bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How to Improve the Reactive Strength Index among Male Athletes? A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis
Authors: Rebelo André , Pereira João R. , Martinho Diogo V. , Duarte João P. , Coelho-e-Silva Manuel J. , Valente-dos-Santos João
Published: March 2022

The reactive strength index (RSI) describes the individual’s capability to quickly change from an eccentric muscular contraction to a concentric one and can be used to monitor, assess, and reduce the risk of athlete’s injury. The purpose of this review is to compare the effectiveness of different training programs on RSI. Electronic searches were conducted in MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science from database inception to 11 February 2022. This meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with the recommendations of the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA). The search returned 5890 records, in which 39 studies were included in the systematic review and 30 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Results from the randomized studies with the control group revealed that plyometric training improved RSI in adult athletes (0.84, 95% CI 0.37 to 1.32) and youth athletes (0.30, 95% CI 0.13 to 0.47). Evidence withdrawn from randomized studies without a control group revealed that resistance training also improved the RSI (0.44, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.79) in youth athletes but not in adults. Interventions with plyometric training routines have a relatively large, statistically significant overall effect in both adult and youth athletes. This supports the implementation of this type of interventions in early ages to better cope with the physical demands of the various sports. The impact of resistance training is very low in adult athletes, as these should seek to have a more power-type training to see improvements on the RSI. More interventions with sprint and combined training are needed.
COVID-19 Delta Wave Caused Early Overburden of Hospital Capacity in the Bulgarian Healthcare System in 2021
Authors: Tomov Latchezar P. , Batselova Hristiana M. , Velikova Tsvetelina V.
Published: March 2022

We develop and apply our methodology to estimate the overburdening of hospitals in Bulgaria during the upcoming delta surge. We base our estimations on an exponential risk model from the UK. Still, the methodology is generally applicable to all risk models, depending on age. Our hypothesis is that during the delta wave in Bulgaria, the system experienced a burden from late August due to decreased capacity. This will explain most of the excess mortality during the wave. We estimate the number of people from the active cases in need of hospitalization and intensive care.
Low Birth Weight, the Differentiating Risk Factor for Stunting among Preschool Children in India
Authors: Halli Shiva S. , Biradar Rajeshwari A. , Prasad Jang Bahadur
Published: March 2022

Background: The prevalence of low birth weight (LBW) is a major public health issue in India; however, the optimal growth pattern for such infants is not clear. The purpose of this study is to understand the causal association between LBW and stunting of preschool children in India. Methods: The National Family Health Survey-4 is a large cross-sectional survey based on a nationally representative sample of 699,686 women in the age group of 15–49 years and was conducted during 2015–2016 in India. The study used the children’s file with a sample of 259,002 of 0–59 months for investigation. Results: The data revealed that 38.7% of the children in India were stunted. The bivariate analysis revealed that, of the women who did not attend any antenatal care (ANC) meetings, 46.8% had stunted children compared to the women who attended more than three ANC meetings, which 30.7% had stunted children. The low birth weight children experienced a much higher chance of stunting compared to children with a normal birth weight (44.3% vs. 33.8%). The multivariable odds ratios of logistic regression, after adjusting for the confounding characteristics, showed that pregnant women attending more than three ANC meetings compared to not attending any ANC meetings experienced a 19% lower adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of having stunted children (AOR = 0.81; CI 0.78, 0.85; p < 0.001). Another important variable, such as women with underweight body mass index (BMI) compared with normal BMI, had 6% higher odds of having stunted children (AOR = 1.06; CI 1.03, 1.10; p < 0.001). Similarly, women who belong to the Scheduled Caste compared to the General Caste had 36% higher odds of having stunted children (AOR = 1.36; CI 1.30, 1.42; p < 0.001); and children aged 13–23 months compared to children up to one-year-old or younger had 141% higher odds of being stunted (AOR = 2.41; CI 2.32, 2.51; p < 0.001). The conspicuous finding is that LBW babies, after adjusting for other important confounding factors, such as BMI and ANC, experienced 19% higher odds of stunted children (AOR = 1.19; CI 1.14, 1.24; p < 0.001) compared to normal birth weight babies. Conclusions: The results revealed LBW is associated with stunting of preschool children in India.
Challenges and Feasibility of Co-Design Methods for Improving Parent Information in Maternity Care
Authors: Kynoch Kathryn , Tuckett Anthony , McArdle Annie , Ramis Mary-Anne
Published: March 2022

This study explored the feasibility of using experience-based co-design methods (EBCD), based on participatory action principles, to improve service delivery regarding parent information needs within a metropolitan postnatal maternity unit. Data were collected from January 2018 to March 2019 from parents and staff using surveys, video interviews, a focus group and ward observations of episodes where parents were provided information. Participants included postnatal mothers who had recently given birth, their partners and hospital staff. Survey results (n = 31) were positive regarding content and satisfaction with information delivery. Data from the staff focus group (seven participants) and in-depth video interviews with mothers (n = 4) identified common themes, including challenges to information delivery due to time pressures, the value of breastfeeding advice and environmental influences. Overall, parents were satisfied with the information delivered; however, inconsistencies were present, with time pressures and other environmental factors reported as influencing the process. Staff and parents both identified the amount of content being delivered in such a short time frame as a major challenge and tailoring information was difficult due to individual experiences and circumstances. Additional resources or alternative methods are suggested for conducting future studies to capture patient experience within a similar busy hospital setting.
Implementing Heat-Stable Carbetocin for Postpartum Haemorrhage Prevention in Low-Resource Settings: A Rapid Scoping Review
Authors: Tran Nguyen Toan , Bar-Zeev Sarah , Zeck Willibald , Schulte-Hillen Catrin
Published: March 2022

