bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical characteristics of pediatric intussusception and predictors of bowel resection in affected patients
Authors: Wu Ting-Hsuan , Huang Go-Shine , Wu Chang-Teng , Lai Jin-Yao , Chen Chien-Chang , Hu Mei-Hua
Published: August 2022

Background

Surgery is required for the treatment of intussusception when enema reduction is unsuccessful, or when the patient develops peritonitis, bowel perforation, or intestinal damage. We aimed to evaluate the clinical and laboratory parameters that may be used to predict the need for bowel resection in children with intussusception.

Methods

This observational retrospective study included children who were admitted to the pediatric emergency department with intussusception. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to evaluate factors associated with bowel resection.

Results

In total, 584 children with intussusception were admitted to the pediatric emergency department; 129 of these children underwent surgery. Multivariate analysis revealed the following independent predictors of bowel resection for intussusception: symptoms for at least 2 days before surgery (OR = 6.863; p = 0.009), long intussusception (OR = 5.088; p = 0.014), pathological lead point (OR = 6.926; p = 0.003), and intensive care unit admission (OR = 11.777; p = 0.001) were factors independently associated with bowel resection.

Conclusion

Symptoms for at least 2 days before surgery, long intussusception, pathological lead, and intensive care unit admission were predictors of bowel resection in children with intussusception. These findings can be used to identify patients at high risk of needing surgery and bowel resection.
Telephone Monitoring of Isolated Patients With Suspected COVID-19 Disease in Primary Care: Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Coronado-Vázquez Valle , Benito-Alonso Elena , Holgado-Juan Marina , Dorado-Rabaneda Maria Silvia , Bronchalo-González Cristina , Gómez-Salgado Juan
Published: August 2022

Objective: Isolation of suspected cases of COVID-19 has been shown effective in reducing disease transmission and monitoring these patients from primary care allows to detect complications. The objective of this study is to determine the evolution of a cohort of patients with suspected COVID-19, and to analyse the factors associated with hospital admissions due to their unfavourable evolution.

Methods: Prospective cohort study. A cohort of 166 patients with COVID-19 symptoms was selected and was followed-up by telephone calls during 14 days of home isolation.

Results: By the end of the follow-up, a hospital admission had taken place in 14.7% of patients. The mean survival time until admission among diabetics was 12.6, 10.9 days for chronic kidney diseases, and 9.3 days in immunocompromised patients. Immunosuppression was a risk factor for admission over 50 years of age.

Conclusion: Hospital admissions for suspected cases of COVID-19 are associated with diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and immunosuppression. Telephone monitoring of these patients from primary care allows for home isolation and early detection of disease complications.
Dengue Fever Responses in Dhaka City, Bangladesh: A Cross-Sectional Survey
Authors: Rahman Md. Mostafizur , Islam Abu Reza Md. Towfiqul , Khan Saadmaan Jubayer , Tanni Kamrun Nahar , Roy Tuly , Islam Md. Rakibul , Rumi Md. Alim Al Raji , Sakib Mohammed Sadman , Abdul Quader Masrur , Bhuiyan Nafee-Ul-Islam , Chisty Musabber Ali , Rahman Farzana , Alam Edris
Published: August 2022

Objectives: This study intends to evaluate the Dhaka city residents’ individual views toward DF.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey used google forms for collecting data. Python and RStudio were used for data management and analysis. Kruskal-Wallis or Mann-Whitney U test and logistic regression models were performed, where appropriate.

Results: In total 1008 individuals participated in a pre-tested KAP survey. More than 20% reported being affected by DF before the survey, where they rated their current places as being moderately safe (43%). In terms of DF control, 65% had good knowledge, and 68% reported good practice, whereas they demonstrated an overall good attitude. The increased knowledge of individuals could contribute to behavioral changes regarding DF. Female residents demonstrated better DF attitudes (OR: 0.69; p < 0.05) and practices (OR: 0.66; p < 0.01) compared to male residents. Mixed unit residents had poor KAP levels. Educational attainment can also play an essential role in enhancing the attitude level.

Conclusion: Overall, dengue surveillance activities with sufficient campaigns are required for behavioral change in Dhaka city. This information could be integrated into other DF-affected countries’ strategies against dengue outbreaks.
Deciphering the CircRNA-Regulated Response of Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Workers to Microsporidian Invasion
Authors: Chen Huazhi , Fan Xiaoxue , Zhang Wende , Ye Yaping , Cai Zongbing , Zhang Kaiyao , Zhang Kuihao , Fu Zhongmin , Chen Dafu , Guo Rui
Published: August 2022

