bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How Much Does Plant Food (Fruits and Vegetables) Intake Affect the Prevention of Periodontal Disease in the Korean Elderly?
Authors: Kwon Yongseok , Kim Sohye
Published: November 2022

This study, as part of a study on the dietary lives of elderly people, investigates the association between plant food (fruit + non-starchy vegetable) intake and the prevention of periodontal disease among elderly people aged over 65 years. A total of 4514 subjects over 65 years of age participated in a dental survey, health behavior interview, and 24 h dietary recall test for the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Subjects with energy intake of less than 500 kcal or more than 5000 kcal were excluded. The results showed that plant food intake was inversely associated with the prevalence of periodontal disease in the elderly Korean population. The prevalence of periodontal disease decreased with increasing plant food consumption. Compared with those in tertile 1 (T1), subjects in tertile 3 (T3) showed a decrease in periodontal disease of about 26.7% (OR = 0.733). In conclusion, the consumption of plant food lowers the risk of periodontal disease, suggesting that it should be encouraged among elderly Koreans.
Nutritional Status and Habits among People on Vegan, Lacto/Ovo-Vegetarian, Pescatarian and Traditional Diets
Authors: Kwiatkowska Izabela , Olszak Jakub , Formanowicz Piotr , Formanowicz Dorota
Published: November 2022

Background: This study assessed the possible dependencies between nutritional habits and body composition among subjects with different dietary habits. Materials: A total of 196 healthy (aged 18–50 yrs) participants were enrolled in the study and divided into 4 groups according to their diet: vegans-VEGAN (n = 53), lacto/ovo-vegetarians—VEGE (n = 52), pescatarians-PESCA (n = 28), and omnivores-OMN (n = 43). Methods: The Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) was used, and body composition was assessed on the In-Body120 analyzer. Results: Our result revealed in OMN + PESCA groups a higher average consumption frequency of sweets (p = 0.024), cheese/plant cheese (p < 0.001), eggs and egg dishes/egg substitutes (p < 0.001), butter, margarine/plant margarine (p < 0.001), cream /plant cream (p = 0.018), wine and cocktails (p = 0.028), vodka (p = 0.039) and lower of natural cottage cheese/tofu/tempeh (p < 0.001), vegetable oils (p = 0.036), legumes (p < 0.001) and nuts and seeds(p < 0.001) compared to the VEGAN + VEGE groups. The body composition analysis showed significant differences in skeletal muscle mass (SMM) (p = 0.019) and the content of minerals (p = 0.048) between groups. VEGAN disclosed the lowest average values of body fat mass (BFM), percentage body fat (PBF), and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) than other studied groups. Conclusions: The body composition analysis showed mean values within normal ranges in all of the groups, but some average results of OMN, PESCA, and VEGE compared to VEGAN were not highly satisfactory (in addition to eating behavior outcomes).
The Roles of MTRR and MTHFR Gene Polymorphisms in Colorectal Cancer Survival
Authors: Wang Yu , Du Meizhi , Vallis Jillian , Shariati Matin , Parfrey Patrick S. , Mclaughlin John R. , Wang Peizhong Peter , Zhu Yun
Published: November 2022

Background: Paradoxically epidemiological data illustrate a negative relationship between dietary folate intake and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. The occurrence and progression of CRC may be influenced by variants in some key enzyme coding genes in the folate metabolic pathway. We investigated the correlation between genetic variants in methionine synthase reductase (MTRR) and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and CRC survival. Methods: This study used data collected from the Newfoundland Familial Colorectal Cancer Study. A total of 532 patients diagnosed with CRC for the first time from 1999 to 2003 were enrolled, and their mortality were tracked until April 2010. DNA samples were genotyped by Illumina’s integrated quantum 1 million chip. Cox models were established to assess 33 tag single-nucleotide polymorphisms in MTRR and MTHFR in relation to overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS) and CRC-specific survival. Results: The MTRR and MTHFR genes were associated with DFS and CRC-specific survival in CRC patients at the gene level. After multiple comparison adjustment, MTRR rs1801394 A (vs. G) allele was associated with increased DFS (p = 0.024), while MTHRT rs3737966 (G vs. A), rs4846049 (T vs. G), rs1476413 (A vs. G), rs1801131 (C vs. A), rs12121543 (A vs. C), rs1801133 (C vs. T), rs4846052 (T vs. C), rs2066471 (A vs. G) and rs7533315 (T vs. C) were related to worse CRC-specific survival. Additionally, significant interactions were seen among pre-diagnostic alcohol consumption with MTRR rs1801394, rs3776467, rs326124, rs162040, and rs3776455, with superior OS associated with those protective variant alleles limited to patients with alcohol consumption under the median. The MTHFR rs3737966 (G vs. A) allele seemed to be detrimental to CRC survival only among subjects with fruit intake below the median. Conclusions: Polymorphic variants in MTRR and MTHFR genes that code for key enzymes for folate metabolism may be associated with survival in patients with CRC. The gene-CRC outcome association seems modulated by alcohol drinking and fruit intake.
Comparative Analysis of Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) Content in Mother’s Milk of Term and Preterm Mothers
Authors: Vizzari Giulia , Morniroli Daniela , Alessandretti Francesca , Galli Vittoria , Colombo Lorenzo , Turolo Stefano , Syren Marie-Louise , Pesenti Nicola , Agostoni Carlo , Mosca Fabio , Giannì Maria Lorella
Published: November 2022

