bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Response to Punti and Dingel’s Critique of the Validity of the Intercultural Development Inventory for BIPOC Students. Comment on Punti, G.; Dingel, M. Rethinking Race, Ethnicity, and the Assessment of Intercultural Competence in Higher Education. Educ. Sci. 2021, 11, 110
Authors: Hammer Mitchell R.
Published: March 2022

Addressing social inequity and increasing intercultural competence is a critical challenge in the 21st century. This work should be informed by rigorous, scientifically grounded research, accurate interpretations of that research, and the implementation of policies and training that are based upon the integrity of such research efforts. The Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), because of its psychometric integrity, is one such assessment tool that is used to pursue these challenges in higher education. The psychometric integrity of the IDI is unequivocally situated within the Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing (Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing 2014. American Educational Research Association [AERA], American Psychological Association [APA], and the National Council on Measurement in Education [NCME]). Punti and Dingel assert that the IDI is not valid specifically for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) university students because it does not take into account the experience of being a minority/ethnic group member vis-à-vis racism and inequality. It is troubling that Punti and Dingel’s critique (1) is based on their use of an interview methodology that does not comport with the Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing and (2) ignores the scientific evidence supporting the cross-cultural validity of the IDI with BIPOC.
Resilient Networked Control of Inverter-Based Microgrids against False Data Injections
Authors: Khalghani Mohammad Reza , Verma Vishal , Khushalani Solanki Sarika , Solanki Jignesh M.
Published: March 2022

Inverter-based energy resource is a fast emerging technology for microgrids. Operation of micorgrids with integration of these resources, especially in an islanded operation mode, is challenging. To effectively capture microgrid dynamics and also control these resources in islanded microgrids, a heavy cyber and communication infrastructure is required. This high reliance of microgrids on cyber interfaces makes these systems prone to cyber-disruptions. Hence, the hierarchical control of microgrids, including primary, secondary, and tertiary control, needs to be developed to operate resiliently. This paper shows the vulnerability of microgrid control in the presence of False Data Injection (FDI) attack, which is one type of cyber-disruption. Then, this paper focuses on designing a resilient secondary control based on Unknown Input Observer (UIO) against FDI. The simulation results show the superior performance of the proposed controller over other standard controllers.
Research on Radiated Disturbance to Secondary Cable Caused by Disconnector Switching Operation
Authors: Cheng Lin , He Zeyu , Liu Jian , Yang Zhichao , Chen Xiaoyue , Zhang Yanze , Wang Shuang , Si Junjie
Published: March 2022

With the development of smart grids, the application of localized relay protection devices has greatly reduced the distance between the secondary equipment and the primary equipment. The secondary equipment will be in a more complex electromagnetic environment during the operation of the GIS disconnector. The present study takes the multi-path electromagnetic disturbance on the secondary cable caused by the disconnector switching operation of the domestic 1000 kV ultra-high voltage GIS test circuit as the research background, solves the field-line coupling problem based on the finite integral technique, and combines the multi-conductor transmission line theory to solve the radiation disturbance and obtains its influencing factors. The results demonstrate that the radiated disturbance accounted for 16% of the overall electromagnetic disturbance when both ends of the shielding layer are grounded. The use of grounding at both ends of the shielding layer, reducing the height of the secondary cable wiring, avoiding the parallel arrangement of the secondary cables and the GIS pipe mother, and installing a low-pass filter, have different levels of suppression effects on electromagnetic disturbances. The research results will guide the reasonable arrangement of secondary cables in GIS substations to some extent and have reference significance for the protection of secondary equipment.
Justifying Short-Term Load Forecasts Obtained with the Use of Neural Models
Authors: Grzeszczyk Tadeusz A. , Grzeszczyk Michal K.
Published: March 2022

There is a lot of research on the neural models used for short-term load forecasting (STLF), which is crucial for improving the sustainable operation of energy systems with increasing technical, economic, and environmental requirements. Neural networks are computationally powerful; however, the lack of clear, readable and trustworthy justification of STLF obtained using such models is a serious problem that needs to be tackled. The article proposes an approach based on the local interpretable model-agnostic explanations (LIME) method that supports reliable premises justifying and explaining the forecasts. The use of the proposed approach makes it possible to improve the reliability of heuristic and experimental neural modeling processes, the results of which are difficult to interpret. Explaining the forecasting may facilitate the justification of the selection and the improvement of neural models for STLF, while contributing to a better understanding of the obtained results and broadening the knowledge and experience supporting the enhancement of energy systems security based on reliable forecasts and simplifying dispatch decisions.
A Numerical Multistage Fractured Horizontal Well Model Concerning Hilly-Terrain Well Trajectory in Shale Reservoirs with Natural Fractures
Authors: Zhu Liying , Han Guoqing , Ke Wenqi , Liang Xingyuan , Tang Jingfei , Dai Jiacheng
Published: March 2022

