bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Body-Weight Gain in Women During Smoking Cessation Is a Sex-Specific Predictor of 6-Month Abstinence: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Kuo Chin-Wei , Lin Chung-Fu , Chen Chuan-Yu , Wang Ru-Hsueh , Chou Chieh-Ying , Cheng Hsiang-Ju , Wu Jin-Shang , Chen Chang-Wen , Shieh Chi-Chang , Yu Tsung
Published: May 2022

Background

Smoking behavior differs between the sexes. Weight control is one of the main reasons leading to tobacco abuse in women but not in men. Studies on the predictive factors of cessation failure between sexes are scarce. This study is aim to investigate whether there are sex differences in the effect of weight gain on smoking cessation rate.

Methods

Participants in the smoking-cessation program at a Medical Center in Taiwan between 2018 and 2019 were included. Details of age, sex, comorbidities, depression screening, nicotine dependence, body weight, and cessation medications of the participants were collected. The participants were classified based on their sex, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed for sensitivity analysis after stratifying the participants according to their weight loss (weight loss ≥ 1.5 kg and weight loss ≥ 3.0 kg).

Results

A total of 1,475 participants were included. The body-weight gain in women was associated with failed abstinence (adjusted odds ratio (OR): 3.10, 95% CI: 1.10–9.04). In contrast, body-weight gain in men was associated with successful 6-month prolonged abstinence (adjusted OR: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.61–0.98). The adjusted ORs for any body-weight loss, body-weight loss ≥1.5 kg, and body-weight loss ≥3.0 kg were 0.28 (95% CI: 0.09–0.88), 0.14 (95% CI: 0.03–0.55), and 0.03 (95% CI: 0.01–0.42), respectively.

Conclusion

Body-weight gain in women during a hospital-based smoking-cessation program is associated with abstinence failure. Further multicenter studies, including participants of different races and cultural backgrounds, are warranted.
Public Attitudes Toward Priority Setting Principles in Health Care During COVID-19
Authors: Tinghög Gustav , Strand Liam
Published: May 2022

What role should cost-effectiveness play in health care priority setting? We assess the level of acceptance toward different priority setting principles in health care during COVID-19 and in general, thereby exploring public support for principles presented at different levels of abstraction. An online survey was distributed to a diverse sample of the Swedish population (n= 1 553). The results show that respondents were generally more supportive of priority setting principles when expressed in general abstract terms than when expressed in more case specific concrete terms. However, prioritization based on cost-effectiveness was deemed as more acceptable when expressed in concrete terms related to health maximization rather than as an abstract principle. Respondents had a general inclination in support of physicians and other health care professionals the primary responsibility for the allocation of scarce resources in the healthcare during COVID-19, while being less supportive of health economists and politicians being involved in these decisions.
Do New Firms Recruit Employees From Small or Large Firms, and Do Small or Large Firms Recruit Employees From Firms That Cease to Operate?
Authors: Aarstad Jarle , Kvitastein Olav Andreas
Published: May 2022

Panel data of Norwegian industries show that when they increase in the number of firms, firm size inequality in employees decreases. Decreasing firm size inequality implies that large firms become smaller in employees, and an increasing number of firms in an industry implies that more new firms are established than closed, i.e., ceasing to operate and going out of business. Thus, new firms chiefly recruit employees from large firms. Similarly, the data show that when industries decrease in the number of firms, firm size inequality in employees increases. Increasing firm size inequality implies that large firms become larger in employees, and a decreasing number of firms in an industry implies that more firms are closed than established. Thus, large firms chiefly recruit employees from firms that cease to operate. An implication of our findings is that large firms are crucial in recruiting employees to new firms and in recruiting employees from firms that cease to operate.
Microbiota in Goat Buck Ejaculates Differs Between Breeding and Non-breeding Seasons
Authors: Mocé María Lorena , Esteve Inés Carolina , Pérez-Fuentes Sara , Gómez Ernesto A. , Mocé Eva
Published: May 2022

Changes in semen microbiota are associated with alterations to sperm quality and fertility. However, the microbiota from most livestock species has not yet been studied. Goats are seasonal breeders, but semen microbiota has never been described in this species, and it is unknown how seasonality affects it. Our study objective is 2-fold: to describe the microbiota in goat buck ejaculates and to determine if it differs between breeding and non-breeding seasons. Semen from six males of the Murciano-Granadina breed was collected during both seasons. Two replicates were performed per male and season on different days. The microbiota was characterized by genomic sequencing technology. Sperm quality was also evaluated. Repetition was not significant for the studied variables. Sperm velocities were higher for the breeding than for the non-breeding season. The ejaculates from both seasons also differed in the proportion of apoptotic spermatozoa. The five dominant phyla were Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Fusobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes during the breeding season and Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Cyanobacteria during the non-breeding season. The dominant genus during both seasons was Ureaplasma. Differences in microbial community structure (the beta diversity) were found. A decrease in the relative abundance of the genus Faecalibacterium and an increase in the genera Sphingomonas and Halomonas were observed in the ejaculates collected during the breeding season. Sphingomonas and Faecalibacterium abundance favorably and unfavorably correlated with sperm quality, respectively. In conclusion, the semen microbiota from goat bucks varies between breeding and non-breeding seasons, and the microbiota remains stable for 7 days within a season. In addition, the genera Sphingomonas and Faecalibacterium could be possible biomarkers of semen quality in goat bucks. These results contribute to an in-depth understanding of the effects of reproductive seasonality on goat buck ejaculates.
Single Actuator with Versatile Controllability of 2-DOF Assistance for Exosuits via a Novel Moving-Gear Mechanism
Authors: Ryu Jaewook , Yang Seungtae , Lee Giuk
Published: May 2022

