bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Social Motivation to Comply with COVID-19 Guidelines in Daily Life in South Korea and the United States
Authors: Kim Min Young , Han Kyueun
Published: June 2022

Collectivism assessed at the national level has been suggested as a psychological factor that affects compliance with COVID-19 guidelines in daily life. The level of assessment and conceptual construct of collectivism, however, vary across studies, which calls for the need to clarify the power of collectivism in explaining individuals’ compliance behaviour. With this aim, we investigated individual-level collectivism, the unique variance and other relevant factors, such as altruism (e.g., for the family, community, and humanity) and impression management (e.g., what others would think of me) in explaining compliance with COVID-19 guidelines in US and South Korean participants. The results of hierarchical regression analysis showed that collectivism was a significant factor that explained compliance only in the US participants, whereas impression management was significant and explained the additional variance over collectivism in compliance in both the US and South Korean participants. The findings suggest the importance of elucidating the overlap between collectivism and impression management in studies exploring COVID-19 guideline adherence in daily life.
Mesoscale Study on Dilation Behavior of Plain Concrete under Axial Compression
Authors: Chen Peng , Cui Xiaomeng , Zheng Huijun , Si Shengpu
Published: June 2022

The dilation of concrete in the radial direction is crucial in understanding the failure process and the key to predicting the confining level of passively confined concrete. To better understand this problem, we established a mesoscale model of concrete by considering the random distribution of coarse aggregate and the different properties between mortar and concrete. The model’s validity was demonstrated by comparing with the stress–strain curves in code and the lateral–axial strain curves in test. The simulation results show that the lateral dilation is non-uniformly distributed along the specimen height and the circumferential direction of sections. Moreover, the deformation mainly occurs in the middle part of the specimen ranging from 3/8 to 5/8. The strength of concrete influences the stress ratio at maximum compressive strain, while it slightly influences the stress ratio at zero volumetric strain. The secant strain ratio is about 0.5 as the compressive stress reaches the strength of concrete. Compared with the simulation, the relationship between lateral strain and axial strain proposed by Teng and Binici shows excellent performance on the dilation trend prediction of plain concrete.
Context Matters: Response Heterogeneity to Collagen-Targeting Approaches in Desmoplastic Cancers
Authors: Fuller Ashley M. , Eisinger-Mathason Tzipora S. Karin
Published: June 2022

The deposition of collagen-rich desmoplastic tissue is a well-documented feature of the solid tumor microenvironment (TME). However, efforts to target the desmoplastic extracellular matrix (ECM) en masse, or collagen molecules more specifically, have been met with mixed and sometimes paradoxical results. In this review, we posit that these discrepancies are due—at least in part—to the incredible diversity of the collagen superfamily. Specifically, whereas studies of “collagen-targeting” approaches frequently refer to “collagen” as a single molecule or relatively homogeneous molecular family, 28 individual collagens have been identified in mammalian tissues, each with a unique structure, supramolecular assembly pattern, tissue distribution, and/or function. Moreover, some collagen species have been shown to exert both pro- and anti-neoplastic effects in the desmoplastic TME, even within the same cancer type. Therefore, herein, we describe the diversity of the collagen family in normal tissues and highlight the context-specific roles of individual collagen molecules in desmoplastic tumors. We further discuss how this heterogeneity relates to the variable efficacy of “collagen-targeting” strategies in this setting and provide guidance for future directions in the field.
Radon and Lung Cancer: Current Trends and Future Perspectives
Authors: Riudavets Mariona , Garcia de Herreros Marta , Besse Benjamin , Mezquita Laura
Published: June 2022

Lung cancer is a public health problem and the first cause of cancer death worldwide. Radon is a radioactive gas that tends to accumulate inside homes, and it is the second lung cancer risk factor after smoking, and the first one in non-smokers. In Europe, there are several radon-prone areas, and although the 2013/59 EURATOM directive is aimed to regulate indoor radon exposition, regulating measures can vary between countries. Radon emits alpha-ionizing radiation that has been linked to a wide variety of cytotoxic and genotoxic effects; however, the link between lung cancer and radon from the genomic point of view remains poorly described. Driver molecular alterations have been recently identified in non-small lung cancer (NSCLC), such as somatic mutations (EGFR, BRAF, HER2, MET) or chromosomal rearrangements (ALK, ROS1, RET, NTRK), mainly in the non-smoking population, where no risk factor has been identified yet. An association between radon exposure and oncogenic NSCLC in non-smokers has been hypothesised. This paper provides a practical, concise and updated review on the implications of indoor radon in lung cancer carcinogenesis, and especially of its potential relation with NSCLC with driver genomic alterations.
Intronic Polyadenylation in Acquired Cancer Drug Resistance Circumvented by Utilizing CRISPR/Cas9 with Homology-Directed Repair: The Tale of Human DNA Topoisomerase IIα
Authors: Elton Terry S. , Hernandez Victor A. , Carvajal-Moreno Jessika , Wang Xinyi , Ipinmoroti Deborah , Yalowich Jack C.
Published: June 2022

