bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Vibration Isolation System Using the Negative Stiffness Corrector Formed by Cam-Roller Mechanisms with Quadratic Polynomial Trajectory
Authors: Sun Mengnan , Dong Zhixu , Song Guiqiu , Sun Xingwei , Liu Weijun
Published: May 2020

The vibration isolator equipped with a negative stiffness corrector (NSC) excels at vibration isolation, but its stiffness often presents complex nonlinearity which needs to be approximated in calculation. To avoid the harmful effects of approximate stiffness, the NSC formed by the cam-roller mechanism with a quadratic polynomial trajectory (QCRM) is proposed to construct the vibration isolation system. From the inherent geometrical relationship in the structure, the generation mechanism of high-static-low-dynamic stiffness is analyzed, and the quasi-zero stiffness (QZS) condition of the system is derived. Based on the dynamic model of the QZS vibration isolator, the functions of response characteristics are solved by the harmonic balance method. Then, the absolute displacement transmissibility with different parameter values, and the vibration isolation performance under sinusoidal, multi-frequency wave, and random excitations are discussed. The simulated results show that the stiffness expression of the proposed QZS vibration isolator is directly a quadratic function, which removes the calculation error caused by approximate stiffness at large displacement and broadens the available isolation displacement range. Introducing the QCRM-NSC can significantly suppress the low-frequency vibration and resonance response without changing the load-bearing capacity of the vibration isolator. Under various excitations, the vibration isolation performance of the QZS vibration isolator all outperforms the linear counterpart.
Tspan8 Drives Melanoma Dermal Invasion by Promoting ProMMP-9 Activation and Basement Membrane Proteolysis in a Keratinocyte-Dependent Manner
Authors: El Kharbili Manale , Cario Muriel , Béchetoille Nicolas , Pain Catherine , Boucheix Claude , Degoul Françoise , Masse Ingrid , Berthier-Vergnes Odile
Published: May 2020

Melanoma is the most aggressive skin cancer with an extremely challenging therapy. The dermal-epidermal junction (DEJ) degradation and subsequent dermal invasion are the earliest steps of melanoma dissemination, but the mechanisms remain elusive. We previously identified Tspan8 as a key actor in melanoma invasiveness. Here, we investigated Tspan8 mechanisms of action during dermal invasion, using a validated skin-reconstruct-model that recapitulates melanoma dermal penetration through an authentic DEJ. We demonstrate that Tspan8 is sufficient to induce melanoma cells’ translocation to the dermis. Mechanistically, Tspan8+ melanoma cells cooperate with surrounding keratinocytes within the epidermis to promote keratinocyte-originated proMMP-9 activation process, collagen IV degradation and dermal colonization. This concurs with elevated active MMP-3 and low TIMP-1 levels, known to promote MMP-9 activity. Finally, a specific Tspan8-antibody reduces proMMP-9 activation and dermal invasion. Overall, our results provide new insights into the role of keratinocytes in melanoma dermal colonization through a cooperative mechanism never reported before, and establish for the first time the pro-invasive role of a tetraspanin family member in a cell non-autonomous manner. This work also displays solid arguments for the use of Tspan8-blocking antibodies to impede early melanoma spreading and therefore metastasis.
Targeting Protein Synthesis in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Schmidt Stefanie , Denk Sarah , Wiegering Armin
Published: May 2020

Under physiological conditions, protein synthesis controls cell growth and survival and is strictly regulated. Deregulation of protein synthesis is a frequent event in cancer. The majority of mutations found in colorectal cancer (CRC), including alterations in the WNT pathway as well as activation of RAS/MAPK and PI3K/AKT and, subsequently, mTOR signaling, lead to deregulation of the translational machinery. Besides mutations in upstream signaling pathways, deregulation of global protein synthesis occurs through additional mechanisms including altered expression or activity of initiation and elongation factors (e.g., eIF4F, eIF2α/eIF2B, eEF2) as well as upregulation of components involved in ribosome biogenesis and factors that control the adaptation of translation in response to stress (e.g., GCN2). Therefore, influencing mechanisms that control mRNA translation may open a therapeutic window for CRC. Over the last decade, several potential therapeutic strategies targeting these alterations have been investigated and have shown promising results in cell lines, intestinal organoids, and mouse models. Despite these encouraging in vitro results, patients have not clinically benefited from those advances so far. In this review, we outline the mechanisms that lead to deregulated mRNA translation in CRC and highlight recent progress that has been made in developing therapeutic strategies that target these mechanisms for tumor therapy.
HuRdling Senescence: HuR Breaks BRAF-Induced Senescence in Melanocytes and Supports Melanoma Growth
Authors: Liebig Janika K. , Kuphal Silke , Bosserhoff Anja Katrin
Published: May 2020

