bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Power Profile Index: An Adjustable Metric for Load Monitoring in Road Cycling
Authors: Mateo-March Manuel , Lillo-Beviá José Ramón , della Mattia Gabriel , Muriel Xabier , Barranco-Gil David , Zabala Mikel , Courel-Ibáñez Javier , Salas-Montoro José Antonio
Published: November 2022

Workload is calculated from exercise volume and intensity. In endurance sports, intensity has been measured using heart rate or RPE, giving rise to load indexes such as sRPE or TRIMP. In cycling, the advent of power meters led to new indexes, such as TSS. All these indexes have limitations, especially for high intensity exercise. Therefore, a new index for cycling is proposed, the Power Profile Index (PPi), which includes a weighting factor obtained from the relative exercise intensity and stage type. Using power data from 67 WorldTour cyclists and fatigue records in different stage types from 102 road cyclists, weighting factors for intensity and stage type were determined. Subsequently, the PPi was computed and compared to current indexes using data from a WorldTour team during the 2018 Tour de France. The proposed index showed a strong correlation with perceived fatigue as a function of stage type (R2 = 0.9996), as well as no differences in the load quantification in different types of stage profiles (p = 0.292), something that does not occur with other indexes such as TSS, RPE, or eTRIMP (p < 0.001). Therefore, PPi is a new index capable of quantifying the high intensity efforts that produce greater fatigue, as well as considering the stage type.
Design and Control of a Pneumatic Muscle Servo Drive Containing Its Own Pneumatic Muscles
Authors: Pietrala Dawid Sebastian , Laski Pawel Andrzej
Published: November 2022

This article presents static and dynamic characteristics of artificial pneumatic muscles. The research stance and the methodology for their determination are described. A mathematical model of a pneumatic muscle has been proposed, having two inputs—the force generated by the muscle and the displacement of the muscle tip, and one output—the valve control voltage. The quality of object mapping was verified by a mathematical model for various trajectories. Then, the control system for the moment servo drive force was composed of two pneumatic muscles working in opposite directions connected by a toothed belt gear. The servo drive was verified and evaluated.
Hybrid Adaptive Dynamic Inverse Compensation for Hypersonic Vehicles with Inertia Uncertainty and Disturbance
Authors: Hu Kai-Yu , Wang Xiaochen , Yang Chunxia
Published: November 2022

This paper studies an intelligent hybrid compensation scheme for the uncertain parameter and disturbance of hypersonic flight vehicles (HFV). For the longitudinal model of HFV with modeling errors, a nominal nonlinear dynamic inverse (NDI) controller ensures that the system output can accurately track the reference command. In the presence of rotational inertia uncertainty, a multi-learning law adaptive NDI controller is proposed to directly compensate for its impact on tracking performance, making the system robust to the uncertainty and reducing high maneuvering attitude angles and velocities vibration. Then, an improved adaptive NDI controller with a sliding mode disturbance observer is designed to actively compensate for the elastic mode disturbance, and continuously ensure the system’s anti-disturbance flight quality. Ultimately, this active–passive hybrid control scheme compensates for both high maneuvering inertia uncertainty and global disturbance. The Lyapunov functions prove the system’s stability, and the semi-physical simulation platform verifies the effectiveness of the method.
Developing Computational Thinking: Design-Based Learning and Interdisciplinary Activity Design
Authors: Wang Dongqing , Luo Liqiang , Luo Jing , Lin Sihong , Ren Guangjie
Published: November 2022

As research progresses, integrating computational thinking (CT) and designing interdisciplinary activities to teach various disciplines have gradually emerged as new ideas and important ways to develop the CT of students. This paper introduces the concept of design-based learning (DBL) and analyzes the internal connections between DBL and CT teaching. In this study, an interdisciplinary activity design model was constructed based on an analysis of existing design-based scientific cycle models and research into STEAM education, which is an approach to learning that uses science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics as access points for guiding student inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking. Next, specific activities with a focus on CT were designed to teach graphical programming to fifth grade students using Scratch. This quasi-experimental research was carried out to test the promotion effects of interdisciplinary activity design and traditional programming activities on the CT of students. Finally, the results showed that the proposed interdisciplinary activity design could develop the CT levels of students more effectively than traditional programming activities.
Determination of the Filler Concentration of the Composite Tape
Authors: Baranovskyi Denys , Myamlin Sergey , Bulakh Maryna , Podosonov Dmytro , Muradian Leonty
Published: November 2022

For the first time, a theoretical dependence was obtained to determine the filler concentration of the composite tape. On the basis of this dependence, a composite tape with variable mechanical and tribological properties can be obtained. It is proposed that the composite tape is welded onto the cylindrical surface of the central bowl of the rail truck bolster. The bench tests made it possible to determine the degree of wear of the central bowl of the rail truck bolster by means of a welded composite tape. The wear value of the central bowl of the rail truck bolster with welded-on composite tapes is 0.15–0.18 mm per 10,000 km of a freight car’s mileage. The predicted service life of the central bowl of the rail truck bolster with a welded-on composite tape is 320–420 thousand km.
Geometrical Parameter Effects on Solidification/Melting Processes Using Twin Concentric Helical Coil: Experimental Investigations
Authors: Refaey H. A. , Alotaibi Abdullah S. A. , Abdel-Aziz A. A. , Abd Rabbo M. F. , Abdelrahman H. E.
Published: November 2022

