bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Permeabilizing Cell Membranes with Electric Fields
Authors: Aguilar Alondra A. , Ho Michelle C. , Chang Edwin , Carlson Kristen W. , Natarajan Arutselvan , Marciano Tal , Bomzon Ze’ev , Patel Chirag B.
Published: May 2021

The biological impact of exogenous, alternating electric fields (AEFs) and direct-current electric fields has a long history of study, ranging from effects on embryonic development to influences on wound healing. In this article, we focus on the application of electric fields for the treatment of cancers. In particular, we outline the clinical impact of tumor treating fields (TTFields), a form of AEFs, on the treatment of cancers such as glioblastoma and mesothelioma. We provide an overview of the standard mechanism of action of TTFields, namely, the capability for AEFs (e.g., TTFields) to disrupt the formation and segregation of the mitotic spindle in actively dividing cells. Though this standard mechanism explains a large part of TTFields’ action, it is by no means complete. The standard theory does not account for exogenously applied AEFs’ influence directly upon DNA nor upon their capacity to alter the functionality and permeability of cancer cell membranes. This review summarizes the current literature to provide a more comprehensive understanding of AEFs’ actions on cell membranes. It gives an overview of three mechanistic models that may explain the more recent observations into AEFs’ effects: the voltage-gated ion channel, bioelectrorheological, and electroporation models. Inconsistencies were noted in both effective frequency range and field strength between TTFields versus all three proposed models. We addressed these discrepancies through theoretical investigations into the inhomogeneities of electric fields on cellular membranes as a function of disease state, external microenvironment, and tissue or cellular organization. Lastly, future experimental strategies to validate these findings are outlined. Clinical benefits are inevitably forthcoming.
The Phase Space Model of Nonrelativistic Quantum Mechanics
Authors: Tosiek Jaromir , Przanowski Maciej
Published: May 2021

We focus on several questions arising during the modelling of quantum systems on a phase space. First, we discuss the choice of phase space and its structure. We include an interesting case of discrete phase space. Then, we introduce the respective algebras of functions containing quantum observables. We also consider the possibility of performing strict calculations and indicate cases where only formal considerations can be performed. We analyse alternative realisations of strict and formal calculi, which are determined by different kernels. Finally, two classes of Wigner functions as representations of states are investigated.
A Two-Stage Hybrid Default Discriminant Model Based on Deep Forest
Authors: Li Gang , Ma Hong-Dong , Liu Rong-Yue , Shen Meng-Di , Zhang Ke-Xin
Published: May 2021

Background: the credit scoring model is an effective tool for banks and other financial institutions to distinguish potential default borrowers. The credit scoring model represented by machine learning methods such as deep learning performs well in terms of the accuracy of default discrimination, but the model itself also has many shortcomings such as many hyperparameters and large dependence on big data. There is still a lot of room to improve its interpretability and robustness. Methods: the deep forest or multi-Grained Cascade Forest (gcForest) is a decision tree depth model based on the random forest algorithm. Using multidimensional scanning and cascading processing, gcForest can effectively identify and process high-dimensional feature information. At the same time, gcForest has fewer hyperparameters and has strong robustness. So, this paper constructs a two-stage hybrid default discrimination model based on multiple feature selection methods and gcForest algorithm, and at the same time, it optimizes the parameters for the lowest type II error as the first principle, and the highest AUC and accuracy as the second and third principles. GcForest can not only reflect the advantages of traditional statistical models in terms of interpretability and robustness but also take into account the advantages of deep learning models in terms of accuracy. Results: the validity of the hybrid default discrimination model is verified by three real open credit data sets of Australian, Japanese, and German in the UCI database. Conclusions: the performance of the gcForest is better than the current popular single classifiers such as ANN, and the common ensemble classifiers such as LightGBM, and CNNs in type II error, AUC, and accuracy. Besides, in comparison with other similar research results, the robustness and effectiveness of this model are further verified.
Self-Assembled Structures of Colloidal Dimers and Disks on a Spherical Surface
Authors: Dlamini Nkosinathi , Prestipino Santi , Pellicane Giuseppe
Published: May 2021

We study self-assembly on a spherical surface of a model for a binary mixture of amphiphilic dimers in the presence of guest particles via Monte Carlo (MC) computer simulation. All particles had a hard core, but one monomer of the dimer also interacted with the guest particle by means of a short-range attractive potential. We observed the formation of aggregates of various shapes as a function of the composition of the mixture and of the size of guest particles. Our MC simulations are a further step towards a microscopic understanding of experiments on colloidal aggregation over curved surfaces, such as oil droplets.
Introduction to the Special Issue on Data-Intensive Computing in Smart Microgrids
Authors: Herodotou Herodotos
Published: May 2021

Microgrids have recently emerged as the building block of a smart grid combining distributed renewable energy sources, energy storage devices, and load management in order to improve power system reliability, enhance sustainable development, and reduce carbon emissions [...]
Multi-Point-of-View Energy Loss Analysis in a Refuse Truck Hydraulic System
Authors: Berne Luis Javier , Raush Gustavo , Gamez-Montero Pedro Javier , Roquet Pedro , Codina Esteban
Published: May 2021

