bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Augmented Antitumor Effect of Unripe Rubus coreanus Miquel Combined with Oxaliplatin in a Humanized PD-1/PD-L1 Knock-In Colorectal Cancer Mouse Model
Authors: Lee Eun-Ji , Yang Ju-Hye , Choi Jang-Gi , Chung Hwan-Suck
Published: September 2022

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been shown to be extraordinarily effective in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the current ICIs still have adverse effects and limited efficacy of ICI monotherapy. We used a natural product to overcome the vulnerability of ICIs and tried a combination therapy with oxaliplatin to enhance the programmed death-1/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) blockade anticancer effect. In the present study, we evaluated the T cell-mediated antitumor immunity with Unripe Rubus coreanus Miquel extract (RCE), which exerts anticancer properties via PD-1/PD-L1 blockade, combined with oxaliplatin in a co-culture cell model and allograft tumor humanized PD-1 mice. We found that RCE plus oxaliplatin apparently activates hPD-1 tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells, resulting in elevations of released interleukin-2 (IL-2) and granzyme B (GrB), and kills hPD-L1 MC38 CRC cells. RCE plus oxaliplatin considerably reduced tumor growth in humanized PD-1/PD-L1-expressing mouse MC38 CRC allograft. Moreover, RCE plus oxaliplatin remarkably increased the infiltration of CD8+ T cells in tumor tissues, as well as increasingly produced GrB of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells in the tumor microenvironment. Our study delineated combination therapy with RCE as a PD-1/PD-L1 blockade and oxaliplatin to improve the response to immune checkpoint blockade therapy in conjunction with standard chemotherapy regimens in CRC.
Non-Fatal Drowning Risk Prediction Based on Stacking Ensemble Algorithm
Authors: Xie Xinshan , Li Zhixing , Xu Haofeng , Peng Dandan , Yin Lihua , Meng Ruilin , Wu Wei , Ma Wenjun , Chen Qingsong
Published: September 2022

Drowning is a major public health problem and a leading cause of death in children living in developing countries. We seek better machine learning (ML) algorithms to provide a novel risk-assessment insight on non-fatal drowning prediction. The data on non-fatal drowning were collected in Qingyuan city, Guangdong Province, China. We developed four ML models to predict the non-fatal drowning risk, including a logistic regression model (LR), random forest model (RF), support vector machine model (SVM), and stacking-based model, on three primary learners (LR, RF, SVM). The area under the curve (AUC), F1 value, accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were calculated to evaluate the predictive ability of the different learning algorithms. This study included a total of 8390 children. Of those, 12.07% (1013) had experienced non-fatal drowning. We found the following risk factors are closely associated with the risk of non-fatal drowning: the frequency of swimming in open water, distance between the school and the surrounding open waters, swimming skills, personality (introvert) and relationality with family members. Compared to the other three base models, the stacking generalization model achieved a superior performance in the non-fatal drowning dataset (AUC = 0.741, sensitivity = 0.625, F1 value = 0.359, accuracy = 0.739 and specificity = 0.754). This study indicates that applying stacking ensemble algorithms in the non-fatal drowning dataset may outperform other ML models.
Experience and Prevalence of Dental Caries in Migrant and Nonmigrant Low-SES Families’ Children Aged 3 to 5 Years in Italy
Authors: Ferrazzano Gianmaria Fabrizio , Di Benedetto Giulia , Caruso Silvia , Di Fabio Giuseppe , Caruso Sara , De Felice Maria Elena , Gatto Roberto
Published: September 2022

Dental caries is a public health problem in children and is more prevalent in low-socioeconomic-status groups. The aim of this study is to assess the association between migrant families and the prevalence of caries among young children in Italy. This is a cross-sectional study. In the age range of 3 to 5 years, a total of 266 migrant children and 301 nonmigrant children were examined in three Italian charity dental centers. All children had families with low SES. The dmft was determined by intraoral examination performed by six pediatric dentist specialists to assess their dental health. In this study, the prevalence of caries (71%) and the mean dmft (3.68; SD: 1.52) of migrant children were statistically significantly higher than the percentage (52%) and the mean dmft of the nonmigrant control group (3.10; SD: 1.65) with no differences between genders. For the migrant children, the mean (0.49; SD: 0.32) of restorations (filled teeth) was statistically significantly lower than that of nonmigrant children (1.20; SD: 0.48). This study highlights that dmft values and the prevalence of caries are higher in migrant children than in nonmigrant children. In addition, the control group shows a higher level of dental caries than the national mean.
Family Socio-Economic Status and Children’s Play Behaviors: The Mediating Role of Home Environment
Authors: Li Sixian , Sun Jin , Dong Jingxuan
Published: September 2022

