bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Fertility Behaviors on Depression Among the Elderly: Empirical Evidence From China
Authors: Hu Zhen , Wu Yuanyang , Yang Hualei , Xie Lin , Zhang Anqi , Lin Xueyu , Nie Yafeng , Zhang Xiaoyu
Published: January 2021

Background: Increased population aging is associated with increased incidence of depression among the elderly. Existing studies have shown that ill-advised fertility behaviors during their youth also affect the health of the elderly. However, insufficient attention has been paid to depression among elderly in China. This paper focuses on how fertility behaviors affect senile depression among parents by examining the heterogeneity of such effects and tests the applicability of existing theoretical findings in a Chinese sample.

Methods: The effects of fertility behaviors on depression among the elderly were investigated using the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), a nationally representative dataset. The effects of early-age fertility behaviors on the degree of depression among the elderly were investigated using ordinary least squares and ordered probit models that adjusted for demographic and socioeconomic factors.

Results: (1) The age of first childbirth, childbearing period, and number of births were significantly and positively correlated with the degree of depression among the elderly (particularly rural persons aged 50–70 and older womens). (2) Elderly persons with sons had no better mental health status than those without sons, thus indicating the inapplicability of the traditional concept of “more sons are equal to more happiness” to the actual mental health situation of the elderly in China today.

Conclusion: Overall, multiple, late, and boy-oriented childbearing and overly long childbearing periods had negative effects on mental health among Chinese elderly persons. This study tested the applicability of existing theoretical inferences and empirical conclusions in China, thereby further expanding the current literature regarding the effects of fertility behaviors on depression among the elderly.
That’s Cool. Computational Sociolinguistic Methods for Investigating Individual Lexico-grammatical Variation
Authors: Schmid Hans-Jörg , Würschinger Quirin , Fischer Sebastian , Küchenhoff Helmut
Published: January 2021

The present study deals with variation in the use of lexico-grammatical patterns and emphasizes the need to embrace individual variation. Targeting the patternthat’s adj(as inthat’s right,that’s niceorthat’s okay) as a case study, we use a tailor-made Python script to systematically retrieve grammatical and semantic information about all instances of this construction in BNC2014 as well as sociolinguistic information enabling us to study social and individual lexico-grammatical variation among speakers who have used this pattern. The dataset amounts to 4,394 tokens produced by 445 speakers using 159 adjective types in 931 conversations. Using detailed descriptive statistics and mixed-effects regression models, we show that while the choice of some adjectives is partly determined by social variables, situational and especially individual variation is rampant overall. Adopting a cognitive-linguistic perspective and relying on the notion of entrenchment, we interpret these findings as reflecting individual speakers' routines. We argue that computational sociolinguistics is in an ideal position to contribute to the data-driven investigation of individual lexico-grammatical variation and encourage computational sociolinguists to grab this opportunity. For the routines of individual speakers ultimately both underlie and compromise systematic social variation and trigger and steer well-known types of language change including grammaticalization, pragmaticalization and change by invited inference.
Ears in the Sky: Potential of Drones for the Bioacoustic Monitoring of Birds and Bats
Authors: Michez Adrien , Broset Stéphane , Lejeune Philippe
Published: January 2021

In the context of global biodiversity loss, wildlife population monitoring is a major challenge. Some innovative techniques such as the use of drones—also called unmanned aerial vehicle/system (UAV/UAS)—offer promising opportunities. The potential of UAS-based wildlife census using high-resolution imagery is now well established for terrestrial mammals or birds that can be seen on images. Nevertheless, the ability of UASs to detect non-conspicuous species, such as small birds below the forest canopy, remains an open question. This issue can be solved with bioacoustics for acoustically active species such as bats and birds. In this context, UASs represent an interesting solution that could be deployed on a larger scale, at lower risk for the operator, and over hard-to-reach locations, such as forest canopies or complex topographies, when compared with traditional protocols (fixed location recorders placed or handled by human operators). In this context, this study proposes a methodological framework to assess the potential of UASs in bioacoustic surveys for birds and bats, using low-cost audible and ultrasound recorders mounted on a low-cost quadcopter UAS (DJI Phantom 3 Pro). The proposed methodological workflow can be straightforwardly replicated in other contexts to test the impact of other UAS bioacoustic recording platforms in relation to the targeted species and the specific UAS design. This protocol allows one to evaluate the sensitivity of UAS approaches through the estimate of the effective detection radius for the different species investigated at several flight heights. The results of this study suggest a strong potential for the bioacoustic monitoring of birds but are more contrasted for bat recordings, mainly due to quadcopter noise (i.e., electronic speed controller (ESC) noise) but also, in a certain manner, to the experimental design (use of a directional speaker with limited call intensity). Technical developments, such as the use of a winch to safely extent the distance between the UAS and the recorder during UAS sound recordings or the development of an innovative platform, such as a plane–blimp hybrid UAS, should make it possible to solve these issues.
Heat Transfer Characteristics of Thermoelectric Generator System for Waste Heat Recovery from a Billet Casting Process: Experimental and Numerical Analysis
Authors: Yadav Saurabh , Liu Jie , Kong Man Sik , Yoon Young Gyoon , Kim Sung Chul
Published: January 2021