Heat-stable carbetocin (HSC), a long-acting oxytocin analogue that does not require cold-chain transportation and storage, is effective in preventing postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) in vaginal and caesarean deliveries in tertiary-care settings. We aimed to identify literature documenting how it is implemented in resource-limited and lower-level maternity care settings to inform policies and practices that enable its introduction in these contexts. A rapid scoping review was conducted with an 8-week timeframe by two reviewers. MEDLINE, EMBASE, Emcare, the Joanna Briggs Institute Evidence-Based Practice Database, the Maternity and Infant Care Database, and the Cochrane Library were searched for publications in English, French, and Spanish from January 2011 to September 2021. Randomized and non-randomized studies examining the feasibility, acceptability, and health system considerations in low-income and lower-middle-income countries were included. Relevant data were extracted using pretested forms, and results were synthesized descriptively. The search identified 62 citations, of which 12 met the eligibility criteria. The review did not retrieve studies focusing on acceptability and health system considerations to inform HSC implementation in low-resource settings. There were no studies located in rural or lower-level maternity settings. Two economic evaluations concluded that HSC is not feasible in terms of cost-effectiveness in lower-middle-income economies with private sector pricing, and a third one found superior care costs in births with PPH than without. The other nine studies focused on demonstrating HSC effectiveness for PPH prevention in tertiary hospital settings. There is a lack of evidence on the feasibility (beyond cost-effectiveness), acceptability, and health system considerations related to implementing HSC in resource-constrained and lower-level maternity facilities. Further implementation research is needed to help decision-makers and practitioners offer an HSC-inclusive intervention package to prevent excessive bleeding among pregnant women living in settings where oxytocin is not available or of dubious quality.
Nominal Land Valuation with Best-Worst Method Using Geographic Information System: A Case of Atakum, Samsun
Authors: Ayalke Zelalem , Sisman Aziz
Published: March 2022

Land valuation can be used in various areas, such as taxation, property acquisition, rental, expropriation, urban regeneration, and land readjustment. As a result, determining the value of land accurately by considering multiple criteria to eliminate the impact of subjectivity on the value of land is important. Nominal valuation is a statistical method for determining land values based on multiple criteria. In nominal valuation, criteria can be managed, analyzed, and integrated using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). This study produced a land value map using a nominal valuation method based on multiple criteria. The main criteria and sub-criteria have been determined according to the previous studies. Criteria weights were determined using the Best-Worst Method (BWM), which is one of the Multi-Criteria Decision-Making methods. A nominal land value map of the Atakum district of Samsun was produced by integrating criteria maps using GIS and compared with a value map based on current land sales.
Exploring the Relationship between the Spatial Distribution of Different Age Populations and Points of Interest (POI) in China
Authors: Huang Yiyi , Lin Tao , Zhang Guoqin , Zhu Wei , Hamm Nicholas A. S. , Liu Yuqin , Zhang Junmao , Yao Xia
Published: March 2022

Population spatialization data is crucial to conducting scientific studies of coupled human–environment systems. Although significant progress has been made in population spatialization, the spatialization of different age populations is still weak. POI data with rich information have great potential to simulate the spatial distribution of different age populations, but the relationship between spatial distributions of POI and different age populations is still unclear, and whether it can be used as an auxiliary variable for the different age population spatialization remains to be explored. Therefore, this study collected and sorted out the number of different age populations and POIs in 2846 county-level administrative units of the Chinese mainland in 2010, divided the research data by region and city size, and explored the relationship between the different age populations and POIs. We found that there is a complex relationship between POI and different age populations. Firstly, there are positive, moderate-to-strong linear correlations between POI and population indicators. Secondly, POI has a different explanatory power for different age populations, and it has a higher explanatory power for the young and middle-aged population than the child and old population. Thirdly, the explanatory power of POI to different age populations is positively correlated with the urban economic development level. Finally, a small number of a certain kinds of POIs can be used to effectively simulate the spatial distributions of different age populations, which can improve the efficiency of obtaining spatialization data of different age populations and greatly save on costs. The study can provide data support for the precise spatialization of different age populations and inspire the spatialization of the other population attributes by POI in the future.
The Profile Loss of Additive Manufactured Blades for Organic Rankine Cycle Turbines
Authors: Hake Leander , Reinker Felix , Wagner Robert , aus der Wiesche Stefan , Schatz Markus
Published: March 2022