Family socio-economic status (SES) is a significant predictor of children’s early learning performance, while little is known about the relationship between family SES and children’s play. This study aimed to examine how family SES was related to different aspects of children’s play behaviors and whether the home environment served as a mediator in this relationship. A total of 844 mothers of children aged three to six (Nboys = 431) from different SES backgrounds (Nlow-SES = 123, Nmedium-SES = 322, Nhigh-SES = 399) reported the situation of the home environment and their children’s play behaviors with self-developed questionnaires. Results of regression analyses showed that family SES significantly predicted the level of Imagination, Approaches to Learning, and Emotion Expression in children’s play and that the home environment partially mediated such relationships. The results indicate SES-related differences in children’s play behaviors and offer the possibility of narrowing such discrepancies by establishing a child-friendly home environment.
Etiology Study of Acquired Developmental Defects of Enamel and Their Association with Dental Caries in Children between 3 and 19 Years Old from Dolj County, Romania
Authors: Popescu Mihai , Ionescu Mihaela , Scrieciu Monica , Popescu Sanda Mihaela , Mercuţ Răzvan , Amărăscu Marina Olimpia , Iacov Crăiţoiu Monica Mihaela , Lazăr Daniela , Mercuţ Veronica
Published: September 2022

Background: Developmental defects of enamel (DDE) are frequently encountered in primary and permanent teeth, yet their etiology is not completely known. Enamel hypoplasia is considered a predisposing factor for early caries. The objective of this study was the evaluation of several risk factors potentially causing DDE and the possible association between DDE and dental caries. Methods: This study was performed on a group of 213 rural children from Romania. It combined a thorough dental examination for all children, and a questionnaire filled in by their mothers, regarding the evolution of their pregnancy and the child’s health status in the first years of life. Results: There was no statistically significant association between DDE presence and data regarding the evolution of pregnancy, mothers’ health status or children’s conditions during early childhood. There was a significant association between the use of amoxicillin, ibuprofen, and cephalosporin during the period of formation of permanent teeth, and one environmental factor (water source), and the presence of DDE (Chi Square, p < 0.05). Also, DDEs were associated with the presence of caries (Fisher, p = 0.001). Conclusions: Children who consumed water from private wells and children who received medication during early childhood developed more enamel defects, presenting a higher risk of caries development.
Clinical Accuracy of Non-Contact Forehead Infrared Thermometer Measurement in Children: An Observational Study
Authors: Kim Yeon-Mi , Jang Myung-Roul , Moon Ju-Ryoung , Park Goeun , An Ye-Jin , Seo Jeong-Meen
Published: September 2022

We evaluated the clinical reliability and utility of temperature measurements using no-contact forehead infrared thermometers (NCFITs) by comparing their temperature measurements with those obtained using infrared tympanic thermometers (IRTTs) in children. In this observational, prospective, and cross-sectional study, we enrolled 255 children (aged 1 month to 18 years) from the pediatric surgery ward at a tertiary medical center in Korea. The mean age of the children was 9.05 ± 5.39 years, and 54.9% were boys. The incidence rate of fever, defined as an IRTT reading of ≥38.0 °C, was 15.7%. The ICC coefficient for the assessment of agreement between temperatures recorded by the NCFIT and IRTT was 0.87, and the κ-coefficient was 0.83. The bias and 95% limits of agreement were 0.15 °C (−0.43 to 0.73). For an accurate diagnosis of fever (≥38 °C), the false-negative rate was much lower, but the false-positive rate was higher, especially in 6-year-old children. Therefore, NCFITs can be used to screen children for fever. However, a secondary check is required using another thermometer when the child’s temperature is >38 °C. NCFITs are proposed for screening but not for measuring the temperature. For the latter, an accurate and reliable thermometer shall be used.
Comparison and Evaluation of Machine Learning-Based Classification of Hand Gestures Captured by Inertial Sensors
Authors: Stančić Ivo , Musić Josip , Grujić Tamara , Vasić Mirela Kundid , Bonković Mirjana
Published: September 2022

Gesture recognition is a topic in computer science and language technology that aims to interpret human gestures with computer programs and many different algorithms. It can be seen as the way computers can understand human body language. Today, the main interaction tools between computers and humans are still the keyboard and mouse. Gesture recognition can be used as a tool for communication with the machine and interaction without any mechanical device such as a keyboard or mouse. In this paper, we present the results of a comparison of eight different machine learning (ML) classifiers in the task of human hand gesture recognition and classification to explore how to efficiently implement one or more tested ML algorithms on an 8-bit AVR microcontroller for on-line human gesture recognition with the intention to gesturally control the mobile robot. The 8-bit AVR microcontrollers are still widely used in the industry, but due to their lack of computational power and limited memory, it is a challenging task to efficiently implement ML algorithms on them for on-line classification. Gestures were recorded by using inertial sensors, gyroscopes, and accelerometers placed at the wrist and index finger. One thousand and eight hundred (1800) hand gestures were recorded and labelled. Six important features were defined for the identification of nine different hand gestures using eight different machine learning classifiers: Decision Tree (DT), Random Forests (RF), Logistic Regression (LR), Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), Support Vector Machine (SVM) with linear kernel, Naïve Bayes classifier (NB), K-Nearest Neighbours (KNN), and Stochastic Gradient Descent (SGD). All tested algorithms were ranged according to Precision, Recall, and F1-score (abb.: P-R-F1). The best algorithms were SVM (P-R-F1: 0.9865, 0.9861, and 0.0863), and RF (P-R-F1: 0.9863, 0.9861, and 0.0862), but their main disadvantage is their unusability for on-line implementations in 8-bit AVR microcontrollers, as proven in the paper. The next best algorithms have had only slightly poorer performance than SVM and RF: KNN (P-R-F1: 0.9835, 0.9833, and 0.9834) and LR (P-R-F1: 0.9810, 0.9810, and 0.9810). Regarding the implementation on 8-bit microcontrollers, KNN has proven to be inadequate, like SVM and RF. However, the analysis for LR has proved that this classifier could be efficiently implemented on targeted microcontrollers. Having in mind its high F1-score (comparable to SVM, RF, and KNN), this leads to the conclusion that the LR is the most suitable classifier among tested for on-line applications in resource-constrained environments, such as embedded devices based on 8-bit AVR microcontrollers, due to its lower computational complexity in comparison with other tested algorithms.
A Linear Elasticity Theory to Analyze the Stress State of an Infinite Layer with a Cylindrical Cavity under Periodic Load
Authors: Miroshnikov Vitaly , Younis Basheer , Savin Oleksandr , Sobol Vladimir
Published: September 2022

