bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cerebrospinal Fluid MicroRNA Signatures as Diagnostic Biomarkers in Brain Tumors
Authors: Kopkova Alena , Sana Jiri , Machackova Tana , Vecera Marek , Radova Lenka , Trachtova Karolina , Vybihal Vaclav , Smrcka Martin , Kazda Tomas , Slaby Ondrej , Fadrus Pavel
Published: October 2019

Central nervous system (CNS) malignancies include primary tumors that originate within the CNS as well as secondary tumors that develop as a result of metastatic spread. Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) were found in almost all human body fluids including cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and they seem to be highly stable and resistant to even extreme conditions. The overall aim of our study was to identify specific CSF miRNA patterns that could differentiate among brain tumors. These new biomarkers could potentially aid borderline or uncertain imaging results onto diagnosis of CNS malignancies, avoiding most invasive procedures such as stereotactic biopsy or biopsy. In total, 175 brain tumor patients (glioblastomas, low-grade gliomas, meningiomas and brain metastases), and 40 non-tumor patients with hydrocephalus as controls were included in this prospective monocentric study. Firstly, we performed high-throughput miRNA profiling (Illumina small RNA sequencing) on a discovery cohort of 70 patients and 19 controls and identified specific miRNA signatures of all brain tumor types tested. Secondly, validation of 9 candidate miRNAs was carried out on an independent cohort of 105 brain tumor patients and 21 controls using qRT-PCR. Based on the successful results of validation and various combination patterns of only 5 miRNA levels (miR-30e, miR-140, let-7b, mR-10a and miR-21-3p) we proposed CSF-diagnostic scores for each tumor type which enabled to distinguish them from healthy donors and other tumor types tested. In addition to this primary diagnostic tool, we described the prognostic potential of the combination of miR-10b and miR-196b levels in CSF of glioblastoma patients. In conclusion, we performed the largest study so far focused on CSF miRNA profiling in patients with brain tumors, and we believe that this new class of biomarkers have a strong potential as a diagnostic and prognostic tool in these patients.
Is There a Standard Adjuvant Therapy for Resected Pancreatic Cancer?
Authors: Fenocchio Elisabetta , Filippi Roberto , Lombardi Pasquale , Quarà Virginia , Milanesio Michela , Aimar Giacomo , Leone Francesco , Aglietta Massimo
Published: October 2019

Surgical resection remains the only treatment that offers a potential chance of long-term survival. Unfortunately, about 80% of patients treated with curative intent will develop recurrence. Since 2001, adjuvant therapy with gemcitabine or 5-fluorouracyle was recommended. This approach allows a median overall survival (OS) of around 23 months, and 5-year survival of 22%. In recent years, two phase-3 trials investigating new chemotherapy regimens resulted in considerably improved survival times. The doublet gemcitabine–capecitabine has shown improvement in OS from 25.5 to 28 months (p = 0.032) compared to gemcitabine, in the ESPAC-4 trial. Later, preliminary results of PRODIGE 24 trial presented at the 2018 ASCO meeting showed a superiority of a combination chemotherapy regimen with fluorouracil, leucovorin, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin (mFOLFIRINOX) when compared to gemcitabine alone, both in terms of median disease-free survival (21.6 vs. 12.8 months, p < 0.0001) and OS (54.4 vs. 35 months, p = 0.003). Contrary to chemotherapy, the role of adjuvant radiotherapy is still controversial, even in the case of R1 surgery. A randomized trial exploring the role of chemoradiotherapy in this setting is now ongoing in the US (RTOG-0848). Overall, the management of localized pancreatic adenocarcinoma is evolving. In this review, we summarize the current status and the most up-to-date developments in adjuvant treatment.
Spironolactone, a Classic Potassium-Sparing Diuretic, Reduces Survivin Expression and Chemosensitizes Cancer Cells to Non-DNA-Damaging Anticancer Drugs
Authors: Sanomachi Tomomi , Suzuki Shuhei , Togashi Keita , Sugai Asuka , Seino Shizuka , Okada Masashi , Yoshioka Takashi , Kitanaka Chifumi , Yamamoto Masahiro
Published: October 2019

Spironolactone, a classical diuretic drug, is used to treat tumor-associated complications in cancer patients. Spironolactone was recently reported to exert anti-cancer effects by suppressing DNA damage repair. However, it currently remains unclear whether spironolactone exerts combinational effects with non-DNA-damaging anti-cancer drugs, such as gemcitabine and epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs). Using the cancer cells of lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, and glioblastoma, the combinational effects of spironolactone with gemcitabine and osimertinib, a third-generation EGFR-TKI, were examined in vitro with cell viability assays. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms, we investigated alterations induced in survivin, an anti-apoptotic protein, by spironolactone as well as the chemosensitization effects of the suppression of survivin by YM155, an inhibitor of survivin, and siRNA. We also examined the combinational effects in a mouse xenograft model. The results obtained revealed that spironolactone augmented cell death and the suppression of cell growth by gemcitabine and osimertinib. Spironolactone also reduced the expression of survivin in these cells, and the pharmacological and genetic suppression of survivin sensitized cells to gemcitabine and osimertinib. This combination also significantly suppressed tumor growth without apparent adverse effects in vivo. In conclusion, spironolactone is a safe candidate drug that exerts anti-cancer effects in combination with non-DNA-damaging drugs, such as gemcitabine and osimertinib, most likely through the suppression of survivin.
The Management of Oligoprogression in the Landscape of New Therapies for Metastatic Melanoma
Authors: Guida Michele , Bartolomeo Nicola , De Risi Ivana , Fucci Livia , Armenio Andrea , Filannino Ruggero , Ruggieri Eustachio , Macina Francesco , Traversa Michele , Nardone Annalisa , Figliuolo Francesco , De Luca Federica , Mele Fabio , Tommasi Stefania , Strippoli Sabino
Published: October 2019