Decreasing the system weight while maintaining the assistance performance can help reduce the metabolic penalty in exosuits. Various researchers have proposed a bi-directional cable-driven actuator that can provide two degrees of freedom (2-DOF) assistance by using a single motor. However, such systems face limitations associated with the controllability of the assistance force. This study proposes a novel cable-driven system, that is, a dual pulley drive, that can provide versatile controllability of 2-DOF cable actuation by using a single motor via a novel moving gear mechanism. The moving gear winds the cable by switching both the side pulleys, which are then used for 2-DOF cable actuation. The spiral springs embedded between the pulley and base shaft work to release the cable. Results of experiments demonstrate that the dual pulley drive provides a versatile range of motion. The proposed system can provide 34.1% of overlapping motion per cable round trip time and support the non-overlapping motion. The preliminary integration of the dual pulley drive to the exosuit confirms that the novel exosuit is considerably lighter than the state-of-the-art exosuit. The calculations indicate that the operating cable speed and force generated using the proposed design are higher than the existing exosuit.
Aerodynamic Interference on Trim Characteristics of Quad-Tiltrotor Aircraft
Authors: Zhou Pan , Chen Renliang , Yuan Ye , Chi Cheng
Published: May 2022

The aerodynamic interference between the different components of quad-tiltrotor (QTR) aircraft were considered to analyze its influence on trim characteristics. A comprehensive method with the fixed-wake model was developed for multiple aerodynamic interactions, improving the accuracy of the flight dynamics analysis. Additionally, a more general control strategy was developed to tackle the redundant control issue of the QTR, improving its control efficiency by coordinating the authority relationship of various control surfaces across the flight range. Then, the trim features were calculated in the helicopter mode, conversion mode, and airplane mode, and the relevant results with and without interaction were compared. The results show that the aerodynamic interaction mainly influences the body’s vertical force, longitudinal force, and pitching moment. Furthermore, there are significant differences between collective and longitudinal sticks and pitch attitudes. The interference plays a major role in helicopter and conversion modes with a less-than-30-degree tilt angle.
Aircraft-Type-Specific Impact of Speed Brakes on Lift and Drag
Authors: Rosenow Judith , Sachwitz Thomas , Kamo Shumpei , Chen Gong , Fricke Hartmut
Published: May 2022

The increasing influence of current research in air traffic management on daily flight operations leads to a stronger consideration of individually optimized aircraft trajectories. However, in the dichotomy between ecological, economic, and safety-based optimization goals, four-dimensionally optimized trajectories are subject to severe constraints in terms of position and speed. To fully assess the performance envelope of these trajectories, precise modelling of the influence of secondary control surfaces on flight performance is necessary. In particular, the use of speed brakes can significantly influence the descent and speed profile and allows the implementation of different cost indices. In this study, we present a modelling approach of the influence of extended speed brakes on flight performance and apply this method in a simulation environment for trajectory modelling of twelve different aircraft types. In doing so, we can determine an almost linear influence of the additional fuel requirement from the effective area of the speed brakes. The results can be implemented in any flight performance model and enable more precise modelling of future aircraft trajectories. Specifically, optimization targets regarding the required time of arrival, or the cost index and the consideration of the dynamic impact of atmospheric conditions in the trajectory optimization, only becomes possible through the calculation of the influence of the speed brake on lift and drag.
Long-Term Immunity and Antibody Response: Challenges for Developing Efficient COVID-19 Vaccines
Authors: Sepand Mohammad Reza , Bigdelou Banafsheh , Ho Jim Q. , Sharaf Mohammad , Lannigan Alexis J. , Sullivan Ian M. , da Silva Alecsander P. , Barrett Leland O. , McGoldrick Scott , Lnu Yuvraj , Lynch Shannon E. , Boisclair Jared M. , Barnard-Pratt Dakarai D. , Zanganeh Steven
Published: May 2022

Questions and concerns regarding the efficacy and immunogenicity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines have plagued scientists since the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine was introduced in late 2020. As a result, decisions about vaccine boosters based on breakthrough infection rates and the decline of antibody titers have commanded worldwide attention and research. COVID-19 patients have displayed continued severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-spike-protein-specific antibodies and neutralizing antibodies in longitudinal studies; in addition, cytokine activation has been detected at early steps following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Epitopes that are highly reactive and can mediate long-term antibody responses have been identified at the spike and ORF1ab proteins. The N-terminal domain of the S1 and S2 subunits is the location of important SARS-CoV-2 spike protein epitopes. High sequence identity between earlier and newer variants of SARS-CoV-2 and different degrees of sequence homology among endemic human coronaviruses have been observed. Understanding the extent and duration of protective immunity is consequential for determining the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. Further knowledge of memory responses to different variants of SARS-CoV-2 is needed to improve the design of the vaccine.
Ophthalmic Antimicrobial Prescribing in Australian Healthcare Facilities
Authors: Fang Xin , Bennett Noleen , Ierano Courtney , James Rodney , Thursky Karin
Published: May 2022

