bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Decision Support System for Diagnosis of COVID-19 from Non-COVID-19 Influenza-like Illness Using Explainable Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Chadaga Krishnaraj , Prabhu Srikanth , Bhat Vivekananda , Sampathila Niranjana , Umakanth Shashikiran , Chadaga Rajagopala
Published: March 2023

The coronavirus pandemic emerged in early 2020 and turned out to be deadly, killing a vast number of people all around the world. Fortunately, vaccines have been discovered, and they seem effectual in controlling the severe prognosis induced by the virus. The reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test is the current golden standard for diagnosing different infectious diseases, including COVID-19; however, it is not always accurate. Therefore, it is extremely crucial to find an alternative diagnosis method which can support the results of the standard RT-PCR test. Hence, a decision support system has been proposed in this study that uses machine learning and deep learning techniques to predict the COVID-19 diagnosis of a patient using clinical, demographic and blood markers. The patient data used in this research were collected from two Manipal hospitals in India and a custom-made, stacked, multi-level ensemble classifier has been used to predict the COVID-19 diagnosis. Deep learning techniques such as deep neural networks (DNN) and one-dimensional convolutional networks (1D-CNN) have also been utilized. Further, explainable artificial techniques (XAI) such as Shapley additive values (SHAP), ELI5, local interpretable model explainer (LIME), and QLattice have been used to make the models more precise and understandable. Among all of the algorithms, the multi-level stacked model obtained an excellent accuracy of 96%. The precision, recall, f1-score and AUC obtained were 94%, 95%, 94% and 98% respectively. The models can be used as a decision support system for the initial screening of coronavirus patients and can also help ease the existing burden on medical infrastructure.
Hydroxyapatite–Silicon Scaffold Promotes Osteogenic Differentiation of CGF Primary Cells
Authors: Giannotti Laura , Di Chiara Stanca Benedetta , Nitti Paola , Spedicato Francesco , Damiano Fabrizio , Demitri Christian , Calabriso Nadia , Carluccio Maria Annunziata , Palermo Andrea , Ferrante Franco , Siculella Luisa , Stanca Eleonora
Published: March 2023

The application of scaffolding materials together with stem cell technologies plays a key role in tissue regeneration. Therefore, in this study, CGF (concentrated growth factor), which represents an autologous and biocompatible blood-derived product rich in growth factors and multipotent stem cells, was used together with a hydroxyapatite and silicon (HA-Si) scaffold, which represents a very interesting material in the field of bone reconstructive surgery. The aim of this work was to evaluate the potential osteogenic differentiation of CGF primary cells induced by HA-Si scaffolds. The cellular viability of CGF primary cells cultured on HA-Si scaffolds and their structural characterization were performed by MTT assay and SEM analysis, respectively. Moreover, the matrix mineralization of CGF primary cells on the HA-Si scaffold was evaluated through Alizarin red staining. The expression of osteogenic differentiation markers was investigated through mRNA quantification by real-time PCR. We found that the HA-Si scaffold was not cytotoxic for CGF primary cells, allowing their growth and proliferation. Furthermore, the HA-Si scaffold was able to induce increased levels of osteogenic markers, decreased levels of stemness markers in these cells, and the formation of a mineralized matrix. In conclusion, our results suggest that HA-Si scaffolds can be used as a biomaterial support for CGF application in the field of tissue regeneration.
Endotoxin Tolerance Acquisition and Altered Hepatic Fatty Acid Profile in Aged Mice
Authors: Wiesenthal Amanda A. , Legroux Thierry M. , Richter Chris , Junker Björn H. , Hecksteden Anne , Kessler Sonja M. , Hoppstädter Jessica , Kiemer Alexandra K.
Published: March 2023

(1) Background: Aging is linked to an altered immune response and metabolism. Inflammatory conditions, such as sepsis, COVID-19, and steatohepatitis are more prevalent in the elderly and steatosis is linked both to severe COVID-19 and sepsis. We hypothesized that aging is linked to a loss of endotoxin tolerance, which normally protects the host from excessive inflammation, and that this is accompanied by elevated levels of hepatic lipids. (2) Methods: An in vivo lipopolysaccharide (LPS) tolerance model in young and old mice was used and the cytokine serum levels were measured by ELISA. Cytokine and toll-like receptor gene expression was determined by qPCR in the lungs and the liver; hepatic fatty acid composition was assessed by GC–MS. (3) Results: The old mice showed a distinct potential for endotoxin tolerance as suggested by the serum cytokine levels and gene expression in the lung tissue. Endotoxin tolerance was less pronounced in the livers of the aged mice. However, the fatty acid composition strongly differed in the liver tissues of the young and old mice with a distinct change in the ratio of C18 to C16 fatty acids. (4) Conclusions: Endotoxin tolerance is maintained in advanced age, but changes in the metabolic tissue homeostasis may lead to an altered immune response in old individuals.
Does Intense Endurance Workout Have an Impact on Serum Levels of Sex Hormones in Males?
Authors: Wiciński Michał , Kuźmiński Oskar , Kujawa Artur , Słomko Witold , Fajkiel-Madajczyk Anna , Słupski Maciej , Jóźwik Artur , Kubiak Karol , Otto Stephan Walter , Malinowski Bartosz
Published: March 2023

