bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Экспериментальные исследования по определению давления вскрытия и изменения угла поворота вращаемых легкосбрасываемых конструкций при дефлаграционном взрыве топливовоздушной смеси
Authors: Волчецкая Елена Александровна , Дунаев Александр Андреевич , Жамойдик Сергей Михайлович , Зинкевич Геннадий Николаевич , Иваницкий Александр Григорьевич
Published: February 2023

Цель. Экспериментальное определение величины давления вскрытия запорных устройств и изменения угла поворота вращаемых легкосбрасываемых конструкций при дефлаграционном взрыве топливовоздушной смеси в замкнутом объеме.
Методы. На испытательном полигоне Научно-исследовательского института пожарной безопасности и проблем чрезвычайных ситуаций Министерства по чрезвычайным ситуациям Республики Беларусь проведены испытания по определению давления вскрытия запорных устройств вращаемых легкосбрасываемых конструкций. В качестве объекта исследований использовался опытный образец ворот с тремя вариантами крепления запорного устройства.
Результаты. В ходе проведенных экспериментальных исследований определены значения давления вскрытия запорных устройств и изменения угла поворота полотен ворот при дефлаграционном взрыве. По результатам анализа данных экспериментальных исследований установлено влияние вида и количества крепежных элементов на величину максимального избыточного давления взрыва в помещении, давления вскрытия запорных устройств, а также изменения угла поворота вращаемой легкосбрасываемой конструкции.
Область применения исследований. Результаты проведенных исследований в дальнейшем могут быть использованы при разработке математической модели процесса вскрытия вращаемых легкосбрасываемых конструкций, методики определения давления вскрытия запорных устройств таких конструкций с последующим внесением изменений в действующие технические нормативные правовые акты системы противопожарного нормирования и стандартизации Республики Беларусь.
NEPHROPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF ALOE VERA EXTRACT WITH REGULATION OF OXIDATIVE STRESS, APOPTOSIS AND AQUAPORIN 3 EXPRESSION LEVELS IN STREPTOZOTOCIN INDUCED DIABETIC RATS
Authors: ŞEKER Uğur , GÜZEL Barış Can , ŞENER Dila , BAYGELDİ Saime Betül , YÜKSEL Meral , UNAY DEMİREL Özlem , SOKER Sevda
Published: February 2023

Objective: In this study we examined the protective activity of Aloe vera with considering anti-oxidant, anti-apoptotic properties, and the status of Aquaporin 3 (AQP3) channel protein.

Material and Method: Twenty-one adult female rats were divided into three groups (n=7); Control, Diabetes, Treatment. Control group did not expose to any application. Animals in Diabetes and Treatment were exposed to experimental diabetes with administration of streptozotocin. Rats in Treatment received 300 mg/kg Aloe vera extract daily for 14 days. Rats were sacrificed and kidney samples were used for analyses.

Result and Discussion: Analyses indicated that lowest malondialdehyde (MDA) and luminol levels in control group were increased significantly (p
Maternal Lifestyle Factors and Fetal Macrosomia Risk: A Review
Authors: Redfern Kathy M. , Rees Gail A. , Pinkney Jonathan H.
Published: February 2023

Fetal macrosomia is associated with a number of health complications for both mother and infant in the immediate, short, and long-term. Maternal obesity and excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) have long been associated with fetal macrosomia, however the impact of maternal lifestyle factors such as dietary intake and energy balance, in combination with the timing and composition of weight gain, have been less studied. It is also clear that although maternal obesity and excessive GWG increase the risk of fetal macrosomia independently, the risk is magnified with the presence of both risk factors, suggesting that interventions to control GWG may be particularly important for obese women. Association studies examining the relationship between fetal nutrient availability, epigenetic modifications, and infant anthropometrics are also required. This review provides an overview of the current evidence examining the role of maternal lifestyle factors on the prevalence of fetal macrosomia and identifies areas where further research is required in order to inform the design of appropriate intervention strategies.
Model Desain Thinking Pada Perancangan Aplikasi Mobile Koperasi (MOKO)
Authors: Wara Febriyanti Alwisye , Silva Yustina Oliva Da
Published: February 2023

Perkembangan ekonomi Indonesia saat ini dituntut untuk meningkatkan pertumbuhan ekonomi masyarakat melalui tiga sector ekonomi yang dianggap mampu meningkatkan kesejahteraan masyarakat yaitu sector usaha negara (BUMN), usaha swasta (BUMS) dan sector koperasi. Pelayanan koperasi sangat berpengaruh pada tingkat kepuasan anggota, dengan pelayanan yang baik maka akan banyak orang yang tertarik menjadi anggota. System kerja koperasi saat ini masih menggunakan cara manual yaitu melalui pencatatan di kertas dan system kupon. Para pegawai koperasi memberikan kupon dan pencatatan secara manual kepada anggota sebagai bukti anggsuran, hal ini dirasa sangat tidak efektif dan efisien dikarenakan kertas kupon tersebut dapat hilang dan rusak. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk perancangan aplikasi mobile koperasi sebagai upaya peningkatkan kinerja koperasi dan persiapan menuju koperasi berbasis digital dengan cara menganti metode kerja manual ke dalam system digital. Penelitian ini akan merancang aplikasi mobile koperasi (MOKO) dengan metode Desain thinking. perancangan aplikasi mobile koperasi yaitu dengan menambahkan fitur yang inovatif. Untuk pengolahan data peminjaman terdapat konsep merubah kupon angsuran yang manual kedalam system barcode. System barcode yang dimaksud adalah anggota yang telah selesai mengangsur akan menscan barcodenya ke dalam menu angsuran milik pegawai. Dengan demikian system yang awalnya manual telah berubah kedalam bentuk digital.
User Interface untuk Tampilan Website Berita Mobile bagi Penyandang Rabun Dekat
Authors: Tania Windy , Candra Reski Mai , Safaat Nazruddin , Affandes Muhammad
Published: February 2023

