bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evolution of anti-malaria policies and measures in P.R. China for achieving and sustaining malaria-free
Authors: Yin Jian-Hai , Zhang Li , Feng Xin-Yu , Xia Zhi-Gui
Published: March 2023

Malaria is a major public health threat worldwide, and it was also widely prevalent in the history in China, seriously endangering people's health and affecting socioeconomic development. China was certified malaria elimination in 2021 with unremitting efforts since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949. This great achievement has been another milestone in the fight against major infectious diseases following the elimination of smallpox, poliomyelitis, leprosy, filariasis, neonatal tetanus and blinding trachoma in China. This paper briefly introduces the malaria burden dynamics and the corresponding malaria transmission risk stratificantions, as well as systematically reviews the evolution of anti-malaria policies and measures from severe epidemic to elimination in China. Meanwhile, five key lessons in malaria control and elimination in China are also briefly summarized. All of the above provide evidences for promoting global malaria eradication and preventing reestablishment of malaria transmission, finally benefit all individuals still suffering from the scourge of malaria.
Work from home or office during the COVID-19 pandemic: The different chain mediation models of perceived organizational support to the job performance
Authors: Liu Xiong , Jing Yumei , Sheng Youyu
Published: March 2023

With the coronavirus pandemic in 2019 (COVID-19), work from home (WFH) has become a frequent way of responding to outbreaks. Across two studies, we examined how perceived organizational support influences job performance when employees work in office or work from home. In study 1, we conducted a questionnaire survey of 162 employees who work in office. In study 2, we conducted a questionnaire survey of 180 employees who work from home. We found that perceived organizational support directly affected job performance when employees work in office. When employees work from home, perceived organizational support could not affect job performance directly. However, it could influence job performance indirectly through the separate mediating effects of job satisfaction and work engagement. These findings extend our understanding of the association of perceived organizational support and job performance and enlighten enterprises on improving employees' job performance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Perceived research burden of a novel therapeutic intervention: A study of transcranial magnetic stimulation for smoking cessation
Authors: Shevorykin Alina , Carl Ellen , Liskiewicz Amylynn , Hanlon Colleen A. , Bickel Warren K. , Mahoney Martin C. , Vantucci Darian , Bensch Lindsey , Thorner Hannah , Marion Matthew , Sheffer Christine E.
Published: March 2023

Background

Translating repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) into evidence-based clinical applications relies on research volunteers with different perspectives on the burden of study participation. Additionally, clinical applications of rTMS require multiple visits over weeks or months, the impact of research burden is an important component for these studies and translation of these findings to clinical practice. High frequency rTMS has significant potential to be developed as an evidence-based treatment for smoking cessation, however, the optimal rTMS dosing strategies have yet to be determined. Participant burden is an important component of determining optimal dosing strategy for rTMS as a treatment for long-term smoking cessation.

Methods

In this double-blinded, sham-controlled, randomized design, the effects of treatment duration, intensity, and active/sham assignment of rTMS on research burden were examined.

Results

Overall level of perceived research burden was low. Experienced burden (M = 26.50) was significantly lower than anticipated burden (M = 34.12). Research burden did not vary by race or income.

Conclusions

Overall research burden was relatively low. Contrary to our hypotheses, we found little evidence of added significant burden for increasing the duration or intensity of rTMS, and we found little evidence for differences in research burden by race or income.

Clinical Trial Registration

identifier NCT03865472.
Grassland and managed grazing policy review
Authors: Rissman Adena R. , Fochesatto Ana , Lowe Erin B. , Lu Yu , Hirsch Regina M. , Jackson Randall D.
Published: March 2023

Perennial grasslands, including prairie and pasture, have declined with tremendous environmental and social costs. This decline reflects unequal policy support for grasslands and managed grazing compared to row crops. To create a resource for community partners and decision-makers, we reviewed and analyzed the policy tools and implementation capacity that supports and constrains grasslands and managed grazing in the U.S. Upper Midwest. Risk reduction subsidies for corn and soybeans far outpace the support for pasture. Some states lost their statewide grazing specialist when the federal Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative lapsed. The United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service support for lands with prescribed grazing practices declined after 2005 but remained relatively steady 2010–2020. These results reveal the policy disadvantage for grasslands and managed grazing in comparison with row crop agriculture for milk and meat production. Grassland and grazing policies have an important nexus with water quality, biodiversity, carbon and outdoor recreation policy. Socially just transitions to well-managed, grazed grasslands require equity-oriented interventions that support community needs. We synthesized recommendations for national and state policy that farmers and other grazing professionals assert would support perennial grasslands and grazing, including changes in insurance, conservation programs, supply chains, land access, and fair labor. These policies would provide critical support for grass-based agriculture and prairies that we hope will help build soil, retain nutrients, reduce flooding and enhance biodiversity while providing healthy food, jobs, and communities.
Nomogram based on TNM stage to predict the prognosis of thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) patients undergoing extended thymectomy
Authors: Li Yanzhi , Tang Zhanpeng , Zhu Xirui , Tian Hui
Published: March 2023

Background

Thymomas and thymic carcinoma are thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) of the anterior mediastinum. On the basis of The AJCC 8th Edition of TNM classification, no prognostic prediction model has been established for TETs patients undergoing surgical resection. In this study, based on data from Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, we identified prognostic factors and developed a nomogram to predict the prognosis for TETs patients undergoing extended thymectomy.

