bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Laparoscopic Single-Port versus Mini-Laparoscopic Hysterectomy: An International Study
Authors: Delgado-Sánchez Elsa , Fanfani Francesco , Malzoni Mario , Couso Aldina , Zapico Álvaro , Bogliolo Stefano , Sánchez-Torres Damián A. , Gardella Bárbara , Thuissard-Vasallo Israel J. , Zapardiel Ignacio
Published: October 2022

Objectives: Laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (LESS) and mini-laparoscopic surgery (Mini-LPS) have been performed with comparable results to conventional laparoscopy. However, there are few data on the comparison between them. Our main objective was to compare LESS and Mini-LPS in terms of surgical time, postoperative pain, and hospital stay in patients who underwent hysterectomy for benign pathology. Design: It is a retrospective international multicentric study carried out in 5 centers including 2 Spanish and 3 Italian. Methods: Data from patients who underwent hysterectomy for benign pathology between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2015, were reviewed. We collected the clinical-pathological characteristics of the patients and the perioperative results. The main variables of the study were surgical time, the switch to oral analgesia, and the hospital stay. The two comparison groups in the study included patients undergoing hysterectomy for benign pathology by LESS or by Mini-LPS. The decision to perform the type of procedure was left to the discretion of the surgeon, based primarily on the surgical skills and experience of the center. All data were collected retrospectively by an online encrypted platform. Results: 161 patients were included in the study. 104 (64.6%) patients underwent LESS hysterectomy and 57 (35.4%) Mini-LPS. Median surgical time was significantly longer in the LESS group when compared to the Mini-LPS group (120 vs. 75 min, respectively; p < 0.001). Moreover, longer median hospital stay was observed in the LESS group compared to Mini-LPS (48 vs. 36 h, respectively; p < 0.001). Conversion of the technique to conventional LPS was performed in 4 (2.5%) patients, all of them in the Mini-LPS group (p = 0.015). Limitations: It is a retrospective study with the biases that this implies. Furthermore, some variables have been incompletely registered in the database, which implies loss of information. This is a nonrandomized study since the decision to intervene with one or another technique was made by the surgeon, which generated 2 nonhomogeneous groups in terms of the number of patients. On the other hand, all the patients who underwent Mini-LPS hysterectomy belonged to the same center, which may have made these results center dependent. Conclusions: Significant shorter surgical time and shorter hospital stay were observed in patients undergoing Mini-LPS hysterectomy compared to LESS technique; however, intraoperative complications related to instrumentation flaws were higher in the mini-LPS group that required conversion to standard laparoscopy in all cases. Both ultra-minimally invasive techniques seem safe to perform hysterectomies for benign pathology and emphasize the importance in surgical training to adapt them to our current practice.
Comparación de biopsia pulmonar con fórceps, con criosonda y toracoscópica para el diagnóstico de la enfermedad pulmonar intersticial: El estudio CHILL
Authors: Wahidi Momen M. , Argento Angela Christine , Mahmood Kamran , Shofer Scott L. , Giovacchini Coral , Pulsipher Aaron , Hartwig Matthew , Tong Betty , Carney John M. , Colby Thomas , Neely Ben , Wang Xiaofei , Dematte Jane , Ninan Neil , Danoff Sonye , Morrison Lake Daniel , Yarmus Lonny
Published: October 2022

Justificación: La criobiopsia pulmonar transbronquial (TBLC) se ha propuesto como un método menos invasivo para obtener un diagnóstico tisular en pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar intersticial (EPI). El rendimiento diagnóstico de la TBLC en comparación con la biopsia pulmonar quirúrgica (SLB) sigue siendo incierto. Objetivos: Este estudio tuvo como objetivo determinar la precisión diagnóstica de la biopsia pulmonar transbronquial (TBLB) con fórceps y de la TBLC en comparación con la SLB para realizar el diagnóstico final con base en una discusión multidisciplinaria (MDD). Métodos: Los pacientes incluidos en el estudio se sometieron a TBLB y TBLC secuenciales, seguidas inmediatamente de SLB. Los casos, anonimizados y sin información sobre el método de biopsia, fueron revisados por un patólogo, quien trabajó a ciegas con respecto a dicha información, y luego discutidos en una conferencia multidisciplinaria. Resultados: Principales: Entre agosto de 2013 y octubre de 2017 se reclutaron 16 pacientes. La concordancia primaria entre TBLC y SLB para el diagnóstico final de MDD fue de 68.75%, con una kappa de Cohen de 0.6 (IC 95%: 0.39, 0.81). La concordancia primaria y la kappa de Cohen de la TBLC frente a la SLB para el diagnóstico final de MDD fueron mucho menores (50%, 0.21 [IC 95%: 0, 0.42] y 18.75%, 0.08 [IC 95%: -0.03, 0.19], respectivamente). La TBLC se asoció con hemorragia leve (hemorragia de grado 1, que requirió aspiración) en 56.2% de los pacientes. Conclusiones: En los pacientes con EPI de tipo incierto según con los datos clínicos y radiográficos, quienes requieren la toma de muestra de tejido para obtener un diagnóstico específico, la TBLC mostró una correlación moderada con la SLB al realizar el diagnóstico con la guía de una MDD. La TBLB mostró mala concordancia con los diagnósticos de la MDD, tanto mediante TBLC como por SLB.
Comparative Somatic Variant Analysis of a Rare Case with Concurrent Oral Leukoplakia and Oral Submucosal Fibrosis
Authors: Anne Anuhya , Bindra Sukhvinder , Reddy Kanapuram V.R. , Gummanur Madhusudhana R. , Mohan Kommu N.
Published: October 2022