Objectives and Study: Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) plays an essential role in infants’ development. Maternal diet and breastmilk are the primary DHA sources for newborns. This single-center observational study aimed to compare the DHA content in mother’s milk of preterm mothers with that of term ones, and to investigate the changes in mother’s milk DHA content according to the week of the gestational age. Methods: A food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was submitted to each mother to estimate the DHA intake during the last trimester of pregnancy, and the mother’s milk was collected between 24 and 96 h post-partum. Results: Women who gave birth prematurely showed a lower content of mother’s milk DHA than the term ones (0.51; IQR 0.38–0.6% FA vs. 0.71; IQR 0.52–0.95% FA; p = 0.001). In the multivariate linear regression analyses, for each additional week of gestational age, there was an increase in DHA content in the mother’s milk (0.046% FA; CI 95% 0.018–0.074; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our results suggest that breast milk may not be sufficient to fully satisfy the recommended DHA intake in preterm infants. This study may represent a starting point to investigate new possible DHA supplementation strategies, especially for the late and moderate preterm infants.
Docosahexaenoic Acid Counteracts the Hypoxic-Induced Inflammatory and Metabolic Alterations in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes
Authors: Younes Noura B. , Mohamed Omnia Ahmed , Rizk Nasser M.
Published: November 2022

Background: Hypoxia is caused by the excessive expansion of the white adipose tissue (AT) and is associated with obesity-related conditions such as insulin resistance, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an omega-3 fatty acid reported to have beneficial health effects. However, the effects of DHA in AT against hypoxia-induced immune-metabolic perturbations in adipocytes exposed to low O2 tension are not well known. Consequently, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of DHA on markers of inflammation, metabolism, apoptosis, and oxidative stress in 3T3-L1 cell adipocytes exposed to low O2 tension (1% O2) induced hypoxia. Methods: The apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) rates were evaluated. Metabolic parameters such as lactate, FFA, glycerol release, glucose uptake, and ATP content were assessed by a fluorometer. The expression of HIF-1, GLUT1 and the secretion of adipocytokines such as leptin, adiponectin, and pro-inflammatory markers was evaluated. Results: DHA-treated hypoxic cells showed significantly decreased basal free fatty acid release, lactate production, and enhanced glucose consumption. In addition, DHA-treatment of hypoxic cells caused a significant reduction in the apoptosis rate and ROS production with decreased lipid peroxidation. Moreover, DHA-treatment of hypoxic cells caused a decreased secretion of pro-inflammatory markers (IL-6, MCP-1) and leptin and increased adiponectin secretion compared with hypoxic cells. Furthermore, DHA-treatment of hypoxic cells caused significant reductions in the expression of genes related to hypoxia (HIF-1, HIF-2), anaerobic metabolism (GLUT1 and Ldha), ATP production (ANT2), and fat metabolism (FASN and PPARY). Conclusion: This study suggests that DHA can exert potential anti-obesity effects by reducing the secretion of inflammatory adipokines, oxidative stress, lipolysis, and apoptosis.
Association of Human Milk Fortifier and Feeding Intolerance in Preterm Infants: A Cohort Study about Fortification Strategies in Southwest China
Authors: Zhang Ting , Luo Huan , Wang Hua , Mu Dezhi
Published: November 2022

Background: The present strategy of administering human milk fortifier (HMF) in southwest China (swC) is mainly based on European and American populations’ guidelines. Additionally, some southwest Chinese preterm infants have been observed to develop feeding intolerance (FI) after administration of HMF. In order to develop adapted southwest Chinese guidelines for the administration of HMF to preterm infants and improve fortification strategies, a retrospective cohort study was performed to explore the association of the use of HMF and FI. Objective: To explore the association between HMF and FI in preterm infants and provide recommendations for its use in swC. Methods: This cohort study included 298 preterm infants from West China Second University Hospital. Maternal and infant clinical data were collected from electronic patient records. The infant cohort was divided into two groups based on the use/nonuse of HMF. The association between HMF and FI was evaluated using multivariate analysis. Nonlinear relationships and threshold effects were evaluated using generalized additive models and two-piecewise linear regression models. Results: The multivariate analysis confirmed that there is no significant association between HMF use and FI, but significant risk factors for FI include early HMF initiation (p = 0.02), full-strength HMF initiation (p = 0.04), and fast HMF supplementation rates (p = 0.004). Through smooth curve fitting and threshold effect analysis, we found that two inflection points, an initial concentration of HMF > 24 mg/mL and a HMF supplementation rate > 12.5 mg/mL/d, significantly increased FI risk. Conclusions: Routine HMF fortification can be safely used in preterm infants with gestational age < 32 wk or birth weight < 1500 g in swC, and we advise initiating fortification when enteral milk intake reaches 100 mL/kg/day, with an HMF concentration of 1:50 and if tolerated, increase to 1:25 more than 38 h. The recommended HMF supplementation rate differs from current guidelines and provides evidence for developing southwest Chinese guidelines. A prospective trial is needed in order to validate this proposal.
Insights into the Small Molecule Targeting of Biologically Relevant G-Quadruplexes: An Overview of NMR and Crystal Structures
Authors: Criscuolo Andrea , Napolitano Ettore , Riccardi Claudia , Musumeci Domenica , Platella Chiara , Montesarchio Daniela
Published: November 2022

