bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Schedule Strategy Considering the Overload Violation Risk to the Security Region in Distribution Networks
Authors: Jia Jiacheng , Yin Guiliang , Sun Lingling , Abu-Siada Ahmed
Published: November 2022

Due to the uncertainty of the nodal power caused by the varying renewable energies and the variety of loads, the line power of the distribution network (DN) is uncertainty also. In extreme scenarios, the line power may exceed the loading limits and incur overload violations. In this paper, a risk analysis specifically for overload violations based on the security region of the DN is established. This method takes the N-0 security of the DN as the reference to determine the bidirectional security region and violation distances. The calculation of the probability distribution of the overload violation in the distribution lines is established according to the distribution of node injections of the DN by using the semi-invariant algorithm. By referring to the security boundaries, the optimization model of the anti-violation strategy to minimize the cost of anti-violation is derived, by which the severity of violation risk events is obtained accordingly. Assessment of the risk cost is built with the CVaR index for violation events. Based on the above algorithms, the risk-tolerated scheduling model of the DN is arrived at with the objective of minimizing the comprehensive risk cost and operating cost. Finally, the validity of the proposed method is verified by a modified IEEE 33-node example.
A Review Regarding Combined Heat and Power Production and Extensions: Thermodynamic Modelling and Environmental Impact
Authors: Costea Monica , Feidt Michel
Published: November 2022

This paper reports on a review on combined heat and power (CHP). A historical examination points out that combined heat and power was primarily used for hot heat valorizing (CHHP). The technological aspects evolved with this configuration first in industrial size. More recently, configuration with cold heat and power production (CCHP) appeared. Then, the immediate extension of this configuration led to trigeneration configuration, providing three useful effects: power and hot and cold heat. We suggest in the paper that progress regarding this last approach remains to be achieved towards the extension of trigeneration to polygeneration, whatever the form of energy and substance (water uses, for example). More generally, we consider that the goal, regarding the energy uses, is the integration of all needs in the design stage of the whole system (design optimization). Then, the evolution of the system in time should be considered, this being the purpose of control command of the optimized concern. This part remains to be developed in the future. Currently, the optimized design is well-started from the thermodynamic point of view with good criterion (efficiency), completed with economic and environmental objectives or constraints, as is reported in the review.
Renewable Electricity and Hydrogen Production via Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems
Authors: Rahimi Narges , Eicker Ursula
Published: November 2022

Urban wastewater could be converted into energy if microbial electrochemical technologies (METs) like microbial dual-chamber electrolysis cells (MDEC) or microbial fuel cells (MFC) are applied as a treatment method. Mathematical modelling of MFC and MDEC for wastewater treatment and energy recovery has been developed in this study. The Radaue method has been used to solve ordinary differential equations (ODEs), and the model outputs were successfully validated with previous experimental and modelling data. A case study in Montreal, Canada, has also been considered for testing the application of METs on an urban scale with a total daily wastewater flow of 75,000 L/day. The results show that from 1 m3 of wastewater, MDEC and MFC can generate 0.077 kg H2 and 0.033 kWh, respectively.
Energy Policy, Energy Research, and Energy Politics: An Analytical Review of the Current Situation
Authors: Borge-Diez David
Published: November 2022

Energy policy is becoming a key aspect of the everyday worldwide agenda, and the decisions in this field are directly affecting many aspects, such as energy security, energy supply, and consumer final prices, as well as environmental aspects, among others, and will also affect conditions in the coming years with regard to aspects such as energy resource availability decay, climate change effects, or air contamination. During the last decades, many specific efforts in energy planning research have been carried out by different scientists around the world, but very few of their scientifically based conclusions and recommendations have been transferred into energy planning and energy policy. As a consequence, the energy availability and the environmental situation of the world are worsening; the objectives which aim to achieve a maximum of a 1.5 °C increase are far from being achieved, and many different regions are suffering energy supply disruptions and lack of accessible and secure energy access. This paper analyzes how current energy policy is based more on the direct influence of stakeholders, energy politics, and citizens’ beliefs or preferences than on a scientific approach. It also proposes a different approach that would combine scientific energy planning as a driver for stakeholders and the political decisions which are necessary to consider as soon as possible; this is the only possible way to ensure a sustainable future.
Identification of Nontechnical Losses in Distribution Systems Adding Exogenous Data and Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Capeletti Marcelo Bruno , Hammerschmitt Bruno Knevitz , Negri Renato Grethe , Guarda Fernando Guilherme Kaehler , Prade Lucio Rene , Knak Neto Nelson , Abaide Alzenira da Rosa
Published: November 2022

Nontechnical losses (NTL) are irregularities in the consumption of electricity and mainly caused by theft and fraud. NTLs can be characterized as outliers in historical data series. The use of computational tools to identify outliers is the subject of research around the world, and in this context, artificial neural networks (ANN) are applicable. ANNs are machine learning models that learn through experience, and their performance is associated with the quality of the training data together with the optimization of the model’s architecture and hyperparameters. This article proposes a complete solution (end-to-end) using the ANN multilayer perceptron (MLP) model with supervised classification learning. For this, data mining concepts are applied to exogenous data, specifically the ambient temperature, and endogenous data from energy companies. The association of these data results in the improvement of the model’s input data that impact the identification of consumer units with NTLs. The test results show the importance of combining exogenous and endogenous data, which obtained a 0.0213 improvement in ROC-AUC and a 6.26% recall (1).
Effects of Negative Sequence Voltage Subharmonics on Cage Induction Motors
Authors: Gnaciński Piotr , Hallmann Damian , Klimczak Piotr , Muc Adam , Pepliński Marcin
Published: November 2022

