bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Two Players in the Field: Hierarchical Model of Interaction between the Dopamine and Acetylcholine Signaling Systems in the Striatum
Authors: Myslivecek Jaromir
Published: January 2021

Tight interactions exist between dopamine and acetylcholine signaling in the striatum. Dopaminergic neurons express muscarinic and nicotinic receptors, and cholinergic interneurons express dopamine receptors. All neurons in the striatum are pacemakers. An increase in dopamine release is activated by stopping acetylcholine release. The coordinated timing or synchrony of the direct and indirect pathways is critical for refined movements. Changes in neurotransmitter ratios are considered a prominent factor in Parkinson’s disease. In general, drugs increase striatal dopamine release, and others can potentiate both dopamine and acetylcholine release. Both neurotransmitters and their receptors show diurnal variations. Recently, it was observed that reward function is modulated by the circadian system, and behavioral changes (hyperactivity and hypoactivity during the light and dark phases, respectively) are present in an animal model of Parkinson’s disease. The striatum is one of the key structures responsible for increased locomotion in the active (dark) period in mice lacking M4 muscarinic receptors. Thus, we propose here a hierarchical model of the interaction between dopamine and acetylcholine signaling systems in the striatum. The basis of this model is their functional morphology. The next highest mode of interaction between these two neurotransmitter systems is their interaction at the neurotransmitter/receptor/signaling level. Furthermore, these interactions contribute to locomotor activity regulation and reward behavior, and the topmost level of interaction represents their biological rhythmicity.
Controlling Antibiotic Release from Polymethylmethacrylate Bone Cement
Authors: Wall Victoria , Nguyen Thi-Hiep , Nguyen Nghi , Tran Phong A.
Published: January 2021

Bone cement is used as a mortar for securing bone implants, as bone void fillers or as spacers in orthopaedic surgery. Antibiotic-loaded bone cements (ALBCs) have been used to prevent and treat prosthetic joint infections by providing a high antibiotic concentration around the implanted prosthesis. High antibiotic concentrations are, on the other hand, often associated with tissue toxicity. Controlling antibiotic release from ALBCS is key to achieving effective infection control and promoting prosthesis integration with the surrounding bone tissue. However, current ALBCs still need significant improvement in regulating antibiotic release. In this review, we first provide a brief introduction to prosthetic joint infections, and the background concepts of therapeutic efficacy and toxicity in antibiotics. We then review the current state of ALBCs and their release characteristics before focusing on the research and development in controlling the antibiotic release and osteo-conductivity/inductivity. We then conclude by a discussion on the need for better in vitro experiment designs such that the release results can be extrapolated to predict better the local antibiotic concentrations in vivo.
Fifteen Year Regional Center Experience in Sperm Banking for Cancer Patients: Use and Reproductive Outcomes in Survivors
Authors: Stigliani Sara , Massarotti Claudia , De Leo Caterina , Maccarini Elena , Sozzi Fausta , Cagnacci Angelo , Anserini Paola , Scaruffi Paola
Published: January 2021

Cancer treatments frequently impair the reproductive ability of patients by damaging spermatogenesis. International guidelines recommend semen cryopreservation to preserve the fertility of oncological adult males and pubertal boys. However, due to the low usage rate of banked samples, not a lot of data on assisted reproductive treatments (ART) success rates in this population and follow-up data for children born are available in the literature. The aims of this study were to report our 15 years of experience, the clinical outcomes of ART as well as neonatal characteristics of babies born. We retrospectively reviewed 682 oncological patients who were referred to our center from 2004 to 2019 for fertility preservation. Over the years, only 26 patients (4%) returned to use their sperm by ART. They were survivors of leukemia and lymphomas (52%), testicular cancer (20%), and other malignant diseases (28%). These couples performed 45 cycles: 34 intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) plus 11 frozen embryo transfers. A total of 13 children were born, with 35% of the cumulative live-birth delivery rate per couple. No stillbirths or malformations were recorded. These successful findings demonstrated that pregnancy could be safely achieved using frozen-thawed sperm of cancer survivors who cryopreserved before gonadotoxic therapies.
Diagnostic Value of VEGF-A, VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 in Feline Mammary Carcinoma
Authors: Nascimento Catarina , Gameiro Andreia , Ferreira João , Correia Jorge , Ferreira Fernando
Published: January 2021

