bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Facial Hemiplegia Treated with Botulinum Toxin: A Case Report
Authors: Ajuz Demétrio , Oliveira Mauro D. , Fernandes Juliana Campos Hasse , Fernandes Gustavo Vicentis de Oliveira
Published: September 2022

Facial hemiplegia happens when the seventh cranial nerve is inflamed, causing a dysfunction of the facial nerve in specific regions. This case report brings a complex case of facial hemiplegia, a non-temporary lesion caused by a traumatic accident, which had a more conservative approach, treating the patient with botulinum toxin. After explanation of treatment outcomes, the patient favored treatment on a unilateral side with botulinum toxin applied locally to the muscles. It was applied on her left side, in order to change the muscles tonus and improve the esthetic. The patient adhered to immediate and short-term instructions following the procedure, including movement limitation and skin exposure avoidance. At 2 weeks, the patient returned to follow-up, and the result was checked. After around 6-month follow-up, the patient was reassessed, and a new application was done. The patient tried to contract the procerus and corrugator muscles which were treated, and periorbicular region that was corrected. After contracting the frontal muscle, a satisfactory result was also seen in the frontal area. While limited to a single case presentation, botulinum toxin may be an effective short-term tool for treatment of facial hemiplegia to establish an effective esthetic result.
Offense-Defense Distributed Decision Making for Swarm vs. Swarm Confrontation While Attacking the Aircraft Carriers
Authors: Shahid Sami , Zhen Ziyang , Javaid Umair , Wen Liangdong
Published: September 2022

The effectiveness of multiple UAVs at attacking the enemy target and defending against the attacking UAVs simultaneously gained researchers’ attention due to their cost efficiency and high mission success rates. This paper explores the UAV swarm vs. swarm offense/defense confrontation decision-making while attacking the aircraft carriers on open seas. The system is developed as a multi-agent system. Precisely, every UAV is modeled as an independent agent, which is free to make decisions based on the behavioral rules of the swarm, detection radius, and enemy location. A distributed auction-based algorithm with a limited data-sharing rate ability is formulated among swarm UAVs. A critical feature of the proposed strategy is that it empowers each UAV to make decisions in real-time during the mission in the presence of relatively limited communication hardware in terms of the update rate within the UAV communication system. The algorithm parameters are optimized to obtain an improved target allocation and elimination. Simulation results are presented to show the effectiveness of the proposed Offence-Defense UAV-based swarm Strategy.
Solving the Incompressible Surface Stokes Equation by Standard Velocity-Correction Projection Methods
Authors: Zhao Yanzi , Feng Xinlong
Published: September 2022

In this paper, an effective numerical algorithm for the Stokes equation of a curved surface is presented and analyzed. The velocity field was decoupled from the pressure by the standard velocity correction projection method, and the penalty term was introduced to make the velocity satisfy the tangential condition. The first-order backward Euler scheme and second-order BDF scheme are used to discretize the time separately, and the stability of the two schemes is analyzed. The mixed finite element pair (P2,P1) is applied to discretization of space. Finally, numerical examples are given to verify the accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed method.
Optimized Machine Learning-Based Intrusion Detection System for Fog and Edge Computing Environment
Authors: Alzubi Omar A. , Alzubi Jafar A. , Alazab Moutaz , Alrabea Adnan , Awajan Albara , Qiqieh Issa
Published: September 2022

As a new paradigm, fog computing (FC) has several characteristics that set it apart from the cloud computing (CC) environment. Fog nodes and edge computing (EC) hosts have limited resources, exposing them to cyberattacks while processing large streams and sending them directly to the cloud. Intrusion detection systems (IDS) can be used to protect against cyberattacks in FC and EC environments, while the large-dimensional features in networking data make processing the massive amount of data difficult, causing lower intrusion detection efficiency. Feature selection is typically used to alleviate the curse of dimensionality and has no discernible effect on classification outcomes. This is the first study to present an Effective Seeker Optimization model in conjunction with a Machine Learning-Enabled Intrusion Detection System (ESOML-IDS) model for the FC and EC environments. The ESOML-IDS model primarily designs a new ESO-based feature selection (FS) approach to choose an optimal subset of features to identify the occurrence of intrusions in the FC and EC environment. We also applied a comprehensive learning particle swarm optimization (CLPSO) with Denoising Autoencoder (DAE) for the detection of intrusions. The development of the ESO algorithm for feature subset selection and the DAE algorithm for parameter optimization results in improved detection efficiency and effectiveness. The experimental results demonstrated the improved outcomes of the ESOML-IDS model over recent approaches.
Finite Differences for Recovering the Plate Profile in Electrostatic MEMS with Fringing Field
Authors: Versaci Mario , Fattorusso Luisa , Jannelli Alessandra , Di Barba Paolo
Published: September 2022