Intronic polyadenylation (IPA) plays a critical role in malignant transformation, development, progression, and cancer chemoresistance by contributing to transcriptome/proteome alterations. DNA topoisomerase IIα (170 kDa, TOP2α/170) is an established clinical target for anticancer agents whose efficacy is compromised by drug resistance often associated with a reduction of nuclear TOP2α/170 levels. In leukemia cell lines with acquired resistance to TOP2α-targeted drugs and reduced TOP2α/170 expression, variant TOP2α mRNA transcripts have been reported due to IPA that resulted in the translation of C-terminal truncated isoforms with altered nuclear-cytoplasmic distribution or heterodimerization with wild-type TOP2α/170. This review provides an overview of the various mechanisms regulating pre-mRNA processing and alternative polyadenylation, as well as the utilization of CRISPR/Cas9 specific gene editing through homology directed repair (HDR) to decrease IPA when splice sites are intrinsically weak or potentially mutated. The specific case of TOP2α exon 19/intron 19 splice site editing is discussed in etoposide-resistant human leukemia K562 cells as a tractable strategy to circumvent acquired TOP2α-mediated drug resistance. This example supports the importance of aberrant IPA in acquired drug resistance to TOP2α-targeted drugs. In addition, these results demonstrate the therapeutic potential of CRISPR/Cas9/HDR to impact drug resistance associated with aberrant splicing/polyadenylation.
Kank1 Is Essential for Myogenic Differentiation by Regulating Actin Remodeling and Cell Proliferation in C2C12 Progenitor Cells
Authors: Nguyen Mai Thi , Lee Wan
Published: June 2022

Actin cytoskeleton dynamics are essential regulatory processes in muscle development, growth, and regeneration due to their modulation of mechanotransduction, cell proliferation, differentiation, and morphological changes. Although the KN motif and ankyrin repeat domain-containing protein 1 (Kank1) plays a significant role in cell adhesion dynamics, actin polymerization, and cell proliferation in various cells, the functional significance of Kank1 during the myogenic differentiation of progenitor cells has not been explored. Here, we report that Kank1 acts as a critical regulator of the proliferation and differentiation of muscle progenitor cells. Kank1 was found to be expressed at a relatively high level in C2C12 myoblasts, and its expression was modulated during the differentiation. Depletion of Kank1 by siRNA (siKank1) increased the accumulation of filamentous actin (F-actin). Furthermore, it facilitated the nuclear localization of Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) by diminishing YAP1 phosphorylation in the cytoplasm, which activated the transcriptions of YAP1 target genes and promoted proliferation and cell cycle progression in myoblasts. Notably, depletion of Kank1 suppressed the protein expression of myogenic regulatory factors (i.e., MyoD and MyoG) and dramatically inhibited myoblast differentiation and myotube formation. Our results show that Kank1 is an essential regulator of actin dynamics, YAP1 activation, and cell proliferation and that its depletion impairs the myogenic differentiation of progenitor cells by promoting myoblast proliferation triggered by the F-actin-induced nuclear translocation of YAP1.
Methodological Progress of Stereology in Cardiac Research and Its Application to Normal and Pathological Heart Development
Authors: Mühlfeld Christian , Schipke Julia
Published: June 2022

Design-based stereology is the gold standard for obtaining unbiased quantitative morphological data on volume, surface area, and length, as well as the number of tissues, cells or organelles. In cardiac research, the introduction of a stereological method to unbiasedly estimate the number of cardiomyocytes has considerably increased the use of stereology. Since its original description, various modifications to this method have been described. A particular field in which this method has been employed is the normal developmental life cycle of cardiomyocytes after birth, and particularly the question of when, during postnatal development, cardiomyocytes lose their capacity to divide and proliferate, and thus their inherent regenerative ability. This field is directly related to a second major application of stereology in recent years, addressing the question of what consequences intrauterine growth restriction has on the development of the heart, particularly of cardiomyocytes. Advances have also been made regarding the quantification of nerve fibers and collagen deposition as measures of heart innervation and fibrosis. In the present review article, we highlight the methodological progress made in the last 20 years and demonstrate how stereology has helped to gain insight into the process of normal cardiac development, and how it is affected by intrauterine growth restriction.
LC3B, mTOR, AMPK Are Molecular Targets for Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Gastric Cancers
Authors: Spirina Liudmila V. , Avgustinovich Alexandra V. , Bakina Olga V. , Afanas’ev Sergey G. , Volkov Maxim Yu. , Kebekbayeva Amina Y.
Published: June 2022

