bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quality Variation of the Moldovan Origanum vulgare L. ssp. vulgare L. and Origanum vulgare L. ssp. hirtum (Link) Ietsw. Varieties in Drought Conditions
Authors: Gonceariuc Maria , Muntean Mircea Valentin , Butnaraş Violeta , Duda Marcel Matei , Benea Anna , Jelezneac Tamara , Vornicu Zinaida , Cotelea Ludmila , Botnarenco Pantelimon
Published: December 2021

In this paper, we have comparatively analyzed two subspecies of Origanum vulgare (O. vulgare ssp. hirtum and O. vulgare ssp. vulgare) in climatic conditions with higher than usual temperatures from the Institute of Genetics, Physiology and Plant Protection Chisinau, Rep. Moldova. The aim of the research was to study the producing capacity, content, composition of essential oil, as well as the polyphenols content in O. vulgare varieties, their drought testing and the selection of promising cultivars. Seven O. vulgare ssp. vulgare (Ov) varieties and fourteen O. vulgare ssp. hirtum (Oh) varieties were used as the biological material. The essential oil (EO) separated by hydrodistillation was analyzed by GC-MS techniques. The polyphenolic content was assessed using spectrophotometric techniques. The presence of a direct correlation between the content, production of essential oil and content of polyphenols has been highlighted. Thus, the varieties of O. vulgare ssp. hirtum demonstrate a higher content of essential oil than the varieties of O. vulgare ssp. vulgare, while the polyphenol content, on the other hand, is higher for the varieties of O. vulgare ssp. vulgare than for those of O. vulgare ssp. hirtum. This research has resulted in the selection of two varieties, i.e., “Savoare” of O. vulgare ssp. hirtum and “Panacea” of O. vulgare ssp. vulgare.
Analysis of Feature Dimension Reduction Techniques Applied on the Prediction of Impact Force in Sports Climbing Based on IMU Data
Authors: Oppel Heiko , Munz Michael
Published: December 2021

Sports climbing has grown as a competitive sport over the last decades. This has leading to an increasing interest in guaranteeing the safety of the climber. In particular, operational errors, caused by the belayer, are one of the major issues leading to severe injuries. The objective of this study is to analyze and predict the severity of a pendulum fall based on the movement information from the belayer alone. Therefore, the impact force served as a reference. It was extracted using an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) on the climber. Additionally, another IMU was attached to the belayer, from which several hand-crafted features were explored. As this led to a high dimensional feature space, dimension reduction techniques were required to improve the performance. We were able to predict the impact force with a median error of about 4.96%. Pre-defined windows as well as the applied feature dimension reduction techniques allowed for a meaningful interpretation of the results. The belayer was able to reduce the impact force, which is acting onto the climber, by over 30%. So, a monitoring system in a training center could improve the skills of a belayer and hence alleviate the severity of the injuries.
Lactobacillus reuteri and Enterococcus faecium from Poultry Gut Reduce Mucin Adhesion and Biofilm Formation of Cephalosporin and Fluoroquinolone-Resistant Salmonella enterica
Authors: Siddique Abubakar , Azim Sara , Ali Amjad , Adnan Fazal , Arif Maryum , Imran Muhammad , Ganda Erika , Rahman Abdur
Published: December 2021

Non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) can cause infection in poultry, livestock, and humans. Although the use of antimicrobials as feed additives is prohibited, the previous indiscriminate use and poor regulatory oversight in some parts of the world have resulted in increased bacterial resistance to antimicrobials, including cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones, which are among the limited treatment options available against NTS. This study aimed to isolate potential probiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains from the poultry gut to inhibit fluoroquinolone and cephalosporin resistant MDR Salmonella Typhimurium and S. Enteritidis. The safety profile of the LAB isolates was evaluated for the hemolytic activity, DNase activity, and antibiotic resistance. Based on the safety results, three possible probiotic LAB candidates for in vitro Salmonella control were chosen. Candidate LAB isolates were identified by 16S rDNA sequencing as Lactobacillus reuteri PFS4, Enterococcus faecium PFS13, and Enterococcus faecium PFS14. These strains demonstrated a good tolerance to gastrointestinal-related stresses, including gastric acid, bile, lysozyme, and phenol. In addition, the isolates that were able to auto aggregate had the ability to co-aggregate with MDR S. Typhimurium and S. Enteritidis. Furthermore, LAB strains competitively reduced the adhesion of pathogens to porcine mucin Type III in co-culture studies. The probiotic combination of the selected LAB isolates inhibited the biofilm formation of S. Typhimurium FML15 and S. Enteritidis FML18 by 90% and 92%, respectively. In addition, the cell-free supernatant (CFS) of the LAB culture significantly reduced the growth of Salmonella in vitro. Thus, L. reuteri PFS4, E. faecium PFS13, and E. faecium PFS 14 are potential probiotics that could be used to control MDR S. Typhimurium and S. Enteritidis in poultry. Future investigations are required to elucidate the in vivo potential of these probiotic candidates as Salmonella control agents in poultry and animal feed.
Research on Residual Life Estimation Method for KMN Steel Based on Nonlinear Ultrasonic Testing
Authors: Wang Pengfei , Wang Weiqiang , Zheng Sanlong , Gao Zengliang
Published: December 2021

