bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Composite Exponential Reaching Law Based SMC with Rotating Sliding Surface Selection Mechanism for Two Level Three Phase VSI in Vehicle to Load Applications
Authors: Haroon Faheem , Aamir Muhammad , Waqar Asad , Mian Qaisar Saeed , Ali Syed , Almaktoom Abdulaziz
Published: December 2022

Voltage source inverters (VSIs) are an integral part of electrical vehicles (EVs) to enhance the reliability of the supply power to critical loads in vehicle to load (V2L) applications. The inherent properties of sliding mode control (SMC) makes it one of the best available options to achieve the desired voltage quality under variable load conditions. The intrinsic characteristic of robustness associated with SMC is generally achieved at the cost of unwanted chattering along the sliding surface. To manage this compromise better, optimal selection of sliding surface coefficient is applied with the proposed composite exponential reaching law (C-ERL). The novelty of the proposed C-ERL is associated with the intelligent mix of the exponential, power, and difference functions blended with the rotating sliding surface selection (RSS) technique for three phase two level VSI. Moreover, the proposed reaching law along with the power rate exponential reaching law (PRERL), enhanced exponential reaching law (EERL), and repetitive reaching law (RRL) were implemented on two level three phase VSI under variable load conditions. A comparative analysis strongly advocates the authenticity and effectiveness of the proposed reaching law in achieving a well-regulated output voltage with a high level of robustness, reduced chattering, and low %THD.
Experimental Investigation of Heat Pipe Inclination Angle Effect on Temperature Nonuniformity in Electrical Machines
Authors: Zhang Xiaochen , Zhao Han , Li Jing , Zhang Fengyu , Zhang Yue , Yan Hongyu , Niu Zhihao , Gerada David , Zhang He
Published: December 2022

Heat pipes (HPs) are gaining increasing popularity in the propulsion motors of transportation electrification due to their remarkable thermal properties. However, the inclination angle affects the HP thermal performance and, thus, results in temperature nonuniformity, which may generate unbalanced thermal stress on the motor. Such an issue has received less attention to date and requires corresponding solutions. This article performs an experimental investigation on motor temperature nonuniformity with HPs and further proposes an improved structure to address this problem. A specimen based on a stator-winding assembly with HPs is prepared and a dedicated experimental platform is established. Then, the temperature distribution across the specimen is studied, followed by an evaluation of the effects of current density and wind velocity. To compensate for the degradation of HP thermal performance, an improved structure with enlarged fins is proposed, and the equilibrium point is determined by fitting and comparing the obtained temperature data. Finally, the proposed structure is verified by the comparison between the original and improved specimens. The experimental results show that the non-uniform temperature distribution is significantly improved, with the temperature range and standard deviation reduced by 42% and 44.3%, respectively.
Effects of Overnight Oxidation on Perovskite Solar Cells with Co(III)TFSI Co-Doped Spiro-OMeTAD
Authors: Nakka Laxmi , Aberle Armin , Lin Fen
Published: December 2022

Metal-halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have achieved remarkable power conversion efficiencies in recent years, and spiro-OMeTAD plays a significant role as a hole transport material in PSCs with record efficiencies. However, further studies and systematic experimental procedures on doped spiro-OMeTAD are required to enable a reliable process for potential commercialization. In particular, the effect of the prolonged oxidation of Co(III)TFSI co-doped spiro-OMeTAD has been one of the unanswered topics in PSC research. In this work, we investigate the influence of overnight oxidation on the performance of PSCs with Co(III)TFSI co-doped spiro-OMeTAD. Co-doping spiro-OMeTAD with Co(III) complexes instantly oxidizes spiro-OMeTAD, leading to an improvement in power conversion efficiency (PCE) from 13.1% (LiTFSI-doped spiro-OMeTAD) to 17.6% (LiTFSI + Co(III)TFSI-doped spiro-OMeTAD). It is found that PSCs with spiro-OMeTAD co-doped with Co(III)TFSI without overnight oxidation could retain around 90% of the efficiency under maximum power point tracking at 1-sun illumination for 3000 min, whereas the efficiencies drop by more than 30% when Co(III)TFSI co-doped spiro-OMeTAD is exposed to overnight oxidation. Hence, it is important to inhibit the unnecessary overnight oxidation of Co(III)TFSI co-doped spiro-OMeTAD so as to save excess fabrication time and overcome the poor stability issues.
Actual Trends in the Usability of Biochar as a High-Value Product of Biomass Obtained through Pyrolysis
Authors: Sajdak Marcin , Muzyka Roksana , Gałko Grzegorz , Ksepko Ewelina , Zajemska Monika , Sobek Szymon , Tercki Dariusz
Published: December 2022