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) plays an essential role in tumor-associated angiogenesis, exerting its biological activity by binding and activating membrane receptors, as vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 and 2 (VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2). In this study, serum VEGF-A, VEGFR-1, and VEGFR-2 levels were quantified in 50 cats with mammary carcinoma and 14 healthy controls. The expression of these molecules in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and in cancer cells was evaluated and compared with its serum levels. Results obtained showed that serum VEGF-A levels were significantly higher in cats with HER2-positive and Triple Negative (TN) Normal-Like subtypes, when compared to control group (p = 0.001, p = 0.020). Additionally, serum VEGFR-1 levels were significantly elevated in cats presenting luminal A, HER2-positive and TN Normal-Like tumors (p = 0.011, p = 0.048, p = 0.006), as serum VEGFR-2 levels (p = 0.010, p = 0.046, p = 0.005). Moreover, a positive interaction was found between the expression of VEGF-A, VEGFR-1, and VEGFR-2 in TILs and their serum levels (p = 0.002, p = 0.003, p = 0.003). In summary, these findings point to the usefulness of VEGF-A and its serum receptors assessment in clinical evaluation of cats with HER2-positive and TN Normal-Like tumors, suggesting that targeted therapies against these molecules may be effective for the treatment of these animals, as described in human breast cancer.
Performance of In Silico Prediction Tools for the Detection of Germline Copy Number Variations in Cancer Predisposition Genes in 4208 Female Index Patients with Familial Breast and Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Lepkes Louisa , Kayali Mohamad , Blümcke Britta , Weber Jonas , Suszynska Malwina , Schmidt Sandra , Borde Julika , Klonowska Katarzyna , Wappenschmidt Barbara , Hauke Jan , Kozlowski Piotr , Schmutzler Rita K. , Hahnen Eric , Ernst Corinna
Published: January 2021

The identification of germline copy number variants (CNVs) by targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) frequently relies on in silico CNV prediction tools with unknown sensitivities. We investigated the performances of four in silico CNV prediction tools, including one commercial (Sophia Genetics DDM) and three non-commercial tools (ExomeDepth, GATK gCNV, panelcn.MOPS) in 17 cancer predisposition genes in 4208 female index patients with familial breast and/or ovarian cancer (BC/OC). CNV predictions were verified via multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification. We identified 77 CNVs in 76 out of 4208 patients (1.81%); 33 CNVs were identified in genes other than BRCA1/2, mostly in ATM, CHEK2, and RAD51C and less frequently in BARD1, MLH1, MSH2, PALB2, PMS2, RAD51D, and TP53. The Sophia Genetics DDM software showed the highest sensitivity; six CNVs were missed by at least one of the non-commercial tools. The positive predictive values ranged from 5.9% (74/1249) for panelcn.MOPS to 79.1% (72/91) for ExomeDepth. Verification of in silico predicted CNVs is required due to high frequencies of false positive predictions, particularly affecting target regions at the extremes of the GC content or target length distributions. CNV detection should not be restricted to BRCA1/2 due to the relevant proportion of CNVs in further BC/OC predisposition genes.
Recent Understanding of Low-Temperature Copper Dynamics in Cu-Chabazite NH3-SCR Catalysts
Authors: Lei Huarong , Rizzotto Valentina , Guo Anqi , Ye Daiqi , Simon Ulrich , Chen Peirong
Published: January 2021

Dynamic motion of NH3-solvated Cu sites in Cu-chabazite (Cu-CHA) zeolites, which are the most promising and state-of-the-art catalysts for ammonia-assisted selective reduction of NOx (NH3-SCR) in the aftertreatment of diesel exhausts, represents a unique phenomenon linking heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis. This review first summarizes recent advances in the theoretical understanding of such low-temperature Cu dynamics. Specifically, evidence of both intra-cage and inter-cage Cu motions, given by ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) or metadynamics simulations, will be highlighted. Then, we will show how, among others, synchrotron-based X-ray spectroscopy, vibrational and optical spectroscopy (diffuse reflection infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) and diffuse reflection ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (DRUVS)), electron paramagnetic spectroscopy (EPR), and impedance spectroscopy (IS) can be combined and complement each other to follow the evolution of coordinative environment and the local structure of Cu centers during low-temperature NH3-SCR reactions. Furthermore, the essential role of Cu dynamics in the tuning of low-temperature Cu redox, in the preparation of highly dispersed Cu-CHA catalysts by solid-state ion exchange method, and in the direct monitoring of NH3 storage and conversion will be presented. Based on the achieved mechanistic insights, we will discuss briefly the new perspectives in manipulating Cu dynamics to improve low-temperature NH3-SCR efficiency as well as in the understanding of other important reactions, such as selective methane-to-methanol oxidation and ethene dimerization, catalyzed by metal ion-exchanged zeolites.
Lipase-Catalyzed Kinetic Resolution of Alcohols as Intermediates for the Synthesis of Heart Rate Reducing Agent Ivabradine
Authors: Morandini Anna , Rossetti Arianna , Sacchetti Alessandro
Published: January 2021

Ivabradine (Corlanor®), is a chiral benzocycloalkane currently employed and commercialized for the treatment of chronic stable angina pectoris and for the reduction in sinus tachycardia. The eutomer (S)-ivabradine is usually produced via chiral resolution of intermediates, by employing enantiopure auxiliary molecules or through preparative chiral HPLC separations. Recently, more sustainable biocatalytic approaches have been reported in literature for the preparation of the chiral amine precursor. In this work, we report on a novel biocatalyzed pathway, via a resolution study of a key alcohol intermediate used as a precursor of the chiral amine. After screening several enzymatic reaction conditions, employing different lipases and esterases both for the esterification and hydrolysis reactions, the best result was achieved with Pseudomonas cepacia Lipase and the final product was obtained in up to 96:4 enantiomeric ratio (e.r.) of an ivabradine alcohol precursor. This enantiomer was then efficiently converted into the desired amine in a facile three step synthetic sequence.
Evogliptin Suppresses Calcific Aortic Valve Disease by Attenuating Inflammation, Fibrosis, and Calcification
Authors: Choi Bongkun , Kim Eun-Young , Kim Ji-Eun , Oh Soyoon , Park Si-On , Kim Sang-Min , Choi Hyuksu , Song Jae-Kwan , Chang Eun-Ju
Published: January 2021