The testing of KMN steel bending fatigue with different cycles was carried out using a nonlinear ultrasonic detector to obtain its nonlinear coefficient. The experimental results show that the nonlinear coefficient first increases and then decreases with an increase in fatigue cycles. The relationship between the propagation of the micro-cracks inside the material and the nonlinear coefficient was researched by microscopic analysis in the dangerous position of the specimens. As the fatigue cycles increase, the microstructure of the specimen gradually deteriorates and cracks occur, which proves that nonlinear ultrasonic detection can be used to characterize the initiation of micro-cracks in the early fatigue stages of the material and that the nonlinear coefficient β of the material can be used to reflect the fatigue damage degree and fatigue life of the interior of the material. An analysis of the numerical statistics of the fatigue cracks inside the specimens was carried out, and the extreme value of fatigue cracks was calculated using the Gumbel distribution. An empirical formula for the nonlinear coefficient and crack growth size of KMN steel was established and then a method for estimating the fatigue life of KMN steel based on nonlinear ultrasonic testing was proposed.
Quantum-Inspired Classification Algorithm from DBSCAN–Deutsch–Jozsa Support Vectors and Ising Prediction Model
Authors: Shiba Kodai , Chen Chih-Chieh , Sogabe Masaru , Sakamoto Katsuyoshi , Sogabe Tomah
Published: December 2021

Quantum computing is suggested as a new tool to deal with large data set for machine learning applications. However, many quantum algorithms are too expensive to fit into the small-scale quantum hardware available today and the loading of big classical data into small quantum memory is still an unsolved obstacle. These difficulties lead to the study of quantum-inspired techniques using classical computation. In this work, we propose a new classification method based on support vectors from a DBSCAN–Deutsch–Jozsa ranking and an Ising prediction model. The proposed algorithm has an advantage over standard classical SVM in the scaling with respect to the number of training data at the training phase. The method can be executed in a pure classical computer and can be accelerated in a hybrid quantum–classical computing environment. We demonstrate the applicability of the proposed algorithm with simulations and theory.
Anisotropic Shear Strength Behavior of Soil–Geogrid Interfaces
Authors: Zhang Jun , Ji Mingchang , Jia Yafei , Miao Chenxi , Wang Cheng , Zhao Ziyang , Zheng Yewei
Published: December 2021

This paper presents an experimental study on the anisotropic shear strength behavior of soil–geogrid interfaces. A new type of interface shear test device was developed, and a series of soil–geogrid interface shear tests were conducted for three different biaxial geogrids and three different triaxial geogrids under the shear directions of 0°, 45° and 90°. Clean fine sand, coarse sand, and gravel were selected as the testing materials to investigate the influence of particle size. The experimental results for the interface shear strength behavior, and the influences of shear direction and particle size are presented and discussed. The results indicate that the interface shear strength under the same normal stress varies with shear direction for all the biaxial and triaxial geogrids investigated, which shows anisotropic shear strength behavior of soil–geogrid interfaces. The soil–biaxial geogrid interfaces show stronger anisotropy than that of the soil–triaxial geogrid interfaces under different shear directions. Particle size has a great influence on the anisotropy shear strength behavior of soil–geogrid interfaces.
Optimization of Carsharing Fleet Placement in Round-Trip Carsharing Service
Authors: Changaival Boonyarit , Lavangnananda Kittichai , Danoy Grégoire , Kliazovich Dzmitry , Guinand Frédéric , Brust Matthias , Musial Jedrzej , Bouvry Pascal
Published: December 2021

In a round-trip carsharing system, stations must be located in such a way that allow for maximum user coverage with the least walking distance as well as offer certain degrees of flexibility for returning. Therefore, a balance must be stricken between these factors. Providing a satisfactory system can be translated into an optimization problem and belongs to an NP-hard class. In this article, a novel optimization model for the round-trip carsharing fleet placement problem, called Fleet Placement Problem (FPP), is proposed. The optimization in this work is multiobjective and its NP-hard nature is proven. Three different optimization algorithms: PolySCIP (exact method), heuristics, and NSGA-II (metaheuristic) are investigated. This work adopts three real instances for the study, instead of their abstracts where they are most commonly used. They are two instance:, in the city of Luxembourg (smaller and larger) and a much larger instance in the city of Munich. Results from each algorithm are validated and compared with solution from human experts. Superiority of the proposed FPP model over the traditional methods is also demonstrated.
Editorial on the Special Issue: Advanced Structural Health Monitoring: From Theory to Applications
Authors: Rodrigues Hugo , Duvnjak Ivan
Published: December 2021

This editorial focuses on the interesting studies published within the present Special Issue related to Advanced Structural Health Monitoring [...]
Brains in Metamorphosis: Temporal Transcriptome Dynamics in Hatchery-Reared Flatfishes
Authors: Guerrero-Peña Laura , Suarez-Bregua Paula , Méndez-Martínez Luis , García-Fernández Pablo , Tur Ricardo , Rubiolo Juan A. , Tena Juan J. , Rotllant Josep
Published: December 2021

