bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Machine Learning Techniques for Improving Self-Consumption in Renewable Energy Communities
Authors: Grève Zacharie De , Bottieau Jérémie , Vangulick David , Wautier Aurélien , Dapoz Pierre-David , Arrigo Adriano , Toubeau Jean-François , Vallée François
Published: September 2020

Renewable Energy Communities consist in an emerging decentralized market mechanism which allows local energy exchanges between end-users, bypassing the traditional wholesale/retail market structure. In that configuration, local consumers and prosumers gather in communities and can either cooperate or compete towards a common objective, such as the minimization of the electricity costs and/or the minimization of greenhouse gas emissions for instance. This paper proposes data analytics modules which aim at helping the community members to schedule the usage of their resources (generation and consumption) in order to minimize their electricity bill. A day-ahead local wind power forecasting algorithm, which relies on state-of-the-art Machine Learning techniques currently used in worldwide forecasting contests, is in that way proposed. We develop furthermore an original method to improve the performance of neural network forecasting models in presence of abnormal wind power data. A technique for computing representative profiles of the community members electricity consumption is also presented. The proposed techniques are tested and deployed operationally on a pilot Renewable Energy Community established on an Medium Voltage network in Belgium, involving 2.25MW of wind and 18 Small and Medium Enterprises who had the possibility to freely access the results of the developed data modules by connecting to a dedicated web platform. We first show that our method for dealing with abnormal wind power data improves the forecasting accuracy by 10% in terms of Root Mean Square Error. The impact of the developed data modules on the consumption behaviour of the community members is then quantified, by analyzing the evolution of their monthly self-consumption and self-sufficiency during the pilot. No significant changes in the members behaviour, in relation with the information provided by the models, were observed in the recorded data. The pilot was however perturbed by the COVID-19 crisis which had a significant impact on the economic activity of the involved companies. We conclude by providing recommendations for the future set up of similar communities.
Monitoring System of Transmission Line in Mountainous Area Based on LPWAN
Authors: Zeng Han , Zuo Pengqi , Deng Fangming , Zhang Pei
Published: September 2020

In light of the difficulty of the inspection and maintenance of a transmission line condition monitoring system in remote mountainous areas, this paper proposes a long-term online monitoring scheme based on a low power wide area network (LPWAN). Considering different failure rates, three monitoring periods of transmission lines in mountainous areas are proposed. An online monitoring framework of transmission lines in mountainous areas was designed based on long range radio (LoRa) and a cellular mobile network, and a dynamic group network model of LoRa was established. The multi-objective particle swarm optimization algorithm can be used to optimize the energy and delay of the system, and then the suitable working mode for the three monitoring periods can be obtained. The simulation results showed that the minimum packet loss rate of the system could be less than 1%, the energy consumption of the system was 80% lower than the existing monitoring system, and the service life of the system can reach 15.13 years under the normal failure rate. Compared with the existing schemes, the proposed work shows the advantages of high reliability transmission, low cost and long-term monitoring, which is especially for transmission line monitoring in mountainous areas.
Two-Objective Optimization of a Kaplan Turbine Draft Tube Using a Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Orso Riccardo , Benini Ernesto , Minozzo Moreno , Bergamin Riccardo , Magrini Andrea
Published: September 2020

The overall cost of a hydropower plant is mainly due to the expenses of civil works, mechanical equipment (turbine and control units) and electrical components. The goal of a new draft tube design is to obtain a geometry that reduces investment costs, especially the excavation ones, but the primary driver is to increase overall machine efficiency, allowing for a reduced payback time. In the present study, an optimization study of the elbow-draft tube assembly of a Kaplan turbine was conducted. First, a CFD model for the complete turbine was developed and validated. Next, an optimization of the draft tube alone was performed using a design of experiments technique. Finally, several optimum solutions for the draft tube were obtained using a response surface technique aiming at maximizing pressure recovery and minimizing flow losses. A selection of optimized geometries was subsequently post-checked using the validated model of the entire turbine, and a detailed flow analysis on the obtained results made it possible to provide insights into the improved designs. It was observed that efficiency could be improved by 1% (in relative terms), and the mechanical power increased by 1.8% (in relative terms) with respect to the baseline turbine.
Effect of Operating Conditions and TWC Parameters on Emissions Characteristics of a Stoichiometric Natural Gas Engine
Authors: Lou Diming , Ren Yedi , Li Xiang , Zhang Yunhua , Sun Xia
Published: September 2020