In addition to genetic changes, post-transcriptional events strongly contribute to the progression of malignant tumors. The RNA-binding protein HuR (ELAVL1) is able to bind and stabilize a large group of target mRNAs, which contain AU-rich elements (ARE) in their 3′-untranslated region. We found HuR to be upregulated in malignant melanoma in vitro and in vivo, significantly correlating with progression in vivo. Additionally, we could show that miR-194-5p can regulate HuR expression level. HuR knockdown in melanoma cells led to the suppression of proliferation and the induction of cellular senescence. Interestingly, HuR overexpression was sufficient to inhibit senescence in BRAFV600E-expressing melanocytes and to force their growth. Here, MITF (Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor), a key player in suppressing senescence and an ARE containing transcript, is positively regulated by HuR. Our results show for the first time that the overexpression of HuR is an important part of the regulatory pathway in the development of malignant melanoma and functions as a switch to overcome oncogene-induced senescence and to support melanoma formation. These newly defined alterations may provide possibilities for innovative therapeutic approaches.
Novel Nuclear Medicine Imaging Applications in Immuno-Oncology
Authors: Frega Stefano , Dal Maso Alessandro , Pasello Giulia , Cuppari Lea , Bonanno Laura , Conte PierFranco , Evangelista Laura
Published: May 2020

The global immuno-oncology pipeline has grown progressively in recent years, leading cancer immunotherapy to become one of the main issues of the healthcare industry. Despite their success in the treatment of several malignancies, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) perform poorly in others. Again, ICIs action depends on such a multitude of clinico-pathological features, that the attempt to predict responders/long-responders with ad-hoc built immunograms revealed to be quite complex. In this landscape, the role of nuclear medicine might be crucial, with first interesting evidences coming from small case series and pre-clinical studies. Positron-emission tomography (PET) techniques provide functional information having a predictive and/or prognostic value in patients treated with ICIs or adoptive T-cell therapy. Recently, a characterization of the tumor immune microenvironment (TiME) pattern itself has been shown to be feasible through the use of different radioactive tracers or image algorithms, thus adding knowledge about tumor heterogeneity. Finally, nuclear medicine exams permit an early detection of immune-related adverse events (irAEs), with on-going clinical trials investigating their correlation with patients’ outcome. This review depicts the recent advances in molecular imaging both in terms of non-invasive diagnosis of TiME properties and benefit prediction from immunotherapeutic agents.
Insight into the Development of PET Radiopharmaceuticals for Oncology
Authors: Lau Joseph , Rousseau Etienne , Kwon Daniel , Lin Kuo-Shyan , Bénard François , Chen Xiaoyuan
Published: May 2020

While the development of positron emission tomography (PET) radiopharmaceuticals closely follows that of traditional drug development, there are several key considerations in the chemical and radiochemical synthesis, preclinical assessment, and clinical translation of PET radiotracers. As such, we outline the fundamentals of radiotracer design, with respect to the selection of an appropriate pharmacophore. These concepts will be reinforced by exemplary cases of PET radiotracer development, both with respect to their preclinical and clinical evaluation. We also provide a guideline for the proper selection of a radionuclide and the appropriate labeling strategy to access a tracer with optimal imaging qualities. Finally, we summarize the methodology of their evaluation in in vitro and animal models and the road to clinical translation. This review is intended to be a primer for newcomers to the field and give insight into the workflow of developing radiopharmaceuticals.
Biological Control of Salvinia molesta (D.S. Mitchell) Drives Aquatic Ecosystem Recovery
Authors: Motitsoe Samuel N. , Coetzee Julie A. , Hill Jaclyn M. , Hill Martin P.
Published: May 2020

Salvinia molesta D.S. Mitchell (Salviniaceae) is a damaging free-floating invasive alien macrophyte native to South America. The biological control programme against S. molesta by the weevil Cyrtobagous salviniae Calder and Sands (Erirhinidae) has been successful in controlling S. molesta infestations in the introduced range, however, there is some debate as to how biological control success is measured. This study measured the response of epilithic algae and aquatic macroinvertebrate communities in a S. molesta-dominated state and subsequently where the weed had been cleared by biological control, as a proxy for ecosystem recovery in a before–after control–impact mesocosm experiment. The restored treatment (S. molesta and C. salviniae) demonstrated epilithic algae and aquatic macroinvertebrate recovery during the “after” biological control phase, defined as similar to the control treatment. Comparatively, the impacted treatment (100% S. molesta) showed a drastic decline in biodiversity and shifts in community assemblages. We conclude that the biological control effort by C. salviniae facilitated biodiversity recovery of the impacted treatment. Furthermore, epilithic algae and aquatic macroinvertebrate communities were reliable biological indicators for measuring ecological impacts of invasion and ecosystem recovery following biological control, and thus represent potential tools for evaluating biological control success and ecological restoration.
Hybrid CUSUM Change Point Test for Time Series with Time-Varying Volatilities Based on Support Vector Regression
Authors: Lee Sangyeol , Kim Chang Kyeom , Lee Sangjo
Published: May 2020