Global existence and uniqueness conditions for a dimensionless fourth-order integro-differential model for an electrostatic-elastic MEMS device with parallel plates and fringing field contribution were recently achieved by the Authors. Moving from this work, once the dielectric profile of the deformable plate according with experimental setups has been assigned, some technical conditions of applicability for the intended use of the device as well as the mechanical tension of the deformable plate are presented and discussed. Then, highlighting the link between the fringing field and the electrostatic force, finite differences were exploited for recovering the deformable plate profile according both global existence and uniqueness conditions. Moreover, the influence of the electro-mechanical properties of the deformable plate on both the numerical approach and on the intended uses of the device is discussed, comparing the results with experimental setups regarding pull-in voltage and electrostatic pressure.
Traffic Flow Prediction Based on Multi-Mode Spatial-Temporal Convolution of Mixed Hop Diffuse ODE
Authors: Huang Xiaohui , Lan Yuanchun , Ye Yuming , Wang Junyang , Jiang Yuan
Published: September 2022

In recent years, traffic flow forecasting has attracted the great attention of many researchers with increasing traffic congestion in metropolises. As a hot topic in the field of intelligent city computing, traffic flow forecasting plays a vital role, since predicting the changes in traffic flow can timely alleviate traffic congestion and reduce the occurrence of accidents by vehicle scheduling. The most difficult challenges of traffic flow prediction are the temporal feature extraction and the spatial correlation extraction of nodes. At the same time, graph neural networks (GNNs) show an excellent ability in dealing with spatial dependence. Existing works typically make use of graph neural networks (GNNs) and temporal convolutional networks (TCNs) to model spatial and temporal dependencies respectively. However, how to extract as much valid information as possible from nodes is a challenge for GNNs. Therefore, we propose a multi-mode spatial-temporal convolution of mixed hop diffuse ODE (MHODE) for modeling traffic flow prediction. First, we design an adaptive spatial-temporal convolution module that combines Gate TCN and graph convolution to capture more short-term spatial-temporal dependencies and features. Secondly, we design a mixed hop diffuse ordinary differential equation(ODE) spatial-temporal convolution module to capture long-term spatial-temporal dependencies using the receptive field of the mixed hop diffuse ODE. Finally, we design a multi spatial-temporal fusion module to integrate the different spatial-temporal dependencies extracted from two different spatial-temporal convolutions. To capture more spatial-temporal features of traffic flow, we use the multi-mode spatial-temporal fusion module to get more abundant traffic features by considering short-term and long-term two different features. The experimental results on two public traffic datasets (METR-LA and PEMS-BAY) demonstrate that our proposed algorithm performs better than the existing methods in most of cases.
Energy Transition Scenarios for Fossil Fuel Rich Developing Countries under Constraints on Oil Availability: The Case of Ecuador
Authors: Espinoza Vicente , Fontalvo Javier , Ramírez Paola , Martí-Herrero Jaime , Mediavilla Margarita
Published: September 2022

The aim of this paper is to analyze energy pathways for a fossil fuel rich developing country towards an energy transition considering national and international oil availability using Ecuador as a reference. An integrated assessment model has been developed to simulate energy transition scenarios considering constraints on oil availability at the national and global level. Results show that if current trends in energy demand and supply persist, energy scarcity would start around 2040 due to depletion of national oil reserves and restricted access to foreign oil. This would trigger a degrowth in economic activity in sectors with high dependency on petroleum products. Scenarios with conservative efforts might partially revert the increasing use of fossil fuels supported by policies for energy efficiency and substitution of liquid fuels with electricity mainly from renewables. However, energy shortages would still be foreseeable as well as a decay of the economy. Under a maximum efforts scenario with an optimistic availability of national oil, a moderate-sustained economic growth could be feasible. This shows that oil would still play a key role during the transition. Furthermore, ambitious policies must be implemented in the short term to smooth the effects of displacing oil as energy and income source.
Verification of Tilt Effect on the Performance and Wake of a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine by Lifting Line Theory Simulation
Authors: Senga Hidetaka , Umemoto Hiroki , Akimoto Hiromichi
Published: September 2022

Renewable energy has received a lot of attention. In recent years, offshore wind power has received particular attention among renewable energies. Fixed-type offshore wind turbines are now the most popular. However, because of the deep seas surrounding Japan, floating types are more preferable. The floating system is one of the factors that raises the cost of floating wind turbines. Vertical axis wind turbines (VAWT) have a low center of gravity and can tilt their rotors. As a result, a smaller floating body and a lower cost are expected. A mechanism called a floating axis wind turbine (FAWT) is expected to further reduce the cost. FAWT actively employs the features of VAWT in order to specialize itself in the area of offshore floating-type wind turbines. The lifting line theory simulation was used in this study to discuss the performance of the FAWT under the tilted conditions and its wake field. The results show that a tilted VAWT recovers faster than an upright VAWT. This suggests that FAWTs can be deployed in high density and efficiently generate energy as an offshore wind farm using VAWTs.
Maximizing Efficient Power for an Irreversible Porous Medium Cycle with Nonlinear Variation of Working Fluid’s Specific Heat
Authors: Zang Pengchao , Chen Lingen , Ge Yanlin
Published: September 2022