Background: A limited degree of progression after a response to treatment is labelled as oligoprogression and is a hot topic of metastatic melanoma (MM) management. Rogue progressive metastases could benefit from local treatment, which could allow the continuation of ongoing systemic therapy, also known as treatment beyond progression (TBP). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 214 selected MM patients who were treated with v-Raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B (BRAF)/mitogen-activated-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK) or programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitors and received a local treatment continuing TBP. We performed univariate and multivariable analyses to assess the association between therapy outcomes and a series of clinical and biological features. Results: We identified 27 (10%) oligoprogressed patients treated locally with surgery (14), radiosurgery (11), and electrochemotherapy (2). TBP included PD-1 inhibitors (13) and BRAF/MEK inhibitors (14). The median progression-free survival post oligoprogression (PFSPO) was 14 months (5–19 95% confidence interval (C.I.)). In the univariate analysis, a significantly longer PFSPO was associated with complete response (CR), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) of 0, neutrophils/lymphocytes ratio (N/L) <2, and progression-free survival (PFS) at oligoprogression >11 months. Nevertheless, in the multivariable analysis, only CR and N/L <2 were found to be associated with longer PFSPO. Conclusions: In selected patients, local treatments contribute to controlling oligoprogression for a long time, allowing the continuation of systemic treatment and prolongation of overall survival (OS). Increasing biological and clinical knowledge is improving the accuracy in identifying patients to apply for local ablative therapies.
Optimizing the Aromatic Product Distribution from Catalytic Fast Pyrolysis of Biomass Using Hydrothermally Synthesized Ga-MFI Zeolites
Authors: Li Jian , Li Xiangyu , Hua Derun , Lu Xinning , Wang Yujue
Published: October 2019

A series of gallium-containing MFI (Ga-MFI) zeolites with varying Ga2O3/Al2O3 ratios were synthesized using hydrothermal synthesis and tested as catalyst in catalytic fast pyrolysis (CFP) of beech wood for aromatic production. The results show that the incorporation of Ga slightly reduced the effective pore size of Ga-MFI zeolites compared to conventional HZSM-5 zeolites. Therefore, the Ga-MFI zeolites increased the aromatic selectivity for smaller aromatics such as benzene, toluene, and p-xylene and decreased the aromatic selectivity for bulkier ones such as m-xylene, o-xylene, and polyaromatics in CFP of beech wood relative to HSZM-5. In particular, the yield and selectivity of p-xylene, the most desired product from CFP of biomass, increased considerably from 1.64 C% and 33.3% for conventional HZSM-5 to 2.98–3.34 C% and 72.1–79.6% for the synthesized Ga-MFI zeolites. These results suggest that slightly reducing the pore size of MFI zeolite by Ga incorporation has a beneficial effect on optimizing the aromatic selectivity toward more valuable monoaromatic products, especially p-xylene, during CFP of biomass.
Reduced DAXX Expression Is Associated with Reduced CD24 Expression in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Chen Ya-Chun , Lee Tsung-Hsien , Tzeng Shu-Ling
Published: October 2019

The presence of an activating mutation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is found in ~90% of colorectal cancer (CRC) cases. Death domain-associated protein (DAXX), a nuclear protein, interacts with β-catenin in CRC cells. We investigated DAXX expression in 106 matched sample pairs of CRC and adjacent normal tissue by Western blotting. This study evaluated DAXX expression and its clinical implications in CRC. The results revealed that DAXX expression was significantly lower in the patients with the positive serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) screening results compared to the patients with negative CEA screening levels (p < 0.001). It has been reported that CD24 is a Wnt target in CRC cells. Here, we further revealed that DAXX expression was significantly correlated with CD24 expression (rho = 0.360, p < 0.001) in 106 patients. Consistent with this, in the CEA-positive subgroup, of which the carcinomas expressed DAXX at low levels, they were significantly correlated with CD24 expression (rho = 0.461, p < 0.005). Therefore, reduced DAXX expression is associated with reduced CD24 expression in CRC. Notably, in the Hct116 cells, DAXX knockdown using short-hairpin RNA against DAXX (shDAXX) not only caused significant cell proliferation, but also promoted metastasis. The DAXX-knockdown cells also demonstrated significantly decreased CD24 expression, however the intracellular localization of CD24 did not change. Thus, DAXX might be considered as a potential regulator of CD24 or β-catenin expression, which might be correlated with proliferative and metastatic potential of CRC.
New Challenges of HIV-1 Infection: How HIV-1 Attacks and Resides in the Central Nervous System
Authors: Rojas-Celis Victoria , Valiente-Echeverría Fernando , Soto-Rifo Ricardo , Toro-Ascuy Daniela
Published: October 2019

