bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and repercussions of stress and mental health issues on primary and middle school students: a bibliometric analysis
Authors: Sood Ajay , Sharma Deepti , Sharma Manish , Dey Rajiv
Published: September 2024

Objective

This study analyzes the presence and reverberations of stress, anxiety, and other mental health issues on primary and middle school students using bibliometric analysis. The aim of this study is to map the research landscape by statistically analyzing existing literature and identifying key themes, trends, and research hotspots in the domain of stress in students. This study also presents analysis related to top contributing countries, journals, authors, citations, and collaboration networks.

Method

A total of 1,335 publications from 1962 to 10 September 2023 were included in this study using the Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus databases. The steps involved in the bibliometric study included data collection, cleaning, and various analyses such as performance analysis, citation analysis, and network analysis. Biblioshiny by RStudio and Microsoft Excel were used for bibliometric analysis to determine the collaboration between countries and authors and to explore keyword analysis and thematic evolution.

Results

The findings show that China and USA have contributed the highest number of publications. Frontiers in Psychology with 50 publications turns out to be the most prominent journal. The study presents the thematic evolution and the trend topics in this research domain. Some of the trend topics are stress, test anxiety, bullying, depression, cyberbullying, virtual reality, mathematics anxiety, childhood maltreatment and self-compassion, primary school, and middle school. The paper also highlights the prominent authors and their collaboration network.

Discussion

The study has highlighted the various reasons for stress and its potential repercussions on students. This information can be used to help parents, teachers, and the school administration to spot the most susceptible group of students who need immediate intervention to address various mental health issues. We see a gradual progress in the research areas being covered under this domain. More relevant areas of concern related to stress are being explored with time. With the technological advancement and the vast unmonitored internet usage (especially for primary and middle school students), the stress caused by cyberbullying and peer victimization has also become an important topic of research in later years.
Traveling with an eating disorder
Authors: Ramanayake Uditha , Wengel Yana
Published: September 2024

This study aims to uncover what it means to be a tourist with an invisible impairment. We highlight this important yet neglected area within inclusive and accessible tourism by examining how eating disorders impact travel. The subject of eating disorders in the context of travel is not well-articulated, and academic attention toward eating disorders is scant. To explore the lived experiences of an eating disorder and travel, we adopted qualitative research methods. Our phenomenological study followed the purposeful sampling technique and conducted in-depth interviews to collect data. Since research on this neglected traveler population is at an early stage, this research contributes to a fruitful future for this research area by exploring eating disorders and their impact on travel under the key themes of lacking public social awareness, change of routine and structure, responsibility, and access to support and barriers of the skin. The findings expand scant research into traveling with an eating disorder. Importantly, this study reveals the imbalance between what is visible externally vs. the real lived experience and advocates for diversity and inclusion in the context of travel. This research calls for closer dialogue between researchers, society, and people with eating disorders, such as our participants with an eating disorder, to ensure that the value of their voices is highlighted and heard by the stakeholders of the tourism industry. The findings of this research will be helpful in fostering tourism stakeholders' ability to provide service and care for people with eating disorders and other invisible disabilities.
Propionic acid supplementation promotes the expansion of regulatory T cells in patients with end-stage renal disease but not in renal transplant patients
Authors: Anft Moritz , Meyer Fabian , Czygan Sirin , Seibert Felix S. , Rohn Benjamin J. , Tsimas Fotios , Viebahn Richard , Westhoff Timm H. , Stervbo Ulrik , Babel Nina , Zgoura Panagiota
Published: September 2024

In a previous study, we showed an anti-inflammatory effect of propionic acid supplementation in dialysis patients. The present study intends to analyze the effect of propionic acid on the chronic inflammatory state and T-cell composition in kidney transplant patients compared to dialysis patients. A total of 10 dialysis patients and 16 kidney transplant patients under immunosuppressive standard triple immunosuppressive therapy received 2 × 500 mg propionic acid per day for 30 days. The cellular immune system was analyzed before and after the propionic acid supplementation and 30–90 days thereafter as a follow-up. We measured the main immune cell types and performed an in-depth characterization of T cells including regulatory T cells (Tregs), B cells, and dendritic cells. In addition, we assessed the functional activity and antigenic responsiveness by analysis of third-party antigen-specific T cells after their stimulation by recall (tetanus diphtheria vaccine) antigen. In dialysis patients, we observed an expansion of CD25highCD127− Tregs after propionic acid intake. In contrast, the same supplementation did not result in any expansion of Tregs in transplant patients under immunosuppressive therapy. We also did not observe any changes in the frequencies of the main immune cell subsets except for CD4+/CD8+ distribution with an increase of CD4+ T cells and decrease of CD8+ T cells in the transplant population. Our data suggest that dietary supplements containing propionate might have a beneficial effect decreasing systemic inflammation in dialysis patients through Treg expansion. However, this effect was not observed in transplant patients, which could be explained by counteracting effect of immunosuppressive drugs preventing Treg expansion.
Global Burden of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Among Children and Adolescents: A Comprehensive Analysis (1990–2019)
Authors: Chen Xuejie , Xiang Xin , Fan Xiaofei , Xia Weitong , Xiao Yi , Wang Sidan , Ye Shuyu , Kang Meng , Jing Fangmin , Wu Xing , Chen Yang
Published: September 2024

Objective

We summarize the global, regional, and national burden of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in children and adolescents from 1990 to 2019.