This study considers the problem of detecting a change in the conditional variance of time series with time-varying volatilities based on the cumulative sum (CUSUM) of squares test using the residuals from support vector regression (SVR)-generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedastic (GARCH) models. To compute the residuals, we first fit SVR-GARCH models with different tuning parameters utilizing a time series of training set. We then obtain the best SVR-GARCH model with the optimal tuning parameters via a time series of the validation set. Subsequently, based on the selected model, we obtain the residuals, as well as the estimates of the conditional volatility and employ these to construct the residual CUSUM of squares test. We conduct Monte Carlo simulation experiments to illustrate its validity with various linear and nonlinear GARCH models. A real data analysis with the S&P 500 index, Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI), and Korean won/U.S. dollar (KRW/USD) exchange rate datasets is provided to exhibit its scope of application.
Wearable Inertial Sensors for Daily Activity Analysis Based on Adam Optimization and the Maximum Entropy Markov Model
Authors: Tahir Sheikh Badar ud din , Jalal Ahmad , Kim Kibum
Published: May 2020

Advancements in wearable sensors technologies provide prominent effects in the daily life activities of humans. These wearable sensors are gaining more awareness in healthcare for the elderly to ensure their independent living and to improve their comfort. In this paper, we present a human activity recognition model that acquires signal data from motion node sensors including inertial sensors, i.e., gyroscopes and accelerometers. First, the inertial data is processed via multiple filters such as Savitzky–Golay, median and hampel filters to examine lower/upper cutoff frequency behaviors. Second, it extracts a multifused model for statistical, wavelet and binary features to maximize the occurrence of optimal feature values. Then, adaptive moment estimation (Adam) and AdaDelta are introduced in a feature optimization phase to adopt learning rate patterns. These optimized patterns are further processed by the maximum entropy Markov model (MEMM) for empirical expectation and highest entropy, which measure signal variances for outperformed accuracy results. Our model was experimentally evaluated on University of Southern California Human Activity Dataset (USC-HAD) as a benchmark dataset and on an Intelligent Mediasporting behavior (IMSB), which is a new self-annotated sports dataset. For evaluation, we used the “leave-one-out” cross validation scheme and the results outperformed existing well-known statistical state-of-the-art methods by achieving an improved recognition accuracy of 91.25%, 93.66% and 90.91% when compared with USC-HAD, IMSB, and Mhealth datasets, respectively. The proposed system should be applicable to man–machine interface domains, such as health exercises, robot learning, interactive games and pattern-based surveillance.
A Method to Present and Analyze Ensembles of Information Sources
Authors: Timme Nicholas M. , Linsenbardt David , Lapish Christopher C.
Published: May 2020

Information theory is a powerful tool for analyzing complex systems. In many areas of neuroscience, it is now possible to gather data from large ensembles of neural variables (e.g., data from many neurons, genes, or voxels). The individual variables can be analyzed with information theory to provide estimates of information shared between variables (forming a network between variables), or between neural variables and other variables (e.g., behavior or sensory stimuli). However, it can be difficult to (1) evaluate if the ensemble is significantly different from what would be expected in a purely noisy system and (2) determine if two ensembles are different. Herein, we introduce relatively simple methods to address these problems by analyzing ensembles of information sources. We demonstrate how an ensemble built of mutual information connections can be compared to null surrogate data to determine if the ensemble is significantly different from noise. Next, we show how two ensembles can be compared using a randomization process to determine if the sources in one contain more information than the other. All code necessary to carry out these analyses and demonstrations are provided.
A Dual Measure of Uncertainty: The Deng Extropy
Authors: Buono Francesco , Longobardi Maria
Published: May 2020

The extropy has recently been introduced as the dual concept of entropy. Moreover, in the context of the Dempster–Shafer evidence theory, Deng studied a new measure of discrimination, named the Deng entropy. In this paper, we define the Deng extropy and study its relation with Deng entropy, and examples are proposed in order to compare them. The behaviour of Deng extropy is studied under changes of focal elements. A characterization result is given for the maximum Deng extropy and, finally, a numerical example in pattern recognition is discussed in order to highlight the relevance of the new measure.
Frequency-Domain Nonlinear Modeling Approaches for Power Systems Components—A Comparison
Authors: Faifer Marco , Laurano Christian , Ottoboni Roberto , Toscani Sergio , Zanoni Michele
Published: May 2020

Harmonic simulations play a key role in studying and predicting the impact of nonlinear devices on the power quality level of distribution grids. A frequency-domain approach allows higher computational efficiency, which has key importance as long as complex networks have to be studied. However, this requires proper frequency-domain behavioral models able to represent the nonlinear voltage–current relationship characterizing these devices. The Frequency Transfer Matrix (FTM) method is one of the most widespread frequency domain modeling approaches for power system applications. However, others suitable techniques have been developed in the last years, in particular the X-parameters approach, which comes from radiofrequency and microwave applications, and the simplified Volterra models under quasi-sinusoidal conditions, that have been specifically tailored for power system devices. In this paper FTM, X-parameters and simplified Volterra approaches are compared in representing the nonlinear voltage –current relationship of a bridge rectifier feeding an ohmic-capacitive dc load. Results show that the X-parameters model reaches good accuracy, which is slightly better than that achieved by the FTM and simplified Volterra models, but with a considerably larger set of coefficients. Simplified Volterra models under quasi-sinusoidal conditions allows an effective trade-off between accuracy and complexity.
A Study on Application of Recloser Operation Algorithm for Mixed Transmission System Based on Travelling Wave Method
Authors: Sohn Seung-Hyun , Cho Gyu-Jung , Kim Chul-Hwan
Published: May 2020

