bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Addressing the Social Determinants of Health in South Korea: Moderating Role of mHealth Technologies
Authors: Yoo Woohyun
Published: February 2022

Mobile health (mHealth) technologies may reduce or widen health inequalities. Despite the extensive literature in support of both of these contrasting views, little attention has been paid to the role of mHealth technologies with regard to social strata and health in the context of South Korea, a country with one of the highest usages of smartphones worldwide. This study examined the effects of social determinants on health self-efficacy and health status and explored how mHealth technologies moderate the impacts of social determinants on health outcomes. Data were collected via online surveys from 29 July to 3 August 2021. Survey data from 1187 Korean adults showed that men had higher levels of health self-efficacy than women. The higher an individual’s education level, the greater their subjective health status. Individuals with higher levels of monthly household income, social capital, and healthcare quality reported higher levels of health self-efficacy and superior health status. The use of mHealth technologies moderated the associations between social determinants and health outcomes. Specifically, monthly household income and social capital had smaller effects on health self-efficacy and health status among those who used higher levels of mHealth technologies. Among higher users of mHealth technologies, females reported better health status than males, while men showed better health status than women in the low-user group. These findings highlight the effectiveness of mHealth technologies in addressing health disparities.
TLR4-Mediated Inflammatory Responses Regulate Exercise-Induced Molecular Adaptations in Mouse Skeletal Muscle
Authors: Fujiyoshi Haruna , Egawa Tatsuro , Kurogi Eriko , Yokokawa Takumi , Kido Kohei , Hayashi Tatsuya
Published: February 2022

Endurance exercise induces various adaptations that yield health benefits; however, the underlying molecular mechanism has not been fully elucidated. Given that it has recently been accepted that inflammatory responses are required for a specific muscle adaptation after exercise, this study investigated whether toll-like receptor (TLR) 4, a pattern recognition receptor that induces proinflammatory cytokines, is responsible for exercise-induced adaptations in mouse skeletal muscle. The TLR4 mutant (TLR4m) and intact TLR4 control mice were each divided into 2 groups (sedentary and voluntary wheel running) and were housed for six weeks. Next, we removed the plantaris muscle and evaluated the expression of cytokines and muscle regulators. Exercise increased cytokine expression in the controls, whereas a smaller increase was observed in the TLR4m mice. Mitochondrial markers and mitochondrial biogenesis inducers, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor beta and heat shock protein 72, were increased in the exercised controls, whereas this upregulation was attenuated in the TLR4m mice. In contrast, exercise increased the expression of molecules such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1-alpha and glucose transporter 4 in both the controls and TLR4m mice. Our findings indicate that exercise adaptations such as mitochondrial biogenesis are mediated via TLR4, and that TLR4-mediated inflammatory responses could be involved in the mechanism of adaptation.
Cerebrospinal Fluid Metabolome in Parkinson’s Disease and Multiple System Atrophy
Authors: Kwon Do Hyeon , Hwang Ji Su , Kim Seok Gi , Jang Yong Eun , Shin Tae Hwan , Lee Gwang
Published: February 2022

Parkinson’s disease (PD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA) belong to the neurodegenerative group of synucleinopathies; differential diagnosis between PD and MSA is difficult, especially at early stages, owing to their clinical and biological similarities. Thus, there is a pressing need to identify metabolic biomarkers for these diseases. The metabolic profile of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is reported to be altered in PD and MSA; however, the altered metabolites remain unclear. We created a single network with altered metabolites in PD and MSA based on the literature and assessed biological functions, including metabolic disorders of the nervous system, inflammation, concentration of ATP, and neurological disorder, through bioinformatics methods. Our in-silico prediction-based metabolic networks are consistent with Parkinsonism events. Although metabolomics approaches provide a more quantitative understanding of biochemical events underlying the symptoms of PD and MSA, limitations persist in covering molecules related to neurodegenerative disease pathways. Thus, omics data, such as proteomics and microRNA, help understand the altered metabolomes mechanism. In particular, integrated omics and machine learning approaches will be helpful to elucidate the pathological mechanisms of PD and MSA. This review discusses the altered metabolites between PD and MSA in the CSF and omics approaches to discover diagnostic biomarkers.
Quantitative and Functional Assessment of the Influence of Routinely Used Cryopreservation Media on Mononuclear Leukocytes for Medical Research
Authors: Haider Patrick , Hoberstorfer Timothy , Salzmann Manuel , Fischer Michael B. , Speidl Walter S. , Wojta Johann , Hohensinner Philipp J.
Published: February 2022

Quantitative and functional analysis of mononuclear leukocyte populations is an invaluable tool to understand the role of the immune system in the pathogenesis of a disease. Cryopreservation of mononuclear cells (MNCs) is routinely used to guarantee similar experimental conditions. Immune cells react differently to cryopreservation, and populations and functions of immune cells change during the process of freeze–thawing. To allow for a setup that preserves cell number and function optimally, we tested four different cryopreservation media. MNCs from 15 human individuals were analyzed. Before freezing and after thawing, the distribution of leukocytes was quantified by flow cytometry. Cultured cells were stimulated using lipopolysaccharide, and their immune response was quantified by flow cytometry, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Ultimately, the performance of the cryopreservation media was ranked. Cell recovery and viability were different between the media. Cryopreservation led to changes in the relative number of monocytes, T cells, B cells, and their subsets. The inflammatory response of MNCs was altered by cryopreservation, enhancing the basal production of inflammatory cytokines. Different cryopreservation media induce biases, which needs to be considered when designing a study relying on cryopreservation. Here, we provide an overview of four different cryopreservation media for choosing the optimal medium for a specific task.
Screening for Methylmalonic and Propionic Acidemia: Clinical Outcomes and Follow-Up Recommendations
Authors: Held Patrice K. , Singh Emily , Scott Schwoerer Jessica
Published: February 2022

