bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Novel Emergency Gas-to-Power System Based on an Efficient and Long-Lasting Solid-State Hydride Storage System: Modeling and Experimental Validation
Authors: Dreistadt David Michael , Puszkiel Julián , Bellosta von Colbe José Maria , Capurso Giovanni , Steinebach Gerd , Meilinger Stefanie , Le Thi-Thu , Covarrubias Guarneros Myriam , Klassen Thomas , Jepsen Julian
Published: January 2022

In this paper, a gas-to-power (GtoP) system for power outages is digitally modeled and experimentally developed. The design includes a solid-state hydrogen storage system composed of TiFeMn as a hydride forming alloy (6.7 kg of alloy in five tanks) and an air-cooled fuel cell (maximum power: 1.6 kW). The hydrogen storage system is charged under room temperature and 40 bar of hydrogen pressure, reaching about 110 g of hydrogen capacity. In an emergency use case of the system, hydrogen is supplied to the fuel cell, and the waste heat coming from the exhaust air of the fuel cell is used for the endothermic dehydrogenation reaction of the metal hydride. This GtoP system demonstrates fast, stable, and reliable responses, providing from 149 W to 596 W under different constant as well as dynamic conditions. A comprehensive and novel simulation approach based on a network model is also applied. The developed model is validated under static and dynamic power load scenarios, demonstrating excellent agreement with the experimental results.
New Research Trends and Topics for Achieving Energy Efficiency in Buildings: Both New and Rehabilitated
Authors: Melgar Sergio Gómez , Andújar Márquez José Manuel
Published: January 2022

In the Special Issue of Energies entitled Energy Efficiency in Buildings Both New and Rehabilitated that was published in 2019, a broad spectrum of research teams from around the world provided their latest findings on how to reduce energy consumption in the building sector [...]
Special Issue on Power Converter of Electric Machines, Renewable Energy Systems, and Transportation
Authors: Dannier Adolfo , Brando Gianluca , Coppola Marino
Published: January 2022

Nowadays, energy is becoming more electrical in each field of engineering application, thus power converters have assumed an increasingly relevant role for electrical machines, renewable energy and transportation systems [...]
The Compound Inverse Rayleigh as an Extreme Wind Speed Distribution and Its Bayes Estimation
Authors: Chiodo Elio , Fantauzzi Maurizio , Mazzanti Giovanni
Published: January 2022

This paper proposes the Compound Inverse Rayleigh distribution as a proper model for the characterization of the probability distribution of extreme values of wind-speed. This topic is gaining interest in the field of renewable generation, from the viewpoint of assessing both wind power production and wind-tower mechanical reliability and safety. The first part of the paper illustrates such model starting from its origin as a generalization of the Inverse Rayleigh model by means of a continuous mixture generated by a Gamma distribution on the scale parameter, which gives rise to its name. Moreover, its validity for interpreting different field data is illustrated resorting to real wind speed data. Then, a novel Bayes approach for the estimation of such extreme wind-speed model is proposed. The method relies upon the assessment of prior information in a practical way, that should be easily available to system engineers. The results of a large set of numerical simulations—using typical values of wind-speed parameters—are reported to illustrate the efficiency and the accuracy of the proposed method. The validity of the approach is also verified in terms of its robustness with respect to significant differences compared to the assumed prior information.
An Overview of the Recent Advances of Additive-Improved Mg(BH4)2 for Solid-State Hydrogen Storage Material
Authors: Ahmad Muhammad Amirul Nawi , Sazelee Noratiqah , Ali Nurul Amirah , Ismail Mohammad
Published: January 2022

Recently, hydrogen (H2) has emerged as a superior energy carrier that has the potential to replace fossil fuel. However, storing H2 under safe and operable conditions is still a challenging process due to the current commercial method, i.e., H2 storage in a pressurised and liquified state, which requires extremely high pressure and extremely low temperature. To solve this problem, research on solid-state H2 storage materials is being actively conducted. Among the solid-state H2 storage materials, borohydride is a potential candidate for H2 storage owing to its high gravimetric capacity (majority borohydride materials release >10 wt% of H2). Mg(BH4)2, which is included in the borohydride family, shows promise as a good H2 storage material owing to its high gravimetric capacity (14.9 wt%). However, its practical application is hindered by high thermal decomposition temperature (above 300 °C), slow sorption kinetics and poor reversibility. Currently, the general research on the use of additives to enhance the H2 storage performance of Mg(BH4)2 is still under investigation. This article reviews the latest research on additive-enhanced Mg(BH4)2 and its impact on the H2 storage performance. The future prospect and challenges in the development of additive-enhanced Mg(BH4)2 are also discussed in this review paper. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first systematic review paper that focuses on the additive-enhanced Mg(BH4)2 for solid-state H2 storage.
Experimental Flow Boiling Study of R245a at High Reduced Pressures in a Large Diameter Horizontal Tube
Authors: Kaya Alihan , Lecompte Steven , De Paepe Michel
Published: January 2022

