bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhanced OH− Conductivity for Fuel Cells with Anion Exchange Membranes, Based on Modified Terpolymer Polyketone and Surface Functionalized Silica
Authors: Ataollahi Narges , Tomasino Eleonora , Cotini Oscar , Di Maggio Rosa
Published: March 2022

Several modified terpolymer polyketones (MPK) with N-substituted pyrrole moieties in the main chain and quaternized amine in the side group were synthesized for use as anion exchange membranes for fuel cells. The moieties were carried by SiO2 nanoparticles through surface functionalization (Si–N), which were added to the membranes to enhance their overall properties. On increasing the amount of modified silica from 10% to 60% wt/of MPK, there was an increase in Si–N and a corresponding threefold increase in the hydroxide conductivity of the membrane. The MPK–SiN (60%) exhibited a superior ionic conductivity of 1.05 × 10−1 S.cm−1 at 120 °C, a high mechanical stability, with a tensile strength of 46 MPa at 80 °C. In strongly alkaline conditions (1 M KOH, 216 h at 80 °C), the membranes maintained about 70% of the conductivity measured in a usual environment. Fuel cell performance at 80 °C showed a peak power density of 133 mW·cm−2, indicating that using surface-functionalized SiO2 is a simple and effective way to enhance the overall performance of anion exchange membranes in fuel cell applications.
Blockchain-Based Auctioning for Energy Storage Sharing in a Smart Community
Authors: Damisa Uyikumhe , Nwulu Nnamdi I.
Published: March 2022

The increasing prevalence of renewable energy resources introduces a high variability that complicates the task of energy management in modern power grids. Among other technologies, batteries have proven effective in managing power imbalances in such grids. However, the high cost of large-scale batteries, coupled with their enormous space requirements, could deter their adoption by large consumers such as shared facility controllers. The aggregation of residential energy storage units offers shared facility controllers (SFCs) an alternative way to leverage storage; however, a secure scheme that promotes fairness and transparency in the selection and compensation of shared storage unit owners is needed. To this end, an Ethereum smart contract that makes residential storage capacities available to SFCs via a double auction mechanism is proposed. The contract is written with solidity and deployed in the browser-based Remix-integrated development environment. Scenario tests prove the effectiveness of the smart contract in selecting and compensating the owners of shared storage capacities, according to predefined auction rules.
Scenario-Based Comparative Analysis for Coupling Electricity and Hydrogen Storage in Clean Oilfield Energy Supply System
Authors: Yan Fengyuan , Han Xiaolong , Cheng Qianwei , Yan Yamin , Liao Qi , Liang Yongtu
Published: March 2022

In response to the objective of fully attaining carbon neutrality by 2060, people from all walks of life are pursuing low-carbon transformation. Due to the high water cut in the middle and late phases of development, the oilfield’s energy consumption will be quite high, and the rise in energy consumption will lead to an increase in carbon emission at the same time. As a result, the traditional energy model is incapable of meeting the energy consumption requirement of high water cut oilfields in their middle and later phases of development. The present wind hydrogen coupling energy system was researched and coupled with the classic dispersed oilfield energy system to produce energy for the oilfields in this study. This study compares four future energy system models to existing ones, computes the energy cost and net present value of an oilfield in Northwest China, and proposes a set of economic evaluation tools for oilfield energy systems. The study’s findings indicate that scenario four provides the most economic and environmental benefits. This scenario effectively addresses the issue of high energy consumption associated with aging oilfields at this point, significantly reduces carbon emissions, absorbs renewable energy locally, and reduces the burden on the power grid system. Finally, sensitivity analysis is utilized to determine the effect of wind speed, electricity cost, and oilfield gas output on the system’s economic performance. The results indicate that the system developed in this study can be applied to other oilfields.
Assessing the Hybridization of an Existing Geothermal Plant by Coupling a CSP System for Increasing Power Generation
Authors: Tranamil-Maripe Yanara , Cardemil José M. , Escobar Rodrigo , Morata Diego , Sarmiento-Laurel Cristóbal
Published: March 2022

Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) and geothermal energy systems are outlined as two of the most promising technologies for sustainable and reliable electricity generation. Several studies in the technical literature have pointed out that the hybridization of solar and geothermal energy sources could lead to a reduction of the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of geothermal systems, as well as improving the capacity factor of CSP systems. However, the technical literature shows that the integration of solar thermal collectors does not present a positive impact in all scenarios analyzed. The present study aims to further analyze the competitiveness of the hybridization of solar and geothermal systems under high irradiation conditions such as those observed in the Andean region in northern Chile. The evaluation was carried out by coupling a thermodynamic model in Engineering Equation Solver (EES) with a solar thermal model in the System Advisor Model (SAM). The assessment considers the configuration of an existing geothermal plant, considering the design constraints associated with the actual operating conditions of the plant. The analysis is based on an energy and exergy assessment, allowing us to identify the efficiency of the subsystems introduced for the hybridization and assess the competitiveness of the hybrid schemes by an economic assessment in terms of the LCOE. The results show that the hybrid schemes allow a reduction of the LCOE of a geothermal stand-alone plant by about 10 USD/MWh, increasing the competitiveness of the geothermal system. However, a large variation on such a reduction is observed depending on the size of the solar field and the storage tank of the solar system.
A Review of the Power Battery Thermal Management System with Different Cooling, Heating and Coupling System
Authors: Wang Xingxing , Liu Shengren , Zhang Yujie , Lv Shuaishuai , Ni Hongjun , Deng Yelin , Yuan Yinnan
Published: March 2022