Vairimorpha ceranae is a widespread fungal parasite of adult honey bees that leads to a serious disease called nosemosis. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are newly discovered non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) that regulate biological processes such as immune defense and development. Here, 8199 and 8711 circRNAs were predicted from the midguts of Apis mellifera ligustica workers at 7 d (Am7T) and 10 d (Am10T) after inoculation (dpi) with V. ceranae spores. In combination with transcriptome data from corresponding uninoculated midguts (Am7CK and Am10CK), 4464 circRNAs were found to be shared by these four groups. Additionally, 16 circRNAs were highly conserved among A. m. ligustica, Apis cerana cerana, and Homo sapiens. In the Am7CK vs. Am7T (Am10CK vs. Am10T) comparison group, 168 (306) differentially expressed circRNAs (DEcircRNAs) were identified. RT-qPCR results showed that the expression trend of eight DEcircRNAs was consistent with that in the transcriptome datasets. The source genes of DEcircRNAs in Am7CK vs. Am7T (Am10CK vs. Am10T) were engaged in 27 (35) GO functional terms, including 1 (1) immunity-associated terms. Moreover, the aforementioned source genes were involved in three cellular immune-related pathways. Moreover, 86 (178) DEcircRNAs in workers’ midguts at 7 (10) dpi could interact with 75 (103) miRNAs, further targeting 215 (305) mRNAs. These targets were associated with cellular renewal, cellular structure, carbohydrate and energy metabolism, and cellular and humoral immunity. Findings in the present study unraveled the mechanism underlying circRNA-mediated immune responses of western honey bee workers to V. ceranae invasion, but also provided new insights into host–microsporidian interaction during nosemosis.
Heparan Sulfate: A Regulator of White Adipocyte Differentiation and of Vascular/Adipocyte Interactions
Authors: Sorrell J. Michael , Caplan Arnold I.
Published: August 2022

White adipose tissues are major endocrine organs that release factors, termed adipokines, which affect other major organ systems. The development and functions of adipose tissues depend largely upon the glycosaminoglycan heparan sulfate. Heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) surround both adipocytes and vascular structures and facilitate the communication between these two components. This communication mediates the continued export of adipokines from adipose tissues. Heparan sulfates regulate cellular physiology and communication through a sulfation code that ionically interacts with heparan-binding regions on a select set of proteins. Many of these proteins are growth factors and chemokines that regulate tissue function and inflammation. Cells regulate heparan sulfate sulfation through the release of heparanases and sulfatases. It is now possible to tissue engineer vascularized adipose tissues that express heparan sulfate proteoglycans. This makes it possible to use these tissue constructs to study the role of heparan sulfates in the regulation of adipokine production and release. It is possible to regulate the production of heparanases and sulfatases in order to fine-tune experimental studies.
Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy Combined with Chemotherapy for Local Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer in a Patient with a History of Breast Cancer: A Case Report
Authors: Yang Rui-Xia , Hei Yue , Zhu Wen-Ting , Wang Qian-Rong , Zhang Hong-Mei , Chen Yan
Published: August 2022

Durvalumab consolidation therapy is the standard treatment after concurrent chemoradiotherapy for patients with surgically unresectable stage IIIA (N2) non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgery could reduce locoregional and distant recurrence and improve the survival rate for surgically resectable NSCLC. However, the value of neoadjuvant therapy in locally advanced potentially resectable NSCLC remains controversial. Herein, we report a locally advanced potentially resectable NSCLC case with a history of breast cancer who achieved a pathologic complete response (pCR) after preoperative treatment with pembrolizumab and chemotherapy. A 50-year-old woman developed squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (left lower lobe of the lung, stage IIIA-N2) after two years of chemotherapy and anti-HER2 therapy following a diagnosis of HER2-overexpressing breast cancer. Surgical resection was attempted despite an MDT classification as unamenable to curative surgical resection. After two cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with anti-PD1 immunotherapy, the tumor significantly shrank, then the patient underwent a left lower lobectomy. Complete resection with negative margins (R0 resection) was achieved in the patient. The patient experienced grade 1–2 adverse effects and no grade 3 or worse adverse effects occurred. Cardiotoxicity did not occur in the patient despite prior anti-HER2 treatment for breast cancer. Our case study contributes to the existing evidence on the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of neoadjuvant immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy in locally advanced unresectable NSCLC. Furthermore, future studies are needed to determine which patients can benefit from immunoadjuvant therapy and the duration and course of preoperative and postoperative immunotherapy.
Spinal Lesions as Clinical Manifestations of Plasma Cell Neoplasia
Authors: Baumgart Lea , Barz Melanie , Delbridge Claire , Aftahy Amir Kaywan , Janssen Insa Katrin , Jost Philipp J. , Ryang Yu-Mi , Meyer Bernhard , Gempt Jens
Published: August 2022