Considering the specific heat characteristics of working fluid and existence of various losses in a porous medium (PM) cycle, this paper applies finite time thermodynamic theory to study its efficient power performance with nonlinear variable specific heat model. Range of the cycle pre-expansion ratio is obtained by solving the equation, and PM cycle is converted to Otto cycle by choosing appropriate pre-expansion ratio. Influences of pre-expansion ratio, specific heat characteristics, temperature ratio, and various losses on cycle performances are investigated. Thermal efficiencies are compared at operating points of the maximum power output and efficient power. The results show that PM cycle has better performance than Otto cycle. Under certain conditions of parameters, thermal efficiencies at the maximum efficient power and maximum power output operating points are 50.45% and 47.05%, respectively, and the former is 7.22% higher than the latter. The engine designed with the maximum efficient power as the criterion can improve thermal efficiency by losing less power output. The results of this paper can guide parameters selection of actual PM heat engine.
Heat Transfer and Structural Characteristics of Dissimilar Joints Joining Ti-64 and NiTi via Laser Welding
Authors: Glaspell Aspen , De la Pena Jose Angel Diosdado , Dahal Saroj , Neupane Sandesh , Ryu Jae Joong , Choo Kyosung
Published: September 2022

This study investigates the thermal-stress characteristics of a bi-metallic Ti-6Al-4V-Nitinol butt joints manufactured via laser welding. Particularly, the thermal profile along the weld interface and the deformation profile of the finished welded workpiece. A decoupled transient thermomechanical simulation model was constructed to recreate the welding process. This decoupled thermomechanical simulation model consisted of two transient simulation models. A transient thermal simulation model and a transient structural simulation model, with the thermal history of the transient thermal model being fed into the transient structural model. Both the thermal and structural portions of the model utilized temperature-dependent thermal and structural properties of Ti-6Al-4V and Nitinol. The temperature profile of the transient thermal-stress model aligns with the experimental thermal profile within 5% error. The deformation profile also matches the experimental results within 5% error. This approach to modeling laser welding can stand as a guide to predict both thermal and deformation profiles generated during the laser welding process.
Study on Harmonic Impedance Estimation Based on Gaussian Mixture Regression Using Railway Power Supply Loads
Authors: Xia Yankun , Tang Wenzhang
Published: September 2022

There are a huge number of harmonics in the railway power supply system. Accurately estimating the harmonic impedance of the system is the key to evaluating the harmonic emission level of the power supply system. A harmonic impedance estimation method is proposed in this paper, which takes the Gaussian mixture regression (GMR) as the main idea, and is dedicated to calculating the harmonic impedance when the load changes or the background harmonic changes in the traction power supply system. First, the harmonic voltages and currents are measured at the point of common coupling (PCC); secondly, a Gaussian mixture model (GMM) is established and optimized parameters are obtained through the EM algorithm; finally, a Gaussian mixture regression is performed to obtain the utility side harmonic impedance. In the simulation study, different harmonic impedance estimation models with uniform distribution and Gaussian distribution are established, respectively, and the harmonic impedance changes caused by different system structures in the railway power supply system are simulated. At the same time, the error is compared with the existing method to judge the accuracy and robustness of this method. In the case analysis, the average value, average error, standard deviation and other indicators are used to evaluate this method. Among them, the average error and standard deviation of this method are about one-fifth to one-third of those of the binary linear regression (BLR) method and the independent random vector (IRV) method. At the same time, its index is slightly better than that of the support vector machine (SVM) method.
Impact of Spotted Hyena Optimized Cascade Controller in Load Frequency Control of Wave-Solar-Double Compensated Capacitive Energy Storage Based Interconnected Power System
Authors: Saha Arindita , Dash Puja , Babu Naladi Ram , Chiranjeevi Tirumalasetty , Venkateswararao Bathina , Knypiński Łukasz
Published: September 2022

The concept of automatic generation control has an immense role in providing quality power in an interconnected system. To obtain quality power by controlling the oscillations of frequency and tie-line power, a proper controller design is necessary. So, an innovative endeavor has been undertaken to enforce a two-stage controller with the amalgamation of a proportional-derivative with filter (PDN) (integer-order) and a fractional order integral-derivative (FOID), i.e., PDN(FOID). In an effort to acquire the controller’s gains and parameters, a bio-inspired meta-heuristic spotted hyena optimizer is applied. Various examinations manifest the excellence of PDN(FOID) over other controllers such as integral, proportional–integral, proportional–integral-derivative filter, and fractional order PID from perspectives concerning the diminished amount of peak anomaly oscillations, and the instant of settling for a three-area system. The system includes thermal–bio-diesel in area-1; a thermal–geothermal power plant in area-2; and a thermal–split-shaft gas turbine in area-3. It is also observed that the presence of renewable sources such as wave power plants and photovoltaics makes the system significantly better compared to the base system, when assessed individually or both together. Action in a combination of capacitive energy storage with duple compensation is also examined using the PDN(FOID) controller, which provides a noteworthy outcome in dynamic performance. Moreover, PDN(FOID) parameter values at a nominal condition are appropriate for the random patterns of disturbance needed for optimization.
High Performance 3.3 kV SiC MOSFET Structure with Built-In MOS-Channel Diode
Authors: Na Jaeyeop , Kim Minju , Kim Kwangsoo
Published: September 2022

