bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Different Transport Behaviors between Asian Dust and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Urban Areas: Monitoring in Fukuoka and Kanazawa, Japan
Authors: Pham Kim-Oanh , Hara Akinori , Zhao Jiaye , Suzuki Keita , Matsuki Atsushi , Inomata Yayoi , Matsuzaki Hiroshi , Odajima Hiroshi , Hayakawa Kazuichi , Nakamura Hiroyuki
Published: May 2022

To clarify different effects of Asian dust (AD), long-range transported from Asian continent, on total suspended particles (TSP) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Japan, TSP were simultaneously collected during AD periods (from 1 March to 31 May 2020 and 2021) in Fukuoka and Kanazawa. During AD days, decided by Light Detection and Ranging and Japan Meteorological Agency, TSP concentrations increased significantly (p < 0.001) at two sampling sites. PAH concentrations increased in Kanazawa (p < 0.001) but not in Fukuoka on AD days. Correlation coefficients (r) between daily TSP and total PAHs concentrations were weak in Kanazawa: 0.521 (non-AD) and 0.526 (AD) (p < 0.01), and in Fukuoka: 0.321 (non-AD) and 0.059 (AD). However, correlation between seasonal (average monthly) TSP and total PAH concentrations were stronger: 0.680 (Kanazawa) and 0.751 (Fukuoka). The reasons might be that seasonal variations of TSP and total PAHs in two cities depend equally on planetary scale westerly, while daily TSP and total PAHs variations in each city varied by different transportation distances from AD and PAHs sources in the Asian continent to Japan. Different local sources and meteorological conditions were considered. These results are important for elucidating the causes of chronic and acute respiratory diseases.
Design and Mechanical Performance of a Fiber-Constrained Annular Flexible Actuator for Direct Ventricular Assist Devices
Authors: Yun Zhong , Mei Chuanchuan , Xu Kang , Tang Xiaoyan , Feng Yunhao
Published: May 2022

With the development of various new intelligent materials, pneumatic artificial muscles are becoming widely used as actuators in industry, with their advantages of having a simple and compact structure, smooth action, fast response and movement closer to natural biological muscle movement. This paper introduced the concept of a fiber-constrained flexible actuator for direct ventricular assist devices. The structural parameters of the actuator were initially determined based on the morphology of the human heart; the model of the flexible body with fibers and strain limiting layer was then constructed using SOLIDWORKS; then, the model was imported into the ABAQUS finite element analysis software for simulation in order to determine the feasibility of the structural solution; finally, the structural parameters of the actuator were optimized based on the simulation results. In order to investigate whether the actuator could cause damage to myocardial tissue when squeezing the heart, the actuator was tested for the displacement and the output force. The results showed that fiber-constrained direct ventricular assist devices did not damage the myocardium while assisting the heart to pump blood; moreover, their blood output could meet the requirements of both types of heart failure patients. The annular flexible actuator can provide effective compression of the ventricle and twist at an angle during inflation. This twist adapts to the torsional requirements of the heart, and reduces sliding friction between the device and the heart surface, thereby reducing myocardial damage.
Developing a Learning Data Collection Platform for Learning Analytics in Online Education
Authors: Pak JuGeon , Lee JooHwa , Lee MyungSuk
Published: May 2022

During the COVID-19 pandemic, most education has been conducted through online classes. While feedback and interaction between students and instructors are significant in programming education or engineering practice, online education today cannot satisfy these aspects of learning. Therefore, this study proposes a learning support system for programming education and presents the results of designing and implementing this system. The proposed system consists of an online development environment module, a learning monitoring module, and a learning support module. It also provides a web-based programming environment, real-time chat and code mirroring, error guide messages and related lectures, e-learning quizzes, and learning activity analysis features. The system standardizes the development environment between the instructor and students, helps students take the initiative in solving errors, and enables code-oriented interactions between the instructor and students. It also collects data from all learning situations in the database. Conducting a big data analysis with the collected data will enable individual guidance for students by finding errors that frequently occur in programming and recommending learning materials to solve them.
Paleomagnetic-Geodynamic Mapping of the Transition Zone from Ocean to the Continent: A Review
Authors: Eppelbaum Lev V. , Katz Youri I.
Published: May 2022

