bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comprehensive Survey of Various Energy Storage Technology Used in Hybrid Energy
Authors: Riyaz Ahmed , Sadhu Pradip Kumar , Iqbal Atif , Alamri Basem
Published: August 2021

Various power generation technologies, such as wind turbines and solar power plants, have been increasingly installed in renewable energy projects as a result of rising demand and ongoing efforts by global researchers to mitigate environmental effects. The sole source of energy for such generation is nature. The incorporation of the green unit into the power grid also results in volatility. The stabilization of frequencies is critical and depends on the balance of supply and demand. An efficient monitoring scheme called Load Frequency Monitoring (LFM) is introduced to reduce the frequency deviation from its natural state. Specific energy storage systems may be considered to improve the efficiency of the control system. The storage system contributes to the load rate, peak rushing, black start support, etc., in addition to high energy and rapid responsive features. A detailed study of different power storage systems, their current business scenario, and the application of LFM facilities, as well as their analysis and disturbance, is presented in this paper. According to the literature analysis, the current approaches can be divided into two categories: grid and load scale structures. This article also distinguishes between the organized aggregate system and the uncoordinated system control scheme, both of which have advantages and disadvantages in terms of technology.
Accurate and Lightweight RailNet for Real-Time Rail Line Detection
Authors: Tao Zhen , Ren Shiwei , Shi Yueting , Wang Xiaohua , Wang Weijiang
Published: August 2021

Railway transportation has always occupied an important position in daily life and social progress. In recent years, computer vision has made promising breakthroughs in intelligent transportation, providing new ideas for detecting rail lines. Yet the majority of rail line detection algorithms use traditional image processing to extract features, and their detection accuracy and instantaneity remain to be improved. This paper goes beyond the aforementioned limitations and proposes a rail line detection algorithm based on deep learning. First, an accurate and lightweight RailNet is designed, which takes full advantage of the powerful advanced semantic information extraction capabilities of deep convolutional neural networks to obtain high-level features of rail lines. The Segmentation Soul (SS) module is creatively added to the RailNet structure, which improves segmentation performance without any additional inference time. The Depth Wise Convolution (DWconv) is introduced in the RailNet to reduce the number of network parameters and eventually ensure real-time detection. Afterward, according to the binary segmentation maps of RailNet output, we propose the rail line fitting algorithm based on sliding window detection and apply the inverse perspective transformation. Thus the polynomial functions and curvature of the rail lines are calculated, and rail lines are identified in the original images. Furthermore, we collect a real-world rail lines dataset, named RAWRail. The proposed algorithm has been fully validated on the RAWRail dataset, running at 74 FPS, and the accuracy reaches 98.6%, which is superior to the current rail line detection algorithms and shows powerful potential in real applications.
Specifying Power Filter Insertion Loss Values in Terms of Electromagnetic Safety of IT Equipment
Authors: Nowosielski Leszek , Dudziński Bartosz , Przesmycki Rafał , Bugaj Marek
Published: August 2021

At present, one of the main methods of minimizing risk resulting from electromagnetic information leakage is to attenuate the undesired levels of radiated and conducted disturbances generated by IT equipment, as these disturbances can carry information processed by said equipment. Attenuation of conducted compromising emissions is most commonly handled with filters with a sufficiently high insertion loss. This article defines an original analytical relation specifying insertion loss value requirements for mains filters and estimates values of parameters included in the defined relation. Furthermore, this defined relation was used to define requirements for insertion loss provided by the mains filters, above which the ratio value of potentially compromising conducted emission levels to the environmental noise level at the infiltrating system input S/N < 0 dB. As a consequence, electromagnetic infiltration is significantly impeded.
Recent Trends in Pharmaceuticals Removal from Water Using Electrochemical Oxidation Processes
Authors: Bampos Georgios , Petala Athanasia , Frontistis Zacharias
Published: August 2021

Nowadays, the research on the environmental applications of electrochemistry to remove recalcitrant and priority pollutants and, in particular, drugs from the aqueous phase has increased dramatically. This literature review summarizes the applications of electrochemical oxidation in recent years to decompose pharmaceuticals that are often detected in environmental samples such as carbamazapine, sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline, diclofenac, ibuprofen, ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin, etc. Similar to most physicochemical processes, efficiency depends on many operating parameters, while the combination with either biological or other physicochemical methods seems particularly attractive. In addition, various strategies such as using three-dimensional electrodes or the electrosynthesis of hydrogen peroxide have been proposed to overcome the disadvantages of electrochemical oxidation. Finally, some guidelines are proposed for future research into the applications of environmental electrochemistry for the degradation of xenobiotic compounds and micropollutants from environmental matrices. The main goal of the present review paper is to facilitate future researchers to design their experiments concerning the electrochemical oxidation processes for the degradation of micropollutants/emerging contaminants, especially, some specific drugs considering, also, the existing limitations of each process.
Ecosystem Productivity and Evapotranspiration Are Tightly Coupled in Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda L.) Plantations along the Coastal Plain of the Southeastern U.S.
Authors: Aguilos Maricar , Sun Ge , Noormets Asko , Domec Jean-Christophe , McNulty Steven , Gavazzi Michael , Prajapati Prajaya , Minick Kevan J. , Mitra Bhaskar , King John
Published: August 2021

