bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhanced Tribological Performance of Micro-Beam Plasma-Cladded Ni60 Coatings with Addition of Mo and Ag Lubricants in a Wide Temperature Range
Authors: Ye Fuxing , Zhang Yufeng , Lou Zhi , Wang Yingfan
Published: November 2023

In recent years, there has been significant attention on the application potential of medium and high-temperature self-lubricating composites as sliding parts in extreme environments. This study examines the effects of different Mo and Ag content on the composition and wear resistance of Ni60-cladded coatings at room temperature, 300 °C and 600 °C, while also analyzing their wear mechanism by studying the tribofilm. The results indicate that with an appropriate weight addition of Mo and Ag, one typical lubricant called Ag2MoO4 emerges. At room temperature, the cladding layer containing 5 wt.% Mo and 5 wt.% Ag exhibits a wear rate of 2.08 × 10−6 mm3/Nm, and an average coefficient of friction (COF) of 0.3410. These two are 85% and 11% lower than those of the Ni60 cladding layer, respectively. At 300 °C, MoO3 and Cr2MoO6 act as solid lubricants. Furthermore, at 600 °C, a MoSi2 and SiO2 film forms on the worn surface to prevent further oxidation of MoSi2 and enhance oxidation resistance. The main wear mechanism is adhesion wear. Under higher temperatures, the newly formed Ag2MoO4 in the composite cladding layer adopts a layered cubic spinel structure where low-energy Ag-O bonds preferentially break during friction processes, demonstrating excellent lubrication performance.
An Analysis of Air Flow in the Baking Chamber of a Tunnel-Type Electric Oven
Authors: Constantin Gabriel-Alexandru , Munteanu Mariana-Gabriela , Voicu Gheorghe , Paraschiv Gigel , Ștefan Elena-Madalina
Published: November 2023

The baking process in tunnel ovens can be influenced by many parameters. Among these, the most important can be considered as: the baking time, the volume of dough pieces, the texture and humidity of the dough, the distribution of temperature inside the oven, as well as the flow of air currents applied in the baking chamber. In order to obtain a constant quality of bakery or pastry products, and for the efficient operation of the oven, it is necessary that the solution made by the designers be subjected to modelling, simulation and analysis processes, before their manufacture, and in this sense it can be applied to the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) numerical simulation tool. In this study, we made an analysis of the air flow inside the baking chamber of an oven. The analyzed oven was used very frequently on the pastry lines. After performing the modelling and simulation, the temperature distribution inside the oven was obtained in the longitudinal and transverse planes. For the experimental validation of the temperatures obtained in the computer-assisted simulation, the temperatures inside the analyzed electric oven were measured. The measured temperatures validated the simulation results with a maximum error of 7.6%.
Dataset: Impact of β-Galactosylceramidase Overexpression on the Protein Profile of Braf(V600E) Mutated Melanoma Cells
Authors: Capoferri Davide , Chiodelli Paola , Calza Stefano , Manfredi Marcello , Presta Marco
Published: November 2023

β-Galactosylceramidase (GALC) is a lysosomal enzyme involved in sphingolipid metabolism by removing β-galactosyl moieties from β-galactosyl ceramide and β-galactosyl sphingosine. Previous observations have shown that GALC exerts a pro-oncogenic activity in human melanoma. Here, the impact of GALC overexpression on the proteomic landscape of BRAF-mutated A2058 and A375 human melanoma cell lines was investigated by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry analysis of the cell extracts. The results indicate that GALC overexpression causes the upregulation/downregulation of 172/99 proteins in GALC-transduced cells when compared to control cells. Gene ontology categorization of up/down-regulated proteins indicates that GALC may modulate the protein landscape in BRAF-mutated melanoma cells by affecting various biological processes, including RNA metabolism, cell organelle fate, and intracellular redox status. Overall, these data provide further insights into the pro-oncogenic functions of the sphingolipid metabolizing enzyme GALC in human melanoma.
Effects of 3D Printing Parameters on Mechanical Properties of ABS Samples
Authors: Ahmad Mohd Nazri , Yahya Abdullah
Published: November 2023

The most modern technique utilized to create intricate manufactured parts for a variety of applications is called additive manufacturing (AM). Fused deposition modeling (FDM) has been acknowledged as the greatest consideration in the development and industrial sectors. The main objective of this study was to investigate how printing factors affected the mechanical characteristics of printed samples. Samples were produced via an FDM 3D printer in compliance with an ASTM D638 using a variety of input settings, including orientation, layer thickness, speed, and infill pattern. Tensile tests and morphological analysis using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) were done on the printed samples. The results of this study demonstrate that factors including layer thickness, printing speed, and orientation significantly affect the tensile strength of the ABS-printed samples. The 45° orientations, 0.3 mm thickness, and normal speed had a significant impact on the tensile strength of the ABS-printed samples. On the other hand, samples with a 90° orientation, 0.4 mm thickness, and fast speed show better elongation performance than other samples, according to Young’s modulus results. The SEM results for microscopic analysis show that samples S2 (loose infill, 45° orientation, 0.3 mm thickness, and normal speed), S5 (solid infill, 45° orientation, 0.3 mm thickness, and normal speed), and S8 (hollow infill, 45° orientation, 0.3 mm thickness, and normal speed) had a highly packed structure and robust. Discovering the parameter settings that could lead to greater mechanical and physical characteristics would undoubtedly assist designers and manufacturers worldwide as the FDM 3D printer becomes more and more crucial in manufacturing engineering parts.
Correction: Brandão Palma et al. Biological Evidence of Improved Wound Healing Using Autologous Micrografts in a Diabetic Animal Model. Diabetology 2023, 4, 294–311
Authors:   Diabetology Editorial Office
Published: November 2023

