bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Numerical Investigation of Internal Solitary Wave Forces on a Moving Submarine
Authors: He Guanghua , Xie Hongfei , Zhang Zhigang , Liu Shuang
Published: July 2022

A numerical model is developed to investigate the hydrodynamic characteristics of a moving submarine induced by internal solitary waves (ISWs) in continuously stratified fluids. A new numerical scheme for the generation of ISWs with a current is proposed, in which the forward speed of the submarine is equivalent to the current. The superposition of the velocity field obtained from extended Korteweg-de Vires (eKdV) theory and the velocity field of the current is taken as the initial velocity field in a numerical wave tank. Convergence analysis is conducted, while the present numerical model is validated by comparing it with experimental data. Then, the interaction between the moving submarine and the ISWs against different pycnocline thicknesses and different moving speeds is investigated. The proposed numerical model can produce accurate ISWs coupled with a current. It can be found that the hydrodynamic forces on the submarine decrease with the increment of pycnocline thickness. The moving speed of the submarine performs a significant effect on the horizontal force, but a light effect on the vertical forces and the torque. It is also found that the forces on the moving submarine cannot be considered as the linear superposition of the navigation resistance in still water and the forces induced by ISWs.
State-of-the-Art Review of Vortex-Induced Motions of Floating Offshore Wind Turbine Structures
Authors: Yin Decao , Passano Elizabeth , Jiang Fengjian , Lie Halvor , Wu Jie , Ye Naiquan , Sævik Svein , Leira Bernt J.
Published: July 2022

The motivation for this study is the fast development of floating offshore wind energy and the immature methodology and engineering practice related to predictions of vortex-induced motions (VIM). Benefiting from the oil and gas industry, in the past several decades, extensive knowledge and experience on vortex-induced vibrations (VIV) on slender marine structures has been gained. As the learnings from these efforts should be transferred and adapted to the renewable energy industry, a state-of-the-art review on influential VIM research has been carried out in this paper, focusing on: (1) engineering practice, (2) model tests, (3) numerical calculation, and (4) field measurement. Engineering gaps and potential research topics are identified as future work.
Machine Learning Model-Based Ice Cover Forecasting for a Vital Waterway in Large Lakes
Authors: Liu Lian , Davedu Santhi , Fujisaki-Manome Ayumi , Hu Haoguo , Jablonowski Christiane , Chu Philip Y.
Published: July 2022

The St. Marys River is a key waterway that supports the navigation activities in the Laurentian Great Lakes. However, high year-to-year fluctuations in ice conditions pose a challenge to decision making with respect to safe and effective navigation, lock operations, and ice breaking operations. The capability to forecast the ice conditions for the river system can greatly aid such decision making. Small-scale features and complex physics in the river system are difficult to capture by process-based numerical models that are often used for lake-wide applications. In this study, two supervised machine learning methods, the Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) model and the Extreme Gradient Boost (XGBoost) algorithm are applied to predict the ice coverage on the St. Marys River for short-term (7-day) and sub-seasonal (30-day) time scales. Both models are trained using 25 years of meteorological data and select climate indices. Both models outperform the baseline forecast in the short-term applications, but the models underperform the baseline forecast in the sub-seasonal applications. The model accuracies are high in the stable season, while they are lower in the freezing and melting periods when ice conditions can change rapidly. The errors of the predicted ice-on/ice-off date lie within 2–5 days.
Verification of an Environmental Impact Assessment Using a Multivariate Statistical Model
Authors: Chou Wei-Rung , Hsieh Hung-Yen , Hong Guo-Kai , Ko Fung-Chi , Meng Pei-Jie , Tew Kwee Siong
Published: July 2022

Environmental impact assessment is a means of preventing and mitigating the adverse effects of economic development activities on the natural environment. It is meant to ensure that decision-makers have sufficient information to consider environmental impacts before proceeding with new projects. Despite their important role in public policy, verification of environmental impact assessments has seldom been conducted. In this study, we used principal component analysis (PCA) to identify the major sources of influence on the coastal waters adjacent to a major tourist facility (an aquarium) in southern Taiwan, followed by the construction of a structural equation model (SEM) to determine the direct and indirect effects of the abiotic factors on phytoplankton and zooplankton density and diversity. Based on the loadings of principal components 1–3, we identified that river input, suspended matter, and seasonal changes were the major factors affecting the coastal area. The SEM further suggested that phytoplankton density and diversity were affected directly by seasonal changes and suspended matter, but only indirectly by river input, owing to the latter’s effect on suspended matter. In contrast, the SEM suggested that zooplankton density and diversity were affected directly by seasonal changes, but indirectly by both river input and suspended matter owing to their effects on phytoplankton density and diversity. Q2 was the season with the highest number of visitors to the aquarium, but none of the abiotic or biotic parameters showed particular differences, implying that the variations in those parameters in the adjacent coastal waters were not related to the visitors. We suggest that PCA and SEM be used in the future in other contexts to verify environmental impact assessments.
Dynamic Analysis on Pile Group Supported Offshore Wind Turbine under Wind and Wave Load
Authors: Shi Yusha , Yao Wenjuan , Yu Guoliang
Published: July 2022

