were divided on the basis of the study design: two observational randomized study, three case–control study, one descriptive cross-sectional study, and one longitudinal study. A total of 2188 patients were considered. Different results were reported as related to allergic rhinitis ranging from a higher incidence of dental malocclusion, to an increase of palatal depth, and in posterior cross-bite about anterior open-bite and to longer faces and shorter maxillas. Conclusions: Most of the studies selected found a rise in the prevalence of both malocclusion and allergic rhinitis in children. However, the level of bias is high, impaired by a poor design and no conclusive evidence can be drawn.
Seismic Design of Offshore Structures under Simplified Pulse-Like Earthquakes
Authors: Konstandakopoulou Foteini , Papagiannopoulos George , Pnevmatikos Nikos , Evangelinos Konstantinos , Nikolaou Ioannis , Hatzigeorgiou George
Published: November 2020

Oil and gas offshore structures are essential infrastructures which are subjected to several categories of environmental loads such as wave and wind actions. These loads commonly designate the structural design of offshore platforms. Additionally, several offshore platforms are founded in earthquake-prone areas and the design of them is intensely affected by seismic ground motions. To be sure, various investigations have studied the earthquake response of offshore structures under the action of far-field seismic events. However, the inelastic behavior of platforms under the action of simple pulses has not been examined yet, where the latter loads can successfully simulate near-fault earthquakes. This work investigates, for the first time to our knowledge, the dynamic inelastic response of offshore platforms subjected to triangular, exponential, sinusoidal, and rectangular pulses. Thus, three-dimensional offshore structures are examined also considering the dynamic soil-pile-platform interaction effects, satisfying all the pertinent provisions of European Codes and taking into account geometric and material nonlinearities as well as the effects of the different angles of incidence of seismic waves on the overall/global response of offshore platforms.
Anticorrosion Properties of the Low-Temperature Glow Plasma Nitriding Layer on AISI 904L Austenitic Stainless Steel in Hydrofluoric Acid Obtained at Various NH3 Pressures
Authors: Shi Wei , Wang Jiaxu , Jiang Ruyi , Xiang Song
Published: November 2020

A low-temperature (400 °C) glow plasma nitriding layer on AISI 904L austenitic stainless steel was obtained at various NH3 pressures and studied using electrochemical method, X-ray diffraction, and scanning Kelvin probe. The pressure of NH3 dominated the microstructure of the nitriding layer. The saturation degree of γN controlled corrosion performance and microhardness. Insufficient NH3 pressure (<100 Pa) resulted in discontinuous nitride caking coverage, whereas excessive NH3 pressure (>100 Pa) facilitated the transformation of the nitriding layer to harmful nitrides (CrN) due to a localized overheating effect caused by the over-sputtering current.
An UML Based Performance Evaluation of Real-Time Systems Using Timed Petri Net
Authors: Shailesh Tanuja , Nayak Ashalatha , Prasad Devi
Published: November 2020

Performance is a critical non-functional parameter for real-time systems and performance analysis is an important task making it more challenging for complex real-time systems. Mostly performance analysis is performed after the system development but an early stage analysis and validation of performance using system models can improve the system quality. In this paper, we present an early stage automated performance evaluation methodology to analyse system performance using the UML sequence diagram model annotated with modeling and analysis of real-time and embedded systems (MARTE) profile. MARTE offers a performance domain sub-profile that is used for representing real-time system properties essential for performance evaluation. In this paper, a transformation technique and transformation rules are proposed to map the UML sequence diagram model into a Generalized Stochastic Timed Petri net model. All the transformation rules are implemented using a metamodel based approach and Atlas Transformation Language (ATL). A case study from the manufacturing domain a Kanban system is used for validating the proposed technique.
Lifetime Analysis of Commercial 3 W UV-A LED
Authors: Arques-Orobon F. Jose , Vazquez Manuel , Nuñez Neftali
Published: November 2020

