bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Operative Use of Thoracic Ultrasound in Respiratory Medicine: A Clinical Study
Authors: Soldati Gino , Prediletto Renato , Demi Marcello , Salvadori Stefano , Pistolesi Massimo
Published: April 2022

For over 15 years, thoracic ultrasound has been applied in the evaluation of numerous lung diseases, demonstrating a variable diagnostic predictive power compared to traditional imaging techniques such as chest radiography and CT. However, in unselected pulmonary patients, there are no rigorous scientific demonstrations of the complementarity of thoracic ultrasound with traditional and standardized imaging techniques that use radiation. In this study 101 unselected pulmonary patients were evaluated blindly with ultrasound chest examinations during their hospital stay. Other instrumental examinations, carried out during hospitalization, were standard chest radiography, computed tomography (CT), and, when needed, radioisotopic investigation and cardiac catheterization. The operator who performed the ultrasound examinations was unaware of the anamnestic and clinical data of the patients. Diffuse fibrosing disease was detected with a sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of 100%, 95% and 97%, respectively. In pleural effusions, ultrasound showed a sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of 100%. In consolidations, the sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy were 83%, 98% and 93%, respectively. Low values of sensitivity were recorded for surface nodulations of less than one centimeter. Isolated subpleural ground glass densities were identified as White Lung with a sensitivity of 72% and a specificity of 86%. Only the associations Diffuse ultrasound findings/Definitive fibrosing disease, Ultrasound Consolidation/Definitive consolidation and non-diffuse ultrasound artefactual features/Definitive vascular pathology (pulmonary hypertension, embolism) were statistically significant with adjusted residuals of 7.9, 7 and 4.1, respectively. The obtained results show how chest ultrasound is an effective complementary diagnostic tool for the pulmonologist. When performed, as a complement to the patient’s physical examination, it can restrict the diagnostic hypothesis in the case of pleural effusion, consolidation and diffuse fibrosing disease of the lung.
Rebleeding Rate and Risk Factors for Rebleeding after Device-Assisted Enteroscopy in Patients with Obscure Gastrointestinal Bleeding: A KASID Multicenter Study
Authors: Kim Yuna , Kim Jae-Hyun , Kang Eun-Ae , Park Soo-Jung , Park Jae-Jun , Cheon Jae-Hee , Kim Tae-Il , Park Jihye , Jeon Seong-Ran
Published: April 2022

Introduction: The impact of device-assisted enteroscopy (DAE) on long-term rebleeding in patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) exhibiting detectable small-bowel lesions remains unclear. We investigated the long-term rebleeding rate and predictive factors for DAE in patients with OGIB. Method: Patients with OGIB with small bowel lesions detected through DAE were enrolled at three Korean tertiary hospitals. Predictive risk factors associated with rebleeding were analyzed using the Cox regression analysis. Results: From April 2008 to April 2021, 141 patients were enrolled, including 38 patients (27.0%) with rebleeding. The rebleeding rates at 1, 2, and 3 years were 25.0%, 29.6%, and 31.1%, respectively. The Cox regression analysis revealed that multiple small-bowel lesions (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.551, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.157–5.627, p = 0.020), the need for more than five packed red blood cells (RBC) transfusions (HR: 2.704, 95% CI: 1.412–5.181, p = 0.003), and ulcerative lesions (HR: 1.992, 95% CI: 1.037–3.826, p = 0.039) were positively associated with rebleeding. Therapeutic interventions for patients with detectable lesions, overt bleeding (vs. occult bleeding), comorbidities, and medications were not associated with rebleeding. Conclusion: More than 25% of patients with OGIB having detectable small-bowel lesions had rebleeding. Patients with multiple lesions, a requirement of more than five packed RBC transfusions, and ulcerative lesions were associated with a higher risk of rebleeding.
Usefulness of 3D CT/MRI Fusion Imaging for the Evaluation of Lumbar Disc Herniation and Kambin’s Triangle
Authors: Nagamatsu Masakazu , Maste Praful , Tanaka Masato , Fujiwara Yoshihiro , Arataki Shinya , Yamauchi Taro , Takeshita Yoshiyuki , Takamoto Rika , Torigoe Tsukasa , Tanaka Masato , Tanaka Ryosuke , Moriue Shinsuke
Published: April 2022

