bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Certificateless Remote Data Integrity Auditing with Access Control of Sensitive Information in Cloud Storage
Authors: Bian Genqing , Zhang Fan , Li Rong , Shao Bilin
Published: September 2022

With the spread of cloud storage technology, checking the integrity of data stored in the cloud effectively is increasingly becoming a concern. Following the introduction of the first remote data integrity audit schemes, different audit schemes with various characteristics have been proposed. However, most of the existing solutions have problems such as additional storage overhead and additional certificate burden. This paper proposes a certificateless remote data integrity auditing scheme which takes into account the storage burden and data privacy issues while ensuring the correctness of the data audit results. In addition, the certificateless design concept enables the scheme proposed in this paper to avoid a series of burdens brought by certificates. The scheme designed in this paper provides a data access control function whereby only users who hold a valid token generated by the data owner can access the target data from the cloud. Finally, this paper provides a detailed security proof to ensure the rationality of the results. A theoretical analysis and subsequent experimental verification show that the proposed scheme is both effective and feasible.
Design of a New Non-Coherent Cross-QAM-Based M-ary DCSK Communication System
Authors: Yang Zhuwen , Cai Guofa
Published: September 2022

In this paper, a new non-coherent cross-quadrature amplitude modulation (XQAM)-based M-ary differential chaos shift keying (XQAM-MDCSK) system is proposed. In such a system, an autocorrelator is adopted at the receiver to obtain the channel compensation value. This framework can be extended to various amplitude phase shift keying-based MDCSK systems, such as star QAM-based MDCSK (star QAM-MDCSK) and square QAM-based MDCSK (SQAM-MDCSK) systems. Moreover, the bit error rate (BER) expression of the proposed XQAM-MDCSK system is derived over a multipath Rayleigh fading channel. Results show that the proposed XQAM-MDCSK system can achieve better BER performance and a lower peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) compared to the star QAM-MDCSK system. Furthermore, we also show that the performance of the proposed system can be close to that of a system with perfect channel state information (CSI).
Ghost-Free Multi-Exposure Image Fusion Technology Based on the Multi-Scale Block LBP Operator
Authors: Ye Xinrong , Li Zhengping , Xu Chao
Published: September 2022

This paper proposes a ghost-free multi-exposure image fusion technique based on the multi-scale block LBP (local binary pattern) operator. The method mainly includes two steps: first, the texture variation, brightness, and spatial consistency weight maps of the image are computed, and then these three image features are used to construct the initial weight map. Finally, the multi-resolution method is used to fuse the images to obtain the resulting image. The main advantage of this technique lies in the step of extracting the details of the source image based on the multi-scale block LBP operator, which is used to preserve the details of the brightest and darkest areas in high dynamic range scenes and preserve the texture features of the source image. Another advantage is that a new LBP operator-based motion detection method is proposed for fusing multi-exposure images in dynamic scenes containing moving objects. In addition, this paper also studies two spatially consistent weight distribution methods and compares and discusses the effects of these two methods on the results of dynamic image fusion. Through a large number of experimental comparisons, the superiority and feasibility of this method are proved.
Efficient Dynamic Phishing Safeguard System Using Neural Boost Phishing Protection
Authors: Md Abdul Quadir , Jaiswal Dibyanshu , Daftari Jay , Haneef Sabireen , Iwendi Celestine , Jain Sanjiv Kumar
Published: September 2022

The instances of privacy and security have reached the point where they cannot be ignored. There has been a rise in data breaches and fraud, particularly in banks, healthcare, and government sectors. In today’s world, many organizations offer their security specialists bug report programs that help them find flaws in their applications. The breach of data on its own does not necessarily constitute a threat or attack. Cyber-attacks allow cyberpunks to gain access to machines and networks and steal financial data and esoteric information as a result of a data breach. In this context, this paper proposes an innovative approach to help users to avoid online subterfuge by implementing a Dynamic Phishing Safeguard System (DPSS) using neural boost phishing protection algorithm that focuses on phishing, fraud, and optimizes the problem of data breaches. Dynamic phishing safeguard utilizes 30 different features to predict whether or not a website is a phishing website. In addition, the neural boost phishing protection algorithm uses an Anti-Phishing Neural Algorithm (APNA) and an Anti-Phishing Boosting Algorithm (APBA) to generate output that is mapped to various other components, such as IP finder, geolocation, and location mapper, in order to pinpoint the location of vulnerable sites that the user can view, which makes the system more secure. The system also offers a website blocker, and a tracker auditor to give the user the authority to control the system. Based on the results, the anti-phishing neural algorithm achieved an accuracy level of 97.10%, while the anti-phishing boosting algorithm yielded 97.82%. According to the evaluation results, dynamic phishing safeguard systems tend to perform better than other models in terms of uniform resource locator detection and security.
Fabrication and Characterization of a Flexible Ag/AgCl-Zn Battery for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Bentley Daria , Heald Rachel , Daniel Joseph Fraser , Prakash Shaurya
Published: September 2022

