bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trends of Mental Disorders and Treatment Continuity Predictors of New Patients in the Paediatric Psychiatry Clinic of a University Hospital
Authors: Lee Ah-Rah , Bahn Geon-Ho
Published: September 2021

This study analysed trends of first-time patients visiting the paediatric psychiatry clinic in a university hospital. The medical records from 2009 to 2016 of first-time patients visiting the Kyung Hee University Hospital were reviewed, focusing on children in grades 1–12. We analysed the clinical diagnosis rate of mental disorders per 100,000 in the general population by gender and grade, and the characteristics of patients who sought outpatient care more than three times. The study included 1467 participants, of which 931 were males (63.5%). The number of male patients per 100,000 population significantly decreased from 4.14 in 2009 to 2.03 in 2016. While hyperkinetic disorders had the highest prevalence in males, neurotic disorders were most frequent in females. The rate of disruptive behaviour disorders in males and mental retardation in females decreased significantly during the data collecting period. The factors affecting treatment continuity were being female, 7th–12th graders, and diagnosis of depressive, hyperkinetic, and tic disorders. Physicians should consider the new paediatric patients’ gender, grade, and expected diagnosis from their first visit to improve treatment compliance.
Academic Promotion of Physicians in Medical Schools: A Special Focus on Primary Health Care in Taiwan
Authors: Ma Hsin , Chu Feng-Yuan , Chen Tzeng-Ji , Hwang Shinn-Jang
Published: September 2021

The quality and quantity of papers published in journals play a crucial role in achieving an academic promotion in medical schools. Reports on the criteria for promotion and their impact on different specialties, especially on primary health care, which has low research output, are rare. We investigated the scoring systems generally adopted for academic promotion at most medical schools in Taiwan. The weighted scores were derived from the multiplication of weights from categories of paper, journal impact factor, or ranking in a certain category by impact factor, and author order. To determine the thresholds of papers required for different levels of promotion, we took papers in the highest- or lowest-ranked journals in the primary health care category in 2019 Journal Citation Reports as examples. Considering publications in the highest-ranked journals, a median of 4.6 first or corresponding author papers were required for a professorship, as well as 3.3 for an associate professorship, and 2.5 for an assistant professorship. In contrast, a median of 30, 20, and 13.5 papers in the lowest-ranked journals was required for the corresponding positions. Thus, academic promotions for primary health care educators in Taiwan are highly demanding. The detrimental effects of scoring systems deserve further research.
Association between Hypertriglyceridemic-Waist Phenotype and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Middle-Aged and Older Chinese Population: A Longitudinal Cohort Study
Authors: Chen Dezhong , Liang Ziyun , Sun Huimin , Lu Ciyong , Chen Weiqing , Wang Harry H. X. , Guo Vivian Yawei
Published: September 2021

Current evidence remains inconsistent with regard to the association between different triglyceridemic-waist phenotypes and the risks for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We aimed to investigate this association among a retrospective cohort analysis of 6918 participants aged ≥ 45 years in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Participants were categorized into four triglyceridemic-waist phenotypes consisting of NWNT (normal waist circumference and normal triglycerides), NWHT (normal waist circumference and high triglycerides), EWNT (enlarged waist circumference and normal triglycerides), and EWHT (enlarged waist circumference and high triglycerides) based on participants’ baseline information. Multivariate log-binomial regression was used to assess the T2DM risk in different phenotypes. Subgroup analysis was conducted to test the robustness of the findings. After 4-years of follow-up, participants with EWHT (Relative Risk [RR]: 1.909, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.499 to 2.447) or EWNT (RR: 1.580, 95%CI: 1.265 to 1.972) phenotypes had significantly higher likelihood of incident T2DM compared to the NWNT phenotype, whereas the association was not significant for the NWHT phenotype (RR: 1.063, 95%CI: 0.793 to 1.425). The subgroup analyses generally revealed similar associations across all subgroups. Among middle-aged and older adults, we suggested a combined use of waist circumference and triglycerides measures in identifying participants who are at high risk of developing T2DM.
A20 Inhibits LPS-Induced Inflammation by Regulating TRAF6 Polyubiquitination in Rainbow Trout
Authors: Jang Ju Hye , Kim Hyun , Jung In Young , Cho Ju Hyun
Published: September 2021

The ubiquitin-editing enzyme A20 is known to inhibit the NF-κB transcription factor in the Toll-like receptor (TLR) pathways, thereby negatively regulating inflammation. However, its role in the TLR signaling pathway in fish is still largely unknown. Here, we identified a gene encoding A20 (OmA20) in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, and investigated its role in TLR response regulation. The deduced amino acid sequence of OmA20 contained a conserved N-terminal ovarian tumor (OTU) domain and seven C-terminal zinc-finger (ZnF) domains. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation increased OmA20 expression in RTH-149 cells. In LPS-stimulated RTH-149 cells, gain- and loss-of-function experiments revealed that OmA20 inhibited MAPK and NF-κB activation, as well as the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. OmA20 interacted with TRAF6, a key molecule involved in the activation of TLR-mediated NF-κB signaling pathways. LPS treatment increased the K63-linked polyubiquitination of TRAF6 in RTH-149 cells, which was suppressed when OmA20 was forced expression. Furthermore, mutations in the OTU domain significantly decreased deubiquitination of the K63-linked ubiquitin chain on TRAF6, indicating that deubiquitinase activity is dependent on the OTU domain. These findings suggest that OmA20, like those of mammals, reduces LPS-induced inflammation in rainbow trout, most likely by regulating K63-linked ubiquitination of TRAF6.
Catalytic Asymmetry in Homodimeric H+-Pumping Membrane Pyrophosphatase Demonstrated by Non-Hydrolyzable Pyrophosphate Analogs
Authors: Anashkin Viktor A. , Malinen Anssi M. , Bogachev Alexander V. , Baykov Alexander A.
Published: September 2021