The benefits of physical activity and sports are widely known and proved to be crucial for overall health and well-being. In this research, the authors decided to measure the impact of endurance training in a professional male rowing team on the serum concentration levels of testosterone, estradiol, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and nitric oxide (NO) and apolipoprotein A1 (Apo-A1). Proper levels of the serum concentration are necessary in order to maintain physical effectiveness. Authors analyzed the data and reviewed the former conterminous articles to find the possible mechanisms leading to changes of serum concentration of certain hormones and molecules. The direct effect of physical activity was a decrease in testosterone serum concentration (from 7.12 ± 0.4 to 6.59 ± 0.35 (ng/mL)), sex hormone binding globulin serum concentration (from 39.50 ± 2.48 to 34.27 ± 2.33 (nmol/L)), nitric oxide serum concentration (from 440.21 ± 88.64 to 432 ± 91.89 (ng/mL)), increase in estradiol serum concentration (from 78.2 ± 11.21 to 83.01 ± 13.21 (pg/mL)) and no significant increase in Apo-A1 serum concentration (from 2.63 ± 0.2 to 2.69 ± 0.21 (mg/mL)). Low testosterone concentration in OTS may be a consequence of increased conversion to estradiol, because gonadotropic stimulation is maintained. Apo-A1 serum concentration was measured due to a strong connection with testosterone level and its possible impact of decreasing cardiovascular risk.
Nocturnal Heart Rate Variability Might Help in Predicting Severe Obstructive Sleep-Disordered Breathing
Authors: Statello Rosario , Rossi Stefano , Pisani Francesco , Bonzini Matteo , Andreoli Roberta , Martini Agnese , Puligheddu Monica , Cocco Pierluigi , Miragoli Michele
Published: March 2023

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can have long-term cardiovascular and metabolic effects. The identification of OSA-related impairments would provide diagnostic and prognostic value. Heart rate variability (HRV) as a measure of cardiac autonomic regulation is a promising candidate marker of OSA and OSA-related conditions. We took advantage of the Physionet Apnea-ECG database for two purposes. First, we performed time- and frequency-domain analysis of nocturnal HRV on each recording of this database to evaluate the cardiac autonomic regulation in patients with nighttime sleep breathing disorders. Second, we conducted a logistic regression analysis (backward stepwise) to identify the HRV indices able to predict the apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) categories (i.e., “Severe OSA”, AHI ≥ 30; “Moderate-Mild OSA”, 5 ≥ AHI < 30; and “Normal”, AHI < 5). Compared to the “Normal”, the “Severe OSA” group showed lower high-frequency power in normalized units (HFnu) and higher low-frequency power in normalized units (LFnu). The standard deviation of normal R–R intervals (SDNN) and the root mean square of successive R–R interval differences (RMSSD) were independently associated with sleep-disordered breathing. Our findings suggest altered cardiac autonomic regulation with a reduced parasympathetic component in OSA patients and suggest a role of nighttime HRV in the characterization and identification of sleep breathing disorders.
Advanced Urea Precursors Driven NiCo2O4 Nanostructures Based Non-Enzymatic Urea Sensor for Milk and Urine Real Sample Applications
Authors: Mangrio Sanjha , Tahira Aneela , Chang Abdul Sattar , Mahar Ihsan Ali , Markhand Mehnaz , Shah Aqeel Ahmed , Medany Shymaa S. , Nafady Ayman , Dawi Elmuez A. , Saleem Lama M. A. , Mustafa E. M. , Vigolo Brigitte , Ibupoto Zafar Hussain
Published: March 2023

The electrochemical performance of NiCo2O4 with urea precursors was evaluated in order to develop a non-enzymatic urea sensor. In this study, NiCo2O4 nanostructures were synthesized hydrothermally at different concentrations of urea and characterized using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Nanostructures of NiCo2O4 exhibit a nanorod-like morphology and a cubic phase crystal structure. Urea can be detected with high sensitivity through NiCo2O4 nanostructures driven by urea precursors under alkaline conditions. A low limit of detection of 0.05 and an analytical range of 0.1 mM to 10 mM urea are provided. The concentration of 006 mM was determined by cyclic voltammetry. Chronoamperometry was used to determine the linear range in the range of 0.1 mM to 8 mM. Several analytical parameters were assessed, including selectivity, stability, and repeatability. NiCo2O4 nanostructures can also be used to detect urea in various biological samples in a practical manner.
3D Concrete Printing: Recent Progress, Applications, Challenges, and Role in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals
Authors: Alami Abdul Hai , Olabi Abdul Ghani , Ayoub Mohamad , Aljaghoub Haya , Alasad Shamma , Abdelkareem Mohammad Ali
Published: March 2023

