bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Patterns of failure and long-term outcome of postoperative radiotherapy on the survival of patients with pathological T3N0M0 esophageal cancer
Authors: Song Chunyang , Zhu Shuchai , Xu Jinrui , Su Jingwei , Zhang Xueyuan , Deng Wenzhao , Zhao Xiaohan , Shen Wenbin
Published: September 2022

Purpose

The prognostic effect of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) on pathological T3N0M0 (pT3N0M0) esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains inconclusive. This study aimed to retrospectively investigate patterns of failure and whether PORT after R0 resection improves survival in patients with pT3N0M0 ESCC, compared with surgery alone.

Patients and methods

The clinical data of 256 patients with pT3N0M0 ESCC from January 2007 to December 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. The included patients were classified into two groups: the surgery-plus-postoperative radiotherapy group (S + R) and the surgery-alone group (S). Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to create comparable groups that were balanced across several covariates (n = 71 in each group). Statistical analyses were performed using the Kaplan–Meier method and Chi-squared test.

Results

In the study cohort, the 5- and 10-year overall survival (OS) rates in the S + R group were 53.4% and 38.4%, and those in the S group were 50.3%, 40.9% (p = 0.810), respectively. The 5- and 10-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates in the S + R group were 47.9% and 32.9%, and those in the S group were 43.2%, 24.0% (p = 0.056), respectively. The results were coincident in the matched samples (p = 0.883, 0.081) after PSM. Subgroup analysis showed that patients with upper thoracic lesions in the S + R group had significantly higher OS than patients in the S group (p = 0.013), in addition, patients with upper and middle thoracic lesions in the S + R group had significantly higher DFS than patients in the S group (p = 0.018, 0.049). The results were also confirmed in the matched samples after PSM. The locoregional recurrence between the two groups were significantly different before and after PSM (p = 0.009, 0.002). The locoregional control rate (LCR) in the S + R group was significantly higher than that in the S group before and after PSM (p = 0.015, 0.008).

Conclusion

Postoperative radiotherapy may be associated with a survival benefit for patients with pT3N0M0 upper thoracic ESCC. A multicenter, randomized phase III clinical trial is required to confirm the results of this study.
Does indocyanine green fluorescence angiography impact the intraoperative choice of procedure in free vascularized medial femoral condyle grafting for scaphoid nonunions?
Authors: Mulica Markus , Horch Raymund E. , Arkudas Andreas , Cai Aijia , Müller-Seubert Wibke , Hauck Theresa , Ludolph Ingo
Published: September 2022

Background

Free vascularized medial femoral condyle (MFC) bone grafts can lead to increased vascularity of the proximal pole and restore scaphoid architecture in scaphoid nonunions. The intraoperative perfusion assessment of the bone graft is challenging because the conventional clinical examination is difficult. Indocyanine green (ICG) angiography has previously been shown to provide a real-time intraoperative evaluation of soft tissue perfusion in reconstructive surgery. The present study investigated the utility of ICG angiography in patients treated with a free medial femoral condyle graft for scaphoid nonunions.

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of patients with scaphoid nonunions, in which ICG angiography was used intraoperatively for perfusion assessment. The medical records, radiographs, intraoperative imaging, and operative reports of all patients were reviewed. Intraoperative ICG dye was administered intravenously, and laser angiography was performed to assess bone perfusion. The scaphoid union was examined using postoperative CT scans.

Results

Two patients had documented osteonecrosis of the proximal pole at the time of surgery. Four patients received a nonvascularized prior bone graft procedure, and a prior spongiosa graft procedure was performed in one patient. The mean time from injury to the MFC bone graft surgery was 52.7 months, and the mean time from prior failed surgery was 10.4 months. Perfusion of the vascular pedicle of the MFC and the periosteum could be detected in all patients. In two patients, even perfusion of the cancellous bone could be demonstrated by ICG angiography. Following transplantation of the bone graft, patency of the vascular anastomosis and perfusion of the periost were confirmed by ICG angiography in the assessed cases. No additional surgery regarding a salvage procedure for a scaphoid nonunion advanced collapse was necessary for the further course.

Conclusion

ICG-angiography has shown to be a promising tool in the treatment of scaphoid nonunion with medial femoral condyle bone grafts. It enables intraoperative decision making by assessment of the microvascular blood supply of the periosteum and the vascular pedicle of the MFC bone graft. Further studies need to evaluate the impact on union rates in a long-term follow-up.
Hybrid surgery versus endovascular intervention for patients with chronic internal carotid artery occlusion: A single-center retrospective study
Authors: Sun Tao , He Yiming , Wang Fei , Mao Bo , Han Mengtao , Zhao Peng , Wu Wei , Wang Yunyan , Li Xingang , Wang Donghai
Published: September 2022

Objective

Chronic internal carotid artery occlusion (CICAO) can cause transient ischemic attack (TIA) and ischemic stroke. Carotid artery stenting (CAS) with embolic protection devices and hybrid surgery combining carotid endarterectomy and endovascular treatment are effective methods for carotid revascularization. The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the effect and safety of the two surgical procedures.