This review comprehensively examines biochar, an essential material in an era of climate change for reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions into the atmosphere. It is inconspicuous, black, lightweight, and very porous, and is produced through the thermal conversion of biomass. Our literature review highlights biochar’s expansive application possibilities. Firstly, its potential to improve soil quality and sequester CO2 has been examined, as well as its utilization in iron and steel manufacturing to minimize the quantity of coke and ultimately reduce CO2 emissions. In industrial manufacturing, the complete elimination of coke can promote environmental neutrality, which is achieved using biochar from biomass for its extrusion. Furthermore, biochar is becoming increasingly significant in modern energy storage technologies and as an important additive in Pickering emulsions, which are also employed in energy storage systems. Additionally, the use of carbon black is a broad topic, and this review illustrates where it can be successfully utilized, especially in environmentally sensitive areas.
Lessons Learned from Positive Energy District (PED) Projects: Cataloguing and Analysing Technology Solutions in Different Geographical Areas in Europe
Authors: Leone Federica , Reda Francesco , Hasan Ala , Rehman Hassam ur , Nigrelli Fausto Carmelo , Nocera Francesco , Costanzo Vincenzo
Published: December 2022

A Positive Energy District (PED) is a portion of urban area with defined boundaries that can produce energy in excess of its own consumption. The aim of this study is to analyse design variations among the six projects (12 case studies) of PED belonging to the European Smart Cities and Communities programme. Thus, it will be possible to identify the reasons behind the energy choices related to generation, storage and distribution that appear in the different geographical areas. To achieve this, different data were collected by consulting official documents and creating questionnaires that were communicated with the project representatives. Thus, the result of this study is a catalogue of the energy system solutions adopted in the studied PEDs with a critical analysis of the different motivations behind them in order to outline general trends in the geographical areas with similar characteristics. In conclusion, this study defined which technological choices are the most common in territories with similar profiles and how divergent those with different profiles are. Furthermore, applied to a large catalogue of PED, the methodology identified would make it possible to create different operating models for different territorial types and urban settlements.
Average Current Mode Control of a DC–DC Boost Converter to Reduce the Decoupling Capacitance at the PV Array Output
Authors: Mohamadian Sobhan , Buccella Concettina , Cecati Carlo
Published: December 2022

Due to the full-wave AC–DC power conversion, second-order frequency oscillations of current and voltage are created in single-phase PV-grid-connected inverters. These oscillations propagate toward the input and adversely affect the PV power utilization ratio. Large power decoupling capacitors are the preliminary solution for coping with voltage ripples across PVs, and they decrease the lifetime of the overall system. This paper proposes the average current mode control (ACMC) of the input inductor in a DC–DC boost converter in a double-stage PV power conversion system. Through extensive explanations of the modeling and control of a DC–DC boost converter, it is shown that the ACMC reduces the propagation of the second-order frequency components (SOFCs) toward the input PV array. Two controllers—a proportional–integral controller and an integral single-lead controller—are considered to adjust the average value of the PV output current in a single-loop control structure. This control approach is simple to implement and exhibits high impedance to current oscillatory components, which, in turn, reduces the size of the required capacitance.
Design of Coal Seam Exploitation in Methane Hazard Conditions: A Case Study
Authors: Szlązak Nikodem , Swolkień Justyna , Kamiński Paweł
Published: December 2022

Carrying out exploitation in coal mines with a methane hazard imposes the use of special procedures and the analyses of numerous parameters in order to secure mining teams working underground. The article presents a method of coal seam exploitation design under conditions of a methane hazard for the newly prepared coal seams 404/1 and 403/1 in the years 2022 to 2030 in a coal mine in southern Poland as a case study. It primarily focuses on the preparation of the methane hazard prognosis. When adequately prepared, this is key to correctly designing the mining system in the newly opened parts of the deposit. Based on the obtained results, the appropriate methane drainage system and detection systems can be selected. The calculations led to the definition in which the longwall panel emissions of methane would be the highest. The estimates showed that, from 2022 to the beginning of 2028, even methane emissions between approximately 30 m3/min and 45 m3/min are forecast, with a significant increase for half of 2028 to a value between 57.58 m3/min and 100.00 m3/min. The highest value of methane emission was forecast for the A4 and A5 longwall panels in the 403/1 coal seam at 13.53 and 49.67 m3/min, respectively, and for the A2 and B1 longwall panels in the 404/1 seam at 41.85 m3/min and 25.46 m3/min, all with advance equal 7 m/d. Therefore, a drainage system will be required in all designed longwall panels. Considering the methane emission into the longwalls and the designed U-type ventilation, the calculated drainage effectiveness will vary between 38.3 and 40.6%. Higher effectiveness values require the application of a U-type ventilation with drainage, which allows obtaining effectiveness reaching 60.2%, with the methane emission between 20 and 30 m3/min, or even up to 62.6%, with the methane emission at the level of 30–40 m3/min. Another critical design stage is utilizing the gathered methane; the proposition is to use it in the cogeneration system. The heat generated by gas-powered engines should be used in the absorbent coolers that are used for chilling the water for the central air-conditioning system of the mine.
Investigation of the Selectivity of the Water Shutoff Technology
Authors: Duryagin Victor , Nguyen Van Thang , Onegov Nikita , Shamsutdinova Galiya
Published: December 2022