This work explores the role of 3D concrete printing (3DCP) in achieving the relevant sustainable development goals (SDGs) that were set out by the United Nations. The study focuses on the recent progress and limitations of the three dominant types of cementitious mixtures, ordinary Portland cement (OPC), recycled aggregate-based cement, and geopolymers, and real-world applications for 3DCP. The study reveals that 3DCP has a significant advantage in terms of cost, with a potential to save around 78% and 60% of the costs associated with conventional construction methods and labor, respectively. Moreover, 3DCP consumes less water than conventional construction methods, with a water usage reduction of 20%. Additionally, it was found that 3DCP is on track to reduce the global energy utilization by 5% by the year 2025. Even though 3DCP bears a lower climate change impact, there is still work to be done to improve its sustainability.
Influences of Carbonated Recycled Concrete Fines on Cement Hydration
Authors: Zhang Jiake , Zhang Liupeng , Xu Boyang , Yuan Jie
Published: March 2023

The preparation of recycled concrete aggregate generates a lot of fines, which are obstacles for implementing the recycled concrete aggregate. In this work, carbonation treatment is applied to improve the properties of recycled concrete fine, and the influences of carbonated recycled concrete fine (CRCF) on cement hydration process are evaluated. Both fresh and hardened properties of the cement paste samples replacing 0 to 30% of the CRCF are measured. The results reveal that the addition of CRCF obviously accelerates the hydration process of cement, especially during the early stage, and the initial and final setting times of the cement paste containing 30% CRCF are both reduced by approximately 25% compared to the control. The CRCF improves the strength gain of cement, and that influence becomes obvious with longer curing; the relative compressive strength of cement paste containing 30% CRCF is increased by 18% relative to the control after being cured for 28 days. At the same time, the early hydration of cement paste is accelerated with the addition of CRCF and the total hydration heat after 48 h of cement paste is significantly decreased with the addition of CRCF. Specifically, the total hydration heat after 48 h of cement paste with 30% CRCF is less than 50% of that with 0% CRCF. Besides that, CRCF consumes CH in cement paste and improves the pore structure of hardened cement paste. The morphology of hydrated samples shows that the shape of ettringite formed within the control sample with 0% CRCF is longer than those of the other ones formed in cement paste with CRCF, and the length decreases as the CRCF contents increase. In addition, the sample containing 30% CRCF does not show the particles, which means that CRCF reduces the ettringite forming in hardened paste samples. Thus, the findings from this work provide a better understanding of the field of waste concrete reuse.
Public Opinion Mining on Construction Health and Safety: Latent Dirichlet Allocation Approach
Authors: Zeng Liyun , Li Rita Yi Man , Yigitcanlar Tan , Zeng Huiling
Published: March 2023

The construction industry has been experiencing many occupational accidents as working on construction sites is dangerous. To reduce the likelihood of accidents, construction companies share the latest construction health and safety news and information on social media. While research studies in recent years have explored the perceptions towards these companies’ social media pages, there are no big data analytic studies conducted on Instagram about construction health and safety. This study aims to consolidate public perceptions of construction health and safety by analyzing Instagram posts. The study adopted a big data analytics approach involving visual, content, user, and sentiment analyses of Instagram posts (n = 17,835). The study adopted the Latent Dirichlet Allocation, a kind of machine learning approach for generative probabilistic topic extraction, and the five most mentioned topics were: (a) training service, (b) team management, (c) training organization, (d) workers’ work and family, and (e) users’ action. Besides, the Jaccard coefficient co-occurrence cluster analysis revealed: (a) the most mentioned collocations were ‘construction safety week’, ‘safety first’, and ‘construction team’, (b) the largest clusters were ‘safety training’, ‘occupational health and safety administration’, and ‘health and safety environment’, (c) the most active users were ‘Parallel Consultancy Ltd.’, ‘Pike Consulting Group’, and ‘Global Training Canada’, and (d) positive sentiment accounted for an overwhelming figure of 85%. The findings inform the industry on public perceptions that help create awareness and develop preventative measures for increased health and safety and decreased incidents.
CO2-Assisted Dehydrogenation of Propane to Propene over Zn-BEA Zeolites: Impact of Acid–Base Characteristics on Catalytic Performance
Authors: Orlyk Svitlana , Kyriienko Pavlo , Kapran Andriy , Chedryk Valeriy , Balakin Dmytro , Gurgul Jacek , Zimowska Malgorzata , Millot Yannick , Dzwigaj Stanislaw
Published: March 2023

Research results about the influence of BEA zeolite preliminary dealumination on the acid–base characteristics and catalytic performance of 1% Zn-BEA compositions in propane dehydrogenation with CO2 are presented. The catalyst samples, prepared through a two-step post-synthesis procedure involving partial or complete dealumination of the BEA specimen followed by the introduction of Zn2+ cations into the T-positions of the zeolite framework, were characterized using XRD, XPS, MAS NMR, SEM/EDS, low-temperature N2 ad/desorption, C3H8/C3H6 (CO2, NH3)-TPD, TPO-O2, and FTIR-Py techniques. Full dealumination resulted in the development of a mesoporous structure and specific surface area (BET) with a twofold decrease in the total acidity and basicity of Zn-BEA, and the formation of Lewis acid sites and basic sites of predominantly medium strength, as well as the removal of Brønsted acid sites from the surface. In the presence of the ZnSiBEA catalyst, which had the lowest total acidity and basicity, the obtained selectivity of 86–94% and yield of 30–33% for propene (at 923 K) exceeded the values for ZnAlSiBEA and ZnAlBEA. The results of propane dehydrogenation with/without carbon dioxide showed the advantages of producing the target olefin in the presence of CO2 using Zn-BEA catalysts.
A Multilevel Analysis of Factors Influencing School Bullying in 15-Year-Old Students
Authors: Wang Yu-Jiao , Chen I-Hua
Published: March 2023

