bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modeling Subsurface Performance of a Geothermal Reservoir Using Machine Learning
Authors: Duplyakin Dmitry , Beckers Koenraad F. , Siler Drew L. , Martin Michael J. , Johnston Henry E.
Published: January 2022

Geothermal power plants typically show decreasing heat and power production rates over time. Mitigation strategies include optimizing the management of existing wells—increasing or decreasing the fluid flow rates across the wells—and drilling new wells at appropriate locations. The latter is expensive, time-consuming, and subject to many engineering constraints, but the former is a viable mechanism for periodic adjustment of the available fluid allocations. In this study, we describe a new approach combining reservoir modeling and machine learning to produce models that enable such a strategy. Our computational approach allows us, first, to translate sets of potential flow rates for the active wells into reservoir-wide estimates of produced energy, and second, to find optimal flow allocations among the studied sets. In our computational experiments, we utilize collections of simulations for a specific reservoir (which capture subsurface characterization and realize history matching) along with machine learning models that predict temperature and pressure timeseries for production wells. We evaluate this approach using an “open-source” reservoir we have constructed that captures many of the characteristics of Brady Hot Springs, a commercially operational geothermal field in Nevada, USA. Selected results from a reservoir model of Brady Hot Springs itself are presented to show successful application to an existing system. In both cases, energy predictions prove to be highly accurate: all observed prediction errors do not exceed 3.68% for temperatures and 4.75% for pressures. In a cumulative energy estimation, we observe prediction errors that are less than 4.04%. A typical reservoir simulation for Brady Hot Springs completes in approximately 4 h, whereas our machine learning models yield accurate 20-year predictions for temperatures, pressures, and produced energy in 0.9 s. This paper aims to demonstrate how the models and techniques from our study can be applied to achieve rapid exploration of controlled parameters and optimization of other geothermal reservoirs.
Comment on Seibert, M.K.; Rees, W.E. Through the Eye of a Needle: An Eco-Heterodox Perspective on the Renewable Energy Transition. Energies 2021, 14, 4508
Authors: Fthenakis Vasilis , Raugei Marco , Breyer Christian , Bhattacharya Suby , Carbajales-Dale Michael , Ginsberg Michael , Jäger-Waldau Arnulf , Leccisi Enrica , Lincot Daniel , Murphy David , Perez Marc J. R. , Sinha Parikhit , Rockett Angus , Sadewasser Sascha , Stanbery Billy J. , Swanson Richard M. , Verlinden Pierre
Published: January 2022

This paper exposes the many flaws in the article “Through the Eye of a Needle: An Eco-heterodox Perspective on the Renewable Energy Transition, authored by Siebert and Rees and recently published in Energies as a Review. Our intention in submitting this critique is to expose and rectify the original article’s non-scientific approach to the review process that includes selective (and hence biased) screening of the literature focusing on the challenges related to renewable energies, without discussing any of the well-documented solutions. In so doing, we also provide a rigorous refutation of several statements made by a Seibert–Rees paper, which often appear to be unsubstantiated personal opinions and not based on a balanced review of the available literature.
Reply to Fthenakis et al. Comment on “Seibert, M.K.; Rees, W.E. Through the Eye of a Needle: An Eco-Heterodox Perspective on the Renewable Energy Transition. Energies 2021, 14, 4508”
Authors: Seibert Megan K. , Rees William E.
Published: January 2022

As many of the criticisms in this rebuttal echo those in the earlier Diesendorf rebuttal, to which we thoroughly responded, we direct Fthenakis et al. [...]
Granular PCM-Enhanced Plaster for Historical Buildings: Experimental Tests and Numerical Studies
Authors: Baccega Eleonora , Bottarelli Michele
Published: January 2022

The construction sector is among the major players responsible for global energy consumption and therefore related emissions, both because of the constantly increasing indoor air quality standard which requires increasingly higher energy demands as well as the great share of historical buildings which are now obsolete and are not up to date with current regulations. Phase change materials (PCMs) applied on the building envelope represent a feasible possibility to improve the performance of existing buildings, also the historical ones, increasing their thermal inertia without violating any legal restriction or causing further alterations to the structure. More specifically, focus of this research was on the addition of a granular paraffin PCM into a lime-based plaster. Experimental tests at lab scale and numerical simulations with COMSOL Multiphysics were carried out to characterize the plasters realized, namely one reference lime-based plaster and one with incorporated 10% by mass of granular PCM (named REFp and PCMp, respectively). The behavior of these plasters applied on the exterior side of a wall was then simulated and compared in terms of temperatures and heat fluxes. However, considering that the estimated thermal conductivity of the reference lime-based plaster was lower than the values found in literature, the simulations were carried out considering an additional plaster, namely a lime-based plaster (renamed LITp), whose properties were found in literature and considered quite representative of a consistent share of existing historical buildings. Great improvements were observed from the application of PCM into the plaster, with reductions of the incoming energy between 9% and 18%.
Sustainable Energy Development and Climate Change Mitigation at the Local Level through the Lens of Renewable Energy: Evidence from Lithuanian Case Study
Authors: Žičkienė Agnė , Morkunas Mangirdas , Volkov Artiom , Balezentis Tomas , Streimikiene Dalia , Siksnelyte-Butkiene Indre
Published: January 2022