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has become one of the most devastating pandemics in recorded history. The main causal agent of AIDS is the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which infects various cell types of the immune system that express the CD4 receptor on their surfaces. Today, combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) is the standard treatment for all people with HIV; although it has improved the quality of life of people living with HIV (PLWH), it cannot eliminate the latent reservoir of the virus. Therefore HIV/AIDS has turned from a fatal disease to a chronic disease requiring lifelong treatment. Despite significant viral load suppression, it has been observed that at least half of patients under cART present HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND), which have been related to HIV-1 infection and replication in the central nervous system (CNS). Several studies have focused on elucidating the mechanism by which HIV-1 can invade the CNS and how it can generate the effects seen in HAND. This review summarizes the research on HIV-1 and its interaction with the CNS with an emphasis on the generation of HAND, how the virus enters the CNS, the relationship between HIV-1 and cells of the CNS, and the effect of cART on these cells.
Nuclear-cytoplasmic Shuttling in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia: Implications in Leukemia Maintenance and Therapy
Authors: Carrà Giovanna , Russo Isabella , Guerrasio Angelo , Morotti Alessandro
Published: October 2019

Nuclear-cytoplasmic shuttling is a highly regulated and complex process, which involves both proteins and nucleic acids. Changes in cellular compartmentalization of various proteins, including oncogenes and tumor suppressors, affect cellular behavior, promoting or inhibiting proliferation, apoptosis and sensitivity to therapies. In this review, we will recapitulate the role of various shuttling components in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia and we will provide insights on the potential role of shuttling proteins as therapeutic targets.
Species Differences in the Nutrition of Retinal Ganglion Cells among Mammals Frequently Used as Animal Models
Authors: May Christian Albrecht
Published: October 2019

The diffusion rate for proper nutrition of the inner retina depends mainly on four factors which are discussed in this review: 1. The diffusion distance between blood and retinal ganglion cells shows morphological variants in different mammalian species, namely a choroidal nutrition type, a retinal nutrition type, and a mixture of both types. 2. Low oxygen concentration levels in the inner retina force the diffusion of oxygen especially in the choroidal nutrition type. Other nutrients might be supplied by surrounding cells, mainly Müller cells. 3. Diffusion in the eye is influenced by the intraocular pressure, which is vital for the retinal ganglion cells but might also influence their proper function. Again, the nutrition types established might explain the differences in normal intraocular pressure levels among different species. 4. Temperature is a critical feature in the eye which has to be buffered to avoid neuronal damage. The most effective buffer system is the increased blood turnover in the choroid which has to be established in all species.
Microfiber Coating for Flow Control over a Blunt Surface
Authors: Hasegawa Mitsugu , Sakaue Hirotaka
Published: October 2019

A microfiber coating having a hair-like structure is investigated as a passive flow control device of a bluff body. The effect of microfiber length is experimentally studied to understand the impact of the coating on drag on a cylinder. A series of microfiber coatings with different lengths are fabricated using flocking technology and applied to various locations over the cylinder surface under the constant Reynolds number of 6.1 × 104 based on the diameter of the cylinder. It is found that the length and the location both play important roles in the drag reduction. Two types of drag reduction can be seen: (1) when the relative length of the microfiber, k/D, is less than 1.8%, and the coating is applied before flow separates over the cylinder; and (2) k/D is over 3.3%, and the coating is applied after the flow separation location on the cylinder. The maximum drag reduction for the former type is 59% compared to that from the cylinder without the microfiber coating. For the latter type, the maximum drag reduction is 27%.
Special Issue on Superhydrophobic Coatings for Corrosion and Tribology
Authors: Wang Shuncai , Zhao Guochen
Published: October 2019

Superhydrophobicity, showing strong water-repellency, has been widely investigated for many applications, especially in the fields of corrosion protection and antifouling [...]
Liquid Crystal Optical Devices
Authors: Jaroszewicz Leszek R. , Bennis Noureddine
Published: October 2019

It has been approximately 125 years since the Austrian scientist Friedrich Reinitzer in 1888 observed the curious behavior of the double melting points of cholesterol benzoate, a discovery that today is widely recognized as liquid crystal science [...]
Revisit the Role of Steps/Disconnections on Misfit Cancellation at Semi-Coherent Interface—Bridging the O-Line Model and the Topological Model
Authors: Qiu Dong
Published: October 2019