Metamorphosis is a captivating process of change during which the morphology of the larva is completely reshaped to face the new challenges of adult life. In the case of fish, this process initiated in the brain has traditionally been considered to be a critical rearing point and despite the pioneering molecular work carried out in other flatfishes, the underlying molecular basis is still relatively poorly characterized. Turbot brain transcriptome of three developmental stages (pre-metamorphic, climax of metamorphosis and post-metamorphic) were analyzed to study the gene expression dynamics throughout the metamorphic process. A total of 1570 genes were differentially expressed in the three developmental stages and we found a specific pattern of gene expression at each stage. Unexpectedly, at the climax stage of metamorphosis, we found highly expressed genes related to the immune response, while the biological pathway enrichment analysis in pre-metamorphic and post-metamorphic were related to cell differentiation and oxygen carrier activity, respectively. In addition, our results confirm the importance of thyroid stimulating hormone, increasing its expression during metamorphosis. Based on our findings, we assume that immune system activation during the climax of metamorphosis stage could be related to processes of larval tissue inflammation, resorption and replacement, as occurs in other vertebrates.
Digital Pathology Enables Automated and Quantitative Assessment of Inflammatory Activity in Patients with Chronic Liver Disease
Authors: Marti-Aguado David , Fernández-Patón Matías , Alfaro-Cervello Clara , Mestre-Alagarda Claudia , Bauza Mónica , Gallen-Peris Ana , Merino Víctor , Benlloch Salvador , Pérez-Rojas Judith , Ferrández Antonio , Puglia Víctor , Gimeno-Torres Marta , Aguilera Victoria , Monton Cristina , Escudero-García Desamparados , Alberich-Bayarri Ángel , Serra Miguel A. , Marti-Bonmati Luis
Published: December 2021

Traditional histological evaluation for grading liver disease severity is based on subjective and semi-quantitative scores. We examined the relationship between digital pathology analysis and corresponding scoring systems for the assessment of hepatic necroinflammatory activity. A prospective, multicenter study including 156 patients with chronic liver disease (74% nonalcoholic fatty liver disease-NAFLD, 26% chronic hepatitis-CH etiologies) was performed. Inflammation was graded according to the Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) Clinical Research Network system and METAVIR score. Whole-slide digital image analysis based on quantitative (I-score: inflammation ratio) and morphometric (C-score: proportionate area of staining intensities clusters) measurements were independently performed. Our data show that I-scores and C-scores increase with inflammation grades (p < 0.001). High correlation was seen for CH (ρ = 0.85–0.88), but only moderate for NAFLD (ρ = 0.5–0.53). I-score (p = 0.008) and C-score (p = 0.002) were higher for CH than NAFLD. Our MATLAB algorithm performed better than QuPath software for the diagnosis of low-moderate inflammation (p < 0.05). C-score AUC for classifying NASH was 0.75 (95%CI, 0.65–0.84) and for moderate/severe CH was 0.99 (95%CI, 0.97–1.00). Digital pathology measurements increased with fibrosis stages (p < 0.001). In conclusion, quantitative and morphometric metrics of inflammatory burden obtained by digital pathology correlate well with pathologists’ scores, showing a higher accuracy for the evaluation of CH than NAFLD.
microRNA Biomarkers in Clinical Study
Authors: Wang Hsiuying , Chen Yi-Hau
Published: December 2021

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), short non-coding RNAs, are involved in the initiation and progression of many human diseases that also play a key role in immune response and drug metabolism modulation [...]
Overexpression of the GR Riborepressor LncRNA GAS5 Results in Poor Treatment Response and Early Relapse in Childhood B-ALL
Authors: Xagorari Marieta , Marmarinos Antonios , Kossiva Lydia , Baka Margarita , Doganis Dimitrios , Servitzoglou Marina , Tsolia Maria , Scorilas Andreas , Avgeris Margaritis , Gourgiotis Dimitrios
Published: December 2021

Glucocorticoids (GCs) remain the cornerstone of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (chALL) therapy, exerting their cytotoxic effects through binding and activating of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). GAS5 lncRNA acts as a potent riborepressor of GR transcriptional activity, and thus targeting GAS5 in GC-treated chALL could provide further insights into GC resistance and support personalized treatment decisions. Herein, to study the clinical utility of GAS5 in chALL prognosis and chemotherapy response, GAS5 expression was quantified by RT-qPCR in bone marrow samples of chB-ALL patients at diagnosis (n = 164) and at end-of-induction (n = 109), treated with ALL-BFM protocol. Patients’ relapse and death were used as clinical end-points for survival analysis. Bootstrap analysis was performed for internal validation, and decision curve analysis assessed the clinical net benefit for chALL prognosis. Our findings demonstrated the elevated GAS5 levels in blasts of chALL patients compared to controls and the significantly higher risk for short-term relapse and poor treatment outcome of patients overexpressing GAS5, independently of their clinicopathological data. The unfavorable prognostic value of GAS5 overexpression was strongly validated in the high-risk/stem-cell transplantation subgroup. Finally, multivariate models incorporating GAS5 levels resulted in superior risk stratification and clinical benefit for chALL prognostication, supporting personalized prognosis and precision medicine decisions in chALL.
Differential Effects of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 versus 1α 25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 on Adipose Tissue Browning in CKD-Associated Cachexia
Authors: Mak Robert H. , Querfeld Uwe , Gonzalez Alex , Gunta Sujana , Cheung Wai W.
Published: December 2021