Oral leukoplakia (OL) and oral submucosal fibrosis (OSMF) are precancerous conditions with common etiologies but with different risks for oral cancer (OC) progression. In rare cases, both conditions occur in the same patient and provide an opportunity for understanding the common and distinctive variants upon exposure of genetically identical normal cells to the same carcinogen(s). We performed exome sequencing of a patient with OL (hyperplasia, but no dysplasia) and OSMF (grade II) in the opposite cheeks using blood DNA as the reference genome. The overall somatic variant burden was higher in OSMF than OL, but opposite in the case of copy number alterations. OL-specific variants were enriched in genes associated with DNA repair, cell division/cell cycle checkpoint pathways, whereas in OSMF, extracellular matrix-receptor interaction was mainly affected. The proportions of variants in cancer driver genes and cancer driver mutations were similar in both cases indicating no difference in the potential risk associated with the two conditions at the stages sampled. Future studies on rare cases similar to the one described in this report will help in understanding the molecular basis of differences associated with OL and OSMF and shared processes accompanying OC progression.
CTLA-4 Insufficiency due to a Novel CTLA-4 Deletion, Identified through Copy Number Variation Analysis
Authors: Olfe Lisa , von Hardenberg Sandra , Hofmann Winfried , Auber Bernd , Baumann Ulrich , Beier Rita , Adriawan Ignatius Ryan , Atschekzei Faranaz , Witte Torsten , Sogkas Georgios
Published: October 2022

Background: The diagnostic yield of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies in the diagnosis of monogenic inborn errors of immunity (IEI) remains limited, rarely exceeding 30%. Monoallelic pathogenic germline variants in cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) result in variable immunodeficiency and immune dysregulation. The genetic diagnosis of CTLA-4 insufficiency can affect follow-up procedures and may lead to consideration of treatment with CTLA-4-Ig. Objectives: The aim of the study was to identify the genetic cause of familial immunodeficiency and immune dysregulation in cases where single nucleotide variant analysis of short-read NGS data yielded no diagnostic result. Methods: Analysis of copy number variants (CNVs) was applied on short-read NGS data. Results: We identified a novel monoallelic deletion-insertion variant in CTLA-4 (c.445_568-544delinsTTTGCGATTG) resulting in familial autoimmunity. This is the second larger scale variant in CTLA-4, which despite consistently reduced expression of CTLA-4 displayed variable expressivity, ranging from typical juvenile idiopathic arthritis to common variable immunodeficiency-like immunodeficiency. Conclusions: Our report suggests the significance of integration of CNV analysis in routine evaluation of NGS, which may increase its diagnostic yield in IEI.
Resolution of Melanoma to Programmed Death-1 Blockade but Simultaneous Rapid Progression of Concomitant Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Authors: Burgess Melinda , Keane Colm , Tobin Josh WD , Law Soi C. , Griffin Alison , Gill Devinder , Ewing Adam D. , Atkinson Victoria , Mollee Peter , Sabdia Muhammed B. , Saunders Nicholas A. , Gandhi Maher K.
Published: October 2022

Here, we present a novel case of a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who received CTLA-4 and then PD-1 immune-checkpoint blockade (ICB) as treatment for concomitant metastatic melanoma. Whereas the metastatic melanoma was responsive to ICB, the CLL rapidly progressed (but responded to ICB cessation and ibrutinib). There were no new genetic mutational drivers to explain the altered clinical course. PD-1/PD-L1/PD-L2 and CTLA-4/CD80/CD86 expression was not increased in CLL B cells, CD8+ or CD4+ T-cell subsets, or monocytes. The patient’s CLL B cells demonstrated strikingly prolonged in vitro survival during PD-1 blockade, which was not observed in samples taken before or after ICB, or with other patients. To our knowledge, a discordant clinical course to ICB coupled with these biological features has not been reported in a patient with dual malignancies.
Simple Predictive Markers and Clinicopathological Features of Primary Liver Cancer following HCV Clearance with Direct-Acting Antivirals
Authors: Akuta Norio , Sezaki Hitomi , Fujiyama Shunichiro , Kawamura Yusuke , Hosaka Tetsuya , Kobayashi Mariko , Saitoh Satoshi , Arase Yasuji , Ikeda Kenji , Suzuki Yoshiyuki , Suzuki Fumitaka , Kumada Hiromitsu
Published: October 2022