The lifetime of ultraviolet high-power light-emitting diodes (UV HP-LEDs) is an open issue due to their high current density, high temperature, and UV radiation. This work presents a reliability study and failure analysis of three high-temperature accelerated life tests (ALTs) for 13,500 h with 3 W commercial UV LEDs of 365 nm at a nominal current in two working conditions: continuous mode and cycled mode (30 s on/30 s off). Arrhenius–Weibull parameters were evaluated, and an equation to evaluate the lifetime (B50) at any junction temperature and other relevant lifetime functions is presented. The Arrhenius activation energy was 0.13 eV for the continuous mode and 0.20 eV for the cycled mode. The lifetime at 50% survival and 30% loss of optical power as a failure definition, working at Ta = 40 °C with a multi-fin heat sink in natural convection, was over 4480 h for the continuous mode and 19,814 h for the cycled mode. The need to add forced convection for HP-LED arrays to achieve these high-reliability values is evidenced. The main source of degradation is the semiconductor device, and the second is the encapsulation silicone break.
Screw-Dislocation-Driven Hierarchical Superstructures of Ag-Ag2O-AgO Nanoparticles
Authors: Yang Hua , Zhang Jing Ru , Cao Wentao , Zhen Jin , Wu Ji Hong
Published: November 2020

Constructing multi-dimensional hierarchical superstructures has been, for a longtime, regarded as a promising strategy for modifying the physiochemical properties of nanomaterials. Guided by this rule, this work reports the synthesis of hierarchical superstructures of Ag-Ag2O-AgO nanoparticles (HSANs) using a convenient and surfactant-less photochemical method under 254 nm UV-irradiation. The formation of the HSANs superstructures is dominated by screw-dislocation-driven growth mechanism at low supersaturation condition. The structural evolution of the HSANs superstructures has been systematically investigated. The average size of the HSANs superstructures increased with prolonged 254 nm UV-irradiation. The step density on the superstructure surfaces also increased along with the 254 nm UV-irradiation time.
Distance Learning in the COVID-19 Era: Perceptions in Southern Italy
Authors: Ferraro Francesco Vincenzo , Ambra Ferdinando Ivano , Aruta Luigi , Iavarone Maria Luisa
Published: November 2020

The first case of pneumonia was reported on 8 December 2019 and identified on 7 January 2020 as COVID-19. On 9 March 2020, to stop the spread of COVID-19 cases, the Italian government declared a health emergency, forcing all citizens to go into lockdown. Suddenly, schools were constrained to using distance learning strategies with little or limited experience on the topic. Particularly, in the southern regions of Italy, approximately 20% of the students did not have access to any devices and were excluded from learning, producing a direct risk of increased adolescent delinquency. This research team intended to report the results of an observational study that focused on the perceptions of distance learning in adolescents from secondary school in Naples (Italy) between April and May 2020. The questionnaire comprised 11 questions focused on the perceptions of distance learning in comparison to live classrooms, relationships with peers and teachers, and levels of anxiety. The study is amongst the first to report the effect of the pandemic from a student-centred perspective and hopes to produce information to develop future research on asynchronous learning.
V2I Propagation Loss Predictions in Simplified Urban Environment: A Two-Way Parabolic Equation Approach
Authors: Lytaev Mikhail , Borisov Eugene , Vladyko Andrei
Published: November 2020

This study is devoted to radio wave propagation modeling in the urban environment. Special attention has been paid to the features of vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications. For the first time, the three-dimensional bidirectional parabolic equation (PE) method has been applied to the specified problem. Buildings and other obstacles are modeled by impenetrable (perfectly electric conducting) cuboids. A harmonic radiation source with an arbitrary direction pattern may be modeled. Numerical simulation is performed for various propagation scenarios. A comparison with the ray-tracing (RT) method is given. The results of the numerical simulation prove the effectiveness and reliability of the proposed method. Some recommendations for deploying VANETs are obtained based on the numerical results.
Investigating the Effect of Several Model Configurations on the Transient Response of Gas-Insulated Substation during Fault Events Using an Electromagnetic Field Theory Approach
Authors: Alexandru Muresan , Czumbil Levente , Andolfato Roberto , Nouri Hassan , Micu Dan Doru
Published: November 2020