Autophagy plays a dual role in oncogenesis processes. On one hand, autophagy enhances the cell resistance to oncogenic factors, and on the other hand, it participates in the tumor progression. The aim of the study was to find the associations between the effectiveness of the FLOT regimen in resectable gastric cancers (GCs) with the key autophagy-related proteins. Materials and Methods: The study included 34 patients with morphologically verified gastric cancer. All patients had FLOT neoadjunvant chemotherapy (NACT) (fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and docetaxel) followed by gastrectomy. The studied tissue material was the non-transformed and tumor tissues obtained during diagnostic video gastroscopy in patients before the start of the combined treatment and after surgical treatment, frozen after collection. The LC3B, mTOR, and AMPK expression was determined by real-time PCR. The content of the LC3B protein was determined by Western blotting analysis. Results: The mRNA level and the content of the LC3B protein were associated with the tumor stage and the presence of signet ring cells. The AMPK mRNA level was increased in patients with the T4N0-2M0 stage by 37.7 and 7.33 times, which was consequently compared with patients with the T2N0M0 and T3N0-1M0 stages. The opposite changes in the mTOR and AMPK in the GCs before anti-cancer therapy were noted. The tumor size and regional lymph node affections were associated with a decrease in the mTOR mRNA level. A decrease in the mTOR expression was accompanied by an increase in the AMPK expression in the GCs. The mTOR expression was reduced in patients with a cancer spreading; in contrast, AMPK grew with the tumor size. There was an increase in the LC3B expression, which can probably determine the response to therapy. An increase in LC3B mRNA before the start of treatment and the protein content in cancers after NACT with a decrease in therapy effectiveness was recorded. There was an increase in the protein level in patients with partial regression and stabilization by 3.65 and 5.78 times, respectively, when compared with patients with complete tumor regression was noted. Conclusions: The anticancer effectiveness in GCS is down to the LC3B, mTOR, and AMPK expression. These were found to be entire molecular targets affecting the cancer progression and metastasis as well as the NACT effectiveness.
The Imprint of Recent Meteorological Events on Boulder Deposits along the Mediterranean Rocky Coasts
Authors: Delle Rose Marco , Martano Paolo
Published: June 2022

In this review, the potential of an emerging field of interdisciplinary climate research, Coastal Boulder Deposits (CBDs) as natural archives for intense storms, is explored with particular reference to the Mediterranean region. First, the identification of the pertinent scientific articles was performed by the using Web of Science (WoS) engine. Thus, the selected studies have been analysed to feature CBDs produced and/or activated during the last half-century. Then, the meteorological events responsible for the literature-reported cases were analysed in some detail using the web archives of the Globo-Bolam-Moloch model cascade. The study of synoptical and local characteristics of the storms involved in the documented cases of boulder production/activation proved useful for assessing the suitability of selected sites as geomorphological storm proxies. It is argued that a close and fruitful collaboration involving several scientific disciplines is required to develop this climate research field.
Advanced Materials for Electrocatalysis and Energy Storage
Authors: Deng Qinglin
Published: June 2022

Energy problems restrict the sustainable development of human society [...]
Comparative Investigation on Wear Properties of Composite Coatings with Varying CeO2 Contents
Authors: Zhang Zhiqiang , Yang Qian , Yang Fan , Zhang Hongwei , Zhang Tiangang , Wang Hao , Ma Qiang
Published: June 2022

Several innovative mixed powders of Ti6Al4V and NiCr-Cr3C2 with different CeO2 contents (0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 wt.%) were designed, and Ti2C-reinforced CrTi4-based composite coatings were prepared on the Ti6Al4V surface via laser cladding technology. The effects of CeO2 amount on the forming quality, microstructure, hardness, and wear resistance of the composite coatings were studied. The results showed that the CeO2 amount had a significant influence on the forming quality of the composite coatings. The cracks were eliminated completely when the CeO2 content was 2 wt.%; furthermore, the lowest porosity was obtained with the addition of 3 wt.% CeO2. The primary phase constituents of the coatings were non-stoichiometric Ti2C and a β-type solid solution (CrTi4) as the reinforcement and matrix, respectively. CeO2 and a low quantity of Ce2O3 were re-precipitated at the Ti2C/CrTi4 interface and CrTi4 grain boundary in the coatings with CeO2 addition. In addition, the average hardness of the composite coatings was 1.28–1.34 times higher than that of the Ti6Al4V substrate. The wear resistance of the composite coatings was significantly higher than that of the substrate. However, both the composite coatings and the Ti6Al4V substrate exhibited a mixed-wear mode, i.e., abrasive and adhesive wear.
Carbon and Carbon-Based Composite Thin Films/Coatings: Synthesis, Properties and Applications
Authors: Tseluikin Vitaly , Zhang Lin
Published: June 2022

The production of composite thin films/coatings with desired properties is currently an important scientific and technical area [...]
Risk Markers of COVID-19, a Study from South-Lebanon
Authors: Chakkour Mohamed , Salami Ali , Olleik Dana , Kamal Israa , Noureddine Fatima Y. , Roz Ali El , Ghssein Ghassan
Published: June 2022