Study design: Prospective study. Objective: The aim of this study is to visualize the morphology of a lumbar herniated disc and Kambin’s triangle in three dimensions (3D) based on preoperative CT/MRI fusion images. Methods: CT/MRI fusion images of 23 patients (10 males and 13 females; mean age 58.2 years) were used to evaluate Kambin’s triangle, which is created between the superior articular process (SAP), exiting nerve root (ENR), inferiorly by the superior endplate of the lower lumbar vertebra and dural canal medially at 60 degree and 45 degree endoscopic approach angles. The percentage of the safe usage of transforaminal endoscopic approach was evaluated to utilize a 5 mm dilater without partial facet resection in the fusion image. The 3D lumbar nerve root sleeve angulation (3DNRA), which is the angle between the axis of the thecal sac and the nerve root sleeve, was calculated. The herniated discs were also visualized in the CT/MRI fusion image. Results: The 3DNRA became smaller from L2 to S1. The L2 3DNRA was statistically larger than those of the other root, and the S1 3DNRA was significantly smaller than the others (p < 0.05). (L2, 41.0°; L3, 35.6°; L4, 36.4°; L5, 33.9°; and S1, 23.2°). The SAP-ENR distance at 60° was greatest at L4/5 (5.9 mm). Possible needle passages at 60° to each disc level were 89.1% at L2/3, 87.0% at L3/4 and 84.8% at L4/5. However, the safe 5 mm dilater passage at 60° without bony resection to each disc level were 8.7% at L2/3, 28.3% at L3/4 and 37.0% at L4/5. The 60° corridor at L2/3 was the narrowest (p < 0.01). All herniated discs were visualized in the fusion image and the root compression site was clearly demonstrated especially with foraminal/extraforaminal herniations. Conclusion: The 3D lumbar CT/MRI fusion image enabled a combined nerve-bony assessment of Kambin’s triangle and herniated disc. A fully endoscopic 5 mm dilater may retract the exiting nerve root in more than 60% of total cases. This new imaging technique could prove to be very useful for the safety of endoscopic lumbar disc surgery.
RNA World Modeling: A Comparison of Two Complementary Approaches
Authors: Synak Jaroslaw , Rybarczyk Agnieszka , Blazewicz Jacek
Published: April 2022

The origin of life remains one of the major scientific questions in modern biology. Among many hypotheses aiming to explain how life on Earth started, RNA world is probably the most extensively studied. It assumes that, in the very beginning, RNA molecules served as both enzymes and as genetic information carriers. However, even if this is true, there are many questions that still need to be answered—for example, whether the population of such molecules could achieve stability and retain genetic information for many generations, which is necessary in order for evolution to start. In this paper, we try to answer this question based on the parasite–replicase model (RP model), which divides RNA molecules into enzymes (RNA replicases) capable of catalyzing replication and parasites that do not possess replicase activity but can be replicated by RNA replicases. We describe the aforementioned system using partial differential equations and, based on the analysis of the simulation, surmise general rules governing its evolution. We also compare this approach with one where the RP system is modeled and implemented using a multi-agent modeling technique. We show that approaching the description and analysis of the RP system from different perspectives (microscopic represented by MAS and macroscopic depicted by PDE) provides consistent results. Therefore, applying MAS does not lead to erroneous results and allows us to study more complex situations where many cases are concerned, which would not be possible through the PDE model.
Metaheuristic Optimization-Based Path Planning and Tracking of Quadcopter for Payload Hold-Release Mission
Authors: Belge Egemen , Altan Aytaç , Hacıoğlu Rıfat
Published: April 2022

Under harsh geographical conditions where manned flight is not possible, the ability of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to successfully carry out the payload hold–release mission by avoiding obstacles depends on the optimal path planning and tracking performance of the UAV. The ability of the UAV to plan and track the path with minimum energy and time consumption is possible by using the flight parameters. This study performs the optimum path planning and tracking using Harris hawk optimization (HHO)–grey wolf optimization (GWO), a hybrid metaheuristic optimization algorithm, to enable the UAV to actualize the payload hold–release mission avoiding obstacles. In the study, the hybrid HHO–GWO algorithm, which stands out with its avoidance of local minima and speed convergence, is used to successfully obtain the feasible and effective path. In addition, the effect of the mass change uncertainty of the UAV on optimal path planning and tracking performance is determined. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is tested by comparing it with the metaheuristic swarm optimization algorithms such as particle swarm optimization (PSO) and GWO. The experimental results obtained indicate that the proposed algorithm generates a fast and safe optimal path without becoming stuck with local minima, and the quadcopter tracks the generated path with minimum energy and time consumption.
Adaptive Neural Partial State Tracking Control for Full-State-Constrained Uncertain Singularly Perturbed Nonlinear Systems and Its Applications to Electric Circuit
Authors: Wang Hao , Liu Xiaomin , Yang Chunyu
Published: April 2022

This paper is concerned with the adaptive neural network (NN) partial tracking control problem for a class of completely unknown multi-input multi-output (MIMO) singularly perturbed nonlinear systems possessing time-varying asymmetric state constraints. To satisfy the constraints, we utilize the state-depended transformation technique to convert the original state-constrained system to an equivalent unconstrained one, then the state constraint problem can be solved by ensuring its stability. Partial state tracking can be achieved without the violation of state constraints. The adaptive tracking controllers are designed by using singular perturbation theory and the adaptive control method, in which NNs are used to approximate unknown nonlinear functions. The ill-conditioned numerical problems lurking in the controller design process are averted and the closed-loop system stability can be guaranteed by introducing an appropriate Lyapunov function with singular perturbation parameter. Finally, a practical example is given to demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed adaptive NN tracking control scheme.
A Study on Performance Metrics for Anomaly Detection Based on Industrial Control System Operation Data
Authors: Kim Ga-Yeong , Lim Su-Min , Euom Ieck-Chae
Published: April 2022