This study involved conducting an experimental and numerical investigation on the effects of the air-to-fuel ratio (AFR), engine speed, and engine load on the inlet gas component of a three-way catalyst (TWC) and on the effects of noble metal loading, noble metal ratio, and carrier pore density on the emission conversion efficiency. The results showed that AFR can significantly affect the raw emissions of NOx and total hydrocarbon (THC), and better emission conversion efficiency of a TWC can be reached when AFR is controlled between 0.995 to 1. Compared with engine speed, engine load has a relatively small effect on exhaust temperature but greatly affects the flow velocity and NOx and THC emissions. Increasing the content of Pt in the catalyst can improve the THC conversion efficiency. For low Pt and Pd-Rh catalysts, the THC conversion effect is significantly deteriorated. The content of Rh affects the NOx conversion, and NOx conversion efficiency at high speeds is significantly reduced when Rh content is reduced. Higher carrier pore density can slightly improve the catalytic reaction rate and emission conversion efficiency at high engine speeds. However, high conversion efficiency can be maintained even after aging.
Efficiency of Telematics Systems in Management of Operational Activities in Road Transport Enterprises
Authors: Miler Ryszard K. , Kisielewski Marcin J. , Brzozowska Anna , Kalinichenko Antonina
Published: September 2020

Implemented in road transport enterprises (RTEs) on a large scale, telematics systems are dedicated both to the particular aspects of their operation and to the integrated fields of the total operational functioning of such entities. Hence, a research problem can be defined as the identification of their efficiency levels in the context of operational activities undertaken by RTEs (including more holistic effects, e.g., lowering fuel/energy consumption and negative environmental impacts). Current research studies refer to the efficiency of some particular modules, but there have not been any publications focused on describing the efficiency of telematics systems in a more integrated (holistic) way, due to the lack of a universal tool that could be applied to provide this type of measurement. In this paper, an attempt at filling the identified cognitive gap is presented through empirical research analysing the original matrix developed by the authors that refers to the efficiency rates of organisational activities undertaken by RTEs. The purpose of this paper is to present a tool that has been designed to provide a holistic evaluation of efficiency of telematics systems in RTE operational management. The results are presented in a form of an individual (ontogenetic) matrix of the analysed companies, for which a determinant was calculated with the use of Sarrus’ rule. Obtained in such a way, the set of values identified for the determinants of the subsequent ontogenetic matrices came as an arithmetic progression that characterised the scope and the level of the influence exerted by the implemented IT (information technology) systems on the organisational efficiency of operational activities undertaken by the analysed RTEs. We present a hypothesis stating that the originally developed matrix can be viewed as a reliable tool used for comparative analysis in the field of efficiency of telematics systems in RTEs, and this hypothesis was positively verified during the research. The obtained results prove the significant potential for the wide application of the discussed matrix, which can be used as a universal tool for the analysis and comparison of efficiency indicated by the integrated IT systems in the operational activities undertaken by RTEs.
100% Renewable Energy Grid for Rural Electrification of Remote Areas: A Case Study in Jordan
Authors: Al-Ghussain Loiy , Abujubbeh Mohammad , Darwish Ahmad Adnan , Abubaker Ahmad M. , Taylan Onur , Fahrioglu Murat , Akafuah Nelson K.
Published: September 2020

Many developing countries suffer from high energy-import dependency and inadequate electrification of rural areas, which aggravates the poverty problem. In this work, Al-Tafilah in Jordan was considered as a case study, where the technical, economic, and environmental benefits of a decentralized hybrid renewable energy system that can match 100% of the city demand were investigated. A tri-hybrid system of wind, solar, and hydropower was integrated with an energy storage system and optimized to maximize the match between the energy demand and production profiles. The optimization aimed at maximizing the renewable energy system (RES) fraction while keeping the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) equal to the electricity purchase tariff. The techno-economic analysis showed that the optimal system in Al-Tafilah comprises a 28 MW wind system, 75.4 MW PV, and 1 MW hydropower, with a 259 MWh energy storage system, for which a RES fraction of 99% can be achieved, and 47,160 MtCO2 are avoided yearly. This study can be easily extended to other rural cities in Jordan, as they have higher renewable energy system (RES) potential. The presented findings are essential not only for Jordan’s planning and economy-boosting but also for contributing to the ongoing force against climate change.
Snails as Taxis for a Large Yeast Biodiversity
Authors: Akan Madina , Michling Florian , Matti Katrin , Krause Sinje , Muno-Bender Judith , Wendland Jürgen
Published: September 2020

Yeasts are unicellular fungi that harbour a large biodiversity of thousands of species, of which particularly ascomycetous yeasts are instrumental to human food and beverage production. There is already a large body of evidence showing that insects play an important role for yeast ecology, for their dispersal to new habitats and for breeding and overwintering opportunities. Here, we sought to investigate a potential role of the terrestrial snails Cepaea hortensis and C. nemoralis, which in Europe are often found in association with human settlements and gardens, in yeast ecology. Surprisingly, even in a relatively limited culture-dependent sampling size of over 150 isolates, we found a variety of yeast genera, including species frequently isolated from grape must such as Hanseniaspora, Metschnikowia, Meyerozyma and Pichia in snail excrements. We typed the isolates using standard ITS-PCR-sequencing, sequenced the genomes of three non-conventional yeasts H. uvarum, Meyerozyma guilliermondii and P. kudriavzevii and characterized the fermentation performance of these three strains in grape must highlighting their potential to contribute to novel beverage fermentations. Aggravatingly, however, we also retrieved several human fungal pathogen isolates from snail excrements belonging to the Candida clade, namely Ca. glabrata and Ca. lusitaniae. Overall, our results indicate that diverse yeasts can utilise snails as taxis for dispersal. This courier service may be largely non-selective and thus depend on the diet available to the snails.
On Frequency Estimation and Detection of Heavy Hitters in Data Streams
Authors: Ventruto Federica , Pulimeno Marco , Cafaro Massimo , Epicoco Italo
Published: September 2020

