bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evolutionary game analysis of FinTech transformation: A social co-governance pattern of peer-to-peer lending market in China
Authors: Wang Qi , Liu Xin , Zhang Chenghu
Published: December 2022

Benign exit has become the main theme of the transformation in China's peer-to-peer (P2P) lending industry. To protect the interests of investors in the benign exit process, this paper proposes a social co-governance pattern using a tripartite evolutionary game model to capture the behavior strategies of P2P lending platforms, investors, and financial regulators. The results demonstrate that there are four evolutionary stable strategies for the game model, among which the positive disposal of P2P lending platforms, the participation of the investors, and the co-governance policy of financial regulators is the optimal strategy in the benign exit process. The results also show that the initial proportion of P2P lending platforms, investors, and financial regulators would significantly affect the convergence speed of the evolutionary stable strategy. The proposed social co-governance pattern would effectively safeguard the interests of investors if incentive, penalty, and reputation mechanisms are well-designed. This paper provides in-depth implications for protecting investors' interests in the transformation of the P2P lending industry and enhancing the sustainable development of the FinTech industry.
Executives’ unethical behaviour with directions for future research
Authors: Zhu Renhong , Li Xiaowei , Liu Qin , Zhou Qihao
Published: December 2022

Executives’ unethical behaviour is a common phenomenon in business practice and a hot topic for academic research, which has a profound negative impact on the healthy development of our economy and society. In the past two decades, several scholars from different disciplines con-ducted theoretical research and practical explorations on the issue of senior executives’ (un)ethical behaviour and achieved certain research results. However, the existing research in this field still has problems, such as a lack of systematic integration of research results, unclear research hotspots and unclear development directions. Thus, the present study through a bibliometric analysis, conducted a content coding of these 428 papers identified from 2000 to 2020, constructed a theoretical framework by inductively identifying the corresponding concepts. By reviewing the progress of existing research topics, this study summarised a research framework of executives’ unethical behaviour from the perspectives of the antecedents, the behaviour itself and the consequences of unethical behaviour. The study further proposed future research trends and recommendations for conducting research on executives’ unethical behaviour under emerging market scenarios. The research results provide new ideas for developing the theory of executives’ unethical behaviour and promote the in-depth development of the research on executives’ unethical behaviour in the context of emerging markets.
Effects of psychological capital and social support availability on anxiety and depression among Chinese emergency physicians: Testing moderated mediation model
Authors: Xu Haibo , Peng Lixin , Wang Zhen , Liu Xin
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Anxiety often precedes depression, and the pathway from anxiety to depression may be affected by multiple exposures. Our research aims to explore the mediating effect of the social support availability (SSA) between anxiety and depression and how it is moderated by psychological capital.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among Chinese emergency physicians at the top-level general hospitals in eastern China. Data were collected via the questionnaire including anxiety and depression subscales of Symptom Checklist-90, Psychological Capital Questionnaire as well as Social Support Rating Scale. The PROCESS v3.4 macro was employed to assess the mediating role of SSA and a moderating role of psychological capital.

Results

A total of 536 valid samples were filtered. Anxiety, depression, SSA, and psychological capital were significant correlated. Anxiety was positively associated with depression (β = 0.82, p < 0.001), and the SSA mediated the relationship between anxiety and depression (indirect effect = 0.013, 95%BootCI [0.005, 0.023]). Psychological capital (specifically, self-efficacy, hope and resilience) further played a moderating role in the relationship between SSA and depression (β = 0.06, p < 0.01).

Conclusion

The mental health of emergency physicians should be concerned. In order to decrease anxiety and depression, SSA and psychological capital should be increased as the interventions for emergency physicians.
Effects of chronic bubble tea administration on behavior and cognition in C57BL/6 mice
Authors: Yao Yitan , Shi Shengya , Yang Yating , Luo Bei , Li Mengdie , Zhang Ling , Yuan Xiaoping , Liu Huanzhong , Zhang Kai
Published: December 2022

Purpose

There is a lack of rigorous experimental evidence to verify the effects of bubble tea on body weight and mental health, especially whether it is an addictive thing.

Materials and methods

Male adult C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to two groups, including the bubble-tea and the control group. The change in their body weight was calculated. Behavior tests include novel object recognition test (NORT), elevated plus maze test (EPMT), forced swim test (FST), tail suspension test (TST), conditioned place preference (CPP).

Results

There was a significant time effect on weight change of the two groups (F = 36.83, P < 0.01). The bubble tea-treated mice spent significantly less time in the open arms, indicating an increase in anxiety (t = 2.39, P = 0.03). In FST, bubble tea treatment produced a significantly increased immobility time (186.58 ± 29.67 s) as compared to pure water treated group (112.50 ± 46.67 s) (t = −3.79, P < 0.01). Similarly, the immobility time in the TST was also significantly increased by bubble tea treatment (437.63 ± 27.72 s) compared to the treatment with pure water (340.24 ± 77.22 s) (t = −3.36, P < 0.01). We investigated the rewarding effects of bubble tea, using the CPP paradigm, which measures the rewarding properties of abused drugs. Independent-samples t-test revealed no significant difference between the two groups (t = −0.47, P = 0.65).