The battery thermal management system is a key skill that has been widely used in power battery cooling and preheating. It can ensure that the power battery operates safely and stably at a suitable temperature. In this article, we summarize mainly summarizes the current situation for the research on the thermal management system of power battery, comprehensively compares and analyzes four kinds of cooling systems including air cooling, liquid cooling, phase-change materials and heat pipe, two types of heating systems including internal heating and external heating, and the corresponding characteristics of the coupled system in no less than two ways. It is found that liquid cooling system and its heating system, phase-change material cooling system and it is heating system, heat pipe cooling system, coupling cooling system and its heating system have great research prospects, it also provides a certain reference for future research directions.
Comparison of the Gaussian Wind Farm Model with Historical Data of Three Offshore Wind Farms
Authors: Doekemeijer Bart Matthijs , Simley Eric , Fleming Paul
Published: March 2022

A recent expert elicitation showed that model validation remains one of the largest barriers for commercial wind farm control deployment. The Gaussian-shaped wake deficit model has grown in popularity in wind farm field experiments, yet its validation for larger farms and throughout annual operation remains limited. This article addresses this scientific gap, providing a model comparison of the Gaussian wind farm model with historical data of three offshore wind farms. The energy ratio is used to quantify the model’s accuracy. We assume a fixed turbulence intensity of I∞=6% and a standard deviation on the inflow wind direction of σwd=3° in our Gaussian model. First, we demonstrate the non-uniqueness issue of I∞ and σwd, which display a waterbed effect when considering the energy ratios. Second, we show excellent agreement between the Gaussian model and historical data for most wind directions in the Offshore Windpark Egmond aan Zee (OWEZ) and Westermost Rough wind farms (36 and 35 wind turbines, respectively) and wind turbines on the outer edges of the Anholt wind farm (110 turbines). Turbines centrally positioned in the Anholt wind farm show larger model discrepancies, likely due to deep-array effects that are not captured in the model. A second source of discrepancy is hypothesized to be inflow heterogeneity. In future work, the Gaussian wind farm model will be adapted to address those weaknesses.
A Multiobjective Fractional Programming for a CHP System Operation Optimization Based on Energy Intensity
Authors: Xu Ye , Meng Na , Wang Xu , Tan Junyuan , Li Wei
Published: March 2022

The objective of this research is to establish a multiobjective fractional programming (MOFP) model for supporting the operational management of a combined heat and power (CHP) system. Compared with the traditional operational optimization model of the CHP system, the importance of the energy intensity (i.e., the ratio of energy consumption and energy production) was emphasized in the MOFP model, which is considered as the system objective for replacing the common objective of minimizing the economic cost. This innovative transformation effectively reduces excessive energy consumption, accompanied by improvement in the system revenue. The CHP system of an industrial park in the City of Jinan, China, was used as a study case for demonstration. The obtained results reflected that the combination of two gas turbines (GTs) ensured safe, efficient, and stable output for meeting daily power requirements in various seasons. As for the steam load, during the summer, two heat recovery steam generators (HRSGs) play a major role, where the insufficient part is supplemented by two gas-fired boilers (SBs); conversely, the steam load in winter is mainly satisfied by the aid of two SBs. The successful application of the MOFP model in the park could provide a good demonstration for CHP management in many other districts and cities.
Accumulation of Inert Impurities in a Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell System with Anode Recirculation and Periodic Purge: A Simple Analytical Model
Authors: Gardner Christopher L. , Sarma Paran J. , Kjeang Erik
Published: March 2022

Anode recirculation with periodic purge is commonly used in polymer electrolyte fuel cell systems to control the accumulation of nitrogen, water, and other impurities that are present in the fuel or diffuse through the membrane from the cathode compartment. In this work, we develop a simple, generalized analytical model that simulates the time dependence of the accumulation of inert impurities in the anode compartment of such a system. It is shown that, when there is transport out of the anode chamber, the inert species is expected to accumulate exponentially until equilibrium is reached when the rate of inert entering the anode in the fuel supply and/or via crossover from the cathode is balanced by the rate of leakage and/or crossover to the cathode. The model is validated using recently published experimental data for the accumulation of N2, CH4, and CO2 in a recirculated system. The results show that nitrogen accumulation needs to be taken into account to properly adjust system parameters such as purge rate, purge volume, and recirculation rate. The use of this generalized analytical model is intended to aid the selection of these system parameters to optimize performance in the presence of inerts.
Novel Approaches for Energy Management Strategies of Hybrid Electric Vehicles and Comparison with Conventional Solutions
Authors: Donatantonio Fabrizio , Ferrara Alessandro , Polverino Pierpaolo , Arsie Ivan , Pianese Cesare
Published: March 2022