Wisconsin’s newborn screening program implemented second-tier testing on specimens with elevated propionylcarnitine (C3) to aid in the identification of newborns with propionic and methylmalonic acidemias. The differential diagnosis for elevated C3 also includes acquired vitamin B12 deficiency, which is currently categorized as a false positive screen. The goal of this study was to summarize screening data and evaluate their effectiveness at establishing diagnoses and categorizing false positive cases. All Wisconsin newborns born between 2013 and 2019 with a positive first-tier screen for C3 were included in this study. For each case the first- and second-tier newborn screening data and confirmatory test results were compiled. The clinical determination for each case was reviewed and categorized into groups: inborn error of metabolism, maternal B12 deficiency, infant B12 deficiency, and false positive. A review of the screening data showed a significant overlap in the concentration of biomarkers for newborns with genetic versus acquired disease. Additionally, a review of confirmatory test results showed incomplete ascertainment of maternal vitamin B12 status. The Wisconsin newborn screening program recommended a confirmatory testing algorithm to aid in the diagnosis of inborn errors of metabolism and acquired vitamin B12 deficiency.
In Patients with Severe COVID-19, the Profound Decrease in the Peripheral Blood T-Cell Subsets Is Correlated with an Increase of QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus Indeterminate Rates and Reflecting a Reduced Interferon-Gamma Production
Authors: Imeneo Alessandra , Alessio Grazia , Di Lorenzo Andrea , Campogiani Laura , Lodi Alessandra , Barreca Filippo , Zordan Marta , Barchi Virginia , Massa Barbara , Tedde Simona , Crea Angela , Vitale Pietro , Spalliera Ilaria , Compagno Mirko , Coppola Luigi , Dori Luca , Malagnino Vincenzo , Teti Elisabetta , Andreoni Massimo , Sarmati Loredana , Iannetta Marco
Published: February 2022

Increased rates of indeterminate QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus Assay (QFT-Plus) were demonstrated in patients hospitalized with Coronavirus Disease (COVID)-19. We aimed to define the prevalence and characteristics of hospitalized COVID-19 patients with indeterminate QFT-Plus. A retrospective study was performed including hospitalized COVID-19 patients, stratified in survivors and non-survivors, non-severe and severe according to the maximal oxygen supply required. Statistical analysis was performed using JASP ver0.14.1 and GraphPad Prism ver8.2.1. A total of 420 patients were included, median age: 65 years, males: 66.4%. The QFT-Plus was indeterminate in 22.1% of patients. Increased rate of indeterminate QFT-Plus was found in non-survivors (p = 0.013) and in severe COVID-19 patients (p < 0.001). Considering the Mitogen-Nil condition of the QFT-Plus, an impaired production of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) was found in non-survivors (p < 0.001) and in severe COVID-19 patients (p < 0.001). A positive correlation between IFN-γ levels in the Mitogen-Nil condition and the absolute counts of CD3+ (p < 0.001), CD4+ (p < 0.001), and CD8+ (p < 0.001) T-lymphocytes was found. At the multivariable analysis, CD3+ T-cell absolute counts and CD4/CD8 ratio were confirmed as independent predictors of indeterminate results at the QFT-Plus. Our study confirmed the increased rate of indeterminate QFT-Plus in COVID-19 patients, mainly depending on the peripheral blood T-lymphocyte depletion found in the most severe cases.
COVID-19 and the Additional Radiological Risk during the Lockdown Period in the Province of Naples City (South Italy)
Authors: La Verde Giuseppe , Artiola Valeria , La Commara Marco , D’Avino Vittoria , Angrisani Leopoldo , Sabatino Giuseppe , Pugliese Mariagabriella
Published: February 2022

The lockdown restrictions, as a first solution to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, have affected everyone’s life and habits, including the time spent at home. The latter factor has drawn attention to indoor air quality and the impact on human health, particularly for chemical pollutants. This study investigated how the increasing time indoor influenced exposure to natural radioactive substances, such as radon gas. To calculate the radiological risk, we considered the most consolidated indices used for radiation protection: annual effective dose, excess lifetime cancer risk, and the lung cancer case. Furthermore, two different exposure times were considered: pre-lockdown and post-lockdown. The lockdown increased the indoor exposure time by 4% and, consequently, the radiological risk factors by 9%. Furthermore, the reference value of 300 Bq/m3, considered acceptable for human radiation protection, may need to be lowered further in the case of conditions similar to those of the lockdown period.
Evaluation of the Oil-Rich Waste Fillers’ Influence on the Tribological Properties of Polylactide-Based Composites
Authors: Mysiukiewicz Olga , Sulej-Chojnacka Joanna , Kotkowiak Mateusz , Wiśniewski Tomasz , Piasecki Adam , Barczewski Mateusz
Published: February 2022

