bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Medical Support for Space Missions: The Case of the SIRIUS Project
Authors: Fedyay Stefania , Niiazov Arslan , Ponomarev Sergey , Polyakov Aleksei , Belakovskiy Mark , Orlov Oleg
Published: May 2023

Medical support is one of the essential safety conditions for isolation or confinement experiments, as it enables the timely arrangement of actions to preserve the health of crew members and volunteers. Such analog experiments allow the testing of prospective medical technologies and methods for health support in long-term space missions and on-planet stations. In the current paper, we report the results of the medical control within the medical support system of the two model isolation experiments of the SIRIUS series, lasting for 4 and 8 months, respectively. The results indicate the prevalence of headache complaints, skin inflammatory reactions, and sleep disturbance during the longer confinement experiment. In addition, signs of vitamin D deficiency were revealed in 10 of the 12 objects. The data exchange with the scientific branch of the experiments provides for the in-time detection of early symptoms of disease, using samples of blood, urine, saliva, epithelia, etc. However, the issues of medical data confidence and, subsequently, of the crew members’ compliance with the medical staff, become pointed. In general, the work demonstrates the expediency of the investigations, including the data collection and analysis of the medical control indicators in further experiments, for the optimization of the medical support of both the analogous research projects and the development of the recommendations for the medical support of small autonomous groups, such as manned space missions.
Color Semantics of the Cultural Landscape
Authors: Lavrenova Olga
Published: May 2023

A cultural landscape is the result of a continuous interaction between the surrounding natural landscape and culture. Meanings, symbols, and codes of culture are an integral part of it. This paper is a review of publications on current research over the past 20 years. The aim is to analyze the existing research practices, which are based on factual evidence and existing theoretical foundations, using an interdisciplinary approach, in order to come closer to a sufficiently holistic understanding of the coloristic semantics of the cultural landscape. Such a review and analysis of disparate studies allows for the first time the correlation of different types of cultural landscapes (urban, rural, gardens, and parks) and different types of signifier functions performed in them by color—signals, indices, iconic models, conventional signs or symbols, zero, or empty signs. The author analyzes the difference in the semantics of chromatic and achromatic colors and explores the landscape chromodynamics, namely, by creating the first-ever classification of the types and meanings of color foci of various durations—from days to decades. Color loci signs are continuously communicating in the cultural landscape, which is a field of constant “cultural explosion”, where traditional cultural meanings are transmitted and new meanings are generated. The author comes to the conclusion that color symbolism is part of the “landscape-as-text” containing certain information—“messages” of culture to itself. In these messages, color has sacral, temporal, and historical semantics, thus creating an extended semantic frame for the reproduction of cultural codes.
Osteochondral Regeneration Ability of Uncultured Bone Marrow Mononuclear Cells and Platelet-Rich Fibrin Scaffold
Authors: Nguyen-Thanh Tung , Nguyen-Tran Bao-Song , Cruciani Sara , Nguyen-Thi Thuy-Duong , Dang-Cong Thuan , Maioli Margherita
Published: May 2023

Objectives: Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) and bone marrow mononuclear cells are potential scaffolds and cell sources for osteochondral regeneration. The main aim of this paper is to examine the effects of PRF scaffolds and autologous uncultured bone marrow mononuclear cells on osteochondral regeneration in rabbit knees. Materials and Methods: Three different types of PRF scaffolds were generated from peripheral blood (Ch-PRF and L-PRF) and bone marrow combined with uncultured bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMM-PRF). The histological characteristics of these scaffolds were assessed via hematoxylin–eosin staining, PicroSirius red staining, and immunohistochemical staining. Osteochondral defects with a diameter of 3 mm and depth of 3 mm were created on the trochlear groove of the rabbit’s femur. Different PRF scaffolds were then applied to treat the defects. A group of rabbits with induced osteochondral defects that were not treated with any scaffold was used as a control. Osteochondral tissue regeneration was assessed after 2, 4, and 6 weeks by macroscopy (using the Internal Cartilage Repair Society score, X-ray) and microscopy (hematoxylin—eosin stain, safranin O stain, toluidine stain, and Wakitani histological scale, immunohistochemistry), in addition to gene expression analysis of osteochondral markers. Results: Ch-PRF had a heterogeneous fibrin network structure and cellular population; L-PRF and BMM-PRF had a homogeneous structure with a uniform distribution of the fibrin network. Ch-PRF and L-PRF contained a population of CD45-positive leukocytes embedded in the fibrin network, while mononuclear cells in the BMM-PRF scaffold were positive for the pluripotent stem cell-specific antibody Oct-4. In comparison to the untreated group, the rabbits that were given the autologous graft displayed significantly improved healing of the articular cartilage tissue and of the subchondral bone. Regeneration was gradually observed after 2, 4, and 6 weeks of PRF scaffold treatment, which was particularly evident in the BMM-PRF group. Conclusions: The combination of biomaterials with autologous platelet-rich fibrin and uncultured bone marrow mononuclear cells promoted osteochondral regeneration in a rabbit model more than platelet-rich fibrin material alone. Our results indicate that autologous platelet-rich fibrin scaffolds combined with uncultured bone marrow mononuclear cells applied in healing osteochondral lesions may represent a suitable treatment in addition to stem cell and biomaterial therapy.
Prevalence and Contextual Factors of Juvenile Fibromyalgia in a Population-Based Italian Sample of Children and Adolescents
Authors: Maddali Bongi Susanna , Vitali Rosati Giovanni , Bonaccorsi Guglielmo , Lorini Chiara
Published: May 2023