Built-in freewheeling diode metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) that ensure high performance and reliability at high voltages are crucial for chip integration. In this study, a 4H–SiC built-in MOS-channel diode MOSFET with a center P+ implanted structure (CIMCD–MOSFET) is proposed and simulated via technology computer-aided design (TCAD). The CIMCD–MOSFET contains a P+ center implant region, which protects the gate oxide edge from high electric field crowding. Moreover, the region also makes it possible to increase the junction FET (JFET) and N-drift doping concentration of the device by dispersing the high electric field. Consequently, the CIMCD–MOSFET is stable even at a high voltage of 3.3 kV without static degradation and gate oxide reliability issues. The CIMCD–MOSFET also has higher short-circuit withstanding capability owing to the low saturation current and improved switching characteristics due to the low gate-drain capacitance, compared to the conventional MOSFET (C–DMOSFET) and the built-in Schottky barrier diode MOSFET (SBD–MOSFET). The total switching time of a CIMCD–MOSFET is reduced by 52.2% and 42.2%, and the total switching loss is reduced by 67.8% and 41.8%, respectively, compared to the C–DMOSFET and SBD–MOSFET.
Indoor Air CO2 Sensors and Possible Uncertainties of Measurements: A Review and an Example of Practical Measurements
Authors: Borodinecs Anatolijs , Palcikovskis Arturs , Jacnevs Vladislavs
Published: September 2022

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, special attention has been paid to proper ventilation and building management systems. The indoor air CO2 concentration level is still used as an effective indicator to evaluate indoor air quality. Many different sensors have appeared on the market in the last two years. However, calibration procedures and guidance on proper installation have not been well described by manufacturers. The research method is based on a review of technical parameters. The practical measurements of CO2 concentration were taken using different sensors. For these purposes three different premises were selected. It was found that CO2 measurement failure happened in residential buildings without mechanical ventilation. Meanwhile, in well ventilated buildings all sensors have shown similar results and the difference between sensors located in different zones was minimal.
Wellbore Stabilization Technology of “Fluid-Solid-Chemical Coupling” in Continental Shale Oil—A Case Study of Shale Oil in Block GL
Authors: Ai Xin , Chen Mian
Published: September 2022

During the oil shale drilling in Group Q of Block GL, the shale is prone to hydration, deterioration, sidewall exfoliation and frequent collapse, which affects the efficient exploration and development of shale oil. In order to reveal the mechanism of wellbore instability in the shale formation, the tectonic characteristics of shale are studied by combining microscopic and macroscopic methods, which identifies three key factors of physics, chemistry and mechanics about wellbore instability. Based on the analysis of earth stress and rock mechanics parameters, the experiment has established the prediction model of “fluid-solid-chemical coupling” collapse pressure of shale formation in Group Q, and calculated the safe drilling fluid density window for the horizontal wells of shale oil in Block GL by the prediction model. The main factors of wellbore instability in shale formation, deterioration characteristics and high density of oil-based drilling fluid on the well site is combined. The targeted plugging anti-sloughing and strong wetting agent were developed by using laser particle size instruments and pressure transmission experiments. A high thixotropy and strong plugging oil-based drilling fluid system is formed. The research results have been successfully applied in 16 horizontal wells of the shale oil test platform. The excellent rheological property, reliable plugging and bearing capacity and outstanding wellbore stabilization effect provides technical support for high-quality and efficient exploration and development of shale oil in Block GL. The “fluid-solid-chemical coupling” wellbore stabilization technology of continental shale oil formed in this study can provide a reference for the exploration and development of similar types of shale oil and gas reservoirs.
A Novel Synchrophasor Estimation Based on Enhanced All-Phase DFT with Iterative Compensation and Its Implementation
Authors: Li Zengqin , Zhang Weifeng , Zhuang Zhiyuan , Jin Tao
Published: September 2022

