bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of Surface Layer Condition of Al2O3+TiC Ceramic Inserts on Quality of Deposited Coatings and Reliability during Hardened Steel Milling
Authors: Volosova Marina A. , Stebulyanin Mikhail M. , Gurin Vladimir D. , Melnik Yury A.
Published: November 2022

The specific features of the destruction of tool ceramics, associated with structural heterogeneity and defects formed during diamond grinding, largely determine their reduced reliability (dispersion of resistance). This is most pronounced at increased heat and power loads on the contact surfaces and limits the industrial application of ceramic cutting tools. The surface layer of industrially produced Al2O3+TiC cutting inserts contains numerous defects, such as deep grooves and torn grains. During the milling of hardened steels of the 100CrMn type with increased cutting parameters, the “wear–cutting time” curves have a fan-shaped character with different wear rates. The resistance of the tool that was taken from one batch before reaching the accepted failure criterion has a significant variation in values (VarT is 30%). The study is aimed to evaluate the influence of the condition of the surface layer of Al2O3+TiC inserts processed by various types of abrasive treatments, such as diamond grinding, lapping and polishing, on the quality of the (TiAl)N and (TiZr)N coatings and the reliability of prefabricated end mills. The obtained “wear–cutting time” curves are characterized as closely intertwined bundles. The coefficient of resistance variation (the tool’s reliability) decreases by more than two times (14%). This can be used further in coating development to improve the performance of CCT.
Correction: Mohammad et al. User Authentication and Authorization Framework in IoT Protocols. Computers 2022, 11, 147
Authors: Mohammad Ammar , Al-Refai Hasan , Alawneh Ali Ahmad
Published: November 2022

The authors wish to make corrections to change the authorship [...]
Image Measurement of Crystal Size Growth during Cooling Crystallization Using High-Speed Imaging and a U-Net Network
Authors: Huo Yan , Li Xin , Tu Binbin
Published: November 2022

In this paper, an image measurement method using a high-speed imaging system is proposed for the evolution of crystal population sizes during cooling crystallization processes. Firstly, to resist the negative effect from solution stirring and particle motion during crystallization, a U-net network-based image processing method is established to efficiently detect sufficiently clear crystals from the online captured microscopic images. Accordingly, the crystal size distribution model is analyzed in terms of the counted probability densities of these crystal images. Subsequently, a measurement method of size growth rate based on crystal population distribution is proposed to estimate the growth condition. An experimental case on a crystallization process of β-form LGA is used to show the effectiveness of the proposed strategy.
Isostructural Crystals of Bis(Guanidinium) Trioxofluoro-Phosphate/Phosphite in the Ratio 1/0, 0.716/0.284, 0.501/0.499, 0.268/0.732, 0/1—Crystal Structures, Vibrational Spectra and Second Harmonic Generation
Authors: Matulková Irena , Fábry Jan , Eigner Václav , Dušek Michal , Kroupa Jan , Němec Ivan
Published: November 2022

The title structures of bis(guanidinium) trioxofluorophosphate, bis(guanidinium) trioxofluorophosphate-phosphite (0.716/0.284), bis(guanidinium) trioxofluorophosphate-phosphite (0.501/0.499), bis(guanidinium) trioxofluorophosphate-phosphite (0.268/0.732), and bis(guanidinium) phosphite are crystal-chemically isotypic. Their structures correspond to the structure of bis(guanidinium) trioxofluorophosphate which was determined by Prescott, Troyanov, Feist & Kemnitz (Z. Anorg. Allg. Chem. 2002, 628, 1749–1755). The P and O atoms of the substituted trioxofluorophosphate and phosphite anions share the same positions while the P-F and P-Hhydrido are almost parallel and oriented in the same direction. Two symmetry-independent anions and two of three symmetry-independent cations are situated on the crystallographic mirror planes. The ions are interconnected by N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds of moderate strength. The most frequent graph set motif is R22(8), which involves interactions between the primary amine groups and the trioxofluorophosphate or phosphite O atoms. Fluorine, as well as the hydrido hydrogen, avoids inclusion into the hydrogen-bond network. The Hirshfeld surface analysis was also performed for the comparison of intermolecular interactions in the title structures of bis(guanidinium trioxofluorophosphate and bis(guanidinium) phosphite. The title crystals were also characterized by vibrational spectroscopy methods (FTIR and Raman) and the second harmonic generation (SHG). The relative SHG efficiency considerably decreases from bis(guanidinium) trioxofluorophosphate to bis(guanidinium) phosphite for the fundamental 1064 nm laser line.
The Influence of Ecological Engineering on Waterbird Diversity in Different Habitats within the Xianghai Nature Reserve
Authors: Li Dehao , Zhu Shiying , Gao Jin , Jiang Haibo , Deng Guangyi , Sheng Lianxi , Cao Yingyue , Li Lianshan , Lin Baoqing
Published: November 2022

