bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multiscale PMU Data Compression via Density-Based WAMS Clustering Analysis
Authors: Lee Gyul , Kim Do-In , Kim Seon Hyeog , Shin Yong-June
Published: February 2019

This paper presents a multiscale phasor measurement unit (PMU) data-compression method based on clustering analysis of wide-area power systems. PMU data collected from wide-area power systems involve local characteristics that are significant risk factors when applying dimensionality-reduction-based data compression. Therefore, density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise (DBSCAN) is proposed for the preconditioning of PMU data, except for bad data and the automatic segmentation of correlated local datasets. Clustered PMU datasets of a local area are then compressed using multiscale principal component analysis (MSPCA). When applying MSPCA, each PMU signal is decomposed into frequency sub-bands using wavelet decomposition, approximation matrix, and detail matrices. The detail matrices in high-frequency sub-bands are compressed by using a PCA-based linear-dimensionality reduction process. The effectiveness of DBSCAN for data compression is verified by application of the proposed technique to the real-world PMU voltage and frequency data. In addition, comparisons are made with existing compression techniques in wide-area power systems.
On-Line Detection of Voltage Transformer Insulation Defects Using the Low-Frequency Oscillation Amplitude and Duration of a Zero Sequence Voltage
Authors: Liu Hongwen , Wang Ke , Yang Qing , Yin Lu , Huang Jisheng
Published: February 2019

The insulation degradation of a voltage transformer winding is not easy to find, but it may ultimately cause the transformer to explode, leading to accidents such as phase-to-phase short circuits. At present, power transformers, lightning arresters, and other equipment have on-line methods to detect the insulation state. However, there is no mature method for the on-line monitoring of voltage transformer winding insulation. In this study, a small current disturbance method based on a zero-sequence loop is proposed. The characteristic parameters of the low-frequency oscillation of zero-sequence voltage after a disturbance are used to evaluate the insulation state of the winding and detect faults. Theoretical modeling, simulation tests, and field tests show that when the insulation resistance of the voltage transformer winding is in the range 0–40 kΩ, a low frequency oscillation of about 10 Hz can be detected on the zero-sequence voltage, and its amplitude and duration are proportional to the degree of damage to the insulation. This can hence be used as a criterion for the on-line detection of voltage transformer winding insulation defects.
Scaling Method of the Rotating Blade of a Wind Turbine for a Rime Ice Wind Tunnel Test
Authors: Li Yan , Sun Ce , Jiang Yu , Feng Fang
Published: February 2019

In order to research the law of rime ice accretion on different scaling blades surface, a new rime ice scaling method was proposed in this research. According to previous research, there are three kinds of ice types on blade surfaces: rime ice, glaze ice and mixed ice. Under the condition of rime ice, both the freezing fraction and the coefficient of heat transfer between super-cold water droplets and blade are 100%. The heat transfer model of rime ice is simpler than that of glaze ice and mixed ice. In this research, the scaling parameters including flow field, water droplets, temperature, pressure and rotating parameters were defined. The Weber number (We) based on water film thickness as an important parameter was applied in this study. The rotating parameters including rotating speed and radius had been added into the icing scaling method. To verify the effectiveness of the new rime ice scaling method, icing wind tunnel tests were carried out. The NACA0018 airfoil was used for the test blade. Two kinds of scale chord blades were selected, the chord of full-scale blade was 200 mm and of subscale blade was 100 mm. The test temperature was −15 °C. The ice accretion on different scale blades surface were captured by high-speed camera and the icing shapes of different scaling blades were obtained. To quantitatively analyze the similar degree of icing shapes on different scale blades, an evaluation method which included similar degree (Sim) was established based on the typical characteristic parameters proposed by previous research. The results show that the icing shapes of subscale blades are similar to that of full-scale blades. The similar degree is between 75.22% and 93.01%. The icing wind tunnel test indicates that the new rime ice scaling method is an effective method to study the rime ice of large scale rotating blades. This study can be used as a reference for research on anti-icing and de-icing technologies for large-scale HAWTs (Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines).
Techno-Economic Assessment of Co-Hydrothermal Carbonization of a Coal-Miscanthus Blend
Authors: Saba Akbar , McGaughy Kyle , Reza M.
Published: February 2019

Co-Hydrothermal Carbonization (Co-HTC) is a thermochemical process, where coal and biomass were treated simultaneously in subcritical water, resulting in bulk-homogenous hydrochar that is carbon-rich and a hydrophobic solid fuel with combustion characteristics like coal. In this study, technoeconomic analysis of Co-HTC was performed for a scaled-up Co-HTC plant that produces fuel for 110 MWe coal-fired power plant using Clarion coal #4a and miscanthus as starting feedstocks. With precise mass and energy balance of the Co-HTC process, sizing of individual equipment was conducted based on various systems equations. Cost of electricity was calculated from estimated capital, manufacturing, and operating and maintenance costs. The breakeven selling price of Co-HTC hydrochar was $117 per ton for a 110 MWe. Sensitivity analysis indicates that this breakeven selling price could be as low as $106 per ton for a higher capacity plant. Besides plant size, the price of solid fuel is sensitive to the feedstock costs and hydrochar yield.
Economic Load Dispatch of a Grid-Tied DC Microgrid Using the Interior Search Algorithm
Authors: Khan Kamil , Kamal Ahmad , Basit Abdul , Ahmad Tanvir , Ali Haider , Ali Anwar
Published: February 2019