In recent years, natural-based polymeric composites have gained the attention of researchers and the industry due to their low environmental impact and good applicational properties. A promising example of these materials is polylactide-based composites filled with linseed cake. Even though they can be characterized by reduced brittleness and enhanced crystallization rate, their applicational potential cannot be fully evaluated without knowing their tribological properties. This paper is aimed to analyze the influence of the oil contained by the filler on the mechanical and frictional properties of polylactide-based composites. Specimens of unfilled polylactide and its composites containing 10 wt % of linseed cake with different oil content were prepared by injection molding. Their microhardness was measured by the Vickers method. The softening temperature was determined by the Vicat method. The scratch resistance of the samples was tested with the loading of 10, 20 and 40 N. The coefficient of friction was evaluated by the pin-on-plate method, using CoCrMo alloy as the counter surface. It was found that the oil content in the filler does not directly influence the mechanical and tribological properties, but the composite samples present comparable hardness and lower coefficient of friction than the unfilled polymer, so they can be a good eco-friendly alternative to the unfilled polylactide when the frictional properties are an important factor.
Experimental Study on Carbonation Durability of Kaolin Strengthened with Slag Portland Cement
Authors: Wang Qingbiao , Ma Yiming , Wang Fuqiang , Shi Zhenyue , You Hongyue , Tian Yuanyuan , Liu Yunfei , Hu Zhongjing , Song Hongxu , Wang Dong , Sun Yueqiang , Yang Rongshuai , Sun Haoran
Published: February 2022

Slag Portland cement is an environmentally friendly and energy-saving product, which is widely used in cement-reinforced soil. This study used slag Portland cement-reinforced soil as the research object and P.O 42.5 + kaolin (POK) as the reference group. The carbonation depth and strength of P.S.A 42.5 + kaolin (PSK) at different curing times were analyzed using carbonation depth, uniaxial ground pressure strength, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The test results show the following: (1) The active substances in PSK samples can react with calcium hydroxide produced during cement hydration and can reduce the content of OH−. The PSK samples react with OH− and CO2 in the carbonation environment. Both processes considerably reduce the content of OH−. (2) Due to the decrease in OH− content, the carbonation durability of slag Portland cement-reinforced soil is significantly less than that of ordinary Portland cement. (3) The carbonation of slag Portland cement-reinforced soil improves its strength. (4) The results of SEM + EDS and XRD confirm the carbonation depth and strength of the POK and PSK samples. The results show that PSK has important applications in subgrade or building grouting materials and in cement-soil mixing piles (walls).
Supercritical Fluid Extraction of Fucoxanthin from the Diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum and Biogas Production through Anaerobic Digestion
Authors: Ruiz-Domínguez Mari Carmen , Salinas Francisca , Medina Elena , Rincón Bárbara , Martín Marí Ángeles , Gutiérrez Marí Carmen , Cerezal-Mezquita Pedro
Published: February 2022

Phaeodactylum tricornutum is the marine diatom best known for high-value compounds that are useful in aquaculture and food area. In this study, fucoxanthin was first extracted from the diatom using supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) and then using the extracted diatom-like substrate to produce bioenergy through anaerobic digestion (AD) processes. Factors such as temperature (30 °C and 50 °C), pressure (20, 30, and 40 MPa), and ethanol (co-solvent concentration from 10% to 50% v/v) were optimized for improving the yield, purity, and recovery of fucoxanthin extracted using SFE. The highest yield (24.41% w/w) was obtained at 30 MPa, 30 °C, and 30% ethanol but the highest fucoxanthin purity and recovery (85.03mg/g extract and 66.60% w/w, respectively) were obtained at 30 MPa, 30 °C, and 40%ethanol. Furthermore, ethanol as a factor had the most significant effect on the overall process of SFE. Subsequently, P.tricornutum biomass and SFE-extracted diatom were used as substrates for biogas production through AD. The effect of fucoxanthin was studied on the yield of AD, which resulted in 77.15 ± 3.85 LSTP CH4/kg volatile solids (VS) and 56.66 ± 1.90 LSTP CH4/kg VS for the whole diatom and the extracted P.tricornutum, respectively. Therefore, P.tricornutuman can be considered a potential source of fucoxanthin and methane and both productions will contribute to the sustainability of the algae-biorefinery processes.
Micrococcin P1 and P2 from Epibiotic Bacteria Associated with Isolates of Moorea producens from Kenya
Authors: Dzeha Thomas , Hall Michael John , Burgess James Grant
Published: February 2022