The easternmost Mediterranean is a distinct transition zone from the ocean to the continent located at the junction between the largest Earth’s lithospheric segments: Eurasian and African. The methodology of paleomagnetic mapping of such transition zones is based on integrating the mapping techniques for both continental and oceanic platforms: paleomagnetic reconstructions, results of radiometric dating of magnetized rocks, tectonic-structural reconstructions, biogeography, and utilization of the results of various geophysical surveys. The geodynamic-paleomagnetic mapping makes it possible to reveal the multilevel structural heterogeneity and display complex elements of the geodynamics of different ages inherent in this transition zone. The region of northern Israel is the most complex area in the easternmost Mediterranean. For the combined paleomagnetic mapping, well-studied paleomagnetically and radiometrically areas were selected: (1) the Carmel area, (2) the Atlit area (internal part of the Carmel area), (3) the Sea of Galilee with the adjoining zones (primarily, the Kinnarot Valley), and (4) the area of the Hula Basin with adjacent areas of the Golan Plateau, Hermon Mt., and Galilea uplift. The constructed paleomagnetic profiles for the Carmel area (on the top of the accumulative surface of the Lower Cretaceous traps) and the Kinnarot Valley—Sea of Galilee—Hula Basin, evidently indicate the complex history of the paleogeodynamic evolution of the region. These studies demonstrate the effectiveness of paleomagnetic mapping integrated with paleomagnetic profiles crossing these geologically complex areas.
A Novel Compliant 2-DOF Ejector Pin Mechanism for the Mass Transfer of Robotic Mini-LED Chips
Authors: Li Hongcheng , Huang Chengsi , Lin Zhihang , Liao Zhishen , Shu Shiyu , Lai Canlin , Tang Hui
Published: May 2022

The continuous development of mini-LEDs has led to higher requirements for chip transfer technology, which makes it difficult for the intermittent transfer method with a mechanical ejector pin to meet these requirements. To solve this problem, a novel compliant 2-DOF ejector pin mechanism for the mass transfer of robotic mini-LED chips is proposed in this paper. The compliance matrix method and the Newton method are employed for system kinematic modeling and dynamics modeling, respectively. The static and dynamic analyses of the mechanism are carried out via ANSYS Workbench, and the results of FEA are demonstrated the effectiveness of theoretical calculation. Then, an ILC is utilized to control the device via a parameters regulation approach in the frequency domain. Finally, an open-loop test and a trajectory tracking test for the prototype are carried out verify the effectiveness of proposed device. The test results indicate that the working stroke of the mechanism reaches 120 μm, the natural frequency of the device is 250.85 Hz, the coupling rate is less than ±0.5% and the tracking errors of 10 Hz, 20 Hz and 30 Hz sinusoidal signals are all within ±1.5%. According to the results of theoretical analyses, FEA and test, it has been proved that the designed mechanism for the mass transfer of mini-LED chips is superiority and effective.
Estimation of Tidal Volume during Exercise Stress Test from Wearable-Device Measures of Heart Rate and Breathing Rate
Authors: Sbrollini Agnese , Catena Riccardo , Carbonari Francesco , Bellini Alessio , Sacchetti Massimo , Burattini Laura , Morettini Micaela
Published: May 2022

Tidal volume (TV), defined as the amount of air that moves in or out of the lungs with each respiratory cycle, is important in evaluating the respiratory function. Although TV can be reliably measured in laboratory settings, this information is hardly obtainable under everyday living conditions. Under such conditions, wearable devices could provide valuable support to monitor vital signs, such as heart rate (HR) and breathing rate (BR). The aim of this study was to develop a model to estimate TV from wearable-device measures of HR and BR during exercise. HR and BR were acquired through the Zephyr Bioharness 3.0 wearable device in nine subjects performing incremental cycling tests. For each subject, TV during exercise was obtained with a metabolic cart (Cosmed). A stepwise regression algorithm was used to create the model using as possible predictors HR, BR, age, and body mass index; the model was then validated using a leave-one-subject-out cross-validation procedure. The performance of the model was evaluated using the explained variance (R2), obtaining values ranging from 0.65 to 0.72. The proposed model is a valid method for TV estimation with wearable devices and can be considered not subject-specific and not instrumentation-specific.
Smart Home Technology Solutions for Cardiovascular Diseases: A Systematic Review
Authors: Moses Jeban Chandir , Adibi Sasan , Angelova Maia , Islam Sheikh Mohammed Shariful
Published: May 2022

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of mortality globally. Despite improvement in therapies, people with CVD lack support for monitoring and managing their condition at home and out of hospital settings. Smart Home Technologies have potential to monitor health status and support people with CVD in their homes. We explored the Smart Home Technologies available for CVD monitoring and management in people with CVD and acceptance of the available technologies to end-users. We systematically searched four databases, namely Medline, Web of Science, Embase, and IEEE, from 1990 to 2020 (search date 18 March 2020). “Smart-Home” was defined as a system using integrated sensor technologies. We included studies using sensors, such as wearable and non-wearable devices, to capture vital signs relevant to CVD at home settings and to transfer the data using communication systems, including the gateway. We categorised the articles for parameters monitored, communication systems and data sharing, end-user applications, regulations, and user acceptance. The initial search yielded 2462 articles, and the elimination of duplicates resulted in 1760 articles. Of the 36 articles eligible for full-text screening, we selected five Smart Home Technology studies for CVD management with sensor devices connected to a gateway and having a web-based user interface. We observed that the participants of all the studies were people with heart failure. A total of three main categories—Smart Home Technology for CVD management, user acceptance, and the role of regulatory agencies—were developed and discussed. There is an imperative need to monitor CVD patients’ vital parameters regularly. However, limited Smart Home Technology is available to address CVD patients’ needs and monitor health risks. Our review suggests the need to develop and test Smart Home Technology for people with CVD. Our findings provide insights and guidelines into critical issues, including Smart Home Technology for CVD management, user acceptance, and regulatory agency’s role to be followed when designing, developing, and deploying Smart Home Technology for CVD.
Application of the Gaussian Model for Monitoring Scenarios and Estimation of SO2 Atmospheric Emissions in the Salamanca Area, Bajío, Mexico
Authors: Violante Gavira Amanda Enrriqueta , Sosa González Wadi Elim , Pali Casanova Ramón de Jesús , Yam Cervantes Marcial Alfredo , Aguilar Vega Manuel , Chacha Coto Javier , Zavala Loría José del Carmen , Dzul López Luis Alonso , García Villena Eduardo
Published: May 2022