Evaporators used in organic Rankine cycles (ORC) are designed using existing flow boiling correlations that are mainly based on HVAC&R data. However, the ORC evaporators employed in the industry typically have larger diameters and operational conditions at higher reduced pressures compared to the HVAC&R applications. The present study presents the results of flow boiling heat transfer experiments in operational conditions that are representative for an industrial waste heat recovery low-temperature ORC’s evaporator tube, by being performed at high reduced pressures and in a large-diameter horizontal tube with R245fa as working fluid. The measurements are performed within a range of mass flux, saturation temperature and heat flux at 83–283 kg/m2s, 85–120 °C (8.9–19.2 bar) and 17–29 kW/m2, respectively. Test section is a round and plain horizontal carbon steel tube with 21 mm I.D., 2.5 m length. 513 local two-phase heat transfer coefficients are recorded. The experimental results are compared with each other to reveal heat transfer coefficient trends with respect to varying experimental conditions. Four distinctive heat transfer zones are observed, namely, the nucleate boiling dominant (NBD) zone, weakening nucleate boiling dominance (WNBD) zone, flow boiling zone (FBZ) and the dry-out zone (DOZ). Heat transfer coefficient vs vapor quality trends partly resembled CO2 flow boiling results reported in the literature. Two flow boiling correlations moderately predicted the data.
Research on the Concept of Hydrogen Supply Chains and Power Grids Powered by Renewable Energy Sources: A Scoping Review with the Use of Text Mining
Authors: Frankowska Marzena , Błoński Krzysztof , Mańkowska Marta , Rzeczycki Andrzej
Published: January 2022

The key direction of political actions in the field of sustainable development of the energy sector and economy is the process of energy transformation (decarbonization) and increasing the share of renewable energy sources (RES) in the supply of primary energy. Regardless of the indisputable advantages, RES are referred to as unstable energy sources. A possible solution might be the development of the concept of hydrogen supply chains, especially the so-called green hydrogen obtained in the process of electrolysis from electricity produced from RES. The aim of the research undertaken in the article is to identify the scope of research carried out in the area of hydrogen supply chains and to link this research with the issues of the operation of electricity distribution networks powered by RES. As a result of the scoping review, and the application of the text-mining method using the IRaMuTeQ tool, which includes the analysis of the content of 12 review articles presenting the current research achievements in this field over the last three years (2016–2020), it was established that the issues related to hydrogen supply chains, including green hydrogen, are still not significantly associated with the problem of the operation of power grids. The results of the conducted research allow formulating recommendations for further research areas.
Potential of NiOx/Nickel Silicide/n+ Poly-Si Contact for Perovskite/TOPCon Tandem Solar Cells
Authors: Kim Jiryang , Pyun Dowon , Choi Dongjin , Jeong Seok-Hyun , Lee Changhyun , Hyun Jiyeon , Lee Ha Eun , Lee Sang-Won , Song Hoyoung , Lee Solhee , Kim Donghwan , Kang Yoonmook , Lee Hae-Seok
Published: January 2022

In this work, nickel silicide was applied to tandem solar cells as an interlayer. By the process of thermal evaporation, a layer of NiOx, hole transport layer (HTL) was deposited on n+ poly-Si layer directly. Nickel silicide was simultaneously formed by nickel diffusion from NiOx to n+ poly-Si layer during the deposition and annealing process. The I–V characteristics of NiOx/n+ poly-Si contact with nickel silicide showed ohmic contact and low contact resistivity. This structure is expected to be more advantageous for electrical connection between perovskite top cell and TOPCon bottom cell compared to the NiOx/TCO/n+ poly-Si structure showing Schottky contact. Furthermore, nickel silicide and Ni-deficient NiOx thin film formed by diffusion of nickel can improve the fill factor of the two sub cells. These results imply the potential of a NiOx/nickel silicide/n+ poly-Si structure as a perovskite/silicon tandem solar cell interlayer.
A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Bakhtiari Hydropower Dam Considering the Nexus between Energy and Water
Authors: Tajziehchi Sanaz , Karbassi Abdolreza , Nabi Gholamreza , Yoo ChangKyoo , Ifaei Pouya
Published: January 2022

Hydropower stations have supplied most of the green electricity in various parts of the world. Nonetheless, the economic profit of hydro-electricity lies beyond its social costs in many cases. Despite the short-term economic benefits of large dams, their sustainable pros and cons are doubted. This study aims to investigate the long-term profitability of large hydropower stations by considering the nexus between the environmental, economic, and social aspects. Much progress has been made in simplifying feasibility studies of hydropower stations by developing comprehensive software and models according to the United Nations Sustainable development goals. Developed by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the SimPacts has become one of the most frequently-used simple models to estimate the external costs of electricity generation since 2003. Hydropower’s Environmental Costs Analysis Model (HECAM) is a popular user-friendly version of the model that includes more details for benefits estimation. In the present investigation, sedimentation and evaporation effects of constructing hydropower dams are added to previous cost estimation factors to upgrade the HECAM model to HECAM II. Bakhtiari hydropower dam (located in Lorestan province in Iran) is employed as a case study to verify the new model. The results showed that the total cost and revenue, as well as the benefit to cost ratio, were 79.13 US$/MWh, 203 US$/MWh, and 2.57, respectively. The new HECAM II model showed that the operation of Bakhtiari Dam would alleviate the socio-environmental doubts through a long-term plan in the region.
Integrated Energy Planning for Near-Zero Carbon Emission Demonstration District in Urban Areas: A Case Study of Meishan District in Ningbo, China
Authors: Xu Xiaoyan , Wang Ying , Ruan Yingjun , Wang Jian , Ge Kailiang , Zhang Yongming , Jin Haikui
Published: January 2022