The design of parts of machines, mechanisms, structures and foundations, particularly in the aerospace industry, is closely related to the definition of the stress state of the body. The accuracy of determining the stress state is the key to optimizing the use of materials. Therefore, it is important to develop methods to achieve such goals. In this work, the second main spatial problem of the elasticity theory is solved for a layer with a longitudinal cylindrical cavity with periodic displacements given on the surface of the layer. The solution of the problem is based on the generalized Fourier method for a layer with a cylindrical cavity. To take into account periodic displacements, an additional problem is applied with the expansion of the solution for a layer (without a cavity) in the Fourier series. The general solution is the sum of these two solutions. The problem is reduced to an infinite system of linear algebraic equations, which is solved by the reduction method. As a result, the stress-strain state of the layer on the surface of the cavity and isthmuses from the cavity to the boundaries of the layer was obtained. The conducted numerical analysis has a high accuracy for fulfilling the boundary conditions and makes it possible to assert the physical regularity of the stress distribution, which indicates the reliability of the obtained results. The method can be applied to determine the stress-strain state of structures, whose calculation scheme is a layer with a cylindrical cavity and a given periodic displacement. Numerical results make it possible to predict the geometric parameters of the future structure.
The Effect of Electrical Conductivity on Fruit Growth Pattern in Hydroponically Grown Tomatoes
Authors: Watabe Takafumi , Nakano Yuka , Ahn Dong-Hyuk
Published: September 2022

Osmotic stress enhances fruit quality, including the dry matter content, in tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.). This study aimed at providing further insight into the precision control of fruit yield and quality on the long-term moderate osmotic stress conditions in tomato fruit production. We compared the growth pattern between fruits of two cultivars, typical Japanese and Dutch cultivars, under two different nutrient concentrations (2.3 and 5.0 dS·m−1) to understand the effect of electrical conductivity (EC) on dry mass and water content of fruits. The experiment was performed with a rockwool bag culture system in a controlled greenhouse. Increasing EC resulted in an approximately 20% decrease in fruit yield and a 0.5–1% increase in fruit dry matter content in both cultivars. This yield reduction was not caused by the fruit number, but by an approximately 25% decrease in individual fresh fruit weight. Non-linear models were used to describe the changes in dry matter content, water content, and dry weight of tomato fruit as a function of cumulative temperature. The decay rate of dry matter content in the fruit decreased with high EC treatments in the Japanese cultivar. The points at which the rates of changes in water and dry weight increased the in fruit were around 585 and 480 °C-days after anthesis, respectively, under the low EC condition. Rates of water increase in the fruit were changed by high EC treatment, while the shifts were opposite with respect to the cultivars. Dry weight increase in the fruit was not affected by EC treatment. Collectively, our findings clarify the effect of EC on the fruit growth characteristics of Japanese and Dutch tomato cultivars, and provide new insights into the yield of high-Brix tomato cultivation.
Numerical Studies of Batch and Inline High Shear Melt Conditioning Technology Using Different Rotors
Authors: Lebon Gerard Serge Bruno , Patel Jayesh B. , Fan Zhongyun
Published: September 2022

When casting aluminum alloy billets, high shear melt conditioning (HSMC) technology refines the resulting grain size, reduces the number of defects, and improves mechanical properties without the need to add polluting and expensive chemical grain refiners. These resultant improvements spring from the high shear rates that develop in the rotor–stator gap and the stator holes facing the leading edge of the rotor. Despite the growing literature on rotor–stator mixing, it is unclear how the different rotor–stator parameters affect the performance of high shear treatment. To upscale this technology and apply it to processes that involve large melt volumes, an understanding of the performance of the rotor–stator design is crucial. In this paper, we present the results of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) studies of high shear melt conditioning in continuous and batch modes with different rotor designs. These studies build upon our earlier work by studying the effect of rotor variation in a stator design consisting of rows of small apertures at different rotor speeds spanning from 1000 to 10,000 revolutions per minute. While no clear-cut linear pattern emerges for the rotor performance (as a function of the design parameters), the rotor geometry is found to affect the distributive mixing of microparticles, but it is insignificant with regards to their disintegration.
A New Species of Parasitic Copepod, Nemesis santhadevii (Siphonostomatoida: Eudactylinidae) from the Gills of the Coral Catshark Atelomycterus marmoratus, from Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
Authors: Venmathi Maran Balu Alagar , Aneesh Panakkool Thamban , Moon Seong Yong
Published: September 2022