Population and industrial growth in Mexico’s Bajío region demand greater electricity consumption. The production of electricity from fuel oil has severe implications on climate change and people’s health due to SO2 emissions. This study describes the simulation of eight different scenarios for SO2 pollutant dispersion. It takes into account distance, geoenvironmental parameters, wind, terrain roughness, and Pasquill–Gifford–Turner atmospheric stability and categories of dispersion based on technical information about SO2 concentration from stacks and from one of the atmospheric monitoring stations in Salamanca city. Its transverse character, its usefulness for modeling, and epidemiological, meteorological, and fluid dynamics studies, as suggested by the models approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), show a maximum average concentration of 399 µg/m3, at an average distance of 1800 m. The best result comparison in the scenarios was scenery 8. Maximum nocturnal dispersion was shown at a wind speed of 8.4 m/s, and an SO2 concentration of 280 µg/m3 for stack 4, an atypical situation due to the geography of the city. From the validation process, a relative error of 14.7 % was obtained, which indicates the reliability of the applied Gaussian model. Regarding the mathematical solution of the model, this represents a reliable and low-cost tool that can help improve air quality management, the location or relocation of atmospheric monitoring stations, and migration from the use of fossil fuels to environmentally friendly fuels.
Biomechanical Risk Factors of Injury-Related Single-Leg Movements in Male Elite Youth Soccer Players
Authors: Kolodziej Mathias , Willwacher Steffen , Nolte Kevin , Schmidt Marcus , Jaitner Thomas
Published: May 2022

Altered movement patterns during single-leg movements in soccer increase the risk of lower-extremity non-contact injuries. The identification of biomechanical parameters associated with lower-extremity injuries can enrich knowledge of injury risks and facilitate injury prevention. Fifty-six elite youth soccer players performed a single-leg drop landing task and an unanticipated side-step cutting task. Three-dimensional ankle, knee and hip kinematic and kinetic data were obtained, and non-contact lower-extremity injuries were documented throughout the season. Risk profiling was assessed using a multivariate approach utilising a decision tree model (classification and regression tree method). The decision tree model indicated peak knee frontal plane angle, peak vertical ground reaction force, ankle frontal plane moment and knee transverse plane angle at initial contact (in this hierarchical order) for the single-leg landing task as important biomechanical parameters to discriminate between injured and non-injured players. Hip sagittal plane angle at initial contact, peak ankle transverse plane angle and hip sagittal plane moment (in this hierarchical order) were indicated as risk factors for the unanticipated cutting task. Ankle, knee and hip kinematics, as well as ankle and hip kinetics, during single-leg high-risk movements can provide a good indication of injury risk in elite youth soccer players.
Passive Voice Comprehension during Thematic-Role Assignment in Russian-Speaking Children Aged 4–6 Is Reflected in the Sensitivity of ERP to Noun Inflections
Authors: Kruchinina Olga , Stankova Ekaterina , Guillemard Diana , Galperina Elizaveta
Published: May 2022

Children tend to rely on semantics rather than syntax during sentence comprehension. In transitive sentences, with no reliance on semantics, the syntax-based strategy becomes critical. We aimed to describe developmental changes of brain mechanisms for syntax processing in typically developing (TD) four to six year old’s. A specially designed sentence-picture matching task using active (AV) and passive (PV) voice enforced children to use grammar cues for sentence comprehension. Fifty children with above >60% level of accuracy in PV sentences comprehension demonstrated brain sensitivity to voice grammar markers-inflections of the second noun phrase (NP2), which was expressed in a greater event-related potentials (ERP) amplitude to PV vs. AV sentences in four-, five-, and six-year-old children. The biphasic positive-negative component at 200–400 ms was registered in the frontocentral and bilateral temporoparietal areas. Only in six-year-old children P600 was registered in the right temporoparietal area. LAN-like negativity seems to be a mechanism for distinguishing AV from PV in the early stages of mastering syntax processing of transitive sentences in four to five year old children. Both behavioral and ERP results distinguished six-year-olds from four-year-old’s and five-year-old’s, reflecting the possible transition to the “adult-like” syntax-based thematic role assignment.
GPS Digital Nudge to Limit Road Crashes in Non-Expert Drivers
Authors: Nori Raffaella , Zucchelli Micaela Maria , Giancola Marco , Palmiero Massimiliano , Verde Paola , Giannini Anna Maria , Piccardi Laura
Published: May 2022