In some power systems, voltage waveforms contain, apart from harmonics, interharmonics and subharmonics that are components of frequency less than or not an integer multiple of the fundamental frequency. Voltage subharmonics and interharmonics may be of both a positive and negative sequence, independently of their frequency. Previous papers on induction motors under subharmonics have been generally limited to the components of a positive sequence. This study deals with the effect of negative sequence subharmonics on the work of induction motors. Investigations were performed using the 2D finite element method and an experimental method. Differences between the impact of positive and negative sequence subharmonics are discussed. It was found that negative sequence voltage subharmonics can result in significant current subharmonics, torque pulsations and vibration. Further, because of possible resonance, motors that are comparatively resistant to positive sequence subharmonics might be especially sensitive to negative sequence subharmonics of the same frequency and vice versa.
Forest Ecosystem Services-Based Adaptation Actions Supported by the National Policy on Climate Change for Namibia: Effectiveness, Indicators, and Challenges
Authors: Nikodemus Andreas , Hájek Miroslav , Ndeinoma Albertina , Purwestri Ratna Chrismiari
Published: November 2022

Forest ecosystem services are crucial in adaptation, mitigation, and increasing climate change resilience. Although most climate change policies promote adaptation actions in forest ecosystem services, there are limited studies focusing on the forest ecosystem services-based adaptation actions supported by the National Policy on Climate Change for Namibia (NPCC). This paper aims to assess the effectiveness of forestry adaptation actions of the NPCC. An independent t-test for non-categorical data was used for the statistical analysis to compare mean scores of the implementation effectiveness of adaptation actions and challenges before and after the NPCC implementation, according to the perceptions of forestry and climate change cross-sectoral experts. A p-value less than 0.05 (p < 0.05) was designated as the statistical significance. Adaptation actions in forest ecosystem services were significantly effective after the introduction of the NPCC. Biodiversity and carbon sequestration were significantly effective after the introduction of the NPCC. The most significant challenges identified were the lack of awareness, which affected adaptation actions before and after the policy. Afforestation, reforestation, awareness, and forestry research need strengthening to improve the effectiveness of the NPCC. Although our results showed that adaptation actions supported by the NPCC were generally effective after the introduction of the policy, we identified some implementation areas that require strengthening, mainly through research, to help in sound decision-making. We, therefore, recommend future research to analyze the strengths, weaknesses, threats, and opportunities (SWOT) of the NPCC and consequently design/propose a framework for forest ecosystem services-based adaptation actions in the policy to improve adaptation actions.
Effects of Particle Dimension and Constituent Proportions on Internal Bond Strength of Ultra-Low-Density Hemp Hurd Particleboard
Authors: Fehrmann Johannes , Belleville Benoit , Ozarska Barbara
Published: November 2022

The recent legalisation of hemp seeds for human consumption has revitalised the cultivation of hemp in Australia. This provides opportunities for the valorisation of the stem’s residual xylemic core (hemp hurd). This study investigated the effect of particle dimension and constituent proportions on the internal bond strength (IB) of single-layer, ultra-low-density hemp hurd particleboard (ULHPB) with densities between 219 to 304 kg/m3. Particle size distributions (PSD) and granulometry assessments were conducted on three particle size classes (fine (F), medium (M), coarse (C)) based on digital image analysis using ImageJ. Subsequently, four particle size mixes (100% C, 100% M, 50/50% CM, 25/50/25% CMF) were considered for the ULHPB manufacture with bio-epoxy (EPX), phenol resorcinol formaldehyde (PRF) and emulsifiable methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) adhesives, respectively. The effect of particle loading and adhesive content varied significantly per adhesive type. Internal bond (IB) performance increased in most ULHPB comprising coarse particles and declined with the addition of smaller particle sizes. The granulometry assessment showed the smallest mean elongation amongst particles in the coarse PSD. The IB results confirmed a strong interdependence of particle size and constituent proportions and indicated that various MDI-ULHPB variants can surpass the minimum IB strength requirement of 0.30 MPa stipulated for standard particleboard (>12–22 mm) in AS/NZS 1859.1. Utilising residual hemp biomass as an alternative, renewable lignocellulosic feedstock in the manufacture of engineered lightweight panel products is a key principle of circular economy and an environmentally friendly strategy to address the increasing resource scarcity in the wood-based panel industry.
Physical and Mechanical Properties Performance between Untreated and Treated with CCA Treatment at Different Age Groups of Fast-Growing Acacia Hybrid of Sarawak
Authors: Ismaili Gaddafi , Enduat Ellyne , Yahya Nur Syahina , Malek Fanthy Moola , Jaimudin Noor Azland , Abdul Rahim Khairul Khuzaimah , Wasli Mohd Effendi , Kalu Meekiong , Openg Iskanda , Rizalman Ahmad Nurfaidhi , Liam Jack , Razali Biha
Published: November 2022