Forest water use efficiency (WUE), the ratio of gross primary productivity (GPP) to evapotranspiration (ET), is an important variable to understand the coupling between water and carbon cycles, and to assess resource use, ecosystem resilience, and commodity production. Here, we determined WUE for managed loblolly pine plantations over the course of a rotation on the coastal plain of North Carolina in the eastern U.S. We found that the forest annual GPP, ET, and WUE increased until age ten, which stabilized thereafter. WUE varied annually (2–44%), being higher at young plantation (YP, 3.12 ± 1.20 g C kg−1 H2O d−1) compared to a mature plantation (MP, 2.92 ± 0.45 g C kg−1 H2O d−1), with no distinct seasonal patterns. Stand age was strongly correlated with ET (R2 = 0.71) and GPP (R2 = 0.64). ET and GPP were tightly coupled (R2 = 0.86). Radiation and air temperature significantly affected GPP and ET (R2 = 0.71 − R2 = 0.82) at a monthly scale, but not WUE. Drought affected WUE (R2 = 0.35) more than ET (R2 = 0.25) or GPP (R2 = 0.07). A drought enhanced GPP in MP (19%) and YP (11%), but reduced ET 7% and 19% in MP and YP, respectively, resulting in a higher WUE (27–32%). Minor seasonal and interannual variation in forest WUE of MP (age > 10) suggested that forest functioning became stable as stands matured. We conclude that carbon and water cycles in loblolly pine plantations are tightly coupled, with different characteristics in different ages and hydrologic regimes. A stable WUE suggests that the pine ecosystem productivity can be readily predicted from ET and vice versa. The tradeoffs between water and carbon cycling should be recognized in forest management to achieve multiple ecosystem services (i.e., water supply and carbon sequestration).
Damages to Himalayan White Pine (Pinus wallichiana) by Asiatic Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus) in Kaghan Valley, Pakistan
Authors: Ullah Zaib , Mahmood Sajid , Iqbal Zafar , Akhtar Naveed , Khan Muhammad Fiaz , Said Amir , Khan Mohammad Ayaz , Arif Muhammad
Published: August 2021

Tree damage is one of the destructive behaviors of the Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus G. (Baron) Cuvier, 1823), and this type of damage causes great economic loss to the forest. A survey about Himalayan white pine (Pinus wallichiana (A. B) Jacks, 1836) damages was conducted at Kaghan Valley, District Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Field surveys were carried out within five major sites of Kaghan Valley, including Manshi reserve forest, Kamal Bann reserve forest, Malkandi reserve forest, Noori Bichla reserve forest, and some Guzara forests. Line transects and diameter at breast height (DBH) methods were selected for data collection. Eighteen transects were placed in different sites of the valley. A total of (n = 201) affected trees were observed from eighteen transects, along with a total population of 1081 trees with the encounter rate (ER: 0.657) and the mean DBH is x¯ = 71.97 cm. Among total damages, the most severe (n = 39: 19.4%) were fully damaged with a greater encounter rate. Bark stripping was made during the late winter season and used as foodstuff when natural food is limited in the area. In severe cases, the bear-stripped bark encircles from the entire tree trunk, which results in the drying of trees and, finally, falls. Among all five sites, Manshi reserve forest was greatly affected, where the highest number (n = 76) of tree damage, and (n = 21) the entire diameter of trunks were damaged. People of the study area claimed that the black bear causes great forest damage, as well as crop destruction that leads to high economic loss.
Reliability of Noninvasive Sonic Tomography for the Detection of Internal Defects in Old, Large Trees of Abies holophylla Maxim
Authors: Son Jiwon , Lee Gwanggyu , Shin Jinho
Published: August 2021

Internal decay and cavities in wood are known to reduce the structural functionality of trees. Such damage may lead to detrimental effects not only on the wood, but also on humans. This is especially the case with old, large trees that are more vulnerable to heavy snow and strong wind. Thus, preventative management (e.g., detecting internal wood defects) is essential. The present study investigated the reliability of noninvasive measurements using sonic tomography (SoT) to detect internal defects in Abies holophylla Maxim. trees and compared the results with measurements using the invasive method of resistance microdrilling (RM). The tomograms were visually compared with tree cross-section images. The results of SoT and RM showed no significant differences, while the explanatory power, as determined by a regression analysis, were considerably high at 67% with a positive correlation between the two methods. In comparison to the cross-section images, the tomograms were found to reflect the size and position of internal decay, although the detected size tended to be larger than the actual decay area. Our findings indicate SoT as a promising noninvasive technique for detecting internal defects in A. holophylla trees.
The Role of Remote Sensing for the Assessment and Monitoring of Forest Health: A Systematic Evidence Synthesis
Authors: Torres Pablo , Rodes-Blanco Marina , Viana-Soto Alba , Nieto Hector , García Mariano
Published: August 2021