Membrane-bound inorganic pyrophosphatase (mPPase) resembles the F-ATPase in catalyzing polyphosphate-energized H+ and Na+ transport across lipid membranes, but differs structurally and mechanistically. Homodimeric mPPase likely uses a “direct coupling” mechanism, in which the proton generated from the water nucleophile at the entrance to the ion conductance channel is transported across the membrane or triggers Na+ transport. The structural aspects of this mechanism, including subunit cooperation, are still poorly understood. Using a refined enzyme assay, we examined the inhibition of K+-dependent H+-transporting mPPase from Desulfitobacterium hafniensee by three non-hydrolyzable PPi analogs (imidodiphosphate and C-substituted bisphosphonates). The kinetic data demonstrated negative cooperativity in inhibitor binding to two active sites, and reduced active site performance when the inhibitor or substrate occupied the other active site. The nonequivalence of active sites in PPi hydrolysis in terms of the Michaelis constant vanished at a low (0.1 mM) concentration of Mg2+ (essential cofactor). The replacement of K+, the second metal cofactor, by Na+ increased the substrate and inhibitor binding cooperativity. The detergent-solubilized form of mPPase exhibited similar active site nonequivalence in PPi hydrolysis. Our findings support the notion that the mPPase mechanism combines Mitchell’s direct coupling with conformational coupling to catalyze cation transport across the membrane.
Drought and High Temperature Stress in Sorghum: Physiological, Genetic, and Molecular Insights and Breeding Approaches
Authors: Prasad V. B. Rajendra , Govindaraj Mahalingam , Djanaguiraman Maduraimuthu , Djalovic Ivica , Shailani Anjali , Rawat Nishtha , Singla-Pareek Sneh Lata , Pareek Ashwani , Prasad P. V. Vara
Published: September 2021

Sorghum is one of the staple crops for millions of people in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and South Asia (SA). The future climate in these sorghum production regions is likely to have unexpected short or long episodes of drought and/or high temperature (HT), which can cause significant yield losses. Therefore, to achieve food and nutritional security, drought and HT stress tolerance ability in sorghum must be genetically improved. Drought tolerance mechanism, stay green, and grain yield under stress has been widely studied. However, novel traits associated with drought (restricted transpiration and root architecture) need to be explored and utilized in breeding. In sorghum, knowledge on the traits associated with HT tolerance is limited. Heat shock transcription factors, dehydrins, and genes associated with hormones such as auxin, ethylene, and abscisic acid and compatible solutes are involved in drought stress modulation. In contrast, our understanding of HT tolerance at the omic level is limited and needs attention. Breeding programs have exploited limited traits with narrow genetic and genomic resources to develop drought or heat tolerant lines. Reproductive stages of sorghum are relatively more sensitive to stress compared to vegetative stages. Therefore, breeding should incorporate appropriate pre-flowering and post-flowering tolerance in a broad genetic base population and in heterotic hybrid breeding pipelines. Currently, more than 240 QTLs are reported for drought tolerance-associated traits in sorghum prospecting discovery of trait markers. Identifying traits and better understanding of physiological and genetic mechanisms and quantification of genetic variability for these traits may enhance HT tolerance. Drought and HT tolerance can be improved by better understanding mechanisms associated with tolerance and screening large germplasm collections to identify tolerant lines and incorporation of those traits into elite breeding lines. Systems approaches help in identifying the best donors of tolerance to be incorporated in the SSA and SA sorghum breeding programs. Integrated breeding with use of high-throughput precision phenomics and genomics can deliver a range of drought and HT tolerant genotypes that can improve yield and resilience of sorghum under drought and HT stresses.
Role of Glycosylation in Vascular Calcification
Authors: Masbuchin Ainun Nizar , Rohman Mohammad Saifur , Liu Ping-Yen
Published: September 2021

Glycosylation is an important step in post-translational protein modification. Altered glycosylation results in an abnormality that causes diseases such as malignancy and cardiovascular diseases. Recent emerging evidence highlights the importance of glycosylation in vascular calcification. Two major types of glycosylation, N-glycosylation and O-glycosylation, are involved in vascular calcification. Other glycosylation mechanisms, which polymerize the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chain onto protein, resulting in proteoglycan (PG), also have an impact on vascular calcification. This paper discusses the role of glycosylation in vascular calcification.
The In Vitro Anti-Pseudomonal Activity of Cu2+, Strawberry Furanone, Gentamicin, and Lytic Phages Alone and in Combination: Pros and Cons
Authors: Dorotkiewicz-Jach Agata , Markwitz Pawel , Drulis-Kawa Zuzanna
Published: September 2021