G-quadruplexes turned out to be important targets for the development of novel targeted anticancer/antiviral therapies. More than 3000 G-quadruplex small-molecule ligands have been described, with most of them exerting anticancer/antiviral activity by inducing telomeric damage and/or altering oncogene or viral gene expression in cancer cells and viruses, respectively. For some ligands, in-depth NMR and/or crystallographic studies were performed, providing detailed knowledge on their interactions with diverse G-quadruplex targets. Here, the PDB-deposited NMR and crystal structures of the complexes between telomeric, oncogenic or viral G-quadruplexes and small-molecule ligands, of both organic and metal-organic nature, have been summarized and described based on the G-quadruplex target, from telomeric DNA and RNA G-quadruplexes to DNA oncogenic G-quadruplexes, and finally to RNA viral G-quadruplexes. An overview of the structural details of these complexes is here provided to guide the design of novel ligands targeting more efficiently and selectively cancer- and virus-related G-quadruplex structures.
Pharmacy and Nursing Students’ Knowledge and Practices Concerning the Disposal of Unused and Expired Medicines in Kosovo
Authors: Shuleta-Qehaja Selvete , Kelmendi Nita
Published: November 2022

This descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to assess the knowledge and practices of pharmacy and nursing students at a medical college in Kosovo concerning unused and expired medications. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 500 randomly selected students of pharmacy (200 questionnaires) and nursing students (300 questionnaires). Overall, 336 returned the filled forms and the response rate was 67.2. SPSS version 26.0 was utilized for statistical analysis. The results showed that 89.2% of pharmacy students and 82.2% of nursing students check the expiration date of medications before purchasing them and a considerable number of students stated that they possess unused medicines at home (78.4% of pharmacy and 74% of nursing students). Regarding disposal practice, over 50% of both nursing and pharmacy students dispose of unused and expired medications in the trash. A small proportion of students returned unused or expired medicines to the pharmacy (11.4% of pharmacy students and 10.7% of nursing students return unused medications, whereas 14.4% of pharmacy respondents and 10.1% of nursing respondents reported returning expired medicines). There was a statistically significant difference in the ways pharmacy and nursing students purchase pharmaceuticals and in their opinions regarding institutions in charge of disposing of unused and expired medicines (p = 0.000). Students are aware of the detrimental effects improper disposal of unused and expired medicines has on the environment and public health, but lack information regarding the return of unused and expired medicines to the pharmacy. To change the existing practice the most appropriate method would be to add additional lectures on safe disposal practices into existing modules. It is recommended for involved stakeholders in Kosovo to organize training, seminars, and workshops for health professionals especially pharmacists and nurses, since they pass the information to patients/consumers as well as the government to make amendments to current legislation to ameliorate the returning procedures for patients/consumers in pharmacies.
Experimental Study on the Application of Cellulosic Biopolymer for Enhanced Oil Recovery in Carbonate Cores under Harsh Conditions
Authors: Gbadamosi Afeez , Zhou Xianmin , Murtaza Mobeen , Kamal Muhammad Shahzad , Patil Shirish , Al Shehri Dhafer , Barri Assad
Published: November 2022

Polymer flooding is used to improve the viscosity of an injectant, thereby decreasing the mobility ratio and improving oil displacement efficiency in the reservoir. Thanks to their environmentally benign nature, natural polymers are receiving prodigious attention for enhanced oil recovery. Herein, the rheology and oil displacement properties of okra mucilage were investigated for its enhanced oil recovery potential at a high temperature and high pressure (HTHP) in carbonate cores. The cellulosic polysaccharide used in the study is composed of okra mucilage extracted from okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) via a hot water extraction process. The morphological property of okra mucilage was characterized with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), while the thermal stability was investigated using a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). The rheological property of the okra mucilage was investigated for seawater salinity and high-temperature conditions using a TA rheometer. Finally, an oil displacement experiment of the okra mucilage was conducted in a high-temperature, high-pressure core flooding equipment. The TGA analysis of the biopolymer reveals that the polymeric solution was stable over a wide range of temperatures. The FTIR results depict that the mucilage is composed of galactose and rhamnose constituents, which are essentially found in polysaccharides. The polymer exhibited pseudoplastic behavior at varying shear rates. The viscosity of okra mucilage was slightly reduced when aged in seawater salinity and at a high temperature. Nonetheless, the cellulosic polysaccharide exemplified sufficiently good viscosity under high-temperature and high-salinity (HTHS) conditions. Finally, the oil recovery results from the carbonate core plug reveal that the okra mucilage recorded a 12.7% incremental oil recovery over waterflooding. The mechanism of its better displacement efficiency is elucidated
Antioxidant-Mediated Modification of Citral and Its Control Effect on Mildewy Bamboo
Authors: Liu Chunlin , Li Qi , Shan Yingying , Du Chungui , Chen Shiqin , Yin Wenxiu , Yang Fei , Shao Yuran , Wang Yuting
Published: November 2022