Recently, the operation of a mixed transmission system has increased due to rapid urbanization and the purpose of a good view. Therefore, a proper protection scheme for a mixed transmission system is required. Generally, when a fault occurs on a transmission line, auto reclosing is performed for the purpose of improving the continuity of service by clearing the fault and restoring the power system. However, the auto reclosing scheme should be applied to a mixed transmission system carefully because the mixed transmission system involves underground cable sections. When a fault occurs in the underground cable section, it is mostly a permanent fault. If auto reclosing is performed on a permanent fault condition, it may cause excessive overcurrent and switching surge, which can generate a serious impact on the whole transmission system and even cause an explosion. Due to this, many utilities worldwide do not allow auto reclosing or only apply it very restrictively on a mixed transmission system based on their practice. However, there is no clear guidance or standard related to auto reclosing on a mixed transmission system. Therefore, in this paper, an application of a recloser operation algorithm is proposed. Based on the proposed algorithm, reclosers can work properly and protect the transmission system. To verify the proposed algorithm, simulations were conducted using the ElectroMagnetic Transient Program (EMTP).
Modular Multilevel Converter for Photovoltaic Application with High Energy Yield under Uneven Irradiance
Authors: Acharya Anirudh Budnar , Sera Dezso , Teodorescu Remus , Norum Lars Einar
Published: May 2020

The direct integration of Photovoltaic (PV) to the three-phase Modular Multilevel Converter (MMC) without dc–dc converters results in high-efficiency PV power plant with increased energy yield. The arm power control method for the MMC further improves the extraction of available power under uneven irradiance across different phases of the MMC. However, the uneven irradiance between the sub-modules results in residual voltage that results in harmonics and unbalance components. In this paper, the effect of uneven irradiance across the sub-module of the MMC is investigated with arm power control method. A modified balancing algorithm for the arm power control of the MMC is proposed which enables balanced power to be injected into ac grid despite uneven irradiance across the sub-modules in the MMC. The modified balancing algorithm enables to keep the unbalance in the phase currents below 10% and the Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) is confined as per IEEE 519 standard.
FPGA Implementation of Homotopic Path Planning Method with Automatic Assignment of Repulsion Parameter
Authors: De Cos-Cholula Hector Eduardo , Diaz-Arango Gerardo Ulises , Hernandez-Martinez Luis , Vazquez-Leal Hector , Sarmiento-Reyes Arturo , Sanz-Pascual Maria Teresa , Herrera-May Agustin Leobardo , Castaneda-Sheissa Roberto
Published: May 2020

In recent times, autonomous robots have become more relevant, aiming not only to be an extension of mobility and human performance but also allowing them to independently solve specific problems such as finding free-collision paths within some defined environments. In order to achieve this, several techniques have been developed, like action-reaction algorithms, sampling-based algorithms, and deterministic algorithms such as the Homotopy Path Planning Method (HPPM). This work presents, for the first time, a complete deterministic collision-free path planning scheme implemented in FPGA, which is mounted on a Scribbler 2 robot from Parallax. Then, an automatic algorithm of the repulsion parameter for the HPPM method is presented, using as a reference the minimum distance between the center of each obstacle with respect to the homotopic ideal path; furthermore, an algorithm is proposed for discriminating dead-end routes and collision risk trajectories, which allows us to obtain a feasible free-collision path that takes into account the robot dimensions. Besides, comparative performance tests have been carried out against other path-finding methods from the low degrees of freedom (low DoF) and sampling-based planners. Our proposal exhibits path calculation times which are 5 to 10 times faster on FPGA implementation, compared to the other methods and 10 to 100 times faster on PC implementation also compared to the rest. Similar results are obtained with regards to memory consumption, namely 20 to 200 times lower on FPGA implementation and 10 to 100 times lower on PC implementation.
Short-Term Load Forecasting Algorithm Using a Similar Day Selection Method Based on Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Park Rae-Jun , Song Kyung-Bin , Kwon Bo-Sung
Published: May 2020

Short-term load forecasting (STLF) is very important for planning and operating power systems and markets. Various algorithms have been developed for STLF. However, numerous utilities still apply additional correction processes, which depend on experienced professionals. In this study, an STLF algorithm that uses a similar day selection method based on reinforcement learning is proposed to substitute the dependence on an expert’s experience. The proposed algorithm consists of the selection of similar days, which is based on the reinforcement algorithm, and the STLF, which is based on an artificial neural network. The proposed similar day selection model based on the reinforcement learning algorithm is developed based on the Deep Q-Network technique, which is a value-based reinforcement learning algorithm. The proposed similar day selection model and load forecasting model are tested using the measured load and meteorological data for Korea. The proposed algorithm shows an improvement accuracy of load forecasting over previous algorithms. The proposed STLF algorithm is expected to improve the predictive accuracy of STLF because it can be applied in a complementary manner along with other load forecasting algorithms.
Local Population Structure and Seasonal Variability of Borrelia garinii Genotypes in Ixodes ricinus Ticks, Slovakia
Authors: Mtierová Zuzana , Derdáková Markéta , Chvostáč Michal , Didyk Yuliya M. , Mangová Barbara , Rusňáková Tarageľová Veronika , Selyemová Diana , Šujanová Alžbeta , Václav Radovan
Published: May 2020