It has been a long-standing topic how the lattice misfit is cancelled at a semi-coherent interphase boundary consisting of terraces and steps. Apart from a set of misfit dislocations separating the coherent patches, the role of steps (which is frequently called ‘disconnections’) on misfit cancellation remains ambiguous because these steps do not destroy the continuity of lattice planes across the interface. This paper aims to clarify such ambiguity through identification of a set of secondary dislocations through a rigorous constrained coincidence site lattice (CCSL)/constrained displacive shift complete lattice (CDSCL) analysis. A semi-coherent interface between body-centred cubic (BCC) Cr-rich precipitate and face-centred cubic (FCC) Cu-rich matrix that holds a near N-W orientation relationship (OR) is used as an example to demonstrate the procedure to determine the secondary dislocations that are coincident with steps along the interface. The current approach does not only redefine the disconnections in the topological model, but also extends the description of interface structure from the O-line model. As a result, the ‘discrepancy’ between these two popular crystallographic models can be completely eliminated when the interface is required to contain a pair of parallel close-packed directions.
New Tetragonal ReGa5(M) (M = Sn, Pb, Bi) Single Crystals Grown from Delicate Electrons Changing
Authors: Marshall Madalynn , Górnicka Karolina , Mudiyanselage Ranuri S. Dissanayaka , Klimczuk Tomasz , Xie Weiwei
Published: October 2019

Single crystals of the new Ga-rich phases ReGa~5(Sn), ReGa~5(Pb) and ReGa~5(Bi) were successfully obtained from the flux method. The new tetragonal phases crystallize in the space group P4/mnc (No. 128) with vertex-sharing capped Re2@Ga14 oblong chains. Vacancies were discovered on the Ga4 and Ga5 sites, which can be understood as the direct inclusion of elemental Sn, Pb and Bi into the structure. Heat capacity measurements were performed on all three compounds resulting in a small anomaly which resembles the superconductivity transition temperature from the impurity ReGa5 phase. The three compounds were not superconducting above 1.85 K. Subsequently, electronic structure calculations revealed a high density of states around the Fermi level, as well as non-bonding interactions that likely indicate the stability of these new phases.
On the Calculation of the Effective Polytropic Index in Space Plasmas
Authors: Nicolaou Georgios , Livadiotis George , Wicks Robert T.
Published: October 2019

The polytropic index of space plasmas is typically determined from the relationship between the measured plasma density and temperature. In this study, we quantify the errors in the determination of the polytropic index, due to uncertainty in the analyzed measurements. We model the plasma density and temperature measurements for a certain polytropic index, and then, we apply the standard analysis to derive the polytropic index. We explore the accuracy of the derived polytropic index for a range of uncertainties in the modeled density and temperature and repeat for various polytropic indices. Our analysis shows that the uncertainties in the plasma density introduce a systematic error in the determination of the polytropic index which can lead to artificial isothermal relations, while the uncertainties in the plasma temperature increase the statistical error of the calculated polytropic index value. We analyze Wind spacecraft observations of the solar wind protons and we derive the polytropic index in selected intervals over 2002. The derived polytropic index is affected by the plasma measurement uncertainties, in a similar way as predicted by our model. Finally, we suggest a new data-analysis approach, based on a physical constraint, that reduces the amount of erroneous derivations.
Permutation Entropy-Based Analysis of Temperature Complexity Spatial-Temporal Variation and Its Driving Factors in China
Authors: Zhang Ting , Cheng Changxiu , Gao Peichao
Published: October 2019

Air temperature fluctuation complexity (TFC) describes the uncertainty of temperature changes. The analysis of its spatial and temporal variation is of great significance to evaluate prediction uncertainty of the regional temperature trends and the climate change. In this study, annual-TFC from 1979–2017 and seasonal-TFC from 1983–2017 in China were calculated by permutation entropy (PE). Their temporal trend is described by the Mann-Kendall method. Driving factors of their spatial variations are explored through GeoDetector. The results show that: (1). TFC shows a downward trend generally, with obvious time variation. (2). The spatial variation of TFC is mainly manifested in the differences among the five sub-regions in China. There is low uncertainty in the short-term temperature trends in the northwest and southeast. The northeastern and southwestern regions show high uncertainties. TFC in the central region is moderate. (3). The vegetation is the main factor of spatial variation, followed by the climate and altitude, and the latitude and terrain display the lowest impact. The interactions of vegetation-altitude, vegetation-climate and altitude-latitude can interpret more than 50% of the spatial variations. These results provide insights into causes and mechanisms of the complexity of the climate system. They can help to determine the influencing process of various factors.
Enhanced Negative Nonlocal Conductance in an Interacting Quantum Dot Connected to Two Ferromagnetic Leads and One Superconducting Lead
Authors: Lee Cong , Dong Bing , Lei Xiao-Lin
Published: October 2019

In this paper, we investigate the electronic transport properties of a quantum dot (QD) connected to two ferromagnetic leads and one superconducting lead in the Kondo regime by means of the finite-U slave boson mean field approach and the nonequilibrium Green function technique. In this three-terminal hybrid nanodevice, we focus our attention on the joint effects of the Kondo correlation, superconducting proximity pairing, and spin polarization of leads. It is found that the superconducting proximity effect will suppress the linear local conductance (LLC) stemming from the weakened Kondo peak, and when its coupling