Assessment of very fast transient overvoltage (VFTO) requires good knowledge of the behavior of gas-insulated substation when subjected to very high frequencies. The international standards and guidelines generically present only recommendations regarding the VFTO suppression without a technical and mathematical background. Therefore, to provide an accurate image regarding the critical locations across a gas-insulated substation (GIS) from a transient response point of view, a suitable modeling technique has to be identified and developed for the substation. The paper aimed to provide an accurate assessment of the GIS holistic transient response through an electromagnetic field theory (EMF) approach. This modeling technique has always been a difficult task when it came to gas-insulated substations. However, recent studies have shown that through suitable Computer-aided design models, representing the GIS metallic ensemble, accurate results can be obtained. The paper investigated several simplifications of the computational domain considering different gas-insulated substation configurations in order to identify a suitable modeling approach without any unnecessary computational effort. The analysis was performed by adopting the partial equivalent element circuit (PEEC) approach embedded into XGSLab software package. Obtained results could provide useful hints for grounding grid designers regarding the proper development and implementation of transient ground potential rise (TGPR) mitigation techniques across a gas-insulated substation.
Voltage Regulation Using Recurrent Wavelet Fuzzy Neural Network-Based Dynamic Voltage Restorer
Authors: Chen Cheng-I , Chen Yeong-Chin , Chen Chung-Hsien , Chang Yung-Ruei
Published: November 2020

Dynamic voltage restorers (DVRs) are one of the effective solutions to regulate the voltage of power systems and protect sensitive loads against voltage disturbances, such as voltage sags, voltage fluctuations, et cetera. The performance of voltage compensation with DVRs relies on the robustness to the power quality disturbances and rapid detection of voltage disturbances. In this paper, the recurrent wavelet fuzzy neural network (RWFNN)-based controller for the DVR is developed. With positive-sequence voltage analysis, the reference signal for the DVR compensation can be accurately obtained. In order to enhance the response time for the DVR controller, the RWFNN is introduced due to the merits of rapid convergence and superior dynamic modeling behavior. From the experimental results with the OPAL-RT real-time simulator (OP4510, OPAL-RT Technologies Inc., Montreal, Quebec, Canada), the effectiveness of proposed controller can be verified.
Research on Starting Control Method of New-Energy Vehicle Based on State Machine
Authors: Wu Yezhen , Xu Yuliang , Zhou Jianwei , Wang Zhen , Wang Haopeng
Published: November 2020

In order to improve the starting smoothness of new-energy vehicles under multiple working conditions and meet the driving intention better, and to make the control strategy have high portability and integration, a starting control method for vehicle based on state machine is designed. Based on inclination, starting of vehicle is divided into three working conditions: flat road, slight slope and steep slope. The method of vehicle starting control is designed, which includes five control states: default state control, torque pre-loading control, anti-rollback control, pedal control and PI (Proportion-Intergral) creep control. The simulation is carried out under the conditions of flat road, slight slope and steep slope. In terms of flat road and light slope, the vehicle travels below 3 km/h according to the driver’s intention, the speed is stable at 8 km/h during the creeping control phase and the jerk is lower than 5 m/s3. In terms of steep slope, the speed is controlled at 0 km/h basically and the 10 s-rollback distance is less than 0.04 m. The results show that the strategy can fully meet the driver’s intention with lower jerk, better dynamic and stability, and the method can achieve the demand of new-energy vehicle starting control.
Deep Reinforcement Learning Based Optimal Route and Charging Station Selection
Authors: Lee Ki-Beom , A. Ahmed Mohamed , Kang Dong-Ki , Kim Young-Chon
Published: November 2020

This paper proposes an optimal route and charging station selection (RCS) algorithm based on model-free deep reinforcement learning (DRL) to overcome the uncertainty issues of the traffic conditions and dynamic arrival charging requests. The proposed DRL based RCS algorithm aims to minimize the total travel time of electric vehicles (EV) charging requests from origin to destination using the selection of the optimal route and charging station considering dynamically changing traffic conditions and unknown future requests. In this paper, we formulate this RCS problem as a Markov decision process model with unknown transition probability. A Deep Q network has been adopted with function approximation to find the optimal electric vehicle charging station (EVCS) selection policy. To obtain the feature states for each EVCS, we define the traffic preprocess module, charging preprocess module and feature extract module. The proposed DRL based RCS algorithm is compared with conventional strategies such as minimum distance, minimum travel time, and minimum waiting time. The performance is evaluated in terms of travel time, waiting time, charging time, driving time, and distance under the various distributions and number of EV charging requests.
Theoretical Design and Analysis of the Waste Heat Recovery System of Turbine Exhaust Steam Using an Absorption Heat Pump for Heating Supply
Authors: Wang Jinshi , Liu Weiqi , Liu Guangyao , Sun Weijia , Li Gen , Qiu Binbin
Published: November 2020