Juvenile Fibromyalgia (JFM) is poorly known, leading to delay in the identification of the syndrome. On the other hand, early diagnosis in children is important to prevent the worsening of the disease. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of JFM in an Italian population-based convenience sample, using different criteria (2010 and 2016 ACR, Yunus and Masi), by involving family pediatricians. It also aims to assess the relationships between JFM and contextual factors of the children and their parents, as well as to raise awareness of JFM among pediatricians. Children’s data were collected using an ad hoc electronic questionnaire. Overall, 7275 questionnaires were collected (48.5% females; mean age: 8.2 ± 3.6 years). Thirty-eight children (0.5%) met the 2010 ACR criteria, and 4 (0.1%) met the 2016 ACR criteria. The likelihood of meeting the 2010 ACR criteria was significantly higher for children older than 8 years (OR: 2.42), those who had injuries during the leisure time that caused persistent pain (OR: 6.49), whose parents (at least one) had a diagnosis of fibromyalgia (OR: 2.54) or diffuse pain (OR: 9.09). In conclusion, 2010 ACR criteria are confirmed as the more appropriate for children and adolescents and the analysis of contextual factors suggests the need for family pediatricians to pay particular attention to the most important predictors of JFM.
Multilineage-Differentiating Stress-Enduring Cells (Muse Cells): An Easily Accessible, Pluripotent Stem Cell Niche with Unique and Powerful Properties for Multiple Regenerative Medicine Applications
Authors: Ossanna Riccardo , Veronese Sheila , Quintero Sierra Lindsey Alejandra , Conti Anita , Conti Giamaica , Sbarbati Andrea
Published: May 2023

Cell-based therapy in regenerative medicine is a powerful tool that can be used both to restore various cells lost in a wide range of human disorders and in renewal processes. Stem cells show promise for universal use in clinical medicine, potentially enabling the regeneration of numerous organs and tissues in the human body. This is possible due to their self-renewal, mature cell differentiation, and factors release. To date, pluripotent stem cells seem to be the most promising. Recently, a novel stem cell niche, called multilineage-differentiating stress-enduring (Muse) cells, is emerging. These cells are of particular interest because they are pluripotent and are found in adult human mesenchymal tissues. Thanks to this, they can produce cells representative of all three germ layers. Furthermore, they can be easily harvested from fat and isolated from the mesenchymal stem cells. This makes them very promising, allowing autologous treatments and avoiding the problems of rejection typical of transplants. Muse cells have recently been employed, with encouraging results, in numerous preclinical studies performed to test their efficacy in the treatment of various pathologies. This review aimed to (1) highlight the specific potential of Muse cells and provide a better understanding of this niche and (2) originate the first organized review of already tested applications of Muse cells in regenerative medicine. The obtained results could be useful to extend the possible therapeutic applications of disease healing.
Pathology and Treatment of Psoriasis Using Nanoformulations
Authors: Thirumal Divya , Sindhu Rakesh K. , Goyal Shuchi , Sehgal Aayush , Kumar Ashok , Babu Marianesan Arockia , Kumar Pradeep
Published: May 2023

Psoriasis (PSO) is an inflammatory skin condition that causes a variety of diseases and significantly decreases the life characteristics of patients, and substantially diminishes patients’ quality of life. PSO usually impairs the skin and is linked to various disorders. Inflammation pathology does not only damage psoriatic skin; it shows how PSO impinges other body parts. Many variables interact with one another and can impact the etiology of psoriasis directly or indirectly. PSO has an effect on approximately 2% of the world’s population, and significant progress has been made in comprehending and treating the alternative PSO by novel drug delivery systems. Topical, systemic, biological, biomaterials, and phototherapy are some of the useful therapies for PSO. Nonetheless, topical treatments remain the gold standard for treating moderate PSO. The applicability of several nanocarrier systems, such as lipid nanoparticles, metallic nanoparticles, and certain phytocompounds, has been briefly explored. The present review focuses mainly on traditional therapeutic strategies as well as on breakthroughs in nanoformulations and drug delivery methods for several anti-psoriatic drugs.
Analysis of the Ultimate Load-Bearing Capacity of Steel-Clad Concrete-Filled Steel Tube Arched Protective Doors under Blast Shock Waves
Authors: Dong Shangwei , Tian Zhimin , Cao Xingwei , Tian Ce , Wang Zhenyu
Published: May 2023