High water-cut oil production is one of the major issues in the petroleum industry. The present study investigates different profile control solutions, with an emphasis on selective methods and materials that mostly decrease the permeability of water-saturated reservoir areas. To achieve the selective water flow blockage in fractured porous media, the sodium silicate-based gel-forming composition was developed. The test procedure was created to assess selective and strength characteristics of the presented composition. According to the results of this procedure, adding polyatomic alcohols to the mentioned composition enhances its hydrophilic behavior in water-saturated rocks (work of adhesion increases from 117 to 129 mJ/m2) and reduces the hydrophobic behavior in oil-saturated rocks (work of adhesion drops from 110.3 to 77.4 mJ/m2). The selectivity of the composition performance is validated by its higher wettability of water-saturated reservoir rocks compared with oil-saturated; thus, the composition creates a more stable water shutoff barrier when entering the water zone in a formation. As a result of core flooding experiments in natural, fractured, porous core samples, the efficiency of the water blocking capacity of the composition was proved. In addition, these tests showed the selectivity of the composition because the permeability decrease in water-saturated core samples was higher than in oil-saturated ones. The experimental value of the selectivity coefficient was 152.14.
Optimization Methods of Urban Green Space Layout on Tropical Islands to Control Heat Island Effects
Authors: Zhou Haizhu , Wang Qingqin , Zhu Neng , Li Yitong , Li Jiayu , Zhou Lining , Pei Yu , Zhang Shuai
Published: December 2022

With the rapid increase in demand for the construction and development of island cities in the South China Sea, the urban heat island phenomenon in such cities should become a key factor to be considered in future urban planning. This paper took Sanya, China as a typical case, and long-term field experiments were conducted in the Mangrove Bay Area in summer and winter. An innovative urban green space cooling model was proposed, using the “green space cooling index” to quantitatively characterize the green space cooling effect, and aiming to minimize the intensity of urban heat islands. This paper studied the optimization method of green space planning and layout under the constraint of a centralized green space total area. Moreover, a genetic algorithm was adopted to optimize the calculation and the layout of the urban green space. The experimental results showed that the urban heat island intensity was more significant at night and was less effective in the daytime during summer. In winter, the urban heat island intensity had a greater effect in the daytime and was less influential at night. Finally, optimization results indicated that the average urban heat island intensity in summer was reduced by 8.8% under the optimal layout urban green space of 0.025 km2. The maximum reduction in heat island intensity occurred at 7:00 am (0.48 °C). When 0.0625 km2 urban green space was planned, the average urban heat island intensity index in summer was reduced to 0.27 °C, with a decrease of 20.5%.
Enzymatic Conversion of Hydrolysis Lignin—A Potential Biorefinery Approach
Authors: Khan Sharib , Puss Kait Kaarel , Lukk Tiit , Loog Mart , Kikas Timo , Salmar Siim
Published: December 2022

Lignin is an abundant and renewable source capable of replacing different raw materials in the chemical industry. It can be obtained from lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) via different pretreatment methods. In the present study, hydrolysis lignin (HL) from the SunburstTM pretreatment technology was utilized to investigate its enzymatic conversion. At first, soluble HL fractions were obtained via alkali solubilization followed by acid precipitation, referred to as acid precipitated lignin (APL). Furthermore, the APL was tested with three different bacterial laccases to identify the optimal conditions for its conversion into small molecular weight fractions. Among the tested laccases, Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) (ScLac) displayed the highest rate of APL conversion with a high lignin dosage and under extremely alkaline conditions, i.e., 50 g/L in 0.25 M NaOH solution, resulting in higher molecular weight fractions. The increase in the molecular weight and quantitative linkages before and after the enzymatic oxidation of the APL were characterized by size exclusion chromatography (SEC), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and two-dimensional heteronuclear single quantum correlation nuclear magnetic resonance (2D HSQC NMR) methods.
The Impacts of Terrestrial Wind Turbine’s Operation on Telecommunication Services
Authors: Abubakar Ukashatu , Mekhilef Saad , Mokhlis Hazlie , Seyedmahmoudian Mehdi , Stojcevski Alex , Rawa Muhyaddin
Published: December 2022

This paper presents a compendious review for the evaluation and description of the mathematical modelling of the affected components in wind turbines which cause the scattering of communication signals. The impact of an adjacent wind farm operation on telecommunication signals is that it induces electromagnetic interference (EMI) in radar, television and radio signals, resulting from the complex rotating blade’s geometry of the wind turbines. Thus, altering the quality of the reflected signal, especially the capability of the radar detection. In all the modelling studies, the radar cross section (RCS) model of a wind turbine’s blade is found to be the most complex, due to its huge computational burden. However, clutter filtering is another interesting technique, which employs the Doppler signal processing to obviate the huge computational task in RCS. In this case, the rotating blades of the wind turbine produce Doppler echoes, which in turn are used to estimate the model of the blade by modelling the echo of the scattering points. Therefore, this review succinctly compiles the basic steps of theoretical analysis and simulations of the impact of wind turbines on communication signals, and the remedies to minimize the impact.
High-Performance Power Electronic Battery Pack Based on a Back-to-Back Converter
Authors: Corrêa Tomás P. , Maia Thales A. C. , Cardoso Filho Braz J.
Published: December 2022