Conclusion

In conclusion, we showed that long-term administration of bubble tea could not induce addictive behavior in mice. Meanwhile, the long-term effects of bubble tea on weight were also very limited. However, long-term consumption of bubble tea can lead to anxiety and depression-like behaviors and impair cognitive function in mice.
A better way of life: The role of leisure activities on self-perceived health, perceived stress, confidence in stress management, and satisfaction with social support in psychiatrists and psychiatry trainees in Mexico
Authors: Lagunes-Córdoba Emmeline , Yoldi-Negrete María , Hewson Tom , Guízar-Sánchez Diana , Robles-García Rebeca , Tovilla-Zárate Carlos Alfonso , Tracy Derek , Saracco-Alvarez Ricardo Arturo , Fresán Ana
Published: December 2022

Background

Psychiatrists are at high risk of developing burnout and mental health problems mainly due to their emotionally demanding jobs, difficult working conditions, long working hours, and poor work-life balance. As leisure activities are associated with better physical and mental health, engaging in these activities has been recommended as a measure to improve the wellbeing of healthcare workers. However, it is unclear the extent of which psychiatrists and trainees are involved in leisure activities, what type of activities they prefer, or how these impact their self-perceived health, stress, confidence in stress management, and satisfaction with their social support.

Objective

The aim of this study was to identify differences in self-perceived health, perceived stress, confidence in stress management, and satisfaction with social support, between psychiatrists and trainees who engage in different leisure activities, compared with those who do not.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study, including Mexican psychiatrists (n = 355) and trainees (n = 330) who agreed to participate through an online survey.

Results

73.1% of participants engaged in some leisure activity, being solitary-passive activities the most reported. Those who have a leisure activity reported lower stress, greater confidence in stress management, and more satisfaction with their social support. Passive-solitary activities were associated with less perceived stress and better confidence in stress management, while active-solitary and social activities were associated with better satisfaction with social support.

Conclusion

Psychiatrists' and trainees' wellbeing benefits from engagement in leisure activities, which should be part of their daily schedules to reduce stress, and potentially improve their mental health.
Alteration of whole-brain amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation and degree centrality in patients with mild to moderate depression: A resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study
Authors: Chen Fenyang , Wang Luoyu , Ding Zhongxiang
Published: December 2022

Background

Mild to moderate depressive disorder has a high risk of progressing to major depressive disorder.

Methods

Low-frequency amplitude and degree centrality were calculated to compare 49 patients with mild to moderate depression and 21 matched healthy controls. Correlation analysis was conducted to explore the correlation between the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and the degree centrality (DC) of altered brain region and the scores of clinical scale. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were further analyzed to evaluate the predictive value of above altered ALFF and DC areas as image markers for mild to moderate depression.

Results

Compared with healthy controls, patients with mild to moderate depression had lower ALFF values in the left precuneus and posterior cingulate gyrus [voxel p < 0.005, cluster p < 0.05, Gaussian random field correction (GRF) corrected] and lower DC values in the left insula (voxel p < 0.005, cluster p < 0.05, GRF corrected). There was a significant negative correlation between DC in the left insula and scale scores of Zung’s Depression Scale (ZungSDS), Beck Self-Rating Depression Scale (BDI), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS26), and Ruminative Thinking Response Scale (RRS_SUM, RRS_REFLECTION, RRS_DEPR). Finally, ROC analysis showed that the ALFF of the left precuneus and posterior cingulate gyrus had a sensitivity of 61.9% and a specificity of 79.6%, and the DC of the left insula had a sensitivity of 81% and a specificity of 85.7% in differentiating mild to moderate depression from healthy controls.

Conclusion

Intrinsic abnormality of the brain was mainly located in the precuneus and insular in patients with mild to moderate depression, which provides insight into potential neurological mechanisms.
The relationship between smoking frequency and life satisfaction: Mediator of self-rated health (SRH)
Authors: Kang Weixi
Published: December 2022

Background

It is well-established that smoking is associated with life satisfaction. However, much less is known about how smoking frequency is related to life satisfaction and if self-rated health (SRH) mediates such a relationship. This is important to understand because life satisfaction is related to a lot of outcomes such as morbidity and mortality. The aim of the current study is to test whether smoking frequency relates to life satisfaction via SRH pathway.

Method

Data were extracted from Wave 7 (collected between 2015 and 2016), Understanding Society: the UK Household Longitudinal Study (UKHLS). After removing non-smokers and participants with missing variables of interest, 5, 519 smokers out of 39, 293 participants remained for further analysis. Correlation coefficients were calculated between smoking frequency, SRH, and life satisfaction. Mediation analysis was performed by taking smoking frequency as the predictor, SRH as the mediator, life satisfaction as the outcome variable, and demographics as covariates using the mediation toolbox on MATLAB 2018a with 10000 bootstrap sample significance testing (https://github.com/canlab/MediationToolbox).

