bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Endolymphatic Hydrops in Fluctuating Hearing Loss and Recurrent Vertigo
Authors: Domínguez Pablo , Manrique-Huarte Raquel , Suárez-Vega Víctor , López-Laguna Nieves , Guajardo Carlos , Pérez-Fernández Nicolás
Published: May 2021

Background: Endolymphatic hydrops (EH) is the histopathological hallmark of Ménière's disease (MD) and has been found by in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with several inner ear syndromes without definite MD criteria. The incidence and relevance of this finding is under debate.

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of EH and audiovestibular test results in groups of patients with fluctuating audiovestibular symptoms not fulfilling the actual criteria for definite MD and compare them with a similar group of patients with definite MD and a group of patients with recent idiopathic sudden neurosensory hearing loss (ISSNHL).

Material and Methods: 170 patients were included, 83 with definite MD, 38 with fluctuating sensorineural hearing loss, 34 with recurrent vertigo, and 15 with ISSNHL. The clinical variables, audiovestibular tests, and EH were evaluated and compared. Logistic proportional hazard models were used to obtain the odds ratio for hydrops development, including a multivariable adjusted model for potential confounders.

Results: No statistical differences between groups were found regarding disease duration, episodes, Tumarkin spells, migraine, vascular risk factors, or vestibular tests; only hearing loss showed differences. Regarding EH, we found significant differences between groups, with odds ratio (OR) for EH presence in definite MD group vs. all other patients of 11.43 (4.5–29.02; p < 0.001). If the ISSNHL group was used as reference, OR was 55.2 (11.9–253.9; p < 0.001) for the definite MD group, 9.9 (2.1–38.9; p = 0.003) for the recurrent vertigo group, and 5.1 (1.2–21.7; p = 0.03) for the group with fluctuating sensorineural hearing loss.

Conclusion: The percentage of patients with EH varies between groups. It is minimal in the ISSNHL group and increases in groups with increasing fluctuating audiovestibular symptoms, with a rate of severe EH similar to the known rate of progression to definite MD in those groups, suggesting that presence of EH by MRI could be related to the risk of progression to definite MD. Thus, EH imaging in these patients is recommended.
Air Traffic Management during Rare Events Such as a Pandemic: Paris Charles de Gaulle Case Study
Authors: Scala Paolo , Mujica Mota Miguel , Delahaye Daniel
Published: May 2021

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport was the second European airport in terms of traffic in 2019, having transported 76.2 million passengers. Its large infrastructures include four runways, a large taxiway network, and 298 aircraft parking stands (131 contact) among three terminals. With the current pandemic in place, the European air traffic network has declined by −65% flights when compared with 2019 traffic (pre-COVID-19), having a severe negative impact on the aviation industry. More and more often taxiways and runways are used as parking spaces for aircraft as consequence of the drastic decrease in air traffic. Furthermore, due to safety reasons, passenger terminals at many airports have been partially closed. In this work we want to study the effect of the reduction in the physical facilities at airports on airspace and airport capacity, especially in the Terminal Manoeuvring Area (TMA) airspace, and in the airport ground side. We have developed a methodology that considers rare events such as the current pandemic, and evaluates reduced access to airport facilities, considers air traffic management restrictions and evaluates the capacity of airport ground side and airspace. We built scenarios based on real public information on the current use of the airport facilities of Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport and conducted different experiments based on current and hypothetical traffic recovery scenarios. An already known optimization metaheuristic was implemented for optimizing the traffic with the aim of avoiding airspace conflicts and avoiding capacity overloads on the ground side. The results show that the main bottleneck of the system is the terminal capacity, as it starts to become congested even at low traffic (35% of 2019 traffic). When the traffic starts to increase, a ground delay strategy is effective for mitigating airspace conflicts; however, it reveals the need for additional runways.
Screen Oilseed Rape (Brassica napus) Suitable for Low-Loss Mechanized Harvesting
Authors: Qing Yiren , Li Yaoming , Xu Lizhang , Ma Zheng
Published: May 2021

The main reason for the massive loss of rapeseed in mechanized harvesting is the mismatch between the harvester requirements and the pod shatter resistance and plant branching characteristics. Low pod resistance, entanglement caused by excessive branches, and inconsistent pod maturity are primary mismatch problems. However, studies on rape characteristics by integrating agricultural machinery and agronomy are limited. A total of 15 varieties were planted for research from 2016 to 2018. In this paper, the Two-Degree-of-Freedom (2-DOF) collision method was adopted to evaluate the pod shatter resistance taken from the field, and the plant agronomic characteristics and their correlation were investigated. In 2020, a screened variety of C6009 with higher shatter resistance and suitable plant features for mechanized harvesting was planted in large areas and harvested by machines for verification. The test results demonstrated that the compact plant varieties with high branches might be more favorable for yield and shatter resistance. The field harvest loss of the screened variety was significantly less than that of the control group. It provides a reliable reference for agronomic experts in terms of rape variety improvement and agricultural machinery experts regarding the optimization of rape harvesters.
Livelihood Adaptation of Rural Households under Livelihood Stress: Evidence from Sichuan Province, China
Authors: Yang Xue , Guo Shili , Deng Xin , Xu Dingde
Published: May 2021