The National Antimicrobial Prescribing Survey (NAPS) is a web-based, standardized tool, widely adopted in Australian healthcare facilities to assess the reasons for, the quantity of, and the quality of antimicrobial prescribing. It consists of multiple modules tailored towards the needs of a variety of healthcare facilities. Data regarding ophthalmological antimicrobial use from Hospital NAPS, Surgical NAPS, and Aged Care NAPS were analysed. In Hospital NAPS, the most common reasons for inappropriate prescribing were incorrect dose or frequency and incorrect duration. Prolonged duration was also common in Aged Care prescribing: about one quarter of all antimicrobials had been prescribed for greater than 6 months. All three modules found chloramphenicol to be the most prescribed antimicrobial with a high rate of inappropriate prescribing, usually for conjunctivitis.
Antimicrobial Potential of Conjugated Lignin/Morin/Chitosan Combinations as a Function of System Complexity
Authors: Yaneva Zvezdelina , Beev Georgi , Rusenova Nikolina , Ivanova Donika , Tzanova Milena , Stoeva Daniela , Toneva Monika
Published: May 2022

As natural biopolymers, chitosan and lignin are characterized by their good biocompatibility, high biodegradability and satisfactory biosafety. The active polymers’ functional groups are responsible for the potential of these biomaterials for use as carrier matrices in the construction of polymer–drug conjugates with prospective applicability in the fields of medicine, food and agriculture—subjects that have attracted attention in recent years. Hence, the aim of this research was to place substantial emphasis on the antimicrobial potential of flavonoid–biopolymer complex systems by assessment of the probable synergetic, additive or antagonistic effects arising as a function of systemic complexity. The joint implementation of morin, chitosan and lignin in conjugated two- and three-component systems provoked species-dependent antimicrobial synergistic and/or potentiation effects against the activity of the tested bacterial strains Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 and the clinical isolate Bacillus cereus. The double combinations of morin–chitosan and morin–lignin resulted in a 100% increase in their inhibitory activity against S. aureus as compared to the pure biocompounds. The inhibitory effects of the three-component system, in decreasing order, were: S. aureus (IZ = 15.7 mm) > P. aeruginosa (IZ = 15 mm) > B. cereus and E. coli (IZ = 14 mm). All tested morin-containing two- and three-component systems exhibited clear and significant potentiation effects, especially against S. aureus and B. cereus. The results obtained are a prerequisite for the potential use of the studied conjugated lignin–morin–chitosan combinations in the construction of novel drug-carrier formulations with improved bioactivities.
Niclosamide as a Repurposing Drug against Corynebacterium striatum Multidrug-Resistant Infections
Authors: Folliero Veronica , Dell’Annunziata Federica , Roscetto Emanuela , Cammarota Marcella , De Filippis Anna , Schiraldi Chiara , Catania Maria Rosaria , Casolaro Vincenzo , Perrella Alessandro , Galdiero Massimiliano , Franci Gianluigi
Published: May 2022

Corynebacterium striatum (C. striatum) is an emerging multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogen associated with nosocomial infections. In this scenario, we screened the antimicrobial activity of the anthelmintic drugs doramectin, moxidectin, selamectin and niclosamide against 20 C. striatum MDR clinical isolates. Among these, niclosamide was the best performing drug against C. striatum. Niclosamide cytotoxicity was evaluated by a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay on immortalized human keratinocyte cells (HaCaT). After 20 h of treatment, the recorded 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC50) was 2.56 μg/mL. The antibacterial efficacy was determined via disc diffusion, broth microdilution method and time-killing. Against C. striatum, niclosamide induced a growth inhibitory area of 22 mm and the minimum inhibitory concentration that inhibits 90% of bacteria (MIC90) was 0.39 μg/mL, exhibiting bactericidal action. The biofilm biomass eradicating action was investigated through crystal violet (CV), MTT and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Niclosamide affected the biofilm viability in a dose-dependent manner and degraded biomass by 55 and 49% at 0.39 μg/mL and 0.19 μg/mL. CLSM images confirmed the biofilm biomass degradation, showing a drastic reduction in cell viability. This study could promote the drug-repurposing of the anthelmintic FDA-approved niclosamide as a therapeutic agent to counteract the C. striatum MDR infections.
Local and Global Protein Interactions Contribute to Residue Entrenchment in Beta-Lactamase TEM-1
Authors: Birgy André , Magnan Mélanie , Hobson Claire Amaris , Figliuzzi Matteo , Panigoni Karine , Codde Cyrielle , Tenaillon Olivier , Jacquier Hervé
Published: May 2022