The mechanism of blast damage to steel-clad concrete-filled steel tube (SCCFST) arched protective doors is studied using the dynamic response characteristics of such loads under the action of blast shock wave loads, and the ultimate blast load-bearing capacity formula is derived based on the “plastic hinge” damage mode of the doors using limit analysis, which explores the effect of the blast shock wave. The effect of the design parameters of each component of the protective door on the load-bearing capacity subjected to blast shock waves is discussed. Results show that the damage mechanism under a uniform radial load on the outer surface of the SCCFST arched protective door is characterized by the plastic hinge lines at the two arch feet, which results in a slip fracture and renders the protective door unstable. The load-bearing capacity of the SCCFST arched protective door depends on the coordinated functioning of the cross-sectional outer cladding steel plate and inner connecting partition, concrete-filled steel tube, and restraining concrete outside the steel tube. The load-bearing capacity of each of the three parts differs with the varying cross-sectional occupancies.
Promoting Child Health Equity through Health Literacy
Authors: Guo Shuaijun , Naccarella Lucio , Riggs Elisha
Published: May 2023

Every child has the right to a fulfilling and thriving life [...]
The Association between Sedentary Behavior, Physical Activity, and Physical Fitness with Body Mass Index and Sleep Time in Chilean Girls and Boys: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Godoy-Cumillaf Andrés , Fuentes-Merino Paola , Farías-Valenzuela Claudio , Duclos-Bastías Daniel , Giakoni-Ramírez Frano , Bruneau-Chávez José , Merellano-Navarro Eugenio
Published: May 2023

Background: In recent decades, the school population has undergone behavioral changes that have affected their health and adult life. The current educational scenario presents high levels of sedentary behavior, physical inactivity, low physical fitness, high levels of obesity, and non-compliance with sleep recommendations. In Chile, the scientific evidence on associations between these behaviors is incipient. Objective: To analyze the association between sedentary behavior, physical activity, and physical fitness with BMI and minutes of sleep in Chilean children aged 10 to 11 years. Methods: A non-probabilistic convenience sample of 222 schoolchildren aged 10 to 11 years. The variables measured were body composition (BMI), cardiorespiratory fitness (20 m shuttle run test), lower and upper muscular strength (long jump test and handgrip dynamometry), speed (4 × 10 m running), and flexibility (sit and reach test). Physical activity and sleep were measured by accelerometers. Results: Of the participants, 60.4% and 90.6% did not comply with sleep and physical activity recommendations, respectively. Physical fitness was higher in boys in all components. The results of the linear regression show that in girls, moderate–vigorous-intensity physical activity, lower- and upper-body muscular strength, and cardiorespiratory endurance were associated with BMI and sleep. In boys, light-intensity physical activity and upper-body muscular strength were associated with both variables. Conclusions: Physical activity intensity, strength, and cardiorespiratory fitness were associated with BMI and sleep; however, physical activity intensity and associated physical fitness components differed by gender.
Risky Business: Modeling the Future of Jamaica’s Coffee Production in a Changing Climate
Authors: Birthwright Anne-Teresa , Mighty Mario
Published: May 2023

Jamaica produces one of the most expensive coffees on the global market. The local specialty coffee industry plays a significant role in the island’s economy and also contributes to the livelihood of smallholders—the majority of whom operate the industry’s coffee farms. While climate model projections suggest that Jamaica will continue to experience a warming and drying trend, no study has assessed the future impacts of changing climatic patterns on local coffee-growing areas. This research developed a number of geospatial processing models within the ArcMap software platform to model current coffee suitability and future crop suitability across three Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, and SSP5-8.5) and three future time periods (2021–2040, 2041–2060, and 2081–2100). The results validated current locations of coffee production and revealed that there was an observable decrease in coffee suitability across the island, across all SSP scenarios and time periods under study. Most growing regions were projected to experience declines in production suitability of at least 10%, with the most severe changes occurring in non-Blue Mountain regions under the SSP5-8.5 scenario. Implications of this projected suitability change range from decreased production volumes, increased price volatility, and disruption to market operations and livelihood incomes. The paper’s findings offer stakeholders within Jamaica’s coffee industry the opportunity to develop targeted adaptation planning initiatives, and point to the need for concrete decisions concerning future investment pathways for the industry. It also provides insight into other tropical coffee-growing regions around the world that are facing the challenges associated with climate change.
Corrosion Research on Ru Porcelain Glazes Excavated at Qingliangsi, Baofeng, China
Authors: Zhou Benyuan , Ma Qinglin , Li Zhimin , Chen Jiachang
Published: May 2023

This paper examines two pieces of Ru porcelain glaze excavated from the Qingliangsi kiln site. Compared with the R1 glaze, the R2 glaze was fired at a lower temperature and cooled at a slower rate. The chemical composition, microstructure, and corrosion mechanisms of the two glazes were analyzed by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), micro-Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results show that the corrosion morphology of R1 glaze is mainly the dissolution of a three-dimensionally interconnected calcium (Ca)-rich phase around anorthite, and that of R2 glaze is mainly the dissolution of small droplets distributed in rows, including the dissolution of needle-like wollastonite precipitated by droplet aggregation. In addition, the dissolution of the glass phase and wollastonite crystals forms many white corrosion pits, and the physical and chemical interaction between the corroded glaze and the soil results in the deposition of contaminants that alters the color and texture of the glaze.
Classification of Cocoa Pod Maturity Using Similarity Tools on an Image Database: Comparison of Feature Extractors and Color Spaces
Authors: Ayikpa Kacoutchy Jean , Mamadou Diarra , Gouton Pierre , Adou Kablan Jérôme
Published: May 2023