With growing demand for renewable wind energy, the number of offshore wind turbines increased rapidly in recent years. This paper uses the improved Tajimi model and transfer matrix method to analyze the dynamic response of pile group supported offshore wind turbine under wind and wave load. The vibration equation of the structure is established by tower discretization. The calculation result is compared with the numerical simulation result. The horizontal displacement of the structure under loads with different frequencies can be obtained. The wind speed and the foundation impedance are found important to the structure displacement. The pile–pile interaction factor depends on the pile spacing, the pile embedment ratio, and the incidence angle.
Prediction of Wave Energy Flux in the Bohai Sea through Automated Machine Learning
Authors: Yang Hengyi , Wang Hao , Ma Yong , Xu Minyi
Published: July 2022

The rational assessment of regional energy distribution provides a scientific basis for the selection and siting of power generation units. This study, which focused on the Bohai Sea, set 31 research coordinate points in the Bohai sea for assessing the potential/trends of wave energy flux (WEF). We applied a point-to-point time series prediction method which modelled the different geographical coordinate points separately. Subsequently, we evaluated the performance of three traditional machine learning methods and three automated machine learning methods. To estimate WEF, the best model was applied to each research coordinate points, respectively. Then, the WEF was calculated and predicted based on the data of MWP, SWH, and water depth. The results indicate that, for all coordinates in the Bohai Sea, the H2O-AutoML algorithm is superior to the other five algorithms. Gradient boosting machine (GBM), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), and stacked ensemble models yielded the best performance out of the H2O algorithms. The significant wave height (SWH), the mean wave period (MWP), and the WEF in the Bohai Sea tended to be concentrated in the center of the sea and dispersed in the nearshore areas. In the year 2000, 2010, 2020, and 2030, the maximum annual average WEF at each research coordinate in the Bohai Sea is around 1.5 kW/m, with a higher flux in autumn and winter. In summary, the results provide ocean parameter characterization for the design and deployment of wave energy harvesting devices. Moreover, the automated machine learning introduced herein has potential for use in more applications in ocean engineering.
Lagrangian Observation of the Kuroshio Current by Surface Drifters in 2019
Authors: Sun Zhenyu , Hu Jianyu , Lin Hongyang , Chen Zhaozhang , Zhu Jia , Yang Longqi , Hu Zhiyuan , Chen Xirong , Wu Xuewen
Published: July 2022

In this research, the features of the Kuroshio Current in 2019 were studied based on the observations of 29 self-developed surface current experiment drifters deployed in the western Pacific Ocean and the East China Sea. The Kuroshio flow pattern and velocity magnitude observed in 2019 were largely consistent with the climatology based on the historical drifter dataset, but they still exhibited distinctive characteristics. The intrusion of the Kuroshio into the South China Sea in the spring was observed by a group of drifters crossing the Luzon Strait from east to west, which is a notable departure from the non-intrusion pattern noted to occur in the spring in most of the historical records. A strong intrusion of the Kuroshio into the East China Sea was also observed, taking an anti-cyclonic turn in the northeast of Taiwan Island. Both the drifter trajectories and altimeter-derived dynamical topography captured the large meander pattern of the Kuroshio south of Japan in 2019, with the flow path having a maximum offshore distance of 470 km. In addition, Lagrangian statistics (lateral diffusivity, integral time scale, and integral space scale) were estimated for four selected regions with adequate drifter samplings. The lateral diffusivity had large values along the Kuroshio segment in the East China Sea and small values on the continental shelf of the East China Sea. The integral time scales for the four regions ranged from 0.8 to 3.7 days, with a corresponding integral space scale of 19~128 km.
Advancing Three-Dimensional Coupled Water Quality Model of Marine Ranches: Model Development, Global Sensitivity Analysis, and Optimization Based on Observation System
Authors: Liu Yongzhi , Jiang Fan , Zhao Zihan , Tana  , Lv Xianqing
Published: July 2022

Marine ranching is a stock enhancement project that has been an important part of aquaculture in China. Due to the lack of scientific management, disasters have occurred, resulting in millions of economic losses. Based on the observation system of marine ranches, a three-dimensional water quality model of marine ranches was developed to study the spatio-temporal variation of key ecological indicators, including the concentrations of chlorophyll-a, zooplankton, detritus, nutrients, and dissolved oxygen (DO). The model is coupled offline with the residual current, temperature, and salinity simulated by a regional oceanic modeling system (ROMS). The conservative characteristic finite difference (C-CFD) scheme is introduced to solve the equations, which guarantees model stability and mass conservation and allows for a larger time step compared to traditional difference schemes. In state-of-the-art water quality models, the biogeochemical processes are parameterized. Due to the complexity of the water quality model, a combination of global sensitivity analysis (GSA) and the adjoint method is introduced as the methodology to optimize the model parameters. Morris’ sampling method is implemented as the GSA method to find out the key factors of the water quality model. The optimization of sensitive parameters with the adjoint method significantly improves the model precision, while the other parameters can be set as empirical values. The results indicate that the combination of GSA and the adjoint method is efficient in the parameter optimization of the water quality model. The model is applicable in marine ranches.
Current Progress on Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Sporotrichosis and Their Future Trends
Authors: Rodrigues Anderson Messias , Gonçalves Sarah Santos , de Carvalho Jamile Ambrósio , Borba-Santos Luana P. , Rozental Sonia , Camargo Zoilo Pires de
Published: July 2022