The Diabetology Editorial Office would like to make the following correction to the published paper [...]
An Optical Coherence Tomography-Based Measure as an Independent Estimate of Retinal Function in Retinitis Pigmentosa
Authors: Paez-Escamilla Manuel , Alabek Michelle L. , Beale Oliver , Prensky Colin J. , Lejoyeux Raphael , Friberg Thomas R. , Sahel Jose-Alain , Rosin Boris
Published: November 2023

Background: With the clinical advances in the field of gene therapy, the development of objective measures of visual function of patients with inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs) is of utmost importance. Here, we propose one such measure. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from a cohort of 194 eyes of 97 genetically diagnosed patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), the most common IRD, followed at the UPMC Vision Institute. The analyzed data included the reflectivity ratio (RR) of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) to that of the entire retina, visual acuity (VA) and the thickness of the retinal outer nuclear layer (ONL) and the RNFL. Results: There was a strong positive correlation between the RR and VA. Both VA and the RR were negatively correlated with disease duration; VA, but not the RR, was negatively correlated with age. The RR correlated with the ONL but not with the RNFL thickness or the intraocular pressure. Age, RR, disease duration and ONL thickness were found to be independent predictors of VA by multivariate analysis. Conclusion: The OCT RR could serve as an independent predictor of visual acuity, and by extension of retinal function, in genetically diagnosed RP patients. Such objective measures can be of great value in patient selection for therapeutic trials.
Coexistence of Vertebral and Intervertebral Disc Changes in Low Back Pain Patients—In Depth Characterization with Same Day MRI and CT Discography
Authors: Hebelka Hanna , Erkmar Alfred , Brisby Helena , Lagerstrand Kerstin
Published: November 2023

The aim of this study was to investigate to what extent annular fissures, vertebral and endplate changes, and Modic changes (MCs), coexist in low back pain (LBP) patients by using multiple imaging modalities. Sixty-two LBP patients (mean age 45 years, range 24–63, 53% men) were examined with same-day CT-discography and MRI. Intervertebral discs punctured for discography (n = 204) were evaluated on MRI [Pfirrmann grade, High-Intensity Zone (HIZ)] and on CT-discograms [Modified Dallas Discogram Score (DDS)]. DDS≥ 1, i.e., disc fissures involving the outer annulus were further digitomized into delimitable fissuring (<50% of annulus affected) or non-delimitable annular fissuring. Using both MRI and CT, adjacent vertebrae and endplates were assessed for MC, vertebral sclerosis, and a modified endplate defect score (EPS). In 194 discs the contrast agent was adequately injected during discography, of which 160 (83%) displayed outer annular fissures, with 91 (47%) of the latter being delimitable fissures. Most discs with delimitable fissures were moderately degenerated; 68% Pfirrmann grade ≤3, 71% EPS ≤ 2, and 12% displayed MC. The majority (76%) of MCs were associated with advanced adjacent disc degeneration; 84% Pfirrmann grade ≥4, 76% with non-delimitable annular fissuring, 59% EPS≥ 4, and 34% EPS of 3. A total 95 HIZ (47%) were found, of which 54 had delimitable fissuring, while the remainder displayed non-delimitable fissuring. Vertebral sclerosis was commonly observed (26%), both with MCs (73%) and without MCs (27%), and not specifically linked to MC type 3. A total of 97% of segments with vertebral sclerosis displayed outer annular fissures. These findings were significant (0.046 > p > 0.0001), except between HIZ and adjacent sclerosis (p = 0.303). To conclude, the present study confirmed a close interplay between the disc and adjacent vertebra and endplates. The fact that a majority of discs with delimitable annular fissures did not coexist with pronounced endplate changes and/or MCs, however, supports the theory that disc fissuring is an early event in the degenerative cascade. This was further supported by the fact that MCs were strongly linked to extensive disc fissuring and to advanced endplate damage. Further, vertebral sclerosis was common also in vertebra without MCs and strongly associated to annular fissuring, indicating that sclerosis is a previously underestimated feature of a general degenerative process.
An Automated Grading System Based on Topological Features for the Evaluation of Corneal Fluorescein Staining in Dry Eye Disease
Authors: Feng Jun , Ren Zi-Kai , Wang Kai-Ni , Guo Hao , Hao Yi-Ran , Shu Yuan-Chao , Tian Lei , Zhou Guang-Quan , Jie Ying
Published: November 2023