Well-designed energy management strategies are essential for the good operation of Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) in terms of fuel economy and pollutant emissions reduction, regardless of the specific powertrain architecture. The goal of this paper is to propose two innovative supervisory control strategies for HEVs derived from different optimization algorithms and to assess HEVs’ fuel consumption reduction (compared to conventional vehicles). These approaches are derived from the literature and modified by the authors to present novel algorithms for the optimization problem. One is based on Dynamic Programming (DP), here referred to as the Forward Approach to Dynamic Programming (FADP) and introduces a different implementation of the DP to achieve computational and accuracy benefits. The other is based on the Equivalent Consumption Minimization Strategy (ECMS) approach, and it adapts to the latest driving conditions using information gathered in a finite-length backward-looking horizon. These techniques are used to achieve the optimal power share between the thermal engine and the battery of a parallel HEV. Their performances are compared and analysed in terms of achieved fuel economy and computational time with respect to conventional DP and Pontryagin’s Minimum Principle (PMP) approaches.
Numerical Simulation of a 10 kW Gas-Fueled Chemical Looping Combustion Unit
Authors: Sun Liyan , Lin Junjie , Kong Dali , Luo Kun , Fan Jianren
Published: March 2022

Chemical looping combustion is one novel technology for controlling CO2 emission with a low energy cost. Due to a lack of understanding of the detailed and micro behavior of the CLC process, especially for a three dimensional structure, numerical simulations are carried out in this work. The configuration is built according to the experimental unit and gaseous fuel is used in this work. A two-fluid model considering heterogeneous reactions is established, and the flow behaviour and reaction characteristics are obtained. The temperature in the air reactor increases with height owing to the exothermic reaction of the xidation of the oxygen carrier, while the temperature in the fuel reactor decreases with height due to the endothermic reaction. The oxidation level of the oxygen carrier is obtained by simulation, which is hard for measurement, and the difference between the inlet and outlet is 0.065. The influences of the operating temperature and injection rate of fuel are presented to understand the performance of the system. The highest fuel conversion rate reaches 0.92 under high operating temperature. The numerical results are helpful for acquiring insight on the flow and reactive behaviour of CLC reactors.
The Role of Anaerobic Digestion and Solar PV to Achieve GHG Neutrality in a Farm Setting
Authors: Aguirre-Villegas Horacio Andres , Cortus Erin , Reinemann Douglas J.
Published: March 2022

Dairy farms are challenged to increase productivity while achieving environmental sustainability, where greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are at the center of the discussion. The U.S. dairy industry leadership has committed to a Net Zero Initiative to achieve GHG neutrality, but the specifics on how to achieve this are still uncertain. Life cycle assessment methods were used to quantify GHGs and net energy intensity (NEI) of a large (1000 cows) and a small (150 cows) farm in Wisconsin. The GHGs are 1.0 and 1.3 kg CO2-eq/kg FPCM and the NEI is 2.4 and 3.2 MJ/kg FPCM for the large and small farm, respectively. The GHG benefits from anaerobic digestion (AD, sized to process all manure on both farms) and PV (sized to match AD electricity production) are not enough to achieve GHG neutrality. Increasing the capacity of these systems showed that AD is more cost-effective for the larger farm, but the challenges and costs related to securing and disposing the extra manure needed for energy production limit its feasibility. For the smaller farm, the total annualized costs to achieve GHG neutrality are lower for PV vs. AD, even before accounting for any transportation costs related to handling the extra manure.
Evaluation of Printability and Thermal Properties of 3D Printed Concrete Mixed with Phase Change Materials
Authors: Cui Hongzhi , Yu Shiheng , Cao Xiangpeng , Yang Haibin
Published: March 2022

Three-dimensional (3D) printed concrete has recently received considerable research attention. In buildings, phase change materials (PCMs) with excellent thermoregulatory properties and thermal storage capacity can improve the insulation capacity of external walls and reduce energy consumption. In this study, microencapsulated paraffin was added to a 3D printable material and a 3D printed phase-change concrete was developed, resulting in good printability and buildability. The compressive and flexural strengths were declined maximally by 44.6% and 37.5%, respectively, with 20 wt% PCM mixed. Results from 3D printed room models proved the thermo-regulated performance by regulating the room temperature when mixed with 20 wt% PCM. With the addition of PCM, 3D printed facilities can have sufficient thermal comfort.
Numerical Study of Porous Treatments on Controlling Flow around a Circular Cylinder
Authors: Xu Chen , Wang Shihao , Mao Yijun
Published: March 2022