Sporotrichosis, a human and animal disease caused by Sporothrix species, is the most important implantation mycosis worldwide. Sporothrix taxonomy has improved in recent years, allowing important advances in diagnosis, epidemiology, and treatment. Molecular epidemiology reveals that S. brasiliensis remains highly prevalent during the cat-transmitted sporotrichosis outbreaks in South America and that the spread of S. brasiliensis occurs through founder effects. Sporothrix globosa and S. schenckii are cosmopolitan on the move, causing major sapronoses in Asia and the Americas, respectively. In this emerging scenario, one-health approaches are required to develop a creative, effective, and sustainable response to tackle the spread of sporotrichosis. In the 21st century, it has become vital to speciate Sporothrix, and PCR is the main pillar of molecular diagnosis, aiming at the detection of the pathogen DNA from clinical samples through multiplex assays, whose sensitivity reaches remarkably three copies of the target. The treatment of sporotrichosis can be challenging, especially after the emergence of resistance to azoles and polyenes. Alternative drugs arising from discoveries or repositioning have entered the radar of basic research over the last decade and point to several molecules with antifungal potential, especially the hydrazone derivatives with great in vitro and in vivo activities. There are many promising developments for the near future, and in this review, we discuss how these trends can be applied to the Sporothrix-sporotrichosis system to mitigate the advance of an emerging and re-emerging disease.
Application of Trichoderma Hz36 and Hk37 as Biocontrol Agents against Clubroot Caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae
Authors: Zhao Yanli , Chen Xingfu , Cheng Jiasen , Xie Jiatao , Lin Yang , Jiang Daohong , Fu Yanping , Chen Tao
Published: July 2022

Clubroot, a soil-infective disease caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae, is a serious disease affecting cruciferous plants around the world. There is no effective control measure to completely remove this pathogen from fields after infection. Here, we screened and identified two strains (Hz36, Trichoderma guizhouense; Hk37, Trichoderma koningiopsis) of Trichoderma from the gall of clubroot in rapeseed fields with biocontrol potential for clubroot. The fermentation broth of Hz36 could significantly inhibit the germination of resting spores of P. brassicae, and promote the seed germination and root growth of rapeseed. The biocontrol efficiency of Hz36 strain on clubroot for rapeseed and Arabidopsis thaliana was 44.29% and 52.18%, respectively. The qPCR results revealed that strain Hz36 treatment could significantly reduce the content of P. brassicae in root cells, and paraffin section analysis revealed that it could delay the development of P. brassicae. Strain Hk37 showed similar effects to strain Hz36, whose biocontrol efficiency of clubroot could reach 57.30% in rapeseed and 68.01% in A. thaliana. These results indicate that strains Hz36 and Hk37 have the potential for the biocontrol of clubroot.
Interlaboratory Performance of a Real-Time PCR Method for Detection of Ceratocystis platani, the Agent of Canker Stain of Platanus spp.
Authors: Brunetti Angela , Heungens Kurt , Hubert Jacqueline , Ioos Renaud , Bianchi Gian Luca , De Amicis Francesca , Chandelier Anne , Van Der Linde Sietse , Perez-Sierra Ana , Gualandri Valeria , Silletti Maria Rosaria , Trisciuzzi Vito Nicola , Rimondi Silvia , Baschieri Tiziana , Romano Elio , Lumia Valentina , Luigi Marta , Faggioli Francesco , Pilotti Massimo
Published: July 2022

Ceratocystis platani (CP), an ascomycetous fungus, is the agent of canker stain, a lethal vascular disease of Platanus species. Ceratocystis platani has been listed as a quarantine pest (EPPO A2 list) due to extensive damage caused in Southern Europe and the Mediterranean region. As traditional diagnostic assays are ineffective, a Real-Time PCR detection method based on EvaGreen, SYBR Green, and Taqman assays was previously developed, validated in-house, and included in the official EPPO standard PM7/14 (2). Here, we describe the results of a test performance study performed by nine European laboratories for the purpose of an interlaboratory validation. Verification of the DNA extracted from biological samples guaranteed the high quality of preparations, and the stability and the homogeneity of the aliquots intended for the laboratories. All of the laboratories reproduced nearly identical standard curves with efficiencies close to 100%. Testing of blind-coded DNA extracted from wood samples revealed that all performance parameters—diagnostic sensitivity, diagnostic specificity, accuracy and reproducibility—were best fit in most cases both at the laboratory and at the assay level. The previously established limit of detection, 3 fg per PCR reaction, was also validated with similar excellent results. The high interlaboratory performance of this Real-Time PCR method confirms its value as a primary tool to safeguard C. platani-free countries by way of an accurate monitoring, and to investigate the resistance level of potentially canker stain-resistant Platanus genotypes.
Amplicon Sequencing Reveals Novel Fungal Species Responsible for a Controversial Tea Disease
Authors: He Yunqiang , Li Yan , Song Yulin , Hu Xingming , Liang Jinbo , Shafik Karim , Ni Dejiang , Xu Wenxing
Published: July 2022