Epibiotic bacteria associated with the filamentous marine cyanobacterium Moorea producens were explored as a novel source of antibiotics and to establish whether they can produce cyclodepsipeptides on their own. Here, we report the isolation of micrococcin P1 (1) (C48H49N13O9S6; obs. m/z 1144.21930/572.60381) and micrococcin P2 (2) (C48H47N13O9S6; obs. m/z 1142.20446/571.60370) from a strain of Bacillus marisflavi isolated from M. producens’ filaments. Interestingly, most bacteria isolated from M. producens’ filaments were found to be human pathogens. Stalked diatoms on the filaments suggested a possible terrestrial origin of some epibionts. CuSO4·5H2O assisted differential genomic DNA isolation and phylogenetic analysis showed that a Kenyan strain of M. producens differed from L. majuscula strain CCAP 1446/4 and L. majuscula clones. Organic extracts of the epibiotic bacteria Pseudoalteromonas carrageenovora and Ochrobactrum anthropi did not produce cyclodepsipeptides. Further characterization of 24 Firmicutes strains from M. producens identified extracts of B. marisflavi as most active. Our results showed that the genetic basis for synthesizing micrococcin P1 (1), discovered in Bacillus cereus ATCC 14579, is species/strain-dependent and this reinforces the need for molecular identification of M. producens species worldwide and their epibionts. These findings indicate that M. producens-associated bacteria are an overlooked source of antimicrobial compounds.
Characterization of Surface Topography Features for the Effect of Process Parameters and Their Correlation to Quality Monitoring in Metal Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Lee Jinsun , Hossain Md Shahjahan , Taheri Mohammad , Jameel Awse , Lakshmipathy Manas , Taheri Hossein
Published: February 2022

Layering deposition methodology in metal additive manufacturing (AM) and the influence of different processing parameters, such as energy source level and deposition speed, which can change the melt pool condition, are known to be the important influencing factors on properties of components fabricated via AM. The effect of melt pool conditions and geometry on properties and quality of fabricated AM components has been widely studied through experimental and simulation techniques. There is a need for better understanding the influence of solidified melt pool topography on characteristics of next deposition layer that can be applied to complex surfaces, especially those with sparse topographical features, such as those that occur in AM deposition layers. Topography of deposited layers in metal additive manufacturing is a significant aspect on the bonding condition between the layers and defect generation mechanism. Characterization of the topography features in AM deposition layers offers a new perspective into investigation of defect generation mechanisms and quality evaluation of AM components. In this work, a feature-based topography study is proposed for the assessment of process parameters’ influence on AM deposition layers topography and defect generation mechanism. Titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V) samples deposited on steel substrate, by direct energy deposition (DED) AM technique at different process conditions, were used for the assessment. Topography datasets and analysis of shape and size differences pertaining to the relevant topographic features have been performed. Different AM process parameters were investigated on metallic AM samples manufactured via direct energy deposition (DED) and the potential defect generation mechanism was discussed. The assessment of the topography features was used for correlation study with previously published in-situ monitoring and quality evaluation results, where useful information was obtained through characterization of signature topographic formations and their relation to the in-situ acoustic process monitoring, as the indicators of the manufacturing process behavior and performance.
Plasma Bead Entrapped Liposomes as a Potential Drug Delivery System to Combat Fungal Infections
Authors: Fatima Munazza Tamkeen , Islam Zeyaul , Ahmad Ejaj , Hoque Mehboob , Yamin Marriam
Published: February 2022

Fibrin-based systems offer promises in drug and gene delivery as well as tissue engineering. We established earlier a fibrin-based plasma beads (PB) system as an efficient carrier of drugs and antigens. In the present work, attempts were made to further improve its therapeutic efficacy exploiting innovative ideas, including the use of plasma alginate composite matrices, proteolytic inhibitors, cross linkers, and dual entrapment in various liposomal formulations. In vitro efficacy of the different formulations was examined. Pharmacokinetics of the formulations encapsulating Amphotericin B (AmpB), an antifungal compound, were investigated in Swiss albino mice. While administration of the free AmpB led to its rapid elimination (<72 h), PB/liposome-PB systems were significantly effective in sustaining AmpB release in the circulation (>144 h) and its gradual accumulation in the vital organs, also compared to the liposomal formulations alone. Interestingly, the slow release of AmpB from PB was unusual compared to other small molecules in our earlier findings, suggesting strong interaction with plasma proteins. Molecular interaction studies of bovine serum albumin constituting approximately 60% of plasma with AmpB using isothermal titration calorimetry and in silico docking verify these interactions, explaining the slow release of AmpB entrapped in PB alone. The above findings suggest that PB/liposome-PB could be used as safe and effective delivery systems to combat fungal infections in humans.
New Bithiophene Extended IDIC-Based Non-Fullerene Acceptors and Organic Photovoltaics Thereof
Authors: Jeong Yeong Heon , Jeon Jae Min , Kim Jun Young , Kim Yun-Hi
Published: February 2022