Multistage hydraulic fracturing is one of the most prevalent approaches for shale reservoir development. Due to the complexity of constructing reservoir environments for experiments, numerical simulation is a vital method to study flow behavior under reservoir conditions. In this paper, we propose a numerical model that considers a multistage fractured horizontal well with a hilly-terrain trajectory in a shale reservoir with the presence of natural fractures. The model was constructed based on the MATLAB Reservoir Simulation Toolbox and used the Embedded Discrete Fractured Model (EDFM) to describe the interrelationship between the matrix, fractures, and wellbore. The model was then applied to an actual condensate gas well producing from a shale reservoir, and the effects of reservoir parameters on the simulation data were studied based on this well case. The simulation results were highly consistent with the actual production data, which validates the accuracy of this model and proves its potential for predicting future production trends. We extended the discussion to two examples with extreme well trajectories by reviewing the inflow contribution of each hydraulic fracture with respect to fracture pressure, and the changes in static pressure with time. In conclusion, the proposed model is capable of providing simulation results close to reality and thus guiding field design and operation in the fracturing and drilling process.
Comparison of the Energetic Efficiency of Gas Separation Technologies Using the Physical Optimum by the Example of Oxygen Supply Options
Authors: Weber Samanta A. , Volta Dirk , Kuck Jürgen
Published: March 2022

This study applies the Physical Optimum (PhO) as a reference value to rate the efficiency of two technical options for the oxygen supply of a hospital. The systematic comparison of the alternative processes using the PhO as a benchmark for the minimum input (exergy in this case) required to run a process with a certain benefit allows to determine the potential for optimization of each technology. Differences are analyzed by visualizing the losses of each individual production step in a process as well as by the resulting overall energy demand, including the primary energy. Possible alternatives are purchasing liquid oxygen from a cryogenic process or the production by means of Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) on site. The cryogenic production shows a lower exergy demand even though it also has a higher potential for optimization. Yet, the total losses, significantly impacted by the unavoidable transportation, sum up, resulting in the conclusion that the PSA is the preferable option overall, considering energy aspects. Finally, additional criteria such as economic, legal, and structural consequences of the respective choices are briefly outlined.
Numerical and Experimental Investigation of the Effect of Design Parameters on Savonius-Type Hydrokinetic Turbine Performance
Authors: Wu Kuo-Tsai , Lo Kuo-Hao , Kao Ruey-Chy , Hwang Sheng-Jye
Published: March 2022

To meet the increased demand of hydroelectric power generation, a novel drag-based Savonius turbine with the characteristics of a simpler fabrication process and good starting characteristics is designed, fabricated, and analyzed. The newly designed turbine is suitable to be installed in rivers, irrigation channels, ocean currents, etc., for small-scale hydroelectric power generation. In the present study, experiments are carried out to investigate the influence of the design parameters of this turbine on its power performance in order to improve its efficiency, including blade arc angles (180°, 135°), blade placement angles (0°, ±22.5°), and the number of blades (2, 3, 6, and 8). Further, three-dimensional CFD simulations are performed with Re = 6.72×105, matching the experimental conditions, in order to study the changes in the flow field and the rotation characteristics of the turbine. The research results indicate that a six-bladed turbine with a blade arc angle of 135° and a blade placement angle of 0° has higher torque and better power performance, which makes it the most suitable design when also considering cost. Furthermore, it was found that an increase in the number of turbine blades contributes to improving the performance of the turbine. The maximum power coefficient is 0.099 at a tip speed ratio of 0.34.
An Integrated Approach-Based FMECA for Risk Assessment: Application to Offshore Wind Turbine Pitch System
Authors: Wang Zhen , Wang Rongxi , Deng Wei , Zhao Yong
Published: March 2022

Failure mode, effects and criticality analysis (FMECA) is a well-known reliability analysis tool for recognizing, evaluating and prioritizing the known or potential failures in system, design, and process. In conventional FMECA, the failure modes are evaluated by using three risk factors, severity (S), occurrence (O) and detectability (D), and their risk priorities are determined by multiplying the crisp values of risk factors to obtain their risk priority numbers (RPNs). However, the conventional RPN has been considerably criticized due to its various shortcomings. Although significant efforts have been made to enhance the performance of traditional FMECA, some drawbacks still exist and need to be addressed in the real application. In this paper, a new FMECA model for risk analysis is proposed by using an integrated approach, which introduces Z-number, Rough number, the Decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) method and the VIsekriterijumska optimizacija i KOmpromisno Resenje (VIKOR) method to FMECA to overcome its deficiencies in real application. The novelty of this paper in theory is that the proposed approach integrates the strong expressive ability of Z-numbers to vagueness and uncertainty information, the strong point of DEMATEL method in studying the dependence among failure modes, the advantage of rough numbers for aggregating experts’ diversity evaluations, and the strength of VIKOR method to flexibly model multi-criteria decision-making problems. Based on the integrated approach, the proposed risk assessment model can favorably capture and aggregate FMECA team members’ diversity evaluations and prioritize failure modes under different types of uncertainties with considering the failure propagation. In terms of application, the proposed approach was applied to the risk analysis of failure modes in offshore wind turbine pitch system, and it can also be used in many industrial fields for risk assessment and safety analysis.
Numerical and Experimental Studies of the Use of Fiber-Reinforced Polymers in Long-Span Suspension Bridges
Authors: Gosteev Yuri , Konovalov Ilya , Lebedev Alexander , Obukhovskiy Alexander , Salenko Sergey , Yashnov Andrey
Published: March 2022