This work studies a full-power, module-integrated back-to-back converter for battery energy storage applications. The proposed solution optimizes bank usage across a wide range of individual battery capacities. The converter design and control are examined, as well as the use of a loss reduction method when operating under a partial load. The suggested architectural work allows the bank to have a regulated voltage output, simulating a passive bank, while controlling the charge and discharge of individual batteries to their maximum capacities. Those capabilities are also evaluated using linear programming optimization, in order the quantify the advantage. The suggested system is used in a typical use-case examined experimentally. The energy provided by an experimental lead acid bank rose 38 times after a few charge/discharge cycles.
Spray Drying Encapsulation of Pediococcus acidilactici at Different Inlet Air Temperatures and Wall Material Ratios
Authors: Tirta Gabriella Devina , Martin Leon , Bani Mario Donald , Kho Katherine , Pramanda Ihsan Tria , Pui Liew Phing , How Yu Hsuan , Lim Crystale Siew Ying , Devanthi Putu Virgina Partha
Published: December 2022

Pediococcus acidilactici has gained research and commercial interest due to its outstanding probiotic properties, yet its survival during storage and consumption requires improvement. This study aims to enhance P. acidilactici survival using spray drying encapsulation. Different inlet air temperatures (120 °C, 150 °C, and 170 °C) and whey protein isolate (WPI):gum arabic (GA) ratios (1:1, 3:1, 1:3) were tested. Cell viability was significantly (p < 0.05) affected by the inlet temperature but not the WPI:GA ratio. Increasing the inlet temperature to 170 °C significantly decreased P. acidilactici viability by 1.36 log cycles, from 8.61 log CFU/g to 7.25 log CFU/g. The inlet temperature of 150 °C resulted in a powder yield (63.12%) higher than at 120 °C (58.97%), as well as significantly (p < 0.05) lower moisture content (5.71%) and water activity (aw 0.21). Viable cell counts in all encapsulated P. acidilactici were maintained at 5.24–6.75 log CFU/g after gastrointestinal tract (GIT) simulation, with WPI:GA of 3:1 and inlet temperature 150 °C having the smallest log reduction (0.3 log cycles). All samples containing different WPI:GA ratios maintained sufficient viability (>7 log CFU/g) during the first three weeks of storage at 25 °C. These results could provide insights for further developing P. acidilactici as commercial probiotic products.
A Comprehensive Overview of Tomato Processing By-Product Valorization by Conventional Methods versus Emerging Technologies
Authors: Eslami Elham , Carpentieri Serena , Pataro Gianpiero , Ferrari Giovanna
Published: December 2022

The tomato processing industry can be considered one of the most widespread food manufacturing industries all over the world, annually generating considerable quantities of residue and determining disposal issues associated not only with the wasting of invaluable resources but also with the rise of significant environmental burdens. In this regard, previous studies have widely ascertained that tomato by-products are still rich in valuable compounds, which, once recovered, could be utilized in different industrial sectors. Currently, conventional solvent extraction is the most widely used method for the recovery of these compounds from tomato pomace. Nevertheless, several well-known drawbacks derive from this process, including the use of large quantities of solvents and the difficulties of utilizing the residual biomass. To overcome these limitations, the recent advances in extraction techniques, including the modification of the process configuration and the use of complementary novel methods to modify or destroy vegetable cells, have greatly and effectively influenced the recovery of different compounds from plant matrices. This review contributes a comprehensive overview on the valorization of tomato processing by-products with a specific focus on the use of “green technologies”, including high-pressure homogenization (HPH), pulsed electric fields (PEF), supercritical fluid (SFE-CO2), ultrasounds (UAE), and microwaves (MAE), suitable to enhancing the extractability of target compounds while reducing the solvent requirement and shortening the extraction time. The effects of conventional processes and the application of green technologies are critically analyzed, and their effectiveness on the recovery of lycopene, polyphenols, cutin, pectin, oil, and proteins from tomato residues is discussed, focusing on their strengths, drawbacks, and critical factors that contribute to maximizing the extraction yields of the target compounds. Moreover, to follow the “near zero discharge concept”, the utilization of a cascade approach to recover different valuable compounds and the exploitation of the residual biomass for biogas generation are also pointed out.
Styrene-Lauryl Acrylate Rubber Nanogels as a Plugging Agent for Oil-Based Drilling Fluids with the Function of Improving Emulsion Stability
Authors: Du Hongyan , Lv Kaihe , Sun Jinsheng , Huang Xianbin , Shen Haokun
Published: December 2022