Methods

Patients with TETs who underwent thymectomy between 2010 and 2020 were consecutively enrolled. An analysis of multivariate Cox regression and stepwise regression using the Akaike information criterion (AIC) was conducted to identify prognostic factors, and a nomogram for TETs was derived from the results of these analyses. The model was validated internally with the Kaplan-Meier curves, ROC curves and calibration curves.

Results

There were 350 patients with TETs enrolled in the study, and they were divided into a training group (245,0.7) and a validation group (105,0.3). Age, histological type, tumor size, myasthenia gravis, and TNM stage were independent prognostic factors for CSS. The Kaplan-Meier curves showed a significant difference between high nomorisk group and low nomorisk group. A nomogram for CSS was formulated based on the independent prognostic factors and exhibited good discriminative ability as a means of predicting cause-specific mortality, as evidenced by the area under the ROC curves (AUCs) of 3-year, 5-year, and 10-year being 0.946, 0.949, and 0.937, respectively. The calibration curves further revealed excellent consistency between the predicted and actual mortality when using this nomogram.

Conclusion

There are several prognostic factors for TETs. Based on TNM stage and other prognostic factors, the nomogram accurately predicted the 3-, 5-, and 10-year mortality rates of patients with TETs in this study. The nomogram could be used to stratify risk and optimize therapy for individual patients.
Case report: Multidrug-resistant Streptococcus pseudoporcinus isolated from an infected surgical wound of a 9-year-old spayed female Great Dane dog
Authors: Soku Yesutor K. , Etzioni Athema L. , Mohamed Abdelrahman
Published: March 2023

Streptococcus pseudoporcinus (S. pseudoporcinus) is a β-hemolytic, Gram-positive novel bacterium first identified in 2006. It is a catalase-negative, non-motile coccus arranged in short chains. Furthermore, it has a broad beta-hemolytic reaction on sheep blood agar and cross-reacts with Lancefield group B antigen agglutination reagent. In this study, we report a case of S. pseudoporcinus infection of a surgical wound on the left metatarsus of a dog. The patient is a 9-year-old spayed female Great Dane dog with a brief history of multiple cutaneous masses being removed. Post-surgery, the post-surgical site on the left metatarsus became infected and discharged purulent material with a fetid odor. Upon preliminary diagnostic testing, we detected catalase-negative Gram-positive cocci exhibiting beta-hemolytic growth on sheep blood agar. A VITEK® 2 Compact machine from bioMérieux identified the bacterium as S. pseudoporcinus. Furthermore, antibiotic testing revealed multidrug resistance. Therefore, we document a multidrug-resistant S. pseudoporcinus isolate as a cause of canine post-surgical wound infection. Furthermore, it was the only isolate detected from the sample; hence, it is the cause of the infection. To our knowledge, this case is the first report of S. pseudoporcinus in a dog.
Case report: Pathological and genetic features of pancreatic undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells
Authors: Zhao Ni , Mei Nan , Yi Ye , Wang Hongyan , Wang Yajian , Yao Yu , Li Chunli
Published: March 2023

Objectives: Pancreatic undifferentiated carcinoma accounts for 2%–7% of pancreatic carcinomas. We aimed to investigate the pathological and genetic characteristics of pancreatic undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells and the key points of treatment.

Methods: The clinical data and follow-up results of four patients diagnosed with pancreatic undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells between May 2015 and May 2020 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University were retrospectively analyzed.

Results: Chief complaints included “pain and discomfort in the upper abdomen” (2/4), “nausea and vomiting” (1/4) or no symptoms (1/4). Preoperative mildly elevated tumor markers included carcinoembryonic antigen (1/4) and CA19-9 (1/4). The tumors were located in the tail of the pancreas in three patients and the head and neck in one patient. Tumor metastasis was found in pancreatic adipose tissue in two patients and lymph node metastasis in one patient, with microscopic heterogeneous mononuclear cells and scattered osteoclast-like giant cells of various sizes. One patient (1/4) had a mucinous cystic tumor of the pancreas, and two patients (2/4) had adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic duct. Only one patient received postoperative gemcitabine combined with albumin-bound paclitaxel chemotherapy.