An effort was carried out to fully utilise fast-growing Acacia hybrid usage in the timber engineering field; however, the research data are still lacking. This paper aims to evaluate the physical and mechanical properties performance between untreated (control) and treated with 10% copper chrome arsenic of Acacia hybrid collected from Daikin Plantation Sdn. Bhd. Bintulu, Sarawak at air-dry condition at different age groups using the small clear method. Mechanical properties test refers to shear parallel to grain (tangential and radial directions), cleavage (tangential and radial directions), and tension parallel to grain test. Meanwhile, the physical properties test refers to moisture content (MC) and density test. After treatment, mechanical properties increase with an average of 13.67%; meanwhile, moisture content decreased with an average of 0.58% or 0.09% MC, and density slightly increased with an average of 0.44% or 0.002 g/cm3. Results indicate that 10-year-old Acacia hybrid exhibits the highest strength values in shear parallel to the grain, tension parallel to the grain, and cleavage, followed by 13-year-old and 7-year-old. Treated samples in the tangential direction performed better with consistent mean results than that of the untreated samples, while radial direction gave a high average strength increment when treated.
Roosting Behavior of Northern Long-Eared Bats (Myotis septentrionalis) in an Urban-Adjacent Forest Fragment
Authors: Burrell Galen E. , Bergeson Scott M.
Published: November 2022

Throughout the Midwest United States, agricultural and urban development have fragmented natural areas, with a disproportionate effect on forests and wetlands. The resulting habitat loss, compounded with the spread of white-nose syndrome (WNS), has caused precipitous population declines in several forest-obligate bat species. In 2019, we discovered a remnant northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis Trouessart) maternity colony in a small forest fragment adjacent to a restored wetland in northeastern Indiana, USA. We investigated roost selection in this colony during the summers between 2019 and 2021 by attaching radio transmitters to northern long-eared bats and tracking them to day roosts. We measured tree, plot, and landscape-level characteristics for each roost and for a randomly selected available tree in the same landscape, then compared characteristics using paired t-tests. Over 70 net nights, we captured and tracked 4 individuals (1 juvenile male, 1 post-lactating female, and 2 lactating females) to 12 different roosts. There were, on average, 3.5 times more standing dead trees (snags) in plots around roosts compared to available trees (t = −4.17, p = 0.02). Bats in this maternity colony selected roosts near a stretch of flooded forest (which contained 83% of roosts) dominated by solar-exposed, flood-killed snags. These roosts likely provide warm microclimates that facilitate energy retention, fetal development, and milk production. By describing roosts within this landscape, we provide insight into the resources that enable an endangered bat species to persist in urbanized forest fragments.
Integrating Chatbot Media Automations in Professional Journalism: An Evaluation Framework
Authors: Kotenidis Efthimis , Vryzas Nikolaos , Veglis Andreas , Dimoulas Charalampos
Published: November 2022

Interactivity has been a very sought-after feature in professional journalism ever since the media industry transitioned from print into the online space. Within this context, chatbots started to infiltrate the media sphere and provide news organizations with new and innovative ways to create and share their content, with an even larger emphasis on back-and-forth communication and news reporting personalization. The present research highlights two important factors that can determine the efficient integration of chatbots in professional journalism: the feasibility of chatbot programming by journalists without a background in computer science using coding-free platforms and the usability of the created chatbot agents for news reporting to the audience. This paper aims to review some of the most popular, coding-free chatbot creation platforms that are available to journalists today. To that end, a three-phase evaluation framework is introduced. First off, the interactivity features that they offer to media industry workers are evaluated using an appropriate metrics framework. Secondly, a two- part workshop is conducted where journalists use the aforementioned platforms to create their own chatbot news reporting agents with minimum training, and lastly, the created chatbots are evaluated by a larger audience concerning the usability and overall user experience.
Data Synchronization: A Complete Theoretical Solution for Filesystems
Authors: Csirmaz Elod P. , Csirmaz Laszlo
Published: November 2022

Data reconciliation in general, and filesystem synchronization in particular, lacks rigorous theoretical foundation. This paper presents, for the first time, a complete analysis of synchronization for two replicas of a theoretical filesystem. Synchronization has two main stages: identifying the conflicts, and resolving them. All existing (both theoretical and practical) synchronizers are operation-based: they define, using some rationale or heuristics, how conflicts are to be resolved without considering the effect of the resolution on subsequent conflicts. Instead, our approach is declaration-based: we define what constitutes the resolution of all conflicts, and for each possible scenario we prove the existence of sequences of operations/commands which convert the replicas into a common synchronized state. These sequences consist of operations rolling back some local changes, followed by operations performed on the other replica. The set of rolled-back operations provides the user with clear and intuitive information on the proposed changes, so she can easily decide whether to accept them or ask for other alternatives. All possible synchronized states are described by specifying a set of conflicts, a partial order on the conflicts describing the order in which they need to be resolved, as well as the effect of each decision on subsequent conflicts. Using this classification, the outcomes of different conflict resolution policies can be investigated easily.
Physicochemical, Structural, and Digestive Properties of Banana Starch Modified by Ultrasound and Resveratrol Treatments
Authors: Sun Ying , Yang Yang , Zheng Lili , Zheng Xiaoyan , Xiao Dao , Wang Shenwan , Zhang Zhengke , Ai Binling , Sheng Zhanwu
Published: November 2022