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) accompanies inflammatory cell infiltration, fibrosis, and ultimately calcification of the valve leaflets. We previously demonstrated that dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) is responsible for the progression of aortic valvular calcification in CAVD animal models. As evogliptin, one of the DPP-4 inhibitors displays high specific accumulation in cardiac tissue, we here evaluated its therapeutic potency for attenuating valvular calcification in CAVD animal models. Evogliptin administration markedly reduced calcific deposition accompanied by a reduction in proinflammatory cytokine expression in endothelial nitric oxide synthase-deficient mice in vivo, and significantly ameliorated the mineralization of the primary human valvular interstitial cells (VICs), with a reduction in the mRNA expression of bone-associated and fibrosis-related genes in vitro. In addition, evogliptin ameliorated the rate of change in the transaortic peak velocity and mean pressure gradients in our rabbit model as assessed by echocardiography. Importantly, evogliptin administration in a rabbit model was found to suppress the effects of a high-cholesterol diet and of vitamin D2-driven fibrosis in association with a reduction in macrophage infiltration and calcific deposition in aortic valves. These results have indicated that evogliptin prohibits inflammatory cytokine expression, fibrosis, and calcification in a CAVD animal model, suggesting its potential as a selective therapeutic agent for the inhibition of valvular calcification during CAVD progression.
Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Multiple In-Situ-Phases-Reinforced Nickel Composite Coatings Deposited by Wide-Band Laser
Authors: Ma Qunshuang , Dong Zhengxue , Ren Nannan , Hong Shenlizhi , Chen Jinxing , Hu Lei , Meng Wei
Published: January 2021

Metal matrix ceramic composites (MMCs) are widely applied materials in surface engineering due to their high hardness and excellent wear resistance. Recently, various MMCs have been successfully fabricated by a promising method named direct laser deposition. In this work, nickel-based hard surface coatings reinforced with multiple in-situ phases were deposited by wide-band laser. The strengthened phases were synthesized by varied content of Ti and B4C precursor powders. The microstructure evolution, phase constitution and mechanical properties of the designed coatings were investigated. Results indicated the B4C were decomposed and free C and B atoms were released in a molten pool. Multiple secondary phases such as TiC, Cr7C3, Cr23C6, TiB and CrB were in-situ synthesized. As the content of precursor Ti and B4C powders increased, the microstructure of the laser-clad coatings was greatly refined due to the plentiful in-situ phases. Mechanical properties of the coatings revealed the maximum elastic modulus and microhardness reached 247 and 7.18 GPa in the experiment group. Friction tests indicated the average friction coefficient of optimized coating was about 0.50.
Preliminary Study of the Targeted Cleaning of an Artificial Gypsum Layer on White Marble
Authors: Liu Yan , Dong Taoling , Zhang Kun , Yang Fuwei , Wang Liqin
Published: January 2021

Targeting cleaning of the artificial gypsum layer on white marble was studied. It was conducted by means of the specific depletion of the calcium and sulfate ions by the barium carbonate scavenger, which led to the continuous dissolution and clearance of gypsum layer. The cleaning effect was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), capillary suction, and color difference measurement. By this method, only the gypsum layer was cleared away and the carbonate substrate of marble was left intact at the same time. This method will be highly useful for the conservation of marble relics from surface weathering.
Gelatin-Based Nanocomposite Film with Bacterial Cellulose–MgO Nanoparticles and Its Application in Packaging of Preserved Eggs
Authors: Wang Yuting , Luo Wenxiang , Tu Yonggang , Zhao Yan
Published: January 2021

Preserved eggs are prone to lose water during storage, which causes the preserved eggs to shrink and have poor taste, bad flavor, and reduced quality. By studying a degradable coating agent and applying it to preserved eggs, we explored its effect on the quality of preserved eggs during storage. In this paper, the structure and performance of gelatin film (GF), gelatin–bacterial cellulose film (GBF), and gelatin–bacterial cellulose–MgO nanocomposite film (GBMF) were explored by adding bacterial cellulose (BC) and MgO nanoparticles to gelatin. The results showed that the BC solution increased the particle size and absolute value of the zeta potential. The cross-sectional microstructure of the film showed fewer and smaller pores. The water vapor permeability (WVP) decreased, and the elongation at break (EB) increased significantly. The addition of MgO nanoparticles increased the particle size and reduced the absolute value of the zeta potential. The cross section of the film became denser and more uniform by adding MgO nanoparticles, and the surface hydrophobicity of the film increased, and the EB decreased. After coating the preserved eggs with these films, the weight loss rate, the content of total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N), and the hardness were lower than that of uncoated preserved eggs. The pH of the uncoated preserved eggs also dropped faster than the coated preserved eggs. Moreover, the preserved egg coated with GBMF had the lowest weight loss rate and the highest sensory score. It can be seen that these three films had a certain preservation effect on preserved eggs, and the GBMF had the best preservation effect.
Low-Grade Myofibroblastic Sarcoma of the Oral Cavity: A Report of Three Cases Illustrating an Emerging Disease in Children
Authors: Jayasooriya Primali Rukmal , Athukorala Chamara , Attygalla Manjula , Mendis Balapuwaduge Ranjit Rigobert Nihal , Lombardi Tommaso
Published: January 2021