This paper presents the effectiveness of the interior search algorithm in economic power scheduling of a grid-tied DC microgrid with renewable generation (wind and photovoltaic) and battery energy storage. The study presents the modelling and simulation of various DC/DC converters for tracking maximum power from wind and photovoltaic sources and the bidirectional power flow of battery energy storage. The DC microgrid and its controllers were modelled and simulated in MATLAB/Simulink. The generating units were dispatched economically using the interior search algorithm with the objective to minimize the operating cost of the microgrid. The simulated results verify the effectiveness of the interior search algorithm as the daily cost of microgrid operation was reduced by 11.25%.
Optimal Operational Adjustment of a Community-Based Off-Grid Polygeneration Plant using a Fuzzy Mixed Integer Linear Programming Model
Authors: Ubando Aristotle T. , Marfori Isidro Antonio V. , Aviso Kathleen B. , Tan Raymond R.
Published: February 2019

Community-based off-grid polygeneration plants based on micro-hydropower are a practical solution to provide clean energy and other essential utilities for rural areas with access to suitable rivers. Such plants can deliver co-products such as purified water and ice for refrigeration, which can improve standards of living in such remote locations. Although polygeneration gives advantages with respect to system efficiency, the interdependencies of the integrated process units may come as a potential disadvantage, due to susceptibility to cascading failures when one of the system components is partially or completely inoperable. In the case of a micro-hydropower-based polygeneration plant, a drought may reduce electricity output, which can, in turn, reduce the level of utilities available for use by the community. The study proposes a fuzzy mixed-integer linear programming model for the optimal operational adjustment of an off-grid micro-hydropower-based polygeneration plant seeking to maximize the satisfaction levels of the community utility demands, which are represented as fuzzy constraints. Three case studies are considered to demonstrate the developed model. The use of a diesel generator for back-up power is considered as an option to mitigate inoperability during extreme drought conditions.
Dynamic Behavior of Wind Turbine Generator Configurations during Ferroresonant Conditions
Authors: Akinrinde Ajibola , Swanson Andrew , Tiako Remy
Published: February 2019

In this paper the dynamic behavior of different wind turbine generator configurations including doubly fed induction generators (DFIG), squirrel cage induction generator (SCIG), wound rotor induction generator (WRIG), and permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) under ferroresonant conditions of energization and de-energization was investigated using Simulink/MATLAB (version 2017B, MathWorks, Natick, MA, USA). The result showed that SCIG had the highest overvoltage of 10.1 PU during energization, followed by WRIG and PMSG, while the least was DFIG. During de-energization, PMSG had the highest overvoltage of 9.58 PU while WRIG had the least. Characterization of the ferroresonance was done using a phase plane diagram to identify the harmfulness of the ferroresonance existing in the system. It was observed that for most of the wind turbine configurations, a chaotic mode of ferroresonance exists for both energization and de-energization scenarios. Although overvoltage during energization for wind turbine generator configurations was higher than in the de-energization with an exception of PMSG, their phase plane diagrams showed that de-energization scenarios were more chaotic than energization scenarios. The study showed that WRIG was the least susceptible to ferroresonance while PMSG was the most susceptible to ferroresonance.
An Investigation into the Acoustic Emissions of Internal Combustion Engines with Modelling and Wavelet Package Analysis for Monitoring Lubrication Conditions
Authors: Wei Nasha , Gu James Xi , Gu Fengshou , Chen Zhi , Li Guoxing , Wang Tie , Ball Andrew D.
Published: February 2019

Online monitoring of the lubrication and friction conditions in internal combustion engines can provide valuable information and thereby enables optimal maintenance actions to be undertaken to ensure safe and efficient operations. Acoustic emission (AE) has attracted significant attention in condition monitoring due to its high sensitivity to light defects on sliding surfaces. However, limited understanding of the AE mechanisms in fluid-lubricated conjunctions, such as piston rings and cylinder liners, confines the development of AE-based lubrication monitoring techniques. Therefore, this study focuses on developing new AE models and effective AE signal process methods in order to achieve accurate online lubrication monitoring. Based on the existing AE model for asperity–asperity collision (AAC), a new model for fluid–asperity shearing (FAS)-induced AE is proposed that will explain AE responses from the tribological conjunction of the piston ring and cylinder. These two AE models can then jointly demonstrate AE responses from the lubrication conjunction of engine ring–liner. In particular, FAS allows the observable AE responses in the middle of engine strokes to be characterised in association with engine speeds and lubricant viscosity. However, these AE components are relatively weak and noisy compared to others, with movements such as valve taring, fuel injection and combustions. To accurately extract these weaker AE’s for lubricant monitoring, an optimised wavelet packet transform (WPT) analysis is applied to the raw AE data from a running engine. This results in four distinctive narrow band indicators to describe the AE amplitude in the middle of an engine power stroke. Experimental evaluation shows the linear increasing trend of AE indicator with engine speeds allows a full separation of two baseline engine lubricants (CD-10W30 and CD-15W40), previously unused over a wide range of speeds. Moreover, the used oil can also be diagnosed by using the nonlinear and unstable behaviours of the indicator at various speeds. This model has demonstrated the high performance of using AE signals processed with the optimised WPT spectrum in monitoring the lubrication conditions between the ring and liner in IC engines.
A Capacity Configuration Control Strategy to Alleviate Power Fluctuation of Hybrid Energy Storage System Based on Improved Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors: Wu Tiezhou , Shi Xiao , Liao Li , Zhou Chuanjian , Zhou Hang , Su Yuehong
Published: February 2019