Reasonable regional integrated energy planning is an important prerequisite for the construction of a Near-Zero Carbon Emission Demonstration District (NCEDD). An integrated energy planning scheme that is based on a three-step planning method with the objective of achieving an NCEDD is proposed in this paper. First, the planning objectives should be determined. After that, the planning strategies should be established. Finally, the planning approaches should be proposed according to the previously determined objectives and strategies. A case study considering the integrated energy planning of the Meishan International Near-Zero Carbon Emission Demonstration District (MINCEDD) is investigated to explain the planning method. In addition, the planning results, which are indicated as indexes, are explained, analyzed, and compared to the ones of other districts. The indexes include a proportion of renewable energy to primary energy (73% by 2030 and 108% by 2050), a proportion of renewable power to total power consumption (98% by 2030 and 111% by 2050), and CO2 emission reduction rates (70% by 2030 and 100% by 2050) and are more advanced than other districts in China. This planning scheme and method can provide a reference for the integrated energy planning of NCEDDs in developed urban areas.
Numerical Study of the Erosion Process and Transport of Pulverized Coal–Air Mixture in the Mill-Duct System
Authors: Hernik Bartłomiej
Published: January 2022

One of the main causes of damage to the elements of coal-fired boilers installations, leading to breakdowns and, consequently, a shutdown of the block, are erosive processes. Unfortunately, there is not much research conducted on dust erosion of the dust ducts supplying the air–dust mixture to the burners. The problem of erosion of the dust ducts supplying the pulverized coal–air mixture to the burners was presented in this paper. This study was performed for the preliminary feasibility design. The destruction of the material of the dust ducts results in a failure due to erosion, resulting in the mill being shut down from an operation, which in turn may lead to the shutdown of the power plant unit. Therefore, it is important to identify places exposed to pulverized coal erosion. In order to perform calculations, numerical modeling in the commercial program Ansys.Fluent (Ansys Fluent, Computational Fluid Dynamics, Ansys Inc., Pittsburgh, PA, USA) was used. The parameters obtained as a result of laboratory tests were used in the erosion model. The places where erosion is expected are indicated. The highest erosive wear occurred for the M3 mill dust ducts for the case coal 1 and amounted to 45.6 mm/5200 h. On the other hand, the lowest erosive wear occurred for the M2 mill dust ducts powered by coal 3 and amounted to 20.9 mm/5200 h. The identification of places where erosion is expected can be used to protect these places from erosion adequately. Nevertheless, a dispersion threshold should also be placed where there is a high concentration of pulverized coal contributing to increased erosion. The numerical calculations provided information on the velocity of the medium and the behavior of the dust in the dust duct. The numerical calculations also provided information on where dust lacing has occurred. It was shown that coal dust particles with a diameter greater than 100 µm largely erode the dust duct’s wall. A model is presented for the calculation of the erosion process to be used in the dust ducts of the power plant.
Simplifying UAV-Based Photogrammetry in Forestry: How to Generate Accurate Digital Terrain Model and Assess Flight Mission Settings
Authors: Pessacg Facundo , Gómez-Fernández Francisco , Nitsche Matías , Chamo Nicolás , Torrella Sebastián , Ginzburg Rubén , De Cristóforis Pablo
Published: January 2022

In forestry, aerial photogrammetry by means of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) could bridge the gap between detailed fieldwork and broad-range satellite imagery-based analysis. However, optical sensors are only poorly capable of penetrating the tree canopy, causing raw image-based point clouds unable to reliably collect and classify ground points in woodlands, which is essential for further data processing. In this work, we propose a novel method to overcome this issue and generate accurate a Digital Terrain Model (DTM) in forested environments by processing the point cloud. We also developed a highly realistic custom simulator that allows controlled experimentation with repeatability guaranteed. With this tool, we performed an exhaustive evaluation of the survey and sensor settings and their impact on the 3D reconstruction. Overall, we found that a high frontal overlap (95%), a nadir camera angle (90°), and low flight altitudes (less than 100 m) results in the best configuration for forest environments. We validated the presented method for DTM generation in a simulated and real-world survey missions with both fixed-wing and multicopter UAS, showing how the problem of structural forest parameters estimation can be better addressed. Finally, we applied our method for automatic detection of selective logging.
Impacts of Site Conditions and Stand Structure on the Biomass Allocation of Single Trees in Larch Plantations of Liupan Mountains of Northwest China
Authors: Wang Xiao , Huang Xiaonan , Wang Yanhui , Yu Pengtao , Guo Jianbin
Published: January 2022