Background: Corneal fluorescein staining is a key biomarker in evaluating dry eye disease. However, subjective scales of corneal fluorescein staining are lacking in consistency and increase the difficulties of an accurate diagnosis for clinicians. This study aimed to propose an automatic machine learning-based method for corneal fluorescein staining evaluation by utilizing prior information about the spatial connection and distribution of the staining region. Methods: We proposed an end-to-end automatic machine learning-based classification model that consists of staining region identification, feature signature construction, and machine learning-based classification, which fully scrutinizes the multiscale topological features together with conventional texture and morphological features. The proposed model was evaluated using retrospective data from Beijing Tongren Hospital. Two masked ophthalmologists scored images independently using the Sjögren’s International Collaborative Clinical Alliance Ocular Staining Score scale. Results: A total of 382 images were enrolled in the study. A signature with six topological features, two textural features, and two morphological features was constructed after feature extraction and selection. Support vector machines showed the best classification performance (accuracy: 82.67%, area under the curve: 96.59%) with the designed signature. Meanwhile, topological features contributed more to the classification, compared with other features. According to the distribution and correlation with features and scores, topological features performed better than others. Conclusions: An automatic machine learning-based method was advanced for corneal fluorescein staining evaluation. The topological features in presenting the spatial connectivity and distribution of staining regions are essential for an efficient corneal fluorescein staining evaluation. This result implies the clinical application of topological features in dry-eye diagnosis and therapeutic effect evaluation.
Comparison of Digital versus Analog 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT Performance in Hormone-Sensitive Prostate Cancer Patients with Early Biochemical Recurrence or Persistence after Radical Treatment
Authors: Rovera Guido , Grimaldi Serena , Dall’Armellina Sara , Zotta Michela , Finessi Monica , Passera Roberto , Deandreis Désirée
Published: November 2023

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the favorable characteristics of novel digital PET/CT (dPET) scanners compared to analog systems (aPET) could translate into an improved disease localization in prostate cancer (PCa) patients with early biochemical recurrence/persistence (BCR/BCP). A retrospective analysis was conducted on 440 consecutive analog (n = 311) or digital (n = 129) 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT scans performed in hormone-sensitive ADT-free PCa patients with early-BCR/BCP (PSA at PET ≤ 2.0 ng/mL), previously treated with radical intent (radical-prostatectomy/radiotherapy). dPET showed a higher positivity rate compared to aPET (48.8% [63/129] vs. 37.3% [116/311], p = 0.03), despite the slightly lower median PSA value of the dPET cohort (0.33 [IQR: 0.26–0.61] vs. 0.55 [IQR: 0.40–0.85] ng/mL, p < 0.01). dPET detection rate was higher in both PSA ranges 0.2–0.5 ng/mL (39.0% [32/82] vs. 25.2% [34/135], p = 0.03) and 0.5–1.0 ng/mL (63.2% [24/38] vs. 40.8% [53/130], p = 0.02), but not for PSA ≥ 1.0 ng/mL. dPET detected a higher per patient median number of pathologic findings (PSMA-RADS ≥ 3) and multi-metastatic cases (>3 lesions) among N1/M1-positive scans (21.7% [10/46] vs. 8.6% [9/105], p = 0.03). Moreover, the proportion of uncertain findings among pathological lesions was significantly lower for dPET than aPET (24.4% [39/160] vs. 38.5% [60/156], p = 0.008). Overall, 68Ga-PSMA-11 dPET showed a better performance compared to aPET, resulting in a higher scan-positivity rate, a higher number of detected pathological lesions, and a lower rate of uncertain findings.
Soil Conditioning and Neighbor Identity Influence on Cycas Seedling Performance
Authors: Marler Thomas E.
Published: November 2023

Translocation of endangered plant species and facilitating in situ regeneration require knowledge of the factors that define suitable habitat characteristics. Four approaches were employed to define how antecedent and contemporary plant identity influenced Cycas seedling growth and survival in Guam, Yap, and the Philippines. Cycas micronesica K.D. Hill or Cycas nitida K.D. Hill & A. Lindstr. seedlings growing beneath the canopy of the maternal parent tree reached 100% mortality in 4 to 8 year. Cycas micronesica seedlings planted beneath a conspecific male adult tree reached 68% mortality in two years while seedlings planted away from a conspecific individual exhibited 100% survival. Cycas micronesica seedlings planted beneath monostands of invasive Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit or Vitex parviflora Juss. reached 40% mortality in two years while seedlings planted in adjacent native forest cover exhibited 100% survival. Cycas micronesica seedlings planted in soil conditioned for 9 months by conspecifics, heterospecific native species, Carica papaya L., L. leucocephala, or V. parviflora exhibited the greatest growth in the soils conditioned by heterospecific natives and the least growth in the soils conditioned by the three invasive species. The seedlings growing in soil conditioned by conspecifics exhibited the most coralloid roots and the greatest shoot:root ratio. These studies confirmed that the identity of antecedent and competitive plants strongly influenced the longevity and growth of Cycas seedlings. Conservationists may improve outcomes by avoiding degraded forests that have experienced invasive plant species when positioning translocation projects. Planting Cycas seedlings in biodiverse native forest but away from a conspecific individual may lead to the greatest success in population recovery.
Understanding Racially Minoritized Girls’ Perceptions of Their STEM Identities, Abilities, and Sense of Belonging in a Summer Camp
Authors: Milton Saki , Sager Marc T. , Walkington Candace
Published: November 2023