Ultrasonic treatment combined with resveratrol modification was used to improve banana starch’s solubility, thermal stability, and digestion resistance. The solubility and freeze-thaw stability of the modified starch complex significantly increased. The oil-absorption capacity increased by 20.52%, and the gelatinization temperatures increased from 64.10–73.92 °C to 70.77–75.83 °C. The storage modulus (G′) and loss modulus (G″) increased after ultrasound and resveratrol treatment, and the proportion of viscosity was increased after composition with resveratrol. Additionally, the in vitro digestibility decreased from 44.12% to 40.25%. The modified complexes had release-control ability for resveratrol. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy demonstrated that complex structures became more compact and organized, whereas crystalline patterns were unchanged. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the resveratrol modification caused physical change on the granular surface by creating pores and fissures. The findings can help develop antioxidant functional foods using banana starch.
Physical, Mechanical and Biological Properties of Phenolic Acid-Grafted Soluble Soybean Polysaccharide Films
Authors: Zhang Mengyang , Huang Chen , Xie Jing , Shao Zehuai , Li Xiaohui , Bian Xiaojun , Xue Bin , Gan Jianhong , Sun Tao
Published: November 2022

Three kinds of phenolic acid-grafted soluble soybean polysaccharide (SSPS) with similar grafting ratios were prepared, and their structure was characterized by FT-IR, UV-vis and 1 H NMR. The impact of phenolic acid on the antioxidant activity of SSPS was evaluated. Then, films were prepared by using phenolic acid-grafted SSPS. The physical, mechanical and biological performances of phenolic acid-grafted SSPS films were further investigated. The results indicated that an ester linkage was formed between the SSPS and phenolic acid. The grafting ratio of para-hydroxybenzoic acid, protocatechuic acid and gallic acid-grafted SSPS was 29.45, 31.76 and 30.74 mg/g, respectively. Phenolic acid endowed SSPS with improved antioxidant properties. Gallic acid (GA)-grafted SSPS possessed the best DPPH radical scavenging ability and reducing power, which may be related to the three phenolic hydroxyl groups in GA. Phenolic acid-grafted SSPS films showed increased moisture content and decreased water solubility compared to SSPS film. The phenolic acid-g-SSPS decreased the mechanical properties but enhanced the water vapor barrier property, and antioxidant and antibacterial properties of SSPS film. Meanwhile, the para-hydroxybenzoic acid-grafted SSPS film showed the lowest water vapor permeability (3.70 × 10−7 g mm/h cm2 Pa), and the GA-grafted SSPS film exhibited the best antioxidant and antibacterial activities.
Monosaccharide Composition and In Vitro Activity to HCT-116 Cells of Purslane Polysaccharides after a Covalent Chemical Selenylation
Authors: Li Ling-Yu , Guan Qing-Yun , Lin Ya-Ru , Zhao Jun-Ren , Wang Li , Zhang Qiang , Liu Hong-Fang , Zhao Xin-Huai
Published: November 2022

The anti-cancer effects of selenylated plant polysaccharides are a focus of research. As a natural plant with extensive biological effects, there have been few studies related to edible purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.). Thus, in this study, soluble P. oleracea polysaccharides (PPS) were extracted from the dried P. oleracea and then selenylated chemically using the HNO3-Na2SeO3 method to obtain two selenylated products, namely, SePPS1 and SePPS2. Compared with the extracted PPS, SePPS1 and SePPS2 had much higher Se contents (840.3 and 1770.5 versus 66.0 mg/kg) while also showing lower contents in three saccharides—arabinose, fucose, and ribose—and higher contents in seven saccharides including galactose, glucose, fructose, mannose, rhamnose, galacturonic acid, and glucuronic acid, but a stable xylose content demonstrated that the performed chemical selenylation of PPS led to changes in monosaccharide composition. Moreover, SePPS1 and SePPS2 shared similar features with respect to monosaccharide composition and possessed higher bioactivity than PPS in human colon cancer HCT-116 cells. Generally, SePPS1 and SePPS2 were more active than PPS with respect to cell growth inhibition, the alteration of cell morphology, disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, the induction of cell apoptosis, and upregulation or downregulation of five apoptosis-related genes and proteins such as Bax, Bcl-2, caspases-3/-9, and cytochrome C, that cause cell apoptosis and growth suppression via the ROS-mediated mitochondrial pathway. SePPS2 consistently showed the highest capacity to exert these observed effects on the targeted cells, suggesting that the performed chemical selenylation of PPS (in particular when higher degrees of selenylation are reached) resulted in an increase in activity in the cells. It can thus be concluded that the performed selenylation of PPS was able to incorporate inorganic Se into the final PPS products, changing their monosaccharide composition and endowing them with enhanced nutraceutical and anti-cancer effects in the colon.
Artificial Neural Networks to Optimize Oil-in-Water Emulsion Stability with Orange By-Products
Authors: Umaña Mónica , Llull Laura , Bon José , Eim Valeria Soledad , Simal Susana
Published: November 2022