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) often have low serum concentrations of 25(OH)D3 and 1,25(OH)2D3. We investigated the differential effects of 25(OH)D3 versus 1,25(OH)2D3 repletion in mice with surgically induced CKD. Intraperitoneal supplementation of 25(OH)D3 (75 μg/kg/day) or 1,25(OH)2D3 (60 ng/kg/day) for 6 weeks normalized serum 25(OH)D3 or 1,25(OH)2D3 concentrations in CKD mice, respectively. Repletion of 25(OH)D3 normalized appetite, significantly improved weight gain, increased fat and lean mass content and in vivo muscle function, as well as attenuated elevated resting metabolic rate relative to repletion of 1,25(OH)2D3 in CKD mice. Repletion of 25(OH)D3 in CKD mice attenuated adipose tissue browning as well as ameliorated perturbations of energy homeostasis in adipose tissue and skeletal muscle, whereas repletion of 1,25(OH)2D3 did not. Significant improvement of muscle fiber size and normalization of fat infiltration of gastrocnemius was apparent with repletion of 25(OH)D3 but not with 1,25(OH)2D3 in CKD mice. This was accompanied by attenuation of the aberrant gene expression of muscle mass regulatory signaling, molecular pathways related to muscle fibrosis as well as muscle expression profile associated with skeletal muscle wasting in CKD mice. Our findings provide evidence that repletion of 25(OH)D3 exerts metabolic advantages over repletion of 1,25(OH)2D3 by attenuating adipose tissue browning and muscle wasting in CKD mice.
NK Cells Armed with Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CAR): Roadblocks to Successful Development
Authors: Bashiri Dezfouli Ali , Yazdi Mina , Pockley Alan Graham , Khosravi Mohammad , Kobold Sebastian , Wagner Ernst , Multhoff Gabriele
Published: December 2021

In recent years, cell-based immunotherapies have demonstrated promising results in the treatment of cancer. Chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) arm effector cells with a weapon for targeting tumor antigens, licensing engineered cells to recognize and kill cancer cells. The quality of the CAR-antigen interaction strongly depends on the selected tumor antigen and its expression density on cancer cells. CD19 CAR-engineered T cells approved by the Food and Drug Administration have been most frequently applied in the treatment of hematological malignancies. Clinical challenges in their application primarily include cytokine release syndrome, neurological symptoms, severe inflammatory responses, and/or other off-target effects most likely mediated by cytotoxic T cells. As a consequence, there remains a significant medical need for more potent technology platforms leveraging cell-based approaches with enhanced safety profiles. A promising population that has been advanced is the natural killer (NK) cell, which can also be engineered with CARs. NK cells which belong to the innate arm of the immune system recognize and kill virally infected cells as well as (stressed) cancer cells in a major histocompatibility complex I independent manner. NK cells play an important role in the host’s immune defense against cancer due to their specialized lytic mechanisms which include death receptor (i.e., Fas)/death receptor ligand (i.e., Fas ligand) and granzyme B/perforin-mediated apoptosis, and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, as well as their immunoregulatory potential via cytokine/chemokine release. To develop and implement a highly effective CAR NK cell-based therapy with low side effects, the following three principles which are specifically addressed in this review have to be considered: unique target selection, well-designed CAR, and optimized gene delivery.
Evolutionary Adaptation of the Thyroid Hormone Signaling Toolkit in Chordates
Authors: Esposito Alfonso , Ambrosino Luca , Piazza Silvano , D’Aniello Salvatore , Chiusano Maria Luisa , Locascio Annamaria
Published: December 2021

The specification of the endostyle in non-vertebrate chordates and of the thyroid gland in vertebrates are fundamental steps in the evolution of the thyroid hormone (TH) signaling to coordinate development and body physiology in response to a range of environmental signals. The physiology and biology of TH signaling in vertebrates have been studied in the past, but a complete understanding of such a complex system is still lacking. Non-model species from non-vertebrate chordates may greatly improve our understanding of the evolution of this complex endocrine pathway. Adaptation of already existing proteins in order to perform new roles is a common feature observed during the course of evolution. Through sequence similarity approaches, we investigated the presence of bona fide thyroid peroxidase (TPO), iodothyronine deiodinase (DIO), and thyroid hormone receptors (THRs) in non-vertebrate and vertebrate chordates. Additionally, we determined both the conservation and divergence degrees of functional domains at the protein level. This study supports the hypothesis that non-vertebrate chordates have a functional thyroid hormone signaling system and provides additional information about its possible evolutionary adaptation.
Research on the Mechanical Strengths and the Following Corrosion Resistance of Inner Steel Bars of RPC with Rice Husk Ash and Waste Fly Ash
Authors: Cui Lili , Wang Hui
Published: December 2021