Introduction: Simple predictive markers enabling even nonspecialized medical doctors and clinicopathological features of primary liver cancer (PLC) following HCV clearance with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are unclear. Methods: The subjects of this retrospective study were 2,476 patients following HCV clearance with DAAs. All patients were confirmed to be PLC-free before and during DAAs. Results: PLC was diagnosed in 73 patients during the follow-up, with an incidence rate per 1 000 person-years of 5.9. The annual rate of PLC during the first 6 years was 0.6%. Multivariate analysis identified gender, GGT, and FIB-4 index as the significant determinants of PLC. According to a combination of these risk factors, the cumulative PLC incidence rates were significantly different among the five subgroups based on the number of PLC risk scores. In 73 patients with PLC, the rates of abnormal AFP, PIVKAII, and serum TERT C228T positive were 37.0, 32.4, and 22.2%. PIVKAII levels in BCLC stage A and B were significantly higher than those in stage 0. In 41 patients, who underwent surgical resection for PLC, maximum tumor diameters of abnormal PIVKAII were significantly larger than those of normal PIVKAII. PLC of abnormal PIVKAII significantly indicated presence of vp more than that of normal PIVKAII, and did not contain well-differentiated HCC. Conclusions: Combination of simple markers, enabling even nonspecialized medical doctors, is useful for the evaluation of PLC risk following HCV clearance with DAAs. However, imaging studies are regularly recommended for the early detection of PLC.
Exploring a Better Adjuvant Treatment for Surgically Treated High-Grade Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Cervix
Authors: Wang Rongmin , Xiao Yinping , Ma Lingwei , Wu Zhiyong , Xia Hexia
Published: October 2022

Objectives: The objective of this study was to explore a better adjuvant treatment for patients with high-grade (HG) neuroendocrine cervical carcinomas (NECC) who had undergone surgery as a primary treatment. Design: A retrospective cohort study, which involved women diagnosed as HG-NECC, was conducted in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University. All patients had undergone radical surgery and pelvic lymphadenectomy with a laparotomy or a minimally invasive surgery. An analysis was made of the prognosis of HG-NECC. Methods: Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) curves were drawn using the Kaplan-Meier method to be compared via log-rank tests. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the independent prognostic factors. Results: A number of 110 patients diagnosed as HG-NECC at the pathological stage IA2 to IIIC2 according to the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) 2018 staging system were initially treated with a primary surgery between 2008 and 2020. The eligible patients had the median age of 42.5 years (range: 22–76), with the median follow-up period of 39.6 months (range: 1.0–156.6). The 5-year OS of the patients at pathological stage I, II, and III accounted for 84.9%, 85.7%, and 60.9%, respectively. The Kaplan-Meier survival curves revealed no significant differences in OS and PFS between postoperative chemoradiotherapy and chemotherapy alone (OS: p = 0.77; PFS: p = 0.41). Etoposide plus platinum therapy did not improve OS when compared with platinum plus paclitaxel therapy after surgery (p = 0.71). The univariable analysis showed that chemotherapy with cycles ≥4 presented a better prognosis than with cycles <4 (OS: p = 0.01; HR = 6.71; PFS: p = 0.02; HR = 5.18). The multivariate analysis indicated that the cycles of chemotherapy (p = 0.02; HR 0.29) were a prognostic factor for PFS. Limitations: A retrospective design and the absence of partial follow-up data are limitations of the study. Conclusions: In initially surgically treated HG-NECC, postoperative chemotherapy alone showed no inferiority when compared with chemoradiotherapy for HG-NECC, and 4+ cycles of chemotherapy tended to produce a better prognosis than 4-ones.
Influence of end-effect and end-winding on the electromagnetic losses and efficiency in high speed permanent magnet machines
Authors: Shuraiji Ahlam Luaibi , Gitaffa Sabah A. , Hameed Kassim Rasheed , Shneen Salam Waley
Published: October 2022

Permanent-magnet excitation machines (SPMMs) having mounted magnet on the outer surface of their rotor are preferred for high speed applications such as turbochargers, mechanical turbo-compounding systems, racing engines and fuel pumps, over other types of machines including induction and switched-reluctance machines, since the SPMMs integrate the features of high torque density, compact rotor structure, high reliability and simple structure. However, in the SPMMs, due to the need for a retaining sleeve for the rotor, a large magnetic airgap results and consequently a large magnet thickness is required, hence the magnetic end-effect is relatively high. On the other hand, the use of an overlapping distributed winding leads to a significantly large end-winding length. Hence, the end-effect and the end-winding influences on the performances of a high-speed SPMM is considered in this paper. With a view to get the impact of the end-effect, a comparison between three-dimensional (3D-FEA) results and counterparts two-dimensional finite element analyses (2D-FEA) have been conducted. Results show that, higher efficiency at low torque and low speed due to the low electromagnetic losses and at high speeds due to the high flux-weakening capability are seen when the influences of end-effect as well as end-winding are taken into account.
Efficient detection of faults and false data injection attacks in smart grid using a reconfigurable Kalman filter
Authors: Dayananda Prakyath , Srikantaswamy Mallikarjunaswamy , Nagaraju Sharmila , Velluri Rekha , Kumar Doddananjedevaru Mahesh
Published: October 2022