Many automotive industries are developing technologies to assist human drivers in suggesting wiser choices to improve drivers’ behaviour. The technology that makes use of this modality is defined as a “digital nudge”. An example of a digital nudge is the GPS that is installed on smartphones. Some studies have demonstrated that the use of GPS negatively affects environmental learning because of the transformation of some spatial skills. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the use of the GPS nudge and its relationship with spatial ability, together with its function in supporting the driving behaviour of non-expert drivers, in order to reduce the number of road crashes. A total of 88 non-expert drivers (M age = 21 years) filled in questionnaires and carried out tasks to measure spatial abilities, sense of direction, driver behaviour, and six different real-life driving scenarios. The results reveal that the higher the spatial skills are, the greater the GPS use is, and that drivers who use GPS improve their sense of direction. Moreover, people with high visuospatial abilities use GPS more extensively. Finally, young drivers do not consider the GPS aid to be useful when they have no time pressure. The results are discussed by taking into account the familiarity-and-spatial-ability model.
Shiga Toxin 2 Triggers C3a-Dependent Glomerular and Tubular Injury through Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
Authors: Buelli Simona , Locatelli Monica , Carminati Claudia Elisa , Corna Daniela , Cerullo Domenico , Imberti Barbara , Perico Luca , Brigotti Maurizio , Abbate Mauro , Zoja Carlamaria , Benigni Ariela , Remuzzi Giuseppe , Morigi Marina
Published: May 2022

Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing Escherichia coli is the predominant offending agent of post-diarrheal hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a rare disorder of microvascular thrombosis and acute kidney injury possibly leading to long-term renal sequelae. We previously showed that C3a has a critical role in the development of glomerular damage in experimental HUS. Based on the evidence that activation of C3a/C3a receptor (C3aR) signaling induces mitochondrial dysregulation and cell injury, here we investigated whether C3a caused podocyte and tubular injury through induction of mitochondrial dysfunction in a mouse model of HUS. Mice coinjected with Stx2/LPS exhibited glomerular podocyte and tubular C3 deposits and C3aR overexpression associated with cell damage, which were limited by C3aR antagonist treatment. C3a promoted renal injury by affecting mitochondrial wellness as demonstrated by data showing that C3aR blockade reduced mitochondrial ultrastructural abnormalities and preserved mitochondrial mass and energy production. In cultured podocytes and tubular cells, C3a caused altered mitochondrial fragmentation and distribution, and reduced anti-oxidant SOD2 activity. Stx2 potentiated the responsiveness of renal cells to the detrimental effects of C3a through increased C3aR protein expression. These results indicate that C3aR may represent a novel target in Stx-associated HUS for the preservation of renal cell integrity through the maintenance of mitochondrial function.
Wafer−Scale Growth of Fe−Doped Hexagonal Boron Nitride (hBN) Films via Co−Sputtering
Authors: Li Qiang , Zhang Qifan , Chen Ransheng , Zhang Haoran , Wang Mingdi , Zhu Jingping , Wang Xiaoliang , Liu Yuhuai , Yun Feng
Published: May 2022

Fe−doped hBN film has great potential for use in spintronic applications. The wafer scale preparation of Fe−doped hBN films and their material properties are crucial for application in devices. In this work, Fe−doped films with 2−inch wafer scale were fabricated by magnetron co−sputtering, and the properties of the films were characterized. The crystal quality decreased, but the electrical performance was greatly improved. The average square resistance of Fe−doped film was 0.34 KΩ/sqr. Meanwhile, the Fe−doped films kept the characteristics of hBN well. The wavelength of absorption edge was 216 nm, and the corresponding optical band gap of 5.76 eV.
Complex Network Study of Solar Magnetograms
Authors: Muñoz Víctor , Flández Eduardo
Published: May 2022

In this paper, we study solar magnetic activity by means of a complex network approach. A complex network was built based on information on the space and time evolution of sunspots provided by image recognition algorithms on solar magnetograms taken during the complete 23rd solar cycle. Both directed and undirected networks were built, and various measures such as degree distributions, clustering coefficient, average shortest path, various centrality measures, and Gini coefficients calculated for all them. We find that certain measures are correlated with solar activity and others are anticorrelated, while several measures are essentially constant along the solar cycle. Thus, we show that complex network analysis can yield useful information on the evolution of solar activity and reveal universal features valid at any stage of the solar cycle; the implications of this research for the prediction of solar maxima are discussed as well.
System Integrity Protection Schemes: Naming Conventions and the Need for Standardization
Authors: Stanković Stefan , Hillberg Emil , Ackeby Susanne
Published: May 2022