Forests are increasingly subject to a number of disturbances that can adversely influence their health. Remote sensing offers an efficient alternative for assessing and monitoring forest health. A myriad of methods based upon remotely sensed data have been developed, tailored to the different definitions of forest health considered, and covering a broad range of spatial and temporal scales. The purpose of this review paper is to identify and analyse studies that addressed forest health issues applying remote sensing techniques, in addition to studying the methodological wealth present in these papers. For this matter, we applied the PRISMA protocol to seek and select studies of our interest and subsequently analyse the information contained within them. A final set of 107 journal papers published between 2015 and 2020 was selected for evaluation according to our filter criteria and 20 selected variables. Subsequently, we pair-wise exhaustively read the journal articles and extracted and analysed the information on the variables. We found that (1) the number of papers addressing this issue have consistently increased, (2) that most of the studies placed their study area in North America and Europe and (3) that satellite-borne multispectral sensors are the most commonly used technology, especially from Landsat mission. Finally, most of the studies focused on evaluating the impact of a specific stress or disturbance factor, whereas only a small number of studies approached forest health from an early warning perspective.
A Data Sharing Scheme for GDPR-Compliance Based on Consortium Blockchain
Authors: Piao Yangheran , Ye Kai , Cui Xiaohui
Published: August 2021

After the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) was introduced, some organizations and big data companies shared data without conducting any privacy protection and compliance authentication, which endangered user data security, and were punished financially for this reason. This study proposes a blockchain-based GDPR compliance data sharing scheme, aiming to promote compliance with regulations and provide a tool for interaction between users and service providers to achieve data security sharing. The zero-knowledge Succinct Non-Interactive Arguments of Knowledge (zk-SNARK) algorithm is adopted for protecting data and ensure that the user’s private data can satisfy the individual requirements of the service provider without exposing user data. The proposed scheme ensures mutual authentication through the Proof of Authority consensus based on the Committee Endorsement Mechanism (CEM-PoA), and prevents nodes from doing evil using the reputation incentive mechanism. Theoretical analysis and performance comparison indicate that the scheme meets the confidentiality, availability, and other indicators. It has superiority in efficiency and privacy protection compared with other schemes.
Spiking Neural Network-Based Near-Sensor Computing for Damage Detection in Structural Health Monitoring
Authors: Barchi Francesco , Zanatta Luca , Parisi Emanuele , Burrello Alessio , Brunelli Davide , Bartolini Andrea , Acquaviva Andrea
Published: August 2021

In this work, we present an innovative approach for damage detection of infrastructures on-edge devices, exploiting a brain-inspired algorithm. The proposed solution exploits recurrent spiking neural networks (LSNNs), which are emerging for their theoretical energy efficiency and compactness, to recognise damage conditions by processing data from low-cost accelerometers (MEMS) directly on the sensor node. We focus on designing an efficient coding of MEMS data to optimise SNN execution on a low-power microcontroller. We characterised and profiled LSNN performance and energy consumption on a hardware prototype sensor node equipped with an STM32 embedded microcontroller and a digital MEMS accelerometer. We used a hardware-in-the-loop environment with virtual sensors generating data on an SPI interface connected to the physical microcontroller to evaluate the system with a data stream from a real viaduct. We exploited this environment also to study the impact of different on-sensor encoding techniques, mimicking a bio-inspired sensor able to generate events instead of accelerations. Obtained results show that the proposed optimised embedded LSNN (eLSNN), when using a spike-based input encoding technique, achieves 54% lower execution time with respect to a naive LSNN algorithm implementation present in the state-of-the-art. The optimised eLSNN requires around 47 kCycles, which is comparable with the data transfer cost from the SPI interface. However, the spike-based encoding technique requires considerably larger input vectors to get the same classification accuracy, resulting in a longer pre-processing and sensor access time. Overall the event-based encoding techniques leads to a longer execution time (1.49×) but similar energy consumption. Moving this coding on the sensor can remove this limitation leading to an overall more energy-efficient monitoring system.
Analysis of a Symmetrical Ferrofluid Sloshing Vibration Energy Harvester
Authors: Anand Nadish , Gould Richard
Published: August 2021

Ferrofluid sloshing vibration energy harvesters use ferrofluid sloshing movement as a moving magnet between a fixed coil to induce current and, in turn, harvest energy from external excitations. A symmetric ferrofluid sloshing vibration energy harvester configuration is introduced in this study which utilizes four external, symmetrically placed, permanent magnets to magnetize a ferrofluid inside a tank. An external sinusoidal excitation of amplitude 1 m/s2 is imparted, and the whole system is studied numerically using a level-set method to track the sharp interface between ferrofluid and air. The system is studied for two significant length scales of 0.1 m and 0.05 m while varying the four external magnets’ polarity arrangements. All of the system configuration dimensions are parametrized with the length scale to keep the system configuration invariant with the length scale. Finally, a frequency sweep is performed, encompassing the structure’s first modal frequency and impedance matching to obtain the system’s energy harvesting characteristics.
Pharmacological Activities for Morus alba L., Focusing on the Immunostimulatory Property from the Fruit Aqueous Extract
Authors: Chang Bo-Yoon , Koo Bong-Seong , Kim Sung-Yeon
Published: August 2021