A flexible silver-zinc fabric-based primary battery that is biocompatible, conformable, and suitable for single-use wearable biomedical devices is reported. The planar battery was fabricated by screen printing silver/silver-chloride and zinc electrodes (14 mm × 8 mm) onto a silk substrate. A biologically relevant fluid, phosphate buffered saline was used as a liquid electrolyte for characterization. Cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and current discharge properties at constant densities of 0.89 μA/cm2, 8.93 μA/cm2, and 89.29 μA/cm2 were used to quantify battery performance. Nine cells were placed in series to generate a greater open circuit voltage (>6 V) relevant to previously reported biomedical applications. The nine-cell battery was evaluated for operation under mechanical strain due to likely placement on curved surfaces of the body in wearable applications. The nine-cell battery was discharged over 4 h at 8.93 μA/cm2 in an unstrained condition. The mechanically strained battery when mounted to a mannequin to mimic anatomical curvature discharged up to 30 min faster. Additionally, the nine-cell battery was used in an in vitro wound model to power an electroceutical, showing promise towards practical use in active, corrosive, and potentially biohazardous environments.
Investigation of Steam Explosion Pretreatment of Sawdust and Oat Straw to Improve Their Quality as Biofuel Pellets
Authors: Onyenwoke Chukwuka , Tabil Lope G. , Dumonceaux Tim , Cree Duncan , Mupondwa Edmund , Adapa Phani , Karunakaran Chithra
Published: September 2022

Steam explosion pretreatment of sawdust and oat straw under mild, medium, and severe conditions was conducted to improve the quality of pellets generated from these feedstocks. This work examined the effects of temperature, time, and moisture content on the mechanical properties of biomass pellets. From the ANOVA conducted, the p-values of the regression models for all the response variables (dimensional stability, tensile strength, and pellet density) studied were significant (p < 0.05), except for the pellet density of steam-pretreated oat straw pellets. The interaction of these three factors did not significantly affect the response variables of oat straw pellets. In addition, the higher heating value (HHV) of treated biomass increased up to a maximum of about 9.5% and 7% as compared with the non-treated sawdust and oat straw, respectively. In addition, an increment of about 3.6-fold and 3.1-fold in pellet tensile strength of steam-pretreated sawdust and oat straw was observed, respectively. Microstructural examination of the pellets from steam-pretreated biomass revealed that the material contained particles that were more closely bonded and featured a cemented surface with fewer pores when compared to particles from untreated oat straw and sawdust.
Experimental Study of Proppant Placement Characteristics in Curving Fractures
Authors: Wu Zhiying , Wu Chunfang , Zhou Linbo
Published: September 2022

Proppant placement in hydraulic fractures is crucial for avoiding fracture closure and maintaining a high conductivity pathway for oil and gas flow from the reservoir. The curving fracture is the primary fracture form in formation and affects proppant–fluid flow. This work experimentally examines proppant transport and placement in narrow curving channels. Four dimensionless numbers, including the bending angle, distance ratio, Reynolds number, and Shields number, are used to analyze particle placement in curving fractures. The results indicate that non-uniform proppant placement occurs in curving fractures due to the flow direction change and induces an irregular proppant dune. The dune height and covered area are lower than that in the straight fracture. The curving pathway hinders proppant distribution and leads to a dune closer to the inlet. When the distance increases between the inlet and curving section, a large depleted zone in the curving section will be formed and hinder oil and gas flowback. The covered area has negative linear correlations with the Reynolds number and Shields numbers. Four dimensionless parameters are used to develop a model to quantitatively predict the covered area of particle dune in curving fractures.
Power Management Strategies in a Hybrid Energy Storage System Integrated AC/DC Microgrid: A Review
Authors: Bharatee Anindya , Ray Pravat Kumar , Subudhi Bidyadhar , Ghosh Arnab
Published: September 2022

The limited availability of fossil fuel and the growing energy demand in the world creates global energy challenges. These challenges have driven the electric power system to adopt the renewable source-based power production system to get green and clean energy. However, the trend of the introduction of renewable power sources increases the uncertainty in the production, control, and operation of power systems due to the erratic nature of the environment. To overcome these meteorological conditions, some support systems, such as storage devices, are integrated with renewable energy sources (RES). A number of storage devices are hybridized to get the hybrid energy storage system (HESS) to get a potential solution for these microgrid problems. For maintaining the robustness and reliability of the power system, proper control, and management of power in the microgrid is very important. In this paper, an analytical study related to power management strategies is given along with different interconnection topologies for the HESS. Analysis and control of storage devices are necessary to avoid the premature degradation of the devices and to get their optimal utilization. Therefore, this article attempts to include different power management schemes used in AC/DC microgrids. Furthermore, various control techniques specific to different energy storage devices are reviewed extensively, which would serve as a complete guide for the design and implementation of a hybrid AC/DC microgrid.
Seismic Anisotropic Fluid Identification in Fractured Carbonate Reservoirs
Authors: Guo Xiaolong , Yan Bin , Zeng Juyi , Zhang Guangzhi , Li Lin , Zhou You , Yang Rui
Published: September 2022