Results from an experimental profile loss study are presented of an additive manufactured linear turbine cascade placed in the test section of a closed-loop organic vapor wind tunnel. This test facility at Muenster University of Applied Sciences allows the investigation of high subsonic and transonic organic vapor flows under ORC turbine flow conditions at elevated pressure and temperature levels. An airfoil from the open literature was chosen for the cascade, and the organic vapor was Novec 649TM. Pitot probes measured the flow field upstream and downstream of the cascade. The inflow turbulence level was 0.5%. The roughness parameters of the metal-printed blades were determined, and the first set of flow measurements was performed. Then, the blade surfaces were further finished, and the impact of roughness on profile losses was assessed in the second flow measurement set. Although the Reynolds number level was relatively high, further surface treatment reduces the profile loss noticeably in organic vapor flows through the printed cascade.
Design Patterns for Mobile Augmented Reality User Interfaces—An Incremental Review
Authors: Börsting Ingo , Karabulut Can , Fischer Bastian , Gruhn Volker
Published: March 2022

The virtual enhancement of the physical world through Augmented Reality (AR) has an enormous potential in its application, but faces challenges in its development. The lack of standards and the increased complexity of interaction opportunities complicate the definition of suitable User Interfaces (UIs). Several principles and patterns have been formulated to simplify UI design for AR applications, but their joint contribution to a positive usability as well as the influence of individual patterns remain unclear. In this paper, AR design principles from selected research were reviewed and merged into a comprehensive pattern model within an incremental process. Based on an initial model, we developed ARScribble, a mobile AR application which imitates a physical spray can to virtually sketch within a real environment. In a user-based study, we evaluated the usability of ARScribble as well as the role of individual patterns for the overall usability. We found promising indications that the pattern model implementation is related to a positive usability. The individual pattern analysis showed that AR users particularly desire a consistent and structured UI. A consistent appealing design and multimodal interaction concepts were also found to positively correlate with the overall usability. Based on these results, we included additional related work to refine the initial model into a final pattern model. To evaluate this refinement, the colAR application was developed, which allows real-world colors to be assigned to virtual objects. As a result, we found the consideration of the final pattern model to be related to a positive usability, which was confirmed in an A/B test, in which an application neglecting the pattern model showed a significantly poorer usability.
Human iPSC-Derived Retinal Organoids and Retinal Pigment Epithelium for Novel Intronic RPGR Variant Assessment for Therapy Suitability
Authors: Chahine Karam Fidelle , Loi To Ha , Ma Alan , Nash Benjamin M. , Grigg John R. , Parekh Darshan , Riley Lisa G. , Farnsworth Elizabeth , Bennetts Bruce , Gonzalez-Cordero Anai , Jamieson Robyn V.
Published: March 2022

The RPGR gene encodes Retinitis Pigmentosa GTPase Regulator, a known interactor with ciliary proteins, which is involved in maintaining healthy photoreceptor cells. Variants in RPGR are the main contributor to X-linked rod-cone dystrophy (RCD), and RPGR gene therapy approaches are in clinical trials. Hence, elucidation of the pathogenicity of novel RPGR variants is important for a patient therapy opportunity. Here, we describe a novel intronic RPGR variant, c.1415 − 9A>G, in a patient with RCD, which was classified as a variant of uncertain significance according to current clinical diagnostic criteria. The variant lay several base pairs intronic to the canonical splice acceptor site, raising suspicion of an RPGR RNA splicing abnormality and consequent protein dysfunction. To investigate disease causation in an appropriate disease model, induced pluripotent stem cells were generated from patient fibroblasts and differentiated to retinal pigment epithelium (iPSC-RPE) and retinal organoids (iPSC-RO). Abnormal RNA splicing of RPGR was demonstrated in patient fibroblasts, iPSC-RPE and iPSC-ROs, leading to a predicted frameshift and premature stop codon. Decreased RPGR expression was demonstrated in these cell types, with a striking loss of RPGR localization at the ciliary transitional zone, critically in the photoreceptor cilium of the patient iPSC-ROs. Mislocalisation of rhodopsin staining was present in the patient’s iPSC-RO rod photoreceptor cells, along with an abnormality of L/M opsin staining affecting cone photoreceptor cells and increased photoreceptor apoptosis. Additionally, patient iPSC-ROs displayed an increase in F-actin expression that was consistent with an abnormal actin regulation phenotype. Collectively, these studies indicate that the splicing abnormality caused by the c.1415 − 9A>G variant has an impact on RPGR function. This work has enabled the reclassification of this variant to pathogenic, allowing the consideration of patients with this variant having access to gene therapy clinical trials. In addition, we have identified biomarkers of disease suitable for the interrogation of other RPGR variants of uncertain significance.
Special Issue: “Role of MicroRNA in Cancer Development and Treatment”
Authors: Pulliero Alessandra , Izzotti Alberto
Published: March 2022

Exposure to environmental contaminants may lead to changes in the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs), resulting in several health effects [...]
Reducing Tolerance for SABA and OCS towards the Extreme Ends of Asthma Severity
Authors: Bakakos Petros , Kostikas Konstantinos , Loukides Stelios , Makris Michael , Papadopoulos Nikolaos , Steiropoulos Paschalis , Tryfon Stavros , Zervas Eleftherios
Published: March 2022