Recently, OT (operational technology) networks of industrial control systems have been combined with IT networks. Therefore, OT networks have inherited the vulnerabilities and attack paths existing in IT networks. Consequently, attacks on industrial control systems are increasing, and research on technologies combined with artificial intelligence for detecting attacks is active. Current research focuses on detecting attacks and improving the detection accuracy. Few studies exist on metrics that interpret anomaly detection results. Different analysis metrics are required depending on the characteristics of the industrial control system data used for anomaly detection and the type of attack they contain. We focused on the fact that industrial control system data are time series data. The accuracy and F1-score are used as metrics for interpreting anomaly detection results. However, these metrics are not suitable for evaluating anomaly detection in time series data. Because it is not possible to accurately determine the start and end of an attack, range-based performance metrics must be used. Therefore, in this study, when evaluating anomaly detection performed on time series data, we propose a range-based performance metric with an improved algorithm. The previously studied range-based performance metric time-series aware precision and recall (TaPR) evaluated all attacks equally. In this study, improved performance metrics were studied by deriving ambiguous instances according to the characteristics of each attack and redefining the algorithm of the TaPR metric. This study provides accurate assessments when performing anomaly detection on time series data and allows predictions to be evaluated based on the characteristics of the attack.
Modular Battery Emulator for Development and Functional Testing of Battery Management Systems: The Cell Emulator
Authors: Di Rienzo Roberto , Verani Alessandro , Baronti Federico , Roncella Roberto , Saletti Roberto
Published: April 2022

Battery Management Systems are fundamental components of the present battery generation. The development and characterization phases of a BMS often require an emulator of the battery cells with which the Battery Management System functions can be assessed with no safety risks as it would instead happen using a real battery. This work describes the design and characterization of a modular cell emulator circuit to be used as platform for the Hardware-in-the-loop test of a Battery Management System. The design constraints and choices are first described. Then, the experimental characterization of the cell emulator is shown and discussed. The proposed circuit shows a voltage resolution of 76 μV, an accuracy of 2.17 mV, and a setting time of 340 μs. Its cost is around 40 USD. The circuit results to be a very good trade-off between performance and cost. The Project is available to the scientific community as open hardware platform freely downloadable. It could be useful to small-size laboratories to self-produce a low-cost battery emulator with good performance for the development and the functional test of custom Battery Management Systems.
Special Issue on Dynamics and Control of Offshore and Onshore Wind Turbine Structures
Authors: Santos Matilde
Published: April 2022

Renewable energies, particularly wind energy, play a decisive role in helping to meet the global energy demand while maintaining an eco-friendly and clean environment [...]
The Interaction between In-Cylinder Turbulent Flow and Flame Front Propagation in an Optical SI Engine Measured by High-Speed PIV
Authors: Ikeda Yuji
Published: April 2022

The relationship between the flow field and flame propagation is essential in determining the dynamics and effects of turbulent flow in an optical SI engine. In this study, high turbulence flow at stable operations was achieved using 12,000 rpm engine speed, 60 kPa absolute intake pressure, 14.7 A/F, and 15 deg. BTDC spark timing. The turbulent flow field and flame propagation interplay were analyzed through the simultaneous high-speed PIV measurements of the in-cylinder flow and flame front propagation under firing conditions. The intensity of the seeder used was optimized by changing the crank angle. Successful simultaneous detection of the flame front and turbulent flow was demonstrated. Strong turbulence was produced at the flame front simultaneously with the flame movement. After ignition timing, the flame accelerated in the unburned region, and a vital turbulence region occurred.
Analysis of NVH Behavior of Synchronous Reluctance Machine for EV Applications
Authors: Dziechciarz Arkadiusz , Popp Aron , Marțiș Claudia , Sułowicz Maciej
Published: April 2022

In this paper, an analysis of noise and vibration of a synchronous reluctance machine for EV applications is performed. The analyzed machine was designed for electric vehicle application. The noise and vibration of a synchronous reluctance machine were first estimated during simulations; next, the obtained results were validated during laboratory tests. The analyzed model of the machine was simplified and included only stator core as it was assumed to be the main source of the machine vibration and generated noise. To simulate the noise and vibration of the machine, multiphysics modeling of the machine was performed. Laboratory tests proved the correctness of performed simulations. The obtained results allowed us to investigate the influence of the machine’s operating point on the generated noise and vibration. The frequency of the magnetic radial forces were proven to be the dominant factor in noise generation. The influence of the load and current angle on the machine’s noise and vibration was proven to be negligible. It was also proven that considering only the stator structure in numerical analysis of the noise and vibration of the machine leads to valuable results.
Ferro-Resonance Analysis of Capacitor Voltage Transformer with Fast Saturation Damper
Authors: Ding Xinzhi , Yang Kai , Wang Weiyu , Liu Bin , Wang Xuejin , Zhang Jie , Li Dayi
Published: April 2022