In this paper, the slump flow and mechanical strengths (compressive and flexural strengths) of the reactive powder concrete (RPC) with rice husk ash (RHA) and waste fly ash (WFA) were investigated. The following corrosion resistance of steel bars-reinforced specimens was researched. The ultrasonic sound, the mass loss rate, the electrical resistance, and the electrical resistance time history curves were determined to reflect the corrosion resistance of steel bars. The influence of NaCl freeze–thaw cycles and dry–wet alternations was considered. Results showed that the addition of RHA and WFA demonstrated a negative effect on the fluidity of fresh RPC. The fluidity of fresh RPC with WFA was lower. Moreover, RHA and WFA could effectively improve the mechanical strengths of hardened RPC, and the enhancing effect of RHA was higher. The increasing dosage of RHA could improve the corrosion resistance of steel bars in RPC when the specimens were exposed to the environment of NaCl freeze–thaw cycles and dry–wet alternations. However, when WFA was added, the effect was the opposite. The steel bars in RPC corroded more seriously when the specimens were exposed to the environment of NaCl dry–wet alternations than the environment of NaCl freeze–thaw cycles.
Dynamic Tensile Properties of CFRP Manufactured by PCM and WCM: Effect of Strain Rate and Configurations
Authors: Yang Yujin
Published: December 2021

Carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) is a promising material to achieve lightweight automotive components. The effects of the strain rate and configurations of CFRP on dynamic tensile properties have not yet been fully explored; thus, its lightweight benefits cannot be maximized. In this paper, the dynamic tensile properties of CFRPs, tested using two different processes with two different resins and four different configurations, were studied with a strain rate from 0.001 to 500 s−1. The tensile strength, modulus, failure strain, and fracture mechanism were analyzed. It was found that the dynamic performance enhances the strength and modulus, whereas it decreases the failure strain. The two processes demonstrated the same level of tensile strength but via different fracture mechanisms. Fiber orientation also significantly affects the fracture mode of CFRP. Resins and configurations both have an influence on strain rate sensitivity. An analytic model was proposed to examine the strain rate sensitivity of CFRPs with different processes and configurations. The proposed model agreed well with the experimental data, and it can be used in simulations to maximize the lightweight properties of CFRP.
Study on Micro-Characteristics of Microbe-Induced Calcium Carbonate Solidified Loess
Authors: Liu Xiaojun , Pan Chaofan , Yu Jing , Fan Jinyue
Published: December 2021

Microbial-induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) has outstanding characteristics in solidifying soil, such as good fluidity, ecological environmental protection, adjustable reaction, etc., making it have a good application prospect. As a typical silty clay, the composition of loess is fine, and the microstructure is quite different from that of sand. Previous research has found that the unconfined compressive strength of loess cured by MICP can be increased by nearly four times. In this paper, by comparing the changes of structural characteristics of undisturbed loess before and after MICP solidification, the mechanism of strength improvement of loess after MICP solidification is revealed from the microscopic level. Firstly, the microstructure of loess before and after solidification is tested by scanning electron microscope, and it is found that the skeleton particles of undisturbed loess are granular, and the soil particles coexist in direct contact and indirect contact, and the pores in soil are mainly overhead pores compared with the microstructure of solidified loess, it is found that the surface contact between aggregates increases obviously, and calcium carbonate generated by MICP is adsorbed around the point contact between aggregates, which makes the contact between soil particles change from point contact to surface contact. Then, Pores (Particles) and Cracks Analysis System (PCAS) is used to quantitatively analyze the pores of loess before and after solidification. The results show that the total pore area, the maximum total pore area and porosity of soil samples decrease, and the total number of pores decreases by 13.2% compared with that before MICP solidification, indicating that a part of calcium carbonate produced by MICP reaction accumulates in tiny pores, thus reducing the number of pores. One part is cemented between soil particles, which increases the contact area of particles. Therefore, some pores of loess solidified by MICP are filled and densified, the contact area between soil particles is increased, and the strength of loess under load is obviously improved.
Self-Regulation in E-Learning Environment
Authors: Bylieva Daria , Hong Jon-Chao , Lobatyuk Victoria , Nam Tatiana
Published: December 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to the accelerated spread of e-learning around the world. In e-learning, self-regulation becomes more relevant than ever. Reducing the influence of traditional features of the face-to-face learning environment and increasing the impact of the e-environment place high demands on students’ self-regulation. The author’s self-regulation e-learning model emphasizes the position of e-learning at the intersection of the electronic environment and the learning environment. We observe a collision of the concepts of these two environments. The Internet is a more common environment that provokes the use of unacceptable tools and hints, which is a logical consequence of such behavior to pass the test, and not to gain knowledge. Therefore, the most important thing is that students have their own goals and strategies, and use the large resources of the electronic environment for development, and not for cheating. The authors conducted a survey (N = 767), which showed that students rate their self-efficacy of online learning higher in the e-environment than in the offline learning environment. Self-regulation indicators are the highest in the field of environment, and the lowest when setting goals and in time management.
Establishment of Virtual-Reality-Based Safety Education and Training System for Safety Engagement
Authors: Seo Hyun Jeong , Park Gyu Mi , Son Minjie , Hong Ah-Jeong
Published: December 2021