Depending on the extraction method, numerous compounds that have specific pharmacological effects can be obtained from M. alba L. There is a growing scientific interest in health problems related to aging. Efforts to develop safe immune-enhancing pharmaceuticals are increasing. This review aims to summarize and critically discuss the immunity enhancement effects and pharmaceutical efficacy of M. alba L. extracts. The scientific database search was conducted using Google Scholar, Web of Science, and PubMed until May 2021. Additional articles were identified and obtained from references in the retrieved articles. Ethanol or methanol extraction of various parts of M. alba L. identified a large amount of phenols and flavonoids, which are effective for immunosuppression, antioxidants, and cardiovascular diseases, and are antibacterial, and anticancer. Water extraction of M. alba L. enhanced the innate immune response based on immune cell activation. A polysaccharide and an alkaloid related to increased macrophage activity were isolated from M. alba L. fruit extracts. M. alba L. fruit water extracts primarily induced the production of pro-inflammatory substances, in model organisms, via TLR4 in immune cells. Water extracts have been shown to be effective in pathogen defense and tumor suppression by enhancing macrophage activity. Based on our literature review on the bioactivity of M. alba L. fruit extracts, particularly in relation to their immunity enhancement activity, we anticipate that M. alba-derived pharmaceuticals will have excellent potential in future medical research.
Multi-Organ Involvement of Immunoglobulin G4-Related Disease
Authors: Nour Elleuch , Hammami Aya , Missaoui Nabiha , Bdioui Ahlem , Dahmani Wafa , Ben Ameur Wafa , Braham Ahlem , Ajmi Salem , Ben Slama Aida , Ksiaa Mehdi , Jaziri Hanen , Hmissa Sihem , Jmaa Ali
Published: August 2021

Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a fibroinflammatory condition of unknown etiology, with presumed autoimmune mechanisms. It is characterized by high levels of IgG4 and variable clinical manifestations. It can involve one or multiple organs. Herein, we reported the case of a 62-year-old man with three organs involvement. He initially presented with recurrent jaundice. Laboratory analysis revealed cholestasis, high gamma-globulin levels, renal failure, and proteinuria. Abdominal Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) showed segmental strictures of the left intrahepatic bile ducts and the wirsung duct with an increased volume of the pancreas and diffuse bilateral enlargement of the kidneys. Laboratory tests revealed high IgG4 levels (770 mg/dL). Based on the biological and radiological findings, we have suggested the diagnosis of systemic IgG4-related disease involving bile ducts, the pancreas, and probably the kidneys. Renal biopsy revealed lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate and fibrosis, but no IgG4-positive cell. The patient received corticosteroid therapy with a complete resolution of all symptoms and a rapid normalization of all blood tests. The present case underlines the complexity of IgG4-RD because of its variable clinical presentation. The diagnosis is challenging and should be carefully assessed for possible multi-organ involvement.
Hypomethylation of AHRR (cg05575921) Is Related to Smoking Status in the Mexican Mestizo Population
Authors: Bravo-Gutiérrez Omar Andrés , Falfán-Valencia Ramcés , Ramírez-Venegas Alejandra , Sansores Raúl H. , Hernández-Zenteno Rafael de Jesús , Hernández-Pérez Andrea , García-Gómez Leonor , Osio-Echánove Jennifer , Abarca-Rojano Edgar , Pérez-Rubio Gloria
Published: August 2021

Tobacco smoking results in a multifactorial disease involving environmental and genetic factors; epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) show changes in DNA methylation levels due to cigarette consumption, partially reversible upon tobacco smoking cessation. Therefore, methylation levels could predict smoking status. This study aimed to evaluate the DNA methylation level of cg05575921 (AHRR) and cg23771366 (PRSS23) and their correlation with lung function variables, cigarette consumption, and nicotine addiction in the Mexican smoking population. We included 114 non-smokers (NS) and 102 current tobacco smokers (TS); we then further subclassified them as heavy smokers (HS) (n = 53) and light smokers (LS) (n = 49). We used restriction enzymes (MspI/HpaII) and qPCR to determine the DNA methylation level. We observed significant hypomethylation of cg05575921 in smokers compared to NS (p = 0.003); further analysis found a difference between HS and NS (p = 0.02). We did not observe differences between other groups or a positive correlation between methylation levels and age, BMI, cigarette consumption, nicotine addiction, or lung function. In conclusion, the cg05575921 site of AHRR is significantly hypomethylated in Mexican smokers, especially in HS (≥20 cigarettes per day).
Population Genomics Reveals Gene Flow and Adaptive Signature in Invasive Weed Mikania micrantha
Authors: Ruan Xiaoxian , Wang Zhen , Su Yingjuan , Wang Ting
Published: August 2021