The use of artificial neural networks (ANNs) is proposed to optimize the formulation of stable oil-in-water emulsions (oil 6% w/w) with a flour made from orange by-products (OBF), rich in pectins (21 g/100 g fresh matter), in different concentrations (0.95, 2.38, and 3.40% w/w), combined with or without soy proteins (0.3 and 0.6% w/w). Emulsions containing OBF were stable against coalescence and flocculation (with 2.4 and 3.4% OBF) and creaming (3.4% OBF) for 24 h; the droplets’ diameter decreased up to 44% and the viscosity increased up to 37% with higher concentrations of OBF. With the protein addition, the droplets’ diameter decreased by up to 70%, and flocculation increased. Compared with emulsions produced with purified citrus pectins (0.2 and 0.5% w/w), OBF emulsions exhibited up to 32% lower viscosities, 129% larger droplets, and 45% smaller Z potential values. Optimization solved with ANNs minimizing the droplet size and the emulsion instability resulted in OBF and protein concentrations of 3.16 and 0.14%, respectively. The experimental characteristics of the optimum emulsion closely matched those predicted by ANNs demonstrating the usefulness of the proposed method.
Spray-Dried Infant Formula Emulsion Stability as Affected by Pre-Heat Treatment and Total Solids Content of the Feed
Authors: Rodríguez Arzuaga Mariana , Abraham Analía G. , Ahrné Lilia , Pérez Montes Marvia G. , Añón María C.
Published: November 2022

Pre-spray-drying processing may affect stability after reconstitution of emulsion-based powders, such as infant formulas. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of pasteurization temperature and total solids (TS) of the feed on the stability of the emulsions obtained from the reconstituted powders. Four infant formula powders (50%-75 °C, 50%-100 °C, 60%-75 °C, and 60%-100 °C) were produced at pilot scale, from emulsions with 50 or 60% TS pasteurized at 75 or 100 °C for 18 s. Both the emulsion feeds and the emulsions from the reconstituted powders (12.5% TS) were analyzed. The results showed that feeds with 60% TS were flocculated, as indicated by the large particle size and viscosity and the pseudoplastic behavior. Light microscopy revealed that, during spray drying, the flocs were disrupted in 60%-100 °C, while the 60%-75 °C emulsion remained flocculated, reducing its stability post-reconstitution. Although all four emulsions were mainly stabilized by caseins, the presence of β-lactoglobulin was also detected at the oil–water interface, in native state in the formulas preheated at 75 °C and aggregated in the formulas preheated at 100 °C. In conclusion, both the degree of whey protein denaturation (resulting from pasteurization) and the TS of the concentrates during infant formula production affected the emulsion stability of the reconstituted powders.
Carrageenan-Based Pickering Emulsion Gels Stabilized by Xanthan Gum/Lysozyme Nanoparticle: Microstructure, Rheological, and Texture Perspective
Authors: Xiong Tianzhen , Sun Haomin , Niu Ziyi , Xu Wei , Li Zhifan , He Yawen , Luo Denglin , Xi Wenjie , Wei Jingjing , Zhang Chunlan
Published: November 2022

In this study, Pickering emulsion gels were prepared by the self-gel method based on kappa carrageenan (kC). The effects of particle stabilizers and polysaccharide concentrations on the microstructure, rheological characteristics, and texture of Pickering emulsion gels stabilized by xanthan gum/lysozyme nanoparticles (XG/Ly NPs) with kC were discussed. The viscoelasticity of Pickering emulsion gels increased significantly with the increase of kC and XG/Ly NPs. The results of temperature sweep showed that the gel formation mainly depended on the kC addition. The XG/Ly NPs addition could accelerate the formation of Pickering emulsion gels and increase its melting temperature (Tmelt), which is helpful to improve the thermal stability of emulsion gels. Cryo-scanning electron microscope (Cryo-SEM) images revealed that Pickering emulsion gel has a porous network structure, and the oil droplets were well wrapped in the pores. The hardness increased significantly with the increase of XG/Ly NPs and kC. In particular, the Pickering emulsion gel hardness was up to 2.9 Newton (N) when the concentration of kC and XG/Ly NPs were 2%. The results showed that self-gelling polysaccharides, such as kC, could construct and regulate the structure and characteristics of Pickering emulsion gel. This study provides theoretical support for potential new applications of emulsion gels as functional colloids and delivery systems in the food industry.
The Interaction of Food Allergy and Diabetes: Food Allergy Effects on Diabetic Mice by Intestinal Barrier Destruction and Glucagon-like Peptide 1 Reduction in Jejunum
Authors: Gu Yanjun , Yao Lu , Jiang Tianyi , Che Huilian
Published: November 2022