Methods

This was a single-center retrospective study. In this study, 44 patients who underwent hybrid surgery and 35 who underwent endovascular intervention (EI) at our center were enrolled consecutively between May 2016 and March 2022. All patients were classified into four groups (A-D), as described by Hasan et al. We recorded and analyzed clinical data, angiographic characteristics, technical success rate, perioperative complications, and follow-up data.

Results

There was no significant difference in baseline characteristics between hybrid surgery group and EI group, except for plasma high density lipoproteins (HDL) levels (median [interquartile range]: hybrid surgery, 0.99 [0.88–1.18] vs. EI, 0.85 [0.78–0.98] mmol/L, P = 0.001). The technical success rate of hybrid surgery was higher than that of EI (37/44 [84.1%] vs. 18/35 [51.4%], P = 0.002; type A: 15/16 [93.8%] vs. 10/11 [90.9%], P = 1.000; type B: 9/10 [90.0%] vs. 5/7 [71.4%], P = 0.537; type C: 12/15 [80.0%] vs. 3/12 [25.0%], P = 0.004; type D: 1/3 [33.3%] vs. 0/5 [0%], P = 0.375). No significant difference was observed in the incidence of perioperative complications between the two procedures (hybrid surgery: 7/44 [15.9%] vs. EI: 6/35 [17.1%], P = 0.883). In addition, there were no significant differences in the rates of stroke and restenosis during follow-up.

Conclusions

For patients with symptomatic CICAO, hybrid surgery may have an advantage over EI in successfully recanalizing occluded segments. There was no significant difference in safety and restenosis between hybrid surgery and EI.
Evaluation of immune responses to Brucella vaccines in mouse models: A systematic review
Authors: Darbandi Atieh , Alamdary Shabnam Zeighamy , Koupaei Maryam , Ghanavati Roya , Heidary Mohsen , Talebi Malihe
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Despite the accessibility of several live attenuated vaccines for animals, currently, there is no licensed vaccine for brucellosis in human populations. Available and confirmed animal vaccines may be harmful and considered inappropriate for humans. Thus, human vaccines for brucellosis are required. We aimed to evaluate the effects of Brucella vaccines on mouse models and discuss the potential mechanisms of these vaccines for the design of the appropriate human vaccines.

Materials and methods

A systematic search was carried out in Web of Science, Embase, and PubMed/Medline databases. The following MeSH terms were applied: brucellosis, vaccine, Brucella, and vaccination. The original manuscripts describing the Brucella vaccines on mouse models were included. The review articles, editorials, correspondences, case reports, case series, duplicate publications, and articles with insufficient data were excluded.

Results

Of the 163 full texts that were screened, 17 articles reached to inclusion criteria. Combining the results of these trials revealed a reduction in bacterial load and colonization rate of Brucella in the spleen, an increase in inflammatory markers, especially IFN-γ and IL-4, and the highest levels of antibody classes in vaccinated animals compared to animals challenged with various virulent strains of Brucella. The majority of studies found that different anti-Brucella vaccines induced a significant protective effect in animals challenged with Brucella strains. Additionally, mice were given the highest level of Brucella vaccine protection and significant clearance of Brucella strains when the immunization was delivered via the IP (intraperitoneal) or IP-IN (intranasal) routes.

Conclusion

Brucella is responsible for half-million new cases globally annually, and the lack of a proper human vaccine poses the risk of brucellosis. A variety of vaccines are used to prevent brucellosis. Subunit vaccines and recombinant human vaccines have higher safety and protective properties. Although vaccination helps brucellosis control, it does not eradicate the disease. Thus, we recommend the following strategies. (a) establishment of a registration system; (b) close monitoring of slaughterhouses, markets, and herds; (c) training veterinarians; (d) legal protection of the consequences of non-compliance with preventive measures.
Intraspecific variation in wing geometry among Tabanus rubidus (Diptera: Tabanidae) populations in Thailand
Authors: Chaiphongpachara Tanawat , Weluwanarak Thekhawet , Changbunjong Tanasak
Published: September 2022

Tabanus rubidus (Wiedemann, 1821) (Diptera: Tabanidae) is a hematophagous insect of veterinary and medical importance and is the predominant Tabanus spp. in Thailand. It is a potential mechanical vector of Trypanosoma evansi, which causes surra in domestic and wild animals. Wing geometric morphometrics is widely used as morphological markers for species identification and to assess the insect population structure. Herein, we investigated the intraspecific variation in wing geometry among T. rubidus populations in Thailand using landmark-based geometric morphometric analysis. Tabanus rubidus females were collected from five populations in four geographical regions in Thailand. The left wings of 240 specimens were removed and digitized using 22 landmarks for analysis. While wing size variations were found between some populations, wing shape variations were detected in all. These intraspecific variations in T. rubidus populations indicate an adaptive response to the local environmental conditions.
A metagenomic insight into the Yangtze finless porpoise virome
Authors: Liu Zhigang , Ding Xin , Haider Muhammad Shahan , Ali Farah , Yu Han , Chen Xin , Tan Shuaishuai , Zu Yuan , Liu Wenlong , Ding Bangzhi , Zheng Aifang , Zheng Jinsong , Qian Zhengyi , Ashfaq Hassan , Yu Daoping , Li Kun
Published: September 2022

The Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis) inhabiting the Yantze River, China is critically endangered because of the influences of infectious disease, human activity, and water contamination. Viral diseases are one of the crucial factors that threatening the health of Yangtze finless porpoise. However, there are few studies which elaborate the viral diversity of Yangtze finless. Therefore, this study was performed to investigate the viral diversity of Yangtze finless by metagenomics. Results indicated that a total of 12,686,252 high-quality valid sequences were acquired and 2,172 virus reads were recognized. Additionally, we also obtained a total of 10,600 contigs. Phages was the most abundant virus in the samples and the ratio of DNA and RNA viruses were 69.75 and 30.25%, respectively. Arenaviridae, Ackermannviridae and Siphoviridae were the three most predominant families in all the samples. Moreover, the majority of viral genus were Mammarenavirus, Limestonevirus and Lambdavirus. The results of gene prediction indicated that these viruses play vital roles in biological process, cellular component, molecular function, and disease. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the viral diversity of Yangtze finless porpoise, which filled the gaps in its viral information. Meanwhile, this study can also provide a theoretical basis for the establishment of the prevention and protection system for virus disease of Yangtze finless porpoise.
Computed tomographic arthrography, gross anatomy and histology demonstrate a communication between synovial invaginations in the proximal aspect of the third interosseous muscle and the carpometacarpal joint in horses
Authors: Gerdes Carolin , Morgan Rhiannon , Terry Rebecca , Foote Alastair , Smith Roger
Published: September 2022

This descriptive anatomical study investigates the relationship between the third interosseous muscle, also known as the suspensory ligament, and the carpometacarpal joint in forelimbs of horses, with the hypothesis that there was a direct synovial communication between these structures as shown by computed tomographic arthrography, histology, and gross anatomy sections. Computed tomography of the carpus and metacarpal region was performed on two groups. Group 1 consisted of eight cadaver limbs undergoing computed tomographic arthrography following injection of a mixture of positive contrast medium, saline, and color-pigmented fluid solution into the middle carpal joint. Group 2 consisted of eight forelimbs assessed using plain computed tomography. The images were interpreted subjectively for contrast medium distribution and objectively by comparing Hounsfield values of the proximal suspensory ligament at 0.5 cm intervals starting at the origin and extending 3 cm distal to the proximal subchondral bone plate of the third metacarpal bone. Of the 16 limbs, two were sectioned for gross anatomy and one was documented histologically. The proximal suspensory ligament was visualized with clear margins on computed tomography images. The positive contrast medium was found within the lateral and medial lobes of the suspensory ligament in all eight (100%) limbs. Hounsfield units within the suspensory ligament following contrast injection were significantly higher than in those in the plain CT group between 0.5 and 2.5 cm distal to the proximal subchondral bone plate of the third metacarpal bone (p< 0.05). The gross anatomy sections showed color pigmentation within the suspensory ligament correlating to the contrast medium distribution evident on computed tomography images. Histology confirmed a synovial lined cavity within the suspensory ligament. The demonstration of a direct synovial communication between the internal structure of the proximal suspensory ligament and the carpometacarpal joint in horses offers further explanation for commonly encountered interactions of diagnostic local anesthesia of the carpal and subcarpal regions. When performing diagnostic or therapeutic injections into the middle carpal joint, the likely effect on the proximal suspensory ligament should be considered. Furthermore, as the proximal suspensory ligament was identified clearly on CT images, further studies are needed to elucidate the utility of CT in clinical cases with suspected soft tissue pathology in the subcarpal region.
Risk Perception Related to COVID-19 and Future Affective Responses Among Healthcare Workers in Switzerland: A Mixed-Methods Longitudinal Study
Authors: Grazioli Véronique S. , Tzartzas Konstantinos , Blaser Jérémie , Graells Madison , Schmutz Elodie , Petitgenet Isabelle , Favrat Bernard , Zozaya Javier Sanchis , Kokkinakis Ioannis , Marion-Veyron Regis , Bodenmann Patrick
Published: September 2022

Objectives: Whereas early findings suggest that risk perceptions related to COVID-19 affect psychological well-being in healthcare workers (HCWs), the temporal associations between these variables need to be clarified and HCWs lived experience further explored. This study proposes a mixed evaluation of COVID-19-related risk perception and affective responses among HCWs.

Methods: A longitudinal mixed-method study was conducted. HCWs (N = 138) completed measures of COVID-19 risk perceptions, depression, anxiety, burnout and secondary traumatic stress (STS) at baseline and 6 months later. A subsample (n = 20) participated in semi-structured interviews exploring both risk perceptions and affective responses.

Results: Main quantitative findings showed positive associations between worry to contaminate others and depression (IRR = 1.04, p < 0.05), anxiety (IRR = 1.03, p < 0.01), STS (b = 0.3, p < 0.05), and perceptions of lacking protection (IRR = 1.04, p < 0.05) with anxiety scores. Four themes emerged from the thematic content analysis: 1) life was turned upside down; 2) skills were put in quarantine; 3) dealing with patient discomfort; 4) balance to be found between protection and restrictions.