Methods

Based on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019, the data of IBD in children and adolescents were analyzed by sex, age, year, and location. Joinpoint analysis was applied to assess the temporal trend of the disease burden.

Results

From 1990 to 2019, the incidence of IBD in children and adolescents increased by 22.8%, from 20,897.42 to 25,658.55 cases, especially in high SDI region. During the same period, the DALY numbers decreased by 53.5%, from 243,081.06 to 113,119.86, with all SDI regions experiencing a clear drop in DALYs except high SDI regions. In 2019, early-onset IBD incidence and DALY numbers were reported at 2,053.52 (95% UI: 1,575.62 to 2,677.49) and 73,797.46 (95% UI: 43,655.86 to 105,998.63), respectively.

Conclusion

Early-onset IBD in children and adolescents remains a significant global health concern. The disease burden has not improved in developed countries over the past 30 years, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
The Aerodynamic Performance of a Novel Overlapping Octocopter in Hover
Authors: Lei Yao , Zhao Xiangzheng
Published: September 2024

A novel octocopter with an overlapping rotor arrangement is proposed in this paper to increase the payload with a limited size. The aerodynamic performance was obtained by both experiments and numerical simulations with the rotor spacing ranging from 1.2 D to 2.0 D (L= 1.2 D, 1.4 D, 1.6 D, 1.8 D, 2.0 D). Also, the aerodynamic parameter was evaluated by the thrust, power consumption, thrust coefficient, power coefficient, and figure of merit (FM) in hover. Compared with a traditional co-axial octocopter, the results indicated that the overlapping octocopter at L= 1.8 D presented an increasing thrust up to 15.98%, and the FM increment was up to 6%. Additionally, the streamline distribution showed that the symmetry of the vortex movement in the downwash flow for the overlapping rotors will offset the rotor interference with an increase in thrust. Meanwhile, the vortex deformation resulting from the induced velocity from the upper rotor also led to an increase in power consumption. Finally, the optimal aerodynamic performance of the overlapping octocopter was obtained with a rotor spacing of L= 1.8 D at 1800 RPM.
An Efficient Aqua-Based Culture Method for the Propagation of High-Quality Arundo donax Seedlings
Authors: Guo Jialin , Li Wei , Cao Gangqiang , Zhang Luyue , Xie Zhengqing , Chen Weiwei , Shi Gongyao , Wei Fang , Tian Baoming
Published: September 2024

Arundo donax (family: Poaceae) is a perennial rhizomatous plant with considerable economic and ecological benefits. The plant is characterized by its fast growth, high yield, wide adaptability, and strong disease resistance. However, widespread cultivation is difficult because A. donax can only be asexually propagated. This study tested the efficacy of an aqua-based culture method with short duration and high rooting rate. The aqua-based culture protocol involved treating cane fragments with the commercial broad-spectrum rooting powder ABT-1 (No. 1 of the ABT series) at 100 mg/L for 24 h, followed by culturing in tap water for 19 days. We found that plant materials sampled from September to February of the following year were more suitable for aqua-based culturing than materials sampled from other months. Nodes on different parts of the cane did not vary significantly in the ability to form seedlings. The rooting percentage reached >95% after only 20 days, while the sprouting percentage was >93%. The seedlings obtained were strong, with high survival rates during cultivation and acclimation. No strict requirements for the growing media were necessary to achieve these results. In conclusion, this study provides an empirical foundation for a technique that could facilitate the factory production of high-quality A. donax seedlings.
Biofortification of Cucumbers with Iron Using Bio-Chelates Derived from Spent Coffee Grounds: A Greenhouse Trial
Authors: Cervera-Mata Ana , Lara-Ramos Leslie , Rufián-Henares José Ángel , Fernández-Bayo Jesús , Delgado Gabriel , Fernández-Arteaga Alejandro
Published: September 2024

The transformation of spent coffee grounds (SCGs) into hydrochars has been extensively studied in recent years to explore their potential in biofortifying foods and mitigating the plant toxicity associated with SCGs. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of adding activated (ASCG and AH160) and functionalized SCGs, as well as SCG-derived hydrochars (ASCG-Fe and AH160-Fe), on cucumber production and plant iron content. To achieve this, SCGs and SCG-derived hydrochars activated and functionalized with Fe were incorporated into cucumber crops grown in a greenhouse over multiple harvests. Among the treatments, SCG-Fe proved to be the most promising for cucumber production, yielding an average of 25 kg of cumulative production per treatment across three harvests. Regarding iron content, the average results across all harvests showed that SCGs and functionalized SCG-hydrochars matched the performance of the commercial chelate (0.108 vs. 0.11 mg Fe/100 g fresh weight). However, in subsequent harvests, iron appeared to leach out, with the activated bio-products (ASCG and AH160) leaving the highest iron reserves in the soil. Additionally, the hydrochar activated at 160 °C demonstrated the highest utilization efficiency. In conclusion, the incorporation of SCG residues and second-generation residues (hydrochars) shows promise as agents for biofortifying cucumbers.
Investigating the Reasons behind Companion Animal Relinquishment: A Systematic Content Analysis of Shelter Records for Cats and Dogs, 2018–2023
Authors: Kisley Michael A. , Chung Esther J. , Levitt Hannah
Published: September 2024