Côte d’Ivoire, the world’s largest cocoa producer, faces the challenge of quality production. Immature or overripe pods cannot produce quality cocoa beans, resulting in losses and an unprofitable harvest. To help farmer cooperatives determine the maturity of cocoa pods in time, our study evaluates the use of automation tools based on similarity measures. Although standard techniques, such as visual inspection and weighing, are commonly used to identify the maturity of cocoa pods, the use of automation tools based on similarity measures can improve the efficiency and accuracy of this process. We set up a database of cocoa pod images and used two feature extractors: one based on convolutional neural networks (CNN), in particular, MobileNet, and the other based on texture analysis using a gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM). We evaluated the impact of different color spaces and feature extraction methods on our database. We used mathematical similarity measurement tools, such as the Euclidean distance, correlation distance, and chi-square distance, to classify cocoa pod images. Our experiments showed that the chi-square distance measurement offered the best accuracy, with a score of 99.61%, when we used GLCM as a feature extractor and the Lab color space. Using automation tools based on similarity measures can improve the efficiency and accuracy of cocoa pod maturity determination. The results of our experiments prove that the chi-square distance is the most appropriate measure of similarity for this task.
Optimal Information Transfer and the Uniform Measure over Probability Space
Authors: Wootters William K.
Published: May 2023

For a quantum system with a d-dimensional Hilbert space, suppose a pure state |ψ⟩ is subjected to a complete orthogonal measurement. The measurement effectively maps |ψ⟩ to a point (p1,…,pd) in the appropriate probability simplex. It is a known fact—which depends crucially on the complex nature of the system’s Hilbert space—that if |ψ⟩ is distributed uniformly over the unit sphere, then the resulting ordered set (p1,…,pd) is distributed uniformly over the probability simplex; that is, the resulting measure on the simplex is proportional to dp1⋯dpd−1. In this paper we ask whether there is some foundational significance to this uniform measure. In particular, we ask whether it is the optimal measure for the transmission of information from a preparation to a measurement in some suitably defined scenario. We identify a scenario in which this is indeed the case, but our results suggest that an underlying real-Hilbert-space structure would be needed to realize the optimization in a natural way.
Active Fault Isolation for Multimode Fault Systems Based on a Set Separation Indicator
Authors: Han Kezhen , Lu Shaohang , Liu Zhengce , Wang Zipeng
Published: May 2023

This paper considers the active fault isolation problem for a class of uncertain multimode fault systems with a high-dimensional state-space model. It has been observed that the existing approaches in the literature based on a steady-state active fault isolation method are often accompanied by a large delay in making the correct isolation decision. To reduce such fault isolation latency significantly, this paper proposes a fast online active fault isolation method based on the construction of residual transient-state reachable set and transient-state separating hyperplane. The novelty and benefit of this strategy lies in the embedding of a new component called the set separation indicator, which is designed offline to distinguish the residual transient-state reachable sets of different system configurations at any given moment. Based on the results delivered by the set separation indicator, one can determine the specific moments at which the deterministic isolation is to be implemented during online diagnostics. Meanwhile, some alternative constant inputs can also be evaluated for isolation effects to determine better auxiliary excitation signals with smaller amplitudes and more differentiated separating hyperplanes. The validity of these results is verified by both a numerical comparison and an FPGA-in-loop experiment.
A Study of the Ordinal Scale Classification Algorithm for Cyber Threat Intelligence Based on Deception Technology
Authors: Yoo Sunmo , Lee Taejin
Published: May 2023

Cyber deception technology plays an important role in monitoring attackers’ activities and detecting new attack types. However, in a deceptive environment, low-risk attack traffic, such as scanning, is included in large quantities and acts as noise. Therefore, even though high-risk traffic is actually present, it may be overlooked, or the analysis algorithm’s accuracy regarding traffic may be reduced, causing significant difficulties in intrusion detection and analysis processes. In this study, we propose a model that can identify and filter the ordinal scale risk of the source IP in deceptive environment-generated traffic. This model aims to quickly classify low-risk attacks, including information gathering and scanning, which are widely and repeatedly performed, as well as high-risk attacks, rather than classifying specific types of attacks. Most existing deceptive technology-based Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) generation studies have been limited in their applicability to real-world environments because data labeling, learning, and detection processes using AI algorithms that consume significant amounts of time and computing resources. Here, the Naive Bayes discriminant analysis-based ordinary scale classification model showed higher accuracy for low-risk attack classification, while consuming significantly fewer resources than the models presented in other studies do. The accuracy of the current active deceptive environment traffic analysis research may be enhanced by filtering low-risk traffic via preprocessing.
Cloud-Based Artificial Intelligence Framework for Battery Management System
Authors: Shi Dapai , Zhao Jingyuan , Eze Chika , Wang Zhenghong , Wang Junbin , Lian Yubo , Burke Andrew F.
Published: May 2023