The welfare of many poor and low-income rural households is vulnerable to earthquakes and secondary geological disasters. The academic literature, however, pays little attention to the livelihood pressure, adaptability, and livelihood strategies of these households. Based on the survey data of 327 rural households in the Wenchuan and Lushan earthquake-stricken areas in the Sichuan Province, the livelihood pressure, adaptability, and livelihood strategy characteristics of rural households were analyzed, and the disordered multi-classification logistic regression model was constructed to explore the correlation between the above-mentioned variables. The results show that: (1) Rural households face the greatest economic pressure and the least social pressure; rural households have the strongest adaptability in social capital and the lowest adaptability in financial capital. The proportion of rural households that chose the aid livelihood strategy was the highest, while the proportion of rural households that chose the adjustment livelihood strategy was the lowest. (2) Compared with the expanded livelihood strategy, (a) When the health pressure is higher, the rural households are more inclined to choose the expanded livelihood strategy, followed by the contractive livelihood strategy and, finally, the aid livelihood strategies; (b), the higher the physical capital, the more often the rural households tend to choose the expanded livelihood strategy compared to the adjustment livelihood strategy; (c), The higher the financial capital of farm households, the more they prefer contractive livelihood strategies compared to the expanded livelihood strategy and (d), compared with the aid livelihood strategy, rural households with greater economic pressure are more inclined to choose the expanded livelihood strategy.This study can provide a reference for the establishment of relevant policies related to the adaptation capacity of rural households in the earthquake hazard zone.
Influence of Emitter Structure on Its Hydraulic Performance Based on the Vortex
Authors: Wang Cuncai , Li Zhiqin , Ma Juanjuan
Published: May 2021

The rectangular labyrinth emitter is taken as the study object in this article, as we added internal teeth to vortex-free and vortex areas in its lateral channel or lengthened the vertical channel, to change the channel structure. Using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method simulates the water flow field, to get the relationship between flow rate and pressure, and the vortexes distribution in channel. The aim of this study is to explore the reasons for the influence of structural change on hydraulic performance of the emitter through the analysis of vortex intensity and its distribution from the perspective of the vortex. The results show that the relative error of simulated results and experimental data was 1.02–2.11%. Adding internal teeth to vortex-free areas in lateral channel can improve hydraulic performance of the emitter; adding them to vortex areas can reduce it. The increase in vortex number and intensity in flow field is the internal reason for the improvement of the emitter’s hydraulic performance. The channel structure changes promote the formation of a larger velocity gradient, and the increase in the velocity gradient in flow field exacerbates vortex formation. Changing channel structure to improve the emitter’s hydraulic performance can promote an increase in the number and intensity of vortexes in the channel.
A Simple Agro-Economic Model for Optimal Farm Nitrogen Application under Yield Uncertainty
Authors: Berbel Julio , Martínez-Dalmau Javier
Published: May 2021

Farmers in the developed world tend to over-apply fertilizer, and we explore a model for decision-making under uncertainty in yields. This article proposes an agro-economic model for farmer decision-making based on subjective expected yield and crop response to fertilization. The model explores subjective yield probability distributions that are both better suited to subjective crop yields than the previously proposed probability distribution and is easier to extract from farmers. The model allows the analysis of the impact of changes in fertilizer price and variance of expected yields. The model result is consistent with observed farmer behavior based on the rule of “fertilizing for the good years” that appears, according to our model, as rational and consistent with expected profit maximization under yield uncertainty since the cost of over-application is lower than that of the opportunity cost of under-application. The goal of increasing the efficiency of nitrogen use requires both technical innovation and an expansion of the knowledge on the socioeconomic factors underlying excessive crop fertilization that must be improved both to meet future food demands and to prevent environmental degradation and climate change.
Ovaries of Chrysanthemum Irradiated with High-Energy Photons and High-Energy Electrons Can Regenerate Plants with Novel Traits
Authors: Miler Natalia , Jedrzejczyk Iwona , Jakubowski Seweryn , Winiecki Janusz
Published: May 2021

Classical mutation breeding using physical factors is a common breeding method for ornamental crops. The aim of our study was to examine the utility of ovaries excised from irradiated inflorescences of Chrysanthemum × morifolium (Ramat.) as explants for breeding purposes. We studied the in vitro regeneration capacity of the ovaries of two chrysanthemum cultivars: ‘Profesor Jerzy’ and ‘Karolina’ preceded by irradiation with high-energy photons (total dose 5, 10 and 15 Gy) and high-energy electrons (total dose 10 Gy). Growth and inflorescence parameters of greenhouse acclimatized regenerants were recorded, and ploidy level was estimated with flow cytometry. The strong impact of genotype on regeneration efficiency was recorded—cultivar ‘Karolina’ produced only 7 viable shoots, while ‘Profesor Jerzy’ produced totally 428 shoots. With an increase of irradiation dose, the regeneration decreased, the least responsive were explants irradiated with 15 Gy high-energy photons and 10 Gy high-energy electrons. Regenerants of ‘Profesor Jerzy’ obtained from these explants possessed shorter stem and flowered later. The highest number of stable, color and shape inflorescence variations were obtained from explants treated with 10 Gy high-energy photons. Variations of inflorescences were predominantly changes of shape—from full to semi-full. New color phenotypes were dark yellow, light yellow and pinkish, among them only the dark yellow phenotype remained stable during second year cultivation. None of the regenerants were haploid. The application of ovaries irradiated within the whole inflorescence of chrysanthemum can be successfully applied in the breeding programs, provided the mother cultivar regenerate in vitro efficiently.
One Step Bioremediation of Olive-Oil-Mill Waste by Organoinorganic Catalyst for Humics-Rich Soil Conditioner Production
Authors: Roulia Maria , Kontezaki Evangelia , Kalogeropoulos Nikolaos , Chassapis Konstantinos
Published: May 2021