To reduce the oxidative degradation of citral and improve its antimildew performance, citral was modified with natural antioxidants such as tea polyphenols, ascorbic acid, and theaflavin in the present study. Additionally, the effects of these natural antioxidants on the citral degradation rate and DPPH radical-scavenging rate, as well as the effectiveness of antioxidant-modified citral in the antimildew treatment of bamboo were investigated. Ascorbic acid, theaflavin, and tea polyphenols improved the antioxidant performance of citral to some extent, and the tea polyphenols exhibited the best antioxidant performance. When the amount of tea polyphenols added to citral reached 1.0%, the oxidative degradation of citral was effectively prevented. Compared with citral, tea-polyphenol-modified citral could reduce the efficacy of the bamboo antimildew treatment against all four mildews and the effectiveness of the antimildew treatment reached 100%. Citral modification with antioxidants reduced the amount of citral required in the treatment, thereby reducing the treatment cost for bamboo mildew.
Balancing Functionality and Printability: High-Loading Polymer Resins for Direct Ink Writing
Authors: Legett Shelbie A. , Torres Xavier , Schmalzer Andrew M. , Pacheco Adam , Stockdale John R. , Talley Samantha , Robison Tom , Labouriau Andrea
Published: November 2022

Although direct ink writing (DIW) allows the rapid fabrication of unique 3D printed objects, the resins—or “inks”—available for this technique are in short supply and often offer little functionality, leading to the development of new, custom inks. However, when creating new inks, the ability of the ink to lead to a successful print, or the “printability,” must be considered. Thus, this work examined the effect of filler composition/concentration, printing parameters, and lattice structure on the printability of new polysiloxane inks incorporating high concentrations (50–70 wt%) of metallic and ceramic fillers as well as emulsions. Results suggest that strut diameter and spacing ratio have the most influence on the printability of DIW materials and that the printability of silica- and metal-filled inks is more predictable than ceramic-filled inks. Additionally, higher filler loadings and SC geometries led to stiffer printed parts than lower loadings and FCT geometries, and metal-filled inks were more thermally stable than ceramic-filled inks. The findings in this work provide important insights into the tradeoffs associated with the development of unique and/or multifunctional DIW inks, printability, and the final material’s performance.
Physicochemical Properties of Cellulose-Based Hydrogel for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Aswathy Sreeja Harikumar , NarendraKumar Uttamchand , Manjubala Inderchand
Published: November 2022

Hydrogels are three-dimensional network structures of hydrophilic polymers, which have the capacity to take up an enormous amount of fluid/water. Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) is a commercially available cellulose derivative that can be used for biomedical applications due to its biocompatibility. It has been used as a major component to fabricate hydrogels because of its superabsorbent nature. In this study, we developed carboxylic acid crosslinked carboxymethyl cellulose hydrogels for biomedical applications. The physicochemical, morphological, and thermal properties were analyzed to confirm the crosslinking of carboxymethyl cellulose. Fourier-transform infrared spectra confirmed the crosslinking of carboxymethyl cellulose with the presence of peaks due to an esterification reaction. The distinct peak at 1718 cm−1 in hydrogel samples is due to the carbonyl group vibrations of the ester bond from the crosslinking reaction. The total carboxyl content of the sample was measured with crosslinker immersion time. The swelling of crosslinked hydrogels showed an excellent swelling capacity for CG02 that is much higher than CG01 in water and PBS. Morphological analysis of the hydrogel showed it has a rough surface. The thermal degradation of hydrogel showed stability with respect to temperature. However, the mechanical analysis showed that CG01 has a higher compressive strength than CG01. The optimum swelling ratio and higher compressive strength of CG01 hydrogels could give them the ability to be used in load-bearing tissue regeneration. These results inferred that the carboxylic acid crosslinked CMC hydrogels could be a suitable matrix for biomedical or tissue-engineering applications with improved stability.
Improving Electricity Generation during the Product Reaction Loop and the Use of Exhaust Gas for Co-Product Production Using Polyethylene Waste and Flue Gas or Wood
Authors: Kovač Kralj Anita
Published: November 2022