A stream can be thought of as a very large set of data, sometimes even infinite, which arrives sequentially and must be processed without the possibility of being stored. In fact, the memory available to the algorithm is limited and it is not possible to store the whole stream of data which is instead scanned upon arrival and summarized through a succinct data structure in order to maintain only the information of interest. Two of the main tasks related to data stream processing are frequency estimation and heavy hitter detection. The frequency estimation problem requires estimating the frequency of each item, that is the number of times or the weight with which each appears in the stream, while heavy hitter detection means the detection of all those items with a frequency higher than a fixed threshold. In this work we design and analyze ACMSS, an algorithm for frequency estimation and heavy hitter detection, and compare it against the state of the art ASketch algorithm. We show that, given the same budgeted amount of memory, for the task of frequency estimation our algorithm outperforms ASketch with regard to accuracy. Furthermore, we show that, under the assumptions stated by its authors, ASketch may not be able to report all of the heavy hitters whilst ACMSS will provide with high probability the full list of heavy hitters.
Biomarkers of Fabry Nephropathy: Review and Future Perspective
Authors: Levstek Tina , Vujkovac Bojan , Trebusak Podkrajsek Katarina
Published: September 2020

Progressive nephropathy is one of the main features of Fabry disease, which largely contributes to the overall morbidity and mortality burden of the disease. Due to the lack of specific biomarkers, the heterogeneity of the disease, and unspecific symptoms, diagnosis is often delayed. Clinical presentation in individual patients varies widely, even in patients from the same family carrying the same pathogenic GLA variant. Therefore, it is reasonable to anticipate that additional genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomics factors influence the manifestation and progression of the disease. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of nephropathy in Fabry patients and the biomarkers currently used in the diagnosis and follow-up. Current biomarkers are associated with late signs of kidney damage. Therefore, there is a need to identify biomarkers associated with early stages of kidney damage that would enable early diagnosis, which is crucial for effective treatment and prevention of severe irreversible complications. Recent advances in sequencing and -omics technologies have led to several studies investigating new biomarkers. We will provide an overview of the novel biomarkers, critically evaluate their clinical utility, and propose future perspectives, which we believe might be in their integration.
Clinical Characteristics of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) among Patients at a Movement Disorders Center
Authors: de Marcaida Joy Antonelle , Lahrmann Jeffrey , Machado Duarte , Bluth Lawrence , Dagostine Michelle , Moro-de Casillas Maria , Bortan Elena , Kanchana Sulada , Alberts Mark
Published: September 2020

It is not established whether SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) patients with movement disorders, are at greater risk for more serious outcomes than the larger COVID-19 population beyond the susceptibility associated with greater age. We reviewed electronic health records and conducted telephone interviews to collect the demographics and clinical outcomes of patients seen at our Movement Disorders Center who tested positive for COVID-19 from 8 March 2020 through 6 June 2020. Thirty-six patients were identified, 23 men and 13 women, median age of 74.5 years. They primarily carried diagnoses of idiopathic Parkinson disease (n = 22; 61%) and atypical parkinsonism (n = 7; 19%) with the balance having other diagnoses. Twenty-seven patients (75%) exhibited alteration in mental status and fifteen (42%) had abnormalities of movement as common manifestations of COVID-19; in 61% and 31%, respectively, these were the presenting symptoms of the disease. Sixty-seven percent of patients in our cohort required hospitalization, and the mortality rate was 36%. These data demonstrate that in patients with movement disorders, the likelihood of hospitalization and death after contracting COVID-19 was greater than in the general population. Patients with movement disorders frequently presented with altered mental status, generalized weakness, or worsening mobility but not anosmia.
Global Risk Factor Evaluation of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Relation to Research Activity and Socioeconomic Factors
Authors: Seeger-Zybok Rebekka K. , Klingelhöfer Doris , Groneberg David A.
Published: September 2020

Obstructive Sleep Apnea is emerging as a global health epidemic, particularly due to the obesity pandemic. However, comprehensive prevalence data are still lacking and global OSA research has not yet been structurally evaluated. Using the latest comprehensive age/gender-specific BMI and obesity data, a global landscape estimating the risk/burden of OSA was created. Results were presented in relation to an in-depth analysis of OSA research and countries’ socioeconomic/scientific background. While the USA, Canada, and Japan are the highest publishing countries on OSA, Iceland, Greece, and Israel appeared at the forefront when relating the scientific output to socioeconomic parameters. Conversely, China, India, and Russia showed relatively low performances in these relations. Analysis of the estimated population at risk (EPR) of OSA showed the USA, China, India, and Brazil as the leading countries. Although the EPR and OSA research correlated strongly, major regional discrepancies between the estimated demand and actual research performances were identified, mainly in, but not limited to, developing nations. Our study highlights regional challenges/imbalances in the global activity on OSA and allows targeted measures to mitigate the burden of undiagnosed/untreated OSA. Furthermore, the inclusion of disadvantaged countries in international collaborations could stimulate local research efforts and provide valuable insights into the regional epidemiology of OSA.
Reducing Socioeconomic Disparities in Comprehensive Smoke-Free Rules among Households with Children: A Pilot Intervention Implemented through a National Cancer Program
Authors: Parks Michael J. , Kegler Michelle C. , Kingsbury John H. , Borowsky Iris W.
Published: September 2020