The Xianghai National Nature Reserve of Jilin is located on the East Asian-Australian migration route of birds and plays an important role for migratory waterbirds. To explore the influence of restoration measures on migratory waterbird communities in Xianghai Reserve, we conducted a waterbird survey in the spring and autumn during waterbird migration from 2010 to 2020. The composition and spatial and temporal changes in waterbird communities were identified in the reserve and the diversity changes in waterbird communities were analyzed. The results showed that (1) the number of waterbirds increased significantly since restoration measures in 2012. Restoration measures has clearly promoted an improvement in the species and number of waterbirds. The number of waterbirds was approximately seven-times higher than that before restoration measures. (2) The number of rare waterbirds increased in the reserve, and the number of Anseriform waterbirds on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species rapidly increased. (3) The diversity of the waterbird community has shown some recovery in the reserve, but the variation in water level during some periods led to a regular fluctuation in waterbird diversity. Restoration measures directly changed the water surface area and the water depth in the reserve, which are important variables that influence waterbird selection of wetlands as habitats. To effectively protect and manage important stopover sites on the migratory routes of waterbirds, we suggest to rationally regulate the supplementary water level of wetlands, optimize the hydrological pattern of wetlands, and strengthen the regulation of wetland water levels.
A Multivariate Study of Morphological Characters for Echinocactus horizonthalonius and E. texensis (Cactaceae) and Description of a New Subspecies, E. horizonthalonius subsp. australis
Authors: Baker Marc A.
Published: November 2022

A study was conducted to ascertain the taxonomic validity of the endangered taxon Echinocactus horizonthalonius var. nicholii and whether there may be other groups of populations worthy of subspecies status within the range of the species. To test the hypothesis that individuals of E. horizonthalonius var. nicholii are morphologically distinct from those of the typical variety, a multivariate analysis was done to compare the degree of morphological variation or phenotypic plasticity of stem characters within populations to the variation among populations of E. horizonthalonius throughout its known range. Populations of E. texensis were sampled for outgroup comparison. Discriminant function analysis (DFA) assigning individuals by population showed loose groupings of geographically correlated populations. The DFA assigning individuals to regions or potential subspecific taxa indicated high percentages of correct classification for individuals within populations grouped into the Chihuahuan Desert, Sonoran Desert, and Central Mexican Plateau regions. Taxonomically, these groups correspond to E. horizonthalonius subsp. horizonthalonius (Chihuahuan Desert), E. horizonthalonius var. nicholii (Sonoran Desert), and unnamed taxon of E. horizonthalonius (Central Mexican Plateau). Because these morphological entities are correlated with regional distributions, they are placed here under subspecies, including a newly described taxon, E. horizonthalonius subsp. australis. Because no type for E. horizonthalonius could be located, a neotype is designated.
Anastomotic Rings and Inflammation Values as Biomarkers for Leakage of Stapled Circular Colorectal Anastomoses
Authors: Zhang Feng , Qiao Song , Yao Ning , Li Chunqiao , Weber Marie-Christin , Jefferies Benedict , Friess Helmut , Reischl Stefan , Neumann Philipp-Alexander
Published: November 2022

Reliable markers to predict or diagnose anastomotic leakage (AL) of stapled circular anastomoses following colorectal resections are an important clinical need. Here, we aim to quantitatively investigate the morphology of anastomotic rings as an early available prognostic marker for AL and compare them to established inflammatory markers. We perform a prospective single-center cohort study, including patients undergoing stapled circular anastomosis between August 2020 and August 2021. The predictive value of the anastomotic ring configuration and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) regarding anastomotic leakage is examined by ROC analyses and compared to the C-reactive protein (CRP) as an established marker. We included 204 patients, of which 19 suffered from anastomotic leakage (LEAK group), while in 185 patients the anastomoses healed well (HEAL group). The minimal height of the anastomotic rings as a binary classifier had a good ROC-AUC of 0.81 but was inferior to the NLR at postoperative day (POD) 5, with an excellent ROC-AUC of 0.93. Still, it was superior to the NLR at POD 3 (0.74) and the CRP at POD 3 (ROC-AUC 0.54) and 5 (ROC-AUC 0.70). The minimal height of the anastomotic rings as indicator for technically insufficient anastomoses is a good predictor of AL, while postoperatively the NLR was superior to the CRP in prediction of AL.
Shear Wave Dispersion Slope Measured with Shear Wave Dispersion Imaging Is Associated with Variceal Hemorrhage in Cirrhotic Patients
Authors: Sun Xiaohui , Zhang Li , Jiang Ling , Cui Ligang , Li Xiaoguang
Published: November 2022