More energy-efficient industries could reduce the problems of pollution, global warming, energy security, and fossil fuel depletion, including processing waste into raw materials and more efficient energy cogeneration. This research project considers the novelties of the upgraded electricity cogeneration technique, including one open gas turbine during the high-pressure product reaction loop and a second turbine during the exhaust gas for co-product production with only one compressor. The upgraded electricity cogeneration was carried out in two steps and based on the productive use of otherwise useless polyethylene waste, flue gas, and wood. The first step can simulate the simulation model from the existing product production with well-known technology and process units using the Aspen Plus® simulator. The maximum available electricity cogeneration can previously be determined from the thermodynamics of the products and co-products, and an existing energy unit’s characteristic capacity. In the second step, conventional natural gas can be replaced with waste as the raw materials by using the same simulated model from the first step, including electricity cogeneration using the gas turbines during the high-pressure reaction loop, and the exhaust gas as the co-product with only one compressor. This research on electricity generation is based on processes that include the pressure drop during the product reaction loop. This approach is illustrated using an existing methanol production process, using wastes as sustainable raw materials, including electricity cogeneration during the reaction loop and exhaust gas, generating a possible increase in annual profit of 7.28 MEUR/a.
Nurses’ Beliefs and Barriers of Delivering Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation for Heart Failure Patients in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Alzahrani Eidan M.
Published: November 2022

Background: Patients with heart failure (HF) may benefit greatly from cardiopulmonary rehabilitation (CR), which is provided by a team of healthcare professionals that often includes nurses. There has been no research on how nurses perceive providing CR or the hurdles that may affect referrals. Methods: All registered nurses in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province were given access to a cross-sectional online survey consisting of nine multiple-choice questions that address attitudes, beliefs, and barriers to CR for HF patients in Saudi Arabia. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the respondents. Results: Altogether, 439 registered nurses participated in the online survey, with men making up 194 (44%) and women 245 (56%). The mean and SD of years of clinical experience in caring for patients with HF were 6 ± 5 years. Out of 439 nurses, 107 (24%) strongly agree, and 255 (58%) agree that CR will enhance the physical fitness of patients. However, 94 (21.1%) strongly agree, and 248 (56.4%) agree that CR might alleviate dyspnea in HF patients. The vast majority of the nurses either strongly agree (90 (20.5%)) or agree (240 (55%)), that CR would help reduce palpitations and fatigue in HF patients. Indeed, 87 (19.81%) strongly agree, and 262 (59.68%) agree that CR would help improve HF patients’ ability to perform daily activities, while 51 (11.6%) strongly agree and 223 (51%) agree that CR would help in reducing hospital readmission. It was shown that 360 (82%) of the 439 nurses favored the delivery of CR programs in hospital-supervised programs, while 368 (83.8%) ranked information on HF disease as the most important aspect of the CR program, followed by information about medications at 305 (69.4%). The availability of CR facilities (36%), the cost of therapy (35%), and the absence of an established standardized referring strategy (34%) were identified as the most significant barriers affecting the referral of patients with HF for CR by nurses. Conclusion: Generally, nurses believed CR helped improve desired clinical outcomes in HF patients. Although a hospital-based program with close supervision is optimal for administering CR, few such options exist. Referrals of patients with HF were hampered by the lack of CR facilities, the cost of intervention, and the lack of a systematic approach to referrals.
Identifying the Influencing Factors of Cooling Effect of Urban Blue Infrastructure Using the Geodetector Model
Authors: Li Yingying , Xia Min , Ma Qun , Zhou Rui , Liu Dan , Huang Leichang
Published: November 2022

The urban heat island (UHI) effect has a serious negative impact on urban ecosystems and human well-being. Mitigating UHI through nature-based methods is highly recommended. The cooling effect of urban blue infrastructure (UBI) can significantly alleviate the effects of UHI. Revealing the crucial influencing factors of the cooling effect of UBI is of great significance for mitigating the UHI effect. In this study, the water-cooling intensity (WCI) and water-cooling range (WCR) were used to quantitatively analyze the cooling effect of UBI in Hefei city in summer. Furthermore, the influencing factors and their interactions with the cooling effect of UBI were investigated based on the Geodetector model. The results revealed that: (1) The surface thermal environment of the built-up area of Hefei presented obvious spatial differentiation characteristics. (2) There were nine influencing factors that significantly influenced the WCI variation, with the greatest influencing factor of road density. In contrast, only the landscape shape index had a significant effect on WCR variation. (3) The interaction of environmental characteristics, water body characteristics, and socioeconomic characteristics had a significant influence on the cooling effect of UBI, and the interaction relationship between the influencing factors was mutually enhanced. The findings from our research can provide a theoretical reference and practical guidance for the protection, restoration, and planning of UBI as a nature-based solution to improve the urban thermal environment.
Improving the Reliability of Scale-Free Image Morphometrics in Applications with Minimally Restrained Livestock Using Projective Geometry and Unsupervised Machine Learning
Authors: McVey Catherine , Egger Daniel , Pinedo Pablo
Published: November 2022