Understanding the determinants of tree biomass allocation patterns among organs is crucial for both predicting the rate and potential of forest carbon sinks and guiding future multifunctional forest management. However, it is still not clear how the site conditions (e.g., elevation) and stand structure (e.g., tree dominance, stand density) affect the biomass allocation of single trees in forests. This study was implemented in the Liupan Mountains of the Loess Plateau of Northwest China by collecting the related information of biomass data of 110 sample trees with different dominance and influencing factors within 23 sample plots of larch plantations set up along the elevation gradient. Based on these data, the response tendency and functions of biomass allocation of single trees to individual influencing factors of site conditions and forest structure were analyzed. Moreover, the results illustrated that the ratio between root biomass and aboveground biomass decreased significantly with rising stand age and tree density, but increased significantly with rising elevation, and there was no significant relationship with the dominance of individual trees. The results of this study revealed the importance of considering the influencing factors of site conditions and stand structure when developing dynamic models of tree biomass allocation. The results and research methods used in this study provide useful tools for quantifying the biomass allocation and carbon storage partitioning in the study area and other similar regions.
Nitrate Uptake from an Aquifer by Two Plantation Forests: Plausibility Strengthened by Process-Based Modelling
Authors: Smethurst Philip J. , McVicar Tim R. , Huth Neil I. , Bradshaw Ben P. , Stewart Stephen B. , Baker Thomas G. , Benyon Richard G. , McGrath John F. , Van Niel Thomas G.
Published: January 2022

Forest plantations can access water from some unconfined aquifers that also contain nitrate at concentrations that could support hydroponic culture, but the separate effects of such additional water and nitrogen availability on tree growth have not hitherto been quantified. We demonstrate these effects using simulation modelling at two contrasting sites supporting Eucalyptus globulus Labill. or Pinus radiata D.Don plantations. The APSIM Eucalyptus and Pinus models simulated plantation growth within 2% of observed growth where the water table was at 4 m depth for eucalypts (height 28 m, MAI 32 m3 ha−1 year−1) and at 23 m for pines (height 37 m, MAI 20 m3 ha−1 year−1). In simulations without an aquifer, observed growth could only be matched using unrealistically high surface soil nitrogen (N) supply, suggesting this is an unlikely mechanism. Simulated aquifer N concentrations, evapotranspiration, and net N mineralization and leaching (emergent properties of modelling) were similar to measured values. These results strengthen the plausibility that aquifer N uptake by plantations could be contributing to tree growth. This hypothesis warrants further research that quantifies these processes at multiple sites. Simulations included growth of herbaceous and tree weed species, and pasture, which demonstrated the utility of the process-based APSIM modelling framework for dynamically simulating carbon, water and N of plantations and other mixed-species systems.
Revision of Rhopalovalva Kuznetzov, 1964 (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Olethreutinae) from China
Authors: Zhang Aihuan , Bai Xia
Published: January 2022

The genus Rhopalovalva Kuznetzov, 1964 belongs to Eucosmini within the famlily Tortricidae with larvae feeding on the plants of Fagaceae, Leguminosae, Convolvulaceae and Aceraceae. In this paper, Rhopalovalva is revised from China, with two species (Rhopalovalvaspinata sp. nov. and Rhopalovalva stilliformis sp. nov.) described as new to science. Photographs of the adults and male genitalia of these two new species are given. A key to Chinese species of Rhopalovalva Kuznetzov is provided based on the characters of the male genitalia.
Maxent Modeling for Identifying the Nature Reserve of Cistanche deserticola Ma under Effects of the Host (Haloxylon Bunge) Forest and Climate Changes in Xinjiang, China
Authors: Shao Minghao , Wang Lei , Li Bingwen , Li Shengyu , Fan Jinglong , Li Congjuan
Published: January 2022

Cistanche deserticola Ma is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant exclusively parasitizing on the roots of Haloxylon ammodendron (C. A. Mey.) Bunge and H. Persicum Bunge ex Boiss and the primary cultivated crop of the desert economy. Its wild resources became scarce due to over-exploitation and poaching for economic benefits. To protect the biological diversity of the desert Haloxylon–Cistanche community forest, the optimal combination of desert ecology and economy industry, and their future survival, this paper examines the conservation areas of wild C. deserticola from the perspective of hosts’ effects and climate changes. To identify conservation areas, the potential distributions generated by MaxEnt in two strategies (AH: abiotic and hosts factors; HO: hosts factors only) compare the model’s performance, the niche range overlap, and the changing trend in climate changes. The results show the following: (1) The HO strategy is more suitable for prediction and identifying the core conservation areas in hosts and climate changes (indirectly affected by host distributions) for C. deserticola. (2) The low-suitable habitat and the medium-suitable habitat are both sensitive to the climate changes; the reduction reaches 48.2% (SSP585, 2081–2100) and 26.6%(SSP370, 2081–2100), respectively. The highly suitable habitat is always in growth, with growth reaching 27.3% (SSP585, 2081–2100). (3) Core conservation areas and agriculture and education areas are 317,315.118 km2 and 319,489.874 km2, respectively. This study developed a predictive model for Maxent under climate change scenarios by limiting host and abiotic factors and inverted the natural habitat of C. deserticola to provide scientific zoning for biodiversity conservation in desert Haloxylon–Cistanche community forests systems, providing an effective reference for decision makers.
National Implementation of the Forest Europe Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management
Authors: Linser Stefanie , Wolfslehner Bernhard
Published: January 2022