The relinquishment of companion animals to shelters presents significant challenges for animal welfare organizations and has substantial implications for the well-being of both the animals and their owners. This study aims to investigate the reasons for voluntarily relinquishing animals to shelters, to examine species-specific differences (cats and dogs), to compare initial relinquishments to returns (re-relinquishments or readmissions), and to identify potential changes over a 6-year period framing the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. A retrospective analysis of owner relinquishment records from an open admission shelter in the US was conducted using content analysis, a novel approach in this area of research. A total of 13 relinquishment reason categories were identified, as well as 9 separate categories for specific behavioral issues. Among 2836 randomly selected records, the most frequent reasons cited were Behavior Issues (28%), Housing/Moving (18%), Unable to Care (16%), Too Many Pets (10%), Financial (6%), and Owner Allergies (5%). The most common behavioral reasons reported were Aggression (32% of behavioral surrenders), Social Conflict (28%), and Soiling (13%). However, differences were observed in the pattern of relinquishment reasons based on statistical analyses of species, type of relinquishment, and year. Regarding temporal trends, Housing/Moving and Financial reasons were not found to have changed significantly since the pandemic, but the relative frequency of the category Unable to Care increased significantly in 2022 and 2023. Collectively, these findings partially replicate those from research spanning the past several decades in this area that has employed less systematic methodology and can further be used to help identify and understand the primary drivers of owner relinquishments.
Seasonal piRNA Expression Profile Changes in the Testes of Plateau Zokor (Eospalax baileyi)
Authors: Cai Zhiyuan , Yao Baohui , Tan Yuchen , Liu Yongjie , Su Junhu
Published: September 2024

Seasonal reproduction is a mammalian behavior that has developed over an extended evolutionary period and requires animals to respond to external environmental changes to facilitate reproduction. In this study, we investigated the role of PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) in the seasonal reproduction of plateau zokors (Eospalax baileyi). piRNA expression profiles in plateau zokor testes during both breeding and non-breeding seasons were examined. The piRNAs had a distinctive ping-pong signature and ranged from 27 to 32 nt with a peak at 30 nt. Testicular piRNAs predominantly aligned to specific genomic regions, including repeat and gene regions. Analysis of the piRNA–mRNA interaction network and functional enrichment of differentially expressed piRNAs targeting mRNAs revealed their association with testicular development and spermatogenesis. Significantly, PIWIL4 is an mRNA gene that interacts with piRNA and exhibits high expression levels within the testes during the non-breeding phase. This study provides a foundation to improve our understanding of piRNA regulatory mechanisms during testicular development and spermatogenesis in seasonally reproducing animals and, specifically, in the plateau zokor.
Genomic and Conventional Inbreeding Coefficient Estimation Using Different Estimator Models in Korean Duroc, Landrace, and Yorkshire Breeds Using 70K Porcine SNP BeadChip
Authors: Mekonnen Kefala Taye , Lee Dong-Hui , Cho Young-Gyu , Son Ah-Yeong , Seo Kang-Seok
Published: September 2024

The purpose of this study was to estimate the homozygosity distribution and compute genomic and conventional inbreeding coefficients in three genetically diverse pig breed populations. The genomic and pedigree data of Duroc (1586), Landrace (2256), and Yorkshire (3646) were analyzed. We estimated and compared various genomic and pedigree inbreeding coefficients using different models and approaches. A total of 709,384 ROH segments in Duroc, 816,898 in Landrace, and 1,401,781 in Yorkshire, with average lengths of 53.59 Mb, 56.21 Mb, and 53.46 Mb, respectively, were identified. Relatively, the Yorkshire breed had the shortest ROH segments, whereas the Landrace breed had the longest mean ROH segments. Sus scrofa chromosome 1 (SSC1) had the highest chromosomal coverage by ROH across all breeds. Across breeds, an absolute correlation (1.0) was seen between FROH total and FROH1–2Mb, showing that short ROH were the primary contributors to overall FROH values. The overall association between genomic and conventional inbreeding was weak, with values ranging from 0.058 to 0.140. In contrast, total genomic inbreeding (FROH) and ROH classes showed a strong association, ranging from 0.663 to 1.00, across the genotypes. The results of genomic and conventional inbreeding estimates improve our understanding of the genetic diversity among genotypes.
Safety and Tolerability of ShigActive™, a Shigella spp. Targeting Bacteriophage Preparation, in a Phase 1 Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Clinical Trial
Authors: Chen Wilbur H. , Woolston Joelle , Grant-Beurmann Silvia , Robinson Courtney K. , Bansal Garima , Nkeze Joseph , Permala-Booth Jasnehta , Fraser Claire M. , Tennant Sharon M. , Shriver Mallory C. , Pasetti Marcela F. , Liang Yuanyuan , Kotloff Karen L. , Sulakvelidze Alexander , Schwartz Jennifer A.
Published: September 2024

