bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimizing the Quantum Circuit for Solving Boolean Equations Based on Grover Search Algorithm
Authors: Liu Hui , Li Fukun , Fan Yilin
Published: August 2022

The solution of nonlinear Boolean equations in a binary field plays a crucial part in cryptanalysis and computational mathematics. To speed up the process of solving Boolean equations is an urgent task that needs to be addressed. In this paper, we propose a method for solving Boolean equations based on the Grover algorithm combined with preprocessing using classical algorithms, optimizing the quantum circuit for solving the equations, and implementing the automatic generation of quantum circuits. The method first converted Boolean equations into Boolean expressions to construct the oracle in the Grover algorithm. The quantum circuit was emulated based on the IBM Qiskit framework and then simulated the Grover algorithm on this basis. Finally, the solution of the Boolean equation was implemented. The experimental results proved the feasibility of using the Grover algorithm to solve nonlinear Boolean equations in a binary field, and the correct answer was successfully found under the conditions that the search space was 221 and three G iterations were used. The method in this paper increases the solving scale and solving speed of Boolean equations and enlarges the application area of the Grover algorithm.
Enhancing Virtual Real-Time Monitoring of Photovoltaic Power Systems Based on the Internet of Things
Authors: Boubakr Ghedhan , Gu Fengshou , Farhan Laith , Ball Andrew
Published: August 2022

Solar power systems have been growing globally to replace fossil fuel-based energy and reduce greenhouse gases (GHG). In addition to panel efficiency deterioration and contamination, the produced power of photovoltaic (PV) systems is intermittent due to the dependency on weather conditions, causing reliability and resiliency issues. Monitoring system parameters can help in predicting faults in time for corrective action to be taken or preventive maintenance to be applied. However, classical monitoring approaches have two main problems: neither local nor centralized monitoring support distributed PV power systems nor provide remote access capability. Therefore, this paper presents an appraisal of a remote monitoring system of PV power generation stations by utilizing the Internet of Things (IoT) and a state-of-the-art tool for virtual supervision. The proposed system allows real-time measurements of all PV system parameters, including surrounding weather conditions, which are then available at the remote control center to check and track the PV power system. The proposed technique is composed of a set of cost-effective devices and algorithms, including a PV power conditioning unit (PCU); a sensor board for measuring the variables that influence PV energy production such as irradiance and temperature, using a communication module based on Wi-Fi for data transmission; and a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controller for enhancing the efficiency of the PV system. For validating the proposed system, different common scenarios of PV panel conditions including different shading circumstances were considered. The results show that accurate, real-time monitoring with remote access capabilities can provide timely information for predicting and diagnosing the system condition to ensure continued stable power generation and management.
Key Factors in the Implementation of Wearable Antennas for WBNs and ISM Applications: A Review WBNs and ISM Applications: A Review
Authors: Hashim Fatimah Fawzi , Mahadi Wan Nor Liza Binti , Abdul Latef Tariq Bin , Othman Mohamadariff Bin
Published: August 2022

The increasing usage of wireless technology has prompted the development of a new generation antenna compatible with the latest devices, with on-body antennas (wearable antennas) being one of the revolutionary applications. This modern design is relevant in technologies that require close human body contact, such as telemedicine and identification systems, due to its superior performance compared to normal antennas. Some of its finer characteristics include flexibility, reflection coefficient, bandwidth, directivity, gain, radiation, specific absorption rate (SAR), and efficiency that are anticipated to be influenced by the coupling and absorption by the human body tissues. Furthermore, improvements like band-gap structure and artificial magnetic conductors (AMC) and (DGS) are included in the wearable antenna that offers a high degree of isolation from the human body and significantly reduces SAR. In this paper, the development of on-body antennas and how they are affected by the human body were reviewed. Additionally, parameters that affect the performance of this new antenna model, such as materials and common technologies, are included as an auxiliary study for researchers to determine the factors affecting the performance of the wearable antenna and the access to a highly efficient antenna.
A Novel Virtual Sensor Modeling Method Based on Deep Learning and Its Application in Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning System
Authors: Wang Delin , Li Xiangshun
Published: August 2022

Realizing the dynamic redundancy of sensors is of great significance to ensure the energy saving and normal operation of the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system. Building a virtual sensor model is an effective method of redundancy and fault tolerance for hardware sensors. In this paper, a virtual sensor modeling method combining the maximum information coefficient (MIC) and the spatial–temporal attention long short-term memory (STA-LSTM) is proposed, which is named MIC-STALSTM, to achieve the dynamic and nonlinear modeling of the supply and return water temperature at both ends of the chiller. First, MIC can extract the influencing factors highly related to the target variables. Then, the extracted impact factors via MIC are used as the input variables of the STA-LSTM algorithm in order to construct an accurate virtual sensor model. The STA-LSTM algorithm not only makes full use of the LSTM algorithm’s advantages in handling historical data series information, but also achieves adaptive estimation of different input variable feature weights and different hidden layer temporal correlations through the attention mechanism. Finally, the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed method are verified by establishing two virtual sensors for different temperature variables in the HVAC system.
Numerical Demonstration of Unsupervised-Learning-Based Noise Reduction in Two-Dimensional Rayleigh Imaging
Authors: Cai Minnan , Jin Hua , Lin Beichen , Xu Wenjiang , You Yancheng
Published: August 2022