The distribution denial of service (DDoS) attack, fault data injection attack (FDIA) and random attack is reduced. The monitoring and security of smart grid systems are improved using reconfigurable Kalman filter. Methods: A sinusoidal voltage signal with random Gaussian noise is applied to the Reconfigurable Euclidean detector (RED) evaluator. The MATLAB function randn() has been used to produce sequence distribution channel noise with mean value zero to analysed the amplitude variation with respect to evolution state variable. The detector noise rate is analysed with respect to threshold. The detection rate of various attacks such as DDOS, Random and false data injection attacks is also analysed. The proposed mathematical model is effectively reconstructed to frame the original sinusoidal signal from the evaluator state variable using reconfigurable Euclidean detectors.
Fault detection in an interconnected power system using optimal number of phasor measurement unit
Authors: Krishnan Kiruthika , Iyengar Srivani
Published: October 2022

Fault identification in a power system is crucial. In recent days, there have been multiple microgrids connected to the power system. And if many buses are connected, then there is a need for an increase in the phasor measurement unit. By using an optimization technique, the number of phasor measurement unit PMUs can be reduced by placing them optimally. In this paper, the fault detection algorithm is implemented using a reduced number of PMUs with the help of the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. The optimal locations of PMUs are identified using the PSO algorithm. Here, the reduction in the count of PMUs and the PMUs are designed in MATLAB as a model. This is done using the Simulink and dashboard block sets. The IEEE 9 and IEEE 30 test systems are used here for the analysis and tests. The IEEE 9 bus system is constructed in simulation and then the PMU is constructed using the data taken from the phasor measurement blocks. This data is used in the dashboard block set to represent the PMU-based fault detection system.
Energy management of PV wind based microgrid with hybrid energy storage systems
Authors: Neelagiri Suganthi , Usha Pasumarthi
Published: October 2022

Power demand all around the world is increasing day by day and conventional energy sources are getting depleted. In order to meet the power demand and to reduce the carbon emission caused by the conventional energy sources, alternate renewable energy sources are important. wind and solar are two reliable energy sources among the various renewable energy sources. In this proposed paper wind and photovoltaic (PV) energy-based direct current (DC) microgrid is proposed with super capacitor and battery hybrid energy storage systems. Constant DC link voltage is the replication of energy balance in DC microgrid. The main goal of the proposed microgrid energy management algorithm is to maintain the constant DC link voltage irrespective of the intermittent nature of the renewable energy sources, load variations and under fault conditions. Energy management system is designed such that battery energy storage system handles the average power requirements and super capacitor handles the transient power requirements caused by the load, renewable energy variation and also caused due to fault conditions. The proposed system improves battery life along with effective DC link voltage regulation. The proposed control algorithm of energy management is compared with conventional energy management system in MATLAB/Simulink and presented for various studies.
A novel interactive technique for load current harmonic reduction for any randomly utilized household equipment
Authors: Ahmed Eman Farag , A. Said EL-Sayed Soliman , Mageed Hala M. Abdel , Ammar Abdelhady Abdelazim
Published: October 2022

Sustaining a stable level of power quality in the localized network is a growing challenge due to the increased use of power electronics. This paper proposes a novel interactive technique that reads the load current according to the connected loads. Whenever equipment is started running, the system is immediately read the distorted current for three cycles. The fundamental current can be estimated according to the system acquired readings. This system subtracts this estimated fundamental current from the sensor current reader to extract the total harmonic currents. According to the total harmonic currents the system uses suitable switching frequency Fs and modulation index Ma for generating anti-current source inverter (CSI) pulse width modulation (PWM) signal. Complete and comprehensive comparison between the system laboratory measurements using the Calmet TE30 power analyzer and the simulation model are presented. These results confirmed significant agreements between the proposed model and actual measurements at different loads. Furthermore, current and voltage sensors accompanied with a microcontroller read the load current the system realization. Finally, the measured currents of different loads are almost typically confirmed with the power analyzer's results. The reduced harmonics currents of the implemented model display the system validation.
Decentralized dynamic power control in an islanded DC microgrid with hybrid energy storage system
Authors: Nagaraju Sharmila , Ramaswamy Narataj Kanathur
Published: October 2022

The integration of renewable energy resources to utility grid calls for selection of suitable storage system to store generated energy with reliable supply of demand and selection of efficient control system for smooth control of the grid. Battery is the most common energy storage system. Combining a supercapacitor to it makes the system performance better during transients. This paper proposes a hybrid energy storage system with a battery and a supercapacitor to reduce transient power fluctuations and improve the life span of the battery by reducing the charging/discharging cycles with the incorporation of supercapacitor. The battery compensates constant power fluctuations whereas the supercapacitor compensates the transient power fluctuations. This system design offers improved performance, with better regulation of dc link voltage, frequency regulation compared to microgrid with single energy storage. The dynamic performance of the system under varying load conditions has been improved. The work proposes the power management algorithm, which helps in efficient monitoring and smooth control of the entire system. Integration of supercapacitor to the storage system enhances the performance of the microgrid, increases life span of battery and reduces the stress on battery. The DC link bus voltage is efficiently regulated and the demand is supplied reliably.
Optimized control of three-phase inverters to minimize total harmonic distortion in a grid-connected photovoltaic system
Authors: Abdelhak Lamreoua , Anas Benslimane , Jamal Bouchnaif , Mostafa El Ouariachi
Published: October 2022