Moving the load peak to consume electrical power is valuable in air conditioning systems. Consequently, the current study presents an experimental thermal investigation of an ice storage system. For this purpose, a twin concentric helical coil (TCHC) is utilized. The coil is submerged in distilled water in an insulated tank. The main aim is to explore the effect of geometrical/operating conditions for the TCHC on percentage energy stored/regained, solidified/melted mass fraction, and average charging/discharging rate. The main parameters are twin coil pitch and tube diameter while keeping the cold heat transfer fluid (HTF) inlet conditions at −12 °C and 10 L/min. The results disclosed that the discharge time increases by about 79% for total energy gained as the coil pitch rises from 30 to 50 mm at a smaller tube diameter of 9.52 mm. At the same time, the discharge time is doubled when the tube diameter is 15.88 mm. Furthermore, the complete solidification needs half the time (time reduced to 50%) to be achieved as the tube diameter increases from 9.52 mm to 15.88 mm (68% increases in diameter) for lower pitch (P = 30 mm).
Research on the Sound Absorption Performance of Porous Asphalt Concrete with Different Air Voids Based on the Finite Element Models
Authors: Xie Jianguang , Zhu Yiwei , Wang Zhanqi
Published: November 2022

This paper aims to investigate the effect of the void structure of porous asphalt concrete (PAC) on the sound absorption performance. The sound absorption coefficient (SAC) spectra of PAC with various voids were measured using the transfer function method and the air void structure was identified from Computed Tomography (CT) scanning images. The finite element model (FEM) of the void structure was established via CT cross-sectional images to research the noise reduction mechanism of PAC. At different frequencies, the sound pressure level distribution and SAC were calculated. The following are the main conclusions: (1) As the void content of PAC increases, the SAC spectrum curve becomes higher, more rightward and wider, while the peak values, their corresponding frequencies and mean values increase. (2) The SAC decreases with the average number of voids within each image and increases with the void equivalent diameter and fractal dimension; there exist linear relationships between these three parameters and the SAC. (3) The sound absorption capacity of the void with larger size and fractal dimension is higher than the smaller one and the voids connected to the upper and lower surfaces provide more noise reduction. (4) The FEMs of PAC can predict the SAC of PAC.
A Hybrid Method of Enhancing Accuracy of Facial Recognition System Using Gabor Filter and Stacked Sparse Autoencoders Deep Neural Network
Authors: Jaber Abdullah Ghanim , Muniyandi Ravie Chandren , Usman Opeyemi Lateef , Singh Harprith Kaur Rajinder
Published: November 2022

Face recognition has grown in popularity due to the ease with which most recognition systems can find and recognize human faces in images and videos. However, the accuracy of the face recognition system is critical in ascertaining the success of a person’s identification. A lack of sufficiently large training datasets is one of the significant challenges that limit the accuracy of face recognition systems. Meanwhile, machine learning (ML) algorithms, particularly those used for image-based face recognition, require large training data samples to achieve a high degree of face recognition accuracy. Based on the above challenge, this research proposes a method for improving face recognition precision and accuracy by employing a hybrid approach of the Gabor filter and a stacked sparse autoencoders (SSAE) deep neural network. The face image datasets from Olivetti Research Laboratory (OLR) and the Extended Yale-B databases were used to evaluate the proposed hybrid model’s performance. All face image datasets used in our experiments are grayscale image type with a resolution of 92 × 112 for the OLR database and a resolution 192 × 168 for the Extended Yale-B database. Our experimental results showed that the proposed method improved face recognition accuracy by approximately 100% for the two databases used at a significantly reduced feature extraction time compared to the current state-of-art face recognition methods for all test cases. The SSAE approach can explore large and complex datasets with minimal computation time. In addition, the algorithm minimizes the false acceptance rate and improves recognition accuracy. This implies that the proposed method is promising and has the potential to enhance the performance of face recognition systems.
Slope Stability Analysis Method of Unsaturated Soil Slopes Considering Pore Gas Pressure Caused by Rainfall Infiltration
Authors: Tian Wenjing , Peiffer Herman , Malengier Benny , Xue Song , Chen Zhongtian
Published: November 2022