Informal science education researchers have become increasingly interested in how out-of-school spaces that offer STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) programs inform learners’ STEM achievement, interests, and affective outcomes. Studies have found that these spaces can offer critical learning and developmental opportunities for underrepresented racially minoritized (URM) students (Black, Latinx, low socioeconomic status) in STEM subjects. Shifting away from the leaky STEM pipeline analogy, researchers have posited contemporary understandings to explain why the minoritization of URM girls persists. Informal learning environments such as STEM summer camps are being studied to assess how URM girls experience and interact with STEM in novel ways. These environments can inform the research field about how URM girls’ perceptions of their STEM identities, abilities, efficacy, and belonging in STEM develop as they engage in those spaces. This mixed-method study used a multiple-case-study approach to examine how aspects of URM middle school girls’ STEM identities positively changed after participating in a one-week, sleep-away, single-gender STEM summer camp held at a university in the Southwestern U.S. Drawing on intersectionality and STEM identity, we used ecological systems theory to design our research study, examining how URM middle school girls narrate their STEM identities in this informal learning environment. Using quantitative analyses and deductive coding methods, we explored how elements of girls’ STEM identities were shaped during and after their participation in the STEM summer camp. Findings from our study highlight (1) quantitative changes in girl participants’ STEM identities, sense of belonging in STEM, and perceived STEM ability belief, (2) qualitative results supporting our quantitative findings, and (3) how the intersectionality of participants’ race and gender played a role in their STEM identities. This study points to the potential of STEM informal learning camps as a way of developing and fostering URM girls’ STEM identities.
Examining Pre-Service Teachers’ Critical Thinking Competences within the Framework of Education for Sustainable Development: A Qualitative Analysis
Authors: Christodoulou Panagiota , Papanikolaou Anastasios
Published: November 2023

Empowering teachers with Critical Thinking and an understanding of sustainability is vital for guiding students’ informed decisions and actions in today’s world. Higher education needs innovative, student-centered methods like case-based teaching in order to promote Critical Thinking and the principles of Education for Sustainable Development. The aim of the study was to explore and evaluate pre-service teachers’ Critical Thinking when engaged with case studies in a practicum preparation course centered on Education for Sustainable Development. Nine undergraduate students in teacher education participated in the study and answered four case studies. The case studies’ responses were analyzed through a bottom-up content analysis revealing eight higher-order categories. While approaching the case studies, student teachers followed thinking processes similar to the processes proposed by the iterative models of Critical Thinking. Nevertheless, in some cases, pre-service teachers’ disengagement was evident. The rubric assessment highlighted that the responses fell under three profiles, namely the “Deficient Critical Thinker”, the “Emerging Critical Thinker” and the “Competent Critical Thinker”. The findings emphasize the need for targeted and individualized teaching interventions in teacher higher education programs aiming at Education for Sustainable Development complying with the learning needs of student teachers’ Critical Thinking profiles.
Psychometric Properties of a New Mexican Optimism Scale: Ethnopsychological Approach
Authors: Palacios-Delgado Jorge , Acevedo-Ibarra Jessica Noemí
Published: November 2023

Background: In this paper, a Mexican Optimism Scale was constructed to investigate and estimate psychometric properties (reliability and validity based on the measurement model). The convergent validity and validity criterion were evaluated for a sample of young Mexicans. Methods: The scale was presented to 848 Mexican young people aged between 17 and 30 years from three different regions of Mexico. The scale was reduced to 20 items on the basis of CFA and analyses of internal consistency. Results: The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) suggested a three-factor structure of optimism: affective resources, positive vision and hope. The data provided evidence for convergent validity with positive affect, negative affect and coping. Additionally, males scored higher on affective resources and positive vision than females. Finally, the results support the reliability of the instrument. Conclusions: The psychometric properties of the Mexican Optimism Scale proved to be highly acceptable and allow for a novel assessment of optimism from an ethnopsychological perspective. Validity, reliability and invariance were determined, as well as percentiles for the practical use of the scale. This scale may be of crucial importance for future research on optimism and health.
Influence of Concurrent Exercise Training on Ankle Muscle Activation during Static and Proactive Postural Control on Older Adults with Sarcopenic Obesity: A Multicenter, Randomized, and Controlled Trial
Authors: Magtouf Elmoetez , Chortane Sabri Gaied , Chortane Oussema Gaied , Boyas Sébastien , Beaune Bruno , Durand Sylvain , Maktouf Wael
Published: November 2023