In recent years, much research has focused on reducing the power consumption of mobile hydraulic machines due to rising fuel costs, regulations on combustion engine emissions and the need to reduce the size and weight of the storage devices in hybrid drives. Current approaches to improve the energy efficiency of a hydraulic system can be classified into four basic groups: reduction of the energy demand, recovery of part of the supplied energy (ERS systems), regeneration of part of the supplied energy and reuse of the recovered and regenerated energy (hybrid systems). Today’s mobile hydraulic systems are often complex, perform different tasks and work under different load conditions, which makes it difficult to analyse energy losses. A study of the energy losses of a hydraulic system from different points of view, such as an energy balance for a complete machine cycle, an analysis of the individual cycle phases and a power analysis for the different operation quadrants of the actuators, can give an global picture of the energy losses, being very useful to rate its energy efficiency, identify main power losses and decide which of the different energy-saving techniques to apply. This paper describes the data collection process, its analysis from various points of view and the summary of the results in easy to understand charts as useful tools to identify and quantify the main energy losses. Only system architecture losses are considered. Losses in the ICE engine or the electric motor, hydraulic pump losses and mechanical losses are outside the scope of this study.
Energy Consumption in a Distributional Warehouse: A Practical Case Study for Different Warehouse Technologies
Authors: Lewczuk Konrad , Kłodawski Michał , Gepner Paweł
Published: May 2021

Energy consumption by distribution warehouses has become an essential component of green warehousing and research on reducing the carbon footprint of supply chains. Energy consumption in warehousing is a complex and multilayered problem, which is generally considered in the literature in relation to its detailed components, not as part of comparative studies. In this article, the authors consider six cross-sectional variants of warehouse technology, from manual to fully automatic, and analyze the energy consumption of a warehouse in various configurations. A methodology for estimating storage space and determining energy consumption is proposed. The energy balance of the warehouse variants includes energy for material handling equipment operation, energy consumption for building maintenance (heating, cooling, lighting, etc.), and energy generated by the photovoltaic system on the roof. Then, the operational costs of the variants are estimated and, on their basis, an automation index is determined. The index allows for a comparative analysis of energy consumption and the mechanization and automation of a warehouse. It is shown that a significant part of the energy is spent on maintaining a warehouse building, especially in the case of facilities with a low degree of automation.
Effect of Nonlinear Electromechanical Coupling in Magnetic Levitation Energy Harvester
Authors: Kecik Krzysztof , Kowalczuk Marcin
Published: May 2021

This paper investigates the possibility of converting vibrations to electricity. A numerical and an experimental study of a magnetic levitation harvester are proposed. The system can be highly efficient when the electrical parameters are correctly tuned. Mechanical and electrical interaction of the harvester is described by an electromechanical coupling. Fixed value, linear and nonlinear electromechanical coupling models are presented and compared. It has been shown that the nonlinear electromechanical coupling model is more suitable for higher oscillations of the magnet. The obtained results show that nonlinear resonance and recovered energy can be controlled by the simple configuration of the magnet coil position. The recovered energy from the top branch is significantly higher, but this solution is much harder to obtain.
Developing Digital Economy and Society in the Light of the Issue of Digital Convergence of the Markets in the European Union Countries
Authors: Borowiecki Ryszard , Siuta-Tokarska Barbara , Maroń Jolanta , Suder Marcin , Thier Agnieszka , Żmija Katarzyna
Published: May 2021

The main objective of the paper is to present the development of digital economy and society in the Countries of the European Union in the light of the digital convergence of these markets. The analysis was based on the data on the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) from 2015 and 2020. Empirical studies have been conducted in two stages. First, basic measures of time series dynamics were used to determine the dynamics of changes in index values. On the other hand, in order to classify countries in terms of similarity of value and structure of the DESI, a cluster analysis was used as one of the basic methods of the so-called unsupervised statistical grouping. The studies presented confirm that the levels of indicators and the dynamics of changes in their value at the level of the synthetic DESI indicator, and in the five underlying areas of analysis, vary despite the fact that almost all are pro-growth, including for isolated clusters of EU-28 countries. When analyzing the DESI synthetic index and its components, it was concluded that there is generally an increase in convergence between the EU-28 countries in terms of the level of development of the digital economy and society, as well as in four components: Connectivity, Human Capital, Use of Internet Services and Digital Public Services. The Integration of Digital Technology area was the only one where increasing polarization of results was observed. The added value of the paper is to fill the research gap in research on the digital convergence of markets in the Countries of the European Union.
Seven-Level Inverter with Reduced Switches for PV System Supporting Home-Grid and EV Charger
Authors: Ali Ahmed Ismail M. , Sayed Mahmoud A. , Mohamed Ahmed A. S.
Published: May 2021