The conventional denoising method in Rayleigh imaging in a general sense requires an additional hardware investment and the use of the underlying physics. This work demonstrates an alternative image denoising reconstruction model based on unsupervised learning that aims to remove Mie scattering and shot noise interference from two-dimensional (2D) Rayleigh images. The model has two generators and two discriminators whose parameters can be trained with either feature-paired or feature-unpaired data independently. The proposed network was extensively evaluated with a qualitative examination and quantitative metrics, such as PSNR, ER, and SSIM. The results demonstrate that the feature-paired training network exhibits a better performance compared with several other networks reported in the literature. Moreover, when the flame features are not paired, the feature-unpaired training network still yields a good agreement with ground truth data. Specific indicators of the quantitative evaluation show a promising denoising ability with a peak signal-to-noise ratio of ~37 dB, an overall reconstruction error of ~1%, and a structure similarity index of ~0.985. Additionally, the pre-trained unsupervised model based on unpaired training can be generalized to denoise Rayleigh images with extra noise or a different Reynolds number without updating the model parameters.
Geochemical Characteristics and Environmental Implications of Trace Elements of the Paleocene in the West Lishui Sag, East China Sea Basin
Authors: Yang Shuai , Fu Qiang , Liu Jinshui , Ma Wenrui , Yang Bing , Zhu Zhiwei , Teng Wen
Published: August 2022

Analysis of the sedimentary environment during the clastic formation process is of great significance for reservoir evaluation and desert prediction. This paper focused on the Paleocene in the West Lishui Sag, East China Sea Basin. XRF fluorescence diffraction and carbon and oxygen isotope tests were carried out on core samples from four wells. Based on the geochemical characteristics of the samples and the changes in the elemental ratios, combined with the lithologic characteristics and sedimentary structure of the samples, the paleoclimate, paleosalinity, paleobathymetric, paleoredox, paleotemperature, and other paleoenvironmental characteristics were analyzed. The results show that the characteristics of major and trace elements were similar in the lower Mingyuefeng Formation (E1m2), Upper Lingfeng Formation (E1l1), Lower Lingfing Formation (E1l2), and Yueguifeng Formation (E1y). The Paleocene in the West Lishui Sag was mainly in the reducing environment of brackish-salt water with weak water stratification. The water depth showed a trend of becoming deeper, then shallower, and then deeper. The paleoclimate in the West Lishui Sag was warm on the whole. However, the content of Sr became smaller after later deposition, so the calculated paleowater temperature was higher. In addition, oxygen isotopes were affected by diagenesis, resulting in a negative oxygen isotope value. The paleoproductivity was low, and the hydrocarbon generation potential was poor. The content of nutrient elements mainly came from terrigenous input rather than biological origin, and terrigenous intrusion characteristics gradually increased from E1y to E1m2. The study also shows that paleoproductivity was affected by the paleoclimate and paleowater depth. Warm and humid climate and deep water body were conducive to the accumulation of paleoproductivity.
Effect of Temperature Conditions in Arctic Offshore Oil Fields on the Rheological Properties of Various Based Drilling Muds
Authors: Leusheva Ekaterina , Morenov Valentin
Published: August 2022

During well drilling in offshore conditions beyond the North of the Arctic Circle, there are often problems associated with deviations in the rheological parameters of the drilling mud as the temperature changes. Mud temperature in the upper part of the well in most cases is in the range up to 20 °C, whereas in the productive formation it is up to 80 °C and more. For such conditions, it is necessary to estimate the influence of temperature on the rheological parameters of drilling fluids, which is done in this paper. Compositions of water-based and hydrocarbon-based muds that may be used in the conditions of the offshore hydrocarbon fields were considered. The paper presents the authors’ formula for a drilling mud that possesses more stable rheological parameters in the temperature conditions of the offshore oil field and is more environmentally friendly. The physical properties of the newly designed drilling mud were measured with laboratory equipment. Rheological investigations were carried out under varying temperatures up to 80 °C. The results of the experiments show the newly designed drilling mud to be more stable than its hydrocarbon-based analogue. Besides, the newly developed composition has a lower content of solid phase, which is also an important parameter for the process of sea wells construction, often characterized by a narrow window of permissible pressure.
Energy in Smart Urban Transportation with Systemic Use of Electric Vehicles
Authors: Karoń Grzegorz
Published: August 2022

In the progressive development of Electric Vehicles (EVs) and the transformation of transport towards electromobility and decarbonization of cities, many different problems are being faced related to energy management in transport in smart cities [...]
Tunnel Oxide Deposition Techniques and Their Parametric Influence on Nano-Scaled SiOx Layer of TOPCon Solar Cell: A Review
Authors: Yousuf Hasnain , Khokhar Muhammad Quddamah , Zahid Muhammad Aleem , Rabelo Matheus , Kim Sungheon , Pham Duy Phong , Kim Youngkuk , Yi Junsin
Published: August 2022