Conclusion: These findings emphasize the importance to develop tailored interventions, such as group discussion sessions, to optimize risk perception and help manage uncertainty.
Second-Order Model-Based Predictive Control of Dual Three-Phase PMSM Based on Current Loop Operation Optimization
Authors: Li Long , Zhou Weidong , Bi Xianting , Sun Xuetao , Shi Xiaoping
Published: September 2022

To reduce the amount of computation in traditional model predictive current control, to improve the flexibility in choosing the direction and amplitude in the voltage vector synthesis of a dual three-phase motor by two degrees of freedom, and to reduce the output torque ripple and current ripple, this paper proposes a dual second-order model predictive control algorithm based on current loop operation optimization. Compared with the conventional speed loop using the PI control algorithm and the traditional MPC control algorithm, the proposed algorithm adopts the second-order MPC control mode in the speed loop, which decreases the speed regulation time and increases motor immunity. Meanwhile, the second-order MPC control mode is adopted in the current loop, and the traditional iterative calculation method is improved to calculate the direction and amplitude of the output voltage vector through the analytic function, which increases the flexibility of the output voltage vector. Additionally, a four-vector SVPWM is employed to modulate the voltage vector to reduce the current amplitude in the harmonic subspace. The simulation results indicate that the algorithm proposed in this paper can significantly reduce the torque ripple and the current ripple as well as increase the transient performance of the motor.
Attention Network with Information Distillation for Super-Resolution
Authors: Zang Huaijuan , Zhao Ying , Niu Chao , Zhang Haiyan , Zhan Shu
Published: September 2022

Resolution is an intuitive assessment for the visual quality of images, which is limited by physical devices. Recently, image super-resolution (SR) models based on deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have made significant progress. However, most existing SR models require high computational costs with network depth, hindering practical application. In addition, these models treat intermediate features equally and rarely explore the discriminative capacity hidden in their abundant features. To tackle these issues, we propose an attention network with information distillation(AIDN) for efficient and accurate image super-resolution, which adaptively modulates the feature responses by modeling the interactions between channel dimension and spatial features. Specifically, gated channel transformation (GCT) is introduced to gather global contextual information among different channels to modulate intermediate high-level features. Moreover, a recalibrated attention module (RAM) is proposed to rescale these feature responses, and RAM concentrates the essential contents around spatial locations. Benefiting from the gated channel transformation and spatial information masks working jointly, our proposed AIDN can obtain a more powerful ability to identify information. It effectively improves computational efficiency while improving reconstruction accuracy. Comprehensive quantitative and qualitative evaluations demonstrate that our AIDN outperforms state-of-the-art models in terms of reconstruction performance and visual quality.
Optimal Sizing and Techno-Economic Analysis of Grid-Independent Hybrid Energy System for Sustained Rural Electrification in Developing Countries: A Case Study in Bangladesh
Authors: Islam Md. , Akter Homeyra , Howlader Harun , Senjyu Tomonobu
Published: September 2022

The absence of electricity is among the gravest problems preventing a nation’s development. Hybrid renewable energy systems (HRES) play a vital role to reducing this issue. The major goal of this study is to use the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA)-II and hybrid optimization of multiple energy resources (HOMER) Pro Software to reduce the net present cost (NPC), cost of energy (COE), and CO2 emissions of proposed power system. Five cases have been considered to understand the optimal HRES system for Kutubdia Island in Bangladesh and analyzed the technical viability and economic potential of this system. To demonstrate the efficacy of the suggested strategy, the best case outcomes from the two approaches are compared. The study’s optimal solution is also subjected to a sensitivity analysis to take into account fluctuations in the annual wind speed, solar radiation, and fuel costs. According to the data, the optimized PV/Wind/Battery/DG system (USD 711,943) has a lower NPC than the other cases. The NPC obtained by the NSGA-II technique is 2.69% lower than that of the HOMER-based system.
Improved PWM Methods to Reduce the Common Mode Voltage of the Five-Phase Open-Winding Drive Topology
Authors: Wang Pengye , Liu Zicheng , Jiang Dong , Tian Jie , Li Peng
Published: September 2022

With the phase angle and shape modifications for carriers, two improved carrier-based pulse width modulation (CPWM) methods with common-mode voltage (CMV) suppression effects for the five-phase open-winding drive topologies are introduced. Theoretical analysis reveals that, by employing reversed triangular carriers for two inverters under the carrier-reversed PWM (CRPWM), CMV contributions of two bridge legs belonging to the same phase can be cancelled, realizing the zero CMV effect. By dynamically employing positive and negative sawtooth carriers for all bridge legs under the carrier-switching PWM (CSPWM), the CMV contribution of each inverter can be reduced, decreasing both the amplitude and step frequency of the CMV. Current qualities and dead-time effects on CMV under the above PWM methods are analyzed. Moreover, performances of two PWM methods are verified by experiments implemented on a five-phase open-winding topology with the induction motor load.
International Comparison of Research and Investments in New Renewable Electricity Technologies: A Focus on the European Union and China
Authors: Crijns-Graus Wina , Wild Patricia , Amineh Mehdi Parvizi , Hu Jing , Yue Hui
Published: September 2022