Currently, the energy transfer process to the grid of the PV system is based on the importance of less harmonics and high efficiency. The evaluation of harmonics distortion of current is based on the value of THDi (<<5%), this last becomes very high if the current leakage is high, which causes losses of the grid and safety problems. Therefore, our job is to improve the classic control method of PV inverters used to reduce grid loss and improve electricity prices. This study is a proposal toward the modelization and improvement of the three-phase two-level, and multi-level photovoltaic (PV) inverter command, using space vector, and sinusoidal control based on controlling the active and reactive current delivered into the grid indirectly with a resonant controller (PIR) for a nonlinear load (NLL). The results of the simulations obtained by the new control methodology, SPWM, and SVPWM show that its performance is better compared with the simple modulation (PWM); the total harmonic distortion (THD) of current in both methods (SVPWM) and (SPWM) is better than that obtained with conventional commands. Also, multilevel converters control produces better quality waveforms, reducing current harmonic distortion.
Capacitor voltages balancing method for buck modular DC/DC converter
Authors: Salih Firas Abdul-hadi , Hassan Turki Kahawish
Published: October 2022

The most critical problem of the modular DC-DC converter (MDCC) is the voltage balancing of the submodule (SM) capacitors, the MDCC with stepped 2-level modulation has been developed and presents a good solution, however, this type of modulation has many restrictions when there is a wide range of capacitance tolerance of the SM capacitors that results inaccurate capacitor voltages balancing. To solve this problem, this paper discusses a proposed method of capacitor voltage balancing. Compared with stepped 2-level modulation, the voltage balancing method using modified duty cycle modulation offers the merits: i) reduction in output voltage and SM capacitor voltages overshoot during dynamic operation and improvement in the time response of the system and; ii) accurate voltage balancing over wide range of capacitance tolerance of each SM capacitor; and iii) the sorting algorithm replaced with modified duty cycle modulation method for the SM capacitor voltages balancing which reduces the computation burden. The proposed method ensures a stable voltage balancing, improves the time response of the system, and decreases the voltage and current overshoot during the dynamic response compared with prior art of MDCCs, where the stepped 2-level modulation is adopted. An analytical simulation of the MDCC is presented using MATLAB/Simulink to explain the operation.
Comparison between flux estimation methods for direct torque controlled permanent magnet synchronous motors
Authors: Sadek Shady M. , Mostafa Mostafa H. , Ryad Ahmed K.
Published: October 2022

Nowadays, direct torque control (DTC) of AC drives is one of the most interesting fast dynamic response motor control techniques. Permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSM) are now replacing induction motors (IM) in a wide range of applications because of their salient merits such as high efficiency and compactness. Combining DTC and PMSM in one drive may result in excellent performance not only for torque dynamics but also for efficiency. DTC relies on the estimation of the stator flux and torque to be compared with the set points of the torque and flux. In the literature, there are various flux estimation methods and each one has its own merits and demerits. Comparisons of these various methods are discussed in this paper showing their effect on the drive performance through MATLAB/Simulink simulations.
Interaction of FACTS devices with loads dynamics in the transport networks and interconnection
Authors: Al-Azzawi Kamal Mohammed Saleh , Abd Muntadher Ali
Published: October 2022

This paper introduced analysis and improvement of power networks stability. It focused on the impact of flexible AC transmission systems (FACTS) device interaction with the other components of the network. It investigated the impact of dynamic charges on the ability of FACTS to eliminate power oscillations problems. A small-signal analysis, frequency analysis and non-linear time simulations using EUROSTAG made it possible to study these problems. Other, research has shown that the damping loops of the power oscillations effects using classical techniques of sensibility are not robust in relation to the variations of load models. Thus, this paper proposed a method based on the sensitivity of the eigenvalues and it takes into account the variations of the load models. The method calculates an optimal phase compensator based on a weighted average of the sensitivity of the target mode. It considers the variations of sensitivity as a function of the uncertainty in the load model. According to the obtained results, this method is effective in most stability problems.
A comparison of various P&O algorithm in order to truck the MPPT of solar panel
Authors: Isknan Ismail , Asbayou Abdellah , Aamoume Amine , Ihlal Ahmed , Bouhouch Lahoussine
Published: October 2022

A maximum power point track (MPPT) circuit should be used to improve and maximize photovoltaic (PV) power production. Different algorithms are proposed in the literature, and it is imperative to compare them in order to identify which MPPT approach is best for a specific application or to provide recommendations for future MPPT research. This article presents ‎‎a benchmarking of the most widely used MPPT algorithms, such as the ‎‎‎perturbation and observe classic (POC), the perturbation and improved adaptive ‎‎observer (POAM), the perturbation and observe modified (POM) as well as the ‎‎combination of the POM and POAM algorithms called PAMM. The ‎‎comparative study presented in this work will confirm that the PAMM is the ‎‎best MPPT technic to improve the performance of a PV system.‎
Expansion of high-voltage overhead transmission lines to remote areas
Authors: Al-Kharsan Ibrahim Hasan , Al-khaykan Ameer , Fakhruldeen Hassan Falah
Published: October 2022