Low-grade myofibroblastic sarcoma (LGMS) is a mesenchymal tumor of myofibroblasts that occurs more frequently in adults. A series of three cases is presented to illustrate that LGMS may also occur within the oral cavity in children and adolescents. The first case (Case 1) occurred intra-osseously in the mandible, while the remaining two presented as gingival swellings and were purely restricted to soft tissue (Cases 2 and 3). The intra-osseous lesion arose in a 7-year-old girl, whereas the gingival lesions were observed in a 12-year-old girl (Case 2) and a 13-year-old boy (Case 3). Histopathologically, all cases were composed of spindle shaped cells arranged into long fascicles showing mild to moderate degree of nuclear atypia. Ki-67 (MIB-1) proliferation activity was relatively low, amounting to 3–5% in all cases. Immunohistochemically, all cases showed smooth muscle actin (SMA) positivity in spindle cells, while desmin, beta catenin, cytokeratin, and CD34 were negative, resulting in a diagnosis of LGMS. In conclusion, current series of three cases of LGMSs that occurred in the oral cavity in a child and two adolescent patients is presented to highlight an emerging disease that requires additional data for further characterization.
An Extension of the Bland–Altman Plot for Analyzing the Agreement of More than Two Raters
Authors: Möller Sören , Debrabant Birgit , Halekoh Ulrich , Petersen Andreas Kristian , Gerke Oke
Published: January 2021

The Bland–Altman plot is the most common method to analyze and visualize agreement between raters or methods of quantitative outcomes in health research. While very useful for studies with two raters, a limitation of the classical Bland–Altman plot is that it is specifically used for studies with two raters. We propose an extension of the Bland–Altman plot suitable for more than two raters and derive the approximate limits of agreement with 95% confidence intervals. We validated the suggested limit of agreement by a simulation study. Moreover, we offer suggestions on how to present bias, heterogeneity among raters, as well as the uncertainty of the limits of agreement. The resulting plot could be utilized to investigate and present agreement in studies with more than two raters.
Information Thermodynamics and Reducibility of Large Gene Networks
Authors: Sarkar Swarnavo , Hubbard Joseph B. , Halter Michael , Plant Anne L.
Published: January 2021

Gene regulatory networks (GRNs) control biological processes like pluripotency, differentiation, and apoptosis. Omics methods can identify a large number of putative network components (on the order of hundreds or thousands) but it is possible that in many cases a small subset of genes control the state of GRNs. Here, we explore how the topology of the interactions between network components may indicate whether the effective state of a GRN can be represented by a small subset of genes. We use methods from information theory to model the regulatory interactions in GRNs as cascading and superposing information channels. We propose an information loss function that enables identification of the conditions by which a small set of genes can represent the state of all the other genes in the network. This information-theoretic analysis extends to a measure of free energy change due to communication within the network, which provides a new perspective on the reducibility of GRNs. Both the information loss and relative free energy depend on the density of interactions and edge communication error in a network. Therefore, this work indicates that a loss in mutual information between genes in a GRN is directly coupled to a thermodynamic cost, i.e., a reduction of relative free energy, of the system.
Does Foreign Direct Investment and Trade Promote Economic Growth? Evidence from Albania
Authors: Hobbs Sam , Paparas Dimitrios , E. AboElsoud Mostafa
Published: January 2021

Albania has experienced a rapid transition from a centrally planned economy to a mixed economy since the fall of communism in 1989. Policy changes, trade liberalization, and privatization have come about at a rapid pace, allowing foreign direct investment (FDI) and international trade to become key components of Albania’s economy. Against this backdrop, this study investigates the relationships among FDI, trade, and economic growth in Albania. Annual time-series data were obtained from the World Bank. Then, the following econometric tests were performed on the variables representing FDI inflows, exports, and GDP as proxies for FDI, trade, and economic growth: the unit root test; the unit root test with a structural break; Johansen cointegration analysis; the error correction model; and the Granger causality test. The results revealed a long-term relationship between FDI, trade, and economic growth. The Granger causality tests found unidirectional causality. Economic growth brought about exports and FDI in the short term but not vice versa. In conclusion, policymakers need to design policies that promote technology-based, export-promoting FDI to meet the needs of the economy and develop specialized sectors that are competitive in the global market. Furthermore, the salient takeaway is that the penetration of export markets should be promoted as much as the furtherance of FDI.
‘Sequencing Economics’ on the ICT Industry Agglomeration for Economic Integration
Authors: Kuchiki Akifumi
Published: January 2021