Most households with a smoker do not implement comprehensive smoke-free rules (smoke-free homes and cars), and secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure remains prevalent among children and low-socioeconomic status (SES) populations. This pilot project aimed to assess implementation feasibility and impact of an intervention designed to increase smoke-free rules among socioeconomically disadvantaged households with children. The pilot was implemented through Minnesota’s National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP). NBCCEDPs provide cancer prevention services to low-income individuals experiencing health disparities. We successfully utilized and adapted the Smoke-Free Homes Program (SFHP) to address comprehensive smoke-free rules among households with children. We used two recruitment methods: (a) direct mail (DM) and (b) opportunistic referral (OR) by patient navigators in the NBCCEDP call center. We used descriptive statistics to assess implementation outcomes and hierarchical logistic regression models (HLM) to assess change in smoke-free rules and SHS exposure over the study period. There was no comparison group, and HLM was used to examine within-person change. A total of 64 participants were recruited. Results showed 83% of participants were recruited through DM. OR had a high recruitment rate, and DM recruited more participants with a low response rate but higher retention rate. Among recruited participants with data (n = 47), smoke-free home rules increased by 50.4 percentage points during the study period (p < 0.001). Among recruited participants who had a vehicle (n = 38), smoke-free car rules increased by 37.6 percentage points (p < 0.01) and comprehensive smoke-free rules rose 40.9 percentage points (p < 0.01). Home SHS exposure declined, and within-person increase in smoke-free home rules was significantly related to less home SHS exposure (p < 0.05). It is feasible to adapt and implement the evidence-based SFHP intervention through a national cancer program, but the current pilot demonstrated recruitment is a challenge. DM produced a low response rate and therefore OR is the recommended recruitment route. Despite low recruitment rates, we conclude that the SFHP can successfully increase comprehensive smoke-free rules and reduce SHS exposure among socioeconomically disadvantaged households with children recruited through a NBCCEDP.
Effect of Different Timings of Implant Insertion on the Bone Remodeling Volume around Patients’ Maxillary Single Implants: A 2–3 Years Follow-Up
Authors: Menchini-Fabris Giovanni Battista , Toti Paolo , Crespi Giovanni , Covani Ugo , Furlotti Luca , Crespi Roberto
Published: September 2020

Background: To investigate the middle-term effect on bone remodeling of different timings for different implant placement (immediate versus delayed). Methods: Patients with an anterior maxillary failing tooth were treated by single-crown supported by dental implant. Subjects were retrospectively analyzed for 3 years and assigned to one of two predictor groups: nine immediate versus 10 delayed implant placement (1–2 months after tooth extraction). The crestal bone loss around dental implants was measured with the cone beam computerized tomography by fusing pre-operative and post-operative data. Results: The percentage of volume loss registered at 1-year follow-up (%ΔV) was of 7.5% for the immediate group, which was significantly lower (p-values ≤ 0.0002) than the loss of 24.2% for the delayed group. At 3 years, there was a significant difference (p-values = 0.0291) between the two groups, respectively, with a volume loss of 14.6% and 27.1%. When different times were compared, the percentage of the volume loss for the immediate group was different (p-value = 0.0366) between the first and third year (7.5% and 14.6%, respectively). For the delayed group, no significant difference was registered between the 1- and 3-year follow-up. Conclusions: The bone loss around dental implant-supported single-crown with different timing of insertion appeared higher for the delayed group than the immediate group.
Occupational Psychosocial Factors in Primary Care Continuing Care Staff
Authors: Fonseca Javier Guerrero , Romo-Barrientos Carmen , Criado-Álvarez Juan José , González-González Jaime , Martín-Conty José Luis , Mohedano-Moriano Alicia , Viñuela Antonio
Published: September 2020

This involves studying the psychosocial factors among the emergencies staff of primary care and seeing if there are differences with the primary health care staff at the Primary Care of the Integrated Care Management of Talavera de la Reina (Spain). Descriptive epidemiological study of type transversal. They have participated 51 emergencies staff of primary care and 50 primary health professionals from a sample of urban and rural health centres. The F-Psico 3.1 questionnaire has been used to evaluate the nine psychosocial risk factors. The emergencies staff quantify the psychosocial factors of working time (19.6 SD 5.7) and autonomy (69.8 SD 23.2) as a higher risk situation compared to the other health care staff with 3.7 SD 4, 7 and 52.1 SD 21.8, respectively (p < 0.05). In addition, the role performance is valued as a lower risk situation by the emergencies staff of primary care (p < 0.05). The workload assessment is the only difference between the emergencies staff of primary care in urban centres (61.5 SD 17.6) and rural (45.2 SD 18.4) (p < 0.05). Women have the highest workload (p < 0.05). It is necessary to apply preventive measures and policies applicable to women who work in emergencies, especially in urban areas to reduce their workload.
Differential Experiences of Mental Health among Trans/Gender Diverse Adults in Michigan
Authors: Kattari Shanna K. , Kattari Leonardo , Johnson Ian , Lacombe-Duncan Ashley , Misiolek Brayden A.
Published: September 2020