Amplicon sequencing is a powerful tool for analyzing the fungal composition inside plants, whereas its application for the identification of etiology for plant diseases remains undetermined. Here, we utilize this strategy to clarify the etiology responsible for tea leaf brown-black spot disease (LBSD), a noticeable disease infecting tea plants etiology that remains controversial. Based on the ITS-based amplicon sequencing analysis, Didymella species were identified as separate from Pestalotiopsis spp. and Cercospora sp., which are concluded as the etiological agents. This was further confirmed by the fungal isolation and their specific pathogenicity on diverse tea varieties. Based on the morphologies and phylogenetic analysis constructed with multi-loci (ITS, LSU, tub2, and rpb2), two novel Didymella species—tentatively named D. theae and D. theifolia as reference to their host plants—were proposed and characterized. Here, we present an integrated approach of ITS-based amplicon sequencing in combination with fungal isolation and fulfillment of Koch’s postulates for etiological identification of tea plant disease, revealing new etiology for LBSD. This contributes useful information for further etiological identification of plant disease based on amplicon sequencing, as well as understanding, prevention, and management of this economically important disease.
Farnesol Boosts the Antifungal Effect of Fluconazole and Modulates Resistance in Candida auris through Regulation of the CDR1 and ERG11 Genes
Authors: Dekkerová Jaroslava , Černáková Lucia , Kendra Samuel , Borghi Elisa , Ottaviano Emerenziana , Willinger Birgit , Bujdáková Helena
Published: July 2022

Candida auris is considered a serious fungal pathogen frequently exhibiting a high resistance to a wide range of antifungals. In this study, a combination of the quorum-sensing molecule farnesol (FAR) and fluconazole (FLU) was tested on FLU-resistant C. auris isolates (C. auris S and C. auris R) compared to the susceptible C. auris H261. The aim was to assess the possible synergy between FAR and FLU, by reducing the FLU minimal inhibitory concentration, and to determine the mechanism underlying the conjunct effect. The results confirmed a synergic effect between FAR and FLU with a calculated FIC index of 0.75 and 0.4 for C. auris S and C. auris R, respectively. FAR modulates genes involved in azole resistance. When FAR was added to the cells in combination with FLU, a significant decrease in the expression of the CDR1 gene was observed in the resistant C. auris isolates. FAR seems to block the Cdr1 efflux pump triggering a restoration of the intracellular content of FLU. These results were supported by observed increasing accumulation of rhodamine 6G by C. auris cells. Moreover, C. auris treated with FAR showed an ERG11 gene down-regulation. Overall, these results suggest that FAR is an effective modulator of the Cdr1 efflux pump in C. auris and, in combination with FLU, enhances the activity of this azole, which might be a promising strategy to control infections caused by azole-resistant C. auris.
Longitudinal Association of Universal Screening and Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder with Survival in Cancer Patients
Authors: Yen Yung-Chieh , Huang Chin-Yu , Chan Hsue-Wei , Wang You-Yu , Changchien Te-Chang , Wang Deng-Wu , Lin Po-Chun , Chang Ting-Ting , Chiu Yu-Wen
Published: July 2022

Evidence for clinical screening and intervention for depression in cancer and the effect of this intervention on cancer prognosis is suboptimal. This study substantialized a complete model with universal screening and intervention for major depressive disorder (MDD) and explored its effect on survival in patients. This longitudinal study recruited cancer patients routinely screened for MDD with a two-stage model. Data including sex, age, cancer diagnosis, first diagnosis date, date of death, cancer stage, and MDD diagnosis and treatment were collected from medical records and the national registration system for cancer. Kaplan–Meier’s survival analysis and the Cox proportional hazards regression model were applied to analyze the effects of associated factors on survival. Further subgroup analysis for 14 types of cancer primary site was also performed. Overall, the hazard for patients adhering to psychiatric treatment for MDD before cancer diagnosis was not statistically different from that for patients without MDD (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.061, 95% CI: 0.889–1.267, p = 0.512). The hazard for patients adhering to psychiatric treatment after cancer diagnosis was significantly lower than that for patients without MDD (HR = 0.702, 95% CI: 0.607–0.812, p < 0.001). Those who were diagnosed with MDD after cancer diagnosis and adhered poorly to psychiatric treatment had the greatest hazard (HR = 1.829, 95% CI: 1.687–1.984, p < 0.001). The effect of intervention for MDD varied across different primary cancer types.
Psychological Aspects of Syncopes and Possible Association with Recurrency—The Role of Implantable Loop Recorders
Authors: Willy Kevin , Ellermann Christian , Syring Sarah , Rath Benjamin , Reinke Florian , Willy Daniela , Wolfes Julian , Wegner Felix K. , Eckardt Lars , Köbe Julia , Morina Nexhmedin
Published: July 2022