In this study, we investigated the anti-pseudomonal activity of cupric ions (Cu2+), strawberry furanone (HDMF), gentamicin (GE), and three lytic Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteriophages (KT28, KTN4, LUZ19), separately and in combination. HDMF showed an anti-virulent effect but only when applied with Cu2+ or GE. GE, at a sub-minimal inhibitory concentration, slowed down phage progeny production due to protein synthesis inhibition. Cu2+ significantly reduced both the bacterial cell count and the number of infective phage particles, likely due to its genotoxicity or protein inactivation and cell membrane disruption effects. Furthermore, Cu2+‘s probable sequestration by phage particles led to the reduction of free toxic metal ions available in the solution. An additive antibacterial effect was only observed for the combination of GE and Cu2+, potentially due to enhanced ROS production or to outer membrane permeabilization. This study indicates that possible interference between antibacterial agents needs to be carefully investigated for the preparation of effective therapeutic cocktails.
Jasmonic Acid and Ethylene Participate in the Gibberellin-Induced Ovule Programmed Cell Death Process in Seedless Pear ‘1913’ (Pyrus hybrid)
Authors: Wang Huibin , Zhang Shichao , Qu Yingying , Gao Rui , Xiao Yuxiong , Wang Zhigang , Zhai Rui , Yang Chengquan , Xu Lingfei
Published: September 2021

Seedless fruit is a feature appreciated by consumers. The ovule abortion process is highly orchestrated and controlled by numerous environmental and endogenous signals. However, the mechanisms underlying ovule abortion in pear remain obscure. Here, we found that gibberellins (GAs) have diverse functions during ovules development between seedless pear ‘1913’ and seeded pear, and that GA4+7 activates a potential programmed cell death process in ‘1913’ ovules. After hormone analyses, strong correlations were determined among jasmonic acid (JA), ethylene and salicylic acid (SA) in seedless and seeded cultivars, and GA4+7 treatments altered the hormone accumulation levels in ovules, resulting in significant correlations between GA and both JA and ethylene. Additionally, SA contributed to ovule abortion in ‘1913’. Exogenously supplying JA, SA or the ethylene precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid promoted ‘Bartlett’ seed death. The regulatory mechanism in which ethylene controls ovule death has been demonstrated; therefore, JA’s role in regulating ‘1913’ ovule abortion was investigated. A further study identified that the JA signaling receptor MYC2 bound the SENESCENCE-ASSOCIATED 39 promoter and triggered its expression to regulate ovule abortion. Thus, we established ovule abortion-related relationships between GA and the hormones JA, ethylene and SA, and we determined their synergistic functions in regulating ovule death.
Hermetia illucens (L.) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) Odorant Binding Proteins and Their Interactions with Selected Volatile Organic Compounds: An In Silico Approach
Authors: Scieuzo Carmen , Nardiello Marisa , Farina Donatella , Scala Andrea , Cammack Jonathan A. , Tomberlin Jeffery K. , Vogel Heiko , Salvia Rosanna , Persaud Krishna , Falabella Patrizia
Published: September 2021

The black soldier fly (BSF), Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), has considerable global interest due to its outstanding capacity in bioconverting organic waste to insect biomass, which can be used for livestock, poultry, and aquaculture feed. Mass production of this insect in colonies requires the development of methods concentrating oviposition in specific collection devices, while the mass production of larvae and disposing of waste may require substrates that are more palatable and more attractive to the insects. In insects, chemoreception plays an essential role throughout their life cycle, responding to an array of chemical, biological and environmental signals to locate and select food, mates, oviposition sites and avoid predators. To interpret these signals, insects use an arsenal of molecular components, including small proteins called odorant binding proteins (OBPs). Next generation sequencing was used to identify genes involved in chemoreception during the larval and adult stage of BSF, with particular attention to OBPs. The analysis of the de novo adult and larval transcriptome led to the identification of 27 and 31 OBPs for adults and larvae, respectively. Among these OBPs, 15 were common in larval and adult transcriptomes and the tertiary structures of 8 selected OBPs were modelled. In silico docking of ligands confirms the potential interaction with VOCs of interest. Starting from the information about the growth performance of H. illucens on different organic substrates from the agri-food sector, the present work demonstrates a possible correlation between a pool of selected VOCs, emitted by those substrates that are attractive for H. illucens females when searching for oviposition sites, as well as phagostimulants for larvae. The binding affinities between OBPs and selected ligands calculated by in silico modelling may indicate a correlation among OBPs, VOCs and behavioural preferences that will be the basis for further analysis.
Characterization and Pilot Human Trial of Dedicated Breast Ring Positron Emission Tomography (BRPET) System
Authors: Polemi Andrew M. , Kogler Annie K. , Rehm Patrice K. , Lancaster Luke , Peppard Heather R. , Dillon Patrick M. , Stolin Alexander V. , Majewski Stanislaw , Williams Mark B.
Published: September 2021