With the exploration and development of unconventional oil and gas, the use frequency of oil-based drilling fluid (ODF) is increasing gradually. During the use of ODFs, wellbore instability caused by invasion of drilling fluid into formation is a major challenge. To improve the plugging property of ODFs, nano-sized poly(styrene-lauryl acrylate) (PSL) rubber nanogels were synthesized using styrene and lauryl acrylate through soap-free emulsion polymerization method and were characterized using FTIR, NMR, SEM, TEM, particle size analysis and TGA. The results show that, due to good dispersion stability and oil-absorbing expansion ability, the PSL rubber nanogels have a wide range of adaptations for nano-scale pores to deposit a layer of dense filter cake on the surface of filter paper with various pore diameters, reducing the filtration of mineral oil and W/O emulsion significantly. Due to the unique wettability, the PSL rubber nanogels can be adsorbed stably at the oil–water interface and form a dense granular film to prevent droplets coalescing, which improves the emulsification stability of W/O emulsion. Furthermore, the PSL rubber nanogels are soap-free and compatible with ODFs without foaming problems. The PSL rubber nanogels can increase the hole-cleaning performance of ODFs by raising viscosity and yield point. The PSL rubber nanogels outperformed hydrophobic modified nano silica and polystyrene nanospheres in plugging and filtration reduction. Therefore, the PSL rubber nanogels are expected to be used as a new plugging agent in oil-based drilling fluid. This research provide important insights for the use of organic nanogels in ODFs and the optimization of plugging conditions.
Self-Healing Alginate Hydrogel Formed by Dynamic Benzoxaborolate Chemistry Protects Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cells against Oxidative Damage
Authors: Liu Minhua , Huang Yate , Tao Chunwen , Yang Weijia , Chen Junrong , Zhu Li , Pan Tonghe , Narain Ravin , Nan Kaihui , Chen Yangjun
Published: December 2022

Oxidative stress is considered as a major factor causing retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) dysfunction and finally leading to retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Developing hydrogels for RPE cell delivery, especially those with antioxidant feature, is emerging as a promising approach for AMD treatment. Herein, a readily prepared antioxidant alginate-based hydrogel was developed to serve as a cytoprotective agent for RPE cells against oxidative damage. Alg-BOB was synthesized via conjugation of benzoxaborole (BOB) to the polysaccharide backbone. Hydrogels were formed through self-crosslinking of Alg-BOB based on benzoxaborole-diol complexation. The resulting hydrogel showed porous micro-structure, pH dependent mechanical strength and excellent self-healing, remolding, and injectable properties. Moreover, the hydrogel exhibited excellent cytocompatibility and could efficiently scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) to achieve an enhanced viability of ARPE-19 cells under oxidative condition. Altogether, our study reveals that the antioxidant Alg-BOB hydrogel represents an eligible candidate for RPE delivery and AMD treatment.
Integrated Transcriptomics Profiling in Chahua and Digao Chickens’ Breast for Assessment Molecular Mechanism of Meat Quality Traits
Authors: Alsoufi Mohammed Abdulwahid , Liu Yong , Cao Changwei , Zhao Jinbo , Kang Jiajia , Li Mengyuan , Wang Kun , He Yang , Ge Changrong
Published: December 2022

Meat quality traits are an important economic trait and remain a major argument, from the producer to the consumer. However, there are a few candidate genes and pathways of chicken meat quality traits that were reported for chicken molecular breeding. The purpose of the present study is to identify the candidate genes and pathways associated with meat quality underlying variations in meat quality. Hence, transcriptome profiles of breast tissue in commercial Digao (DG, 5 male) and Chahua (CH, 5 male) native chicken breeds were analyzed at the age of 100 days. The results found 3525 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in CH compared to DG with adjusted p-values of ≤0.05 and log2FC ≥ 0.1 FDR ≤ 0.05. Functional analysis of GO showed that the DEGs are mainly involved in the two types of processes of meat quality, such as positive regulation of the metabolic process, extracellular structure organization, collagen trimer, cellular amino acid metabolic process, cellular amino acid catabolic process, and heme binding. Functional analysis of KEGG showed that the DEGs are mainly involved in the two types of processes of meat quality, such as oxidative phosphorylation, carbon metabolism, valine, leucine, and isoleucine degradation, and fatty acid degradation. Many of the DEGs are well known to be related to meat quality, such as COL28A1, COL1A2, MB, HBAD, HBA1, ACACA, ACADL, ACSL1, ATP8A1, CAV1, FADS2, FASN, DCN, CHCHD10, AGXT2, ALDH3A2, and MORN4. Therefore, the current study detected multiple pathways and genes that could be involved in the control of the meat quality traits of chickens. These findings should be used as an essential resource to improve the accuracy of selection for meat traits in chickens using marker-assisted selection based on differentially expressed genes.
A New Look to the Heletz–Ashdod Oil Field (Southern Israel): A Non-Conventional Hydrocarbon Deposit in the Easternmost Mediterranean
Authors: Eppelbaum Lev , Katz Youri
Published: December 2022