The variation of pore gas pressure caused by rainfall infiltration is an important factor that leads to slope failures. The purpose of this study is to propose a new slope stability analysis method that considers pore gas pressure and examines the effect of airflow on slope stability by using a numerical method. A water-air two-phase flow analysis was conducted to investigate the distribution of pore air pressure, pore water pressure, and water saturation triggered by rainfall infiltration. Then the variation of the load resulting from pore gas pressure was incorporated into the slope stability analysis method based on the unsaturated soil shear strength theory and the residual thrust method to simulate the influence of airflow on the Tanjiahe landslide in China. In order to study the infiltration behavior with respect to initial saturation, water and gas flow analyses were performed considering various initial states of saturation under similar settings. Results showed that the pore gas pressure between the slope surface and the slip band clearly varied and that it decreased during the process from the slide bed to the deep direction. Then, the pore water pressure formed in the saturated zone was transferred by the airflow to the slope toe. As a result, because the pore gas pressure gradient increased the thrust of the slide mass, the safety factor decreased over time. Moreover, in the first step, the magnitude of infiltration decreased with an increase in initial saturation, while when the magnitude dropped to the minimum value, it then went up with an increase in initial saturation. The maximum value was usually reached at a saturation degree of 0% or 100%. When evaluating slope stability, the safety factor obtained by the slope stability analysis method that considered the water-gas coupling effect was much lower than when it was not considered during the process of a similar seepage. The impact on the slope failure was significant and may provide a practical reference for hazard assessments to control rainfall-induced landslides.
Order, Procedure, and Configuration in Gothic Architecture: A Case Study of the Avas Church, Miskolc, Hungary
Authors: Bereczki Zoltán
Published: November 2022

The geometric determination of Gothic architecture together with contemporary design methods is an important question in the history of arts. The Gothic style is unique in the history of European architecture: it is the only period when Antique models were barely used. The design methods were different than those used in Classical (and so Renaissance, Baroque, and Neo-Classicist) architecture: the design involved subsequent geometrical steps. These steps, and thus the procedure are at least as important as the resulting geometry itself. Using recent technology (laser scanning, algorithmic modelling), the procedure can be modelled. In this new approach for the research of Gothic architecture, not only the geometries themselves are the subject of examination but also the underlying generative processes. Contemporary written sources on design rules together with the fabric of the buildings themselves serve as source for this kind of research. In this case study, the late Gothic Avas church in Miskolc, Hungary served as a base for testing the extent of the use of surviving rules; generative, procedural algorithms were created based on the surviving parts and fragments to illustrate the demolished parts. Finally, a configurational analysis was conducted to compare the late medieval and early modern approach to design.
Evaluation and Prediction Model for Ice–Snow Tourism Suitability under Climate Warming
Authors: Yu Jie , Cai Weiying , Zhou Miaolei
Published: November 2022

Studying the changes in tourist comfort is significant for improving the comfort of the tourism experience and for local tourism economies in the context of global warming. An evaluation and prediction model for ice–snow tourism suitability was constructed to objectively evaluate the suitability of ice–snow tourism environments and provided scientific tourism guidance for tourists. In this study, a comparative analysis was conducted on the monthly average temperature of the Jilin Province (China) over the past 40 years. The results show that in the last ten years, Jilin Province became hotter in the summer half-year and colder in the winter half-year. The corresponding climate comfort index (CCI) rose in the summer half-year and dropped in the winter half-year. The analysis showed that it was no longer suitable to evaluate the tourism experience in winter with the CCI alone. By comprehensively considering the CCI, the index of clothing, and the effects of precipitation, an evaluation and prediction model was constructed for an ice–snow tourism suitability index (ISTSI). The ISTSI comprehensively considered the influences of the environmental temperature, humidity, wind, and precipitation, as well as subjective human initiatives. The test results show that the ISTSI can quantify the degree of comfort of ice–snow tourism and objectively reflect the changes therein. The evaluation process was simpler than the previous methods.
The New PWV Conversion Models Based on GNSS and Meteorological Elements in the China Region
Authors: Li Li , Wang Xun , Wei Yun , Wang Hao
Published: November 2022

To address the problems of cumbersome processes, large data, and error accumulation in the calculation of conventional GNSS precipitable water volume (PWV), the multi-factor PWV conversion models were established using the multiple linear regression fitting method. This paper analyzed the correlation between PWV and zenith tropospheric delay (ZTD), surface temperature (T), and atmospheric pressure (P) based on the data from 38 GNSS stations in the China region from 2017 to 2018. The research results showed that the mean deviation of the one-factor PWV conversion model based on the GNSS-ZTD was 12.16 mm, and its RMS was 14.30 mm. After adding surface temperature as an independent variable to form the two-factor PWV conversion model, the mean deviation and RMS decreased to 9.07 mm and 11.15 mm. The mean deviation of the two-factor PWV conversion model based on atmospheric pressure and GNSS-ZTD was 0.31 mm, and its RMS was 0.39 mm. The mean deviation of the three-factor PWV conversion model based on surface temperature, atmospheric pressure, and GNSS-ZTD was 0.33 mm, and its RMS was 0.38 mm. The accuracies of the two-factor and three-factor PWV conversion models were similar. The external precision assessment of PWV conversion models was verified by 12 GNSS stations unused for the modelling establishment. The mean deviation and RMS of the two multi-factor PWV conversion models were both less than 0.16 mm and 0.33 mm, which proves their widespread applicability in the China region.
Assessment of Methane Emission and the Factors That Influence It, from Three Rice Varieties Commonly Cultivated in the State of Puducherry
Authors: Chandrasekaran Dhanuja , Tabassum-Abbasi  , Abbasi Tasneem , Abbasi Shahid Abbas
Published: November 2022