Seismic fluid identification plays an important role in reservoir exploration and development. Natural vertical fractures are common in carbonate rocks, it is essential to consider fracture-induced anisotropy in the fluid identification of fractured carbonate reservoirs. We have developed a novel Bayesian elastic impedance variation with an angle and azimuth (EIVAZ) inversion approach for directly estimating the fracture fluid indicator (FFI), which can avoid cumulative errors produced in the indirect calculation process. Under the assumption of weak anisotropy and a small incident angle, we first derive a new approximate PP-wave coefficient for horizontal transverse isotropic (HTI) media. Analysis shows that the new approximation has reasonable accuracy at angles of incidence less than 30°. To estimate the FFI from observed azimuthal P-wave seismic reflection data, we further deduce the azimuthal EI equation and establish a two-step inversion workflow. Finally, the proposed approach is demonstrated by tests on a synthetic data example and a field data set of a fractured carbonate reservoir in the Sichuan Basin (China). Results show that the model parameters can be reasonably estimated even with moderate noise levels. The estimated FFI and quasi-normal fracture weakness show relatively high values at the location of reservoirs, which reliably indicate a fractured gas-bearing reservoir.
A Numerical Study on Heat Transfer Characteristics of a Novel Rectangular Grooved Microchannel with Al2O3/Water Nanofluids
Authors: Zeng Xiaoxin , Yu Hao , He Tianbiao , Mao Ning
Published: September 2022

The microchannel heat exchanger is one of the most compact and effective heat exchangers used for cooling devices in building air conditioning system, while application of nanofluids in microchannel further enhance its thermal performance due to its much higher thermal conductivity. Considering the continuous rapid increase in energy consumption in the building sector, especially in air conditioning systems, the heat transfer performance of a microchannel with nanofluids should be further enhanced to realize energy savings. This study analyzes the influence of combining nanofluid and flow disturbance structure on the heat transfer enhancement of a microchannel, which is also the noted novelty. A rectangular grooved microchannel (RGMC) is proposed, and its thermal performance using Al2O3/water nanofluids is investigated using the CFD method, with the mixture model to simulate the Al2O3/water nanofluids considering the slip velocity between the base fluid and nanoparticles. The results show that at 1.5 m/s, Nu of RGMC with 2 vol% nanofluids is 38.5% larger than that of smooth microchannel (SMC) with the same nanofluids, and 36.7% larger than that of RGMC with pure water, indicating the much better heat transfer performance of the novel designed RGMC structure. The maximum temperature for RGMC is 5 K lower than SMC with 2 vol% Al2O3/water nanofluid at inlet velocity of 1.5 m/s. Further analysis on the integrated effect between fluid flow and heat transfer shows that the synergy angle β near the center line of RGMC is much lower than that of SMC, representing that the better thermal performance is caused by the flow structured induced by the grooves. Moreover, at 1.5 m/s, βα of SMC with 2 vol% nanofluid is 89.4 Deg, which is 1.66 Deg higher than the βα value of RGMC, while at 0.25 m/s, the βα of two types of microchannel are close to each other. This indicates that the groove structure shows greater enhancement at higher inlet velocity. It is concluded that combining nanofluid and groove structure can significantly enhance heat transfer of the microchannel. The nanofluid enhances heat transfer at lower inlet velocity, while the groove structure enhances it at higher inlet velocity. This study will be helpful for the design of a high-efficiency microchannel heat exchanger that promotes building energy savings.
Progress on Conventional and Advanced Techniques of In Situ Transesterification of Microalgae Lipids for Biodiesel Production
Authors: Ideris Fazril , Zamri Mohd Faiz Muaz Ahmad , Shamsuddin Abd Halim , Nomanbhay Saifuddin , Kusumo Fitranto , Fattah Islam Md Rizwanul , Mahlia Teuku Meurah Indra
Published: September 2022

Global warming and the depletion of fossil fuels have spurred many efforts in the quest for finding renewable, alternative sources of fuels, such as biodiesel. Due to its auxiliary functions in areas such as carbon dioxide sequestration and wastewater treatment, the potential of microalgae as a feedstock for biodiesel production has attracted a lot of attention from researchers all over the world. Major improvements have been made from the upstream to the downstream aspects related to microalgae processing. One of the main concerns is the high cost associated with the production of biodiesel from microalgae, which includes drying of the biomass and the subsequent lipid extraction. These two processes can be circumvented by applying direct or in situ transesterification of the wet microalgae biomass, hence substantially reducing the cost. In situ transesterification is considered as a significant improvement to commercially produce biodiesel from microalgae. This review covers the methods used to extract lipids from microalgae and various in situ transesterification methods, focusing on recent developments related to the process. Nevertheless, more studies need to be conducted to further enhance the discussed in situ transesterification methods before implementing them on a commercial scale.
A New Strategy for PI Tuning in Photovoltaic Irrigation Systems Based on Simulation of System Voltage Fluctuations Due to Passing Clouds
Authors: Guillén-Arenas Francisco Jesús , Fernández-Ramos José , Narvarte Luis
Published: September 2022