Asthma is a heterogeneous chronic inflammatory airway disease that imposes a great burden on public health worldwide. In the past two years, fundamental changes have been addressed in the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) recommendations focusing mainly on the management of mild and severe asthma. The use of as-needed treatment containing inhaled corticosteroids plus fast-acting bronchodilators (either short or long-acting formoterol) in mild asthma has dominated the field, and both randomized and real-world studies favor such an approach and associate it with fewer exacerbations and good asthma control. At the same time, the effort to diminish the use of oral steroids (OCS) as maintenance treatment in severe asthma was substantially accomplished with the initiation of treatment with biologics. Still, these options are available at the moment only for severe asthmatics with a T2-high endotype, and relevant studies on biologics have yielded, as a primary outcome, the reduction or even cessation of OCS. Accordingly, OCS should be considered as a temporary option, mainly for the treatment of asthma exacerbations, and as a maintenance treatment only for a minority of patients with severe asthma, after ensuring good inhaler technique, modification of all possible contributory factors and comorbidities, and optimized pharmacotherapy using all other add-on treatments including biologics in the armamentarium of anti-asthma medication.
Individualized Biological Age as a Predictor of Disease: Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES) Cohort
Authors: An Seokyung , Ahn Choonghyun , Moon Sungji , Sim Eun Ji , Park Sue-Kyung
Published: March 2022

Chronological age (CA) predicts health status but its impact on health varies with anthropometry, socioeconomic status (SES), and lifestyle behaviors. Biological age (BA) is, therefore, considered a more precise predictor of health status. We aimed to develop a BA prediction model from self-assessed risk factors and validate it as an indicator for predicting the risk of chronic disease. A total of 101,980 healthy participants from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study were included in this study. BA was computed based on body measurements, SES, lifestyle behaviors, and presence of comorbidities using elastic net regression analysis. The effects of BA on diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HT), combination of DM and HT, and chronic kidney disease were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards regression. A younger BA was associated with a lower risk of DM (HR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.55–0.72), hypertension (HR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.68–0.81), and combination of DM and HT (HR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.47–0.91). The largest risk of disease was seen in those with a BA higher than their CA. A consistent association was also observed within the 5-year follow-up. BA, therefore, is an effective tool for detecting high-risk groups and preventing further risk of chronic diseases through individual and population-level interventions.
Habitat Management of the Endemic and Critical Endangered Montseny Brook Newt (Calotriton arnoldi)
Authors: Guinart Daniel , Solórzano Sònia , Amat Fèlix , Grau Jordina , Fernández-Guiberteau Daniel , Montori Albert
Published: March 2022

Calotriton arnoldi is an endemic amphibian inhabiting Montseny Natural Park and Biosphere Reserve (PNRBM), listed as “critically endangered (CR)” by IUCN. At the end of 2016, the Life Tritó del Montseny (LIFETM) project (LIFE15 NAT/ES/000757) was launched. The aim of the project was to promote around fifty actions to ensure the conservation of C. arnoldi and its natural habitat, and this entailed five strategic lines: (1) Increasing the scientific and technical knowledge with regard to C. arnoldi’s conservation status and its habitat management. (2) Expanding its geographic distribution. (3) Involving and engaging stakeholders in the conservation of the Montseny brook newt. (4) Eliminating or minimizing threats that exist in the riparian habitat. (5) Establishing proper legal coverage and defining long-term strategic planning. The successes and failures experienced throughout the process provide us with essential information that will enable us to develop an adaptive management of the habitat. In order to eliminate or minimize threats to the newt’s habitat, some of the actions that are currently being carried out are: (a) Land acquisitions and land exchanges with private properties. (b) Land stewardship procedures, with two custody agreements being signed. (c) Reduction of water withdrawal with nine water catchments and distribution being remodeled. (d) Improvement of water treatments and storage by installing ecological wastewater treatment facilities. (e) Ensuring ecological connectivity and riparian forest restoration. Here, we present an evaluation of the actions carried out to improve the habitat of this species, including the necessary considerations for them to be implemented correctly and to be successful in a natural area, which is under public-private management.
Analysis of the Expansion Characteristics of Rural Settlements Based on Scale Growth Function in Himalayan Region
Authors: Guo Kairui , Huang Yong , Chen Dan
Published: March 2022

Road infrastructure is reshaping the rural settlement landscape in the Himalayan area of China through the construction of the rural road and strategic highway network. However, most methods based on multiple factors described in spatial analysis of rural settlement are limited by poor spatial response mechanisms of key factors. This study provides insight into the temporal and spatial process involving 15 rural settlements of Zhada County, west of the Himalayas. The growth of rural settlement follows a “short-head S-shape” function and the general expansion rule. It indicates the mode of evolution and the characteristics of construction. The results show that 70% of rural settlements continue to report the inertia of growth, while the reconstruction of the original site leads to historical spatial displacement under spatio-temporal compression. In addition, rural settlements display a spatial organization of interface area, hinterland, and fringe area and reveal two spatial paradigms of near-road expansion and peripheral extrusion. Further, the hinterland space, which is the core of rural settlement, is compact and intensive; a quarter of the hinterland space encompasses 45% of the settlement scale. These conclusions provide guidance for delineating village boundaries and improving the human settlement environment in the Himalayan-alpine plateau.
Visual Resource Stewardship—An International Perspective
Authors: Lothian Andrew
Published: March 2022

