bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigating the Effects of Dehydrated Human Amnion-Chorion Membrane on Periodontal Healing
Authors: Imamura Kentaro , Hamada Yusuke , Yoshida Wataru , Murakami Tasuku , Nakane-Koyachi Saki , Yoshikawa Kouki , Saito Atsushi
Published: June 2022

Each growth factor (GF) has different effects and targets, and plays a critical role in periodontal healing. Dehydrated human amnion-chorion membrane (dHACM) contains various GFs and has been used to enhance wound healing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of dHACM on periodontal healing, using in vitro and in vivo experimental approaches. Standardized periodontal defects were created in rats. The defects were randomly divided into three groups: Unfilled, filled with hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), and dHACM+HPC. At 2 and 4 weeks postoperatively, periodontal healing was analyzed by microcomputed tomography (micro-CT), and histological and immunohistochemical analyses. In vitro, periodontal ligament-derived cells (PDLCs) isolated from rat incisors were incubated with dHACM extract. Cell proliferation and migration were evaluated by WST-1 and wound healing assay. In vivo, micro-CT examination at 2 weeks revealed enhanced formation of new bone in the dHACM+HPC group. At 4 weeks, the proportions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-positive cells and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA)-positive blood vessels in the dHACM+HPC group were significantly greater than those in the Unfilled group. In vitro, dHACM extracts at 100 µg/mL significantly increased cell proliferation and migration compared with control. These findings suggest that GFs contained in dHACM promote proliferation and migration of PDLCs and angiogenesis, which lead to enhanced periodontal healing.
Surpass Evolve Flow Diverter for the Treatment of Intracranial Aneurysm: A Systematic Review
Authors: Issa Rania , Al-Homedi Zahrah , Syed Dawood Hasan , Aziz Waseem , Al-Omari Basem
Published: June 2022

Purpose: This systematic review aims to summarize the evidence investigating the effectiveness and safety of the Surpass Evolve-Flow Diverter (SE-FD) to treat brain aneurysms. Method: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library from January 2019 to 29 March 2022. Terms related to the “intracranial aneurysm” and “surpass evolve flow diverter” concepts were used to search the databases; Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and reference hand search were also utilized. Results: The searches primarily identified 1586 documents. A total of five studies (four case series and one cohort) were included in this review. In the included studies, 192 (74 male and 118 females) patients with 198 aneurysms were involved. In total, 153 SE-FDs were used to treat 145 aneurysms. Complete occlusion was achieved in 69/145 (48%) cases and near-complete occlusion in 24/145 (17%) cases from aneurysms treated with SE-FD. Reported postoperative complications included stent thrombosis (n = 4 patients), hemorrhage (n = 5 patients), ischemia (n = 9 patients), and neurological complications (n = 12 patients). In total, four deaths were reported with only one related to the SE-FD procedure. Conclusion: The results of this review are based on observational data, due to the absence of clinical trials. The findings of the included studies suggest that the effectiveness of the SE-FD procedure is lower than previous FDs but the safety is similar. The included studies also suggested that SE-FD has navigability and resistance to twisting, which makes the procedure an easier method to treat aneurysms that are proximal and distal to the circle of Willis deployment. This review highlights the urgency to conduct clinical trials to confirm these suggestions.
Date Palm Surface Fibers for Green Thermal Insulation
Authors: Raza Mohsin , Abdallah Hyder Al , Abdullah Ayah , Abu-Jdayil Basim
Published: June 2022

Some of the major challenges of the twenty-first century include the continued increase in energy consumption and environmental pollution. One approach to overcoming these challenges is to increase the use of waste materials and environmentally friendly manufacturing methods. The high energy consumption in the building sector contributes significantly to global climatic changes. Here, by using date palm surface fibers, a high-performance green insulation material was developed via a simple technique that did not rely on any toxic ingredients. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was used as a binding agent. Four insulation samples were made, each with a different density within the range of 203 to 254 kg/m3. Thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity values for these four green insulators were 0.038–0.051 W/m·K and 0.137–0.147 mm2/s, respectively. Thermal transmittance (U-value) of the four insulation composites was between 3.8–5.1 W/m2·K, which was in good comparison to other insulators of similar thickness. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that insulating sample have excellent thermal stability, with an initial degradation temperature of 282 °C, at which just 6% of its original weight is lost. Activation energy (Ea) analysis revealed the fire-retardancy and weakened combustion characteristics for the prepared insulation composite. According to differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements, the insulating sample has a melting point of 225 °C, which is extremely close to the melting point of the binder. The fiber-based insulating material’s composition was confirmed by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The ultimate tensile range of the insulation material is 6.9–10 MPa, being a reasonable range. Our study’s findings suggest that developing insulation materials from date palm waste is a promising technique for developing green and low-cost alternatives to petroleum-based high-cost and toxic insulating materials. These insulation composites can be installed in building envelopes during construction.
Life Cycle Environmental Impact of Underground Plastic Recharge Chambers in Stormwater Management
Authors: Peterson Lisa A. , Gallagher Patricia M. , Spatari Sabrina
Published: June 2022