There are many promising renewable energy (RE) technologies that could help increase the contribution of RE in energy supply but which are not yet commercially available. The development rate of new RE technologies depends on many factors, such as Research and Development (R&D) efforts and policies. This study focuses on comparing China’s efforts regarding the development of new RE technologies (e.g., wave and tidal, binary geothermal power, floating solar, micro hydro, osmotic energy, floating offshore wind and vertical axis wind turbines) with those of the European Union (EU). For this purpose, we collected data from publications and databases and analysed several indicators: e.g., the development of renewable electricity generation and capacity, demonstration projects, investments in R&D and patent applications. The results show that China has become a big player globally for mainstream renewable electricity (hydropower, wind and solar PV). This development is due to China’s industrial policy and prioritization of effectiveness over cost efficiency. The main developments in China occurred in the 2010s, while the EU was a frontrunner in the 2000s. For the newer or less mainstream technologies, the application in China is still low, compared to the EU, except for floating solar, where China is a lead player. Regarding patent applications, China has shown a higher application amount compared to the EU since 2006. However, only a small share of China’s patents are valid internationally. We conclude that China has emerged as a big player in mainstream renewable energy technologies over the last decade. In regard to new renewable energy technologies, China is predominantly involved in solar energy and, in comparison to the EU, less in other new technologies (e.g., binary geothermal systems and ocean energy).
Research on the Application of Fracture Water to Mitigate the Thermal Imbalance of a Rock Mass Associated with the Operation of Ground-Coupled Heat Pumps
Authors: Luo Tingting , Pei Peng , Wu Jianan , Wang Chen , Tang Long
Published: September 2022

Shallow geothermal energy is a clean and effective form of energy that can overcome the problems associated with the depletion of carbon-based energy carbon emissions. Due to the special hydrogeological conditions in karst regions, the heat transfer between heat exchange boreholes and the ground formation is a complicated, multi-physical process. The abundant groundwater flow plays an important role in the heat transfer process, and even presents an opportunity to mitigate the heat imbalance during the long term operation of ground-coupled heat pumps (GCHP). In this study, both laboratorial experiments and numerical simulations were performed to analyze the mechanism that shows how fracture water impacts on heat capacity and the thermal imbalance of the energy storage rock mass. The results showed that the overall temperature fluctuation of the rock mass was reduced by the fracture water, and the temperature curve with time became gentler, which means in practice that the heat imbalance in the rock mass could be delayed. However, the temperature contour map showed that the impact of the fracture water flow was constrained in the nearby areas and decreased obviously with distance. The temperature field was also dragged along the direction of the fracture water flow. During the shutdown period, the fracture water significantly enhanced the thermal recovery ability of the rock mass. The results will assist in further understanding the mechanism of heat transfer and energy balance in a rock mass with fracture water flow. It is proposed that the U pipes should be located at zones with abundant fracture water if the construction condition permits. U pipes that are near the fractures should share more of the load or a denser layout could be possible as their heat transfer capacity is improved by the water flow.
Modern Techniques for the Optimal Power Flow Problem: State of the Art
Authors: Risi Benedetto-Giuseppe , Riganti-Fulginei Francesco , Laudani Antonino
Published: September 2022

Due to its significance in the operation of power systems, the optimal power flow (OPF) problem has attracted increasing interest with the introduction of smart grids. Optimal power flow developed as a crucial instrument for resource planning effectiveness as well as for enhancing the performance of electrical power networks. Transmission line losses, total generation costs, FACTS (flexible alternating current transmission system) costs, voltage deviations, total power transfer capability, voltage stability, emission of generation units, system security, etc., are just a few examples of objective functions related to the electric power system that can be optimized. Due to the nonlinear nature of optimal power flow problems, the classical approaches may become locked in local optimums, hence, metaheuristic optimization techniques are frequently used to solve these issues. The most recent optimization strategies used to solve optimal power flow problems are discussed in this paper as the state of the art (according to the authors, the most pertinent studies). The presented optimization techniques are grouped according to their sources of inspiration, including human-inspired algorithms (harmony search, teaching learning-based optimization, tabu search, etc.), evolutionary-inspired algorithms (differential evolution, genetic algorithms, etc.), and physics-inspired methods (particle swarm optimization, cuckoo search algorithm, firefly algorithm, ant colony optimization algorithm, etc.).
Research on Energy Management Strategy of Fuel Cell Electric Tractor Based on Multi-Algorithm Fusion and Optimization
Authors: Yang Hongtu , Sun Yan , Xia Changgao , Zhang Hongdang
Published: September 2022