Background and Objectives: Portal hypertension (PH), as the main consequence of cirrhosis, leads to the development of gastroesophageal varices (GEVs). Variceal hemorrhage (VH) caused by the rupture of GEVs is a life-threatening emergency. Thus, the prediction of VH risk is considerably important. Our pilot study aimed to identify the risk factors of variceal hemorrhage (VH) in cirrhosis. Materials and Methods: Cirrhotic patients were prospectively included and divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of VH. Conventional ultrasound and shear wave dispersion (SWD) imaging were conducted to detect the portal vein diameter, spleen diameter, ascites, liver stiffness (LS) and shear wave dispersion slope (SWDS). The laboratory tests were recorded, including platelets (PLT), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin (TBIL) and albumin (ALB). The risk factors of VH were screened using univariate analyses and identified using multivariate logistic regression. The ROC curves were used to assess diagnostic accuracy. Comparisons between AUCs were performed using the Delong method. Results: Sixty-five patients with 22 VHs were finally included. The SWDS, spleen diameter and ascites were identified as independent risk factors for VH. The SWDS showed good performance for diagnosing VH (AUC = 0.768, 95% CI: 0.647–0.864), and sensitively identified 95.5% (95% CI: 77.2%–99.9%) of patients with VH. Including the three risk factors in multivariate logistic regression, we obtained a formula for diagnosing VH: −20.749 + 0.804 × SWDS + 0.449 × spleen diameter + 1.803 × ascites (no ascites = 0, ascites = 1). Comparison of AUCs revealed that the formula (AUC = 0.900, 95% CI: 0.800–0.961) performed better than LS, SWDS, and spleen diameter in diagnosing VH (p < 0.001; p < 0.05; p < 0.05). Conclusions: SWDS is a sensitive parameter for assessing the risk of VH. Combining the SWDS, spleen diameter and ascites resulted in good diagnostic accuracy.
Efficacy of Hip Strengthening on Pain Intensity, Disability, and Strength in Musculoskeletal Conditions of the Trunk and Lower Limbs: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis and Grade Recommendations
Authors: de F. Silva Angélica , Maia Laísa B. , Mendonça Vanessa A. , dos Santos Jousielle M. , Coelho-Oliveira Ana C. , Santos Joyce N. V. , Moreira Leticia L. V. , Mascarenhas Rodrigo de O. , Gonçalves Gabriele T. , Oliveira Vinícius C. , Teixeira Leonardo A. C. , Rapin Amandine , Lacerda Ana C. R. , Taiar Redha
Published: November 2022

To investigate the efficacy of hip strengthening on pain, disability, and hip abductor strength in musculoskeletal conditions of the trunk and lower limbs, we searched eight databases for randomized controlled trials up to 8 March 2022 with no date or language restrictions. Random-effect models estimated mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and the quality of evidence was assessed using the GRADE approach. Very low quality evidence suggested short-term effects (≤3 months) of hip strengthening on pain intensity (MD of 4.1, 95% CI: 2.1 to 6.2; two trials, n = 48 participants) and on hip strength (MD = 3.9 N, 95% CI: 2.8 to 5.1; two trials, n = 48 participants) in patellofemoral pain when compared with no intervention. Uncertain evidence suggested that hip strengthening enhances the short-term effect of the other active interventions on pain intensity and disability in low back pain (MD = −0.6 points, 95% CI: 0.1 to 1.2; five trials, n = 349 participants; MD = 6.2 points, 95% CI: 2.6 to 9.8; six trials, n = 389 participants, respectively). Scarce evidence does not provide reliable evidence of the efficacy of hip strengthening in musculoskeletal conditions of the trunk and lower limbs.
Modifications in Electrocardiographic and Vectordardiographic Morphological Parameters in Elderly Males as Result of Cardiovascular Diseases and Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Bortolan Giovanni , Christov Ivaylo , Simova Iana
Published: November 2022

Purpose. Morphological electrocardiographic and vectorcardiographic features have been used in the detection of cardiovascular diseases and prediction of the risk of cardiac death for a long time. The objective of the current study was to investigate the morphological electrocardiographic modifications in the presence of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus in an elderly male population, most of them with multiple comorbidities. Methods. A database of ECG recordings from the Italian Longitudinal Study on Aging (ILSA-CNR), created to evaluate physiological and pathological modifications related to aging, was considered. The study examined a group of 1109 males with full clinical documentation aged 65–84 years. A healthy control group (219 individuals) was compared to the groups of diabetes mellitus (130), angina pectoris (99), hypertension (607), myocardial infarction (160), arrhythmia (386), congestive heart failure (73), and peripheral artery disease (95). Twenty-one electrocardiographic features were explored, and the effects of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes on these parameters were analyzed. The three-years mortality index was derived and analyzed. Results and Conclusions. Myocardial infarction and arrhythmia were the diagnostic groups that showed a significant deviation of 11 electrocardiographic parameters compared to the healthy group, followed by hypertension and congestive heart failure (10), angina pectoris (9), and diabetes mellitus and peripheral artery disease (8). In particular, a set of three parameters (QRS and T roundness and principal component analysis of T wave) increased significantly, whereas four parameters (T amplitude, T maximal vector, T vector ratio, and T wave area dispersion) decreased significantly in all cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus with respect to healthy group. The QRS parameters show a more specific discrimination with a single disease or a group of diseases, whereas the T-wave features seems to be influenced by all the pathological conditions. The present investigation of disease-related electrocardiographic parameters changes can be used in assessing the risk analysis of cardiac death, and gender medicine.
Transvaginal Ultrasound in the Diagnosis and Assessment of Endometriosis—An Overview: How, Why, and When
Authors: Daniilidis Angelos , Grigoriadis Georgios , Dalakoura Dimitra , D’Alterio Maurizio N. , Angioni Stefano , Roman Horace
Published: November 2022