India being the world’s second largest cultivator of paddy, it is very important that the extent of the resulting methane emissions is estimated, and steps are taken to minimize these emissions. Peninsular India is a prime rice-producing region; however, no significant information is available on the contribution of this region to methane emissions, nor are there available studies that show the effect of cultivars, growth seasons, soil characteristics, etc., on methane emissions. As one of the attempts to cover this knowledge gap, emissions of methane from paddy fields, situated in four villages of Puducherry, India, involving three rice cultivars, three soil types and two growth seasons have been studied. All the fields had a continuously flooded pattern of irrigation with water supplied at a rate of 11,500–20,000 m3/ha. Whereas the cultivars ADT 39 and ADT 45 generated the highest methane flux during their reproductive phase, with lesser emission during the vegetative phase and much less during maturity, CO 45 exhibited copious methane emissions during the vegetative phase, with several orders of magnitude lesser emission during the reproductive and the maturity phases. These trends were independent of the location of the field and soil type, though the absolute and the relative values of the emissions varied from location to location. Irrespective of the cultivar, the quantities of methane emission increased linearly with soil temperature across the day but decreased exponentially as soil pH increased beyond 7.
Storage Potential of the Cactus Pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) Fruit Juice and Its Biological and Chemical Evaluation during Fermentation into Cactus Pear Wine
Authors: Ramoba Louis , Monyama Maropeng Charles , Moganedi Kgabo
Published: November 2022

The cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) fruit is widely cultivated and grown naturally in arid regions because it is adaptive to a wide range of soil and environments. The pear fruit is inhabited by different micro-organisms and has chemical composition suitable for wine making. Profiling the contributing micro-organisms and evaluating the chemical parameters of cactus pear wine can assist in selecting reliable microbes for use as starter cultures. Spontaneous fermentation was carried out for 13 days and followed by three months of cold storage. Fermenting microbes were isolated, characterised and identified. The chemical parameters, namely, sugar concentration, ethanol concentration, pH and total acidity, were analysed. A total of 22 micro-organisms were identified, among which nine yeast species, two acetic acid bacteria (Gluconobacter spp.) and eight Bacillus spp. were isolated. The simple sugars were used up, and ethanol was produced to a high concentration of 50.9 g/L. The pH ranged between 2.8 and 2.9; hence, a maximum total acidity of ±25 g/100 mL was achieved. At least 78% of the available tannins were used in the early stages of fermentation. Potassium and magnesium were the highest minerals obtained, and zinc was the lowest. The highest ash content obtained was 7.9 g/100 mL. The vitamin C content was retained and gradually increased throughout the fermentation process. The findings indicate that lasting flavoured wine can be developed from cactus pear fruit because of the fermenting microbes and the chemical composition of the fruit.
Combination Therapy of Curcumin and Disulfiram Synergistically Inhibits the Growth of B16-F10 Melanoma Cells by Inducing Oxidative Stress
Authors: Fontes Sheila S. , Nogueira Mateus L. , Dias Rosane B. , Rocha Clarissa A. Gurgel , Soares Milena B. P. , Vannier-Santos Marcos A. , Bezerra Daniel P.
Published: November 2022

Oxidative stress plays a central role in the pathophysiology of melanoma. Curcumin (CUR) is a polyphenolic phytochemical that stimulates reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, while disulfiram (DSS) is a US FDA-approved drug for the treatment of alcoholism that can act by inhibiting the intracellular antioxidant system. Therefore, we hypothesized that they act synergistically against melanoma cells. Herein, we aimed to study the antitumor potential of the combination of CUR with DSS in B16-F10 melanoma cells using in vitro and in vivo models. The cytotoxic effects of different combination ratios of CUR and DSS were evaluated using the Alamar Blue method, allowing the production of isobolograms. Apoptosis detection, DNA fragmentation, cell cycle distribution, and mitochondrial superoxide levels were quantified by flow cytometry. Tumor development in vivo was evaluated using C57BL/6 mice bearing B16-F10 cells. The combinations ratios of 1:2, 1:3, and 2:3 showed synergic effects. B16-F10 cells treated with these combinations showed improved apoptotic cell death and DNA fragmentation. Enhanced mitochondrial superoxide levels were observed at combination ratios of 1:2 and 1:3, indicating increased oxidative stress. In vivo tumor growth inhibition for CUR (20 mg/kg), DSS (60 mg/kg), and their combination were 17.0%, 19.8%, and 28.8%, respectively. This study provided data on the potential cytotoxic activity of the combination of CUR with DSS and may provide a useful tool for the development of a therapeutic combination against melanoma.
A Machine Learning Approach for Recommending Herbal Formulae with Enhanced Interpretability and Applicability
Authors: Lee Won-Yung , Lee Youngseop , Lee Siwoo , Kim Young Woo , Kim Ji-Hwan
Published: November 2022