With the increase in capacitor voltage transformer (CVT) operation life, CVT impedance changes, and the short-time switching of overhead lines, it is very easy to cause a transient oscillation accident in which a CVT participates, reduce the insulation level of a CVT, and even induce regional power grid oscillation and easily cause capacitor breakdown, after long-term operation with defects. In this paper, the whole power network, including the generator, power grid, and consumer, is modeled, and the theoretical model of the CVT ferro-resonance connected grid is built. The frequency spectrum analysis, and the measurements of resonance bus voltage and line voltage, were carried out to find the design method of a fast saturation damper (FSD) and its voltage–current characteristics that affect the vibration, based on theory and practice; this paper puts forward effective measures to reduce the resonance effect of a CVT in operation, and avoid the oscillation of the line and even the regional power grid system.
Optimal Scheduling of Energy Storage System Considering Life-Cycle Degradation Cost Using Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Lee Wonpoong , Chae Myeongseok , Won Dongjun
Published: April 2022

Recently, due to the ever-increasing global warming effect, the proportion of renewable energy sources in the electric power industry has increased significantly. With the increase in distributed power sources with adjustable outputs, such as energy storage systems (ESSs), it is necessary to define ESS usage standards for an adaptive power transaction plan. However, the life-cycle cost is generally defined in a quadratic formula without considering various factors. In this study, the life-cycle cost for an ESS is defined in detail based on a life assessment model and used for scheduling. The life-cycle cost is affected by four factors: temperature, average state-of-charge (SOC), depth-of-discharge (DOD), and time. In the case of the DOD stress model, the life-cycle cost is expressed as a function of the cycle depth, whose exact value can be determined based on fatigue analysis techniques such as the Rainflow counting algorithm. The optimal scheduling of the ESS is constructed considering the life-cycle cost using a tool based on reinforcement learning. Since the life assessment cannot apply the analytical technique due to the temperature characteristics and time-dependent characteristics of the ESS SOC, the reinforcement learning that derives optimal scheduling is used. The results show that the SOC curve changes with respect to weight. As the weight of life-cycle cost increases, the ESS output and charge/discharge frequency decrease.
A Stochastic Multi-Objective Model for China’s Provincial Generation-Mix Planning: Considering Variable Renewable and Transmission Capacity
Authors: Zhou Shuangshuang , Yang Juan , Yu Shiwei
Published: April 2022

The uncertain output of variable renewables adds significant challenges to the generation of affordable, reliable, and sustainable power sources in a country or region. Therefore, we propose a new stochastic nonlinear multi-objective model to optimize the power generation structure in 31 provinces of China. Considering variable renewable integration, we use Monte Carlo simulation to describe the randomness and uncertainty of renewable power output. The learning curve in the exponential expression is used to describe the nonlinear relationship between generation cost and installed capacity. The optimized results show that China can substitute fossil power with clean power. Renewable power will account for more than 42% of total power in the optimal power generation structure in 2040. In particular, the annual average growth rate of non-hydro renewable generation is expected to be 12.06%, with solar photovoltaic (PV) power growing the most by 17.95%. The share of renewable power exceeds that of thermal power in 14 provinces, and PV power represents the highest proportion at 30.21%. Reducing transmission capacity can promote the development of advantageous power in each region, such as wind power in the Northwest region and PV power in the South region, with the share increasing by 36.33% and 132.59%, respectively.
A Descriptive Review to Access the Most Suitable Rib’s Configuration of Roughness for the Maximum Performance of Solar Air Heater
Authors: Karmveer  , Gupta Naveen Kumar , Alam Tabish , Cozzolino Raffaello , Bella Gino
Published: April 2022

Solar air heater is considered to be the most popular and widely used solar thermal system. Solar air heater (SAH) can be used in many applications, ranging from domestic to industrial purposes. However, it seems that the viability of SAH is not feasible due to the following two reasons: (i) the low convective heat transfer coefficient at the absorber plate is the reason that causes a low heat transfer rate to the flowing air, and (ii) the high temperature of the absorber plate insists on high heat losses, thus, reducing the thermal efficiency. The convective coefficient can be augmented by placing turbulators/roughness on the absorber plate, which induces turbulence in the flow passage near the absorber plate by disrupting and destabilizing the laminar sublayer. This comprehensive review has been presented to summarize the studies on artificial roughness/turbulators geometries to enhance the heat transfer rate. Various rib configurations (such as grits, grooves, blockages, baffles, winglets, protrusions, twisted taps, dimples, and mesh wires) and distinct arrangements of rib roughness (such as inclined, transverse, V shape, with gap) have been reviewed to present heat transfer and friction characteristics. Additionally, thermal efficiency and thermohydraulic efficiency (in terms of net effective efficiency) of various artificial roughnesses and rib configurations are presented under distinct operating conditions for comparing purposes. This comparative study has been presented to assess the most desirable ribs and their configurations. On the basis of net effective efficiency, a multiarc rib with gaps is found to be the best configuration among all and have the highest thermal and net effective efficiency of around 79%.
Strength Loss Inference Due to Decay or Cavities in Tree Trunks Using Tomographic Imaging Data Applied to Equations Proposed in the Literature
Authors: dos Reis Mariana Nagle , Gonçalves Raquel , Brazolin Sérgio , de Assis Palma Stella Stoppa
Published: April 2022