One of the greatest challenges in stand-alone photovoltaic irrigation systems (PVIS) without batteries is the tuning of PID controllers and the evaluation of their performance once the system is tuned. Tuning method must be applied in clear days (constant irradiance) while performance must be evaluated in the most unfavourable circumstances, which occur when the passage of a cloud causes a sudden drop in available power. In short, tuning and testing must be done under different weather conditions. To solve this problem, a tuning method that is complemented by a method to simulate voltage fluctuations due to cloud passage has been developed. This allows tuning and evaluation of the system’s performance in the same session. Furthermore, the new PI tuning method achieves a better adjustment of the parameters and solves the instability problems that arise when applying traditional closed-loop tuning methods. Both methods use the feedforward input that most variable frequency drivers have. A signal generator is used to carry out the simulation of the clouds. This input is also used to introduce a triangular signal used for the tuning of the PI controller. The results show that the performance of the system, characterized by the voltage of the PV generator, with simulated clouds is similar to the response with real clouds. With regard to the tuning, the new method achieves better performance than previous methods. These methods can be applied on clear days, under conditions of constant irradiance, which greatly simplifies its implementation and greatly reduces the time required for commissioning the system.
Residual Damage, Its Consequences, and Remedial Measures on Post Hydrofrac Well Productivity: Learnt Lessons
Authors: Ghosh Bisweswar , Abdelrahim Mumin , Belhaj Hadi
Published: September 2022

Hydraulic fracturing or hydro-frac fluids can impede well production due to the damage caused to the reservoir formation and fracture face, generated from adverse interactions with reservoir rock. Understanding the mechanisms of hydraulic fracturing, optimum treatment designs, and pumping/pressure profiles is critical for hydro-frac success. However, to realize the full potential of fracturing and the mitigation strategies for reservoir and fracture conductivity damage during and after its occurrence, fracturing must be considered during the design phase itself. This article provides a brief overview of hydro-frac techniques, including design, optimization, modeling, commonly used proppants, and fracturing fluid benefits and consequences based on critically reviewed case studies. However, the primary focus of this article is on the potential of fracture conductivity damage and the intrinsic mechanisms in hydraulic fracturing. The article presents updated information on various damage mitigation processes established through laboratory investigation and field implementation. The authors expect that the provided workflow in this article will be helpful to researchers and stimulate engineers to a great extent.
Community Assembly of Forest Vegetation along Compound Habitat Gradients across Different Climatic Regions in China
Authors: Yao Liangjin , Xu Yue , Wu Chuping , Deng Fuying , Yao Lan , Ai Xunru , Zang Runguo
Published: September 2022

Community assembly research has mostly focused on areas with single vegetation types; however, the abiotic and biotic factors affecting community assembly act across regions. Integrating biotic and abiotic factors into “compound” habitats has gained attention as an emerging strategy to analyze spatial and temporal patterns of biodiversity. We used a compound habitat approach to explore the relative roles of habitat filtering, biotic competition, and stochastic processes in the forest community assembly of four climatic zones (tropical, subtropical, temperate, and cold temperate forests). Specifically, we combined biotic and abiotic factors in four compound ecological gradients by principal component analysis (PCA), which we used to assess the geographic and phylogenetic distribution of multiple woody plant functional traits. We found that forest functional and phylogenetic diversity shifted from clustered to overdispersed along the first compound habitat gradient (PC1) across climate zones. This finding indicates that competitive exclusion strongly affected the community assembly in tropical and subtropical forests, while habitat filtering played a key role in cold temperate forests; these mechanisms may both exist and interact in temperate forests. We also found that both habitat filtering and biotic competition affected forest community assembly across climatic regions in China. Our results elucidate the underlying mechanisms driving geographical differentiation of forest vegetation across climatic zones, and bolster empirical evidence for the conservation of forest biodiversity in China. Further research is also needed to explore whether the patterns found in this paper are prevalent in different locations in different climatic zones in China.
A New Fire Danger Index Developed by Random Forest Analysis of Remote Sensing Derived Fire Sizes
Authors: Shah Sami Ullah , Yebra Marta , Van Dijk Albert I. J. M. , Cary Geoffrey J.
Published: September 2022