In addition to the different technologies of silicon solar cells in crystalline form, TOPCon solar cells have an exceptionally great efficiency of 26%, accomplished by the manufacturing scale technique for industrialization, and have inordinate cell values of 732.3 mV open-circuit voltage (Voc) and a fill factor (FF) of 84.3%. The thickness of tunnel oxide, which is less than 2 nm in the TOPCon cell, primarily affects the electrical properties and efficiency of the cell. In this review, various techniques of deposition were utilized for the layer of SiOx tunnel oxide, such as thermal oxidation, ozone oxidation, chemical oxidation, and plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). To monitor the morphology of the surface, configuration of annealing, and rate of acceleration, a tunnel junction structure of oxide through a passivation quality of better Voc on a wafer of n-type cell might be accomplished. The passivation condition of experiments exposed to rapid thermal processing (RTP) annealing at temperatures more than 900 °C dropped precipitously. A silicon solar cell with TOPCon technology has a front emitter with boron diffusion, a tunnel-SiOx/n+-poly-Si/ SiNx:H configuration on the back surface, and electrodes on both sides with screen printing technology. The saturation current density (J0) for such a configuration on a refined face remains at 1.4 fA/cm2 and is 3.8 fA/cm2 when textured surfaces of the cell are considered, instead of printing with silver contacts. Following the printing of contacts with Ag, the J0 of the current configuration improves to 50.8 fA/cm2 on textured surface of silicon, which is moderately lesser for the metal contact. Tunnel oxide layers were deposited using many methods such as chemical, ozone, thermal, and PECVD oxidation are often utilized to deposit the thin SiOx layer in TOPCon solar cells. The benefits and downsides of each approach for developing a SiOx thin layer depend on the experiment. Thin SiOx layers may be produced using HNO3:H2SO4 at 60 °C. Environmentally safe ozone oxidation may create thermally stable SiOx layers. Thermal oxidation may build a tunnel oxide layer with low surface recombination velocity (10 cm/s). PECVD oxidation can develop SiOx on several substrates at once, making it cost-effective.
Analysis of the Impact of Propanol-Gasoline Blends on Lubricant Oil Degradation and Spark-Ignition Engine Characteristics
Authors: Jamil Muhammad Kashif , Akhtar Maaz , Farooq Muhammad , Abbas Muhammad Mujtaba , Saad  , Khuzaima Muhammad , Ahmad Khurshid , Kalam Md Abul , Abdelrahman Anas
Published: August 2022

Alcoholic fuels have recently come to light as a sustainable source for powering today’s vehicles. Various studies have investigated the effects of alcoholic fuels on engine efficiency and emission characteristics. However, scarce literature is available for their effects on lubricant. Therefore, propanol-gasoline fuel mixtures, with concentrations of 9% (P9) and 18% (P18) propanol, were made to compare their engine characteristics and lubricating oil condition with that of pure gasoline (0 percent propanol (P0)). To determine the rate of deterioration, the characteristics of the lubricating oil were evaluated after 100 h of engine operation, as suggested by the manufacturer. When compared with unused lube oil, P18 showed reductions in flash point temperature and kinematic viscosity of 14% and 36%, respectively, at 100 °C. For P18, which contains Fe (27 PPM), Al (11 PPM), and Cu (14 PPM), the highest wear element concentrations in the lubricating oil were found. The moisture in the degraded oil was well within the allowable limit for the three fuel mixtures. With the increase in propanol percentage in the propanol-gasoline blend, the engine performance was increased. Compared to P9 and P0, P18 had the partially unburned emissions.
Pathogenic Variants of the PHEX Gene
Authors: Ohata Yasuhisa , Ishihara Yasuki
Published: August 2022

Twenty-five years ago, a pathogenic variant of the phosphate-regulating endopeptidase homolog X-linked (PHEX) gene was identified as the cause of X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets (XLH). Subsequently, the overproduction of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) due to PHEX defects has been found to be associated with XLH pathophysiology. However, the mechanism by which PHEX deficiency contributes to the upregulation of FGF23 and the function of PHEX itself remain unclear. To date, over 700 pathogenic variants have been identified in patients with XLH, and functional assays and genotype–phenotype correlation analyses based on pathogenic variant data derived from XLH patients have been reported. Genetic testing for XLH is useful for the diagnosis. Not only have single-nucleotide variants causing missense, nonsense, and splicing variants and small deletion/insertion variants causing frameshift/non-frameshift alterations been observed, but also gross deletion/duplication variants causing copy number variants have been reported as pathogenic variants in PHEX. With the development of new technologies including next generation sequencing, it is expected that an increasing number of pathogenic variants will be identified. This chapter aimed to summarize the genotype of PHEX and related analyses and discusses the pathophysiology of PHEX defects to seek clues on unsolved questions.
Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analyses of the 4-Coumarate: CoA Ligase (4CL) Gene Family in Eucommia ulmoides
Authors: Zhong Jian , Qing Jun , Wang Qi , Liu Chenlu , Du Hongyan , Liu Panfeng , Du Qingxin , Du Lanying , Wang Lu
Published: August 2022