This paper proposes a simple single-phase new pulse-width modulated seven-level inverter architecture for photovoltaic (PV) systems supporting home-grid with electric vehicle (EV) charging port. The proposed inverter includes a reduced number of power components and passive elements size, while showing less output-voltage total harmonic distortion (THD), and unity power factor operation. In addition, the proposed inverter requires simple control and switching strategies compared to recently published topologies. A comparative study was performed to compare the proposed inverter structure with the recent inverter topologies based on the number of components in the inverter circuit, number of components per output-voltage level, average number of active switches, THD, and operating efficiency as effective parameters for inverter performance evaluation. For design and validation purposes, numerical and analytical models for a grid-tied solar PV system driven by the proposed seven-level inverter were developed in MATLAB/Simulink environment. The inverter performance was evaluated considering grid-integration and stand-alone home with level-2 AC EV charger (3–6 kW). Compared with recently published topologies, the proposed inverter utilizes a reduced number of power components (7 switches) for seven-level terminal voltage synthesis. An experimental prototype for proposed inverter with the associated controller was built and tested for a stand-alone and grid-integrated system. Due to the lower number of ON-switches, the inverter operating efficiency was enhanced to 92.86% with load current THD of 3.43% that follows the IEEE standards for DER applications.
Directional Bending Performance of 4-Leg Jacket Substructure Supporting a 3MW Offshore Wind Turbine
Authors: Tran Thanh-Tuan , Kang Sangkyun , Lee Jang-Ho , Lee Daeyong
Published: May 2021

A comprehensive investigation of the directional bending performance of a 4-leg jacket substructure, supporting a 3 MW offshore wind turbine, has been carried out in this study. The jacket substructure with a Pratt bracing system which is already installed in the southwest offshore wind farm in South Korea has been chosen as a reference support structure. A numerical model of the 3MW support structure (i.e., tower, transition piece, and jacket structure) is configured, and its structural performances are evaluated under the conditions of (1) extreme environmental loads (Env), (2) critical Design Load Cases (DLCs), and (3) a total of 288 combined load cases (CBs). For the case of Env (i.e., wind, wave, and current loads), loading directions varying from 0° to 360° at intervals of 15° are considered. The DLCs are provided from the 3 MW wind turbine manufacturer, in a 6 × 12 matrix format. The selected 4-leg jacket substructure in this study showed the smallest bending stiffness at the loading angles of 135° and 315° under the condition of Env, and at the loading angles between 105° and 150° under the CBs. From these results, critical bending directionality of the 4-leg jacket substructure is identified. This study also found that the effects of Env loads are not small compared to the total structural responses of the 4-leg jacket substructure which is supporting a 3 MW offshore wind turbine.
Spatial Variation and Temporal Instability in the Growth/Climate Relationship of White Birch (Betula platyphylla Suk) in the Changbai Mountain, China
Authors: Jiang Yangao , Cao Yuting , Han Shijie , Zhang Junhui , Hao Lin
Published: May 2021

Tree growth in mountain ecosystems is affected by complex environments, and its relationship with climatic and environmental factors varying with elevation. In order to examine the spatial variation and temporal stability of the growth/climate relationship of Betula platyphylla (BP), the dendrochronological method was used to analyze the radial growth/climate relationship between 1946 and 2016 of the BP trees along an altitudinal gradient in the Changbai Mountain of northeast China. Our results showed that the mean sensitivity of BP was higher than that of other species studied in Changbai Mountain. The growth/climate relationship of BP trees varies with altitude, and this conclusion has reached a consensus from the study of tree growth response to climate change. More specifically, at low altitudes (550–995 m a.s.l.), the radial growth of BP is mainly affected by spring precipitation and temperature in May and October of the current year. However, at high-altitude areas (1210–1425 m a.s.l.), it is mainly affected by the temperature in September of the previous year and May of the current year. Furthermore, the growth/climate relationship of BP trees showed temporal instability. After 1970, the rise in temperature inhibited the growth of BP at low altitudes and promoted the growth of BP trees at high altitudes. In the context of continued warming in the future, the white birch stands in Changbai Mountain will move to higher altitudes.
Evaluating Plantation Forest vs. Natural Forest Regeneration for Biodiversity Enhancement in Hong Kong
Authors: Nichol Janet E. , Abbas Sawaid
Published: May 2021

Global trends predict a continuous increase in the proportion of forest occupied by plantations up to the end of the 21st century, while a dramatic loss of biodiversity is foreseen as a result of anthropogenic exploitation and climate change. This study compares the role and performance of plantation policies in Hong Kong, with natural regeneration of secondary forest, using detailed spatio-temporal data extracted from a previous study. The study extends over a 70-year period from 1945 to 2014 using aerial photographs and satellite images of five time periods to document spatio-temporal trends in plantation forestry and natural forest succession. Field data on species richness and woody biomass at different stages of forest succession are compared with available data from plantations in the same study area. Results indicate that plantation forests support relatively few native species in the understory, with much lower species richness than naturally regenerated forest, even after 6 to 7 decades. Time-sequential maps of habitat change show that natural forest succession from barren grassy hillsides, progressed at an annual rate of 7.8%, from only 0.2% of the landscape post WWII, to over 37% today. Plantation forestry on the other hand has been less successful, and has even acted as a barrier to natural forest regeneration, as mono-cultural plantations from the late 1960s to 1980s are still plantations today, whereas other similar areas have succeeded naturally to forest. The theory of plantations acting as a nurse crop for a woody native understory is not supported, as Pinus massoniana plantations, destroyed by two deadly nematodes during the 1970s, apparently had no woody understory, as they were seen to have reverted to grassland in 1989 and are still mainly grassland today.
Reactive Strategies: An Inch of Memory, a Mile of Equilibria
Authors: Baklanov Artem
Published: May 2021