(1) Background: Plasma cell neoplasia can be separated into independent subtypes including multiple myeloma (MM) and solitary plasmacytoma of the bone (SBP). The first clinical signs patients present with are skeletal pain, most commonly involving ribs and vertebrae. (2) Methods: Retrospective analysis of 114 patients (38 female, 76 male) receiving spinal surgery from March 2006 until April 2020. Neurological impairments and surgical instability were the criteria for intervention in this cohort. Analysis was based on demographic data, Spinal Instability Neoplastic Score (SINS), location of the lesion, spinal levels of tumor involvement, surgical treatment, histopathological workup, adjuvant therapy, functional outcome, and overall survival (OS). (3) Results: The following surgical procedures were performed: posterior stabilization only in 9 patients, posterior stabilization and decompression without vertebral body replacement in 56 patients, tumor debulking and decompression only in 8 patients, anterior approach in combined approach without vertebral body replacement and without biopsy and/or without kyphoplasty in 33 patients, 3 patients received biopsies only, and 5 patients received kyphoplasty only. The histopathology diagnoses were MM in 94 cases and SBP in 20 cases. Median OS was 72 months (53.4–90.6 months). Preoperative KPSS was 80% (range 40–100%), the postoperative KPSS was 80% (range 50–100%). (4) Conclusions: Surgery for patients with plasma cell neoplasia is beneficial in case of neurological impairment and spinal instability. Moreover, we were able to show that patients with MM and a low number of spinal levels to be supplied have a better prognosis as well as a younger age at the time of the surgical intervention.
Host Species and Captivity Distinguish the Microbiome Compositions of a Diverse Zoo-Resident Non-Human Primate Population
Authors: Wills Maya O. , Shields-Cutler Robin R. , Brunmeier Emily , Weissenborn Madison , Murphy Tami , Knights Dan , Johnson Timothy J. , Clayton Jonathan B.
Published: August 2022

Vast numbers of microorganisms inhabit the mammalian gastrointestinal tract in a complex community referred to as the gut microbiome. An individual’s microbiome may be impacted by genetics, diet, and various environmental factors, and has been associated with many health states and diseases, though specific explanations are lacking. While these communities are well-studied in human populations, non-human primates (NHPs), in particular zoo-resident or captive NHPs, offer distinct advantages to increasing our understanding of factors that influence gut microbiome composition. Here, we characterize the gut microbiome composition of a phylogenetically diverse cohort of NHPs residing in the same urban zoo. We show that despite overlapping and controlled environmental contexts, gut microbiomes are still distinguished between NHP host species. However, when comparing the zoo cohort to wild NHPs, we show that captivity status strongly distinguishes zoo-resident NHPs from their wild counterparts, regardless of host phylogeny. Microbial orders unique to captive NHPs include taxa commonly present in human gut microbiomes. Together, these results demonstrate that differences between NHP species are strongly associated with gut microbiome composition and diversity, suggesting that species-specific approaches should be considered when investigating environmental factors’ influence on gut microbiome composition.
Improving Automated Essay Scoring by Prompt Prediction and Matching
Authors: Sun Jingbo , Song Tianbao , Song Jihua , Peng Weiming
Published: August 2022

Automated essay scoring aims to evaluate the quality of an essay automatically. It is one of the main educational application in the field of natural language processing. Recently, Pre-training techniques have been used to improve performance on downstream tasks, and many studies have attempted to use pre-training and then fine-tuning mechanisms in an essay scoring system. However, obtaining better features such as prompts by the pre-trained encoder is critical but not fully studied. In this paper, we create a prompt feature fusion method that is better suited for fine-tuning. Besides, we use multi-task learning by designing two auxiliary tasks, prompt prediction and prompt matching, to obtain better features. The experimental results show that both auxiliary tasks can improve model performance, and the combination of the two auxiliary tasks with the NEZHA pre-trained encoder produces the best results, with Quadratic Weighted Kappa improving 2.5% and Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient improving 2% on average across all results on the HSK dataset.
Structural Reliability Analysis by Using Non-Probabilistic Multi-Cluster Ellipsoidal Model
Authors: Li Kun , Liu Hongwei
Published: August 2022

Uncertainties are normally unavoidable in engineering practice, which should be taken into account in the structural design and optimization so as to reduce the relevant risks. Yet, the probabilistic models of the uncertainties are often unavailable in the problems due to the lack of samples, and the precision of the conventional non-probabilistic models are not satisfactory when the samples are of multi-cluster distribution. In view of this, an improved method by using a non-probabilistic multi-cluster ellipsoidal model (multi-CEM) for the critical structural reliability analysis is proposed in this paper, which describes the samples in a more accurate and compact way and helps to acquire more satisfactory reliability analysis results. Firstly, a Gaussian mixture model (GMM) is built for the multi-cluster samples with performing expectation maximization (EM) algorithm, based on which the multi-CEM can be constructed. In the structural reliability analysis, two cases, respectively, considering whether the components of the multi-CEM are intersected or not are researched in detail. The non-probabilistic reliability (NPR) indexes for each component of the multi-CEM are computed using the Hasofer–Lind–Rackwitz–Fiessler (HL-RF) algorithm, and then the multidimensional volume ratios of the safe domain to the whole uncertainty domain are computed based on these indexes, indicating the structural NPR. In the end, two numerical examples and a practical application are conducted and analyzed to testify the effectiveness of the method.
Intake System Performance Stability as a Function of Flow Throttling
Authors: Kozakiewicz Adam , Kachel Stanisław , Frant Michał , Majcher Maciej
Published: August 2022