In northern China, many thermal power plants use absorption heat pump to recover low-grade heat from turbine exhaust steam due to the irreplaceable advantages of the absorption heat pump in waste heat recovery. In the process of designing a waste heat recovery system, few researchers have considered the relationship between the design power of the heat pump and the actual heating load of the heating network. Based on the heating load characteristics, this paper puts forward a design idea which uses an absorption heat pump to recover waste heat from a steam turbine exhaust for heating supply. The operation mode of the system for different design powers of the heat pump was stated. An economic analysis model of the waste heat recovery system was proposed, and the optimal design power of the heat pump could be obtained. For a specific unit, the corresponding waste heat recovery system was designed, and various factors affecting the economy of the system were discussed and analyzed in detail.
Fuzzy Complex Proportional Assessment Applied in Location Selection for Installation of Photovoltaic Plants
Authors: Furtado Paulo Antônio Xavier , Sola Antônio Vanderley Herrero
Published: November 2020

This article proposes the application of a multi-criteria decision-making method based on fuzzy complex proportional assessment (COPRAS-F), applying business sustainability criteria, to rank alternative sites for the installation of photovoltaic plants, as selected from a geographic suitability index map of vast and heterogeneous regions in Southern Brazil, obtained from a geographic information system. As a key feature, the methodology serves the interests of stakeholders during decision-making meetings in a personalized manner, eliminating the need for consensus to overcome conflicts and antagonistic positions, allowing them to maintain a strictly professional view and to communicate in business language. The results indicate that the best location from a geographical viewpoint may not be the best location from a business viewpoint.
Coupling Hydrothermal Carbonization with Anaerobic Digestion for Sewage Sludge Treatment: Influence of HTC Liquor and Hydrochar on Biomethane Production
Authors: Ferrentino Roberta , Merzari Fabio , Fiori Luca , Andreottola Gianni
Published: November 2020

The present study addresses the coupling of hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) with anaerobic digestion (AD) in wastewater treatment plants. The improvement in biomethane production due to the recycling back to the anaerobic digester of HTC liquor and hydrochar generated from digested sludge is investigated and proved. Mixtures of different compositions of HTC liquor and hydrochar, as well as individual substrates, were tested. The biomethane yield reached 102 ± 3 mL CH4 g−1 COD when the HTC liquor was cycled back to the AD and treated together with primary and secondary sludge. Thus, the biomethane production was almost doubled compared to that of the AD of primary and secondary sludge (55 ± 20 mL CH4 g−1 COD). The benefit is even more significant when both the HTC liquor and the hydrochar were fed to the AD of primary and secondary sludge. The biomethane yield increased up to 187 ± 18 mL CH4 g−1 COD when 45% of hydrochar, with respect to the total feedstock, was added. These results highlight the improvement that the HTC process can bring to AD, enhancing biomethane production and promoting a sustainable solution for the treatment of the HTC liquor and possibly the hydrochar itself.
About Rule-Based Systems: Single Database Queries for Decision Making
Authors: Artiemjew Piotr , Rudikova Lada , Myslivets Oleg
Published: November 2020