Porous materials fixed on and downstream the cylinder can reach a much better effect in suppressing wall pressure fluctuations. In the present paper, numerical comparative studies have been conducted to investigate passive control of flow past a cylinder surface, in which three schemes with different porous treatments are applied to compare their pros and cons. The results show all of the three schemes of porous materials increase the time-averaged flow drag and reduce fluctuations of lift and drag forces. It can be concluded the velocity gradient reduction inside the boundary layer and the vortex shedding delay through porous coating, as well as reverse transition from turbulent vortex shedding into laminar through porous treatment downstream the cylinder, are main flow control mechanisms of porous materials. These mechanisms all reduce fluctuations of lift and drag fluctuations, but have a distinct effect on the features of wake evolution, such as the wake width and length as well as the fluctuating components of the flow velocity. In addition, the wake evolution is highly affected by the location of porous materials.
Vibration Converter with Passive Energy Management for Battery-Less Wireless Sensor Nodes in Predictive Maintenance
Authors: Bradai Sonia , Bouattour Ghada , El Houssaini Dhouha , Kanoun Olfa
Published: March 2022

Predictive maintenance is becoming increasingly important in industry and requires continuous monitoring to prevent failures and anticipate maintenance processes, resulting in reduced downtime. Vibration is often used for failure detection and equipment conditioning as it is well correlated to the machine’s operation and its variation is an indicator of process changes. In this context, we propose a novel energy-autonomous wireless sensor system that is able to measure without the use of batteries and automatically deliver alerts once the machine has an anomaly by the variation in acceleration. For this, we designed a wideband electromagnetic energy harvester and realized passive energy management to supply a wireless sensor node, which does not need an external energy supply. The advantage of the solution is that the designed circuit is able to detect the failure without the use of additional sensors, but by the Analog Digital Converter (ADC) of the Wireless Sensor Nodes (WSN) themselves, which makes it more compact and have lower energy consumption. The electromagnetic converter can harvest the relevant energy levels from weak vibration, with an acceleration of 0.1 g for a frequency bandwidth of 7 Hz. Further, the energy-management circuit enabled fast recharging of the super capacitor on a maximum of 31 s. The designed energy-management circuit consists of a six-stage voltage multiplier circuit connected to a wide-band DC-DC converter, as well as an under-voltage lock-out (UVLO) circuit to connect to the storage device to the WSN. In the failure condition with a frequency of 13 Hz and an acceleration of 0.3 g, the super capacitor recharging time was estimated to be 24 s. The proposed solution was validated by implementing real failure detection scenarios with random acceleration levels and, alternatively, modus. The results show that the WSN can directly measure the harvester’s response and decide about the occurrence of failure based on its characteristic threshold voltage without the use of an additional sensor.
Clinical Presentation of Left Ventricular Noncompaction Cardiomyopathy and Bradycardia in Three Families Carrying HCN4 Pathogenic Variants
Authors: Paszkowska Agata , Piekutowska-Abramczuk Dorota , Ciara Elżbieta , Mirecka-Rola Alicja , Brzezinska Monika , Wicher Dorota , Kostrzewa Grażyna , Sarnecki Jędrzej , Ziółkowska Lidia
Published: March 2022

Background: Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is a genetically and phenotypically heterogeneous cardiomyopathy in which myocardium consists of two, distinct compacted and noncompacted layers, and prominent ventricular trabeculations and deep intertrabecular recesses are present. LVNC is associated with an increased risk of heart failure, atrial and ventricular arrhythmias and thromboembolic events. Familial forms of primary sinus bradycardia have been attributed to alterations in HCN4. There are very few reports about the association between HCN4 and LVNC. The aim of our study was to characterize the clinical phenotype of families with LVNC and sinus bradycardia caused by pathogenic variants of the HCN4 gene. Methods: From March 2008 to July 2021, we enrolled six patients from four families with diagnosed isolated LVNC based on the clinical presentation, family history and echocardiographic and cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) evidence of LVNC. Next generation sequencing (NGS) analysis was undertaken for the evaluation of the molecular basis of the disease in each family. Results: A total of six children (median age 11 years) were recruited and followed prospectively for the median of 12 years. All six patients were diagnosed with LVNC by echocardiography, and five participants additionally by CMR. The presence of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) was found in three children. Sinus bradycardia and dilation of the ascending aorta occurred in five studied patients. In four patients from three families, the molecular studies demonstrated the presence of rare heterozygous HCN4 variants. Conclusion: (1) The HCN4 molecular variants influence the presence of a complex LVNC phenotype, sinus bradycardia and dilation of the ascending aorta. (2) The HCN4 alteration may be associated with the early presentation of clinical symptoms and the severe course of the disease. (3) It is particularly important to assess myocardial fibrosis not only within the ventricles, but also in the atria in patients with LVNC and sinus bradycardia.
The Impact of COVID-19 Related Changes on Air Quality in Birmingham, Alabama, United States
Authors: Jacob Diya , Stowe Samuel , Babarinde Iyinoluwa , Sharma Aakruti , Christopher Abigail , Vilcassim M. J. Ruzmyn
Published: March 2022