Sarcopenic obesity (SO), characterized by age-related muscle loss and excess body fat, significantly impairs postural control. However, limited research has explored the effects of concurrent exercise training on neuromuscular strategies during postural control in older adults with SO. The study enrolled 50 older adults with SO, split into an intervention group (IG, n = 25, mean age = 76.1 ± 3.5 years; mean BMI = 34.4 ± 4.0 kg/m2) and a control group (CG, n = 25, mean age = 75.9 ± 5.4 years; mean BMI = 32.9 ± 2.3 kg/m2). Participants in the IG were engaged in 60-min Total Mobility Plus Program (TMP) sessions three times a week for four months, while the CG maintained their typical daily activities. Standardized evaluations were conducted both before and after the intervention. These assessments included the Romberg and Timed Up and Go (TUG) tests, as well as the measurement of Center of Pressure (CoP) displacements parameters under various conditions. Additionally, ankle muscle activities were quantified during postural control evaluations and maximal voluntary contractions of plantar and dorsal flexors. Post-intervention results revealed a significant reduction of the standing time measured in the Romberg (−15.6%, p < 0.005) and TUG (−34.6%, p < 0.05) tests. Additionally, CoP area and velocity were notably reduced in various conditions (p < 0.05). Postural control improvements were associated with an increase of strength (p < 0.05) and decrease of ankle muscle activation (p < 0.05). These findings highlight the reversibility of neuromuscular system alterations associated with the synergistic effects of sarcopenia and obesity, emphasizing the trainability of postural control regulation within this population. By incorporating these insights into clinical practice and public health strategies, it seems possible to optimize the health and well-being of older adults with SO.
SiC Trench MOSFET with Depletion-Mode pMOS for Enhanced Short-Circuit Capability and Switching Performance
Authors: Yu Hengyu , Shi Limeng , Bhattacharya Monikuntala , Jin Michael , Qian Jiashu , Agarwal Anant K.
Published: November 2023

A novel 4H-SiC trench metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (TMOS) with depletion-mode pMOS (D-pMOS) is proposed and investigated via TCAD simulation. It has an auxiliary gate electrode that controls the electrical connections of P-shield layers under the trench bottom through the D-pMOS. In linear operation, the D-pMOS is turned off and then the potential of the P-shield layers is raised with the auxiliary gate, which shrinks the width of the depletion region of the P-shield/N-drift junction to reduce the resistance of the JFET region. In the saturation operation, the saturation current density of the proposed TMOS is reduced, benefiting from its relatively large cell pitch. The design concept eases the tension between specific on-resistance and short circuit capabilities. Numerical simulation results show that the proposed TMOS exhibits a short circuit withstand time that is 1.92 times longer than that of the conventional TMOS. In addition, a drive tactic is introduced and optimized for the proposed TMOS, which requires only one set of gate drivers. Compared with the conventional TMOS, the switching performance is improved and the switching loss is reduced by 40%.
The Development of a Model System for the Visualization of Information on Cultural Activities and Events
Authors: Kaimaris Dimitris , Patias Petros , Roustanis Themistoklis , Klimantakis Kostas , Georgiadis Charalampos , Papadopoulos George-Julius , Poulopoulos Kostas , Karadimas Dimitris
Published: November 2023

The use of augmented reality (AR) is the only meaningful way towards the creation and integration of information into a cultural (and not only) analogue leaflet, flyer and poster, which by their nature have limited informational material. The enrichment of information, which an analogue leaflet has, with additional descriptive information (text), multimedia (image, video, sound), 3-D models, etc., gives the end recipient/user a unique experience of approaching and understanding a music event, for example. The Digi-Orch is a research project that aims to create smart printed communication materials (e.g., posters, concert programme booklets) and an accompanying AR application to provide this enhanced audience experience to classical music lovers. The paper presents the ways in which AR can extend and enrich an analogue leaflet/flyer/poster, the features of and how to use the developed AR application, as well as the components, architecture and functions of the system. It also presents the different versions of the AR application within the project, starting with the laboratory versions, continuing with the pilot versions in real conditions (music events) and reaching the final prototype and the educational version of the AR application.
Head and Voice-Controlled Human-Machine Interface System for Transhumeral Prosthesis
Authors: Molina Arias Ludwin , Iwaniec Marek , Pirowska Paulina , Smoleń Magdalena , Augustyniak Piotr
Published: November 2023

The design of artificial limbs is a research topic that has, over time, attracted considerable interest from researchers in various fields of study, such as mechanics, electronics, robotics, and neuroscience. Continuous efforts are being made to build electromechanical systems functionally equivalent to the original limbs and to develop strategies to control them appropriately according to the intentions of the user. The development of Human–Machine Interfaces (HMIs) is a key point in the development of upper limb prostheses, since the actions carried out with the upper limbs lack fixed patterns, in contrast to the more predictable nature of lower limb movements. This paper presents the development of an HMI system for the control of a transhumeral prosthesis. The HMI is based on a hybrid control strategy that uses voice commands to trigger prosthesis movements and regulates the applied grip strength when the user turns his head. A prototype prosthesis was built using 3D technology and trials were conducted to test the proposed control strategy under laboratory conditions. Numerical simulations were also performed to estimate the grip strength generated. The results obtained show that the proposed prosthesis with the dedicated HMI is a promising low-cost alternative to the current solutions. The proposed hybrid control system is capable of recognizing the user’s voice with an accuracy of up to 90%, controlling the prosthesis joints and adjusting the grip strength according to the user’s wishes.
Fault Detection-Based Multiple Local Manifold Learning and Its Application to Blast Furnace Ironmaking Process
Authors: Wang Ke , Wu Ping , Lou Siwei , Pan Haipeng , Gao Jinfeng
Published: November 2023