4-Coumarate: coenzyme A ligase (4CL) is an important rate-limiting enzyme in phenylpropanoid metabolism that plays an important role in the biosynthesis of phenylpropanoid, flavonoid, lignin and other secondary metabolites in plants. However, the family members and functions have not been identified in Eucommia ulmoides (E. ulmoides). In this study, 35 Eu4CLs were identified in the E. ulmoides genome, and the gene structure, conserved domain, evolutionary relationship and expression pattern were comprehensively analyzed. The results show that 35 Eu4CLs were assembled into three subgroups according to the classification in Arabidopsis, where Eu4CLs in the same subgroup had similar gene structures and conserved protein motifs. Putative cis-element analysis of Eu4CL promoter regions uncovered numerous elements related to the response of stress and plant hormones. Expression patterns showed that Eu4CL4/5/13/34 expression levels were positively related to chlorogenic acid content in different periods, which indicate that the synthesis of chlorogenic acid in E. ulmoides was regulated by multiple genes, and the genes regulating the synthesis of chlorogenic acid in different tissues were different. In addition, nine selected Eu4CL genes showed different expression patterns under cold, WeJA (methyl jasmonate), and ethylene by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) assay, suggesting that Eu4CL genes not only play an important role in the synthesis of chlorogenic acid, but also plays an important role in the process of biotic and abiotic stress. Taken together, these findings provide theoretical reference for further exploring the molecular characteristics and biological functions of Eu4CL genes.
Detection and Quantitation of Adulterated Paprika Samples Using Second-Order HPLC-FLD Fingerprints and Chemometrics
Authors: Sun Xiaodong , Zhang Min , Wang Pengjiao , Chen Junhua , Yang Shengjun , Luo Peng , Gao Xiuli
Published: August 2022

Paprika is a widely consumed spice in the world and its authentication has gained interest considering the increase in adulteration cases in recent years. In this study, second-order fingerprints acquired by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD) were first used to detect and quantify adulteration levels of Chinese paprika samples. Six different adulteration cases, involving paprika production region, cultivar, or both, were investigated by pairs. Two strategies were employed to reduce the data matrices: (1) chromatographic fingerprints collected at specific wavelengths and (2) fusion of the mean data profiles in both spectral and time dimensions. Afterward, the fingerprint data with different data orders were analyzed using partial least squares (PLS) and n-way partial least squares (N-PLS) regression models, respectively. For most adulteration cases, N-PLS based on second-order fingerprints provided the overall best quantitation results with cross-validation and prediction errors lower than 2.27% and 20.28%, respectively, for external validation sets with 15–85% adulteration levels. To conclude, second-order HPLC-FLD fingerprints coupled with chemometrics can be a promising screening technique to assess paprika quality and authenticity in the control and prevention of food frauds.
Assessment of Heavy Metal Uptake in Potatoes Cultivated in a Typical Karst Landform, Weining County, China
Authors: Shi Xueqin , Lin Qiao , Deng Pengyu , Feng Tianyou , Zhang Yuping
Published: August 2022

The average content of heavy metals in Weining soil of karst landforms is generally higher than that of other agricultural regions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the heavy metal content in potatoes from Weining county and to analyze the correlation between the content of heavy metals in potatoes planted in the soil of karst landform and the soil’s environmental factors (soil heavy metals, soil pH, soil organic matter, altitude). Weining county (Guizhou province, China) is a typical karst landform, and has a potato production yield of 2.7 million tons. In this study, 56 soil and potato samples were collected from Weining county and the heavy metal content in the soils and potatoes was detected by inductively coupled plasma atomic mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The content of Cr, Ni, and As in the soil was found to be higher, with almost half of the samples exceeding the maximum allowable levels. A total of 9 of the 56 samples tested had pollution load index values greater than 1.0, which indicates serious soil pollution. It was found that the ability of the potato to absorb heavy metals from the soil was very low, with the average bio-concentration factors of the metals Zn, Cu, Pb, Cr, Ni, and As being 0.087, 0.088, 0.0028, 0.0034, 0.0066, and less than 0.001, respectively. The content of the six heavy metals in the potatoes were all lower than the maximum permissible limit. The results show that a high As content in the soil could increase the content of Pb in potatoes, that a lower pH was beneficial to the bioaccumulation of Cr and Ni in potatoes, and that a high altitude is detrimental to the bioaccumulation of zinc and copper in potatoes. The HRI ranged between 1.12 × 10−2 and 5.92 × 10−2.
Evaluation of Guava Pulp Microencapsulated in Mucilage of Aloe Vera and Opuntia ficus-indica as a Natural Dye for Yogurt: Functional Characterization and Color Stability
Authors: Otálora Maria Carolina , Wilches-Torres Andrea , Gómez Castaño Jovanny A.
Published: August 2022