The development of criteria and indicators (C&I) to generate information about the status quo and measure changes in sustainable forest management (SFM) has become ever more important. Forest Europe has developed C&I as a policy instrument to monitor and report about SFM. Forest Europe signatories considered the definition of SFM and related C&I as the most recognized achievements of the process. The results of our survey verify this statement. C&I for SFM are implemented at the national level in half of the Forest Europe signatory countries. C&I have served as a structure and framework for the national derivations. Our results confirm the importance of C&I for monitoring and reporting on the status and trend of forests and forestry in Europe. However, Forest Europe has failed so far to go beyond description toward target-based assessments. This was originally not envisaged for the indicators but is increasingly requested by decision-makers and stakeholders. The future development of indicators for SFM should focus on their appropriateness for the assessment of objectives, goals, or targets, because the ability to monitor the respective national efforts has become a critical tool of international but also national governance.
The Opposite of Biotic Resistance: Herbivory and Competition Suppress Regeneration of Native but Not Introduced Mangroves in Southern China
Authors: Peng Dan , Zhang Yihui , Wang Jiayu , Pennings Steven Charles
Published: January 2022

Mangrove forests are increasingly threatened by plant invasions worldwide, but some mangrove species are invasive and threaten salt marsh and native mangrove ecosystems. The southern coast of China is invaded by the cordgrass Spartina alterniflora, and the mangrove Sonneratia apetala, providing a model system for studying the processes and mechanisms through which non-native species establish and spread. We used a transplant experiment to test the overarching hypothesis that native herbivores and plants provided biotic resistance against invasion by S. apetala, and that the importance of these factors would vary geographically. Survival of transplanted mangrove seedlings was lower in Zhangjiang Estuary (23°55′ N) than in Leizhou Bay (20°56′ N), and varied with species and habitats. S. apetala had higher survival and growth rates than native mangroves at both sites, and S. apetala grew taller than the S. alterniflora canopy at Leizhou Bay in only two growing seasons. In contrast, native mangroves grew poorly in S. alterniflora. Grazing by rodents and insects suppressed the growth and survival of Kandelia obovata and Avicennia marina in Zhangjiang Estuary and Leizhou Bay, but had little effect on S. apetala. Competition with vegetation (S. alterniflora and native mangroves) exacerbated the reduced survival of native mangroves, and these effects varied across study sites. Low survival of non-native S. apetala in vegetated habitats at Zhangjiang Estuary was likely due to a synergistic effect of low winter temperatures and low light intensity. Escape from herbivory (the opposite to biotic resistance) and fast growth may drive the quick expansion of non-native S. apetala in China. Rapid encroachment of S. apetala may transform the native mangrove forests and monospecific intertidal Spartina grasslands into non-native mangrove forests in the southern coast of China.
Coarse-to-Fine Entity Alignment for Chinese Heterogeneous Encyclopedia Knowledge Base
Authors: Wu Meng , Jiang Tingting , Bu Chenyang , Zhu Bin
Published: January 2022

Entity alignment (EA) aims to automatically determine whether an entity pair in different knowledge bases or knowledge graphs refer to the same entity in reality. Inspired by human cognitive mechanisms, we propose a coarse-to-fine entity alignment model (called CFEA) consisting of three stages: coarse-grained, middle-grained, and fine-grained. In the coarse-grained stage, a pruning strategy based on the restriction of entity types is adopted to reduce the number of candidate matching entities. The goal of this stage is to filter out pairs of entities that are clearly not the same entity. In the middle-grained stage, we calculate the similarity of entity pairs through some key attribute values and matched attribute values, the goal of which is to identify the entity pairs that are obviously not the same entity or are obviously the same entity. After this step, the number of candidate entity pairs is further reduced. In the fine-grained stage, contextual information, such as abstract and description text, is considered, and topic modeling is carried out to achieve more accurate matching. The basic idea of this stage is to use more information to help judge entity pairs that are difficult to distinguish using basic information from the first two stages. The experimental results on real-world datasets verify the effectiveness of our model compared with baselines.
miRNA-Mediated Priming of Macrophage M1 Differentiation Differs in Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Settings
Authors: Riechert Georg , Maucher Daniel , Schmidt Birte , Schumann Julia
Published: January 2022

A proper regulation of macrophage polarization is essential for the organism’s health and pathogen control. Differentiation control is known to occur at the transcriptional as well as the posttranscriptional levels. The mechanisms involved, however, have not yet been fully elucidated. In this study, we co-cultured macrophages with viable Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria to mimic macrophage differentiation to the M1-like type in an inflammatory milieu. We found that Gram-positive stimulation resulted in increased expressions of miR-7a-5p, miR-148a-3p, miR-155-5p, and miR-351-5p. Of note, these miRNAs were found to target inhibitory mediators of the Rac1-PI3K-Akt pathway and the MyD88-dependent pathway. In contrast, Gram-negative stimulation-induced downregulation of miR-9-5p, miR-27b-3p, miR-93-5p, and miR-106b-5p is known to target key members of the Rac1-PI3K-Akt pathway and the MyD88-dependent pathway. These results, taken together, point to a fine-tuning of macrophage polarization by TLR-induced changes in macrophage miRNA profiles. Here, the miRNA-mediated priming of M1 differentiation seems to differ in the Gram-positive and Gram-negative settings in terms of the mechanism and miRNAs involved.
The SNP-Based Profiling of Montecristo Feral Goat Populations Reveals a History of Isolation, Bottlenecks, and the Effects of Management
Authors: Somenzi Elisa , Senczuk Gabriele , Ciampolini Roberta , Cortellari Matteo , Vajana Elia , Tosser-Klopp Gwenola , Pilla Fabio , Ajmone-Marsan Paolo , Crepaldi Paola , Colli Licia
Published: January 2022