As the popularity of electric vehicles (EVs) and smart grids continues to rise, so does the demand for batteries. Within the landscape of battery-powered energy storage systems, the battery management system (BMS) is crucial. It provides key functions such as battery state estimation (including state of charge, state of health, battery safety, and thermal management) as well as cell balancing. Its primary role is to ensure safe battery operation. However, due to the limited memory and computational capacity of onboard chips, achieving this goal is challenging, as both theory and practical evidence suggest. Given the immense amount of battery data produced over its operational life, the scientific community is increasingly turning to cloud computing for data storage and analysis. This cloud-based digital solution presents a more flexible and efficient alternative to traditional methods that often require significant hardware investments. The integration of machine learning is becoming an essential tool for extracting patterns and insights from vast amounts of observational data. As a result, the future points towards the development of a cloud-based artificial intelligence (AI)-enhanced BMS. This will notably improve the predictive and modeling capacity for long-range connections across various timescales, by combining the strength of physical process models with the versatility of machine learning techniques.
A Comprehensive Review of Deep-Learning Applications to Power Quality Analysis
Authors: Samanta Indu Sekhar , Panda Subhasis , Rout Pravat Kumar , Bajaj Mohit , Piecha Marian , Blazek Vojtech , Prokop Lukas
Published: May 2023

Power quality (PQ) monitoring and detection has emerged as an essential requirement due to the proliferation of sensitive power electronic interfacing devices, electric vehicle charging stations, energy storage devices, and distributed generation energy sources in the recent smart grid and microgrid scenarios. Even though, to date, the traditional approaches play a vital role in providing a solution to the above issue, the limitations, such as the requirement of significant human effort and not being scalable for large-scale power systems, force us to think of alternative approaches. Looking at a better perspective, deep-learning (DL) has gained the main attraction for various researchers due to its inherent capability to classify the data by extracting dominating and prominent features. This manuscript attempts to provide a comprehensive review of PQ detection and classification based on DL approaches to explore its potential, efficiency, and consistency to produce results accurately. In addition, this state-of-the-art review offers an overview of the novel concepts and the step-by-step method for detecting and classifying PQ events. This review has been presented categorically with DL approaches, such as convolutional neural networks (CNNs), autoencoders, and recurrent neural networks (RNNs), to analyze PQ data. This paper also highlights the challenges and limitations of using DL for PQ analysis, and identifies potential areas for future research. This review concludes that DL algorithms have shown promising PQ detection and classification results, and could replace traditional methods.
MHD Mixed Convection of Non-Newtonian Bingham Nanofluid in a Wavy Enclosure with Temperature-Dependent Thermophysical Properties: A Sensitivity Analysis by Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Hossain Amzad , Molla Md. Mamun , Kamrujjaman Md. , Mohebujjaman Muhammad , Saha Suvash C.
Published: May 2023

The numerical investigation of magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) mixed convection flow and entropy formation of non-Newtonian Bingham fluid in a lid-driven wavy square cavity filled with nanofluid was investigated by the finite volume method (FVM). The numerical data-based temperature and nanoparticle size-dependent correlations for the Al2O3-water nanofluids are used here. The physical model is a two-dimensional wavy square cavity with thermally adiabatic horizontal boundaries, while the right and left vertical walls maintain a temperature of TC and TH, respectively. The top wall has a steady speed of u=u0. Pertinent non-dimensional parameters such as Reynolds number (Re=10,100,200,400), Hartmann number (Ha=0,10,20), Bingham number (Bn=0,2,5,10,50,100,200), nanoparticle volume fraction (ϕ=0,0.02,0.04), and Prandtl number (Pr=6.2) have been simulated numerically. The Richardson number Ri is calculated by combining the values of Re with a fixed value of Gr, which is the governing factor for the mixed convective flow. Using the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) method, the correlation equations are obtained using the input parameters for the average Nusselt number (Nu¯), total entropy generation (Es)t, and Bejan number (Beavg). The interactive effects of the pertinent parameters on the heat transfer rate are presented by plotting the response surfaces and the contours obtained from the RSM. The sensitivity of the output response to the input parameters is also tested. According to the findings, the mean Nusselt numbers (Nu¯) drop when Ha and Bn are increased and grow when Re and ϕ are augmented. It is found that (Es)t is reduced by raising Ha, but (Es)t rises with the augmentation of ϕ and Re. It is also found that the ϕ and Re numbers have a positive sensitivity to the Nu¯, while the sensitivity of the Ha and Bn numbers is negative.
Design and Implementation of Inductively Coupled Power and Data Transmission for Buoy Systems
Authors: Cui Xiangbiao , Xu Jiayi , Pang Shui , Li Xingfei , Li Hongyu
Published: May 2023