Bacterial diseases of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract continue to be a major worldwide cause of human morbidity and mortality. Among various enteric pathogens, Shigella spp. are some of the most common and deadly bacterial pathogens. They are responsible for ~125 million worldwide cases of shigellosis, and ~14,000 deaths annually, the majority in children under the age of 5 and occurring in developing countries. Preventing and treating shigellosis with conventional drugs (e.g., vaccines and antibiotics) has proven to be very difficult. Here, we assessed the safety and tolerability of ShigActive™, a lytic bacteriophage preparation targeting Shigella spp., in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind Phase 1 clinical trial. Ten participants randomized 4:1 received ShigActive™ or placebo co-administered with sodium bicarbonate orally three times daily for 7 days. Solicited and unsolicited adverse events (AEs) were observed for 29 days. Fifty percent of the subjects receiving ShigActive™ reported mild GI-related symptoms, while one participant experienced moderate fatigue. No serious or medically attended AEs occurred through day 90. Additionally, no significant differences in GI-associated inflammatory mediators or fecal microbiome changes were observed between placebo- and ShigActive™-treated subjects, or from a participants’ baseline value. The results of this first-in-human (FIH) randomized, controlled Phase 1 trial of ShigActive™ demonstrate that it is safe and well tolerated when orally administered with no significant differences compared to placebo controls.
Biodegradation and Detoxification of Some Dyes by Crude Lignin Peroxidase Complex Produced by Escherichia coli Accession No: LR0250096.1 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa Accession No: CP031449.2
Authors: Dube Sindiswa Lungile , Osunsanmi Foluso Oluwagbemiga , Ikhane Albert Olufemi , Mosa Rebamang Anthony , Opoku Andrew Rowland
Published: September 2024

Synthetic and untreated dyes discharged in wastewater effluents are a threat to an ecosystem. This study investigated dye degradation and detoxification efficiency of crude lignin peroxidase separately obtained from the cultures of Escherichia coli (LR0250096.1) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CP031449.2). The ability of the crude lignin peroxidase to degrade Malachite Green (MG), Remazol Brilliant Blue R (RBBR), Congo Red (CR), and Azure B (AZ) was evaluated at different operating conditions (enzyme, dye, and hydrogen peroxide concentrations; pH; temperature; and contact time). The ability of the degraded dyes to support the growth of bacteria was also investigated. The observed optimum operating conditions for lignin peroxidase extracts of the Escherichia coli on AZ were 20 mg/mL enzyme concentration, 50 mg/L dye, pH 7.0, temperature 50 °C, and 1.5 mM hydrogen peroxide within 20–50 min of incubation time and on MG were 20 mg/mL, 50 mg/L, 9.0, 30 °C, 0.1 mM, and 20 min, respectively. The enzyme extract from Pseudomonas aeruginosa on AZ demonstrated optimum operation conditions of 20 mg/mL, 50 mg/L, pH 9.0, 40 °C, 1.5 mM, and 50 min, respectively and on MG, they were 20 mg/mL, 50 mg/L, 6.0, 30 °C, 1.0 mM, and 20 min, respectively). The prepared enzyme showed an appreciable degradative effect on CR and RBBR compared with commercial lignin peroxidase. The degraded dyes were able to support the growth of two Gram-positive (Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus), and two Gram-negative (Proteus mirabilis and Escherichia coli) bacteria, indicating the efficiency and the potential use of the enzyme complexes in the clean-up of industrial dyes’ waste.
Dynamic BIM Adoption Impact on Contract Cost Variance Factors Using PLS-SEM Techniques
Authors: Al-Gahtani Khalid S. , Alsanabani Naif M. , Alsugair Abdullah M. , Aljadhai Saad I. , Alotaibi Hatim F.
Published: September 2024