In this study, experiments were performed to use the waste heat in a billet casting industry utilizing bismuth telluride thermoelectric generators (TEGs). Four d-type absorber plates made of copper were installed above the manufactured billet during the cooling process. Three sides of each absorber plate were attached to thermoelectric units. Therefore, a total of 12 units of the thermoelectric system were found to generate a power of 339 W. The power density of the TEG system was found to be 981 W/m2 while running the system at the operating voltage of the battery energy storage system (58 V). A one-dimensional numerical simulation was carried out using FloMASTERTM v9.1 (Mentor Graphics Corporation, Siemens, Dallas, TX, USA) to verify the experimental results, and the numerical results were found to exhibit good agreement with the experimental results. Furthermore, a one-dimensional numerical simulation was carried out to obtain the heat transfer characteristics at varying flow rates of cold water (Reynolds number = 2540–16,943) and at different inlet temperatures (10–25 °C) for the cold side of the TEG. The results indicate that the performance of the thermoelectric generator increases with an increase in the cold-water flow rate and a decrease in the inlet temperature of the cold water.
The Influence of External Load on the Performance of Microbial Fuel Cells
Authors: Potrykus Szymon , León-Fernández Luis Fernando , Nieznański Janusz , Karkosiński Dariusz , Fernandez-Morales Francisco Jesus
Published: January 2021

In this work, the effect of the external load on the current and power generation, as well as on the pollutant removal by microbial fuel cells (MFCs), has been studied by step-wise modifying the external load. The load changes included a direct scan, in which the external resistance was increased from 120 Ω to 3300 Ω, and a subsequent reverse scan, in which the external resistance was decreased back to 120 Ω. The reduction in the current, experienced when increasing the external resistance, was maintained even in the reverse scan when the external resistance was step-wise decreased. Regarding the power exerted, when the external resistance was increased below the value of the internal resistance, an enhancement in the power exerted was observed. However, when operating near the value of the internal resistance, a stable power exerted of about 1.6 µW was reached. These current and power responses can be explained by the change in population distribution, which shifts to a more fermentative than electrogenic culture, as was confirmed by the population analyses. Regarding the pollutant removal, the effluent chemical oxygen demand (COD) decreased when the external resistance increased up to the internal resistance value. However, the effluent COD increased when the external resistance was higher than the internal resistance. This behavior was maintained in the reverse scan, which confirmed the modification in the microbial population of the MFC.
A Combined Experimental and Numerical Characterization of the Flowfield and Heat Transfer around a Multiperforated Plate with Compound Angle Injection
Authors: Laroche Emmanuel , Donjat David , Reulet Philippe
Published: January 2021

The aerodynamic and thermal behaviour of multiperforated zones in combustors is essential to the development of future combustion chambers. Detailed databases are therefore crucial for the validation of RANS/LES solvers, but also regarding the derivation of heat transfer correlations used in 0D/1D in-house codes developed by engine manufacturers. In the framework of FP7 EU SOPRANO Program, the test-rig used in a previous study is modified to be compatible with anisothermal conditions. The plate studied is a 12:1 model with a 90∘ compound angle injection. A heating system is used to generate a moderate temperature gradient of about 20 K between the secondary hot flow and the main cold flow. The aerodynamic field is acquired by a PIV 2D-3C (Stereo Particle Image Velocimetry) system. The surface heat transfer coefficient is derived based on surface temperature distribution acquisitions. Several heating power levels are tested, which allows evaluating the convective heat transfer coefficient and reference temperature through a linear regression. Measurements are conducted on both sides of the plate, which also gives access to those quantities on the injection/suction sides. From a numerical point of view, the configuration is studied using the unstructured ONERA in-house CEDRE solver with an advanced Reynolds Stress Model. A systematic comparison is presented between the experimental and numerical database. Due to the high blowing ratio, the film protection is low in the first rows, with a convective heat transfer coefficient enhancement around three, and freestream cold air brought close to the wall by vortices created at injection. After four rows, the film is building up, leading gradually to a better insulation of the wall. The comparison with the numerical simulation exhibits a qualitative agreement on the main flow structures. However, the mixing between the jets, the film and the freestream is underestimated by the calculation.
Application of Computer Graphics Flow Visualization Methods in Vortex Rope Investigations
Authors: Urban Ondřej , Kurková Michaela , Rudolf Pavel
Published: January 2021

Computer graphics visualization techniques for application on data from Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations of the vortex rope, a phenomenon present in hydraulic turbines operating in off-design conditions, were devised. This included not only objects for visualization (what to visualize) but also methods of the visualization itself (how to do it). By means of advanced methods based particularly on volume rendering of Eulerian fields in combination with Lagrangian objects, various phenomena were captured, such as the motion of the vortex rope or the backflow zone. The data came from simulations using a scale-resolving hybrid turbulence model, the Stress-Blended Eddy Simulation. In such detailed simulations and other applications involving complex three-dimensional structures, proper visualization methods are needed to leverage the content captured in the resultant data.
Synthetic Approach to the Design, Manufacturing and Examination of Gerotor and Orbital Hydraulic Machines
Authors: Stryczek Jarosław , Stryczek Piotr
Published: January 2021