For the construction of transport infrastructure (including pipeline bridges for oil and gas transportation) in the conditions of the Far North, it is necessary to improve modern regulatory and technological base for using the fiber-reinforcing polymers. It is necessary to conduct searching research to determine the conditions and shapes of application of the fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) in the load-bearing structures of bridges and pipelines through barriers. One such searching research is the study of the use of a suspension hybrid bridge with a superstructure of FRP. For this purpose, the calculations of finite-element models of pedestrian suspension bridges were performed and their aerodynamic stability was investigated on the section models in a wind tunnel. The novelty of the study consists in the proposed additions to the structure of the bridge, and the permissible geometric of the cross-sections of the superstructure were established for ensuring aerodynamic stability. Finally, this was the first time that it was directly established that the strength, stiffness and aerodynamic stability of a suspension hybrid bridge were provided.
Dynamic Lyapunov Machine Learning Control of Nonlinear Magnetic Levitation System
Authors: Mahmoud Amr , Zohdy Mohamed
Published: March 2022

This paper presents a novel dynamic deep learning architecture integrated with Lyapunov control to address the timing latency and constraints of deep learning. The dynamic component permits the network depth to increase or decrease depending on the system complexity/nonlinearity evaluated through the parameterized complexity method. A correlation study between the parameter tuning effect on the error is also made thus causing a reduction in the deep learning time requirement and computational cost during the network training and retraining process. The control Lyapunov function is utilized as an input cost function to the DNN in order to determine the system stability. A relearning process is triggered to account for the introduction of disturbances or unknown model dynamics, therefore, eliminating the need for an observer-based approach. The introduction of the relearning process also allows the algorithm to be applicable to a wider array of cyber–physical systems (CPS). The intelligent controller autonomy is evaluated under different circumstances such as high frequency nonlinear reference, reference changes, or disturbance introduction. The dynamic deep learning algorithm is shown to be successful in adapting to such changes and reaching a safe solution to stabilize the system autonomously.
Numerical Study of Heat Transfer in a Gun Barrel Made of Selected Steels
Authors: Zieliński Mateusz , Koniorczyk Piotr , Surma Zbigniew , Zmywaczyk Janusz , Preiskorn Marek
Published: March 2022

The results of numerical simulations of transient heat transfer in the barrel wall of a 35 mm caliber cannon for a single shot and the sequences of seven shots and sixty shots for chosen barrel steels are presented. It was assumed that the cannon barrel was made of one of the three types of steel: 38HMJ (1.8509), 30HN2MFA and DUPLEX (1.4462). To model the thermal phenomena in the barrel, the barrel wall material was assumed to be homogeneous and the inner surface of the barrel had no protective chromium or nitride layer. The calculations were made for temperature-dependent thermophysical parameters, i.e., thermal conductivity, specific heat and thermal expansion (in the range from RT up to 1000 °C) of the selected barrel steels. A barrel with a total length of 3150 mm was divided into 6 zones (i = 1, …, 6) and in each of them, the heat flux density was calculated as a function of time q˙i(t) on the inner surface of the barrel. Using lumped parameter methods, an internal ballistic code was developed to compute in each zone the heat transfer coefficient as a function of time hi(t) and bore gas temperature as a function of time Tg(t) to the cannon barrel for given ammunition parameters. A calculation time equaling 100 ms per single shot was assumed. The results of the calculations were obtained using FEM implemented in COMSOL Multiphysics ver. 5.6 software.
Innovative Water Supply Network Pressure Management Method—The Establishment and Application of the Intelligent Pressure-Regulating Vehicle
Authors: Gao Jinliang , Li Kunyi , Wu Wenyan , Chen Jianxun , Zhang Tiantian , Deng Liqun , Xin Ping
Published: March 2022

The development of many intelligent technologies, such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things, has brought new opportunities for water industry intelligence. Based on intelligent pressure regulation technology, this paper built an intelligent management platform, designed an intelligent pressure-regulating device, and combined both to form an intelligent pressure-regulating vehicle (IPRV). The IPRV has the functions of developing a pressure-regulating scheme, equipment selection, pressure reduction potential analysis, etc. It can bring convenience to the field test of the water supply network. In the field test, an intelligent pressure-regulating device was used to obtain the network data in the pilot site called S-cell. After utilizing the intelligent management platform to analyze the measured data, the water usage pattern and pressure reduction potential of the S-cell were obtained, and an optimal pressure-regulating strategy was formulated. The water pressure at the critical node always met the water demand at the critical node during the field test. In addition, no complaints were received from other users. The results show that the IPRV is not only convenient for utility managers to make decisions on building pressure-reducing stations, but also meets user needs, realizing a win–win situation for both users and companies.
Stress and Pressure Pulsation Analysis of Low Temperature Compressor Piping System in LNG Vaporizing Station
Authors: Wang Baoqing , Zhang Zhi , Huang Kun , Zhang Yaotong , Zhang Zhenwu , Gao Hui , Fu Lingdi
Published: March 2022

LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) vaporizing stations are usually built in the cities and towns, and the BOG (Boiled Off Gas) pressurizing system is a very important element. In the pressurizing system, the severe vibration of the low-temperature reciprocating compressor may lead to a failure of the pipeline system and the equipment. Therefore, this paper analyzes the stress and pressure pulsation of the BOG compressor piping system in the LNG vaporizing station. The beam model was used to establish the pipe model. The static, harmonic and modal analysis were carried out based on the plane-wave theory and the pressure-fluctuation theory, and the influence factors of support spacing, the settlement of the fulcrum foundation, pipe pressure and elbow angle were analyzed. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) the unbalanced excited force caused by pressure pulsation greatly affects the stress of the exhaust pipe and compressor outlet pipe, and has less influence on the stress of the suction pipe and compressor inlet pipe; (2) although unbalanced excited force is generated in the elbow, it also has an impact on the straight pipe stress; (3) adding an expansion joint to the pipe of the BOG compressor can effectively reduce the stress of the pipe its the displacement, and can increase the flexibility of the pipe.
Hydrogen Production by Water Electrolysis with Low Power and High Efficiency Based on Pre-Magnetic Polarization
Authors: Li Ke , Zhang Heng , Zheng Xiaoyu , Liu Chang , Chen Qianding
Published: March 2022

In this paper, a method of efficient hydrogen production using low-power electrolysis based on pre-magnetic polarization was proposed in order to improve the rate of hydrogen production by water electrolysis, with reduced energy consumption, molecular polarity, and stress–strain characteristics of distilled water under the condition of a pre-magnetic field. By constructing a microphysical model of hydrogen proton energy-level transition and a macroscopic mathematical model corresponding to magnetization vector-polarization hydrogen proton concentration in the pre-magnetic field, the ionic conductivity, electrolyte current density, interelectrode voltage, and hydrogen production efficiency under a varying magnetic field were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed. In addition, an adjustable pre-magnetic polarization hydrolyzing hydrogen production test platform was set up to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. The repeated test results, within a magnetic field strength range of 0–10,000 GS, showed that the conductivity of distilled water after pre-magnetic polarization treatment increased by 2–3 times, the electrolytic current density of the PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) increased with increasing magnetic field strength, the voltage between the poles continuously decreased, and the hydrogen production rate was significantly improved. When the magnetic field strength reached 10,000 GS, the rate of hydrogen production by the electrolysis of distilled water increased by 15–20% within a certain period of time.
State of the Art of the Techniques for Grid Forming Inverters to Solve the Challenges of Renewable Rich Power Grids
Authors: Bikdeli Efaf , Islam Md. Rabiul , Rahman Md. Moktadir , Muttaqi Kashem M.
Published: March 2022

To mitigate the fast-growing demand of electrical energy, the use of renewable energy resources, e.g., solar and wind, can offer an environmentally friendly and sustainable solution. Due to their intermittent nature, the grid connected operation of renewable energy resources provides a better performance compared to the standalone operation. However, the massive penetration of power electronic inverter/converter-interfaced renewable resources in power systems introduces new issues, such as voltage and frequency instabilities, because of their inherent low inertia properties. As a consequence, these issues may lead to serious problems, such as system blackouts. Therefore, there is an immediate demand to solve these new issues and ensure the normal performance of the power system with the large penetration of renewable energy resources. To achieve this, grid connected inverters/converters are designed to address these problems and behave as synchronous generators, which is possible with grid forming (GFM) inverters/converters concepts. This paper reviews the recent advancement of GFM converters for solving emerging issues related to the renewable rich power grids. It also provides a comprehensive review on frequency deviations and power system stability issues in low-inertia systems and recent advancements in control methods for harmonic mitigation. It is expected that this paper will help the research community to enhance the technology further to solve the challenges in renewable rich power grids.
Selection of an Appropriate Solar Thermal Technology for Solar Vapor Absorption Cooling—An MADM Approach
Authors: Kaneesamkandi Zakariya , Almujahid Abdulaziz , Salim Basharat
Published: March 2022