The penetration of renewable energy is one of the main challenges for sustainable energy development. Local governments across the European Union commit to development and implementation of the Sustainable Energy (and Climate) Action Plan. This paper focuses on the case of Lithuania—a Central and Eastern European country. Almost one-third of Lithuanian municipalities have joined the Covenant of Mayors and prepared the plans that include SWOT analysis. However, there is a lack of information on how those plans contribute to climate change mitigation and sustainable energy development. This study identifies the links between key policy financial instruments, increasing energy efficiency. The Strategic Action Plans aimed at reducing GHG emissions and energy consumption in Lithuanian municipalities are analyzed. The challenges in promoting the renewable energy generation in Lithuanian rural regions are discussed. Moreover, the importance of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats identified is elicited at the local level. The study uses a combination of methods, such as expert surveys and SWOT analysis, that complements the tools used for regional energy climate planning and allows for overarching analysis. The expert survey shows that priority is given for renovation of buildings and modernization of energy infrastructure, making them more sustainable and more energy efficient. The results also show that, in the case of Lithuania (and possibly elsewhere in the post-Soviet countries), conditions and opportunities should be created beforehand to increase energy efficiency. Once this is achieved, the policies should focus on energy transition by switching to sustainable energy resources.
Fixed Fiber Light Guide System with Concave Outlet Concentrators
Authors: Zhou Bangdi , He Kaiyan , Chen Ziqian , Zhong Shuiku
Published: January 2022

Because a traditional optical fiber light guiding system includes a tracking device, it also inevitably has a complex structure, high construction and maintenance costs, short life span and low reliability. Although several types have been developed for decades, there are no successful products on the market. The biggest cause of the problem is that all traditional optical fiber light guiding systems must have a tracking device. This paper studies a solar fiber optic guide system without a tracking device, hoping to solve this problem. A fixed fiber light guide system using concave outlet concentrators as its receiving unit is proposed. The structure and working principle of the concave outlet concentrator, the receiving unit and the light guide system are introduced. With optical simulation software and the actual sunlight experimental method, this paper first discusses the conceptual design of the concentrator, then studies the transmission efficiency curve of the receiving unit with different angles of incident light, and finally tests the output illuminance of the whole system in actual sunlight. Field test results show that when the average sunshine intensity is about 800 W/m2, the system has an output of nearly 300 lux at 0.4 m in front of the outlet end of the fiber bundle with only 3.11×10−2 m2 receiving area. This illumination has been able to meet people’s daily lighting requirements. The results of computer simulation and actual sunlight experiments show that this fixed optical fiber light guide system with non-tracing structure is feasible. The absence of a tracking structure means that all moving parts of the system are completely discarded. This greatly improves the working reliability and operation life of the light guide system, and greatly reduces the maintenance and operating costs.
Power Generation Analysis of Terrestrial Ultraviolet-Assisted Solid Oxide Electrolyzer Cell
Authors: Butt Muhammad Salim , Shahid Hifsa , Butt Farhan Ahmed , Farhat Iqra , Sadaf Munazza , Raashid Muhammad , Taha Ahmad
Published: January 2022

This paper presents a novel system design that considerably improves the entrapment of terrestrial ultraviolet (UV) irradiance in a customized honeycomb structure to produce hydrogen at a standard rate of 7.57 slpm for places with a UV index > 11. Thermolysis of high salinity water is done by employing a solid oxide electrolyzer cell (SOEC), which comprises three customized, novel active optical subsystems to filter, track, and concentrate terrestrial UV solar irradiance by Fresnel lenses. The output of systems is fed to a desalinator, a photovoltaic system to produce electrical energy, and a steam generator with modified surface morphology to generate the required superheated steam for the SOEC. A simulation in COMSOL Multiphysics ver. 5.6 has shown that a customized honeycomb structure, when incorporated on the copper–nickel surface of a steam generator, improves its absorptance coefficient up to 93.43% (48.98%—flat case). This results in generating the required superheated steam of 650 °C with a designed active optical system comprising nine Fresnel lenses (7 m2) that offer the concentration of 36 suns on the honeycomb structure of the steam generator as input. The required 1.27 kW of electrical power is obtained by concentrating the photovoltaic system using In0.33Ga0.67N/Si/InN solar cells. This production of hydrogen is sustainable and cost effective, as the estimated cost over 5 years by the proposed system is 0.51 USD/kg, compared to the commercially available system, which costs 3.18 USD/kg.
Natural Gas, a Mean to Reduce Emissions and Energy Consumption of HDV? A Case Study of Colombia Based on Vehicle Technology Criteria
Authors: Castillo Juan C. , López Juan Camilo , Escobar Alejandro , Ríos Daniel , Quirama Luis F. , Tibaquirá Juan E.
Published: January 2022