Syncopes are a very common phenomenon and have a high recurrence rate. The differentiation between the psychogenic and physical, especially of arrhythmic origin, remains difficult. In many cases, an implantable loop recorder is used for the detection of possible arrhythmias, leading to syncopes. Yet, the existing literature suggests that psychological factors may play a significant role in recurrent syncopes. We aimed at analyzing the potential role of several psychological factors on the recurrence of arrhythmic or non-arrhythmic syncopes. Methods and results: A total of 119 patients, who had received an implantable loop recorder for recurrent syncopes at our center between 01/2018 and 12/2021, participated in this retrospective cohort study. Anxiety, depression and quality of life were assessed using extensively validated questionnaires (GAD-7, PHQ-9 and SF-12). The mean follow-up after loop recorder implantation was 710 ± 430 days and 50% of patients were female. The mean patient age was 54.8 ± 18.6 years. Most patients had no evidence of structural heart disease (84%), and normal LV function (92%). A statistical analysis revealed that the presence of structural heart disease was the strongest predictor for arrhythmic syncope during follow-up. In patients with non-arrhythmic syncopes, we found significantly higher levels of anxiety (GAD-7 score: 2.5 ± 2.6 vs. 4.8 ± 4.3) and depression (PHQ-9 score: 3.9 ± 3.6 vs. 6.8 ± 5.1), and a lower quality of life (SF-12 score: 33.7 ± 6.4 vs. 29.6 ± 7.8). Discussion: We identified factors as contributors to a better identification of patients at risk for arrhythmic as well as non-arrhythmic syncopes. Especially anxious or depressive symptoms may hinted at non-arrhythmic causes of syncope. However, the study was limited by its retrospective design and low patient number. Further trials should likewise combine the diagnostic yield of loop recorders with psychometric evaluations before implantation and combine it with additional diagnostic measures, such as video monitoring, to further examine the role of psychological factors in the pathomechanism and treatment of syncope.
Ensemble Deep-Learning-Based Prognostic and Prediction for Recurrence of Sporadic Odontogenic Keratocysts on Hematoxylin and Eosin Stained Pathological Images of Incisional Biopsies
Authors: Rao Roopa S. , Shivanna Divya Biligere , Lakshminarayana Surendra , Mahadevpur Kirti Shankar , Alhazmi Yaser Ali , Bakri Mohammed Mousa H. , Alharbi Hazar S. , Alzahrani Khalid J. , Alsharif Khalaf F. , Banjer Hamsa Jameel , Alnfiai Mrim M. , Reda Rodolfo , Patil Shankargouda , Testarelli Luca
Published: July 2022

(1) Background: Odontogenic keratocysts (OKCs) are enigmatic developmental cysts that deserve special attention due to their heterogeneous appearance in histopathological characteristics and high recurrence rate. Despite several nomenclatures for classification, clinicians still confront challenges in its diagnosis and predicting its recurrence. This paper proposes an ensemble deep-learning-based prognostic and prediction algorithm, for the recurrence of sporadic odontogenic keratocysts, on hematoxylin and eosin stained pathological images of incisional biopsies before treatment. (2) Materials and Methods: In this study, we applied a deep-learning algorithm to an ensemble approach integrated with DenseNet-121, Inception-V3, and Inception-Resnet-V3 classifiers. Around 1660 hematoxylin and eosin stained pathologically annotated digital images of OKC-diagnosed (60) patients were supplied to train and predict recurrent OKCs. (3) Results: The presence of SEH (p = 0.004), an incomplete epithelial lining, (p = 0.023), and a corrugated surface (p = 0.049) were the most significant histological parameters distinguishing recurrent and non-recurrent OKCs. Amongst the classifiers, DenseNet-121 showed 93% accuracy in predicting recurrent OKCs. Furthermore, integrating and training the traditional ensemble model showed an accuracy of 95% and an AUC of 0.9872, with an execution time of 192.9 s. In comparison, our proposed model showed 97% accuracy with an execution time of 154.6 s. (4) Conclusions: Considering the outcome of our novel ensemble model, based on accuracy and execution time, the presented design could be embedded into a computer-aided design system for automation of risk stratification of odontogenic keratocysts.
The Relationship between Audit Adjustments and Audit Quality in Iraq
Authors: Salehi Mahdi , Ibrahim Jebur Mohammed , Orfizadeh Saleh , Abbas Aljahnabi Ali Mohammed
Published: July 2022

The present research aims to assess the potential impact of audit adjustments on the audit quality for the listed companies on the Iraqi Stock Exchange. In other words, this research attempts to answer whether the audit adjustments can improve the audit quality or not. To achieve the objectives, a multivariate regression model was employed to test the hypotheses. The research hypotheses were tested using a sample of 35 listed firms on the Iraqi Stock Exchange for 2014–2020 by exploiting a multiple regression model based on the panel data technique. The research findings indicate a positive and significant relationship between audit adjustments and quality. Such findings demonstrate that audit adjustment might be considered a quality factor for audit services. Since no research has addressed such a subject in Iraq, the study can provide helpful information for the equity owners, board of directors, and audit firms, contributing to developing science and knowledge in the auditing field of study.
Confronting Back-of-House Traditions: Primates as a Case Study
Authors: Brando Sabrina , Coe Jon
Published: July 2022

This review commentary focuses on traditional management practices and facility design with suggested improvements in non-public primate management areas, often called “back-of-house”, (henceforth BOH) in zoos, sanctuaries, and research facilities. Progress has been made toward improving animal quality of life in larger, more naturalistic, and enriched indoor and outdoor display areas. However, the quality of life in BOH areas has improved little in comparison. Basic management, regulatory, structural, and spatial BOH environments are lagging, especially in the developing world, and animals may be confined in less enriching spaces for substantial periods of the 24 h day. We reviewed traditional management policy and practice, as well as newer training, enrichment, and welfare policies and actions, and suggested alternatives for structural environments and spatial environments. The suggestions included using more animal-friendly construction materials and animal–computer interaction, providing greater control of the ambient environment and choice of access to multiple areas by the animals themselves, and designing for optimal animal wellbeing at all times, including when caregivers are no longer present. Case studies focused on primates were included. We concluded by suggesting a new, integrated design model based not upon rote standards and old models but building on empirical foundations while embracing empathy and innovation.
The Spatial and Temporal Evolution of Ecological Environment Quality in Karst Ecologically Fragile Areas Driven by Poverty Alleviation Resettlement
Authors: Zhou Zhongfa , Feng Qing , Zhu Changli , Luo Wanlin , Wang Lingyu , Zhao Xin , Zhang Lu
Published: July 2022