Advances in neural networks have garnered growing interest in applications of machine vision in livestock management, but simpler landmark-based approaches suitable for small, early stage exploratory studies still represent a critical stepping stone towards these more sophisticated analyses. While such approaches are well-validated for calibrated images, the practical limitations of such imaging systems restrict their applicability in working farm environments. The aim of this study was to validate novel algorithmic approaches to improving the reliability of scale-free image biometrics acquired from uncalibrated images of minimally restrained livestock. Using a database of 551 facial images acquired from 108 dairy cows, we demonstrate that, using a simple geometric projection-based approach to metric extraction, a priori knowledge may be leveraged to produce more intuitive and reliable morphometric measurements than conventional informationally complete Euclidean distance matrix analysis. Where uncontrolled variations in image annotation, camera position, and animal pose could not be fully controlled through the design of morphometrics, we further demonstrate how modern unsupervised machine learning tools may be used to leverage the systematic error structures created by such lurking variables in order to generate bias correction terms that may subsequently be used to improve the reliability of downstream statistical analyses and dimension reduction.
Estimation of the Kinematics and Workspace of a Robot Using Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Boanta Cătălin , Brișan Cornel
Published: November 2022

At present, in specific and complex industrial operations, robots have to respect certain requirements and criteria as high kinematic or dynamic performance, specific dimensions of the workspace, or limitation of the dimensions of the mobile elements of the robot. In order to respect these criteria, a proper design of the robots has to be achieved, which requires years of practice and a proper knowledge and experience of a human designer. In order to assist the human designer in the process of designing the robots, several methods (including optimization methods) have been developed. The scientific problem addressed in this paper is the development of an artificial intelligence method to estimate the size of the workspace and the kinematics of a robot using a feedforward neural network. The method is applied on a parallel robot composed of a base platform, a mobile platform and six kinematic rotational-universal-spherical open loops. The numerical results show that, with proper training and topology, a feedforward neural network is able to estimate properly values of the volume of the workspace and the values of the generalized coordinates based on the pose of the end effector.
Structural and Magnetic Properties of FeNi Films and FeNi-Based Trilayers with Out-of-Plane Magnetization Component
Authors: Svalov Andrey V. , Gorkovenko Alexandr N. , Larrañaga Aitor , Volochaev Mikhail N. , Kurlyandskaya Galina V.
Published: November 2022

FeNi films of different thickness and FeNi/(Fe, Co)/FeNi trilayers were prepared by magnetron sputtering deposition onto glass substrates. The permalloy films had a columnar microstructure. The detailed analysis of the magnetic properties based on the magnetic and magneto-optical measurements showed that at thicknesses exceeding a certain critical thickness, hysteresis loops acquire a specific shape and the coercive force of the films increase sharply. The possibility of the estimation of the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy constant using the Murayama equation for the thickness dependence of saturation field was demonstrated. The results of studies of the structural and magnetic properties of FeNi films laminated by Fe and Co spacers with different thickness are presented.
Practical Latency Analysis of a Bluetooth 5 Decentralized IoT Opportunistic Edge Computing System for Low-Cost SBCs
Authors: Niebla-Montero Ángel , Froiz-Míguez Iván , Fraga-Lamas Paula , Fernández-Caramés Tiago M.
Published: November 2022

IoT devices can be deployed almost anywhere, but they usually need to be connected to other IoT devices, either through the Internet or local area networks. For such communications, many IoT devices make use of wireless communications, whose coverage is key: if no coverage is available, an IoT device becomes isolated. This can happen both indoors (e.g., large buildings, industrial warehouses) or outdoors (e.g., rural areas, cities). To tackle such an issue, opportunistic networks can be useful, since they use gateways to provide services to IoT devices when they are in range (i.e., IoT devices take the opportunity of having a nearby gateway to exchange data or to use a computing service). Moreover, opportunistic networks can provide Edge Computing capabilities, thus creating Opportunistic Edge Computing (OEC) systems, which deploy smart gateways able to perform certain tasks faster than a remote Cloud. This article presents a novel decentralized OEC system based on Bluetooth 5 IoT nodes whose latency is evaluated to determine the feasibility of using it in practical applications. The obtained results indicate that, for the selected scenario, the average end-to-end latency is relatively low (736 ms), but it is impacted by factors such as the location of the bootstrap node, the smart gateway hardware or the use of high-security mechanisms.
Mechanical Property Test of Grass Carp Skin Material Based on the Digital Image Correlation Method
Authors: Zhang Mei , Ge Pengxiang , Fu Zhongnan , Dan Xizuo , Li Guihua
Published: November 2022

Fish is a common and widely distributed creature. Its skin has a unique physiological structure and plays an important role in many fields. Fish skin also has important potential value for bionics research. This study aims to provide a method and a reliable data for the study of bionics. A method of measuring the mechanical properties of fish skin samples using a binocular stereo digital image correlation (DIC) system combined with a synchronous tensile testing machine was proposed. The mechanical properties (e.g., elastic modulus E and strain) of grass fish skin samples (GFSA) were tested in hydrophilic and dry states. A dual-frequency laser interferometer was used to calibrate the tensile testing machine synchronously, and the feasibility and strain accuracy of DIC in GFSA measurement were verified by finite element method (FEM). The results show differences in the mechanical properties of GFSA between different individuals, different parts, and different states. Under the same stress, the head was easy to deform, and the strain was the largest, and E was the smallest. The tail result was the opposite of the head result.
Monocular-Vision-Based Precise Runway Detection Applied to State Estimation for Carrier-Based UAV Landing
Authors: Ma Ning , Weng Xiangrui , Cao Yunfeng , Wu Linbin
Published: November 2022