Conclusion: Currently, treatment guidelines are lacking for PUC-OGC, and prognosis varies markedly. More cases must be reported to clarify its origination. The long-term follow-up of diagnosed patients and genetic mutation testing can also contribute to improving treatment and prognosis of this disease.
Predicting the Nitrogen Quota Application Rate in a Double Rice Cropping System Based on Rice–Soil Nitrogen Balance and 15N Labelling Analysis
Authors: Cao Xiaochuang , Qin Birong , Ma Qingxu , Zhu Lianfeng , Zhu Chunquan , Kong Yali , Tian Wenhao , Jin Qianyu , Zhang Junhua , Yu Yijun
Published: March 2023

Excessive nitrogen (N) fertilization, low use efficiency, and heavy pollution are the dominant issues that exist in intensively cultivated double rice cropping systems in China. Two-year field and 15N microregion experiments were conducted to evaluate the N fate in a soil-rice system under a series of different N rate treatments from 2020 to 2021. The economic N application rate that simultaneously improved rice yield and N use efficiency in the rotation system was also investigated. Results demonstrated that soil residues and mineralized N accounted for more than 58.0% and 53.2% of the total N input in the early and late rice seasons, respectively. Similarly, most of the total N input was absorbed by rice, ranging from 43.7% to 55.6% in early rice and from 36.8% to 54.7% in late rice. Rice N use efficiency significantly decreased with increasing N application, while rice grain yield and its N uptake increased when the N application rate was below 150 kg ha−1 in early rice and 200 kg ha−1 in late rice. Exceeding this point limited rice N uptake and yield formation. The apparent N recovery rate, N residual rate, and N loss rate were 23.5–34.4%, 17.0–47.1%, and 26.0–47.8% for the early rice, and 32.8–37.3%, 74.2–87.0%, and 71.5–92.1% for the late rice. The linear plateau analysis further indicated that the recommended N application rate (118.5–152.8 kg ha−1 for early rice and 169.9–186.2 kg ha−1 for late rice) can not only maintain a relatively higher rice yield and N utilization but also significantly reduce soil N residue. Our results provide theoretical guidance for improving N management in double-cropping rice fields in southern China.
Service Dogs and Persons with Disabilities: When COVID-19 Lockdown Changes Their Relationship
Authors: Grandgeorge Marine , Rochais Céline , Auffret Florian , Dollion Nicolas
Published: March 2023

Persons with disabilities, who own service dogs, develop strong relationships with them. Since the COVID-19 pandemic decreased the possibility of social contact and modified human relationships, we hypothesized that the COVID-19 lockdown would influence people with disabilities—service dog relationships. An online survey was conducted during the first COVID-19 lockdown in France and included information (e.g., MONASH score) both in the general context prior to and during the COVID-19 lockdown. Seventy owners participated. Compared to the general context, scores for the Perceived Emotional Closeness and Perceived Costs subscales were significantly higher during the COVID-19 lockdown, while scores for the Dog–Owner Interaction subscale were significantly lower during the COVID-19 lockdown. Our study confirmed that service dogs, like other pets, were a source of emotional support for their owners during the COVID-19 lockdown. However, people with disabilities found their relationship with their service dog costlier (e.g., my dog makes too much mess). Our study highlights that, in extreme situations, characteristics of a human–animal relationship can be exacerbated in both positive and negative ways.
The Virtuous Galleria mellonella Model for Scientific Experimentation
Authors: Serrano Isa , Verdial Cláudia , Tavares Luís , Oliveira Manuela
Published: March 2023

The first research on the insect Galleria mellonella was published 85 years ago, and the larva is now widely used as a model to study infections caused by bacterial and fungal pathogens, for screening new antimicrobials, to study the adjacent immune response in co-infections or in host-pathogen interaction, as well as in a toxicity model. The immune system of the G. mellonella model shows remarkable similarities with mammals. Furthermore, results from G. mellonella correlate positively with mammalian models and with other invertebrate models. Unlike other invertebrate models, G. mellonella can withstand temperatures of 37 °C, and its handling and experimental procedures are simpler. Despite having some disadvantages, G. mellonella is a virtuous in vivo model to be used in preclinical studies, as an intermediate model between in vitro and mammalian in vivo studies, and is a great example on how to apply the bioethics principle of the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement) in animal experimentation. This review aims to discuss the progress of the G. mellonella model, highlighting the key aspects of its use, including experimental design considerations and the necessity to standardize them. A different score in the “cocoon” category included in the G. mellonella Health Index Scoring System is also proposed.
The BALB/c Mouse Model for the Evaluation of Therapies to Treat Infections with Aerosolized Burkholderia pseudomallei
Authors: Nelson Michelle , Barnes Kay B. , Davies Carwyn H. , Cote Christopher K. , Meinig J. Matthew , Biryukov Sergei S. , Dyer David N. , Frick Ondraya , Heine Henry , Pfefferle Denise A. , Horstman-Smith Amanda , Barbaras Julie , Harding Sarah V.
Published: March 2023

Burkholderia pseudomallei, the causative agent of the disease melioidosis, has been isolated from the environment in 45 countries. The treatment of melioidosis is complex, requiring lengthy antibiotic regimens, which can result in the relapse of the disease following treatment cessation. It is important that novel therapies to treat infections with B. pseudomallei be assessed in appropriate animal models, and discussions regarding the different protocols used between laboratories are critical. A ‘deep dive’ was held in October 2020 focusing on the use of the BALB/c mouse model and the inhalational route of infection to evaluate new antibiotic therapies.
High Concentration of Protein Oxidation Biomarker O-Tyr/Phe Predicts Better Outcome in Childhood Bacterial Meningitis
Authors: Rugemalira Emilie , Roine Irmeli , Kuligowski Julia , Sánchez-Illana Ángel , Piñeiro-Ramos José David , Andersson Sture , Cruzeiro Manuel Leite , Vento Máximo , Pelkonen Tuula
Published: March 2023