Gerotor technology is an important research area in the field of hydraulics which attracts the attention of both academic scientists and industry. Despite the numerous publications announced by academics, as well as a considerable number of projects made by industry, the subject has not been exhausted. This paper presents a new approach to gerotor technology which has been formed by gathering the authors’ knowledge of gerotors in a synthetic form. The following scientific and technical results have been obtained: (1) A uniform system of parameters and basic concepts regarding toothing and cycloidal gearing (z, m, λ, v, g) which is consistently used to describe the geometry, kinematics, hydraulics and manufacture of those elements; (2) description of the geometry and kinematics of the epicycloidal and hypocycloidal gears with the use of the adopted system of parameters. Additionally, the epicycloidal/hypocycloidal double gearing is presented, which is an original idea of the authors; (3) description of the hydraulics of the gerotor and orbital machines, and in particular: (i) determination of equations for delivery (capacity) q and irregularity of delivery (capacity) δ using the above-mentioned system of basic parameters; (ii) formulation of the principles of designing internal channels and clearances in the gerotor machines and presentation of the original disc distributor in the epicycloidal/hypocycloidal orbital motor; (iii) presentation of the methods of manufacturing the epicycloidal and hypocycloidal gearings with 12 examples of the systems implemented in practice; (4) presentation of the research methods applied for the examination of the gerotor machines, combining computer simulation and experimental research into a coherent and cohesive whole which results in the effect of research synergy. Such a synthesis of knowledge may serve the improvement, creation and investigation of gerotor and orbital machines carried out by academics and industry.
Potassium Hydroxyde Pre-Treatment Enhances Methane Yield from Giant Reed (Arundo donax L.)
Authors: Vasmara Ciro , Cianchetta Stefano , Marchetti Rosa , Ceotto Enrico , Galletti Stefania
Published: January 2021

The biogas production through the anaerobic digestion (AD) of giant reed (Arundo donax L.) biomass has received increasing attention. However, due to the presence of lignin, a low CH4 yield can be obtained. Aiming to improve the CH4 yield from giant reed biomass, the effectiveness of a thermo-chemical pre-treatment based on KOH was evaluated in this paper. The usefulness of a washing step before the AD was also assessed. The pre-treatment led to a specific CH4 yield up to 232 mL CH4 g−1 VS which was 21% higher than that from untreated biomass; the maximum daily rate of production was improved by 42%, AD duration was reduced by 10%, and CH4 concentration in the biogas was increased by 23%. On the contrary, the washing step did not improve the AD process. Besides, washing away the liquid fraction led to biomass losses, reducing the overall CH4 production. The use of a KOH-based pre-treatment appears as a good option for enhancing the AD of giant reed, also presenting potential environmental and agronomical benefits, like the avoidance of salty wastewater production and the likely improvement of the digestate quality, due to its enriched K content.
Leishmania Sexual Reproductive Strategies as Resolved through Computational Methods Designed for Aneuploid Genomes
Authors: Shaik Jahangheer S. , Dobson Deborah E. , Sacks David L. , Beverley Stephen M.
Published: January 2021

A cryptic sexual reproductive cycle in Leishmania has been inferred through population genetic studies revealing the presence of hybrid genotypes in natural isolates, with attempts made to decipher sexual strategies by studying complex chromosomal inheritance patterns. A more informative approach is to study the products of controlled, laboratory-based experiments where known strains or species are crossed in the sand fly vector to generate hybrid progeny. These hybrids can be subsequently studied through high resolution sequencing technologies and software suites such as PAINT that disclose inheritance patterns including ploidies, parental chromosome contributions and recombinations, all of which can inform the sexual strategy. In this work, we discuss the computational methods in PAINT that can be used to interpret the sexual strategies adopted specifically by aneuploid organisms and summarize how PAINT has been applied to the analysis of experimental hybrids to reveal meiosis-like sexual recombination in Leishmania.
Validation of the Korean Version of the Nursing Profession Self-Efficacy Scale: A Methodological Study
Authors: Oh Jina , Cho Haeryun , Kim Yae Young , Yoo So Yeon
Published: January 2021

Background: The Nursing Profession Self-Efficacy (NPSE) scale was developed to reflect the characteristics of nursing tasks. This study was conducted to validate the Korean version of the NPSE (K-NPSE) scale. Methods: The NPSE scale with nineteen items was translated into Korean after forward and backward translation according to Devellis’ guideline. For the exploratory factor analysis (EFA), 298 nurses participated and criterion-related validity and reliability were verified. For the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), 218 other nurses participated. Content validity, criterion-related validity, and internal consistency reliability were examined. Additionally, construct validity was examined. SPSS and AMOS were used for the data analyses. Results: Nineteen items were selected after evaluating the content and cognitive validity and comprised three factors: “Professional (10 items)”, “Advocating (4)”, and “Caring (5)”. Construct validity was supported by the CFA. Criterion-related validity was supported by comparison with the General Self-Efficacy Test (r = 0.43, p < 0.001). Cronbach’s alpha of the K-NPSE was 0.93. Conclusions: Study findings indicate that the K-NPSE could be useful for assessing nurses’ self-efficacy. The K-NPSE may be used as a valuable reference for developing programs or policies that promote nursing professionals. It is expected that continued use of this scale in various clinical settings to further generalize and validate the scale.
Psychometric Properties of the Healthy Lifestyle Questionnaire for Ecuadorian University Students (EVS-EUE)
Authors: Alvarez-Alvarez Mario , de la Vega-Marcos Ricardo , Jiménez-Castuera Ruth , Leyton-Román Marta
Published: January 2021