Studies using remote sensing data for fire danger prediction have primarily relied on fire ignitions data to develop fire danger indices (FDIs). However, these data may only represent conditions suitable for ignition but may not represent fire danger conditions causing escalating fire size. The fire-related response variable’s scalability is a key factor that forms a basis for an FDI to include a broader range of fire danger conditions. Remote sensing derived fire size is a scalable fire characteristic encapsulating all possible fire sizes that previously occurred in the landscape, including extreme fire events. Consequently, we propose a new FDI that uses remote sensing derived fire size as a response variable. We computed fire sizes from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite instrument burned area. We applied random forest (RF) and logistic regression (LR) to develop the FDI for Australia. RF models performed better than LR, and the higher predicted probabilities demonstrated higher chances for ignited fires to be escalated to larger fire sizes at a regional scale across Australia. However, the predicted probabilities cannot be related to the specific range of fire sizes due to data limitations. Further research with higher temporal and spatial resolution data of both the response and predictor variables can help establish a better relationship between a specific range of fire sizes and the predicted probabilities.
Pinostrobin: An Adipogenic Suppressor from Fingerroot (Boesenbergia rotunda) and Its Possible Mechanisms
Authors: San Htoo Tint , Khine Hnin Ei Ei , Sritularak Boonchoo , Prompetchara Eakachai , Chaotham Chatchai , Che Chun-Tao , Likhitwitayawuid Kittisak
Published: September 2022

Obesity is a critical factor for chronic metabolic syndromes. The culinary plant fingerroot (Boesenbergia rotunda) has been reported for its anti-obesity activity. The anti-adipogenic effects of pandurantin A, a main component of fingerroot cultivated in Indonesia, have been studied. Nevertheless, the suppressive effect and related mechanisms of pinostrobin, a major constituent of Thai fingerroot, on adipogenesis have never been thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of pinostrobin to inhibit adipocyte differentiation. Culturing pre-adipocytes from both mouse (3T3-L1) and human (PCS-210-010) with pinostrobin at non-toxic concentrations (5−20 µM) for 48 h obviously hindered their differentiation into mature adipocyte as evidenced by reduced cellular lipid droplets. The lower levels of lipid metabolism-mediating proteins, namely C/EBPα, PPARγ, and SREBP-1c, as well as cellular triglyceride content were demonstrated in pinostrobin-treated 3T3-L1 cells when compared to the untreated control group. Additionally, pinostrobin modulated the signals of MAPK (p38 and JNK) and Akt (Akt/GSK3β, Akt/AMPKα-ACC). These findings suggest the benefit of fingerroot as a source of phytopharmaceuticals for obesity prevention and management, with pinostrobin as the active principle.
Nutritional and Chemical Characterization of Poppy Seeds, Cold-Pressed Oil, and Cake: Poppy Cake as a High-Fibre and High-Protein Ingredient for Novel Food Production
Authors: Melo Diana , Álvarez-Ortí Manuel , Nunes Maria Antónia , Espírito Santo Liliana , Machado Susana , Pardo José E. , Oliveira Maria Beatriz P. P.
Published: September 2022

Currently, society demands natural healthy foods with improved nutritional characteristics. Accordingly, poppies (Papaver somniferum) are a traditional crop, cultivated for food and pharmaceutical purposes, whose seeds meet consumers’ preferences, making them a promising candidate for incorporation into the formulation of novel functional foods. This work performed an overall chemical characterization of poppy seeds, cold-pressed oil, and press cake, a by-product of the oil industry. The proximate composition, fatty acids, and vitamin E profiles of the oil fraction were analysed with respect to the whole seeds and the cake. The cold-press oil extracted from the poppy seeds was also characterized. Since poppy cake is a partially defatted product, it has a lower fat content than the seeds, but higher content of the rest of its elements, namely, ash (10%), protein (26%), and fibre (38%). Regarding protein composition, the major amino acid in the cake and seeds was determined to be glutamic acid (59 and 36 mg/g, respectively). All the samples presented α- and γ-tocopherols (>21 and >25 mg/kg, respectively) and the fatty acids profile of the oil fraction was mainly composed of unsaturated fatty acids, where linoleic acid predominates (>50%). The oil’s oxidative stability was low (2.8 h), according to the predominance of unsaturated fatty acids. Thus, poppy cake may be considered as an ingredient with great potential for incorporation into products in the food industry according to its high content in protein and fibre, and the remaining fat content, where polyunsaturated fatty acids predominate.
Sediment Organic Contents Required for Gas Hydrate Formation: A Survey of Published Basin and Hydrocarbon System Models
Authors: Burton Zachary F. M.
Published: September 2022

Recent advances in basin and petroleum system modelling have allowed for the investigation of gas hydrate systems, including modelling of the generation, migration, and accumulation of biogenic and thermogenic gas within gas hydrate deposits. In this brief survey paper, the treatment of sediment organic properties (organic content and richness, expressed as total organic carbon and the hydrogen index) within previously published basin and petroleum system models of marine gas hydrate systems is reviewed. Eight studies (published between 2015 and 2020) are described and discussed. This review contributes to the state of knowledge in the field by reviewing existing modelling studies of gas hydrates and concludes with brief takeaways on important considerations and knowledge gaps in the state of basin and hydrocarbon system modelling of gas hydrate systems.
Number of Chronic Medical Conditions and Quality of Life of Ethnic Minority Older Adults
Authors: Cobb Sharon , Najand Babak , Gravidez Tara , Navarro Berlin , Herreraramos Alondra , Bazargan Mohsen
Published: September 2022