This paper provides an international perspective on visual resource stewardship. It examines the long history of Britain’s love affair with its landscapes and its abandonment of measuring the subjective element of landscape quality, focusing instead on landscape character, which could be objectively assessed. This paper summarises the development of the European Landscape Convention, which has been embraced across much of Europe, and which follows Britain’s emphasis on landscape character. Programs in a range of European countries are reviewed. The recognition of outstanding landscapes under the World Heritage Convention, the UN List of Protected Areas program which includes landscapes, and National Scenic Area programs, are briefly summarised. The key message of this paper is that most of the provisions summarised focus on the character of the landscape and not its quality. Because it has been alleged, particularly in Britain and Europe, that it is too difficult to measure scenic quality, landscape character has become the subject instead of scenic quality.
Social Aspects in Land Consolidation Processes
Authors: de Vries Walter Timo
Published: March 2022

Land consolidation is an instrument that readjusts land parcel shapes and reallocates land rights in order to minimize farmland fragmentation, optimize agricultural output, and generate optimal living and working conditions in rural areas. The optimization and reallocation algorithms typically rely on monetarized values of land parcels, soil quality, and compensation amounts. Yet, land management interventions also need instruments for socio-spatial optimization, which may be in conflict with the monetary ones. Many non-monetary values are qualitative in nature. Hence, there is a research gap in how such values can be detected and incorporated, such that they can create a multi-dimensional land consolidation outcome. This study applies a situational analytical approach to investigate how, where, and when social values and belief systems play a role in land consolidation cases in three different study areas. This process enables the qualitative detection of which types of social values are central during land consolidations and which ones are most essential when evaluating outcomes of land consolidation. The synthesis derives that the incorporation of aims—such as addressing socio-spatial affinity, need for equity and fairness, human recognition, and good neighborship—is possible through an innovation in land consolidation practices, social valuation methods, and/or socially responsive land consolidation laws.
Improved Extreme Learning Machine Based UWB Positioning for Mobile Robots with Signal Interference
Authors: Ma Jun , Duan Xuechao , Shang Chen , Ma Mengjiao , Zhang Dan
Published: March 2022

For the purpose of tackling ultra-wideband (UWB) indoor positioning with signal interference, a binary classifier for signal interference discrimination and positioning errors compensation model combining genetic algorithm (GA) and extreme learning machine (ELM) are put forward. Based on the distances between four anchors and the target which are calculated with time of flight (TOF) ranging technique, GA-ELM-based binary classifier for judging the existence of signal interference, and GA-ELM-based positioning errors compensation model are built up to compensate for the result of the preliminary evaluated positioning model. Finally, the datasets collected in the actual scenario are used for verification and analysis. The experimental results indicate that the root-mean-square error (RMSE) of positioning without signal interference is 14.5068 cm, which is reduced by 71.32% and 59.72% compared with those results free of compensation and optimization, respectively. Moreover, the RMSE of positioning with signal interference is 28.0861 cm, which is decreased by 64.38% and 70.16%, in comparison to their counterparts without compensation and optimization, respectively. Consequently, these calculated results of numerical examples lead to the conclusion that the proposed method displays its wide application, high precision and rapid convergence in improving the positioning accuracy for mobile robots.
Research on Machining Error Analysis and Traceability Method of Globoidal Indexing Cam Profile
Authors: Sun Shuwen , Qiao Yunfei , Gao Zhentao , Huang Chao
Published: March 2022

The profile of the globoidal indexing cam is a spatially undevelopable surface. It needs a special computer numerical control (CNC) machine tool to finish batch production, and its machining quality will be affected by the motion error of each part of the machine tool and the clamped positioning error of the workpiece. Firstly, the mathematical model of the error of the machine tool for machining the globoidal cam surface is derived, and the influence of the error of the machine tool for machining the globoidal cam surface is given. Secondly, an error tracking method for globoidal cam profile machining error based on error sensitivity coefficient grouping is proposed, which improves the data processing speed and the accuracy of the tracking results. Finally, the error analysis and traceability method of the globoidal cam is verified by experiments, and the error traceability results are fed back to the processing link. The machining quality of globoidal cam is improved by the error compensation, which provides the key technology for the integration of the design, manufacture, and measurement of the globoidal cam.
A Modified Grey Wolf Optimization Algorithm for an Intrusion Detection System
Authors: Alzaqebah Abdullah , Aljarah Ibrahim , Al-Kadi Omar , Damaševičius Robertas
Published: March 2022