In view of optimizing the configuration of each unit’s capacity for energy storage in the microgrid system, in order to ensure that the planned energy storage capacity can meet the reasonable operation of the microgrid’s control strategy, the power fluctuations during the grid-connected operation of the microgrid are considered in the planning and The economic benefit of hybrid energy storage is quantified. A multi-objective function aiming at minimizing the power fluctuation on the DC bus in the microgrid and optimizing the capacity ratio of each energy storage system in the hybrid energy storage system (HESS) is established. The improved particle swarm algorithm (PSO) is used to solve the objective function, and the solution is applied to the microgrid experimental platform. By comparing the power fluctuations of the battery and the supercapacitor in the HESS, the power distribution is directly reflected. Comparing with the traditional mixed energy storage control strategy, it shows that the optimized hybrid energy storage control strategy can save 4.3% of the cost compared with the traditional hybrid energy storage control strategy, and the performance of the power fluctuation of the renewable energy is also improved. It proves that the proposed capacity configuration of the HESS has certain theoretical significance and practical application value.
A Numerical Study on the Development of Self-Similarity in a Wind Turbine Wake Using an Improved Pseudo-Spectral Large-Eddy Simulation Solver
Authors: Lyu Pin , Chen Wen-Li , Li Hui , Shen Lian
Published: February 2019

Large-eddy simulation (LES) is performed to investigate self-similarity in a wind turbine wake flow. The turbine is represented using an actuator line model in a pseudo-spectral method-based solver. A new hybrid approach of smoothed pseudo-spectral method and finite-difference method (sPSMFDM) is proposed to alleviate the Gibbs phenomenon caused by the jump of velocity and pressure around the turbine. The LES is validated with the mean velocity and turbulence statistics obtained from wind-tunnel measurement reported in the literature. Through an appropriate choice of characteristic scales of velocity and length, self-similarity is elucidated in the normalized mean velocity and Reynolds stress profiles at various distances. The development of self-similarity is categorized into three stages based on the variation in the characteristic scales and the spanwise distribution of normalized velocity deficit. The mechanisms responsible for the transition of self-similarity stages are analyzed in detail. The findings of the flow physics obtained in this study will be useful for the modeling and fast prediction of wind turbine wake flows.
Effect of Hydrogen Refueling Parameters on Final State of Charge
Authors: Xiao Jinsheng , Ma Shuo , Wang Xu , Deng Shanshan , Yang Tianqi , Bénard Pierre
Published: February 2019

The state of charge (SOC) is a key indicator to show whether a compressed hydrogen tank meets refueling requirements, so it is worth to study effects of the refueling parameters on it. A new SOC analytical solution is obtained based on a simple thermodynamic model. By applying a mass balance equation and an energy balance equation for a hydrogen storage system, a differential equation was obtained. An analytical solution of hydrogen temperature was deduced from the solution of the differential equation, then an analytical solution of hydrogen mass was further deduced based on the analytical solution of hydrogen temperature with some mathematical modifications. By assuming the hydrogen density inside the tank is uniform, the SOC, which defined as a ratio of hydrogen density to the full-fill density, can be transformed to be the ratio of hydrogen mass to the full-fill mass. The hydrogen mass can be calculated from analytical solution of hydrogen mass, while the full-fill mass is supposed to be a constant value. The full-fill density of 35 MPa and 70 MPa tanks at 15 °C are respectively 24.0 g/L and 40.2 g/L, and if the volume of the tank is known, the full-fill mass can also be calculated. The analytical solution of SOC can be unitized to express the reference data, the contributions of inflow temperature and mass flow rate on SOC are presented for a Dynetek type III tank (40 L, metallic liner) and a Hexagon type IV tank (29 L, plastic liner). In addition, the two-parameter effect of inflow temperature and mass flow rate on SOC are presented. The Nusselt number and Reynolds number are utilized to modify the analytical model, the relationship between SOC and refueling parameters can be obtained through the method of fitting. The fittings show a good agreement. The SOC can be determined from the refueling parameters based on the model with more physical meaning. The method developed in this research can be applied to the control algorithm of refueling stations to ensure safety and efficiency.
Evaluation Model for the Scope of DC Interference Generated by Stray Currents in Light Rail Systems
Authors: Wang Chengtao , Li Wei , Wang Yuqiao , Xu Shaoyi , Li Kunpeng
Published: February 2019