We developed new bithiophene extended electron acceptors based on m-alkoxythenyl-substituted IDIC with three different end groups, named as IDT-BT-IC, IDT-BT-IC4F, and IDT-BT-IC4Cl, respectively. The ultraviolet absorption maximum was redshifted and the bandgap was decreased as the strong electron accepting ability of the end group increased. A differential scanning calorimetry thermogram analysis revealed that all the new acceptors have a crystalline character. Using these acceptors and a bulk heterojunction structure using PBDB-T, inverted organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices were fabricated, and their performance was analyzed. Due to the red shift of the electron acceptors, the OPV active layer particularly, which was derived from IDT-BT-IC4F, exhibited increased absorption at long wavelengths over 800 nm. The OPV prepared using IDT-BT-IC exhibited a short-circuit current density (Jsc) of 2.30 mA/cm2, an open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.95 V, a fill factor (FF) of 45%, and a photocurrent efficiency (PCE) of 1.00%. Using IDT-BT-IC4F, the corresponding OPV device showed Jsc = 8.31 mA/cm2, Voc = 0.86 V, FF = 47%, and PCE = 3.37%. The IDT-BT-IC4Cl-derived OPV had Jsc = 3.00 mA/cm2, Voc = 0.89 V, FF = 29%, and PCE = 0.76%. When IDT-BT-IC4F was used as the electron acceptor, the highest Jsc and PCE values were achieved. The results show that the low average roughness (0.263 nm) of the active layer improves the extraction of electrons.
An Update of Nucleic Acids Aptamers Theranostic Integration with CRISPR/Cas Technology
Authors: Roueinfar Mina , Templeton Hayley N. , Sheng Julietta A. , Hong Ka Lok
Published: February 2022

The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/Cas system is best known for its role in genomic editing. It has also demonstrated great potential in nucleic acid biosensing. However, the specificity limitation in CRISPR/Cas has created a hurdle for its advancement. More recently, nucleic acid aptamers known for their high affinity and specificity properties for their targets have been integrated into CRISPR/Cas systems. This review article gives a brief overview of the aptamer and CRISPR/Cas technology and provides an updated summary and discussion on how the two distinctive nucleic acid technologies are being integrated into modern diagnostic and therapeutic applications
Analysis of the Correlation between Meal Frequency and Obesity among Chinese Adults Aged 18–59 Years in 2015
Authors: Wei Xiaoqi , Yu Dongmei , Ju Lahong , Guo Qiya , Fang Hongyun , Zhao Liyun
Published: February 2022

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between meal frequency and obesity in Chinese adults aged 18 to 59 years. The data came from the 2015 Chinese Adult Chronic Disease and Nutrition Surveillance (CACDNS 2015) and provincial dietary environment data from the 2015 National Statistical Yearbook. A total of 34,206 adults aged 18 to 59 who took part in the diet survey were selected as the study participants. A two-level multivariate logistic regression model was used to adjust for the socioeconomic and nutritional status of individuals. For parameter estimation, a numerical integral approach was used to analyze the relationship between meal frequency (including meals at home, the workplace or school dining halls, and eating away from home) and obesity. A two-level “provincial–individual” logistic multivariate regression analysis was performed with obesity as the dependent variable. The two-level multivariate analysis of variance model fitting results showed that after adjusting for the effects of gender, age, occupation, education, marital status, family per capita annual income, provincial gross domestic product (GDP), restaurant industry turnover, consumer price index of EAFH food, and energy intake, the frequency of eating at home was not associated with obesity (all p > 0.05); the frequency of eating at dining halls ≥1 to <2 times per day (OR = 0.784, p = 0.0122) showed a negative association with obesity; the frequency of eating away from home < 1 times per day and ≥1 to <2 times per day were positively correlated with obesity (<1 time per day: OR = 1.123, p = 0.0419; ≥1 to <2 times per day: OR = 1.249, p = 0.0022). The results of the two-level random-intercept logistic multivariate mixed-effects prediction model for obesity in adults aged 18 to 59 years showed that no statistical association was noticed between the frequency of eating at home and obesity in adults aged 18 to 59 years. However, adults who ate out < 1 time and ≥1 to <2 times a day showed higher risks of obesity than those who did not eat out, with OR = 1.131 (95% CI 1.012–1.264) and OR = 1.258 (95% CI 1.099–1.440), while adults who ate at school and workplace dining halls ≥1 to <2 times a day may have a reduced risk of obesity, with OR = 0.790 (95% CI 0.656–0.951). This result could not be found based on the definition of eating out in previous studies. Therefore, it is recommended to exclude nonprofit collective canteens such as school and workplace dining halls from the definition of eating away from home, and to redefine eating out in terms of health effects. At the same time, it is also recommended to strengthen collective nutritional interventions around canteens, improve the nutritious meal system in school and workplace canteens, and create healthy canteens.
Randomized Controlled Trial of Two Timepoints for Introduction of Standardized Complementary Food in Preterm Infants
Authors: Haiden Nadja , Thanhaeuser Margarita , Eibensteiner Fabian , Huber-Dangl Mercedes , Gsoellpointner Melanie , Ristl Robin , Kroyer Bettina , Brandstetter Sophia , Kornsteiner-Krenn Margit , Binder Christoph , Thajer Alexandra , Jilma Bernd
Published: February 2022