The copepod Nemesissanthadevii sp. nov. (Siphonostomatoida: Eudactylinidae), which is parasitizing the gill filaments of the Coral catshark Atelomycterus marmoratus (Anonymous (Bennett), 1830) off Kota Kinabalu waters, Malaysia, is described and illustrated in this article. The new species Nemesis santhadevii prominently differs from its congeners in the following features: (1) the cephalothorax sub-circular is 1.3 times as wide as long and overlapping the second pedigerous somite; (2) the fifth somite is 0.4 times the width of the fourth; (3) the genital double somite is slightly narrower than the fifth; (4) the lowest cephalothoracic shield’s body length (0.20:1) proportion; (5) the caudal rami is ovate, it has two large and three small setae; (6) and the second somite has antenna with a patch of 34–38 spinules. It is the first record of parasitic eudactilinid copepod from Sabah, East Malaysia. A checklist of global valid species of Nemesis Risso, 1826, is provided.
Dataset of Psychological Scales and Physiological Signals Collected for Anxiety Assessment Using a Portable Device
Authors: Elgendi Mohamed , Galli Valeria , Ahmadizadeh Chakaveh , Menon Carlo
Published: September 2022

Portable and wearable devices are becoming increasingly common in our daily lives. In this study, we examined the impact of anxiety-inducing videos on biosignals, particularly electrocardiogram (ECG) and respiration (RES) signals, that were collected using a portable device. Two psychological scales (Beck Anxiety Inventory and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale) were used to assess overall anxiety before induction. The data were collected at Simon Fraser University from participants aged 18–56, all of whom were healthy at the time. The ECG and RES signals were collected simultaneously while participants continuously watched video clips that stimulated anxiety-inducing (negative experience) and non-anxiety-inducing events (positive experience). The ECG and RES signals were recorded simultaneously at 500 Hz. The final dataset consisted of psychological scores and physiological signals from 19 participants (14 males and 5 females) who watched eight video clips. This dataset can be used to explore the instantaneous relationship between ECG and RES waveforms and anxiety-inducing video clips to uncover and evaluate the latent characteristic information contained in these biosignals.
Prediction of Retention Indices and Response Factors of Oxygenates for GC-FID by Multilinear Regression
Authors: Kretzschmar Nils , Seifert Markus , Busse Oliver , Weigand Jan J.
Published: September 2022

The replacement of fossil carbon sources with green bio-oils promotes the importance of several hundred oxygenated hydrocarbons, which substantially increases the analytical effort in catalysis research. A multilinear regression is performed to correlate retention indices (RIs) and response factors (RFs) with structural properties. The model includes a variety of possible products formed during the hydrodeoxygenation of bio-oils with good accuracy (RRF2 0.921 and RRI2 0.975). The GC parameters are related to the detailed hydrocarbon analysis (DHA) method, which is commonly used for non-oxygenated hydrocarbons. The RIs are determined from a paraffin standard (C5–C15), and the RFs are calculated with ethanol and 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene as internal standards. The method presented here can, therefore, be used together with the DHA method and be expanded further. In addition to the multilinear regression, an increment system has been developed for aromatic oxygenates, which further improves the prediction accuracy of the response factors with respect to the molecular constitution (R2 0.958). Both predictive models are designed exclusively on structural factors to ensure effortless application. All experimental RIs and RFs are determined under identical conditions. Moreover, a folded Plackett–Burman screening design demonstrates the general applicability of the datasets independent of method- or device-specific parameters.
Diagnosing Arterial Stiffness in Pregnancy and Its Implications in the Cardio-Renal-Metabolic Chain
Authors: Turi Vladiana-Romina , Luca Constantin Tudor , Gaita Dan , Iurciuc Stela , Petre Izabella , Iurciuc Mircea , Horvath Tunde , Cozma Dragos
Published: September 2022

Cardio-renal and metabolic modifications during gestation are crucial determinants of foetal and maternal health in the short and long term. The cardio-renal metabolic syndrome is a vicious circle that starts in the presence of risk factors such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease and ageing, all predisposing to a status dominated by increased arterial stiffness and alteration of the vascular wall, which eventually damages the target organs, such as the heart and kidneys. The literature is scarce regarding cardio-renal metabolic syndrome in pregnancy cohorts. The present paper exposes the current state of the art and emphasises the most important findings of this entity, particularly in pregnant women. The early assessment of arterial function can lead to proper and individualised measures for women predisposed to hypertension, pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, and diabetes mellitus. This review focuses on available information regarding the assessment of arterial function during gestation, possible cut-off values, the possible predictive role for future events and modalities to reverse or control its dysfunction, a fact of crucial importance with excellent outcomes at meagre costs.
The Promotion and Development of One Health at Swiss TPH and Its Greater Potential
Authors: Zinsstag Jakob , Hediger Karin , Osman Yahya Maidane , Abukhattab Said , Crump Lisa , Kaiser-Grolimund Andrea , Mauti Stephanie , Ahmed Ayman , Hattendorf Jan , Bonfoh Bassirou , Heitz-Tokpa Kathrin , Berger González Mónica , Bucher Alvar , Lechenne Monique , Tschopp Rea , Obrist Brigit , Pelikan Kristina
Published: September 2022