Many scholars are skeptical about the poverty reduction effect and the ecological effect of poverty alleviation resettlement (PAR). This study evaluates the spatial and temporal evolution of the ecological environment quality (EEQ) to analyze the effectiveness of ecological restoration from PAR. Based on cloud computing using the Google Earth Engine platform, remote-sensing data were obtained and reconstructed from 2000 to 2020. The remote-sensing ecological index (RSEI) was used to analyze the spatial and temporal evolution of EEQ. The results show that the RSEI of the study area increased by 13.07% after the implementation of PAR, and the rate of increase was higher than that in the period before PAR; the Pu’an and Qinglong areas improved most obviously, in terms of the fragile ecological environment and the prominent contradiction between peasants and land. The residual trends method indicated that the contribution rate of improvement in RSEI due to PAR was 70.56%, 88.38%, and 82.96% in 2017, 2018, and 2020, respectively. An increase in RSEI was more obvious in the area with a greater relocated population and a higher corresponding coupling coordination level. PAR has a promoting effect on EEQ improvement but does not have ecological restoration benefits in every region. It is not satisfactory in terms of the degeneration of the LST indicator and the ecological impact of human wells.
The Citizen Science Paradox
Authors: Bergerot Benjamin
Published: July 2022

Citizen science (CS) is now very popular in ecology. The number of scientific publications referencing CS has increased steadily over the past 15 years, with more than 1150 publications today. However, the multiplicity of research involved suggests that this number is highly underestimated. Based on this paradox, a literature review on CS shows that while its formalization in 2009 facilitated its referencing, about 70% of the publications are not referenced using CS as keyword. To understand this under-representation, an analysis of 149 publications related to the famous Christmas Bird Count program shows that this underestimation is not mainly related to the diversity of keywords used to describe CS, but rather to the fact that CS is mainly considered as a method (four publications out of five). The results also show that taking into account the whole text of a publication would represent a substantial improvement for the analysis of scientific databases, whatever the field of research.
Land Use Transition and Effects on Ecosystem Services in Water-Rich Cities under Rapid Urbanization: A Case Study of Wuhan City, China
Authors: Xiong Xinxing , Zhou Tingting , Cai Ting , Huang Wei , Li Jie , Cui Xufeng , Li Fei
Published: July 2022

Ecosystems can provide ecosystems service for human society. Exploring the impact of land use transition of water-rich cities on ecosystem service can obtain a large amount of scientific data, and its findings have certain significance for building a sustainable city land use transition pattern. This study takes Wuhan, a water-rich city, as the study area, combines remote sensing image data and macro-economic data in the region from 2000 to 2020, and uses spatial analysis methods, the equivalent factor calculation method, and hot spot analysis to portray the spatial-temporal patterns of land use transition in Wuhan and its effect on ecosystem service values. The results show that: (1) farmland, water, and built-up land are the main land use types in Wuhan, and the continuous expansion of built-up land area is an important factor in the decrease of farmland, wetland, and grassland areas; (2) The change in ecosystem service values in Wuhan is influenced by the fluctuation of water area, and the overall ecosystem service values in Wuhan increased from CNY (Chinese Yuan) 56.498 billion (USD 8.47 billion) in 2000 to CNY 56.749 billion (USD 8.508 billion) in 2020, with an increase of CNY 251.3 million (USD 37.676 million) between 2000 and 2020. Among them, the ecosystem services values of water increased by CNY 1.223 billion (USD 183.358 million), and the ecosystem service values of its assumed hydrological regulation function also increased by CNY 995.7 million (USD149.28 million) during this period; (3) In the period 2000–2020, the hotspot areas for the value supply of ecosystem services were mainly distributed in Jiangxia, Hongshan, Hannan, Xinzhou, Huangpi and some areas of Caidian, which are covered with a large proportion of water, while the cold spots are mainly distributed in Jiang’an, Jianghan, Qiaokou, and Qingshan districts, which have more built-up land, and Huangpi, Caidian, Jiangxia, and Xinzhou districts, which have more farmland. Sustainable land planning solutions should take into account typical regional land use transition patterns and incorporate them into smart land planning practices. This study can provide key information for smart land planning.
MGRN1 as a Phenotypic Determinant of Human Melanoma Cells and a Potential Biomarker
Authors: Abrisqueta Marta , Cerdido Sonia , Sánchez-Beltrán José , Martínez-Vicente Idoya , Herraiz Cecilia , Lambertos Ana , Olivares Conchi , Sevilla Arrate , Alonso Santos , Boyano María Dolores , García-Borrón José Carlos , Jiménez-Cervantes Celia
Published: July 2022