University students are considered a key population in promoting and establishing healthy lifestyles that will ensure a full life for the next generations. The purpose of this study was to do a cultural and linguistic adaptation of the healthy lifestyle questionnaire for Ecuadorian university students (EVS-EUE). Two thousand, one hundred and eight (2108) students from 17 to 19 years old (27%), 20 to 24 years old (57%), and over 24 years old (16%) participated (M = 21.81 years; SD = 3.04). A confirmatory factor analysis, internal consistency analysis, and concurrent validity were conducted. The results of the EVS-EUE Questionnaire presented adequate values (χ2/d.f = 9.02, Comparative Fit Index (CFI) = 0.96, Incremental Fit Index (IFI) = 0.96, McDonald Fit Index (MFI) = 0.91, Adjusted Goodness of Fit Index (AGFI) = 0.94, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) = 0.06, Standardized Root Mean Square Residual (SRMR) = 0.03). The internal consistency showed values above 0.70, and analyzed its concurrent validity, reaching adequate values. This study has provided a valid and reliable questionnaire to evaluate healthy lifestyles in the Ecuadorian population.
Genome-Wide DNA Methylation Analysis of a Cohort of 41 Patients Affected by Oculo-Auriculo-Vertebral Spectrum (OAVS)
Authors: Guida Valentina , Calzari Luciano , Fadda Maria Teresa , Piceci-Sparascio Francesca , Digilio Maria Cristina , Bernardini Laura , Brancati Francesco , Mattina Teresa , Melis Daniela , Forzano Francesca , Briuglia Silvana , Mazza Tommaso , Bianca Sebastiano , Valente Enza Maria , Salehi Leila Bagherjad , Prontera Paolo , Pagnoni Mario , Tenconi Romano , Dallapiccola Bruno , Iannetti Giorgio , Corsaro Luigi , De Luca Alessandro , Gentilini Davide
Published: January 2021

Oculo-auriculo-vertebral-spectrum (OAVS; OMIM 164210) is a rare disorder originating from abnormal development of the first and second branchial arch. The clinical phenotype is extremely heterogeneous with ear anomalies, hemifacial microsomia, ocular defects, and vertebral malformations being the main features. MYT1, AMIGO2, and ZYG11B gene variants were reported in a few OAVS patients, but the etiology remains largely unknown. A multifactorial origin has been proposed, including the involvement of environmental and epigenetic mechanisms. To identify the epigenetic mechanisms contributing to OAVS, we evaluated the DNA-methylation profiles of 41 OAVS unrelated affected individuals by using a genome-wide microarray-based methylation approach. The analysis was first carried out comparing OAVS patients with controls at the group level. It revealed a moderate epigenetic variation in a large number of genes implicated in basic chromatin dynamics such as DNA packaging and protein-DNA organization. The alternative analysis in individual profiles based on the searching for Stochastic Epigenetic Variants (SEV) identified an increased number of SEVs in OAVS patients compared to controls. Although no recurrent deregulated enriched regions were found, isolated patients harboring suggestive epigenetic deregulations were identified. The recognition of a different DNA methylation pattern in the OAVS cohort and the identification of isolated patients with suggestive epigenetic variations provide consistent evidence for the contribution of epigenetic mechanisms to the etiology of this complex and heterogeneous disorder.
Cardiac Cell Therapy: Insights into the Mechanisms of Tissue Repair
Authors: Peng Hsuan , Shindo Kazuhiro , Donahue Renée R. , Abdel-Latif Ahmed
Published: January 2021

Stem cell-based cardiac therapies have been extensively studied in recent years. However, the efficacy of cell delivery, engraftment, and differentiation post-transplant remain continuous challenges and represent opportunities to further refine our current strategies. Despite limited long-term cardiac retention, stem cell treatment leads to sustained cardiac benefit following myocardial infarction (MI). This review summarizes the current knowledge on stem cell based cardiac immunomodulation by highlighting the cellular and molecular mechanisms of different immune responses to mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and their secretory factors. This review also addresses the clinical evidence in the field.
Human iPSC-Based Modeling of Central Nerve System Disorders for Drug Discovery
Authors: Qian Lu , TCW Julia
Published: January 2021