Lyme disease (LD) is the most common tick-borne human disease in Europe, and Borrelia garinii, which is associated with avian reservoirs, is one of the most genetically diverse and widespread human pathogenic genospecies from the B. burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) complex. The clinical manifestations of LD are known to vary between regions and depend on the genetic strain even within Borrelia genospecies. It is thus of importance to explore the genetic diversity of such pathogenic borreliae for the wide range of host and ecological contexts. In this study, multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was employed to investigate the local population structure of B. garinii in Ixodes ricinus ticks. The study took place in a natural wetland in Slovakia, temporally encompassing spring and autumn bird migration periods as well as the breeding period of resident birds. In total, we examined 369 and 255 ticks collected from 78 birds and local vegetation, respectively. B. burgdorferi s.l. was detected in 43.4% (160/369) of ticks recovered from birds and in 26.3% (67/255) of questing ticks, respectively. Considering the ticks from bird hosts, the highest prevalence was found for single infections with B. garinii (22.5%). Infection intensity of B. garinii in bird-feeding ticks was significantly higher than that in questing ticks. We identified ten B. garinii sequence types (STs) occurring exclusively in bird-feeding ticks, two STs occurring exclusively in questing ticks, and one ST (ST 244) occurring in both ticks from birds and questing ticks. Four B. garinii STs were detected for the first time herein. With the exception of ST 93, we detected different STs in spring and summer for bird-feeding ticks. Our results are consistent with previous studies of the low geographic structuring of B. garinii genotypes. However, our study reveals some consistency in local ST occurrence and a geographic signal for one of the clonal complexes.
A New Decision Model Approach for Health Technology Assessment and a Case Study for Dialysis Alternatives in Turkey
Authors: Öztürk Necla , Tozan Hakan , Vayvay Özalp
Published: May 2020

Background: This paper presents a generic Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) model for Health Technology Assessment (HTA) decision-making, which can be applied to a wide range of HTA studies, regardless of the healthcare technology type under consideration. Methods: The HTA Core Model® of EUnetHTA was chosen as a basis for the development of the MCDA model because of its common acceptance among European Union countries. Validation of MCDA4HTA was carried out by an application with the HTA study group of the Turkish Ministry of Health. The commitment of the decision-making group is completed via an online application of 10 different questionnaires. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is used to determine the weights. Scores of the criteria in MCDA4HTA are gathered directly from the HTA report. The performance matrix in this application is run with fuzzy Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), fuzzy Vise Kriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR), and goal programming MCDA techniques. Results: Results for fuzzy VIKOR, fuzzy TOPSIS, and goal programming are 0.018, 0.309, and 0.191 for peritoneal dialysis and 0.978, 0.677, and 0.327 for hemodialysis, respectively. Conclusions: Peritoneal dialysis is found to be the best choice under the given circumstances, despite its higher costs to society. As an integrated decision-making model for HTA, MCDA4HTA supports both evidence-based decision policy and the transparent commitment of multi-disciplinary stakeholders.
Bisphenols and Oxidative Stress Biomarkers—Associations Found in Human Studies, Evaluation of Methods Used, and Strengths and Weaknesses of the Biomarkers
Authors: Steffensen Inger-Lise , Dirven Hubert , Couderq Stephan , David Arthur , D’Cruz Shereen , Fernández Mariana , Mustieles Vicente , Rodríguez-Carrillo Andrea , Hofer Tim
Published: May 2020

Bisphenols, particularly bisphenol A (4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)-diphenol) (BPA), are suspected of inducing oxidative stress in humans, which may be associated with adverse health outcomes. We investigated the associations between exposure to bisphenols and biomarkers of oxidative stress in human studies over the last 12 years (2008‒2019) related to six health endpoints and evaluated their suitability as effect biomarkers. PubMed database searches identified 27 relevant articles that were used for data extraction. In all studies, BPA exposure was reported, whereas some studies also reported other bisphenols. More than a dozen different biomarkers were measured. The most frequently measured biomarkers were 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (8-isoprostane) and malondialdehyde (MDA), which almost always were positively associated with BPA. Methodological issues were reported for MDA, mainly the need to handle samples with caution to avoid artefact formation and its measurements using a chromatographic step to distinguish it from similar aldehydes, making some of the MDA results less reliable. Urinary 8-OHdG and 8-isoprostane can be considered the most reliable biomarkers of oxidative stress associated with BPA exposure. Although none of the biomarkers are considered BPA- or organ-specific, the biomarkers can be assessed repeatedly and non-invasively in urine and could help to understand causal relationships.
Chronic Fatigue, Physical Impairments and Quality of Life in Women with Endometriosis: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Álvarez-Salvago Francisco , Lara-Ramos Ana , Cantarero-Villanueva Irene , Mazheika Maryna , Mundo-López Antonio , Galiano-Castillo Noelia , Fernández-Lao Carolina , Arroyo-Morales Manuel , Ocón-Hernández Olga , Artacho-Cordón Francisco
Published: May 2020

