Genetic and Epigenomic Modifiers of Diabetic Neuropathy

Diabetic neuropathy (DN), the most common chronic and progressive complication of diabetes mellitus (DM), strongly affects patients’ quality of life. DN could be present as peripheral, autonomous or, clinically also relevant, uremic neuropathy. The etiopathogenesis of DN is multifactorial, and genetic components play a role both in its occurrence and clinical course. A number of gene polymorphisms in candidate genes have been assessed as susceptibility factors for DN, and most of them are linked to mechanisms such as reactive oxygen species production, neurovascular impairments and modified protein glycosylation, as well as immunomodulation and inflammation. Different epigenomic mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone modifications and non-coding RNA action have been studied in DN, which also underline the importance of “metabolic memory” in DN appearance and progression. In this review, we summarize most of the relevant data in the field of genetics and epigenomics of DN, hoping they will become significant for diagnosis, therapy and prevention of DN.     

Influence of the common varistor dopants (CoO, Cr2O3 and Nb2O5) on the structural properties of SnO2 ceramics

The influence of dopants commonly used in SnO₂ varistor ceramics, such as CoO, Cr₂O₃ or Nb₂O₅, on the structural properties of SnO₂ was investigated. Several SnO₂-based ceramics containing only one of the dopants were prepared and characterized. Spectroscopic investigations [visible, near infrared (IR) and IR region] were performed to obtain information about dopants valence states inside the ceramics, as well as about their influence on electronic structure of the material. Structural properties were investigated by X-ray diffraction analysis and mechanisms of dopant incorporation were proposed. Obtained results were confirmed with results of the electrical measurements. Microstructural changes in doped ceramics were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis that showed great differences in densities, grain size, and morphology of the SnO₂ ceramics depending on type of dopants and their distribution.     

Self and mutual ground impedances of cylindrical metal plates buried in homogeneous earth

This paper presents a numerical procedure for computation of self and mutual impedance of cylindrical metal plates buried in homogeneous earth. Procedure is based on an analytical expression for scalar potential distribution of an equipotential metal plate in homogeneous unbounded medium. The effect of the air–earth boundary condition is taken into account by the exact imaging method. The robustness and accuracy of the computation procedure is based on the combination of analytical integration and 1D and 2D Gaussian quadratures for solving integrals present in expressions for self and mutual ground impedances of metal plates. The attenuation and phase shift is taken into account approximately by introducing the attenuation‐phase shift factor. The numerical procedure developed for the computation of self and mutual ground impedances of cylindrical metal plates buried in homogeneous earth is efficient, numerically stable and generally applicable. Numerical model developed for the computation of self and mutual ground impedances of cylindrical metal plates buried in homogeneous earth represents a basis of a wider numerical model for computation of ground fault current distribution in which grounding grids are approximated by metal cylindrical plates. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Load forecasting using a multivariate meta-learning system

Although over a thousand scientific papers address the topic of load forecasting every year, only a few are dedicated to finding a general framework for load forecasting that improves the performance, without depending on the unique characteristics of a certain task such as geographical location. Meta-learning, a powerful approach for algorithm selection has so far been demonstrated only on univariate time-series forecasting. Multivariate time-series forecasting is known to have better performance in load forecasting. In this paper we propose a meta-learning system for multivariate time-series forecasting as a general framework for load forecasting model selection. We show that a meta-learning system built on 65 load forecasting tasks returns lower forecasting error than 10 well-known forecasting algorithms on 4 load forecasting tasks for a recurrent real-life simulation. We introduce new metafeatures of fickleness, traversity, granularity and highest ACF. The meta-learning framework is parallelized, component-based and easily extendable.     

Enhancement of electrocatalytic properties of carbonized polyaniline nanoparticles upon a hydrothermal treatment in alkaline medium

The electrocatalytic activity of carbonized polyaniline nanostructures (Carb-nanoPANI) towards oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), estimated in 0.1 mol dm⁻³ KOH solution, was significantly improved upon a hydrothermal treatment in 1 mol dm⁻³ KOH solution. Namely, the onset of ORR was shifted by ∼70 mV to more positive potentials, and the number of electrons consumed per O₂ molecule was enhanced in comparison to the original material. The number of electrons involved in ORR depended on loading, and with a loading of 0.5 mg cm⁻², for the potentials lower than −0.5 V vs SCE, the number of electrons approached 4. For this material, high stability of electrochemical behavior and resistance to the poisoning by ethanol was evidenced by potentiodynamic cycling.     

Reaction kinetics of metal deposition via surface limited red-ox replacement of underpotentially deposited metal monolayers

The study of the kinetics of metal deposition via surface limited red-ox replacement of underpotentially deposited metal monolayers is presented. The model system was Pt submonolayer deposition on Au(1 1 1) via red-ox replacement of Pb and Cu UPD monolayers on Au(1 1 1). The kinetics of a single replacement reaction was studied using the formalism of the comprehensive analytical model developed to fit the open circuit potential transients from deposition experiments. The practical reaction kinetics parameters like reaction half life, reaction order and reaction rate constant are determined and discussed with their relevance to design and control of deposition experiments. The effects of transport limitation and the role of the anions/electrolyte on deposition kinetics are investigated and their significance to design of effective deposition process is discussed.     

Oxygen reduction on anodically formed titanium dioxide

Oxygen reduction on anodically formed TiO₂ was studied in both alkaline and acidic water solutions, using dc voltammetry combined with the rotating disk technique. The possible interference with hydrogen evolution reaction was considered. By means of Levich-Koutecky plot, in alkaline media, 4e⁻ reduction path was confirmed, while with the transition to acidic media, the rising participation of the indirect, 2e⁻ reduction path was evidenced.     

Error Analysis of Surface Temperature Measurement by Infrared Sensor

The general mathematical model for the surface temperature measurement based on infrared radiation is proposed. Measurement error function is derived and analyzed. The results of analyze are presented and conditions of measurement for better measurement accuracy are determined.     

Time-harmonic analysis of grounding system in horizontally stratified multilayer medium

This paper extends an electromagnetic model for time-harmonic analysis of grounding system in horizontally stratified multilayer medium which consists of air and arbitrary number of soil layers. Complete electromagnetic coupling between grounding system segments is taken into account. The model is based on applying the finite element technique to an integral equation formulation. Through an effective approximation of the attenuation and phase shift effects the computation of Sommerfeld integrals has been avoided, which considerably shortens the computational time. The treatment of non-horizontal segments of grounding grid conductors has been resolved by approximating the segment with five current point sources distributed along the segment length. An algorithm for scalar electric potential computation in any soil layers is presented and compared to published results. The effects of approximating a complex heterogeneous earth structure with a homogeneous earth is also analyzed and discussed.