Mahogunin Ring Finger 1 (MGRN1), a ubiquitin ligase expressed in melanocytes, interacts with the α melanocyte-stimulating hormone receptor, a well-known melanoma susceptibility gene. Previous studies showed that MGRN1 modulates the phenotype of mouse melanocytes and melanoma cells, with effects on pigmentation, shape, and motility. Moreover, MGRN1 knockdown augmented the burden of DNA breaks in mouse cells, indicating that loss of MGRN1 promoted genomic instability. However, data concerning the roles of MGRN1 in human melanoma cells remain scarce. We analyzed MGRN1 knockdown in human melanoma cells. Transient MGRN1 depletion with siRNA or permanent knockdown in human melanoma cells by CRISPR/Cas9 caused an apparently MITF-independent switch to a more dendritic phenotype. Lack of MGRN1 also increased the fraction of human cells in the S phase of the cell cycle and the burden of DNA breaks but did not significantly impair proliferation. Moreover, in silico analysis of publicly available melanoma datasets and estimation of MGRN1 in a cohort of clinical specimens provided preliminary evidence that MGRN1 expression is higher in human melanomas than in normal skin or nevi and pointed to an inverse correlation of MGRN1 expression in human melanoma with patient survival, thus suggesting potential use of MGRN1 as a melanoma biomarker.
Turbulence Effects in Tilting Pad Journal Bearings: A Review
Authors: Betti Alberto , Forte Paola , Ciulli Enrico
Published: July 2022

This paper reviews the current knowledge on turbulence effects in tilting pad journal bearings. Turbulence is becoming increasingly important in the design of hydrodynamic bearings due to the trend to increase power density in turbomachines and consequently the operating speeds of the hydrodynamic bearings. Turbulence has a series of effects on the bearing performance which may be beneficial or detrimental, depending on the operating conditions. The main turbulence models are recalled and a historical overview on the evolution of numerical simulations of turbulent flow in tilting pad journal bearings is presented. The two broad simulation strategies used are the generalized Reynolds equation and computational fluid dynamics. The main experimental works are then reviewed, and a unified comparison of these works is provided. Novel results on the critical Reynolds number in a tilting pad journal bearing are reported. Much emphasis is given on the experimental evidence for laminar-to-turbulent transition. The evidence used in the literature is reviewed and its reliability is discussed. Lastly, some future research directions are suggested.
2-Hydroxy-3-(1-(4-vinylbenzyl)imidazol-3-ium-3-yl)propane-1-sulfonate and 3-(4-Vinylbenzyl)dimethylammonio)-2-hydroxypropane-1-sulfonate as New Zwitterionic Monomers
Authors: Ben-Hadj-Salem Jihen , Touil Soufiane , Rouden Jacques , Baudoux Jérôme , Lepoittevin Bénédicte
Published: July 2022

Zwitterionic polymers emerge as very useful materials for applications in antifouling surfaces. The properties of these polymers can be tuned by variations of the chemical structure of the corresponding monomer. In this study, two zwitterionic ammonium sulfonate monomers, bearing hydroxyl function and styrenic polymerizable groups, were prepared in two steps. The two monomers were obtained using 4-vinylbenzyl chloride as the key precursor. The zwitterionic monomers were characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, IR spectroscopy, and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). These two monomers enable the preparation of novel zwitterionic polymers with enhanced hydrophilicity, due to the presence of a hydroxyl group.
Compression Deformation Prediction of Chiral Metamaterials: A Compression–Shear Coupling Model
Authors: Zhou Xin , Liang Xi , Liu Zeliang , Tao Chenglin , Li Huijian
Published: July 2022

A category of metamaterials consisting of chiral cytosolic elements assembled periodically, in which the introduction of a rotatable annular structure gives metamaterials the ability to deform in compression–shear, has been a focus of research in recent years. In this paper, a compression–shear coupling model is developed to predict the compressive deformation behaviour of chiral metamaterials. This behaviour will be analysed by coupling the rotation of the annular node and the bending characteristics of ligament beam, which are obtained as a function of the length of ligament beam and the angle of rotation at the end of the beam. The shape function of the ligament beam under large deformation is obtained based on the elliptic integral theory; the function characterises the potential relationship between key parameters such as displacement and rotation angle at any point on the ligament beam. By simulating the deformation of cells under uniaxial compression, the reasonableness of the large deformation model of the ligament beam is verified. On this basis, a chiral cell-compression mechanical model considering the ductile deformation of the annular node is established. The compression–shear deformation of two-dimensional planar chiral metamaterials and three-dimensional cylindrical-shell chiral metamaterials was predicted; the offset displacements and torsion angles agreed with the experimental and finite element simulation results with an error of less than 10%. The developed compression–shear coupling model provides a theoretical basis for the design of chiral metamaterials, which meet the need for the precise control of shapes and properties.
A Numerical Model for Investigating the Effect of Viscoelasticity on the Partial Slip Solution
Authors: Wang Dongze , de Boer Gregory , Ghanbarzadeh Ali
Published: July 2022