In this study, the use of compressed and liquefied natural gas is evaluated for heavy-duty passengers (HDPV) and freight vehicles (HDFV). The evaluation is conducted considering the socioeconomic and vehicle fleet characteristics of Colombia. The energy consumption, the CO2, and the pollutant emissions of a baseline and four natural gas penetration scenarios are analyzed. The results show that the inclusion of natural gas reduces the energy consumption per capita of the HDPV and HDFV by up to 40% by 2050. Furthermore, PM2.5 emissions per capita are reduced up to 77% for HDPV and 90% for HDFV, while CO emissions per capita decreased by 82%. Additionally, the technological renovation of HDFV emerges as an effective way to reduce pollutant emissions in the medium term. The establishment of strategies to make HDFV cleaner and more efficient is imperative for the long term. Finally, a sensitivity analysis is conducted to evaluate the influence of the gross domestic product per capita (GDPc) over the indicators analyzed. The results show that higher GDPc demands more ambitious actions to decarbonize the transportation sector, since a considerable increase in energy consumption and emissions from heavy-duty vehicles is identified.
Energy Storage Flywheel Rotors—Mechanical Design
Authors: Skinner Miles , Mertiny Pierre
Published: January 2022

Energy storage flywheel systems are mechanical devices that typically utilize an electrical machine (motor/generator unit) to convert electrical energy in mechanical energy and vice versa. Energy is stored in a fast-rotating mass known as the flywheel rotor. The rotor is subject to high centripetal forces requiring careful design, analysis, and fabrication to ensure the safe operation of the storage device.
The Potential of Low-Cost 3D Imaging Technologies for Forestry Applications: Setting a Research Agenda for Low-Cost Remote Sensing Inventory Tasks
Authors: McGlade James , Wallace Luke , Reinke Karin , Jones Simon
Published: January 2022

Limitations with benchmark light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technologies in forestry have prompted the exploration of handheld or wearable low-cost 3D sensors (<2000 USD). These sensors are now being integrated into consumer devices, such as the Apple iPad Pro 2020. This study was aimed at determining future research recommendations to promote the adoption of terrestrial low-cost technologies within forest measurement tasks. We reviewed the current literature surrounding the application of low-cost 3D remote sensing (RS) technologies. We also surveyed forestry professionals to determine what inventory metrics were considered important and/or difficult to capture using conventional methods. The current research focus regarding inventory metrics captured by low-cost sensors aligns with the metrics identified as important by survey respondents. Based on the literature review and survey, a suite of research directions are proposed to democratise the access to and development of low-cost 3D for forestry: (1) the development of methods for integrating standalone colour and depth (RGB-D) sensors into handheld or wearable devices; (2) the development of a sensor-agnostic method for determining the optimal capture procedures with low-cost RS technologies in forestry settings; (3) the development of simultaneous localisation and mapping (SLAM) algorithms designed for forestry environments; and (4) the exploration of plot-scale forestry captures that utilise low-cost devices at both terrestrial and airborne scales.
Molecular Insight into Genetic Structure and Diversity of Putative Hybrid Swarms of Pinus sylvestris × P. mugo in Slovakia
Authors: Klobucnik Miroslav , Galgoci Martin , Gomory Dusan , Kormutak Andrej
Published: January 2022

The genetic structures of the four putative hybrid swarms of Pinus sylvestris × P. mugo in Slovakia were analyzed in terms of individual admixture proportions calculated via inter-primer binding site (iPBS) marker loci. This work aimed to reevaluate the hybrid swarms’ differentiation status as postulated in the previous studies at both population and genomic levels. The study confirmed intermediate divergence of each of the swarms examined. Based on 80-loci hybrid index scores, we have revealed the presence of introgressive and intermediate hybrids with frequencies corresponding to differentiation estimates. Surprisingly, irrespective of individual phenotypes, the most frequent intermediates were found in Sucha Hora (29.5%) and Obsivanka (28.6%) populations, which resemble rather pure P. mugo and were previously considered as bimodal hybrid zones with a negligible amount of hybrids. The remaining hybrid zone population Zuberec seems to be highly introgressed to P. sylvestris, while Tisovnica is clearly inclined to P. mugo. The results and different methodologies are discussed.
Investigation of Microbial Hydrolysis of Hen Combs with Bacterial Concentrates
Authors: Zinina Oksana , Merenkova Svetlana , Rebezov Maksim , Zhumanova Gulnara , Burkov Pavel , Knyazeva Alexandra
Published: January 2022

When slaughtering and processing poultry, large quantities of meat by-products are generated; therefore, the development of the newest methods for processing secondary raw materials is an urgent problem. Animal proteins have relevant technological applications and are also considered as a potential source of bioactive peptides. Current technologies suggested that protein substances can be isolated from meat co-products through microbial hydrolysis. The purpose of the study was to optimize the technological parameters of microbial hydrolysis of hen combs and to analyze the modification of the microstructure and properties of hydrolyzed by-products under the action of bacterial enzymes. Hen’s combs were hydrolyzed by bifidobacteria and concentrated Propionix liquid. A multifactorial experiment was used to determine the optimal conditions for the hydrolysis process. As a result of the study, multiple regression equations and response surfaces were obtained, which describe the process of hydrolysis of hen combs to identify the optimal hydrolysis parameters. Temperature, amount of bacterial concentrate and hydrolysis period are factors that have a significant impact on the degree of hydrolysis. The results of microscopic and dispersed analysis confirm the good hydrolyzability of combs due to changes in structural components and an increase in the amount of smaller protein particles.
Intelligent Traffic Management in Next-Generation Networks
Authors: Aouedi Ons , Piamrat Kandaraj , Parrein Benoît
Published: January 2022