Results

The current study found a negative correlation between smoking frequency and life satisfaction [r = −0.09, 95% C.I (−0.12, −0.06), p < 0.001] and between smoking frequency and SRH [r = −0.17, 95% C.I (−0.14, −0.19), p < 0.001], and a positive correlation between SRH and life satisfaction [r = 0.44, 95% C.I (0.41, 0.46), p < 0.001]. Results from the mediation analysis revealed that there is a significant effect of Path a [i.e., smoking frequency to SRH; β = −0.02, p < 0.001, 95% C.I. (−0.02, −0.02)], Path b [SRH to life satisfaction; β = 0.68, p < 0.001, 95% C.I. (0.66, 0.69)], Path c' [direct effect; β = −0.01, p < 0.01, 95% C.I. (0.66, 0.69)], Path c [total effect; β =-0.02, p < 0.001, 95% C.I. (−0.02, −0.02)], and Path a*b [mediation effect; β = −0.01, p < 0.001, 95% C.I. (−0.01, −0.014)].

Conclusion

SRH partially mediated the negative relationship between smoking frequency and life satisfaction. Findings from the current study may imply that antismoking campaigns and pamphlets are needed to counter the promotion of smoking by the tobacco industry. Moreover, interventions are needed for current smokers to reduce their smoking frequency to improve their life satisfaction, which can promote life satisfaction and positive outcomes associated with better life satisfaction.
Application of multiple occupational health risk assessment models in the prediction of occupational health risks of n-Hexane in the air-conditioned closed workshop
Authors: Zhu Jiawei , Su Shibiao , Wen Cuiju , Wang Tianjian , Xu Haijuan , Liu Ming
Published: December 2022

Background

n-Hexane (NH) poisoning is a common occupational poisoning in the hardware and electronics industries. However, there is few research data on risk assessment of positions using NH in enclosed workshops. It is very important to assess the risk level of these positions and put forward effective measures and suggestions.

Methods

The information of selected companies and air samples were collected through on-site investigation, and data collation and sample testing were carried out according to the requirements of Chinese standards. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Essential, the EPA non-carcinogenic risk assessment model, the Singapore exposure index method and the Chinese semi-quantitative risk assessment models were used to assess the risks of NH.

Results

The working hours of the exposure groups, printing groups and packing groups all exceeded 9 h per day, less than 30% of each similar exposure groups (SEG) was equipped with the local exhaust ventilation, and 11.1% of the cleaning group and 8.3% of the printing group had NH concentrations in the air that exceeded the Chinese occupational exposure limit (OEL). In the EPA non-carcinogenic risk assessment model, each SEG was evaluated at high risk. In the Chinese semi-quantitative risk assessment models, all of the work groups of exposure groups, 91.7% of the work groups of printing groups, 77.8% of the work groups of printing groups, and 57.1% of the work groups of printing groups were evaluated at unacceptable risk. More than 40.0% of the work groups of printing groups and cleaning groups and over 20.0% of the work groups of exposure groups and packing groups were evaluated at high risk in the Chinese semi-quantitative risk assessment models.

Conclusions

The Chinese exposure index method and the synthesis index method may have a stronger practicability. Some work groups that use NH in air-conditioned enclosed workshops in China, especially the cleaning groups, are still in a high-risk state. It is necessary to increase protective measures and strengthen occupational hygiene management to reduce risks.
Broadened assessments, health education and cognitive aids in the remote memory clinic
Authors: Owens Andrew P. , Krebs Christine , Kuruppu Sajini , Brem Anna-Katharine , Kowatsch Tobias , Aarsland Dag , Klöppel Stefan
Published: December 2022

The prevalence of dementia is increasing and poses a health challenge for individuals and society. Despite the desire to know their risks and the importance of initiating early therapeutic options, large parts of the population do not get access to memory clinic-based assessments. Remote memory clinics facilitate low-level access to cognitive assessments by eschewing the need for face-to-face meetings. At the same time, patients with detected impairment or increased risk can receive non-pharmacological treatment remotely. Sensor technology can evaluate the efficiency of this remote treatment and identify cognitive decline. With remote and (partly) automatized technology the process of cognitive decline can be monitored but more importantly also modified by guiding early interventions and a dementia preventative lifestyle. We highlight how sensor technology aids the expansion of assessments beyond cognition and to other domains, e.g., depression. We also illustrate applications for aiding remote treatment and describe how remote tools can facilitate health education which is the cornerstone for long-lasting lifestyle changes. Tools such as transcranial electric stimulation or sleep-based interventions have currently mostly been used in a face-to-face context but have the potential of remote deployment—a step already taken with memory training apps. Many of the presented methods are readily scalable and of low costs and there is a range of target populations, from the worried well to late-stage dementia.
Practice toward standardized performance testing of computer-aided detection algorithms for pulmonary nodule
Authors: Wang Hao , Tang Na , Zhang Chao , Hao Ye , Meng Xiangfeng , Li Jiage
Published: December 2022