Heletz–Ashdod oil field is the first oil deposit to have been discovered in the Eastern Mediterranean. This deposit has been exploited until the present despite its small reserves. However, this area’s tectonic–geodynamic and structural features must be studied more. Based on the integrated regional geological–geophysical analysis, it was proposed that the Heletz terrane, which includes this deposit, is the nodal structure of the Eastern Mediterranean. This terrane is a composite part of the earlier identified Mesozoic terrane belt (MTB). The Heletz terrane’s essential tectonic peculiarity is the MTB’s impact, rotating counterclockwise. Analysis of local geophysical data in this area (gravity, magnetic, and seismic) and regional thermal data examination testifies to the complex mosaic composition of the Heletz structure. It is proved that the crystal basement below the Heletz terrane is characterized by specific properties that do not coincide with the adjacent areas. Finally, a series of structural–paleogeographic and thickness formation maps of the Heletz–Ashdod oil field has been compiled. This investigation shed light on this area’s perspectives and searched other hydrocarbon deposits in the easternmost Mediterranean coastal and shelf zones.
A Survey of Living Conditions and Psychological Distress in Japanese University Freshmen during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Iio Yoko , Mori Yukihiro , Aoyama Yuka , Kozai Hana , Tanaka Mamoru , Aoike Makoto , Kawamura Hatsumi , Seguchi Manato , Tsurudome Masato , Ito Morihiro
Published: December 2022

Since the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, educational institutions have implemented measures such as school closures, raising concerns regarding the increase in psychological distress among university students. The purpose of this study is to identify factors that have influenced psychological distress among college freshmen during the COVID-19 pandemic. A questionnaire survey was conducted at the conclusion of the sixth wave of COVID-19 in Japan. Psychological distress was measured using the six-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6). Factors affecting psychological distress were calculated using regression analysis. Of the 2536 participants, 1841 (72.6%) reported having no psychological distress, while 695 (27.4%) reported having psychological distress. Factors that were identified to contribute to psychological distress were lack of sleep, weight gain or loss, worsening of interpersonal relationships, and physical symptoms and illnesses. A willingness to join an athletic club and having an environment in which it is easy to discuss worries and anxieties with others were factors that were identified to hinder psychological distress. It is necessary for universities to offer enhanced supports for physical and interpersonal activities. Additionally, it is imperative to encourage students to look after their physical health and to actively utilize university-based consultation systems.
Deep Learning for the Detection and Classification of Diabetic Retinopathy with an Improved Activation Function
Authors: Bhimavarapu Usharani , Battineni Gopi
Published: December 2022

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is an eye disease triggered due to diabetes, which may lead to blindness. To prevent diabetic patients from becoming blind, early diagnosis and accurate detection of DR are vital. Deep learning models, such as convolutional neural networks (CNNs), are largely used in DR detection through the classification of blood vessel pixels from the remaining pixels. In this paper, an improved activation function was proposed for diagnosing DR from fundus images that automatically reduces loss and processing time. The DIARETDB0, DRIVE, CHASE, and Kaggle datasets were used to train and test the enhanced activation function in the different CNN models. The ResNet-152 model has the highest accuracy of 99.41% with the Kaggle dataset. This enhanced activation function is suitable for DR diagnosis from retinal fundus images.
The Voice of Patients Really Matters: Using Patient-Reported Outcomes and Experiences Measures to Assess Effectiveness of Home-Based Integrated Care—A Scoping Review of Practice
Authors: Bandurska Ewa
Published: December 2022

Background: The aim of the study is to analyze the prevalence of using patients’ reported outcomes measures and experiences (PROMs and PREMs) in relation to integrated care (IC). Material and methods: To select eligible studies (<10 years, full-text), PubMed was used. The general subject of the articles referring to the type of disease was indicated on the basis of a review of all full-text publications discussing the effectiveness of IC (N = 6518). The final search included MeSH headings related to outcomes measures and IC. Full-text screening resulted in including 73 articles (23 on COPD, 40 on diabetes/obesity and 10 on depression) with 93.391 participants. Results: Analysis indicated that authors used multiple outcome measures, with 54.8% of studies including at least one patient reported. PROMs were more often used than PREMs. Specific (disease or condition/dimension) outcome measures were reported more often than general, especially those dedicated to self-assessment of health in COPD and depression. PROMs and PREMs were most commonly used in studies from the USA and Netherlands. Conclusion: Using PROMS/PREMS is becoming more popular, although it is varied, both due to the place of research and type of disease.
The Relationship between Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome and Hip Biomechanics: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis
Authors: Xie Pingping , István Bíró , Liang Minjun
Published: December 2022

(1) Background and purpose: Muscular control and motor function in a patient with Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) have not yet been investigated systematically. Therefore, this review synthesis the previous results about the association of PFPS with gluteus muscle activation, hip strength, and kinematic characteristic of the hip and knee joint, to deepen understanding of the PFPS etiology and promote the establishment of an effective treatment strategy. (2) Methods: A literature search was conducted from January 2000 to July 2022 in four electronic databases: Medline, Embase, Google scholar, and Scopus. A total of 846 articles were initially identified, and after the screening process based on the inclusion criteria, 12 articles were eventually included. Means and SDs of gluteus medius (GMed), gluteus maximus (GMax), hip strength, and kinematic variation of hip and knee were retrieved from the present study. (3) Results and conclusion: Regarding kinematic variation, moderate evidence indicates that an increased peak hip adduction was found in PFPS groups during running and single leg (SL) squat activities. There is no difference in the GMed and GMax activation levels between the two groups among the vast majority of functional activities. Most importantly, strong evidence suggests that hip strength is weaker in individuals with PFPS, showing less strength of hip external rotation and hip abduction compared to the control group. However, without prospective studies, it is difficult to determine whether hip strength weakness is a cause or a result of PFPS. Therefore, further research is needed to evaluate the hip strength level in identifying individuals most likely to associated with PFPS development is needed.
Factors Influencing Performance of Exercise Behavior of Middle-Aged Men with Chronic Disease Based on the Information–Motivation–Behavioral Skill-Revealed-Related Variables (IMBR) Model
Authors: Kim Hee-Kyung , Kim Hyoungtae , Seo Jeong-Hyo
Published: December 2022