We describe the design and performance of BRPET, a novel dedicated breast PET (dbPET) scanner designed to maximize visualization of posterior regions of the breast. BRPET uses prone imaging geometry and a 12-module detector ring built from pixelated LYSO crystals coupled to position sensitive photomultiplier tubes (PSPMTs). Optical coupling via slanted plastic fiber optic light guides permits partial insertion of the crystals into the exam table’s breast aperture. Image quality testing procedures were adapted from the NEMA NU4-2008 protocol. Two additional phantom tests quantified the posterior extent of the usable volume of view (VoV). BRPET axial, radial, and tangential FWHM spatial resolutions at the isocenter were 1.8, 1.7, and 1.9 mm, respectively. The peak absolute system sensitivity was 0.97% using an energy window of 460–562 keV. The peak noise equivalent counting rate was 5.33 kcps at 21.6 MBq. The scanner VoV extends to within ~6 mm of the plane defining the location of the chest wall. A pilot human study (n = 10) compared the diagnostic performance of FDG-BRPET to that of contrast enhanced MRI (CEMRI), with biopsy as ground truth. Averaged over three expert human observers, the sensitivity/specificity for BRPET was 0.93/1.0, compared to 1.0/0.25 for CEMRI.
Underdiagnosis of Major Depressive Episodes in Hemodialysis Patients: The Need for Screening and Patient Education
Authors: Orzechowski Wojciech , Buczek Wiktor , Szczerba Joanna Emma , Gellert Ryszard , Rydzewski Andrzej , Fiderkiewicz Bartosz , Żebrowski Paweł , Daniewska Dorota , Kokoszka Andrzej
Published: September 2021

This article aims to identify the reasons why patients with major depressive episode (MDE) do not seek treatment for their mental disorder. 89 out of 208 persons screened were diagnosed with major depressive episode using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview. 85 individuals with untreated depression filled out the following questionnaires: Beck Depression Inventory, List of Explanations of Well-Being (LEWB), Brief Measure to Assess Perception of Self-Influence on the Course of the Disease, Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations, Brief Method of Evaluating Coping with Disease, and Metacognitions Questionnaire. There were 43 women (50.6%) and 42 men (49.4%), aged 24 to 93 years (Mean (M) = 68.26 years; Standard Deviation (SD) = 14.19 years), with dialysis vintage ranging from 1 month to 33 years (M = 70.63 months; SD = 75.26 months). Among study patients, 70.6% declared that depression was the cause of their poor well-being, 75.3% attributed their depressive symptoms to kidney failure, and 49.4%, more specifically, to hemodialysis. A total of 64.7% of patients had a low perception of self-influence on the course of their kidney disease, and 58.5% presented a coping style focused on emotions. The most frequent dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs were negative beliefs about not controlling one’s own thoughts. This attitude was related to the low perception of self-influence on the course of the disease, maladaptive coping styles, and dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs.
Risk Factors for Low Levels of Parathyroid Hormone after Surgery for Thyroid Cancer: A Single Center Study
Authors: Privitera Francesca , Gioco Rossella , Fazio Ileana , Volpicelli Alessio , Cannizzaro Maria Teresa , Costa Salvatore , Cannizzaro Matteo Angelo , Veroux Massimiliano
Published: September 2021

Background: Thyroidectomy is the definitive treatment for most patients with thyroid cancer. Hypoparathyroidism is the most frequent complication of thyroidectomy, and its pathogenesis is multifactorial. The aim of this study is to evaluate the patient- and surgical-related risk factors for hypoparathyroidism after surgery for thyroid cancer. Methods: In this retrospective study, patients referred to surgery for thyroid cancer from 2016 to 2019 were enrolled. Preoperative serum calcium and parathyroid hormone (PTH) and postoperative 24 h PTH and calcium levels were evaluated. Demographic data, type of surgery, incidence of hypoparathyroidism and hypocalcemia were recorded for all the patients. Patients were divided into two groups based on post-operative PTH levels (≤12 and >12 pg/mL). Results: A total of 189 patients were enrolled in this study. There were 146 women (87.3%) and 43 men (22.7%), with a mean age of 51.3 years. A total of 79 patients (41.7%) underwent a neck dissection. A total of 59 patients (31.1%) had a postoperative PTH level < 12 pg/mL. Female sex, neck dissection, the yield of lymph node dissection and incidental parathyroidectomy were significantly associated with postoperative hypoparathyroidism. Incidental parathyroidectomy was reported in 44 (23.2%) patients and was correlated with younger age (<40 years) and neck dissection. There was no difference in the rate of post-operative hypocalcemia between patients with incidental parathyroidectomy and those without. Conclusions: Young patients undergoing neck dissection and with incidental parathyroidectomy have the highest risk of postoperative hypoparathyroidism after surgery for thyroid cancer. However, a large proportion of patients without incidental parathyroidectomy may have temporary hypocalcemia, suggesting that impaired blood supply of parathyroid glands during their identification and dissection may play a relevant role.
Lung Ultrasound in the Screening of Pulmonary Interstitial Involvement Secondary to Systemic Connective Tissue Disease: A Prospective Pilot Study Involving 180 Patients
Authors: Buda Natalia , Wojteczek Anna , Masiak Anna , Piskunowicz Maciej , Batko Wojciech , Zdrojewski Zbigniew
Published: September 2021