In this paper, we seek to establish ‘sequencing economics’ in an architectural theory on agglomerations that are comprised of various segments, such as infrastructure, institutions and human resources. The sequencing of such segments is based on a causal chain, with the notion of ‘economies of sequence’ regarded as a tool with which to efficiently sequence the segment construction, as defined by Granger causality relationships. The use of ‘new economic geography’ for cases in which such economies of sequence were applied to the information and communication technology (ICT) industry, the paper concludes that as the starting conditions for the sequencing of the segments of the agglomeration, the value of the share of skilled workers exceeds the threshold value at which the symmetric equilibrium shifts to an agglomeration equilibrium. The results of Granger causality testing identified that an increase in research expenses Granger-causes an increase in the number of patents, and an increase in the number of patents Granger-causes an increase in value added. Based on our results, we conclude that when sequencing the segments of an agglomeration in the ICT industry, the development and invitation of researchers is a precondition, and that the procurement of research funds for patent development precedes any increase in patents. Subsequently, the procurement of funds is necessary for the development of products based on the patents.
Exploring Chemistry Professors’ Methods of Highlighting the Relevancy of Chemistry: Opportunities, Obstacles, and Suggestions to Improve Students’ Motivation in Science Classrooms
Authors: George Anna , Zowada Christian , Eilks Ingo , Gulacar Ozcan
Published: January 2021

This study focused on inquiring into undergraduate chemistry professors’ efforts in North America to increase student motivation and interest in the subject and the feasibility of methods that connect students to real world applications and societal issues related to chemistry. A survey was distributed to chemistry instructors at post-secondary institutions across the United States and Canada asking about the usage of methods and tools to deliver content aiming at raising students’ perception of the relevance of learning chemistry (N = 124). The instrument also asked about instructors’ perceptions related to assessment, as well as their perception of how their students value the integration of socio-scientific issues into the curriculum. A chi-squared analysis was performed to identify groups of individuals whose responses were disproportionate, compared to the distribution of responses from the sample, in order to identify any unique occurrences. In general, the usage of real-world applications and socio-scientific issues in post-secondary chemistry courses tends to be related to instructors’ value of the role of these topics in their courses, comfort level with the topics, and preferred approaches to developing and implementing the course materials.
Spillage Forecast Models in Hydroelectric Power Plants Using Information from Telemetry Stations and Hydraulic Control
Authors: Nascimento Pedro H. M. , Cabral Vinícius A. , Silva Junior Ivo C. , Panoeiro Frederico F. , Honório Leonardo M. , Marcato André L. M.
Published: January 2021

Hydroelectric power plants’ operational decisions are associated with several factors, such as generation planning, water availability and dam safety. One major challenge is to control the water spillage from the reservoir. Although this action represents a loss of energy production, it is a powerful strategy to regulate the reservoir level, ensuring the dam’s safety. The decision to use this strategy must be made in advance based on level and demand predictions. The present work applies supervised machine learning techniques to predict the operating condition of spillage in a hydroelectric plant for 5 h ahead. The use of this method, in real time, aims to assist the operator so that he can make more assertive and safer decisions, avoiding waste of energy resources and increasing the safety of dams. The Random Forest and Multilayer Perceptron methods were used to define the architecture compared to the forecasting capacity. The proposed methodology was applied to a 902.5 MW Hydroelectric Power Plant located on the Tocantins River, Brazil. The results demonstrate effective assistance to operators in the decision-making, presenting accuracy of up to 99.15% for the spill decision.
Virtual Visualization of Generator Operation Condition through Generator Capability Curve
Authors: Lee Chun-Yao , Tuegeh Maickel
Published: January 2021

Besides achieving an optimal scheduling generator, the operation safety of the generator itself needs to be focused on. The development of the virtual visualization of a generator capability curve simulation to visualize the operation condition of a generator is proposed in this paper. In this paper, a neural network is applied to redraw the original generator’s capability curve. The virtual visualization of a generator’s capability curve can simulate the generator’s operating condition considering the limitation of the constraints on the various elements of the generator. Furthermore, it is able to show the various possibilities that occur in the operation of a generator in reality, and it can even simulate special conditions which are based on various conditions.
Using Smart-WiFi Thermostat Data to Improve Prediction of Residential Energy Consumption and Estimation of Savings
Authors: Alanezi Abdulrahman , P. Hallinan Kevin , Elhashmi Rodwan
Published: January 2021