Life cycle assessment is used to systematically evaluate the environmental impact of underground plastic recharge chambers (RCs) used for stormwater management. Using cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment and a functional unit of 1 m3 stormwater capacity, different RC structure types, manufacturing processes and materials are considered. The inventory is based on various commercially available RCs, including injection-molded or extruded polypropylene and polyvinylchloride polymers and typical installation materials and methods. A new dataset is developed to estimate the manufacture and use of recycled polypropylene granulate. TRACI 2.1 is used to investigate the midpoint life cycle impact assessment metrics, acidification, eutrophication, global warming, and fossil fuel resources. Results indicate that plastic represents as much as 99% of the total cradle-to-gate impact, driven largely by the polymer processing method. Injection molding has on average a 50% higher impact per kg of material than extrusion. Processing and transport of backfill material to the project site is approximately 20% of the total cradle-to-gate impact. The transport distance is highly significant: long transport distances can cause the transportation impact to exceed the plastic impact.
Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy for Locally Advanced Gastric Cancer: Where Are We at?
Authors: Yeh Jen-Hao , Yeh Yung-Sung , Tsai Hsiang-Lin , Huang Ching-Wen , Chang Tsung-Kun , Su Wei-Chih , Wang Jaw-Yuan
Published: June 2022

Locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC) has a poor prognosis with surgical resection alone, and neoadjuvant treatment has been recommended to improve surgical and oncological outcomes. Although neoadjuvant chemotherapy has been established to be effective for LAGC, the role of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) remains under investigation. Clinical experience and research evidence on esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma (e.g., cardia gastric cancers) indicate that the likelihood of achieving sustainable local control is higher through NCRT than through resection alone. Furthermore, NCRT also has an acceptable treatment-related toxicity and adverse event profile. In particular, it increases the likelihood of achieving an R0 resection and a pathological complete response (pCR). Moreover, NCRT results in higher overall and recurrence-free survival rates than surgery alone; however, evidence on the survival benefits of NCRT versus neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) remains conflicting. For noncardia gastric cancer, the efficacy of NCRT has mostly been reported in retrospective studies, and several large clinical trials are ongoing. Consequently, NCRT might play a more essential role in unresectable LAGC, for which NCT alone may not be adequate to attain disease control. The continual improvements in systemic treatments, radiotherapy techniques, and emerging biomarkers can also lead to improved personalized therapy for NCRT. To elucidate the contributions of NCRT to gastric cancer treatment in the future, the efficacy, potential toxicity, predictive biomarkers, and clinical considerations for implementing NCRT in different types of LAGC were reviewed.
Using the Prediction Model Risk of Bias Assessment Tool (PROBAST) to Evaluate Melanoma Prediction Studies
Authors: Kaiser Isabelle , Mathes Sonja , Pfahlberg Annette B. , Uter Wolfgang , Berking Carola , Heppt Markus V. , Steeb Theresa , Diehl Katharina , Gefeller Olaf
Published: June 2022

Rising incidences of cutaneous melanoma have fueled the development of statistical models that predict individual melanoma risk. Our aim was to assess the validity of published prediction models for incident cutaneous melanoma using a standardized procedure based on PROBAST (Prediction model Risk Of Bias ASsessment Tool). We included studies that were identified by a recent systematic review and updated the literature search to ensure that our PROBAST rating included all relevant studies. Six reviewers assessed the risk of bias (ROB) for each study using the published “PROBAST Assessment Form” that consists of four domains and an overall ROB rating. We further examined a temporal effect regarding changes in overall and domain-specific ROB rating distributions. Altogether, 42 studies were assessed, of which the vast majority (n = 34; 81%) was rated as having high ROB. Only one study was judged as having low ROB. The main reasons for high ROB ratings were the use of hospital controls in case-control studies and the omission of any validation of prediction models. However, our temporal analysis results showed a significant reduction in the number of studies with high ROB for the domain “analysis”. Nevertheless, the evidence base of high-quality studies that can be used to draw conclusions on the prediction of incident cutaneous melanoma is currently much weaker than the high number of studies on this topic would suggest.
The Single-Step Fabrication of a Poly (Sodium Vinylsulfonate)-Grafted Polyetheretherketone Surface to Ameliorate Its Osteogenic Activity
Authors: Liu Lvhua , Dong Jun , Zhang Weifang , He Chanjuan , Liu Ying , Zheng Yanyan
Published: June 2022