The Montecristo wild goat is an endangered feral population that has been on the homonymous island in the Tuscan Archipelago since ancient times. The origins of Montecristo goats are still debated, with authors dating their introduction either back to Neolithic times or between the 6th and 13th century of the Common Era. To investigate the evolutionary history and relationships of this population we assembled a 50K SNP dataset including 55 Mediterranean breeds and two nuclei of Montecristo goats sampled on the island and from an ex situ conservation project. Diversity levels, gene flow, population structure, and genetic relationships were assessed through multiple approaches. The insular population scored the lowest values of both observed and expected heterozygosity, highlighting reduced genetic variation, while the ex situ nucleus highlighted a less severe reduction. Multivariate statistics, network, and population structure analyses clearly separated the insular nucleus from all other breeds, including the population of Montecristo goats from the mainland. Moreover, admixture and gene flow analyses pinpointed possible genetic inputs received by the two Montecristo goat nuclei from different sources, while Runs of Homozygosity (ROHs) indicated an ancient bottleneck/founder effect in the insular population and recent extensive inbreeding in the ex situ one. Overall, our results suggest that Montecristo goats experienced several demographic fluctuations combined with admixture events over time and highlighted a noticeable differentiation between the two nuclei.
Horizontal Transposon Transfer and Its Implications for the Ancestral Ecology of Hydrophiine Snakes
Authors: Galbraith James D. , Ludington Alastair J. , Sanders Kate L. , Amos Timothy G. , Thomson Vicki A. , Enosi Tuipulotu Daniel , Dunstan Nathan , Edwards Richard J. , Suh Alexander , Adelson David L.
Published: January 2022

Transposable elements (TEs), also known as jumping genes, are sequences able to move or copy themselves within a genome. As TEs move throughout genomes they often act as a source of genetic novelty, hence understanding TE evolution within lineages may help in understanding environmental adaptation. Studies into the TE content of lineages of mammals such as bats have uncovered horizontal transposon transfer (HTT) into these lineages, with squamates often also containing the same TEs. Despite the repeated finding of HTT into squamates, little comparative research has examined the evolution of TEs within squamates. Here we examine a diverse family of Australo–Melanesian snakes (Hydrophiinae) to examine if the previously identified, order-wide pattern of variable TE content and activity holds true on a smaller scale. Hydrophiinae diverged from Asian elapids ~30 Mya and have since rapidly diversified into six amphibious, ~60 marine and ~100 terrestrial species that fill a broad range of ecological niches. We find TE diversity and expansion differs between hydrophiines and their Asian relatives and identify multiple HTTs into Hydrophiinae, including three likely transferred into the ancestral hydrophiine from fish. These HTT events provide the first tangible evidence that Hydrophiinae reached Australia from Asia via a marine route.
Overview of the Americas’ First Peopling from a Patrilineal Perspective: New Evidence from the Southern Continent
Authors: Colombo Giulia , Traverso Luca , Mazzocchi Lucia , Grugni Viola , Rambaldi Migliore Nicola , Capodiferro Marco Rosario , Lombardo Gianluca , Flores Rodrigo , Karmin Monika , Rootsi Siiri , Ferretti Luca , Olivieri Anna , Torroni Antonio , Martiniano Rui , Achilli Alessandro , Raveane Alessandro , Semino Ornella
Published: January 2022

Uniparental genetic systems are unique sex indicators and complement the study of autosomal diversity by providing landmarks of human migrations that repeatedly shaped the structure of extant populations. Our knowledge of the variation of the male-specific region of the Y chromosome in Native Americans is still rather scarce and scattered, but by merging sequence information from modern and ancient individuals, we here provide a comprehensive and updated phylogeny of the distinctive Native American branches of haplogroups C and Q. Our analyses confirm C-MPB373, C-P39, Q-Z780, Q-M848, and Q-Y4276 as the main founding haplogroups and identify traces of unsuccessful (pre-Q-F1096) or extinct (C-L1373*, Q-YP4010*) Y-chromosome lineages, indicating that haplogroup diversity of the founder populations that first entered the Americas was greater than that observed in the Indigenous component of modern populations. In addition, through a diachronic and phylogeographic dissection of newly identified Q-M848 branches, we provide the first Y-chromosome insights into the early peopling of the South American hinterland (Q-BY104773 and Q-BY15730) and on overlying inland migrations (Q-BY139813).
Role of the Mediator Complex and MicroRNAs in Breast Cancer Etiology
Authors: Maldonado Edio , Morales-Pison Sebastian , Urbina Fabiola , Jara Lilian , Solari Aldo
Published: January 2022