Different solar thermal collectors have been used recently to meet the thermal requirements of single effect and double effect vapor absorption cooling systems, making selection of the correct method a challenge. Different attributes of each vapor absorption cooling and solar collector combination are taken into account, and a Multi-Attribute Decision-Making model is used to select the best option. The model requires variables indicating the performance of the system, which are called attributes that are organized into a hierarchical structure called a tree of attributes. The dependent attributes finally end up in the basic attributes representing the input to the model. The technology options considered are flat plate water heating collectors with forced circulation, flat plate air heating collectors with forced circulation, evacuated tube collectors, parabolic trough collectors, and collectors with compound parabolic concentrator. Two types of cooling, namely single effect and double effect, are compared. Three climatic zones with three different cooling loads, ambient temperatures and solar radiation intensity have been considered. Comparison of the solar vapor absorption technologies with vapor compression technology is made considering the major performance factors. The major attributes, namely cost and emissions produced, are compared with conventional vapor compression methods.
Simulation of Spatial Service Range and Value of Carbon Sink Based on Intelligent Urban Ecosystem Management System and Net Present Value Models—An Example from the Qinling Mountains
Authors: Ma Xinping , Li Jing , Zhao Kuifeng , Wu Tao , Zhang Pengtao
Published: March 2022

Under the current background of carbon neutrality, the quantification of carbon neutrality in Qinling Mountains, the calculation of the spatial service scope, and the estimation of economic value are of great significance for the improvement of carbon neutrality spatial planning and the carbon trading market. The Intelligent Urban Ecosystem Management System (IUEMS) was used to calculate the carbon sequestration of the Qinling Mountains. The carbon emission of Qinling Mountains was spatialized through model fitting, using the night light data and energy consumption data of various cities. The static carbon content of the Qinling Mountains was obtained. Combined with the common gas diffusion coefficient, under normal temperature and pressure, the service range of the Qinling Mountains’ carbon neutralization to the surrounding area was calculated. The spatial distribution of carbon sequestration in 2030 and 2050 was simulated using Patch generating Land Use Simulation (PLUS) model and Net Present Value (NPV) model. Under two discount rates, the model could calculate the carbon value in 2012, 2016, 2020, 2030, and 2050, respectively. The results proved that the value of carbon in the Qinling Mountains is gradually increasing. Since 2012, the service range of carbon neutralization in the Qinling Mountains was 175–262.63 km, and the service range has been gradually expanded. The discount rate is inversely proportional to the carbon value.
Cleaning of Wastewater Using Crosslinked Poly(Acrylamide-co-Acrylic Acid) Hydrogels: Analysis of Rotatable Bonds, Binding Energy and Hydrogen Bonding
Authors: Hamri Salah , Bouchaour Tewfik , Lerari Djahida , Bouberka Zohra , Supiot Philippe , Maschke Ulrich
Published: March 2022

The discharge of untreated wastewater, often contaminated by harmful substances, such as industrially used dyes, can provoke environmental and health risks. Among various techniques, the adsorption of dyes, using three-dimensional (3D) networks consisting of hydrophilic polymers (hydrogels), represents a low-cost, clean, and efficient remediation method. Three industrially used dyes, Methylene Blue, Eosin, and Rose Bengal, were selected as models of pollutants. Poly(acrylamide) (poly(AM)) and poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) (poly(AM-co-AA)) networks were chosen as adsorbent materials (hydrogels). These polymers were synthesized by crosslinking the photopolymerization of their respective monomer(s) in an aqueous medium under exposure to UV light. Experimental adsorption measurements revealed substantially higher dye uptakes for poly(AM-co-AA) compared to poly(AM) hydrogels. In this report, a theoretical model based on docking simulations was applied to analyze the conformation of polymers and pollutants in order to investigate some aspects of the adsorption process. In particular, hydrogen and halogen interactions were studied. The presence of strong hydrogen bonding plays a crucial role in the retention of dyes, whereas halogen bonding has a small or negligible effect on adsorption. An evaluation of binding energies allowed us to obtain information about the degree of affinity between polymers and dyes. The number of rotatable bonds in the copolymer exceeds those of poly(AM),meaning that poly(AM-co-AA) is revealed to be more suitable for obtaining a high retention rate for pollutants.
Genome-Wide Profiling of Alternative Splicing and Gene Fusion during Rice Black-Streaked Dwarf Virus Stress in Maize (Zea mays L.)
Authors: Zhou Yu , Lu Qing , Zhang Jiayue , Zhang Simeng , Weng Jianfeng , Di Hong , Zhang Lin , Li Xin , Liang Yuhang , Dong Ling , Zeng Xing , Liu Xianjun , Guo Pei , Zhang Huilan , Li Xinhai , Wang Zhenhua
Published: March 2022