Moored buoys are important components of stereo platforms for ocean observation, which are crucial in underwater exploration. In complex marine environments, power supply and data transmission between moored buoys and underwater sensors are difficult. To solve these problems, an inductively coupled power and data transfer (ICPDT) scheme based on LCCL-S-LC hybrid compensation is proposed. The power transmission was analyzed by establishing an LCCL-S-LC compensation buoy ICPDT system model. The system efficiency and output power were analyzed when the load changed, and the optimal load resistor for maximum system efficiency was determined. A modulation and demodulation circuit used for data transmission was introduced, the compensation topology parameters of each loop of the buoy ICPDT system were deduced, and the crosstalk between power and data was analyzed and reduced. An ICPDT system prototype was built to verify the system’s feasibility and effectiveness when it was powered by 24 V. The LCCL-S-LC topology reduced the interference between data and power transmission. When the measured output power of the system was 61.5 W, the power transmission efficiency was 78.1%, and the data receiving end could achieve correct demodulation when the transmission rate was 100 kb/s.
Influences of the Introduced O-Containing Functional Groups on the Gaseous Pyrolysis Product of Superfine Pulverized Coal
Authors: Ma Yang , Gao Yan , Jiang Xiumin
Published: May 2023

An O-containing structure in coal can affect the pyrolysis process; however, the influence of the introduced O-containing functional groups has rarely been investigated. To study this issue, two kinds of representative coal were selected for superfine pulverization and chemical oxidation. The 13C-NMR and FTIR experiments demonstrated that O-containing functional groups, such as carboxyl, could be added into the carbon skeleton after 5 wt% peracetic acid modification. It was found that 1 wt% and 5 wt% hydrogen peroxide solutions had no such ability, but the 1 wt% solution could expand the pore structure and increase the specific surface area. Thermogravimetric experiments in the air showed that peracetic acid oxidation could increase the weight loss rate below 400 °C and reduce ignition temperatures. Pyrolysis experiments in the tube furnace proved that the amount of CO released increased and the commencing temperature decreased by 50 °C after the modification of peracetic acid. The generation paths of C2H4 and C6H6 changed; new generation peaks appeared near 200 °C. It has been strongly confirmed that superfine pulverization and chemical oxidation modification has obvious synergistic effects on the introduction of O-containing functional groups, especially for anthracite samples.
Global Simulation Model Design of Input-Serial, Output-Parallel Solid-State Transformer for Smart Grid Applications
Authors: Takacs Kristian , Frivaldsky Michal , Kindl Vladimir , Bernat Petr
Published: May 2023

This paper provides an overview of an early attempt at developing a simulation model on a solid-state transformer (SST) based on input-serial and output-parallel (ISOP) topology. The proposed SST is designed as a base for a smart grid (SG). The paper provides a theoretical review of the power converters under consideration, as well as their control techniques. Further, the paper presents a simulation model of the proposed concept with a PLECS circuit simulator. The proposed simulation model examines bidirectional energy flow control between the medium-voltage AC grid and DC smart grid, while evaluating power flow efficiency and qualitative indicators of the AC grid. After the completion of design verification and electrical properties analysis by the PLECS simulation models, the synthesis offers recommendations on the optimal layout of the proposed SST topology for smart grid application.
Integrated Demand Response Programs in Energy Hubs: A Review of Applications, Classifications, Models and Future Directions
Authors: Kamwa Innocent , Bagherzadeh Leila , Delavari Atieh
Published: May 2023

In the traditional power system, customers respond to their primary electricity consumption pattern based on price or incentive to take additional advantages. By developing energy hubs (EHs) where electricity, heat, natural gas and other forms of energy are coupled together, all types of energy customers, even the inelastic loads, can participate in the demand response (DR) program. This novel vision has led to the concept of “integrated demand response (IDR)”. IDR programs (IDRPs) in EHs involve coordinating multiple DR activities across different energy systems, such as buildings, industrial complexes and transportation networks. The main purpose of IDR is so that multi-energy users can respond not only by shifting or reducing their energy consumption from the demand side, but also by changing the type of energy consumed in response to the dispatching center. The integration of IDRPs in EHs can help to reduce energy costs, improve grid stability and increase the penetration of renewable energy sources (RES) in the power system. Moreover, by synchronizing DR activities across different energy systems, IDRPs can provide additional benefits, such as improved energy efficiency, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and increased resilience to power outages and other disruptions. In this paper, we provide an overview of the IDRP across EH areas, encompassing different aspects of it. First, the nature behind IDRP and its basic concept is introduced. Then, a categorization of fundamental principles within the IDRP is undertaken. Furthermore, modelling formulation and optimization techniques of IDRP in EHs are conducted. In addition to the IDRP content and model, this article deals with the research performed in this field from different perspectives. Finally, the advantages and prospect challenges of IDRPs are discussed.
Evaluation of Body Changes and the Anti-Obesity Effect after Consumption of Korean Fermented Food, Cheonggukjang: Randomized, Double-Blind Clinical Trial
Authors: Han A Lum , Jeong Su-Ji , Ryu Myeong-Seon , Yang Hee-Jong , Jeong Do-Youn , Seo Yoo-Bin
Published: May 2023