Process safety plays a vital role in the modern process industry. To prevent undesired accidents caused by malfunctions or other disturbances in complex industrial processes, considerable attention has been paid to data-driven fault detection techniques. To explore the underlying manifold structure, manifold learning methods including Laplacian eigenmaps, locally linear embedding, and Hessian eigenmaps have been utilized in data-driven fault detection. However, only the partial local structure information is extracted from the aforementioned methods. This paper proposes fused local manifold learning (FLML), which synthesizes the typical manifold learning methods to find the underlying manifold structure from different angles. A more comprehensive local structure is discovered under a unified framework by constructing an objection optimization function for process data dimension reduction. The proposed method takes advantage of different manifold learning methods. Based on the proposed dimension reduction method, a new data-driven fault detection method is developed. Hotelling’s T2 and Q statistics are established for the purpose of fault detection. Experiments on an industrial benchmark Tennessee Eastman process whose average MDR and average FAR of FLML T2 are 7.58% and 0.21% and a real blast furnace ironmaking process whose MDR and FAR of FLML T2 are 2.80% and 0.00% are carried out to demonstrate the superiority and effectiveness of the proposed method.
Towards Smarter Positioning through Analyzing Raw GNSS and Multi-Sensor Data from Android Devices: A Dataset and an Open-Source Application
Authors: Grenier Antoine , Lohan Elena Simona , Ometov Aleksandr , Nurmi Jari
Published: November 2023

The state-of-the-art Android environment, available on a major market share of smartphones, provides an open playground for sensor data gathering. Moreover, the rise in new types of devices (e.g., wearables/smartwatches) is further extending the market opportunities with a variety of new sensor types. The existing implementations of biometric/medical sensors can allow the general public to directly access their health measurements, such as Electrocardiogram (ECG) or Oxygen Saturation (SpO2). This access greatly increases the possible applications of these devices with the combination of all the onboard sensors that are broadly in use nowadays. In this study, we look beyond the current state of the art into the positioning capacities of Android smart devices and wearables, with a focus on raw Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) measurements that are still mostly lacking in the research world. We develop a novel open-source Android application working in both smartphone and smartwatch environments for multi-sensor measurement data logging that also includes GNSS, an Inertial Navigation System (INS) magnetometer, and a barometer. Four smartphones and one smartwatch are used to perform surveys in different scenarios. The extraction of GNSS raw data from a wearable device has not been reported yet in the literature and no open-source app has existed so far for extracting GNSS data from wearables. Not only the developed app but also the results of these measurement surveys are provided as an open-access dataset. We start by defining our methodology and the acquisition protocol, and we dive into the structure of the dataset files. We also propose a first analysis of the data logged and evaluate the data according to several performance metrics. A discussion reviewing the capacities of smart devices for advanced positioning is proposed, as well as the current open challenges.
Positivity and Stability of Fractional-Order Coupled Neural Network with Time-Varying Delays
Authors: Gong Jiyun , Qiu Hongling , Shen Jun
Published: November 2023

This brief paper analyzes the positivity and asymptotic stability of incommensurate fractional-order coupled neural networks (FOCNNs) with time-varying delays. Under a reasonable assumption about the activation functions of neurons, a sufficient and necessary condition is proposed to guarantee that FOCNNs are positive systems. Furthermore, the sufficient and necessary condition ensuring the asymptotic stability of FOCNNs is also given via introducing a linear auxiliary system. Finally, a simulation experiment was carried out to justify the effectiveness of the derived results.
A 4-Channel Optogenetic Stimulation, 16-Channel Recording Neuromodulation System with Real-Time Micro-LED Detection Function
Authors: Xia Yu , Zheng Ruihan , Wang Liyang , Zhang Anguo , Li Dongming , Wu Yufei , Gao Yueming , Xu Yanyan , Zhang Baijun , Li Hungchun , Mak Peng Un , Vai Mang I. , Pun Sio Hang
Published: November 2023

Neuromodulation techniques are essential for exploring brain science and supporting treatments for neurological disorders. Compared to electrical neuromodulation, optogenetic neuromodulation offers advantages in cell type specificity and spatial precision. However, existing optogenetic neuromodulation systems have limited functionality (unable to simultaneously possess functions including optogenetic stimulation, recording, and micro-LED (micro-Light-Emitting Diode) status monitoring) and will restrict normal biological activities due to their large size. To this end, this paper presents an optogenetic neuromodulation system, including a specified neuromodulation IC (Integrated Circuit) and a customized optrode. The ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) includes a 16-channel neural signal recording module, a 4-channel optogenetic neurostimulator module, and a 4-channel micro-LED detection module. The micro-LED detection module monitors the micro-LED’s long-term status in real time and provides the direct output of its working status for convenient user access. The neuromodulation ASIC was fabricated in the TSMC 65 nm process, and an in situ normal saline experiment was conducted to test the neuromodulation system’s function.
A Multi-Terminal Control Method for AC Grids Based on a Hybrid High-Voltage Direct Current with Cascaded MMC Converters
Authors: Liu Lei , Li Xiaopeng , Jiang Qin , Teng Yufei , Chen Mingju , Wang Yongfei , Zeng Xueyang , Luo Yiping , Pan Pengyu
Published: November 2023