A new, simple, and rapid one-step integrated method for the biotechnology treatment of raw olive oil mill waste (OMW) is discussed. The innovations introduced involve primarily the application of microaerobic composting processes for OMW bioremediation plus the addition of both a zeolite and a tailor-made biocatalyst extremely rich in soil microorganisms. The latter operates at a wide pH range and provides, apart from soil microorganisms, nutrients to the compost, enhancement to the bio-oxidative phase and acceleration of biochemical reactions during bioremediation. The basic parameters affecting the bioprocess, i.e., electrical conductivity, pH, C/N ratio, specific weight, ash, organic matter, total organic carbon, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, microorganisms, humic substances, and total polyphenols, were monitored systematically to provide insight into the process and evaluate the product obtained. After a biotreatment of just 60 d, a significant reduction in polyphenols (91.4%) and an increased humic substances content (8%)—both serving as maturation indices—were observed. The OMW compost received is stable, free of toxic compounds and pathogens, affords a richness in cenose and a high humic substances content, both vital for soil fertility. Applications of the OMW product received, both in laboratory-scale and field cultivations, confirm its suitability as a first-class soil conditioner for organic farming.
My Cat and Me—A Study of Cat Owner Perceptions of Their Bond and Relationship
Authors: Ines Mauro , Ricci-Bonot Claire , Mills Daniel S.
Published: May 2021

Cats form close emotional relationships with humans, yet little is known about this. This study characterized different types of relationship that cats might establish with their owners. Data were analyzed from 3994 responses to a questionnaire developed using expressions of social support and attachment in relation to everyday cat–owner interactions. Principal component analysis reduced the items to four factors: the “owner’s emotional investment in the cat”, “cat’s acceptance of others”, “cat’s need for owner proximity” and “cat’s aloofness”. Cluster identified three groups of owners with two of these each sub-divided into two. The “open relationship bond” was characterized by a lightly emotionally invested owner and an avoidant cat. The “remote association” and “casual relationship” were characterized by an emotionally remote owner but differed in the cat’s acceptance of others. The “co-dependent” and “friendship” relationship were characterized by an emotionally invested owner but differed in the cat’s acceptance of others and need to maintain owner proximity. In conclusion, as with any complex social relationship, the type of cat–owner bond that develops is the product of the dynamic that exists between both the individuals involved, along with certain personality features, of which, the wider sociability of the cat and owner expectations may be particularly important.
The Impact of Age at First Lambing on Milk Yield and Lactation Length in a Population of Istrian Sheep under Semi-Intensive Management
Authors: Kasap Ante , Ramljak Jelena , Mioč Boro , Držaić Valentino , Širić Ivan , Jurković Darko , Špehar Marija
Published: May 2021

This study aimed to examine the impact of ewe’s age at first lambing (AFL) on days in milk (DIM), average daily milk yield (DMY), and total milk yield (TMY). Symmetrical bimodal distribution of AFL enabled classification of maidens in those mated in the first (47%) or second year of life (53%). After accounting for all available sources of phenotypic variability with the linear mixed model for repeated records, it was estimated that AFL had a statistically significant effect only on DIM (p < 0.001). The litter size had a significant effect only on TMY (p < 0.001), while the effect of the parity was significant for all the examined traits (p < 0.001). The results of the study suggest that prolongation of age at first mating to the second year of life is not justified in dairy-orientated sheep farms. However, more evidence on this issue is needed for generalization, especially considering some other traits that can impact profitability of dual-purpose sheep farms (reproduction traits, growth rate of lambs, etc.).
The Expression of Selected Wnt Pathway Members (FZD6, AXIN2 and β-Catenin) in Canine Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Acanthomatous Ameloblastoma
Authors: Putnová Barbora , Putnová Iveta , Škorič Miša , Buchtová Marcela
Published: May 2021