Cyber-attacks and unauthorized application usage have increased due to the extensive use of Internet services and applications over computer networks, posing a threat to the service’s availability and consumers’ privacy. A network Intrusion Detection System (IDS) aims to detect aberrant traffic behavior that firewalls cannot detect. In IDSs, dimension reduction using the feature selection strategy has been shown to be more efficient. By reducing the data dimension and eliminating irrelevant and noisy data, several bio-inspired algorithms have been employed to improve the performance of an IDS. This paper discusses a modified bio-inspired algorithm, which is the Grey Wolf Optimization algorithm (GWO), that enhances the efficacy of the IDS in detecting both normal and anomalous traffic in the network. The main improvements cover the smart initialization phase that combines the filter and wrapper approaches to ensure that the informative features will be included in early iterations. In addition, we adopted a high-speed classification method, the Extreme Learning Machine (ELM), and used the modified GWO to tune the ELM’s parameters. The proposed technique was tested against various meta-heuristic algorithms using the UNSWNB-15 dataset. Because the generic attack is the most common attack type in the dataset, the primary goal of this paper was to detect generic attacks in network traffic. The proposed model outperformed other methods in minimizing the crossover error rate and false positive rate to less than 30%. Furthermore, it obtained the best results with 81%, 78%, and 84% for the accuracy, F1-score, and G-mean measures, respectively.
A Neural Controller for Induction Motors: Fractional-Order Stability Analysis and Online Learning Algorithm
Authors: Sabzalian Mohammad Hosein , Alattas Khalid A. , El-Sousy Fayez F. M. , Mohammadzadeh Ardashir , Mobayen Saleh , Vu Mai The , Aredes Mauricio
Published: March 2022

In this study, an intelligent control scheme is developed for induction motors (IMs). The dynamics of IMs are unknown and are perturbed by the variation of rotor resistance and load changes. The control system has two stages. In the identification stage, the group method of data-handling (GMDH) neural network (NN) was designed for online modeling of the IM. In the control stage, the GMDH-NN was applied to compensate for the impacts of disturbances and uncertainties. The stability is shown by the Lyapunov approach. Simulations demonstrated the good accuracy of the suggested new control approach under disturbances and unknown dynamics.
The Game Model of Blue Carbon Collaboration along MSR—From the Regret Theory Perspective
Authors: Zhao Changping , Sadula Maliyamu , Huang Xiangmeng , Yang Yali , Gong Yu , Yang Shuai
Published: March 2022

Ocean pollution and global warming are two pressing environmental problems exacerbated by human economic behavior. Building a blue carbon cooperation platform along the Maritime Silk Road (MSR) to promote sustainable development of countries along the route is of practical value to solving these two problems. Based on the analysis and review of the latest research on blue carbon, cooperative game and MSR, Weber’s law and regret theory are introduced to establish an economic model of blue carbon international cooperation, which proves the economic feasibility of blue carbon cooperation along MSR. The influence of psychological factors on the decision making of blue carbon international cooperation is also discussed. In addition, the measures to promote international cooperation are also discussed according to the current situation of marine blue carbon resources.
Meshless Generalized Finite Difference Method for the Propagation of Nonlinear Water Waves under Complex Wave Conditions
Authors: Huang Ji , Fan Chia-Ming , Chen Jiahn-Horng , Yan Jin
Published: March 2022

The propagation of nonlinear water waves under complex wave conditions is the key issue of hydrodynamics both in coastal and ocean engineering, which is significant in the prediction of strongly nonlinear phenomena regarding wave–structure interactions. In the present study, the meshless generalized finite difference method (GFDM) together with the second-order Runge–Kutta method (RKM2) is employed to construct a fully three-dimensional (3D) meshless numerical wave flume (NWF). Three numerical examples, i.e., the propagation of freak waves, irregular waves and focused waves, are implemented to verify the accuracy and stability of the developed 3D GFDM model. The results show that the present numerical model possesses good performance in the simulation of nonlinear water waves and suggest that the 3D “RKM2-GFDM” meshless scheme can be adopted to further simulate more complex nonlinear problems regarding wave–structure interactions in ocean engineering.
Applying the UTAUT Model to Understand Factors Affecting Micro-Lecture Usage by Mathematics Teachers in China
Authors: Wijaya Tommy , Cao Yiming , Weinhandl Robert , Yusron Eri , Lavicza Zsolt
Published: March 2022

In the last decade, micro-lectures have been widely used to teach mathematics, but only a few studies have examined the factors affecting teachers’ intentions of using micro-lectures. As teachers are key to integrating modern technologies such as micro-lectures into students’ learning processes, knowledge about teachers’ intentions in this regard could be of particular importance. This study aimed to analyze the behavioral intention (BI) of mathematics teachers in using micro-lectures in mathematics in China, and identify the most influential factors involved, for the very first time. The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model was used as a design model to investigate teachers’ BIs concerning the use of micro-lectures, and we used an online questionnaire to collect quantitative data. The participants in our research were 174 mathematics teachers from China, 166 of whom provided us with evaluable questionnaire data. Furthermore, partial least squares (PLS) regression was used, and hypothesis testing was performed with the Smart-PLS software. From the results, BI was positively affected by Performance Expectancy (PE), Effort Expectancy (EE), and Social Influence (SI). BI and facility conditions also had positive effects on user behavior; in contrast to other studies, SI had the most significant positive effect on BIs in our study. Our findings could provide insights into both future strategies for successful technology integration in mathematics classes and into mathematics teachers’ intentions towards integrating technologies into mathematics teaching.
Effects of High Intensity Interval Training Rehabilitation Protocol after an Acute Coronary Syndrome on Myocardial Work and Atrial Strain
Authors: D’Andrea Antonello , Carbone Andreina , Ilardi Federica , Pacileo Mario , Savarese Cristina , Sperlongano Simona , Di Maio Marco , Giallauria Francesco , Russo Vincenzo , Bossone Eduardo , Picano Eugenio
Published: March 2022