The importance of urban forests is undeniable when considering their benefits to the environment, such as improving air quality, landscapes and breaking its monotony. However, trees are subject to failures that can cause personal and economic damage. Therefore, it is necessary to know the health conditions of the trees to define their most adequate management. Some tools are used to detect plant health conditions, such as visual analysis, tomography, and drilling resistance. In addition, some formulas based on the cavity and trunk diameter relation or the remaining trunk wall dimension are also used to infer the strength loss of a tree and its consequent risk of falling. However, these formulas have limitations, such as assuming only cavities that are always centered and not considering areas with decay. Therefore, this research evaluates whether ultrasonic tomographic imaging allows us to improve the reach of the equations proposed in the literature to infer the strength loss of trees due to the presence of cavities and decays. The results showed that ultrasonic tomographic imaging allowed the equations to be closer to real conditions of the tree trunk, such as the inclusion of wood strength reduction from decay and the displacement of internal cavities in calculating the reduction in the second moment of area.
Consensual Regression of Soluble Solids Content in Peach by Near Infrared Spectrocopy
Authors: Yuan Lei-Ming , You Lifan , Yang Xiaofeng , Chen Xiaojing , Huang Guangzao , Chen Xi , Shi Wen , Sun Yiye
Published: April 2022

In order to reduce the uncertainty of the genetic algorithm (GA) in optimizing the near-infrared spectral calibration model and avoid the loss of spectral information of the unselected variables, a strategy of fusing consensus models is proposed to measure the soluble solids content (SSC) in peaches. A total of 266 peach samples were collected at four arrivals, and their interactance spectra were scanned by an integrated analyzer prototype, and then an internal index of SSC was destructively measured by the standard refractometry method. The near-infrared spectra were pre-processed with mean centering and were selected successively with a genetic algorithm (GA) to construct the consensus model, which was integrated with two member models with optimized weightings. One was the conventional partial least square (PLS) optimized with GA selected variables (PLSGA), and the other one was the derived PLS developed with residual variables after GA selections (PLSRV). The performance of PLSRV models showed some useful spectral information related to peaches’ SSC and someone performed close to the full-spectral-based PLS model. Among these 10 runs, consensus models obtained a lower root mean squared errors of prediction (RMSEP), with an average of 1.106% and standard deviation (SD) of 0.0068, and performed better than that of the optimized PLSGA models, which achieved a RMSEP of average 1.116% with SD of 0.0097. It can be concluded that the application of fusion strategy can reduce the fluctuation uncertainty of a model optimized by genetic algorithm, fulfill the utilization of the spectral information amount, and realize the rapid detection of the internal quality of the peach.
Effect of Load Spatial Configuration on the Heating of Chicken Meat Assisted by Radio Frequency at 40.68 MHz
Authors: Goñi Sandro M. , d’Amore Matteo , Della Valle Marta , Olivera Daniela F. , Salvadori Viviana O. , Marra Francesco
Published: April 2022

Food heating assisted by radio frequencies has been industrially applied to post-harvest treatment of grains, legumes and various kind of nuts, to tempering and thawing of meat and fish products and to post-baking of biscuits. The design of food processes based on the application of radiofrequencies was often based on rules of thumb, so much so that their intensification could lead significant improvements. One of the subjects under consideration is the shape of the food items that may influence their heating assisted by radiofrequency. In this work, a joint experimental and numerical study on the effects of the spatial configuration of a food sample (chicken meat shaped as a parallelepiped) on the heating pattern in a custom RF oven (40.68 MHz, 50 Ohm, 10 cm electrodes gap, 300 W) is presented. Minced chicken breast samples were shaped as cubes (4 × 4 × 4 cm3) to be organized in different loads and spatial configurations (horizontal or vertical arrays of 2 to 16 cubes). The samples were heated at two radiofrequency operative power levels (225 W and 300 W). Heating rate, temperature uniformity and heating efficiency were determined during each run. A digital twin of the experimental system and process was developed by building and numerically solving a 3D transient mathematical model, taking into account electromagnetic field distribution in air and samples and heat transfer in the food samples. Once validated, the digital tool was used to analyze the heating behavior of the samples, focusing on the most efficient configurations. Both experiments and simulations showed that, given a fixed gap between the electrodes (10 cm), the vertically oriented samples exhibited a larger heating efficiency with respect to the horizontally oriented ones, pointing out that the gap between the top electrode and the samples plays a major role in the heating efficiency. The efficiency was larger (double or even more; >40% vs. 10–15%) in thicker samples (built with two layers of cubes), closer to the top electrode, independently from nominal power. Nevertheless, temperature uniformity in vertical configurations was poorer (6–7 °C) than in horizontal ones (3 °C).
Continuum Damage Dynamic Model Combined with Transient Elastic Equation and Heat Conduction Equation to Solve RPV Stress
Authors: Chen Wenxing , Dai Shuyang , Zheng Baojuan
Published: April 2022