Synchrophasor estimation was mostly used in transmission systems in the past, and it is difficult to directly apply an existing synchrophasor algorithm to a distribution system with a more complex structure and environment. A synchrophasor estimation algorithm with a high accuracy and fast response speed is required to complete the calculation of the phasor in the face of the complex and changeable power signal of a distribution network. Therefore, an enhanced all-phase discrete Fourier transform (e-apDFT) algorithm is proposed for a distribution system in this paper, and the algorithm is deployed in a phasor measurement unit (PMU) prototype based on digital signal processing (DSP). Aiming to solve the problem of the accuracy of the traditional apDFT being reduced when the response speed is fast due to the influence of a dense spectrum, the existing algorithm is improved through iteratively compensating the spectral interferences to the main bin produced by adjacent bins. The experimental results show that the e-apDFT algorithm still has a fast response speed and that its estimation accuracy is much better than that of the traditional apDFTs in the presence of adjacent harmonic components. The proposed algorithm also complies with the IEEE standards for P-class PMUs.
Creating a Competitive Advantage for Micro and Small Enterprises Based on Eco-Innovation as a Determinant of the Energy Efficiency of the Economy
Authors: Gąsior Aleksandra , Grabowski Jakub , Ropęga Jarosław , Walecka Anna
Published: September 2022

The aim of this analysis is to identify the possibility of treating eco-innovation in micro and small enterprises as a factor influencing the energy efficiency of the economy. In order to obtain an answer to such a research question, quantitative research was carried out among Polish enterprises from the SME sector (N = 400). Accordingly, the CATI technique was applied. The selection of enterprises was random and took place in the non-returnable drawing process. The criterion for selecting the sample was the size of enterprises, but in order to ensure the possibility of drawing conclusions based on a sufficiently large research sample, its structure (300 micro and 100 small enterprises) assumed the study of small enterprises in a proportion greater than their actual share in the population of enterprises. As a result of this research, the existence of a relationship between the improvement of the company’s competitive position and its activity in the field of eco-innovation implementation was confirmed. It is shown that the behavior and attitudes of entrepreneurs largely determine the very decisions regarding the use of specific types of eco-innovation, as well as the areas in which they brought about changes influencing the improvement of the competitive position of the surveyed companies. Differences in these decisions can be observed in micro and small companies. This article justifies the notion that the impact of the scale of micro and small companies is important in shaping the energy efficiency of the economy.
Review of Battery Energy Storage Systems Modeling in Microgrids with Renewables Considering Battery Degradation
Authors: Shamarova Nataliia , Suslov Konstantin , Ilyushin Pavel , Shushpanov Ilia
Published: September 2022

The modeling of battery energy storage systems (BESS) remains poorly researched, especially in the case of taking into account the power loss due to degradation that occurs during operation in the power system with a large penetration of generation from renewables and stochastic load from electric vehicles (EV). Meanwhile, the lifetime varies considerably from the manufacturer’s claim due to different operating conditions, and also depends on the level of renewable energy sources (RES) penetration, cyclic operation, temperature, discharge/charge rate, and depth of discharge. Choosing a simplistic approach to the degradation model can lead to unreliable conclusions in choosing the best management strategy and significant investment and operating costs. Most existing BESS models in stationary applications either assume zero degradation costs for storage or simplify battery life to a linear function of depth of discharge (DOD), which can lead to additional error in estimating the cost of BESS degradation. The complexity of constructing a lifetime model of BESS is due to the presence of nonlinear degradation of BESS at the beginning and at the end of the lifetime, as well as the difficulty in obtaining a large amount of experimental data that are close to the real-world operating conditions for the construction of most models. This article analyzes the features of BESS that are specific to their operation in microgrids in terms of the influence of the main stress factors on the degree of BESS degradation. This study also provides a review of existing models for assessing battery degradation.
A Green Film-Forming Investigation of the Edible Film Based on Funoran: Preparation, Characterization, and the Investigation of the Plasticizer Effects
Authors: Zhang Zhisheng , Wang Han , Khan Sohail , Shu Ying , Liang Tieqiang
Published: September 2022

In this study, an edible film based on funoran was developed. Moreover, the effects of plasticizers (glycerol, xylitol, and sorbitol) on the physicochemical properties of the funoran films were also investigated. The interactions between plasticizers and funoran molecules of the film-forming system were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that the addition of plasticizers altered and broke the initial complex entangled structures of funoran molecular chains. Funoran films containing plasticizers were compatible, homogeneous, and dense, exhibiting good thermal stability below 100 °C. With the addition of plasticizers, the elongation at break, oxygen permeability, light transmittance, and water vapor permeability increased, but the tensile strength decreased. It was found that a glycerol addition of 40% was most suitable for commercial applications. All the results revealed the excellent film-forming properties of funoran, indicating that the prepared funoran films have tremendous potential for packaging applications.
The Yeast Fermentation Effect on Content of Bioactive, Nutritional and Anti-Nutritional Factors in Rapeseed Meal
Authors: Vlassa Mihaela , Filip Miuța , Țăranu Ionelia , Marin Daniela , Untea Arabela Elena , Ropotă Mariana , Dragomir Cătălin , Sărăcilă Mihaela
Published: September 2022