Energy savings based upon use of smart WiFi thermostats ranging from 10 to 15% have been documented, as new features such as geofencing have been added. Here, a new benefit of smart WiFi thermostats is identified and investigated; namely, as a tool to improve the estimation accuracy of residential energy consumption and, as a result, estimation of energy savings from energy system upgrades, when only monthly energy consumption is metered. This is made possible from the higher sampling frequency of smart WiFi thermostats. In this study, collected smart WiFi data are combined with outdoor temperature data and known residential geometrical and energy characteristics. Most importantly, unique power spectra are developed for over 100 individual residences from the measured thermostat indoor temperature in each and used as a predictor in the training of a singular machine learning models to predict consumption in any residence. The best model yielded a percentage mean absolute error (MAE) for monthly gas consumption ±8.6%. Applied to two residences to which attic insulation was added, the resolvable energy savings percentage is shown to be approximately 5% for any residence, representing an improvement in the ASHRAE recommended approach for estimating savings from whole-building energy consumption that is deemed incapable at best of resolving savings less than 10% of total consumption. The approach posited thus offers value to utility-wide energy savings measurement and verification.
Thermodynamic Analysis of Biomass Gasification Using Aspen Plus: Comparison of Stoichiometric and Non-Stoichiometric Models
Authors: Pilar González-Vázquez María , Rubiera Fernando , Pevida Covadonga , Pio Daniel T. , Tarelho Luís A.C.
Published: January 2021

The gasification process involves several reactions that occur simultaneously and are interrelated by several independent variables. Simulation tools can help us to understand the process behaviour and predict the efficiency and final composition of the products. In this work, two thermodynamic equilibrium models developed in Aspen Plus® software were assessed: a non-stoichiometric model based on the feedstock composition and on the most probable compounds expected from the results of the gasification process using minimisation of Gibbs free energy and a stoichiometric model based on a set of chemical reactions considered as the most relevant to describe the gasification process. Both models were validated with experimental data from a bubbling fluidised bed semi-pilot scale gasifier using pine kernel shells (PKS) as feedstock. The influence of temperature, stoichiometric ratio (SR) and steam to biomass ratio (SBR) were analysed. Overall, predictions of the gas composition and gasification efficiency parameters by the stoichiometric model showed better agreement to the experimental results. Our results point out the significance of an accurate description of the equilibrium composition of producer gas with the stoichiometric model for the gasification of biomass.
Potential and Scenarios of Variants of Thermo-Modernization of Single-Family Houses: An Example of the Lubuskie Voivodeship
Authors: Dzikuć Maciej , Piwowar Arkadiusz , Szufa Szymon , Adamczyk Janusz , Dzikuć Maria
Published: January 2021

The excessive air pollution in the Lubuskie Voivodeship and throughout Poland is a very serious problem. One of the main causes of poor air quality is low emission, which arises at a short distance from the ground (up to 40 m). The real reduction of low emission requires a series of measures. The most important of them, include replacement of non-ecological boilers heating single-family buildings, improvement of thermal insulation of outer building walls, development of public transport, limiting the movement of old, non-ecological cars, conducting extensive educational activities, economic support for the poorest families in pro-ecological activities, and development of district heating in urban areas. The issue of thermal modernization is also important from the point of view of ensuring an appropriate level of energy security in the social dimension. The article presents a scenario analysis of activities aimed at reducing low emission through economic support for thermal modernization of single-family houses in the Lubuskie Voivodeship in Poland. The results of the conducted research prove that it is possible to carry out thermal modernization of over 12% of all single-family buildings in the Lubuskie voivodeship, assuming that the co-financing would amount to 60% of the costs of such an investment. The analyses carried out in the article are closely related to low carbon development, and a significant part of emission of harmful substances into the air comes from heating single-family buildings in urban and rural areas.
Open-Circuit Fault-Tolerant Control of Multi-Phase PM Machines by Compensating the d-q Axes Currents
Authors: Akay Ali , Lefley Paul
Published: January 2021

This paper presents a novel method to control sinusoidal distributed winding or sinusoidal back electromotive force (back-EMF) multi-phase permanent magnet (PM) machines under open-circuit fault conditions. In this study, five different fault conditions are considered: single-phase, adjacent double-phase, non-adjacent double-phase, adjacent three-phase, and non-adjacent three-phase open circuit conditions. New current sets for the remaining healthy phase under open-circuit fault conditions are obtained by compensating the direct-quadrature (d-q) axes currents. For this purpose, an iterative method has been used to get the new set of currents. D-q axes currents, due to faulty phase/phases, are shared to the healthy phases to obtain the same d-q axes currents as in the healthy condition. Therefore, the same torque is produced as in the healthy condition. The developed method is simulated in MATLAB/Simulink by using a d-q modelled sinusoidal back-EMF five-phase machine. A vector control block diagram has been designed to run the machine under healthy and faulty conditions. The machine model has been run successfully under fault tolerant conditions. Additionally, a finite element analysis (FEA) has been undertaken to simulate the five-phase PM model machine by using MagNet software. Open-circuit fault-tolerant control currents are fed into the coils of the machine model. Satisfactory torque results have been obtained. Because the model five-phase PM machine includes higher order back-EMF harmonics, especially the third harmonic, torque has ripple due to interaction between the fault-tolerant control currents and the higher order back-EMF harmonics.
Energy Performance Evaluation of a Ventilated Façade System through CFD Modeling and Comparison with International Standards
Authors: Pastori Sofia , Mereu Riccardo , Mazzucchelli Enrico Sergio , Passoni Stefano , Dotelli Giovanni
Published: January 2021