Herbal formulae (HFs) are representative interventions in Korean medicine (KM) for the prevention and treatment of various diseases. Here, we proposed a machine learning-based approach for HF recommendation with enhanced interpretability and applicability. A dataset consisting of clinical symptoms, Sasang constitution (SC) types, and prescribed HFs was derived from a multicenter study. Case studies published over 10 years were collected and curated by experts. Various classifiers, oversampling methods, and data imputation techniques were comprehensively considered. The local interpretable model-agnostic explanation (LIME) technique was applied to identify the clinical symptoms that led to the recommendation of specific HFs. We found that the cascaded deep forest (CDF) model with data imputation and oversampling yielded the best performance on the training set and holdout test set. Our model also achieved top-1 and top-3 accuracies of 0.35 and 0.89, respectively, on case study datasets in which clinical symptoms were only partially recorded. We performed an expert evaluation on the reliability of interpretation results using case studies and achieved a score close to normal. Taken together, our model will contribute to the modernization of KM and the identification of an HF selection process through the development of a practically useful HF recommendation model.
Oxidative Stress in Structural Valve Deterioration: A Longitudinal Clinical Study
Authors: Galiñanes Manuel , Casós Kelly , Blasco-Lucas Arnau , Permanyer Eduard , Máñez Rafael , Le Tourneau Thierry , Barquinero Jordi , Schwartz Simo , Bottio Tomaso , Roussel Jean Christian , Fellah-Hebia Imen , Sénage Thomas , Evangelista Arturo , Badano Luigi P. , Ruiz-Majoral Alejandro , Galli Cesare , Padler-Karavani Vered , Soulillou Jean-Paul , Vidal Xavier , Cozzi Emanuele , Costa Cristina
Published: November 2022

The cause of structural valve deterioration (SVD) is unclear. Therefore, we investigated oxidative stress markers in sera from patients with bioprosthetic heart valves (BHVs) and their association with SVD. Blood samples were taken from SVD (Phase A) and BHV patients during the first 24 (Phase B1) and >48 months (Phase B2) after BHV implantation to assess total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), and nitrotyrosine (NT). The results show that MDA levels increased significantly 1 month after surgery in all groups but were higher at 6 months only in incipient SVD patients. NT levels increased gradually for the first 24 months after implantation in the BHV group. Patients with transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) showed even higher levels of stress markers. After >48 months, MDA and NT continued to increase in BHV patients with a further elevation after 60–72 months; however, these levels were significantly lower in the incipient and established SVD groups. In conclusion, oxidative stress may play a significant role in SVD, increasing early after BHV implantation, especially in TAVI cases, and also after 48 months’ follow-up, but decreasing when SVD develops. Oxidative stress potentially represents a target of therapeutic intervention and a biomarker of BHV dysfunction.
A Pathway Model to Understand the Evolution of Spike Protein Binding to ACE2 in SARS-CoV-2 Variants
Authors: Pipitò Ludovico , Reynolds Christopher A. , Mobarec Juan Carlos , Vickery Owen , Deganutti Giuseppe
Published: November 2022

After the SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan variant that gave rise to the pandemic, other variants named Delta, Omicron, and Omicron-2 sequentially became prevalent, with mutations spread around the viral genome, including on the spike (S) protein; in order to understand the resultant in gains in infectivity, we interrogated in silico both the equilibrium binding and the binding pathway of the virus’ receptor-binding domain (RBD) to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. We interrogated the molecular recognition between the RBD of different variants and ACE2 through supervised molecular dynamics (SuMD) and classic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to address the effect of mutations on the possible S protein binding pathways. Our results indicate that compensation between binding pathway efficiency and stability of the complex exists for the Omicron BA.1 receptor binding domain, while Omicron BA.2′s mutations putatively improved the dynamic recognition of the ACE2 receptor, suggesting an evolutionary advantage over the previous strains.
Changes in Physical Activity and Glycemic Control before and after the Declaration of the State of Emergency Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japanese Adult Females with Type 1 Diabetes: A 1-Year Follow-Up Study
Authors: Honda Hiroto , Hashimoto Naoko , Zenibayashi Masako , Takeda Akihiko , Takeuchi Takehito , Yamamoto Akane , Hirota Yushi
Published: November 2022

This preliminary study aimed to investigate physical activity (PA) and glycemic control changes in Japanese adult females with type 1 diabetes (T1D) before the COVID-19 pandemic and one year later. Twelve females with T1D who used continuous glucose monitoring devices and initially volunteered for the study between February and March 2020 were included. PA data, obtained using a triaxial accelerometer, and glycemic control, including glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), glycoalbumin (GA), mean 24-h sensor glucose (SG), time above range (TAR > 180 mg/dL), time in range (TIR 70–180 mg/dL), and time below range (TBR < 70 mg/dL), were analyzed. One year later, long (≥10 min) bouts of moderate-to-vigorous-intensity PA and daily steps decreased by 35.1% and 6.0%, respectively, and TAR increased from 23.5% to 29.0%. Additionally, an increase in prolonged (≥30 min) sedentary behavior correlated with a decrease in TBR and an increase in mean 24-h SG, GA, and the GA/HbA1c ratio. Furthermore, a decrease in daily energy consumption correlated with a decrease in TIR. These results indicate that some forms of PA in Japanese T1D adults have not returned to their pre-pandemic status, even in the same season one year later, which could worsen glycemic control.
Isoflurane Rescue Schizophrenia-Related Deficits through Parvalbumin-Positive Neurons in the Dentate Gyrus
Authors: Peng Hualing , Jia Jie , Lu Yisheng , Zheng Hua
Published: November 2022