Due to their rapid evolution and their impact on healthcare, beta-lactamases, protein degrading beta-lactam antibiotics, are used as generic models of protein evolution. Therefore, we investigated the mutation effects in two distant beta-lactamases, TEM-1 and CTX-M-15. Interestingly, we found a site with a complex pattern of genetic interactions. Mutation G251W in TEM-1 inactivates the protein’s function, just as the reciprocal mutation, W251G, does in CTX-M-15. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that mutation G has been entrenched in TEM-1’s background: while rarely observed throughout the phylogeny, it is essential in TEM-1. Using a rescue experiment, in the TEM-1 G251W mutant, we identified sites that alleviate the deviation from G to W. While few of these mutations could potentially involve local interactions, most of them were found on distant residues in the 3D structure. Many well-known mutations that have an impact on protein stability, such as M182T, were recovered. Our results therefore suggest that entrenchment of an amino acid may rely on diffuse interactions among multiple sites, with a major impact on protein stability.
Consensus Report on Preventive Antibiotic Therapy in Dental Implant Procedures: Summary of Recommendations from the Spanish Society of Implants
Authors: Salgado-Peralvo Angel-Orión , Garcia-Sanchez Alvaro , Kewalramani Naresh , Barone Antonio , Martínez-González Jose-María , Velasco-Ortega Eugenio , López-López José , Kaiser-Cifuentes Rodrigo , Guerra Fernando , Matos-Garrido Nuno , Moreno-Muñoz Jesús , Núñez-Márquez Enrique , Ortiz-García Iván , Jiménez-Guerra Álvaro , Monsalve-Guil Loreto
Published: May 2022

Current patterns of preventive antibiotic prescribing are encouraging the spread of antimicrobial resistance. Recently, the Spanish Society of Implants (SEI) developed the first clinical practice guidelines published to date, providing clear guidelines on how to prescribe responsible and informed preventive antibiotic therapy (PAT) based on the available scientific evidence on dental implant treatments (DIs). The present document aims to summarise and disseminate the recommendations established by this expert panel. These were based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Studies were analysed using the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) checklist templates and ranked according to their level of evidence. They were then assigned a level of recommendation using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation system (GRADE). Guidelines were established on the type of PAT, antibiotic and dosage of administration in the placement of DIs without anatomical constraints, in bone augmentation with the placement of DIs in one or two stages, placement of immediate DIs, sinus elevations, implant prosthetic phase, as well as recommendations in patients allergic to penicillin. Therefore, the PAT must be adapted to the type of implant procedure to be performed.
Phytochemical Composition and Bioactivities of Aqueous Extract of Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L. cv. Rong Rian) Peel
Authors: Jantapaso Husanai , Mittraparp-arthorn Pimonsri
Published: May 2022

Thailand is one of the leading exporting countries of rambutan and rambutan peels are considered as a biological waste. In this study, rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L. cv. Rong Rian) peel extracts (RPE) obtained by water extraction were analyzed for their phytochemical composition, antibacterial and antioxidant activities, and cytotoxicity. The bioactive compounds in RPE identified by GC-MS were mome inositol (35.99 mg/g), catechol (29.37 mg/g), 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5.69 mg/g), 2-pentenal, (E)-(5.22 mg/g), acetic acid (3.69 mg/g), 1,2,3-propanetriol (3.67 mg/g), 2-furan-carboxaldehyde (2.66 mg/g), and other compounds. FT-IR analysis confirmed the presence of alcohol and phenol in the extract. Antibacterial activities of RPE against food pathogenic and spoilage bacteria showed that RPE could inhibited Bacillus subtilis, B. cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio cholerae, V. parahaemolyticus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and P. fluorescens, with MIC values ranging between 1024 and 8192 µg/mL. The extract also showed antioxidant properties, as determined by DPPH and ABTS assays. The cytotoxicity analysis after 72 h of treatment showed the IC50 values at 194.97 ± 4.87, 205.92 ± 2.55, and 94.11 ± 1.33 µg/mL for L929, Vero, and MCF-7 cell lines, respectively. Therefore, this study provided a basis of knowledge of rambutan peels as an excellent source of natural bioactive compounds for various applications.
Enhancement of Bioactive Constituents in Fresh Cauliflower By-Products in Challenging Climate Conditions
Authors: Collado-González Jacinta , Piñero María Carmen , Otalora Ginés , López-Marín Josefa , Del Amor Francisco M.
Published: May 2022