Saat ini banyak website yang disajikan dalam bentuk mobile , yang menyediakan berbagai informasi kepada pengguna, termasuk diantaranya website berita mobile . Namun, bagi pengguna yang mengalami rabun dekat kesulitan merasa dalam membaca. Peneliti sudah melakukan wawancara terhadap 3 orang yang mengalami rabun dekat dengan rentang usia 30-60 tahun dengan jarak 25-30 cm, dari hasil wawancara menyatakan bahwa orang yang mengalami rabun dekat kesulitan dalam membaca karena font nya, ukurannya, tidak sesuai sehingga tidak terbaca dengan jelas dan informasi tidak di dapat oleh pengguna. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode UCD ( User Centered Design), yang mana metode UCD dapat menempatkan pengguna sebagai pusat pengembangan desain . Metode ini dapat digunakan untuk mengetahui seperti apa karakter dan kebutuhan dari pengguna. Untuk mengetahaui tingkat usability design yang sudah dibuat, dilakukan pengujian dengan penyebaran kueisioner dalam bentuk google form dengan hasil pengujian yang pertama sebesar 79,81 masuk ke dalam kriteria (B) Baik. Kemudian dilakukan pengujian kedua mendapatkan hasil 85,27 dengan iterasi sebanyak dua kali setelah melalui proses UCD. Berdasarkan hasil tersebut, desain website berita mobile bagi penyandang rabun dekat termasuk ke dalam kriteria (SB) Sangat Baik
Single-cell transcriptome dynamics of the autotaxin-lysophosphatidic acid axis during muscle regeneration reveal proliferative effects in mesenchymal fibro-adipogenic progenitors
Authors: Contreras Osvaldo , Harvey Richard P.
Published: February 2023

Lysophosphatidic acid is a growth factor-like bioactive phospholipid recognising LPA receptors and mediating signalling pathways that regulate embryonic development, wound healing, carcinogenesis, and fibrosis, via effects on cell migration, proliferation and differentiation. Extracellular LPA is generated from lysophospholipids by the secreted hydrolase—ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 2 (ENPP2; also, AUTOTAXIN/ATX) and metabolised by different membrane-bound phospholipid phosphatases (PLPPs). Here, we use public bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing datasets to explore the expression of Lpar1–6, Enpp2, and Plpp genes under skeletal muscle homeostasis and regeneration conditions. We show that the skeletal muscle system dynamically expresses the Enpp2-Lpar-Plpp gene axis, with Lpar1 being the highest expressed member among LPARs. Lpar1 was expressed by mesenchymal fibro-adipogenic progenitors and tenocytes, whereas FAPs mainly expressed Enpp2. Clustering of FAPs identified populations representing distinct cell states with robust Lpar1 and Enpp2 transcriptome signatures in homeostatic cells expressing higher levels of markers Dpp4 and Hsd11b1. However, tissue injury induced transient repression of Lpar genes and Enpp2. The role of LPA in modulating the fate and differentiation of tissue-resident FAPs has not yet been explored. Ex vivo, LPAR1/3 and ENPP2 inhibition significantly decreased the cell-cycle activity of FAPs and impaired fibro-adipogenic differentiation, implicating LPA signalling in the modulation of the proliferative and differentiative fate of FAPs. Together, our results demonstrate the importance of the ENPP2-LPAR-PLPP axis in different muscle cell types and FAP lineage populations in homeostasis and injury, paving the way for further research on the role of this signalling pathway in skeletal muscle homeostasis and regeneration, and that of other organs and tissues, in vivo.
Predicting the unexpected total fertilization failure in conventional in vitro fertilization cycles: What is the role of semen quality?
Authors: Jiang Xiaoming , Cai Jiali , Liu Lanlan , Liu Zhenfang , Chen Jinhua , Yang Chao , Chen Kaijie , Yang Xiaolian , Geng Jie , Ma Caihui , Lian Shuiyan , Xu Li , Ren Jianzhi
Published: February 2023

Background: Male and female gametes factors might contribute to the total fertilization failure (TFF). In first in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles, decision-making of insemination protocol was mainly based on semen quality for the contribution of female clinical characteristics to TFF remained obscure. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the role of semen quality in predicting unexpected TFF.

Methods: A single-center retrospective cohort analysis was performed on 19539 cycles between 2013 and 2021. Two algorithms, a Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) and an Extreme Gradient Boosting (Xgboost) were used to create models with cycle characteristics parameters. By including semen parameters or not, the contribution of semen parameters to the performance of the models was evaluated. The area under the curve (AUC), the calibration, and the net reclassification index (NRI) were used to evaluate the performance of the models.