Delivering electrical energy to remote areas is one of the essential things in our modern world. Choosing the optimal route is one of the most critical factors contributing to reducing the power transmission system's cost. Other influencing factors such as the optimum alloy of the conductor wires are difficult to change, so only the aforementioned factor was adopted. In this paper, the optimized potential field algorithm is employed to determine the sub-optimum path that the transmission line should be installed. The best line for the towers is not necessarily the shortest or the cheapest one. Sometimes the best locations for the towers of the transmission lines coming according to the safety regards. It can be said that the best trajectory is a combination of several factors, including the length of the track in addition to other influencing factors depending on the work environment.
Salp swarm algorithm for optimal load balancing in low voltage networks
Authors: Altawil Ibrahim , Obeidat Ehab , Mahafzah Khaled A. , Albataineh Zaid
Published: October 2022

Distribution networks for low voltage (LV) are three-phase networks. It mostly serves single-phase end customers with a variety of load characteristics. Because each customer's load behavior differs, the current on the LV networks feeder is shared unequally, leading in an im-balance problem. This research investigates an efficient distribution of single-phase loads amongst three phase networks using the salp swarm algorithm (SSA) to phase swap consumers between phases. Customers are rearranged and their loads are switched from heavy to light to achieve phase shifting. Jordan's electricity distribution company (EDCO) has provided a full load feeder as a case study. The results of switching loads to a three-phase feeder show that the im-balance index and power losses can be decreased significantly.
Interactive Moiré Patterns Reflecting on the Traditional Nanjing Baiju
Authors: Yang Ye , Chen Guangxi , Li Mengqi , Zhang Kang
Published: October 2022

This article presents a human-machine design approach to the artistic and metaphorical representation of the traditional weaving scenes featured on Yunjin brocade as interactive moiré patterns accompanied by Nanjing Baiju performance. After extracting the basic elements of the eye-shaped moiré patterns, the authors systematically recomposed them to mimic the weaving process. They then wrote an algorithm to generate moiré patterns that respond dynamically to the unique sounds weavers make while weaving, symbolizing the gazes and eye contacts among the weavers. This became an interactive sonic installation, Sweating Weaving Room, which represents the rhythmic machine sounds, the Nanjing Baiju, and the hard labor and harmonious work hidden behind the glamorous brocade.
Entangled Realities: Emerging Performances of Relating Humans, Sonatars, and Spaces
Authors: Pirchner Andreas
Published: October 2022

This article investigates music performances with audiovisual components in extended reality setups that are not score based, but composed, emerging from a discursive process of interrelating human performers and computational counterparts such as virtual performance partners, virtual instruments, and potentials related to particular spaces. Rooted in notions of earlier avant-garde music and digital games, the performances are understood to emerge from a bottom-up process of relating human-technological agencies. A dichotomy of preexistent physical and virtual realities that would be extended or mixed is consequently replaced by a notion of entangled realities, as the artistic reality of the artwork emerges with the performance.
PlantConnect
Authors: Castellanos Carlos
Published: October 2022

This paper describes PlantConnect, a real-time interactive system that explores human-plant interaction via the human act of breathing, the bioelectrical and photosynthetic activity of plants, and computational intelligence to bring the two together. Part of larger investigations into alternative models for the creation of shared experiences and understanding with the natural world, the work is presented as a concrete implementation of a possible model based upon reciprocal interplay and information flows between human and nonhuman worlds.
Topological Vision: The Artistic Thinking of Shigeru Onishi
Authors: Herrie Maja Bak
Published: October 2022

This article examines the work of the Japanese mathematician and photographer Shigeru Onishi (1928–1994) and his topologically inspired photographic experiments. It considers how his painterly play with emulsion and coloration is a visual exploration of questions of process and continuous transformation and how these experiments can be understood in relation to more general discussions of mathematical and artistic “ways of knowing “ Building on ideas introduced by the French philosopher Maurice Merleau-Ponty in his work on late Paul Cézanne, the article introduces the concept of topological vision to describe and account for a particular way of seeing that considers the continual coming-into-being of a photographic motif.
Typology of Emotion Assemblages in Art and Science
Authors: Nold Christian
Published: October 2022

This article analyzes how artists and scientists use emotion as a methodological tool to study participants and cocreate projects. It uses a science and technology studies approach to identify a typology of five emotion assemblages and the material, social, and cultural components that make them operate. These assemblages include or eliminate cultural and environmental context, the role of participants, and artist/researcher reflexivity The paper argues that there is an imperative for artists, designers, and researchers to make deliberate choices as to who or what to include and exclude when working with emotion.
Biomarkers of Cardiovascular Diseases in Saliva and Gingival Crevicular Fluid: A Review
Authors: Szustkiewicz-Karoń Aleksandra , Schönborn Martyna , Patrycja Pasieka  , Płotek Anna , Maga Paweł , Gregorczyk-Maga Iwona
Published: October 2022

Due to the fact that cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have become the most serious problem in public health, there is a need for new and efficient methods for screening and early detection. In the recent literature, saliva and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) have been gaining recognition as sources of many potential biomarkers of various systemic diseases, mainly because of correlation between the level of some compounds in the blood and saliva and association between the composition of saliva and health status. In this review, we summarize published findings of patients with atherosclerosis, arterial hypertension, coronary artery disease (CAD), acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and stroke in the context of clinical utility of saliva and GCF in diagnosing and assessing CVD severity. We hypothesize that substances in saliva including inflammatory markers, enzymes, or hormones might become novel contributors to the diagnosis and screening of CVDs. In particular, C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis alpha (TNFα), and cortisol seem to be the most promising. However, further investigation is warranted to determine the most effective markers and methods for their analysis.
The Effect of COVID-19 Fear in Patients and Clinical Nurses on Night Nursing Care
Authors: Utli Hediye , Dinç Mahmut , Oner Ugur
Published: October 2022