Background: School bullying causes serious impacts on adolescents’ physical and mental health. Few studies have explored the various factors influencing bullying by combining different levels of data. Methods: Based on the database of four Chinese provinces and cities of the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) in 2018, this study used a multilevel analysis model that combined school-level variables and student-level variables to explore the influencing factors of students being bullied. Results: Students’ gender, grade repetition, truancy and arriving late for class, economic, social, and cultural status (ESCS), teacher support, and parent support had significant explanatory power on school bullying on the student-level; on the school-level, school discipline atmosphere and competitive atmosphere among students had significant impacts on school bullying. Conclusions: Boys, students who have repeated grades, truancy and arriving late for class, and students with lower ESCS suffer from more severe school bullying. When developing school bullying interventions, teachers and parents should pay more attention to those students and provide more emotional support and encouragement to them. Meanwhile, students in schools with a lower discipline atmosphere and a higher level of competitive atmosphere experience greater levels of bullying, and schools should create more positive and friendly environments to prevent bullying events.
Long-Lasting Effects of Changes in Daily Routine during the Pandemic-Related Lockdown on Preschoolers’ Language and Emotional–Behavioral Development: A Moderation Analysis
Authors: Lampis Valentina , Mascheretti Sara , Cantiani Chiara , Riva Valentina , Lorusso Maria Luisa , Lecce Serena , Molteni Massimo , Antonietti Alessandro , Giorgetti Marisa
Published: March 2023

The quantity and quality of environmental stimuli and contexts are crucial for children’s development. Following the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), restrictive measures have been implemented, constraining children’s social lives and changing their daily routines. To date, there is a lack of research assessing the long-lasting impacts that these changes have had on children’s language and emotional–behavioral development. In a large sample of preschoolers (N = 677), we investigated (a) the long-lasting effects of changes in family and social life and in daily activities over the first Italian nationwide COVID-19-pandemic-related lockdown upon children’s linguistic and emotional–behavioral profiles and (b) how children’s demographic variables and lifelong family characteristics moderated these associations within a multiple-moderator framework. Our findings showed a relationship between the time spent watching TV/playing video games and affective problems that was moderated by the number of siblings. Our findings showed that children who could be at high risk in more normal circumstances, such as only children, have been particularly harmed. Therefore, assessing the long-term effects of lockdown-related measures and how these could have been moderated by potential risk/protective factors added significant information to the existing literature.
Managing Prognosis in Precision Medicine: Utility, Imagination, and Communication
Authors: Mueller Rebecca , Lee Brittany M. , Callahan Katharine Press
Published: March 2023

Research on how physicians predict and communicate prognosis focuses primarily on end-of-life care. Unsurprisingly, as genomic technology gains traction as a prognostic tool, the focus has also been on terminality, with research focused on how genetic results may be used to terminate pregnancies or redirect care towards palliation for neonates. However, genomic results also have powerful impacts on how patients who live prepare for their futures. Genomic testing provides broad-reaching and early—albeit complex, uncertain, and shifting—prognostic information. In this essay, we argue that as genomic testing occurs earlier and increasingly in a screening context, researchers and clinicians must strive to understand and manage the prognostic implications of results. While our understanding of the psychosocial and communicational aspects of prognosis in symptomatic populations is incomplete, it has progressed further than our understanding in a screening context and therefore provides useful lessons and feasible opportunities for further research. By providing an interdisciplinary and inter-specialty perspective on the psychosocial and communicational aspects of prognosis in genetics, we discuss prognostication with respect to genetics from the neonatal period through adulthood, highlighting medical specialties and patient populations that are especially informative for considering the longitudinal management of prognostic information in genomic medicine.
Healthcare Professionals’ Knowledge about Pediatric Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review
Authors: Pico Mónica , Matey-Rodríguez Carmen , Domínguez-García Ana , Menéndez Héctor , Lista Simone , Santos-Lozano Alejandro
Published: March 2023

Pediatric chronic pain is a common public health problem with a high prevalence among children and adolescents. The aim of this study was to review the current knowledge of health professionals on pediatric chronic pain between 15–30% among children and adolescents. However, since this is an underdiagnosed condition, it is inadequately treated by health professionals. To this aim, a systematic review was carried out based on a search of the electronic literature databases (PubMed and Web of Science), resulting in 14 articles that met the inclusion criteria. The analysis of these articles seems to show a certain degree of heterogeneity in the surveyed professionals about the awareness of this concept, especially regarding its etiology, assessment, and management. In addition, the extent of knowledge of the health professionals seems to be insufficient regarding these aspects of pediatric chronic pain. Hence, the knowledge of the health professionals is unrelated to recent research that identifies central hyperexcitability as the primary factor affecting the onset, persistence, and management of pediatric chronic pain.
Teacher Preparedness for Medical Emergencies in Belgian Classrooms: Studying Objective and Subjective First-Aid Knowledge
Authors: Vermonden Maya , Dehaerne Liesse , Toelen Jaan , De Coninck David
Published: March 2023