Air pollution is responsible for a wide range of health effects in exposed populations. Variations in local air pollution can affect local population health outcomes. The strict regulations imposed during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic (‘lockdowns’) resulted in a unique situation where human mobility was limited significantly, resulting in improved air quality in several major cities. The main goal of this study was to investigate if lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted air quality in Birmingham, Alabama—a city with a history of high air pollution levels—with a focus on PM2.5 (Particulate Matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 µm) and NO2 (Nitrogen dioxide). Daily air pollutant and traffic data were obtained for the Birmingham Metropolitan Area for the period January to October 2020, and previous years. Mean PM2.5 and NO2 concentrations and traffic volumes during the official city/state lockdown period (24 March to 30 April 2020) were compared to pre- and post-lockdown means. The mean PM2.5 and NO2 concentrations during the lockdown did not significantly differ from that of the pre- or post-lockdown periods. However, NO2 significantly decreased even after the lockdown order was removed, with the mean decreasing significantly compared to pre-lockdown and lockdown periods. Both PM2.5 and NO2 annual means in 2020 were significantly lower than the annual means in 2019, indicating the occurrence of significant changes over the longer term that were not limited by defined lockdown periods. Traffic significantly increased after the lockdown order was removed but did not correlate with the two pollutants studied. Therefore, we conclude that the Stay at Home/lockdown regulations and other COVID-19 restrictions had an impact on the air quality of Birmingham Alabama; although these lockdown impacts varied for each pollutant and were not limited only by the official lockdown dates/periods.
Affective Instability, Depression, and Anxiety Symptoms in a Community Sample of Pregnant and Postpartum Women: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Li Hua
Published: March 2022

Background: Although perinatal women experience an elevated level of affective instability (AI), limited research has been conducted to examine perinatal AI and its relation to depression and anxiety. The current study investigated correlations between AI and depression, between AI and anxiety during the perinatal period, and between current depression and anxiety and the latent factors of the Affective Lability Scale-18 (ALS-18). Methods: 202 Canadian perinatal women participated in this cross-sectional study. The ALS-18 was used to assess AI, while the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 measured depression, anxiety, and stress. Multiple logistic regression was performed to investigate the relationship between AI and depression and anxiety, and multiple linear regression was conducted to examine the association between current depression and anxiety and the three latent factors of ALS-18. Results: The findings revealed a significant association between AI and depression and between AI and anxiety. Current depression and anxiety were correlated with ALS-18 factors of depression/anxiety shift and depression/elation shift, while current depression was linked to ALS-18 factor of anger. Conclusions: The study findings have important implications for early detection and intervention of maternal anxiety and depression. In order to improve maternal mental health, AI should be included in routine perinatal check-ups.
A Systematic Review on Sexual Health and Drug Use Prevention Interventions for Black Girls
Authors: Opara Ijeoma , Pierre Kimberly , Assan Maame Araba , Scheinfeld Laurel , Alves Courtnae , Cross Kristina , Lizarraga Ashley , Brawner Bridgette
Published: March 2022

Background: The relationship between drug use and poor sexual health outcomes in Black adolescent females such as diagnoses of sexually transmitted infections, HIV, and early/unwanted pregnancy has been established in the literature. Yet, very few interventions have been successful in reducing the risk of poor sexual health outcomes and drug use for adolescent girls. Even more rare are interventions that are catered to specifically to Black girls in the United States, which is a group that has the highest rates of poorer sexual health outcomes and negative consequences associated with drug use. Therefore, this systematic review sought to identify and organize interventions that are focused on preventing HIV, STIs, early pregnancy and drug use for and include large samples of Black girls. Fifteen interventions were identified that met the review’s search criteria. Results: A total of 15 interventions that were published between 2005 and 2020 were included in the review. While all but one intervention focused on sexual health outcomes, two interventions infused drug use education for girls. Conclusion: This review provides recommendations for sexual health and drug use prevention researchers to engage in an intersectional framework and concludes with a summary of next steps to guide future research and policy work to address disparities that impact Black girls.
Estimated Healthcare Costs of Melanoma and Keratinocyte Skin Cancers in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand in 2021
Authors: Gordon Louisa G. , Leung William , Johns Richard , McNoe Bronwen , Lindsay Daniel , Merollini Katharina M. D. , Elliott Thomas M. , Neale Rachel E. , Olsen Catherine M. , Pandeya Nirmala , Whiteman David C.
Published: March 2022

Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand have the highest incidence of melanoma and KC in the world. We undertook a cost-of-illness analysis using Markov decision–analytic models separately for melanoma and keratinocyte skin cancer (KC) for each country. Using clinical pathways, the probabilities and unit costs of each health service and medicine for skin cancer management were applied. We estimated mean costs and 95% uncertainty intervals (95% UI) using Monte Carlo simulation. In Australia, the mean first-year costs of melanoma per patient ranged from AU$644 (95%UI: $642, $647) for melanoma in situ to AU$100,725 (95%UI: $84,288, $119,070) for unresectable stage III/IV disease. Australian-wide direct costs to the Government for newly diagnosed patients with melanoma were AU$397.9 m and AU$426.2 m for KCs, a total of AU$824.0 m. The mean costs per patient for melanoma ranged from NZ$1450 (95%UI: $1445, $1456) for melanoma in situ to NZ$77,828 (95%UI $62,525, $94,718) for unresectable stage III/IV disease. The estimated total cost to New Zealand in 2021 for new patients with melanoma was NZ$51.2 m, and for KCs, was NZ$129.4 m, with a total combined cost of NZ$180.5 m. These up-to-date national healthcare costs of melanoma and KC in Australia and New Zealand accentuate the savings potential of successful prevention strategies for skin cancer.
Changes in Muscle Thickness after 8 Weeks of Strength Training, Electromyostimulation, and Both Combined in Healthy Young Adults
Authors: Matos Filipe , Amaral João , Martinez Eduardo , Canário-Lemos Rui , Moreira Tiago , Cavalcante Jurandir , Peixoto Rafael , Pinheiro Bruno Nobre , Junior Lino Scipião , Uchoa Paulo , Garrido Nuno , Reis Victor Machado , Monteiro Gabriéla Matos , Vilaça-Alves José
Published: March 2022

The aim of this study was to verify and compare the effects of electromyostimulation training (EMS), strength training (ST), and both combined (STEMS), through the analysis of the elbow flexors muscle thickness. Forty subjects (24.45 ± 3.53 years), were randomly divided equally in 4 groups: 3 experimental groups and 1 control group. Each experimental group was submitted to one of three interventions, either an ST protocol, an EMS protocol, or a STEMS protocol. The control group (CG) did not perform any type of physical activity. Ultrasonography (US) was used to measure muscle thickness (MT) at 50 and 60% of the distance between the acromion and the olecranon. The results showed a significant difference in the elbow flexors muscle thickness after 8 weeks, both in the STG, EMSG, and STEMSG, but not in the CG. However, no significant differences were observed between the intervention protocols. It seems that an increase in MT can be obtained using either with ST, EMS, or both combined, however, the results doesn’t support the overlap of one method in relation to the others. EMS can be another interesting tool to induce muscle hypertrophy, but not necessarily better.
Research on Quantitative Analysis of Multiple Factors Affecting COVID-19 Spread
Authors: Fu Yu , Lin Shaofu , Xu Zhenkai
Published: March 2022

The Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is spreading all over the world. Quantitative analysis of the effects of various factors on the spread of the epidemic will help people better understand the transmission characteristics of SARS-CoV-2, thus providing a theoretical basis for governments to develop epidemic prevention and control strategies. This article uses public data sets from The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University (JHU CSSE), Air Quality Open Data Platform, China Meteorological Data Network, and WorldPop website to construct experimental data. The epidemic situation is predicted by Dual-link BiGRU Network, and the relationship between epidemic spread and various feature factors is quantitatively analyzed by the Gauss-Newton iteration Method. The study found that population density has the greatest positive correlation to the spread of the epidemic among the selected feature factors, followed by the number of landing flights. The number of newly diagnosed daily will increase by 1.08% for every 1% of the population density, the number of newly diagnosed daily will increase by 0.98% for every 1% of the number of landing flights. The results of this study show that the control of social distance and population movement has a high priority in epidemic prevention and control strategies, and it can play a very important role in controlling the spread of the epidemic.
Nutritional Quality, Environmental Impact and Cost of Ultra-Processed Foods: A UK Food-Based Analysis
Authors: Aceves-Martins Magaly , Bates Ruth L. , Craig Leone C. A. , Chalmers Neil , Horgan Graham , Boskamp Bram , de Roos Baukje
Published: March 2022

Food-based analyses of the healthiness, environmental sustainability and affordability of processed and ultra-processed foods are lacking. This paper aimed to determine how ultra-processed and processed foods compare to fresh and minimally processed foods in relation to nutritional quality, greenhouse gas emissions and cost on the food and food group level. Data from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey nutrient databank year 11 (2018/2019) were used for this analysis. Median and bootstrapped medians of nutritional quality (NRF8.3 index), greenhouse gas emissions (gCO2-equivalents) and cost (in GBP) were compared across processing categories. An optimal score based on the medians was created to identify the most nutritional, sustainable, and affordable options across processing categories. On a per 100 kcal basis, ultra-processed and processed foods had a lower nutritional quality, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and were cheaper than minimally processed foods, regardless of their total fat, salt and/or sugar content. The most nutritious, environmentally friendly, and affordable foods were generally lower in total fat, salt, and sugar, irrespective of processing level. The high variability in greenhouse gas emissions and cost across food groups and processing levels offer opportunities for food swaps representing the healthiest, greenest, and most affordable options.
Expression of Aquaglyceroporins in Spermatozoa from Wild Ruminants Is Influenced by Photoperiod and Thyroxine Concentrations
Authors: Santiago-Moreno Julián , Pequeño Belén , Martinez-Madrid Belen , Castaño Cristina , Bóveda Paula , Velázquez Rosario , Toledano-Díaz Adolfo , Álvarez-Rodríguez Manuel , Rodríguez-Martínez Heriberto
Published: March 2022