Background: The Blacks’ mental health paradox is defined as disproportionately better mental health among Black individuals compared to White individuals, despite their higher exposure to a wide range of adversities. However, the existing literature on this phenomenon is mainly limited to studies that have compared Black and White individuals. There has been little research on this phenomenon among ethnic groups other than Whites. Objectives: This study tested the Blacks’ mental health paradox with consideration of Latinx individuals as the control group. Methods: This cross-sectional study collected demographic data, socioeconomic status, chronic medical conditions, and mental and physical quality of life of 724 older Black and Latinx adults residing in low socioeconomic areas of south Los Angeles. Linear regressions were used for data analysis with mental and physical health-related quality of life (HRQoL) as dependent variables and the number of chronic medical conditions as the independent variable. Results: Overall, a higher number of chronic medical conditions was associated with lower mental and physical quality of life. A statistically significant interaction was found between race/ethnicity and the effect of the number of chronic medical conditions on mental HRQoL, which was indicative of Blacks’ mental health paradox. Conclusion: Older Black adults with a higher number of chronic medical conditions report better mental health compared to their Latinx peers with the same number of chronic medical conditions. Thus, Blacks’ mental health paradox can be seen when Black and Latinx populations are compared. Replication of such a paradox provides additional support for the relative mental health advantage of Black people compared to other ethnic groups.
Association between Mental Health and Hand Hygiene Practices in Adults with Hypertension and Diabetes during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The 2020 Korea Community Health Survey
Authors: Kim Pius , Kim Hae Ran
Published: September 2022

The preventive measures against the spread of COVID-19 have negatively impacted the mental health of people with chronic diseases. This cross-sectional study investigated the association between mental health and hand hygiene practices in patients with hypertension (HTN) and diabetes mellitus (DM) (n = 74,296) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their anxiety about contracting COVID-19 and death, depression, and hand hygiene practices were compared to that of controls. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the patients had higher anxiety and depression and poorer hand hygiene practices than controls. Anxiety about contracting COVID-19 was associated with increased handwashing before eating (aOR = 1.59), after using the restroom (aOR = 1.61), after returning from outdoors (aOR = 1.69), for at least 30 s (aOR = 1.45), and with soap or hand sanitizer (aOR = 1.43). However, depression was associated with decreased handwashing before eating (aOR = 0.50), after using the restroom (aOR = 0.51), after returning from outdoors (aOR = 0.51), for at least 30 s (aOR = 0.73), and with soap or hand sanitizer (aOR = 0.63). Anxiety about death showed similar results. Psychological support for people with chronic diseases in crisis situations may promote self-care activities such as hand hygiene for infection control.
Volatile Profile of Garden Rose (Rosa hybrida) Hydrosol and Evaluation of Its Biological Activity In Vitro
Authors: Tanjga Biljana Božanić , Lončar Biljana , Aćimović Milica , Kiprovski Biljana , Šovljanski Olja , Tomić Ana , Travičić Vanja , Cvetković Mirjana , Raičević Vidak , Zeremski Tijana
Published: September 2022

Garden rose, Rosa hybrida, is primarily used for decoration and has a wide range of growing area, contrary to R. damascena that has a limited area of distribution (Turkey and Bulgaria), yet it is extensively used for commercial production of valuable and expensive rose oil. Since the content of essential oil in rose petals is low (0.03–0.04%), its production is quite limited; however, during this process, a significant amount of rose hydrosol is obtained as a secondary product. The aim of this research was to determine the chemical composition of garden rose hydrosols and to evaluate their biological properties. Obtained results show that R. hybrida hydrosol containing phenylethyl alcohol, nerol, linalool, and geraniol may be used as an alternative for R. damascena hydrosol. However, the total phenolic content was quite low (4.96 µg GAE/mL), which is related to a low level of observed antioxidant activity based on different antioxidant activity assays. Furthermore, R. hybrida hydrosol did not exhibit antimicrobial activity against several gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, as well as yeast and fungi. Anti-inflammatory activity was also low, while no antihyperglycemic activity was detected. With these results in mind, no potential is evident for the therapeutic application of rose hydrosol beyond that found in complimentary medicine such as aromatherapy.
Impacts of Vegetation Removal on Urban Mediterranean Stream Hydrology and Hydraulics
Authors: Eckermann Trevor K. , Hunt Danielle S. , Kinoshita Alicia M.
Published: September 2022