This paper investigates the Building Information Modeling (BIM) adoption impact on the factors of Contract Cost Variance (CCV) over time. The study considers qualitative and quantitative data to identify the most common causes of CCV through pre-tendering. A partial least square-structure model (PLS-SEM) procedure was used to develop a causal model and rank CCV factors based on their effect, partially based on prior survey raw data conducted in 2022 and the data from 94 projects. Construction industry experts assessed the prior five-year rate of BIM adoption on construction projects to infer the expected trend in BIM adoption in the future (until 2037). Based on the causal model of CCV factors and the future rates of BIM adoption, the dynamic impact of BIM on CCV factors over time was modeled and analyzed. The analysis shows that BIM reduces CCV over time by improving Estimator Performance (EP), Information Quality (IQ), and contractual procedure (CP). The results showed that the CP, EP, and EF have directly impacted CCV, and the PC and IQ indirectly affect the CCV. This paper considers the temporal aspect, examining how the impact of BIM on CCV factors evolves. This dynamic analysis is crucial for long-term strategic planning in construction management.
Research on Surgical Gesture Recognition in Open Surgery Based on Fusion of R3D and Multi-Head Attention Mechanism
Authors: Men Yutao , Luo Jian , Zhao Zixian , Wu Hang , Zhang Guang , Luo Feng , Yu Ming
Published: September 2024

Surgical gesture recognition is an important research direction in the field of computer-assisted intervention. Currently, research on surgical gesture recognition primarily focuses on robotic surgery, with a lack of studies in traditional surgery, particularly open surgery. Therefore, this study established a dataset simulating open surgery for research on surgical gesture recognition in the field of open surgery. With the assistance of professional surgeons, we defined a vocabulary of 10 surgical gestures based on suturing tasks in open procedures. In addition, this paper proposes a surgical gesture recognition method that integrates the R3D network with a multi-head attention mechanism (R3D-MHA). This method uses the R3D network to extract spatiotemporal features and combines it with the multi-head attention mechanism for relational learning of these features. The effectiveness of the R3D-MHA method in the field of open surgery gesture recognition was validated through two experiments: offline recognition and online recognition. The accuracy at the gesture instance level for offline recognition was 92.3%, and the frame accuracy for online recognition was 73.4%. Finally, its performance was further validated on the publicly available JIGSAWS dataset. Compared to other online recognition methods, the accuracy improved without using additional data. This work lays the foundation for research on surgical gesture recognition in open surgery and has significant applications in process monitoring, surgeon skill assessment and educational training for open surgeries.
Stochastic Extensions of the Elo Rating System
Authors: Gómez-Abejón Gonzalo , Rodríguez J. Tinguaro
Published: September 2024

This work studies how the Elo rating system can be applied to score-based sports, where it is gaining popularity, and in particular for predicting the result at any point of a game, extending its statistical basis to stochastic processes. We derive some new theoretical results for this model and use them to implement Elo ratings for basketball and soccer leagues, where the assumptions of our model are tested and found to be mostly accurate. We showcase several metrics for comparing the performance of different rating systems and determine whether adding a feature has a statistically significant impact. Finally, we propose an Elo model based on a discrete process for the score that allows us to obtain draw probabilities for soccer matches and has a performance competitive with alternatives like SPI ratings.
A Path Planning Method Based on Hybrid Sand Cat Swarm Optimization Algorithm of Green Multimodal Transportation
Authors: Sun Zhe , Yang Qiming , Liu Junyi , Zhang Xu , Sun Zhixin
Published: September 2024

Aiming at the difficulty of measuring various costs and time-consuming elements in multimodal transport, this paper constructs a green vehicle comprehensive multimodal transport model which incorporates transportation, transit, quality damage, fuel consumption, and carbon emission costs and proposes a hybrid embedded time window to calculate the time penalty cost in order to reflect the actual transport characteristics. Furthermore, in order to better solve the model, a hybrid sand cat swarm optimization (HSCSO) algorithm is proposed by introducing Logistic–Tent chaotic mapping and an adaptive lens opposition-based learning strategy to enhance the global search capability, and inspired by the swarm intelligence scheme, a momentum–bellicose strategy and an equilibrium crossover pool are introduced to improve the search efficiency and convergence ability. Through testing nine benchmark functions, the HSCSO algorithm exhibits superior convergence accuracy and speed in dealing with complex multi-dimensional problems. Based on the excellent global performance, the HSCSO algorithm was utilized for multimodal vehicle transportation in East China, and a path with a lower comprehensive cost was successfully planned, which proved the effectiveness of the HSCSO algorithm in green intermodal transport path planning.
Yield Behaviour of Welded I-Shaped Steel Cross-Sections
Authors: Palizzolo Luigi , Benfratello Salvatore
Published: September 2024

The limit behaviour of I-shaped welded steel cross-sections subjected to axial force, shear, and bending moment is a crucial matter to ascertain the reliability of framed structures constituted by non-standard beam elements. International standards provide an approximate solution to the problem, and other studies have proposed improved approximate formulations to ascertain the real features of the relevant cross-sections. The present paper is devoted to enhancing the problem of the limit behaviour of plane I-shaped welded steel cross-sections subjected to axial force N, shear T and bending moment M; therefore, new appropriate formulations are proposed in order to define suitable new domains, both in planes N,T, N,M, and M,T and in the space N,T,M. The material is assumed as elastic–perfectly plastic and the Von Mises limit condition is adopted as the resistance criterion. The elastic stresses are described by the Navier formula and the Jourawski formula. The limit stress condition related to the contemporaneous presence of the acting forces is defined as the one that, at each point of the cross-section, fulfils the Von Mises limit condition as equality. The formulation is rigorously devoted to factory-made welded I-shaped steel cross-sections. Some numerical examples are reported in the application stage and useful comparison are carried out, with the results being obtainable by the application of the classical known standard formulae, proving the reliability and effectiveness of the determined domains.
Research on Optimizing Low-Saturation Intersection Signals with Consideration for Both Efficiency and Fairness
Authors: Zhu Lingxiang , Yu Lujing , Zou Liang
Published: September 2024