Neuronal damage in bacterial meningitis (BM) partly stems from the host´s inflammatory response and induced oxidative stress (OS). We studied the association of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers indicating oxidative damage to proteins with course of illness and outcome in childhood BM in Angola. Ortho-tyrosine/phenylalanine (o-Tyr/Phe), 3-chlorotyrosine/para-tyrosine (3Cl-Tyr/p-Tyr), and 3-nitrotyrosine/para-tyrosine (3NO2-Tyr/p-Tyr) concentration ratios were measured in 79 BM admission CSF samples, employing liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. Besides death, disease outcomes were registered on Day 7 of treatment and one month after discharge (control visit). The outcome was graded according to the modified Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS), which considers neurological and audiological sequelae. Children with a o-Tyr/Phe ratio below the median were more likely to present focal convulsions and secondary fever during recovery and suboptimal outcome (GOS < 5) on Day 7 and at control visit (odds ratio (OR) 2.85; 95% CI 1.14–7.14 and OR 5.23; 95% CI 1.66–16.52, respectively). Their most common sequela was ataxia on Day 7 and at control visit (OR 8.55; 95% CI 2.27–32.22 and OR 5.83; 95% CI 1.12–30.4, respectively). The association of a higher admission CSF o-Tyr/Phe ratio with a better course and outcome for pediatric BM points to a beneficial effect of OS.
Wine Lees as Source of Antioxidant Molecules: Green Extraction Procedure and Biological Activity
Authors: De Luca Michele , Restuccia Donatella , Spizzirri Umile Gianfranco , Crupi Pasquale , Ioele Giuseppina , Gorelli Beatrice , Clodoveo Maria Lisa , Saponara Simona , Aiello Francesca
Published: March 2023

An ultrasound-assisted extraction method, employing ethanol and water as solvents at low temperature (30 °C) and reduced time (15 min), was proposed to extract bioactive molecules from different cultivars (Magliocco Canino, Magliocco Rosato, Gaglioppo, and Nocera Rosso) of wine lees. All the extract yields were evaluated and their contents of phenolic acids, flavonoids, and total polyphenols were determined by means of colorimetric assays and high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) techniques. Radical scavenging assays were performed and the Magliocco Canino extracted with a hydroalcoholic mixture returned the best results both against ABTS (0.451 mg mL−1) and DPPH (0.395 mg mL−1) radicals. The chemometric algorithms principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least square regression (PLS) were used to process the data obtained from all qualitative–quantitative sample determinations with the aim of highlighting data patterns and finding possible correlations between composition and antioxidant features of the different wine lees cultivars and the extraction procedures. Wine lees from Magliocco Canino and Magliocco Rosato were found to be the best vegetable matrices in terms of metabolite content and antioxidant properties. The components extracted with alcoholic or hydroalcoholic solvents, specifically (−)-epigallocatechin gallate, chlorogenic acid, and trans-caftaric acid, were found to be correlated with the antioxidant capacity of the extracts. Multivariate data processing was able to identify the compounds related to the antioxidant features. Two PLS models were optimized by using their concentration levels to predict the IC50 values of the extracts in terms of DPPH and ABTS with high values of correlation coefficient R2, 0.932 and 0.824, respectively, and a prediction error lower than 0.07. Finally, cellular (SH-SY5Y cells) antioxidant assays were performed on the best extract (the hydroalcoholic extract of Magliocco Canino cv) to confirm its biological performance against radical species. All these recorded data strongly outline the aptness of valorizing wine lees as a valuable source of antioxidants.
Repurposing Verapamil to Enhance Killing of T-ALL Cells by the mTOR Inhibitor Everolimus
Authors: Silic-Benussi Micol , Sharova Evgeniya , Corradin Alberto , Urso Loredana , Raimondi Vittoria , Cavallari Ilaria , Buldini Barbara , Francescato Samuela , Minuzzo Sonia A. , D’Agostino Donna M. , Ciminale Vincenzo
Published: March 2023

New therapies are needed for patients with T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) who do not respond to standard chemotherapy. Our previous studies showed that the mTORC1 inhibitor everolimus increases reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, decreases the levels of NADPH and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), the rate-limiting enzyme of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), and induces apoptosis in T-ALL cells. Studies in T-ALL-xenografted NOD/SCID mice demonstrated that everolimus improved their response to the glucocorticoid (GC) dexamethasone. Here we show that verapamil, a calcium antagonist used in the treatment of supraventricular tachyarrhythmias, enhanced the effects of everolimus on ROS and cell death in T-ALL cell lines. The death-enhancing effect was synergistic and was confirmed in assays on a panel of therapy-resistant patient-derived xenografts (PDX) and primary samples from T-ALL patients. The verapamil-everolimus combination produced a dramatic reduction in the levels of G6PD and induction of p38 MAPK phosphorylation. Studies of NOD/SCID mice inoculated with refractory T-ALL PDX cells demonstrated that the addition of verapamil to everolimus plus dexamethasone significantly reduced tumor growth in vivo. Taken together, our results provide a rationale for repurposing verapamil in association with mTORC inhibitors and GC to treat refractory T-ALL.
The Role of Fucoxanthin as a Potent Nrf2 Activator via Akt/GSK-3β/Fyn Axis against Amyloid-β Peptide-Induced Oxidative Damage
Authors: Lee Nayoung , Youn Kumju , Yoon Jeong-Hyun , Lee Bokyung , Kim Dong Hyun , Jun Mira
Published: March 2023