The development of the world cannot be separated from energy: the energy crisis has become a major challenge in this era, and nuclear energy has been applied to many fields. This paper mainly studies the stress change of reaction pressure vessels (RPV). We established several different physical models to solve the same mechanical problem. Numerical methods range from 1D to 3D; the 1D model is mainly based on the mechanical equilibrium equations established by the internal pressure of RPV, the hoop stress, and the axial stress. We found that the hoop stress is twice the axial stress; this model is a rough estimate. For 2D RPV mechanical simulation, we proposed a new method, which combined the continuum damage dynamic model with the transient cross-section finite element method (CDDM-TCFEM). The advantage is that the temperature and shear strain can be linked by the damage factor effect on the elastic model and Poission ratio. The results show that with the increase of temperature (damage factor μ^,d^), the Young’s modulus decreases point by point, and the Poisson’s ratio increases with the increase of temperature (damage factor μ^,Et). The advantage of the CDDM-TCFEM is that the calculation efficiency is high. However, it is unable to obtain the overall mechanical cloud map. In order to solve this problem, we established the axisymmetric finite element model, and the results show that the stress value at both ends of RPV is significantly greater than that in the middle of the container. Meanwhile, the shape changes of 2D and 3D RPV are calculated and visualized. Finally, a 3D thermal–mechanical coupling model is established, and the cloud map of strain and displacement are also visualized. We found that the stress of the vessel wall near the nozzle decreases gradually from the inside surface to the outside, and the hoop stress is slightly larger than the axial stress. The main contribution of this paper is to establish a CDDM-TCFEM model considering the influence of temperature on elastic modulus and Poission ratio. It can dynamically describe the stress change of RPV; we have given the fitting formula of the internal temperature and pressure of RPV changing with time. We also establish a 3D coupling model and use the adaptive mesh to discretize the pipe. The numerical discrete theory of FDM-FEM is given, and the numerical results are visualized well. In addition, we have given error estimation for h-type and p-type adaptive meshes. So, our research can provide mechanical theoretical support for nuclear energy safety applications and RPV design.
In Silico Analysis Identified Putative Pathogenic Missense nsSNPs in Human SLITRK1 Gene
Authors: Ali Muhammad Zeeshan , Farid Arshad , Ahmad Safeer , Muzammal Muhammad , Mohaini Mohammed Al , Alsalman Abdulkhaliq J. , Al Hawaj Maitham A. , Alhashem Yousef N. , Alsaleh Abdulmonem A. , Almusalami Eman M. , Maryam Mahpara , Khan Muzammil Ahmad
Published: April 2022

Human DNA contains several variations, which can affect the structure and normal functioning of a protein. These variations could be single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) or insertion-deletions (InDels). SNPs, as opposed to InDels, are more commonly present in DNA and may cause genetic disorders. In the current study, several bioinformatic tools were used to prioritize the pathogenic variants in the SLITRK1 gene. Out of all of the variants, 16 were commonly predicted to be pathogenic by these tools. All the variants had very low frequency, i.e., <0.0001 in the global population. The secondary structure of all filtered variants was predicted, but no structural change was observed at the site of variation in any variant. Protein stability analysis of these variants was then performed, which determined a decrease in protein stability of 10 of the variants. Amino acid conservation analysis revealed that all the amino acids were highly conserved, indicating their structural and functional importance. Protein 3D structure of wildtype SLITRK1 and all of its variants was predicted using I-TASSER, and the effect of variation on 3D structure of the protein was observed using the Missense3D tool, which presented the probable structural loss in three variants, i.e., Asn529Lys, Leu496Pro and Leu94Phe. The wildtype SLITRK1 protein and these three variants were independently docked with their close interactor protein PTPRD, and remarkable differences were observed in the docking sites of normal and variants, which will ultimately affect the functional activity of the SLITRK1 protein. Previous studies have shown that mutations in SLITRK1 are involved in Tourette syndrome. The present study may assist a molecular geneticist in interpreting the variant pathogenicity in research as well as diagnostic setup.
Modelling the Roles of Community-Based Organisations in Post-Disaster Transformative Adaptation
Authors: Ajulo Oluwadunsin , Adams Ishmael , Asgary Ali , Tang Patrick , Von-Meding Jason
Published: April 2022