Ventilated façades can help to reduce summer building thermal loads and, therefore, energy consumption due to air-conditioning systems thanks to the combined effect of the solar radiation reflection and the natural or forced ventilation into the cavity. The evaluation of ventilated façades behavior and performance is complex and requires a complete thermo-fluid dynamic analysis. In this study, a computational fluid dynamic (CFD) methodology has been developed for the complete assessment of the energy performance of a prefabricated timber–concrete composite ventilated façade module in different operating conditions. Global numerical results are presented as well as local ones in terms of heat flux, air velocity, and temperature inside the façade cavity. The results show the dependency of envelope efficiency on solar radiation, the benefits that natural convection brings on potential energy savings and the importance of designing an optimized façade geometry. The results concerning the façade behavior have been thoroughly compared with International Standards, showing the good accuracy of the model with respect to these well-known procedures. This comparison allowed also to highlight the International Standards procedures limits in evaluating the ventilated façade behavior with the necessary level of detail, with the risk of leading to design faults.
Subtle Changes or Dramatic Perceptions of Air Pollution in Sydney during COVID-19
Authors: Brimblecombe Peter , Lai Yonghang
Published: January 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic made it critical to limit the spread of the disease by enforcing human isolation, restricting travel and reducing social activities. Dramatic improvements to air quality, especially NO2, have often characterised places under COVID-19 restrictions. Air pollution measurements in Sydney in April 2019 and during the lockdown period in April 2020 show reduced daily averaged NO2 concentrations: 8.52 ± 1.92 and 7.85 ± 2.92 ppb, though not significantly so (p1~0.15) and PM2.5 8.91 ± 4.94 and 7.95 ± 2.64 µg m−3, again a non-significant difference (p1~0.18). Satellite imagery suggests changes that parallel those at ground level, but the column densities averaged over space and time, in false-colour, are more dramatic. Changed human mobility could be traced in increasing times spent at home, assessed from Google Mobility Reports and mirrored in decreased traffic flow on a major road, suggesting compliance with the restrictions. Electricity demand for the State of New South Wales was low under lockdown in early April 2020, but it recovered rapidly. Analysis of the uses of search terms: bushfires, air quality, haze and air pollution using Google Trends showed strong links between bushfires and pollution-related terms. The smoke from bushfires in late 2019 may well have added to the general impression of improved air quality during lockdown, despite only modest changes in the ground level measurements. This gives hints that successful regulation of air quality requires maintaining a delicate balance between our social perceptions and the physical reality.
Epigenetic Regulation of Epidermal Differentiation
Authors: Leśniak Wiesława
Published: January 2021

The epidermis is the outer part of the skin that protects the organism from dehydration and shields from external insults. Epidermal cells, called keratinocytes, undergo a series of morphological and metabolic changes that allow them to establish the biochemical and structural elements of an effective epidermal barrier. This process, known as epidermal differentiation, is critical for the maintenance of the epidermis under physiological conditions and also under stress or in various skin pathologies. Epidermal differentiation relies on a highly coordinated program of gene expression. Epigenetic mechanisms, which commonly include DNA methylation, covalent histone modifications, and microRNA (miRNA) activity, modulate various stages of gene expression by altering chromatin accessibility and mRNA stability. Their involvement in epidermal differentiation is a matter of intensive studies, and the results obtained thus far show a complex network of epigenetic factors, acting together with transcriptional regulators, to maintain epidermal homeostasis and counteract adverse effects of environmental stressors.
Monitoring Mangrove Forest Degradation and Regeneration: Landsat Time Series Analysis of Moisture and Vegetation Indices at Rabigh Lagoon, Red Sea
Authors: Aljahdali Mohammed Othman , Munawar Sana , Khan Waseem Razzaq
Published: January 2021

Rabigh Lagoon, located on the eastern coast of the Red Sea, is an ecologically rich zone in Saudi Arabia, providing habitat to Avicennia marina mangrove trees. The environmental quality of the lagoon has been decaying since the 1990s mainly from sedimentation, road construction, and camel grazing. However, because of remedial measures, the mangrove communities have shown some degree of restoration. This study aims to monitor mangrove health of Rabigh Lagoon during the time it was under stress from road construction and after the road was demolished. For this purpose, time series of EVI (Enhanced Vegetation Index), MSAVI (Modified, Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index), NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index), and NDMI (Normalized Difference Moisture Index) have been used as a proxy to plant biomass and indicator of forest disturbance and recovery. Long-term trend patterns, through linear, least square regression, were estimated using 30 m annual Landsat surface-reflectance-derived indices from 1986 to 2019. The outcome of this study showed (1) a positive trend over most of the study region during the evaluation period; (2) most trend slopes were gradual and weakly positive, implying subtle changes as opposed to abrupt changes; (3) all four indices divided the times series into three phases: degraded mangroves, slow recovery, and regenerated mangroves; (4) MSAVI performed best in capturing various trend patterns related to the greenness of vegetation; and (5) NDMI better identified forest disturbance and recovery in terms of water stress. Validating observed patterns using only the regression slope proved to be a challenge. Therefore, water quality parameters such as salinity, pH/dissolved oxygen should also be investigated to explain the calculated trends.
Local Ecological Knowledge on Mangroves in Mayotte Island (Indian Ocean) and Influencing Factors
Authors: Longépée Esméralda , Ahmed Abdallah Anliati , Jeanson Matthieu , Golléty Claire
Published: January 2021