We explore how an incremental change in complexity of strategies (“an inch of memory”) in repeated interactions influences the sets of Nash equilibrium (NE) strategy and payoff profiles. For this, we introduce the two most basic setups of repeated games, where players are allowed to use only reactive strategies for which a probability of players’ actions depends only on the opponent’s preceding move. The first game is trivial and inherits equilibria of the stage game since players have only unconditional (memory-less) Reactive Strategies (RSs); in the second one, players also have conditional stochastic RSs. This extension of the strategy sets can be understood as a result of evolution or learning that increases the complexity of strategies. For the game with conditional RSs, we characterize all possible NE profiles in stochastic RSs and find all possible symmetric games admitting these equilibria. By setting the unconditional benchmark as the least symmetric equilibrium payoff profile in memory-less RSs, we demonstrate that for most classes of symmetric stage games, infinitely many equilibria in conditional stochastic RSs (“a mile of equilibria”) Pareto dominate the benchmark. Since there is no folk theorem for RSs, Pareto improvement over the benchmark is the best one can gain with an inch of memory.
The Role of Structural Variation in Adaptation and Evolution of Yeast and Other Fungi
Authors: Gorkovskiy Anton , Verstrepen Kevin J.
Published: May 2021

Mutations in DNA can be limited to one or a few nucleotides, or encompass larger deletions, insertions, duplications, inversions and translocations that span long stretches of DNA or even full chromosomes. These so-called structural variations (SVs) can alter the gene copy number, modify open reading frames, change regulatory sequences or chromatin structure and thus result in major phenotypic changes. As some of the best-known examples of SV are linked to severe genetic disorders, this type of mutation has traditionally been regarded as negative and of little importance for adaptive evolution. However, the advent of genomic technologies uncovered the ubiquity of SVs even in healthy organisms. Moreover, experimental evolution studies suggest that SV is an important driver of evolution and adaptation to new environments. Here, we provide an overview of the causes and consequences of SV and their role in adaptation, with specific emphasis on fungi since these have proven to be excellent models to study SV.
Transcriptomic Changes in Mouse Bone Marrow-Derived Macrophages Exposed to Neuropeptide FF
Authors: Sun Yulong , Kuang Yuanyuan , Zuo Zhuo
Published: May 2021

Neuropeptide FF (NPFF) is a neuropeptide that regulates various biological activities. Currently, the regulation of NPFF on the immune system is an emerging field. However, the influence of NPFF on the transcriptome of primary macrophages has not been fully elucidated. In this study, the effect of NPFF on the transcriptome of mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) was explored by RNA sequencing, bioinformatics, and molecular simulation. BMDMs were treated with 1 nM NPFF for 18 h, followed by RNA sequencing. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained, followed by GO, KEGG, and PPI analysis. A total of eight qPCR-validated DEGs were selected as hub genes. Subsequently, the three-dimensional (3-D) structures of the eight hub proteins were constructed by Modeller and Rosetta. Next, the molecular dynamics (MD)-optimized 3-D structure of hub protein was acquired with Gromacs. Finally, the binding modes between NPFF and hub proteins were studied by Rosetta. A total of 2655 DEGs were obtained (up-regulated 1442 vs. down-regulated 1213), and enrichment analysis showed that NPFF extensively regulates multiple functional pathways mediated by BMDMs. Moreover, the 3-D structure of the hub protein was obtained after MD-optimization. Finally, the docking modes of NPFF-hub proteins were predicted. Besides, NPFFR2 was expressed on the cell membrane of BMDMs, and NPFF 1 nM significantly activated NPFFR2 protein expression. In summary, instead of significantly inhibiting the expression of the immune-related gene transcriptome of RAW 264.7 cells, NPFF simultaneously up-regulated and down-regulated the gene expression profile of a large number of BMDMs, hinting that NPFF may profoundly affect a variety of cellular processes dominated by BMDMs. Our work provides transcriptomics clues for exploring the influence of NPFF on the physiological functions of BMDMs.
Endopolyploidy Variation in Wild Barley Seeds across Environmental Gradients in Israel
Authors: Nowicka Anna , Sahu Pranav Pankaj , Kovacik Martin , Weigt Dorota , Tokarz Barbara , Krugman Tamar , Pecinka Ales
Published: May 2021