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is considered a potential material for replacing traditional biomedical metals used in orthopedic implants because of its similar elastic modulus to human bone. However, the poor osteogenic activity of PEEK itself hinders its clinical application. In this study, a PEEK surface was grafted with poly (sodium vinylsulfonate) through a single-step ultraviolet-initiated graft polymerization method to ameliorate its osteogenic activity. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and water contact angle measurements confirmed that different amounts of poly (sodium vinylsulfonate) were grafted onto the PEEK surface upon varying the ultraviolet irradiation time. Atomic force microscopy revealed that the surface topography and roughness of PEEK before and after surface grafting did not change significantly. The in vitro results showed that grafting with poly (sodium vinylsulfonate) rendered the PEEK surface with improved MC3T3-E1 osteoblast compatibility and osteogenic activity. Moreover, a PEEK surface with a higher grafting amount of poly (sodium vinylsulfonate) was observed to be more beneficial to the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts. Collectively, by employing this simple and one-step method, the osteogenic activity of PEEK can be enhanced, paving the way for the clinical application of PEEK in orthopedic implants.
Mechanical and Self-Healing Performance of Yellow River Alluvial Silt Treated with Composite Flexible Curing Agent
Authors: Sai Zhiyi , Wang Lin , Han Hongchao , Wu Wenjuan , Sun Zhaoyun , Wei Jincheng , Zhang Lei , Hu Guiling , Wu Hao
Published: June 2022

The silt in the Yellow River alluvial plain has low clay content, low cohesion and poor structure. Its stability has always been a difficult problem in the engineering field. In order to improve the engineering properties of the silt in the alluvial plain of the Yellow River, a new type of silt composite flexible curing agent was prepared by using sintered red mud and matrix asphalt as the main materials to comprehensively stabilize the silt. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of sintered red mud-asphalt composite flexible curing agent on aged mechanical properties of treated silt, in which the replacement levels of the flexible curing agent below 10% by weight are compared. Apart from the compressive strength, the drying shrinkage, low temperature freeze-thaw and high temperature self-healing ability are measured. The test results show that the flexible curing agent has a positive effect on improving the mechanical properties of stabilized silt. The flexible curing agent series exhibit higher compressive strength, better water stability, resistance to freeze-thaw and high temperature self-healing ability, and lower drying shrinkage compared to silt and cement stabilized silt. The preferred dosage 4%~6% of the flexible curing agent is obtained by mechanical property analysis. The SEM images show that the incorporation of the flexible curing agent helps the silt form dense cementation and non-connected microporous structure, that is beneficial to the improvement of water stability and frost resistance. The asphalt component in the flexible curing agent can reorganize and diffuse in the soil, fill the internal pores and micro cracks, and realize the repair of soil damage and structural reinforcement.
Thermal Case Study of Cilia Actuated Transport of Radiated Blood-Based Ternary Nanofluid under the Action of Tilted Magnetic Field
Authors: Saleem Najma , Ashraf Tahreem , Daqqa Ibtisam , Munawar Sufian , Idrees Nazeran , Afzal Farkhanda , Afzal Deeba
Published: June 2022

Micro/nanoscale fabricated devices have widely been used in modern technology and bioengineering as they offer excellent heat transfer. Removal of excess heat, coolant selection, rapid mixing, and handling proportion of colloidal metallic nanogranules in the base fluid are the main challenges in micro/nanofluidic systems. To address these problems, the primary motivation of the intended mathematical flow problem is to investigate the thermal and flow aspects of blood-based ternary nanofluid in the presence of inclined magnetic field and thermal radiations through a microfluidic pump with elastic walls. Further, the pump inner surface is smeared with fabricated cilia. The embedded cilia blow in coordination to start metachronal travelling waves along the pump wall that assist homogenous mixing and manipulation. The entire analysis is conducted in moving frame and simplified under lubrication and Rosseland approximations. Numerical solution of various flow and thermal entities are computed via the shooting method and plotted for different values of the parameters of interest. A comparative glimpse allows us to conclude that the trimetallic blood-based nanofluid exhibits elevated heat transfer rate by 12–18%, bi-metallic by about 11–12%, and mono nanofluid by about 6% compared to the conventional blood model. The study also determines that the prolonged cilia commence augmentation in flowrate and pressure-gradient around the pump deep portion. Furthermore, the radiated ternary liquid under fragile magnetic field effects may contribute to the cooling process by eliminating unnecessary heat from the system. It is also noticed that around the ciliated wall, the heat transfer irreversibility effects are appreciable over the fluid frictional irreversibility.
Absorption Enhancement in a Quantum Dot Thz Detector with a Metal-Semiconductor-Metal Structure
Authors: Liu Hongmei , Zhang Ruolong , Meng Tianhua , Kang Yongqiang , Hu Weidong , Zhao Guozhong
Published: June 2022

The low absorptivity of quantum dot nano-structures cannot meet the requirements for high-performance next-generation Thz detectors which can be used for environmental pollution detection. In this study, a novel metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) cavity structure with a square hole array instead of a traditional planar metal electrode was developed to improve and enhance the absorptivity of a quantum dot Thz detector. The possible modes and loss problems in the metal resonant cavity were analyzed using the finite-element transmission matrix, the eigenvector method, and Kirchhoff diffraction theory. The results demonstrate that the MSM cavity structure introduced in the detector can enhance absorption up to 8.666 times higher than that of the conventional counterpart.
Behavior of B- and Z-DNA Crystals under High Hydrostatic Pressure
Authors: Prangé Thierry , Colloc’h Nathalie , Dhaussy Anne-Claire , Lecouvey Marc , Migianu-Griffoni Evelyne , Girard Eric
Published: June 2022