The energy transition is placing increased strain on power systems and making it challenging for Transmission System Operators (TSOs) to securely operate power systems. System Integrity Protection Schemes (SIPSs) are one of the solutions to address these challenges. SIPSs are a type of over-arching power system control; their goals are to increase the secure utilization of power system assets and to limit the impact of large disturbances on the system. Due to societal developments, the interest in utilizing SIPSs is increasing internationally, highlighting the importance of the standardization of terms and definitions to support collaboration between internationally interconnected power systems. This paper addresses the issue of increasing SIPS literature and the efficient exchange of knowledge about SIPSs by providing a new, up-to-date literature review and proposal for the standardization of SIPS terminology. The need for standardized terminology is highlighted by gathering various terms used to describe SIPSs and proposing a standardization of definitions, terms, and SIPS operational execution steps. The goal of the proposed standardization is to provide clarity and to decrease the sources of misinterpretation in an international collaborative environment. The analyzed literature is further classified according to the SIPS features it addresses, and conclusions about well-established and interesting future research areas are drawn. For example, it has been observed that the most commonly considered SIPS action is load shedding, while more sophisticated actions, e.g., using HVDC (High Voltage Direct Current) and FACTS (Flexible AC Transmission System) installations, controlled together with var rescheduling, are more in the realm of future research that may provide additional benefits to TSOs.
The Dynamic Spillover between Renewable Energy, Crude Oil and Carbon Market: New Evidence from Time and Frequency Domains
Authors: Nie Dan , Li Yanbin , Li Xiyu , Zhou Xuejiao , Zhang Feng
Published: May 2022

To obtain the price return and price volatility spillovers between renewable energy stocks, technology stocks, oil futures and carbon allowances under different investment horizons, this paper employs a frequency-dependent method to study the dynamic connectedness between these assets in four frequency bands. The results show that, first, there is a strong spillover effect between these assets from a system-wide perspective, and it’s mainly driven by short-term spillovers. Second, in the time domain, technology stocks have a more significant impact on renewable energy stocks compared to crude oil. However, through the study in the frequency domain, we find renewable energy stocks exhibit a more complex relationship with the other two assets at different time scales. Third, renewable energy stocks have significant spillover effect on carbon prices only in the short term. On longer time scales, other factors such as energy prices, climate and policy may have a greater impact on carbon allowance prices. Fourth, the spillover effect of the system is time-varying and frequency-varying. During the European debt crisis, the international oil price decline and the COVID-19 pandemic, the total spillover index of the system has experienced a substantial increase, mainly driven by medium, medium to long or long term spillovers.
Theory and Practices of Li-Ion Battery Thermal Management for Electric and Hybrid Electric Vehicles
Authors: Mahamud Rajib , Park Chanwoo
Published: May 2022

This article surveys the mathematical principles essential for understanding the thermal management of Li-ion batteries, the current technological state of the art, and the solution. Since the thermal management of electric drive vehicles has environmental, economic, and safety impacts, this review focuses on the efficient methods of battery thermal management (BTM) that were proposed to overcome the major challenges in the electric vehicle industry. The first section examines the perspective of battery-driven vehicles, the principles of Li-ion batteries with a thermal runaway, and their implication for battery safety. The second section discusses mathematical approaches for effective BTM modeling, including the thermal-fluidic network model, lumped capacitance model, spatial resolution lumped capacitance model, equivalent circuit model, impedance-based model, and data-driven model. The third section presents the current state-of-the-art technologies, including air-based, liquid-based, PCM-based, in situ BTM methods, and heat pipe and thermoelectric module-based methods. The conclusion section summarizes the findings from existing research and the possible future directions to achieve and employ better thermal management techniques.
An Approach for the Analysis of Energy Resource Selection Based on Attributes by Using Dombi T-Norm Based Aggregation Operators
Authors: Waqar Mujab , Ullah Kifayat , Pamucar Dragan , Jovanov Goran , Vranješ Ðordje
Published: May 2022

Dombi t-norm (DTN) and t-conorm (TCN) are among the most effective triangular norms in fuzzy systems for aggregation purposes. The environment of interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy (IVIF) set gives us precision in expressing uncertain information by using a membership grade (MG) and non-membership grade (NMG) in the form of closed subintervals of 0, 1. The goal of this paper is to introduce DTN-based aggregation operators (AOs) for IVIF numbers (IVIFNs) and study their performance in the evaluation of the worth of energy recourses to be opted in Pakistan to deal with the energy crises situation. We first introduced some DTN and TCN-based operations for IVIFNs and developed two new AOs known as IVIF Dombi weighted averaging (IVIFDWA) and IVIF Dombi weighted geometric (IVIFDWG) operators. The validity and fitness of the proposed operators are tested. A case study is presented where the energy resources of Pakistan are discussed and the problem of the selection of sustainable energy resources in the context of Pakistan is investigated. The sensitivity analysis of the proposed IVIFDWA and IVIFDWG operators is studied and a comparative analysis of the current work with previous studies is established.
Exploring Application of Ice Source Heat Pump Technology in Solar Heating System for Space Heating
Authors: Fang Lei , Wang Yujie
Published: May 2022