In response to the fairness issue arising from the unequal delay of vehicles in different phases at intersections and considering the actual situation of small and variable delays for vehicles in low-saturation intersection phases, this paper proposes the concept of “sacrificing efficiency for fairness”. Firstly, the universality of unfair delay phenomena at intersection phases is explained, especially at low-saturation intersections where the fluctuation in phase delays is 1.87 times higher than at other intersections. Then, a fairness evaluation index is constructed using information entropy, and the feasibility of the proposed approach is demonstrated. Subsequently, a signal optimization model that balances efficiency and fairness is proposed. Finally, the proposed model is validated through case studies, showing that it not only simultaneously considers efficiency and fairness but also has minimal impact on efficiency. Moreover, the changes to timing schemes in the efficiency model are much smaller compared to the model that only considers fairness. Sensitivity analysis reveals that the model performs better under low-saturation intersection conditions.
Influence of Process Liquids on the Formation of Strengthened Nanocrystalline Structures in Surface Layers of Steel Parts during Thermo-Deformation Treatment
Authors: Hurey Ihor , Augousti Andy , Maruschak Pavlo , Flowers Alan , Gurey Volodymyr , Dzyura Volodymyr , Prentkovskis Olegas
Published: September 2024

The results of the influence of a range of process liquids on the formation of strengthened nanocrystalline structures in the surface layers of steel samples with different carbon content during thermo-deformation treatment are presented. The liquids were mineral oil; mineral oil with active additives containing polymers; water; and an aqueous solution of mineral salts based on magnesium and calcium chlorides. The thickness and hardness of the nanocrystalline layer increased with increasing steel carbon content. The thickness and microhardness of Steel C45 are 230–240 μm and 8.6 GPa, respectively, when using mineral oil with AAP, 110–120 μm and 7.2 GPa, respectively, when using mineral oil alone, and for steel CT80 when using mineral oil, they are 180–200 μm and 9.1 GPa, respectively (C45 and CT80 refers to engineering steels). The process liquid is decomposed into its component chemical elements by the high temperatures and pressures in the contact zone of the tool with the treated surface. It also gives off active hydrogen, which diffuses into the surface layer of the metal and significantly affects its formation. It was established that the greatest thickness and hardness of the layers were obtained after processing pre-hydrogenated samples. The choice of process fluid is critical during thermo-deformation treatment.
A Cross-Level Iterative Subtraction Network for Camouflaged Object Detection
Authors: Hu Tongtong , Zhang Chao , Lyu Xin , Sun Xiaowen , Chen Shangjing , Zeng Tao , Chen Jiale
Published: September 2024

Camouflaged object detection (COD) is a challenging task, aimed at segmenting objects that are similar in color and texture to their background. Sufficient multi-scale feature fusion is crucial for accurately segmenting object regions. However, most methods usually focus on information compensation, overlooking the difference between features, which is important for distinguishing the object from the background. To this end, we propose the cross-level iterative subtraction network (CISNet), which integrates information from cross-layer features and enhances details through iteration mechanisms. CISNet involves a cross-level iterative structure (CIS) for feature complementarity, where texture information is used to enrich high-level features and semantic information is used to enhance low-level features. In particular, we present a multi-scale strip convolution subtraction (MSCSub) module within CIS to extract difference information between cross-level features and fuse multi-scale features, which improves the feature representation and guides accurate segmentation. Furthermore, an enhanced guided attention (EGA) module is presented to refine features by deeply mining local context information and capturing a broader range of relationships between different feature maps in a top-down manner. Extensive experiments conducted on four benchmark datasets demonstrate that our model outperforms the state-of-the-art COD models in all evaluation metrics.
Graph-Analytical Method for Calculating Settlement of a Single Pile Taking into Account Soil Slippage
Authors: Ter-Martirosyan Armen Z. , Sidorov Vitalii V. , Almakaeva Anastasiia S.
Published: September 2024