Γ
s

is bigger than the tunnel-coupling

Γ

of two normal leads, the linear cross conductance (LCC) becomes negative in the Kondo region. Regarding the antiparallel configuration, increasing spin polarization further suppresses LLC but enhances LCC, i.e., causing larger negative values of LCC, since it is beneficial for the emergence of cross Andreev reflection. On the contrary, for the parallel configuration, with increasing spin polarization, the LLC decreases and greatly widens with the appearance of shoulders, and eventually splits into four peaks, while the LCC decreases relatively rapidly to the normal conductance.
A Novel S-Box Design Algorithm Based on a New Compound Chaotic System
Authors: Lu Qing , Zhu Congxu , Wang Guojun
Published: October 2019

Substitution-boxes (S-Boxes) are important non-linear components in block cryptosystem, which play an important role in the security of cryptosystems. Constructing S-Boxes with a strong cryptographic feature is an important step in designing block cipher systems. In this paper, a novel algorithm for constructing S-Boxes based on a new compound chaotic system is presented. Firstly, the new chaotic system, tent–logistic system, is proposed, which has better chaotic performance and wider chaotic range than the tent and logistic system, and can not only increase the randomness of the chaotic sequences but also expand the key space of cryptosystems. Secondly, a novel linear mapping is employed to construct the initial S-Box. Then, the permutation operation on the initial S-Box is performed by using chaotic sequence generated with the tent–logistic system, which improves the cryptographic features of the S-Box. The idea behind the proposed work is to make supplementary safe S-box. Detail tests for cryptographic strength of the proposed S-Box are performed by using different standard benchmarks. The test results and performance analysis show that our proposed S-Box has very smaller values of linear probability (LP) and differential probability (DP) and a satisfactory average value of nonlinearity compared with other S-Boxes, showing its excellent application potential in block cipher system.
Reducing the Energy and Steam Consumption of SAGD Through Cyclic Solvent Co-Injection
Authors: Manfre Jaimes Diego , Gates Ian D. , Clarke Matthew
Published: October 2019

The amount of oil that is contained in the Canadian oil sands represent the third largest oil accumulation in the world. Approximately half of the daily oil production from the oil sands comes from mining processes and the other half is produced mostly using steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD). This method is effective at reducing the viscosity of the oil. However, the generation of steam requires a significant amount of energy. Thus, there is an ongoing effort to reduce the energy needed to produce oil from the oil sands. In this article the intermittent injection of a solvent, along with steam, is investigated as a means of reducing the amount of energy required to extract oil from the Canadian oil sands. A simulation-based study examined the effect of the type of solvent, the cycles’ duration, the solvent concentration and the number of cycles. The simulations covered a time span of 10 years during which several different solvents (methane, ethane, propane, butane, pentane, hexane, and CO2) were injected under varying injection schedules. The solvents that were investigated are compounds that are likely to be readily available at a heavy oil production site. The solvent injection periods ranged from six to 24 months in length. The results reveal that SAGD combined with intermittent injection of hexane resulted in the most significant improvement to the cumulative oil production and in the cumulative energy-oil ratio (cEOR). Compared to SAGD without solvent injection, the cumulative oil production was increased by 45% and the cEOR was reduced by 23%. It was also seen that the performance of the proposed process is highly dependent on the resulting physical properties of the solvent-bitumen mixture. Finally, a simplified economic analysis also identified SAGD with intermittent hexane injection as the scheme that resulted in the highest net present value. Compared to SAGD without solvent injection, the intermittent injection of hexane led to an 85% increase in the net present value.
Behaviour of Distribution Grids with the Highest PV Share Using the Volt/Var Control Chain Strategy
Authors: Schultis Daniel-Leon , Ilo Albana
Published: October 2019

The large-scale integration of rooftop PVs stalls due to the voltage limit violations they provoke, the uncontrolled reactive power flow in the superordinate grids and the information and communications technology (ICT) related challenges that arise in solving the voltage limit violation problem. This paper attempts to solve these issues using the LINK-based holistic architecture, which takes into account the behaviour of the entire power system, including customer plants. It focuses on the analysis of the behaviour of distribution grids with the highest PV share, leading to the determination of the structure of the Volt/var control chain. The voltage limit violations in low voltage grid and the ICT challenge are solved by using concentrated reactive devices at the end of low voltage feeders. Q-Autarkic customer plants relieve grids from the load-related reactive power. The optimal arrangement of the compensation devices is determined by a series of simulations. They are conducted in a common model of medium and low voltage grids. Results show that the best performance is achieved by placing compensation devices at the secondary side of the supplying transformer. The Volt/var control chain consists of two Volt/var secondary controls; one at medium voltage level (which also controls the TSO-DSO reactive power exchange), the other at the customer plant level.
Adaptive-Gain Second-Order Sliding Mode Direct Power Control for Wind-Turbine-Driven DFIG under Balanced and Unbalanced Grid Voltage
Authors: Han Yaozhen , Ma Ronglin
Published: October 2019