To investigate the effects of viscoelasticity on the stick-slip behaviour, a new model reproducing the partial slip of viscoelastic materials under fully coupled conditions is developed in this paper. The ratio of retardation time to relaxation time is employed to characterize the rheological property of a viscoelastic material. It is found that materials with higher ratios exhibit more fluid-like behaviours while those with lower ratios perform more like solid. As long as the contact input (load or displacement) is constant, the stick ratio (ratio of stick area to contacting area) is found to be insensitive to the viscoelasticity of materials. However, the separation pattern of the stick and slip regions varies with time when different contact phenomena (creep or stress relaxation) are encountered in the lateral and normal directions. The transition process from partial slip to gross sliding of viscoelastic materials, unlike the elastic response, tends to be abrupt when fully coupled conditions between shear tractions and pressure are introduced. When identical contact parameters are specified for different viscoelastic materials, the more fluid-like material always experiences a quicker transition from partial slip to gross sliding.
New Materials Based on Polyvinylpyrrolidone-Containing Copolymers with Ferromagnetic Fillers
Authors: Grytsenko Oleksandr , Dulebova Ludmila , Spišák Emil , Berezhnyy Bohdan
Published: July 2022

The article investigates the peculiarities of the effect of ferromagnetic fillers (FMFs) of various natures (Ni, Co, Fe, FeCo, SmCo5) on the formation of the structure and properties of 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) copolymers. The composites were characterized using FTIR-spectroscopy, SEM, DMTA, magnetometry of vibrating samples, specific electrical resistivity studies, and mechanical and thermophysical studies. The formation of a grafted spatially crosslinked copolymer (pHEMA-gr-PVP) was confirmed and it was established that the FMF introduction of only 10 wt.% into the copolymer formulation increased the degree of crosslinking of the polymer network by three times. The surface hardness of composites increased by 20–25%. However, the water content decreased by 16–18% and lay within 42–43 wt.%, which is a relatively high number. The heat resistance of dry composites was characterized by Vicat softening temperature, which was 39–42 °C higher compared to the unfilled material. It was established that the obtained composites were characterized by a coercive force of 200 kA × m−1 and induction of a magnetic field at the poles of 4–5 mT and 10–15 mT, respectively. The introduction of FMF particles into pHEMA-gr-PVP copolymers, which, in the dry state, are dielectrics, provides them with electrical conductivity, which was evaluated by the specific volume resistance. Depending on the FMF nature and content, as well as their orientation in the magnetic field, the resistance of filled materials could be regulated within 102–106 Ohm·m. Therefore, the modification of HEMA with PVP copolymers by ferromagnetic fillers of various natures provides the possibility of obtaining materials with unique predicted properties and expands the fields of their use, for instance as magnetic sorbents for various applications, as well as the possibilities associated with their being electrically conductive materials that can respond by changing of electrical conductivity, depending on various factors.
Utilizing Human Feedback in Autonomous Driving: Discrete vs. Continuous
Authors: Savari Maryam , Choe Yoonsuck
Published: July 2022

Deep reinforcement learning (Deep RL) algorithms are defined with fully continuous or discrete action spaces. Among DRL algorithms, soft actor–critic (SAC) is a powerful method capable of handling complex and continuous state–action spaces. However, a long training time and data efficiency are the main drawbacks of this algorithm, even though SAC is robust for complex and dynamic environments. One of the proposed solutions to overcome this issue is to utilize human feedback. In this paper, we investigate different forms of human feedback: head direction vs. steering and discrete vs. continuous feedback. To this end, a real-time human demonstration from steer and human head direction with discrete or continuous actions were employed as human feedback in an autonomous driving task in the CARLA simulator. We used alternating actions from a human expert and SAC to have a real-time human demonstration. Furthermore, to test the method without potential individual differences in human performance, we tested the discrete vs. continuous feedback in an inverted pendulum task, with an ideal controller to stand in for the human expert. The results for both the CARLA and the inverted pendulum tasks showed a significant reduction in the training time and a significant increase in gained rewards with discrete feedback, as opposed to continuous feedback, while the action space remained continuous. It was also shown that head direction feedback can be almost as good as steering feedback. We expect our findings to provide a simple yet efficient training method for Deep RL for autonomous driving, utilizing multiple sources of human feedback.
Rotor Fault Diagnosis Using Domain-Adversarial Neural Network with Time-Frequency Analysis
Authors: Xu Yongjie , Liu Jingze , Wan Zhou , Zhang Dahai , Jiang Dong
Published: July 2022

Intelligent fault diagnosis of rotors always requires a large amount of labeled samples, but insufficient vibration signals can be obtained in operational rotor systems for detecting the fault modes. To solve this problem, a domain-adaptive transfer learning model based on a small number of samples is proposed. Time-domain vibration signals are collected by overlapping sampling and converted into time-frequency diagrams by using short-time Fourier transform (STFT) and characteristics in the time domain and frequency domain of vibration signals are reserved. The features of source domain and target domain are projected into the same feature space through a domain-adversarial neural network (DANN). This method is verified by a simulated gas generator rotor and experimental rig of rotor. Both the transfer in the identical machine (TIM) and transfer across different machines (TDM) are realized. The results show that this method has high diagnosis accuracy and good robustness for different types of faults. By training a large number of simulation samples and a small number of experimental samples in TDM, high fault diagnosis accuracy is achieved, avoiding collecting a large amount of experimental data as the source domain to train the fault diagnosis model. Then, the problem of insufficient rotor fault samples can be solved.