Electrochemical corrosion caused by stray currents reduces the lifespan of buried gas pipelines and the safety of light rail systems. Determining the scope of stray current corrosion will help prevent the corrosion of existing buried pipelines and provide an effective reference for new pipeline siting. In response to this problem, in this paper the surface potential gradient was used to evaluate the scope of stray current corrosion. First, an analytical model for the scope of the stray current corrosion combined with distributed parameters and the electric field generated by a point current source was put forward. Second, exemplary calculations were conducted based on the proposed model. Sensitivity of the potential gradient was analyzed with an example of the transition resistance, and the dynamic distribution of surface potential gradient under different locomotive operation modes was also analyzed in time-domain. Finally, the scope was evaluated at four different intervals with the parameters from the field test to judge whether the protective measures need to be taken in areas with buried pipelines and light rail systems nearby or not.
Techno-Economic Assessment of Turboexpander Application at Natural Gas Regulation Stations
Authors: Kuczyński Szymon , Łaciak Mariusz , Olijnyk Andrzej , Szurlej Adam , Włodek Tomasz
Published: February 2019

During the natural gas pipeline transportation process, gas stream pressure is reduced at natural gas regulation stations (GRS). Natural gas pressure reduction is accompanied by energy dissipation which results in irreversible exergy losses in the gas stream. Energy loss depends on the thermodynamic parameters of the natural gas stream on inlet and outlet gas pressure regulation and metering stations. Recovered energy can be used for electricity generation when the pressure regulator is replaced with an expander to drive electric energy generation. To ensure the correct operation of the system, the natural gas stream should be heated, on inlet to expander. This temperature should be higher than the gas stream during choking in the pressure regulator. The purpose of this research was to investigate GRS operational parameters which influence the efficiency of the gas expansion process and to determine selection criteria for a cost-effective application of turboexpanders at selected GRS, instead of pressure regulators. The main novelty presented in this paper shows investigation on discounted payback period (DPP) equation which depends on the annual average natural gas flow rate through the analyzed GRS, average annual level of gas expansion, average annual natural gas purchase price, average annual produced electrical energy sale price and CAPEX.
Optimal Planning of Integrated Energy Systems for Offshore Oil Extraction and Processing Platforms
Authors: Zhang Anan , Zhang Hong , Qadrdan Meysam , Yang Wei , Jin Xiaolong , Wu Jianzhong
Published: February 2019

With the introduction of new technologies, such as waste heat recovery units (WHRU), associated gas utilization, the energy flow coupling relationship is further deepened within the energy system of the offshore oil and gas production platform. Besides, the energy system is closely linked with the oil and gas production system, and a closed-loop relationship between energy flow and material flow can be revealed. Uncertainties of energy supply and production process may lead to system-wide fluctuations, which threaten the stable operation of the platform. Therefore, an optimal planning model of integrated energy system for offshore oil and gas production platform is proposed in this paper. Firstly, a generalized energy and material flow model is proposed, three matrixes are defined based on laws of thermodynamics, including energy matrix, process matrix and feedback matrix. Secondly, the energy-material conversion relationship between the energy system and production system of a typical offshore oil and gas platform is quantitatively described, together with the coupling between the input and output of the two systems. Thirdly, considering the energy-material balance constraints and the uncertainties of production system, a multi-objective stochastic planning model for the offshore integrated energy system is established, which takes economics and environmental protection into consideration. A Monte Carlo simulation-based NSGA-II algorithm is proposed to solve the model. Finally, the validity and feasibility of the proposed methodology are demonstrated through an offshore oil and gas platform in Bohai, China. Compared with the traditional planning method, the total cost and CO2 emissions of the proposed method are reduced by 18.9% and 17.3%, respectively.
Accurate and Efficient Estimation of Lithium-Ion Battery State of Charge with Alternate Adaptive Extended Kalman Filter and Ampere-Hour Counting Methods
Authors: Liu Zhongxiao , Li Zhe , Zhang Jianbo , Su Laisuo , Ge Hao
Published: February 2019

State of charge (SOC) estimation is a key issue in battery management systems. The challenge lies in balancing the trade-off between accuracy and computation cost. To this end, we propose an alternate method by combining the ampere-hour integral (AHI) method which has low computation cost, and the adaptive extended Kalman filter (AEKF) method, which has high accuracy. The technical viability of this alternate method is verified on a LiMnO2-LiNiO2 battery module with a nominal capacity of 130 Ah under the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) condition. Drifts in current and voltage measurement are considered. The experimental results show that the absolute SOC error using the AHI method monotonously increases from 0% to 7.2% with the computation time of 10 s while the calculation time is obtained on a ThinkPad E450 PC with an Intel Core i7-5500U CPU @2.40 GHz and 16.0 GB RAM. The absolute SOC error of the AEKF method maintains within 3.5% with the computation time of 49 s. Therefore, the alternate method almost maintains the same SOC accuracy compared to the AEKF method which reduces the maximum absolute SOC error by 50% compared to the AHI method. Therefore, the alternate method almost has the same computation time compared with the AHI method which reduces the computation time by nearly 75% compared to the AEKF method.
Characterization of Performance of Short Stroke Engines with Valve Timing for Blended Bioethanol Internal Combustion
Authors: Chen Kun-Ho , Chao Yei-Chin
Published: February 2019