Rice black-streaked dwarf virus (RBSDV) causes maize rough dwarf disease (MRDD), which is a viral disease that significantly affects maize yields worldwide. Plants tolerate stress through transcriptional reprogramming at the alternative splicing (AS), transcriptional, and fusion gene (FG) levels. However, it is unclear whether and how AS and FG interfere with transcriptional reprogramming in MRDD. In this study, we performed global profiling of AS and FG on maize response to RBSDV and compared it with transcriptional changes. There are approximately 1.43 to 2.25 AS events per gene in maize infected with RBSDV. GRMZM2G438622 was only detected in four AS modes (A3SS, A5SS, RI, and SE), whereas GRMZM2G059392 showed downregulated expression and four AS events. A total of 106 and 176 FGs were detected at two time points, respectively, including six differentially expressed genes and five differentially spliced genes. The gene GRMZM2G076798 was the only FG that occurred at two time points and was involved in two FG events. Among these, 104 GOs were enriched, indicating that nodulin-, disease resistance-, and chloroplastic-related genes respond to RBSDV stress in maize. These results provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying post-transcriptional and transcriptional regulation of maize response to RBSDV stress.
Gene Network Analysis for Osteoporosis, Sarcopenia, Diabetes, and Obesity in Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cells
Authors: Jin Yilan , Kim Dowan , Choi Yong Jun , Song Insun , Chung Yoon-Sok
Published: March 2022

The systemic gene interactions that occur during osteoporosis and their underlying mechanisms remain to be determined. To this end, mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) were analyzed from bone marrow samples collected from healthy individuals (n = 5) and patients with osteoporosis (n = 5). A total of 120 osteoporosis-related genes were identified using RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) software. In order to analyze these genes, we constructed a heatmap of one-way hierarchical clustering and grouped the gene expression patterns of the samples. The MSCs from one control participant showed a similar expression pattern to that observed in the MSCs of three patients with osteoporosis, suggesting that the differentiating genes might be important genetic determinants of osteoporosis. Then, we selected the top 38 genes based on fold change and expression, excluding osteoporosis-related genes from the control participant. We identified a network among the top 38 genes related to osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation, bone remodeling, osteoporosis, and sarcopenia using the Molecule Activity Predictor program. Among them, 25 genes were essential systemic genes involved in osteoporosis. Furthermore, we identified 24 genes also associated with diabetes and obesity, among which 10 genes were involved in a network related to bone and energy metabolism. The study findings may have implications for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis.
Weekly Variations of Well-Being and Interactions with Training and Match Intensities: A Descriptive Case Study in Youth Male Soccer Players
Authors: Silva Ana Filipa , Oliveira Rafael , Cataldi Stefania , Clemente Filipe Manuel , Latino Francesca , Badicu Georgian , Greco Gianpiero , Leão César , Bonavolontà Valerio , Fischetti Francesco
Published: March 2022

The aim of this study was two-fold: (i) analyze the weekly variations of well-being and training/match intensity measures in youth soccer players, and (ii) test relations between well-being and training intensity outcomes. The study followed a descriptive case study design. Twenty-seven under-17 male soccer players were monitored for well-being and training intensity parameters over seventeen consecutive weeks. An adjusted version of the Hooper questionnaire was used to monitor the perceptive sleep quality, readiness, fatigue, and delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) early in the morning. The CR-10 Borg’s scale was also used for monitoring the rate of perceived exertion (RPE) of players after training sessions. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was executed to test the between-week variations of both well-being and training intensity outcomes. Moreover, Pearson product moment correlation was used to test the relations between well-being and training intensity outcomes. Repeated measures ANOVA revealed significant differences between weeks in the sleep quality (F = 0.422; p < 0.001; ηp2 = 0.140), readiness (F = 0.8.734; p < 0.001; ηp2 = 0.251), fatigue (F = 4.484; p < 0.001; ηp2 = 0.147), DOMS (F = 3.775; p = 0.001; ηp2 = 0.127), RPE (F = 7.301; p < 0.001; ηp2 = 0.219), and session-RPE (F = 17.708; p < 0.001; ηp2 = 0.405). Correlations between well-being and training intensity outcomes in the same week revealed moderate correlations between fatigue and session-RPE (r = 0.325). As conclusions, it was found that well-being and training intensity fluctuates over the season, while well-being outcomes seems to be related with training intensity, although with a small magnitude.
Reallocating Time Spent in Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior and Its Association with Fear of Falling: Isotemporal Substitution Model
Authors: Ren Pengfei , Zhang Xianliang , Du Litao , Pan Yang , Chen Si , He Qiang
Published: March 2022

The aim of the current study was to provide new evidence for the associations between physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (SB), and fear of falling (FOF) by investigating the impact of replacing 30 min SB with both light-intensity PA (LPA) and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) on FOF in older Chinese women. Cross-sectional data from a Physical Activity and Health in Older Women Study (PAHIOWS) were analyzed for 1114 Chinese community-dwelling older women. Variables of focus were demographics, FOF, objectively measured PA and SB. Three different logistic models were used to examine the associations between PA, SB, and FOF (a single parameter model, a partition model and an isotemporal substitution). The results showed that reallocating 30 min/day of MVPA by SB was significantly associated with higher FOF (OR = 1.37; 95%CI: 1.04–1.79; p = 0.024), reallocating 30 min/day of SB by MVPA was significantly associated with a reduction of FOF (OR = 0.73; 95%CI: 0.56–0.96; p = 0.024). No significant associations were found between FOF with reallocating other activities by LPA and vice versa (p > 0.05). Subgroup analysis showed the isotemporal-substituted effects of MVPA and SB on FOF were stronger in older women with fall experience. In conclusion, the current findings showed that the increase of MVPA engagement and reduction of SB engagement may be most beneficial for FOF management and should be involved in public health guidelines, especially for older women with fall experience.
Factors Associated with the Acceptance of New Technologies for Ageing in Place by People over 64 Years of Age
Authors: Chimento-Díaz Sara , Sánchez-García Pablo , Franco-Antonio Cristina , Santano-Mogena Esperanza , Espino-Tato Isabel , Cordovilla-Guardia Sergio
Published: March 2022