This study aimed at implementing practice to build a standardized protocol to test the performance of computer-aided detection (CAD) algorithms for pulmonary nodules. A test dataset was established according to a standardized procedure, including data collection, curation and annotation. Six types of pulmonary nodules were manually annotated as reference standard. Three specific rules to match algorithm output with reference standard were applied and compared. These rules included: (1) “center hit” [whether the center of algorithm highlighted region of interest (ROI) hit the ROI of reference standard]; (2) “center distance” (whether the distance between algorithm highlighted ROI center and reference standard center was below a certain threshold); (3) “area overlap” (whether the overlap between algorithm highlighted ROI and reference standard was above a certain threshold). Performance metrics were calculated and the results were compared among ten algorithms under test (AUTs). The test set currently consisted of CT sequences from 593 patients. Under “center hit” rule, the average recall rate, average precision, and average F1 score of ten algorithms under test were 54.68, 38.19, and 42.39%, respectively. Correspondingly, the results under “center distance” rule were 55.43, 38.69, and 42.96%, and the results under “area overlap” rule were 40.35, 27.75, and 31.13%. Among the six types of pulmonary nodules, the AUTs showed the highest miss rate for pure ground-glass nodules, with an average of 59.32%, followed by pleural nodules and solid nodules, with an average of 49.80 and 42.21%, respectively. The algorithm testing results changed along with specific matching methods adopted in the testing process. The AUTs showed uneven performance on different types of pulmonary nodules. This centralized testing protocol supports the comparison between algorithms with similar intended use, and helps evaluate algorithm performance.
The built environment impacts on route choice from home to school for rural students: A stated preference experiment
Authors: Han Li , Wang Yan , Ao Yibin , Ding Xuan , Li Mingyang , Wang Tong
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Rural roads and built environment in China have been developed enormously, but it is not clear whether these roads fulfill the needs of school children as they need to travel long to school every day.

Objective

It is crucial to understand the influencing factors of their travel mode choices to better design future country roads and built environment, aiming to promote physical activities of school children in a safe built environment.

Method

This study thus attempts to explore the impacts of rural built environment attributes on children's school travel mode preferences. Eight rural built environment attributes are considered: distance from home to school; the number of intersections passed on the way to school; whether there are sidewalks/bicycle lanes; the traffic speed of school access routes; whether there are separation facilities between motor vehicles and non-motor vehicles; whether there are traffic lights and zebra crossings; availability of greenery such as lawns, flower ponds and street trees and whether there are shops on the way to school and at the school gate. Six hundred and thirty eight valid questionnaires were obtained through face-to-face interviews with school-age children in villages. A multinomial logit model was estimated to unravel the preferences and choices of rural school-age children in different models of school travel using the stated choice data.

Results

All the eight attributes have significant impacts on rural children's school travel choices on foot, bicycle, electric bicycle or motorbike. And four rural road design attributes have significant effects on rural children's school travel by private cars. A travel path with pavements or bike lanes, few intersections, low traffic speeds, greenery and shops can facilitate children's school travels on foot or by bike. The conclusions can provide reference for the further upgrading planning, designing and construction of rural roads, as well as enriching the theory and practice of child-friendly villages construction.
Causal relationship between health insurance and overall health status of children: Insights from Pakistan
Authors: Aziz Noshaba , Liu Tinghua , Yang Shaoxiong , Zukiewicz-Sobczak Wioletta
Published: December 2022

Evaluating the impact of health insurance always remains a methodologically challenging endeavor due to the absence of sample randomization. This paper evaluates the impact of health insurance on the health status of children in Pakistan using the data of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) for Punjab, Pakistan, from 2017 to 2018. The study adopted the propensity score matching (PSM) method to address the sample selection bias. The sample is matched on potential covariates such as mother characteristics (education level), household head characteristics (gender, age, and education), and other household conditions (such as home dwelling, internet access, wealth index, migration member, number of children residing in the home, as child illness, etc.). The findings revealed that children with insurance have considerably better health than non-insured, at a 1% significance level. The results confirm that health insurance is not a luxury but a need that improves children's overall health. In this regard, governments should enhance and expand programs related to health insurance, especially for children. Health insurance programs will not only help poor people but also improve the overall infrastructure of health services in the country.
Evaluation of a digital health system (PAHcare™) for routine care of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension: The CBS-PAH study protocol
Authors: Pérez Peñate Gregorio , Ochoa Parra Nuria , Domingo Morera Juan Antonio , Martínez Meñaca Amaya , López Ramón Marta , Cadenas Menéndez Sergio , León Marrero Fernando , Gómara de la Cal Sara , Ghadban Garrido Cristina , Royo Tolosana Patricia , Martin Puentes Javier , Aldonza Aguayo Rebeca , Mahdavi Hadis , Bacchini Jeanneret Gabriela , Escribano Subías Pilar
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare, multifactorial, chronic condition that requires ongoing monitoring and assessment. PAHcare™ is a novel, patient-centered digital platform that provides software intended for use on patients' mobile phones (downloadable application) and web-based dashboards for use by physicians and health coaches (HC). We describe herein the protocol of a clinical study aimed at evaluating the clinical benefit and safety of PAHcare™ for the routine management of patients with PAH.