The substitution of artificial colorants for pigments extracted from fruits is a highly desirable strategy in the food industry for the manufacture of natural, functional, and safe products. In this work, a 100% natural spray-dried (SD) microencapsulated colorant of pink guava pulp, using aloe vera (AV) or Opuntia ficus-indica (OFI) mucilage as functional encapsulating material, was prepared and evaluated as an additive into a yogurt (Y) matrix. The characterization of yogurt samples supplemented with OFI (Y-SD-OFI) and AV (Y-SD-AV) mucilage-covered guava pulp microcapsules was carried out through carotenoid quantification using UV–vis and HPLC–MS techniques, dietary fiber content, antioxidant capacity, colorimetry, and textural analysis, as well as by an evaluation of color stability after 25 days of storage at 4 °C in the dark. These physicochemical characteristics and color stability on the Y-SD-OFI and Y-SD-AV samples were compared with those of a commercial yogurt (control sample, Y-C) containing sunset yellow FCF synthetic colorant (E110). Y-SD-OFI and Y-SD-AV samples exhibited a high content of lycopene, dietary fiber, and antioxidant activity, which were absent in the control sample. Microencapsulated lycopene imparted a highly stable color to yogurt, contrary to the effect provided by the E110 dye in the control sample. The texture profile analysis revealed an increase in firmness, consistency, and cohesion in the Y-SD-OFI sample, contrary to the Y-SD-AV and Y-C samples, which was attributed to the variation in fiber concentration in the microcapsules. The incorporation of OFI and AV mucilage microparticles containing pink guava pulp into yogurt demonstrated its potential application as a functional natural colorant for dairy products.
FHH Quick App Review: How Can a Quality Review Process Assist Primary Care Providers in Choosing a Family Health History App for Patient Care?
Authors: Wood Grant M. , van Boom Sander , Recourt Kasper , Houwink Elisa J. F.
Published: August 2022

Family health history (FHH) is a data type serving risk assessment, diagnosis, research, and preventive health. Despite technological leaps in genomic variant detection, FHH remains the most accessible, least expensive, and most practical assessment tool for assessing risks attributable to genetic inheritance. The purpose of this manuscript is to outline a process to assist primary care professionals in choosing FHH digital tools for patient care based on the new ISO/TS 82304-2 Technical Specification (TS), which is a recently developed method to determine eHealth app quality. With a focus on eHealth in primary care, we applied the quality label concept to FHH, and how a primary care physician can quickly review the quality and reliability of an FHH app. Based on our review of the ISO TS’s 81 questions, we compiled a list of 25 questions that are recommended to be more succinct as an initial review. We call this process the FHH Quick App Review. Our ‘informative-only’ 25 questions do not produce a quality score, but a guide to complete an initial review of FHH apps. Most of the questions are straight from the ISO TS, some are modified or de novo. We believe the 25 questions are not only relevant to FHH app reviews but could also serve to aid app development and clinical implementation.
Whole Genome Sequencing Applied in Familial Hamartomatous Polyposis Identifies Novel Structural Variations
Authors: Kariv Revital , Dahary Dvir , Yaron Yuval , Petel-Galil Yael , Malcov Mira , Rosner Guy
Published: August 2022

Hamartomatous polyposis syndromes (HPS) are rare cancer-predisposing disorders including Juvenile polyposis (JPS), Peutz–Jeghers (PJS) and PTEN hamartomatous syndromes (PHS). Penetrant mutations in corresponding genes (SMAD4, BMPR1A, STK11, PTEN and AKT1), are usually diagnosed via a next-generation-sequencing gene panel (NGS-GP) for tailored surveillance and preimplantation testing for monogenic disorders (PGT-M). Five probands with HPS phenotype, with no genetic diagnosis per genetic workup, underwent whole-genome sequencing (WGS) that identified structural genetic alterations: two novel inversions in BMPRA1 and STK11, two BMPR1A-deletions, known as founders among Bukharan Jews, and BMPR1A microdeletion. BMPR1A inversion was validated by “junction fragment” amplification and direct testing. PGT-M was performed via multiplex-PCR and enabled successful birth of a non-carrier baby. WGS may be considered for HPS patients with no NGS-GP findings to exclude structural alterations.
Isostatic Adjustment, Vertical Motion Rate Variation and Potential Detection of Past Abrupt Mass Unloading
Authors: Gargani Julien
Published: August 2022

Intraplate volcanic islands are often considered as stable relief with constant vertical motion and used for relative sea-level reconstruction. This study shows that large abrupt mass unloading causes non-negligible isostatic adjustment. The vertical motion that occurs after abrupt mass unloading is quantified using a modeling approach. We show that a giant landslide causes a coastline uplift of 80–110 m for an elastic thickness of 15 km < Te < 20 km in Tahiti. Theoretical cases also reveal that a coastal motion of 1 m occurs for an abrupt mass unloading involving a displaced volume of 0.2 km3 and influences relative sea-level reconstruction. In Tahiti, a change in the subsidence rate of 0.1 mm/yr (from 0.25 to 0.15 mm/year) occurred during the last 6 kyr and could be explained by an abrupt mass unloading involving a minimum volume of 0.2 km3, 6 ± 1 kyr ago.
The Development and Changes of Singapore Chinese Society in 19–20th Century—An Analysis from the Perspective of Dialect Group Cemetery Hills
Authors: Hue Guan Thye , Liu Yilin , Klan Choo Juhn Khai , Dean Kenneth , Tang Chang , Wang Yidan , Lin Ruo , Chia Caroline , Xue Yiran , Yan Yingwei , Kai Kui Wei
Published: August 2022