The purpose of this study was to analyze the factors influencing performance of exercise behavior of middle-aged men with chronic disease by adding variables through literature to the Information–Motivation–Behavioral skill model. Subjects of this study are total 171 people belonging to exercise clubs. In the results of putting the control variable in the step-1 of the hierarchical regression analysis, the health condition, smoking, the number of exercises per week, and hours of each exercise were revealed as influence factors and showed 38.4% explanatory power on the performance of exercise behavior. In the results of putting the factors required for behavioral change in the step-2 analysis, the information for exercise, motivation for exercise, sport commitment, and perceived barriers to exercise were influence factors, showing 60.1% explanatory power on the performance of exercise behavior. In the results of putting the exercise self-efficacy of exercise behavioral skills in the step-3 analysis, it was revealed as an influence factor that showed 63.0% explanatory power. Regarding the influence on participants’ exercise behavior, the factors required for behavioral change and behavioral skill factors were relatively more important than the general characteristics. This study suggests application of IMBR model to the program for exercise behavior.
Reliability and Validity of the Double Inclinometer Method for Assessing Thoracolumbar Joint Position Sense and Range of Movement in Patients with a Recent History of Low Back Pain
Authors: Dimitriadis Zacharias , Parintas Ioannis , Karamitanis Georgios , Abdelmesseh Kiven , Koumantakis George A. , Kastrinis Alexandros
Published: December 2022

The study was aimed at examining the reliability of the Double Inclinometer (DI) method for the assessment of thoracolumbar Range of Movement (ROM) and Joint Position Sense (JPS) in patients with a recent history of Low Back Pain (LBP). Twenty patients with a history of LBP in the last three months participated. The thoracolumbar ROM and JPS were examined from a standing position by using both the DI and the tape measure method. The DI method was found to have moderate to good intra-rater (ICC = 0.68–0.79, SEM = 2.20–2.77°, SDD = 6.09–7.67°), moderate inter-rater (ICC = 0.59–0.62, SEM = 2.96–3.35°, SDD = 8.19–9.27°) and poor test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.13–0.17, SEM = 3.98–4.32°, SDD = 11.02–11.96°) for the assessment of thoracolumbar JPS. For the assessment of thoracolumbar ROM, the DI method was found to have good to excellent intra-rater (ICC = 0.88–0.94, SEM = 4.25–6.20°, SDD = 11.77–17.17°), excellent inter-rater (ICC = 0.90–0.91, SEM = 7.26–7.74°, SDD = 20.11–21.43°) and excellent test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.91–0.93, SEM = 6.03–6.87°, SDD = 16.70–19.02°). The concurrent validity of the DI method with the tape measure method was found to be very weak for the assessment of thoracolumbar JPS (r = 0.02, p = 0.93) and strong for the assessment of thoracolumbar ROM (r = 0.66, p = 0.001). The DI method seems to be a very reliable method for the assessment of thoracolumbar ROM in individuals with a recent history of LBP.
Evaluation of Potential Changes in Extreme Discharges over Some Watersheds in Côte d’Ivoire
Authors: Amichiatchi N’da Jocelyne Maryse Christine , Soro Gneneyougo Emile , Hounkpè Jean , Goula Bi Tie Albert , Lawin Agnidé Emmanuel
Published: December 2022

Climate change has had strong impacts on water resources over the past decades in Côte d’Ivoire, but these impacts on hydrological extremes remain largely unknown in most watersheds. Thus, this work aimed to evaluate the trends and breakpoints in extreme discharge characteristics of five watersheds in Côte d’Ivoire over the period 1970 to 2017. Seven indexes were selected, namely the 5-day maximum flow (QX5-days), peak discharge (Qmaxan), maximum monthly discharge (VCX30), annual minimum discharge (Qminan), average monthly discharge (QMNA), discharge day rate (VCN7), and characteristic of low discharge (WFD). The analysis was done using the modified Mann–Kendall (MMK) test and the standard normal homogeneity test at a 5% significance level for heterogeneous and homogeneous periods of data. The results for the heterogeneous and homogeneous periods were similar, with a predominance of non-significant trends for high discharge, except for the VCX30 index, which showed a significant upward trend at Kahin station. A decreasing trend for QX5-days was found at Loboville station. The variables Qminan, QMNA, VCN7, and WDF show significant upward trends of 33%, 16%, 50%, and 33% for the heterogeneous stations, respectively. A significant breakpoint in almost all variables was obtained, with a strong decrease after 2008. Some differences between the results from the heterogeneous and homogeneous periods of data were found and discussed. This study can help in understanding the behaviour of past hydrological extremes in the study area and in planning for further studies in the future.
Soil Erosion Quantification using Machine Learning in Sub-Watersheds of Northern Portugal
Authors: Folharini Saulo , Vieira António , Bento-Gonçalves António , Silva Sara , Marques Tiago , Novais Jorge
Published: December 2022