Transcriptional coactivators play a key role in RNA polymerase II transcription and gene regulation. One of the most important transcriptional coactivators is the Mediator (MED) complex, which is an evolutionary conserved large multiprotein complex. MED transduces the signal between DNA-bound transcriptional activators (gene-specific transcription factors) to the RNA polymerase II transcription machinery to activate transcription. It is known that MED plays an essential role in ER-mediated gene expression mainly through the MED1 subunit, since estrogen receptor (ER) can interact with MED1 by specific protein–protein interactions; therefore, MED1 plays a fundamental role in ER-positive breast cancer (BC) etiology. Additionally, other MED subunits also play a role in BC etiology. On the other hand, microRNAs (miRNAs) are a family of small non-coding RNAs, which can regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level by binding in a sequence-specific fashion at the 3′ UTR of the messenger RNA. The miRNAs are also important factors that influence oncogenic signaling in BC by acting as both tumor suppressors and oncogenes. Moreover, miRNAs are involved in endocrine therapy resistance of BC, specifically to tamoxifen, a drug that is used to target ER signaling. In metazoans, very little is known about the transcriptional regulation of miRNA by the MED complex and less about the transcriptional regulation of miRNAs involved in BC initiation and progression. Recently, it has been shown that MED1 is able to regulate the transcription of the ER-dependent miR-191/425 cluster promoting BC cell proliferation and migration. In this review, we will discuss the role of MED1 transcriptional coactivator in the etiology of BC and in endocrine therapy-resistance of BC and also the contribution of other MED subunits to BC development, progression and metastasis. Lastly, we identified miRNAs that potentially can regulate the expression of MED subunits.
Growth, Somatic Maturation, and Their Impact on Physical Health and Sports Performance: An Editorial
Authors: Campa Francesco , Greco Gianpiero
Published: January 2022

Over time, complex interactions and a nonlinear progression among a wide range of variables contribute to the improvement of physical health and of the elite level achievement in youth sport practitioners [...]
The Impact of Business Leaders’ Formal Health and Safety Training on the Establishment of Robust Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems: Three Studies Based on Data from Labour Inspections
Authors: Dahl Øyvind , Rundmo Torbjørn , Olsen Espen
Published: January 2022

The impact of occupational safety and health (OSH) training is a neglected topic in safety research. In Norway, such training is mandatory for all business leaders. Hence, the Norwegian working life forms a particularly interesting case for studying the impact of OSH training. On the basis of data from labour inspections performed by the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority (NLIA), this article examines the impact of business leaders’ mandatory OSH training on the establishment of robust OSH systems. Three separate studies have been conducted. In study 1, cross-sectional data from inspections of 29,224 companies are analysed. In study 2 and 3, longitudinal data from inspections of 1119 and 189 companies, respectively, are analysed. The analyses reveal that mandatory OSH training of business leaders is positively associated with compliance with legal requirements related to the minimum content of OSH systems. This means that mandatory OSH training is important for the establishment of robust occupational safety and health management systems.
Professionals’ Self-Reported Difficulties towards Integrating Dual Task Training in Care for People with Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Domingos Josefa , Dean John , Fernandes Júlio Belo , Godinho Catarina
Published: January 2022

Background: Despite the growing use of dual task training (DTT) in clinical practice with people with Parkinson Disease (PD), there is still limited evidence on how to best implement it. Data regarding professionals’ difficulties when integrating such practices are critical as a first step to generate further guidance on how to apply it. The aim of this study was to identify the difficulties perceived by professionals to integrate dual task in their practice. Methods: A descriptive, observational and cross-sectional study was conducted using a web-based survey. Convenience sampling was used to recruit exercise and healthcare professionals working with people with PD through various social media channels. Data were collected and then analyzed thematically using the method of constant comparisons. The study report follows the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) checklist. Results: Of the 205 eligible responses, 68.8% were Physiotherapist. The majority of the participants reported having Parkinson-specific training (91.7%) and 59.0% applied DTT in individual one-on-one sessions. We identified ten categories of difficulties faced by professionals. Conclusions: Professionals struggle to integrate DTT into PD clinical care. Challenges were identified and the most significant refer to difficulties in managing the chronicity of the disease and lack of patient compliance with home exercises. Understanding current challenges towards dual task exercise will help to reflect upon strategies to be applied effectively and safe.
COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown: An Excellent Opportunity to Study the Effects of Trawling Disturbance on Macrobenthic Fauna in the Shallow Waters of the Gulf of Gabès (Tunisia, Central Mediterranean Sea)
Authors: Mosbahi Nawfel , Pezy Jean-Philippe , Dauvin Jean-Claude , Neifar Lassad
Published: January 2022