The Wnt signaling pathway is well known to be involved in many types of human cancer; however, in veterinary medicine, the investigation of individual Wnt members’ expression, and their role in or association with oral tumor pathogenesis, is still underevaluated. We aim to determine the expression pattern of Frizzled-6 (FZD6) as one of the Wnt receptors in two of the most common canine oral neoplastic lesions—canine oral squamous cell carcinoma (COSCC) and canine acanthomatous ameloblastoma (CAA). While COSCC is a malignant tumor with aggressive biological behavior and a tendency to metastasize, CAA is a benign tumor with high local invasiveness. In CAA, the expression of FZD6 was mostly located in the center of the epithelial tumorous tissue, and cells exhibiting features of squamous metaplasia were strongly positive. In well-differentiated COSCC, FZD6 was expressed in the tumorous epithelium as well as the tumorous stroma. There was a negative correlation between cytokeratin expression and FZD6 expression in COSCC, where the central parts of the epithelial tumorous tissue were often FZD6-negative. The non-differentiated COSCC with low expression of cytokeratin exhibited a diffuse FZD6 signal. The invasive front with areas of tumor budding exhibited high FZD6 expression with a loss of cytokeratin expression. Moreover, the expression of β-catenin and AXIN2 was increased in comparison to gingiva. In conclusion, our study revealed significant differences in the expression patterns and the levels of FZD6 between COSCC and CAA, indicating the differential engagement of the Wnt pathway in these tumors.
Antitumor Potential of Lippia citriodora Essential Oil in Breast Tumor-Bearing Mice
Authors: Spyridopoulou Katerina , Aravidou Tamara , Lampri Evangeli , Effraimidou Eleni , Pappa Aglaia , Chlichlia Katerina
Published: May 2021

Lippia citriodora is a flowering plant cultivated for its lemon-scented leaves and used in folk medicine for the preparation of tea for the alleviation of symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders, cold, and asthma. The oil extracted from the plant leaves was shown to possess antioxidant potential and to exert antiproliferative activity against breast cancer. The aim of this study was to further investigate potential antitumor effects of L. citriodora oil (LCO) on breast cancer. The in vitro antiproliferative activity of LCO was examined against murine DA3 breast cancer cells by the sulforhodamine B assay. We further explored the LCO’s pro-apoptotic potential with the Annexin-PI method. The LCO’s anti-migratory effect was assessed by the wound-healing assay. LCO was found to inhibit the growth of DA3 cells in vitro, attenuate their migration, and induce apoptosis. Finally, oral administration of LCO for 14 days in mice inhibited by 55% the size of developing tumors in the DA3 murine tumor model. Noteworthy, in the tumor tissue of LCO-treated mice the apoptotic marker cleaved caspase-3 was elevated, while a reduced protein expression of survivin was observed. These results indicate that LCO, as a source of bioactive compounds, has a very interesting nutraceutical potential.
Evaluation of Slope Stability in an Urban Area as a Basis for Territorial Planning: A Case Study
Authors: Carrión-Mero Paúl , Briones-Bitar Josué , Morante-Carballo Fernando , Stay-Coello David , Blanco-Torrens Roberto , Berrezueta Edgar
Published: May 2021

Slope stability is determined by pre-conditioning and triggering factors. The evaluation of the stability by scientific criteria provides crucial input into land-use planning and development. This work aimed to evaluate the slope stability of “Las Cabras” hill (Duran, Ecuador) through geological and geotechnical analysis and a susceptibility assessment that allowed the definition of areas potentially susceptible to landslide and detachment for land planning recommendations. The methodology included (i) analysis of background information about the study area; (ii) fieldwork, sampling and laboratory tests; (iii) assessment of susceptibility to landslides and detachment through a theoretical–practical evaluation (using suggestions by various authors); (iv) a safety factor assessment employing the simplified Bishop method; and (v) analysis of the relationship between susceptibility and stability. Sixteen geomechanical stations were evaluated. Of these, seven stations are characterised as category III (medium susceptibility), six stations as category IV (high susceptibility) and three stations as category V (very high susceptibility). According to the susceptibility zoning map, 58.09% of the total area (36.36 Ha) is in the high to very high susceptibility category. The stability analysis based on 16 critical profiles shows that three of these profiles have safety factor values of less than one (0.86, 0.82 and 0.76, respectively), and two profiles have values close to one (1.02 and 1.00). The northern area is conditioned mainly by a vertical slope with an outcrop of fractured and weathered sandstones, thereby favouring rockfall. The landslide vulnerability in the case of the southern zone is principally conditioned by the fact that the slope and dip are parallel. The described characterisation and susceptibility analysis provide a basis for security measures and territorial planning.
A Metric and Visualization of Completeness in Multi-Dimensional Data Sets of Sensor and Actuator Data Applied to a Condition Monitoring Use Case
Authors: Weiß Iris , Vogel-Heuser Birgit
Published: May 2021

The so-called ‘Industrie 4.0’ provides high potential for data-driven methods in automated production systems. However, sensor and actuator data gathered during normal operation of the system is often limited to a narrow range of single, specific operating points. This limitation also restricts the significance of condition-based maintenance models, which are trained to the narrow data. In order to reveal the structure of such multi-dimensional data sets and detect deficiencies, this paper derives a data quality metric and visualization. The metric observes the feature space and evaluates the completeness of data. In the best case, the observations utilize the whole feature space, meaning all different combinations of the variables are present in the data. Low metric values indicate missing combinations, reducing the representativeness of the data. In this way, appropriate countermeasures can be taken if relevant data is missing. For evaluation, a data set of an industrial test bed for condition monitoring of control valves is used. It is shown that the state-of-the-art metrics and visualizations cannot detect deficiencies of completeness in multi-dimensional data sets. In contrast, the proposed heat map enables the expert to locate limitations in multi-dimensional data sets.
Developing an Assisting Device to Reduce the Vibration on the Hands of Elders
Authors: Phan Van Hieu , Ngo Ha Quang Thinh
Published: May 2021