The current safety education and training system has a number of problems, namely that the actual risks in the field are not reflected and that workers cannot be engaged in safety education. Therefore, we conducted a study to build a VR-based safety education system that reflects the problems actually occurring in the field. The risk points of the electrical construction sites were derived through in-depth interviews with various stakeholders such as field workers, safety managers, and management. A risk scenario was also constructed by analyzing the causes and effects of existing accident cases. A safety education system was constructed to which the established risk scenario was applied. In the virtual construction site, the site’s own model, safety equipment, and members were implemented in a 3D model to form a virtual reality environment. This environment is intended to provide an educational environment wherein workers can immerse themselves in safety, specifically because this VR-based environment can induce active participation by providing safety information through various experiences. In addition, in this study, a VR-based safety education system that reflects the field conditions was designed to prepare basic data for the modernization and activation of safety education.
Effect of Surfactant Addition on Organic Transparent Conductive Films Fabricated by Inkjet Printing Method
Authors: Nitta Atsushi , Chosa Naohiko , Takeda Kazuhiro
Published: December 2021

Recently, active research has been conducted on the development of flexible electronic devices. Hence, the transparent conductive film (TCF), an essential component of the device, must also be flexible. However, the commonly used indium tin oxide (ITO) TCF lacks flexibility and contains rare metal, making resource depletion an issue. Therefore, we focused on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), which has high flexibility and conductivity. Flexible TCFs have been fabricated by coating PEDOT:PSS on polyethylene naphthalate substrates using an inkjet printer. However, the current issue in such fabrication is the effect of the interface state on the transparency and conductivity of the thin film. In this study, we investigated the effect of surfactant in addition to polar solvents on the properties of thin films fabricated with PEDOT:PSS ink. Although the electrical conductivity was reduced, the transmittance remained above 90%. Thus, these results are comparable to those of ITO TCFs for practical use in terms of optical properties.
The Study of Bending and Twisting Input Modalities in Deformable Interfaces
Authors: Yin Jibin , Bai Shujie , Han Yi , Zhang Xiangliang , Deng Siyang , Wang Shuoyu
Published: December 2021

The deformable input provides users with the ability of physical operation equipment to interact with the system. In order to facilitate further development in flexible display interactive technology, we devised FlexSheet, an input device that can simulate the deformation environment. This paper presents two forms of deformation input, bending and twisting, with regard to three selection techniques. We conduct a controlled experiment to select discrete targets by combining two input forms and three selection strategies, taking into account the influence of visual feedback. Further, we use the deformation angle to reflect the degree of deformation and map it to the experimental variables. In accordance with the experimental results, we analyze the experimental performance under three evaluation indexes and prove the viability of our selection technology in bending and twisting input modes. Finally, we provide suggestions on the control level in bending and twisting input modes, respectively.
Cooperative Control of Microgrids: A Review of Theoretical Frameworks, Applications and Recent Developments
Authors: Smith Edward , Robinson Duane , Agalgaonkar Ashish
Published: December 2021

The development of cooperative control strategies for microgrids has become an area of increasing research interest in recent years, often a result of advances in other areas of control theory such as multi-agent systems and enabled by rapid advances in wireless communications technology and power electronics. Though the basic concept of cooperative action in microgrids is intuitively well-understood, a comprehensive survey of this approach with respect to its limitations and wide range of potential applications has not yet been provided. The objective of this paper is to provide a broad overview of cooperative control theory as applied to microgrids, introduce other possible applications not previously described, and discuss recent advances and open problems in this area of microgrid research.
A Validation Roadmap of Multi-Physics Simulators of the Resonator of MW-Class CW Gyrotrons for Fusion Applications
Authors: Savoldi Laura , Avramidis Konstantinos A. , Albajar Ferran , Alberti Stefano , Leggieri Alberto , Sanchez Francisco
Published: December 2021

For a few years the multi-physics modelling of the resonance cavity (resonator) of MW-class continuous-wave gyrotrons, to be employed for electron cyclotron heating and current drive in magnetic confinement fusion machines, has gained increasing interest. The rising target power of the gyrotrons, which drives progressively higher Ohmic losses to be removed from the resonator, together with the need for limiting the resonator deformation as much as possible, has put more emphasis on the thermal-hydraulic and thermo-mechanic modeling of the cavity. To cope with that, a multi-physics simulator has been developed in recent years in a shared effort between several European institutions (the Karlsruher Institut für Technologie and Politecnico di Torino, supported by Fusion for Energy). In this paper the current status of the tool calibration and validation is addressed, aiming at highlighting where any direct or indirect comparisons with experimental data are missing and suggesting a possible roadmap to fill that gap, taking advantage of forthcoming tests in Europe.
A Deep Learning-Based Approach for Generation Expansion Planning Considering Power Plants Lifetime
Authors: Dehghani Majid , Taghipour Mohammad , Sadeghi Gougheri Saleh , Nikoofard Amirhossein , Gharehpetian Gevork B. , Khosravy Mahdi
Published: December 2021