Endometriosis is a common gynaecological disease, causing symptoms such as pelvic pain and infertility. Accurate diagnosis and assessment are often challenging. Transvaginal ultrasound (TVS), along with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), are the most common imaging modalities. In this narrative review, we present the evidence behind the role of TVS in the diagnosis and assessment of endometriosis. We recognize three forms of endometriosis: Ovarian endometriomas (OMAs) can be adequately assessed by transvaginal ultrasound. Superficial peritoneal endometriosis (SUP) is challenging to diagnose by either imaging modality. TVS, in the hands of appropriately trained clinicians, appears to be non-inferior to MRI in the diagnosis and assessment of deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE). The IDEA consensus standardized the terminology and offered a structured approach in the assessment of endometriosis by ultrasound. TVS can be used in the non-invasive staging of endometriosis using the available classification systems (rASRM, #ENZIAN). Given its satisfactory overall diagnostic accuracy, wide availability, and low cost, it should be considered as the first-line imaging modality in the diagnosis and assessment of endometriosis. Modifications to the original ultrasound technique can be employed on a case-by-case basis. Improved training and future advances in ultrasound technology are likely to further increase its diagnostic performance.
Effect of Endodontic Irrigating Solutions on Radicular Dentine Structure and Matrix Metalloproteinases—A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Baruwa Abayomi Omokeji , Martins Jorge N. R. , Maravic Tatjana , Mazzitelli Claudia , Mazzoni Annalisa , Ginjeira António
Published: November 2022

Irrigating solutions play an important role in the eradication of intracanal microbes and debris dissolution during endodontic treatment. Different combinations of solutions and protocols have been advocated, with sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), ethylenediamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA), and chlorhexidine (CHX) remaining the most widely used ones by many clinicians. Although these solutions provide efficient inorganic dissolution and antimicrobial capacity, their use has also been reported to cause undesired effects on root dentin composition and mechanical and biomechanical properties, such as microhardness, surface roughness, bond strength, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity. Several corroborating studies attribute these changes in mechanical properties of dentine to the use of irrigating solutions, and there are limited reports on how the solutions affect the expression of MMPs, which may be a correlating link to understanding the role of these enzymes in dentin collagen and changes in the mechanical properties of dentin. Hence, using the basis of several studies from the literature, the objective is to comprehensively review the influence of individual and combined irrigating solutions on root dentine structure and the activity of the MMPs.
Evaluation and Use of a Student-Centered Syllabus for the Software Process Subject in a Postgraduate Course: A Quasi-Experiment
Authors: de Sena Quaresma José Augusto , Oliveira Sandro Ronaldo Bezerra
Published: November 2022

Background: The software-development process is considered a knowledge area in software engineering that allows the performance of activities for the inception of a functional software. In a globalized software context, where companies and organizations have their data and information controlled by applications, it can be seen that the form of construction, that is, the path for which the software is built, has relevance for users. Problem Analysis: Within this reality, it is possible to observe that over the years, scientific research has identified competence deficits for professionals trained in software engineering and more specifically in the software-development processes. Purpose: This work aims to develop and apply a syllabus for the software-development process, with student-centered learning strategies, as it allows for centrality of the teaching and learning process for the student. Methods: The strategies were selected through a literature review, which informed which ones were adopted to intervene in the traditional teaching process in software. Other methodological procedures adopted to identification of the necessary requirements for the development of the syllabus were (i) a survey with the identification and perception of professionals and professors on the research theme, (ii) equivalence mapping of the main documents related to the theme of research at an educational level, and (iii) the identification of how to develop a syllabus. After gathering the requirements, the syllabus was designed and described in each of its parts based on the specialized literature. The evaluation of the syllabus took place in two stages: (i) an expert panel, where experts in the software-development process and student-centered learning were selected, who contributed points to be adjusted for the use of the syllabus, and (ii) the experiment, which was the use of the syllabus in comparison with the traditional approach (use of theoretical classes, exercise list, and written test), through the control and experimental groups. Results: Data generated by using the syllabus in the experiment, as well as data from the control group, were analyzed using the two-tailed Student-t technique. The results achieved in the work demonstrate that there was a considerable gain in learning compared to the control group. Another result point of the syllabus was that through the project strategies, students had contact with a progression of knowledge related to hypothetical cases that simulated reality, which students reported was very good for their knowledge. Conclusions: The use of student-centered strategies can bring benefits in the learning of software-development processes, as it allows a practical application of real scenarios observed in software-development companies.
Attitudes towards Tattoos among Spanish Health Science Students
Authors: Blázquez Abellán Gemma , López-Torres López Jesús , Moreno de la Rosa Mª José , López González Angel , Rabanales Sotos Joseba , López-Torres Hidalgo Jesús Dativo
Published: November 2022