About one in seven accidents involving children occurs at school. Roughly 70% of these accidents involve children under the age of 12 years. Thus, primary school teachers may be confronted with accidents where first aid could improve the outcome. Despite the importance of first-aid knowledge among teachers, little is known about this topic. To fill this gap, we conducted case-based survey research on the objective and subjective first-aid knowledge of primary school and kindergarten teachers in Flanders, Belgium. An online survey was distributed to primary school and kindergarten teachers. It included 14 hypothetical first-aid scenarios in a primary school context to assess objective knowledge, along with one item to assess subjective knowledge. A total of 361 primary school and kindergarten teachers completed the questionnaire. The participants achieved an average knowledge score of 66%. Those who had completed a first-aid course had significantly higher scores. Knowledge regarding child CPR was amongst the lowest, with only 40% correct answers. Structural equation modeling showed that only previous first-aid training, recent experience with first aid, and subjective first-aid knowledge were linked to teachers’ objective first-aid knowledge—particularly for basic first aid. This study shows that completing a first-aid course and completing a refresher course can predict objective first-aid knowledge. We therefore recommend that first-aid training and regular refresher courses should be mandatory in teacher training, given that a large share of teachers may need to apply first aid to a pupil at some point during their career.
Comparison of Prognostic Factors for Merkel Cell Carcinoma, Mucosal Melanoma and Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma: Insights into Their Etiologies
Authors: Dennis Leslie K. , Brown Heidi E. , Arrington Amanda K.
Published: March 2023

Little is known about the epidemiology of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) and mucosal melanoma (MM). Using the United States (US) National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program data, we compared MCC and MM with cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) with respect to incidence rates and prognostic factors to better understand disease etiologies. We describe the proportional incidences of the three cancers along with their survival rates based on 20 years of national data. The incidence rates in 2000–2019 were 203.7 per 1,000,000 people for CMM, 5.9 per 1,000,000 people for MCC and 0.1 per 1,000,000 people for MM. The rates of these cancers increased over time, with the rate of MM tripling between 2000–2009 and 2010–2019. The incidences of these cancers increased with age and rates were highest among non-Hispanic Whites. Fewer MCCs and MMS were diagnosed at the local stage compared with CMM. The cases in the 22 SEER registries in California were not proportional to the 2020 population census but instead were higher than expected for CMM and MCC and lower than expected for MM. Conversely, MM rates were higher than expected in Texas and New York. These analyses highlight similarities in the incidence rates of CMM and MCC—and differences between them and MM rates—by state. Understanding more about MCC and MM is important because of their higher potential for late diagnosis and metastasis, which lead to poor survival.
Postpartum Depression and Health: Role of Perceived Social Support among Pakistani Women
Authors: Jamshaid Samrah , Malik Najma Iqbal , Ullah Irfan , Saboor Sundas , Arain Fauzia , De Berardis Domenico
Published: March 2023

Postpartum depression (PPD) can predispose to physical and mental health problems in Pakistani women. However, PPD is associated with health and perceived social support, yet their causal relationship is unclear. Therefore, this study intended to evaluate the association of PPD with insomnia, mental health, and physical health. The convenience sampling technique was used to collect data from 320 (52.8%) young and middle-aged postpartum women, at the outpatient departments of obstetrics and gynecology of the Government Maula Bakhsh Hospital, District Head Quarter in Sargodha, Pakistan. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale, patient health questionnaire, and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support were used to measure study variables. The results revealed a significant positive relationship between PPD and physical health (r = 0.45, p = 0.001), negative relationships with insomnia (r = −0.24, p < 0.001), and perceived social support (r = −0.38, p = 0.001). Results further confirmed that perceived social support played a moderating role (β = 0.97, p = 0.01) in the relationship between PPD and mental health among Pakistani women. This study concluded that perceived social support has an important role in PPD and the health of Pakistani women. The study also concluded that poor health is a risk indicator for the identification of aid in the early stages of postpartum among Pakistani women.
Exploring the Functional Brain Network of Deception in Source-Level EEG via Partial Mutual Information
Authors: Kang Qianruo , Li Feng , Gao Junfeng
Published: March 2023