The present study provides a feasible strategy for minimizing automotive CO2 emissions by coupling the principle of the Atkinson cycle with the use of bioethanol fuel. Motor cycles and scooters have a stroke to bore ratio of less than unity, which allows higher speeds. The expansion to compression ratio (ECR) of these engines can be altered by tuning the opening time of the intake and exhaust valves. The effect of ECR on fuel consumption and the feasibility of ethanol fuels are still not clear, especially for short stroke engines. Hence, in this study, the valve timing of a short stroke engine was tuned in order to explore potential bioethanol applications. The effect of valve timing on engine performance was theoretically and experimentally investigated. In addition, the application of ethanol/gasoline blended fuels, E3, E20, E50, and E85, were examined. The results show that consumption, as well as engine performance of short stroke motorcycle engines, can be improved by correctly setting the valve controls. In addition, ethanol/gasoline blended fuel can be used up to a composition of 20% without engine modification. The ignition time needs to be adjusted in fuel with higher compositions of blended ethanol. The fuel economy of a short stroke engine cannot be sharply improved using an Atkinson cycle, but CO2 emissions can be reduced using ethanol/gasoline blended fuel. The present study demonstrates the effect of ECR on the performance of short stroke engines, and explores the feasibility of applying ethanol/gasoline blended fuel to it.
Experimental Study and Mechanism Analysis of the Effect of Oil Viscosity and Asphaltene on Foamy Oil
Authors: Wang Zhuangzhuang , Li Zhaomin , Lu Teng
Published: February 2019

Foamy oil is considered an important reason for the anomalous performance in depletion development for some heavy oil reservoirs, but its influence factors remain to be fully investigated. In order to determine the effect of oil viscosity and asphaltene on foamy oil, ten oil samples including two types (deasphalted oil and asphaltenic oil) and five viscosities were used in the work. On this basis, depletion experiments were conducted in a sandpack and microscopic visualization model. Then, viscoelastic moduli of the oil–gas interface were measured to analyze the mechanisms of viscosity and asphaltene of foamy oil from the perspective of interfacial viscoelasticity. Results show that, with the decrease of the oil viscosity, the foamy oil performance in depletion development worsened, including a rapider decline in average pressure, earlier appearance of gas channeling, shorter period of foamy oil, and lower contribution of foamy oil to recovery. Asphaltene had an influence on foamy oil only in the viscosity range between 870 mPa∙s and 2270 mPa∙s for this study. The effect of viscosity and asphaltene on foamy oil can be explained by the viscoelasticity of bubble film. With the increase of oil viscosity, the interfacial viscous modulus increases significantly, indicating the bubble film becomes stronger and more rigid. Asphaltene, like armor on the bubble film, can improve the viscoelastic modulus, especially at lower viscosity. This can inhibit the coalescence of micro-bubbles and increase the possibility of splitting. This work identifies the effects of oil viscosity and asphaltene on foamy oil systematically and provides theoretical support for foamy oil production.
Assessment of Energy Efficiency and Its Determinants for Drinking Water Treatment Plants Using A Double-Bootstrap Approach
Authors: Molinos-Senante María , Sala-Garrido Ramón
Published: February 2019

To achieve energy and climate goals, the energy performance of current and future drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) must be improved. A few studies have evaluated the energy efficiency of these facilities using data envelopment analysis (DEA), however, they have ignored the deterministic nature of the DEA method. To overcome this limitation, a double-bootstrap DEA approach was used in this study to estimate the energy efficiency of DWTPs. For a sample of Chilean DWTPs, bias-corrected energy efficiency scores were computed with consideration of data variability, and the determinants of DWTP energy efficiency were explored. Most DWTPs in the sample had much room for the improvement of energy efficiency. In the second stage of analysis, facility age, the volume of water treated, and the technology used for treatment were found to influence DWTP energy efficiency. These findings demonstrate the importance of using a reliable and robust method to evaluate the energy efficiency of DWTPs, which is essential to support decision making and to benchmark these facilities’ energy performance.
Assessment of Serpentine Group Minerals in Soils: A Case Study from the Village of San Severino Lucano (Basilicata, Southern Italy)
Authors: Punturo Rosalda , Ricchiuti Claudia , Bloise Andrea
Published: February 2019