The hybrid high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission system with cascaded MMC converters has become a promising alternative for possessing the technical merits of both line-commuted converter (LCC) and voltage source converter (VSC), resulting in favorable characteristics and potential control of good prospect. This paper pays heightened attention to the feasible power and DC voltage control modes of a hybrid HVDC system; characteristics of master–slave control show higher flexibility than the LCC-VSC HVDC system, which demonstrates that the exceptional potential can serve to stability support the AC power grids. To optimize the control effect, besides damping level to attenuate power oscillations, the robustness suitable for various faults is also considered to obtain a multi-objective control problem. A detailed solution is proceeding using the TLS-ESPRIT identification algorithm and H2/H∞ hybrid robust control theory. This motivates multi-terminal controllers in the LCC rectifier and MMC inverters, which immensely improve the stability of both sending and receiving girds at the same time. According to the parameters of the actual hybrid HVDC project, the simulation model is established in PSCAD v4.6.2 software, and proposed control methods have been verified to satisfy damping objectives and perform well in multiple operating scenarios.
On the Application of Thévenin Equivalent Circuits to the Analysis of Vacuum Tube Circuits
Authors: Lanterman Aaron
Published: November 2023

In this paper, we express Thévenin equivalent circuits seen looking into the terminals of the small-signal model of the vacuum tube triode in terms of the Thévenin equivalent circuits seen looking out of the other terminals and apply them to the analysis of the common-cathode, common-plate, and common-grid single-tube amplifier configurations, as well as a differential pair amplifier. This is an adaptation of equivalent circuit techniques for transistor circuits pioneered by Marshall Leach. The use of equivalent circuits can yield intuitive solutions that avoid solving sets of equations.
Power System Transient Stability Assessment Using Convolutional Neural Network and Saliency Map
Authors: Lee Heungseok , Kim Jongju , Park June Ho , Chung Sang-Hwa
Published: November 2023

This study proposes a model for transient stability assessment, which is a convolutional neural network model combined with a saliency map (S–CNN model). The convolutional neural network model is trained on dynamic data acquired through the data measurement devices of a power system. Applying the saliency map to the acquired dynamic data visually highlights the critical aspects of transient stability assessment. This reduces data training time by eliminating unnecessary aspects during the convolutional neural network model training, thus improving training efficiency. As a result, the proposed model can achieve high performance in transient stability assessment. The dynamic data are acquired by configuring benchmark models, IEEE 39 and 118 bus systems, through MATLAB/Simulink and performing time-domain simulations. Based on the acquired dynamic data, the performance of the proposed model is verified through a confusion matrix. Furthermore, an analysis of the effects of noise interference on the performance is conducted.
The Design of Water Loop Facility for Supporting the WCLL Breeding Blanket Technology and Safety
Authors: Vannoni Alessandra , Arena Pietro , Gonfiotti Bruno , Eboli Marica , Lorusso Pierdomenico , Tincani Amelia , Badodi Nicolò , Cammi Antonio , Giannetti Fabio , Ciurluini Cristiano , Forgione Nicola , Galleni Francesco , Catanzaro Ilenia , Vallone Eugenio , Di Maio Pietro Alessandro , Agostini Pietro , Del Nevo Alessandro
Published: November 2023

The WCLL Breeding Blanket of DEMO and the Test Blanket Module (TBM) of ITER require accurate R&D activities, i.e., concept validation at a relevant scale and safety demonstrations. In view of this, the strategic objective of the Water Loop (WL) facility, belonging to the W-HYDRA experimental platform planned at C.R. Brasimone of ENEA, is twofold: to conduct R&D activities for the WCLL BB to validate design performances and to increase the technical maturity level for selection and validation phases, as well as to support the ITER WCLL Test Blanket System program. Basically, the Water Loop facility will have the capability to investigate the design features and performances of scaled-down or portions of breeding blanket components, as well as full-scale TBM mock-ups. It is a large-/medium-scale water coolant plant that will provide water coolant at high pressure and temperature. It is composed by single-phase primary (designed at 18.5 MPa and 350 °C) and secondary (designed at 2.5 MPa and 220 °C) systems thermally connected with a two-phase tertiary loop acting as an ultimate heat sink (designed at 6 bar and 80 °C). The primary loop has two main sources of power: an electrical heater up to about 1 MWe, installed in the cold side, downstream of the pump and upstream of the test section, and an electron beam gun acting as a heat flux generator. The WL has unique features and is designed as a multi-purpose facility capable of being coupled with the LIFUS5/Mod4 facility to study PbLi/water reaction at a large scale. This paper presents the status of the Water Loop facility, highlighting objectives, design features, and the analyses performed.
A Communication Encryption-Based Distributed Cooperative Control for Distributed Generators in Microgrids under FDI Attacks
Authors: Fu Han , Li Wenpei , Qiu Long , Ai Yongheng , Liu Zhixiong
Published: November 2023