In this study, partial mutual information at the source level was used to construct brain functional networks in order to examine differences in brain functions between lying and honest responses. The study used independent component analysis and clustering methods to computationally generate source signals from EEG signals recorded from subjects who were lying and those who were being honest. Partial mutual information was calculated between regions of interest (ROIs), and used to construct a functional brain network with ROIs as nodes and partial mutual information values as connections between them. The partial mutual information connections that showed significant differences between the two groups of people were selected as the feature set and classified using a functional connectivity network (FCN) classifier, resulting in an accuracy of 88.5%. Analysis of the brain networks of the lying and honest groups showed that, in the lying state, there was increased informational exchange between the frontal lobe and temporal lobe, and the language motor center of the frontal lobe exchanged more information with other brain regions, suggesting increased working and episodic memory load and the mobilization of more cognitive resources.
TB-RPL: A Try-the-Best Fused Mode of Operation to Enhance Point-to-Point Communication Performance in RPL
Authors: Zhang Kaibin , Bhandari Khadak Singh , Cho Gihwan
Published: March 2023

RPL is the IPv6 routing protocol for low-power and lossy networks in the Internet of Things which supports point-to-point (P2P) communication. However, the partition of two modes of operations (MOPs) in downward routing complicates achieving high performance. In the non-storing mode, a downward route with the longest path length is often picked. In the storing mode, the downward routes to some child nodes cannot be stored by their parent because of the limitation of memory space, which makes some nodes unreachable. In addition, there are extra performance costs of mixing or switching the two modes in the existing hybrid-MOPs works. Therefore, this article proposes TB-RPL to achieve an enhancement of RPL with a better performance of P2P communication. It allows all nodes to behave in a single and uniformly fused MOP that solves the problems mentioned above. The proposed mode uses a modified routing header format and introduces a threshold to the number of route entries. We implemented and compared TB-RPL with related mechanisms in Cooja simulator based on the Contiki-NG operating system. Simulation results verify that TB-RPL eliminates the three identified problems. Consequently, it significantly improves the performance of P2P communication in LLN.
A Post-Evaluation System for Smart Grids Based on Microservice Framework and Big Data Analysis
Authors: Wang Jie , Ouyang Ruiqi , Wen Wu , Wan Xin , Wang Wei , Tolba Amr , Zhang Xingguo
Published: March 2023

Wind energy, as a clean energy source, has been experiencing rapid development in recent years. However, there is often a significant difference between the designed electricity generation capacity and the actual electricity generation capacity during the construction of wind farms, making it difficult to assess the economic benefits of wind farms. Therefore, the development post-evaluation technology is required to support the renovation of old wind farms. In addition, traditional data analysis techniques are unable to handle and analyze massive data in a timely manner. Therefore, big data technology must be developed to improve processing efficiency. To address these issues and meet actual business needs, this paper designs an intelligent grid electricity generation post-evaluation platform for wind farms based on a microservice framework and big data analysis technology. The platform evaluates the operating status of wind farms by analyzing their operational and design data and visualizes relevant big data information. It provides technical support and improvement solutions for wind farm renovation and new wind farm construction. The platform has been tested and proven to meet the requirements for processing and analyzing massive data, post-evaluating electricity generation, and visualization.
Electromagnetic Imaging of Passive Intermodulation Sources Based on Virtual Array Expansion Synchronous Imaging Compressed Sensing
Authors: Liu Siyuan , Liang Musheng , Cheng Zihan , Li Xinjie , Ma Menglu , Liang Feng , Zhao Deshuang
Published: March 2023

Interference caused by passive intermodulation (PIM) has seriously affected system performance. Compressed sensing (CS) can be used to locate radial PIMs. In CS-based electromagnetic imaging methods, the ability to locate the number of targets is usually limited by the number of receiving antennas, and there are flooding problems in the imaging results. To solve these problems, traditional methods are used to increase the number of receiving antennas. To reduce the number of receiving antennas and improve the imaging effect, this paper proposes a virtual array expansion synchronous imaging compressed sensing (SI-CS) method. With the full-wave electromagnetic simulation demonstrations, the proposed method exhibits significant improvement in imaging performance compared to the conventional methods. In addition, the proposed method can discriminate between targets in the presence of the flooding problem in which the paraflap is too large and the location of the PIM source cannot be determined by the amplitude value.
An Energy Efficient Advanced Comminution Process to Treat Low-Grade Ferrochrome Slag Using High-Pressure Grinding Rolls
Authors: Santosh Talasetti , Eswaraiah Chinthapudi , Angadi Shivakumar Irappa , Tripathy Sunil Kumar , Soni Rahul Kumar , Rao Danda Srinivas
Published: March 2023

The present research aims to analyze the comminution behavior of ferrochrome slag using high-pressure grinding rolls. The laboratory bench scale high-pressure grinding rolls were used to study the three significant variables on the grinding efficiency of ferrochrome slag. The Central Composite Design was used to study the process variables, such as roll gap, applied load, and roller speed. The grinding efficiency was evaluated based on the product size and the energy consumption. The results showed that the increased gap between the rolls and roller speed decreases the product size with increased energy consumption. The results also found that an increase in applied load decreases the product fineness with increased energy consumption. The models were developed for the responses of P80 (size of 80% mass finer) and Ecs (specific energy consumption). Both the responses show high regression coefficients, thus ensuring adequate models with the experimental data. The minimum values of the P80 size and specific energy were determined using quadratic programming. The optimum values of the roll gap applied load and roll speed were found to be 1.43 mm, 16 kN, and 800 Rpm, respectively. The minimum values of P80 and the specific energy consumption were found to be 1264 µm and 0.56 kWh/t, respectively.
Assessment of Conservation Voltage Reduction in Distribution Networks with Voltage Regulating Distribution Transformers
Authors: Igiligi Anthony , Vielhauer Armin , Ehrenwirth Mathias , Hurm Christian , Summ Thorsten , Trinkl Christoph , Navarro Gevers Daniel
Published: March 2023