Given the widespread presence of non-native vegetation in urban and Mediterranean watersheds, it is important to evaluate how these sensitive ecosystems will respond to activities to manage and restore native vegetation conditions. This research focuses on Del Cerro, a tributary of the San Diego River in California, where non-native vegetation dominates the riparian zone, creating flooding and fire hazards. Field data were collected in 2018 to 2021 and consisted of water depth, streamflow, and stream temperature. Our data set also captured baseline conditions in the floodplain before and after the removal of burned non-native vegetation in November 2020. Observed changes in hydrologic and geomorphic conditions were used to parameterize and calibrate a two-dimensional hydraulic model to simulate urban floodplain hydraulics after vegetation removal. We utilized the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Hydrologic Engineering Center River Assessment System (HEC-RAS) model to simulate the influence of canopy loss and vegetation disturbance and to assess the impacts of vegetation removal on stream restoration. We simulated streamflow, water depth, and flood extent for two scenarios: (1) 2019; pre-restoration where non-native vegetation dominated the riparian area, and (2) 2021; post-restoration following the removal of non-native vegetation and canopy. Flooding after restoration in 2021 was more frequent compared to 2019. We also observed similar flood extents and peak streamflow for storm events that accumulated half the amount of precipitation as pre-restoration conditions. Our results provide insight into the responses of small urban stream reaches to the removal of invasive vegetation and canopy cover.
Accuracy of Computer-Aided Detection of Occupational Lung Disease: Silicosis and Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Ex-Miners from the South African Gold Mines
Authors: Ehrlich Rodney , Barker Stephen , te Water Naude Jim , Rees David , Kistnasamy Barry , Naidoo Julian , Yassi Annalee
Published: September 2022

Background: Computer-aided detection (CAD) of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and silicosis among ex-miners from the South African gold mines has the potential to ease the backlog of lung examinations in clinical screening and medical adjudication for miners’ compensation. This study aimed to determine whether CAD systems developed to date primarily for TB were able to identify TB (without distinction between prior and active disease) and silicosis (or “other abnormality”) in this population. Methods: A total of 501 chest X-rays (CXRs) from a screening programme were submitted to two commercial CAD systems for detection of “any abnormality”, TB (any) and silicosis. The outcomes were tested against the readings of occupational medicine specialists with experience in reading miners’ CXRs. Accuracy of CAD against the readers was calculated as the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Sensitivity and specificity were derived using a threshold requiring at least 90% sensitivity. Results: One system was able to detect silicosis and/or TB with high AUCs (>0.85) against both readers, and specificity > 70% in most of the comparisons. The other system was able to detect “any abnormality” and TB with high AUCs, but with specificity < 70%. Conclusion: CAD systems have the potential to come close to expert readers in the identification of TB and silicosis in this population. The findings underscore the need for CAD systems to be developed and validated in specific use-case settings.
Experience with Obese Patients Followed via Telemedicine in a Latin American Tertiary Care Medical Center
Authors: López Alejandro , Escobar Maria Fernanda , Urbano Alejandra , Alarcón Juliana , Libreros-Peña Laura , Martinez-Ruiz Diana Marcela , Casas Luz Ángela
Published: September 2022

Background: Obesity is a major public health concern worldwide. Latin America has experienced rapid growth in obesity incidence during the last few decades. Driven by confinement measures, a telemedicine program was implemented in March 2020 to give continuity to obese patients’ care through a weight loss program led by the endocrinology department in a tertiary care medical center in Latin America. Objective: This study aimed to describe the clinical experience of using digital health for monitoring and attention of obese patients and description of weight change outcomes of these patients followed via telemedicine during March 2020–December 2020. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted including 202 patients. A Skillings-Mack test was performed to conduct a subgroup analysis of the medians of the weight over the follow-up period, and a mixed multiple linear regression model was performed to estimate the expected average change in weight over time Results: We observed good adherence to the program, represented by a weight loss of −4.1 kg at three months of follow-up, which was maintained even during the sixth month of follow-up. Conclusions: Digital Health strategies such as telemedicine can be a helpful tool for both patients and health care providers to support the continuity of care and showing satisfactory results in the management of obese patients.
Bibliometric Analysis of Publications on the Omicron Variant from 2020 to 2022 in the Scopus Database Using R and VOSviewer
Authors: Ejaz Hasan , Zeeshan Hafiz Muhammad , Ahmad Fahad , Bukhari Syed Nasir Abbas , Anwar Naeem , Alanazi Awadh , Sadiq Ashina , Junaid Kashaf , Atif Muhammad , Abosalif Khalid Omer Abdalla , Iqbal Abid , Hamza Manhal Ahmed , Younas Sonia
Published: September 2022