This study describes for the first time in the central Mediterranean Sea the effects of bottom trawling on macrobenthic fauna in tidal channels of the Kneiss Islands in the Gulf of Gabès, Tunisia. Following a BACI protocol, two control stations (protected by artificial reefs) and two trawled stations (impacted stations) were sampled during a period with the absence of bottom trawling activity (the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown period from March to May 2020) and during a trawled period. Although bottom trawling had no impact on sediment composition, this anthropogenic activity reduced the concentration of dissolved oxygen and had a noticeable effect on water column turbidity. The absence of trawling led to a significant increase in biomass, number of species, and abundance of total macrofauna. This illustrated the negative effect of trawling activity in shallow waters and the high resilience of macrobenthic communities of the tidal ecosystem of the Kneiss Islands. In the future, it would be very important to control the use of this destructive fishing gear due to its negative impact on the marine habitat and macrofauna, which represents essential prey for fishes and birds living in this protected area.
“I Am the Home Care Agency”: The Dementia Family Caregiver Experience Managing Paid Care in the Home
Authors: Reckrey Jennifer M. , Watman Deborah , Tsui Emma K. , Franzosa Emily , Perez Sasha , Fabius Chanee D. , Ornstein Katherine A.
Published: January 2022

As the locus of long-term care in the United States shifts from institutions to the community, paid caregivers (i.e., home health aides, personal care attendants) are providing more hands-on care to persons with dementia living at home. Yet, little is known about how family caregivers engage with paid caregivers. We conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews (n = 15) with family caregivers, of persons living at home with severe dementia, and enriched our findings with data from a second cohort of family caregivers of persons with dementia (n = 9). Whether paid caregivers were hired privately or employed via a Medicaid-funded agency, family caregivers reported that they needed to manage paid caregivers in the home. Core management tasks were day-to-day monitoring and relationship building with family caregivers; training paid caregivers and coordinating care with homecare agencies was also described. In order to support family caregivers of individuals with dementia at home, it is important consider their preferences and skills in order to effectively manage paid caregivers. Support of efforts to build a high-quality paid caregiving workforce has the potential to improve not only care delivered to persons with dementia, but the experiences of their family caregivers.
The Association between Health-Enhancing Physical Activity and Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: Propensity Score Matching Analysis
Authors: Oh Tae Ryom , Choi Hong Sang , Suh Sang Heon , Kim Chang Seong , Bae Eun Hui , Sung Suah , Han Seung Hyeok , Oh Kook Hwan , Ma Seong Kwon , Kim Soo Wan
Published: January 2022

We investigate the association between health-enhancing physical activity and the quality of life in patients with non-dialysis chronic kidney disease. We performed data analysis on 1618 of 2238 patients from 2011 to 2016, obtained from the KoreaN Cohort Study for Outcome in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (KNOW-CKD). Health-related quality of life was measured using the Korean version 1.3 of Kidney Disease Quality of Life short-form questionnaire. Health-enhancing physical activity was defined as 150 min of moderate-intensity or 75 min of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity throughout the week. Propensity score matching analysis and linear regression was performed to estimate the effect of health-enhancing physical activity on health-related quality of life. The estimate of average treatment effects was 2.60 in the kidney component summary score, 4.45 in the physical component summary score, and 4.24 in the mental component summary score. In all component summary scores and most of their subscales, health-enhancing physical activity showed a significant association with health-related quality of life. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses also showed robust results. This study suggests that health-enhancing physical activity elevated quality of life in patients with non-dialysis chronic kidney disease. The results can contribute to encourage physical activity in patients with chronic kidney disease.
The Relationship between Internet Use and Population Health: A Cross-Sectional Survey in China
Authors: Li Liqing , Ding Haifeng
Published: January 2022

Given the increasing use of the Internet in China, the relationship between Internet use and population health has been receiving increased academic attention. However, the current literature has not yet reached a unified conclusion; thus, further research is very necessary. This study used the 2018 China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) data to explore the relationship between Internet use and the health of the population and to evaluate the possible heterogeneity of the association between different groups and the mediation path. This study revealed that Internet use has a positive association with the subjective health of the population. The results of the heterogeneity analysis revealed that Internet use is more significantly associated with the health of non-agricultural workers and those with higher education levels than that of agricultural workers and those with lower education levels. Further analysis revealed that health behavior is an important mediator between Internet use and population health. These results remain robust even after using propensity score matching (PSM) to eliminate sample selection bias.
Sarcopenia Is Associated with Metabolic Syndrome in Korean Adults Aged over 50 Years: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Lee Do-Youn , Shin Sunghoon
Published: January 2022

This study assessed the association between sarcopenia and metabolic syndrome in Korean adults aged over 50 years. The study obtained data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES, 2008–2011), a cross-sectional and nationally representative survey conducted by the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Among the 8363 participants included in this study, the prevalence rate of sarcopenia according to metabolic syndrome was stratified by sex. Crude odds ratios not adjusted for any variables were 1.827 (1.496–2.231) in males, 2.189 (1.818–2.635) in females, and 2.209 (1.766–2.331) in total participants compared with non-sarcopenia. Model 3, which was adjusted for all variables that could affect sarcopenia and metabolic syndrome, showed significant increases in the odds ratios, to 1.957 (1.587–2.413) in males, 1.779 (1.478–2.141) in females, and 1.822 (1.586–2.095) for total participants. The results suggest that the association between sarcopenia and metabolic syndrome is significant in Korean adults.