The application of voltage reduction in medium and low voltage grids to reduce peak power demand or energy consumption has been implemented since the 1980s using several approaches. Conservation Voltage Reduction (CVR), as one such approach, uses a voltage control device to reduce or increase the voltage setpoint on a busbar, thereby reducing or increasing the amount of active and reactive power supply in the network. Voltage regulation for CVR is always implemented according to established network planning standards in each country. Research in this field has proven that a CVR factor (CVRf) of 0.7–1.5 for peak demand reduction can be achieved. This is an evaluation metric of CVR. The aim of this research is to determine and validate CVRf for peak demand reduction by comparing actual results obtained during regular tap changes with other randomly distributed periods outside tap change operations, using a set of measurement data. It is important to understand CVR deployment capability by evaluating CVR potentials from historical random tap operations before a robust network-wide deployment is introduced. This research provides such guidance. It also provides a novel approach to determining tap changes from voltage measurements using a time-based algorithm. A CVRf ranging from 0.95 to 1.61 was estimated using a measurement dataset from a test field. The result of the entire evaluation shows that the CVRf are smaller during peak PV production and greater during peak demand periods. Further evaluation using statistical hypotheses testing and a control chart was used to validate the evaluation.
A Comparative Parametric Study on Dynamic Biogenic Carbon of Harvested Wood Products: Biomass Rotation Period vs. Product Lifetime
Authors: Kouamé Stéphane , Ghannadzadeh Ali
Published: March 2023

Harvested wood products (HWPs) are a class of products that are recognized for their potential to mitigate climate warming: the absorption of CO2, which is necessary to the growth of their biomass feedstock, temporarily reduces the amount of CO2 present in the Earth’s atmosphere, effectively mitigating global warming. This study decided to look into the effect of changing two important parameters associated with HWPs: the rotation period of the biomass used for their raw material (effectively, the rate of CO2 absorption), and the length of their lifetime (effectively, the amount of time the captured carbon is stored within them in the form of embodied carbon). For this purpose, a carbon accounting calculator, Quantis’ Biogenic Carbon Footprint Calculator for Harvested Wood Products (BCFC-HWP), was employed. The Biogenic Global Warming Potential (GWPbio) metric, which was used by the BCFC-HWP to describe the climate impact of a wooden product’s embodied carbon, was analyzed for its evolution with respect to the two identified parameters. The results showed that while GWPbio followed a consistent decrease with respect to the product lifetime parameter, it showed a non-consistently evolving trend with respect to biomass rotation period i.e. first decreasing then increasing. This made the confrontation of both parameters’ effect complex mathematically, such that no clear-cut conclusions on the relative benefits of changing one parameter versus the other were made. Nonetheless, a valuable resolution was made based on the observations regarding the evolution of GWPbio with respect to the lifetime of an HWP: the results indicated that extending the lifetime of an HWP is an advantageous strategy in decreasing the climate effect of the considered product.
A Comparative Study of Pickled Salted Eggs by Positive and Negative Pressure-Ultrasonic Method
Authors: Xiao Chaogeng , Zhang Yue , Gong Ting , Lu Wenjing , Chen Di , Zhang Cen , Wang Haiyan , Guan Rongfa
Published: March 2023

In this study, the positive and negative pressure-ultrasonic method was applied to salted egg pickling, compared with traditional pickled salted eggs by various physical and chemical indicators. Results indicated the salt content of egg white and egg yolk increased rapidly in the salt-preserved salted egg with the positive and negative pressure-ultrasonic method, and the moisture content decreased rapidly. In addition, the oil yield of egg yolk was marinated for 12 days compared with the normal method of 35 days, and the ripening time of salted eggs was shortened by 2/3. There was no obvious difference in the microscopical structure of the egg yolk between the two methods of pickling. Moreover, the pores on the eggshell of the salted egg that was marinated by the positive and negative pressure-ultrasonic method had big cracks, which was beneficial to the substance exchange of the eggs and the outside. The common volatile flavor substances were detected by GC-MS, and a total of 33 flavor constituents were detected. There was no significant difference between the content of alcohols, aldehydes, and ketones, which contributed greatly to the flavor. Overall, the results indicated that this innovative salted eggs method can significantly reduce the curing time while ensuring the quality of salted eggs.
Microbiological Risk Assessment in Foods: Background and Tools, with a Focus on Risk Ranger
Authors: Bevilacqua Antonio , De Santis Alessandro , Sollazzo Gaetano , Speranza Barbara , Racioppo Angela , Sinigaglia Milena , Corbo Maria Rosaria
Published: March 2023