Single crystals of B-DNA and Z-DNA oligomers were analyzed under high hydrostatic pressure and their behavior was compared to the A-DNA crystals already known. The amplitude of the base compression, when compared to the A-form of DNA (0.13 Å/GPa), was higher for the Z-DNA (0.32 Å/GPa) and was the highest for the B-DNA (0.42 Å/GPa). The B-DNA crystal degraded rapidly around 400–500 MPa, while the Z-structure was more resistant, up to 1.2 GPa.
Trimetallic Oxides/GO Composites Optimized with Carbon Ions Radiations for Supercapacitive Electrodes
Authors: Alshoaibi Adil , Awada Chawki , Ahmed Faheem , Obodo Raphael M. , Maaza Malik , Ezema Fabian I.
Published: June 2022

Hydrothermally synthesized electrodes of Co3O4@MnO2@NiO/GO were produced for use in supercapacitors. Graphene oxide (GO) was incorporated into the nanocomposites used for electrode synthesis due to its great surface area and electrical conductivity. The synergistic alliance among these composites and GO enhances electrode performance, life span, and stability. The structural properties obtained from the X-ray diffraction (XRD) results suggest that nanocomposites are crystalline in nature. The synergistic alliance among these composites and GO enhances electrode performance, life span, and stability. Performance assessment of these electrodes indicates that their characteristic performance was enhanced by C2+ radiation, with the uttermost performance witnessed for electrodes radiated with 5.0 × 1015 ions/cm2.
Large- and Small-Scale Climate Influences Spring Migration Departure Probability of American White Pelicans
Authors: King D. Tommy , Wang Guiming , Cunningham Frederick L.
Published: June 2022

Endogenous (e.g., age and sex) and exogenous (e.g., climate and resource availability) factors influence avian migration phenology. However, little is known regarding the migration ecology of birds at the non-breeding grounds, including the American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos). We used Global Positioning System transmitters to track the movements and migration of 51 pelicans from 2002 to 2012. We used the Kaplan–Meier model to estimate pelican spring migration probabilities to quantify partial migration with 94 spring migration events and used the Cox proportional hazards model to evaluate the effects of the North Atlantic Oscillation index (NAOI), Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), and spring daily precipitation on the propensity of pelican spring migration departures. Increases in the NAOI and SOI enhanced the propensity of pelican spring departure. The propensity of spring departure was also positively related to daily precipitation. Male pelicans have greater spring migration probabilities than female pelicans. Spring migration departure probabilities of adult pelicans are greater than those of immature pelicans. Therefore, both large-scale and local climatic conditions affect pelican spring departure probabilities. Advanced migratory phenology of pelicans caused by climate changes with warming temperature and increased precipitation may result in the mismatch of pelican spring arrival with food resource availability of breeding grounds and subsequent pelican population declines.
Insulin in Frail, Older People with Type 2 Diabetes—Low Threshold for Therapy
Authors: Abdelhafiz Ahmed , Bisht Shail , Kovacevic Iva , Pennells Daniel , Sinclair Alan
Published: June 2022

The global prevalence of comorbid diabetes and frailty is increasing due to increasing life expectancy. Frailty appears to be a metabolically heterogeneous condition that may affect the clinical decision making on the most appropriate glycaemic target and the choice of the most suitable hypoglycaemic agent for each individual. The metabolic profile of frailty appears to span across a spectrum that starts at an anorexic malnourished (AM) frail phenotype on one end and a sarcopenic obese (SO) phenotype on the other. The AM phenotype is characterised by significant weight loss and less insulin resistance compared with the SO phenotype, which is characterised by significant obesity and increased insulin resistance. Therefore, due to weight loss, insulin therapy may be considered as an early option in the AM frail phenotype. Insulin-related weight gain and the anabolic properties of insulin may be an advantage to this anorexic phenotype. There is emerging evidence to support the idea that insulin may improve the muscle function of older people with diabetes, although this evidence still needs further confirmation in future large-scale prospective studies. Long acting insulin analogues have a lower risk of hypoglycaemia, comapred to intermediate acting insulins. Additionally their simple once daily regimen makes it more appropriate in frail older patients. Future research on the availability of new once-weekly insulin analogues is appealing. The goals of therapy are to achieve relaxed targets, avoid hypoglycaemia and to focus on the maintenance of quality of life in these vulnerable patients.
Different Lung Parenchyma Quantification Using Dissimilar Segmentation Software: A Multi-Center Study for COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Risoli Camilla , Nicolò Marco , Colombi Davide , Moia Marco , Rapacioli Fausto , Anselmi Pietro , Michieletti Emanuele , Ambrosini Roberta , Di Terlizzi Marco , Grazioli Luigi , Colmo Cristian , Di Naro Angelo , Natale Matteo Pio , Tombolesi Alessandro , Adraman Altin , Tuttolomondo Domenico , Costantino Cosimo , Vetti Elisa , Martini Chiara
Published: June 2022