A heat pump is an energy-effective technique to provide heating for buildings using available heat sources from the environment. Solar irradiation and ambient air are the most accessible heat sources among different heat sources; however, they are unstable for a day or several days. A large volume of the heat storage tank is usually required to provide a stable heating supply. As the most commonly used media for heat storage, water has a limitation on the heat storage temperature, i.e., above 0 °C, limiting its density of energy storage. This paper presents an experiment that evaluated the performance of a developed ice source heat pump used for assisting a solar heating system. The ice source heat pump can extract both sensible heat and the latent heat of water freezing, which doubles the density of energy storage and increase the heating output by 50%. The experiment results showed that the solar heating system tested could supply hot water at the highest temperature of 60 °C (with intense sun irradiation) and the lowest temperature of 40 °C (without sun irradiation). The min COP of the ice source heat pump was three, measured when the heat pump extracted heat from the ice water. This technology could be used for domestic heating with 50% reduced heat storage volume.
Design Parameters on Impingement Steam Jet Heat Transfer of Continuous Liquid Food Sterilization
Authors: Sangsom Wilasinee , Inprasit Chouw
Published: May 2022

The effect was clarified of the design parameters on the heat transfer of an impingement steam jet applied to continuous liquid food sterilization with the aim of high heating performance. The study investigated the effects of the steam and water Reynolds number, jet-to-target spacing to jet diameter ratio, and steam temperature on the Nusselt number. The Reynolds number was defined based on steam and water injection plate configurations in turbulent flow. The Nusselt number of the steam temperature at 120 °C was greater than at 125 °C and 130 °C and higher heat transfer was noted at a water nozzle number of two. The Nusselt number was the highest at the jet-to-target spacing to jet diameter ratio (H/d) of 1 and then tended to be constant for H/d above 3. The present study was compared with jet impingement correlations from Huber and Viskanta, and from Martin. In addition, the Ranz and Marshall correlation of a conventional direct steam injection was compared with the impingement method. The sterilization temperature tended to increase as the steam temperature and the number of steam nozzles was increased while the number of product nozzles was decreased.
A New Homotopy Transformation Method for Solving the Fuzzy Fractional Black–Scholes European Option Pricing Equations under the Concept of Granular Differentiability
Authors: Zhang Jianke , Wang Yueyue , Zhang Sumei
Published: May 2022

The Black–Scholes option pricing model is one of the most significant achievements in modern investment science. However, many factors are constantly fluctuating in the actual financial market option pricing, such as risk-free interest rate, stock price, option underlying price, and security price volatility may be inaccurate in the real world. Therefore, it is of great practical significance to study the fractional fuzzy option pricing model. In this paper, we proposed a reliable approximation method, the Elzaki transform homotopy perturbation method (ETHPM) based on granular differentiability, to solve the fuzzy time-fractional Black–Scholes European option pricing equations. Firstly, the fuzzy function is converted to a real number function based on the horizontal membership function (HMF). Secondly, the specific steps of the ETHPM are given to solve the fuzzy time-fractional Black–Scholes European option pricing equations. Finally, some examples demonstrate that the new approach is simple, efficient, and accurate. In addition, the fuzzy approximation solutions have been visualized at the end of this paper.
Order Parameter and Entropy of Seismicity in Natural Time before Major Earthquakes: Recent Results
Authors: Varotsos Panayiotis , Sarlis Nicholas , Skordas Efthimios
Published: May 2022

A lot of work in geosciences has been completed during the last decade on the analysis in the new concept of time, termed natural time, introduced in 2001. The main advances are presented, including, among others, the following: First, the direct experimental verification of the interconnection between a Seismic Electric Signals (SES) activity and seismicity, i.e., the order parameter fluctuations of seismicity exhibit a clearly detectable minimum when an SES activity starts. These two phenomena are also linked closely in space. Second, the identification of the epicentral area and the occurrence time of an impending major earthquake (EQ) by means of the order parameter of seismicity and the entropy change of seismicity under time reversal as well as the extrema of their fluctuations. An indicative example is the M9 Tohoku EQ in Japan on 11 March 2011. Third, to answer the crucial question—when a magnitude 7 class EQ occurs—whether it is a foreshock or a mainshock. This can be answered by means of the key quantities already mentioned, i.e., the order parameter of seismicity and the entropy change of seismicity under time reversal along with their fluctuations. The explanation of the experimental findings identified before major EQs is given in a unified way on the basis of a physical model already proposed in the 1980s.
A Decision Tree Model for Analysis and Judgment of Lower Limb Movement Comfort Level
Authors: Xu Zhao , Pan Weijie , Hou Yukang , He Kailun , Lv Jian
Published: May 2022