Increasing evidence is suggesting that amyloid-β peptide (Aβ), a characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), induces oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to neuronal death. This study aimed to demonstrate the antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effects of fucoxanthin, a major marine carotenoid found in brown algae, against neuronal injury caused by Aβ. Non-toxic dose range of fucoxanthin (0.1–5 µM) were selected for the neuroprotective study against Aβ25–35. The PC12 cells were pretreated with different concentrations of fucoxanthin for 1 h before being exposed to 10 µM Aβ25–35 for another 24 h. The present results showed that fucoxanthin inhibited Aβ25-35-induced cell death by recovering cell cycle arrest and decreasing intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level. The compound enhanced mitochondrial recovery and regulated apoptosis related proteins including B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) from Aβ25-35-induced oxidative stress. Concomitantly, fucoxanthin increased the expression of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and its downstream phase II detoxifying enzymes including NADPH: quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO-1), glutamate cysteine ligase modifier subunit (GCLm), and thioredoxin reductase 1 (TrxR1), whereas it decreased the expression of cytoplasmic Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1). Moreover, pretreatment of fucoxanthin reduced Fyn phosphorylation via protein kinase B (Akt)-mediated inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β), which increased the nuclear localization of Nrf2, suggesting that the compound enhanced Nrf2 expression by the activation of upstream kinase as well as the dissociation of the Nrf2-Keap1 complex. Further validation with a specific phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002 demonstrated that the fucoxanthin-mediated Nrf2 antioxidant defense system was directly associated with the Akt/GSK-3β/Fyn signaling pathway. In silico simulation revealed that the oxygen groups of fucoxanthin participated in potent interactions with target markers in the Nrf2 signaling pathway, which may affect the biological activity of target markers. Taken together, the present results demonstrated that the preventive role of fucoxanthin on Aβ-stimulated oxidative injury and apoptosis via Akt/GSK-3β/Fyn signaling pathway. This study would provide a useful approach for potential intervention for AD prevention.
The Chelating Ability of Plant Polyphenols Can Affect Iron Homeostasis and Gut Microbiota
Authors: Scarano Aurelia , Laddomada Barbara , Blando Federica , De Santis Stefania , Verna Giulio , Chieppa Marcello , Santino Angelo
Published: March 2023

In the past decades, many studies have widely examined the effects of dietary polyphenols on human health. Polyphenols are well known for their antioxidant properties and for their chelating abilities, by which they can be potentially employed in cases of pathological conditions, such as iron overload. In this review, we have highlighted the chelating abilities of polyphenols, which are due to their structural specific sites, and the differences for each class of polyphenols. We have also explored how the dietary polyphenols and their iron-binding abilities can be important in inflammatory/immunomodulatory responses, with a special focus on the involvement of macrophages and dendritic cells, and how they might contribute to reshape the gut microbiota into a healthy profile. This review also provides evidence that the axes “polyphenol–iron metabolism–inflammatory responses” and “polyphenol–iron availability–gut microbiota” have not been very well explored so far, and the need for further investigation to exploit such a potential to prevent or counteract pathological conditions.
Modelling, Analysis and Performance of a Low Inertia AC-DC Microgrid
Authors: Afifi Mohamed A. , Marei Mostafa I. , Mohamad Ahmed M. I.
Published: March 2023

In a world where the energy crisis is becoming overwhelming, demand for integrating renewable energy sources is increasing and forming microgrids is becoming an essential solution. The new microgrid systems, which depend mainly on renewable energy sources instead of conventional synchronous generators, come with a low inertia concern. This paper proposes a virtual inertia controller based on a high-pass filter (HPF) to support the frequency of the AC microgrid while maintaining the DC voltage of the DC microgrid within the nominal ranges in cases of contingencies. The proposed system encounters an AC-DC microgrid with a renewable energy source on the DC microgrid alongside constant power load and resistive loads, while on the AC microgrid side, a synchronous generator is used to present the low inertia of the grid with dynamic loads and static loads. The state-space linearized model of the system is developed and verified using Matlab Simulink. The dynamic response of the proposed controller is compared to the low-pas filter (LPF)-based controller. Moreover, the effect of changing the system’s parameters on eigenvalues is investigated.
Boosted Reptile Search Algorithm for Engineering and Optimization Problems
Authors: Abd Elaziz Mohamed , Chelloug Samia , Alduailij Mai , Al-qaness Mohammed A. A.
Published: March 2023