In Generation Expansion Planning (GEP), the power plants lifetime is one of the most important factors which to the best knowledge of the authors, has not been investigated in the literature. In this article, the power plants lifetime effect on GEP is investigated. In addition, the deep learning-based approaches are widely used for time series forecasting. Therefore, a new version of Long short-term memory (LSTM) networks known as Bi-directional LSTM (BLSTM) networks are used in this paper to forecast annual peak load of the power system. For carbon emissions, the cost of carbon is considered as the penalty of pollution in the objective function. The proposed approach is evaluated by a test network and then applied to Iran power system as a large-scale grid. The simulations by GAMS (General Algebraic Modeling System, Washington, DC, USA) software show that due to consideration of lifetime as a constraint, the total cost of the GEP problem decreases by 5.28% and 7.9% for the test system and Iran power system, respectively.
Blockchain and Internet of Things for Electrical Energy Decentralization: A Review and System Architecture
Authors: Casquiço Manuel , Mataloto Bruno , Ferreira Joao C. , Monteiro Vitor , Afonso Joao L. , Afonso Jose A.
Published: December 2021

The decentralization in the electrical power grids has gained increasing importance, especially in the last two decades, since transmission system operators (TSO), distribution system operators (DSO) and consumers are more aware of energy efficiency and energy sustainability issues. Therefore, globally, due to the introduction of energy production technologies near the consumers, in residential and industrial sectors, new scenarios of distributed energy resources (DER) are emerging. In order to guarantee an adequate power management in the electrical power grids, incorporating producers, consumers and producers-consumers (prosumers) together, it is important to adopt intelligent systems and platforms that allow the provision of information on energy consumption and production in real time, as well as for obtaining a fair price for the sale and purchase of energy. In this paper, we analyze the literature to identify the appropriate solutions to implement a decentralized electrical power grid based on sensors, blockchain and smart contracts, evaluating the current state of the art and pilot projects already in place. We also discuss a proposal for a power grid model, with renewable energy production, combining Internet of Things, blockchain and smart contracts.
Direct Drive Applications: Possible Replacement of Rare-Earth Permanent Magnet Motors
Authors: Jeong Chaelim , Cinti Luca , Bianchi Nicola
Published: December 2021

This paper deals with the possibility to replace rare-earth permanent magnet (PM) motors in direct drive applications. According to previous researches, there are alternatives such as surface-mounted PM motors and spoke-type motors adopting Ferrite PMs, synchronous reluctance motors, with or without the assistance of low-energy PMs. Few studies have been carried out to compare all models at once, thus it is hard to choose which type motor is to be preferred as a valid alternative of rare-earth PM motors in direct drive applications. In this paper, the representative candidates listed above are analyzed and the results are compared with that of a rare-earth PM motor, which is considered as a reference motor. Additionally, the demagnetization phenomenon of the motors with Ferrite PMs is deeply analyzed because this kind of PM may be easily demagnetized by the stator flux. Finally, both strengths and weaknesses of each alternative motors are highlighted.
On the Below- and Aboveground Phenology in Deciduous Trees: Observing the Fine-Root Lifespan, Turnover Rate, and Phenology of Fagus sylvatica L., Quercus robur L., and Betula pendula Roth for Two Growing Seasons
Authors: Mariën Bertold , Ostonen Ivika , Penanhoat Alice , Fang Chao , Xuan Nguyen Hòa , Ghisi Tomáš , Sigurðsson Páll , Willems Patrick , Campioli Matteo
Published: December 2021

We tested the relation between the below- and aboveground tree phenology, determining if beech and oak have a greater fine-root lifespan and a smaller turnover rate than birch and if thinner fine-roots or fine-roots born in spring have a shorter lifespan and greater turnover rate than thicker fine-roots or fine-roots born in another season. The fine-root phenology, bud burst, and leaf senescence in Belgian stands were monitored using minirhizotrons, visual observations, and chlorophyll measurements, respectively. The fine-root phenology and the lifespan and turnover rate were estimated using generalized additive models and Kaplan–Meier analyses, respectively. Unlike the aboveground phenology, the belowground phenology did not show a clear and repeating yearly pattern. The cumulative root surface remained stable for birch but peaked for beech and oak around summer to autumn in 2019 and spring in 2020. The new root count was larger in 2019 than in 2020. The mean lifespan of fine-roots with a diameter below 0.5 mm (308 to 399 days) was shorter than those with a diameter between 0.5 to 1 mm (438 to 502 days), 1 to 2 mm (409 to 446 days), or above 2 mm (418 to 471 days). Fine-roots born in different seasons showed a species-specific lifespan and turnover rate.
Conifer Forest Dynamics in the Iberian Pyrenees during the Middle Ages
Authors: Rull Valentí , Vegas-Vilarrúbia Teresa
Published: December 2021