In order to mitigate the detrimental impact that climate change is having on plants, the study of new practices that allow for the reduction of such effects has become imperative. In addition, the revaluation of the promotion of healthy plant by-products has also markedly increased in importance in recent years. In this work, the modifications in biomass and some antioxidant compounds of cauliflower by-products treated with putrescine under extreme temperatures in two different CO2 scenarios (the control (400 ppm) and a high concentration of CO2 (1000 ppm)) were studied. Additionally, the compositions of inner and outer leaves were also compared. According to results found in this work, cauliflower grown under elevated CO2 and treated with putrescine (2.5 mM) prior to heat stress showed the highest biomass accumulation (20%) compared to the control. Moreover, in the outer leaves from cauliflower grown under elevated CO2 and treated with putrescine prior to high temperature exposure, the highest biosynthesis of sugars (20%) was recorded. Although cauliflower by-products turned out to be rich in polyamines (208.6 nmoles g−1 fresh weight (FW) and 124.3 nmoles g−1 FW for outer and inner leaves, respectively) and phenolic compounds (1070.2 mg gallic acid equivalents ( (GAE) 100 g−1 FW in outer leaves and 772.0 mg GAE 100 g−1 FW in inner leaves), it was the outer leaves that after applying the new strategy showed the greatest increase in polyamines (68%) and phenolic compounds (39%), obtaining here the highest increase in antioxidant activity (3%). Thus, they should no longer be regarded as mere by-products and should be used for pharmaceutical or nutraceutical purposes. The novel strategy presented in this work may allow us to take advantage of both the continued increase in CO2 and heat waves that are becoming more frequent.
Current Trends in Food-Derived Peptidic Antioxidants
Authors: Corpuz Henry M. , Nakamura Soichiro , Katayama Shigeru
Published: May 2022

Recently, peptidic antioxidants have attracted much attention due to their promising applications in the production of valuable functional food and nutraceuticals with health-promoting properties [...]
Polyphenols Sourced from Ilex latifolia Thunb. Relieve Intestinal Injury via Modulating Ferroptosis in Weanling Piglets under Oxidative Stress
Authors: Xu Xiao , Wei Yu , Hua Hongwei , Jing Xiaoqing , Zhu Huiling , Xiao Kan , Zhao Jiangchao , Liu Yulan
Published: May 2022

Polyphenols sourced from Ilex latifolia Thunb. (PIT) contain high levels of phenolic acids, tannic acids, triterpenoids and so on, which play important roles in antioxidant function. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of PIT against intestinal injury in piglets under oxidative stress. Thirty-two weanling piglets were arranged by a 2 × 2 factorial experiment with diets (basal diet vs. PIT diet) and oxidative stress (saline vs. diquat). All piglets were injected with saline or diquat on d 21, respectively. After 7 days, all pigs were slaughtered and intestinal samples were collected. PIT enhanced jejunal villus heights and crypt depth in the piglets under oxidative stress. PIT increased the activities of intestinal mucosal lactase, sucrase and maltase in the challenged piglets. PIT also increased the jejunal ratio of protein to DNA and ileal protein content. PIT increased the jejunal activities of GSH-PX and GSH content and reduced the ileal MDA amounts. Furthermore, PIT regulated the expression of ferroptosis mediators, such as TFR1, HSPB1, SLC7A11 and GPX4. These results indicate that dietary PIT supplementation enhances the histological structure and function of the intestinal mucosa, which is involved in modulating antioxidant capacity and ferroptosis.
A Survey of Target Detection and Recognition Methods in Underwater Turbid Areas
Authors: Yuan Xin , Guo Linxu , Luo Citong , Zhou Xiaoteng , Yu Changli
Published: May 2022

Based on analysis of state-of-the-art research investigating target detection and recognition in turbid waters, and aiming to solve the problems encountered during target detection and the unique influences of turbidity areas, in this review, the main problem is divided into two areas: image degradation caused by the unique conditions of turbid water, and target recognition. Existing target recognition methods are divided into three modules: target detection based on deep learning methods, underwater image restoration and enhancement approaches, and underwater image processing methods based on polarization imaging technology and scattering. The relevant research results are analyzed in detail, and methods regarding image processing, target detection, and recognition in turbid water, and relevant datasets are summarized. The main scenarios in which underwater target detection and recognition technology are applied are listed, and the key problems that exist in the current technology are identified. Solutions and development directions are discussed. This work provides a reference for engineering tasks in underwater turbid areas and an outlook on the development of underwater intelligent sensing technology in the future.
Damage Detection and Level Classification of Roof Damage after Typhoon Faxai Based on Aerial Photos and Deep Learning
Authors: Xu Jinglin , Zeng Feng , Liu Wen , Takahashi Toru
Published: May 2022

Following the occurrence of a typhoon, quick damage assessment can facilitate the quick dispatch of house repair and disaster insurance works. Employing a deep learning method, this study used aerial photos of the Chiba prefecture obtained following Typhoon Faxai in 2019, to automatically detect and evaluate the roof damage. This study comprised three parts: training a deep learning model, detecting the roof damage using a trained model, and classifying the level of roof damage. The detection object comprised a roof outline, blue tarps, and a completely destroyed roof. The roofs were divided into three categories: without damage, with blue tarps, and completely destroyed. The F value obtained using the proposed method was higher than those obtained using other methods. In addition, it can be further divided into five levels from levels 0 to 4. Finally, the spatial distribution of the roof damage was analyzed using ArcGIS tools. The proposed method is expected to provide a certain reference for real-time detection of roof damage after the occurrence of a typhoon.
A Pilot Study of whether or Not Vegetable and Fruit Juice Containing Lactobacillus paracasei Lowers Blood Lipid Levels and Oxidative Stress Markers in Thai Patients with Dyslipidemia: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
Authors: Siripun Pattharaparn , Chaiyasut Chaiyavat , Lailerd Narissara , Makhamrueang Netnapa , Kaewarsar Ekkachai , Sirilun Sasithorn
Published: May 2022