To solve the serious pollution problems of traditional fuel tractors and the short continuous operation time of pure electric tractors, a hybrid tractor with fuel cell as the primary power source and battery as the auxiliary power source is proposed. A novel energy management strategy was also designed, which integrates thermostat control strategy, power following strategy, and fuzzy logic control. The energy management strategy utilizes the advantages of different algorithms and realizes the rational distribution of fuel cell and battery output power. The system economy and fuel cell durability are improved by the tabu search algorithm. The simulation results show that the proposed energy management strategy can work well in different SOC states and reduce the fuel cell’s power fluctuations. The tractor is equipped with 960 g of hydrogen, the initial state of charge (SOC) is 90%, and it can operate continuously for 2.65 h.
Case Study of Single-Controllable Microgrid: A Practical Implementation
Authors: Reis Geovane L. , Brandao Danilo I. , Oliveira João H. , Araujo Lucas S. , Cardoso Filho Braz J.
Published: September 2022

This paper presents the implementation of a single-controllable microgrid in the engineering school of the Federal University of Minas Gerais using commercial devices. Such a microgrid exchanges controllable active and reactive power terms with the upstream grid, proportionally shares active/reactive power among the battery-based DERs and endows the microgrid with the capability of operating in both grid-connected and islanded modes. The energy storage system is composed of three different battery technologies: lead-acid, lithium-ion and sodium–nickel, which are coordinately controlled according to their inherent features. A usable average energy control is proposed to avoid mismatches between the batteries’ states of charge. The single-controllable microgrid performs the following services: self-consumption, energy time shift, peak-shaving and reactive power support to the upstream grid. The coordinated secondary control and the operating modes of the microgrid were validated by means of full-scale experimental results using commercial devices. The lithium-ion battery showed the best performance in terms of round-trip efficiency, 93% over 85% (lead-acid) and 81% (sodium–nickel). The results demonstrated the microgrid’s capability of delivering ancillary services at the connection with the upstream grid, and proportionally exploiting the dispersed battery banks. In addition, the challenges of practical implementation were analyzed.
Doubly-Fed Induction Generator (DFIG) in Connected or Weak Grids for Turbine-Based Wind Energy Conversion System
Authors: Dannier Adolfo , Fedele Emanuele , Spina Ivan , Brando Gianluca
Published: September 2022

In the last thirty years the quantity of wind electricity generation has grown significantly due to its high-power density [...]
Current-Based Coordination of Distributed Energy Resources in a Grid-Connected Low-Voltage Microgrid: An Experimental Validation of Adverse Operational Scenarios
Authors: Alonso Augusto M. S. , Arenas Luis De Oro , Brandao Danilo I. , Tedeschi Elisabetta , Machado Ricardo Q. , Marafão Fernando P.
Published: September 2022

Low-voltage grid-connected microgrids rely on the exploitation of inverter-interfaced distributed energy resources (DERs) in order to feed loads and to achieve bidirectional power flow controllability at their point of common coupling (PCC) with the upstream grid. However, adverse operational conditions, such as the existence of DERs of different operation natures, DERs of non-equal power ratings, as well as the occurrence of non-steady and non-sinusoidal grid voltage scenarios, bring complications to microgrid energy management. Consequently, control strategies employed to coordinate DERs in dispatchable microgrids need to be resilient to such non-ideal conditions. Hence, this paper demonstrates that a multi-purpose strategy, so-called the Generalized Current-Based Control (GCBC) approach, is capable of steering DERs under such adverse operational scenarios, ensuring proportional current sharing among them while also regulating the microgrid power dispatchability at the PCC. The discussions are supported by an extensive experimental validation on a laboratory-scale single-phase microgrid prototype, demonstrating that the GCBC approach allows DERs of different operational natures to be coordinated, respecting their power ratings, and allowing the single-controllable microgrid to endure operation under distorted voltages and support voltage ride-through conditions.
Why Is Maternal Control Harmful? The Relation between Maternal Control, Insecure Attachment and Antisocial Personality Disorder Features in Chinese College Students: A Sequential Mediation Model
Authors: Ling Hui , Meng Fanfei , Yan Yaqin , Feng Hong , Zhang Jianren , Zhang Linrui , Yuan Siyang
Published: September 2022

Background: Previous work has indicated that a negative parenting style is associated with antisocial personality disorder features in Chinese college students, yet few studies have explored the unique role of negative mothering in children’s antisocial personality disorder. Methods: The current study mainly examined the sequential mediation effect of parental antipathy and neglect (PAN) and mother negative loving (a form of insecure attachment) in the association between mother control and adulthood antisocial personality disorder features (ASPD features) in the framework of attachment theory and cognitive–behavioral theory. A community sample of 1547 Chinese college students filled in the Parental Bonding Instrument, the Childhood Experience of Care and Abuse Questionnaire, the Adult Attachment Questionnaire and the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire-4+. Results: A sequential mediation model analysis showed that maternal control significantly predicted PAN, mother negative loving, as well as ASPD features. Conclusions: Mother control and mother negative loving appear to advance on the development and exacerbation of ASPD features in college students.
Prediction of Duration of Traffic Incidents by Hybrid Deep Learning Based on Multi-Source Incomplete Data
Authors: Shang Qiang , Xie Tian , Yu Yang
Published: September 2022