The recent development of smart devices has lead to an explosion in data generation and heterogeneity. Hence, current networks should evolve to become more intelligent, efficient, and most importantly, scalable in order to deal with the evolution of network traffic. In recent years, network softwarization has drawn significant attention from both industry and academia, as it is essential for the flexible control of networks. At the same time, machine learning (ML) and especially deep learning (DL) methods have also been deployed to solve complex problems without explicit programming. These methods can model and learn network traffic behavior using training data/environments. The research community has advocated the application of ML/DL in softwarized environments for network traffic management, including traffic classification, prediction, and anomaly detection. In this paper, we survey the state of the art on these topics. We start by presenting a comprehensive background beginning from conventional ML algorithms and DL and follow this with a focus on different dimensionality reduction techniques. Afterward, we present the study of ML/DL applications in sofwarized environments. Finally, we highlight the issues and challenges that should be considered.
Topology Inference and Link Parameter Estimation Based on End-to-End Measurements
Authors: Kakkavas Grigorios , Karyotis Vasileios , Papavassiliou Symeon
Published: January 2022

This paper focuses on the design, implementation, experimental validation, and evaluation of a network tomography approach for performing inferential monitoring based on indirect measurements. In particular, we address the problems of inferring the routing tree topology (both logical and physical) and estimating the links’ loss rate and jitter based on multicast end-to-end measurements from a source node to a set of destination nodes using an agglomerative clustering algorithm. The experimentally-driven evaluation of the proposed algorithm, particularly the impact of the employed reduction update scheme, takes place in real topologies constructed in an open large-scale testbed. Finally, we implement and present a motivating practical application of the proposed algorithm that combines monitoring with change point analysis to realize performance anomaly detection.
Effect of Wind Speed on the Natural Ventilation and Smoke Exhaust Performance of an Optimized Unpowered Ventilator
Authors: Li Mao , Qiang Yukai , Wang Xiaofei , Shi Weidong , Zhou Yang , Yi Liang
Published: January 2022

Natural ventilators can maintain the ventilation of buildings and tunnels, and can exhaust fire smoke without requiring energy. In this study, we optimized a natural ventilator by adding axial fan blades (equivalent to adding a fan system) to investigate the effect of wind speed on the ventilation and smoke exhaust performance of an optimized natural ventilator. The experimental results showed that the best configuration of the ventilator was five fan blades at an angle of 25° with set-forward curved fan blades. With this configuration, the ventilation volume of the optimized natural ventilator was increased by 11.1%, and the energy consumption was reduced by 2.952 J. The third experiment showed that, in the case of a fire, the optimized ventilator can reduce the temperature of the ventilator faster than the original ventilator, indicating better smoke exhaust performance. The reason for this effect is that, when the optimized natural ventilator rotates, the rotation of the blades creates a flow field with a more evenly distributed wind speed. The experiments proved that natural ventilators can be optimized by adding a fan system. The results of this study can be applied to effectively improve the ventilation performance of natural ventilators to quickly exhaust smoke in building and tunnel fires, and provide a reference for related research on natural ventilators.
Metal-Organic Frameworks-Based Sensors for Food Safety
Authors: Hitabatuma Aloys , Wang Peilong , Su Xiaoou , Ma Mengmeng
Published: January 2022

Food contains a variety of poisonous and harmful substances that have an impact on human health. Therefore, food safety is a worldwide public concern. Food detection approaches must ensure the safety of food at every step of the food supply chain by monitoring and evaluating all hazards from every single step of food production. Therefore, early detection and determination of trace-level contaminants in food are one of the most crucial measures for ensuring food safety and safeguarding consumers’ health. In recent years, various methods have been introduced for food safety analysis, including classical methods and biomolecules-based sensing methods. However, most of these methods are laboratory-dependent, time-consuming, costly, and require well-trained technicians. To overcome such problems, developing rapid, simple, accurate, low-cost, and portable food sensing techniques is essential. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), a type of porous materials that present high porosity, abundant functional groups, and tunable physical and chemical properties, demonstrates promise in large-number applications. In this regard, MOF-based sensing techniques provide a novel approach in rapid and efficient sensing of pathogenic bacteria, heavy metals, food illegal additives, toxins, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), veterinary drugs, and pesticide residues. This review focused on the rapid screening of MOF-based sensors for food safety analysis. Challenges and future perspectives of MOF-based sensors were discussed. MOF-based sensing techniques would be useful tools for food safety evaluation owing to their portability, affordability, reliability, sensibility, and stability. The present review focused on research published up to 7 years ago. We believe that this work will help readers understand the effects of food hazard exposure, the effects on humans, and the use of MOFs in the detection and sensing of food hazards.
On Transformation Involving Basic Analogue to the Aleph-Function of Two Variables
Authors: Kumar Dinesh , Baleanu Dumitru , Ayant Frédéric , Südland Norbert
Published: January 2022