This study was conducted with the aim of determining the effect of fear of COVID-19 in patients and clinical nurses on night nursing care. This was a cross-sectional study. The research sample consisted of 604 patients and 270 clinical nurses selected by the convenience sampling method. Data were collected between August 2021 and July 2022 using a Patients’ Information form, a Nurse’s Information form, the Fear of COVID-19 scale, and the Night Nursing Care instrument. No significant difference was found between the total mean scores of the patients and the nurses on the Fear of COVID-19 scale or the Night Nursing Care instrument (rho = –0.017 , p = .702; rho = –0.020, p = .741). It was found that patients’ and nurses’ fears of COVID-19 did not affect their perceptions of night nursing care.
Validation of ratings on the six-item Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale obtained via the Simplified Negative and Positive Symptoms Interview among outpatients with schizophrenia
Authors: Nielsen Cecilie Marie , Kølbæk Pernille , Dines David , Pedersen Martin Locht , Danielsen Andreas Aalkjær , Holmgård Camilla , Wissing Sanne , Esbøl Anne-Mette , Fuglsang Nina Friis Bak , Nguyen Tuan Dang , Mors Ole , Opler Mark , Correll Christoph U , Østergaard Søren Dinesen
Published: October 2022

Background:

The six-item Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS-6) is a measure of the severity of core symptoms of schizophrenia, which can be administered via the brief Simplified Negative and Positive Symptoms Interview (SNAPSI). A recent study has confirmed the validity of PANSS-6 ratings as derived by SNAPSI (PANSS-6SNAPSI) among inpatients with schizophrenia.

Aims:

We aimed to test the validity of PANSS-6SNAPSI among outpatients with schizophrenia using PANSS-6 ratings extracted from the 30-item PANSS-30 as derived by the Structured Clinical Interview for the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS-6SCI-PANSS) as a gold standard reference.

Methods:

PANSS-6SNAPSI and PANSS-6SCI-PANSS ratings were obtained at two time points by independent raters with established inter-rater reliability. Agreement between PANSS-6SNAPSI and PANSS-6SCI-PANSS ratings was estimated via intra-class coefficients (ICCs) and responsiveness over time was quantified using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients. Post hoc “leave-one-out” analyses were carried out, in which each rater in turn was excluded from the ICC calculations.

Results:

Seventy-three outpatients with schizophrenia participated in the study (mean age: 38.3 years; 56% males). The ICC for PANSS-6SNAPSI versus PANSS-6SCI-PANSS was 0.67 [95%CI = 0.56–0.76] and the Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient for responsiveness was 0.40 ( p = 0.004). When data from a specific outlying rater were excluded, the ICC for PANSS-6SNAPSI versus PANSS-6SCI-PANSS was 0.75 [95% CI = 0.63–0.83] and the Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient for responsiveness was 0.55 ( p = 0.018).

Conclusions:

We found PANSS-6SNAPSI ratings to have acceptable clinical validity, suggesting that PANSS-6SNAPSI can be used for both inpatients and outpatients with schizophrenia.
Identifying Optimal Locations for Speed Enforcement Cameras
Authors: Shaaban Khaled , Mohammad Anas , Eleimat Ahid
Published: October 2022

Speed enforcement cameras are used to improve traffic safety. These cameras are usually placed in areas with significant crashes related to speeding. However, in many countries, detailed crash data are not available or are of poor quality. This study aims to propose and explore three simple ranking methods for identifying optimal locations for speed enforcement cameras that do not depend on crash records. The first method is based on the Star Rating Scores and the traffic volume data. The second method relies on developing a data-driven model for predicting speeding violation rate (VR) based on road geometry aspects and comparing it with available road segment crash risk. The third method uses a combination of the first two methods. The proposed methods and prediction models were applied to a case study and successfully identified the optimal location for speed enforcement cameras. The developed prediction models suggest that speed limit, junction spacing, and the number of access points per kilometer are the most common variables to estimate speed VRs for both urban and rural roads. Availability of service roads and the number of lanes were variables that affect the speed VR on urban roads only. The proposed methods are considered valuable simple tools for road safety practitioners to effectively prepare speed enforcement plans for different road networks.
Crisis decision-making inside the core executive: Rationality, bureaucratic politics, standard procedures and the COVID-19 lockdown
Authors: Askim Jostein , Christensen Tom
Published: October 2022