One of the developmental directions of Future Internet technologies is the implementation of artificial intelligence systems for manipulating data and the surrounding world in a more complex way. Rule-based systems, very accessible for people’s decision-making, play an important role in the family of computational intelligence methods. The use of decision-making rules along with decision trees are one of the simplest forms of presenting complex decision-making processes. Decision support systems, according to the cross-industry standard process for data mining (CRISP-DM) framework, require final embedding of the learned model in a given computer infrastructure, integrated circuits, etc. In this work, we deal with the topic concerning placing the learned rule-based model of decision support in the database environment-exactly in the SQL database tables. Our main goal is to place the previously trained model in the database and apply it by means of single queries. In our work we assume that the decision-making rules applied are mutually consistent and additionally the Minimal Description Length (MDL) rule is introduced. We propose a universal solution for any IF THEN rule induction algorithm.
The Influence of Two-Component Mixtures from Spanish Origanum Oil with Spanish Marjoram Oil or Coriander Oil on Antilisterial Activity and Sensory Quality of a Fresh Cut Vegetable Mixture
Authors: Kraśniewska Karolina , Kosakowska Olga , Pobiega Katarzyna , Gniewosz Małgorzata
Published: November 2020

The aim of this study was to evaluate two-component mixtures of essential oils (EOs) in sub-inhibitory concentrations for antilisterial protection of minimally processed vegetables. Spanish origanum oil (SOO), Spanish marjoram oil (SMO) and coriander oil (CO) and a mixture of fresh leafy vegetables with red beet were used. The chemical compositions of selected EOs were analyzed by gas chromatography. Carvacrol was the major component of SOO. The dominant active component of SMO was 1,8-cineole, while the major constituent in CO was linalool. The study shows that essential oils in combination, namely SOO + SMO and SOO + CO in a ¼ MIC + ¼ MIC (Minimal Inhibitory Concentration), have a synergistic effect against L. monocytogenes. The reduction of L. monocytogenes in vegetable mixtures treated by EOs in these selected combinations after 24 h of storage was approximately equal to the limit of detection. Furthermore, it was found that the vegetable mixture treated with SOO + SMO had the highest-rated sensorial quality and could therefore meet consumer expectations.
Protein Signatures to Trace Seafood Contamination and Processing
Authors: Martinez Iciar , Sánchez-Alonso Isabel , Piñeiro Carmen , Careche Mercedes , Carrera Mónica
Published: November 2020

This review presents some applications of proteomics and selected spectroscopic methods to validate certain aspects of seafood traceability. After a general introduction to traceability and the initial applications of proteomics to authenticate traceability information, it addresses the application of proteomics to trace seafood exposure to some increasingly abundant emergent health hazards with the potential to indicate the geographic/environmental origin, such as microplastics, triclosan and human medicinal and recreational drugs. Thereafter, it shows the application of vibrational spectroscopy (Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Fourier-Transform Raman Spectroscopy (FT Raman)) and Low Field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (LF-NMR) relaxometry to discriminate frozen fish from thawed fish and to estimate the time and temperature history of frozen fillets by monitoring protein modifications induced by processing and storage. The review concludes indicating near future trends in the application of these techniques to ensure seafood safety and traceability.
‘There and Back Again’—Forward Genetics and Reverse Phenotyping in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Authors: Swietlik Emilia M. , Prapa Matina , Martin Jennifer M. , Pandya Divya , Auckland Kathryn , Morrell Nicholas W. , Gräf Stefan
Published: November 2020

Although the invention of right heart catheterisation in the 1950s enabled accurate clinical diagnosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), it was not until 2000 when the landmark discovery of the causative role of bone morphogenetic protein receptor type II (BMPR2) mutations shed new light on the pathogenesis of PAH. Since then several genes have been discovered, which now account for around 25% of cases with the clinical diagnosis of idiopathic PAH. Despite the ongoing efforts, in the majority of patients the cause of the disease remains elusive, a phenomenon often referred to as “missing heritability”. In this review, we discuss research approaches to uncover the genetic architecture of PAH starting with forward phenotyping, which in a research setting should focus on stable intermediate phenotypes, forward and reverse genetics, and finally reverse phenotyping. We then discuss potential sources of “missing heritability” and how functional genomics and multi-omics methods are employed to tackle this problem.
Population Dynamics in Italian Canids between the Late Pleistocene and Bronze Age
Authors: Koupadi Kyriaki , Fontani Francesco , Ciucani Marta Maria , Maini Elena , De Fanti Sara , Cattani Maurizio , Curci Antonio , Nenzioni Gabriele , Reggiani Paolo , Andrews Adam J. , Sarno Stefania , Bini Carla , Pelotti Susi , Caniglia Romolo , Luiselli Donata , Cilli Elisabetta
Published: November 2020