Wild barley is abundant, occupying large diversity of sites, ranging from the northern mesic Mediterranean meadows to the southern xeric deserts in Israel. This is also reflected in its wide phenotypic heterogeneity. We investigated the dynamics of DNA content changes in seed tissues in ten wild barley accessions that originated from an environmental gradient in Israel. The flow cytometric measurements were done from the time shortly after pollination up to the dry seeds. We show variation in mitotic cell cycle and endoreduplication dynamics in both diploid seed tissues (represented by seed maternal tissues and embryo) and in the triploid endosperm. We found that wild barley accessions collected at harsher xeric environmental conditions produce higher proportion of endoreduplicated nuclei in endosperm tissues. Also, a comparison of wild and cultivated barley strains revealed a higher endopolyploidy level in the endosperm of wild barley, that is accompanied by temporal changes in the timing of the major developmental phases. In summary, we present a new direction of research focusing on connecting spatiotemporal patterns of endoreduplication in barley seeds and possibly buffering for stress conditions.
In Vivo Expression of Reprogramming Factor OCT4 Ameliorates Myelination Deficits and Induces Striatal Neuroprotection in Huntington’s Disease
Authors: Yu Ji-Hea , Nam Bae-Geun , Kim Min-Gi , Pyo Soonil , Seo Jung-Hwa , Cho Sung-Rae
Published: May 2021

White matter atrophy has been shown to precede the massive loss of striatal GABAergic neurons in Huntington’s disease (HD). This study investigated the effects of in vivo expression of reprogramming factor octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (OCT4) on neural stem cell (NSC) niche activation in the subventricular zone (SVZ) and induction of cell fate specific to the microenvironment of HD. R6/2 mice randomly received adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9)-OCT4, AAV9-Null, or phosphate-buffered saline into both lateral ventricles at 4 weeks of age. The AAV9-OCT4 group displayed significantly improved behavioral performance compared to the control groups. Following AAV9-OCT4 treatment, the number of newly generated NSCs and oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) significantly increased in the SVZ, and the expression of OPC-related genes and glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) significantly increased. Further, amelioration of myelination deficits in the corpus callosum was observed through electron microscopy and magnetic resonance imaging, and striatal DARPP32+ GABAergic neurons significantly increased in the AAV9-OCT4 group. These results suggest that in situ expression of the reprogramming factor OCT4 in the SVZ induces OPC proliferation, thereby attenuating myelination deficits. Particularly, GDNF released by OPCs seems to induce striatal neuroprotection in HD, which explains the behavioral improvement in R6/2 mice overexpressing OCT4.
A Cross-Sectional Comparison of Physical Activity during COVID-19 in a Sample of Rural and Non-Rural Participants in the US
Authors: Beck Alan M. , Gilbert Amanda S. , Duncan Dixie D. , Wiedenman Eric M.
Published: May 2021

Physical activity (PA) pre-COVID-19 was lower in rural areas compared to non-rural areas. The purpose of this study was to determine COVID-19’s impact on PA in rural and non-rural residents. A cross-sectional study consisting of a convenience sample of 278 participants (50% rural, 50% non-rural) from 25 states completed an online survey describing their PA behaviors and perceptions during COVID-19. The global physical activity questionnaire was used to determine PA in various domains and summed to determine if the participant met the PA guidelines. Rural participants had a significantly higher body mass index, lower income, and a lower educational attainment. Conversely, non-rural participants reported more barriers to PA. There was no difference in the perception of COVID-19’s impact on PA, specifically; however, rural participants were significantly less likely to meet cardiorespiratory PA recommendations compared to non-rural participants. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the continued disparity in PA between rural and non-rural residents, despite the supposition of COVID-19 being less impactful in rural areas due to sparse populations. Efforts should be pursued to close the PA gap between rural and non-rural residents.
Being the Pillar for Children with Rare Diseases—A Systematic Review on Parental Quality of Life
Authors: Boettcher Johannes , Boettcher Michael , Wiegand-Grefe Silke , Zapf Holger
Published: May 2021

Parents caring for children with rare diseases fear the long-term progression of the child’s disease. The current study aims to systematically investigate the quality of life (QoL) in parents of children with different rare diseases. We performed a systematic literature search including quantitative studies on QoL of parents caring for children and adolescents with rare diseases in five databases (APA PsycArticles, APA PsycInfo, MEDLINE, PSYNDEXplus, and PubMed) published between 2000–2020. Of the 3985 titles identified, 31 studies met the inclusion criteria and were selected for narrative review. Studies were included if they investigated predictors of parental QoL or reported QoL compared to normative samples, parents of healthy children, or children with other chronic diseases. We used the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale to assess methodological quality. The systematic review revealed that parents of children with rare diseases experience reduced QoL compared to parents with healthy children and norm values. Psychosocial factors, beyond disease-specific predictors, were shown to influence parental QoL substantially and may thus present an essential aspect within interventions for this highly burdened group. Health care professionals should consider and address the impairment of parental QoL due to the child’s rare disease. We discuss insights into existing research gaps and improvements for subsequent work.
Social Environmental Antecedents of Athletes’ Emotions
Authors: Ruiz Montse C. , Appleton Paul R. , Duda Joan L. , Bortoli Laura , Robazza Claudio
Published: May 2021