Cheonggukjang is a traditional Korean fermented soybean food with potential health benefits. For this reason, Cheonggukjang is consumed in the form of pills in addition to being used as a food ingredient. There are few clinical studies that have evaluated changes in various health indicators through blood and stool tests before and after consumption of Cheonggukjang. In this study, symptoms and hematological changes were analyzed before and after the intake of traditional Cheonggukjang pills containing high-dose (n = 19) or low-dose (n = 20) beneficial bacteria and commercial Cheonggukjang pills (n = 20). Anti-obesity effects and body composition changes were determined before and after Cheonggukjang consumption. Lastly, the changes in microorganisms and short-chain fatty acids in the stool were compared. No changes in obesity and inflammation-related indicators were observed before and after Cheonggukjang consumption. The Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, associated with obesity, decreased in all three groups after Cheonggukjang consumption, but no statistical significance was indicated. Cheonggukjang contained various BAs, but they did not adversely affect symptoms and hematological changes in the participants. BAs generated during the manufacturing process of Cheonggukjang did not have any adverse effects in this randomized, double-blind clinical trial. Further research is needed in future concerning the anti-obesity effect or regarding changes in the microbiome and short-chain fatty acids in feces.
Factors Generating the Willingness of Romanian Consumers to Buy Raw Milk from Vending Machines
Authors: Sabău Marius Mircea , Mititean Pompei , Pocol Cristina Bianca , Dabija Dan-Cristian
Published: May 2023

The use of automatic raw milk dispensers for products obtained from Romanian farms can represent an effective method of encouraging the development of short supply chains and promoting sustainable production and consumption systems. There are very few studies in the literature, especially in emerging economies, that analyze consumer perception regarding the use of raw milk dispensers; most of the research is focused on technical aspects regarding how such machines function and food safety, and less on consumers’ perceptions towards them or consumer satisfaction, loyalty, or intention to use them. Therefore, the objective of this research was to investigate the willingness of Romanian consumers to buy raw milk from vending machines. In this regard, the authors drew a conceptual model to assess the factors that trigger willingness to buy raw milk from vending machines and then implemented a quantitative-based survey among Romanian consumers who buy raw milk from vending machines. The data were analyzed by modeling structural equations with SmartPLS. The results reveal that the generation of consumer willingness to buy raw milk from vending machines depends on how consumers perceive raw milk but also on the product safety, reusability of the milk bottle, and the provenance of the raw milk, as well as the nutritional qualities of the unprocessed raw milk. The paper extends previous studies based on the stimulus–organism–response (SOR) and deepens the understanding of consumers’ perception towards raw milk dispensers. Furthermore, the results also highlight possible managerial strategies that aim to improve the understanding of consumers.
Locating Medical Information during an Infodemic: Information Seeking Behavior and Strategies of Health-Care Workers in Germany
Authors: Holzmann-Littig Christopher , Stadler David , Popp Maria , Kranke Peter , Fichtner Falk , Schmaderer Christoph , Renders Lutz , Braunisch Matthias Christoph , Assali Tarek , Platen Louise , Wijnen-Meijer Marjo , Lühnen Julia , Steckelberg Anke , Pfadenhauer Lisa , Haller Bernhard , Fuetterer Cornelia , Seeber Christian , Schaaf Christian ,   on behalf of the CEOsys Consortium
Published: May 2023

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a flood of—often contradictory—evidence. HCWs had to develop strategies to locate information that supported their work. We investigated the information-seeking of different HCW groups in Germany. Methods: In December 2020, we conducted online surveys on COVID-19 information sources, strategies, assigned trustworthiness, and barriers—and in February 2021, on COVID-19 vaccination information sources. Results were analyzed descriptively; group comparisons were performed using χ2-tests. Results: For general COVID-19-related medical information (413 participants), non-physicians most often selected official websites (57%), TV (57%), and e-mail/newsletters (46%) as preferred information sources—physicians chose official websites (63%), e-mail/newsletters (56%), and professional journals (55%). Non-physician HCWs used Facebook/YouTube more frequently. The main barriers were insufficient time and access issues. Non-physicians chose abstracts (66%), videos (45%), and webinars (40%) as preferred information strategy; physicians: overviews with algorithms (66%), abstracts (62%), webinars (48%). Information seeking on COVID-19 vaccination (2700 participants) was quite similar, however, with newspapers being more often used by non-physicians (63%) vs. physician HCWs (70%). Conclusion: Non-physician HCWs more often consulted public information sources. Employers/institutions should ensure the supply of professional, targeted COVID-19 information for different HCW groups.
Preoperative Use and Discontinuation of Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine and Dietary Supplements in Taiwan: A Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Survey
Authors: Yeh Te-Chun , Ho Shung-Tai , Hsu Che-Hao , Wang Ju-O , Kao Senyeong , Su Yi-Chang , Lin Sunny Jui-Shan , Liou Huei-Han , Lin Tso-Chou
Published: May 2023