(1) Background: The aim is to ascertain health science students’ attitudes towards tattoos and their association with healthy lifestyles and socio-demographic variables. (2) Methods: Descriptive study conducted on pharmacy, medical and nursing students (n = 423). To ascertain attitudes towards tattoos, we used the Attitudes Towards Tattoos Scale. Other variables were physical activity, healthy diet, harmful habits and socio-demographic variables. (3) Results: A total of 12.6% (95% CI 9.1–16.2) of students reported having a tattoo; 58.9% did not regard tattoos as a health risk. In terms of attitudes, the mean score in the range of 7–35 (7—most unfavourable to 35—most favourable) was 22.6 (SD 5.2; 95% CI: 22.0–23.2). Scores were higher (p < 0.05) among women (23.1; SD: 5.3), persons aged <20 years (23.6; SD: 5.0) and smokers (23.9; SD: 4.6). Attitudes were found to be more favourable (p < 0.05) in nursing students than in pharmacy or medical students. No relationship was observed with physical activity, healthy diet or drug use. (4) Conclusions: The attitude to tattoos is most favourable among women, persons aged under 20 years and nursing students. In terms of health habits, attitudes are more favourable among smokers, regardless of their level of physical activity, compliance with healthy eating guidelines or consumption of alcohol or other drugs.
A Semi-Supervised Object Detection Algorithm Based on Teacher-Student Models with Strong-Weak Heads
Authors: Cai Xiaowei , Luo Fuyi , Qi Wei , Liu Hong
Published: November 2022

Semi-supervised object detection algorithms based on the self-training paradigm produce pseudo bounding boxes with unavoidable noise. We propose a semi-supervised object detection algorithm based on teacher-student models with strong-weak heads to cope with this problem. The strong and weak heads of the teacher model solve the quality measurement problem of pseudo label localization to obtain higher-quality pseudo labels. The strong and weak heads of the student model are decoupled to reduce the negative impact of pseudo label noise on classification and regression. We reach 52.5 mAP (+1.8) on the PASCAL visual object classes (PASCAL VOC) dataset and even up to 53.5 mAP (+3.2) by using Microsoft common objects in context (MS-COCO) train2017 as additional unlabeled data. On the MS-COCO dataset, our method also improves about 1.0 mAP with the experimental configurations of 10% COCO and COCO-full as labeled data.
Application of Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulation Technology in the Development of Electro-Hydraulic Servo System Control Algorithms
Authors: Liang Quan , Gao Jun , Liu Feihong , Wang Kelei , Zhang Haiyang , Wang Zhike , Su Donghai
Published: November 2022

In this paper, we present a method to identify paramaters for controlling electro-hydraulic servo systems in a real-time environment. With the aim of addressing the problem that it is difficult to accurately obtain the state space equation parameters of the physical entity of the electro-hydraulic servo system, we introduce an online identification theory (recursive least squares method) for identifying said parameters of the state space model in a valve-controlled symmetrical cylinder system. After accurately obtaining the parameters of the system, nonlinear control of the valve-controlled symmetrical cylinder system is carried out using a backstepping algorithm. In order to verify the actual effect of the online identification algorithm and backstepping algorithm, a hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulation platform for the valve-controlled symmetrical cylinder system is built in a Linux real-time system, and the real-time performance of the system is evaluated, which demonstrates that the platform can be reliably applied for subsequent system identification and backstepping verification. The results of the HIL simulation test demonstrate that the online identification algorithm and backstepping control method developed in this paper are effective and reliable.
Direct Method for Reconstructing the Radiating Part of a Planar Source from Its Far-Fields
Authors: Xiao Gaobiao , Liu Rui
Published: November 2022

A planar current is generally divided into a radiating part that mainly generates propagation fields and a non-radiating part that mainly generates evanescent fields. This paper proposes a direct method to reconstruct the radiating part of a planar source from its far-fields based on their explicit relationships. A standard reconstruction process is provided in which the far-fields are sampled at the peaks of their propagation modes. An analysis shows that the achievable reconstruction resolution of the source distribution is about half a wavelength. The paper also demonstrates that it is possible to reconstruct the source by sampling the far-fields on a plane or along a linear path. The performance of the reconstruction algorithm is illustrated with numerical examples.
Real-Time Detection of Mango Based on Improved YOLOv4
Authors: Cao Zhipeng , Yuan Ruibo
Published: November 2022

Agricultural mechanization occupies a key position in modern agriculture. Aiming at the fruit recognition target detection part of the picking robot, a mango recognition method based on an improved YOLOv4 network structure is proposed, which can quickly and accurately identify and locate mangoes. The method improves the recognition accuracy of the width adjustment network, then reduces the ResNet (Residual Networks) module to adjust the neck network to improve the prediction speed, and finally adds CBAM (Convolutional Block Attention Module) to improve the prediction accuracy of the network. The newly improved network model is YOLOv4-LightC-CBAM. The training results show that the mAP (mean Average Precision) obtained by YOLOV4-LightC-CBAM is 95.12%, which is 3.93% higher than YOLOv4. Regarding detection speed, YOLOV4-LightC-CBAM is up to 45.4 frames, which is 85.3% higher than YOLOv4. The results show that the modified network can recognize mangoes better, faster, and more accurately.
Cybersecurity Enhancement of Smart Grid: Attacks, Methods, and Prospects
Authors: Inayat Usman , Zia Muhammad Fahad , Mahmood Sajid , Berghout Tarek , Benbouzid Mohamed
Published: November 2022