One Health, an integrated health concept, is now an integral part of health research and development. One Health overlaps with other integrated approaches to health such as EcoHealth or Planetary Health, which not only consider the patient or population groups but include them in the social-ecological context. One Health has gained the widest foothold politically, institutionally, and in operational implementation. Increasingly, One Health is becoming part of reporting under the International Health Legislation (IHR 2005). The Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) has played a part in these developments with one of the first mentions of One Health in the biomedical literature. Here, we summarise the history of ideas and processes that led to the development of One Health research and development at the Swiss TPH, clarify its theoretical and methodological foundations, and explore its larger societal potential as an integrated approach to thinking. The history of ideas and processes leading to the development of One Health research at the Swiss TPH were inspired by far-sighted and open ideas of the directors and heads of departments, without exerting too much influence. They followed the progressing work and supported it with further ideas. These in turn were taken up and further developed by a growing number of individual scientists. These ideas were related to other strands of knowledge from economics, molecular biology, anthropology, sociology, theology, and linguistics. We endeavour to relate Western biomedical forms of knowledge generation with other forms, such as Mayan medicine. One Health, in its present form, has been influenced by African mobile pastoralists’ integrated thinking that have been taken up into Western epistemologies. The intercultural nature of global and regional One Health approaches will inevitably undergo further scrutiny of successful ways fostering inter-epistemic interaction. Now theoretically well grounded, the One Health approach of seeking benefits for all through better and more equitable cooperation can clearly be applied to engagement in solving major societal problems such as social inequality, animal protection and welfare, environmental protection, climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and conflict transformation.
The Impact of Remittances on Saving Behaviour and Expenditure Patterns in Vietnam
Authors: Hua Thanh Xuan , Kessels Roselinde , Erreygers Guido
Published: September 2022

We examine the effects of receiving remittances on household saving behaviour and expenditure patterns in Vietnam. We consider the amount of saving, the saving rate, and the share of expenditure, as well as per capita expenditure on education, health, assets, house repairs, food, non-food, and utilities. We apply propensity score matching to data from the Vietnam Household Living Standard Survey (VHLSS) of 2012. We find that remittances have a positive impact on household savings and increase both the amount of saving and the saving rate. As far as expenditure patterns are concerned, our results indicate that receiving households spend more on health, assets, and house repairs, and less on food. This finding suggests that households tend to use remittances productively, with receiving households increasing their investments in human and physical capital. For the economy as a whole, remittances can create more opportunities for the development of services provided by banks, financial institutions, hospitals and healthcare centres, and give incentives to the production of building materials and tangible assets.
Trade Policy Uncertainty and Medical Innovation: Evidence from Developing Nations
Authors: Shabbir Muhammad Nadir , Liyong Wang , Arshad Muhammad Usman
Published: September 2022

This study explores the influence of trade policy uncertainty on medical innovation investment in developing nations from 1980 to 2020, with a focus on the period of COVID-19. We used exogenous and heterogeneous exposure to trade-policy-uncertainty resolutions from developing countries’ trade policy adjustments, which reduced tariff hikes on imported goods in a double difference-in-differences method. ARDL with PVAR has been studied for long-run and short-run analyses. The findings revealed that reducing tariff uncertainty boosts innovation beyond patent filings and margin reaction and exports. Long-term impacts of sectoral innovation patterns, governmental changes, and foreign technology entering developing nations have little effect on the findings. This paper also shows a long-term link between medical innovation, trade policy uncertainty, and research-and-development spending. Innovation’s negative response to the innovation shock and research and development’s positive response corroborates bidirectional and unidirectional causality. This study contributes to medical innovation and policy uncertainty in terms of developing countries and, most importantly, in trends of medical innovation, contemporaneous policy uncertainty given the inflow of foreign technology, and the importance of that technology recent times.
Don’t Wait, Innovate! Preparing Students and Lecturers in Higher Education for the Future Labor Market
Authors: Ter Beek Marlies , Wopereis Iwan , Schildkamp Kim
Published: September 2022

Technological innovations are changing our society at a rapid pace. The expansion of new technologies (e.g., tools and programs) will inevitably change future jobs in the area of, for example, engineering, healthcare, and science. People working in these areas need digital human capital, which is often acquired through education prior to starting a job. As a result, higher education systems around the globe face increasing demands to prepare their students for the changing labor market. To meet these demands, it is essential to focus on both lecturers’ and students’ digital competencies. Teaching professionals will have to learn to do new things using new resources. This goes beyond merely replacing work forms and resources; it is a complex process that demands a deeper way of learning in which routines and underlying knowledge and beliefs are explicitly reconsidered. Attention needs to be paid to how lecturers can gradually and continuously develop their professional competencies in the field of educational innovation with IT, to ensure these practices become embedded in future higher education. In this reflection paper, we will discuss key digital competencies for both students and lecturers. We will also focus on how lecturers develop these competencies through effective professional development (PD) activities. Based on a literature review, we present a model for effective lecturer PD with 29 ‘building blocks’. This model will be used to clarify practical examples of effective lecturer PD aimed at using innovative technology in higher education.
Characterization of Electronic Materials
Authors: Pisula Wojciech
Published: September 2022