Background: COVID-19, caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, was declared by WHO in early 2020 as a worldwide pandemic. Several known risk markers are associated with COVID-19 morbidity and mortality, including age, gender, and diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, and chronic cardiovascular diseases. Recent studies have shown an association between COVID-19 infection and the ABO blood groups. Objective: To assess the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among suspected COVID-19 patients as well as the risk markers for COVID-19 associated with ABO blood group, Rhesus factor, and patient’s address during the past year. Methods: 69,019 nasopharyngeal swab samples were collected and analyzed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction technique for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in patients attending a tertiary health care center in South Lebanon during the period between August 2020 and July 2021. Results: Among all tested subjects, the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was 19.2% (95% CI: 18.9% to 19.5%). Among those with known blood group (N = 17,462), odds of SARS-CoV-2 were higher in group A (Odds Ratio = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.23) and group AB (OR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.00 to 1.41) relative to the reference group O (OR = 1). Odds of SARS-CoV-2 in the Rh-negative group (OR = 1.02, 95% CI: 0.89 to 1.16) were not significantly different from the Rh-positive group. Among those with known address (N = 30,060), odds of SARS-CoV-2 were lower in residents of remote areas (OR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.80 to 0.99) relative to central cities. Conclusion: There is a modestly higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection associated with blood groups A and AB, and a lower risk associated with living in remote, less crowded regions.
Computational Analysis of Hydrogen Bond Vibrations of Ice III in the Far-Infrared Band
Authors: Ning Si-Yuan , Cao Jing-Wen , Liu Xiao-Yan , Wu Hao-Jian , Yuan Xiao-Qing , Dong Xiao-Tong , Li Yi-Ning , Jiang Yan , Zhang Peng
Published: June 2022

The hydrogen-disordered structure of ice III makes it difficult to analyze its vibrational spectrum theoretically. To clarify the contribution of hydrogen bonds (HBs), we constructed a 24-molecule supercell to mimic the real structure and performed first-principles density functional theory calculations. The calculated curve of phonon density of states showed good correspondence with the experimental data. Based on the theory of two kinds of HB vibrational modes, we analyzed the distributions of two-bond modes and four-bond modes. The energy splitting of these modes results in a flat vibrational band, which is a common phenomenon in high-pressure ice phases. These findings verified the general rule that there are two types of HB vibrations in ice, thereby furthering our understanding of HB interactions in water ice and their broad role in nature.
Perovskite Photo-Sensors with Solution-Processed TiO2 under Low Temperature Process and Ultra-Thin Polyethylenimine Ethoxylated as Electron Injection Layer
Authors: Hirano Ikuma , Maruyama Kazuya , Zhang Congcong , Okada Hiroyuki
Published: June 2022

A perovskite photo-sensor is promising for a lightweight, thin, flexible, easy-to-coat fabrication process, and a higher incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency. We have investigated perovskite photo-sensors with a solution-processed compact TiO2 under a low-temperature process and an ultra-thin polyethylenimine ethoxylated (PEIE) as an electron injection layer. The TiO2 film is grown from an aqueous solution of titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4) at 70 °C by a chemical bath deposition method. For an alternative process, the ultra-thin PEIE is spin coated on the TiO2 film. Then, the perovskite layer is deposited on the substrate by the one- or two-step methods in the glovebox. Next, a hole transport layer of 2,2,7,7-tetrakis(N,N-di-p-methoxyphenylamine)-9, 9-spiro-bifluorene (Spiro-OMeTAD) solution is spin coated. The fabricated device structure is a photodiode structure of FTO/TiO2/(without or with) PEIE/(one- or two-step) perovskite layer/Spiro-OMeTAD/Au. For the sensing characteristics, a ratio of photo-to-dark-current density was 2.88 × 104 for the device with PEIE layer. In addition, a power-law relationship is discussed.
Room Temperature Synthesis of Various Color Emission Rare-Earth Doped Strontium Tungstate Phosphors Applicable to Fingerprint Identification
Authors: Yi Soung-Soo , Jung Jae-Yong
Published: June 2022

Crystalline SrWO4 was synthesized at room temperature using a co-precipitation method. To use the SrWO4 as a phosphor, green and red phosphors were synthesized by doping with Tb3+ and Eu3+ rare earth ions. The synthesized samples had a tetragonal structure, and the main peak (112) phase was clearly observed. When the sample was excited using the absorption peak observed in the ultraviolet region, SrWO4:Tb3+ showed an emission spectrum of 544 nm, and SrWO4:Eu3+ showed an emission spectrum of 614 nm. When Tb3+ and Eu3+ ions were co-doped to realize various colors, a yellow-emitting phosphor was realized as the doping concentration of Eu3+ ions increased. When the synthesized phosphor was scattered on a glass substrate with fingerprints, as used in the field of fingerprint recognition, the fingerprint was revealed by green, red, and yellow emissions in response to a UV lamp.
A Race against the Clock: A Case Report and Literature Review Concerning the Importance of ADAMTS13 Testing in Diagnosis and Management of Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura during Pregnancy
Authors: Mitranovici Melinda Ildiko , Pușcașiu Lucian , Oală Ioan Emilian , Petre Izabella , Craina Marius Lucian , Mager Antonia Rebeka , Vasile Kinga , Chiorean Diana Maria , Sabău Adrian-Horațiu , Turdean Sabin Gligore , Cotoi Ovidiu Simion
Published: June 2022

Thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare, potentially fatal pathology characterized by microangiopathic thrombotic syndrome and caused by an acute protease deficiency of von Willebrand factor, ADAMTS13. Moreover, ADAMTS13 deficiency promotes microthrombosis led by the persistence of ultra-large VWF multimers in the blood circulation. According to the few studies involving pregnant participants, the heterogeneity of manifestations has made this pathology difficult to diagnose, with an unexpected occurrence and increased risk of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. We reported on the case of a 28-year-old pregnant woman with an obstetric score of G2P0 who presented to the obstetrics and gynecology department of our clinic with the complaint of minimal vaginal bleeding. The evolution of our case was severe and life-threatening, a “race against the clock”, with our goal being to emphasize the importance and difficulty of diagnosing TTP in the absence of specific symptomatology. We faced a lack of technological support for a correct and complete diagnosis, and the first manifestation of this disease was the intrauterine death of the fetus. After completing all the necessary procedures, the placental tissue was sent for further histopathological evaluation. We highlighted the importance of monitoring ADAMTS13 for relapses monthly, with prophylaxis being essential for maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity.
A Multi-Source Co-Simulation Method for the Thermal Stability of GaAs Sub-6G Power Amplifier with Adjustable Bias Current
Authors: Ma Yuanbo , Wu Zhaohui , Li Bin
Published: June 2022

In this paper, the thermal stability of GaAs heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) power amplifier (PA) in a sub-6G band has been improved by a multi-source co-simulation method. To reduce the parameter errors caused by the variations of thermal resistances, a co-simulation method for the multiple heat sources of fully-integrated PA is proposed. Specifically, an adjustable bias circuit is applied on the PA for temperature compensation using a zero-to-absolute-temperature (ZTAT) current. To verify the proposed method, a sub-6G PA is realized in the GaAs HBT process. The experimental results show that the variations in power added efficiency and output power is stabilized due to the 3.5% error ZTAT current. The errors between simulation and measurement are reduced from 6% to 1%. According to the thermal factor defined in co-simulation, the working temperature decreases 10 °C, while the area only increases 27%. The above results prove that that thermal stability and the simulation reliability can be co-designed with the minimal area cost.
Research on an Optimized Overmodulation Strategy Based on Rectifier of Indirect Space Vector of Matrix Converter
Authors: Xia Yihui , Zhang Xiaofeng , Ye Zhihao , Wang Zerun , Huang Liming
Published: June 2022

Output performances including voltage error and THD effected by hexagon vector and basic vector with traditional indirect space vector overmodulation method are analyzed, and an improved overmodulation method based on input current vector synthesized is presented. Simulation and experimental results are carried out to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method. Simulation results indicate that the proposed input current vector-synthesized overmodulation strategy has better output performances. The experimental results verify that theoretical analysis is right and the proposed method is feasible.
On the Use of Supercapacitors for DC Blocking in Transformer-Coupled Voltage Amplifiers for Low-Frequency Noise Measurements
Authors: Scandurra Graziella , Achtenberg Krzysztof , Bielecki Zbigniew , Mikołajczyk Janusz , Ciofi Carmine
Published: June 2022

When performing low-frequency noise measurements on low-impedance electron devices, transformer coupling can be quite effective in reducing the contribution of the equivalent input noise voltage of the preamplifier to the background noise of the system. However, noise measurements on electron devices are usually performed with a biased device under test. A bridge configuration must be used to null the DC component at the input of the transformer. Unfortunately, using a bridge results in a complication of the set-up and degradation of the system’s sensitivity because of the noise introduced by the nulling arm. We propose an alternative approach for blocking the DC component that exploits the fact that supercapacitors with capacitances in excess of a few Farads are nowadays easily available. Actual measurement results in conventional and advanced measurement configurations are discussed that demonstrate the advantages of the approach we propose.
A Modified Marx Generator Circuit with Enhanced Tradeoff between Voltage and Pulse Width for Electroporation Applications
Authors: Ganesan Selvakumar , Ghosh Debarshi , Taneja Ashu , Saluja Nitin , Rani Shalli , Singh Aman , Elkamchouchi Dalia H. , Noya Irene Delgado
Published: June 2022

Electroporation is a next generation bioelectronics device. The emerging application of electroporation requires high voltage pulses having a pulse-width in the nanosecond range. The essential use of a capacitor results in an increase in the size of the electroporator circuit. This paper discusses the modification of a conventional Marx generator circuit to achieve the high voltage electroporation pulses with a minimal chip size of the circuit. The reduced capacitors are attributed to a reduction in the number of stages used to achieve the required voltage boost. The paper proposes the improved isolation between two capacitors with the usage of optocouplers. Parametric analysis is presented to define the tuneable range of the electroporator circuit. The output voltage of 49.4 V is achieved using the proposed 5-stage MOSFET circuit with an input voltage of 12 V.
A Novel Method for the Classification of Butterfly Species Using Pre-Trained CNN Models
Authors: Rajeena P. P. Fathimathul , Orban Rasha , Vadivel Kogilavani Shanmuga , Subramanian Malliga , Muthusamy Suresh , Elminaam Diaa Salam Abd , Nabil Ayman , Abulaigh Laith , Ahmadi Mohsen , Ali Mona A. S.
Published: June 2022