A high-throughput drug screen identifies potentially promising therapeutics for clinical trials. However, limitations that persist in current disease modeling with limited physiological relevancy of human patients skew drug responses, hamper translation of clinical efficacy, and contribute to high clinical attritions. The emergence of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology revolutionizes the paradigm of drug discovery. In particular, iPSC-based three-dimensional (3D) tissue engineering that appears as a promising vehicle of in vitro disease modeling provides more sophisticated tissue architectures and micro-environmental cues than a traditional two-dimensional (2D) culture. Here we discuss 3D based organoids/spheroids that construct the advanced modeling with evolved structural complexity, which propels drug discovery by exhibiting more human specific and diverse pathologies that are not perceived in 2D or animal models. We will then focus on various central nerve system (CNS) disease modeling using human iPSCs, leading to uncovering disease pathogenesis that guides the development of therapeutic strategies. Finally, we will address new opportunities of iPSC-assisted drug discovery with multi-disciplinary approaches from bioengineering to Omics technology. Despite technological challenges, iPSC-derived cytoarchitectures through interactions of diverse cell types mimic patients’ CNS and serve as a platform for therapeutic development and personalized precision medicine.
Distinct Activity of Endocannabinoid-Hydrolyzing Enzymes MAGL and FAAH in Key Regions of Peripheral and Central Nervous System Implicated in Migraine
Authors: Della Pietra Adriana , Giniatullin Rashid , Savinainen Juha R.
Published: January 2021

In migraine pain, cannabis has a promising analgesic action, which, however, is associated with side psychotropic effects. To overcome these adverse effects of exogenous cannabinoids, we propose migraine pain relief via activation of the endogenous cannabinoid system (ECS) by inhibiting enzymes degrading endocannabinoids. To provide a functional platform for such purpose in the peripheral and central parts of the rat nociceptive system relevant to migraine, we measured by activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) the activity of the main endocannabinoid-hydrolases, monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) and fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH). We found that in trigeminal ganglia, the MAGL activity was nine-fold higher than that of FAAH. MAGL activity exceeded FAAH activity also in DRG, spinal cord and brainstem. However, activities of MAGL and FAAH were comparably high in the cerebellum and cerebral cortex implicated in migraine aura. MAGL and FAAH activities were identified and blocked by the selective and potent inhibitors JJKK-048/KML29 and JZP327A, respectively. The high MAGL activity in trigeminal ganglia implicated in the generation of nociceptive signals suggests this part of ECS as a priority target for blocking peripheral mechanisms of migraine pain. In the CNS, both MAGL and FAAH represent potential targets for attenuation of migraine-related enhanced cortical excitability and pain transmission.
Hypoxia-Induced S100A8 Expression Activates Microglial Inflammation and Promotes Neuronal Apoptosis
Authors: Ha Ji Sun , Choi Hye-Rim , Kim In Sik , Kim Eun-A , Cho Sung-Woo , Yang Seung-Ju
Published: January 2021

S100 calcium-binding protein A8 (S100A8), a danger-associated molecular pattern, has emerged as an important mediator of the pro-inflammatory response. Some S100 proteins play a prominent role in neuroinflammatory disorders and increase the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines in microglial cells. The aim of this study was to determine whether S100A8 induced neuronal apoptosis during cerebral hypoxia and elucidate its mechanism of action. In this study, we reported that the S100A8 protein expression was increased in mouse neuronal and microglial cells when exposed to hypoxia, and induced neuroinflammation and neuronal apoptosis. S100A8, secreted from neurons under hypoxia, activated the secretion of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) through phosphorylation of extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in microglia. Also, phosphorylation of ERK via the TLR4 receptor induced the priming of the NLRP3 inflammasome. The changes in Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression, a well-known inflammatory activator, were regulated by the S100A8 expression in microglial cells. Knockdown of S100A8 levels by using shRNA revealed that microglial S100A8 expression activated COX-2 expression, leading to neuronal apoptosis under hypoxia. These results suggested that S100A8 may be an important molecule for bidirectional microglia-neuron communication and a new therapeutic target for neurological disorders caused by microglial inflammation during hypoxia.
Transcriptomic Signatures and Upstream Regulation in Human Skeletal Muscle Adapted to Disuse and Aerobic Exercise
Authors: Makhnovskii Pavel A. , Bokov Roman O. , Kolpakov Fedor A. , Popov Daniil V.
Published: January 2021

Inactivity is associated with the development of numerous disorders. Regular aerobic exercise is broadly used as a key intervention to prevent and treat these pathological conditions. In our meta-analysis we aimed to identify and compare (i) the transcriptomic signatures related to disuse, regular and acute aerobic exercise in human skeletal muscle and (ii) the biological effects and transcription factors associated with these transcriptomic changes. A standardized workflow with robust cut-off criteria was used to analyze 27 transcriptomic datasets for the vastus lateralis muscle of healthy humans subjected to disuse, regular and acute aerobic exercise. We evaluated the role of transcriptional regulation in the phenotypic changes described in the literature. The responses to chronic interventions (disuse and regular training) partially correspond to the phenotypic effects. Acute exercise induces changes that are mainly related to the regulation of gene expression, including a strong enrichment of several transcription factors (most of which are related to the ATF/CREB/AP-1 superfamily) and a massive increase in the expression levels of genes encoding transcription factors and co-activators. Overall, the adaptation strategies of skeletal muscle to decreased and increased levels of physical activity differ in direction and demonstrate qualitative differences that are closely associated with the activation of different sets of transcription factors.
Fabrication of Co3O4 from Cobalt/2,6-Napthalenedicarboxylic Acid Metal-Organic Framework as Electrode for Supercapacitor Application
Authors: Imaduddin Ibnu Syafiq , Majid Siti Rohana , Aziz Shujahadeen B. , Brevik Iver , Yusuf Siti Nor Farhana , Brza M. A. , Saeed Salah R. , Kadir Mohd Fakhrul Zamani Abdul
Published: January 2021