To alleviate the hassle of false data injection (FDI) attacks on distributed generators (DGs) in microgrids, a communication encryption-based distributed cooperative control is proposed in this paper. Compared to the conventional distributed control strategies, the proposed control scheme is simpler with much less complex evaluation mechanism by upgrading the secondary control to a second-order control based on the finite-time control theory while combining an encryption strategy. The proposed algorithm provides constant injections to eliminate the impact of FDI attacks based on a robust communication system. The effectiveness and high efficiency of the proposed control scheme is validated in an IEEE 34 Node Test Feeder system with six DGs as a microgrid cyber-physical system (CPS) under different FDI attacks.
Performance Evaluation of a Steam Ejector Considering Non-Equilibrium Condensation in Supersonic Flows
Authors: Xie Youhao , Han Yu , Wang Xiaodong , Wen Chuang , Yang Yan
Published: November 2023

The present study established an experimental system of steam ejector refrigeration to evaluate the effect of the operating parameters, such as pressure on the diffuser wall and primary and secondary fluid, on the performance and efficiency of the ejector. The model validation of numerical methods was carried out against the experimental data, while the numerical simulation was conducted by utilizing computational fluid dynamics modeling to analyze the internal flow of the ejector. The results indicated that the escalation of the primary steam pressure in the choking position increased the Mach number and entrainment ratio as the flow area of the secondary fluid remained constant. The optimization studies show that the entrainment ratio was maximum when the primary steam pressure was 0.36 MPa. While the pressure was inordinate, the expansion core increased in size and further compressed the flow area of the secondary fluid, hence reducing the entrainment ratio. Subject to the influence of the normal shockwave, the change in back pressure did not alter the entrainment ratio before the critical back pressure. In contrast, the ejector no longer produces the normal shockwave after the critical back pressure; the entrainment ratio, therefore, was reduced with the increase in back pressure.
Addressing Challenges in Delivering Sustainable Rural Water Provision Using Solar Water Pumping in Malawi: A Stakeholder Analysis
Authors: Phiri Esther , Rowley Paul N. , Blanchard Richard E.
Published: November 2023

Despite the presence of relatively high insolation, solar photovoltaic water pumping (SWP) is rarely used for water provision in Malawi. Current methods of water abstraction are labour-intensive and have low discharge rates. A stakeholder analysis was carried out to evaluate the role, responsibilities, and challenges faced by individuals, communities, and organisations involved in developing SWP systems. Analysis of data collected via semi-structured interviews with stakeholders from government departments, public and private organisations, entrepreneurs, non-governmental organisations, and microfinance organisations shows that the national government should provide an enabling environment for other actors to deliver SWP projects. Further, this study reveals diverse interlinked challenges in delivering sustainable water and energy services related to policies, monitoring, coordination, financing, human resources, information and awareness, stakeholder malfeasance, political interference, and flawed community management. The impacts of these challenges result in inadequate water service provision resulting from access inequality, non-functionality, substandard installations, reliance on donations, substandard renewable energy products, and slow technology uptake. The results of this study imply that, given appropriate finance and management frameworks, effective coordination, enforcement of product and installation standards, and awareness and sensitisation of communities to SWP, significantly improved access to drinking and irrigation water for the rural population of Malawi and other countries in sub-Saharan Africa can be achieved.
YOLOv5-ACS: Improved Model for Apple Detection and Positioning in Apple Forests in Complex Scenes
Authors: Liu Jianping , Wang Chenyang , Xing Jialu
Published: November 2023

Apple orchards, as an important center of economic activity in forestry special crops, can achieve yield prediction and automated harvesting by detecting and locating apples. Small apples, occlusion, dim lighting at night, blurriness, cluttered backgrounds, and other complex scenes significantly affect the automatic harvesting and yield estimation of apples. To address these issues, this study proposes an apple detection algorithm, “YOLOv5-ACS (Apple in Complex Scenes)”, based on YOLOv5s. Firstly, the space-to-depth-conv module is introduced to avoid information loss, and a squeeze-and-excitation block is added in C3 to learn more important information. Secondly, the context augmentation module is incorporated to enrich the context information of the feature pyramid network. By combining the shallow features of the backbone P2, the low-level features of the object are retained. Finally, the addition of the context aggregation block and CoordConv aggregates the spatial context pixel by pixel, perceives the spatial information of the feature map, and enhances the semantic information and global perceptual ability of the object. We conducted comparative tests in various complex scenarios and validated the robustness of YOLOv5-ACS. The method achieved 98.3% and 74.3% for mAP@0.5 and mAP@0.5:0.95, respectively, demonstrating excellent detection capabilities. This paper creates a complex scene dataset of apples on trees and designs an improved model, which can provide accurate recognition and positioning for automatic harvesting robots to improve production efficiency.