The coach-created motivational climate influences variations in athletes’ motivation and emotional experiences. The present study aimed to examine social environmental antecedents of athletes’ emotions. Participants (N = 262, 52% female, M age = 22.75 ± 6.92) completed questionnaires assessing perceptions of coach-created motivational climates, goal orientations, motivation regulations, and emotions. The mediation effects of goal orientations (i.e., task/ego) and motivation regulations (i.e., autonomous/controlled) on the relationship between motivational climate (i.e., empowering/disempowering) and emotions (i.e., happiness, excitement, anxiety, dejection, and anger) were examined. Structural equation modeling revealed positive direct effects of perceptions of an empowering motivational climate on happiness. Indirect effects of empowering climate to happiness and excitement via task orientation and autonomous motivation emerged. Perceptions of a disempowering climate positively predicted anxiety, dejection, and anger via ego orientation and controlled motivation. Overall, the findings have implications for coach education as they highlight the importance of creating more empowering environments and avoiding or reducing social comparisons.
Mitigating the Adverse Effects of Polychlorinated Biphenyl Derivatives on Estrogenic Activity via Molecular Modification Techniques
Authors: He Wei , Zhang Wenhui , Chu Zhenhua , Li Yu
Published: May 2021

The aim of this paper is to explore the mechanism of the change in oestrogenic activity of PCBs molecules before and after modification by designing new PCBs derivatives in combination with molecular docking techniques through the constructed model of oestrogenic activity of PCBs molecules. We found that the weakened hydrophobic interaction between the hydrophobic amino acid residues and hydrophobic substituents at the binding site of PCB derivatives and human oestrogen receptor alpha (hERα) was the main reason for the weakened binding force and reduced anti-oestrogenic activity. It was consistent with the information that the hydrophobic field displayed by the 3D contour maps in the constructed oestrogen activity CoMSIA model was one of the main influencing force fields. The hydrophobic interaction between PCB derivatives and oestrogen-active receptors was negatively correlated with the average distance between hydrophobic substituents and hydrophobic amino acid residues at the hERα-binding site, and positively correlated with the number of hydrophobic amino acid residues. In other words, the smaller the average distance between the hydrophobic amino acid residues at the binding sites between the two and the more the number of them, and the stronger the oestrogen activity expression degree of PCBS derivative molecules. Therefore, hydrophobic interactions between PCB derivatives and the oestrogen receptor can be reduced by altering the microenvironmental conditions in humans. This reduces the ability of PCB derivatives to bind to the oestrogen receptor and can effectively modulate the risk of residual PCB derivatives to produce oestrogenic activity in humans.
Characterization of Sleep Disturbances in Children and Adolescents with Down Syndrome and Their Relation with Cognitive and Behavioral Features
Authors: Fucà Elisa , Costanzo Floriana , Celestini Laura , Mandarino Alessandra , Vicari Stefano
Published: May 2021

Despite sleep disturbances are common among youths with Down syndrome (DS), the cognitive and behavioral features associated with sleep problems have not yet been studied extensively. The present study investigated the presence of sleep disturbances in a group of children and adolescents with DS and their cognitive and behavioral correlates. Seventy-one children and adolescents with DS underwent a neuropsychological evaluation, whereas parents completed questionnaires for the screening of the child’s sleep, emotional and behavioral problems. We found no association between sleep disturbances and sex, nonverbal IQ, nor adaptive abilities. However, we found that age was positively associated with disorders in initiating and maintaining sleep (DIMS) and disorders of excessive somnolence (DOES), while body mass index was related with DOES. We also detected a relationship between visual-motor integrations and DIMS, as well as multiple associations between sleep disturbances and psychopathological and behavioral problems, mainly externalizing symptoms. The present study provided a detailed characterization of sleep problems in relation to several features of youths with DS. The proper identification of sleep disturbances profile in the DS population could support the process of clinical evaluation, in particular for psychopathological aspects.
Daytime Napping and Nighttime Sleep Duration with Incident Diabetes Mellitus: A Cohort Study in Chinese Older Adults
Authors: Lin Li , Lu Ciyong , Chen Weiqing , Guo Vivian Yawei
Published: May 2021

Background: We aimed to examine the longitudinal associations between daytime napping and nighttime sleep duration with the risk of diabetes mellitus (DM) among Chinese elderly using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Methods: A cohort study was conducted among 2620 participants aged 60 years or above. Information on daytime napping and nighttime sleep duration was self-reported during the 2011 baseline survey. DM status during the 2015 follow-up survey was confirmed according to the American Diabetes Association criteria. Results: Individuals with long daytime napping (>1 h/day) had increased risk of developing DM than non-nappers (adjusted RR = 1.52, 95%CI: 1.10, 2.10). In addition, we observed a U-shaped association between nighttime sleep duration and incident DM risk. We further found that nappers with <4 h of nighttime sleep, and those with >1 h of daytime napping and >6 h nighttime sleep had approximately two-fold elevated risk of DM, compared to non-nappers with 6–8 h of nighttime sleep. Conclusion: Long daytime napping and extreme nighttime sleep duration were associated with increased DM risk among Chinese elderly. There was a joint effect of long daytime napping and nighttime sleep duration on the risk of DM.
A Real-World Study of the Association between a Brief Group Psychoeducation and the Course of Bipolar Disorder
Authors: Casellas Elisabet , Raventós Beatriz , Piñeiro-Ríos Marina , Navarro-Martínez Helena , Castillón-Espezel Maite , Portella Maria J. , Martín-Blanco Ana
Published: May 2021