Results: The prevalence of TFF were .07 (95%CI:0.07-0.08), and .08 (95%CI:0.07-0.09) respectively in the development and validation group. Including all characteristics, with the models of LASSO and Xgboost, TFF was predicted with the AUCs of .74 (95%CI:0.72-0.77) and .75 (95%CI:0.72-0.77) in the validation group. The AUCs with models of LASSO and Xgboost without semen parameters were .72 (95%CI:0.69-0.74) and .73 (95%CI:0.7-0.75). The models of LASSO and Xgboost with semen parameters only gave the AUCs of .58 (95%CI:0.55-0.61) and .57 (95%CI:0.55-0.6). For the overall validation cohort, the event NRI values were −5.20 for the LASSO model and −.71 for the Xgboost while the non-event NRI values were 10.40 for LASSO model and 0.64 for Xgboost. In the subgroup of poor responders, the prevalence was .21 (95%CI:0.18-0.24). With refitted models of LASSO and Xgboost, the AUCs were .72 (95%CI:0.67-0.77) and .69 (95%CI:0.65-0.74) respectively.

Conclusion: In unselected patients, semen parameters contribute to limited value in predicting TFF. However, oocyte yield is an important predictor for TFF and the prevalence of TFF in poor responders was high. Because reasonable predicting power for TFF could be achieved in poor responders, it may warrant further study to prevent TFF in these patients.
Diversity of arterial cell and phenotypic heterogeneity induced by high-fat and high-cholesterol diet
Authors: Wen Jieqi , Ling Rongsong , Chen Ruiyue , Zhang Siyan , Dai Yarong , Zhang Tingtao , Guo Fanyu , Wang Qingxin , Wang Guixin , Jiang Yizhou
Published: February 2023

Lipid metabolism disorder is the basis of atherosclerotic lesions, in which cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is the main factor involved with the atherosclerotic development. A high-fat and high-cholesterol diet can lead to this disorder in the human body, thus accelerating the process of disease. The development of single-cell RNA sequencing in recent years has opened the possibility to unbiasedly map cellular heterogeneity with high throughput and high resolution; alterations mediated by a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet at the single-cell transcriptomic level can be explored with this mean afterward. We assessed the aortic arch of 16-week old Apoe−/− mice of two control groups (12 weeks of chow diet) and two HFD groups (12 weeks of high fat, high cholesterol diet) to process single-cell suspension and use single-cell RNA sequencing to anatomize the transcripts of 5,416 cells from the control group and 2,739 from the HFD group. Through unsupervised clustering, 14 cell types were divided and defined. Among these cells, the cellular heterogeneity exhibited in endothelial cells and immune cells is the most prominent. Subsequent screening delineated ten endothelial cell subsets with various function based on gene expression profiling. The distribution of endothelial cells and immune cells differs significantly between the control group versus the HFD one. The existence of pathways that inhibit atherosclerosis was found in both dysfunctional endothelial cells and foam cells. Our data provide a comprehensive transcriptional landscape of aortic arch cells and unravel the cellular heterogeneity brought by a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet. All these findings open new perspectives at the transcriptomic level to studying the pathology of atherosclerosis.
Qualitative and quantitative studies on two commercial specifications of Polygonatum odoratum
Authors: Nan Yi , Liang Haizhen , Pang Xu , Zheng Wei , Shi Yuhao , Chen Xiaojuan , Zhang Jie , Song Juan , Ma Baiping
Published: February 2023

The rhizoma of Polygonatum odoratum (PO) is used to treat yin injuries of the lung and stomach in traditional Chinese medicine. The chemical constituents of this herb are steroidal saponins, homoisoflavanones, and alkaloids. Xiangyuzhu (XPO) and Guanyuzhu (GPO) are available in the market as two specifications of the commodity. Nonetheless, systematic research on the identification and comparison of chemical constituents of these two commercial specifications is yet lacking. Herein, an integrated method combing ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadruple time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS) with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-charged aerosol detection (UHPLC-CAD) was employed for the comprehensively qualitative and quantitative analyses of PO. A total of 62 compounds were identified by UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS, among which 13 potential chemical markers were screened out to distinguish two commercial specifications. Subsequently, the absolute determination method for polygodoraside G, polygonatumoside F, and timosaponin H1 was established and validated by UHPLC-CAD. The contents of the three compounds were 13.33–236.24 μg/g, 50.55–545.04 μg/g, and 13.34–407.83 μg/g, respectively. Furthermore, the ratio of timosaponin H1/polygodoraside G could be applied to differentiate the two specifications. Samples with a ratio <2 are considered XPO and >5 are considered GPO. Therefore, the above results provide a valuable means for the quality control of PO.
Differences in clinical features and gut microbiota between individuals with methamphetamine casual use and methamphetamine use disorder
Authors: He Li , Yang Bao-Zhu , Ma Yue-Jiao , Wen Li , Liu Feng , Zhang Xiao-Jie , Liu Tie-Qiao
Published: February 2023

Background

The transition from methamphetamine (MA) casual use (MCU) to compulsive use is enigmatic as some MA users can remain in casual use, but some cannot. There is a knowledge gap if gut microbiota (GM) play a role in differing MCU from MA use disorder (MUD). We aimed to investigate the clinical features and GM differences between individuals with MCU and MUD.