Human respiratory infections caused by coronaviruses can range from mild to deadly. Although there are numerous studies on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), few have been published on its Omicron variant. In order to remedy this deficiency, this study undertook a bibliometric analysis of the publishing patterns of studies on the Omicron variant and identified hotspots. Automated transportation, environmental protection, improved healthcare, innovation in banking, and smart homes are just a few areas where machine learning has found use in tackling complicated problems. The sophisticated Scopus database was queried for papers with the term “Omicron” in the title published between January 2020 and June 2022. Microsoft Excel 365, VOSviewer, Bibliometrix, and Biblioshiny from R were used for a statistical analysis of the publications. Over the study period, 1917 relevant publications were found in the Scopus database. Viruses was the most popular in publications for Omicron variant research, with 150 papers published, while Cell was the most cited source. The bibliometric analysis determined the most productive nations, with USA leading the list with the highest number of publications (344) and the highest level of international collaboration on the Omicron variant. This study highlights scientific advances and scholarly collaboration trends and serves as a model for demonstrating global trends in Omicron variant research. It can aid policymakers and medical researchers to fully grasp the current status of research on the Omicron variant. It also provides normative data on the Omicron variant for visualization, study, and application.
Understanding the Associations among Social Vulnerabilities, Indigenous Peoples, and COVID-19 Cases within Canadian Health Regions
Authors: Huyser Kimberly R. , Yellow Horse Aggie J. , Collins Katherine A. , Fischer Jaimy , Jessome Mary G. , Ronayne Emma T. , Lin Jonathan C. , Derkson Jordan , Johnson-Jennings Michelle
Published: September 2022

Indigenous Peoples are at an increased risk for infectious disease, including COVID-19, due to the historically embedded deleterious social determinants of health. Furthermore, structural limitations in Canadian federal government data contribute to the lack of comparative rates of COVID-19 between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. To make visible Indigenous Peoples’ experiences in the public health discourse in the midst of COVID-19, this paper aims to answer the following interrelated research questions: (1) What are the associations of key social determinants of health and COVID-19 cases among Canadian health regions? and (2) How do these relationships relate to Indigenous communities? As both proximal and distal social determinants of health conjointly contribute to COVID-19 impacts on Indigenous health, this study used a unique dataset assembled from multiple sources to examine the associations among key social determinants of health characteristics and health with a focus on Indigenous Peoples. We highlight key social vulnerabilities that stem from systemic racism and that place Indigenous populations at increased risk for COVID-19. Many Indigenous health issues are rooted in the historical impacts of colonization, and partially invisible due to systemic federal underfunding in Indigenous communities. The Canadian government must invest in collecting accurate, reliable, and disaggregated data on COVID-19 case counts for Indigenous Peoples, as well as in improving Indigenous community infrastructure and services.
Evaluating Indoor Air Phthalates and Volatile Organic Compounds in Nail Salons in the Greater New York City Area: A Pilot Study
Authors: Han Inkyu , Seo Jin Young , Barr Dana Boyd , Panuwet Parinya , Yakimavets Volha , D’Souza Priya Esilda , An-Han Heyreoun , Afshar Masoud , Chao Ying-Yu
Published: September 2022

The Greater New York City area ranks highest in the United States in the number of nail salon technicians, primarily Asian immigrant women. Nail salon technicians are exposed to toxic phthalates and volatile organic compounds daily in nail salons. The purpose of this pilot study was to measure a mixture of phthalates and volatile organic compounds in nail salons in the Greater New York City area, and to characterize work-related determinants of indoor air quality in these nail salons. Working with four Asian nail salon organizations in the Greater New York City area, we measured indoor air phthalates and volatile organic compounds at 20 nail salons from February to May 2021 using silicone wristbands and passive samplers, respectively. Nail salon characteristics were also examined. We measured six phthalates and 31 volatile organic compounds. Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and Diethyl phthalate had the highest concentrations among the six phthalates measured. Concentrations of toluene, d-limonene, methyl methacrylate, and ethyl methacrylate were higher than that of the rest. Manicure/pedicure tables, the number of customers per day, and application of artificial nail (acrylic) services were positively associated with the levels of phthalates and volatile organic compounds. Given the large number of people employed in the nail industry and the even larger number of customers visiting such establishments, exposures to these toxic chemicals are likely to be widespread.
Self-Organizing Maps to Multidimensionally Characterize Physical Profiles in Older Adults
Authors: Parra-Rodríguez Lorena , Reyes-Ramírez Edward , Jiménez-Andrade José Luis , Carrillo-Calvet Humberto , García-Peña Carmen
Published: September 2022

The aim of this study is to automatically analyze, characterize and classify physical performance and body composition data of a cohort of Mexican community-dwelling older adults. Self-organizing maps (SOM) were used to identify similar profiles in 562 older adults living in Mexico City that participated in this study. Data regarding demographics, geriatric syndromes, comorbidities, physical performance, and body composition were obtained. The sample was divided by sex, and the multidimensional analysis included age, gait speed over height, grip strength over body mass index, one-legged stance, lean appendicular mass percentage, and fat percentage. Using the SOM neural network, seven profile types for older men and women were identified. This analysis provided maps depicting a set of clusters qualitatively characterizing groups of older adults that share similar profiles of body composition and physical performance. The SOM neural network proved to be a useful tool for analyzing multidimensional health care data and facilitating its interpretability. It provided a visual representation of the non-linear relationship between physical performance and body composition variables, as well as the identification of seven characteristic profiles in this cohort.