Recently, various metaheuristic (MH) optimization algorithms have been presented and applied to solve complex engineering and optimization problems. One main category of MH algorithms is the naturally inspired swarm intelligence (SI) algorithms. SI methods have shown great performance on different problems. However, individual MH and SI methods face some shortcomings, such as trapping at local optima. To solve this issue, hybrid SI methods can perform better than individual ones. In this study, we developed a boosted version of the reptile search algorithm (RSA) to be employed for different complex problems, such as intrusion detection systems (IDSs) in cloud–IoT environments, as well as different optimization and engineering problems. This modification was performed by employing the operators of the red fox algorithm (RFO) and triangular mutation operator (TMO). The aim of using the RFO was to boost the exploration of the RSA, whereas the TMO was used for enhancing the exploitation stage of the RSA. To assess the developed approach, called RSRFT, a set of six constrained engineering benchmarks was used. The experimental results illustrated the ability of RSRFT to find the solution to those tested engineering problems. In addition, it outperformed the other well-known optimization techniques that have been used to handle these problems.
Mechanical Design of DNA Origami in the Classroom
Authors: Wang Yuchen , Kucinic Anjelica , Des Rosiers Lilly , Beshay Peter E. , Wile Nicholas , Hudoba Michael W. , Castro Carlos E.
Published: March 2023

DNA origami (DO) nanotechnology has strong potential for applications including molecular sensing, drug delivery, and nanorobotics that rely on nanoscale structural precision and the ability to tune mechanical and dynamic properties. Given these emerging applications, there is a need to broaden access to and training on DO concepts, which would also provide an avenue to demonstrate engineering concepts such as kinematic motion and mechanical deformation as applied to nanotechnology and molecular systems. However, broader use in educational settings is hindered by the excessive cost and time of fabrication and analysis. Compliant, or deformable, DO is especially difficult to design and characterize in a cost-effective manner, because analysis often relies on advanced imaging methods to quantify structure conformations. Building on recent work establishing classroom-ready methods for DO fabrication and analysis, we developed an experiment module for classroom implementation focused on a DO compliant hinge joint. The module consists of folding three distinct joint conformations that can be evaluated via gel electrophoresis using portable and cost-effective equipment within ~120 min. To highlight the mechanical design, we present two beam-based models for describing the deformation that controls the joint angle. We envision that this module can broaden access to and interest in the mechanical design of DO.
Prediction and Analysis of Formation and Development Characteristics of Frozen Soil Wall: A Case Study on the Chengjiao East Ventilation Shaft Repair
Authors: Han Tao , Xue Yong , Luo Tingting , Zhang Tao
Published: March 2023

Due to their advantages, artificial ground freezing methods are widely used in deep shaft construction and repair with the continuous exploitation of coal and other mineral resources. The boundary convection due to ventilation conditions will affect the formation and development of this frozen soil wall, which needs to be studied systematically. Thus, in this study, a numerical calculation model of a freezing temperature field was established based on the actual conditions of the east ventilation shaft in the Chengjiao coal mine during repair by the freezing method, and the temperature and thickness laws of the frozen soil wall and the shaft wall were studied by changing the influencing parameters. The results indicated that the thickness of the outside position gradually exceeded that of the inside position of the frozen soil wall due to the ventilation effect, and the difference between these two parameters was approximately 0.2~0.3 m, while the temperature difference was no more than 1 °C. The frozen soil wall did not complete a cross-loop within 180 d under ventilation conditions when the freezing tube pitch exceeded a certain threshold, which was about 2.3~2.5 m for this ventilation shaft. The soil moisture content played an important role in the initial freezing under ventilation conditions in the full combination calculation. This paper provides theoretical support for studying the application of the artificial ground freezing method for shaft construction and repair under ventilation conditions.
Deep Ensemble-Based Approach Using Randomized Low-Rank Approximation for Sustainable Groundwater Level Prediction
Authors: Manna Tishya , Anitha A.
Published: March 2023

Groundwater is the most abundant freshwater resource. Agriculture, industrialization, and domestic water supplies rely on it. The depletion of groundwater leads to drought. Topographic elevation, aquifer properties, and geomorphology influence groundwater quality. As the groundwater level data (GWL) are time series in nature, it is challenging to determine appropriate metrics and to evaluate groundwater levels accurately with less information loss. An effort has been made to forecast groundwater levels in India by developing a deep ensemble learning approach using a double-edge bi-directed long-short-term-memory (DEBi-LSTM) model approximated with a randomized low-ranked approximation algorithm (RLRA) and the variance inflation factor (VIF) to reduce information loss and to preserve data consistency. With minimal computation time, the model outperformed existing state-of-the-art models with 96.1% accuracy. To ensure sustainable groundwater development, the proposed work is discussed in terms of its managerial implications. By applying the model, we can identify safe, critical, and semi-critical groundwater levels in Indian states so that strategic plans can be developed.
Swin Transformer-Based Object Detection Model Using Explainable Meta-Learning Mining
Authors: Baek Ji-Won , Chung Kyungyong
Published: March 2023