This paper presents a numerical analysis of the stability of the flow parameters along the intake duct of an aircraft jet turbine engine. This problem has been investigated by many research teams and was included in the literature analysis. The unstable operation of a turbojet intake system can be the consequence of many adverse factors, including an intake vortex. The investigated intake system, due to its low location to the plane of the airport, is highly susceptible to the formation of an intake vortex. The phenomenon of an intake vortex can, in the worst-case scenario, result in the surging of the turbojet, and even engine stalling. This paper presents a developed model of the forward section of an aircraft, complete with its intake duct, and the method of its discretization. The intake-system model and numerical analysis were performed in Ansys Fluent. The flow parameters adopted for numerical simulations, under specific boundary conditions, corresponded to the operating conditions of the engine cooperating with the investigated intake system. The numerical calculations were performed assuming an air-pressure rise in the end section of the engine-intake system, reflecting the reduction in the pitch angle of the inlet stator blades of the fan. As a result, the pressure distributions in a significant cross section in the intake system were obtained. The results were analyzed with the quantitative distribution of the pressure fields by applying a dimensionless potential-pressure ratio. The pressure ratio enabled a comparative analysis of the nonuniformity of the total-pressure distribution in selected cross sections of the intake system. The results were revealing in terms of growing unstable flows in the flow duct. A major conclusion drawn from the results, by testing the dimensionless potential-pressure ratio, was that, within certain limits, it was possible to improve the flow uniformity by increasing the throttling pressure.
Data-Driven Voltage Prognostic for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell System Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Li Mingfei , Wu Jiajian , Chen Zhengpeng , Dong Jiangbo , Peng Zhiping , Xiong Kai , Rao Mumin , Chen Chuangting , Li Xi
Published: August 2022

A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is an innovative power generation system that is green, efficient, and promising for a wide range of applications. The prediction and evaluation of the operation state of a solid oxide fuel cell system is of great significance for the stable and long-term operation of the power generation system. Prognostics and Health Management (PHM) technology is widely used to perform preventive and predictive maintenance on equipment. Unlike prediction based on the SOFC mechanistic model, the combination of PHM and deep learning has shown wide application prospects. Therefore, this study first obtains an experimental dataset through short-term degradation experiments of a 1 kW SOFC system, and then proposes an encoder-decoder RNN-based SOFC state prediction model. Based on the experimental dataset, the model can accurately predict the voltage variation of the SOFC system. The prediction results of the four different prediction models developed are compared and analyzed, namely, long short-term memory (LSTM), gated recurrent unit (GRU), encoder–decoder LSTM, and encoder–decoder GRU. The results show that for the SOFC test set, the mean square error of encoder–decoder LSTM and encoder–decoder GRU are 0.015121 and 0.014966, respectively, whereas the corresponding error results of LSTM and GRU are 0.017050 and 0.017456, respectively. The encoder–decoder RNN model displays high prediction precision, which proves that it can improve the accuracy of prediction, which is expected to be combined with control strategies and further help the implementation of PHM in fuel cells.
Historical Buildings Potential to Power Urban Electromobility: State-of-the-Art and Future Challenges for Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (nZEB) Microgrids
Authors: Cieslik Wojciech , Szwajca Filip , Rosolski Sławomir , Rutkowski Michał , Pietrzak Katarzyna , Wójtowicz Jakub
Published: August 2022

The growing need for electric energy is forcing the construction industry to greater integrate energy production systems based on renewable energy sources. The energy ought to be used not only to support functions of the building but also to charge electric vehicles, whose number has been increasing for the last few years. However, implementation of RES (Renewable Energy Sources) systems in already existing buildings is problematic. Basing on an example of a historical building, the article presents the conversion of a facility into a nearly zero-energy building, where energy surplus may be used to charge EVs (Electric Vehicles). Interdisciplinary research describes energy consumption of the EV in real driving conditions, taking into consideration changing weather conditions and an option of energy being produced by buildings operating in an urban agglomeration: it stipulates the time needed to charge the vehicle, depending on the charging We removed dot, according to email in submitting system, please confirm.method, as well as an energy potential of adapting the solution in selected periods of building operation. The summary presents how electromobility can be supported by the construction industry.
Artificial Intelligence-Based Control and Coordination of Multiple PV Inverters for Reactive Power/Voltage Control of Power Distribution Networks
Authors: Rehman Anis ur , Ali Muhammad , Iqbal Sheeraz , Shafiq Aqib , Ullah Nasim , Otaibi Sattam Al
Published: August 2022

The integration of Renewable Energy Resources (RERs) into Power Distribution Networks (PDN) has great significance in addressing power deficiency, economics and environmental concerns. Photovoltaic (PV) technology is one of the most popular RERs, because it is simple to install and has a lot of potential. Moreover, the realization of net metering concepts further attracted consumers to benefit from PVs; however, due to ineffective coordination and control of multiple PV systems, power distribution networks face large voltage deviation. To highlight real-time control, decentralized and distributed control schemes are exploited. In the decentralized scheme, each zone (having multiple PVs) is considered an agent. These agents have zonal control and inter-zonal coordination among them. For the distributed scheme, each PV inverter is viewed as an agent. Each agent coordinates individually with other agents to control the reactive power of the system. Multi-agent actor-critic (MAAC) based framework is used for real-time coordination and control between agents. In the MAAC, an action is created by the actor network, and its value is evaluated by the critic network. The proposed scheme minimizes power losses while controlling the reactive power of PVs. The proposed scheme also maintains the voltage in a certain range of ±5%. MAAC framework is applied to the PV integrated IEEE-33 test bus system. Results are examined in light of seasonal variation in PV output and time-changing loads. The results clearly indicate that a controllable voltage ratio of 0.6850 and 0.6508 is achieved for the decentralized and distributed control schemes, respectively. As a result, voltage out of control ratio is reduced to 0.0275 for the decentralized scheme and 0.0523 for the distributed control scheme.
Estimation of Underground MV Network Failure Types by Applying Machine Learning Methods to Indirect Observations
Authors: Louro Miguel , Ferreira Luís
Published: August 2022