Aim: To explore endometriosis-related fatigue (ERF), health-related fitness, sleep quality, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in women with endometriosis in comparison with matched controls. Methods: Twenty-five affected women and twenty-five age and height-matched women without endometriosis were included. ERF was assessed through the Piper Fatigue Scale; health-related fitness was assessed through the Schöber, flamingo, and 6-min walking tests and dynamometry; and body composition was assessed through impedanciometry. Self-perceived physical fitness, sleep quality, and HRQoL were assessed through the International Fitness Scale, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the 12-item Short Form Health Survey, respectively. Results: Affected women exhibited higher levels of ERF than controls, increased fat mass, and physical deconditioning (reduced back strength, lumbar flexibility, body balance, and functional capacity, p-values < 0.050). Moreover, cases also had poorer perceived physical fitness, sleep quality, and HRQoL (p-value < 0.050). Finally, we observed deteriorated health-related fitness, sleep quality, and HRQoL in those women with endometriosis with higher levels of ERF. Conclusions: This study constitutes the first evidence that women with endometriosis describe a generalized physical deconditioning, even more pronounced in affected women with higher levels of ERF. Further studies assessing the efficacy of rehabilitation interventions to face these physical impairments in women with endometriosis are warranted.
Sex Differences in Association of Elevated Blood Pressure with Variables Characterizing Cardiometabolic Risk in Young Subjects with or Without Metabolic Abnormalities
Authors: Šebeková Katarína , Gurecká Radana , Csongová Melinda , Koborová Ivana , Šebek Jozef
Published: May 2020

Males present higher blood pressure (BP) values, higher prevalence of elevated BP, and a different prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors when compared with females. We assumed that the trends of risk markers across BP categories (normotension, high normal BP, and hypertension) differ in young males and females, and between subjects without metabolic abnormalities (without obesity, insulin resistance, atherogenic dyslipidemia, hyperuricemia, or microinflammation) and those presenting them. Data from 2543 subjects (48% males) aged from 16 to 23 years were analyzed. The findings showed that 15% of males and 4% of females presented high normal BP while 9% and 1%, respectively, had hypertension. In males, variables characterizing obesity status, insulin sensitivity, atherogenic dyslipidemia, uric acid, adiponectin, a soluble receptor for advanced glycation end-products, and leukocyte counts showed worsening trends across BP categories. Females presented significant trends only for obesity measures, LDL-cholesterol, and non-HDL-cholesterol. Across BP categories, trends of variables characterizing cardiometabolic risk differed among abnormalities-free and presenting males. The multivariate model selected measures of central obesity, atherogenic dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and uric acid as significant predictors of BP in both genders, and C-reactive protein in females. Sex differences in measures of cardiovascular health in juveniles may remain undiscovered unless two sexes are analyzed separately. These differences may have implications for sex-specific disease risk in adulthood.
Measurement and Prediction of Railway Noise Case Study from Slovakia
Authors: Němec Miroslav , Danihelová Anna , Gergeľ Tomáš , Gejdoš Miloš , Ondrejka Vojtěch , Danihelová Zuzana
Published: May 2020

The paper deals with comparing the measurement of noise from the railroads in the residential zone of the town of Zvolen with the results calculated using the prediction methods “Schall 03“ (Deutsche Bundesbahn, 1990) and “Methodical instructions for the calculation of sound pressure level from transport” (MPVHD). The first is used in the Slovakia and second in the Czech Republic. The measurement results and the results obtained from the prediction methods for both measurement locations were evaluated graphically and statistically. The evaluation of the conformity of the measurement with the prediction showed that the results obtained using the method “Schall 03” are in better agreement with the measurement.
Gastronomic Motivations and Perceived Value of Foreign Tourists in the City of Oruro (Bolivia): An Analysis Based on Structural Equations
Authors: González Santa Cruz Francisco , Moral-Cuadra Salvador , Choque Tito Juan , López-Guzmán Tomás
Published: May 2020

The continuous dynamism that tourism suffers makes the motivations of tourists change, making them search for new experiences. In this sense, gastronomy is positioned as a key element of union between tourism and culture, thus developing gastronomic tourism. The analysis presented here will address gastronomic motivations and their influence on the value perceived by foreign tourists in Oruro (Bolivia), based on a total sample of 370 and through a covariance-based structural equation modelling (CB-SEM). Among the main results, it is worth highlighting the positive influence of gastronomic motivations on the value perceived by tourists. These results are also very useful for public and/or private entities for the creation of new strategies to promote local gastronomy.
Social-Ecological Correlates of Regular Leisure-Time Physical Activity Practice among Adults
Authors: Cavazzotto Timothy Gustavo , Ronque Enio Ricardo Vaz , Vieira Edgar Ramos , Queiroga Marcos Roberto , Serassuelo Junior Helio
Published: May 2020