Although pharmacotherapy is considered the first-line treatment for bipolar disorders (BD), adjunctive psychoeducation has proven its effectiveness in improving self-management of the disease and reducing relapse rates. Few studies have evaluated the effect of brief group psychoeducation on pragmatic variables, such as the number of hospitalizations. The aim of the present study was to assess the mid-term effect of a four-session group psychoeducation on course-related variables in BD. Thirty-two individuals with BD were included in the study. Sixteen were exposed to psychoeducation and were matched to sixteen nonexposed individuals who received their usual treatment. Both groups were compared on insight, treatment adherence, change in the number of hospitalizations and visits to the emergency services, occurrence rate after intervention, and time to the first psychiatric hospitalization and the first urgent attendance. There was a significant reduction in the mean number of hospitalizations and urgent attendances in the exposed group in comparison to the nonexposed group. The first urgent attendance was significantly sooner in the nonexposed cohort. There were no differences between groups in any of the other variables. This intervention has shown benefits for pragmatic variables of the disease course and may be a feasible and cost-effective intervention to routinely implement in the management of BD.
Shaping Sustainable Urban Environments by Addressing the Hydro-Meteorological Factors in Landslide Occurrence: Ciuperca Hill (Oradea, Romania)
Authors: Morar Cezar , Lukić Tin , Basarin Biljana , Valjarević Aleksandar , Vujičić Miroslav , Niemets Lyudmila , Telebienieva Ievgeniia , Boros Lajos , Nagy Gyula
Published: May 2021

Romania is one of the countries severely affected by numerous natural hazards, where landslides constitute a very common geomorphic hazard with strong economic and social impacts. The analyzed area, known as the “Ciuperca Hill”, is located in Oradea (NW part of Romania) and it has experienced a number of landsliding events in previous years, which have endangered anthropogenic systems. Our investigation, focused on the main causal factors, determined that landslide events have rather complex components, reflected in the joint climatological characteristics, properties of the geological substrate, and human activity that further contributed to the intensive change of landscape and acceleration of slope instability. Analysis of daily precipitation displays the occurrence and intensive distribution between May and September. Higher values of rainfall erosivity (observed for the 2014–2017 period), are occurring between April and August. Erosivity density follows this pattern and indicates high intensity events from April until October. SPI index reveals the greater presence of various wet classes during the investigated period. Geological substrate has been found to be highly susceptible to erosion and landsliding when climatological conditions are suitable. Accelerated urbanization and reduced vegetation cover intensified slope instability. The authors implemented adequate remote-sensing techniques in order to monitor and assess the temporal changes in landslide events at local level. Potential solutions for preventative actions are given in order to introduce and conduct qualitative mitigation strategies for shaping sustainable urban environments. Results from this study could have implications for mitigation strategies at national, regional, county, and municipality levels, providing knowledge for the enhancement of geohazard prevention and appropriate response plans.
Sedentary Time, Physical Activity Levels and Physical Fitness in Adults with Intellectual Disabilities
Authors: Hsu Po-Jen , Chou Hung-Shih , Pan Yi-Hsiang , Ju Yan-Ying , Tsai Chia-Liang , Pan Chien-Yu
Published: May 2021

Purpose: This cross-sectional study assessed the associations of gender, age, level of intellectual disabilities (IDs) and of daily sedentary and physical activity (PA) time with physical fitness in adults with ID. Materials and methods: Sixty adults (mean age = 39.19 ± 11.70 years) with ID participated in this cross-sectional study. PA was monitored for 7 days using an ActiGraph GT3X monitor. Physical fitness was measured with a 6-min walking test, isometric push-up test, modified curl-up test, handgrip strength test, and back-saver sit-and-reach test. Results: (a) An age of ≥39 years and female gender were associated with lower performance in multiple aspects of physical fitness. (b) More moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) was associated with greater muscular strength and endurance (modified curl-ups: β = 0.36, p < 0.01; handgrip strength: right, β = 0.52, p < 0.01; left, β = 0.52, p < 0.01). (c) More light-intensity PA (LPA) was associated with greater upper-body muscular endurance (β = 0.42, p < 0.01) and greater flexibility (right leg: β = 0.36, p < 0.01; left leg: β = 0.38, p < 0.01). Conclusion: LPA may be as beneficial as MVPA to the physical fitness of adults with ID. Future studies should focus on developing effective PA interventions for adults with ID, especially for women and individuals aged ≥39 years, by incorporating both LPA and MVPA.
The Reciprocal Relationship between Socioeconomic Status and Health and the Influence of Sex: A European SHARE-Analysis Based on Structural Equation Modeling
Authors: Ahrenfeldt Linda Juel , Möller Sören
Published: May 2021