Methods and analysis

In this prospective, single cohort, multicenter study, 50 patients with PAH will be recruited at six specialized PAH units from reference hospitals of the public Spanish healthcare system. The PAHcare™ digital health platform allows patients to log health and lifestyle information while also providing structured content for patient education, medication reminders, and behavioral and lifestyle coaching from a remote HC. Evaluation will be primarily focused on the impact of the platform use on the patient's health-related quality of life (HRQoL) via questionnaires completion through electronic patient-reported outcomes. Moreover, the analysis of the impact on the patient's functional status, signs and symptoms of PAH, patient costs and healthcare resource utilization, satisfaction, knowledge of the disease and its management, and adherence to and safety of the platform will be secondary outcomes. The clinical investigation started in July 2021 and is expected to end by September 2022.

Discussion

The PAHcare™ platform is anticipated to provide direct benefits to healthcare professionals, patients, and caregivers. These include the simplification of the multidisciplinary approach needed to tailor routine PAH management, enhancement of the patient/healthcare professional interaction, patient's empowerment to become more actively involved in the management and treatment of the disease, and increase of the patient's and caregiver's knowledge on PAH.
The seven grand challenges in arachnid science
Authors: Kuntner Matjaž
Published: December 2022

This perspective identifies the grand challenges in arachnid science: 1. Grasp the arachnid species diversity. There is a need to accelerate taxonomic research to obtain a sense of arachnid species diversity, however, at the same time, taxonomy needs to increase its quality, rigor, and repeatability. 2. Standardize arachnid systematics research. A solid phylogenetic definition and morphological diagnosis of Arachnida and its composing subgroups, usually treated at the rank of order, are needed. Studies should aim to stabilize and standardize phylogenetic efforts at all levels of hierarchy, and systematists should adopt criteria for higher level ranks in arachnid classification. 3. Interpret arachnid trait evolution through omics approaches. Among the field’s grand challenges is to define the genetic diversity encoding for the diverse arachnid traits, including developmental, morphological and ecological characteristics, biomaterials such as silks, venoms, digestive fluids, or allergens and bioproducts that cause diseases. Comparative genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics will provide the empirical basis for biotechnology to modify arachnid genomes to fit numerous applications. 4. Facilitate biotechnological applications of arachnid molecules and biomaterials. Among the grand field challenges is to define potential applications of arachnid bioproducts from therapeutics to industry. New natural and biodegradable products, e.g. from spider silks, should ease our burden on ecosystems. 5. Utilize arachnids as models in ecological and biogeographic research. Biodiversity inventory sampling and analytical techniques should be extended from spiders to other arachnid groups. Spiders and their webs could be used as environmental DNA samplers, measuring or monitoring ecosystems’ overall biodiversity. Arachnids are excellent models to address biogeographical questions at the global to local scales. 6. Disentangle evolutionary drivers of arachnid diversity. Among the field grand challenges is a more precise evaluation to what extent the emergence of arachnid phenotypes is shaped by classical selection processes, and under what conditions, if any, sexual conflict needs to be invoked. 7. Define effective conservation measures for arachnids in the light of global changes. Effective conservation measures in arachnology should integrate the data from phylogenetic diversity, physiology, ecology, biogeography, and global change biology.
Evaluation of urethral thickness using ultrasonography in healthy small-breed dogs
Authors: Kim Geunha , Ji Yewon , Choo Donghyeok , Kim Sung-Soo , Lee Kichang , Yoon Hakyoung
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Urethral thickness measurements can be indicative of the pathological state of a patient; however to the best of our knowledge, no measurement reference range has been established in small-breed dogs. This study aimed to establish reference ranges for total urethral thickness and urethral wall thickness in healthy small-breed dogs; “urethral wall thickness” was assumed to be 1/2 of the “total urethral thickness.”

Methods

Total urethral thickness was measured by ultrasonography in 240 healthy small-breed dogs. In both female and male dogs, the thickness was measured in the mid-sagittal plane. In female dogs, it was measured immediately before the pelvic bone. In male dogs, it was measured caudal to the prostate and cranial to the pelvic bone. The total urethral thickness we measured is the total thickness of the collapsed urethra, which is the sum of the thicknesses of the dorsal and ventral urethral wall.