A long-standing and unresolved issue in invasion biology concerns the rapid adaptation of invaders to nonindigenous environments. Mikania micrantha is a notorious invasive weed that causes substantial economic losses and negative ecological consequences in southern China. However, the contributions of gene flow, environmental variables, and functional genes, all generally recognized as important factors driving invasive success, to its successful invasion of southern China are not fully understood. Here, we utilized a genotyping-by-sequencing approach to sequence 306 M. micrantha individuals from 21 invasive populations. Based on the obtained genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data, we observed that all the populations possessed similar high levels of genetic diversity that were not constrained by longitude and latitude. Mikania micrantha was introduced multiple times and subsequently experienced rapid-range expansion with recurrent high gene flow. Using FST outliers, a latent factor mixed model, and the Bayesian method, we identified 38 outlier SNPs associated with environmental variables. The analysis of these outlier SNPs revealed that soil composition, temperature, precipitation, and ecological variables were important determinants affecting the invasive adaptation of M. micrantha. Candidate genes with outlier signatures were related to abiotic stress response. Gene family clustering analysis revealed 683 gene families unique to M. micrantha which may have significant implications for the growth, metabolism, and defense responses of M. micrantha. Forty-one genes showing significant positive selection signatures were identified. These genes mainly function in binding, DNA replication and repair, signature transduction, transcription, and cellular components. Collectively, these findings highlight the contribution of gene flow to the invasion and spread of M. micrantha and indicate the roles of adaptive loci and functional genes in invasive adaptation.
PlantMirP2: An Accurate, Fast and Easy-To-Use Program for Plant Pre-miRNA and miRNA Prediction
Authors: Fan Dashuai , Yao Yuangen , Yi Ming
Published: August 2021

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a kind of short non-coding ribonucleic acid molecules that can regulate gene expression. The computational identification of plant miRNAs is of great significance to understanding biological functions. In our previous studies, we have put firstly forward and further developed a set of knowledge-based energy features to construct two plant pre-miRNA prediction tools (plantMirP and riceMirP). However, these two tools cannot be used for miRNA prediction from NGS (Next-Generation Sequencing) data. In addition, for further improving the prediction performance and accessibility, plantMirP2 has been developed. Based on the latest dataset, plantMirP2 achieves a promising performance: 0.9968 (Area Under Curve, AUC), 0.9754 (accuracy), 0.9675 (sensitivity) and 0.9876 (specificity). Additionally, the comparisons with other plant pre-miRNA tools show that plantMirP2 performs better. Finally, the webserver and stand-alone version of plantMirP2 are available.
Current Epigenetic Insights in Kidney Development
Authors: Chan Katrina , Li Xiaogang
Published: August 2021

The kidney is among the best characterized developing tissues, with the genes and signaling pathways that regulate embryonic and adult kidney patterning and development having been extensively identified. It is now widely understood that DNA methylation and histone modification patterns are imprinted during embryonic development and must be maintained in adult cells for appropriate gene transcription and phenotypic stability. A compelling question then is how these epigenetic mechanisms play a role in kidney development. In this review, we describe the major genes and pathways that have been linked to epigenetic mechanisms in kidney development. We also discuss recent applications of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) techniques in the study of kidney development. Additionally, we summarize the techniques of single-cell epigenomics, which can potentially be used to characterize epigenomes at single-cell resolution in embryonic and adult kidneys. The combination of scRNA-seq and single-cell epigenomics will help facilitate the further understanding of early cell lineage specification at the level of epigenetic modifications in embryonic and adult kidney development, which may also be used to investigate epigenetic mechanisms in kidney diseases.
When Two plus Two Is More than Four: Evidence for a Synergistic Effect of Fatty Acids on Peroxisome Proliferator—Activated Receptor Activity in a Bovine Hepatic Model
Authors: Busato Sebastiano , Bionaz Massimo
Published: August 2021

The inclusion of fat in livestock diets represents a valuable and cost-effective way to increase the animal’s caloric intake. Beyond their caloric value, fatty acids can be understood in terms of their bioactivity, via the modulation of the ligand-dependent nuclear peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR). Isotypes of PPAR regulate important metabolic processes in both monogastric and ruminant animals, including the metabolism of fatty acids (FA), the production of milk fat, and the immune response; however, information on the modulation of bovine PPAR by fatty acids is limited. The objective of this study was to expand our understanding on modulation of bovine PPAR by FA, both when used individually and in combination, in an immortalized cell culture model of bovine liver. Of the 10 FA included in the study, the greatest activation of the PPAR reporter was detected with saturated FA C12:0, C16:0, and C18:0, as well as phytanic acid, and the unsaturated FA C16:1 and C18:1. When supplemented in mixtures of 2 FA, the most effective combination was C12:0 + C16:0, while in mixtures of 3 FA, the greatest activation was caused by combinations of C12:0 with C16:0 and either C18:0, C16:1, or C18:1. Some mixtures display a synergistic effect that leads to PPAR activation greater than the sum of their parts, which may be explained by structural dynamics within the PPAR ligand-binding pocket. Our results provide fundamental information for the development of tailored dietary plans that focus on the use of FA mixtures for nutrigenomic purposes.
Genetic Determinants of Inherited Endocrine Tumors: Do They Have a Direct Role in Bone Metabolism Regulation and Osteoporosis?
Authors: Marini Francesca , Giusti Francesca , Iantomasi Teresa , Brandi Maria Luisa
Published: August 2021