This study calculated the exposure-response rates of social-ecological correlates of practicing regular (>150 min/week) leisure-time physical activity (PA) in 393,648 adults from the 27 Brazilian state capitals who participated in a national survey between 2006 and 2016. Regular PA encouraging factors were inputted into an exposure-response model. Growth rates for the odds ratio and prevalence of regular PA were calculated for each increase of one encouraging factor. Regular PA was reported by 22% of the participants (25% of men and 20% of women). More than 40% of men and 30% of women with higher intra-personal encouraging conditions reported practicing regular PA. There was a 3% (ages 18–32 years) to 5% (ages 46–60 years) increase in regular PA practice in men for each increase in an encouraging climate factor (temperature from 21 °C to 31 °C, humidity from 65% to 85%, 2430 to 3250 h of sun/year, and from 1560 to 1910 mm of rain/year). Encouraging intra-personal factors and favorable climate conditions had larger effects on regular PA practice than the built environment and socio-political conditions; the latter two had independent effects, but did not have a cumulative effect on PA.
Influence of Exhaust System Setup on Working Zone Pollution by Dust during Sawing of Particleboards
Authors: Pałubicki Bartosz , Hlásková Luďka , Rogoziński Tomasz
Published: May 2020

Air pollution by wood dust in furniture production sites is an important hygiene issue. The dust is created by all types of wood and wood-based material machining, and its concentration in the working zone surrounding the machining stand depends on the effectiveness of the dust exhaust system. In present research, three setups of the dust extraction system for a conventional table sawing machine are considered while machining particleboards. The results showed a high impact of the exhaust system connection setup on the dust concentration in the air surrounding the sawing machine work stand. The use of both main and auxiliary sawdust extraction connectors together ensured the highest clearness of the air, with only 0.5 mg/m3 of dust concentration. Closing the upper hood leads to a concentration five times higher, while disconnecting it results in a ten times higher dust content. The finest dust particles (<1 µm), however, are the most numerous in the case of closing the hood.
Occupational Stress and Employees Complete Mental Health: A Cross-Cultural Empirical Study
Authors: Moreno Fortes Alcides , Tian Lili , Huebner E. Scott
Published: May 2020

Given the shortcomings of previous research on occupational stress and mental health (e.g., predominantly in Western, educated, industrialized, rich and democratic (WEIRD) societies, based on the traditional mental health model and a lack of comparative studies), this study aimed to (a) examine the relationship between occupational stress and complete mental health among employees in Cabo Verde and China, and also explored the mediation and moderation roles of burnout and optimism in accounting for the empirical link. Mental health was defined as comprised of two distinguishable factors: positive and negative mental health. The Pearson correlation test, structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis, bootstrap analysis, hierarchical moderated regression and an independent t-test were used to analyze the data. The results indicated that, in both countries, occupational stress showed a negative relation to positive mental health and lower psychopathology symptoms—and job burnout mediated the relation between occupational stress and mental health. Optimism moderated the relation between occupational stress and burnout, but not the relation between occupational stress and complete mental health. The results are interpreted in light of the comparative framework.
Evolution of SO2 and NOx Emissions from Several Large Combustion Plants in Europe during 2005–2015
Authors: Constantin Daniel-Eduard , Bocăneala Corina , Voiculescu Mirela , Roşu Adrian , Merlaud Alexis , Roozendael Michel Van , Georgescu Puiu Lucian
Published: May 2020

The aim of this paper is to investigate the evolution of SO2 and NOx emissions of ten very large combustion plants (LCPs >500 MW) located in the European Union (EU) during 2005–2015. The evolution of NOx and SO2 emissions were analyzed against the EU Directives in force during 2005–2015. The investigation was performed using space-borne observations and estimated emissions collected from the EEA (European Environment Agency) inventory of air pollutant emissions. The power plants were chosen according to their capacity and emissions, located in various parts of Europe, to give an overall picture of atmospheric pollution with NOx and SO2 associated with the activity of very large LCPs in Europe. Satellite observations from OMI (Ozone Monitoring Instrument) are compared with calculated emissions in order to assess whether satellite observations can be used to monitor air quality, as a standard procedure, by governmental or nongovernmental institutions. Our results show that both space observations and estimated emissions of NOx and SO2 atmospheric content have a descending trend until 2010, complying with the EU Directives. The financial and economic crisis during 2007–2009 played an important role in reducing emissions.
Cataloging of Cd Allocation in Late Rice Cultivars Grown in Polluted Gleysol: Implications for Selection of Cultivars with Minimal Risk to Human Health
Authors: Lin Qiang , Tong Wenbin , Hussain Bilal , Hamid Yasir , Lu Min , He Zhenli , Yang Xiaoe
Published: May 2020