Dyslipidemia is one of the risk factors of cardiovascular disease, which is the main cause of mortality worldwide. Meanwhile, lipid-lowering drug side-effects may also occur. Thus, consumption of vegetables and fruits containing probiotics is a good alternative to influence the lipid profile in plasma. This study investigated the effect of consuming vegetable and fruit juice (VFJ) with (probiotic group) and without probiotic Lactobacillus paracasei (placebo group), on the body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, lipid profile, lipid peroxidation, oxidative stress enzymes, and bile acid level in dyslipidemic patients (n = 20) at Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital for 30 days. The levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), and TG/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio in the probiotic group were significantly lower than those in the placebo group. The HDL-C concentration in the probiotic group was higher than that in the placebo group. The probiotic group showed significantly decreased malondialdehyde levels; increased oxidative stress enzymes, catalase and glutathione peroxidase in the plasma; and increased bile acid (BA) levels in the feces. Therefore, the findings of this study demonstrate that VFJ enriched with probiotic L. paracasei may represent an alternative method for the prevention of dyslipidemia during the primary intervention stage for patients who are not yet taking other medication.
A High Gain Modified Quadratic Boost DC-DC Converter with Voltage Stress Half of Output Voltage
Authors: Jana Anindya Sundar , Lin Chang-Hua , Kao Tzu-Hsien , Chang Chun-Hsin
Published: May 2022

The application of the high gain boost DC-DC converter is gaining more attention due to an increasingly wide range of applications for sustainable green energy solutions, as well as other high voltage applications. In this study, a modified high gain quadratic boost converter is proposed using a single switch. The proposed topology is a member of the family of the non-isolated category with a common ground feature and can operate in a wide range of duty ratios, and is able to provide the required voltage gain. In this proposed circuit configuration, a dual voltage boost cell was formed by incorporating two capacitors in series with two inductors of a conventional quadratic boost converter. Additionally, a capacitor was integrated with a second voltage boost cell. This special configuration increases the voltage gain as well as reduces the voltage stress across the switch. To show its feasibility, a 200-W prototype setup with 48 V input and 400 V output was designed, and the required PWM signal was fed from the microcontroller unit. A detailed analysis of the design parameters and losses are formulated and are shown in this paper. The simulation was performed in SIMPLIS software, and the experimental results agreed with the obtained output voltage gain. The proposed topology showed a peak efficiency of 94.5% at 150-W output power after considering the power losses in all the components of the PCB.
Smart Patch for Structural Health Monitoring of Composite Repair
Authors: Feng Tianyi , Aliabadi M. H. Ferri
Published: May 2022

The bondline integrity of a repair patch to the parent composite laminate is considered the most important factor in the repair design. A smart repair patch is proposed here to allow for real-time ultrasonic guided wave monitoring of repaired composites. A diagnostic film with lead zirconate titanate (PZT) transducers and inkjet-printed wires is embedded into the repair patch using a cut-out method. The electro-mechanical impedance (EMI) method is used to verify the integrity of the embedded PZT transducers. The performance of the smart repair patch is assessed on the external panel with artificial bondline delamination and surface-mounted artificial damage. The damage index correlation coefficient and delay-and-sum (DAS) algorithm are used for damage detection and localization. The results show that the developed repair patch can successfully detect and locate damages.
Controlling the Temperature on the Vein Wall Based on the Analysis of the IR Signal during Endovasal Laser Treatment
Authors: Belikov Andrey V. , Tung Do Thanh , Fyodorova Yulia V.
Published: May 2022

Possibility of controlling the temperature of the vein wall during endovasal laser treatment (EVLT) is investigated. The desired medical effect is achieved by the coagulation of the vein wall at the temperature of 80 °C. Heating of the vein wall is mainly due to the efficient conversion of laser radiation into heat in an optothermal fiber converter (OTFC) located at the output end of the optical fiber placed inside the vein. Titanium-containing optothermal fiber converter (TOTFC) is very promising for EVLT application due to its high efficiency in converting laser energy into thermal energy and its smooth shape that excludes perforation of the vein wall when the fiber moves inside the vein. During the endovasal laser treatment heated by laser radiation TOTFC emits an IR signal which can be used for controlling the temperature on the vein wall during endovasal laser treatment. At present study, a computer thermophysical model of the EVLT with TOTFC has been developed in the COMSOL Multiphysics 5.4 program (COMSOL Inc., Burlington, MA, USA). In the EVLT model, a laser radiation wavelength of 980 nm with an average laser power of 8–14 W to the traction speed of the optical fiber in range of 1–7 mm/s is applied. The dependence of the TOTFC temperature and the temperature on the vein wall has been numerically investigated. In accordance with Planck’s formula, the dependence of the spectral luminosity density of a blackbody simulating IR signal from TOTFC on its temperature has been determined. The spectral luminosity density in a wide range the wavelength of 0.4–20 μm, as well as in spectral ranges limited by the transmission of the quartz fiber and the sensitivity of Ge and PbS photodetectors was defined. The possibility of controlling the average power of the laser radiation depending on the magnitude of the change in the spectral luminosity density of TOTFC during EVLT is demonstrated. The results obtained can be useful in developing laser medical equipment and materials for use in vascular surgery at endovasal laser treatment.
An Improved Ground Moving Target Parameter Estimation and Imaging Method for Multichannel High Resolution SAR
Authors: Dong Qinghai , Wang Bingnan , Xiang Maosheng , Jiao Zekun , Wang Zhongbin , Song Chong
Published: May 2022