In order to minimize damage in the event of a fire, the ignition point must be detected and dealt with before the fire spreads. However, the method of detecting fire by heat or fire is more damaging because it can be detected after the fire has spread. Therefore, this study proposes a Swin Transformer-based object detection model using explainable meta-learning mining. The proposed method merges the Swin Transformer and YOLOv3 model and applies meta-learning so as to build an explainable object detection model. In order for efficient learning with small data in the course of learning, it applies Few-Shot Learning. To find the causes of the object detection results, Grad-CAM as an explainable visualization method is used. It detects small objects of smoke in the fire image data and classifies them according to the color of the smoke generated when a fire breaks out. Accordingly, it is possible to predict and classify the risk of fire occurrence to minimize damage caused by fire. In this study, with the use of Mean Average Precision (mAP), performance evaluation is carried out in two ways. First, the performance of the proposed object detection model is evaluated. Secondly, the performance of the proposed method is compared with a conventional object detection method’s performance. In addition, the accuracy comparison using the confusion matrix and the suitability of real-time object detection using FPS are judged. Given the results of the evaluation, the proposed method supports accurate and real-time monitoring and analysis.
Body Shape-Aware Object-Level Outfit Completion for Full-Body Portrait Images
Authors: Chong Xiaoya , Leung Howard
Published: March 2023

Modeling fashion compatibility between different categories of items and forming personalized outfits have become important topics in recommender systems recently. However, item compatibility and outfit recommendation have been explored in perfect settings in the past, where high-quality images of items from the front view or user profiles are available. In this paper, we propose a new task called Complete The full-body Portrait (CTP) for real-world fashion images (e.g., street photos and selfies), which is able to recommend the most compatible item for a masked scene where the outfit is incomplete. Visual compatibility and personalization are the key points for accurate scene-based recommendations. In our approach, the former is accomplished by calculating the visual distance of the query scene and target item in latent space, while the latter is achieved by taking the body-shape information of the human subject into consideration. To obtain side information to train our model, ResNet-50, YOLOv3 and SMPLify-X models are adopted to extract visual features, detect item objects, and reconstruct a 3D body mesh, respectively. Our approach first predicts the missing item category from the masked scene, and then finds the most compatible items from the predicted category through computing visual distances at image level, region level and object level, together with measuring human body-shape compatibility. We conduct extensive experiments on two real-world datasets, Street2Shop and STL-Fashion. Both quantitative and qualitative results show that our model outperforms all baseline models.
Investigating the Poisson Ratio of 3D Printed Concrete
Authors: Kruger Jacques , van der Westhuizen Jean-Pierré
Published: March 2023

Poisson’s ratio, defining the lateral to longitudinal strain of a material under uniaxial load, is an extensively used material property in engineering analysis and design. For conventionally cast concrete, an isotropic static Poisson ratio typically ranges between 0.15 to 0.25. However, no ratio has been established for 3D printed concrete, and is currently widely assumed to be 0.2 and isotropic in computational modelling applications. This layer-wise additive manufacturing technology is notorious for yielding orthotropic mechanical properties due to the presence of weak interlayer regions at the structural level and elongated oblate voids at the material level. This study therefore aims to characterise the static Poisson ratio of printed concrete. Specimens were prepared from a printed element and uniaxially tested both parallel and perpendicular to the printing direction. Digital image correlation technology was employed to facilitate the capturing of specimen strains, followed by micro-computed tomography scans to determine void topography. The results indicate larger Poisson ratios apply for 3D printed concrete compared to its cast counterpart; up to 17 and 33% increases were obtained when printed specimens were tested perpendicular and parallel to the printing direction, respectively. This orthotropic behaviour is ascribed to the oblate voids present in the printed specimens.
Changes in Water Holding Capacity and Shear Force in Fallow Deer Muscles during Ageing
Authors: Modzelewska-Kapituła Monika , Żmijewski Tomasz
Published: March 2023

The aim of the study was to determine changes in water-holding and water-binding capacities in relation to the tenderness of fallow deer semimembranosus (SM) and longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) muscles during ageing. In the study, muscles obtained from 18-month-old farm-raised fallow deer bucks were used. The quality of the meat was determined during ageing for 48 h, 168 h, and 288 h post slaughter. It was noted that ageing had a negative effect on water retention in fallow deer meat. It decreased the ability of meat tissue to bind added water (p < 0.01) and increased cooking losses (p < 0.01), though it also increased tenderness (p < 0.01). Generally, SM showed lower (p < 0.001) tenderness than LTL. SM and LTL muscles were similar in terms of free water content, ability to bind added water, and cooking losses (p > 0.05). The way the meat was heated (cooked in water vs. roasted in the dry air) affected only cooking losses (p < 0.05), which were higher in roasted samples but had no effect either on volume loss or meat tenderness. In conclusion, the main factor affecting the water holding and binding capacities, as well as fallow deer meat tenderness, is ageing. The time enough to obtain tender meat is 168 h for LTL, whereas SM should be aged for 288 h.
Stability Analysis of Mixed Traffic Flow Considering Personal Space under the Connected and Automated Environment
Authors: Hu Xinghua , Zheng Mintanyu , Zhao Jiahao , Long Bing , Dai Gao
Published: March 2023