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic trace metal that has polluted 20% of agricultural land in China where its concentration exceeds the standards for Chinese farmland. Plants are capable of accumulating Cd and other trace metals, but this capacity varies with species and cultivars within a species. Rice is a staple food consumed by half of the global population. In order to select safe late rice cultivars that are suitable late rice cultivars that can be cultivated in for growing in slightly contaminated soil, a two-year field experiment was conducted with 27 in the first year and 9 late rice cultivars in the second year. The results showed that plant Cd concentrations varied among the cultivars, with high magnitudes of variation occurred in straw and grains. Five genotypes including LR-12, LR-17, LR-24, LR-25 and LR-26 were identified as low accumulators for the first year while LR-15 and LR-17 were identified as promising cultivars based on Cd concentration in the polished rice grains (<0.02 mg kg−1 DW). In addition, these cultivars had favorable traits, including mineral nutrition and grain yield. Therefore, these genotypes should be considered for cultivation in slightly or moderately Cd contaminated soils.
Dental Public Health Landscape: Challenges, Technological Innovation and Opportunities in the 21st Century and COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Mascitti Marco , Campisi Giuseppina
Published: May 2020

In response to the 2008 economic and financial crisis and to its effects on healthcare systems, dental care has become unaffordable for many people, and a huge number of patients worldwide are avoiding or skipping necessary dental treatments [...]
Augmented Reality as a Resource for Improving Learning in the Physical Education Classroom
Authors: Moreno-Guerrero Antonio-José , Alonso García Santiago , Ramos Navas-Parejo Magdalena , Campos-Soto María Natalia , Gómez García Gerardo
Published: May 2020

Recently, there has been a proliferation of technopedagogical practices, based on the application of active teaching and learning processes through the use of information and communication technologies (ICT). The main objective of this work is to analyse the impact of training action through the use of augmented reality in physical education for the development and acquisition of spatial orientation, as opposed to more traditional training based on the exhibition method. The methodology developed is quantitative, through a quasi-experimental design post-test in 140 high school students in the field of physical education. The results indicate that all of the dimensions show a very high, significant relationship. The greatest difference in average is observed in motivation. In contrast, the smallest difference, although significant, is observed in the grades given by the teachers themselves. It can be concluded that the method of teaching through augmented reality is effective in teaching high school students in the subject of physical education, especially for the acquisition of spatially oriented content.
The Impact of Endometriosis on the Quality of Life and the Incidence of Depression—A Cohort Study
Authors: Warzecha Damian , Szymusik Iwona , Wielgos Miroslaw , Pietrzak Bronislawa
Published: May 2020

The objective was to evaluate the quality of life and the incidence of depression among women suffering from endometriosis. Afterwards, the dependency between pelvic pain, its severity and stages of endometriosis were analyzed. The study protocol included women of reproductive ages with confirmed endometriosis. The stage of disease was conferred according to the ASRM (American Society of Reproductive Medicine) classification. Women fulfilled two questionnaires: “WERF EPHect Clinical Questionnaire” and self-prepared survey about fertility disorders. The study group comprised of 246 respondents. A total of 77.2% of women were symptomatic. The most common complaints were chronic pelvic pain (CPP, 71.1%), dysmenorrhea (69.0%) and dyspareunia (45.2%). Intensity of pain was independent from the stage of endometriosis. The incidence of infertility and the time to conceive increased with the stage of disease (stage 1—52.8%, 3.4 years; stage 2—66.7%, 4.1 years; stage 3—61.3%, 3.7 years; stage 4—96%, 6.1years; p = 0.02 and 0.03, respectively). The prevalence of depression was positively correlated with the beginning of dyspareunia (14.5 vs. 19.6 years old., p = 0.002). CPP (OR(odds ratio) = 3.8, 95% CI 1.2–12.8, p = 0.04) and painful defecation (OR = 7.7, 95% CI 1.4–42.3, p = 0.01) increased the risk of depression. Symptoms related to endometriosis and severity of pain correlate with the prevalence of depression. Stage of endometriosis is significantly related to the prevalence of infertility.
Computational Simulations to Guide Enzyme-Mediated Prodrug Activation
Authors: Markovic Milica , Ben-Shabat Shimon , Dahan Arik
Published: May 2020

Prodrugs are designed to improve pharmaceutical/biopharmaceutical characteristics, pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic properties, site-specificity, and more. A crucial step in successful prodrug is its activation, which releases the active parent drug, exerting a therapeutic effect. Prodrug activation can be based on oxidation/reduction processes, or through enzyme-mediated hydrolysis, from oxidoreductases (i.e., Cytochrome P450) to hydrolytic enzymes (i.e., carboxylesterase). This study provides an overview of the novel in silico methods for the optimization of enzyme-mediated prodrug activation. Computational methods simulating enzyme-substrate binding can be simpler like molecular docking, or more complex, such as quantum mechanics (QM), molecular mechanics (MM), and free energy perturbation (FEP) methods such as molecular dynamics (MD). Examples for MD simulations used for elucidating the mechanism of prodrug (losartan, paclitaxel derivatives) metabolism via CYP450 enzyme are presented, as well as an MD simulation for optimizing linker length in phospholipid-based prodrugs. Molecular docking investigating quinazolinone prodrugs as substrates for alkaline phosphatase is also presented, as well as QM and MD simulations used for optimal fit of different prodrugs within the human carboxylesterase 1 catalytical site. Overall, high quality computational simulations may show good agreement with experimental results, and should be used early in the prodrug development process.