Electrical utilities performance is measured by various indicators, of which the most important are very dependent on the interruption time after a failure in the network has occurred, such as SAIDI. Therefore, they are constantly looking for new techniques to decrease the fault location and repair times. A possibility to innovate in this field is to estimate the failed network component when a fault occurs. This paper presents the conclusion of an analysis carried out by the authors with the aim to estimate failure types of underground MV networks based on observable indirect variables. The variables needed to carry out the analysis must be available shortly after the failure occurrence, which is facilitated by a smart-grid infrastructure, to allow for a quick estimation. This paper uses the groundwork already carried out by the authors on ambient variables, historical variables, and disturbance recordings to design an estimator to predict between four MV cable network failure types. The paper presents relevant analyses on the design and performance of various machine learning classification algorithms for estimation of the types of MV cable network failures using real-world data. Optimization of performance was carried out, resulting in an estimator with an overall 68% accuracy rate. Accuracy rates of 94% for cable failure, 63% for excavations, and 79% secondary busbar failures were achieved; as for cable joints, the accuracy was poor due to the difficulty to identify a feature that can be used to separate this failure type from cable failures. Future work to improve that accuracy is discussed.
Intentions to Use Prosumer Photovoltaic Technology in Poland
Authors: Mularczyk Anna , Zdonek Iwona , Turek Marian , Tokarski Stanisław
Published: August 2022

The energy transition that Poland is facing directs investment and research efforts towards renewable energy sources (RES). This topic has gained importance due to environmental and climate reasons and, recently, the ongoing military conflict between Russia and Ukraine. All these issues affect the availability and prices of fossil fuels, on which electricity production in Poland currently depends. Therefore, to change the current state of affairs, it is necessary to turn to other sources of energy, including RES. Particularly high hopes are placed on prosumer photovoltaic (PV) technology. Therefore, it becomes important to study the factors of acceptance of this technology among the Polish society. The aim of this paper is to answer two research questions: (1) what factors shape intentions to invest in prosumer PV technology and (2) what factors shape attitudes towards this technology. The research was conducted using a questionnaire on a sample of 430 people. Data analysis was performed using structural equation modeling. The results indicate that intentions are mainly shaped by attitudes towards PV technology and, to a small extent, by the media promotion of this technology. On the other hand, the factors shaping attitudes towards prosumer PV technology are environmental, economic, and those related to the perceived ease of use of PV technology. Social factors, in the light of the research conducted, do not influence attitudes towards the technology under study.
Study on Apparent Permeability Model for Gas Transport in Shale Inorganic Nanopores
Authors: Zhao Shuda , Liu Hongji , Jiang Enyuan , Zhao Nan , Guo Chaohua , Bai Baojun
Published: August 2022

Inorganic nanopores occurring in the shale matrix have strong hydrophilicity and irreducible water (IW) film can be formed on the inner surface of the pores making gas flow mechanisms in the pores more complex. In this paper, the existence of irreducible water (IW) in inorganic pores is considered, and, based on the Knudsen number (Kn) correction in shale pores, a shale gas apparent permeability model of inorganic nano-pores is established. The effect of the Kn correction on the apparent permeability, the ratio of flow with pore radius and the effect of IW on the apparent permeability are assessed. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) at low pressure (less than 10 MPa) and for medium pore size (pore radius range of 10 nm–60 nm), the effect of the Kn correction should be considered; (2) considering the effect of the Kn correction, bulk phase transport replaces surface diffusion more slowly; considering the existence of IW, bulk phase transport replaces surface diffusion more slowly; (3) with increase in pressure, the IW effect on gas apparent permeability decreases. Under low pressure, the IW, where pore size is small, promotes fluid flow, while the IW in the large pores hinders fluid flow. In conditions of ultra-high pressure, the IW promotes gas flow.
Evaluation of Fuel Gas Supply System for Marine Dual-Fuel Propulsion Engines Using LNG and Ammonia Fuel
Authors: Hyeon Soobin , Lee Jinkwang , Choi Jungho
Published: August 2022