Method

We recruited two groups of MA users –MCU and MUD – and matched them according to age and body mass index (n=21 in each group). Participants were accessed using the Semi-Structured Assessment for Drug Dependence and Alcoholism, and their fecal samples were undergone 16S ribosomal DNA sequencing. We compared the hosts’ clinical features and GM diversity, composition, and structure (represented by enterotypes) between the two groups. We have identified differential microbes between the two groups and performed network analyses connecting GM and the clinical traits.

Result

Compared with the casual users, individuals with MUD had higher incidences of MA-induced neuropsychiatric symptoms (e.g., paranoia, depression) and withdrawal symptoms (e.g., fatigue, drowsiness, and increased appetite), as well as stronger cravings for and intentions to use MA, and increased MA tolerance. The GM diversity showed no significant differences between the two groups, but four genera (Halomonas, Clostridium, Devosia, and Dorea) were enriched in the individuals with MUD (p<0.05). Three distinct enterotypes were identified in all MA users, and Ruminococcus-driven enterotype 2 was dominant in individuals with MUD compared to the MCU (61.90% vs. 28.60%, p=0.03). Network analysis shows that Devosia is the hub genus (hub index = 0.75), which is not only related to the counts of the MUD diagnostic criteria (ρ=0.40; p=0.01) but also to the clinical features of MA users such as reduced social activities (ρ=0.54; p<0.01). Devosia is also associated with the increased intention to use MA (ρ=0.48; p<0.01), increased MA tolerance (ρ=0.38; p=0.01), craving for MA (ρ=0.37; p=0.01), and MA-induced withdrawal symptoms (p<0.05).

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that Ruminococcus-driven enterotype 2 and the genera Devosia might be two influential factors that differentiate MA casual use from MUD, but further studies are warranted.
Natural history of isolated abdominal aortic dissection: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Wu Jinlin , Wu Yanfen , Li Fei , Zhuang Donglin , Cheng Yunqing , Chen Zerui , Yang Jue , Liu Jie , Li Xin , Fan Ruixin , Sun Tucheng
Published: February 2023

Objectives

Isolated abdominal aortic dissection (IAAD) is extremely rare, with its optimal treatment and intervention timing remaining poorly understood. We aimed to study the natural history of IAAD and facilitate better clinical decision.

Methods

Consecutive patients admitted to our institution from January 2016 to April 2021 were enrolled and followed up prospectively. All-cause death was taken as the primary endpoint.

Results

A total of 68 patients with IAAD were included. The mean age at presentation was 61.2 ± 14.8 (Range: 26.0, 93.0) years and 55 (80.9%) were male. A total of 38 (55.9%) patients were treated conservatively, 27 (39.7%) received endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), and 3 (4.4%) underwent open surgery. After a mean follow-up of 2.4 years (Range: 0.1, 5.5), 9 (13.2%) patients died, 8 of whom (21.0%) were treated conservatively and 1 EVAR (3.7%). Compared with EVAR/open surgery, patient treated conservatively had a much worse survival (p = 0.043). There was no significant difference between different IAAD aortic sizes regarding mortality (p = 0.220). Patients with completely thrombosed false lumen fared improved survival rate, followed by partial thrombosis and patency, respectively, although not significantly (p = 0.190). No significant difference was observed between male and female concerning survival rate (p = 0.970). Patients without symptoms had a significantly improved survival (p = 0.048).

Conclusion

On the basis of patients’ preference and surgeons’ experience, a more aggressive treatment regimen for IAAD should be considered, with EVAR being the first choice, especially for those with persistent symptoms and patent false lumen, regardless of sex, age, or aortic size.
Renal outcomes of rivaroxaban compared with warfarin in Asian patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation: A nationwide population-based cohort study
Authors: Lee So-Ryoung , Choi Eue-Keun , Park Sang-Hyun , Han Kyung-Do , Oh Seil , Abdelgawwad Khaled , Lip Gregory Y. H.
Published: February 2023

Background

Further studies are needed to expand the evidence for the association of rivaroxaban with a lower risk of adverse renal outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) as compared with warfarin, especially in Asians.

Objectives

To determine whether there are differences in adverse renal outcomes between rivaroxaban and warfarin-treated AF patients.

Methods

Using the Korean nationwide claims database partly linked to laboratory results, patients with AF who initiated warfarin or rivaroxaban from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2017 were identified. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was used to balance the baseline characteristics of the two groups. The primary outcome (kidney failure) was defined as the need for maintenance dialysis or having kidney transplantation. For the exploratory analysis in a subset of patients with baseline and follow-up laboratory results, the composite of renal outcomes, including estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) lower than 15 ml/min/1.73 m2 at follow-up measurement, starting dialysis, or having kidney transplantation, ≥ 30% decline in eGFR, doubling of serum creatinine level, and acute kidney injury (AKI) were evaluated. The two groups were compared using Cox proportional hazards regression in the weighted population.