Endocrine tumors are neoplasms originating from specialized hormone-secreting cells. They can develop as sporadic tumors, caused by somatic mutations, or in the context of familial Mendelian inherited diseases. Congenital forms, manifesting as syndromic or non-syndromic diseases, are caused by germinal heterozygote autosomal dominant mutations in oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes. The genetic defect leads to a loss of cell growth control in target endocrine tissues and to tumor development. In addition to the classical cancer manifestations, some affected patients can manifest alterations of bone and mineral metabolism, presenting both as pathognomonic and/or non-specific skeletal clinical features, which can be either secondary complications of endocrine functioning primary tumors and/or a direct consequence of the gene mutation. Here, we specifically review the current knowledge on possible direct roles of the genes that cause inherited endocrine tumors in the regulation of bone modeling and remodeling by exploring functional in vitro and in vivo studies highlighting how some of these genes participate in the regulation of molecular pathways involved in bone and mineral metabolism homeostasis, and by describing the potential direct effects of gene mutations on the development of skeletal and mineral metabolism clinical features in patients.
siRNA Mediate RNA Interference Concordant with Early On-Target Transient Transcriptional Interference
Authors: Fang Zhiming , Zhao Zhongming , Eapen Valsamma , Clarke Raymond A.
Published: August 2021

Exogenous siRNAs are commonly used to regulate endogenous gene expression levels for gene function analysis, genotype–phenotype association studies and for gene therapy. Exogenous siRNAs can target mRNAs within the cytosol as well as nascent RNA transcripts within the nucleus, thus complicating siRNA targeting specificity. To highlight challenges in achieving siRNA target specificity, we targeted an overlapping gene set that we found associated with a familial form of multiple synostosis syndrome type 4 (SYSN4). In the affected family, we found that a previously unknown non-coding gene TOSPEAK/C8orf37AS1 was disrupted and the adjacent gene GDF6 was downregulated. Moreover, a conserved long-range enhancer for GDF6 was found located within TOSPEAK which in turn overlapped another gene which we named SMALLTALK/C8orf37. In fibroblast cell lines, SMALLTALK is transcribed at much higher levels in the opposite (convergent) direction to TOSPEAK. siRNA targeting of SMALLTALK resulted in post transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS/RNAi) of SMALLTALK that peaked at 72 h together with a rapid early increase in the level of both TOSPEAK and GDF6 that peaked and waned after 24 h. These findings indicated the following sequence of events: Firstly, the siRNA designed to target SMALLTALK mRNA for RNAi in the cytosol had also caused an early and transient transcriptional interference of SMALLTALK in the nucleus; Secondly, the resulting interference of SMALLTALK transcription increased the transcription of TOSPEAK; Thirdly, the increased transcription of TOSPEAK increased the transcription of GDF6. These findings have implications for the design and application of RNA and DNA targeting technologies including siRNA and CRISPR. For example, we used siRNA targeting of SMALLTALK to successfully restore GDF6 levels in the gene therapy of SYNS4 family fibroblasts in culture. To confidently apply gene targeting technologies, it is important to first determine the transcriptional interference effects of the targeting reagent and the targeted gene.
Long-Term Changes, Inter-Annual, and Monthly Variability of Sea Level at the Coasts of the Spanish Mediterranean and the Gulf of Cádiz
Authors: Vargas-Yáñez Manuel , Tel Elena , Moya Francina , Ballesteros Enrique , García-Martínez Mari Carmen
Published: August 2021