Background: Chest Computed Tomography (CT) imaging has played a central role in the diagnosis of interstitial pneumonia in patients affected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and can be used to obtain the extent of lung involvement in COVID-19 pneumonia patients either qualitatively, via visual inspection, or quantitatively, via AI-based software. This study aims to compare the qualitative/quantitative pathological lung extension data on COVID-19 patients. Secondly, the quantitative data obtained were compared to verify their concordance since they were derived from three different lung segmentation software. Methods: This double-center study includes a total of 120 COVID-19 patients (60 from each center) with positive reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) who underwent a chest CT scan from November 2020 to February 2021. CT scans were analyzed retrospectively and independently in each center. Specifically, CT images were examined manually by two different and experienced radiologists for each center, providing the qualitative extent score of lung involvement, whereas the quantitative analysis was performed by one trained radiographer for each center using three different software: 3DSlicer, CT Lung Density Analysis, and CT Pulmo 3D. Results: The agreement between radiologists for visual estimation of pneumonia at CT can be defined as good (ICC 0.79, 95% CI 0.73–0.84). The statistical tests show that 3DSlicer overestimates the measures assessed; however, ICC index returns a value of 0.92 (CI 0.90–0.94), indicating excellent reliability within the three software employed. ICC was also performed between each single software and the median of the visual score provided by the radiologists. This statistical analysis underlines that the best agreement is between 3D Slicer “LungCTAnalyzer” and the median of the visual score (0.75 with a CI 0.67–82 and with a median value of 22% of disease extension for the software and 25% for the visual values). Conclusions: This study provides for the first time a direct comparison between the actual gold standard, which is represented by the qualitative information described by radiologists, and novel quantitative AI-based techniques, here represented by three different commonly used lung segmentation software, underlying the importance of these specific values that in the future could be implemented as consistent prognostic and clinical course parameters.
False Negative Results in Cervical Cancer Screening—Risks, Reasons and Implications for Clinical Practice and Public Health
Authors: Macios Anna , Nowakowski Andrzej
Published: June 2022

False negative (FN) results in cervical cancer (CC) screening pose serious risks to women. We present a comprehensive literature review on the risks and reasons of obtaining the FN results of primary CC screening tests and triage methods and discuss their clinical and public health impact and implications. Misinterpretation or true lack of abnormalities on a slide are the reasons of FN results in cytology and p16/Ki-67 dual-staining. For high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) molecular tests, those include: truly non-HPV-associated tumors, lesions driven by low-risk HPV types, and clearance of HPV genetic material before sampling. Imprecise disease threshold definition lead to FN results in visual inspection with acetic acid. Lesions with a discrete colposcopic appearance are a source of FN in colposcopic procedures. For FAM19A4 and hsa-miR124-2 genes methylation, those may originate from borderline methylation levels. Histological misinterpretation, sampling, and laboratory errors also play a role in all types of CC screening, as well as reproducibility issue, especially in methods based on human-eye evaluation. Primary HPV-based screening combined with high quality-assured immunocytochemical and molecular triage methods seem to be an optimal approach. Colposcopy with histological evaluation remains the gold standard for diagnosis but requires quality protocols and assurance measures.
Transforming Teaching with ICT Using the Flipped Classroom Approach: Dealing with COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Aidoo Benjamin , Macdonald Marey Allyson , Vesterinen Veli-Matti , Pétursdóttir Svava , Gísladóttir Berglind
Published: June 2022

During the COVID-19 pandemic, educators changed their pedagogic practices, developed new teaching sequences, and blended learning approaches such as the flipped classroom. Claims have been made that the flipped classroom influences student motivation, enhances active engagement and class participation, and improves academic performance. Three teacher educators were invited to develop flipped instructional materials for chemistry teacher education. The materials included course plans, online videos, tasks, teaching, and online and face-to-face instruction learning sequences. This study examined opportunities and barriers to using the flipped classroom approach for chemistry teaching. Teacher educators were interviewed before and after running the course using the developed instructional materials. The interviews were then analyzed to identify the teachers’ rationale, the opportunities, and the challenges of using the flipped classroom. Teacher educators found that integrating technology into their classrooms can enhance their ICT skills and that of their students. Educators believed flipped instructions could promote student-centered learning where students take responsibility for their learning, where and when it is most convenient. The teacher educators perceived that the approach helped students take an active role in their learning and enhance their participation. They also felt that it improved academic performance. Teacher educators also noted that their workload was reduced, and they had more time to interact with students. Some barriers and challenges were recognized as well. In the interviews, teacher educators described how ICT competencies and inadequate ICT infrastructures, such as poor internet connectivity and lack of ICT equipment, limited the use of the flipped classroom approach. The study provides suggestions for future research that can contribute to understanding the practical application of the flipped classroom approach.
Analysis of the Educational Administration of the Public Educational Centers of Andalusia (Spain): The Role of the Manager in the Face of New Social Challenges
Authors: Ritacco-Real Maximiliano , Garrote-Rojas Daniel , Jiménez-Ríos Francisco Javier , Rodríguez-Martínez Francisco Miguel
Published: June 2022