In a wind turbine system, a doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG), with nonlinear and high-dimensional dynamics, is generally subjected to unbalanced grid voltage and unknown uncertainty. This paper proposes a novel adaptive-gain second-order sliding mode direct power control (AGSOSM-DPC) strategy for a wind-turbine-driven DFIG, valid for both balanced and unbalanced grid voltage. The AGSOSM-DPC control scheme is presented in detail to restrain rotor voltage chattering and deal with the scenario of unknown uncertainty upper bound. Stator current harmonics and electromagnetic torque ripples can be simultaneously restrained without phase-locked loop (PLL) and phase sequence decomposition using new active power expression. Adaptive control gains are deduced based on the Lyapunov stability method. Comparative simulations under three DPC schemes are executed on a 2-MW DFIG under both balanced and unbalanced grid voltage. The proposed strategy achieved active and reactive power regulation under a two-phase stationary reference frame for both balanced and unbalanced grid voltage. An uncertainty upper bound is not needed in advance, and the sliding mode control chattering is greatly restrained. The simulation results verify the effectiveness, robustness, and superiority of the AGSOSM-DPC strategy.
Contrasting Temperature and Precipitation Patterns of Trees in Different Seasons and Responses of Infrared Canopy Temperature in Two Asian Subtropical Forests
Authors: Chen Zhi , Yu Guirui , Yan Junhua , Wang Huimin
Published: October 2019

Canopy temperature (Tc), one of the most important plant ecophysiological parameters, has been known to respond rapidly to environmental change. However, how environmental factors—especially the temperature and precipitation pattern—impact Tc has been less discussed for forest stands. In this study, we investigated seasonal variations and responses of the Tc and canopy-to-air temperature difference (ΔT) associated with environmental conditions in two subtropical forests with contrasting temperature and precipitation patterns—Dinghushan (DHS) (temperature and precipitation synchronous site: hot and wet in the summer) and Qianyanzhou (QYZ) (temperature and precipitation asynchronous site: hot and arid in the summer). The results showed that Tc exhibits clear diurnal and seasonal variations above air temperature throughout the day and year, suggesting that the canopy of both DHS and QYZ is typically warmer than ambient air. However, the canopy-warming effect was substantially intensified in QYZ, and the difference of ΔT between dry and wet seasons was small (−0.07 °C) in DHS, while it was up to 0.9 °C in QYZ. Regression analysis revealed that this resulted from the combined effects of the increased solar radiation and vapor pressure deficit (VPD), but reduced canopy conductance (gc) caused by drought in the summer in QYZ. Sensitivity analysis further indicated that the responses of ΔT to VPD and gc changes were quite divergent, presenting negative responses to the enhanced VPD and gc in QYZ, while there were positive responses in DHS. The high productivity coupled with low transpiration cooling that occurs in a temperature and precipitation synchronous condition mainly contributes to the positive responses of ΔT in DHS. This study reveals the seasonal variations, environmental responses, and underlying causes of Tc under different temperature and precipitation patterns, providing useful information for the regional assessment of plant responses to future climate change.
The Performance of Wood Decking after Five Years of Exposure: Verification of the Combined Effect of Wetting Ability and Durability
Authors: Humar Miha , Kržišnik Davor , Lesar Boštjan , Brischke Christian
Published: October 2019

Wood is one of the most important construction materials, and its use in building applications has increased in recent decades. In order to enable even more extensive and reliable use of wood, we need to understand the factors affecting wood’s service life. A new concept for characterizing the durability of wood-based materials and for predicting the service life of wood has recently been proposed, based on material-inherent protective properties, moisture performance, and the climate- and design-induced exposure dose of wooden structures. This approach was validated on the decking of a model house in Ljubljana that was constructed in October 2013. The decay and moisture content of decking elements were regularly monitored. In addition, the resistance dose DRd, as the product of the critical dose Dcrit, and two factors taking into account the wetting ability of wood (kwa) and its inherent durability (kinh), were determined in the laboratory. DRd correlated well with the decay rates of the decking of the model house. Furthermore, the positive effect of thermal modification and water-repellent treatments on the outdoor performance of the examined materials was evident, as well as the synergistic effects between moisture performance and inherent durability.
Osage Orange, Honey Locust and Black Locust Seed Meal Adhesives Employed to Fabricate Composite Wood Panels
Authors: Tisserat Brent , Harry-O’kuru Rogers
Published: October 2019

Seed meal of three trees common to the Midwest region of the USA (Honey locust, Gleditsia triacanthos L., family Fabaceae), Osage orange (Maclura pomifera (Raf.) Schneid., family Moraceae) and Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L., family Fabaceae) were tested for their adhesive abilities. Seed meals were employed at dosage levels of 10, 15, 25, 50, 75, and 100% reinforced with Paulownia elongata L. wood (PW) or Osage orange wood (OOW) chips to fabricate composite wood panels (CWPs). A comparison of the flexural properties of various tree seed meal CWPs reinforced with PW showed that their flexural properties met or exceeded European Union standards. However, their dimensional stability properties were inferior to nominal standards. Therefore, tree seed meal CWPs could probably have applications in interior environments where such CWPs accept negligible dimensional stability standards.
GWAS Discovery of Candidate Genes for Yield-Related Traits in Peanut and Support from Earlier QTL Mapping Studies
Authors: Wang Juan , Yan Caixia , Li Yuan , Li Chunjuan , Zhao Xiaobo , Yuan Cuiling , Sun Quanxi , Shan Shihua
Published: October 2019