With increasing demands from both military and civilian applications, ground moving-target imaging is becoming one of the important research topics for high-resolution SAR systems. However, the existing moving-target imaging methods are not suitable for high-resolution SAR because of their low parameter estimation accuracy and high computational complexity. To solve the problem, an improved ground moving-target parameter estimation and imaging method is proposed. First, the third-order phase model of the uniformly accelerated target signal is constructed, and the Hough transform and the second-order Keystone transform (SOKT) are used to correct the range cell migration into one range cell to achieve target coherent accumulation. Secondly, a delayed cross-correlation function (DCCF) is constructed to reduce the order of the range migration phase response in the slow time domain, and the coupling degree between the cross-correlation peak position and the range migration is reduced, so that the obtained DCCF has a higher gain, which ensures the accuracy of parameter estimation. Parameter estimation is simplified to peak detection by the Shift-And-Correlation (SAC) algorithm and two-dimensional Fourier transform (2D-FFT), avoiding parameter search. Compared with the existing methods, the proposed method has better focusing effect and lower computational complexity. Finally, simulation and measured data are given to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Contribution of Etalon Observation to Earth Rotation Parameters under a New Observation Scenario
Authors: Zhang Xiaozhen , Kong Yao , Lu Xiaochun , Zou Decai
Published: May 2022

The standard products of the International Laser Ranging Service (ILRS) are mainly based on the two laser geodynamics satellites (LAGEOS) due to the sparse observations of the Etalon satellites. With improvements in the ability to track high-altitude satellites, ILRS conducted a 3-month Etalon tracking campaign. In this paper, we study the contribution of more Etalon observations in the new observation scenario to weekly ILRS products, such as station coordinates, Earth rotation parameters (ERPs) and satellite orbit. We compare the ILRS products estimated from LAGEOS-only solutions and LAGEOS+Etalon solutions. In the new observation scenario of 2019, the numbers of observations of Etalon satellites are 1.4 and 1.7 times larger than those in 2018. It is shown that the quality of station coordinates, and the satellite orbit of LAGESOS satellites are only slightly affected by the increase in Etalon observations of the campaign. However, for station 1868, which is dedicated to high-altitude satellites, the root mean square (RMS) values of the residuals in the N, E, and U components are improved by 3.1 cm, 2.1 cm and 2.3 cm, respectively. The internal precision of orbit for Etalon-1/2 satellites in tangle and normal directions are improved by 1.5 cm and 2.9 cm, respectively. Most remarkably, the standard deviations for Xp, Yp and LOD can be improved by 6.9%, 14.3% and 5.1%, respectively, compared with the International Earth Rotation System (IERS)-14-C04 series. With our research, the ILRS could increase efforts on Etalon satellite tracking without affecting the routine observations of LAGEOS satellites.
In Situ Detection of Trace Heavy Metal Cu in Water by Atomic Emission Spectrometry of Nebulized Discharge Plasma at Atmospheric Pressure
Authors: Yang Huixue , Yuan Hao , Li Sisi , Wang Wei , Yang Dezheng
Published: May 2022

The in situ detection of trace heavy metal is very important for human health and environmental protection. In this paper, a novel and stable nebulized discharge excited by an alternating current (AC) power supply at atmospheric pressure is employed to detect the trace metal copper by atomic emission spectrometry. Different from the previous experiments in which a conductive object was wrapped around a pneumatic nebulizer directly as a discharge electrode. Plasma is generated near needle electrodes and aerosol is introduced from above the electrode gap by a pneumatic nebulizer, which avoid damage to the fragile device. The effects of applied voltage, gas flow rate, pH value of liquid, and concentration of organic addition agents on the emission intensity of Cu I (3d104p-3d104s, 324.75 nm) are investigated for the purpose of optimizing the experiment conditions. For studying the discharge characteristics and understanding the mechanisms of metal atomic excitation, the waveforms of applied voltage and discharge current are measured, and the vibrational and rotational temperature are calculated by the spectra of N2 (C3∏u-B3∏g, Δυ = −2). In addition, gas temperature evolution of nebulized discharge is acquired and it is found that the emission intensity of Cu I (3d104p-3d104s, 324.75 nm) can be affected by applied voltage, gas flow rate, pH value of liquid, and concentration of organic addition agents. An optimized experimental condition of nebulized discharge for Cu detection is 3.59 of the pH, 5.6 kV of applied voltage, 1.68 L/min of Ar flow rate, and 2% of the ethanol. Under this condition, the limit of detection (LOD) of Cu can reach up to 0.083 mg/L.
Reverse Image Search Using Deep Unsupervised Generative Learning and Deep Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Kiran Aqsa , Qureshi Shahzad Ahmad , Khan Asifullah , Mahmood Sajid , Idrees Muhammad , Saeed Aqsa , Assam Muhammad , Refaai Mohamad Reda A. , Mohamed Abdullah
Published: May 2022