The advance and influence of neoliberalisation processes has changed the way of understanding and managing the educational system under a New Public Management (NPM) of education that integrates the values of the free market, competitiveness, accountability, external evaluation, etc. The objective of this work is to analyse Andalusian headteachers’ perceptions of their professional practices from within the context of neoliberal and neo-conservative processes. The methodology used is based on a qualitative research approach, where we analyse the implications of neoliberal processes and NPM in the school principalship in Andalusia (Spain). The sample of participants was consolidated into 15 principals belonging to public high schools. For data collection, in-depth interview was used. Information analysis applies content analysis and its assembly with the grounded theory. The results are expressed in four categories that refer to the implications of neoliberal processes and NGP in the school principalship. There is a tendency to redefine the role of the headteacher as a manager. The discussion and conclusions point out how the neoliberal processes and the NPM are reconfiguring the school principalship towards a “manager-administrator” profile, a management instrument with administrative functions and an agent for assessment in the school. In this context, there are also processes of confrontation and discomfort with these transformations in the principal’s role.
Intelligent Speed Control and Performance Investigation of a Vector Controlled Electric Vehicle Considering Driving Cycles
Authors: Oubelaid Adel , Taib Nabil , Nikolovski Srete , Alharbi Turki E. A. , Rekioua Toufik , Flah Aymen , Ghoneim Sherif S. M.
Published: June 2022

In this paper, battery electric vehicle (BEV) controllers are smartly tuned with particle swarm optimization (PSO) and genetic algorithm (GA) to ensure good speed regulation. Intelligent tuning is ensured with a proposed and well-defined cost function that aims to satisfy the design requirements in terms of minimum overshoot, fast response, and tolerable steady state input. Two proposed cost functions are formulated for both simple speed input and for driving cycles. The BEV is controlled with the field oriented control technique (FOC), and it is driven by a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM). An efficient control scheme based on FOC is built using a simplified closed loop control system including BEV components such as regulators, inverter, traction machine, and sensors. Simulation results show that the optimum controller gains obtained by intelligent tuning have resulted in satisfactory BEV performance that sustains the harsh environmental conditions. Robustness tests against BEV parameter changes and environmental parameter variations confirmed the effectiveness of intelligent tuning methods.
Energy Assessment of the Thermal Bridging Effects on Different Structural Envelope Types Using Mixed-Equivalent-Wall Method
Authors: Al-Awadi Hameed , Alajmi Ali , Abou-Ziyan Hosny
Published: June 2022

In this paper, the effect of house envelopes including thermal bridges on the daily, monthly, and annual consumption of the air conditioning system of a detached house and an attached house, with a façade in the east, west, north, or south direction, is investigated; moreover, the capacity of the air conditioning system is calculated for detached and attached houses based on the maximum hourly peak load during severe weather conditions. The four tested house envelopes are exterior insulation and finish system (EIFS), autoclaved aerated concrete block (AAC-B), classical (cement blocks with insulation in between), and AAC column and beam (AAC-CB). The work is conducted using a method that combines the finite element method (COMSOL Multiphysics), building simulation (EnergyPlus), and the Engineering Equation Solver (EES) programs. The results indicated that the annual consumption of the air conditioning system using AAC-B, classical, and AAC-CB envelopes is larger than that of EIFS by about 3.74, 11.53, and 20.70% for the detached house, and 1.8, 2.9%, and 6.7% for the attached house, respectively. The annual consumption of the air conditioner of the detached house is larger than the average consumption of the attached house by about 25.3, 27.7, 35.8, and 41.7% for EIFS, AAC-B, classical, and AAC-CB house envelopes, respectively. Using the different façade directions of the attached house, the average effect of the house envelope type on the air conditioning system capacity is about 8.84%, with a standard deviation of 0.466%.
Global Research Trends on Building Indoor Environmental Quality Modelling and Indexing Systems—A Scientometric Review
Authors: Roumi Soheil , Zhang Fan , Stewart Rodney A.
Published: June 2022

The purpose of this study is to provide a holistic review of two decades of research advancement in the indoor environmental quality modelling and indexing field (IEQMI) using bibliometric analysis methods. The explicit objectives of the present study are: (1) identifying researchers, institutions, countries (territories), and journals with the most influence in the IEQMI topic; (2) investigating the hot topics in the IEQMI field; and (3) thematically analysing the keyword evolution in the IEQMI field. A scientometric review was conducted using the bibliometric data of 456 IEQMI research articles published in the past two decades. VOSviewer software was employed for bibliometric analysis, and the SciMAT tool was used to investigate the keywords’ thematic evolution in three sub-periods (2004–2009; 2010–2015; 2016–2021). Results show that there is a continuous increment in the number of published papers in the field of IEQMI, and 60 out of 193 countries in the world have been involved in IEQMI studies. The IEQMI research mainly focuses on: (a) thermal comfort and energy efficiency; (b) occupant satisfaction and comfort; (c) IAQ and health issues; (d) methods and procedures. This field has undergone significant evolution. While ‘indoor environmental quality was initially the only theme in the first period’, ‘occupant satisfaction’, ‘buildings’, ‘impact’, ‘building information modelling’, and ‘health’ were added as the main thematic areas in the second period; ‘occupant behaviour’ and ‘energy’ were novel themes in IEQMI studies receiving much attention in the third period.
Digital Twin and Cloud BIM-XR Platform Development: From Scan-to-BIM-to-DT Process to a 4D Multi-User Live App to Improve Building Comfort, Efficiency and Costs
Authors: Banfi Fabrizio , Brumana Raffaella , Salvalai Graziano , Previtali Mattia
Published: June 2022