A traffic survey using an unmanned aerial vehicle on the Haixia road in Chongqing, China found a significant correlation between the velocity of the vehicle and the distance of the vehicle when moving forward and laterally. To mitigate driving disruptions owing to vehicle intrusion at a desired distance, personal space (PS) is introduced to analyze the car-following behavior of continuous mixed traffic flow formed by human-driven (HD) vehicles and cooperative adaptive cruise control (CACC) vehicles. PS is a virtual boundary that refers to the space where psychological tension is caused by the invasion of others. Further, an intelligent driver model (IDM) was used to establish a mixed traffic car-following PS-IDM. The stability of the disturbance transfer function analytical model in homogeneous and heterogeneous traffic flows was used to calculate the traffic flow stability region under different CACC vehicle permutations. The results show that the PS-IDM-based car-following model effectively improves the stability fitting effect of mixed traffic flow, and the driving comfort is increased by up to 20.7% when compared with that of the single car-following model. In addition, there is a negative correlation between the PS and the unstable velocity range of the traffic flow. Compared with the homogeneous HD traffic flow, the average intrusion rate of homogeneous CACC traffic flow is reduced by 4.6%, and the driving comfort of vehicles is improved by approximately 65%.
Estimation of Surface Downward Longwave Radiation and Cloud Base Height Based on Infrared Multichannel Data of Himawari-8
Authors: Shao Jiangqi , Letu Husi , Ri Xu , Tana Gegen , Wang Tianxing , Shang Huazhe
Published: March 2023

Surface downward longwave radiation (SDLR) is significant with regard to surface energy budgets and climate research. The uncertainty of cloud base height (CBH) retrieval by remote sensing induces the vast majority of SDLR estimation errors under cloudy conditions; reliable CBH observation and estimation are crucial for determining the cloud radiative effect. This study presents a CBH retrieval methodology built from 10 thermal spectral data from Himawari-8 (H-8) observations, utilizing the random forest (RF) algorithm to fully account for each band’s contribution to CBH. The algorithm utilizes only infrared band data, making it possible to obtain CBH 24 h a day. Considering some factors that can significantly affect the CBH estimation, RF models are trained for different clouds using inputs from multiple H-8 channels together with geolocation information to target CBH derived from CloudSat/CALIPSO combined measurements. The validation results reveal that the new methodology performs well, with a root-mean-square error (RMSE) of only 1.17 km for all clouds. To evaluate the effect of CBH on SDLR estimation, an all-sky SDLR estimation algorithm based on previous CBH predictions is proposed. The new SDLR product not only has a resolution that is noticeably higher than that of benchmark products of the SDLR, such as the Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES) and the next-generation reanalysis (ERA5) of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), but it also has greater accuracy, with an RMSE of 21.8 W m−2 for hourly surface downward longwave irradiance (SDLI).
Study of a Random Warranty Model Maintaining Fairness and a Random Replacement Next Model Sustaining Post-Warranty Reliability
Authors: Shang Lifeng , Zhang Nan , Yang Li , Shang Lijun
Published: March 2023

With the help of advanced digital technologies, product managers can use monitored mission cycles to sustain product reliability. In this study, a random warranty model and a random replacement next (RRN) model are designed to sustain the through-life reliability of the product with monitored mission cycles. The designed random warranty, called a two-stage two-dimensional free repair warranty (2DFRW), can be carried out to sustain the reliability of the product during the warranty stage. In this warranty, ‘whichever occurs first and last’ is used to distinguish the coverage ranges of the latter stage warranties, which is to maintain the warranty fairness by removing the inequity of the former stage warranty. The RRN can be performed to sustain post-warranty reliability, which defines that if the limited number of mission cycles is completed before a working time, then the product will be replaced at next mission cycle completion to extend remaining service life; otherwise, the product will be replaced at a working time. Under the case of the two-stage 2DFRW, the cost rate of the RRN is constructed based on the renewable reward theorem. By simplifying the parameters, some derivative models of the cost rate are presented. Numerical analysis is performed to explore characteristics.
The Role of Fascial Tissue Layer in Electric Signal Transmission from the Forearm Musculature to the Cutaneous Layer as a Possibility for Increased Signal Strength in Myoelectric Forearm Exoprosthesis Development
Authors: Pogarasteanu Mark-Edward , Moga Marius , Barbilian Adrian , Avram George , Dascalu Monica , Franti Eduard , Gheorghiu Nicolae , Moldovan Cosmin , Rusu Elena , Adam Razvan , Orban Carmen
Published: March 2023

Myoelectric exoprostheses serve to aid in the everyday activities of patients with forearm or hand amputations. While electrical signals are known key factors controlling exoprosthesis, little is known about how we can improve their transmission strength from the forearm muscles as to obtain better sEMG. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of the forearm fascial layer in transmitting myoelectrical current. We examined the sEMG signals in three individual muscles, each from six healthy forearms (Group 1) and six amputation stumps (Group 2), along with their complete biometric characteristics. Following the tests, one patient underwent a circumferential osteoneuromuscular stump revision surgery (CONM) that also involved partial removal of fascia and subcutaneous fat in the amputation stump, with re-testing after complete healing. In group 1, we obtained a stronger sEMG signal than in Group 2. In the CONM case, after surgery, the patient’s data suggest that the removal of fascia, alongside the fibrotic and subcutaneous fat tissue, generates a stronger sEMG signal. Therefore, a reduction in the fascial layer, especially if accompanied by a reduction of the subcutaneous fat layer may prove significant for improving the strength of sEMG signals used in the control of modern exoprosthetics.