Naturally occurring asbestos (NOA) is a generic term used to refer to both regulated and un-regulated fibrous minerals when encountered in natural geological deposits. These minerals represent a cause of health hazard, since they have been assessed as potential environmental pollutants that may occur both in rocks and derived soils. In the present work, we focused on the village of San Severino Lucano, located in the Basilicata region (southern Apennines); due to its geographic isolation from other main sources of asbestos, it represents an excellent example of hazardous and not occupational exposure of population. From the village and its surroundings, we collected eight serpentinite-derived soil samples and carried out Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Derivative Thermogravimetric (DTG) and Transmission Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectrometry (TEM-EDS), in order to perform a detailed characterization of serpentine varieties and other fibrous minerals. Investigation pointed out that chrysotile and asbestos tremolite occur in all of the samples. As for the fibrous but non-asbestos classified minerals, polygonal serpentine and fibrous antigorite were detected in a few samples. Results showed that the cultivation of soils developed upon serpentinite bedrocks were rich in harmful minerals, which if dispersed in the air can be a source of environmental pollution.
Hierarchy, Power, and Strategies to Promote Cooperation in Social Dilemmas
Authors: Molho Catherine , Balliet Daniel , Wu Junhui
Published: February 2019

Previous research on cooperation has primarily focused on egalitarian interactions, overlooking a fundamental feature of social life: hierarchy and power asymmetry. While recent accounts posit that hierarchies can reduce within-group conflict, individuals who possess high rank or power tend to show less cooperation. How, then, is cooperation achieved within groups that contain power asymmetries? To address this question, the present research examines how relative power affects cooperation and strategies, such as punishment and gossip, to promote cooperation in social dilemmas. In two studies involving online real-time interactions in dyads (N = 246) and four-person groups (N = 371), we manipulate power by varying individuals’ ability to distribute resources in a dictator game, and measure punishment, gossip, and cooperative behaviors in a multi-round public goods game. Findings largely replicate previous research showing that punishment and gossip opportunities increase contributions to public goods in four-person groups. However, we find no support for the hypotheses that power directly affects cooperation or the use of punishment and gossip to promote cooperation. We discuss the implications of these findings for understanding the influence of hierarchy and power on cooperation within dyads and groups.
Comprehensive Analyses of Nitric Oxide-Induced Plant Stem Cell-Related Genes in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Shahid Muhammad , Imran Qari , Hussain Adil , Khan Murtaza , Lee Sang , Mun Bong , Yun Byung-Wook
Published: February 2019

Plant stem cells are pluripotent cells that have diverse applications in regenerative biology and medicine. However, their roles in plant growth and disease resistance are often overlooked. Using high-throughput RNA-seq data, we identified approximately 20 stem cell-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that were responsive to the nitric oxide (NO) donor S-nitrosocysteine (CySNO) after six hours of infiltration. Among these DEGs, the highest number of positive correlations (R ≥ 0.8) was observed for CLAVATA3/EMBRYO SURROUNDING REGION-RELATED (CLE) 12. Gene ontology (GO) terms for molecular function showed DEGs associated with signal transduction and receptor activity. A promoter study of these DEGs showed the presence of cis-acting elements that are involved in growth as well as the regulation of abiotic and biotic stress. Phylogenetic analysis of the Arabidopsis stem cell-related genes and their common orthologs in rice, soybean, poplar, and tomato suggested that most soybean stem cell-related genes were grouped with the Arabidopsis CLE type of stem cell genes, while the rice stem cell-related genes were grouped with the Arabidopsis receptor-like proteins. The functional genomic-based characterization of the role of stem cell DEGs showed that under control conditions, the clv1 mutant showed a similar phenotype to that of the wild-type (WT) plants; however, under CySNO-mediated nitrosative stress, clv1 showed increased shoot and root length compared to WT. Furthermore, the inoculation of clv1 with virulent Pst DC3000 showed a resistant phenotype with fewer pathogens growing at early time points. The qRT-PCR validation and correlation with the RNA-seq data showed a Pearson correlation coefficient of >0.8, indicating the significantly high reliability of the RNA-seq analysis.
Role of β-Catenin Activation Levels and Fluctuations in Controlling Cell Fate
Authors: Pedone Elisa , Marucci Lucia
Published: February 2019

Cells have developed numerous adaptation mechanisms to external cues by controlling signaling-pathway activity, both qualitatively and quantitatively. The Wnt/β-catenin pathway is a highly conserved signaling pathway involved in many biological processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, somatic cell reprogramming, development, and cancer. The activity of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and the temporal dynamics of its effector β-catenin are tightly controlled by complex regulations. The latter encompass feedback loops within the pathway (e.g., a negative feedback loop involving Axin2, a β-catenin transcriptional target) and crosstalk interactions with other signaling pathways. Here, we provide a review shedding light on the coupling between Wnt/β-catenin activation levels and fluctuations across processes and cellular systems; in particular, we focus on development, in vitro pluripotency maintenance, and cancer. Possible mechanisms originating Wnt/β-catenin dynamic behaviors and consequently driving different cellular responses are also reviewed, and new avenues for future research are suggested.
The Organization, Implementation, and Functioning of Dengue Surveillance in India—A Systematic Scoping Review
Authors: Pilot Eva , Nittas Vasileios , Murthy Gudlavalleti Venkata S
Published: February 2019