Reverse image search has been a vital and emerging research area of information retrieval. One of the primary research foci of information retrieval is to increase the space and computational efficiency by converting a large image database into an efficiently computed feature database. This paper proposes a novel deep learning-based methodology, which captures channel-wise, low-level details of each image. In the first phase, sparse auto-encoder (SAE), a deep generative model, is applied to RGB channels of each image for unsupervised representational learning. In the second phase, transfer learning is utilized by using VGG-16, a variant of deep convolutional neural network (CNN). The output of SAE combined with the original RGB channel is forwarded to VGG-16, thereby producing a more effective feature database by the ensemble/collaboration of two effective models. The proposed method provides an information rich feature space that is a reduced dimensionality representation of the image database. Experiments are performed on a hybrid dataset that is developed by combining three standard publicly available datasets. The proposed approach has a retrieval accuracy (precision) of 98.46%, without using the metadata of images, by using a cosine similarity measure between the query image and the image database. Additionally, to further validate the proposed methodology’s effectiveness, image quality has been degraded by adding 5% noise (Speckle, Gaussian, and Salt pepper noise types) in the hybrid dataset. Retrieval accuracy has generally been found to be 97% for different variants of noise
Tensor Product of Operators Satisfying Zariouh’s Property (gaz), and Stability under Perturbations
Authors: Aponte Elvis , Jayanthi Narayanapillai , Quiroz Domingo , Vasanthakumar Ponraj
Published: May 2022

For bounded linear operators defined on complex infinite-dimensional Banach space, H. Zariouh, in an article [1] introduced and studied the property (gaz). In this study, through techniques using the local spectral theory of operators, we discover the sufficient conditions that allow the transfer of the property (gaz) from two tensor factors T and S to their tensor product T⊗S. The stability of the property (gaz) in the tensor product under perturbations is also investigated. The theory is exemplified by considering suitable classes of operators such as shift operators, convolution operators, and m-invertible contractions.
The Possibility of Combining and Implementing Deep Neural Network Compression Methods
Authors: Predić Bratislav , Vukić Uroš , Saračević Muzafer , Karabašević Darjan , Stanujkić Dragiša
Published: May 2022

In the paper, the possibility of combining deep neural network (DNN) model compression methods to achieve better compression results was considered. To compare the advantages and disadvantages of each method, all methods were applied to the ResNet18 model for pretraining to the NCT-CRC-HE-100K dataset while using CRC-VAL-HE-7K as the validation dataset. In the proposed method, quantization, pruning, weight clustering, QAT (quantization-aware training), preserve cluster QAT (hereinafter PCQAT), and distillation were performed for the compression of ResNet18. The final evaluation of the obtained models was carried out on a Raspberry Pi 4 device using the validation dataset. The greatest model compression result on the disk was achieved by applying the PCQAT method, whose application led to a reduction in size of the initial model by as much as 45 times, whereas the greatest model acceleration result was achieved via distillation on the MobileNetV2 model. All methods led to the compression of the initial size of the model, with a slight loss in the model accuracy or an increase in the model accuracy in the case of QAT and weight clustering. INT8 quantization and knowledge distillation also led to a significant decrease in the model execution time.
Evaluation of Digital Marketing Technologies with Fuzzy Linguistic MCDM Methods
Authors: Trung Ngo Quang , Thanh Nguyen Van
Published: May 2022

Technology is becoming the tool that changes how people live every day, and the marketing strategies of businesses are also gradually shifting to the industry 4.0 mindset of constant growth and development. Digital marketing has changed human habits of information accessibility, determined their interactions, and witnessed the birth of a variety of new marketing technologies. Marketers are creating digital marketing products and services that enhance the experience for consumers, products, and services that are also delivered through high digital marketing networks. As a result, data sources become more abundant and allow consumers to have more choices. All products, services, technologies, and data are increasingly meeting the needs of consumers, thereby confirming the effectiveness of digital marketing in today’s market. However, the evaluation and selection of digital marketing technology is very complex since it has many conflicting criteria and goals. The multi-criteria decision-making model (MCDM) is a powerful technique widely used for solving this type of problem. Thus, the author proposed a fuzzy linguistic MCDM method for evaluation of digital marketing technologies. After determining the evaluation criteria and alternatives, two MCDM methods, including Spherical Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (SF-AHP) and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), are used in the evaluation and selection of digital marketing technologies procedure. Finally, an application is present to demonstrate the potential use of the proposed methodology. The main contribution of this study is to propose a Spherical fuzzy MCDM model to support planners and decision makers in the digital marketing technology evaluation and selection processes. A case study is also performed to showcase the feasibility of the proposed approach.