The majority of studies on local ecological knowledge (LEK) relate to communities or groups relying on ecosystem(s) for their livelihood. In our case study, Mayotte Island, a French overseas department, very few people rely on mangrove ecosystem for natural resources but most of them are attached to it because of leisure activities and beliefs. The questions on mangrove LEK generally deal with a single aspect of ecological knowledge of surveyed people and is mixed with other information such as harvesting practices, anthropogenic impacts, and management issues. The aim of our study is to better understand the level of ecological knowledge of surveyed inhabitants of Mayotte and to assess whether factors linked to the profile of respondents have an influence on it. For this purpose, we carried out two main survey campaigns in three villages fringing two stable mangroves of Mayotte: the first one consisted of qualitative interviews and the second one, questionnaires lending quantitative results. Cross tabulations and Chi square tests of independence were carried out to determine the link between LEK and influencing factors. Results show that some LEK implying localized observation, such as the identification of mangrove trees and the knowledge of the coastal protection role of the mangrove, are well shared by surveyed people whereas others, such as the number and the name of mangrove tree species, are poorly known. The results also highlight the difficulty of questions implying observation at the landscape level and interpretation of observation. All the influencing factors selected have a significant influence on, at least, one LEK variable. The results highlight differences in LEK of villages bordering two nearby mangroves calling for a local management of these systems.
The Half-Range Moment Method in Harmonically Oscillating Rarefied Gas Flows
Authors: Tatsios Giorgos , Tsimpoukis Alexandros , Valougeorgis Dimitris
Published: January 2021

The formulation of the half-range moment method (HRMM), well defined in steady rarefied gas flows, is extended to linear oscillatory rarefied gas flows, driven by oscillating boundaries. The oscillatory Stokes (also known as Stokes second problem) and the oscillatory Couette flows, as representative ones for harmonically oscillating half-space and finite-medium flow setups respectively, are solved. The moment equations are derived from the linearized time-dependent BGK kinetic equation, operating accordingly over the positive and negative halves of the molecular velocity space. Moreover, the boundary conditions of the “positive” and “negative” moment equations are accordingly constructed from the half-range moments of the boundary conditions of the outgoing distribution function, assuming purely diffuse reflection. The oscillatory Stokes flow is characterized by the oscillation parameter, while the oscillatory Couette flow by the oscillation and rarefaction parameters. HRMM results for the amplitude and phase of the velocity and shear stress in a wide range of the flow parameters are presented and compared with corresponding results, obtained by the discrete velocity method (DVM). In the oscillatory Stokes flow the so-called penetration depth is also computed. When the oscillation frequency is lower than the collision frequency excellent agreement is observed, while when it is about the same or larger some differences are present. Overall, it is demonstrated that the HRMM can be applied to linear oscillatory rarefied gas flows, providing accurate results in a very wide range of the involved flow parameters. Since the computational effort is negligible, it is worthwhile to consider the efficient implementation of the HRMM to stationary and transient multidimensional rarefied gas flows.
Stability Analysis for an Interface with a Continuous Internal Structure
Authors: Modestov Mikhail
Published: January 2021

A general method for solving a linear stability problem of an interface with a continuous internal structure is described. Such interfaces or fronts are commonly found in various branches of physics, such as combustion and plasma physics. It extends simplified analysis of an infinitely thin discontinuous front by means of numerical integration along the steady-state solution. Two examples are presented to demonstrate the application of the method for 1D pulsating instability in magnetic deflagration and 2D Darrieus–Landau instability in a laser ablation wave.
Bidimensional Ray Tracing Model for the Underwater Noise Propagation Prediction
Authors: D’Andrea Emmanuele , Arena Maurizio , Viscardi Massimo , Coppola Tommaso
Published: January 2021

An increasing attention has recently been paid to the effect of the underwater noise field generated by ship activities on the marine environment. Although this problem is widely discussed in international treaties and conventions, it has not yet found a consolidated technical-scientific treatment capable of quantifying the level of underwater noise emissions produced by naval systems. As part of a national research collaboration, a novel code has been developed to predict noise propagation according to the Ray Tracing approach. Such optical geometry-based technique allows for calculating the Transmission Loss (TL) trend in its respective contributions: geometrical loss (due to the distance between the source and receiver), dissipation loss (due to the characteristics of the propagation environment), and reflection loss (due to the surfaces that delimit the field). The simulation requires as input parameters the source info as spatial position, frequency, and sound pressure level (SPL) as well as the sea properties like seabed depth, the speed of sound profile, the layers thickness the water column is divided into, the sea salinity, temperature, and pH. The simulation code provides the SPL spatial distribution useful as a fast industrial tool in the future studies addressed to identify the emission limits for the protection of marine wildlife.