Digital twins (DTs) and building information modelling (BIM) are proving to be valuable tools for managing the entire life cycle of a building (LCB), from the early design stages to management and maintenance over time. On the other hand, BIM platforms cannot manage the geometric complexities of existing buildings and the large amount of information that sensors can collect. For this reason, this research proposes a scan-to-BIM process capable of managing high levels of detail (LODs) and information (LOIs) during the design, construction site management, and construction phases. Specific grades of generation (GOGs) were applied to create as-found, as-designed, and as-built models that interact with and support the rehabilitation project of a multi-level residential building. Furthermore, thanks to the sharing of specific APIs (Revit and Autodesk Forge APIs), it was possible to switch from static representations to novel levels of interoperability and interactivity for the user and more advanced forms of building management such as a DT, a BIM cloud, and an extended reality (XR) web platform. Finally, the development of a live app shows how different types of users (professionals and non-expert) can interact with the DT, in order to know the characteristics with which the environments have been designed, as well as the environmental parameters, increasing their degree of control, from the point of view of improving comfort, use, costs, behaviour, and good practices. Finally, the overall approach was verified through a real case study where the BIM-XR platform was built for energy improvements to existing buildings and façade renovations.
Employing GMDH-Type Neural Network and Signal Frequency Feature Extraction Approaches for Detection of Scale Thickness inside Oil Pipelines
Authors: Iliyasu Abdullah M. , Mayet Abdulilah Mohammad , Hanus Robert , El-Latif Ahmed A. Abd , Salama Ahmed S.
Published: June 2022

In this paper, gamma attenuation has been utilised as a veritable tool for non-invasive estimation of the thickness of scale deposits. By simulating flow regimes at six volume percentages and seven scale thicknesses of a two phase-flow in a pipe, our study utilised a dual-energy gamma source with Ba-133 and Cs-137 radioisotopes, a steel pipe, and a 2.54 cm × 2.54 cm sodium iodide (NaI) photon detector to analyse three different flow regimes. We employed Fourier transform and frequency characteristics (specifically, the amplitudes of the first to fourth dominant frequencies) to transform the received signals to the frequency domain, and subsequently to extract the various features of the signal. These features were then used as inputs for the group method for data Hiding (GMDH) neural network framework used to predict the scale thickness inside the pipe. Due to the use of appropriate features, our proposed technique recorded an average root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.22, which is a very good error compared to the detection systems presented in previous studies. Moreover, this performance is indicative of the utility of our GMDH neural network extraction process and its potential applications in determining parameters such as type of flow regime, volume percentage, etc. in multiphase flows and across other areas of the oil and gas industry.
Full-Scale Demonstration of Combined Ground Source Heating and Sustainable Urban Drainage in Roadbeds
Authors: Poulsen Søren Erbs , Andersen Theis Raaschou , Tordrup Karl Woldum
Published: June 2022

This paper proposes and demonstrates, in full scale, a novel type of energy geostructure (“the Climate Road”) that combines a ground-source heat pump (GSHP) with a sustainable urban drainage system (SUDS) by utilizing the gravel roadbed simultaneously as an energy source and a rainwater retarding basin. The Climate Road measures 50 m × 8 m × 1 m (length, width, depth, respectively) and has 800 m of geothermal piping embedded in the roadbed, serving as the heat collector for a GSHP that supplies a nearby kindergarten with domestic hot water and space heating. Model analysis of operational data from 2018–2021 indicates sustainable annual heat production levels of around 0.6 MWh per meter road, with a COP of 2.9–3.1. The continued infiltration of rainwater into the roadbed increases the amount of extractable heat by an estimated 17% compared to the case of zero infiltration. Using the developed model for scenario analysis, we find that draining rainwater from three single-family houses and storing 30% of the annual heating consumption in the roadbed increases the predicted extractable energy by 56% compared to zero infiltration with no seasonal energy storage. The Climate Road is capable of supplying three new single-family houses with heating, cooling, and rainwater management year-round.
Modeling the Linkage between Vertical Contracts and Strategic Environmental Policy: Energy Price Marketization Level and Strategic Choice for China
Authors: Li Ying , Wong Wing-Keung , Yang Ming Jing , Wu Yang-Che , Nguyen Tien-Trung
Published: June 2022