Smart grid is an emerging system providing many benefits in digitizing the traditional power distribution systems. However, the added benefits of digitization and the use of the Internet of Things (IoT) technologies in smart grids also poses threats to its reliable continuous operation due to cyberattacks. Cyber–physical smart grid systems must be secured against increasing security threats and attacks. The most widely studied attacks in smart grids are false data injection attacks (FDIA), denial of service, distributed denial of service (DDoS), and spoofing attacks. These cyberattacks can jeopardize the smooth operation of a smart grid and result in considerable economic losses, equipment damages, and malicious control. This paper focuses on providing an extensive survey on defense mechanisms that can be used to detect these types of cyberattacks and mitigate the associated risks. The future research directions are also provided in the paper for efficient detection and prevention of such cyberattacks.
Robust Data-Driven Design for Fault Diagnosis of Industrial Drives
Authors: Rashid Umair , Abbasi Muhammad Asim , Khan Abdul Qayyum , Irfan Muhammad , Abid Muhammad , Nowakowski Grzegorz
Published: November 2022

Due to the presence of actuator disturbances and sensor noise, increased false alarm rate and decreased fault detection rate in fault diagnosis systems have become major concerns. Various performance indexes are proposed to deal with such problems with certain limitations. This paper proposes a robust performance-index based fault diagnosis methodology using input–output data. That data is used to construct robust parity space using the subspace identification method and proposed performance index. Generated residual shows enhanced sensitivity towards faults and robustness against unknown disturbances simultaneously. The threshold for residual is designed using the Gaussian likelihood ratio, and the wavelet transformation is used for post-processing. The proposed performance index is further used to develop a fault isolation procedure. To specify the location of the fault, a modified fault isolation scheme based on perfect unknown input decoupling is proposed that makes actuator and sensor residuals robust against disturbances and noise. The proposed detection and isolation scheme is implemented on the induction motor in the experimental setup. The results have shown the percentage fault detection of 98.88%, which is superior among recent research.
Key Parameters for Economic Valuation of V2G Applied to Ancillary Service: Data-Driven Approach
Authors: Kim Junhyung , Kim Jinho , Jeong Hwanmin
Published: November 2022

Global automakers are speeding up both the suspension of production of internal combustion engine vehicles and the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) in order to respond to global goals to become carbon-free and energy-efficient. Recently, vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology has reached the commercialization stage in Korea. Many studies have mostly discussed profits that an EV owner can make by participating in a regulation program. However, all the stakeholders who are involved with V2G service have not been sufficiently considered. Thus, we propose a novel framework for the economic valuation of V2G in ancillary service. Furthermore, to estimate the available capacity of V2G and find an optimal strategy in order for the V2G service to run, a data-driven approach is proposed in this research. Comprehensive simulation results show the optimal situation requiring the minimum financial support for the EV owner when the V2G-service operator aggregates AC chargers. In addition, promotions from government and public utilities can accelerate the V2G service into the ancillary service. As a final remark, given the flexibility of the proposed framework, it could be adapted to validate its performance in other countries, as part of future works.
Recycling and Material Flow Analysis of End-of-Life Fluorescent Lamps in South Korea
Authors: Jang Yong-Chul , Choi Kyunghoon , Kwon Youngsun , Song Hakyun , Kim Hyunhee
Published: November 2022

Proper management and treatment of end-of-life fluorescent lamps with a toxic metal of mercury has attracted critical concern in the solid waste community. In this study, material flow analysis (MFA) and substance flow of mercury were performed on the lamps by life cycle in South Korea. It was found that, in 2020, approximately 2957 tons (or 27.9 million units) of end-of-life fluorescent lamps from households were collected and recycled by the recycling facilities in South Korea. Approximately 278 kg of mercury was recovered from the lamps and treated at the hazardous incineration facilities. Based on the results of dynamic flow analysis, the amount of fluorescent lamps to be retried is expected to continually decrease to be about 14.2 million units, which is estimated to be 23 kg of mercury. However, continued collection efforts on end-of-life fluorescent lamps owing to increasing demands for light-emitting diode lamps should be made from the perspectives of proper treatment of mercury as well as resource recovery. More detailed studies on other mercury-containing lamps (e.g., metal halogen lamps, high-pressure mercury lamps, and high-pressure sodium lamps) are warranted to determine mercury flows in waste streams for proper collection and treatment upon disposal.
Simulation of Episodic Winter Warming on Dehardening of Boreal Forest Seedlings in Northern Forest Nurseries
Authors: Lamhamedi Mohammed S. , Lambert Marie-Claude , Renaud Mario
Published: November 2022