Objectives: The aim of the study was the assessment of lung ultrasound (LUS) as a screening of pulmonary interstitial involvement secondary to systemic connective tissue diseases. Methods: A prospective study was conducted on the study group comprising 180 patients diagnosed with different systemic connective tissue diseases. Each patient underwent lung ultrasound (LUS), high-resolution chest computed tomography (HRCT), and echocardiography (ECHO). Each imaging examination was blinded and performed by an independent operator. LUS was conducted with convex and linear transducers. Results: The sensitivity and specificity of LUS as compared to HRCT in detecting pulmonary interstitial involvement in the study group were 99.3% and 96.4%, respectively; positive predictive value (PPV) 0.7, negative predictive value (NPV) 3.6. Abnormalities indicating interstitial lung disease (ILD) with fibrosis were most frequently localized bilaterally in the lower fields of the lungs, assessed in the dorsal view. Conclusions: LUS is an efficient imaging modality that can detect pulmonary interstitial involvement in patients with systemic connective tissue disease with a high sensitivity and specificity. Further prospective studies conducted on a larger population are deemed necessary.
Tackling the Circular Economy Challenges—Composites Recycling: Used Tyres, Wind Turbine Blades, and Solar Panels
Authors: Korniejenko Kinga , Kozub Barbara , Bąk Agnieszka , Balamurugan Ponnambalam , Uthayakumar Marimuthu , Furtos Gabriel
Published: September 2021

Transformation of waste into resources is an important part of the circular economy. Nowadays, the recovery of materials in the most effective way is crucial for sustainable development. Composite materials offer great opportunities for product development and high performance in use, but their position in a circular economy system remains challenging, especially in terms of material recovery. Currently, the methods applied for recycling composites are not always effective. The aim of the article is to analyse the most important methods of material recovery from multilateral composites. The manuscript presents three case studies related to the recycling of products manufactured from composites: used tyres, wind turbine blades, and solar panels. It shows the advantages and disadvantages of currently applied methods for multilateral composite utilisation and presents further trends in composite recycling. The results show that increasing volumes of end-of-life composites have led to increased attention from government, industry, and academia.
New Approach to Dental Morphometric Research Based on 3D Imaging Techniques
Authors: Gaboutchian Armen V. , Knyaz Vladimir A. , Korost Dmitry V.
Published: September 2021

Recent progress in imaging and image processing techniques has provided for improvements in odontological research in a variety of aspects. Thus, the presented method has been developed precisely in order to assess metrically 3D reconstructions of teeth. Rapidly and accurately obtained data of a wide range and appropriate density are sufficient enough for morphometric studies rather than tooth size assessments which are inherent to conventional techniques. The main contributions providing for holistic and objective morphometric analysis of teeth are the following: (1) interpretation of basic dental morphological features; (2) automated of orientational coordinate system setup based on tooth surface analysis; (3) new tooth morphometric parameters which could not be obtained through application of conventional odontometric techniques; (4) methodological novelty for automated odontomorphometric analysis pipeline. Application of tomographic imaging, which has been used for obtaining 3D models, expands the proposed method potential further through providing detailed and comprehensive reconstructions of teeth. The current study was conducted on unique material from the archaeological site of Sunghir related to the Upper Palaeolithic period. Metric assessments of external and internal morphological layers of teeth were performed in common orientation and sectioning. The proposed technique allowed more profound analysis of Sunghirian teeth which date back to the times of modern human morphology formation.
Minimisation of Pose-Dependent Regenerative Vibrations for 5-Axis Milling Operations
Authors: Wilck Ines , Wirtz Andreas , Merhofe Torben , Biermann Dirk , Wiederkehr Petra
Published: September 2021

The machining of free-formed surfaces, e.g., dies or moulds, is often affected by tool vibrations, which can affect the quality of the workpiece surface. Furthermore, in 5-axis milling, the dynamic properties of the system consisting of the tool, spindle and machine tool can vary depending on the tool pose. In this paper, a simulation-based methodology for optimising the tool orientation, i.e., tilt and lead angle of simultaneous 5-axis milling processes, is presented. For this purpose, a path finding algorithm was used to identify process configurations, that minimise tool vibrations based on pre-calculated simulation results, which were organised using graph theory. In addition, the acceleration behaviour of the feed drives, which limits the ability of adjusting the tool orientation with a high adaption frequency, as well as potential collisions of the tool, tool chuck and spindle with the workpiece were considered during the optimisation procedure.
Global Wind and Wave Climate Based on Two Reanalysis Databases: ECMWF ERA5 and NCEP CFSR
Authors: Stefanakos Christos
Published: September 2021