One of the effects of climate change is the rise of sea level, which poses an important threat to coastal areas. Therefore, the protection and management of coastal ecosystems as well as human infrastructures and constructions require an accurate knowledge of those changes occurring at a local scale. In this study, long time series of sea level from tide gauges distributed along the southern (Atlantic) and eastern (Mediterranean) Spanish coasts were analyzed. Linear trends were calculated for two periods, from early 1940s to 2018 and from 1990 to 2018. Values for the former period ranged between 0.68 and 1.22 mm/year. These trends experienced a significant increase for the second period, when they ranged between 1.5 and 4.6 mm/year. Previous research analyzed the effect of atmospheric forcing in the Mediterranean Sea by means of 2D numerical models, and the steric contribution was directly evaluated by the integration of density along the water column. In this study, the effect of atmospheric forcing and the thermosteric and halosteric contributions on coastal sea level were empirically determined by means of statistical linear models that established which factors affected sea level at each location and what the numerical response of the observed sea level was to the contributing factors. Atmospheric pressure and the west–east component of the wind hada significant contribution to the sea level variability at most of the tide gauges. The thermosteric and halosteric components of sea level also contributed to the sea level variability at all the tide gauges, with the only exception of Alicante. Atmospheric forcing and the steric components of sea level experienced long-term trends. The combination of such trends, with the response of sea level to these factors, allowed us to estimate their contribution to the observed sea level trends. The part of these trends not explained by the atmospheric variables and the steric contributions was attributed to mass addition. Trends associated with mass addition ranged between 0.6 and 1.2 mm/year for the period 1948–2018 and between 1.0 and 4.5 mm/year for the period 1990–2018.
Characteristics and Epidemiology of Discharged Pneumonia Patients in South Korea Using the Korean National Hospital Discharge In-Depth Injury Survey Data from 2006 to 2017
Authors: Lee Kyunghee , Hong Kyunglan , Kang Sunghong , Hwang Jieun
Published: August 2021

Despite the use of vaccines and various antibiotics, approximately 30% of the South Korean population is treated for pneumonia each year, and the number of deaths from pneumonia continues to increase. The present study used information on discharged patients in South Korea to investigate the number and characteristics of discharged pneumonia patients across 12 years. Using the Korean National Hospital Discharge In-Depth Injury Survey data, information on discharged patients from 2006 to 2017 were collected. The number of discharged pneumonia patients for each year and their age group was assessed, and the Charlson Comorbidity Index was used to assess the risk of comorbidities in these patients. The number of discharged pneumonia patients varied every year in South Korea. In particular, the total number of patients increased substantially in 2011, with a large increase in the number of infants and children. In addition, the number of discharged pneumonia patients increased in the elderly group compared to the other age groups. Moreover, a recent increase in the severity of comorbidities in pneumonia patients was noted. Given the continued increase in the number of elderly patients with pneumonia, chronic diseases, such as hypertension and diabetes, should be managed first in the elderly. Moreover, appropriate treatment methods should be selected based on the presence of comorbidities.
The Influence of COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown on the Physical Performance of Professional Soccer Players: An Example of German and Polish Leagues
Authors: Radzimiński Łukasz , Padrón-Cabo Alexis , Konefał Marek , Chmura Paweł , Szwarc Andrzej , Jastrzębski Zbigniew
Published: August 2021

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the in-season pandemic lockdown influenced physical match performance in professional soccer players who participated in the competition of German Bundesliga and Polish Ekstraklasa. The data from 306 games for German Bundesliga and 296 games for Polish Ekstraklasa were divided into before- and after-lockdown periods. The physical performance of German Bundesliga teams after the 63-day COVID-19 lockdown did not differ significantly from that in the first part of the season. In contrast, Polish Ekstraklasa teams, after the 81-day lockdown, displayed significantly shorter total distances (p < 0.001), shorter high-intensity running distances (p = 0.03), and fewer high-intensity actions (p = 0.02). Moreover, when the effective playing time was considered, teams covered significantly less relative total distance (p < 0.001) and relative high-intensity running distance (p = 0.02). The results of the current study suggest that physical performance during the matches of the German Bundesliga was not influenced by the COVID-19 lockdown, contrary to those of the Polish Ekstraklasa. This difference could have been caused by different break lengths and different restrictions implemented in these countries during the pandemic lockdown.
COVID-19 Vaccine Passport and International Traveling: The Combined Effect of Two Nudges on Americans’ Support for the Pass
Authors: Sotis Chiara , Allena Miriam , Reyes Renny , Romano Alessandro
Published: August 2021

Immunity passports have the potential to allow large-scale international traveling to resume. However, they can only become an effective tool if they are widely supported by the general public. We carry out a double blind randomized online experiment with a sample of N=4000 Americans to study (i) whether two nudges can increase the level of support for a COVID pass for international traveling, (ii) the relationship between the effects of the nudges, and (iii) if these nudges have a negative spillover on the intention to get vaccinated. We find that both nudges increase the support for the COVID pass and that their impact is stronger when they are used together. Moreover, we find that the two nudges do not negatively affect intentions to get vaccinated. Our findings have important implications for policymakers and for the nascent literature on the interaction between multiple nudges.
A Cross-Sectional Study to Assess the Frequency and Risk Factors Associated with Cesarean Section in Southern Punjab, Pakistan
Authors: Rasool Muhammad Fawad , Akhtar Saira , Hussain Iltaf , Majeed Abdul , Imran Imran , Saeed Hamid , Akbar Muqarrab , Chaudhry Muhammad Omer , Rehman Anees ur , Ashraf Waseem , Alqahtani Faleh , Alqhtani Hussain
Published: August 2021