Results

We identified 30,933 warfarin users and 17,013 rivaroxaban users (51% of low dose rivaroxaban). After IPTW, the mean age was 70 years, and the mean CHA2DS2-VASc score was 3.9 in both groups. During a median follow-up of 0.93 (interquartile ranges 0.23–2.10) years, weighted incidence rates of kidney failure for warfarin and rivaroxaban were 0.83 and 0.32 per 100 person-years, respectively. Compared with the warfarin group, the rivaroxaban group was associated with a lower risk of kidney failure (hazard ratio [HR] 0.389, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.300–0.499, p < 0.001). In patients with preexisting chronic kidney disease or eGFR ≤ 60 ml/min/1.73 m2, rivaroxaban was more beneficial than warfarin in reducing the risk of kidney failure. For the composite of five renal outcomes in the exploratory analysis, the rivaroxaban group showed a lower risk than warfarin (HR 0.798, 95% CI 0.713–0.892, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Rivaroxaban was associated with lower risks of renal adverse outcomes than warfarin in Korean patients with AF.
Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 and NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 inflammasome in atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases: A systematic review of the current evidence
Authors: Shi Xue-yun , Yue Xiao-lin , Xu You-shun , Jiang Mei , Li Rui-jian
Published: February 2023

Inflammation and dyslipidemia underlie the pathological basis of atherosclerosis (AS). Clinical studies have confirmed that there is still residual risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD) even after intense reduction of LDL. Some of this residual risk can be explained by inflammation as anti-inflammatory therapy is effective in improving outcomes in subjects treated with LDL-lowering agents. NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation is closely related to early-stage inflammation in AS. Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) is an important enzyme of toxic aldehyde metabolism located in mitochondria and works in the metabolism of toxic aldehydes such as 4-HNE and MDA. Despite studies confirming that ALDH2 can negatively regulate NLRP3 inflammasome and delay the development of atherosclerosis, the mechanisms involved are still poorly understood. Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) is a common downstream pathway activated for NLRP3 inflammasome. ALDH2 can reduce the multiple sources of ROS, such as oxidative stress, inflammation, and mitochondrial damage, thereby reducing the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome. Further, according to the downstream of ALDH2 and the upstream of NLRP3, the molecules and related mechanisms of ALDH2 on NLRP3 inflammasome are comprehensively expounded as possible. The potential mechanism may provide potential inroads for treating ASCVD.
The telemedicine community readiness model—successful telemedicine implementation and scale-up
Authors: Otto Lena , Schlieter Hannes , Harst Lorenz , Whitehouse Diane , Maeder Anthony
Published: February 2023

To successfully scale-up telemedicine initiatives (TIs), communities play a crucial role. To empower communities fulfilling this role and increase end users' acceptance of TIs, support tools (from now on entitled artifacts) are needed that include specific measures to implement and scale up telemedicine. Addressing this need, the article introduces the Telemedicine Community Readiness Model (TCRM). The TCRM is designed to help decision-makers in communities to create a favorable environment that facilitates the implementation and scale-up of TIs. The TCRM is a practical tool to assess communities' readiness to implement TIs and identify aspects to improve this readiness. The development process follows a design-science procedure, which integrates literature reviews and semi-structured expert interviews to justify and evaluate design decisions and the final design. For researchers, the paper provides insights into factors that influence telemedicine implementation and scale-up (descriptive role of knowledge) on the community level. For practitioners, it provides a meaningful tool to support the implementation and scale-up of TIs (prescriptive role of knowledge). This should help to realize the potential of telemedicine solutions to increase access to healthcare services and their quality.
Reconstruction of seismic data based on SFISTA and curvelet transform
Authors: Tian Lin , Qin Si
Published: February 2023

In seismic data processing, the reconstruction and interpolation of missing traces are essential tasks. To overcome the limitations of irregularly sampled seismic data, this paper proposes a seismic data interpolation method combining the smoothing fast iterative soft threshold algorithm (SFISTA) and the curvelet transform; this method uses the curvelet domain as the sparse domain. For comparison, the contourlet transform is used for different sparse domains, and the fast iterative shrinkage-thresholding algorithm (FISTA) is used for different optimization algorithms. Numerical modeling and real data show that the SFISTA method in the curvelet domain can give better reconstruction effects and higher reconstruction accuracy than those in the contourlet domain with the FISTA method; in addition, the SFISTA method in the curvelet domain can be used to reconstruct the missing traces of three-dimensional seismic data.
Response of remote water vapor transport to large topographic effects and the multi-scale system during the “7.20” rainstorm event in Henan Province, China
Authors: Tang Jiahui , Xu Xiangde , Zhang Shengjun , Xu Hongxiong , Cai Wenyue
Published: February 2023