Traditional Chinese herbal medicine has widespread use in Taiwan. This cross-sectional questionnaire survey investigates the preoperative use and discontinuation of Chinese herbal medicine and dietary supplements among Taiwanese patients. We obtained the types, frequency, and sources of Chinese herbal remedies and supplements used. Among 1428 presurgical patients, 727 (50.9%) and 977 (68.4%) reported the use of traditional Chinese herbal medicine and supplements in the past one month, respectively. Only 17.5% of the 727 patients stated discontinuation of herbal remedies 4.7 ± 5.1 (1–24) days before the surgery, and 36.2% took traditional Chinese herbal medicine with concomitant physician-prescribed Western medicine for their underlying diseases. The most commonly used Chinese herbs are goji berry (Lycium barbarum) (62.9%) and Si-Shen-Tang (48.1%) in single and compound forms, respectively. The presurgical use of traditional Chinese herbal medicine was common in patients undergoing gynecologic (68.6%) surgery or diagnosed with asthma (60.8%). Women and those with a high household income had a greater tendency to use herbal remedies. This study demonstrates the high proportion of the presurgical use of Chinese herbal remedies and supplements along with physician-prescribed Western medicine in Taiwan. Surgeons and anesthesiologists should be aware of the potential adverse effects of drug–herb interaction for Chinese patients.
Body Composition Is Related to Maximal Effort Treadmill Test Time in Firefighters
Authors: Mendelson Benjamin J. , Marciniak Rudi A. , Wahl Carly A. , Ebersole Kyle T.
Published: May 2023

Firefighting tasks may require near maximal levels of cardiorespiratory fitness. Previous research has indicated that body fat percentage (BF%) and aerobic capacity (VO2peak) are related to the performance of firefighting tasks. Since a standard submaximal treadmill test for firefighters is terminated at 85% of maximal heart rate (MHR), key performance information relating to maximal cardiorespiratory effort may not be measured in a submaximal test. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between body composition and time spent running at intensities greater that 85% MHR. Height, weight, body mass index (BMI; kg/m2), BF%, MHR (bpm), VO2peak (mL/kg/min), predicted VO2peak (P-VO2peak; mL/kg/min), submaximal treadmill test time (WFIsub Test Time; min), and maximal treadmill test time (WFImax Test Time; min) were collected in fifteen active-duty firefighters. The results indicated that significant relationships (p < 0.05) existed between BF% and VO2peak, BF% and WFImax Test Time, BF% and Tdiff, and VO2peak and WFImax Test Time. P-VO2peak was not significantly different than VO2peak, and the WFImax Test Time was significantly longer than the WFIsub Test Time. These results indicate that a submaximal treadmill test may reasonably predict VO2peak, but key information about physiological work at intensities greater than 85% MHR may be missed when using submaximal effort tests.
Facilitators and Barriers to HPV Self-Sampling as a Cervical Cancer Screening Option among Women Living with HIV in Rural Uganda
Authors: Nyabigambo Agnes , Mayega Roy William , Hlongwana Khumbulani , Ginindza Themba Geoffrey
Published: May 2023

Background: There is a paucity of studies exploring women living with HIV’s (WLWH) experiences relating to human papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling as cervical cancer (CC) screening approach, either at the clinic or at the home setting, using qualitative methods. Our study explored facilitators and barriers to HPV self-sampling as a CC screening approach among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected women, as supported by the new WHO guidelines of using the HPV test as a screening modality. Methods: The study was guided by the health promotion model (HPM), which helps individuals achieve higher levels of well-being. The phenomenology design was used to explore the deeper facilitators and barriers of women regarding self-sampling, either at home or in clinical settings, at Luweero District Hospital, Uganda. The in-depth interview (IDI) guide was translated from English to Luganda. Qualitative data analysis was guided by content analysis techniques. The transcripts were coded in   NVivo 20.7.0. The coded text was used to generate categories of analytically meaningful data that guided the formation of themes, the interpretation of results, and the final write-up. Results: WLWH were motivated to screen for HPV using the clinic-based approach because of perceived early diagnosis and treatment, visualization of the cervix, and free service, while reduced distance, privacy and the smooth sample collection kit were motivators for the home-based approach. A barrier that cut across the two HPV self-sampling approaches was a lack of knowledge about HPV. The barriers to clinic-based HPV self-sampling screening included lack of privacy, perceived painful procedures for visual inception under acetic acid (VIA), and fear of finding the disease. Stigma and discrimination were reported as the major barriers to the home-based HPV self-sampling approach. The major reasons why some WLWH refused to screen were fear of finding the disease, stress, and financial disruptions related to being diagnosed with CC disease. Conclusions: Therefore, early diagnosis for HPV and CC enhances clinic-based HPV self-sampling, while privacy enhances the home-based HPV self-sampling approach. However, fear of finding a disease and the lack of knowledge of HPV and CC hinders HPV self-sampling. Finally, designing pre- and post-testing counselling programs in HIV care is likely to increase the demand for HPV self-sampling.
Evaluation of a Road Safety Awareness Campaign Deployed along the Roadside in Saguenay (Québec, Canada)
Authors: Desjardins France , Lavallière Martin
Published: May 2023

For the past few years, police officers from the City of Saguenay have been installing a billboard combined with a damaged car along roadsides to make drivers aware of the road risks related to dangerous behaviors at the wheel. To assess the short-term effect of this device, evaluative research with a quasi-experimental design with pre-exposure, during, and post-exposure. The results show a significant decrease (p < 0.001) of 0.637 km/h for the first site (a 70 km/h zone) and 0.269 km/h for the second site (a 50 km/h zone) when the device is exposed. At the time of this last evaluation, a reduction of 1.255 km/h remained even after the advertising panel was removed. Although minimal, this speed reduction where the billboards are placed shows the police that this awareness-raising approach works since it reduces the speed of motorists at very low cost.