In the present work, the global wind and wave climate is studied on the basis of two well-known reanalysis products, namely ERA5 and CFSR-W (WW3 hereafter). Several statistical features of the datasets are assessed, such as seasonal variability, quantiles of the probability distribution, monthly, annual and inter-annual variability, and several error metrics. The time span covers a period of 31 years (1979–2009), a fact that assures that most of the long-scale features are equally present in both datasets. The analysis performed is depicted both on a global and regional scale. The results are also assessed by means of a global satellite altimeter dataset.
Accumulation of Trace Metal in Sediment and Soft Tissue of Strombus canarium in a Tropical Remote Island of Thailand
Authors: Kobkeatthawin Thawanrat , Sirivithayapakorn Sanya , Nitiratsuwan Thongchai , Muenhor Dudsadee , Loh Pei-Sun , Pradit Siriporn
Published: September 2021

The present study determined the metal levels in surface sediment and in soft tissue of the Strombus canarium at Libong Island, Thailand, and estimated the possible risk from consuming the shellfish. The mean concentrations of the metals Fe, Cu, Co, Pb, Mn, and Ni in sediment were 2711.94 ± 1424.83, 0.47 ± 0.37, 0.11 ± 0.09, 1.32 ± 1.48, 40.41 ± 16.12, and 2.75 ± 4.04 µg/g, respectively, and are below the sediment quality guidelines. The enrichment factor (EF) and geoaccumulation index (Igeo) showed that the sediment conditions ranged from “no pollution” to “moderate contamination”. The mean concentrations in Strombus canarium had rank order Fe > Mn > Cu > Ni > Co > Pb. The bioaccumulation (BSAF) suggests that the Strombus canarium accumulated Cu and Co the most. The estimated daily intakes of these metals through shellfish consumption were below the oral reference dose (Rfd) and the calculated target hazard quotients (THQ) were less than 1. The results from this study inform about the background levels of metals in the sediment and in Strombus canarium species at Libong Island. In addition, these data might help ensure that the consumption of shellfish in this area remains safe.
Distribution and Sources of Organic Carbon in Surface Intertidal Sediments of the Rudong Coast, Jiangsu Province, China
Authors: Mao Yinan , Ma Qingyun , Lin Jiaxin , Chen Ye , Shu Qiang
Published: September 2021

In this study, total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), and stable carbon isotopes (δ13C) were measured in surface intertidal saltmarsh and bare tidal flat sediments along the Rudong coast. The distribution and sources of organic carbon were examined under different depositional environments based on C/N ratios and a two-terminal mixing model. The results showed that the average TOC content of the vegetated saltmarsh sediments, bare tidal flat areas near vegetation (BF1), and bare tidal flat areas far from vegetation (BF2) were 4.05, 2.72, and 1.22 mg/g, respectively. The mean δ13C value within the vegetated saltmarsh area was −22.37‰, and the C/N ratio was 9.3; the corresponding values in the BF1 area were −23.27‰ and 7.95, respectively; and in the BF2 area, the corresponding values were −21.91‰ and 5.36, respectively. These C/N ratios reflect an increasing marine contribution with distance from the vegetated zone. Combined with the two-terminal mixing model, the organic carbon in the vegetated saltmarsh sediments was dominated by terrestrial sources, while the bare tidal flat sediments were more influenced by marine sources, and the bare tidal flat sediments nearer to the vegetated zone (BF1) were influenced by a combination of vegetation, marine sources, and other terrestrial factors.
MPC Framework for the Energy Management of Hybrid Ships with an Energy Storage System
Authors: Antonopoulos Spyros , Visser Klaas , Kalikatzarakis Miltiadis , Reppa Vasso
Published: September 2021

This paper proposes an advanced shipboard energy management strategy (EMS) based on model predictive control (MPC). This EMS aims to reduce mission-scale fuel consumption of ship hybrid power plants, taking into account constraints introduced by the shipboard battery system. Such constraints are present due to the boundaries on the battery capacity and state of charge (SoC) values, aiming to ensure safe seagoing operation and long-lasting battery life. The proposed EMS can be used earlier in the propulsion design process and requires no tuning of parameters for a specific operating profile. The novelties of the study reside in (i) studying the impact of mission-scale effects and integral constraints on optimal fuel consumption and controller robustness, (ii) benchmarking the performance of the proposed MPC framework. A case study carried out on a naval vessel demonstrates near-optimal and robust behaviour of the controller for several loading sequences. The application of the proposed MPC framework can lead to up to 3.5% consumption reduction due to utilisation of long term information, considering specific loading sequences and charge depleting (CD) battery operation.
Key Performance Indicators for the Upgrade of Existing Coastal Defense Structures
Authors: Formentin Sara Mizar
Published: September 2021

Due to the effects of climate change on the sea levels and on the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, many coastal defense structures are expected to be exposed to increased loads with respect to their design conditions in the near future and need to be upgraded. Often, several design alternatives are available, and the identification of the ideal solution is not straightforward. Solutions that are effective in reducing overtopping and ensuring hydraulic safety may reduce or compromise the structural performance. Solutions that are both hydraulically and structurally effective may be extremely expensive and/or environmentally harmful. Using consolidated techniques of Multi-criteria analysis, this contribution proposes a simple methodology to consistently compare and rank the performance of several alternative approaches to upgrade existing structures, and to individuate the best solution. The proposed methodology consists of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) of alternative solutions of upgrades, considering the reduction in the wave overtopping discharge (q) and the wave forces (F) by limiting costs and environmental impact. The definition of the KPIs was developed on the basis of new experimental data of q and F at dikes with crown walls and parapets, but it can be applied to various structure types, sea levels, and wave conditions. The application of the KPIs to the new experiments prompts a few conclusions of practical utility concerning the effectiveness of berms, crown walls, and parapets as elements to upgrade existing dikes.
A Body Speaks: State, Media, and Public Responses to Femicide in Guatemala
Authors: Beck Erin , Mohamed Amir
Published: September 2021