Results

The mean value of total urethral thickness was 3.15 ± 0.83 mm (urethral wall thickness, 1.58 ± 0.41 mm) in 240 small-breed dogs. The total urethral thickness was significantly greater in male dogs than in female dogs (p< 0.001), even when compared among the same breeds (p< 0.05). The mean value of the total urethral thickness in females was 2.78 ± 0.60 mm (urethral wall thickness, 1.39 ± 0.30 mm), and 3.53 ± 0.86 mm (urethral wall thickness, 1.76 ± 0.43 mm) in males. There was very weak positive correlation between body weight (BW) and total urethral thickness (R2 = 0.109; β = 0.330;p< 0.001). Intraobserver reliability measured by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was 0.986 (p< 0.001) and interobserver reliability measured by ICC was 0.966 (p< 0.001).

Discussion

This study described the differences in total urethral thickness between breeds, sexes, and sterilization status, and the correlation between BW and total urethral thickness. Furthermore, this is the first study to provide reference ranges of total urethral thickness and urethral wall thickness in small-breed dogs using ultrasonography, and is expected to be useful for urethral evaluation in veterinary diagnostic imaging.
20 abnormal metabolites of Stage IV Grade C periodontitis was discovered by CPSI-MS
Authors: Wang Li-Jun , Liu Liu , Ju Wei , Yao Wen-Xin , Yang Xi-Hu , Qian Wen-Hao
Published: December 2022

Saliva is a noninvasive biofluid that contains the metabolic signature of severe periodontitis (SP, Stage IV and Grade C). Conductive polymer spray ionization mass spectrometry (CPSI-MS) was used to record a wide range of metabolites within a few seconds, making this technique a promising point-of-care method for the early detection of SP (Stage IV and Grade C). Saliva samples from 31 volunteers, consisting of 16 healthy controls (HC) and 15 patients with SP (Stage IV and Grade C), were collected to identify dysregulated metabolites. Twenty metabolites were screened out, including seven amino acids. Moreover, the results showed that amino acid metabolism is closely related to the development of periodontitis. The present study further confirmed that salivary metabolites in the oral cavity were significantly altered after plaque removal. These results suggest that the combination of CPSI-MS is a feasible tool for preclinical screening of SP (Stage IV and Grade C).
Numerical Integration Schemes Based on Composition of Adjoint Multistep Methods
Authors: Pesterev Dmitriy , Druzhina Olga , Pchelintsev Alexander , Nepomuceno Erivelton , Butusov Denis
Published: December 2022

A composition is a powerful tool for obtaining new numerical methods for solving differential equations. Composition ODE solvers are usually based on single-step basic methods applied with a certain set of step coefficients. However, multistep composition schemes are much less-known and investigated in the literature due to their complex nature. In this paper, we propose several novel schemes for solving ordinary differential equations based on the composition of adjoint multistep methods. Numerical stability, energy preservation, and performance of proposed schemes are investigated theoretically and experimentally using a set of differential problems. The applicability and efficiency of the proposed composition multistep methods are discussed.
Error Investigation on Wi-Fi RTT in Commercial Consumer Devices
Authors: Dong Yinhuan , Shi Duanxu , Arslan Tughrul , Yang Yunjie
Published: December 2022

Researchers have explored multiple Wi-Fi features to estimate user locations in indoor environments in the past decade, such as Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI), Channel State Information (CSI), Time of Arrival (TOA), and Angle of Arrive (AoA). Fine Time Measurement (FTM) is a protocol standardized by IEEE 802.11-2016, which can estimate the distance between the initiator and the station using Wi-Fi Round-Trip Time (RTT). Promoted by Google, such a protocol has been explored in many mobile localization algorithms, which can provide meter-level positioning accuracy between Wi-Fi RTT-enabled smartphones and access points (APs). However, previous studies have shown that the Wi-Fi RTT measurements are sensitive to environmental changes, which leads to significant errors in the localization algorithms. Such an error usually varies according to different environments and settings. Therefore, this paper investigates the error in Wi-Fi RTT distance measurements by setting multiple experiments with different hardware, motion status, and signal path loss conditions. The experiment results show that four categories of errors are found in RTT distance measurements, including hardware-dependent bias, blocker-dependent bias, fluctuations, and outliers. Comparison and analysis are carried out to illustrate the impact of the different errors on Wi-Fi RTT distance.
Model-Based Systems Engineering Approach for the First-Stage Separation System of Launch Vehicle
Authors: Zhang Wenfeng , Liu Zhendong , Liu Xiong , Jin Yili , Wang Qixiao , Hong Rong
Published: December 2022