The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in the content of bioactive, nutritional and anti-nutritional factors in rapeseed meal that was fermented with Saccharomyces cerevisiae or Saccharomyces boulardii yeasts at two different periods of time, for improvement of nutritional characteristics in piglets’ feeding. The fermentation has reduced the content of two anti-nutritional factors, intact glucosinolates and 3-butyl isothiocyanate, by 51.60–66.04% and 55.21–63.39%, respectively, by fermentation with either Saccharomyces cerevisiae or Saccharomyces boulardii for 24 h. The fermentation by these yeasts also lowered the content of total polyphenolic compounds by 21.58–23.55% and antioxidant activity (DPPH) by 17.03–21.07%. Furthermore, the content of carbohydrates and organic acids has dramatically decreased between 89.20 and 98.35% and between 31.48 and 77.18%, respectively. However, the content of some individual phenolic acids (gallic, p-coumaric, sinapic) and crude protein content (10–13%) has been increased. Thus, the results showed that fermentation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae or Saccharomyces boulardii has reduced the content of antinutritive factors and increased the protein content of the rapeseed meal, without major adverse effects on its overall nutritive value.
Effect of Orientation and Vegetation over the Embankment Crest for Energy Reduction at Downstream
Authors: Dissanayaka Kannangara D. C. R. , Tanaka Norio , Hasan Md. Kamrul
Published: September 2022

Coastal embankments often collapse due to the tremendous destructive energy of an overtopping tsunami flow due to a deep scour by nappe flow. Hence, to clarify the nappe flow formation condition due to the overtopping, a series of tests were carried out within a laboratory flume with immobile settings by lowering the downstream surface angle of an embankment model while keeping the upstream surface slope constant (1:1) with five non-dimensional overtopping depths and six different crest conditions. The conditions imposed on the embankment crest in the flow direction were without vegetation; horizontal crest, (−)4% descending crest slope, (+)4% ascending crest slope, and adding vegetation model with three different densities across the horizontal crest to improve resistance to the flow. The increased resistance provided by the vegetation models were categorized based on the spacing ratio between cylinders to diameter: sparse, intermediate, and dense. Increased vegetation density above the crest results in a significant reduction of flow energy by approximately 30–50% at the downstream brink edge and 40–60% at the downstream plunge basin. In contrast, the maximum energy reduction was found to be by the dense vegetation model. Additionally, owing to the steep slope of the water surface profile and the increasing vegetation density, the impinging jet’s impact point moved closer to the toe of an embankment. This implies that vegetation covers a smaller area while increasing density to mitigate the destructive intensity of flood/tsunami movement. Meanwhile, the descending crest scenario results in a faster nappe flow formation. In contrast, the ascending crest scenario delays the nappe formation while reducing the downstream slope angle. It maintains the sub-critical flow at the crest, except near the downstream brink edge.
Establishing the Competency Development and Talent Cultivation Strategies for Physician-Patient Shared Decision-Making Competency Based on the IAA-NRM Approach
Authors: Yu Shan-Fu , Hsu Chih-Ming , Wang Hui-Ting , Cheng Tien-Tsai , Chen Jia-Feng , Lin Chia-Li , Yu Hsing-Tse
Published: September 2022

Shared decision making (SDM) is a collaborative process involving patients and their healthcare workers negotiating to reach a shared decision about medical care. However, various physician stakeholders (attending physicians, medical residents, and doctors in post-graduate years) may have different viewpoints on SDM processes. The purpose of this study is to explore the core competence of physicians in performing SDM tasks and to investigate the significant competency development aspects/criteria by applying the literature research and expert interviews. We adopt the IAA (importance awareness analysis) technique for different stakeholders to evaluate the status of competency development aspects/criteria and to determine the NRM (network relation map) based on the DEMATEL (decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory) technique. The study combines the IAA and NRM methods and suggests using the IAA-NRM approach to evaluate the adoption strategies and common suitable paths for different levels of physicians. Our findings reveal that SDM perception and practice is the primary influencer of SDM competence development for all stakeholders. The current model can help hospital administrators and directors of medical education understand the diverse stakeholders’ perspectives on the core competence of SDM tasks and determine common development plans. It provides strategic directions for SDM competency development and talent cultivation programs.
Evaluation of Selected Biological and Chemical Treatments against Soil-Borne Diseases of Ginger in High Tunnel Production
Authors: Mersha Zelalem , Ibarra-Bautista Michael A.
Published: September 2022