Improving the level of autonomy during the landing phase helps promote the full-envelope autonomous flight capability of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Aiming at the identification of potential landing sites, an end-to-end state estimation method for the autonomous landing of carrier-based UAVs based on monocular vision is proposed in this paper, which allows them to discover landing sites in flight by using equipped optical sensors and avoid a crash or damage during normal and emergency landings. This scheme aims to solve two problems: the requirement of accuracy for runway detection and the requirement of precision for UAV state estimation. First, we design a robust runway detection framework on the basis of YOLOv5 (you only look once, ver. 5) with four modules: a data augmentation layer, a feature extraction layer, a feature aggregation layer and a target prediction layer. Then, the corner prediction method based on geometric features is introduced into the prediction model of the detection framework, which enables the landing field prediction to more precisely fit the runway appearance. In simulation experiments, we developed datasets applied to carrier-based UAV landing simulations based on monocular vision. In addition, our method was implemented with help of the PyTorch deep learning tool, which supports the dynamic and efficient construction of a detection network. Results showed that the proposed method achieved a higher precision and better performance on state estimation during carrier-based UAV landings.
Dual-Sensor Signals Based Exact Gaussian Process-Assisted Hybrid Feature Extraction and Weighted Feature Fusion for Respiratory Rate and Uncertainty Estimations
Authors: Lee Soojeong , Moon Hyeonjoon , Al-antari Mugahed A. , Lee Gangseong
Published: November 2022

Accurately estimating respiratory rate (RR) has become essential for patients and the elderly. Hence, we propose a novel method that uses exact Gaussian process regression (EGPR)-assisted hybrid feature extraction and feature fusion based on photoplethysmography and electrocardiogram signals to improve the reliability of accurate RR and uncertainty estimations. First, we obtain the power spectral features and use the multi-phase feature model to compensate for insufficient input data. Then, we combine four different feature sets and choose features with high weights using a robust neighbor component analysis. The proposed EGPR algorithm provides a confidence interval representing the uncertainty. Therefore, the proposed EGPR algorithm, including hybrid feature extraction and weighted feature fusion, is an excellent model with improved reliability for accurate RR estimation. Furthermore, the proposed EGPR methodology is likely the only one currently available that provides highly stable variation and confidence intervals. The proposed EGPR-MF, 0.993 breath per minute (bpm), and EGPR-feature fusion, 1.064 (bpm), show the lowest mean absolute error compared to the other models.
A Flexible Near-Field Biosensor for Multisite Arterial Blood Flow Detection
Authors: Mohammed Noor , Cluff Kim , Sutton Mark , Villafana-Ibarra Bernardo , Loflin Benjamin E. , Griffith Jacob L. , Becker Ryan , Bhandari Subash , Alruwaili Fayez , Desai Jaydip
Published: November 2022

Modern wearable devices show promising results in terms of detecting vital bodily signs from the wrist. However, there remains a considerable need for a device that can conform to the human body’s variable geometry to accurately detect those vital signs and to understand health better. Flexible radio frequency (RF) resonators are well poised to address this need by providing conformable bio-interfaces suitable for different anatomical locations. In this work, we develop a compact wearable RF biosensor that detects multisite hemodynamic events due to pulsatile blood flow through noninvasive tissue–electromagnetic (EM) field interaction. The sensor consists of a skin patch spiral resonator and a wearable transceiver. During resonance, the resonator establishes a strong capacitive coupling with layered dielectric tissues due to impedance matching. Therefore, any variation in the dielectric properties within the near-field of the coupled system will result in field perturbation. This perturbation also results in RF carrier modulation, transduced via a demodulator in the transceiver unit. The main elements of the transceiver consist of a direct digital synthesizer for RF carrier generation and a demodulator unit comprised of a resistive bridge coupled with an envelope detector, a filter, and an amplifier. In this work, we build and study the sensor at the radial artery, thorax, carotid artery, and supraorbital locations of a healthy human subject, which hold clinical significance in evaluating cardiovascular health. The carrier frequency is tuned at the resonance of the spiral resonator, which is 34.5 ± 1.5 MHz. The resulting transient waveforms from the demodulator indicate the presence of hemodynamic events, i.e., systolic upstroke, systolic peak, dicrotic notch, and diastolic downstroke. The preliminary results also confirm the sensor’s ability to detect multisite blood flow events noninvasively on a single wearable platform.
A Multi-Stage Planning Method for Distribution Networks Based on ARIMA with Error Gradient Sampling for Source–Load Prediction
Authors: Yan Sheng , Hu Minqiang
Published: November 2022