The therapeutic effects of volatile anesthetics on mental diseases, particularly schizophrenia, have gained considerable interest. Although isoflurane is a commonly used volatile anesthetic, there’s no more evidence that it could work on treating schizophrenia. Here, we discovered that inhaling isoflurane at low concentrations might reverse the behavioral phenotypes of schizophrenia caused by MK801, such as hyperlocomotion, pre-pulse inhibition impairment, and working memory loss. Isoflurane also helped recovering adult neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity impairments in the dentate gyrus (DG) induced by MK801. To better understand the mechanism, we discovered that isoflurane could reverse the reduction of parvalbumin (PV)-positive GABAergic interneuron (PVI) number and the aberration of NRG1-ErbB4 signaling in the DG; however, isoflurane could not reverse the schizophrenia-related phenotypes caused by PVI ablation, indicating that PVI are necessary for the therapeutic effect of isoflurane. Interestingly, isoflurane could reverse phenotypes caused by blocking PVIs GABA release in the DG, indicating the therapeutic impact is independent of PVI GABA release. Our research revealed that isoflurane might be used to treat schizophrenia, possibly through PVI in the DG.
Orthostatic Challenge-Induced Coagulation Activation in Young and Older Persons
Authors: Schlagenhauf Axel , Steuber Bianca , Kneihsl Markus , Gattringer Thomas , Koestenberger Martin , Tsiountsioura Melina , Ziegler Tobias , Tafeit Erwin , Paar Margret , Wonisch Willibald , Wagner Thomas , Rössler Andreas , Waha James Elvis , Cvirn Gerhard , Goswami Nandu
Published: November 2022

The incidence of thrombosis increases with aging. We investigated the coagulatory/haemostatic system across the ages and tested the hypothesis that older persons have a hypercoagulable state compared to younger persons at rest, and that standing up (orthostasis) leads to greater changes in coagulation in older persons. In total, 22 older and 20 young participants performed a 6 min sit-to-stand test (orthostatic challenge). Blood was collected prior to and at the end of standing and haemostatic profiling was performed via thrombelastometry (TEM), calibrated automated thrombogram (CAT) and standard coagulation assays. At baseline, three CAT-derived values indicated enhanced capability to generate thrombin in older participants. However, other measured parameters did not suggest a hypercoagulable state in older participants: prolonged TEM-derived coagulation times (295 vs. 209 s, medians, p = 0.0025) and prothrombin times (103 vs. 114%, medians, p = 0.0087), as well as lower TF levels (440 vs. 672 pg/mL, medians, p = 0.0245) and higher t-PA levels (7.3 vs. 3.8 ng/mL, medians, p = 0.0002), indicative of enhanced fibrinolytic capability, were seen. Younger participants were more sensitive to the orthostatic challenge: CAT-derived endogenous thrombin potentials (ETPs) were only increased in the young (1337 to 1350 nM.min, medians, p = 0.0264) and shortening of PTs was significantly higher in the young vs. older participants (p = 0.0242). Our data suggest that the increased thrombosis propensity in older persons is not primarily attributable to a hyperactive coagulation cascade but may be due to other pathologies associated with aging.
Cultivating Cooperative Relationships: Identifying Learning Gaps When Teaching Students Systems Thinking Biomimicry
Authors: Stevens Laura Lee , Whitehead Celina , Singhal Asha
Published: November 2022

The methodology of biomimicry design thinking is based on and builds upon the overarching patterns that all life abides by. “Cultivating cooperative relationships” within an ecosystem is one such pattern we as humans can learn from to nurture our own mutualistic and symbiotic relationships. While form and process translations from biology to design have proven accessible by students learning biomimicry, the realm of translating biological functions in a systematic approach has proven to be more difficult. This study examines how higher education students can approach the gap that many companies in transition are struggling with today; that of thinking within the closed loops of their own ecosystem, to do good without damaging the system itself. Design students should be able to assess and advise on product design choices within such systems after graduation. We know when tackling a design challenge, teams have difficulties sifting through the mass of information they encounter, and many obstacles are encountered by students and their professional clients when trying to implement systems thinking into their design process. While biomimicry offers guidelines and methodology, there is insufficient research on complex, systems-level problem solving that systems thinking biomimicry requires. This study looks at factors found in course exercises, through student surveys and interviews that helped (novice) professionals initiate systems thinking methods as part of their strategy. The steps found in this research show characteristics from student responses and matching educational steps which enabled them to develop their own approach to challenges in a systems thinking manner. Experiences from the 2022 cohort of the semester “Design with Nature” within the Industrial Design Engineering program at The Hague University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands have shown that the mixing and matching of connected biological design strategies to understand integrating functions and relationships within a human system is a promising first step.
Optimization of Sensors Data Transmission Paths for Pest Monitoring Based on Intelligent Algorithms
Authors: Lian Yuyang , Wang Aqiang , Peng Sihua , Jia Jingjing , Zong Liang , Yang Xiaofeng , Li Jinlei , Zheng Rongjiao , Yang Shuyan , Liao Jianjun , Zhou Shihao
Published: November 2022