It is well recognized that socioeconomic status (SES) is an important determinant of health, but many studies fail to address the possibility of reverse causation. We aim to investigate the reciprocal relationship between trajectories of SES and health, and how these associations differ by sex. We performed a longitudinal study including 29,824 men and 37,263 women aged 50+ participating in at least two consecutive waves of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). Using structural equation modeling, we found that baseline household income and wealth led to improvements in cognitive function, grip strength, quality of life and depressive symptoms, and a better initial health led to higher income and wealth for both sexes. However, the results indicated that the relative effect of cognitive function and grip strength on SES trajectories was overall greater than the corresponding effect of SES on health changes, particularly regarding income among women, but for quality of life and depressive symptoms, the reverse was indicated, though most pronounced for the associations with wealth. The reciprocal associations between SES and physical function were stronger for men than for women, whereas most associations with cognitive function and mental health were similar between sexes. This study demonstrates that both social causation and health selection contribute to social inequalities in health, but the influence of each direction and the importance of sex differences may vary according to the health outcomes investigated.
Neurons and Glia Interplay in α-Synucleinopathies
Authors: Mavroeidi Panagiota , Xilouri Maria
Published: May 2021

Accumulation of the neuronal presynaptic protein alpha-synuclein within proteinaceous inclusions represents the key histophathological hallmark of a spectrum of neurodegenerative disorders, referred to by the umbrella term a-synucleinopathies. Even though alpha-synuclein is expressed predominantly in neurons, pathological aggregates of the protein are also found in the glial cells of the brain. In Parkinson’s disease and dementia with Lewy bodies, alpha-synuclein accumulates mainly in neurons forming the Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites, whereas in multiple system atrophy, the protein aggregates mostly in the glial cytoplasmic inclusions within oligodendrocytes. In addition, astrogliosis and microgliosis are found in the synucleinopathy brains, whereas both astrocytes and microglia internalize alpha-synuclein and contribute to the spread of pathology. The mechanisms underlying the pathological accumulation of alpha-synuclein in glial cells that under physiological conditions express low to non-detectable levels of the protein are an area of intense research. Undoubtedly, the presence of aggregated alpha-synuclein can disrupt glial function in general and can contribute to neurodegeneration through numerous pathways. Herein, we summarize the current knowledge on the role of alpha-synuclein in both neurons and glia, highlighting the contribution of the neuron-glia connectome in the disease initiation and progression, which may represent potential therapeutic target for a-synucleinopathies.
Molecular Characteristics of Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) and Its Effects in Cancer
Authors: Lee Han Na , Jeong Mi Suk , Jang Se Bok
Published: May 2021

Amyloid precursor protein (APP) is a type 1 transmembrane glycoprotein, and its homologs amyloid precursor-like protein 1 (APLP1) and amyloid precursor-like protein 2 (APLP2) are highly conserved in mammals. APP and APLP are known to be intimately involved in the pathogenesis and progression of Alzheimer’s disease and to play important roles in neuronal homeostasis and development and neural transmission. APP and APLP are also expressed in non-neuronal tissues and are overexpressed in cancer cells. Furthermore, research indicates they are involved in several cancers. In this review, we examine the biological characteristics of APP-related family members and their roles in cancer.
Strategy to Establish Embryo-Derived Pluripotent Stem Cells in Cattle
Authors: Kim Daehwan , Roh Sangho
Published: May 2021

Stem cell research is essential not only for the research and treatment of human diseases, but also for the genetic preservation and improvement of animals. Since embryonic stem cells (ESCs) were established in mice, substantial efforts have been made to establish true ESCs in many species. Although various culture conditions were used to establish ESCs in cattle, the capturing of true bovine ESCs (bESCs) has not been achieved. In this review, the difficulty of establishing bESCs with various culture conditions is described, and the characteristics of proprietary induced pluripotent stem cells and extended pluripotent stem cells are introduced. We conclude with a suggestion of a strategy for establishing true bESCs.
Membrane Profiling by Free Flow Electrophoresis and SWATH-MS to Characterize Subcellular Compartment Proteomes in Mesembryanthemum crystallinum
Authors: Guo Qi , Liu Lei , Yim Won C. , Cushman John C. , Barkla Bronwyn J.
Published: May 2021

The study of subcellular membrane structure and function facilitates investigations into how biological processes are divided within the cell. However, work in this area has been hampered by the limited techniques available to fractionate the different membranes. Free Flow Electrophoresis (FFE) allows for the fractionation of membranes based on their different surface charges, a property made up primarily of their varied lipid and protein compositions. In this study, high-resolution plant membrane fractionation by FFE, combined with mass spectrometry-based proteomics, allowed the simultaneous profiling of multiple cellular membranes from the leaf tissue of the plant Mesembryanthemum crystallinum. Comparisons of the fractionated membranes’ protein profile to that of known markers for specific cellular compartments sheds light on the functions of proteins, as well as provides new evidence for multiple subcellular localization of several proteins, including those involved in lipid metabolism.