In this study, cobalt-based metal-organic framework (MOF) powder was prepared via the solvothermal method using 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid (NDC) as the organic linker and N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) as the solvent. The thermal decomposition of the pristine cobalt-based MOF sample (CN-R) was identified using a thermogravimetric examination (TGA). The morphology and structure of the MOFs were modified during the pyrolysis process at three different temperatures: 300, 400, and 500 °C, which labeled as CN-300, CN-400, and CN-500, respectively. The results were evidenced via field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The crystallite size of all samples was calculated using Scherrer’s equation. The smallest crystallite size of 7.77 nm was calculated for the CN-300 sample. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra were acquired for all the samples. The graphical study of the cyclic voltammogram (CV) gave the reduction and oxidation peaks. The charge transfer resistance and ionic conductivity were studied using electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD) responses of all samples were analyzed. The relatively high specific capacitance of 229 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 was achieved in the sample CN-300, whereby 110% of capacitance was retained after 5000 cycles. These findings highlighted the durability of the electrode materials at high current densities over a long cycle.
The Past, Present and Future of Flow Cytometry in Central Nervous System Malignancies
Authors: Vartholomatos Evrysthenis , Vartholomatos George , Alexiou George , Markopoulos Georgios
Published: January 2021

Central nervous system malignancies (CNSMs) are categorized among the most aggressive and deadly types of cancer. The low median survival in patients with CNSMs is partly explained by the objective difficulties of brain surgeries as well as by the acquired chemoresistance of CNSM cells. Flow Cytometry is an analytical technique with the ability to quantify cell phenotype and to categorize cell populations on the basis of their characteristics. In the current review, we summarize the Flow Cytometry methodologies that have been used to study different phenotypic aspects of CNSMs. These include DNA content analysis for the determination of malignancy status and phenotypic characterization, as well as the methodologies used during the development of novel therapeutic agents. We conclude with the historical and current utility of Flow Cytometry in the field, and we propose how we can exploit current and possible future methodologies in the battle against this dreadful type of malignancy.
Exploration of Human Activity Recognition Using a Single Sensor for Stroke Survivors and Able-Bodied People
Authors: Meng Long , Zhang Anjing , Chen Chen , Wang Xingwei , Jiang Xinyu , Tao Linkai , Fan Jiahao , Wu Xuejiao , Dai Chenyun , Zhang Yiyuan , Vanrumste Bart , Tamura Toshiyo , Chen Wei
Published: January 2021

Commonly used sensors like accelerometers, gyroscopes, surface electromyography sensors, etc., which provide a convenient and practical solution for human activity recognition (HAR), have gained extensive attention. However, which kind of sensor can provide adequate information in achieving a satisfactory performance, or whether the position of a single sensor would play a significant effect on the performance in HAR are sparsely studied. In this paper, a comparative study to fully investigate the performance of the aforementioned sensors for classifying four activities (walking, tooth brushing, face washing, drinking) is explored. Sensors are spatially distributed over the human body, and subjects are categorized into three groups (able-bodied people, stroke survivors, and the union of both). Performances of using accelerometer, gyroscope, sEMG, and their combination in each group are evaluated by adopting the Support Vector Machine classifier with the Leave-One-Subject-Out Cross-Validation technique, and the optimal sensor position for each kind of sensor is presented based on the accuracy. Experimental results show that using the accelerometer could obtain the best performance in each group. The highest accuracy of HAR involving stroke survivors was 95.84 ± 1.75% (mean ± standard error), achieved by the accelerometer attached to the extensor carpi ulnaris. Furthermore, taking the practical application of HAR into consideration, a novel approach to distinguish various activities of stroke survivors based on a pre-trained HAR model built on healthy subjects is proposed, the highest accuracy of which is 77.89 ± 4.81% (mean ± standard error) with the accelerometer attached to the extensor carpi ulnaris.
Investigating a Low-Cost Dryer Designed for Low-Cost PM Sensors Measuring Ambient Air Quality
Authors: Samad Abdul , Melchor Mimiaga Freddy Ernesto , Laquai Bernd , Vogt Ulrich
Published: January 2021

Air pollution in urban areas is a huge concern that demands an efficient air quality control to ensure health quality standards. The hotspots can be located by increasing spatial distribution of ambient air quality monitoring for which the low-cost sensors can be used. However, it is well-known that many factors influence their results. For low-cost Particulate Matter (PM) sensors, high relative humidity can have a significant impact on data quality. In order to eliminate or reduce the impact of high relative humidity on the results obtained from low-cost PM sensors, a low-cost dryer was developed and its effectiveness was investigated. For this purpose, a test chamber was designed, and low-cost PM sensors as well as professional reference devices were installed. A vaporizer regulated the humid conditions in the test chamber. The low-cost dryer heated the sample air with a manually adjustable intensity depending on the voltage. Different voltages were tested to find the optimum one with least energy consumption and maximum drying efficiency. The low-cost PM sensors with and without the low-cost dryer were compared. The experimental results verified that using the low-cost dryer reduced the influence of relative humidity on the low-cost PM sensor results.
An Easily Fabricated High Performance Fabry-Perot Optical Fiber Humidity Sensor Filled with Graphene Quantum Dots
Authors: Wang Ning , Tian Wenhao , Zhang Haosheng , Yu Xiaodan , Yin Xiaolei , Du Yonggang , Li Dailin
Published: January 2021