To address the problem of ambiguity and one-sidedness in the evaluation of comprehensive comfort perceptions during lower limb exercise, this paper deconstructs the comfort perception into two dimensions: psychological comfort and physiological comfort. Firstly, we designed a fixed-length weightless lower limb squat exercise test to collect original psychological comfort data and physiological comfort data. The principal component analysis and physiological comfort index algorithm were used to extract the comfort index from the original data. Secondly, comfort degrees for each sample were obtained by performing K-means++ to cluster normalized comfort index. Finally, we established a decision tree model for lower limb comfort level analysis and determination. The results showed that the classification accuracy of the model reached 95.8%, among which the classification accuracy of the four comfort levels reached 95.2%, 97.3%, 92.9%, and 97.8%, respectively. In order to verify the advantages of this paper, the classification results of this paper were compared with the classification results of four supervised classification algorithms: Gaussian Parsimonious Bayes, linear SVM, cosine KNN and traditional CLS decision tree.
Digitalisation, Parenting, and Children’s Mental Health: What Are the Challenges and Policy Implications?
Authors: Hung Jason
Published: May 2022

In this narrative review, the relationships between digitalisation and the mental health status among children and youths will be discussed first. Second, amidst the pandemic, parents and children have much more time to spend together at home, so parenting plays a more significant role in determining children’s wellbeing. Therefore, how different parenting styles impact digitalisation and the mental health experienced by children and youths will be assessed. This narrative review aims to investigate the parenting conditions needed for children and youths to benefit from the growth of digitalisation, so that policies for digital transformation can be recommended. The outputs of this narrative review include recommending the endeavours of digital transformation that involve indiscriminately active inclusion and facilitating privileged young people, as well as their less advantaged counterparts, to maximise the advantages digitalisation offers.
The Effect of Second-Victim-Related Distress and Support on Work-Related Outcomes in Tertiary Care Hospitals in Kelantan, Malaysia
Authors: Mohd Kamaruzaman Ahmad Zulfahmi , Ibrahim Mohd Ismail , Mokhtar Ariffin Marzuki , Mohd Zain Maizun , Satiman Saiful Nazri , Yaacob Najib Majdi
Published: May 2022

After a patient safety incident, the involved healthcare providers may experience sustained second-victim distress and reduced professional efficacy, with subsequent negative work-related outcomes and the cultivation of resilience. This study aims to investigate the factors affecting negative work-related outcomes and resilience with a hypothetical triad of support as the mediators: colleague, supervisor, and institutional support. This cross-sectional study recruited 733 healthcare providers from three tertiary care hospitals in Kelantan, Malaysia. Three steps of hierarchical linear regression were developed for both outcomes (negative work-related outcomes and resilience). Four multiple mediator models of the support triad were analyzed. Second-victim distress, professional efficacy, and the support triad contributed significantly in all the regression models. Colleague support partially mediated the relationship defining the effects of professional efficacy on negative work-related outcomes and resilience, whereas colleague and supervisor support partially mediated the effects of second-victim distress on negative work-related outcomes. Similar results were found regarding resilience, with all support triads producing similar results. As mediators, the support triads ameliorated the effect of second-victim distress on negative work-related outcomes and resilience, suggesting an important role of having good support, especially after encountering patient safety incidents.
Can Green Economy and Ecological Welfare Achieve Synergistic Development? The Perspective of the “Two Mountains” Theory
Authors: Ma Lindong , Hong Yuanxiao , Chen Xihui
Published: May 2022

China’s high-speed economic growth and severe environmental problems have resulted in a poor Environmental Performance Index and have affected China’s sustainable development and ecological welfare improvement. Therefore, exploring whether there is a certain relationship between the two and their influencing factors is an important way and a breakthrough to solve the problems regarding green economic progress and ecological welfare enhancement. To this end, by using the undesirable slack-based measure (SBM) model, this paper measures the ecological welfare performance and the green economic efficiency of 11 cities in Zhejiang Province, China, from 2000 to 2019. Through the methods of spatiotemporal evolution, coefficient of variation, coupling coordination degree, and the Tobit model, we found that: (1) The development trend of urban green economic efficiency and ecological welfare performance were both in a “U” shape that first fell and then rose; (2) The coupling coordination degree between green economic efficiency and ecological welfare performance showed a wave-like upward trend as a whole and most cities have entered a more advanced coupling coordination stage during the study period. The coefficient of variation revealed a downward trend; (3) The urbanization level, industrial structure, and government investment can promote the regional coordinated development, while the industrialization degree and the opening level had a negative impact on it; (4) The “Two Mountains” theory was beneficial to the improvement of regional urban green economic efficiency and ecological welfare performance and their coordinated development both in theory and practice. Finally, according to the findings, we offer relevant suggestions on making good use of the country’s preferential policies and informatization means from the perspective of the regional coordinated development.
Physical Fitness and Upper Limb Asymmetry in Young Padel Players: Differences between Genders and Categories
Authors: Pradas Francisco , Toro-Román Víctor , Ortega-Zayas Miguel , Montoya-Suárez Duber , Sánchez-Alcaraz Bernardino , Muñoz Diego
Published: May 2022