Dengue´s re-emerging epidemiology poses a major global health threat. In India, dengue contributes significantly to the global communicable disease burden, and has been declared highly endemic. This study aims to identify and critically appraise India’s dengue surveillance system. We conducted a systematic literature review, searching Medline, Web of Sciences, Global Health, and Indian Journals. We conducted a narrative synthesis and thematic analysis. Eighteen studies fulfilled eligibility. Organizationally, most studies referred to the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, primarily responsible for overall vector and disease control, as well as the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, responsible for reporting, outbreak identification, and integration. Surveillance implementation was mostly framed as passive, sentinel, and hospital-based. Reporting varies from weekly to monthly, flowing from primary healthcare centres to district and national authorities. Dengue confirmation is only recognized if conducted with government-distributed MAC-ELISA tests. The surveillance system predominantly relies on public reporting units. In terms of functioning, current surveillance seems to have improved dengue reporting as well the system’s detection capacities. Emergency and outbreak responses are often described as timely; however, they are challenged by underreporting, weak data reliability, lack of private reporting, and system fragmentation. Concluding, India’s dengue surveillance structure remains weak. Efforts to create an infrastructure of communication, cooperation, and integration are evident, however, not achieved yet.
Cognitive Assessment of Older People: Do Sensory Function and Frailty Matter?
Authors: Yu Ruby , Woo Jean
Published: February 2019

Background: To examine the associations of visual and hearing functions, and frailty with subjective memory complaints (SMCs) in a community primary care pilot project of older people aged 60 years and over. Methods: The study was conducted in 24 community centers. A total of 1949 community-dwelling older people aged between 60–97 years were evaluated for which detailed information regarding socio-demographics, lifestyle, and clinical factors were documented at baseline and an average of 12 months later. SMCs were assessed using the 5-item Abbreviated Memory Inventory for the Chinese (AMIC). Visual and hearing functions were measured with two separate single questions. Frailty was assessed using a simple frailty question (FRAIL). Results: At baseline, 1685 (74.6%) participants had reported at least 3 SMCs (AMIC score ≥ 3). Of the 573 participants without / with 1–2 SMCs (AMIC score = 0–2) at baseline, 75 had incomplete data regarding SMCs and 190 developed at least 3 SMCs after 12 months. After adjustments for age, sex, marital status, educational level, hypertension, and diabetes at baseline, poor vision (OR 2.2 95% CI 1.8–2.7), poor hearing (OR 2.2 95% CI 1.8–2.8), and frailty (OR 4.6 95% CI 3.1–6.7) at baseline were each significantly associated with an increased risk of at least 3 SMCs at follow-up. After a further adjustment for baseline SMCs, the associations remained significant. Similar results were obtained when incident SMCs and improvement in subjective memory were used as the outcome variables; and Conclusions: In the care of older people, detection of sensory impairment and frailty through screening may allow formulation of strategies to prevent or delay the onset of cognitive decline.
A Novel Method for Improving Air Pollution Prediction Based on Machine Learning Approaches: A Case Study Applied to the Capital City of Tehran
Authors: Delavar Mahmoud , Gholami Amin , Shiran Gholam , Rashidi Yousef , Nakhaeizadeh Gholam , Fedra Kurt , Hatefi Afshar Smaeil
Published: February 2019

Environmental pollution has mainly been attributed to urbanization and industrial developments across the globe. Air pollution has been marked as one of the major problems of metropolitan areas around the world, especially in Tehran, the capital of Iran, where its administrators and residents have long been struggling with air pollution damage such as the health issues of its citizens. As far as the study area of this research is concerned, a considerable proportion of Tehran air pollution is attributed to PM10 and PM2.5 pollutants. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the prediction models to determine air pollutions based on PM10 and PM2.5 pollution concentrations in Tehran. To predict the air-pollution, the data related to day of week, month of year, topography, meteorology, and pollutant rate of two nearest neighbors as the input parameters and machine learning methods were used. These methods include a regression support vector machine, geographically weighted regression, artificial neural network and auto-regressive nonlinear neural network with an external input as the machine learning method for the air pollution prediction. A prediction model was then proposed to improve the afore-mentioned methods, by which the error percentage has been reduced and improved by 57%, 47%, 47% and 94%, respectively. The most reliable algorithm for the prediction of air pollution was autoregressive nonlinear neural network with external input using the proposed prediction model, where its one-day prediction error reached 1.79 µg/m3. Finally, using genetic algorithm, data for day of week, month of year, topography, wind direction, maximum temperature and pollutant rate of the two nearest neighbors were identified as the most effective parameters in the prediction of air pollution.
Developmental Impairments in a Rat Model of Methyl Donor Deficiency: Effects of a Late Maternal Supplementation with Folic Acid
Authors: Geoffroy Andréa , Saber-Cherif Lynda , Pourié Grégory , Helle Déborah , Umoret Rémy , Guéant Jean-Louis , Bossenmeyer-Pourié Carine , Daval Jean-Luc
Published: February 2019