Protected areas (PA) play an important role in minimizing the effects of soil erosion in watersheds. This study evaluated the performance of machine learning models, specifically support vector machine with linear kernel (SVMLinear), support vector machine with polynomial kernel (SVMPoly), and random forest (RF), on identifying indicators of soil erosion in 761 sub-watersheds and PA in northern Portugal, by using soil erosion by water in Europe, according to the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE2015), as target variable. The parameters analyzed were: soil erosion by water in Europe according to the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE2015), total burned area of the sub-watershed in the period of 1975-2020, fire recurrence, topographic wetness index (TWI), and the morphometric factors, namely area (A), perimeter (P), length (L), width (W), orientation (O), elongation ratio (Re), circularity ratio (Rc), compactness coefficient (Cc), form factor (Ff), shape factor (Sf), DEM, slope, and curvature. The median coefficient of determination (R2) for each model was RF (0.61), SVMpoly (0.68), and SVMLinear (0.54). Regarding the analyzed parameters, those that registered the greatest importance were A, P, L, W, curvature, and burned area, indicating that an analysis which considers morphometric factors, together with soil erosion data affected by water and soil moisture, is an important indicator in the analysis of soil erosion in watersheds.
Lessons Learned from In-Person Conferences in the Times of COVID-19
Authors: Ehteshami Maryam , Edgar Carlos León , Delgado Ayala Lucia Yunuen , Hagan Michael , Martin Greg S. , Lam Wilbur , Schinazi Raymond F.
Published: December 2022

Scientific societies and conference secretariats have recently resumed in-person meetings after a long pause owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some safety measures continue to be implemented at these in-person events to limit the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). With increased numbers of waves of infection, caused by the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants, additional information is needed to ensure maximal safety at in-person events. The MEX-DART case study was conducted at the in-person Hep-DART 2021 conference, which was held in Los Cabos, Mexico, in December 2021. Many COVID-19 safety measures were implemented, and incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection during the conference was tested onsite. In this study, we highlight the specific conditions and safety measures set in place at the conference. In addition to vaccination requirements, social distancing, and mask wearing, daily rapid testing was implemented for the duration of the conference. At the end of the 4-day meeting, none of the 166 delegates (and family members attending the conference) had tested antigen positive for SARS-CoV-2. Two delegates tested positive in the week after the conference; the timing of their positive test result suggests that they contracted the virus during their travels home or during postconference vacationing. We believe that this model can serve as a helpful template for organizing future in-person meetings in the era of COVID-19 and any other respiratory virus pandemics of the future. While the outcomes of this case study are encouraging, seasonal surges in respiratory virus infections such as SARS-CoV-2, RSV, and influenza virus incidence suggest that continued caution is warranted.
Occupational Exposure to Halogenated Anaesthetic Gases in Hospitals: A Systematic Review of Methods and Techniques to Assess Air Concentration Levels
Authors: Keller Marta , Cattaneo Andrea , Spinazzè Andrea , Carrozzo Letizia , Campagnolo Davide , Rovelli Sabrina , Borghi Francesca , Fanti Giacomo , Fustinoni Silvia , Carrieri Mariella , Moretto Angelo , Cavallo Domenico Maria
Published: December 2022

Objective During the induction of gaseous anaesthesia, waste anaesthetic gases (WAGs) can be released into workplace air. Occupational exposure to high levels of halogenated WAGs may lead to adverse health effects; hence, it is important to measure WAGs concentration levels to perform risk assessment and for health protection purposes. Methods A systematic review of the scientific literature was conducted on two different scientific databases (Scopus and PubMed). A total of 101 studies, focused on sevoflurane, desflurane and isoflurane exposures in hospitals, were included in this review. Key information was extracted to provide (1) a description of the study designs (e.g., monitoring methods, investigated occupational settings, anaesthetic gases in use); (2) an evaluation of time trends in the measured concentrations of considered WAGs; (3) a critical evaluation of the sampling strategies, monitoring methods and instruments used. Results Environmental monitoring was prevalent (68%) and mainly used for occupational exposure assessment during adult anaesthesia (84% of cases). Real-time techniques such as photoacoustic spectroscopy and infrared spectrophotometry were used in 58% of the studies, while off-line approaches such as active or passive sampling followed by GC-MS analysis were used less frequently (39%). Conclusions The combination of different instrumental techniques allowing the collection of data with different time resolutions was quite scarce (3%) despite the fact that this would give the opportunity to obtain reliable data for testing the compliance with 8 h occupational exposure limit values and at the same time to evaluate short-term exposures.