Electronic materials are of great interest due to their potential to be applied in a broad range of important electronic devices including transistors, sensors, solar cells and others [...]
Comparative Analysis of Melanoma Classification Using Deep Learning Techniques on Dermoscopy Images
Authors: Jeyakumar Jacinth Poornima , Jude Anitha , Priya Henry Asha Gnana , Hemanth Jude
Published: September 2022

Melanoma is developed due to disturbances in the melanocytes of the skin cells. Every human skin color is defined by melanin, which is produced by melanocytes. Around the globe, the melanoma probability percentage age intervals are from 70 and older. Melanoma is a lethal form of cancer and can easily spread to other parts of the body. It needs to be detected and treated early to avoid mortality. Early diagnosis can be made by an automated diagnosis system to help clinicians for larger populations. In the proposed system, the input images are taken from Med Node, PH2, and HAM10000 Kaggle and given to the pre-trained architectures such as AlexNet, Vgg-16, ResNet50, Inception V3, and GoogleNet. The performance is analyzed using accuracy (AC), sensitivity (SE), specificity (SP), positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV). Among all the architectures, InceptionV3 obtained the best accuracy of 97.1%, 97.2%, and 96.2% for the MedNode, PH2, and HAM10000 Kaggle datasets, respectively, in melanoma identification.
Modeling Degraded Bamboo Shoots in Southeast China
Authors: Zhou Xiao , Guan Fengying , Fan Shaohui , Yin Zixu , Zhang Xuan , Li Chengji , Zhou Yang
Published: September 2022

Degraded bamboo shoots (DBS) constitute an important variable in the carbon fixation of bamboo forests. DBS are useful for informed decision making in bamboo forests. Despite their importance, studies on DBS are limited. In this study, we aimed to develop models to describe DBS variations. By using DBS data from 64 plots of Yixing forest farm in Jiangsu Province, China, a mixed-effects model was constructed, including block-level random effects. We evaluated the potential impact of several variables on DBS. The number of bamboo shoots (NBS), mean height to crown base (MHCB), hydrolytic nitrogen (HN), and available potassium (AK) significantly contributed to the model. By introducing the block-level random effect in the logistic model, the fitting statistics were significantly improved. The model showed that there were increased DBS in bamboo stands with decreased MHCB and AK, whereas DBS decreased with decreasing NBS and HN. The application of K fertilizer reduced the number of DBS during the emergence stage. By adjusting these factors, the number of DBS in bamboo forests can be reduced, which provides a theoretical basis for increasing the biomass of bamboo forests. It can also provide an important basis for studying the carbon sink characteristics of bamboo forests and help to formulate more effective bamboo forest management plans.
Experimental Precipitation Reduction Slows Down Litter Decomposition but Exhibits Weak to No Effect on Soil Organic Carbon and Nitrogen Stocks in Three Mediterranean Forests of Southern France
Authors: Santonja Mathieu , Pereira Susana , Gauquelin Thierry , Quer Elodie , Simioni Guillaume , Limousin Jean-Marc , Ourcival Jean-Marc , Reiter Ilja M. , Fernandez Catherine , Baldy Virginie
Published: September 2022

Forest ecosystems are some of the largest carbon (C) reservoirs on earth. Pinus halepensis Mill., Quercus ilex L. and Quercus pubescens Willd. represent the dominant tree cover in the Mediterranean forests of southern France. However, their contributions to the French and global forest C and nitrogen (N) stocks are frequently overlooked and inaccurately quantified and little is known about to what extent the ongoing climate change can alter these stocks. We quantified the soil organic C (SOC) and N (SN) stocks in Mediterranean forests dominated by these tree species and evaluated to what extent an experimental precipitation reduction (about −30% yearly) affects these stocks and the litter decomposition efficiency. Litter mass losses were 55.7, 49.8 and 45.7% after 24 months of decomposition in Q. ilex, Q. pubescens and P. halepensis forests, respectively, and were 19% lower under drier climatic conditions. The SOC stocks were 14.0, 16.7 and 18.5 Mg ha−1 and the SN stocks were 0.70, 0.93 and 0.88 Mg ha−1 in Q. ilex, Q. pubescens and P. halepensis forests, respectively. The shallowness and stoniness of these Mediterranean forests could explain these limited stocks. By distinguishing the organic from the organo–mineral layer, we showed 74% less SOC in the organic layer of the P. halepensis forest under drier conditions, while no difference was detected in the organo–mineral layer or in the two oak forests. This last finding deserves further investigation and points out the necessity to distinguish the organic from the organo–mineral layer to detect the first impacts of climate change on SOC stocks.
Annual Change Analysis of Mangrove Forests in China during 1986–2021 Based on Google Earth Engine
Authors: Wang Ziyu , Liu Kai , Cao Jingjing , Peng Liheng , Wen Xin
Published: September 2022