In our work, we derived the fractional order q-integrals and q-derivatives concerning a basic analogue to the Aleph-function of two variables (AFTV). We discussed a related application and the q-extension of the corresponding Leibniz rule. Finally, we presented two corollaries concerning the basic analogue to the I-function of two variables and the basic analogue to the Aleph-function of one variable.
A Note on Approximate Controllability of Fractional Semilinear Integrodifferential Control Systems via Resolvent Operators
Authors: Vijayakumar Velusamy , Nisar Kottakkaran Sooppy , Chalishajar Dimplekumar , Shukla Anurag , Malik Muslim , Alsaadi Ateq , Aldosary Saud Fahad
Published: January 2022

This article primarily focuses on the approximate controllability of fractional semilinear integrodifferential equations using resolvent operators. Two alternative sets of necessary requirements have been studied. In the first set, we use theories from functional analysis, the compactness of an associated resolvent operator, for our discussion. The primary discussion is proved in the second set by employing Gronwall’s inequality, which prevents the need for compactness of the resolvent operator and the standard fixed point theorems. Then, we extend the discussions to the fractional Sobolev-type semilinear integrodifferential systems. Finally, some theoretical and practical examples are provided to illustrate the obtained theoretical results.
Between the Unstoppable and the Feasible: The Lucid Pragmatism of Transition Processes for Sustainable Urban Mobility: A Literature Review
Authors: Corais Filipa , Bandeira Miguel , Silva Cecília , Bragança Luís
Published: January 2022

This article presents a literature review of Transition Experiments applied to the Sustainable Urban Mobility context from a critical and operative point of view. The moment of transformation that we are living through determines concerns about the decarbonization and compliance with the 2050 Targets and imposes a paradigm shift towards sustainable urban mobility. In this regard, the necessary physical change will have to be accompanied by a socio–cultural transition, of which the challenge implies the construction of a collective ideal, shared by the population and the main stakeholders, leading to the opening of new political spaces and a change, also in terms of governance.
Formulation Development and Evaluation of Pravastatin-Loaded Nanogel for Hyperlipidemia Management
Authors: Saraogi Gaurav Kant , Tholiya Siddharth , Mishra Yachana , Mishra Vijay , Albutti Aqel , Nayak Pallavi , Tambuwala Murtaza M.
Published: January 2022

Hyperlipidemia is a crucial risk factor for the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis, ultimately leading to cardiovascular disease. The nanogel-based nanoplatform has emerged as an extremely promising drug delivery technology. Pravastatin Sodium (PS) is a cholesterol-lowering drug used to treat hyperlipidemia. This study aimed to fabricate Pravastatin-loaded nanogel for evaluation of its effect in hyperlipidemia treatment. Pravastatin-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (PS-CS-NPs) were prepared by the ionic gelation method; then, these prepared NPs were converted to nanogel by adding a specified amount of 5% poloxamer solution. Various parameters, including drug entrapment efficacy, in vitro drug release, and hemolytic activity of the developed and optimized formulation, were evaluated. The in vitro drug release of the nanogel formulation revealed the sustained release (59.63% in 24 h) of the drug. The drug excipients compatibility studies revealed no interaction between the drug and the screened excipients. Higher drug entrapment efficacy was observed. The hemolytic activity showed lesser toxicity in nanoformulation than the pure drug solution. These findings support the prospective use of orally administered pravastatin-loaded nanogel as an effective and safe nano delivery system in hyperlipidemia treatment.
Promotion of Adrenal Pheochromocytoma (PC-12) Cell Proliferation and Outgrowth Using Schwann Cell-Laden Gelatin Methacrylate Substrate
Authors: Huang Yuye , Xu Kailei , Liu Jingyi , Dai Guangli , Yin Jun , Wei Peng
Published: January 2022

Peripheral nerve injuries cause different degrees of nerve palsy and function loss. Due to the limitations of autografts, nerve tissue engineering (TE) scaffolds incorporated with various neurotrophic factors and cells have been investigated to promote nerve regeneration. However, the molecular mechanism is still poorly understood. In this study, we co-cultured Schwann cells (SCs) and rat adrenal pheochromocytoma (PC-12) cells on 50% degrees of methacryloyl substitution gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) scaffold. The SCs were encapsulated within the GelMA, and PC-12 cells were on the surface. A 5% GelMA was used as the co-culture scaffold since it better supports SCs proliferation, viability, and myelination and promotes higher neurotrophic factors secretion than 10% GelMA. In the co-culture, PC-12 cells demonstrated a higher cell proliferation rate and axonal extension than culturing without SCs, indicating that the secretion of neurotrophic factors from SCs can stimulate PC-12 growth and axonal outgrowth. The mRNA level for neurotrophic factors of SCs in 5% GelMA was further evaluated. We found significant upregulation when compared with a 2D culture, which suggested that this co-culture system could be a potential scaffold to investigate the mechanism of how SCs affect neuronal behaviors.
Mucolipidosis Type IV in Omani Families with a Novel MCOLN1 Mutation: Search for Evidence of Founder Effect
Authors: Al-Alawi Badriya , Harikrishna Beena , Al-Thihli Khalid , Al Zuhabi Sana , Ganesh Anuradha , Al Hashami Zainab , Al Dhamhmani Zeyana , Zadjali Razan , Al Riyami Nafila B. , Zadjali Fahad
Published: January 2022