Background andObjectives: Current guidelines on cardiac rehabilitation (CR) suggest moderate-intensity physical activity after acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Recent report have shown that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) could be more effective than moderate-intensity continuous training (MCT) in improving cardiac performance. Our aim was to analyze the effects of HIIT protocol after ACS on advanced echocardiographic parameters of myocardial function. Materials and Methods: In total, 75 patients with recent ACS, with or without ST segment elevation, were enrolled and compared with a control group of 50 age- and sex-comparable healthy subjects. Patients were randomized to perform a MCT training or HIIT-based rehabilitation program. A complete echocardiographic evaluation, including left ventricular (LV) and left atrial (LA) global longitudinal strain (GLS) and myocardial work (MW) through speckle-tracking analysis, was performed for all patients, before and after cardiac rehabilitation training. A cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) was also performed at the end of the rehabilitation program. Results: Patients who followed the HIIT rehabilitation program showed improved LV diastolic function compared to the MCT group (E/e’: 3.4 ± 3.1 vs. 6.4 ± 2.8, respectively, p < 0.01). Similarly, LV systolic function showed significant improvement in the group of patients performing HIIT (ejection fraction: 53.1 ± 6.4 vs. 52.3 ± 5.4%, p < 0.01; GLS: −17.8 ± 3.8 vs. −15.4 ± 4.3, p < 0.01). In addition, LA strain was improved. MW efficiency was also increased in the HIIT group (91.1 ± 3.3 vs. 87.4 ± 4.1%, p < 0.01), and was closely related to peak effort measurements expressed in peak VO2 by CPET. Conclusions: In patients with recent ACS, the HIIT rehabilitation program determined reverse cardiac remodeling, with the improvement of diastolic and systolic function, assessed by standard echocardiography. In addition, cardiac deformation index as GLS, LA strain and MW efficiency improved significantly after HIIT, and were associated with functional capacity during effort.
Hidden in the Eyes—Recurrence of Systemic Hemopathies Reportedly “In Remission”: Six Cases and Review of Literature
Authors: Denier Margot , Tick Sarah , Dubois Romain , Dulery Remy , Eller Andrew W. , Suarez Felipe , Burroni Barbara , Maurage Claude-Alain , Bories Claire , Konopacki Johanna , Puech Michel , Bouscary Didier , Cantalloube Alberte , Héron Emmanuel , Marçais Ambroise , Habas Christophe , Theillac Vincent , Keilani Chafik , Bonhomme Gabrielle R. , Gallagher Denise S. , Boumendil Julien , Abarah Wajed , Sedira Neila , Bertin Stéphane , Choquet Sylvain , Sahel José-Alain , Merabet Lilia , Brignole-Baudouin Françoise , Putterman Marc , Errera Marie-Hélène
Published: March 2022

Background and Objectives: Secondary ocular localizations of hematological malignancies are blinding conditions with a poor prognosis, and often result in a delay in the diagnosis. Materials and Methods: We describe a series of rare cases of ocular involvement in six patients with hematological malignancies, reportedly in remission, who presented secondary ocular localizations, challenging to diagnose. Two patients had an acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and developed either a posterior scleritis or a pseudo-panuveitis with ciliary process infiltration. One patient had iris plasmacytoma and developed an anterior uveitis as a secondary presentation. Two patients had a current systemic diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and were referred either for intermediate uveitis or for papilledema and vitritis with secondary retinitis. Finally, one patient with an acute myeloid leukemia (AML) presented a conjunctival localization of a myeloid sarcoma. We herein summarize the current knowledge of ophthalmologic manifestations of extramedullary hematopathies. Results: Inflammatory signs were associated with symptomatic infiltrative lesions well displayed in either the iris, the retina, the choroid, or the cavernous sinus, from the admission of the patients in the ophthalmological department. These findings suggest that patients with ALL, AML, systemic DLBCL, and myeloma can present with ophthalmic involvement, even after having been reported as in remission following an effective systemic treatment and/or allograft. Conclusions: Early detection of hidden recurrence in the eyes may permit effective treatment. Furthermore, oncologists and ophthalmologists should be aware of those rare ocular malignant locations when monitoring patient’s progression after initial treatment, and close ophthalmologic examinations should be recommended when detecting patient’s ocular symptoms after treatment.
3D Master Toothguide Is Adequate to Subjective Shade Selection?
Authors: Gómez-Polo Cristina , Gómez-Polo Miguel , Quispe López Norberto , Portillo Muñoz Maria , Montero Javier
Published: March 2022