An easily fabricated Fabry-Perot optical fiber humidity sensor with high performance was presented by filling Graphene Quantum Dots (GQDs) into the Fabry-Perot resonator, which consists of two common single mode optical fibers. The relative humidity sensing performance was experimentally investigated by an interference spectrum drift between 11 %RH to 85 %RH. 0.567 nm/%RH sensitivity and 0.99917 linear correlation were found in experiments that showed high sensitivity, good and wide-range linear responding. Meanwhile, its good responding repeatability was demonstrated by two circle tests with increasing and decreasing relative humidity. For investigating the measurement influence caused by a temperature jitter, the temperature responding was experimentally investigated, which showed its linear responding with 0.033 nm/°C sensitivity. The results demonstrate the humidity sensitivity is greatly higher than the temperature sensitivity. The wavelength shift influence is 0.0198 nm with 0.6 °C max temperature jitter in the experiment, which can be ignored in humidity experiments. The fast-dynamic responses at typical humidity were demonstrated in experiments, with 5.5 s responding time and 8.5 s recovering time. The sensors with different cavity lengths were also investigated for their humidity response. All sensors gave good linear responding and high sensitivity. In addition, the relation curve between cavity length and response sensitivity also had good linearity. The combination of GQDs and single mode optical fibers showed easy fabrication and good performance for an optical fiber relative humidity sensor.
Review of Current Guided Wave Ultrasonic Testing (GWUT) Limitations and Future Directions
Authors: Olisa Samuel Chukwuemeka , Khan Muhammad A. , Starr Andrew
Published: January 2021

Damage is an inevitable occurrence in metallic structures and when unchecked could result in a catastrophic breakdown of structural assets. Non-destructive evaluation (NDE) is adopted in industries for assessment and health inspection of structural assets. Prominent among the NDE techniques is guided wave ultrasonic testing (GWUT). This method is cost-effective and possesses an enormous capability for long-range inspection of corroded structures, detection of sundries of crack and other metallic damage structures at low frequency and energy attenuation. However, the parametric features of the GWUT are affected by structural and environmental operating conditions and result in masking damage signal. Most studies focused on identifying individual damage under varying conditions while combined damage phenomena can coexist in structure and hasten its deterioration. Hence, it is an impending task to study the effect of combined damage on a structure under varying conditions and correlate it with GWUT parametric features. In this respect, this work reviewed the literature on UGWs, damage inspection, severity, temperature influence on the guided wave and parametric characteristics of the inspecting wave. The review is limited to the piezoelectric transduction unit. It was keenly observed that no significant work had been done to correlate the parametric feature of GWUT with combined damage effect under varying conditions. It is therefore proposed to investigate this impending task.
Mini-AUV Hydrodynamic Parameters Identification via CFD Simulations and Their Application on Control Performance Evaluation
Authors: Castillo-Zamora José J. , Camarillo-Gómez Karla A. , Pérez-Soto Gerardo I. , Rodríguez-Reséndiz Juvenal , Morales-Hernández Luis A.
Published: January 2021

This manuscript presents a fully detailed methodology in order to identify the hydrodynamic parameters of a mini autonomous underwater vehicle (mini-AUV) and evaluate its performance using different controllers. The methodology consists of close-to-reality simulation using a Computed Fluid Dynamics (CFD) module of the ANSYS™ Workbench software, the processing of the data, obtained by simulation, with a set of Savistky–Golay filters; and, the application of the Least Square Method in order to estimate the hydrodynamic parameters of the mini-AUV. Finally, these parameters are considered to design the three different controllers that are based on the robot manipulators theory. Numerical simulations are carried out to evaluate the performance of the controllers.
Optimization of Plant Extract Purification Procedure for Rapid Screening Analysis of Sixteen Phenolics by Liquid Chromatography
Authors: Ranušová Petra , Matušíková Ildikó , Nemeček Peter
Published: January 2021

A solid-phase extraction (SPE) procedure was developed for simultaneous monitoring of sixteen different phenolics of various polarity, quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The procedure allowed screening the accumulation of intermediates in different metabolic pathways that play a crucial role in plant physiology and/or are beneficial for human health. Metabolites mostly involved in phenylpropanoid, shikimate, and polyketide pathways comprise chlorogenic acid, gentisic acid, vanillic acid, caffeic acid, protocatechuic acid, ferulic acid, rutin, quercetin, epicatechin, gallic acid, sinapic acid, p-coumaric acid, o-coumaric acid, vanillin; two rarely quantified metabolites, 2,5-dimethoxybenzoic acid and 4-methoxycinnamic acid, were included as well. The procedure offered low cost, good overall efficiency, and applicability in laboratories with standard laboratory equipment. SPE recoveries were up to 99.8% at various concentration levels. The method allowed for routine analysis of compounds with a wide range of polarity within a single run, while its applicability was demonstrated for various model plant species (tobacco, wheat, and soybean), as well as different tissue types (shoots and roots).
Estresse salino na emergência e desenvolvimento inicial de plântulas de jurema-branca
Authors: Nogueira Narjara , Freitas Rômulo , Leal Caio , Torres Salvador
Published: January 2021