The article explains how the unprecedented pandemic management decision to lock down the country came about, using the case of Norway and drawing on unique interview material from political and administrative executives. Urgency and precaution were the government’s primary considerations in March 2020, with proportionality and due process only peripheral decision premises. Voices of moderation were drowned out at critical moments to pave the way for a lockdown. Moreover, Norway’s lockdown decision lacked distinct and official agency, with none of the key actors able to say precisely when, where and by whom this decision of unprecedented size and scope had been taken. An interpretation using Graham Allison’s analytical models shows that the rational policy model most accurately captures the case. The suggested implication is that when senior political executives take active control of an ultra-high-stakes process, decisions are unlikely to be the product of political resultants or organisational output.
Phosphodiesterase inhibitor, Vinpocetine, guards against doxorubicin induced cardiotoxicity via modulation of HIF/VEGF and cGMP/cAMP/SIRT signaling pathways
Authors: Refaie Marwa M.M. , El-Hussieny Maram , Abdel-Hakeem Elshymaa A. , Fawzy Michael A , Mahmoud Abd El Rahman Eman Shaaban , Shehata Sayed
Published: October 2022

Purpose: Doxorubicin (DOX) is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent complicated with cardiotoxic adverse effects. Up till now, there are no researches discussing the role of vinpocetine (VIN) in DOX cardiotoxicity. Thus, the aim of our work was to study this effect and explore the different involved mechanisms.

Methods:

50 male Wistar albino rats were subjected to DOX toxicity via administration of single i.p. Dose (15 mg/kg) on the 4th day with or without co-administration of VIN (10, 20, 30 mg/kg/day) orally for 5 days.

Results:

Our data revealed that VIN succeeded in protecting the heart against DOX induced damage as manifested by significant decrease of cardiac enzymes, hypoxia inducible factor alpha (HIF-1α), vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and caspase3 levels. Furthermore, VIN given group showed marked improvement of the histopathological changes of cardiac injury, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), elevation of reduced glutathione (GSH), cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and sirtuin-1 (SIRT-1).

Conclusion:

We concluded that VIN could ameliorate DOX induced cardiac damage and this effect may be attributed to modulation of HIF/VEGF signaling pathway, up-regulation of cGMP/cAMP/SIRT pathway, inhibition of phosphodiesterase enzyme, besides its anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant properties.
Multi-arm covariate adjusted response adaptive designs for ordinal outcome clinical trials
Authors: Das Soumyadeep , Bhattacharya Rahul , Biswas Atanu
Published: October 2022

Covariate adjusted response adaptive designs are developed with ordinal categorical responses for phase III clinical trial involving multiple treatments. Stochastic ordering principle is used to order the treatments according to effectiveness and consequently allocation functions are developed by combining the cumulative odds ratios suitably. The performance of the proposed designs is investigated through relevant exact as well as large sample measures. To investigate the performance in a real situation, a real clinical trial involving lung cancer patients is further redesigned using the proposed allocation design.
Social capital and mobility: An experimental study
Authors: Krčál Ondřej , Mikula Štěpán , Staněk Rostislav
Published: October 2022

Theoretical models of local social capital predict that communities may find themselves in one of two equilibria: one with a high level of local social capital and low migration or one with a low level of local social capital and high migration. There is empirical literature suggesting that immigrants who join communities high in social capital are more likely to invest in local social capital and that the whole community will then end up in the equilibrium with high local social capital and low migration. However, this literature suffers from the selection of immigrants, which makes the identification challenging. In order to test the causal influence of the initial level of local social capital, we take the setup used in the theoretical models into the laboratory. We treat some communities by increasing the initial level of social capital without affecting the equilibrium outcomes. We find that while most communities end up in one of the two equilibria predicted by the theoretical models, the treated communities are more likely to converge to the equilibrium with a high level of local social capital and low migration.
Building Palliative Care Capacity for Generalist Providers in the Community: Results From the Capaciti Pilot Education Program
Authors: Seow Hsien , Bainbridge Daryl , Stajduhar Kelli , Marshall Denise , Howard Michelle , Brouwers Melissa , Barwich Doris , Burge Fred , Kelley Mary Lou
Published: October 2022

Objective: Primary care providers play an important role in providing early palliative care, however they often lack practical supports to operationalize this approach in practice. CAPACITI is a virtual training program aimed at providing practical tips, strategies, and action plans to help primary care providers offer an early palliative approach to care. The CAPACITI pilot program consisted of 10 facilitated, monthly training sessions, covering identification and assessment, communication, and engaging caregivers and specialists. We present the findings of an evaluation of the pilot program. Method: We conducted a single cohort study of primary care providers who participated in CAPACITI. Study outcomes were the change in the percentage of caseload reported as requiring palliative care and improved confidence in competencies measured on a 20-item, study-created survey. Pre and post survey data were analyzed using paired t-tests. Results: Twenty-two teams representing 127 care providers (including 36 physicians and 28 Nurse Practitioners) completed CAPACITI. Paired comparisons showed a moderate improvement in confidence across the competencies covered (.6 to 1.3 mean improvement across items using seven-point scales, all P < .05). Pre-CAPACITI, clinician prescribers ( N = 32) identified a mean of 1.2% of their caseload requiring a palliative approach to care, which increased to 1.6% post-program ( P = .02). Said differently, the total group of paired clinician prescribers identified 338 patients as requiring palliative care in their caseloads at baseline vs 482 patients following the intervention, for an overall increase of 144 patients in their collective caseloads. Conclusion: CAPACITI improved self-assessed palliative care identification and provider confidence in core competencies. The program demonstrated potential for building palliative care capacity in primary care teams.