Mangroves are a key type of protected coastal wetland, with a range of benefits such as protection from wave damage, sand fixation, water purification and ecological tourism. As the academic knowledge of mangroves has gradually increased, the use of remote sensing to monitor their dynamic changes in China has become a hot topic of discussion and has received attention in academic circles. Remote sensing has also provided necessary auxiliary decision-making suggestions and data support for the scientific and rational conservation, restoration and management of mangrove resources. In this paper, we used Landsat satellite series data combined with the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and adaptive threshold partitioning (OTSU method) to monitor mangrove dynamics in coastal China from 1986 to 2021 based on Google Earth Engine (GEE), with three main results. (1) Based on the massive data and efficient computational capability of the GEE platform, we achieved large-scale interannual mangrove distribution extraction. The overall classification accuracy for 2019 exceeded 0.93, and the mangrove distribution extraction effect was good. (2) The total mangrove area and the mean patch size in China showed overall increasing trends, and Guangdong and Guangxi were the top two provinces in China in terms of the largest mangrove area. (3) Except for Dongzhaigang National Nature Reserve, the mangrove areas in other national mangrove reserves mainly showed increasing trends, confirming the effectiveness of the reserves. Data on the spatial structure and area trends of mangroves in China can provide scientific references for mangrove conservation and development, and serve in the further restoration of mangrove ecosystems.
Natural Substrates and Culture Conditions to Produce Pigments from Potential Microbes in Submerged Fermentation
Authors: Ramesh Chatragadda , Prasastha V. R. , Venkatachalam Mekala , Dufossé Laurent
Published: September 2022

Pigments from bacteria, fungi, yeast, cyanobacteria, and microalgae have been gaining more demand in the food, leather, and textile industries due to their natural origin and effective bioactive functions. Mass production of microbial pigments using inexpensive and ecofriendly agro-industrial residues is gaining more demand in the current research due to their low cost, natural origin, waste utilization, and high pigment stimulating characteristics. A wide range of natural substrates has been employed in submerged fermentation as carbon and nitrogen sources to enhance the pigment production from these microorganisms to obtain the required quantity of pigments. Submerged fermentation is proven to yield more pigment when added with agro-waste residues. Hence, in this review, aspects of potential pigmented microbes such as diversity, natural substrates that stimulate more pigment production from bacteria, fungi, yeast, and a few microalgae under submerged culture conditions, pigment identification, and ecological functions are detailed for the benefit of industrial personnel, researchers, and other entrepreneurs to explore pigmented microbes for multifaceted applications. In addition, some important aspects of microbial pigments are covered herein to disseminate the knowledge.
The Role of Fiber-Type Reinforcement in the Torsional Behavior of Solid and Hollow Reinforced Concrete Beams
Authors: Abdullah Mazin Diwan , Majeed Fareed Hameed , Saleh Samoel Mahdi
Published: September 2022

In order to improve the strength of concrete structures, the fiber reinforcement of concrete has become an essential factor. This study was conducted as an experimental program to gain a better understanding of how the variance of fiber shape and type affect the structural performance of solid and hollow reinforced concrete beams using four types of fiber (hooked-end, straight, corrugated steel fiber, and polyolefin fiber) under torsion. For this purpose, ten fiber-reinforced concrete beam specimens, five solid and five hollow, with square cross sections were fabricated using the adopted types of fiber. The role of fiber type in the improvement of the mechanical properties of hardened concrete was also investigated. The results revealed that the mechanical properties of the hardened concrete mix was enhanced by using the existing fiber in concrete, and the higher improvement was shown in the splitting tensile strength test and modulus of rapture in specimens with corrugated steel fiber. The torsional behavior of solid and hollow beams was improved significantly, and the capacity of torsional strength was especially improved for the beams strengthened with corrugated steel fiber. Straight and polyolefin fiber showed a slight improvement in the concrete mechanical properties and less enhancement in the torsional capacity of the tested beams. However, the tested beams reinforced by polyolefin fiber provide better ductility under torsion compared with the use of other types of fiber.
Differences in Intestinal Microbial Composition between Red Claw Crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) and Red Swamp Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) Cultured in Pond
Authors: Chen Honglin , Liu Fangfang , Ouyang Miaofeng , Zhou Huan , Lou Bao
Published: September 2022

Intestinal microbiota communities participate in several metabolic processes in the host, and are highly correlated to digestion, nutrition, growth, and immunity. However, the intestinal microbiota of aquatic invertebrates is poorly understood, especially in freshwater crayfish. In this study, the intestinal microbiota of two important freshwater economic aquaculture species, the invasive species, the red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii, Pc), and the introduced species, the red claw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus, Cq), were investigated. The results showed that the community richness and diversity of Pc were higher than those of Cq, which might be one of the reasons that Pc have stronger environmental adaptability than Cq. Five core phyla were identified in the Pc group, including Proteobacteria (26.92%), Tenericutes (25.73%), Bacteroidetes (25.12%), Firmicutes (14.03%), and RsaHF231 (8.02%), and three phyla were detected in the Cq group, including Tenericutes (67.35%), Proteobacteria (25.98%), and Firmicutes (4.69%). In Pc and Cq groups, Proteobacteria exhibited significant differential abundance between males and females. In addition, Vibrio coralliilyticus were found particularly in the intestine of Cq. This study provides information on intestinal microbiota differences of Pc and Cq, contributing to the development of new dietary formulations and providing significance to future aquaculture.
CFD Modeling of Wind Turbine Blades with Eroded Leading Edge
Authors: Carraro Michael , De Vanna Francesco , Zweiri Feras , Benini Ernesto , Heidari Ali , Hadavinia Homayoun
Published: September 2022