In comparison to the competitors, engineers must provide quick, low-cost, and dependable solutions. The advancement of intelligence generated by machines and its application in almost every field has created a need to reduce the human role in image processing while also making time and labor profit. Lepidopterology is the discipline of entomology dedicated to the scientific analysis of caterpillars and the three butterfly superfamilies. Students studying lepidopterology must generally capture butterflies with nets and dissect them to discover the insect’s family types and shape. This research work aims to assist science students in correctly recognizing butterflies without harming the insects during their analysis. This paper discusses transfer-learning-based neural network models to identify butterfly species. The datasets are collected from the Kaggle website, which contains 10,035 images of 75 different species of butterflies. From the available dataset, 15 unusual species were selected, including various butterfly orientations, photography angles, butterfly lengths, occlusion, and backdrop complexity. When we analyzed the dataset, we found an imbalanced class distribution among the 15 identified classes, leading to overfitting. The proposed system performs data augmentation to prevent data scarcity and reduce overfitting. The augmented dataset is also used to improve the accuracy of the data models. This research work utilizes transfer learning based on various convolutional neural network architectures such as VGG16, VGG19, MobileNet, Xception, ResNet50, and InceptionV3 to classify the butterfly species into various categories. All the proposed models are evaluated using precision, recall, F-Measure, and accuracy. The investigation findings reveal that the InceptionV3 architecture provides an accuracy of 94.66%, superior to all other architectures.
Design and Analysis of a Short Reference Orthogonal Double Bit Rate Differential Chaotic Shift Keying Communication Scheme
Authors: Sui Tao , Feng Yongxin , Jiang Qiang , Liu Fang , Zhang Tong
Published: June 2022

With the broadband, noise-like, and non-periodic characteristics of chaotic signals, chaotic digital modulation schemes have received extensive attention. A new short reference orthogonal double bit rate differential chaotic shift keying (SR-ODBR-DCSK) communication scheme is proposed in the paper. The modulation technology generates two orthogonal chaotic signals by using the orthogonality of the chaotic signals acting on the Walsh function and modulates the continuous two-bit data information respectively to achieve the simultaneous transmission of two signals at the same time slot. Odd information bits and even information bits are modulated to two orthogonal signals so as to reach a double transmission rate on the basis of the original channel. In this paper, the performance of SR-ODBR-DCSK in the additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) channel is analyzed, and a Monte Carlo simulation test is carried out. The bit error rate of this modulation method is compared with that of SR-DCSK. The results show that the SR-ODBR-DCSK system is excellent and promising.
Adaptation of Grad-CAM Method to Neural Network Architecture for LiDAR Pointcloud Object Detection
Authors: Dworak Daniel , Baranowski Jerzy
Published: June 2022

Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) methods demonstrate internal representation of data hidden within neural network trained weights. That information, presented in a form readable to humans, could be remarkably useful during model development and validation. Among others, gradient-based methods such as Grad-CAM are broadly used in an image processing domain. On the other hand, the autonomous vehicle sensor suite consists of auxiliary devices such as radars and LiDARs, for which existing XAI methods do not apply directly. In this article, we present our adaptation approach to utilize Grad-CAM visualization for LiDAR pointcloud specific object detection architectures used in automotive perception systems. We try to solve data and network architecture compatibility problems and answer the question whether Grad-CAM methods could be used with LiDAR sensor data efficiently. We showcase successful results of our method and all the benefits that come with a Grad-CAM XAI application to a LiDAR sensor in an autonomous driving domain.
Susceptibility Issues of Control Instrumentation in Electromagnetic Environment of High Current Laboratory
Authors: Sadura Jolanta , Sroka Jan , Sul Przemysław , Jóśko Adam , Owsiński Maciej
Published: June 2022

The paper is a continuation of the research works of the authors. The aim of it is identifying the electromagnetic environment in which the control equipment of the short-circuit test stand operates. Exceptional attention was devoted to the issues related to the operation of the time-phase controller system. Measurements and identification of the electromagnetic environment were carried out on a specific short-circuit test stand, where short-circuit currents are generated by the medium-voltage (MV) short-circuit transformers. Short circuit tests are always preceded by powering the MV side of the test transformer by unloading the low-voltage (LV) side. Thereafter, the controller must wait for the release of the operator to start the test. Sometimes an electromagnetically disturbed controller starts the test without release. Such situation is undesired and can be destructive for the tested objects. Identification of the transient fields during the powering of the test transformer is indispensable for assessing the hazard of EM interference of the controller. Earlier research by the authors showed that the repetitive damped oscillating waves (DOW) are a component of the electromagnetic environment. Adequate instrumentation to cope with the problem are D-dot and B-dot field probes is needed. The paper reports such measurements along with recording the voltage signals. It was suspected that repetitive ignition and extinction of the short arc by closing the circuit breaker in the MV circuit is the origin of the DOW. Additional investigation of the circuit breaker in stand-alone operation is excluded in this hypothesis. The only possibility of the DOW is pulse traveling back and forth in the MV circuit, which is a line with distributed parameters.
Thermal Rectification and Thermal Logic Gates in Graded Alloy Semiconductors
Authors: Ng Ryan C. , Castro-Alvarez Alejandro , Sotomayor-Torres Clivia M. , Chávez-Ángel Emigdio
Published: June 2022