Vitamins B9 (folate) and B12 act as methyl donors in the one-carbon metabolism which influences epigenetic mechanisms. We previously showed that an embryofetal deficiency of vitamins B9 and B12 in the rat increased brain expression of let-7a and miR-34a microRNAs involved in the developmental control of gene expression. This was reversed by the maternal supply with folic acid (3 mg/kg/day) during the last third of gestation, resulting in a significant reduction of associated birth defects. Since the postnatal brain is subject to intensive developmental processes, we tested whether further folate supplementation during lactation could bring additional benefits. Vitamin deficiency resulted in weaned pups (21 days) in growth retardation, delayed ossification, brain atrophy and cognitive deficits, along with unchanged brain level of let-7a and decreased expression of miR-34a and miR-23a. Whereas maternal folic acid supplementation helped restore the levels of affected microRNAs, it led to a reduction of structural and functional defects taking place during the perinatal/postnatal periods, such as learning/memory capacities. Our data suggest that a gestational B-vitamin deficiency could affect the temporal control of the microRNA regulation required for normal development. Moreover, they also point out that the continuation of folate supplementation after birth may help to ameliorate neurological symptoms commonly associated with developmental deficiencies in folate and B12.
Niacin in the Central Nervous System: An Update of Biological Aspects and Clinical Applications
Authors: Gasperi Valeria , Sibilano Matteo , Savini Isabella , Catani Maria Valeria
Published: February 2019

Niacin (also known as “vitamin B3” or “vitamin PP”) includes two vitamers (nicotinic acid and nicotinamide) giving rise to the coenzymatic forms nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP). The two coenzymes are required for oxidative reactions crucial for energy production, but they are also substrates for enzymes involved in non-redox signaling pathways, thus regulating biological functions, including gene expression, cell cycle progression, DNA repair and cell death. In the central nervous system, vitamin B3 has long been recognized as a key mediator of neuronal development and survival. Here, we will overview available literature data on the neuroprotective role of niacin and its derivatives, especially focusing especially on its involvement in neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s diseases), as well as in other neuropathological conditions (ischemic and traumatic injuries, headache and psychiatric disorders).
Comparison of Reported Spinal Cord Lesions in Progressive Multiple Sclerosis with Theiler’s Murine Encephalomyelitis Virus Induced Demyelinating Disease
Authors: Leitzen Eva , Jin Wen , Herder Vanessa , Beineke Andreas , Elmarabet Suliman Ahmed , Baumgärtner Wolfgang , Hansmann Florian
Published: February 2019

Background: Spinal cord (SC) lesions in Theiler’s murine encephalomyelitis virus induced demyelinating disease (TMEV-IDD) resemble important features of brain lesions in progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) including inflammation, demyelination, and axonal damage. The aim of the present study was a comparison of SC lesions in MS and TMEV-IDD focusing on spatial and temporal distribution of demyelination, inflammation, SC atrophy (SCA), and axonal degeneration/loss in major descending motor pathways. Methods: TMEV and mock-infected mice were investigated clinically once a week. SC tissue was collected at 42, 98, 147, and 196 days post infection, and investigated using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, immunohistochemistry targeting myelin basic protein (demyelination), Mac3 (microglia/macrophages), phosphorylated neurofilaments (axonal damage) and transmission electron microscopy. Results: Demyelination prevailed in SC white matter in TMEV-IDD, contrasting a predominant gray matter involvement in MS. TMEV-infected mice revealed a significant loss of axons similar to MS. Ultrastructural analysis in TMEV-IDD revealed denuded axons, degenerative myelin changes, axonal degeneration, as well as remyelination. SCA is a consistent finding in the SC of MS patients and was also detected at a late time point in TMEV-IDD. Conclusion: This comparative study further indicates the suitability of TMEV-IDD as animal model also for the investigation of progressive SC lesions in MS.
Botulinum Neurotoxin-A Injected Intrastriatally into Hemiparkinsonian Rats Improves the Initiation Time for Left and Right Forelimbs in Both Forehand and Backhand Directions
Authors: Antipova Veronica , Holzmann Carsten , Hawlitschka Alexander , Wree Andreas
Published: February 2019

Forelimb stepping is a widely used test for the assessment of forelimb akinesia in hemiparkinsonian (hemi-PD) rats. The initiation time (IT) is considered the most sensitive parameter in the stepping test procedure. Here we propose a novel, reliable, and simple method for the measurement of IT of both forelimbs in both forehand and backhand directions in rats. Evaluating the same videos taken for quantifying adjusting steps, IT measurements were done without additional experiments. This is in contrast to the classical approach introduced by Olsson et al. (1995), in which separate experiments are necessary. We successfully applied our approach to hemi-PD rats intrastriatally treated with botulinum neurotoxin-A (BoNT-A). In naïve rats, an IT of about 0.62 s was found, and in right-sided hemi-PD rats the IT of the left forepaw increased to about 3.62 s. These hemi-PD rats showed, however, reduced ITs of the impaired left forepaws 1 month and the second time 7 months after induction of hemi-PD via the injection of 1 ng BoNT-A into the ipsilateral striatum, depending on post BoNT-A survival time. The method described offers the possibility of a precise and animal-friendly evaluation of IT in rats, including the beneficial effect of BoNT-A treatment in hemi-PD rats.