Dog domestication is still largely unresolved due to time-gaps in the sampling of regions. Ancient Italian canids are particularly understudied, currently represented by only a few specimens. In the present study, we sampled 27 canid remains from Northern Italy dated between the Late Pleistocene and Bronze Age to assess their genetic variability, and thus add context to dog domestication dynamics. They were targeted at four DNA fragments of the hypervariable region 1 of mitochondrial DNA. A total of 11 samples had good DNA preservation and were used for phylogenetic analyses. The dog samples were assigned to dog haplogroups A, C and D, and a Late Pleistocene wolf was set into wolf haplogroup 2. We present our data in the landscape of ancient and modern dog genetic variability, with a particular focus on the ancient Italian samples published thus far. Our results suggest there is high genetic variability within ancient Italian canids, where close relationships were evident between both a ~24,700 years old Italian canid, and Iberian and Bulgarian ancient dogs. These findings emphasize that disentangling dog domestication dynamics benefits from the analysis of specimens from Southern European regions.
Systematic Review of Sequencing Studies and Gene Expression Profiling in Familial Meniere Disease
Authors: Escalera-Balsera Alba , Roman-Naranjo Pablo , Lopez-Escamez Jose Antonio
Published: November 2020

Familial Meniere Disease (FMD) is a rare inner ear disorder characterized by episodic vertigo associated with sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus and/or aural fullness. We conducted a systematic review to find sequencing studies segregating rare variants in FMD to obtain evidence to support candidate genes for MD. After evaluating the quality of the retrieved records, eight studies were selected to carry out a quantitative synthesis. These articles described 20 single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in 11 genes (FAM136A, DTNA, PRKCB, COCH, DPT, SEMA3D, STRC, HMX2, TMEM55B, OTOG and LSAMP), most of them in singular families—the exception being the OTOG gene. Furthermore, we analyzed the pathogenicity of each SNV and compared its allelic frequency with reference datasets to evaluate its role in the pathogenesis of FMD. By retrieving gene expression data in these genes from different databases, we could classify them according to their gene expression in neural or inner ear tissues. Finally, we evaluated the pattern of inheritance to conclude which genes show an autosomal dominant (AD) or autosomal recessive (AR) inheritance in FMD.
Using Laser-Doppler Flowmetry to Evaluate the Therapeutic Response in Dentin Hypersensitivity
Authors: Miron Mariana , Lungeanu Diana , Ciora Edmond , Ogodescu Emilia , Todea Carmen
Published: November 2020

Dentin hypersensitivity (DH) is a common medical condition with underreported prevalence and it is difficult to quantify. This study aimed to investigate whether assessing dental pulp vascular micro-dynamics by laser-Doppler flowmetry (LDF) would be functional for therapeutic evaluation, in contrast to a verbal rating scale (VRS). A split-mouth single-blind randomized study was conducted on seven patients and a total of 36 teeth. Two DH therapeutic methods were employed: (i) fluoride gel; (ii) Nd:YAG radiation combined with fluoride gel. For each tooth, five consecutive LDF determinations of pulp blood flow were made (before and immediately after desensitizing treatment, then after 24 h, 7 days, and 1 month), and the VRS was applied each time. Spearman’s correlation was applied for concurrent validation. Two-way (treatment and patient) repeated measures ANOVA full factorial was applied, followed by Tukey’s post-hoc comparisons and Pillai’s trace multivariate statistic. While VRS scores had moderate reliability, LDF could objectively estimate treatment effects. Based on partial eta-squared values, treatment and patient characteristics were estimated to explain about 84% and 50% of the variability, respectively. In conclusion, LDF is an objective technique that can quantitatively assess DH evolution, and it is effective in reliably monitoring oral health therapeutic interventions.
Burnout in Spanish Security Forces during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Gómez-Galán José , Lázaro-Pérez Cristina , Martínez-López Jose Ángel , Fernández-Martínez María del Mar
Published: November 2020