A high-resolution numerical simulation was carried out for the extremely heavy rainfall in Henan Province caused by the remote water vapor transport of the binary typhoons In-fa and Cempaka on 20 July 2021. The control simulation successfully captured the evolution process and spatial distribution of the rainfall. The key water vapor supply area of the event was a triangle moisture transport influence domain formed by the local low vortex and the multi-vapor vortex system at low-latitude. By separating the effects of multiple tropical cyclones one by one, we found that In-fa dominated the main water vapor transport in the meridional direction, and directly affected the local water vapor supply in this rainfall process. Cempaka affected intermediate moisture transfer and impacted the location of precipitations, by regulating the distribution of water vapor input and output in the meridional and zonal directions. Removing Cempaka, In-fa, and binary typhoons can reduce the rainstorm area by about 7%, 65%, and 86%, respectively. These differences underscore the importance of binary typhoons in transforming a normal heavy rain event into a high-impact, record-breaking rain event. In addition, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau exerts a modulation effect on the remote moisture transport of typhoons by multi-scale interactions. Eliminating the influence of plateau topography weakens the maximum precipitation by about 30% and the distribution of heavy rain by about 62%. After comprehensive diagnosis, a conceptual model of typhoon remote water vapor transport based on moisture multi-vortex structure under multi-scale interactions is proposed. The extremity and uncertainty of this rainstorm event can be attributed to the maintenance and development of binary typhoons, the northward extension of the subtropical high, and the anomalous convergence mechanism of water vapor due to the large terrain blocking effect on the plateau.
The development of green finance under the goal of carbon neutrality: A review from China’s perspective
Authors: Xue Yawei , Ma Tianli , Zhuang Tianyuan , Ma Yingying
Published: February 2023

Extreme environmental and climate problems have been ravaging the world, causing serious economic losses and hindering human development, so that carbon neutrality has become a global undertaking related to the survival of human civilization. To ensure climate change mitigation and carbon emission reduction, this paper finds that green finance as an important and efficient tool has become a legislative priority for many countries and have been embedded in the path to achieve carbon neutrality. On the basis of in-depth analysis of the evolution and development of global green finance, this paper reviews and summarizes the development of green finance in China through literature analysis and horizontal comparison, and explores concrete recommendations and feasible tools that can be tailored to China’s carbon neutrality goal and stage of development. It is concluded that China needs to improve the green finance operation mechanism and flexible policy framework, to formulate a more accurate timetable and roadmap, to strengthen the modernization of the governance system and governance capacity and to promote the global green finance cooperation.
Geochemistry of a paleo-oxbow lake sediments and its implications for the late Holocene extreme overbank flooding history of the Yellow River within the Zoige Basin, NE Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Wang Shuo , Wang Ninglian , Zhang Yuzhu , Huang Chang , Zhu Yan , Xiao Qili , Chen Dou , Wang Haoyu , Ming Yisen , Huang Xiaoling , Wang Sikai
Published: February 2023

Paleo-oxbow lake sediments can provide archives to reconstruct paleo-channel evolution and flooding history of the river. Multi-proxy approaches including detailed sediment stratigraphy, sedimentology and geochemistry have been implemented in a high-resolution sedimentary section of paleo-oxbow lake of the Yellow River within the Zoige Basin on the NE Tibetan Plateau, to reconstruct regional environmental changes and extreme overbank flooding history. Our results suggest that not only traditional sedimentological proxies, but also chemical elements can be applied in defining sequences with different genetic types, especially the paleoflood deposits in the paleo-oxbow profile. Two units of late-Holocence extreme overbank flooding deposits (OFDs) are identified in terms of the significantly higher proportions of sand, high contents of SiO2, Na2O, Ba, low contents of Al2O3, Fe2O3, MgO, K2O, Ti, Rb and high values of Zr/Fe, Zr/Rb ratios. These extraordinary flood events within the Zoige Basin were dated back to 2,960 ± 240–2,870 ± 270 a and 1840 ± 200–1700 ± 160 a, in response to the mid-Holocene climatic optimum to the late Holocene and the Dark Age Cold Period (DACP). And the strong rainfall caused by the abnormal atmospheric circulation during the period of climate transition and abrupt change may led to the frequent occurrence of extreme flood events in the source region of the Yellow River. These findings are important for understanding the response of regional fluvial system to high climatic instability and provide a new perspective for us to analyze the risk of flood disasters on the Tibetan Plateau under the background of climate change.
Metacognitive beliefs predict test anxiety and examination performance
Authors: Huntley Christopher D. , Young Bridget , Tudur Smith Catrin , Fisher Peter L.
Published: February 2023

Test anxiety is common among university students and impairs examination performance. Existing interventions for test anxiety are not particularly effective. Prior to developing an effective intervention, the key psychological beliefs that predict test anxiety need to be identified. Two transdiagnostic models, the intolerance of uncertainty (IU) and Self-Regulatory Executive Function (S-REF) models, propose different beliefs that result in emotional disorder, with beliefs about uncertainty emphasized in the IU model, and metacognitive beliefs emphasized in S-REF model. This study examines if IU and metacognitive beliefs predict test anxiety, and, if the relationship between these beliefs and examination performance is mediated by test anxiety. Undergraduates (n = 134) completed self-report questionnaires at two time points, approximately 3 months apart. At Time 1, during term time, participants completed questionnaires measuring their IU and metacognitive beliefs. At Time 2, participants completed a measure of “state” test anxiety immediately before their examination. IU and metacognitive beliefs were significantly positively correlated with test anxiety, but regression analyses found only the metacognitive belief domain “negative beliefs about the uncontrollability and danger of worry” predicted test anxiety. The relationship between “negative beliefs about the uncontrollability and danger of worry” and examination performance was mediated by the worry dimension of test anxiety. Overall, “negative beliefs about the uncontrollability and danger of worry” appear key to test anxiety. Modification of these metacognitive beliefs in the context of a well-being or study skills program for students could reduce test anxiety and ultimately improve academic performance.
Evaluating parental experiences in using technology for remote learning to teach students with special needs during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Sankoh Alfred , Hogle Jared , Payton Melinda , Ledbetter Karen
Published: February 2023

Background

The 2020–2021 school year shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic brought an unprecedented burden on parents, especially those with special needs children. Parents with children with special needs were left to assist their children with remote learning at home using technology for the first time. These students with special needs were used to face-to-face and one-to-one classroom learning by skilled educators but are now left to be educated by their parents.