Most of the existing methods of pile settlement calculation, including normative methods, do not fully take into account the processes occurring in the soil when loads are transferred to them and the changes in the properties of the contact zone soils. This leads to underutilisation of the bearing capacity of the soil, and the calculated settlement value may differ several times from the real values. In this paper, a graph-analytical solution to the problem of interaction of a single pile with a three-layer soil foundation is proposed to determine the settlement, taking into account the complex nature of the pile operation and the processes occurring in the soil when loads are transferred to them. The proposed method allows to use the non-linear behaviour of the soil on the lateral surface and under the tip of the pile, the possibility of its detachment and slippage after reaching the ultimate strength of the soil, changes in the properties of the contact zone soils, and the load distribution on the pile between its lateral surface and the tip. To verify the proposed graph-analytical solution, a comparative analysis was performed with the numerical method in the Plaxis 2d software (version 21.00.01.7) and with the results of static tests of piles at the construction site. To determine the strength reduction factor at the contact of soils with concrete, laboratory tests were carried out on a direct shear apparatus. Based on the results of the performed calculations, graphs of the dependence of settlements on loads were plotted, conclusions were drawn about the possibility of using the graph-analytical method, and prospects for further development and improvement of the graph-analytical method were proposed.
Large-Scale Physical Simulation Experiment of Water Invasion Law for Multi-Well Development in Sandstone Gas Reservoirs with Strong Water Drive
Authors: Fang Feifei , He Sijie , Zhuang Jian , Zhang Jie , Bian Yanan
Published: September 2024

In order to clarify the water invasion law and residual gas distribution characteristics in edge and bottom water gas reservoirs with multi-well development, a large-scale three-dimensional physical simulation model was developed and a physical simulation experiment method for the water invasion law of multi-well development in sandstone gas reservoirs with strong water drives was established. Water invasion physical simulation experiments of multi-well development under the conditions of different water body multiples and production systems were conducted. The results show the following: (1) Gas wells near fractures and high-permeability zones experience the earliest water breakthrough. The larger the water body multiple, the faster the rate of water invasion, the earlier the water breakthrough time of gas wells, the more severe the degree of water invasion in gas reservoirs, and the lower the ultimate recovery rate. (2) Shutting in low-position gas wells immediately after water breakthrough reduces the overall water production of the gas reservoir and extends the overall water-free gas production period. However, the ultimate recovery rate is lower than when the wells are not shut in. (3) The residual gas in the fracture model is mainly distributed around the fracture and the edge of the gas reservoir, with the ultimate recovery rate ranging from 38.5% to 58.2%. The residual gas in the fracture–high-permeability zone model is mainly distributed around the fracture–high-permeability zone and the edge of the gas reservoir, with the ultimate recovery rate ranging from 28.32% to 41.8%. The experimental results have important guiding significance for the economical and efficient development of similar gas reservoirs.
Permeability Characteristics of Improved Loess and Prediction Method for Permeability Coefficient
Authors: Ran Guoliang , Zhu Yanpeng , Yang Xiaohui , Huang Anping , Chen Dong
Published: September 2024

Due to its unique geotechnical properties, loess presents itself as a cost-effective and energy-efficient material for engineering construction, aiding in cost reduction and environmental sustainability. However, to meet engineering specifications, loess often requires enhancement. Evaluating its permeability properties holds significant importance for employing improved loess for construction materials in landfills and artificial water bodies. This study investigates the influence of dry densities, grain size characteristics, grain size distribution, and admixture contents and types on the permeability of improved loess, focusing on the Malan and Lishi loess. The falling head permeability test was conducted to analyze how each factor affects the permeability of the improved loess. The findings indicate that the permeability coefficient decreases with increased dry density and admixture content. Conversely, it demonstrates a linear increase with the average grain size (d50), restricted grain size (d60), and the product of the coefficient of uniformity and coefficient of curvature (Cu × Cc). The primary influencing factor is the type of admixture, followed by Cc and d60. Furthermore, this study developed a predictive model for permeability using a support vector machine (SVM), surpassing the predictive accuracy of linear regression and neural network models. The model provides a robust prediction for the permeability of superior loess material.
Advancements in Copper-Based Catalysts for Efficient Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species from Peroxymonosulfate
Authors: Bouzayani Bakhta , Lomba-Fernández Bárbara , Fdez-Sanromán Antía , Elaoud Sourour Chaâbane , Sanromán Maria Ángeles
Published: September 2024

Over the past few decades, peroxymonosulfate (PMS)-driven advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have garnered substantial interest in the field of organic decontamination. The copper (Cu)/PMS system is intriguing due to its diverse activation pathways and has been extensively employed for the clearance of refractory organic pollutants in water. This article is designed to offer a comprehensive overview of the latest trends in Cu-based catalysts such as single-metal and mixed-metal catalysts aimed at treating recalcitrant pollutants, highlighting PMS activation. Subsequently, investigative methodologies for assessing PMS activation with copper-based catalysts are reviewed and summarized. Then, the implications of pH, PMS and catalytic agent concentrations, anions, and natural organic matter are also addressed. The combination of Cu-based catalyst/PMS systems with other advanced oxidation technologies is also discussed. Following that, the degradation mechanisms in the Cu-based catalyst-activated PMS system are considered and synopsized. Lastly, potential future research avenues are proposed to enhance the technology and offer support for developing of economically viable materials based on copper for activating PMS.
3D Modeling Simulation and Innovative Design of a Saw Cutting Mechanism for a Movable Buckling Machine
Authors: Yang Xuechun , Wu Xiangjie , Xu Huadong
Published: September 2024