The development of Chinese cemetery hills in Singapore reflects the changing dominance of the dialect groups between the 19th and 20th centuries. Heng San Ting 恒山亭 is the earliest cemetery hill of the Hokkien dialect group, and newly excavated burials indicate that early Singaporean Hokkien came not only from Zhangzhou 漳州 and Quanzhou 泉州 in southern Fujian 福建, but also from places such as Yongchun 永春 from the interior of Fujian. Apart from the Hokkien dialect group, the Cantonese 广东, Hakka 客家, Teochew 潮州 and Hainan 海南 communities also established their cemetery hills. In the early 19th century, the Chinese communities were divided into different dialect groups to form their representative cemetery hills, but the smaller communities within the dialect groups started to form and develop their own cemeteries due to increasing economic power from the mid to late 19th century. Scholars generally believe that the other four dialect groups, led by the Cantonese and Hakka dialect groups, formed a “United Front 联合阵线” to confront the Hokkien dialect group. However, this paper looks at the smaller communities under the five dialect groups and discovers that these communities developed and maintained their own cemetery hills and communicated with the smaller communities from different dialect groups. It was not a direct confrontation. In the 20th century, although the government introduced a series of policies to restrict the development of Chinese burial mounds, the different communities retained their autonomy under the government’s policies. From the development and changes of the Chinese dialect group cemeteries in Singapore, we see that the Chinese community still retains its own autonomy despite the rapid changes of society and the change of times.
A Rare Case of Pulmonary and Gastrointestinal Mucormycosis Due to Rhizopus spp. in a Child with Chronic Granulomatous Disease
Authors: Opara Nnennaya U.
Published: August 2022

Mucormycosis is a rare but serious fungal infection caused by a mold family known as the Mucorales. These fungi exist throughout the environment, especially in the soil, leaves, compost piles, or decaying woods. Humans contract mucormycosis by coming in contact with the spores from fungus either by inhalation or through cuts on the skin. The population at risk for this life-threatening infection includes diabetes mellitus patients, cancer patients, premature infants, burn patients, and immunocompromised patients. The fungi that most commonly cause mucormycosis are the Rhizopus species, and the least represented are Apophysomyces species. Common clinical manifestations of mucormycosis include pulmonary, cutaneous, rhinocerebral, and gastrointestinal mucormycosis. Cases of lung mucormycosis are often misdiagnosed because of non-specific clinical symptoms and radiological features, and in many cases, have been diagnosed as aspergillosis due to similarities in signs, symptoms, and imaging presentation of the lungs. We present a pediatric case of a 6-year-old from Togo who presented to our hospital in Nigeria with dyspnea, fever, and abdominal pain of five-day duration. The child’s symptoms began 6-months prior, with dry cough, fever, fatigue, and chest pain and abdominal pain. The hospital in Togo where he lived suspected infection with tuberculosis (TB) despite a false-positive Mantoux test and negative chest X-ray. He was initially treated for TB with Isoniazid and vitamin B6 and was discharged home. Six months later, his symptoms have not improved, but became more severe with high grade fever 40 °C (oral reading), anorexia, fatigue, tachypnea, abdominal distention, and cough. The patient was immediately referred to our hospital in Abuja, Nigeria where more specific tests were ordered. He was eventually diagnosed with chronic granulomatous disease induced pulmonary and gastrointestinal (GI) mucormycosis due to Rhizopus spp. In this report, we discuss an unusual clinical presentation of an infection caused by Rhizopus spp., its management, and outcomes in a child with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD).
A Novel Nomogram Based on Initial Features to Predict BPH Progression
Authors: Luciani Lorenzo G. , Mattevi Daniele , Ravanelli Daniele , Anceschi Umberto , Giusti Guido , Cai Tommaso , Rozzanigo Umberto
Published: August 2022

Objectives: The aim of this study was to establish a tool to identify patients at risk for pharmaceutical and surgical interventions for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)-related lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) over a 10 year follow-up. Methods: The data of patients with mild to moderate male LUTS undergoing phytotherapy from January to December 2010 were reviewed. Patients were followed for 10 years through medical visits and telephone consultations. The outcomes were (1) treatment switch from phytotherapy or no therapy to alpha-blockers or 5α-reductase inhibitors (5-ARI), and (2) clinical progression (acute urinary retention or need for surgery). Two calibrated nomograms (one for each outcome) were constructed on significant predictors at multivariate analysis. Results: A total of 107 patients with a median age of 55 years at presentation were included; 47% stopped or continued phytotherapy, while 53% switched to alpha-blockers and/or 5-ARI after a median time of 24 months. One-third in the second group experienced clinical progression after a median time of 54 months. Age, symptom score, peak flow rate (Qmax), prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and post-void residual volume were significantly associated with the outcomes. According to our nomograms, patients switching therapy or progressing clinically had average scores of 75% and 40% in the dedicated nomograms, respectively, as compared to 25% and <5% in patients who did not reach any outcome. Conclusions: We developed a nomogram to predict the risk of pharmaceutical or surgical interventions for BPH-related LUTS at 10 years from presentation. On the basis of our models, thresholds of >75% and >40% for high risk and <25% and <5% for low risk of pharmaceutical or surgical interventions, respectively, can be proposed.
Adverse Childhood Experiences among a Sample of Youth Living with HIV in the Deep South
Authors: Chenneville Tiffany , Drake Hunter , Cario Alexandra , Rodriguez Carina
Published: August 2022