Objective

This study explored parents’ experiences assisting their special needs children with remote learning for the first time, using technology at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Method

A transcendental (descriptive) phenomenology was undertaken to explore the experiences of nine participants, recruited from two school divisions in Manitoba, Canada, on their child’s education and the challenges they experienced during remote learning from home. A purposive sampling technique was used, and data were collected through telephone interviews.

Results

Eight out of nine parents reported a negative experience with remote learning. Four major themes emerged after the data analysis: participants’ fear and anxiety during remote learning, difficulty maintaining routines during remote learning, students’ behavioral issues and mental health changes during remote learning, and lack of home support during remote learning. Furthermore, results indicated that integrating technology in remote learning for students with special needs was ineffective.

Conclusion

This study suggests poor communication between parents and teachers, and parents’ desire to be involved in planning remote learning for students with special needs during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown was not met. This study also suggests that schools failed to meet students’ IEPs during remote learning. Furthermore, this study highlights that remote learning for special-needs students is inappropriate without educational assistance.
Physics teachers’ conceptions of equity: Access and achievement
Authors: Huynh Tra , Bauman Lauren C. , Robertson Amy D. , Scherr Rachel E.
Published: February 2023

Physics teachers’ definitions of equity inform how they identify inequity and take action to transform it. In this paper, we adapted Gutiérrez’s equity framework from mathematics education research to physics education research. The framework defines equity in terms of four dimensions: access, achievement, identity, and power. We used this equity framework to characterize the equity conceptions shared by 23 teachers who participated in an equity-focused professional development. We found that the access and achievement dimensions of equity are popular with teachers compared to the identity and power dimensions, and that teachers share a common understanding of conceptions of access and achievement in ways that is consistent with educational literature and discourses.
Association between serum carcinoembryonic antigen and cardiometabolic risks: Implication for cardiometabolic prevention
Authors: Chang Chia-Hao , Weng Hsu-Huei , Lin Yu-Chih , Lin Chia-Ni , Huang Tung-Jung , Chen Mei-Yen
Published: February 2023

Background

Serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a biomarker commonly used to detect colorectal cancer. CEA levels are affected by many factors, including cardiometabolic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and diabetes. Cardiometabolic diseases and cancer share a similar pathological inflammatory pathway, which correlates with an unhealthy lifestyle. Hence, establishing an adequate CEA cut-off value might be a valuable reference for developing precision healthcare programs for cardiometabolic disease prevention. This study aimed to investigate the association between cardiometabolic risks and serum CEA and the underlying factors.

Methods

A community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted between March and December 2021 on the western coast of Taiwan. Lifestyle data were assessed using a structured questionnaire. The cardiometabolic biomarkers, serum CEA, urine malondialdehyde, and 1-hydroxypyrene were quantified by the central laboratory of the collaborating hospital. Chi-square and binary multivariable logistic regression implemented in R version 4.0.2 were used to identify factors defining the risk of high serum CEA levels.

Results

A total of 6,295 adult residents without cancer-related diseases completed the study. The mean age was 48.6 (SD = 16.4) years, 56% were female, 32% had metabolic syndrome, and 23% and 10% had CVDs and diabetes, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression showed that age ≥ 65 years, male sex, alcohol consumption, smoking, infrequent use of dental floss, fewer remaining teeth, CVDs, diabetes, and oxidative stress were significantly associated with serum CEA ≥ 3 ng/mL. The discriminatory performance of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.75 (0.73–0.76), showing that this model was suitable for distinguishing high CEA levels.

Conclusion

Our findings highlight the importance of understanding cardiometabolic diseases, unhealthy lifestyles, and oxidative stress, which contribute to high serum CEA. This study demonstrates that CEA, a well-known tumor marker, can help the early detection and prevention of cardiometabolic diseases via personalized lifestyle modification.
An overview of power reactor kinetics and control in load-following operation modes
Authors: Žerovnik Gašper , Čalič Dušan , Gerkšič Samo , Kromar Marjan , Malec Jan , Mihelčič Anže , Trkov Andrej , Snoj Luka
Published: February 2023

Previous work done on reactor kinetics and control in load-following operation modes available in open literature is reviewed. The analysis is focused on, however not limited to pressurized water reactors. Different approximations of the time-dependent neutron transport problem as well as different control algorithms are described in detail and compared. Due to lack of published information the majority of the comparisons was done on qualitative level. In order to facilitate future testing and intercomparisons of models and algorithms, two so-called reference scenarios with time-dependent power demand are defined: a scenario to test the limitations of the load-following capabilities of the nuclear facilities and a second, quasi-realistic scenario.
Real-time low-carbon scheduling for the wind–thermal–hydro-storage resilient power system using linear stochastic robust optimization
Authors: Qiu Peng , Lu Yi , Zhang Wenchao , Ding Chao
Published: February 2023

