bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Short-Term Segment-Level Crash Risk Prediction Using Advanced Data Modeling with Proactive and Reactive Crash Data
Authors: Dimitrijevic Branislav , Khales Sina Darban , Asadi Roksana , Lee Joyoung
Published: January 2022

Highway crashes, along with the property damage, personal injuries, and fatalities that they cause, continue to present one of the most significant and critical transportation problems. At the same time, provision of safe travel is one of the main goals of any transportation system. For this reason, both in transportation research and practice much attention has been given to the analysis and modeling of traffic crashes, including the development of models that can be applied to predict crash occurrence and crash severity. In general, such models assess short-term crash risks at a given highway facility, thus providing intelligence that can be used to identify and implement traffic operations strategies for crash mitigation and prevention. This paper presents several crash risk and injury severity assessment models applied at a highway segment level, considering the input data that is typically collected or readily available to most transportation agencies in real-time and at a regional network scale, which would render them readily applicable in practice. The input data included roadway geometry characteristics, traffic flow characteristics, and weather condition data. The paper develops, tests, and compares the performance of models that employ Random effects Bayesian Logistics Regression, Gaussian Naïve Bayes, K-Nearest Neighbor, Random Forest, and Gradient Boosting Machine methods. The paper applies random oversampling examples (ROSE) method to deal with the problem of data imbalance associated with the injury severity analysis. The models were trained and tested using a dataset of 10,155 crashes that occurred on two interstate highways in New Jersey over a two-year period. The paper also analyzes the potential improvement in the prediction abilities of the tested models by adding reactive data to the analysis. To that end, traffic crashes were classified in multiple classes based on the driver age and the vehicle age to assess the impact of these attributes on driver injury severity outcomes. The results of this analysis are promising, showing that the simultaneous use of reactive and proactive data can improve the prediction performance of the presented models.
Influencing Factors in Acoustic Emission Detection: A Literature Review Focusing on Grain Angle and High/Low Tree Ring Density of Scots Pine
Authors: Boccacci Giulia , Frasca Francesca , Bertolin Chiara , Siani Anna Maria
Published: January 2022

Among non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques applied to structural health monitoring in existing timber structures, ranging from visual inspection to more sophisticated analysis, acoustic emission (AE) is currently seldomly used to detect mechanical stresses in wooden building assets. This paper presents the results from a systematic literature review on AE NDT applied to monitor micro and macro fracture events in softwood, specifically Scots pine. This survey particularly investigates its application with respect to the tree rings density and grain angle inspection, as influencing factors well correlated with physical and mechanical characteristics of wood. The literature review was performed in a three-step process defined by the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) flow diagram, leading to the selection of 31 documents from different abstract and citation databases (Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar). The outcomes have highlighted how laboratory experiments, including several types of tests (tensile, cutting, compressive, etc.), were conducted in most cases, while a very limited number of studies investigated on in situ monitoring. In addition, theoretical approaches were often explored in parallel with the experimental one. It emerges that—for tree ring density studies—a multi-technique approach, which may include microscopic observations, could be more informative. Indeed, although not widely investigated, high/low tree ring density and grain angle were found as influencing factors on the AE parameters detected by the sensors, during condition and structural health monitoring experiments.
A Family of Generalized Legendre-Based Apostol-Type Polynomials
Authors: Usman Talha , Khan Nabiullah , Aman Mohd , Choi Junesang
Published: January 2022

Numerous polynomials, their extensions, and variations have been thoroughly explored, owing to their potential applications in a wide variety of research fields. The purpose of this work is to provide a unified family of Legendre-based generalized Apostol-Bernoulli, Apostol-Euler, and Apostol-Genocchi polynomials, with appropriate constraints for the Maclaurin series. Then we look at the formulae and identities that are involved, including an integral formula, differential formulas, addition formulas, implicit summation formulas, and general symmetry identities. We also provide an explicit representation for these new polynomials. Due to the generality of the findings given here, various formulae and identities for relatively simple polynomials and numbers, such as generalized Bernoulli, Euler, and Genocchi numbers and polynomials, are indicated to be deducible. Furthermore, we employ the umbral calculus theory to offer some additional formulae for these new polynomials.
PeMNet for Pectoral Muscle Segmentation
Authors: Yu Xiang , Wang Shui-Hua , Górriz Juan Manuel , Jiang Xian-Wei , Guttery David S. , Zhang Yu-Dong
Published: January 2022