The southern region of the United States, often referred to as the Deep South, is disproportionately affected by HIV. In fact, the highest rates of new HIV infections occur in the Deep South. Approximately one in five new HIV infections are among youth. Youth living with HIV (YLWH) have several behavioral health risks, including co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders, which negatively affect medication adherence, contribute to less engagement in HIV care, and result in poor health outcomes. Research suggests that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) contribute to HIV risk behaviors and that people living with HIV may be more vulnerable to the negative health outcomes and adverse effects of stressors. Using existing program evaluation data, we examined data from 41 YLWH aged 17–24 screened for ACEs in an integrated care setting. Most participants were Black/African American young men who identified as homosexual, bisexual, or questioning, and who acquired HIV behaviorally. Approximately, one-third of YLWH screened positive or in the high-risk range on an ACEs screener. Scores fell in the intermediate range for nearly half of the sample. Results did not reveal a significant relationship between ACEs and HIV biological indicators. In this paper, we describe these findings and the importance of incorporating trauma-informed approaches into HIV prevention and treatment programs targeting youth in the Deep South.
Different Exercise Types Produce the Same Acute Inhibitory Control Improvements When the Subjective Intensity Is Equal
Authors: Carbonell-Hernandez Laura , Ballester-Ferrer Juan Arturo , Sitges-Macia Esther , Bonete-Lopez Beatriz , Roldan Alba , Cervello Eduardo , Pastor Diego
Published: August 2022

Twenty-eight active older people (67.19 ± 4.91 years) who engaged in physical exercise activity twice a week were recruited to participate in a counterbalanced experimental protocol. The participants performed three different exercise sessions on three different days, one based on aerobic activities, one based on strength exercises with elastic bands, and one based on stationary balance games. During all three sessions, they were encouraged to maintain a moderate subjective intensity (5–6 on the RPE10 scale), and their heart rate was recorded. In addition, all of the participants took a digital version of the Stroop test before and after each session. The study aimed to compare the acute cognitive impacts of different types of exercise sessions in older adults. The participants’ heart rate differed between the exercise sessions, but they maintained the RPE intensity. There was a significant improvement in inhibitory control (Stroop test) after all sessions, with no differences between exercise sessions. Moreover, some participants agreed to be genotyped to record the single nucleotide polymorphism of BDNF rs6265. There were no differences between Val/Val and Met carriers at the beginning or end of the exercise sessions. The present study showed similar cognitive improvements with different exercise type sessions when the subjective intensity was maintained.
Evaluation of Remote Sensing Ecological Index Based on Soil and Water Conservation on the Effectiveness of Management of Abandoned Mine Landscaping Transformation
Authors: Lian Zeke , Hao Huichao , Zhao Jing , Cao Kaizhong , Wang Hesong , He Zhechen
Published: August 2022

Abandoned mines are typical areas of soil erosion. Landscape transformation of abandoned mines is an important means to balance the dual objectives of regional ecological restoration and industrial heritage protection, but the secondary development and construction process of mining relics require long-term monitoring with objective scientific indicators and effective assessment of their management effectiveness. This paper takes Tongluo Mountain Mining Park in Chongqing as an example and uses a remote sensing ecological index (RSEI) based on Landsat-8 image data to assess the spatial and temporal differences in the dynamic changes in the ecological and environmental quality of tertiary relic reserves with different degrees of development and protection in the park. Results showed that: ① The effect of vegetation cover, which can significantly improve soil and water conservation capacity. ② The RSEI is applicable to the evaluation of the effectiveness of ecological management of mines with a large amount of bare soil areas. ③ The mean value of the RSEI in the region as a whole increased by 0.090, and the mean values of the RSEI in the primary, secondary and tertiary relic reserves increased by 0.121, 0.112 and 0.006, respectively. ④ The increase in the RSEI in the study area is mainly related to the significant decrease in the dryness index (NDBSI) and the increase in the humidity index (WET). The remote sensing ecological index can objectively reflect the difference in the spatial and temporal dynamics of the ecological environment in tertiary relic protection, and this study provides a theoretical reference for the ecological assessment of secondary development-based management under difficult site conditions.
Estimation of Functional Fitness of Korean Older Adults Using Machine Learning Techniques: The National Fitness Award 2015–2019
Authors: Lee Sang-Hun , Lee Seung-Hun , Kim Sung-Woo , Park Hun-Young , Lim Kiwon , Jung Hoeryong
Published: August 2022