With the large-scale wind power integration, power systems have to address not only the conventional power demand fluctuations but also the wind uncertainty. To improve the economical effectiveness, resilience, and environmental protection of power systems in the source-load uncertainty, a real-time low-carbon scheduling for the wind–thermal–hydro-storage integrated system is proposed. The power imbalance caused by the uncertainty is neutralized by the synergetic linear decision of multiple resources. To address the source-load uncertainty, a stochastic robust optimization is introduced, which establishes the system constraints by robust optimization for the resilience operation, while optimizing the expected operation cost in the empirical uncertainty distribution for economic efficiency. Moreover, a multi-point estimation is applied to formulate the expected operation cost precisely and quickly. By using the dual theory, the proposed real-time power scheduling is derived as a mixed integer bilinear constrained programming. A multi-step sequential convexified solution is developed to solve the complex scheduling problem, which linearizes the bilinear constraints with alternate optimization and relaxes the state variables of energy storages with an “estimation–correction” strategy. Finally, case studies show the superiority of the proposed scheduling method and convexified solution.
Analysis of social–Psychological factors and financial incentives in demand response and residential energy behavior
Authors: Chen Chien-fei , Xu Xiaojing , Cao Zhuolin , Mockus Audris , Shi Qingxin
Published: February 2023

Introduction: Demand response programs are promising approaches to balance supply and demand and reduce or shift peak hour loads. However, the impacts of residents’ behavioral patterns and social–psychological factors on these programs are poorly understood.

Method: We used an extended model of the theory of planned behavior to understand how social–psychological factors, demographics, and household characteristics influence the demand response behaviors (i.e., adjusting A/C and shifting the time of use) of 826 US residents who participated in our study.

Results: We found that low-income households (43.7%) reported as more likely to respond to the behavior of raising A/C thermostat settings when no one is home compared to higher-income residents. Thermal comfort needs (β = 0.34) and participants’ age (β = 0.02) increased the financial incentives requested to accept higher A/C temperatures while someone is home. Thermal comfort needs (β = 0.36) and energy-saving habits (β = −0.11) are the significant predictors of increased incentives requested for higher A/C temperatures when no one is home. Older adults request higher financial incentives for shifting washer and dryer usage than younger residents. Finally, attitudes toward energy saving are the strongest predictor of electricity curtailment behavioral intention, followed by perceived behavioral control, subjective norms, cost and environmental concerns, and energy-saving habits.

Discussion: This finding suggests the potential of social–psychological variables in shaping energy consumption behaviors. This study provides insights for designing effective demand response programs and broadly analyzing energy behavioral patterns.
Dietary plasticity linked to divergent growth trajectories in a critically endangered sea turtle
Authors: Ramirez Matthew D. , Avens Larisa , Meylan Anne B. , Shaver Donna J. , Stahl Angela R. , Meylan Peter A. , Clark Jamie M. , Howell Lyndsey N. , Stacy Brian A. , Teas Wendy G. , McMahon Kelton W.
Published: February 2023

Foraging habitat selection and diet quality are key factors that influence individual fitness and meta-population dynamics through effects on demographic rates. There is growing evidence that sea turtles exhibit regional differences in somatic growth linked to alternative dispersal patterns during the oceanic life stage. Yet, the role of habitat quality and diet in shaping somatic growth rates is poorly understood. Here, we evaluate whether diet variation is linked to regional growth variation in hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata), which grow significantly slower in Texas, United States versus Florida, United States, through novel integrations of skeletal growth, gastrointestinal content (GI), and bulk tissue and amino acid (AA)-specific stable nitrogen (δ15N) and carbon (δ13C) isotope analyses. We also used AA δ15N ΣV values (heterotrophic bacterial re-synthesis index) and δ13C essential AA (δ13CEAA) fingerprinting to test assumptions about the energy sources fueling hawksbill food webs regionally. GI content analyses, framed within a global synthesis of hawksbill dietary plasticity, revealed that relatively fast-growing hawksbills stranded in Florida conformed with assumptions of extensive spongivory for this species. In contrast, relatively slow-growing hawksbills stranded in Texas consumed considerable amounts of non-sponge invertebrate prey and appear to forage higher in the food web as indicated by isotopic niche metrics and higher AA δ15N-based trophic position estimates internally indexed to baseline nitrogen isotope variation. However, regional differences in estimated trophic position may also be driven by unique isotope dynamics of sponge food webs. AA δ15N ΣV values and δ13CEAA fingerprinting indicated minimal bacterial re-synthesis of organic matter (ΣV < 2) and that eukaryotic microalgae were the primary energy source supporting hawksbill food webs. These findings run contrary to assumptions that hawksbill diets predominantly comprise high microbial abundance sponges expected to primarily derive energy from bacterial symbionts. Our findings suggest alternative foraging patterns could underlie regional variation in hawksbill growth rates, as divergence from typical sponge prey might correspond with increased energy expenditure and reduced foraging success or diet quality. As a result, differential dispersal patterns may infer substantial individual and population fitness costs and represent a previously unrecognized challenge to the persistence and recovery of this critically endangered species.