In term infants it is recommended to introduce solids between the 17th and 26th week of life, whereas data for preterm infants are missing. In a prospective, two-arm interventional study we investigated longitudinal growth of VLBW infants after early (10–12th) or late (16–18th) week of life, corrected for term, introduction of standardized complementary food. Primary endpoint was height at one year of age, corrected for term, and secondary endpoints were other anthropometric parameters such as weight, head circumference, BMI, and z-scores. Among 177 infants who underwent randomization, the primary outcome could be assessed in 83 (93%) assigned to the early and 83 (94%) to the late group. Mean birthweight was 941 (SD ± 253) g in the early and 932 (SD ± 256) g in the late group, mean gestational age at birth was 27 + 1/7 weeks in both groups. Height was 74.7 (mean; SD ± 2.7) cm in the early and 74.4 cm (mean; SD ± 2.8; n.s.) cm in the late group at one year of age, corrected for term. There were no differences in anthropometric parameters between the study groups except for a transient effect on weight z-score at 6 months. In preterm infants, starting solids should rather be related to neurological ability than to considerations of nutritional intake and growth.
Medical Nutrition Therapy in Diabetes Mellitus: New Insights to an Old Problem
Authors: Grammatikopoulou Maria G. , Goulis Dimitrios G.
Published: February 2022

The management of all types of diabetes mellitus (DM) has transformed during the past decade [...]
Evaluation of Satellite-Derived Bathymetry from High and Medium-Resolution Sensors Using Empirical Methods
Authors: Evagorou Evagoras , Argyriou Athanasios , Papadopoulos Nikos , Mettas Christodoulos , Alexandrakis George , Hadjimitsis Diofantos
Published: February 2022

This study evaluates the accuracy of bathymetric maps generated from multispectral satellite datasets acquired from different multispectral sensors, namely the Worldview 2, PlanetScope, and the Sentinel 2, in the bay of Elounda in Crete. Image pre-processing steps were implemented before the use of the three empirical methods for estimating bathymetry. A dedicated correction and median filter have been applied to minimize noise from the sun glint and the sea waves. Due to the spectral complexity of the selected study area, statistical correlation with different numbers of bands was applied. The analysis indicated that blue and green bands obtained the best results with higher accuracy. Then, three empirical models, namely the Single Band Linear Algorithm, the Multiband Linear Algorithm, and the Ratio Transform Algorithm, were applied to the three multispectral images. Bathymetric and error distribution maps were created and used for the error assessment of results. The accuracy of the bathymetric maps estimated from different empirical models is compared with on-site Single beam Echo Sounder measurements. The most accurate bathymetric maps were obtained using the WorldView 2 and the empirical model of the Ratio Transform algorithm, with the RMSE reaching 1.01 m.
Object Tracking in Satellite Videos Based on Correlation Filter with Multi-Feature Fusion and Motion Trajectory Compensation
Authors: Liu Yaosheng , Liao Yurong , Lin Cunbao , Jia Yutong , Li Zhaoming , Yang Xinyan
Published: February 2022

As a new type of earth observation satellite approach, video satellites can continuously monitor an area of the Earth and acquire dynamic and abundant information by utilizing video imaging. Hence, video satellites can afford to track various objects of interest on the Earth's surface. Inspired by the capabilities of video satellites, this paper presents a novel method to track fast-moving objects in satellite videos based on the kernelized correlation filter (KCF) embedded with multi-feature fusion and motion trajectory compensation. The contributions of the suggested algorithm are multifold. First, a multi-feature fusion strategy is proposed to describe an object comprehensively, which is challenging for the single-feature approach. Second, a subpixel positioning method is developed to calculate the object’s position and overcome the poor tracking accuracy difficulties caused by inaccurate object localization. Third, introducing an adaptive Kalman filter (AKF) enables compensation and correction of the KCF tracker results and reduces the object’s bounding box drift, solving the moving object occlusion problem. Based on the correlation filtering tracking framework, combined with the above improvement strategies, our algorithm improves the tracking accuracy by at least 17% on average and the success rate by at least 18% on average compared to the KCF algorithm. Hence, our method effectively solves poor object tracking accuracy caused by complex backgrounds and object occlusion. The experimental results utilize satellite videos from the Jilin-1 satellite constellation and highlight the proposed algorithm's appealing tracking results against current state-of-the-art trackers regarding success rate, precision, and robustness metrics.
Strain-Rates from GPS Measurements in the Ordos Block, China: Implications for Geodynamics and Seismic Hazards
Authors: Zhu Shoubiao
Published: February 2022

A number of devastating earthquakes have occurred around the Ordos Block in recent history. For the purpose of studying where the next major event will occur surrounding the Ordos Block, much work has been done, particularly in the investigation of the Earth’s surface strain rates based on GPS measurements. However, there exist striking differences between the results from different authors although they used almost the same GPS data. Therefore, we validated the method for the calculation of GPS strain rates developed by Zhu et al. (2005, 2006) and found that the method is feasible and has high precision. With this approach and the updated GPS data, we calculated the strain rates in the region around the Ordos Block. The computed results show that the total strain rates in the interior of the Block are very small, and the high values are mainly concentrated on the peripheral zones of the Ordos Block and along the large-scale active faults, such as the Haiyuan fault, which are closely aligned to the results by geological and geophysical observations. Additionally, the strain rate results demonstrated that all rifted grabens on the margin of the Ordos Block exhibit extensional deformation. Finally, based on the strain rate, seismicity, and tectonic structures, we present some areas of high earthquake risk surrounding the Ordos Block in the future, which are located on the westernmost of the Weihe Graben, both the east and westernmost of the Hetao Graben, and in the middle of the Shanxi Graben. Hence, this work is significant in contributing to a better understanding of the geodynamics and seismic hazard assessment.
Performance of High Efficiency Avalanche Poly-SiGe Devices for Photo-Sensing Applications
Authors: Cheng Yuang-Tung , Lu Tsung-Lin , Wang Shang-Husuan , Ho Jyh-Jier , Chang Chung-Cheng , Chou Chau-Chang , Ho Jiashow
Published: February 2022