The increase in food allergies and diabetes leads to the assumption that they are related. This study aimed to (1) verify the interaction between food allergy and diabetes and (2) explore the potential mechanisms by which food allergy promotes diabetes. Female BALB/c mice were grouped into a control group (CK), an ovalbumin-sensitized group (OVA), a diabetes group (STZ), and a diabetic allergic group (STZ + OVA) (Mice were modeled diabetes with STZ first, then were given OVA to model food allergies), and an allergic diabetic group (OVA + STZ) (Mice were modeled food allergies with OVA first, then were given STZ to model diabetes). The results showed that OVA + STZ mice exhibited a more serious Th2 humoral response, and they were more susceptible to diabetes. Furthermore, when the OVA + STZ mice were in the sensitized state, the intestinal barrier function was severely impaired, and mast cell activation was promoted. Moreover, we found that the effect of food allergy on diabetes is related to the inhibition of GLP-1 secretion and the up-regulation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR/NF-κB P65 signaling pathway in the jejunum. Overall, our results suggest that food allergies have interactions with diabetes, which sheds new light on the importance of food allergies in diabetes.
Predictive Data Analytics for Electricity Fraud Detection Using Tuned CNN Ensembler in Smart Grid
Authors: Ayub Nasir , Ali Usman , Mustafa Kainat , Mohsin Syed Muhammad , Aslam Sheraz
Published: November 2022

In the smart grid (SG), user consumption data are increasing very rapidly. Some users consume electricity legally, while others steal it. Electricity theft causes significant damage to power grids, affects power supply efficiency, and reduces utility revenues. This study helps utilities reduce the problems of electricity theft, inefficient electricity monitoring, and abnormal electricity consumption in smart grids. To this end, an electricity theft dataset from the state grid corporation of China (SGCC) is employed and this study develops a novel model, a mixture of convolutional neural network and gated recurrent unit (CNN-GRU), for automatic power theft detection. Moreover, the hyperparameters of the proposed model are tuned using a meta-heuristic method, the cuckoo search (CS) algorithm. The class imbalance problem is solved using the synthetic minority oversampling technique (SMOTE). The clean data are trained and then tested with the proposed classification. Extensive simulations are performed based on real energy consumption data. The simulated results show that the proposed theft detection model (CNN-GRU-CS) solved the theft classification problem better than other approaches in terms of effectiveness and accuracy by 10% on average. The calculated accuracy of the proposed method is 92% and the precision is 94%.
On the Application of Multi-Dimensional Laplace Decomposition Method for Solving Singular Fractional Pseudo-Hyperbolic Equations
Authors: Eltayeb Hassan , Kılıçman Adem , Bachar Imed
Published: November 2022

In this work, the exact and approximate solution for generalized linear, nonlinear, and coupled systems of fractional singular M-dimensional pseudo-hyperbolic equations are examined by using the multi-dimensional Laplace Adomian decomposition method (M-DLADM). In particular, some two-dimensional illustrative examples are provided to confirm the efficiency and accuracy of the present method.
Potentially Remediable Shortcomings in the Contemporary Drug Treatment of Migraine
Authors: Eadie Mervyn
Published: November 2022

Despite the availability over the past decade of a number of new pharmaceutical agents with different mechanisms of action from those of the drugs used previously, the contemporary drug therapy of migraine attacks falls rather short of what would be desirable, while the pharmacological attempt to prevent further attacks appears to prove unsatisfactory about as often as it is successful. The present paper explores reasons for these shortcomings in both the earlier and the current drug therapy of the disorder. Significant major contributory factors appear to be an incomplete understanding of the underlying pathogenic mechanisms of the various stages of the migraine attack, less than optimal pharmacokinetic characteristics of many of the drugs used, and migraine sufferers failing to employ the available drugs to their best advantage. New drugs developed in the light of a more complete understanding of the molecular basis of migraine pathogenesis, together with awareness of pharmacokinetic desiderata in relation to treating and preventing migraine attacks, may go some way towards remedying the situation, but patient decision making may prove more difficult to modify.
The Use of Biopolymers as a Natural Matrix for Incorporation of Essential Oils of Medicinal Plants
Authors: Gheorghita Puscaselu Roxana , Lobiuc Andrei , Sirbu Ioan Ovidiu , Covasa Mihai
Published: November 2022

The benefits of using biopolymers for the development of films and coatings are well known. The enrichment of these material properties through various natural additions has led to their applicability in various fields. Essential oils, which are well-known for their beneficial properties, are widely used as encapsulating agents in films based on biopolymers. In this study, we developed biopolymer-based films and tested their properties following the addition of 7.5% and 15% (w/v) essential oils of lemon, orange, grapefruit, cinnamon, clove, chamomile, ginger, eucalyptus or mint. The samples were tested immediately after development and after one year of storage in order to examine possible long-term property changes. All films showed reductions in mass, thickness and microstructure, as well as mechanical properties. The most considerable variations in physical properties were observed in the 7.5% lemon oil sample and the 15% grapefruit oil sample, with the largest reductions in mass (23.13%), thickness (from 109.67 µm to 81.67 µm) and density (from 0.75 g/cm3 to 0.43 g/cm3). However, the microstructure of the sample was considerably improved. Although the addition of lemon essential oil prevented the reduction in mass during the storage period, it favored the degradation of the microstructure and the loss of elasticity (from 16.7% to 1.51% for the sample with 7.5% lemon EO and from 18.28% to 1.91% for the sample with 15% lemon EO). Although the addition of essential oils of mint and ginger resulted in films with a more homogeneous microstructure, the increase in concentration favored the appearance of pores and modifications of color parameters. With the exception of films with added orange, cinnamon and clove EOs, the antioxidant capacity of the films decreased during storage. The most obvious variations were identified in the samples with lemon, mint and clove EOs. The most unstable samples were those with added ginger (95.01%), lemon (92%) and mint (90.22%).
Rationally Designed Oral DOX Gels for Colon-Specific Administration
Authors: Li Jie , Ma Luping , Wang Cheng , Jiang Pengju , Cui Pengfei , Wang Jianhao
Published: November 2022