In recent decades, forest nurseries in eastern Canada have been faced with periods of mild winter weather, delayed snowfall, and low seedling protective snow cover combined with winter rains instead of snowfall. These extreme conditions have resulted in the loss of millions of seedlings, in particular those that overwinter outdoors, probably due to their winter dehardening. The main objective of this study is to simulate different periods of warm weather at the beginning and end of winter and evaluate their effects on the dehardening and growth of Picea mariana and Picea glauca seedlings in response to different freezing temperatures. Three warming treatments were simulated (control, 1 day, and 3 days of warming at 10 °C) followed by three freezing temperatures (−4, −12, and −20 °C). In winter, regardless of the warming treatment, the seedlings of the two species tolerated the different freezing temperatures without any apparent damage. However, at the end of winter and in the absence of snow cover, the seedlings did not show frost tolerance at −20 °C. On the other hand, the seedlings showed normal growth after undergoing frosts at −4 °C and −12 °C, similar to that observed for control seedlings. Different cultural practices and protection strategies are proposed to improve frost tolerance and reduce the winter loss of seedlings.
Storage Time as an Index for Varietal Prediction of Mango Ripening: A Systemic Approach Validated on Five Senegalese Varieties
Authors: Dieye Mor , Ndiaye Nafissatou Diop , Bassama Joseph , Mertz Christian , Bugaud Christophe , Diatta Paterne , Cissé Mady
Published: November 2022

Mangifera indica species presents a wide varietal diversity in terms of fruit size and morphology and also of physicochemical and organoleptic properties of the pulp. In Senegal, in addition to the well-known export varieties, such as ‘Kent’, local varieties have been little studied particularly during ripening. This study aims to propose prediction models integrating variables deduced from varietal characteristics. Five mango varieties (‘Diourou’, ‘Papaye’, ‘Sierraleone’, ‘Boukodiekhal’ and ‘Sewe’) endemic to Senegal were characterized at harvest and followed during ripening storage. Caliber parameters were determined at green-mature stage as well as storage (25 °C) weight losses. Considering the ‘ripening storage time’ (RST) variable as ripeness level index, intra-varietal prediction models were built by multi-linear regression (R2 = 0.98) using pulp pH, soluble solid content (SSC) and Hue angle. In addition to these physicochemical parameters, variety-specific size, shape and weight loss parameters, were additional variables in multi-linear models (R2 = 0.97) for multi-varietal prediction of RST. Results showed that storage time, which was the most influential factor on the pH, SSC and Hue, can be used as a response for varietal prediction of mango ripening. As a decision support tool, theses statistical models, validated on two seasons, will contribute to reduce post-harvest losses and enhance mango value chain through a better ripening process monitoring.
Long Non-Coding RNAs Expressed in the Peanut Allergy for Understanding the Pathophysiology of Peanut Allergy Rat Model
Authors: Liu Manman , Li Sen , Li Boya , Sun Shanfeng , Liu Guirong , Wang Junjuan , Hao Mengzhen , Che Huilian
Published: November 2022

Background: Peanut allergy (PA) has become a clinical and public health problem, which is mainly regulated by genetics, immune responses, and environmental factors. Diagnosis and treatment for PA have always remained huge challenges due to its multiple triggers. Studies have shown that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a critical role in the development of allergic diseases. Method and Results: In the current study, we examined the plasma lncRNA expression profiles of peanut allergy Brown Norway rats and healthy controls and 496 differently expressed lncRNAs were identified, including 411 up-regulated genes and 85 down-regulated genes. We screened 8 lncRNAs based on the candidate principle and the candidates were verified in individual samples by quantitative real-time PCR. Then, the four lncRNA-based diagnostic model was established by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and logistic regression, which was proved by area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Conclusions: In summary, we assessed the correlation between lncRNA expression levels and the diagnosis of peanut allergy, which may perform a vital role in guiding the management of peanut allergy.
The Quality of Salted Sun-Dried Meat from Young Nellore Bulls Fed Diets with Lauric Acid
Authors: de Araújo Sergiane A. , dos Santos Fernanda M. , Ribeiro Rebeca D. X. , Barbosa Analívia M. , de Andrade Ederson A. , Virginio Júnior Gercino F. , dos Santos Neiri J. A. , da Silva Júnior Jarbas M. , Pereira Elzânia S. , Bezerra Leilson R. , Oliveira Ronaldo Lopes
Published: November 2022

This study aims to evaluate the quality of salted sun-dried meat from young bulls (Nellore cattle) fed with a diet containing 0.0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5% of lauric acid in the total dry matter (DM). Thirty-two Nellore bulls with initial body weight of 368 ± 32 kg were used. A linear decrease (p < 0.05) in pH and protein content of the salted sun-dried meat was observed with the inclusion of lauric acid. The moisture, ash, lipid, collagen content, water-holding capacity, cooking loss, color indexes (L*, a*, b*, C*), and shear force were not affected. Lipid oxidation at 7 days of storage increased linearly in the salted sun-dried meat. Most of the fatty acid composition of the salted sun-dried meat from the semimembranosus muscle of young bulls was not influenced (p > 0.05) by the lauric acid inclusion in the bulls’ diet. However, there was a linear increase (p < 0.05) in the SFA lauric acid (C12:0), PUFAn-3 EPA (C20:5n − 3) and DHA (C22:6n − 3), and a quadratic increase in the PUFAn-6 arachidonic (C20:4n − 6) due to lauric acid addition from palm kernel oil in the diet. There was a liner increase (p < 0.05) in the total ∑PUFA, ∑n − 6, ∑n − 3 contents of salted sun-dried meat from the semimembranosus muscle of young bulls and the h:H health index of the level of lauric acid inclusion in bull’s diet. In contrast, the thrombogenicity health index (TI) and ∑n − 6:∑n − 3 ratio content in salted sun-dried meat from the semimembranosus muscle of young bulls presented a linear decrease (p < 0.05) due to lauric acid addition in the bulls’ diet. Lauric acid (C12:0) inclusion up to 1.5% in the diet of young Nellore bull improved the fatty acid composition of the salted sun-dried meat, increasing EPA, DHA, n − 6 and n − 3, TI, and h:H indexes, which are associated with a better lipid quality of meat products, and further improves tenderness at the highest concentration.
The Determinants and Impact of Key Audit Matters Disclosure in the Auditor’s Report
Authors: Al Lawati Hidaya , Hussainey Khaled
Published: November 2022