This study proposes a fuel supply system for dual-fuel propulsion engines using liquefied natural gas (LNG) and ammonia to control carbon emissions. The independent fuel supply system of LNG and ammonia is configured as a hybrid system. The operating pressure of the re-condenser is determined as a process variable according to the power consumption and flow rate of the non-condensable boil-off gas. The independent and hybrid systems are compared and evaluated through thermodynamic analyses, including specific power consumption (SPC) and exergy analyses, with respect to the fuel ratio and engine load. When the engine load is 100% in Case 1 for a 40% carbon reduction by 2030, the hybrid system exhibits an SPC reduction of 70% and exergy efficiency increase of 16% compared with the independent system.
Study on the Long-Distance Gas Pre-Drainage Technology in the Heading Face by Directional Long Borehole
Authors: Hou Yunbing , Cui Junqi , Liu Ruipeng
Published: August 2022

Gas control in the heading face of a coal roadway is an important and difficult point in coal mining in China. On the basis of analyzing the disadvantages of high gas control cost and long drainage period in the existing mine heading face, a long-distance pre-drainage method of long-distance drilling is proposed to control the gas in the heading face so as to improve the tunneling speed. Applied to the engineering geological conditions of Changcun coal mine, the technology is studied in detail. First, a gas migration model considering permeability changing with time is established, and the model is put into the numerical simulation software to study the variation law of permeability and gas pressure under the conditions of single borehole and multi-borehole drainage. The results show that with the increase of drainage time, the permeability around the borehole increases gradually, the gas pressure decreases gradually, and the permeability at the borehole boundary increases the most, reaching 1.2 times the initial permeability. In the process of multi-borehole drainage, there will be mutual influence between boreholes, but with the increase of borehole spacing, the degree of this influence gradually decreases. Second, according to the results of numerical simulation, a reasonable gas drainage scheme is designed and applied in the field. The field application shows that the technology has a good gas drainage effect, the gas drainage concentration and flow are at a high level for a long time, the drilling cuttings quantity is always lower than the critical value, and the excavation length of roadway increases by more than 50 m per month. These results indicate that this technology is a promising method to realize the safe and rapid excavation of a mine coal roadway.
Foam-Assisted Capillary Trapping in Saline Aquifers—An Initial–Residual Saturation Analysis
Authors: Rezk Mohamed Gamal , Babu Rahul S. , Badmus Suaibu O. , Adebayo Abdulrauf R.
Published: August 2022

Capillary trapping of gas in porous media is important for many processes such as oil recovery and gas geo-sequestration. Foam can mitigate gravity override and viscous fingering of gas by reducing its relative permeability through gas trapping. However, there are limited studies dedicated to understanding how foam assists in gas trapping, the best mode of foam injection for trapping, and its application in geo-sequestration. This paper uses an initial–residual saturation analysis to investigate foam-assisted capillary trapping during the surfactant alternating gas (SAG) injection process in saline aquifers. More specifically, we studied the effects of pore geometric properties, in situ generated foam, and surfactant concentration on gas trapping efficiency and final residual gas saturation, Sgr. First, NMR surface relaxometry measurements were carried out on the rock samples to indicate the mean pore sizes of the rocks. A series of core flooding tests, equipped with resistivity measurements, were then conducted using single-cycle gas injection followed by water injection, water alternating gas (WAG), and SAG injection methods to identify which mode of injection results in the most trapped gas. The results showed that the SAG method had a better sweep efficiency and trapped more gas than other methods. The initial–residual (IR) gas saturation relationships from SAG data measured from several rock samples were then analyzed using Land’s trapping model. Gas trapping efficiency (indicated by Land’s coefficient, C) and residual gas were also found to increase in rocks with large average pore sizes and with increasing surfactant concentration. However, increasing the surfactant concentration above a certain limit did not cause further improvement in the trapping coefficient but only increased the Sgr. The results also showed that high values of surfactant concentrations might cause a slight reduction in the foam’s apparent viscosity, which then reduces the initial gas saturation, and consequently, Sgr. Finally, a linear relationship between the Sgr and the measured log mean of surface relaxation times (T2LM) was obtained, and two correlations were proposed. Therefore, the NMR measurements can be considered a reliable prediction method for Sgr in porous media.
Comparison of Different Features and Neural Networks for Predicting Industrial Paper Press Condition
Authors: Rodrigues João Antunes , Farinha José Torres , Mendes Mateus , Mateus Ricardo J. G. , Cardoso António J. Marques
Published: August 2022

Forecasting has extreme importance in industry due to the numerous competitive advantages that it provides, allowing to foresee what might happen and adjust management decisions accordingly. Industries increasingly use sensors, which allow for large-scale data collection. Big datasets enable training, testing and application of complex predictive algorithms based on machine learning models. The present paper focuses on predicting values from sensors installed on a pulp paper press, using data collected over three years. The variables analyzed are electric current, pressure, temperature, torque, oil level and velocity. The results of XGBoost and artificial neural networks, with different feature vectors, are compared. They show that it is possible to predict sensor data in the long term and thus predict the asset’s behaviour several days in advance.
An Improved Sliding Mode Control Method to Increase the Speed Stability of Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors
Authors: Wei Yuhao , Sun Li , Chen Zhongxian
Published: August 2022

A permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) plays an important role in the operation performance of an electric vehicle. In order to increase the speed stability of PMSMs, an improved sliding mode control (SMC) method is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the control process of a PMSM is divided into parts, which are the torque closed-loop control and speed closed-loop control. Secondly, an integrated control method with proportional integral (PI) and inverter switching frequency is adopted in order to increase the torque performance of the PMSM. Lastly, compared with the traditional SMC method, an improved SMC method with saturation function is proposed in order to decrease the speed fluctuation of the PMSM from 7.7% to 5.9%, thereby increasing the speed stability of the PMSM. The results of the experimental test indicate that both the speed stability and starting performance of the PMSM are increased by the improved SMC method.
Insights into a Mineral Resource Chlorite Mica Carbonate Schist by Terahertz Spectroscopy Technology
Authors: Yang Meihui , Zhang Siqi , Huang Haochong , Ma Yuanyuan , Hao Sibo , Zhang Zili , Zheng Zhiyuan
Published: August 2022

Nowadays, the mineral resources formed by geological processes have been effectively utilized with the boom exploration of novel technologies. Traditional analytical methods, such as X-ray Fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, and Scanning electron microscopy, remain the commonly used approaches for resource detection. However, recent accelerations in terahertz component progress have promoted researchers to discover more potential technologies in mineral resource exploration. In this article, the various porosities and calcination products of Chlorite mica carbonate schist, a mineral resource and potent medicine, are detected using the terahertz time–domain spectroscopy. The terahertz constant measurement of Chlorite mica carbonate schist tablets including the amplitude and phase values was carried out. After Fourier transforms, notable differences of absorption coefficients and refractive index are observed from these experimental samples, which have compelling indications to quantitatively analyze the pore conditions and pyrolytic properties of mineral resources. This active research has vital implications for the rock reservoir properties analysis and mineral energy utilization. It is also identified that terahertz time–domain spectroscopy can be considered as a promising method for the qualitative, reliable, and efficient detection of mineral resources.
Spatiotemporal Evolution and Factors Influencing Ecological Civilization Development in Chinese Watersheds
Authors: Chen Binsen , Zhao Bin , Li Yi , Yu Qiuyue , Zhao Bingjian , Tan Junyin , Wen Chuanhao
Published: August 2022

The construction of ecological civilization plays an important role in realizing the harmonious coexistence between man and nature. The aims of this study were to explore the development of ecological civilization in China’s top 10 river basins from 2004 to 2018 and construct an evaluation index system of ecological civilization. Factor analysis was used for the evaluation, and intergroup gap and panel regression analyses were utilized to determine the evolution of the spatiotemporal patterns and factors affecting the development level of ecological civilization in Chinese river basins. The results show that areas with a high level of ecological civilization development gradually spread to peripheral basins such as the Liaohe, Yellow, and Songhua River basins. The level of ecological civilization in China’s watersheds is undergoing continuous development. The degree of opening up, forest cover, and education have markedly positive effects on the development of ecological civilization in the basins, whereas urban development and financial autonomy have significant negative effects. The results of this study provide new ideas for evaluating the level of ecological civilization construction, as well as a reference for the government to formulate policies related to the construction of ecological civilization in river basins.
Understanding Feedback for Learners in Interprofessional Settings: A Scoping Review
Authors: Coelho Varun , Scott Andrew , Bilgic Elif , Keuhl Amy , Sibbald Matthew
Published: August 2022

Background: Interprofessional feedback is becoming increasingly emphasized within health professions’ training programs. The objective of this scoping review is to determine what is known about how learners perceive and interact with feedback in an interprofessional context for learning. Methods: A search strategy was developed and conducted in Ovid MEDLINE. Title and abstract screening were performed by two reviewers independently. Next, full texts of selected articles were reviewed by one reviewer to determine the articles included in the review. Data extraction was performed to determine the articles’ study population, methodologies and outcomes relevant to the research objective. Results: Our analysis of the relevant outcomes yielded four key concepts: (1) issues with the feedback process and the need for training; (2) the perception of feedback providers, affecting how the feedback is utilized; (3) professions of the feedback providers, affecting the feedback process; and (4) learners’ own attitude toward feedback, affecting the feedback process. Conclusions: The learner’s perception of interprofessional feedback can be an obstacle in the feedback process. Training around interprofessional feedback should be included as part of interprofessional programs. Research is needed to explore how to address barriers in feedback interaction that stem from misguided perceptions of feedback providers’ professions.
First Insights into Barriers and Facilitators from the Perspective of Persons with Multiple Sclerosis: A Multiple Case Study
Authors: Ott Joelle , Biller-Andorno Nikola , Glässel Andrea
Published: August 2022