This paper explores poly-silicon-germanium (poly-SiGe) avalanche photo-sensors (APSs) involving a device of heterojunction structures. A low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) technique was used to deposit epitaxial poly-SiGe thin films. The thin films were subjected to annealing after the deposition. Our research shows that the most optimal thin films can be obtained at 800 °C for 30 min annealing in the hydrogen atmosphere. Under a 3-μW/cm2 incident light (with a wavelength of 550 nm) and up to 27-V biased voltage, the APS with a n+-n-p-p+ alloy/SiO2/Si-substrate structure using the better annealed poly-SiGe film process showed improved performance by nearly 70%, 96% in responsivity, and 85% in quantum efficiency, when compared to the non-annealed APS. The optimal avalanche multiplication factor curve of the APS developed under the exponent of n = 3 condition can be improved with an increase in uniformity corresponding to the APS-junction voltage. This finding is promising and can be adopted in future photo-sensing and optical communication applications.
Region-Based CNN for Anomaly Detection in PV Power Plants Using Aerial Imagery
Authors: Vlaminck Michiel , Heidbuchel Rugen , Philips Wilfried , Luong Hiep
Published: February 2022

Today, solar energy is taking an increasing share of the total energy mix. Unfortunately, many operational photovoltaic plants suffer from a plenitude of defects resulting in non-negligible power loss. The latter highly impacts the overall performance of the PV site; therefore, operators need to regularly inspect their solar parks for anomalies in order to prevent severe performance drops. As this operation is naturally labor-intensive and costly, we present in this paper a novel system for improved PV diagnostics using drone-based imagery. Our solution consists of three main steps. The first step locates the solar panels within the image. The second step detects the anomalies within the solar panels. The final step identifies the root cause of the anomaly. In this paper, we mainly focus on the second step comprising the detection of anomalies within solar panels, which is done using a region-based convolutional neural network (CNN). Experiments on six different PV sites with different specifications and a variety of defects demonstrate that our anomaly detector achieves a true positive rate or recall of more than 90% for a false positive rate of around 2% to 3% tested on a dataset containing nearly 9000 solar panels. Compared to the best state-of-the-art methods, the experiments revealed that we achieve a slightly higher true positive rate for a substantially lower false positive rate, while tested on a more realistic dataset.
Power Transformer Voltages Classification with Acoustic Signal in Various Noisy Environments
Authors: Kim Mintai , Lee Sungju
Published: February 2022

Checking the stable supply voltage of a power distribution transformer in operation is an important issue to prevent mechanical failure. The acoustic signal of the transformer contains sufficient information to analyze the transformer conditions. However, since transformers are often exposed to a variety of noise environments, acoustic signal-based methods should be designed to be robust against these various noises to provide high accuracy. In this study, we propose a method to classify the over-, normal-, and under-voltage levels supplied to the transformer using the acoustic signal of the transformer operating in various noise environments. The acoustic signal of the transformer was converted into a Mel Spectrogram (MS), and used to classify the voltage levels. The classification model was designed based on the U-Net encoder layers to extract and express the important features from the acoustic signal. The proposed approach was used for its robustness against both the known and unknown noise by using the noise rejection method with U-Net and the ensemble model with three datasets. In the experimental environments, the testbeds were constructed using an oil-immersed power distribution transformer with a capacity of 150 kVA. Based on the experimental results, we confirm that the proposed method can improve the classification accuracy of the voltage levels from 72 to 88 and to 94% (baseline to noise rejection and to noise rejection + ensemble), respectively, in various noisy environments.
Augmented Reality, Serious Games and Picture Exchange Communication System for People with ASD: Systematic Literature Review and Future Directions
Authors: Almurashi Haneen , Bouaziz Rahma , Alharthi Wallaa , Al-Sarem Mohammed , Hadwan Mohammed , Kammoun Slim
Published: February 2022

For people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), using technological tools, such as augmented reality (AR) and serious games remain a new and unexplored option. To attract people with ASD who have communicative, social, emotional and attention deficit disorders to behavioral treatments, an attractive environment is needed that ensures continuity during treatment. The aim of the current work is to efficiently examine systematic reviews and relevant primary studies on ASD solutions from 2015 to 2020, particularly those using the traditional Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), the application of augmented reality and those that propose serious games, thereby providing an overview of existing evidence and to identify strategies for future research. Five databases were searched for keywords that may be included within the broad Autism Spectrum Disorder ‘ASD’ umbrella term, alongside ‘augmented reality’, ‘serious games’ and ‘PECS’. We screened 1799 titles and abstracts, read, and retained 12 reviews and 43 studies. The studies scrutinized in our systematic review were examined to answer four primary and four sub-research questions, which we formulated to better understand general trends in the use of approaches for attracting people with ASD to behavioral therapies. Additionally, our systematic review also presents ongoing issues in this area of research and suggests promising future research directions. Our review is useful to researchers in this field as it facilitates the comparison of existing studies with work currently being conducted, based on the availability of a wide range of studies in three different areas (AR, SG and PECS).
Lightweight Software Architecture Evaluation for Industry: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Sahlabadi Mahdi , Muniyandi Ravie Chandren , Shukur Zarina , Qamar Faizan
Published: February 2022