This paper proposes a model-based systems engineering (MBSE) methodology to design a first-stage separation system for a launch vehicle. It focuses on the whole process of system modeling, such as modeling the requirements analysis, logical architecture design, physical architecture design, and system verification and validation. Finally, the component requirements are obtained as the baseline for the component design. Requirements analysis is carried out by identifying stakeholders with the cycle modeling for this system and the use of case modeling to ensure that the requirements are comprehensive and correct. Additionally, the standard system requirements are obtained and baselined. Based on system requirements, the trade-off analysis of hierarchical functional architecture and key indicators was mainly carried out to design the logical architecture. Once the logical architecture was decided, the logical architecture was allocated to the physical architecture to be implemented. Several physical architectures are analyzed hierarchically to seek the optimal architectures. Then, other CAE analysis tools were integrated to verify the physical architecture design. All these processes are modeled and integrated as the authority system model, which benefits the system engineer for managing the requirement changes easier and rapidly provides multi-views for different roles.
Dynamic Control of a Novel Planar Cable-Driven Parallel Robot with a Large Wrench Feasible Workspace
Authors: Juárez-Pérez Sergio , Martín-Parra Andrea , Arena Andrea , Ottaviano Erika , Gattulli Vincenzo , Castillo-García Fernando J.
Published: December 2022

Cable-Driven Parallel Robots (CDPRs) are special manipulators where rigid links are replaced with cables. The use of cables offers several advantages over the conventional rigid manipulators, one of the most interesting being their ability to cover large workspaces since cables are easily winded. However, this workspace coverage has its limitations due to the maximum permissible cable tensions, i.e., tension limitations cause a decrease in the Wrench Feasible Workspace (WFW) of these robots. To solve this issue, a novel design based in the addition of passive carriages to the robot frame of three degrees-of-freedom (3DOF) fully-constrained CDPRs is used. The novelty of the design allows reducing the variation in the cable directions and forces increasing the robot WFW; nevertheless, it presents a low stiffness along the x direction. This paper presents the dynamic model of the novel proposal together with a new dynamic control technique, which rejects the vibrations caused by the stiffness loss while ensuring an accurate trajectory tracking. The simulation results show that the controlled system presents a larger WFW than the conventional scheme of the CDPR, maintaining a good performance in the trajectory tracking of the end-effector. The novel proposal presented here can be applied in multiple planar applications.
Rise and Fall of the Materiality Matrix: Lessons from a Missed Takeoff
Authors: De Cristofaro Tiziana , Raucci Domenico
Published: December 2022

After a long period of the inclusion of materiality matrices within standard setters documents and non-financial reports, the Global Reporting Initiative officially abandoned the materiality matrix in 2021 after the GRI 3 standard release. To bridge the detected gaps in the literature, this article aims to investigate approaches to and arguments for the matrix until the issuance of GRI 3. The two-step research strategy adopted gives the same level of attention to the opposite positions found. Phase 1 (approach-oriented) reviews the materiality matrix presentation in the 2014–2020 non-financial reports of a sample of worldwide sustainability-oriented companies. Phase 2 (argument-oriented) performs qualitative content analysis on feedback for the GRI 3 preparatory works. The findings show that, besides the staunch adopters, a core of non-adopters persisted and prevented the takeoff of the matrix. Moreover, further insights into possible drivers both in favour of and against these approaches are provided. The final discussion both considers the lessons learnt, overlapping with policy implications, and suggests future research avenues.
Geometric Optimization of Blunt Bodies with Aerodisk and Opposing Jet for Wave Drag and Heat Reduction
Authors: Hamza Muhammad , Khan Saima Bukhat , Maqsood Adnan
Published: December 2022

The use of passive, active, or hybrid flow control techniques is often investigated to reduce the acoustic signature, wave drag, and aerodynamic heating associated with the supersonic flow regime. This research explores passive and hybrid flow control techniques to achieve an optimal reduction in wave drag and aerodynamic heating on a blunt body using an aerodisk. While passive techniques use one or two aerospikes, hybrid techniques employ opposing jets and aerospikes. Numerical analysis is performed using Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations to analyze the bodies’ flow field. The statistical technique, Design of Experiments (DOE), is combined with Response Surface Method (RSM) to find the optimal configuration for four cases by generating design space. Two cases were considered for the optimization: single aerospike with and without opposing jet and double aerospike with and without opposing jet. Variables used for the design of the aerodisks were spike length and diameter, while the response variables were wave drag and normalized heat flux. The current study has established an optimum relationship between spike length and aerospike diameter located in front of the main blunt body for both single and double aerospikes. The study’s results suggest that a double aerodisk configuration is more beneficial for reducing drag and heat flux at supersonic speed than a single aerodisk. By incorporating an opposing jet at a pressure ratio of 0.8 from the frontal aerodisk to the spiked blunt body, it can reduce drag and heat flux by 86% and 95%, respectively. Finally, numerical verification is performed for statistically optimized designs.
Numerical Study of the Hygrothermal Effects on Low Velocity Impact Induced Indentation and Its Rebound in Composite Laminate
Authors: Yousaf Muhammad , Zhou Chuwei , Yang Yu , Wang Li
Published: December 2022