In our society, elderly people are one of the most vulnerable classes. At present, aging in the population is becoming a more and more serious issue. This might lead to several diseases related to aging such as Parkinson’s disease. From the viewpoint of assistive techniques, a device for disadvantaged groups should be created to lessen some of the inconveniences in their lives. Therefore, in this paper, a wearable mechanism to suppress axial vibration is proposed for people who suffer from unexpected tremors in their daily lives. Some investigations on Parkinson’s patients were carried out to infer their characteristics. A dynamic model of the gyroscopic system was then analyzed to formulate interactive torques in the working space. The control input was quantified concerning balancing the system state from the kinetic energy and using the feedback linearization technique. The framework of the proposed device was then described via mechanical analysis and prototype design. To validate the effectiveness of our approach, the system’s mathematical dynamics were simulated in a MATLAB environment. In a frequency range of 2–6 Hz, the system response adapted well to axial tremors. Our hardware in the proposed design was tested in different test scenarios such as in non-gyro- and gyro-based tremor suppression for real-world applications. Hand tremors were measured using wearable equipment with various levels of amplitude. From these results, it is clear that our method could have an effectiveness of up to 92.6%, which is considerably better than that in the non-gyro case. Hence, this innovative mechanism is expected to be employed in the fields of medical assistance, health care services, and robotics.
Influence of Construction Joint and Bridge Geometry on Integral Abutment Bridges
Authors: Kim Wooseok , Laman Jeffrey A. , Zareian Farzin , Min Geunhyung , Lee Dohyung
Published: May 2021

Although integral abutment bridges (IABs) have become a preferred construction choice for short- to medium-length bridges, they still have unclear bridge design guidelines. As IABs are supported by nonlinear boundaries, bridge geometric parameters strongly affect IAB behavior and complicate predicting the bridge response for design and assessment purposes. This study demonstrates the effect of four dominant parameters: (1) girder material, (2) bridge length, (3) backfill height, and (4) construction joint below girder seats on the response of IABs to the rise and fall of AASHTO extreme temperature with time-dependent effects in concrete materials. The effect of factors influencing bridge response, such as (1) bridge construction timeline, (2) concrete thermal expansion coefficient, (3) backfill stiffness, and (4) pile-soil stiffness, are assumed to be constant. To compare girder material and bridge geometry influence, the study evaluates four critical superstructure and substructure response parameters: (1) girder axial force, (2) girder bending moment, (3) pile moment, and (4) pile head displacement. All IAB bridge response values were strongly related to the four considered parameters, while they were not always linearly proportional. Prestressed concrete (PSC) bridge response did not differ significantly from the steel bridge response. Forces and moments in the superstructure and the substructure induced by thermal movements and time-dependent loads were not negligible and should be considered in the design process.
Digital Geological Mapping to Facilitate Field Data Collection, Integration, and Map Production in Zhoukoudian, China
Authors: Wang Chengbin , Wang Xinqing , Chen Jianguo
Published: May 2021

The development of innovative information technologies has improved the geological mapping process through the use of smart and portable equipment to collect field data, build a geological database and produce geological maps. This revolution has also brought great influence and challenges to practical training in field geology. In this paper, we present our workflow and application of the Digital Geological Survey System (DGSS) during field geology training for undergraduates in Zhoukoudian. The DGSS employs a Point-Routing-Boundary (PRB) model to reform the methods of geological section survey and geological mapping in terms of data collection and map-making and provides a pipelined solution from field data collection to map-making. The experiences of data collection, geological mapping, cross-section survey, and production of stratigraphic histograms and cross-section maps prove that DGSS can save time and reduce labor intensity for undergraduates during learning field geology. Based on the field practice of undergraduates in Zhoukoudian, the influence of the DGSS in promoting field geological teaching and the students’ feedbacks to DGSS are discussed. Overall, the DGM system is more popular than the conventional notebook and toolbox. The experience in Zhoukoudian proves that digital devices are efficient and useful for geological practical training of field geology for undergraduates.
Integrating Predictive Maintenance in Adaptive Process Scheduling for a Safe and Efficient Industrial Process
Authors: Görür Orhan Can , Yu Xin , Sivrikaya Fikret
Published: May 2021