Background: In the context of growing population ageing, technologies aimed at helping people age in place play a fundamental role. Acceptance of the implementation of technological solutions can be defined as the intention to use a technology or the effective use of it. Approaches based on the technology acceptance model (TAM) have been shown to have good predictive power for pre-implementation attitudes towards new technologies. Objective: To analyze the degree of acceptability of the use of new technologies for ageing in place and the factors associated with greater acceptance in people older than 64 years. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out. Sociodemographic, clinical and environmental variables, architectural barriers, social risk and quality of life, degree of autonomy, morbidity, and risk of falls were collected in a population sample over 64 years of age in a large region of western Spain. The degree of acceptance of the use of technologies was measured through a scale based on the TAM. Results: Of the 293 people included in the study, 36.2% exhibited a high acceptability of new technologies, 28.3% exhibited a medium acceptability, and 35.5% exhibited a low acceptability. Of all the factors, age, education level, and living alone were significantly associated with high acceptance in the adjusted analyses. Conclusions: Younger age, a higher education level, and living alone are factors associated with a greater degree of acceptance of the use of technologies for ageing in place.
The Mitigation Effect of Park Landscape on Thermal Environment in Shanghai City Based on Remote Sensing Retrieval Method
Authors: Wang Tian , Tu Hui , Min Bo , Li Zuzheng , Li Xiaofang , You Qingxiang
Published: March 2022

The mitigation effects of park green space on Urban Heat Island (UHI) have been extensively documented. However, the relative effects of the configuration of park components on land surface temperature (LST) inside the park and indicators (i.e., park cooling intensity and distance) surrounding the park is largely unknown. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to explore the quantitative impacts of configuration and morphology features under different urban park scales on the cooling effect. In this study, based on Landsat-8 OLI/TIRS images on 3 August 2015 and 16 August 2020 during summer daytime, the LSTs of Shanghai City were retrieved by atmospheric correction method. Then, the relationships of park landscape features with LSTs in the park and typical indicators representing cooling efficiency of 24 parks on different grades were analyzed. The results showed that the average temperature in urban parks was, respectively, 1.46 °C and 1.66 °C lower than that in the main city of Shanghai in 2015 and 2020, suggesting that urban parks form cold islands in the city. The landscape metrics of park area (PA), park perimeter (PP), green area (GA) and water area (WA), were key characteristics that strong negatively affect the internal park LSTs. However, the park perimeter-to-area ratio (PPAR) had a significant positive power correlation with the park LSTs. Buffer zone analysis showed that LST cools down by about 0.67 °C when the distance from the park increases by 100 m. The Maximum Cooling Distance (MCD) for 2015 and 2020 had a significant correlation with PA, PC, PPAR, GA and WA, and increased sharply within the park area of 20 ha. However, the medium park group had the largest Maximum Cooling Intensity (MCI) in both periods, followed by the small park group. There could be a trade-off relationship between the MCD and MCI in urban parks, which is worth pondering to research. This study could be of great significance for planning and constructing park landscapes, alleviating Urban Heat Island effect and improving urban livability.
Public Rental Housing and Obesogenic Behaviors among Adults in Hong Kong: Mediator Role of Food and Physical Activity Environment
Authors: Zhang Ting , Huang Bo , Wong Hung , Wong Samuel Yeung-shan , Chung Roger Yat-Nork
Published: March 2022

Public rental housing (PRH) for low-income families has been shown in several studies to be associated with poor health status and obesity. However, the causes of this health disparity are controversial, and the associations and pathways between PRH and obesogenic behaviors remain unknown. Using cross-sectional survey data of 1977 adults living in Hong Kong (aged or over 18) together with multi-source GIS-based environmental data, we examined the associations between PRH and obesogenic behaviors and the extent to which those associations can be explained by neighborhood food and physical environment. The unhealthy food environment, which relates with infrequent fruit and vegetables consumption, was calculated based on the relative density of fast food restaurants and convenience stores to grocery stores. The physical activity environment, which relates to physical inactivity and prolonged sitting, was assessed in terms of density of sports facilities and street greenery, separately. Regressions and mediation analyses show that PRH was negatively associated with physical inactivity directly and also indirectly via higher sports facilities density; however, PRH was positively associated with unhealthy diet largely directly and positively associated with prolonged sitting indirectly via less street greenery. We advanced the international literature of PRH health impact assessment and its environmental health pathways by providing evidence from the least housing-affordable city in the world. The findings provide planning implications in formulating a healthier PRH community for these low-income PRH households and mitigating health disparities induced by housing type.
The Value of a Motor Intervention for 3 to 6-Year-Old Children Infected with and Affected by HIV
Authors: Pienaar Anita Elizabeth , Botha Jo-Anne Elizabeth
Published: March 2022