Background and Objectives: To study the validity and the degree of representability of the toothguide 3D Master, with 26 physically shade tabs, on the natural tooth colour on a sample of the Spanish population. Materials and Methods: Natural tooth colour was measured in a sample of 1361 Spanish participants of both genders distributed within an age range of 18 and 89 years of age. The colour coordinates were calculated and the frequency of the 26 physically shade tabs of the toothguide as well as the “intermediate shades” (without physical representation in toothguide) through the Easyshade Compact (Vita-Zahnfabrik) spectrophotometer using the 3D Master System nomenclature. The colour differences between the “intermediate shades” were calculated using the Euclidean formula (ΔEab*). The program used for the present descriptive statistical analysis of the results was SAS 9.1.3. Results: A total of 49 “intermediate shades” were registered in 816 participants (60%). The colour coordinates of the 49 ‘intermediate shades’ cover colour coordinates ranging from 0M1.5 (L* 100.0, C* 7.70, h* 112.2) to 5M2.5 (L* 56.8, C* 35.8, h* 78.5). Not all possible 3D Master System’s “intermediate shades” were registered in the population studied. 82.4% of the colour differences among the “intermediate shades” were clinically unacceptable (ΔEab* ≥ 5.5 units). Conclusions: Only 40% of the population studied presented a natural tooth colour belonging to the 3D Master Toothguide’s physical shade tabs.
The Influence of Thermomechanical Treatments on the Structure, Microstructure, and Mechanical Properties of Ti-5Mn-Mo Alloys
Authors: Lourenço Mariana Luna , Pontes Fenelon Martinho Lima , Grandini Carlos Roberto
Published: March 2022

With the increase in the world’s population, the rising number of traffic accidents, and the increase in life expectancy, the need for implants, dental work, and orthopedics is growing ever larger. Researchers are working to improve the biomaterials used for these purposes, improve their functionality, and increase the human body’s life span. Thus, new titanium alloys are being developed, usually with β-stabilizer elements (which decrease the elastic modulus), with the Ti-Mn-Mo alloys being one example of these. This study of the Ti-5Mn-10Mo and Ti-5Mn-15Mo alloys only showed signs of the β phase in the structure and microstructure, presenting a combination of low modulus of elasticity and high corrosion resistance compared to the values of commercial alloys. In this sense, this work presents an analysis of the influence of some thermomechanical treatments, such as homogenization, hot-rolling, solution, and annealing, on the structure, microstructure, and selected mechanical properties of the Ti-5Mn-10Mo and Ti-5Mn-15Mo alloys.
Evaluation of Microstructural and Mechanical Behavior of AHSS CP780 Steel Welded by GMAW-Pulsed and GMAW-Pulsed-Brazing Processes
Authors: Romero-Orozco Alan Jadir , Taha-Tijerina José Jaime , De Luna-Alanís Rene , López-Morelos Victor Hugo , Ramírez-López María del Carmen , Salazar-Martínez Melchor , Curiel-López Francisco Fernando
Published: March 2022

Joints of complex phase 780 (CP-780) advanced high strength steel (AHSS) were carried out by using an ER-CuAl-A2 filler metal for the gas metal arc welding pulsed brazing (GMAW-P- brazing) process and the ER-80S-D2 for the GMAW-P process employing two levels of heat input. The phases in the weld bead and HAZ were analyzed, and the evaporation of zinc by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was also monitored. The mechanical properties of the welded joints were evaluated by tension, microhardness and vertical impact tests. It was found that there was greater surface Zn evaporation in the joints welded with the GMAW-P process as compared to the GMAW-P-brazing process. The best results in tensile strength were observed in the joints welded with GMAW-P-brazing process, which increased by ~68% with respect to those of the GMAW-P. This behavior can be attributed to the formation of an intermetallic complex compound Cu-Al-Fe in the fusion line.
Untargeted Metabolomics Showed Accumulation of One-Carbon Metabolites to Facilitate DNA Methylation during Extracellular Matrix Detachment of Cancer Cells
Authors: Nur Suza Mohammad , Shait Mohammed Mohammed Razeeth , Zamzami Mazin A. , Choudhry Hani , Ahmad Aamir , Ateeq Bushra , Rather Irfan A. , Khan Mohammad Imran
Published: March 2022

Tumor cells detached from the extracellular matrix (ECM) undergo anoikis resistance and metabolic reprogramming to facilitate cancer cell survival and promote metastasis. During ECM detachment, cancer cells utilize genomic methylation to regulate transcriptional events. One-carbon (1C) metabolism is a well-known contributor of SAM, a global substrate for methylation reactions, especially DNA methylation. DNA methylation-mediated repression of NK cell ligands MICA and MICB during ECM detachment has been overlooked. In the current work, we quantitated the impact of ECM detachment on one-carbon metabolites, expression of 1C regulatory pathway genes, and total methylation levels. Our results showed that ECM detachment promotes the accumulation of one-carbon metabolites and induces regulatory pathway genes and total DNA methylation. Furthermore, we measured the expression of well-known targets of DNA methylation in NK cell ligands in cancer cells, namely, MICA/B, during ECM detachment and observed low expression compared to ECM-attached cancer cells. Finally, we treated the ECM-detached cancer cells with vitamin C (a global methylation inhibitor) and observed a reduction in the promoter methylation of NK cell ligands, resulting in MICA/B re-expression. Treatment with vitamin C was also found to reduce global DNA methylation levels in ECM-detached cancer cells.