Classical thermal rectification arises from the contact between two dissimilar bulk materials, each with a thermal conductivity (k) with a different temperature dependence. Here, we study thermal rectification in a Si(1−x)Gex alloy with a spatial dependence on the atomic composition. Rectification factors (R = kmax/kmin) of up to 3.41 were found. We also demonstrate the suitability of such an alloy for logic gates using a thermal AND gate as an example by controlling the thermal conductivity profile via the alloy composition. This system is readily extendable to other alloys, since it only depends on the effective thermal conductivity. These thermal devices are inherently advantageous alternatives to their electric counterparts, as they may be able to take advantage of otherwise undesired waste heat in the surroundings. Furthermore, the demonstration of logic operations is a step towards thermal computation.
Research on LADRC of Grid-Connected Inverter Based on LCCL
Authors: He Guofeng , Chen Guanxu , Dong Yanfei , Li Guojiao , Zhang Wenjie
Published: June 2022

A grid-connected inverter’s stability is easily influenced by the system’s internal and external characteristics, especially when the grid-connected inverter is connected to the grid by an LCL filter, which complicates the system design and operating conditions. To handle the problem of disturbance in the high-order grid-connected system of the inverter, a linear active disturbance rejection control (LADRC) strategy based on LCCL (which divides the capacitor of the LCL filter into two halves in a specified proportion) is proposed in this paper. First, the system is reduced from third order to first order by using the split capacitor control method, which solves the difficulties of complicated LCL grid-connected inverter controller design and easy resonance. Meanwhile, the internal and external disturbances of the inverter system are treated as generalized disturbances. Then, the LADRC control is used to adjust the closed-loop system’s parameters, which enhances the quality of the grid current and the system’s stability. Finally, the impacts of PI and LADRC control on the power mutation and voltage drop of an LCCL grid-connected inverter are compared by the experiments. The experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed LADRC control strategy.
Thermal Comfort—Case Study in a Lightweight Passive House
Authors: Wąs Krzysztof , Radoń Jan , Sadłowska-Sałęga Agnieszka
Published: June 2022

Saving energy while maintaining a high-quality internal environment is an increasingly important scientific and technological challenge in the building sector. This paper presents the results from a long-term study on thermal comfort in a passive house situated in the south of Poland. The building was constructed in 2010 with the use of prefabricated, lightweight technology. The main energy source is a ground source heat pump which powers the floor heating and DHW. The building is also equipped with a mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery and a ground source heat exchanger. A lightweight building structure which has active systems with limited capabilities (especially for cooling) is a combination which increases the difficulty of maintaining a proper inner environmental condition. Extensive experimental investigations on hygrothermal performance and energy use have been carried out in the building for several years. The measurement results, such as inner air temperature and humidity, as well as the inner surface temperature of partitions, could be directly used to determine basic thermal comfort indicators, including PMV and PPD. Any missing data that has not been directly measured, such as the surface temperature of the windows, floors, and some of the other elements of the building envelope, have been calculated using WUFI®PLUS software and validated with the available measurements. These results are not final; the full measurement of thermal comfort as an applied methodology did not consider human adaptation and assumed constant clothing insulation. Nevertheless, in general, the results show good thermal comfort conditions inside the building under research conditions. This was also confirmed via a survey of the inhabitants: 2 adults and 3 children.
Large-Power Transformers: Time Now for Addressing Their Monitoring and Failure Investigation Techniques
Authors: Costa Jonathan Velasco , Silva Diogo F. F. da , Branco Paulo J. Costa
Published: June 2022

Several review studies exist in the literature about monitoring, fault detection, and diagnosis of power transformers. However, they are general approaches in terms of power transformers. Some only focus on applying a specific class of techniques, but again, for general power transformers. Other reviews focus on applying different technologies such as fiber optics, thermal cameras, and vibration sensors, but all within the perspective of general power transformers. A significant question remains: among all types of power transformers, which specific techniques should be used, and why are they more adequate? What are the uncertainties that can decrease their precision? What about the balance, in terms of costs, associated with applying a certain technique and the return needed for a particular type of transformer? In this context, this paper is not only a literature review of well-known problems related to power transformers. Here, we do not just center on large power transformers (100 MVA or higher). Still, we describe a case study of a phase-shifting 1400 MVA-400 kV three-phase transformer that currently connects two European countries that began to show signs of abnormal operating conditions in 2012. In this way, the need to detect and identify anomalies in their initial stage of development for a possible preventive maintenance action is more than justified, which is essentially achieved with continuous monitoring models of the transformer, as concluded in this paper.
A Flux−Linkage Torque Ripple Suppression Method of Dual−Series FPMSMs Decoupling Control Based on Dual−Frequency Vector Modulation
Authors: Sun Guodong , Yang Guijie , Su Jianyong , Lu Guangxu
Published: June 2022