Predictive maintenance (PM) algorithms are widely applied for detecting operational anomalies on industrial processes to schedule for a maintenance intervention before a possible breakdown; however, much less focus has been devoted to the use of such prognostics in process scheduling. The existing solutions mostly integrate preventive approaches to protect the machines, usually causing downtimes. The premise of this study is to develop a process scheduling mechanism that selects an acceptable operating condition for an industrial process to adapt to the predicted anomalies. As PM is largely a data-driven approach (hence, it relies on the setup), we first compare different PM approaches and identify a one-class support vector machine (OCSVM) as the best performing option for the anomaly detection on our setup. Then, we propose a novel pipeline to integrate maintenance predictions into a real-time, adaptive process scheduling mechanism. According to the abnormal readings, it schedules for the most suitable operation, i.e., optimizing for machine health and process efficiency, toward preventing breakdowns while maintaining its availability and operational state, thereby reducing downtimes. To demonstrate the pipeline on the action, we implement our approach on a small-scale conveyor belt, utilizing our Internet of Things (IoT) framework. The results show that our PM-based adaptive process control retains an efficient process under abnormal conditions with less or no downtime. We also conclude that a PM approach does not provide sufficient efficiency without its integration into an autonomous planning process.
Eye State Identification Based on Discrete Wavelet Transforms
Authors: Laport Francisco , Castro Paula M. , Dapena Adriana , Vazquez-Araujo Francisco J. , Fresnedo Oscar
Published: May 2021

We present a prototype to identify eye states from electroencephalography signals captured from one or two channels. The hardware is based on the integration of low-cost components, while the signal processing algorithms combine discrete wavelet transform and linear discriminant analysis. We consider different parameters: nine different wavelets and two features extraction strategies. A set of experiments performed in real scenarios allows to compare the performance in order to determine a configuration with high accuracy and short response delay.
Protective Effect of Wheat and Barley Grass Against the Acute Toxicological Effects of the Concurrent Administration of Excessive Heavy Metals in Drinking Water on the Rats Liver and Brain
Authors: Eldamaty Hanan S.E. , Elbasiouny Heba , Elmoslemany Amira M. , Abd El-Maoula Lamiaa M. , El-Desoky Ola Ibrahim , Rehan Medhat , Abd El Moneim Diaa , Zedan Amina
Published: May 2021

Heavy metal contaminated water is a great concern because of its high toxiciy, non-biodegradability, and bioaccumulation. Therefore, non-contaminated water is fundamental for a healthy life. Special attention is paid to the health-promoting ingredients of germinated whole cereal products. This study aimed to (1) examine the potentially harmful effects of Cu, Mn, and Zn on rat livers and brains, and (2) the potentially protective action of wheat and barley grasses against the expected harmful effects of these metals. The rats were treated with water contaminated by heavy metals (HMs) and germinated wheat and barley for 60 days. The rat liver functions and histopathological examinations were analyzed. Comet assay was evaluated to assess the damage in the DNA of rat livers and brains. The results indicated a significant alteration in liver functions in rats exposed to HMs; however, wheat and barley grasses at high doses decreased the harmful effects. An insignificant difference was noticed in total protein, albumin, and globulin of rats treated with HMs compared with the control. A significant increase in the serum and liver levels of HMs was recorded; however, they were reduced by wheat and barley grasses. Rat livers treated with HMs exhibited severe histological effects. The groups treated with wheat and barley grasses showed a normal liver architecture. A significant increase in DNA damage in the livers and brains was observed in rats treated with HMs, which was reduced when treated with wheat and barley grasses. Thus, using germinated seeds is promising to avoid damaging of HMs.
A Combined Vermifiltration-Hydroponic System for Swine Wastewater Treatment
Authors: Ispolnov Kirill , Aires Luis M. I. , Lourenço Nídia D. , Vieira Judite S.
Published: May 2021

Intensive swine farming causes strong local environmental impacts by generating effluents rich in solids, organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, and pathogenic bacteria. Insufficient treatment of hog farm effluents has been reported for common technologies, and vermifiltration is considered a promising treatment alternative that, however, requires additional processes to remove nitrate and phosphorus. This work aimed to study the use of vermifiltration with a downstream hydroponic culture to treat hog farm effluents. A treatment system comprising a vermifilter and a downstream deep-water culture hydroponic unit was built. The treated effluent was reused to dilute raw wastewater. Electrical conductivity, pH, and changes in BOD5, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphorus, and coliform bacteria were assessed. Plants were monitored throughout the experiment. Electrical conductivity increased due to vermifiltration; pH stayed within a neutral to mild alkaline range. Vermifiltration removed 83% of BOD5, 99% of ammonia and nitrite, and increased nitrate by 11%. Hydroponic treatment removed BOD5 (63%), ammonia (100%), nitrite (66%), nitrate (27%), and phosphorus (47% total and 44% dissolved) from vermifiltered water. Coliforms were reduced by vermifiltration but recovered in the hydroponic unit. Plants showed the ability to grow on vermifiltered wastewater, although requiring nutrient supplementation. Vermifiltration combined with hydroponics is a promising treatment for swine wastewater, although optimization will be needed for a sustainable real-scale implementation.
Studies of High Molybdenum-Induced Copper Deprivation in P. przewalskii on the Qinghai Lake Pasture in China
Authors: Zhai Bowen , Zhao Kui , Liu Fuyuan , Shen Xiaoyun
Published: May 2021