Measuring functional fitness (FF) to track the decline in physical abilities is important in order to maintain a healthy life in old age. This paper aims to develop an estimation model of FF variables, which represents strength, flexibility, and aerobic endurance, using easy-to-measure physical parameters for Korean older adults aged over 65 years old. The estimation models were developed using various machine learning techniques and were trained with the National Fitness Award datasets from 2015 to 2019 compiled by the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation. The machine-learning-based nonlinear regression models were employed to improve the performance of the previous linear regression models. To derive the optimal estimation model that showed the best estimation accuracy, we developed five different machine-learning-based estimation models and compares the estimation accuracy not only among the machine learning models, but also with the previous linear regression model. The coefficient of determination of the FF variables was used to compare the performance of each model; the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) and standard error of estimation (SEE) were used to evaluate the model performance. The deep neural network (DNN) model presented the best performance among the regression models for the estimation of all of the FF variables. The coefficient of determination in the HGS test was 0.784, while those of the others were less than 0.5 meaning that the HGS of older adults can be reliably estimated using easy-to-measure independent variables.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, and Wildfires: A Fifth-Year Postdisaster Evaluation among Residents of Fort McMurray
Authors: Mao Wanying , Adu Medard , Eboreime Ejemai , Shalaby Reham , Nkire Nnamdi , Agyapong Belinda , Pazderka Hannah , Obuobi-Donkor Gloria , Owusu Ernest , Oluwasina Folajinmi , Zhang Yanbo , Agyapong Vincent I. O.
Published: August 2022

Background: Over 90,000 residents had to be evacuated from Fort McMurray (FMM), Alberta, Canada due to the wildfire that engulfed the city in May 2016. Overall, about 2400 homes or 10% of the housing stock in Fort McMurray were destroyed. The fire consumed about 200,000 hectors of forest, reaching into Saskatchewan. During major disasters, communities’ infrastructure is disrupted, and psychological, economic, and environmental effects are felt for years afterwards. Objective: Five years after the wildfire disaster, this study assessed the prevalence rate of major depressive disorder (MDD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Fort McMurray residents and determined the demographic, clinical, and other risk factors of probable MDD and PTSD. Methodology: A quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted to collect data through an online questionnaire administered via REDCap between 24 April and 2 June 2021. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was used to assess the presence of MDD symptoms in respondents. The PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-C) was used to assess likely PTSD in respondents. Descriptive, univariate, and multivariate regression analyses were employed. Results: 186 out of 249 individuals who accessed the survey link completed it (74.7% response rate). The median age of the subscribers was 42. The sample included a majority of 159 (85.5%) females; 98 (52.7%) > 40 years of age; 175 (94.1%) employed; and 132 (71%) in a relationship. The overall prevalence of MDD symptoms in our study sample was 45.0% (76). Four variables independently predicted MDD symptoms in the multivariate logistic regression model, including: unemployed (OR = 12.39; 95% CI: 1.21–126.37), have received a mental diagnosis of MDD (OR = 4.50; 95% CI: 1.57−12.92), taking sedative-hypnotics (OR = 5.27; 95% CI: 1.01−27.39), and willingness to receive mental health counseling (OR = 4.90; 95% CI: 1.95–12.31). The prevalence of likely PTSD among our respondents was 39.6% (65). Three independent variables: received a mental health depression diagnosis from a health professional (OR = 4.49; 95% CI: 1.40–14.44), would like to receive mental health counseling (OR = 4.36, 95% CI: 1.54–12.34), and have only limited or no support from family (OR = 11.01, 95% CI: 1.92–63.20) contributed significantly to the model for predicting likely PTSD among respondents while controlling the other factors in the regression model. Conclusions: According to this study, unemployment, taking sleeping pills, having a prior depression diagnosis, and the willingness to receive mental health counseling significantly increase the odds of having MDD and PTSD following wildfires. Family support may protect against the development of these conditions.
A Combination of Long-Duration Electrical Stimulation with External Shoulder Support during Routine Daily Activities in Patients with Post-Hemiplegic Shoulder Subluxation: A Randomized Controlled Study
Authors: Lavi Chen , Elboim-Gabyzon Michal , Naveh Yuval , Kalichman Leonid
Published: August 2022

The study objective was to determine the effect of long-duration neuromuscular electric stimulation (NMES) on shoulder subluxation and upper-extremity function during the acute post-stroke stage. Twenty-eight subjects (mean age ± standard deviation −70.0 ± 14.0 years) were randomly assigned to an experimental or to a control group receiving NMES to the supraspinatus and posterior deltoid muscles or sham treatment for 6 weeks. All the subjects continued standard rehabilitation and external shoulder support (EST). Assessments were conducted pre- and post-intervention and at a 2 week follow-up session by an assessor blind to group allocation. Outcome measures included the degree of shoulder subluxation, Fugl–Meyer assessment-upper extremity (FMA-UE) test, FMA—hand and finger subscales, Functional Independence Measure (FIM), and shoulder pain (using the Numeric Pain Rate Scale). Shoulder subluxation was significantly lower, while the FMA-UE and FMA—hand and finger subscales were significantly improved in the experimental group post-intervention and at follow-up compared to the control group. FIM at follow-up improved more in the experimental group. No change was observed in pain level in both groups. Supplementing NMES to standard rehabilitation and EST is beneficial in reducing shoulder subluxation and improving upper-extremity function. Further research is necessary to determine effect of longer treatment duration and longer follow-up periods.