A novel cross−series connection of two five−phase permanent magnet synchronous motors (FPMSM) supplied by single inverter can halve the number of required power units and current sensors. This, along with a decoupling control strategy for FPMSMs in series based on an improved dual−frequency vector modulation (DFV−SVPWM) and a flux−linkage torque ripple suppression method with current compensation are proposed in this paper, each of which have great significance for multi−unit industrial equipment. The third harmonic flux−linkage will produce torque ripple in the FPMSM in series, which has an adverse effect on accuracy. In this paper, a synchronous decoupling mathematical model of dual−series FPMSM with harmonic flux−linkage is established to analyze the decoupling relationship between torque and current. In addition, an enhanced DFV−SVPWM with higher modulation ratio is proposed for the decoupling control of double motors in series. Furthermore, based on the torque influence of two series−connected motors by harmonic flux−linkage and the decoupling control with improved DFV−SVPWM, a torque ripple compensation method with current compensation is proposed, which can effectively suppress the torque ripple of FPMSM with harmonic flux−linkage and not affect the other. The correctness and superiority of the scheme are verified by simulation and experiment in this paper.
Optimal Allocation of Directional Relay for Efficient Energy Optimization in a Radial Distribution System
Authors: Khurshaid Tahir , Wadood Abdul , Frakoush Saeid Gholami , Kim Tae-Hwan , Kim Ki-Chai , Rhee Sang-Bong
Published: June 2022

The optimal allocation of protective devices is a serious issue in an electrical power system; in order to reduce the possibility of faults, the protection devices should be optimally placed. The paper presents a continuous genetic algorithm (CGA) for the optimal allocation of directional relays for the efficient energy minimization in a radial distribution system (DG). The algorithm is flexible to use for the changes and improvements in the optimal location for a DG unit and can optimize the energy consumption in the radial distribution system. The proposed algorithm has been implemented on IEEE 33 and 69-bus system using MATLAB (R2014b, MathWorks). Low energy consumption is a common design objective in an energy-constrained distribution system. Engineers, power utilities, and network operators can profit from the proposed methodology to enhance the use of DG in distribution networks.
Macroeconomic Policy versus Fuel Poverty in Poland—Support or Barrier
Authors: Nagaj Rafał
Published: June 2022

Energy and climate policies play an increasingly important role in the world in the era of climate change and rising energy prices. More often, the importance of the development of the energy sector and climate protection is seen from the point of view of the expenditures that will need to be absorbed in the economy, with the potential for increased energy prices. However, it should be remembered that this is also related to the issue of fuel poverty and the inability to meet basic energy needs by parts of society. The aim of the paper is to assess the importance of macroeconomic policy instruments in reducing fuel poverty, using Poland as an example. It will be examined whether and how the government influenced this phenomenon (directly or indirectly), through which instruments, and which instruments (fiscal, monetary or energy-climate policy) played the most important role in shaping the scale of fuel poverty in Poland, with an emphasis on the role of monetary and fiscal policy instruments. The analysis covered the period from 2004 to mid-2021. The results of the research showed that in Poland there is a lack of policy directly aimed at reducing fuel poverty, and the government affects the scale of fuel poverty indirectly mainly through macroeconomic policy instruments, i.e., fiscal and monetary policy instruments. The main and most effective instruments for reducing fuel poverty in Poland are social transfers. Other instruments that have a statistically significant impact on this poverty rate are the level of tax burdens and short-term interest rates. The analysis also revealed some opportunities for effective fuel poverty reduction policies. It was proven that in addition to fiscal policy, monetary policy, which would stimulate a decrease in short-term interest rates, is also an effective way to reduce the fuel poverty rate in Poland.
UAVs Technology as a Complementary Tool in Post-Fire Vegetation Recovery Surveys in Mediterranean Fire-Prone Forests
Authors: Bertacchi Andrea
Published: June 2022

Forest fire is a recurring and serious environmental hazard, which is often due to the interaction between anthropogenic activities and climate change, despite having always characterized the vegetation landscape in the Mediterranean area. Alongside the required prevention and control works, there is an increasing need for post-fire monitoring. This is particularly relevant when it comes to natural or semi-natural forests, so that inappropriate reforestation is not undertaken without having well understood the dynamics of self-regeneration and the resilience of pre-existing phytocoenoses to fire. These monitoring operations often take a long time, but a quick picture of the severity of the fire and the response of the vegetation is also required. In this context, the data relating to post-fire surveys on a maritime pine forest of Monte Pisano (northern Tuscany, Italy), obtained from ground surveys and drone shots, are reported. This investigation showed: (1) UAV technology has proved to be very useful and fast, and it allows a good identification of tree/shrub species and forest structural parameters. (2) In these forests, repeated fires cause the disappearance of pine woods ad substitution with “pyroclimax” cork oak communities in equilibrium with a regime of repeated fires. (3) These first results, part of an ongoing investigation, contribute to a better understanding of the sylvogenetic processes following the passage of fire and can support the management of burned areas.