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is one of the most important oil crops worldwide, and its yet increasing market demand may be met by genetic improvement of yield related traits, which may be facilitated by a good understanding of the underlying genetic base of these traits. Here, we have carried out a genome-wide association study (GWAS) with the aim to identify genomic regions and the candidate genes within these regions that may be involved in determining the phenotypic variation at seven yield-related traits in peanut. For the GWAS analyses, 195 peanut accessions were phenotyped and/or genotyped; the latter was done using a genotyping-by-sequencing approach, which produced a total of 13,435 high-quality single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Analyses of these SNPs show that the analyzed peanut accessions can be approximately grouped into two big groups that, to some extent, agree with the botanical classification of peanut at the subspecies level. By taking this genetic structure as well as the relationships between the analyzed accessions into consideration, our GWAS analyses have identified 93 non-overlapping peak SNPs that are significantly associated with four of the studied traits. Gene annotation of the genome regions surrounding these peak SNPs have found a total of 311 unique candidate genes. Among the 93 yield-related-trait-associated SNP peaks, 12 are found to be co-localized with the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that were identified by earlier related QTL mapping studies, and these 12 SNP peaks are only related to three traits and are almost all located on chromosomes Arahy.05 and Arahy.16. Gene annotation of these 12 co-localized SNP peaks have found 36 candidates genes, and a close examination of these candidate genes found one very interesting gene (arahy.RI9HIF), the rice homolog of which produces a protein that has been shown to improve rice yield when over-expressed. Further tests of the arahy.RI9HIF gene, as well as other candidate genes especially those within the more confident co-localized genomic regions, may hold the potential for significantly improving peanut yield.
Radiation Dose to the Eye Lens through Radiological Imaging Procedures at the Surgical Workplace during Trauma Surgery
Authors: Apelmann Christian , Kowald Birgitt , Weinrich Nils , Dischinger Jens , Nienhaus Albert , Seide Klaus , Martens Heiko , Jürgens Christian
Published: October 2019

Background: Due to the drastic reduction of the eye lens dose limit from 150 mSv per year to 20 mSv per year since 2018, the prospective investigation of the estimated dose of the eye lens by radiological imaging procedures at the surgical site during trauma surgery in the daily work process was carried out. This was also necessary because, as experience shows, with changes in surgical techniques, there are also changes in the use of radiological procedures, and thus an up-to-date inventory can provide valuable information for the assessment of occupationally induced radiation exposure of surgical personnel under the current conditions. Methods: The eye lens radiation exposure was measured over three months for five trauma surgeons, four hand surgeons and four surgical assistants with personalized LPS-TLD-TD 07 partial body dosimeters Hp (0.07). A reference dosimeter was deposited at the surgery changing room. The dosimeters were sent to the LPS (Landesanstalt für Personendosimetrie und Strahlenschutzausbildung) measuring institute (National Institute for Personal Dosimetry and Radiation Protection Training, Berlin) for evaluation after 3 months. The duration of the operation, occupation (assistant, surgeon, etc.), type of surgery (procedure, diagnosis), designation of the X-ray unit, total duration of radiation exposure per operation and dose area product per operation were recorded. Results: Both the evaluation of the dosimeters by the trauma surgeons and the evaluation of the dosimeters by the hand surgeons and the surgical assistants revealed no significant radiation exposure of the eye lens in comparison to the respective measured reference dosimeters. Conclusions: Despite the drastic reduction of the eye lens dose limit from 150 mSv per year to 20 mSv per year, the limit for orthopedic, trauma and hand surgery operations is well below the limit in this setting.
Physical Activity Monitoring and Acceptance of a Commercial Activity Tracker in Adult Patients with Haemophilia
Authors: Carrasco Juan J. , Pérez-Alenda Sofía , Casaña José , Soria-Olivas Emilio , Bonanad Santiago , Querol Felipe
Published: October 2019

Physical activity (PA) is highly beneficial for people with haemophilia (PWH), however, studies that objectively monitor the PA in this population are scarce. This study aimed to monitor the daily PA and analyse its evolution over time in a cohort of PWH using a commercial activity tracker. In addition, this work analyses the relationship between PA levels, demographics, and joint health status, as well as the acceptance and adherence to the activity tracker. Twenty-six PWH were asked to wear a Fitbit Charge HR for 13 weeks. According to the steps/day in the first week, data were divided into two groups: Active Group (AG; ≥10,000 steps/day) and Non-Active Group (NAG; <10,000 steps/day). Correlations between PA and patient characteristics were studied using the Pearson coefficient. Participants’ user experience was analysed with a questionnaire. The 10,000 steps/day was reached by 57.7% of participants, with 12,603 (1525) and 7495 (1626) being the mean steps/day of the AG and NAG, respectively. In general, no significant variations (p > 0.05) in PA levels or adherence to wristband were produced. Only the correlation between very active minutes and arthropathy was significant (r = −0.40, p = 0.045). Results of the questionnaire showed a high level of satisfaction. In summary, PWH are able to comply with the PA recommendations, and the Fitbit wristband is a valid tool for a continuous and long-term monitoring of PA. However, by itself, the use of a wristband is not enough motivation to increase PA levels.
Neighborhood Influences on Women’s Parenting Practices for Adolescents’ Outdoor Play: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Kepper Maura M. , Staiano Amanda E. , Katzmarzyk Peter T. , Reis Rodrigo S. , Eyler Amy A. , Griffith Derek M. , Kendall Michelle L. , ElBanna Basant , Denstel Kara D. , Broyles Stephanie T.
Published: October 2019