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain, members of the State Security Forces and the Armed Forces have been mobilized to guarantee the security and mobility of the population and to support health institutions by providing personnel for care, creating field hospitals, transferring the sick and the dead, etc. The objective of this study was to determine the levels of burnout in these professionals using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) scale, both in its different subscales and its total value. The study was developed using a quantitative methodology through a simple random sample (n = 2182). An ad hoc questionnaire was administered including variables related to: (a) socio-demographic issues, (b) subjective perceptions about their working conditions and the need for psychological and psychiatric treatment, and (c) the Death Anxiety Scale developed by Collett–Lester, and the MBI. The results show high levels of burnout (28.5%) in all its subscales: emotional exhaustion (53.8%), depersonalization (58.0%), and lack of personal development (46.3%). The logistic regression verifies a series of predictive variables that coincide in each of the subscales. These data indicate the need to implement prevention and treatment measures for workers so that their, stress, and anxiety to which they are subjected during their professional activity does not become a norm that can have negative repercussions for them, especially given the risk of new pandemic waves.
Individual, Familial, and Socio-Environmental Risk Factors of Gang Membership in a Community Sample of Adolescents in Southern Italy
Authors: Bacchini Dario , Dragone Mirella , Esposito Concetta , Affuso Gaetana
Published: November 2020

Despite the growing social alarm generated by the recurrent news concerning violent episodes involving youth gangs, systematic research in Italy in this field, especially within a psychological framework, is still limited. Following a social-ecological approach, the present study aimed at investigating the role of self-serving cognitive distortions (CDs), parental rejection, and community violence witnessing in youth gang membership (YGM). Furthermore, we examined the mediating and/or moderating role of YGM in the association between risk factors and involvement in antisocial behaviors (ASBs). A community sample of 817 adolescents attending middle and high schools in a high-risk urban area in Southern Italy (46.9% males; 53% middle school students; Mage = 14.67; SD = 1.65) were involved in the study. One hundred and fifty-seven participants (19.2%) were found to be gang members. Employing counterfactual-based mediation analysis, we found that CDs and community violence witnessing were directly associated with YGM and ASBs. The association between CDs and ASBs was mediated by YGM. Parental rejection was directly related to ASBs but not to YGM. A significant interaction effect between parental rejection and YGM was found, revealing that high levels of parental rejection, along with being a gang member, amplified the involvement in ASBs. These findings pointed out that distorted moral cognitions and the experience of violence witnessing within the community may represent a fertile ground for gang involvement. Both individual and contextual factors should be considered in order to implement interventions aimed to prevent adolescents’ risk of joining a gang.
Validation of the Simplified Chinese Version of the Brief Diabetes Quality of Life (DQoL) Questionnaire Based on a Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Tang Zhijia , Jiang Xinying , Hong Lan , Feng Zhen , He Qingfeng , Yuan Jing , Xiang Xiaoqiang
Published: November 2020

(1) Objective: To assess the reliability and validity of the simplified Chinese version of the brief Diabetes Quality of Life (DQoL) questionnaire in measuring health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in Chinese type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional validation study including 277 patients was conducted at a tertiary hospital in Shanghai, China during April–May, 2018. The English brief DQoL was forward and back-translated into simplified Chinese. The expert interview, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and Spearman correlation with the 5-level version of EuroQoL-5 (EQ-5D-5L) were employed to establish its validity. The internal reliability was assessed by Cronbach’s alpha. Participants were also stratified into subgroups to evaluate if the Chinese brief DQoL had more test effectiveness in a specific subpopulation. (3) Results: No items were removed from the original English brief DQoL based on the results of factor analysis and expert interview. The Spearman coefficient revealed a low-moderate inverse correlation between DQoL and EQ-5D-5L index and visual analogue scale (VAS), respectively (ρ1 = −0.364, p < 0.0001; ρ2 = −0.514, p < 0.0001). The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of the final scale was 0.731. (4) Conclusions: The simplified Chinese version of the brief DQoL questionnaire showed reasonable reliability and validity, suggesting its potential appropriateness for evaluating quality of life in Chinese T2D patients. More future efforts should be made to generalize the application of the findings.