With its multifaceted health benefits, ginger is one of the commonly consumed dietary condiments with continued demand worldwide leading to more importation into countries such as the U.S. The rhizome of ginger, the seed-piece but also the edible portion, is highly vulnerable to pathogen infections causing seed-piece and soil-borne diseases (SSDs). Laboratory and high tunnel (HT) studies were conducted between 2018 and 2020 to evaluate the effect of soil and transplant drenches of selected biocontrol agents (BCAs) and chemicals. In vitro dual-culture tests revealed that the Trichoderma harzianum strain T-22 (Th-22) grew significantly faster than Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. zingiberi (Foz), the fungus causing yellows and rhizome rot in ginger. Th-22 grew more than three times faster than Foz within 3 days and engulfed the pathogen within 7 days when incubated at 30 °C. The bioproducts (RootShield® Plus, LifeGard®), an insecticide/nematicide (Vydate®) and disinfectant (10% Clorox) tested against Foz and any pre-existing pathogens in a HT significantly reduced severity of yellowing and rhizome rot when compared with the non-treated control. Yield was significantly higher for RootShield® Plus compared to the control in one of the trials. Spatially, declining ginger growth but an increased incidence of SSDs were observed as one walked from the door towards the back of the HT. Phospho-lipid fatty acid analysis showed better microbial activity on soils that received drenches of BCAs than on soils sampled pre-treatment.
Firmness and Cell Wall Changes during Maturation of ‘Arbequina’ Olive Fruit: The Impact of Irrigation
Authors: Diarte Clara , Iglesias Anna , Graell Jordi , Lara Isabel
Published: September 2022

The olive tree (Olea europaea L.) has been cultivated around the Mediterranean basin since ancient times, ‘Arbequina’ being one of the most widely grown varieties. To improve the knowledge on ripening-related firmness changes in olive fruit, cell wall metabolism was studied in irrigated and rain-fed ‘Arbequina’ olives grown at ‘Les Garrigues’, a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) in Catalonia (NE Spain) where harsh environmental conditions occur during fruit development. Fruit samples were picked periodically from September to January. Time-course dynamics of firmness loss during maturation were characterised by a first phase of rapid firmness loss followed by a second phase of moderate change. Compositional changes in cell walls and related enzyme activities were studied in fruit samples. Fruit firmness was significantly higher in rain-fed than in irrigated olives. Neutral sugar loss, an early event in ripening-related cell wall modifications, was lower in rain-fed samples, which, moreover, retained higher uronic acid amounts in the chelator-soluble fraction, thus resulting in attenuated firmness loss in these fruits.
Apple and Pear Model for Optimal Production and Fruit Grade in a Changing Environment
Authors: Sousa Miguel L. , Gonçalves Marta , Fialho Délia , Ramos António , Lopes João P. , Oliveira Cristina M. , De Melo-Abreu J. Paulo
Published: September 2022

Apple and pear crops are very important to the rural economy of Portugal. Despite significant improvements in productivity and quality, due to the introduction of new management techniques, model-based decision support may further increase the revenue of the growers. Available simulation models of orchard growth and production are scarce and are often highly empirical. This study presents a mechanistic model for the simulation of productivity and fruit grade of apple and pear orchards under potential and water-limited conditions. The effects of temperature extremes and rain on fruit set are addressed. The model was validated on apple and pear datasets derived from extensive experiments conducted in Central and Southern Portugal. Model performance is high and depicts the effect of crop load on productivity and fruit-size grade and the distribution of both crops. A simulation example shows the relationship between productivity and average fruit size for a hypothetical six-year-olc apple orchard. The model herewith presented is a tool that can be used to estimate optimal crop load for maximum revenue and productivity, fruit size distribution, water use, and other variables relevant for pome fruit production.
Time Estimation or Autonomic Heart Rate Regulation: Which Mechanism Is More Sensitive in the Development of Internet Addiction in Adolescents?
Authors: Krivonogova Olga , Krivonogova Elena , Poskotinova Liliya
Published: September 2022

The aim of the study was to assess different combinations of time estimation ability and heart rate variability (HRV) parameters in adolescents during developing of Internet addiction (IA). The study included adolescents aged 16–17 (n = 49) living in the southern region of Russia. IA was measured using the Chen Internet Addiction Scale (CIAS). An individual minute test (IM) was performed, and HRV was recorded. There are three groups that differ in HRV, IM duration and CIAS parameters. Minimal and moderate risk of IA development was detected against a background of a tendency towards vagotonia and prolonged IM time (Group I) and balanced autonomic nervous balance and optimal IM time (Group II). A balanced autonomic nervous balance and prolonged IM time were detected in the group of persons with a moderate risk of IA and a stable IA pattern (Group III). We assume that the development of IA in adolescents may be carried out by different neural mechanisms, including optimal autonomic nervous balance, but with primary impairment of cortical brain mechanisms of time perception.
Research on the Influence of Non-Cognitive Ability and Social Support Perception on College Students’ Entrepreneurial Intention
Authors: Si Wentao , Yan Qi , Wang Wenshu , Meng Lin , Zhang Maocong
Published: September 2022