Mucolipidosis Type IV (MLIV) is caused by a deficiency of the mucolipin cation channel encoded by Mucolipin TRP Cation Channel 1 gene (MCOLN1). It is a slowly progressive neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorder causing severe psychomotor developmental delay and progressive visual impairment, which is often misdiagnosed as cerebral palsy. We describe six patients with MLIV from two Omani families with a novel c.237+5G>A mutation in the MCOLN1 gene predicted to affect mRNA splicing. Mutation screening with a high-resolution melting (HRM) assay in a large population sample did not detect this mutation in control subjects. This report highlights the importance of considering MLIV in the differential diagnosis of patients in a pediatric age group with cerebral palsy-like presentation. Although the same rare mutation was seen in two apparently unrelated families, this was not seen in the sample screened from the general population. The HRM assay provides a cost-effective assay for population screening for the c.237+5G>A mutation.
Proteogenomics Integrating Reveal a Complex Network, Alternative Splicing, Hub Genes Regulating Heart Maturation
Authors: Yang Huijun , Liu Weijing , Song Shen , Bai Lina , Nie Yu , Bai Yongping , Zhang Guogang
Published: January 2022

Heart maturation is an essentially biological process for neonatal heart transition to adult heart, thus illustrating the mechanism of heart maturation may be helpful to explore postnatal heart development and cardiac cardiomyopathy. This study combined proteomic analysis based on isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) and transcriptome analysis based on RNA sequencing to detect the proteins and genes associated with heart maturation in mice. The proteogenomics integrating analysis identified 254 genes/proteins as commonly differentially expressed between neonatal and adult hearts. Functional and pathway analysis demonstrated that these identified genes/proteins contribute to heart maturation mainly by regulating mRNA processing and energy metabolism. Genome-wide alternative splicing (AS) analysis showed that some important sarcomere and energy-associated genes undergo different AS events. Through the Cytoscape plug-in CytoHubba, a total of 23 hub genes were found and further confirmed by RT-qPCR. Next, we verified that the most up-regulated hub gene, Ogdhl, plays an essential role in heart maturation by detecting energy metabolism phenotype changes in the Ogdhl-interfering cardiomyocytes. Together, we revealed a complex gene network, AS genes and patterns, and candidate hub genes controlling heart maturation by proteome and transcriptome combination analysis.
Genomic Analysis of Resistance to Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) in CIMMYT Maize Lines
Authors: Kamweru Isaac , Anani Bruce Y. , Beyene Yoseph , Makumbi Dan , Adetimirin Victor O. , Prasanna Boddupalli M. , Gowda Manje
Published: January 2022

The recent invasion, rapid spread, and widescale destruction of the maize crop by the fall armyworm (FAW; Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith)) is likely to worsen the food insecurity situation in Africa. In the present study, a set of 424 maize lines were screened for their responses to FAW under artificial infestation to dissect the genetic basis of resistance. All lines were evaluated for two seasons under screen houses and genotyped with the DArTseq platform. Foliar damage was rated on a scale of 1 (highly resistant) to 9 (highly susceptible) and scored at 7, 14, and 21 days after artificial infestation. Analyses of variance revealed significant genotypic and genotype by environment interaction variances for all traits. Heritability estimates for leaf damage scores were moderately high and ranged from 0.38 to 0.58. Grain yield was negatively correlated with a high magnitude to foliar damage scores, ear rot, and ear damage traits. The genome-wide association study (GWAS) revealed 56 significant marker–trait associations and the predicted functions of the putative candidate genes varied from a defense response to several genes of unknown function. Overall, the study revealed that native genetic resistance to FAW is quantitative in nature and is controlled by many loci with minor effects.
Comparative Proteomics of the Acanthopagrus schlegelii Gonad in Different Sex Reversal
Authors: Chen Shuyin , Yang Yunxia , Gao Bo , Jia Chaofeng , Zhu Fei , Meng Qian , Zhang Zhiwei , Zhang Zhiyong , Xu Shixia
Published: January 2022

A substantial proportion of Acanthopagrus schlegelii individuals change sex from male to female during their lifetime. However, the mechanisms underlying sex change are unknown. In this research, iTRAQ analyses of proteins obtained from A.schlegelii gonads in four different stages of development were compared. In total, 4692 proteins were identified, including common sex-specific proteins, such as sperm-associated antigen 6 and cilia- and flagella-associated proteins in males, and zona pellucida sperm-binding proteins in females. Furthermore, proteins involved in the integrin signaling pathway, inflammation mediated by the chemokine and cytokine signaling pathways, pyruvate metabolism, CCKR signaling map, de novo purine biosynthesis and the ubiquitin proteasome pathway were upregulated in female gonads, whereas proteins implicated in DNA replication, the heterotrimeric G-protein signaling pathway, Gi alpha- and Gs alpha-mediated pathways, wnt signaling pathway, and hedgehog signaling pathway were upregulated in male gonads. Interestingly, cathepsins were only identified in ovaries, indicating their potential involvement in rapid ovarian development. Apoptosis-related proteins expressed in ovaries (such as MAPK and Cdc42) may protect them from cancer. This is the first report on the gonad proteome from A.schlegelii in different stages of sex reversal, and the results provide important fundamental data for studying the molecular mechanisms of sex reversal.
Genomic Hatchery Introgression in Brown Trout (Salmo trutta L.): Development of a Diagnostic SNP Panel for Monitoring the Impacted Mediterranean Rivers
Authors: Casanova Adrián , Heras Sandra , Abras Alba , Roldán María Inés , Bouza Carmen , Vera Manuel , García-Marín José Luis , Martínez Paulino
Published: January 2022

Brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) populations have been restocked during recent decades to satisfy angling demand and counterbalance the decline of wild populations. Millions of fertile brown trout individuals were released into Mediterranean and Atlantic rivers from hatcheries with homogeneous central European stocks. Consequently, many native gene pools have become endangered by introgressive hybridization with those hatchery stocks. Different genetic tools have been used to identify and evaluate the degree of introgression starting from pure native and restocking reference populations (e.g., LDH-C* locus, microsatellites). However, due to the high genetic structuring of brown trout, the definition of the "native pool" is hard to achieve. Additionally, although the LDH-C* locus is useful for determining the introgression degree at the population level, its consistency at individual level is far from being accurate, especially after several generations were since releases. Accordingly, the development of a more powerful and cost-effective tool is essential for an appropriate monitoring to recover brown-trout-native gene pools. Here, we used the 2b restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (2b-RADseq) and Stacks 2 with a reference genome to identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) diagnostic for hatchery-native fish discrimination in the Atlantic and Mediterranean drainages of the Iberian Peninsula. A final set of 20 SNPs was validated in a MassARRAY® System genotyping by contrasting data with the whole SNP dataset using samples with different degree of introgression from those previously recorded. Heterogeneous introgression impact was confirmed among and within river basins, and was the highest in the Mediterranean Slope. The SNP tool reported here should be assessed in a broader sample scenario in Southern Europe considering its potential for monitoring recovery plans.
Cost-Effectiveness of Prostate Cancer Detection in Biopsy-Naïve Men: Ultrasound Shear Wave Elastography vs. Multiparametric Diagnostic Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Authors: Shiva Mehdi , Wei Cheng , Molana Hassan , Nabi Ghulam
Published: January 2022

This exploratory study investigates the cost-effectiveness of ultrasound shear wave elastography (SWE) imaging in comparison to pre-biopsy multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) in men with suspected prostate cancer. This research is motivated by the early evidence of the good performance of SWE in distinguishing cancerous from benign prostate tissues. We used a decision analysis model representing the care-pathways of men referred with a high prostate specific antigen (PSA) and/or abnormal digital rectal examination (DRE) in a UK setting from the payer’s perspective with results reported in 2016 GBP. We then appraised the cost-effectiveness of a novel approach based on SWE compared to the more conventional and widely practiced mpMRI-based approaches using data reported in the literature. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were used to address uncertainty regarding the parameter values utilised. Our exploratory results implied that SWE approach yielded an additional quality-adjusted life year (QALY) at the cost of GBP 10,048 compared to the standard mpMRI-based approach in the UK. This is lower than the official willingness to pay threshold of GBP 20,000 (the UK healthcare system guidelines) and is therefore a suitable replacement for the current practice. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of our results.
Burnout Syndrome among Staff at an Emergency Department during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Corlade-Andrei Mihaela , Măirean Cornelia , Nedelea Paul , Grigorași Gabriela , Cimpoeșu Diana
Published: January 2022

Objective: The aim of this current study was to identify the prevalence of burnout manifestation in a sample recruited from the emergency department of a hospital. Moreover, we aimed to assess the role of professional experience, age, and the professional category in shaping burnout manifestations. Results: The results showed that higher proportions of burnout symptoms were reported by resident physicians, nurses, and physicians whereas lower proportions were encountered in the orderly group. Moreover, the results revealed a significant difference between men and women in the nurse group concerning depersonalization; men presented higher levels of depersonalization compared with women. Concerning emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, multiple comparisons showed differences among the professional categories. Conclusions: The implications of these results for preventing burnout syndrome are discussed.
Item-Level Analysis of a Newly Developed Interactive Nutrition Specific Physical Exam Competency Tool (INSPECT) Using the Rasch Measurement Model
Authors: Zechariah Sunitha , Waller Jennifer L. , Stallings Judith , Gess Ashley J. , Lehman Leigh
Published: January 2022