Traffic accidents causing nonrecurrent congestion and road traffic injuries seriously affect public safety. It is helpful for traffic operation and management to predict the duration of traffic incidents. Most of the previous studies have been in a certain area with a single data source. This paper proposes a hybrid deep learning model based on multi-source incomplete data to predict the duration of countrywide traffic incidents in the U.S. The text data from the natural language description in the model were parsed by the latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) topic model and input into the bidirectional long short-term memory (Bi-LSTM) and long short-term memory (LSTM) hybrid network together with sensor data for training. Compared with the four benchmark models and three state-of-the-art algorithms, the RMSE and MAE of the proposed method were the lowest. At the same time, the proposed model performed best for durations between 20 and 70 min. Finally, the data acquisition was defined as three phases, and a phased sequential prediction model was proposed under the condition of incomplete data. The results show that the model performance was better with the update of variables.
Verification of the Perception of the Local Community concerning Air Quality Using ADMS-Roads Modeling
Authors: Szopińska Kinga , Cienciała Agnieszka , Bieda Agnieszka , Kwiecień Janusz , Kulesza Łukasz , Parzych Piotr
Published: September 2022

Road transport is one among the sources of air pollution in a city, which results in lowering the comfort of life and increases the occurrence of respiratory diseases. The level of pollutants emitted in the city is variable, and it depends on the type and nature of the source and the manner of land development. For this reason, the purpose of the article is an attempt at a spatial (inner) diversification of a city in terms of air quality, using a study of perception and semantic differentials (SD). The research, which covered the period from June to November 2021, was performed in Kielce—the Polish Smart City—among local experts, people well acquainted with the city and knowledgeable about air quality and the impact of pollution on human health. The results allowed the demarcation of areas with the best and the worst parameters in terms of air quality within the city. Verification of the survey was carried out using the ADMS-Roads (Atmospheric Dispersion Modeling System) software for modeling pollution levels and GIS software, using data on road traffic. The verification allowed checking whether the respondents participating in the research accurately evaluated the city space. The modeling proved that within the two selected areas, the pollution level is similar, and it does not exceed the permitted values. This might indicate that in society there is still low awareness of air quality, particularly in terms of knowing the sources of pollutants and their impact on human health, and perception of areas with the best and the worst air quality was the result of an analysis of the manner of land development and its morphology.
Predictive Factors of Anxiety, Depression, and Health-Related Quality of Life in Community-Dwelling and Institutionalized Elderly during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Pascut Stefania , Feruglio Susanna , Crescentini Cristiano , Matiz Alessio
Published: September 2022

The COVID-19 health emergency and restrictive measures have increased psychological problems, particularly anxiety and depression, in the general population. However, little is known about mental health conditions and the possible risk and protective factors of specific population groups, such as institutionalized vs. community-dwelling elderly. We investigated the abovementioned aspects in a sample of 65–89-year-old people during the third wave of COVID-19 in Italy. We employed a sociodemographic survey and four questionnaires on health-related quality of life (SF-36), loneliness (UCLA), spirituality (FACIT-Sp), and anxiety/depression (HADS). Our findings suggest that the physical, psychological, and spiritual well-being of the elderly had not been seriously impaired by the events related to the pandemic, although most of the participants reported a worsening of their social life and a moderate/high fear of COVID-19. In regression analyses, these two latter aspects turned out to be predictors of higher anxiety, while spiritual well-being and the possibility to get out of the house/institution emerged as protective factors against anxiety and for preserving quality of life, respectively. Our findings help refine the picture of the condition of the elderly in the aftermath of the pandemic, giving some hints about how to continue supporting their well-being and quality of life.
Thromboelastometry as an Ancillary Tool for Evaluation of Coagulation Status after rFVIIa Therapy in a Pregnant Woman with Severe Hypoproconvertinemia—A Case Series and Review of the Literature
Authors: Krzyżanowski Arkadiusz , Gęca Tomasz , Sokołowska Bożena , Kwiatek Maciej , Miturski Andrzej , Stupak Aleksandra , Terlecki Piotr , Paluszkiewicz Piotr , Kwaśniewska Anna
Published: September 2022

Introduction: Factor VII (FVII) deficiency is a rare hemorrhagic diathesis. In females, heavy menstrual and postpartum bleeding can appear as a consequence of its deficiency. Supplementation of the recombinant FVIIa is widely accepted. The supplementation effect in FVII-deficient subjects is difficult to predict, and severe hemorrhage has been described even when FVII levels after supplementation were within normal ranges. The aim of this report is to present the application of thromboelastometry to control the coagulation status in a patient with severe FVII deficiency during pregnancy and delivery, supplemented by rFVIIa per protocol complicated with life-threatening venous thromboembolism. Methods: Rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) was performed in 16 pregnant women: in one 28 year old primigravida at 35 weeks of pregnancy with congenital FVII deficiency after rFVIIa administration and 15 healthy women at 38 gestational weeks. The results were compared. Results: The thromboelastometry results showed significant shortening of the clotting time in the extrinsic and the intrinsic pathway in the hypoproconvertinemia patient after rFVIIa administration in relation to healthy pregnant women. A significant reduction in maximum lysis of the clot after FVII supplementation was observed. Conclusions: The thromboelastometry results showed a significant hypercoagulable state with hypoproconvertinemia. Thrombotic complications after delivery might be prevented by the reduction in rFVIIa guided by thromboelastometry. Thromboelastometry performed on a pregnant woman with factor VII deficiency during the supplementation of rFVIIa in peripartum time might be helpful in order to determine an individual, effective dosage regimen of rFVIIa to ensure full correction of clotting disorders without the tendency to develop thrombosis, but further studies are needed.
Early-Stage High-Concentration Thiacloprid Exposure Induced Persistent Behavioral Alterations in Zebrafish
Authors: Xie Zhongtang , Lu Guanghua , Yu Yeting
Published: September 2022