In 2008, Guatemala passed the Law against Femicide and Other Forms of Violence against Women, establishing the gender-based killing of women (femicide) as a unique crime. Since then, over 9000 Guatemalan women and girls have died violent deaths. How do Guatemalan institutions and publics react to these women’s murders, and what do these reactions reveal about the impacts of legislative reform for individual victims, Guatemalan society, and criminal justice institutions? To answer these questions, we analyze state, media, and public reactions to three high-profile femicides that took place after the 2008 VAW Law. We trace the criminal justice response and legal developments following each femicide, and couple this with an analysis of newspaper coverage and social media commentary about the case. We find that despite the passage of new legislation and the creation of new institutions, various weaknesses in the Guatemalan criminal justice system undermine the impacts of reforms. These weaknesses in the criminal justice system produce three types of injuries: (1) individual injuries by hurting victims and their families; (2) public injuries by diverting public attention away from reflections about social norms and VAWG; and (3) institutional injuries by reinforcing the public’s distrust of the criminal justice system.
Structure, Activity and Function of the Protein Arginine Methyltransferase 6
Authors: Gupta Somlee , Kadumuri Rajashekar Varma , Singh Anjali Kumari , Chavali Sreenivas , Dhayalan Arunkumar
Published: September 2021

Members of the protein arginine methyltransferase (PRMT) family methylate the arginine residue(s) of several proteins and regulate a broad spectrum of cellular functions. Protein arginine methyltransferase 6 (PRMT6) is a type I PRMT that asymmetrically dimethylates the arginine residues of numerous substrate proteins. PRMT6 introduces asymmetric dimethylation modification in the histone 3 at arginine 2 (H3R2me2a) and facilitates epigenetic regulation of global gene expression. In addition to histones, PRMT6 methylates a wide range of cellular proteins and regulates their functions. Here, we discuss (i) the biochemical aspects of enzyme kinetics, (ii) the structural features of PRMT6 and (iii) the diverse functional outcomes of PRMT6 mediated arginine methylation. Finally, we highlight how dysregulation of PRMT6 is implicated in various types of cancers and response to viral infections.
Application of a Thermo-Hydrodynamic Model of a Viscous Torsional Vibration Damper to Determining Its Operating Temperature in a Steady State
Authors: Homik Wojciech , Mazurkow Aleksander , Woś Paweł
Published: September 2021

The problem of damping torsional vibrations of the crankshaft of a multi-cylinder engine is very important from the point of view of the durability and operational reliability of the drive unit. Over the years, attempts have been made to eliminate these vibrations and the phenomena accompanying them using various methods. One of the methods that effectively increases the durability and reliability of the drive unit is the use of a torsional vibration damper. The torsional vibration damper is designed and selected individually for a given drive system. A well-selected damper reduces the amplitude of the torsional vibrations of the shaft in the entire operating speed range of the engine. This paper proposes a thermo-hydrodynamic model of a viscous torsional vibration damper that enables the determination of the correct operating temperature range of the damper. The input parameters for the model, in particular the angular velocities of the damper elements as well as the geometric and mass dimensions of the damper were determined on a test stand equipped with a six-cylinder diesel engine equipped with a factory torsional vibration damper. The damper surface operating temperatures used in model verification were measured with a laser pyrometer. The presented comparative analysis of the results obtained numerically (theoretically) and the results obtained experimentally allow us to conclude that the proposed damper model gives an appropriate approximation to reality and can be used in the process of selecting a damper for the drive unit.
Optimal Design of Shift Point Strategy for DCT Based on Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors: Zhang Houzhong , Yang Xiangtian , Sun Xiaoqiang , Liang Jiasheng
Published: September 2021

For a vehicle equipped with DCT, the vehicle model is established according to the existing experimental data. The traditional method is used to solve the law of economic and dynamic shift, respectively. Then, the dynamic objective function and economic objective function are designed. After normalization of the two functions, the weighted combination is carried out to get the comprehensive objective function. The traditional shift law obtained in the previous paper is regarded as the limit value of variable optimization by particle swarm optimization algorithm, and the comprehensive objective function designed in this paper is solved. The shift law obtained by the three methods is integrated into Simulink model, and the dynamic and economic verification are carried out, respectively. By comparing the acceleration time of 0–100, 0–70, and 70–120 km/h, the dynamic performance of the shift point is obtained by three methods. The final test results show that the economy of the optimized shift point is improved by 1.37% and 3.17%, respectively. The power performance increased by 4.087%, 15.28%, and −10.70%, hence, achieving the desired results.
A Fast Converging Hybrid MPPT Algorithm Based on ABC and P&O Techniques for a Partially Shaded PV System
Authors: Restrepo Carlos , Yanẽz-Monsalvez Nicolas , González-Castaño Catalina , Kouro Samir , Rodriguez Jose
Published: September 2021