The present work compares 2D and 3D CFD modeling of wind turbine blades to define reduced-order models of eroded leading edge arrangements. In particular, following an extensive validation campaign of the adopted numerical models, an initially qualitative comparison is carried out on the 2D and 3D flow fields by looking at turbulent kinetic energy color maps. Promising similarities push the analysis to consequent quantitative comparisons. Thus, the differences and shared points between pressure, friction coefficients, and polar diagrams of the 3D blade and the simplified eroded 2D setup are highlighted. The analysis revealed that the inviscid characteristics of the system (i.e., pressure field and lift coefficients) are precisely described by the reduced-order 2D setup. On the other hand, discrepancies in the wall friction and the drag coefficients are systematically observed with the 2D model consistently underestimating the drag contribution by around 17% and triggering flow separation over different streamwise locations. Nevertheless, the proposed 2D model is very accurate in dealing with the more significant aerodynamics performance of the blade and 30 times faster than the 3D assessment in providing the same information. Therefore the proposed 2D CFD setup is of fundamental importance for use in a digital twin of any physical wind turbine with the aim of carefully and accurately planning maintenance, also accounting for leading edge erosion.
Sterilizing Ready-to-Eat Poached Spicy Pork Slices Using a New Device: Combined Radio Frequency Energy and Superheated Water
Authors: Wang Ke , Ran Chuanyang , Cui Baozhong , Sun Yanan , Fu Hongfei , Chen Xiangwei , Wang Yequn , Wang Yunyang
Published: September 2022

In this study, a new device was used to inactivate G. stearothermophilus spores in ready-to-eat (RTE) poached spicy pork slices (PSPS) applying radio frequency (RF) energy (27.12 MHz, 6 kW) and superheated water (SW) simultaneously. The cold spot in the PSPS sample was determined. The effects of electrode gap and SW temperature on heating rate, spore inactivation, physiochemical properties (water loss, texture, and oxidation), sensory properties, and SEM of samples were investigated. The cold spot lies in the geometric center of the soup. The heating rate increased with increasing electrode gap and hit a peak under 190 mm. Radio frequency combined superheated water (RFSW) sterilization greatly decreased the come-up time (CUT) compared with SW sterilization, and a 5 log reduction in G. stearothermophilus spores was achieved. RFSW sterilization under 170 mm electrode gap reduced the water loss, thermal damage of texture, oxidation, and tissues and cells of the sample, and kept a better sensory evaluation. RFSW sterilization has great potential in solid or semisolid food processing engineering.
The Spatial Non-Equilibrium and Convergence of Chinese Grain Enterprises’ Total Factor Productivity—Evidence from China
Authors: Fan Qinqin , Zheng Yangyang , Jia Wei
Published: September 2022

The improvement of grain processing capacity is crucial to the realization of grain security. Enterprises are important grain processing bodies and their productivity directly determines grain processing capacity. Chinese grain processing enterprises still have difficulties, and how to further improve grain processing capacity and the total factor productivity of grain processing enterprises may be an important aspect. We used the meta-frontier Malmquist index to measure the total factor productivity of grain enterprises as well as judge the change trend and regional gap, applying the classical regression model to test the convergence of China’s overall and regional grain enterprises’ total factor productivity. This research finds that the total factor productivity of grain processing enterprises increased by 1.18% annually during the sample period, and that of the central region rose more quickly than the other areas of China. Technical progress contributes more to enterprises’ total factor productivity, but technical efficiency may become a key factor in determining it. The difference in the growth rate of the grain processing enterprises’ total factor productivity among different ones in the eastern and western regions is gradually narrowing, while that of the central region is gradually expanding; there is an obvious technological catch-up effect between and within the regions, especially in the central area of China.
The Impact of Thyme, Rosemary and Basil Extracts on the Chemical, Sensory and Microbiological Quality of Vacuumed Packed Mackerel Balls
Authors: Balikçi Esra , Özogul Yesim , Rathod Nikheel Bhojraj , Özogul Fatih , Ibrahim Salam A.
Published: September 2022

The effect of natural extracts (0.05%) and vacuum packaging on the sensory, chemical, and microbiological quality of mackerel balls were evaluated at refrigerated (4 ± 2 °C) storage. Natural extracts thyme (38.13 mg GAE/g), rosemary (81.85 mg GAE/g) and basil (21.08 mg GAE/g) were evaluated. Natural extracts imparted stability to lipids (TBA, FFA, and PV), and the ability was further improved by vacuum packaging. Biochemical changes (TVB-N, pH) and microbiological quality (total viable count) were also retained. Control samples packed under vacuum were found to cross over acceptable limits on day 28. Based on sensory quality evaluation, samples treated with rosemary and thyme extracts showed superior sensory quality over control, whilebasil-treated samples were not found acceptable at day 28. Consequently, the inclusion of thyme and rosemary extracts exhibits preservative quality when combined with vacuum packaging, retaining biochemical, microbial, and sensory quality.