As an important imaging modality, mammography is considered to be the global gold standard for early detection of breast cancer. Computer-Aided (CAD) systems have played a crucial role in facilitating quicker diagnostic procedures, which otherwise could take weeks if only radiologists were involved. In some of these CAD systems, breast pectoral segmentation is required for breast region partition from breast pectoral muscle for specific analysis tasks. Therefore, accurate and efficient breast pectoral muscle segmentation frameworks are in high demand. Here, we proposed a novel deep learning framework, which we code-named PeMNet, for breast pectoral muscle segmentation in mammography images. In the proposed PeMNet, we integrated a novel attention module called the Global Channel Attention Module (GCAM), which can effectively improve the segmentation performance of Deeplabv3+ using minimal parameter overheads. In GCAM, channel attention maps (CAMs) are first extracted by concatenating feature maps after paralleled global average pooling and global maximum pooling operation. CAMs are then refined and scaled up by multi-layer perceptron (MLP) for elementwise multiplication with CAMs in next feature level. By iteratively repeating this procedure, the global CAMs (GCAMs) are then formed and multiplied elementwise with final feature maps to lead to final segmentation. By doing so, CAMs in early stages of a deep convolution network can be effectively passed on to later stages of the network and therefore leads to better information usage. The experiments on a merged dataset derived from two datasets, INbreast and OPTIMAM, showed that PeMNet greatly outperformed state-of-the-art methods by achieving an IoU of 97.46%, global pixel accuracy of 99.48%, Dice similarity coefficient of 96.30%, and Jaccard of 93.33%, respectively.
Plant Growth-Promoting Activity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa FG106 and Its Ability to Act as a Biocontrol Agent against Potato, Tomato and Taro Pathogens
Authors: Ghadamgahi Farideh , Tarighi Saeed , Taheri Parissa , Saripella Ganapathi Varma , Anzalone Alice , Kalyandurg Pruthvi Balachandra , Catara Vittoria , Ortiz Rodomiro , Vetukuri Ramesh Raju
Published: January 2022

P. aeruginosa strain FG106 was isolated from the rhizosphere of tomato plants and identified through morphological analysis, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and whole-genome sequencing. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that this strain could control several pathogens on tomato, potato, taro, and strawberry. Volatile and non-volatile metabolites produced by the strain are known to adversely affect the tested pathogens. FG106 showed clear antagonism against Alternaria alternata, Botrytis cinerea, Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis, Phytophthora colocasiae, P. infestans, Rhizoctonia solani, and Xanthomonas euvesicatoria pv. perforans. FG106 produced proteases and lipases while also inducing high phosphate solubilization, producing siderophores, ammonia, indole acetic acid (IAA), and hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and forming biofilms that promote plant growth and facilitate biocontrol. Genome mining approaches showed that this strain harbors genes related to biocontrol and growth promotion. These results suggest that this bacterial strain provides good protection against pathogens of several agriculturally important plants via direct and indirect modes of action and could thus be a valuable bio-control agent.
Pathophysiology and Therapeutics of Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm in Marfan Syndrome
Authors: Asano Keiichi , Cantalupo Anna , Sedes Lauriane , Ramirez Francesco
Published: January 2022

About 20% of individuals afflicted with thoracic aortic disease have single-gene mutations that predispose the vessel to aneurysm formation and/or acute aortic dissection often without associated syndromic features. One widely studied exception is Marfan syndrome (MFS) in which mutations in the extracellular protein fibrillin-1 cause additional abnormalities in the heart, eyes, and skeleton. Mouse models of MFS have been instrumental in delineating major cellular and molecular determinants of thoracic aortic disease. In spite of research efforts, translating experimental findings from MFS mice into effective drug therapies for MFS patients remains an unfulfilled promise. Here, we describe a series of studies that have implicated endothelial dysfunction and improper angiotensin II and TGFβ signaling in driving thoracic aortic disease in MFS mice. We also discuss how these investigations have influenced the way we conceptualized possible new therapies to slow down or even halt aneurysm progression in this relatively common connective tissue disorder.
Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Benzo[b]thiophene Acylhydrazones as Antimicrobial Agents against Multidrug-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Barbier Thibaut , Barbry Alexia , Magand Jérémy , Badiou Cédric , Davy Floriane , Baudouin Anne , Queneau Yves , Dumitrescu Oana , Lina Gérard , Soulère Laurent
Published: January 2022