This study compares the Medieval (ca. 400–1500 CE; Common Era) dynamics of forests from low-mountain (Montcortès; ca. 1000 m a.s.l.) and high-mountain (Sant Maurici; 1900 m a.s.l.) areas of the Iberian Pyrenees, both of which experienced similar climatic forcing but different anthropogenic pressures. The main aim is to identify forest changes over time and associate them with the corresponding climatic and anthropogenic drivers (or synergies among them) to test how different forests at different elevations respond to external forcings. This can be useful to evaluate the hypothesis of general Pyrenean deforestation during the Middle Ages leading to present-day landscapes and to improve the background for forest conservation. The study uses the palynological analysis of lake sediments, historical documents and paleoecological reconstructions based on pollen-independent proxies. The two sites studied showed different forest trajectories. The Montcortès area was subjected to intense human pressure during regional deforestation up to a maximum of ca. 1000 CE. Further forest recovery took place until the end of the Middle Ages due to a change in forest management, including the abandonment of slash-and-burn practices. Climatic shifts indirectly influenced forest trends by regulating human migrations and the resulting shifts in the type and intensity of forest exploitation. The highland Sant Maurici forests exhibited a remarkably long-standing constancy and an exceptional resilience to climatic shifts, which were unable to affect forest extension and composition, and to local human pressure, from which they rapidly recovered. The Montcortès and Sant Maurici records did not follow the rule of an irreversible forest clearing during the Middle Ages leading to present-day landscapes. The present Montcortès landscape was shaped after a Medieval forest recovery, new Modern-Age deforestation and further forest recovery during the last centuries. The Sant Maurici forests remained apparently untouched since the Bronze Age and were never cleared during the Middle Ages. The relevance of these findings for forest conservation is briefly addressed, and the need for the development of more high-resolution studies on Pyrenean forest dynamics is highlighted.
Analysis of Impulsive Boundary Value Pantograph Problems via Caputo Proportional Fractional Derivative under Mittag–Leffler Functions
Authors: Khaminsou Bounmy , Sudsutad Weerawat , Thaiprayoon Chatthai , Alzabut Jehad , Pleumpreedaporn Songkran
Published: December 2021

This manuscript investigates an extended boundary value problem for a fractional pantograph differential equation with instantaneous impulses under the Caputo proportional fractional derivative with respect to another function. The solution of the proposed problem is obtained using Mittag–Leffler functions. The existence and uniqueness results of the proposed problem are established by combining the well-known fixed point theorems of Banach and Krasnoselskii with nonlinear functional techniques. In addition, numerical examples are presented to demonstrate our theoretical analysis.
Illegitimate Recombination between Duplicated Genes Generated from Recursive Polyploidizations Accelerated the Divergence of the Genus Arachis
Authors: Shen Shaoqi , Li Yuxian , Wang Jianyu , Wei Chendan , Wang Zhenyi , Ge Weina , Yuan Min , Zhang Lan , Wang Li , Sun Sangrong , Teng Jia , Xiao Qimeng , Bao Shoutong , Feng Yishan , Zhang Yan , Wang Jiaqi , Hao Yanan , Lei Tianyu , Wang Jinpeng
Published: December 2021

The peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is the leading oil and food crop among the legume family. Extensive duplicate gene pairs generated from recursive polyploidizations with high sequence similarity could result from gene conversion, caused by illegitimate DNA recombination. Here, through synteny-based comparisons of two diploid and three tetraploid peanut genomes, we identified the duplicated genes generated from legume common tetraploidy (LCT) and peanut recent allo-tetraploidy (PRT) within genomes. In each peanut genome (or subgenomes), we inferred that 6.8–13.1% of LCT-related and 11.3–16.5% of PRT-related duplicates were affected by gene conversion, in which the LCT-related duplicates were the most affected by partial gene conversion, whereas the PRT-related duplicates were the most affected by whole gene conversion. Notably, we observed the conversion between duplicates as the long-lasting contribution of polyploidizations accelerated the divergence of different Arachis genomes. Moreover, we found that the converted duplicates are unevenly distributed across the chromosomes and are more often near the ends of the chromosomes in each genome. We also confirmed that well-preserved homoeologous chromosome regions may facilitate duplicates’ conversion. In addition, we found that these biological functions contain a higher number of preferentially converted genes, such as catalytic activity-related genes. We identified specific domains that are involved in converted genes, implying that conversions are associated with important traits of peanut growth and development.
Disposal of Waste from Tattoo and Beauty Parlors in Poland: A Survey-Based Analysis on Epidemiological Safety
Authors: Gębska-Kuczerowska Anita , Kucharska Izabela , Segiet-Święcicka Agnieszka , Kuczerowski Marcin , Gajda Robert
Published: December 2021

Appropriate waste management is increasingly relevant due to environmental and infectious disease transmission concerns. An anonymous observational cross-sectional study was conducted from 2013–2017 of 262 tattooists and 824 beauticians throughout Poland. Knowledge, attitudes, behavior, and compliance with blood-borne infection controls and correct waste disposal were assessed. Tattooists correctly addressed hazardous waste significantly more often than did beauticians (83.3% vs. 44.8%). Medical waste was collected by a specialist company in 90.1% of tattoo parlors and 63.3%of beauty parlors. Tattooists correctly used and disposed of sharps more frequently than beauticians (93.1% vs. 68.9%); however, 46.4% of beauticians and 12.4% of tattooists discarded waste into municipal trash, including sharps (27.1% and 2.6%, respectively). Incorrect collection and labeling of biological waste present occupational risk to waste disposal personnel. Education and instructional controls could improve health safety in this industry. Biological waste management processes are restrictive for medical services and liberal for beauty services, an industry for which they should also be applied more comprehensively.