This work identified the presence of AQPs in frozen-thawed sperm of wild ruminants and assessed the influence of the interaction between photoperiod and thyroxine on AQP expression, and on testosterone secretion. Thyroxine and melatonin were administered to ibexes. In a second experiment, performed in mouflons, circulating thyroxine was reduced via treatment with propylthiouracil (PTU), and an artificial long day (LD) photoperiod established. In the ibexes, the melatonin treatment increased the blood plasma testosterone concentration, reduced the cryoresistance ratio (CR) for sperm viability and the presence of an intact acrosome, and increased the percentage of sperm with AQP7 in the acrosome and of AQP3 and AQP10 in the midpiece. In the mouflons, neither the PTU treatment, the LD, nor the combination of both affected the CR of any sperm variable. The percentage of sperm with AQP3 increased in the post-acrosome region but decreased in the tail in the LD+PTU group. The percentage of sperm with AQP10 in the principal piece and endpiece was lower in the PTU+LD group than in the control and LD groups. The influence of photoperiod/melatonin on AQP expression might be indirectly exerted through changes in the testosterone concentration, and thus ultimately affect sperm cryoresistance.
A Deeper Insight in Metal Binding to the hCtr1 N-terminus Fragment: Affinity, Speciation and Binding Mode of Binuclear Cu2+ and Mononuclear Ag+ Complex Species
Authors: Magrì Antonio , Tabbì Giovanni , Naletova Irina , Attanasio Francesco , Arena Giuseppe , Rizzarelli Enrico
Published: March 2022

Ctr1 regulates copper uptake and its intracellular distribution. The first 14 amino acid sequence of the Ctr1 ectodomain Ctr1(1-14) encompasses the characteristic Amino Terminal Cu2+ and Ni2+ binding motif (ATCUN) as well as the bis-His binding motif (His5 and His6). We report a combined thermodynamic and spectroscopic (UV-vis, CD, EPR) study dealing with the formation of Cu2+ homobinuclear complexes with Ctr1(1-14), the percentage of which is not negligible even in the presence of a small Cu2+ excess and clearly prevails at a M/L ratio of 1.9. Ascorbate fails to reduce Cu2+ when bound to the ATCUN motif, while it reduces Cu2+ when bound to the His5-His6 motif involved in the formation of binuclear species. The histidine diade characterizes the second binding site and is thought to be responsible for ascorbate oxidation. Binding constants and speciation of Ag+ complexes with Ctr1(1-14), which are assumed to mimic Cu+ interaction with N-terminus of Ctr1(1-14), were also determined. A preliminary immunoblot assay evidences that the anti-Ctr1 extracellular antibody recognizes Ctr1(1-14) in a different way from the longer Ctr1(1-25) that encompasses a second His and Met rich domain.
Fractional Differential Equations with the General Fractional Derivatives of Arbitrary Order in the Riemann–Liouville Sense
Authors: Luchko Yuri
Published: March 2022

In this paper, we first consider the general fractional derivatives of arbitrary order defined in the Riemann–Liouville sense. In particular, we deduce an explicit form of their null space and prove the second fundamental theorem of fractional calculus that leads to a closed form formula for their projector operator. These results allow us to formulate the natural initial conditions for the fractional differential equations with the general fractional derivatives of arbitrary order in the Riemann–Liouville sense. In the second part of the paper, we develop an operational calculus of the Mikusiński type for the general fractional derivatives of arbitrary order in the Riemann–Liouville sense and apply it for derivation of an explicit form of solutions to the Cauchy problems for the single- and multi-term linear fractional differential equations with these derivatives. The solutions are provided in form of the convolution series generated by the kernels of the corresponding general fractional integrals.
A Traffic Event Detection Method Based on Random Forest and Permutation Importance
Authors: Su Ziyi , Liu Qingchao , Zhao Chunxia , Sun Fengming
Published: March 2022

Although the video surveillance system plays an important role in intelligent transportation, the limited camera views make it difficult to observe many traffic events. In this paper, we collect and combine the traffic flow variables from the multi-source sensors, and propose a PITED method based on Random Forest (RF) and Permutation importance (PI) for traffic event detection. This model selects the suitable traffic flow variables by means of permutation arrangement of importance, and establishes the whole process of acquisition, preprocessing, quantization, modeling and evaluation. Moreover, the real traffic data are collected and tested in this paper for evaluating the experiment performance, including the miss/false rate of traffic event, and average detection time. The experimental results show that the detection rate is more than 85% and the false alarm rate is less than 3%. It means the model is effective and efficient in the practical application regardless of both workdays and holidays.
Research on Temperature Control of Fuel-Cell Cooling System Based on Variable Domain Fuzzy PID
Authors: Jia Yuru , Zhang Ruiliang , Lv Xue , Zhang Tao , Fan Zhengwu
Published: March 2022