The increasing frequency of cesarean section (CS) is a major public health issue, and it is on the rise in Pakistan. A cross-sectional study approach was used to assess the frequency of CS and its contributing factors, along with the assessment of knowledge in mothers who had undergone CS in one of the under-developed regions of Pakistan. Data collection was done by using a self-developed study questionnaire. The statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) was utilized for the statistical analysis. During the study period, a total of 173 (69.7%) women have given births by CS; among those, 104 (60.1%) were elective/planned CSs while 69 (39.8%) were emergency CSs. The higher CS frequency was significantly associated with younger age (p = 0.03) and pre-term gestational age (p < 0.001). Pregnancy complications, such as gestational diabetes, hypertension, preeclampsia/eclampsia, and vaginal bleeding, were the significant risk factors for CS (p < 0.001). The highlighted contributing factors to CS in the current study were preterm of gestational age, mothers of a younger age (20–24 years), and mothers that belong to urban populations. These risk factors can be addressed by implementing community-focused educational interventions during the gestational period. The sample size in this study was small; therefore, the results cannot be generalized to the whole population.
Non-Invasive Physiological Monitoring for Physical Exertion and Fatigue Assessment in Military Personnel: A Systematic Review
Authors: Bustos Denisse , Guedes Joana C. , Vaz Mário P. , Pombo Eduardo , Fernandes Ricardo J. , Costa José Torres , Baptista João Santos
Published: August 2021

During operational activities, military personnel face extremely demanding circumstances, which when combined lead to severe fatigue, influencing both their well-being and performance. Physical exertion is the main condition leading to fatigue, and its continuous tracking would help prevent its effects. This review aimed to investigate the up-to-date progress on non-invasive physiological monitoring to evaluate situations of physical exertion as a pre-condition to fatigue in military populations, and determine the potential associations between physiological responses and fatigue, which can later result in decision-making indicators to prevent health-related consequences. Adhering to the PRISMA Statement, four databases (Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science and PubMed) were used for a literature search based on combinations of keywords. The eligibility criteria focused on studies monitoring physiological variables through non-invasive objective measurements, with these measurements being developed in military field, combat, or training conditions. The review process led to the inclusion of 20 studies. The findings established the importance of multivariable assessments in a real-life context to accurately characterise the effects of military practices. A tendency for examining heart rate variables, thermal responses, and actigraphy measurements was also identified. The objectives and experimental protocols were diverse, but the effectiveness of non-invasive measurements in identifying the most fatigue-inducing periods was demonstrated. Nevertheless, no assessment system for standardised application was presented. Future work may include the development of assessment methods to translate physiological recordings into actionable information in real-time and mitigate the effects of fatigue on soldiers’ performance accurately.
Occupational Injuries among Latino/a Immigrant Cattle Feedyard Workers in the Central States Region of the United States
Authors: Ramos Athena K. , Adhikari Suraj , Yoder Aaron M. , Rautiainen Risto H.
Published: August 2021

Agriculture is a dangerous industry with high rates of occupational injuries. Immigrants comprise the majority of the hired agricultural workforce in the United States, and these workers may be at a higher risk for job-related injuries. This study addressed the frequency, characteristics, and risk factors of occupational injuries among Latino immigrant cattle feedyard workers. Data were collected through structured interviews with Latino immigrant cattle feedyard workers in Kansas and Nebraska (n = 243; 90.9% male). Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to identify risk factors for injury. Nearly three-fourths of participants (71.2%) reported having experienced one or more injuries in the past while working on a cattle feedyard. The most frequent types of reported injuries, including those not requiring medical care, were bruises/contusions (40%), cuts/lacerations (21%), and sprains/strains (12%). These injuries were mainly caused by animals/livestock (33%), chemicals (23%), falls (12%), and tools (9%). Significant risk factors for injury included male gender (OR 5.9), being over age 35 (OR 2.6), working on a large or an extra-large feedyard (OR 5.4), having 11 or more employees on the feedyard (OR 3.6), and working more than eight hours a day (OR 4.7). Having received safety training was also associated with greater risk of injury in a univariable model (OR 2.6). Cattle feedyard workers are at high risk for injury and require more effective preventive measures.
Pharmacists’ Role in Older Adults’ Medication Regimen Complexity: A Systematic Review
Authors: Falch Catharine , Alves Gilberto
Published: August 2021

Medication regimen complexity (MRC) may influence health outcomes, such as hospitalisation, hospital readmission and medication adherence. Pharmacists have been referred to as health professionals with the opportunity to act on MRC reduction. This study aimed to investigate pharmacists’ role in studies about older adults’ medication regimen complexity. A literature search was performed in PubMed, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library—CENTRAL—up to October 2019. Out of 653 potentially relevant studies, 17 articles met the inclusion criteria for this review. Most studies used the 65-item medication regimen complexity index (MRCI) to assess medication complexity. Pharmacists’ role was mainly confined to data collection. It seems that pharmacists’ active role in older adults’ medication complexity has not been studied in depth so far. However, the few existing interventional ones suggest that, after previous training, regimen simplification is feasible.