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of death from cancer in both men and women. Traditional CRC dosage forms deliver the drug to both desired and unwanted sites of drug action, resulting in a number of negative side effects. Chemotherapeutic and chemopreventive agents are being targeted and delivered directly to the colon and rectum using targeted oral drug delivery systems. The main challenge in successfully targeting drugs to the colon via the oral route is avoiding drug absorption/degradation in the stomach and small intestine before the dosage form reaches the colon. In this study, we employed biocompatible chalk to adsorb DOX, then mixed pectin and cross-linked with calcium ions to form PC–DOX gels. The presence of cross-linked pectin and chalk can provide dual protection for the drug, significantly reducing drug leakage in gastric acid. In vitro release results showed that the designed PC–DOX could achieve 68% colon delivery efficiency. In the simulated colon environment, the released semi-degradable chalk did not affect the uptake of doxorubicin by colon cancer cells. Finally, in vivo simulation experiments in mice showed that rationally designed PC–DOX could achieve the highest colonic delivery efficiency. Our strategy has great potential for application in the treatment of colon cancer.
Agarose Gel Electrophoresis-Based RAPD-PCR—An Optimization of the Conditions to Rapidly Detect Similarity of the Alert Pathogens for the Purpose of Epidemiological Studies
Authors: Bogiel Tomasz , Mikucka Agnieszka , Kanarek Piotr
Published: November 2022

Agarose gel electrophoresis is a well-known tool to detect DNA fragments amplified in polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Its usefulness has also been confirmed for epidemiological studies based on restriction fragments length polymorphism (RFLP), usually performed using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Little is known on the effectiveness for alert-pathogen epidemiological studies of another less time-consuming and costly technique called randomly amplified polymorphic DNA-PCR (RAPD-PCR). Meanwhile, its usefulness is believed to be comparable to RFLP-PFGE. Therefore, the aim of the study was to establish and optimize the conditions of agarose gel electrophoresis following RAPD-PCR for 19 Enterococcus faecium strains derived from epidemic outbreaks at intensive care units. An application of different PCR primers, primer combinations, and, in particular, agarose gel concentrations and electrophoresis conditions revealed the usefulness of this relatively fast and inexpensive method based on RAPD-PCR for epidemiological studies without a compulsion to use the specialized equipment necessary for RFLP-PFGE.
Distribution, Function, and Expression of the Apelinergic System in the Healthy and Diseased Mammalian Brain
Authors: Ivanov Martin N. , Stoyanov Dimo S. , Pavlov Stoyan P. , Tonchev Anton. B.
Published: November 2022

Apelin, a peptide initially isolated from bovine stomach extract, is an endogenous ligand for the Apelin Receptor (APLNR). Subsequently, a second peptide, ELABELA, that can bind to the receptor has been identified. The Apelin receptor and its endogenous ligands are widely distributed in mammalian organs. A growing body of evidence suggests that this system participates in various signaling cascades that can regulate cell proliferation, blood pressure, fluid homeostasis, feeding behavior, and pituitary hormone release. Additional research has been done to elucidate the system’s potential role in neurogenesis, the pathophysiology of Glioblastoma multiforme, and the protective effects of apelin peptides on some neurological and psychiatric disorders-ischemic stroke, epilepsy, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s disease. This review discusses the current knowledge on the apelinergic system’s involvement in brain physiology in health and disease.
Prevalence and Genotype-Phenotype Correlation of Lynch Syndrome in a Selected High-Risk Cohort from Qatar’s Population
Authors: Sidenna Mariem , Khodjet-El-khil Houssein , Al Mulla Hajar , Al-Shafai Mashael , Habish Hind Hassan , AL-Sulaiman Reem , Al-Bader Salha Bujassoum
Published: November 2022

Lynch syndrome (LS) is the most common cause of hereditary colorectal cancers (CRC) and is associated with an increased risk for ovarian and endometrial cancers. There is lack of knowledge on the epidemiology of LS in the non-Caucasian populations especially in Qatar. The aim of this retrospective study is to explore the prevalence of LS in a selected high-risk cohort in the State of Qatar in addition to investigating the frequency and genotype-phenotype correlation associated with mismatch repair genes pathogenic variants. Retrospective review of medical records of 31 individuals with LS, 20 affected with colorectal cancer and 11 unaffected with family history of cancers, referred from January 2017 until August 2020. The prevalence of LS among affected and unaffected patients is 22% (20/92) and 2.2% respectively. Among affected individuals, MLH1 and MSH2 genes were highly frequent while for unaffected individuals, a recurrent PMS2 pathogenic variant was reported in several related individuals suggesting a tribal effect. This study highlights the epidemiology of LS in high-risk cohort in Qatar which helps to provide recommendations on genetic testing, and personalize surveillance and management programs
Application of Non-Reflective Boundary Conditions in Three-Dimensional Numerical Simulations of Free-Surface Flow Problems
Authors: Kozelkov Andrey , Kurkin Andrey , Utkin Dmitry , Tyatyushkina Elena , Kurulin Vadim , Strelets Dmitry
Published: November 2022