The Przewalski’s Gazelles (P. przewalskii) are affected by disorders that are characterized by deprived appetites, pica, emaciation and dyskinesia. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility of high molybdenum (Mo) in forage leading to copper (Cu) deprivation. The mineral contents in forage, soil, and samples of hair and blood from affected ranges were compared to healthy pasture. Blood parameters were also determined. Our results showed that the mean content of Mo in forage and soil in studied pasture was 5.17 and 4.17 μg/g, respectively. The Cu to Mo ratio in forage from affected and healthy areas was 1.26 and 5.89 μg/g, respectively. The Cu concentrations in hair and blood from gazelles in affected pasture were extremely lower (p < 0.01) than those in unaffected animals. The Mo contents in hair were higher (p < 0.01) than those in unaffected gazelles. The levels of Hb, RBC, PCV, MCV, and MCH in unaffected gazelles were significantly lower (p < 0.01) than those in unaffected gazelles. The levels of TP, ALB and GLB in blood were significantly lower (p < 0.01) than those in unaffected gazelles, while the levels of AST, LDH, CPK and ALP in serum were significantly higher (p < 0.01) than those in unaffected gazelles. The activities in serum T-AOC, SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT in affected gazelles were extremely lower (p < 0.01) than those in unaffected gazelles, while MDA was significantly higher (p < 0.01) than that in unaffected gazelles. Supplementation in copper sulphate (CuSO4) has prevented and cured this disorder. In summary, high molybdenum in feed and soil may lead to secondary Cu deficiency in gazelles, which can be alleviated by supplement of copper sulfate.
A Novel Life Prediction Model Based on Monitoring Electrical Properties of Self-Sensing Cement-Based Materials
Authors: Adresi Mostafa , Tulliani Jean-Marc , Lacidogna Giuseppe , Antonaci Paola
Published: May 2021

Assessing the damage level in concrete infrastructures over time is a critical issue to plan their timely maintenance with proper actions. Self-sensing concretes offer new opportunities for damage assessment by monitoring their electrical properties and relating their variations to damage levels. In this research, fatigue tests were conducted to study the response of a self-sensing concrete under high-cycle dynamic loading. The concept of G-value was defined as the slope of the voltage response baseline of the self-sensing concrete over time that reflects the damage created under the fatigue-loading test. Based on this definition, log (G)–log (N) curves were obtained using a linear regression approach, with N representing the number of cycles during the fatigue tests. While traditional fatigue curves S-log (N) are used to estimate the remaining life under fatigue loading, log (G)–log (N) diagrams can be used to determine the damage level based on the voltage response of the self-sensing concrete as a function of the loading history. This finding can be useful for the estimation of the lifetime and remaining life of self-sensing concrete structures and infrastructure, eventually helping to optimize the related maintenance operations.
A Microcomputed Tomographic Evaluation of Root Canal Morphology of Maxillary Second Premolars in a Pakistani Cohort
Authors: Alkahtany Mazen F. , Ali Saqib , Khabeer Abdul , Shah Shafqat A. , Almadi Khalid H. , Abdulwahed Abdulaziz , Farooq Imran , Vohra Fahim , Abduljabbar Tariq
Published: May 2021

This study aimed to investigate variations in the root canal morphology of maxillary second premolar (MSP) teeth using microcomputed tomography (micro-CT). Sixty (N = 60) human extracted MSPs were collected and prepared for micro-CT scanning. The duration for scanning a single sample ranged between 30 and 40 min and a three-dimensional (3-D) image was obtained for all the MSPs. The images were evaluated by a single observer who recorded the canal morphology type, number of roots, canal orifices, apical foramina(s), apical delta(s), and accessory canals. The root canal configuration was categorized in agreement with Vertucci’s classification, and any configuration not in agreement with Vertucci’s classification was reported as an “additional canal configuration”. Descriptive statistics (such as mean percentages) were calculated using SPSS software. The most common types agreeing with Vertucci’s classification (in order of highest to lowest incidence) were types I, III, V, VII, II, and VI. The teeth also exhibited four additional configurations that were different from Vertucci’s classification: types 2-3, 1-2-3, 2-1-2-1, and 1-2-1-3. A single root was found in 96.7% and the majority of the samples demonstrated two canals (73.3%). Further, 80% of the teeth showed one canal orifice. The number of apical foramina’s in the teeth was variable, with 56.7% having solitary apical foramen. The accessory canal was found in 33.3%, and apical delta was found in only 20% of the samples. Variable morphology of the MSPs was detected in our study. The canal configuration most prevalent was type 1; however, the results also revealed some additional canal types.
Current Challenges and Future Opportunities for XAI in Machine Learning-Based Clinical Decision Support Systems: A Systematic Review
Authors: Antoniadi Anna Markella , Du Yuhan , Guendouz Yasmine , Wei Lan , Mazo Claudia , Becker Brett A. , Mooney Catherine
Published: May 2021

Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI) more broadly have great immediate and future potential for transforming almost all aspects of medicine. However, in many applications, even outside medicine, a lack of transparency in AI applications has become increasingly problematic. This is particularly pronounced where users need to interpret the output of AI systems. Explainable AI (XAI) provides a rationale that allows users to understand why a system has produced a given output. The output can then be interpreted within a given context. One area that is in great need of XAI is that of Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSSs). These systems support medical practitioners in their clinic decision-making and in the absence of explainability may lead to issues of under or over-reliance. Providing explanations for how recommendations are arrived at will allow practitioners to make more nuanced, and in some cases, life-saving decisions. The need for XAI in CDSS, and the medical field in general, is amplified by the need for ethical and fair decision-making and the fact that AI trained with historical data can be a reinforcement agent of historical actions and biases that should be uncovered. We performed a systematic literature review of work to-date in the application of XAI in CDSS. Tabular data processing XAI-enabled systems are the most common, while XAI-enabled CDSS for text analysis are the least common in literature. There is more interest in developers for the provision of local explanations, while there was almost a balance between post-hoc and ante-hoc explanations, as well as between model-specific and model-agnostic techniques. Studies reported benefits of the use of XAI such as the fact that it could enhance decision confidence for clinicians, or generate the hypothesis about causality, which ultimately leads to increased trustworthiness and acceptability of the system and potential for its incorporation in the clinical workflow. However, we found an overall distinct lack of application of XAI in the context of CDSS and, in particular, a lack of user studies exploring the needs of clinicians. We propose some guidelines for the implementation of XAI in CDSS and explore some opportunities, challenges, and future research needs.
Advances in Piezoelectric Jet and Atomization Devices
Authors: Yan Qiufeng , You Jiahan , Sun Wanting , Wang Ying , Wang Hongmei , Zhang Lei
Published: May 2021

In recent years, the piezoelectric jet and atomization devices have exhibited tremendous advantages including their simple construction, and the fact that they are discreet and portable as well as low cost. They have been widely used in cell printing, spray cooling, drug delivery, and other industry fields. First, in this paper, two different concepts of jet and atomization are defined, respectively. Secondly, based on these two concepts, the piezoelectric jet and atomization devices can be divided into two different categories: piezoelectric micro jet device and piezoelectric atomization device. According to the organizational structure, piezoelectric micro jet devices can be classified into four different models: bend mode, push mode, squeeze mode, and shear mode. In addition, their development history and structural characteristics are summarized, respectively. According to the location of applied energy, there are two kinds of piezoelectric atomization devices, i.e., the static mesh atomization device and the vibration mesh atomization device, and both their advantages and drawbacks are discussed. The research achievements are summarized in three aspects of cell printing, spray cooling, and drug delivery. Finally, the future development trends of piezoelectric jet and atomization devices are prospected and forecasted.
Shallow vs. Deep Subsurface Structures of Central Luconia Province, Offshore Malaysia Reveal by Aeromagnetic, Airborne Gravity and Seismic Data
Authors: Jamaludin Siti Nur Fathiyah , Pubellier Manuel , Sautter Benjamin
Published: May 2021

Across the Luconia continental shelf, the nature and structures of the crust are lacking geological understanding and precise characterization. Newly acquired, aeromagnetic, and airborne gravity data were used to assess deep and shallow sub-surface signals within the Central Luconia Province, off the coast of Sarawak, offshore Malaysia. Regional aeromagnetic anomalies appear to primarily reflect deep crustal features while depth (Z) tensors of airborne gravity anomalies evidence shallow subsurface structures. Strike directions of the interpreted structural trend on aeromagnetic and airborne gravity anomalies maps are measured and plotted into rose diagrams to distinguish the structural orientations for all datasets. Signature patterns extracted from the depth profiles were correlated with parallel seismic lines and nearest exploration wells and coincide well with the top of carbonate for Cycle IV/V and structures seen within the Cycle I and II sediments. The orientation of faults/lineaments at shallower depth is dominated by a NW-SE orientation, similar with the faults extracted from two recently published structural maps. Deeper subsurface sections yielded E-W to NWW-SEE dominant directions which were never presented in the published literature. The E-W oriented anomalies are postulated to represent the remnants of the accretion between the Luconia crustal block and southern boundary of the Palawan block. The NW-SE trend follows the same direction as prominent faults in the region. The insight into shallow and deep subsurface structures in Central Luconia Province imaged through airborne gravity and aeromagnetic data should provide guidelines and complementary information for regional structural studies for this area, particularly in combination with detailed seismic interpretation. Further evaluation on the response of Air-FTG® gravity and aeromagnetic could lead to the zonation of potential basement highs and hydrocarbon prospects in this area.
Perception Mechanism of Bone-Conducted Ultrasound and Its Clinical Use
Authors: Nishimura Tadashi , Okayasu Tadao , Yamashita Akinori , Hosoi Hiroshi , Kitahara Tadashi
Published: May 2021

It is generally believed that ultrasound cannot be heard. However, ultrasound is audible when it is presented through bone conduction. Bone-conducted ultrasound (BCU) has unique characteristics; the most interesting is its perception in patients with profound deafness. Some patients can perceive it and discriminate speech-modulated BCU. Previous reports have suggested that BCU can be used for a hearing aid or tinnitus sound therapy. In this review, the perception of BCU at both the peripheral and central levels was investigated based on previous studies, although some of them remain controversial. We also investigated the clinical use of BCU. To develop hearing aids utilizing BCU, the encoding of speech signals into BCU has to be established. The outcomes of the reported speech modulations were evaluated. Furthermore, the suppression of tinnitus by BCU was reviewed, and the feasibility of the application of BCU to tinnitus treatment was investigated.