In this research, a sawing mechanism of a mobile buckling machine was innovatively designed for the forest resources and environmental characteristics of the northeast region of China. The northeast region of China is rich in forest resources, but the climate is cold, which puts high demands on the performance and adaptability of mechanical equipment. In this study, the three-dimensional modeling of the saw-cutting mechanism was completed by Pro/Engineer 5.0 modeling software, and an in-depth dynamics simulation analysis was carried out using dynamics simulation software. The study aims to assess the applicability of this saw-cutting mechanism in the northeast region of China, analyze its design characteristics, and explore possible directions for performance optimization. Through this study, we expect to provide valuable references for future technological innovations, as well as to promote the practical application and development of mobile buckling machines in cold regions. This research not only has regional characteristics, but also reflects the innovative idea of combining mechanical equipment design with environmental adaptability.
Three-Stage Non-Surgical Treatment of Skeletal Class III Malocclusion in Adolescents—A Report of Four Cases with Long-Term Follow-Up
Authors: Kuc-Michalska Małgorzata , Pokucińska Magdalena , Grocholewicz Katarzyna , Janiszewska-Olszowska Joanna
Published: September 2024

(1) Background: Postponing orthodontic treatment in Class III malocclusion until deterioration and growth cessation to perform orthognathic surgery does not seem to be an optimal solution for every patient. This report describes short- and long-term outcomes for nonsurgical treatment of four adolescents with severe Class III malocclusion. (2) Methods: Four patients (aged 13–15 y) with skeletal Class III (Wits appraisal below 7.5 mm) started a three-stage treatment, consisting of a six-month-long phase I and involving orthopedic treatment with an individual chin-cup. Phase II involved orthopedic treatment with a bonded Haas-type expander on acrylic splints, a face-mask, a lower fixed appliance and Class III elastics; phase III involved full fixed appliance, elastics and reuse of the individual chin-cup. Pre and posttreatment cephalograms were analyzed and superimposed. (3) Results: Improved skeletal and dental relationships and facial appearance was achieved in all patients. Wits appraisal, angles ANB, ANPg and lower face height increased; an improvement of overbite was noted. (4) Conclusions: Severe skeletal Class III in adolescents may be successfully treated with combined orthopedic/camouflage treatment with a Haas-type expander on acrylic splints, Class III elastics, fixed appliance and orthopedic devices (individual chin-cup and facemask) with a very good compliance.
Visualization and Analysis of Three-Way Data Using Accumulated Concept Graphs
Authors: Ichino Manabu , Umbleja Kadri , Yaguchi Hiroyuki
Published: September 2024

This paper introduces the Accumulated Concept Graph (ACG), a visualization tool based on the quantile method designed to analyze three-way data, including distributional data. Such data often have complex structures that make it difficult to identify patterns using conventional visualization techniques. The ACG represents each object with one or more monotonic line graphs. As a result, the three-way data are visualized as a set of parallel monotonic line graphs that never intersect. This non-intersecting property allows for the easy identification of both macroscopic and microscopic patterns within the data. We demonstrate the usefulness of ACGs and principal component analysis in the analysis of real three-way datasets.
Comparative Effect of Fish Feeds on the Initial Growth and Survival Rate of Juvenile Redbreast Tilapia (Coptodon rendalli) under Early Hatchery Conditions
Authors: Simasiku Evans Kamwi , Hove Kudakwashe , Kanyeme Margaret Ndatoolewe , Awala Simon Kamwele , Matengu Kenneth Kamwi , Iita Titus Iipinge
Published: September 2024

This study compared the effects of three supplementary diets—egg yolk, Artemia, and commercial pellets with 48% crude protein—on the growth performance and survival rate of redbreast tilapia (Coptodon rendalli) under intensive culture conditions at the Kamutjonga Inland Fisheries Institute in the Kavango East region of Namibia. The study was conducted from December 2023 to January 2024 using a complete randomized design replicated thrice. Results showed that fish fed with commercial pellets exhibited the highest specific growth rate (1.39 ± 0.80%) compared to egg yolk (0.94 ± 0.54%) and Artemia (0.33 ± 0.19%). Commercial pellets also had the best survival rate (76.19 ± 43.099), compared to egg yolk and Artemia (70.47 ± 40.69; 33 ± 19.05), respectively. However, egg yolk had the best feed conversion ratio (0.20 ± 0.05) compared to the commercial pellets (0.22 ± 0.04) and Artemia (0.26 ± 0.07). Critical water quality parameters were maintained within acceptable survival ranges for C. rendalli across all treatments. These findings highlight the importance of dietary protein content in optimizing the growth and survival of C. rendalli under intensive culture conditions and provide insights for effective feeding strategies. However, commercial pellets are expensive and inaccessible to small-scale fish farmers. As an alternative, egg yolk emerged as a viable and affordable feed option, promoting fish growth and supporting the establishment of small-scale farming practices in the region.