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a complex, lifelong disease. Its effects span across different areas of life and vary strongly. In Switzerland, there is an intense discussion on how to optimize quality of care and patient safety. Patients should be more involved in the management of health care to improve the quality of care from the patient’s perspective and form a more comprehensive perspective. This multiple-case study explores the question of how persons with MS experience and describe functioning related barriers, facilitating factors, and ethically relevant conflicts. To address this from a comprehensive perspective, the MS core set of the International Classification for Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) is used as theoretical framework. To explore barriers, facilitators, and relevant ethical issues, different narrative sources were used for thematic analysis and ICF coding: (a) MS transcripts from DIPEx interviews and (b) an autobiographical book of persons living with MS. Insights that were meaningful for daily practice and education were identified: (a) understanding the importance of environmental circumstances based on narrative sources; (b) understanding the importance of a person’s individual life situation, and the ability to switch perspectives in the medical field; (c) respect for PwMS’ individuality in health care settings; (d) creating meaningful relationships for disease management and treatment, as well as building trust.
Accidental Hypothermia in a Swiss Alpine Trauma Centre—Not an Alpine Problem
Authors: Habegger Katrin , Brechbühler Simon , Vogt Karin , Lienert Jasmin S. , Engelhardt Bianca M. , Müller Martin , Exadaktylos Aristomenis K. , Brodmann Maeder Monika
Published: August 2022

Background: Research in accidental hypothermia focuses on trauma patients, patients exposed to cold environments or patients after drowning but rarely on hypothermia in combination with intoxications or on medical or neurological issues. The aim of this retrospective single-centre cohort study was to define the aetiologies, severity and relative incidences of accidental hypothermia, methods of measuring temperature and in-hospital mortality. Methods: The study included patients ≥18 years with a documented body temperature ≤35 °C who were admitted to the emergency department (ED) of the University Hospital in Bern between 2000 and 2019. Results: 439 cases were included, corresponding to 0.32 per 1000 ED visits. Median age was 55 years (IQR 39–70). A total of 167 patients (38.0%) were female. Furthermore, 63.3% of the patients suffered from mild, 24.8% from moderate and 11.9% from severe hypothermia. Exposure as a single cause for accidental hypothermia accounted for 12 cases. The majority were combinations of hypothermia with trauma (32.6%), medical conditions (34.2%), neurological conditions (5.2%), intoxications (20.3%) or drowning (12.0%). Overall mortality was 22.3% and depended on the underlying causes, severity of hypothermia, age and sex.
Multi-Level Classification of Driver Drowsiness by Simultaneous Analysis of ECG and Respiration Signals Using Deep Neural Networks
Authors: Ebrahimian Serajeddin , Nahvi Ali , Tashakori Masoumeh , Salmanzadeh Hamed , Mohseni Omid , Leppänen Timo
Published: August 2022

The high number of fatal crashes caused by driver drowsiness highlights the need for developing reliable drowsiness detection methods. An ideal driver drowsiness detection system should estimate multiple levels of drowsiness accurately without intervening in the driving task. This paper proposes a multi-level drowsiness detection system by a deep neural network-based classification system using a combination of electrocardiogram and respiration signals. The proposed method is based on a combination of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and long short-term memory (LSTM) networks for classifying drowsiness by concurrently using heart rate variability (HRV), power spectral density of HRV, and respiration rate signal as inputs. Two models, a CNN-based model and a hybrid CNN-LSTM-based model were used for multi-level classifications. The performance of the proposed method was evaluated on experimental data collected from 30 subjects in a simulated driving environment. The performance and the results of both models are presented and compared. The best performance for both three-level and five-level drowsiness classifications was achieved by the CNN-LSTM model. The results indicate that the three-level and five-level classifications of drowsiness can be achieved with 91 and 67% accuracy, respectively.
Polish Translation and Validation of the Voice Handicap Index (VHI-30)
Authors: Miaśkiewicz Beata , Gos Elżbieta , Dębińska Małgorzata , Panasiewicz-Wosik Aleksandra , Kapustka Dorota , Nikiel Katarzyna , Włodarczyk Elżbieta , Domeracka-Kołodziej Anna , Krasnodębska Paulina , Szkiełkowska Agata
Published: August 2022

Traditional voice evaluations, including imaging techniques, auditory-perceptual ratings, and acoustic and aerodynamic analyses, fail to assess the global handicap that a patient experiences as a result of a voice disorder. The Voice Handicap Index (VHI) is currently one of the most widely used and psychometrically robust instruments for measuring voice disability. The aim of the study is to translate and validate a Polish version of the VHI. The original English-language version of VHI-30 was translated into Polish. We enrolled 188 subjects—123 patients (91 women and 32 men) with voice disorders and 65 controls (53 women and 12 men) without voice disorders. Results obtained by the patients were significantly higher than those obtained by the controls on the Emotional subscale (U = 519.0; p < 0.001), Functional (U = 829.0; p < 0.001), Physical (U = 331.0; p < 0.001), and the global score (U = 390.0; p < 0.001). There were statistically significant negative correlations between maximum phonation time and global score (rho = −0.31; p < 0.01) as well as all three subscales. Shimmer and Smoothed Amplitude Perturbation Quotient were correlated positively with the global score (rho = 0.22; p < 0.05; rho = 0.25; p < 0.01, respectively) and with all three subscales. There were also statistically significant correlations between VHI scores and auditory perceptual evaluation. In the patient group, there was excellent internal consistency (α = 0.97) and strong test–retest reliability (intraclass correlation = 0.94). The cut-off value equal to 17 points was estimated. The Polish VHI showed excellent internal consistency, good test–retest reproducibility, and clinical validity. It is a useful tool for evaluating the voice disability perceived by a patient.