Transgender and gender diverse individuals experience high rates of health disparities, as compared with their cisgender (non-transgender) counterparts. One area in which these disparities is most grave is that of mental health, with some studies indicating transgender and gender diverse individuals as having a 40% rate of lifetime suicide attempts and similarly high rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. These rates vary further within this population, with differential rates seen across sociodemographic factors, including race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability status, education level, and income. This study explores mental health experiences across different social identities, using data from the 2018 Michigan Trans Health Survey (N = 659), a community-based participatory action research project collected in Michigan, United States, analyzed using chi-square tests of independence and logistic regressions. Findings indicate incredibly high rates of mental health concerns; 72.2% had been diagnosed with depression in their lifetime and 73.0% had been diagnosed with anxiety in their lifetime. In the past year, 49.9% had had non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) thoughts, 45.4% had suicidal thoughts, 26.3% engaged in NSSI, and 7.7% had attempted suicide. Bivariate regressions showed some nuanced experiences of rates of mental health diagnoses and experiences, such as greater odds of experiencing all mental health disparities among those with disabilities, and differential odds across gender in regard to ever having a depression diagnosis, non-suicidal self-injury thoughts and engaging in non-suicidal self-injury behavior. This indicates a need for social workers, counselors, therapists, and other human services professionals to act more intentionally and with an intersectional lens when it comes to exploring the mental health of transgender and gender diverse persons.
Effects and Mechanisms of Phthalates’ Action on Reproductive Processes and Reproductive Health: A Literature Review
Authors: Hlisníková Henrieta , Petrovičová Ida , Kolena Branislav , Šidlovská Miroslava , Sirotkin Alexander
Published: September 2020

The production of plastic products, which requires phthalate plasticizers, has resulted in the problems for human health, especially that of reproductive health. Phthalate exposure can induce reproductive disorders at various regulatory levels. The aim of this review was to compile the evidence concerning the association between phthalates and reproductive diseases, phthalates-induced reproductive disorders, and their possible endocrine and intracellular mechanisms. Phthalates may induce alterations in puberty, the development of testicular dysgenesis syndrome, cancer, and fertility disorders in both males and females. At the hormonal level, phthalates can modify the release of hypothalamic, pituitary, and peripheral hormones. At the intracellular level, phthalates can interfere with nuclear receptors, membrane receptors, intracellular signaling pathways, and modulate gene expression associated with reproduction. To understand and to treat the adverse effects of phthalates on human health, it is essential to expand the current knowledge concerning their mechanism of action in the organism.
Factors Affecting Onset and Persistence of Metabolic Syndrome in Korean Breast Cancer Survivors: A Prospective Study
Authors: Maeng Suyoun , Yu Jungok
Published: September 2020

This study aimed to investigate the onset and persistence of metabolic syndrome in breast cancer survivors in a community setting. The study included 329 female breast cancer survivors from 39 community health examination centers located in 14 urban areas in Korea. After an average of 4.6 years of follow-up, based on the presence of metabolic syndrome at baseline and follow-up, the subjects were assigned to three groups: Non-metabolic syndrome (n = 249), onset (n = 32), and persistent (n = 48). Factors associated with the metabolic syndrome were analyzed and presented as odds ratios (ORs). Older age, postmenopausal status, lower education, and lower-income level were associated with an increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the onset Mets and persistent Mets group. In particular, when the breast cancer survivor was obese (≥25 kg/m2), the probability of developing metabolic syndrome was 3.33 times higher than normal-weight subjects (<23 kg/m2) and the probability of metabolic syndrome persisting was 16.34 times. When breast cancer survivors were in their 60s or older, the probability of metabolic syndrome persisting was 4.27 times higher than those in their 40s. To prevent the onset and persistence of metabolic syndrome in breast cancer survivors, health-care providers should identify risk factors. Obesity, in particular, should be controlled.
Relationship between Skin Temperature, Electrical Manifestations of Muscle Fatigue, and Exercise-Induced Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness for Dynamic Contractions: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Priego-Quesada Jose I. , De la Fuente Carlos , Kunzler Marcos R. , Perez-Soriano Pedro , Hervás-Marín David , Carpes Felipe P.
Published: September 2020

Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) indicates the presence of muscle damage and impairs force production and control. Monitorization of DOMS is useful to improving recovery intervention plans. The magnitude of DOMS may relate to muscle fatigue, which can be monitored by surface electromyography (EMG). Additionally, growing interest has been expressed in determining whether the skin temperature over a muscle group during exercise to fatigue could be a non-invasive marker for DOMS. Here we determine whether skin temperature and manifestations of muscle fatigue during exercise are correlated and can predict DOMS after concentric–eccentric bicep curl exercises. We tested 10 young adults who performed concentric–eccentric bicep curl exercises to induce muscle damage in the biceps brachialis to investigate the relationship between skin temperature and fatigue during exercise and DOMS after exercise. Muscle activation and skin temperature were recorded during exercise. DOMS was evaluated 24 h after exercise. Data analysis was performed using Bayesian regression models with regularizing priors. We found significant muscle fatigue and an increase in skin temperature during exercise. DOMS was observed 24 h after exercise. The regression models showed no correlation of changes in skin temperature and muscle fatigue during exercise with DOMS 24 h after exercise. In conclusion, our preliminary results do not support a relationship between skin temperature measured during exercise and either muscle fatigue during exercise or the ability to predict DOMS 24 h after exercise.
The Role of Iron Metabolism in Fatigue, Depression, and Quality of Life in Multiple Sclerosis Patients
Authors: Knyszyńska Anna , Radecka Aleksandra , Zabielska Paulina , Łuczak Joanna , Karakiewicz Beata , Lubkowska Anna
Published: September 2020

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of autoimmune origin for which there is currently no available cure. In the course of MS, next to neurological disorders, patients often present with chronic fatigue syndrome and depressive disorders, which impact on their daily function and quality of life. The aim of study was to analyse the relationship between serum parameters of iron metabolism and the severity of fatigue, depressive symptoms, and quality of life in MS patients. Methods: The study sample consisted of 90 people with a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, age range 19–67 years, whose functional status evaluated using the Expanded Disability Status Scale in 90% of the participants did not exceed 3.5 points. Venous blood samples were collected for blood cell count determination and for the purposes of obtaining serum analysed for the concentrations of iron, ferritin, transferrin, transferrin saturation, unsaturated iron binding capacity (UIBC), and total iron binding capacity (TIBC). The participants were also evaluated according to the Fatigue Severity Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, and Functional Assessment of Multiple Sclerosis. Results: Ferritin levels were significantly correlated with the severity of depressive symptoms (r = −0.22; p = 0.04) and quality of life assessment (r = 0.22; p = 0.04) in the MS patients. Moreover, the severity of fatigue and depressive symptoms was significantly linked to a deterioration in quality of life. Conclusions: Ferritin deficiency in MS patients is associated with an exacerbation of depressive disorders and a decline in quality of life. Symptoms of fatigue in MS patients are inversely proportional to mood and quality of life.
Association between Daily Activities and Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia in Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Memory Complaints by Their Families
Authors: Ikeda Yuriko , Han Gwanghee , Maruta Michio , Hotta Maki , Ueno Eri , Tabira Takayuki
Published: September 2020

It is important and useful to consider information provided by family members about individuals with memory complaints’ instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). The purpose of this study was to clarify the characteristics and relevance of individuals with memory complaints’ IADL and behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) assessed from the perspective of the family members using the Process Analysis of Daily Activity for Dementia and short version Dementia Behavior Disturbance scale. A self-administered questionnaire was sent to 2000 randomly selected members of Consumer’s Co-operative Kagoshima, and 621 responded. Of the returned responses, there were 159 participants who answered about individuals with memory complaints. The stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to examine the association between IADL and BPSD. The result showed that many IADL of the individuals with memory complaints were associated with BPSD of apathy, nocturnal wakefulness, and unwarranted accusations, adjusted for age, gender, and the observation list for early signs of dementia. In addition, each IADL was associated with BPSD of apathy, nocturnal wakefulness, and dresses inappropriately. Modifying lifestyle early on when families recognize these changes may help maintain and improve the long-term quality of life of the individuals with memory complaints and their family.
Green Health Partnerships in Scotland; Pathways for Social Prescribing and Physical Activity Referral
Authors: McHale Sheona , Pearsons Alice , Neubeck Lis , Hanson Coral L.
Published: September 2020

Increased exposure to green space has many health benefits. Scottish Green Health Partnerships (GHPs) have established green health referral pathways to enable community-based interventions to contribute to primary prevention and the maintenance of health for those with established disease. This qualitative study included focus groups and semi-structured telephone interviews with a range of professionals involved in strategic planning for and the development and provision of green health interventions (n = 55). We explored views about establishing GHPs. GHPs worked well, and green health was a good strategic fit with public health priorities. Interventions required embedding into core planning for health, local authority, social care and the third sector to ensure integration into non-medical prescribing models. There were concerns about sustainability and speed of change required for integration due to limited funding. Referral pathways were in the early development stages and intervention provision varied. Participants recognised challenges in addressing equity, developing green health messaging, volunteering capacity and providing evidence of success. Green health interventions have potential to integrate successfully with social prescribing and physical activity referral. Participants recommended GHPs engage political and health champions, embed green health in strategic planning, target mental health, develop simple, positively framed messaging, provide volunteer support and implement robust routine data collection to allow future examination of success.
Evolution of the Habits of Physical Activity and Television Viewing in Spanish Children and Pre-Adolescents between 1997 and 2017
Authors: García-Soidán Jose L. , Leirós-Rodríguez Raquel , Romo-Pérez Vicente , Arufe-Giráldez Víctor
Published: September 2020