Risk assessment is an important phase of the food production path; it is strictly related to the processing chain as a necessary step for safe foods. This paper represents a contribution to understanding what is and how risk assessment could be conducted; it aims to provide some information on the structure of risk assessment, the tools for its identification and measurement and the importance of risk assessment for correct communication. In this context, after a focus on the background and on some commonly used tools (Risk Ranger, FDA-iRisk, decision tree, among others), the paper describes how to perform risk assessment through three case studies: lettuce (for Listeria monocytogenes), chicken salad (for Escherichia coli), and fresh egg pasta (for Staphylococcus aureus) in the first step, and then a comparison of risk for chicken salad contaminated by different pathogens (E. coli O157:H7, Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella sp.). As a final step, a critical evaluation of Risk Ranger was carried out, pointing out its pros and cons.
Effect of Moisture Content on Subgrade Soils Resilient Modulus for Predicting Pavement Rutting
Authors: Rahman Md Mostaqur , Gassman Sarah L. , Islam Kazi Moinul
Published: March 2023

The subgrade soil stiffness, which depends on the in-situ moisture content and soil index characteristics, is a key factor in pavement rutting. Due to variations in the compaction process used during construction and seasonal changes, the subgrade soil moisture content may deviate from the desired condition. The resilient modulus (MR), an important parameter of the Mechanistic-Empirical (M-E) pavement design process, is used to specify the subgrade soil stiffness. Repeated load triaxial tests, which can be challenging and time-consuming to execute, are often used to determine MR. As a result, correlations between MR and more accessible stiffness metrics and index qualities are frequently used. California bearing ratio (CBR) and repeated load triaxial tests were carried out in this investigation. Soil specimens were fabricated at moisture levels that were both above and below the optimum moisture content (wopt). The results of the two tests were correlated, and statistical models were created to correlate the parameters of the generalized constitutive resilient modulus model with the characteristics of the soil index. Additionally, utilizing the MR found for subgrade soils compacted at wopt and ±2%wopt, pavement rutting was analyzed for three base layer types. The results demonstrated that a laboratory-measured MR (MR(Lab)) decreases as the moisture content increases. Specimens compacted at −2%wopt showed higher MR(Lab) than specimens compacted at wopt. Specimens compacted at +2%wopt showed lower MR(Lab) than specimens compacted at wopt. Results also indicated that the MR(Lab) predicted higher pavement rutting compared to field measured MR (MR(Lab)). If a stabilized aggregate foundation layer was employed instead of an untreated granular base, subgrade soil moisture condition showed a significant impact on rutting.
Depression, Anxiety and Antidepressants and Anxiolytics Use in Spanish Informal Caregivers according to the Physical Activity Frequency: EHSS 2014–2020
Authors: Denche-Zamorano Angel , Rodriguez-Redondo Yeray , Barrios-Fernandez Sabina , Mendoza-Muñoz María , Rojo-Ramos Jorge , Garcia-Gordillo Miguel Angel , Adsuar Jose C. , Muñoz-Bermejo Laura
Published: March 2023

Depression and anxiety are two of the most common mental diseases both in formal and nonformal caregivers. Physical activity during leisure time seems to have benefits on their practitioner’s mental health. This study aimed to analyze the associations between physical activity frequency (PAF) and depression and anxiety status, as well as antidepressant and anxiolytic use in Spanish nonformal caregivers. A cross-sectional study with data from the 2014 and 2020 European Health Interview Surveys in Spain (EHSS) including 4520 Spanish nonformal caregivers was carried out. The PAF was found to be related to depression and anxiety, as well as antidepressants and anxiolytics use (p < 0.001), with the highest proportions of these variables found in the inactive population (p < 0.05), while the active and very active populations showed the lowest proportions (p < 0.05). Weak but statistically significant correlations were found between all variables of interest (p < 0.001). Being female, older, and dedicating more hours per week to caregiving and caring for nonfamily members were found to have increased risks of depression, anxiety and antidepressants or anxiolytics use. Nonformal caregivers who were not physically active during their leisure time had higher mental disorders and psychotropic drug use proportions than the active and very active caregivers. Thus, increasing nonformal caregivers’ PAF could be a protective tool.
Factors Affecting Depression and Its Relation to Sleep Quality among Parents of Type 1 Diabetes Patients
Authors: Cho Mi-Kyoung , Kim Mi Young
Published: March 2023

This study investigated factors affecting depression (CES-D) among parents of patients with type-1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), a chronic disease that requires constant management. A complex set of factors influence depression in parents and thus requires further research. This is a cross-sectional descriptive study. A survey on related variables was conducted on 217 parents of patients with T1DM. The collected data were analyzed using the PASW Statistics program, and factors influencing participants’ depression were identified through stepwise multiple regression. The results show that three variables exerted a significant effect on depression (source of information, resilience–personal competence, and Pittsburgh sleep quality index score), and all the variables explained a majority of the variance in depression. The results indicate that the parents of patients with T1DM were less depressed when the source of information was personal, when their resilience–personal competence was high, and when their Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) score was low. Interventions targeting parents of patients with T1DM should be performed with positive information on how to overcome diabetes in their children, increase resilience–personal competence, and increase sleep quality.