The Interactive Nutrition Specific Physical Exam Competency Tool (INSPECT) is a tool designed specifically to observe and measure registered dietitian nutritionists’ (RDNs) nutrition-focused physical exam (NFPE) competence in authentic acute care settings. The initial INSPECT items were generated and tested for content and face validity using expert RDNs’ input. The INSPECT was further examined for inter-rater, intra-rater, and internal consistency using clinical supervisor observations of RDNs performing NFPE on patients in real-life acute care settings. These previous studies showed the INSPECT to have excellent content validity, acceptable face validity, good inter-rater reliability, moderate to strong intra-rater reliability, and excellent internal consistency. In the current study, the Rasch measurement model was applied to examine the item-level properties of the INSPECT. Results confirm that the INSPECT measured a single construct. All items fit the established criteria for clinical observations of >0.5 and <1.7, had positive point measure correlations, met the Wright Unidimensionality Index criteria of ≥0.9, exhibited one latent construct with >40% variance explained by the Rasch dimension as well as a sub-dimension based on item difficulty from the principal component analysis of the first contrast Rasch residuals. Rasch rating scale analysis revealed that the rating scale and majority of the items (39/41) fit the Rasch model. Rasch item hierarchy analysis matched the a priori hypothesized hierarchy for the top-most and bottom-most items. Ceiling effects were seen for three items (hand hygiene, personal protective equipment, and patient position) and one item (handgrip using hand dynamometer) reached the floor effect. Rasch reliability assessment demonstrated high person reliability (0.86), high item reliability (0.96), and person separation of 3.56 ability levels. The principal component analysis of residuals revealed two factors based on item difficulty, one for micronutrient exam and another for macronutrient exam, initial steps, and bedside manner. The resulting two factors may likely be due to a sub-dimension of the latent NFPE trait. Overall, the INSPECT items were found to have good item-level psychometrics. Continued testing of the INSPECT with RDNs at different ability levels will help to determine cut-off scores ranging from novice to expert. Establishing cut-off scores for the INSPECT will further enhance the utility of the tool.
Hydrobiological Aspects of Saturated, Methyl-Branched, and Cyclic Fatty Acids Derived from Aquatic Ecosystems: Origin, Distribution, and Biological Activity
Authors: Dembitsky Valery
Published: January 2022

This review focuses on the hydrobiological aspects of saturated, methyl-branched, and cyclic fatty acids (FA) derived from aquatic ecosystems. This short review presents the distribution of about 60 FA in various living organisms inhabiting the aquatic environment as well as in marine and freshwater sediments. In addition, it is important to determine the biological activity of saturated, methyl-branched, and cyclic fatty acids. An interesting finding was that some cyclic FA show antiplatelet activity. The generalized and presented data are of interest to hydrobiologists, chemists, and pharmacologists.
The Long-Term ERA5 Data Series for Trend Analysis of Rainfall in Italy
Authors: Chiaravalloti Francesco , Caloiero Tommaso , Coscarelli Roberto
Published: January 2022

Nowadays, the Mediterranean region is generally recognized as a climate change hot spot given its strong response to global warming, with relevant impacts on rainfall amount and distribution. Within this context, in this work the temporal variability of rainfall at annual, seasonal and monthly scale was analyzed in Italy using rainfall data extracted from the reanalysis dataset ERA5-Land during the period 1950–2020. In particular, rainfall trend magnitude and significance have been estimated by means of non-parametric tests applied to 3215 grid points falling within the Italian territory. The main results of this analysis evidenced only a few relevant trends at the annual scale, mostly involving northern Italy (positive trend) and the Sardinia region (negative trend). At seasonal scale, the results showed a marked negative trend in winter, characterizing almost all the Italian territory, while in the other seasons a positive trend was identified in the majority of grid points, especially in the Alps. Finally, at the monthly scale, September was identified as the month of the year with the highest percentage of grid points with positive trends mainly located in central, southern, and north-eastern Italy.
Health Care for People with Disabilities in the Unified Health System in Brazil: A Scoping Review
Authors: da Cunha Márcia , Santos Helena , de Carvalho Maria , Miranda Gabriella , de Albuquerque Maria , de Oliveira Raquel , de Albuquerque Adrião , Penn-Kekana Loveday , Kuper Hannah , Lyra Tereza
Published: January 2022

People with disabilities have greater need for healthcare on average, but often face barriers when accessing these services. The Brazilian government launched the National Health Policy for People with Disabilities (PNSPD) in 2002 to address this inequality. PNSPD has six areas of focus: quality of life, impairment prevention, comprehensive health care, organization and functioning of health services, information mechanisms, and training of human resources. The aim of this article was to undertake a scoping review to assess the evidence on the experience of people with disabilities in Brazil with respect to the six themes of the PNSPD. The scoping review included articles published between 2002 and 2019, from four electronic databases: PUBMED/MEDLINE, LILACS, Science Direct, and Scielo. In total, 8076 articles were identified, and after review of titles, abstracts, and full texts by two independent reviewers, 98 were deemed eligible for inclusion. The evidence was relatively limited in availability and scope. However, it consistently showed large gaps in delivery of healthcare to people with disabilities across the six dimensions considered. There was lack of actions aimed at promoting quality of life; insufficient professional training about disability; little evidence on the health profile of people with disabilities; large gaps in the availability of care due to widespread physical, informational, and attitudinal barriers; and poor distribution of the supply and integration of services. In conclusion, the policy framework in Brazil is supportive of the inclusion of people with disabilities in health services; however, large inequalities remain due to poor implementation of the policy into practice.