The harm of agricultural pests presents a remarkable effect on the quality and safety of edible farm products and the monitoring and identification of agricultural pests based on the Internet of Things (IoT) produce a large amount of data to be transmitted. To achieve efficient and real-time transmission of the sensors’ data for pest monitoring, this paper selects 235 geographic coordinates of agricultural pest monitoring points and uses genetic algorithm (GA), particle swarm optimization (PSO), and simulated annealing (SA) to optimize the data transmission paths of sensors. The three intelligent algorithms are simulated by MATLAB software. The results show that the optimized path based on PSO can make the shortest time used for transmitting data, and its corresponding minimum time is 4.868012 s. This study can provide a reference for improving the transmission efficiency of agricultural pest monitoring data, provide a guarantee for developing real-time and effective pest control strategies, and further reduce the threat of pest damage to the safety of farm products.
Differential Diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar Disorder: Genetic and Hormonal Assessment and the Influence of Early-Life Stress
Authors: Menezes Itiana Castro , von Werne Baes Cristiane , Fígaro-Drumond Fernanda Viana , Dias Macedo Brisa Burgos , Bueno Ana Carolina , Lacchini Riccardo , Feijó de Mello Marcelo , de Castro Margaret , Juruena Mario Francisco
Published: November 2022

Few studies have assessed biomarkers for the differentiation of major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD). However, some elements of depression such as hormones and receptors of the renin–angiotensin–adrenal system (RAAS), the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, and history of early-life stress (ELS) could be considered for differential diagnosis. Therefore, this study aimed to assess aldosterone and cortisol levels, MR and GR gene polymorphisms, and ELS as potential biomarkers for differentiating MDD and BD. This study presents a case–control design. Groups comprised samples for genetic, cortisol, and aldosterone analysis: healthy control (HC; n = 113/97/103), MDD (n = 78/69/67) and BD (n = 82/68/65) subjects. Furthermore, all subjects were assessed for diagnostic screening, the severity of depression, and history of ELS by applying MINI-PLUS, GRID-HDRS, and CTQ, respectively. In addition, genotype and allelic frequencies of GR (N363S, R22/23K and BclI) and MR (MI180V and -2G/C) polymorphisms were evaluated via PCR. Our findings demonstrate that basal aldosterone levels may be a biomarker for differentiating BD and MDD. Furthermore, ELS affects the HPA axis in BD, cortisol may be considered a biomarker for distinguishing BD and MDD, but only in the absence of ELS, and, finally, history of ELS and MR-2G/C variant alleles are factors that contribute to the severity of depressive symptoms in MDD and BD.
Impact of Burnout on Daily Activities from an Occupational Therapy Perspective: A Serial Mediation Model with the IDA Scale
Authors: Pérez-Santiago Alicia , Márquez-Álvarez Luis-Javier , Llosa José Antonio , Jiménez Arberas Estíbaliz
Published: November 2022

Background: Burnout syndrome is one of the most frequent health complications among workers. Acknowledging the work perspective as something basic and essential in a person’s life means that this disorder can have huge implications in their most basic daily activities. Methods: A cross-sectional, quantitative observational design was conducted with data from Spanish workers. A serial mediation model was applied to study the relationship between daily activities and burnout syndrome. For this purpose, the IDA scale was developed. Conclusions: The results show us that peoples’ work situation has an impact on their daily life. There is quantitative evidence of the impact on daily life occupations and how it further decreases the levels of health and well-being of the person, on their independence and, consequently, on their quality of life.
Toxic Leadership and Project Success: Underpinning the Role of Cronyism
Authors: Saleem Farida , Malik Muhammad Imran , Hyder Shabir , Perveen Ambrin
Published: November 2022

Project success is the backbone of competitiveness and sustainability. The study aims to examine the role of cronyism in the relationship between toxic leadership and project success while taking information technology projects as the study context. Cross-sectional data (n = 240) was collected through closed-ended survey questionnaires to record the responses of IT project employees. The structural equation modeling (SEM) technique was used for analyzing the collected data. Results revealed a negative relationship between toxic leadership and project success, while cronyism positively and significantly mediated the relationship and converted the negative relationship between TL and PS to a positive relationship.
Seismic Performance and Design of the Fully Assembled Precast Concrete Frame with Buckling-Restrained Braces
Authors: Huang Yuan , Wu Qiming , Tang Tuo
Published: November 2022

Although precast concrete structures have been widely used in building engineering, their application in moderate- and high-seismic zones is restricted because of poor lateral performance. This study proposed a fully assembled precast concrete frame with buckling-restrained braces (PCF-BRB) to simplify construction and enhance seismic performance. A nonlinear finite element model of the PCF-BRB was established using ETABS to investigate the feasibility of its use in seismic regions. The accuracy and rationality of the analysis model were verified by existing experimental data. Furthermore, the seismic performance, including plastic hinge development, internal force distribution, maximum inter-story drift, and energy dissipation, of the PCF-BRB was evaluated through static pushover analysis and dynamic time history analysis. The analysis results showed that the PCF-BRB has good seismic performance. Finally, this study provided a recommended seismic performance factor for design, namely the stiffness ratio of buckling-restrained braces (BRBs) to the frame (k, defined later) for the PCF-BRB structure. It is recommended that the stiffness ratio range of low-rise PCF-BRB structures should be 1.5 ≤ k ≤ 3.0, and that of high-rise PCF-BRB structures should be 3.0 ≤ k ≤ 4.0.
Large Panel System Technology in the Second Half of the Twentieth Century—Literature Review, Recycling Possibilities and Research Gaps
Authors: Malazdrewicz Seweryn , Ostrowski Krzysztof Adam , Sadowski Łukasz
Published: November 2022