As a major neonicotinoid insecticide, thiacloprid (THCP) is frequently detected in aquatic environments worldwide due to its heavy use, posing potential threats to aquatic organisms. In this study, zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos were exposed to THCP (1, 10, 100, 1000 and 10,000 μg/L) for 5 days and then recovered in THCP-free water for 20 days to investigate the effects of early-stage THCP exposure on the development, antioxidant defense, and neurotransmitter systems of zebrafish, and explore their recovery mechanism. The results show that THCP exposure induced developmental toxicity and oxidative stress in zebrafish. The hypoactivity, behavioral alterations (decreased avoidance and edge preference behaviors) and neurotoxicity were found throughout the exposure-recovery experiments. THCP exposure altered the expression of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)- and serotonin (5-HT)-related genes accompanied by the decrease in GABA and 5-HT contents. However, after recovery, GABA content returned to the control level, but 5-HT did not, indicating that only the serotonergic system was persistently disrupted. Overall, our results suggest that the disruption of the serotonergic system and oxidative stress may aggravate neurotoxicity and that the former was the main reason for the depressive-like behavior. This study could help to unravel the mechanisms of the behavioral alterations induced by early-stage THCP exposure in zebrafish.
Special Education Teachers: The Role of Autonomous Motivation in the Relationship between Teachers’ Efficacy for Inclusive Practice and Teaching Styles
Authors: Passanisi Alessia , Buzzai Caterina , Pace Ugo
Published: September 2022

Research on special education teachers has increased in recent years. However, few studies have investigated factors related to teachers’ preference for a specific style in inclusive education. For this reason, the aim of this cross-sectional study is to investigate the mediating role of autonomous motivation in the relationship between teachers’ efficacy for inclusive practice (TEIP) and teaching styles (structuring, autonomous, controlling, chaotic). Four hundred and twenty-three pre-service special education teachers participated in the study. Participants were administered the following self-reports: TEIP scale, Autonomous Motivations for Teaching Scale, and the Situations-in-School questionnaire. SEM analysis confirmed the role of autonomous motivation as a mediator for TEIP on teaching styles. Moreover, the results showed a positive association between TEIP and both autonomy and structuring teaching styles. The findings of this study suggest the importance of implementing specific special-education teacher training to promote intrinsic motivation toward teaching in an inclusive context.
Longitudinal Associations of Physical Activity Patterns and the Environment: An 18-Year Follow-Up to the MESA Study
Authors: Tristão Parra Maíra , De Moraes Augusto César Ferreira , Nascimento-Ferreira Marcus Vinicius , Mills Paul J. , Allison Matthew
Published: September 2022

Introduction: Cross-sectional association between the neighborhood-built environment and physical activity (PA) has been demonstrated previously, indicating the importance of neighborhood perception characteristics such as walkability, safety, and the connectivity of streets on PA levels. Our study aimed to assess the longitudinal data from participants of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) to evaluate the potential relationship between perceived environment and PA patterns. Methods: We analyzed data from a subset of participants (n = 3097) with available PA data who participated in a prospective cohort conducted from 2000 to 2018. The exposure variables were the perceived aspects of the neighborhood environment and the perception of safety, and the outcome was patterns of PA. Patterns were defined as categories reflecting meeting versus not meeting PA guidelines over time. We created the following categories: adopters (individuals who did not meet guidelines at baseline but met guidelines at Exam 6), relapsers (individuals who met guidelines at baseline but did not meet guidelines at Exam 6), maintainers (individuals who met guidelines both at baseline and Exam 6), and insufficiently active (individuals who did not meet guidelines at either baseline or Exam 6). The maintainers’ group was considered the reference category. We estimated the relative risk to assess the magnitude effect of the association between environmental perceptions and the outcome. Results: Individuals who reported that lack of parks and playgrounds was “not a problem” in their neighborhood had a 2.3-times higher risk of decreasing their physical activity (i.e., the “relapser” category) compared to maintainers. After full adjustment, perceiving poor sidewalks as “somewhat a serious problem” was associated with a 64% lower risk of becoming an adopter than a maintainer. When compared to those who perceive the neighborhood as “very safe”, perception of the neighborhood as “safe” to “not at all safe” (ratings 3, 4, and 5, respectively, on the perceived safety scale) was significantly associated with being classified in the adopter category. Conclusions: As the first longitudinal study of the association of perceived environment and physical activity within the MESA cohort, we conclude that a few aspects are longitudinally associated with being physically active among adults.