Impact indentation is believed to be an effective indication of low-velocity impact (LVI) damage for polymer matrix composites. However, it has been discovered that an indentation can partially rebound over time. Impact indentation and its rebound behavior over a period of time are significantly affected by hygrothermal conditions, especially moisture absorption. Therefore, a good understanding of the moisture-dependent impact indentation and its rebound behavior is helpful for impact damage assessment for composites. In this paper, moisture effects are considered for both the intra-laminar transverse property model and the interlaminar interface model in the simulation of impact indentation. Then, in these two models, viscosities are introduced to represent the indentation rebound over time. In order to validate the proposed models, LVI experiments with different impact energies were conducted on dry and hygrothermal conditioned carbon fiber/epoxy matrix composite laminates. For the specimens, the initial depths of impact dents and their rebounds over time were measured. The specimens of hygrothermal conditions were found with deeper dents compared with dry ones under the same impact energy; and their rebounds were also more significant. These phenomena were explained by the fact that moisture softens epoxy in composite and meanwhile elevates its viscosity. This indentation and its rebound phenomenon were simulated in ABAQUS by considering the moisture effects and viscoelasticity with user-defined material subroutines. These experiments were simulated using the proposed models, and the numerical predictions conformed well with the experimental observations.
Component-Level Modeling of More Electric Auxiliary Power Units for Cooperative Control
Authors: Zhang Jiaming , Fang Jun , Zhang Tianhong , Li Lingwei , Zhang Xinglong
Published: December 2022

Today, the more electric aircraft (MEA) concept is gaining tremendous popularity. As a key component of the MEA, a more electric auxiliary power unit (MEAPU) integrated model with high accuracy and real-time performance is essential when conducting cooperative control and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test research. This paper proposes a novel MEAPU integrated model consisting of a MEAPU component-level-model (CLM) and a starter-generator (SG) model. Firstly, a MEAPU CLM was built and a continuous scaling method for the component characteristic map in the CLM is proposed to improve the model’s accuracy. Then, a double winding induction starter-generator (DWISG) model based on the electromagnetic theory, which is quite time consuming, was simplified using the pulse width modulation (PWM) rectifier linearization method. Finally, considering the coupling relationship between the MEAPU CLM and DWISG, an accurate real-time MEAPU integrated model was built and its simulation results were analyzed. Compared with the test results, the error of the proposed model was less than 0.5%; meanwhile its single-step simulation time was less than 20 ms, which can meet the demands of cooperative control and HIL test research. Furthermore, the continuous scaling method and PWM rectifier linearization method were found to be effective for modeling other MEAPUs and more electric engines (MEE).
The Effect of Peat Moss Amended with Three Engineered Wood Substrate Components on Suppression of Damping-Off Caused by Rhizoctonia solani
Authors: Poleatewich Anissa , Michaud Isobel , Jackson Brian , Krause Matthew , DeGenring Liza
Published: December 2022

The use of wood-derived materials in soilless substrates for horticultural crop production is increasing; however, there is little information about the effects of wood on the incidence and severity of soilborne diseases of container-grown plants. The objectives of this research were to compare three differently processed wood substrate components blended with sphagnum peat and to investigate the effect of the peat:wood blend ratio on damping-off disease caused by Rhizoctonia solani using radish as a model system. In objective one, raw sphagnum peat was blended with three types of processed pine wood, screw-extruded, twin disc-refined, and hammer-milled, at a volumetric ratio of 70:30 and compared to a 70:30 peat:perlite mix. Radish plants grown in the hammer-milled wood and disc-refined wood had significantly lower damping-off disease severity compared to plants grown in the peat–perlite control. In objective two, sphagnum peat was blended with the three types of processed wood at a volumetric ratio of 90:10, 80:20, and 70:30 and compared to a 70:30 peat–perlite mix. The effect of the blend ratio varied by wood processing type. Higher percentages of Forest Gold and pine tree substrate resulted in lower disease severity. In both objectives, radish plants grown in any of the substrate treatments containing wood infested with R. solani tended to have lower disease severity compared to plants in the control. Results of this study indicate that the blending of processed pine wood-derived components into peat may enhance the natural suppression of damping-off disease of radish. Further research is needed to elucidate the mode of action of wood-derived materials on disease suppression in container-grown crops and to study the effects for other plant pathogens and crop species.
Aquaponics in Saudi Arabia: Initial Steps towards Addressing Food Security in the Arid Region
Authors: Memon Azhar M. , AlHems Luai M. , Yamaç Sevim Seda , Barry Muhammad S. , Alam Aftab , AlMuhanna Ahmed
Published: December 2022

Due to water scarcity and harsh climate, Saudi Arabia and its neighboring countries rely heavily on fresh food imports from distant lands and have higher per capita expenditures on vegetable imports compared with USA and China. Aquaponics can supply fresh food throughout the year and may complement conventional agriculture in Saudi Arabia to help the objectives and policies defined by the government for food and water security. In this spirit, an Aquaponics farm is being constructed in the desert-coast climate to study the feasibility. A detailed SWOT analysis is performed for a commercial farm which reveals that the advantages of Aquaponics in the Saudi market outweigh the weaknesses. Preliminary experiences show that such ventures require high capital costs and synergistic collaboration of engineering, agriculture, business, and geology.