Processes for evaluating software architecture (SA) help to investigate problems and potential risks in SA. It is derived from many studies that proposed a plethora of systematic SA evaluation methods, while industrial practitioners currently refrain from applying them since they are heavyweight. Nowadays, heterogeneous software architectures are organized based on the new infrastructure. Hardware and associated software allow different systems, such as embedded, sensor-based, modern AI, and cloud-based systems, to cooperate efficiently. It brings more complexities to SA evaluation. Alternatively, lightweight architectural evaluation methods have been proposed to satisfy the practitioner’s concerns, but practitioners still do not adopt these methods. This study employs a systematic literature review with a text analysis of SA’s definitions to propose a comparison framework for SA. It identifies lightweight features and factors to improve the architectural evaluation methods among industrial practitioners. The features are determined based on the practitioner’s concerns by analyzing the architecture’s definitions from stakeholders and reviewing architectural evaluation methods. The lightweight factors are acquired by studying the five most commonly used lightweight methods and the Architecture-based Tradeoff Analysis Method (ATAM), the most well-known heavyweight method. Subsequently, the research addresses these features and factors.
Data Analysis and System Development for Medical Professionals on Sleep Apnea Syndrome and Orthostatic Dysregulation by Processing-Healthcare Professionals and Patients
Authors: Shirasuna Miyori
Published: February 2022

This paper presents the details of our research and the activities involved. Japan is one of the most advanced countries in medicine worldwide. However, in terms of technology, knowledge sharing, and successor development, Japanese medicine lags behind other developed countries, and these matters require addressing. The country is also facing a shortage of doctors, among other things, and this medical problem will surely become critical in the near future. In this study, we aim to help solve such problems from the medical engineering viewpoint, analyze and create systems based on the experience of doctors from the engineering viewpoint, and make it easy for patients to understand orthodox and general statistical analysis methods. We perform a visualization and quantitative medical data analysis and examine diagnostic support. We consider sleep apnea syndrome (SAS), and orthostatic dysregulation (OD) in children in this study. This research aims to detect SAS early, identify people with pre-SAS who are likely to become SAS in the near future, and identify OD. We analyze and identify these diseases through statistics and a multivariate analysis and create a dedicated analysis system for them. Our research and system development will allow specialists to make informed diagnoses, reproduce empirical rules, improve work efficiency, and improve patients’ health awareness. This research has only looks at two diseases, but these methods can be expected to be applied to other diseases.
Performance Comparison of Repetition Coding MIMO Optical Wireless Communications with Distinct Light Beams
Authors: Ding Jupeng , I Chih-Lin , Wang Jintao , Yang Hui , Wang Lili
Published: February 2022

In current optical wireless communications (OWC) oriented research works, the various multiple input multiple output (MIMO) techniques are introduced and utilized to enhance the coverage performance. Objectively, this Lambertian light beam based MIMO research paradigm neglects the light beam diversity and the potential performance gains. In this work, the distinct non-Lambertian light beams of commercially available light emitting diodes (LEDs) were adopted to configure MIMO OWC links. Specifically, the homogenous and heterogeneous non-Lambertian MIMO configurations were constituted in typical indoor scenarios. Moreover, applying the repetition coding (RC) MIMO algorithm with low complexity, a spatial coverage performance comparison was made between the several above mentioned non-Lambertian configurations and the well-discussed Lambertian MIMO configuration. Numerical results illustrate that the homogeneous NSPW light beam configuration could provide a more than 30 dB average signal to noise ratio (SNR), while the achievable average SNR of the heterogeneous light beam configuration was up to 28.77 dB. On the other side, the counterpart of the Lambertian configuration achieved just about 27.00 dB. Objectively, this work paves the fundamental and essential way for the further design and optimization of MIMO OWC in this novel light beam dimension.
Regularized Optimal Transport Based on an Adaptive Adjustment Method for Selecting the Scaling Parameters of Unscented Kalman Filters
Authors: Kang Chang Ho , Kim Sun Young
Published: February 2022

In this paper, an adaptation method for adjusting the scaling parameters of an unscented Kalman filter (UKF) is proposed to improve the estimation performance of the filter in dynamic conditions. The proposed adaptation method is based on a sequential algorithm that selects the scaling parameter using the user-defined distribution of discrete sets to more effectively deal with the changing measurement distribution over time and avoid the additional process for training a filter model. The adaptation method employs regularized optimal transport (ROT), which compensates for the error of the predicted measurement with the current measurement values to select the proper scaling parameter. In addition, the Sinkhorn–Knopp algorithm is used to minimize the cost function of ROT due to its fast convergence rate, and the convergence of the proposed ROT-based adaptive adjustment method is also analyzed. According to the analysis results of Monte Carlo simulations, it is confirmed that the proposed algorithm shows better performance than the conventional algorithms in terms of the scaling parameter selection in the UKF.