Background: Promoting healthy lifestyles in children, has become a priority for public health institutions. However, electronic devices with screens encourage sedentary behaviors. The aim of this study was to analyze the evolution of the habits of physical activity practice and television watching in a cohort of 20 years of research in Spanish children. Methods: A cross-sectional, observational study was based on data from the Spain National Health Surveys between 1997 and 2017 (N = 11,444). The dependent variables considered were the frequency with which the minor practiced physical activity (PA) in his/her spare time, the daily TV viewing habit, and the daily hours of TV viewing. Results: The children who practiced physical activity daily has decreased 7.3% throughout the study period. The proportion of children who watched the television daily for more hours increased significantly (6.3%). Such increase was constant throughout the years, and the analysis by sex showed that the proportion of boys who watched television for more than three hours per day increased three percent, and that of girls increased fourfold. Conclusions: The habits of physical activity practice and television viewing have changed towards sedentary lifestyle. Particularly, the girls and the children between 12 and 14 years showed the most sedentary behavior. Public health policies must consider the differences between sexes in order for such interventions to be effective in the population of pre-adolescents, in general, and girls, in particular.
Low-Dose Nicotine Activates EGFR Signaling via α5-nAChR and Promotes Lung Adenocarcinoma Progression
Authors: Wang Mong-Lien , Hsu Yi-Fan , Liu Chih-Hsuan , Kuo Ya-Ling , Chen Yi-Chen , Yeh Yi-Chen , Ho Hsiang-Ling , Wu Yu-Chung , Chou Teh-Ying , Wu Cheng-Wen
Published: September 2020

Nicotine in tobacco smoke is considered carcinogenic in several malignancies including lung cancer. The high incidence of lung adenocarcinoma (LAC) in non-smokers, however, remains unexplained. Although LAC has long been less associated with smoking behavior based on previous epidemiological correlation studies, the effect of environmental smoke contributing to low-dose nicotine exposure in non-smoking population could be underestimated. Here we provide experimental evidence of how low-dose nicotine promotes LAC growth in vitro and in vivo. Screening of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits in lung cancer cell lines demonstrated a particularly high expression level of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit α5 (α 5-nAChR) in LAC cell lines. Clinical specimen analysis revealed up-regulation of α 5-nAChR in LAC tumor tissues compared to non-tumor counterparts. In LAC cell lines α 5-nAChR interacts with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), positively regulates EGFR pathway, enhances the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers, and is essential for low-dose nicotine-induced EGFR phosphorylation. Functionally, low-dose nicotine requires α 5-nAChR to enhance cell migration, invasion, and proliferation. Knockdown of α 5-nAChR inhibits the xenograft tumor growth of LAC. Clinical analysis indicated that high level of tumor α 5-nAChR is correlated with poor survival rates of LAC patients, particularly in those expressing wild-type EGFR. Our data identified α 5-nAChR as an essential mediator for low-dose nicotine-dependent LAC progression possibly through signaling crosstalk with EGFR, supporting the involvement of environmental smoke in tumor progression in LAC patients.
The Role of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts and Extracellular Vesicles in Tumorigenesis
Authors: Shoucair Issraa , Weber Mello Fernanda , Jabalee James , Maleki Saeideh , Garnis Cathie
Published: September 2020

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play a key role in the communication between cancer cells and stromal components of the tumor microenvironment (TME). In this context, cancer cell-derived EVs can regulate the activation of a CAF phenotype in TME cells, which can be mediated by several EV cargos (e.g., miRNA, proteins, mRNA and lncRNAs). On the other hand, CAF-derived EVs can mediate several processes during tumorigenesis, including tumor growth, invasion, metastasis, and therapy resistance. This review aimed to discuss the molecular aspects of EV-based cross-talk between CAFs and cancer cells during tumorigenesis, in addition to assessing the roles of EV cargo in therapy resistance and pre-metastatic niche formation.
Osteoporosis in Patients with Chronic Kidney Diseases: A Systemic Review
Authors: Hsu Chia-Yu , Chen Li-Ru , Chen Kuo-Hu
Published: September 2020