A Piptadenia stipulacea Benth., conhecida popularmente como jurema-branca, é uma espécie arbórea de pequeno porte, nativa da Caatinga, amplamente distribuída na região Nordeste do Brasil, sendo considerada de grande interesse comercial, econômico e ambiental para a região pelas suas características de uso múltiplo. O presente trabalho teve com o objetivo avaliar o efeito de diferentes concentrações salinas em água de irrigação na emergência e desenvolvimento inicial de plântulas de jurema-branca. O delineamento estatístico utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, com sete tratamentos e quatro repetições, com 25 sementes cada. Os tratamentos consistiram das concentrações salinas (0,5; 1,5; 2,5; 3,5; 4,5; 5,5 e 6,5 dS m-¹), que foram obtidas através da adição de NaCl em água de forma que as soluções fossem calibradas para as condutividades elétricas pré-estabelecidas. As variáveis avaliadas foram a porcentagem de emergência, velocidade de emergência, altura de plântula, número de folhas, comprimento de raiz e massa seca da parte aérea, raiz e total. A espécie possui tolerância moderada a salinidade, suportando salinidades de 4,5 dS m-¹ sem que haja perdas significativas de germinação e número de folhas. No entanto, a irrigação com água salina afeta de forma negativa as plântulas de jurema-branca, comprometendo seu desenvolvimento quanto ao acúmulo de massa e crescimento da parte aérea.
HISTÓRICO SOBRE MODELOS DE AFILAMENTO EM PLANTIOS BRASILEIROS COM O GÊNERO PINUS.
Authors: TERRA David Lucas Camargo Vieira , ANDRADE VALDIR CARLOS LIMA DE , SILVA Heloísa Donizete da
Published: January 2021

O objetivo desta revisão bibliográfica foi apresentar alguns dos principais resultados sobre a atual situação do uso de modelos de afilamento em plantios com o gênero Pinus no Brasil. Diversos trabalhos têm sido realizados no país, principalmente, com dados advindos da região sul por existir uma extensa área plantada com diferentes espécies do referido gênero. Dessa forma, esta revisão sintetiza resultados dos modelos de afilamento mais testados de acordo com aspectos geográficos e condições edafoclimáticas. Por esta revisão, ficou claro que para obtenção do melhor modelo é necessário a avaliação exímia de cada situação específica, uma vez que a precisão das estatísticas obtidas para cada modelo varia de acordo com as variáveis e condições de cada local e espécie. Percebeu-se que os modelos de afilamento de Hradetzky e Schöepfer são os que mais se utilizam em plantios com o gênero Pinus no Brasil, onde a espécie Pinus taeda concentrou cerca de 64% dos trabalhos realizados e, a região Sul, concentrou 74% dos trabalhos realizados sobre afilamento, com destaque para o estado do Paraná com 42%.
Polarized Water Driven Dynamic PN Junction-Based Direct-Current Generator
Authors: Lu Yanghua , Yan Yanfei , Yu Xutao , Zhou Xu , Feng Sirui , Xu Chi , Zheng Haonan , Yang Zunshan , Li Linjun , Liu Kaihui , Lin Shisheng
Published: January 2021

There is a rising prospective in harvesting energy from the environment, as in situ energy is required for the distributed sensors in the interconnected information society, among which the water flow energy is the most potential candidate as a clean and abundant mechanical source. However, for microscale and unordered movement of water, achieving a sustainable direct-current generating device with high output to drive the load element is still challenging, which requires for further exploration. Herein, we propose a dynamic PN water junction generator with moving water sandwiched between two semiconductors, which outputs a sustainable direct-current voltage of 0.3 V and a current of 0.64 
μ
A. The mechanism can be attributed to the dynamic polarization process of water as moving dielectric medium in the dynamic PN water junction, under the Fermi level difference of two semiconductors. We further demonstrate an encapsulated portable power-generating device with simple structure and continuous direct-current voltage output of 0.11 V, which exhibits its promising potential application in the field of wearable devices and the IoTs.
Occurrence of Uranium in Groundwater from Cuddalore District Tamil Nadu Aided by Geospatial and Statistical Techniques
Authors: P Anandhan , S Chidambaram , R Manivannan , P Paramaguru , C Karthikeyan , K Srinivasamoorthy , R Prakash
Published: January 2021

An attempt has been made to examine uranium distribution in groundwater from Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu, India. Groundwater occurs under porous sedimentary, fractured, and weathered hard rock formations ranging in age from recent sediments to the oldest Archean formations. A total of 186 groundwater samples were collected during Pre- Monsoon (May) and Post-monsoon (January) and analyzed for major cations, anions, and uranium using standard procedures. Major anions and cations follow the order Cl- >H4SiO4>HCO3- >NO3- > Na+> Ca2+> Mg2+>K+>SO42- > F-> PO43- irrespective of seasons. Uranium in groundwater ranges from 0.1 micro gram per liter (µg/l ) to 24.67 µg/l with average 1.82 µg/l. The spatial representation maps isolated areas of higher and lower uranium and statistical analysis inferred uranium sources to the groundwater environment.