Disasters result where hazards and vulnerabilities intersect. The concept of vulnerability itself is mainly a social construct and the extent to which this can be overcome while transforming disaster-prone systems has often been emphasised in the critical hazard literature. However, the extent to which community-based organisations contribute to post-disaster transformation at the community level remains unexamined. This paper is aimed at examining the extent of the role of community-based organisations (CBOs) in the transformative adaptation of post-earthquake Lyttelton. Quantitative data was obtained from community members using a questionnaire survey of 107 respondents, supporting interviews, and secondary data to explain the phenomenon in this study. System dynamics and agent-based modelling tools were applied to analyse the data. The results show that while CBOs played a major role in Lyttelton’s transformation by fostering collaboration, innovation, and awareness, the extent of their impact was determined by differences in their adaptive capacities. The transformation was influenced by the impacts of community initiatives that were immediate, during, and a long time after the disaster recovery activities in the community. Our research extends the discourse on the role of community-based organisations in disaster recovery by highlighting the extent of CBOs’ impacts in community post-disaster transformation.
College Life Adjustment, Life Stress, Career Barriers, and Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy of College Students Who Have Experienced COVID-19 in South Korea
Authors: Park Jeong-Hye , Kang Se-Won
Published: April 2022

University life is challenging for students, given the college life adjustment, life stress, career barriers, and career decision-making self-efficacy required. COVID-19 has made this even more complex. This study investigated the relationships among these factors in college students who experienced COVID-19. Data were collected using an online cross-sectional structured survey of 1242 university students from December 2020 to January 2021. Data were analyzed via independent-sample t-tests, one-way ANOVAs, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, multiple regression, and logistic regression, using SPSS. College life adjustment was significantly correlated with life stress (r = −0.255, p < 0.001), career barriers (r = −0.429, p < 0.001), and career decision-making self-efficacy (r = 0.531, p < 0.001). The regression analysis showed that career barriers, career decision-making self-efficacy, and grade level had a total explanatory power of 33.7% for college life adaptation. The logistic regression analysis showed that the odds ratio (OR) of career barriers being low in the group with a high college life adaptation score was 2.045 (p < 0.001), and the OR of career decision-making self-efficacy being high was 4.107 (p < 0.001), as compared to the group with a low score. To increase college students’ adaptation to college life, career support programs that improve career barriers and career decision-making self-efficacy should be developed.
Infant Drowning Prevention: Insights from a New Ecological Psychology Approach
Authors: Burnay Carolina , Anderson David I. , Button Chris , Cordovil Rita , Peden Amy E.
Published: April 2022

Drowning causes significant mortality and morbidity globally, and infants (0–4 years of age) are disproportionately impacted. In a groundbreaking approach to pediatric drowning prevention, ecological psychology has been used to investigate the relationship between infants’ perceptual–motor development and their behavior around bodies of water. In this review, we summarize recent research findings in the field of ecological psychology and apply these to the prevention of infant drowning. Studies have linked infants’ avoidance of falls into the water with locomotor experience and type of accessway into bodies of water. Through crawling experience, infants learn to perceive the risk of falling into water and start adapting their behavior to avoid drop-offs leading into water. Infants tend to enter deep water more when the access is via a slope than via a drop-off. We propose that ecological psychology can enhance infant drowning prevention interventions. The aim is to create an additional layer of protection, the perceptual information layer, in addition to existing strategies, such as supervision and barriers. This new protective layer can be a powerful tool to further highlight the risk of entering the water and reduce infant drowning-related mortality and morbidity.
Association among Helicobacter pylori Infection, Tooth Loss, and Heavy Medal Exposure in a Chinese Rural Population
Authors: Yan Jun , Zhang Honglong , Hu Zenan , Zhang Xuan , Niu Jingping , Luo Bin , Wang Haiping , Li Xun
Published: April 2022

Previous research suggests that heavy metals may be associated with increased susceptibility to Helicobacter pylori infection. This study investigated the effect of heavy metal exposure (Pb and Cd) on tooth loss and H. pylori infection in a Chinese rural population, who live near a mining and smelting area. Blood samples were collected from the study participants to estimate the lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) exposure levels. H. pylori infection was analyzed using the 14C-urea breath test, and the number of missing teeth (MT), filled teeth (FT), and missing or filled teeth (MFT) were counted by conducting a physical examination. Regression analysis was used to assess the difference between H. pylori-positive and -negative individuals in the MT, FT, and MFT groups, adjusting for confounders. The H. pylori infection prevalence was higher in individuals in the high Cd or high Pb groups than that in the low Cd or low Pb groups (p < 0.05). In addition, greater numbers of FT and MFT were observed in individuals in the high Pb group than those in the low Pb group (p < 0.05). We further found 8.7% (95% CI, 2.8–23.8%, p = 0.017) of the effect of the high BPb level on H. pylori infection risk could be statistically explained by FT using amediation analyses in adjusted models, and 6.8% (95% CI, 1.6–24.8%, p = 0.066) by MFT. Furthermore, FT and MFT were significantly associated with increased risk for H. pylori infection (odds ratio (OR) = 4.938, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.125–21.671; OR = 3.602, 95% CI: 1.218–10.648, respectively). Pb and Cd exposure may be associated with tooth loss and increased susceptibility to H. pylori infection, and tooth loss may be an independent risk factor for H. pylori infection.
Carbon Mitigation Pathways of Urban Transportation under Cold Climatic Conditions
Authors: Wang Xianen , Qin Baoyang , Wang Hanning , Dong Xize , Duan Haiyan
Published: April 2022