This study aimed to assess the physical fitness and upper body asymmetries of young padel players aged between 13 and 16 years and to determine the possible differences between genders and categories. A total of 60 padel players were divided into four groups: under-14 male (n = 15; age: 13.75 ± 0.45 years; height: 1.64 ± 0.07 m; weight: 54.7 ± 8.3 kg), under-14 female (n = 15; age: 13.75 ± 0.44 years; height: 1.60 ± 0.05 m; weight: 51.5 ± 6.0 kg), under-16 male (n = 15; age: 15.44 ± 0.51 years; height:1.71 ± 0.04 m; weight: 63.88 ± 6.2 kg) and under-16 female (n = 15; age:15.46 ± 0.52 years; height:1.63 ± 0.05 m; weight: 55.08 ± 3.6 kg). Handgrip strength, ischiosural flexibility, gestural speed of the dominant arm, vertical jump, cardiorespiratory capacity, lateral movement, lateral acceleration and reaction time were measured. Male players showed better results in manual grip strength, vertical jump power, cardiorespiratory capacity and lateral movement (p < 0.05). Moreover, males presented a higher percentage of asymmetry in upper limb strength. Female players showed better reaction time and greater flexibility (p < 0.05). Regarding the differences between categories, the under-16 players showed greater flexibility, gestural speed, vertical jump power, cardiorespiratory capacity and lateral movement compared to the under-14 players. These results can be used as reference values for coaches/physical trainers of younger categories to improve health control and physical performance planning.
The Impact of One-Time Relaxation Training on Attention Efficiency Measured by Continuous Performance Test in Depressive Disorders
Authors: Rucka Kinga , Talarowska Monika
Published: May 2022

Introduction: People with depression often complain of dysfunction in cognitive processes, particularly attention. Pharmacotherapy is one of the most commonly used methods of treating depressive disorders and related attention difficulties. Patients also benefit from various forms of psychotherapy and frequently support themselves with alternative therapeutic methods. The purpose of this study was to examine whether a 15-min-long relaxation training session could improve the efficiency of attention and perceptiveness in individuals diagnosed with depressive disorders. Methods: Forty-two individuals participated in the study, including 20 individuals diagnosed with recurrent depressive disorder (rDD) and 22 healthy subjects (comparison group, CG). The so-called continuous performance test in the Polish version (Attention and Perceptiveness Test, APT) was applied in the study. In the first stage, the participants completed the 6/9 version of the APT test and then took part in a 15-min relaxation training session (autogenic training developed by the German psychiatrist Johannes Heinrich Schultz). The next step of the study was to perform APT again (parallel version—3/8). Results: The analyses showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.001) in the results obtained in the two versions of APT between the studied groups (rDD versus CG) in terms of the perceptual speed index. These differences were seen both before and after the introduction of the relaxation training. There was a statistically significant difference in the value of the perceptual speed index before and after the applied relaxation training for the subjects with depression (p = 0.004) and for the whole study group (p = 0.008). A significant correlation of illness symptom severity with decreased attentional efficiency was observed in the rDD group (perceptual speed index)—both before (r = −0.864; p < 0.001) and after the relaxation training (r = −0.785; p < 0.001). Conclusions: The continuous performance test (APT) is a reliable indicator of impaired attention efficiency among patients with depressive symptoms compared to healthy subjects. 15-min-long one-time relaxation exercise has a beneficial effect on attention efficiency measured by APT in people with depression.
Teaching Informatics to Adults of Vocational Schools during the Pandemic: Students’ Views and the Role of Neuroeducation
Authors: Doukakis Spyridon , Niari Maria , Malliou Elen , Vlachou Sarah , Filippakopoulou Evangelia
Published: May 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an extremely significant impact on the educational process. The need to continue the educational practice, albeit the restrictions imposed in movement, led to a change in the way students participate and learn, as well as in the way educators teach and communicate. The aim of the present research study was to record the perspectives and views of adult students of evening upper secondary schools of the informatics sector, in relation to the challenges, experiences and learning involvement in the online courses. The study was conducted using a questionnaire with open-ended questions given to all students of an evening vocational upper secondary school in a semi-urban island region. The findings show that the way students are taught, the distractions and responsibilities of the students as well as their feelings concerning the pandemic, were the major challenges they faced. Those challenges affected both their involvement and learning experiences from the educational process. Finally, it seems that the low interaction among students and educators, the technical difficulties, and the lack of a structured learning framework have had an impact on the effectiveness of online education, according to educational neuroscience principles.
A Taxonomic Study on the Genus Naddia from China (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Staphylininae) with Descriptions of Two New Species
Authors: Xia Mei-Hua , Tang Liang , Schillhammer Harald
Published: May 2022

Two new species of Naddia from China are described: N. chenchangchini sp. nov. (Guangxi) and N. hujiayaoi sp. nov. (Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangxi, Guangdong). Naddia atripes Bernhauer, 1939 is new to Vietnam and the following Chinese provinces: Jiangxi, Guangxi, Jiangsu, Shaanxi, Hunan, Hubei, Sichuan, Guizhou, Fujian and Guangdong. Naddia chinensis Bernhauer, 1929 is new to Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Guizhou, Henan, Hunan, Shaanxi, Fujian, Chongqing, Guangxi and Hubei. Naddia miniata Fauvel, 1895 is new to Laos. A key to Chinese species of the genus is provided.