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with the development of mineral bone disorder (MBD), osteoporosis, and fragility fractures. Among CKD patients, adynamic bone disease or low bone turnover is the most common type of renal osteodystrophy. The consequences of CKD-MBD include increased fracture risk, greater morbidity, and mortality. Thus, the goal is to prevent the occurrences of fractures by means of alleviating CKD-induced MBD and treating subsequent osteoporosis. Changes in mineral and humoral metabolism as well as bone structure develop early in the course of CKD. CKD-MBD includes abnormalities of calcium, phosphorus, PTH, and/or vitamin D; abnormalities in bone turnover, mineralization, volume, linear growth, or strength; and/or vascular or other soft tissue calcification. In patients with CKD-MBD, using either DXA or FRAX to screen fracture risk should be considered. Biomarkers such as bALP and iPTH may assist to assess bone turnover. Before initiating an antiresorptive or anabolic agent to treat osteoporosis in CKD patients, lifestyle modifications, such as exercise, calcium, and vitamin D supplementation, smoking cessation, and avoidance of excessive alcohol intake are important. Managing hyperphosphatemia and SHPT are also crucial. Understanding the complex pathogenesis of CKD-MBD is crucial in improving one’s short- and long-term outcomes. Treatment strategies for CKD-associated osteoporosis should be patient-centered to determine the type of renal osteodystrophy. This review focuses on the mechanism, evaluation and management of patients with CKD-MBD. However, further studies are needed to explore more details regarding the underlying pathophysiology and to assess the safety and efficacy of agents for treating CKD-MBD.
Deoxypodophyllotoxin, a Lignan from Anthriscus sylvestris, Induces Apoptosis and Cell Cycle Arrest by Inhibiting the EGFR Signaling Pathways in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells
Authors: Kwak Ah-Won , Lee Mee-Hyun , Yoon Goo , Cho Seung-Sik , Choi Joon-Seok , Chae Jung-Il , Shim Jung-Hyun
Published: September 2020

Deoxypodophyllotoxin (DPT) derived from Anthriscus sylvestris (L.) Hoffm has attracted considerable interest in recent years because of its anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and antiviral activity. However, the mechanisms underlying DPT mediated antitumor activity have yet to be fully elucidated in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). We show here that DPT inhibited the kinase activity of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) directly, as well as phosphorylation of its downstream signaling kinases, AKT, GSK-3β, and ERK. We confirmed a direct interaction between DPT and EGFR by pull-down assay using DPT-beads. DPT treatment suppressed ESCC cell viability and colony formation in a time- and dose-dependent manner, as shown by MTT analysis and soft agar assay. DPT also down-regulated cyclin B1 and cdc2 expression to induce G2/M phase arrest of the cell cycle and upregulated p21 and p27 expression. DPT treatment of ESCC cells triggered the release of cytochrome c via loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, thereby inducing apoptosis by upregulation of related proteins. In addition, treatment of KYSE 30 and KYSE 450 cells with DPT increased endoplasmic reticulum stress, reactive oxygen species generation, and multi-caspase activation. Consequently, our results suggest that DPT has the potential to become a new anticancer therapeutic by inhibiting EGFR mediated AKT/ERK signaling pathway in ESCC.
Harmonizing Newborn Screening Laboratory Proficiency Test Results Using the CDC NSQAP Reference Materials
Authors: Pickens Charles Austin , Sternberg Maya , Seeterlin Mary , De Jesús Víctor R. , Morrissey Mark , Manning Adrienne , Bhakta Sonal , Held Patrice K. , Mei Joanne , Cuthbert Carla , Petritis Konstantinos
Published: September 2020

Newborn screening (NBS) laboratories cannot accurately compare mass spectrometry-derived results and cutoff values due to differences in testing methodologies. The objective of this study was to assess harmonization of laboratory proficiency test (PT) results using quality control (QC) data. Newborn Screening Quality Assurance Program (NSQAP) QC and PT data reported from 302 laboratories in 2019 were used to compare results among laboratories. QC materials were provided as dried blood spot cards which included a base pool and the base pool enriched with specific concentrations of metabolites in a linear range. QC data reported by laboratories were regressed on QC data reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and laboratory’s regression parameters were used to harmonize their PT result. In general, harmonization tended to reduce overall variation in PT data across laboratories. The metabolites glutarylcarnitine (C5DC), tyrosine, and phenylalanine were displayed to highlight inter- and intra-method variability in NBS results. Several limitations were identified using retrospective data for harmonization, and future studies will address these limitations to further assess feasibility of using NSQAP QC data to harmonize PT data. Harmonizing NBS data using common QC materials appears promising to aid result comparison between laboratories.
SlowTT: A Slow Denial of Service against IoT Networks
Authors: Vaccari Ivan , Aiello Maurizio , Cambiaso Enrico
Published: September 2020

The security of Internet of Things environments is a critical and trending topic, due to the nature of the networks and the sensitivity of the exchanged information. In this paper, we investigate the security of the Message Queue Telemetry Transport (MQTT) protocol, widely adopted in IoT infrastructures. We exploit two specific weaknesses of MQTT, identified during our research activities, allowing the client to configure the KeepAlive parameter and MQTT packets to execute an innovative cyber threat against the MQTT broker. In order to validate the exploitation of such vulnerabilities, we propose SlowTT, a novel “Slow” denial of service attack aimed at targeting MQTT through low-rate techniques, characterized by minimum attack bandwidth and computational power requirements. We validate SlowTT against real MQTT services, by considering both plaintext and encrypted communications and by comparing the effects of the attack when targeting different application daemons and protocol versions. Results show that SlowTT is extremely successful, and it can exploit the identified vulnerability to execute a denial of service against the IoT network by keeping the connection alive for a long time.