As the scale of distributed renewable energy represented by wind power and photovoltaic continues to expand and load demand gradually changes, the future evolution of the smart distribution network will be directly driven by both distributed generation and user demand. The smart distribution network contains a wide range of flexible resources, and its flexibility and uncertainty will bring great challenges to grid data acquisition and control feedback. To adapt to the precise control and feedback of smart distribution network access equipment under the high proportion of new energy access and to ensure the safe operation of the system, it is urgent to accelerate the study of the evolution of the future distribution grid based on the existing distribution grid. Hence, a multi-stage planning method for distribution networks based on source–load prediction is proposed in this paper. Firstly, a distribution network source–load prediction method based on the autoregressive integrated moving average model (ARIMA) and error gradient sampling is proposed, using ARIMA to predict the scale of source–load development and error gradient sampling based on the generation of source–load scenarios with error intervals. K-means is further used for scenario reduction, to explore multiple operating scenarios of China’s distribution network source–load, and the unit’s output forecast interval and load demand from 2021 to 2030 for typical regions are derived using rolling forecasts by combining the unit’s output, end-demand and clean energy share over the years. Secondly, the planning model of distribution grid evolution in different stages is constructed to analyze the future evolution form of the distribution grid considering the distribution network’s load cross-section, respectively, and to provide a development path reference for the future construction of distribution grid form in China.
Multi-Target State and Extent Estimation for High Resolution Automotive Sensor Detections
Authors: Hunde Andinet
Published: November 2022

This paper discusses the perception and tracking of individual as well as group targets as applied to multi-lane public traffic. Target tracking problem is formulated as a two hierarchical layer problem—on the first layer, a multi-target tracking problem based on multiple detections is distinguished in the measurement space, and on the second (top) layer, group target tracking with birth and death as well as merging and splitting of group target tracks as they evolve in a dynamic scene is represented. This configuration enhances the multi-target tracking performance in situations including but not limited to target initialization(birth), target occlusion, missed detections, unresolved measurement, target maneuver, etc. In addition, group tracking exposes complex individual target interactions to help in situation assessment which is challenging to capture otherwise.
Design of a Friendly Solar Food Dryer for Domestic Over-Production
Authors: Fernandes Lisete , Fernandes José R. , Tavares Pedro B.
Published: November 2022

Solar drying is one of the many ways of efficiently making use of solar energy to meet the human demand for improved sustainability. In this study, we describe the construction and testing of two indirect solar dryer prototypes, especially designed for vegetables and fruits. The dryers had two compartments: a solar panel and a drying chamber. The dryers were mainly made of wood (Prototype 1) and styrofoam (Prototype 2) and both used recycled aluminum cans. The calculated yield of solar panels was 82% and 77% for Prototype 1 and 2, respectively. The drying tests performed with different fresh products showed that it was possible to dry all of them until less than 10% of their initial weight, at different times, depending on the type of product. As regards the apple slices, the solar dryers were able to remove 95.7% and 95.0% of initial moisture on a wet basis for Prototype 1 and 2, respectively. Comparative tests were conducted with an electric commercial dryer using the same product to explore the drying dynamics and costs. The cost of the final dry product, excluding the purchase of fresh goods, was 6.83 €/kg for the electric dryer, 1.78 €/kg for Prototype 1 and 1.72 €/kg for Prototype 2. Dehydrated apple slices are currently available on the market for around 34.50 €/kg. Our solar dryers can dry quality products at a very low cost for their entire life span, which allows them to compete with electric systems to prevent food waste in a cheaper and environmentally friendly way.
A System Dynamics Approach for Improved Management of the Indian Mackerel Fishery in Peninsular Malaysia
Authors: Ismail Illisriyani , Failler Pierre , March Antaya , Thorpe Andy
Published: November 2022

This paper presents the results of applying the system dynamics model to the Indian mackerel fishery (IM) in Malaysia. The main objective of this paper is to explore a more holistic approach to modelling options for the difficult task of managing an open access fishery. To this end, a system dynamics model was used to provide a general framework that incorporates several interacting factors that influence the management of the fishery. Such a model, which combines both biological and economic data, is appropriate for fisheries management practise. In this case, three policy scenarios (in addition to a business-as-usual scenario) based on a reduction in the number of boats fishing are used to simulate the behaviour of the stock IM. The results show that the optimal CPUE level is achieved with a 25% reduction in the total number of boats. In this scenario, a biomass of 127,432 metric tonnes IM of adult fish is predicted in 2050, with a catch of 32,884 tonnes for 2698 boats. In comparison, the biomass of IM in 2016 is 112,384 tonnes with a catch of 32,454 tonnes for 4616 boats. Based on these results, we can determine for the first time the optimal level of fishing capacity to ensure the sustainability of the fishery at IM. Overall, this work introduces a new method for simulating Malaysian fisheries data and new modelling methods that are not widely used in the Malaysian fisheries modelling field. The model benefits from current management and data availability.