Climate heterogeneity has enormous impacts on CO2 emissions of the transportation sector, especially in cold regions where the demand for in-car heating and anti-skid measures leads to high energy consumption, and the penetration rate of electric vehicles is low. It entails to propose targeted emission reduction measures in cold regions for peaking CO2 emissions as soon as possible. This paper constructs an integrated long-range energy alternatives planning system (LEAP) model that incorporates multi-transportation modes and multi-energy types to predict the CO2 emission trend of the urban transportation sector in a typical cold province of China. Five scenarios are set based on distinct level emission control for simulating the future trends during 2017–2050. The results indicate that the peak value is 704.7–742.1 thousand metric tons (TMT), and the peak time is 2023–2035. Energy-saving–low-carbon scenario (ELS) is the optimal scenario with the peak value of 716.6 TMT in 2028. Energy intensity plays a dominant role in increasing CO2 emissions of the urban transportation sector. Under ELS, CO2 emissions can be reduced by 68.66%, 6.56% and 1.38% through decreasing energy intensity, increasing the proportion of public transportation and reducing the proportion of fossil fuels, respectively. Simultaneously, this study provides practical reference for other cold regions to formulate CO2 reduction roadmaps.
Are the Physical and Cognitive Functions of Older Adults Affected by Having a Driver’s License?—A Pilot Study of Suburban Dwellers
Authors: Itotani Keisuke , Suganuma Ippei , Fujita Hiroyuki
Published: April 2022

Previous studies have frequently reported that those with a driver’s license have better physical and cognitive functions than those without. However, there are many people in the world who do not need or who cannot have a driver’s license. We hypothesized that if the non-driver’s license group had the same or better physical and cognitive functioning as the driver’s license group, they could lead healthy lives without the risk of functional decline or loss of functioning due to surrendering their licenses or giving up driving. The subjects were 47 community-dwelling older adults. We measured their physical function and cognitive function and performed psychological assessment via the following tests: grip strength, Timed Up and Go test, walking speed, Five Times Sit to Stand test, Functional Reach test, Two-Step Test, Mini-Mental State Examination, Trail Making Test, Modified Falls Efficacy Scale, Geriatric Depression Scale, and University of California Los Angeles Loneliness Scale. In previous studies, it has been said that having a driver’s license provides good physical, cognitive, and psychological functions. However, in this study, loneliness and executive function were strongly influenced by age and sex, and no direct relationship to a driver’s license was suggested. Rather, non-driver license holders may be relieved because there is no risk of accidents due to driving, and there is no possibility of a suddenly decline in physical or cognitive function due to revocation of a driver’s license.
The Structured Operational Research and Training Initiative for Strengthening Health Systems to Tackle Antimicrobial Resistance and Improve Public Health in Low-and-Middle Income Countries
Authors: Zachariah Rony , Stewart Alex G. , Chakaya Jeremiah M. , Teck Roger , Khogali Mohammed Ahmed , Harries Anthony D. , Seeley-Musgrave Charlotte , Samba Thomas , Reeder John C.
Published: April 2022

If research is to have an impact and change health outcomes for the better, the findings of the research should be translated into recommendations and actions that can influence policy and/or practice [...]
Is the SARS CoV-2 Omicron Variant Deadlier and More Transmissible Than Delta Variant?
Authors: Duong Bao V. , Larpruenrudee Puchanee , Fang Tianxin , Hossain Sheikh I. , Saha Suvash C. , Gu Yuantong , Islam Mohammad S.
Published: April 2022

Genetic variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) have been globally surging and devastating many countries around the world. There are at least eleven reported variants dedicated with inevitably catastrophic consequences. In 2021, the most dominant Delta and Omicron variants were estimated to lead to more severity and deaths than other variants. Furthermore, these variants have some contagious characteristics involving high transmissibility, more severe illness, and an increased mortality rate. All outbreaks caused by the Delta variant have been rapidly skyrocketing in infection cases in communities despite tough restrictions in 2021. Apart from it, the United States, the United Kingdom and other high-rate vaccination rollout countries are still wrestling with this trend because the Delta variant can result in a significant number of breakthrough infections. However, the pandemic has changed since the latest SARS-CoV-2 variant in late 2021 in South Africa, Omicron. The preliminary data suggest that the Omicron variant possesses 100-fold greater than the Delta variant in transmissibility. Therefore, this paper aims to review these characteristics based on the available meta-data and information from the first emergence to recent days. Australia and the five most affected countries, including the United States, India, Brazil, France, as well as the United Kingdom, are selected in order to review the transmissibility, severity and fatality due to Delta and Omicron variants. Finally, the vaccination programs for each country are also reviewed as the main factor in prevention.