The entrepreneurship of college students is an important issue related to the harmony and sustainable development of society as a whole. At present, the existing research in the industry pays less attention to the influence mechanism of non-cognitive ability and social support perception on college students’ entrepreneurial intention. Using 450 survey data, this paper examines the relationship between non-cognitive ability and college students’ entrepreneurial intention in terms of five dimensions: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and emotional stability. At the same time, it focuses on the role of social environmental factors, namely, social support perception in the relationship between the non-cognitive ability and entrepreneurial intention, and explores the influence path. The results show that openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, and emotional stability have significant positive effects on entrepreneurial intention; agreeableness has no significant effect on entrepreneurial intention; openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and emotional stability have significant positive effects on social support perception. The mediating effect of social support perception is as follows—it is part of the intermediary effect between openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, and emotional stability on entrepreneurial intention; within the influence of agreeableness on entrepreneurial intention, it plays a complete intermediary role. This paper enriches the research results on the impact of non-cognitive ability on entrepreneurial intention, reveals the intermediary effect of social support perception on the impact of non-cognitive ability on college students’ entrepreneurial intention, and broadens the field of vision for the study of college students’ entrepreneurial intention. The research results can provide a decision-making reference for the promotion of the entrepreneurial intention of college students, alleviating the employment pressure of college graduates in China and promoting sustainable economic development.
Using Path Analysis and Linear Regression to Test for Gender and Participation: Effects in a Culturally Tailored Diabetes Intervention for Latino Adults
Authors: Hawkins Jaclynn , Kieffer Edith C. , Sinco Brandy , Piatt Gretchen , Jones Lenette , Mitchell Jamie , Espitia Nicolaus , LeBron Alana , Kloss Katherine A. , Kurnick Katie , Palmsiano Gloria , Spencer Michael S.
Published: September 2022

While the incidence and prevalence of type 2 diabetes is higher among Latino/as, Latino men are disproportionately affected and have poorer outcomes. We aimed to determine whether gender impacted any outcomes in a culturally tailored type 2 diabetes (T2D) intervention and to evaluate the effects of gender and intervention participation intensity on outcomes at 6-month follow-up. Nested path and regression models were compared with the likelihood ratio test and information criteria in a sample of Latino/a adults with T2D (n = 222) participating in a T2D community health worker (CHW)-led intervention. Path analysis showed that the effect of the intervention did not vary by gender. The intervention was associated with significant improvements in knowledge of T2D management 0.24 (0.10); p = 0.014, diabetes distress, −0.26 (0.12); p = 0.023, and self-efficacy, 0.61 (0.21); p = 0.005. At 6-month follow-up, improved self-management was associated with greater self-efficacy and Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) was lower by −0.18 (0.08); p = 0.021 for each unit of self-management behavior. Linear regressions showed that class attendance and home visits contributed to positive intervention results, while gender was non-significant. Pathways of change in a CHW-led culturally tailored T2D intervention can have a significant effect on participant behaviors and health status outcomes, regardless of gender.
Can Iron Play a Crucial Role in Maintaining Cardiovascular Health in the 21st Century?
Authors: Szklarz Michał , Gontarz-Nowak Katarzyna , Matuszewski Wojciech , Bandurska-Stankiewicz Elżbieta
Published: September 2022

In the 21st century the heart is facing more and more challenges so it should be brave and iron to meet these challenges. We are living in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic, population aging, prevalent obesity, diabetes and autoimmune diseases, environmental pollution, mass migrations and new potential pandemic threats. In our article we showed sophisticated and complex regulations of iron metabolism. We discussed the impact of iron metabolism on heart diseases, treatment of heart failure, diabetes and obesity. We faced the problems of constant stress, climate change, environmental pollution, migrations and epidemics and showed that iron is really essential for heart metabolism in the 21st century.
The Effects of Cranberry Polyphenol Extract (CPE) Supplementation on Astringency and Flavor Perception as a Function of PROP Taster Status and Other Individual Factors
Authors: Yousaf Neeta Y. , Tepper Beverly J.
Published: September 2022

This study investigated whether PROP (6-n-propylthiouracil) taster status and other individual factors (gender, ethnicity, BMI, and age) are markers of variation in perceptions of astringency and other flavor attributes. Participants (n = 125) evaluated cranberry juice cocktail samples (CJC) supplemented with cranberry-derived polyphenol extract (CPE, added at 0, 0.3, 0.5 and 0.75 g/L), as well as control samples, unsweetened cranberry juice (CJ) and an aqueous solution of 0.75 g/L CPE. Subjects evaluated samples for key sensory attributes and overall liking using a 15 cm line scale. The data were analyzed using ANCOVA and machine learning tools (regression trees and random forest modeling) to examine if the latter approach would extract more meaningful insights about the roles of personal factors in sensory perceptions of cranberry-derived stimuli. ANCOVA revealed robust stimulus effects, but no effect of PROP taster status on astringency perception was observed. Several effects of PROP×gender, ethnicity, and other factors were observed on other sensory attributes and liking. ANCOVA and machine learning tools yielded similar findings, but regression trees provided a more visualized framework. These data show that PROP taster status has a limited role in astringency perception in complex samples and that other personal factors deserve greater focus in future research on astringency perception.