Among all the conventional maximum power point tracking (MPPT) techniques for a photovoltaic (PV) system that have been proposed, incremental conductance (INC) and perturb and observe (P&O) are the most popular because of their simplicity and ease of implementation. However, under partial shading conditions (PSCs), these MPPT algorithms fail to track the global maximum power point (GMPP) and instead converge into local maximum power points (LMPPs), resulting in considerable PV power loss. This paper presents a new hybrid MPPT technique combining the artificial bee colony (ABC) and P&O algorithms named ABC-P&O. The P&O technique is used to track the MPP under uniform irradiance, and only during irradiance variations is the ABC algorithm employed. The effectiveness of the proposed hybrid algorithm at tracking the GMPP, under both uniform and nonuniform irradiance conditions, was assessed by hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) tests employed by a dc–dc boost converter. Then, the ABC-P&O strategy was applied to obtain the voltage reference for the outer PI control loop, which provided the current reference to the discrete-time sliding-mode current control. The ABC-P&O algorithm has a reasonable computational cost, allowing the use of a commercial, low-priced digital signal controller (DSC) with outer voltage and inner current control loops. Many challenging tests validated that the proposed ABC-P&O technique converges fast to the GMPP with high efficiency and superior performance under different PSCs.
Virtual Dialogue Assistant for Remote Exams
Authors: Matveev Anton , Makhnytkina Olesia , Matveev Yuri , Svischev Aleksei , Korobova Polina , Rybin Alexandr , Akulov Artem
Published: September 2021

A Virtual Dialogue Assistant (VDA) is an automated system intended to provide support for conducting tests and examinations in the context of distant education platforms. Online Distance Learning (ODL) has proven to be a critical part of education systems across the world, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. While the core components of ODL are sufficiently researched and developed to become mainstream, there is still a demand for various aspects of traditional classroom learning to be implemented or improved to match the expectations for modern ODL systems. In this work, we take a look at the evaluation of students’ performance. Various forms of testing are often present in ODL systems; however, modern Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques provide new opportunities to improve this aspect of ODL. In this paper, we present an overview of VDA intended for integration with online education platforms to enhance the process of evaluation of students’ performance. We propose an architecture of such a system, review challenges and solutions for building it, and present examples of solutions for several NLP problems and ways to integrate them into the system. The principal challenge for ODL is accessibility; therefore, proposing an enhancement for ODL systems, we formulate the problem from the point of view of a user interacting with it. In conclusion, we affirm that relying on the advancements in NLP and Machine Learning, the approach we suggest can provide an enhanced experience of evaluation of students’ performance for modern ODL platforms.
An Improved Genetic Algorithm for the Optimal Distribution of Fresh Products under Uncertain Demand
Authors: Zhang Hao , Cui Yan , Deng Hepu , Cui Shuxian , Mu Huijia
Published: September 2021

There are increasing challenges for optimally distributing fresh products while adequately considering the uncertain demand of customers and maintaining the freshness of products. Taking the nature of fresh products and the characteristics of urban logistics systems into consideration, this paper proposes an improved genetic algorithm for effectively solving this problem in a computationally efficient manner. Such an algorithm can adequately account for the uncertain demand of customers to select the optimal distribution route to ensure the freshness of the product while minimizing the total distribution cost. Iterative optimization procedures are utilized for determining the optimal route by reducing the complexity of the computation in the search for an optimal solution. An illustrative example is presented that shows the improved algorithm is more effective with respect to the distribution cost, the distribution efficiency, and the distribution system’s reliability in optimally distributing fresh products.
Wavelets and Real Interpolation of Besov Spaces
Authors: Lou Zhenzhen , Yang Qixiang , He Jianxun , He Kaili
Published: September 2021

In view of the importance of Besov space in harmonic analysis, differential equations, and other fields, Jaak Peetre proposed to find a precise description of (Bp0s0,q0,Bp1s1,q1)θ,r. In this paper, we come to consider this problem by wavelets. We apply Meyer wavelets to characterize the real interpolation of homogeneous Besov spaces for the crucial index p and obtain a precise description of (B˙p0s,q,B˙p1s,q)θ,r.
Influence of Marangoni Convection on Magnetohydrodynamic Viscous Dissipation and Heat Transfer on Hybrid Nanofluids in a Rotating System among Two Surfaces
Authors: Rehman Ali , Salleh Zabidin
Published: September 2021

The present research paper explains the influence of Marangoni convection on magnetohydrodynamic viscous dissipation and heat transfer on hybrid nanofluids in a rotating system among two surfaces. Then, the properties of heat and mass transfer are analysed. With the similarity transformation, the governing equations of the defined flow problem are converted into nonlinear ordinary differential equations. These compact equations are solved approximately and analytically using the optimal homotopy analysis method. The impact of different parameters is interpreted through graphs in the form of velocity and temperature profiles. The influence of the skin friction coefficient and Nusselt number are presented in the form of tables. The comparison of the present research paper and published works is also presented table.