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/Aquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a large threat to human health and is challenging to address. This study aims to determine if motor intervention is a possibility for promoting the life expectancy and quality of life of children with HIV. The group consisted of 22 participants: 11 HIV-infected (51.73 months, SD 10.15) and 11 HIV-affected children (44.45 months, SD 10.76). A two-group (intervention and control group) pre-test–post-test research design was followed. The HIV-infected and affected children were randomly matched and grouped into an intervention and control group. The intervention group participated in a 12-week motor intervention of 60 min per session, twice per week. The effect of the program was analyzed with regard to motor skills, as established by the PDMS-2 and two strength capabilities. An ANCOVA adjusted for pre-test differences (p < 0.05) indicated statistically significant improvement (p < 0.05) with large practical significance (d > 0.8) in locomotor, fine motor and overall motor skills. The infected children also showed better improvement compared to the affected children. Motor intervention is recommended in the health care path of children affected and infected with HIV, although modifications for improvement of the program are suggested, based on the results attained.
Experiences of Bereaved Families by Suicide in South Korea: A Phenomenological Study
Authors: Lee Eunjoo
Published: March 2022

When an individual commits suicide, family members frequently experience feeling of hurt, denial, shock and anger, resentment, shame, and guilt. These negative emotions experienced by family survivors make their life suffer and impede the grieving process. If left untreated, they become physically and psychologically vulnerable and the risk of suicidal ideation is high, so professional intervention is needed. This study aimed to explore the experiences of suicidally bereaved families in South Korea. This research was designed to a qualitative phenomenological study conducted by using Colaizzi’s methods. Participants were seven individuals who had lost a family member to suicide in Changwon City, South Korea. The Data were collected through in-depth and individual interviews with participants from June to December 2018, and the interviews took place 1 to 15 months after their loss. A total of 25 meaning units, 12 themes, and 5 theme clusters emerged from the analysis. The 5 themes of south Korean bereaved families’ experience were: (1) an absurd breakup that came without notice, (2) a life trapped in pain, (3) family isolation by themselves, (4) uncontrolled mind in daily life, and (5) liberating from the bondage of pain. The findings of this study provide insight regarding how suicide loss affects bereaved families and could inform the development of evidence-based programs to prevention suicide thought experienced by bereaved families.
Refolding of Lysozyme in Glycerol as Studied by Fast Scanning Calorimetry
Authors: Fatkhutdinova Alisa , Mukhametzyanov Timur , Schick Christoph
Published: March 2022

The folding of lysozyme in glycerol was monitored by the fast scanning calorimetry technique. Application of a temperature–time profile with an isothermal segment for refolding allowed assessment of the state of the non-equilibrium protein ensemble and gave information on the kinetics of folding. We found that the non-equilibrium protein ensemble mainly contains a mixture of unfolded and folded protein forms and partially folded intermediates, and enthalpic barriers control the kinetics of the process. Lysozyme folding in glycerol follows the same or similar triangular mechanism described in the literature for folding in water. The unfolding enthalpy of the intermediate must be no lower than 70% of the folded form, while the activation barrier for the unfolding of the intermediate (ca. 140 kJ/mol) is about 100 kJ/mol lower than that of the folded form (ca. 240–260 kJ/mol).
Tartary Buckwheat R2R3-MYB Gene FtMYB3 Negatively Regulates Anthocyanin and Proanthocyanin Biosynthesis
Authors: Wang Lei , Deng Renyu , Bai Yuechen , Wu Huala , Li Chenglei , Wu Qi , Zhao Haixia
Published: March 2022

Anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins (PAs) are vital secondary metabolites in Tartary buckwheat because of their antioxidant capacities and radical scavenging functions. It has been demonstrated that R2R3-MYB transcription factors (TFs) are essential regulators of anthocyanin and PA biosynthesis in many plants. However, their regulatory mechanisms in Tartary buckwheat remain to be clarified. Here, we confirmed the role of FtMYB3 in anthocyanin and PA biosynthesis. FtMYB3, which belongs to the subgroup 4 R2R3 family was predominantly expressed in roots. The transcriptional expression of FtMYB3 increased significantly under hormone treatment with SA and MeJA and abiotic stresses including drought, salt, and cold at the seedling stage. Functional analyses showed that FtMYB3 negatively regulated anthocyanin and PA biosynthesis, primarily via downregulating the expression of the DFR, ANS, BAN, and TT13 in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana, which may depend on the interaction between FtMYB3 and FtbHLH/FtWD40. Altogether, this study reveals that FtMYB3 is a negative regulatory transcription factor for anthocyanin and PA biosynthesis in Tartary buckwheat.