This paper considers the issue of using non-reflective boundaries for surface wave simulations within the framework of three-dimensional Navier–Stokes equations. We distinguish a wave damping approach among the known implementations of non-reflective boundary conditions in surface wave simulations. The approach employs a sponge boundary layer to dampen incident waves. In this paper, we describe implementations of this approach on unstructured meshes. We also present the calibration of free parameters, the values of which control wave damping efficiency and the amplitude of reflected waves. Comparison of the results obtained at different types of distribution for the free parameter was conducted. The implemented wave damping approach was tested by simulating a solitary wave propagating in a water tank. We demonstrate the use of damping non-reflective boundary conditions for the case of a wave traveling across the surface of a real body of water near Sakhalin Island while considering its bathymetry.
The Emergency Performance of the Hungarian Ambulance Service during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Bíró Klára , Deák Máté Sándor , Pápai György , Nagy Attila , Dombrádi Viktor , Szabó Gábor Tamás , Boruzs Klára , Bányai Gábor , Csató Gábor
Published: November 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic had a considerable impact on the whole health sector, particularly on emergency services. Our aim was to examine the performance of the Hungarian National Ambulance Service during the first four waves of the pandemic. We defined the 2019 performance of the service as the baseline and compared it with the activity during the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021. The data contained deliveries related to acute myocardial infarction, hemorrhagic stroke, ischemic stroke, overall non-COVID-related ambulance deliveries, COVID screenings performed by the ambulance service, and COVID-related ambulance deliveries. The data were aggregated for each week of the investigated time period and stratified by gender and age. Compared with the pre-pandemic era, we found a significant increase in all three medical conditions and overall deliveries (p < 0.001 in all cases). As a result of the increased burden, it is important for emergency services to prepare for the next global epidemic and to improve organizational performance and rescue activities. The Hungarian example highlights that in a pandemic, it can be beneficial to organize the emergency care of a country or a larger region under a single provider with a single decision maker supported by business intelligence.
Foreign Healthcare Professionals in Germany: A Questionnaire Survey Evaluating Discrimination Experiences and Equal Treatment at Two Large University Hospitals
Authors: Can Elif , Konrad Clara Milena , Khan-Gökkaya Sidra , Molwitz Isabel , Nawabi Jawed , Yamamura Jin , Hamm Bernd , Keller Sarah
Published: November 2022

Objective: To identify facilitators and barriers and derive concrete measures towards better workplace integration of migrants working in the German healthcare sector. Design: Two-centre cross-sectional quantitative online survey of experiences of discrimination among healthcare professionals with a migration history in two large German university hospitals. Participants: 251 participants fully completed the questionnaires. Main outcome measures: Experiences of discrimination and perception of inequality. Results: Fifty-five percent of migrant health workers had had at least some command of German before arriving in Germany. Members of all professional groups surveyed expressed experiences of discrimination related to language, nationality, race/ethnicity, and sex/gender. The proportions of staff with experiences of discrimination by peers differed significantly among occupational roles, with nurses and technologists having the most experiences of discrimination. The perception of inequality was reported more frequently than experiences of discrimination and had a negative impact on workplace satisfaction. Specifically, the compulsion to compete was a frequent feeling stated by participants. Conclusion: The mechanisms of discrimination and structural inequality revealed by our survey could inform specific measures, for example at the management level, to increase workplace satisfaction and attract migrant health workers in the long term.
Clinical Decision Support Framework for Segmentation and Classification of Brain Tumor MRIs Using a U-Net and DCNN Cascaded Learning Algorithm
Authors: Samee Nagwan Abdel , Ahmad Tahir , Mahmoud Noha F. , Atteia Ghada , Abdallah Hanaa A. , Rizwan Atif
Published: November 2022

Brain tumors (BTs) are an uncommon but fatal kind of cancer. Therefore, the development of computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) systems for classifying brain tumors in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been the subject of many research papers so far. However, research in this sector is still in its early stage. The ultimate goal of this research is to develop a lightweight effective implementation of the U-Net deep network for use in performing exact real-time segmentation. Moreover, a simplified deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) architecture for the BT classification is presented for automatic feature extraction and classification of the segmented regions of interest (ROIs). Five convolutional layers, rectified linear unit, normalization, and max-pooling layers make up the DCNN’s proposed simplified architecture. The introduced method was verified on multimodal brain tumor segmentation (BRATS 2015) datasets. Our experimental results on BRATS 2015 acquired Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) scores, sensitivity, and classification accuracy of 88.8%, 89.4%, and 88.6% for high-grade gliomas. When it comes to segmenting BRATS 2015 BT images, the performance of our proposed CAD framework is on par with existing state-of-the-art methods. However, the accuracy achieved in this study for the classification of BT images has improved upon the accuracy reported in prior studies. Image classification accuracy for BRATS 2015 BT has been improved from 88% to 88.6%.