Large panel system (LPS) buildings, during the 1950s–1990s, were the most widespread among precast systems and are still a huge part of some national housing stocks. Disadvantages in characteristics, poor quality of all construction stages, sudden disasters and poor retrofit and repair techniques can result in demolishing some LPS buildings and thus the creation of huge amounts of waste. There is urgent need of evaluating the possibility of reusing the elements of LPS buildings. The novelty of the article is based on the formulation of research gaps in terms of recycling these buildings and the justification of such need. The authors reviewed the current state of knowledge regarding characteristics of LPS buildings, directions of retrofitting, durability and their locations within cities. The possibility of recycling elements of LPS buildings was analysed. The findings are that concrete load bearing panels, proved to be in satisfactory conditions in terms of strength and durability, have the possibility to be recycled into recycled coarse aggregate (RCA), so such waste could be beneficial for concrete. However, there are research gaps of such an application highlighted in the text. The authors suggest that conducting comprehensive basic research in this area could have significant benefits for the next generation of researchers and engineers.
Optimizing Window Configuration Counterbalancing Energy Saving and Indoor Visual Comfort for Sydney Dwellings
Authors: Sorooshnia Ehsan , Rashidi Maria , Rahnamayiezekavat Payam , Samali Bijan
Published: November 2022

Building penetrations are the most-potent elements providing daylight and moderating the lighting energy consumption and affecting indoor comfort and consequent energy usage. In a semi-tropical climate with a green environment such as Sydney, there is a radical demand to extend windows providing views. This research aims to optimize sunlight admission and maintain indoor comfort while minimizing energy consumption. The method for investigation is to simulate a multiobjective optimization using NSGA-II considering visual and thermal comfort along with energy usage and view of the outside. A combination of human and machine assessments responding to manual and microcontroller-operated indoor validating simulation improves the generalizability. The solutions were assessed for local codes compliance and double-checked against statistical sky conditions. Regarding north, a window-to-wall ratio of 10.7–20% delivers an optimum daylight metric, yielding a 12.16% decrease in energy use intensity. For an east-facing window, altering 26.4% of WWR decreases 2% in lighting energy and a provides a drastic change in visual comfort. Regarding west, changing WWR by about 51% brings about a 50% saving in lighting but no change in other energy loads. Regarding south, when window length is limited to 39% envelope width, it delivers the optimum energy consumption. This study covers visual and thermal comfort together with energy usage and view of the outside, which has not been investigated for southern hemisphere dwellings. A combined simulation and field measurement of human and machine assessment justifies the solutions.
Investigative Study on Adaptive Thermal Comfort in Office Buildings with Evaporative Cooling Systems (ECS) under Dry Hot Climate
Authors: Guo Yuang , Wang Yuxin
Published: November 2022

Evaporative cooling systems (ECS) in buildings, which are driven by cleaner and more sustainable energy, had been widely applied in recent years especially for the dry hot regions in summer. In this study, an investigation was conducted for office buildings by using ECS in Urumqi (China) from July to August 2021. Through subjective survey and objective measurements, 577 initial questionnaires and measured data were obtained. Outcomes showed that the indoor expectative temperature (Te) was received by 26.6 °C, 0.7 °C lower than neutral temperature (Tn). And the acceptable intervals for the 90% and 80% level were obtained at 27.1–28.9 °C and 26.4–30.3 °C, respectively. It appeared to possess a wider scope than that calculated by PMV algorithm, which further indicted that subjects have adapted to the local climate. Furthermore, the adjustment PMV models (ePMV, APMV) were found to have an effectively narrow gap comparing to the actual thermal sensation vote (TSV). The appropriate usage intervals of ePMV and APMV were quantified by Top < 27.6 °C/Top > 29.8 °C, 27.6 °C < Top < 29.8 °C, respectively. These findings may provide reference values for the revision of local energy-saving standard to some extent.
Numerical Investigations of Wind Loads on Spherical Structures with Various Types of Configurations
Authors: Wang Feng , Jiang Guoyi
Published: November 2022

Spherical structures with various design styles are encountered in engineering. Most studies have only examined the wind loads on hemispheres or smaller, which leads to a lack of wind-resistant design rules that cover all the styles of a spherical structure. In this study, a validated CFD model was used to systematically examine the wind loads on spherical structures with different apex-height-to-diameter ratios (ARs). The structure types ranged from different truncated spheres to whole spheres located at different distances above the ground. The results indicated that the largest positive mean pressure coefficient (Cp) at the windward surface gradually increased with AR. The structures were subjected to a strong suction effect at the crown of the sphere as well as its two sides and bottom. A polynomial approximation function for area-averaged Cp over the top area was derived to quickly determine the largest suction effect for all types of spherical structures. The drag and lift coefficients increased rapidly with AR and achieved their largest value when the structure was close to a whole sphere, while their changes were small for a whole sphere located far from the ground. Design suggestions were provided based on the results.