To ensure the energy conversion efficiency of a proton-exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), it is necessary to establish a water-cooled cooling system to keep the inlet temperature of fuel-cell coolant and the temperature difference between the inlet and outlet temperature within the set range. First, a semi-empirical and semi-mechanism model was built in Simulink. Then, a variable-universe fuzzy PID controller was designed to adjust the quantization factor and scaling factor by scaling factor α1, α2 and β to improve the accuracy of the control results. Finally, the cooling system model with controller is simulated. The results show that compared with other control methods, the simulation results of the variable-universe fuzzy PID controller have smaller maximum overshoot, faster response speed and more gentle temperature fluctuation.
Environmental/Economic Dispatch Using a New Hybridizing Algorithm Integrated with an Effective Constraint Handling Technique
Authors: Nourianfar Hossein , Abdi Hamdi
Published: March 2022

This work tackles a relatively new issue in power system operation, known as the Environmental/Economic Dispatch problem. For this purpose, the combination of two powerful heuristic algorithms, namely, the Exchange Market Algorithm (EMA) and Adaptive Inertia Weight Particle Swarm Optimization (AIWPSO), was employed. Additionally, the Multiple Constraint Ranking (MCR) technique was used to address the system constraints such as prohibited operating zones and ramp rate limits. Furthermore, the mutation operator was used to improve the performance of the global search mechanism. The main purpose of combining these two algorithms was utilizing the EMA’s high performance to explore the global optimum and local exploitation ability of AIWPSO. The algorithm performance was evaluated on six standard benchmark functions and was scrutinized on several different test systems, including 6–40 units. By using the proposed method, the minimum values of the reduction in annual costs, with equal or less emissions, compared to other methods, were USD 17,520, 8760 and 10,801,080, respectively, for the 6-unit, 10-unit, and 40-unit test systems (assuming the same load profile throughout the year). Similarly, in the 14-unit test system for 1750, 2150, and 2650 (MW) load demands, these values were USD 229,879, 148,438, and 4483, respectively.
Silencer for high-frequency turbocharger compressor noise via an acoustic straightener
Authors: Sriganesh Pranav , Dehner Rick , Selamet Ahmet
Published: March 2022

Decades of successful research and development on automotive silencers for engine breathing systems have brought about significant reductions in emitted engine noise. A majority of this research has pursued airborne noise at relatively low frequencies, which typically involves planar
wave propagation. However, with the increasing demand for downsized turbocharged engines in passenger cars, high-frequency compressor noise has become a challenge in engine induction systems. Elevated frequencies promote multi-dimensional wave propagation rendering at times conventional silencer
treatments ineffective due to the underlying assumption of one-dimensional wave propagation in their design. The present work focuses on developing a high-frequency silencer that targets tonal noise at the blade-pass frequency within the compressor inlet duct for a wide range of rotational
speeds. The approach features a novel "acoustic straightener" that creates exclusive planar wave propagation near the silencing elements. An analytical treatment is combined with three-dimensional (3D) acoustic finite element method to guide the early design process. The effects
of mean flow and nonlinearities on acoustics are captured by 3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations which are then utilized to introduce geometry modifications that reduce flow losses and suppress noise generation due to flow-acoustic coupling. The effectiveness of the silencer
in the presence of mean flow is demonstrated by computing the transmission loss across the configuration from 3D CFD predictions.
Experimental study on open-end correction of a Helmholtz resonator narrow slit neck
Authors: Sakamoto Shuichi , Akiba Yuki , Iizuka Ryo , Watanabe Shunsuke , Kominami Ryota , Shintani Tetsushi
Published: March 2022

In general, the acoustic effective length of the open end of an air column is longer than its geometric length. Here, the effective increment of the geometric length of an air column is called the open-end correction length, which is an acoustically crucial issue. The purpose of this
study is to experimentally clarify the open-end correction length for a slit shape with a narrow clearance. For this reason, the sound absorption coefficient was measured using a sample in which the neck of the Helmholtz resonator was shaped as a slit with a narrow clearance. Next, the open-end
correction length (i.e., mass end correction length and resistive end correction length) was calculated backward by comparing the experimental and theoretical sound absorption curves. The resistive end correction increased as the slit width became narrower within the range of 0.5 mm or less
for both the center slit and the slit near the wall, indicating a significant discrepancy between the theoretical equation and the estimated value. For the mass end correction, in the case the center slit, the estimated value is close to the theoretical value of in the slit width range from
0.3 mm to 1.0 mm. The results of this study may be useful in eliminating discrepancies in correction values for open-end correction in slits with narrow clearance.
MODULAR STRUCTURES AS A METHOD OF ARCHITECTURAL ENVIRONMENT ARRANGEMENT
Authors: Loshakov P.
Published: March 2022

key versions of the concept «module» in the sphere of architectural design are considered. Modular structures are defined as a means of creating a flexible and dynamic architectural environment with variable functional parameters, the main potential of which is expressed in the speed of erection, autonomy, economical efficiency, transformative possibilities. The main features and advantages of the modular structures as well as the most effective fields of their application are considered. Examples are given of modular objects from current construction practices that illustrate the possibilities and specific means of their formation. Special emphasis has been placed on the ecological feasibility of modular facilities, as well as on the possibility of their interaction with the established architectural context. The use of the modular method in extreme conditions, including the formation of a habitable environment in outer space, is considered.