Understanding factors that influence parenting decisions for outdoor play is necessary to promote physical activity during critical years for adolescent adjustment. This study explored physical and social environmental influences on parenting decisions and rules for their child’s outdoor play using semistructured in-depth interviews with parents (n = 30, 29 of whom were mothers) of adolescents. Mothers from low- (n = 16) and high-disadvantage (n = 13) neighborhood environments were recruited to identify environmental factors that resulted in parenting decisions that either promoted or hindered outdoor play and identify differences across neighborhood types. Data were analyzed using a grounded theory approach. Mothers limit their child’s independent play, as well as the location and time of outdoor play, due to both social and physical aspects of their neighborhood. Seven themes (safety, social norms, sense of control, social cohesion and neighborhood composition, walkability, and access to safe places for activity) were identified as influencers of parenting practices. Mothers in high-disadvantage neighborhoods reported facing greater neighborhood barriers to letting their child play outside without supervision. Physical and social neighborhood factors interact and differ in low- and high-disadvantage neighborhoods to influence parenting practices for adolescent’s outdoor play. Community-level interventions should target both physical and social environmental factors and be tailored to the neighborhood and target population, in order to attenuate parental constraints on safe outdoor play and ultimately increase physical activity and facilitate adolescent adjustment among developing youth.
Experience of Good Practice in an Occupational Accident Mutual Insurance Society, Based on the Voice of Patients and Professionals
Authors: Moya Diego , Iglesias Mar , Manzanera Rafael , de la Torre Fernanda , Plana Manel , Gálvez Gloria , Guilabert Mercedes
Published: October 2019

In Spain, the protection of workers’ health is organized through what are known as occupational accident mutual insurance societies. While health protection is a fundamental issue within a mutual society, dimensions, such as patient quality and safety, are measured in the same way as in the conventional healthcare sector. However, in mutual societies, it is traditionally acknowledged that experiences of medical evaluation systems of healthcare provision and quality improvement are less frequent. The following is an example of how a Quality Plan has been structured within an organization with these characteristics, and instruments and measures have been developed to capture information in decision making from the perspective of patients and professionals. The Quality Plan represents the ongoing commitment of this organization to achieve patient-centered care. These changes revolve around these measures and, therefore, it is defined as a good practice.
The Implementation of Restorative Care and Factors Associated with Resident Outcomes in Long-Term Care Facilities in Taiwan
Authors: Wang Yu-Hua , Liu Li-Fan , Chang Ling-Hui , Yeh Chien-Hsin
Published: October 2019

This study aimed to analyze how restorative care is implemented in long-term care facilities and factors associated with resident outcomes in Taiwan. A one-group pre-test and post-test design was adopted in 24 long-term care facilities by collecting a sample of 310 participants at the baseline and 210 at six months. Participants were residents aged 65 or over, and were being constrained, used diapers, or were bedridden, or a combination of these. Their physical and mental functions were measured using Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS-15), and EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D). Mean differences in the outcomes were analyzed, and mixed effect models were used to examine influencing factors. The results showed that most of the participants had good family support. However, participants with better family support were more likely to drop out. Improvements were found in the residents’ outcomes on physical function, depression and quality of life. Social support was a significant influencing factor on most of the outcomes. In conclusion, restorative care was found to have positive effects on residents’ physical function and helped maintain mental function. Sufficient support and communication between participants, families, and staff in facilities are key factors leading to positive outcomes.
Effect of Emotion, Expectation, and Privacy on Purchase Intention in WeChat Health Product Consumption: The Mediating Role of Trust
Authors: Wang Ming-Yan , Zhang Peng-Zhu , Zhou Cheng-Yang , Lai Neng-Ye
Published: October 2019

With the aging of the population and the upgrading of the consumption structure of national health demand in China, it has become a new trend for the public to actively seek health products and services on social networks. Based on the theory of reasoned behavior and the theory of expectancy confirmation, this study aims to analyze the cognitive factors and their effects on WeChat users’ purchase intention in the process of health product consumption. Considering that safety is a key feature of health products that distinguishes them from other consumer products, the “satisfaction” concept in the expectancy confirmation model is replaced by “trust” in this study. Two hundred and two (202) valid samples were collected by a questionnaire survey to analyze their intentions to buy health products on WeChat. Theoretical models and corresponding research hypotheses were verified by structural equation modeling. The research results show that emotional price and emotional experience are positively correlated with trust and purchase intention. There is an obvious negative correlation between privacy invasion and trust. Expectation confirmation is positively associated with trust. Moreover, the intermediary test shows that trust has completely mediated between emotional price and purchase intention, and trust also has a full intermediary effect on expectation confirmation and purchase intention.