We investigate the determinants of key audit matters (KAMs) in the auditor’s report. In particular, we examine the impact of overlapped audit committee (AC) directors on the quantity of KAMs disclosure. We also examine the consequences of KAMs disclosure. We test to see if the quantity of KAMs disclosure affects audit quality. Oman was among the early adopters of KAMs disclosure requirement. We, therefore, use the content analysis approach to count the number of KAMs disclosed in auditor reports of financial firms listed on the Muscat Stock Market for the period of 2014 to 2019. We use regression models to test our hypotheses. Overlapped audit committee directors are measured as the ratio of AC members who also serve on other committees within the same firm. We use audit fees as a proxy for audit quality. We find that overlapped AC membership positively affects KAMs disclosure due to the knowledge spillover that results from serving on multiple committees. We also find that KAMs disclosure positively affects the quality of external auditing. We make an important and novel contribution to the literature on financial reporting, auditing and corporate governance. We add to the literature by providing the first empirical evidence of the impact of overlapped AC members on KAMs disclosure and the impact of KAMs on the quality of external auditing. The findings provide important policy implications to exceedingly appoint overlapped members on AC to enhance the level of KAMs disclosure, which leads to an improvement in audit quality.
Classification of Floods in Europe and North America with Focus on Compound Events
Authors: Brazda Steven , Šraj Mojca , Bezak Nejc
Published: November 2022

Compound events occur when multiple drivers or hazards occur in the same region or on the same time scale, hence amplifying their impacts. Compound events can cause large economic damage or endanger human lives. Thus, a better understanding of the characteristics of these events is needed in order to protect human lives. This study investigates the drivers and characteristics of floods in Europe and North America from the compound event perspective. More than 100 catchments across Europe and North America were selected as case study examples in order to investigate characteristics of floods during a 1979–2019 period. Air temperature, precipitation, snow thickness, snow liquid water equivalent, wind speed, vapour pressure, and soil moisture content were used as potential drivers. Annual maximum floods were classified into several flood types. Predefined flood types were snowmelt floods, rain-on-snow floods, short precipitation floods and long precipitation floods that were further classified into two sub-categories (i.e., wet and dry initial conditions). The results of this study show that snowmelt floods were often the dominant flood type in the selected catchments, especially at higher latitudes. Moreover, snow-related floods were slightly less frequent for high altitude catchments compared to low- and medium-elevation catchments. These high-altitude areas often experience intense summer rainstorms that generate the highest annual discharges. On the other hand, snowmelt-driven floods were the predominant flood type for the lower elevation catchments. Moreover, wet initial conditions were more frequent than the dry initial conditions, indicating the importance of the soil moisture for flood generation. Hence, these findings can be used for flood risk management and modelling.
Robust Watermarking Scheme for Vector Geographic Data Based on the Ratio Invariance of DWT–CSVD Coefficients
Authors: Qu Chengyi , Xi Xu , Du Jinglong , Wu Tong
Published: November 2022

Traditional frequency-domain watermarking algorithms for vector geographic data suffer from disadvantages such as the random watermark embedding position, unpredictable embedding strength, and difficulty in resisting multiple attacks at the same time. To address these problems, we propose a novel watermarking algorithm based on the geometric invariance of the ratios of discrete wavelet transform (DWT) and complex singular value decomposition (CSVD) coefficients, which embeds the watermark information in a new embedding domain. The proposed scheme first extracts feature points from the original vector geographic data using the Douglas–Peucker algorithm, and then constructs a complex sequence based on the feature points set. The two-level DWT is then performed on the complex sequence to obtain the low frequency coefficients (L2) and high frequency coefficients (H2). On this premise, the CSVD algorithm is utilized to calculate the singular values of L2 and H2, and the ratio of the singular values of L2 and H2 is acquired as the watermark embedding domain. During the watermark embedding process, a new watermark sequence is created by the fusion of the original watermark index value and bits value to improve the recognition of the watermark information, and the decimal part at different positions of the ratio is altered by the new watermark sequence to control the watermark embedding strength. The experimental results show that the proposed watermarking algorithm is not only robust to common attacks such as geometric, cropping, simplification, and coordinate point editing, but also can extract watermark images with a high probability under random multiple attacks.