The lower price of energy leads to higher coal consumption in China. The idea of an “environment-for-trade policy” could be used to achieve an international competitive advantage, which, in turn, has important implications. To address the issue, we develop properties to examine the link between the low price of energy and strategic environmental policy in China and investigate the choice of policy instruments in a strategic environmental policy model with vertical contracts. In addition, to contribute to the literature on strategic environmental policy, this paper also develops properties to investigate different choices of instruments for the environmental policy and includes the degree of energy marketization for the wholesale price in the study. To do so, we assume that the wholesale price of the polluting input increases with the market price. By using this assumption, this paper analyzes the effects of two instruments of the environmental policy on social welfare and concludes that there is no reason to expect both downstream and upstream firms to establish a high wholesale price. Due to the low level of marketization, when the government selects an emission tax as the policy instrument, the optimal tax rates should be higher than the marginal damage of emissions. However, the optimal resource tax is uncertain when its effect on environmental damage is taken into account. In other words, the resource tax is ineffective as a policy instrument. Our results can be used to draw some practical policies for countries to use their energy effectively. To promote energy sustainability, governments should liberate resource prices and reform the system to get efficient environmental policies.
Variable Step Hybrid Block Method for the Approximation of Kepler Problem
Authors: Sunday Joshua , Shokri Ali , Marian Daniela
Published: June 2022

In this article, a variable step size strategy is adopted in formulating a new variable step hybrid block method (VSHBM) for the solution of the Kepler problem, which is known to be a rigid and stiff differential equation. To derive the VSHBM, the step size ratio r is left the same, halved, or doubled in order to optimize the total number of steps, minimize the number of formulae stored in the code, and ensure that the method is zero-stable. The method is formulated by integrating the Lagrange polynomial with limits of integration selected at special points. The article further analyzed the stability, order, consistency, and convergence properties of the VSHBM. The stability regions of the VSHBM at different values of the step size ratios were also plotted and plots showed that the method is fit for solving the Kepler problem. The results generated were then compared with some existing methods, including the MATLAB inbuilt stiff solver (ode 15 s), with respect to total number of failure steps, total number of steps, total function calls, maximum error, and computation time.
Systematic Comparison of Tsunami Simulations on the Chilean Coast Based on Different Numerical Approaches
Authors: Harig Sven , Zamora Natalia , Gubler Alejandra , Rakowsky Natalja
Published: June 2022

Tsunami inundation estimates are of crucial importance to hazard and risk assessments. In the context of tsunami forecast, numerical simulations are becoming more feasible with the growth of computational power. Uncertainties regarding source determination within the first minutes after a tsunami generation might be a major concern in the issuing of an appropriate warning on the coast. However, it is also crucial to investigate differences emerging from the chosen algorithms for the tsunami simulations due to a dependency of the outcomes on the suitable model settings. In this study, we compare the tsunami inundation in three cities in central Chile (Coquimbo, Viña del Mar, and Valparaíso) using three different models (TsunAWI, Tsunami-HySEA, COMCOT) while varying the parameters such as bottom friction. TsunAWI operates on triangular meshes with variable resolution, whereas the other two codes use nested grids for the coastal area. As initial conditions of the experiments, three seismic sources (2010 Mw 8.8 Maule, 2015 Mw 8.3 Coquimbo, and 1730 Mw 9.1 Valparaíso) are considered for the experiments. Inundation areas are determined with high-resolution topo-bathymetric datasets based on specific wetting and drying implementations of the numerical models. We compare each model’s results and sensitivities with respect to parameters such as bottom friction and bathymetry representation in the varying mesh geometries. The outcomes show consistent estimates for the nearshore wave amplitude of the leading wave crest based on identical seismic source models within the codes. However, with respect to inundation, we show high sensitivity to Manning values where a non-linear behaviour is difficult to predict. Differences between the relative decrease in inundation areas and the Manning n-range (0.015–0.060) are high (11–65%), with a strong dependency on the characterization of the local topo-bathymery in the Coquimbo and Valparaíso areas. Since simulations carried out with such models are used to generate hazard estimates and warning products in an early tsunami warning context, it is crucial to investigate differences that emerge from the chosen algorithms for the tsunami simulations.
Impact of COVID-19 by Pandemic Wave among Patients with Gastroenterology Symptoms in the Emergency Departments at a Medical Center in Taiwan
Authors: Kuo Tony , Liu Chun-Hao , Chien Cheng-Yu , Yeh Chung-Cheng
Published: June 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected emergency department (ED) usage. This study examines changes in the number of ED visits for gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding and nonemergency GI conditions, such as acute gastroenteritis (AGE) and constipation, before the pandemic and at the peak and slack periods of the pandemic in Taiwan. This retrospective observational study was conducted at a referral medical center in northern Taiwan. We recorded the number of weekly ED visits for GI bleeding, AGE, and constipation from 2019 to 2021. We then compared the baseline period (calendar weeks 4–18 and 21–31, 2019) with two peak pandemic periods (period 1, calendar weeks 4–18, 2020; period 2, calendar weeks 21–31, 2021) and their corresponding slack periods. The decline in the number of ED visits during the two peak pandemic periods for GI bleeding (−18.4% and −30.2%) were not as substantial as for AGE (−64.1% and −76.7%) or for constipation (−44.4% and −63.6%), but GI bleeding cases were still significantly lower in number relative to the baseline. During the slack period, the number of ED visits for all three diagnoses rebounded but did not exceed the baseline. Our study revealed that there was a significant decline of GI complaint during the pandemic. This phenomenon was more prominent in nonemergency complaints (AGE and constipation) and less prominent in serious complaints (GI bleeding).