The benzo[b]thiophene nucleus and the acylhydrazone functional group were combined to prepare three new series of compounds for screening against Staphylococcus aureus. The reaction of substituted benzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxylic hydrazide and various aromatic or heteroaromatic aldehydes led to a collection of 26 final products with extensive structural diversification on the aromatic ring and on position 6 of the benzo[b]thiophene nucleus. The screening lead to the identification of eight hits, including (E)-6-chloro-N’-(pyridin-2-ylmethylene)benzo[b]thiophene-2-carbohydrazide (II.b), a non-cytotoxic derivative showing a minimal inhibitory concentration of 4 µg/mL on three S. aureus strains, among which were a reference classical strain and two clinically isolated strains resistant to methicillin and daptomycin, respectively.
The Effects of Low-Level Helium–Neon (He–Ne) Laser Irradiation on Lipids and Fatty Acids, and the Activity of Energetic Metabolism Enzymes and Proteome in the Blastula Stage and Underyearlings of the Atlantic Salmon Salmo salar: A Novel Approach in Salmonid Restoration Procedures in the North
Authors: Murzina Svetlana A. , Voronin Viktor P. , Churova Maria V. , Ruokolainen Tatiana R. , Shulgina Natalia S. , Provotorov Dmitriy S. , Tikhonova Olga V. , Nemova Nina N.
Published: January 2022

The effect of He–Ne laser irradiation on fishery parameters as well as on biochemical state, including the lipids and fatty acids, the activity of energy metabolism enzymes and the proteome in the blastula stage and in underyearlings of wild Atlantic salmon after irradiation at the cleavage stage/early blastula (considered as the stages when the cell has a high potential for differentiation) was studied. Low mortality rates of eggs were determined during embryogenesis, as well as increased weight gain and lower morality rates of underyearlings in the experimental group. This is confirmed by changes in a number of interrelated indicators of lipid metabolism: a decrease in total lipids content, including diacylglycerols, triacylglycerols, cholesterol esters, and the phospholipids content remained unchanged. The embryos in the blastula stage (experimental group) had higher aerobic capacity and an increase in pentose phosphate pathway activity. The proteome profiles of eggs in the blastula stage were 131 proteins, of which 48 were significantly identified. The major protein was found to be phosvitin. The proteomes of underyearlings were represented by 2018 proteins, of which 49 were unique for the control and 39 for the experimental group. He–Ne laser irradiation had a strong effect on the contents of histone proteins.
Recovery Nystagmus in Vestibular Neuritis with Minimal Canal Paresis. Clinical Observation and Interpretation
Authors: Gkoritsa Eleni Zoe
Published: January 2022

Recovery nystagmus in vestibular neuritis patients is a reversal of spontaneous nystagmus direction, beating towards the affected ear, observed along the time course of central compensation. It is rarely registered due either to its rarity as a phenomenon per se, or to the fact that it is missed between follow-up appointments. The aim of the manuscript is to describe in detail a case of recovery nystagmus found in an atypical case of vestibular neuritis and discuss pathophysiology and clinical considerations regarding this rare finding. A 26-year-old man was referred to our Otorhinolaryngology practice reporting “dizziness” sensation and nausea in the last 48 h. Clinical examination revealed left beating spontaneous nystagmus (average slow phase velocity aSPV 8.1°/s) with absence of fixation. The head impulse test (H.I.T.) was negative. Cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMP) and Playtone audiometry (PTA) were normal. Romberg and Unterberger tests were not severely affected. A strong directional preponderance to the left was found in caloric vestibular test with minimal canal paresis (CP 13%) on the right. The first follow-up consultation took place on the 9th day after the onset of symptoms. Right beating weak (aSPV 2.4°/s) spontaneous nystagmus was observed with absence of fixation, whereas a strong right directional preponderance (DP) was found in caloric vestibular test. A brain MRI scan was ordered to exclude central causes of vertigo, which was normal. The patient was seen again completely free of symptoms 45 days later. He reported feeling dizzy during dynamic movements of the head and trunk for another 15 days after his second consultation. The unexpected observation of nystagmus direction reversal seven days after the first consultation is a typical sign of recovery nystagmus. Recovery nystagmus (RN) is centrally mediated and when found, it should always be carefully assessed in combination with the particularities of vestibular neuritis.
The Influence of Hydrogen Passivation on Conductive Properties of Graphene Nanomesh—Prospect Material for Carbon Nanotubes Growing
Authors: Shunaev Vladislav V. , Glukhova Olga E.
Published: January 2022

Graphene nanomesh (GNM) is one of the most intensively studied materials today. Chemical activity of atoms near GNM’s nanoholes provides favorable adsorption of different atoms and molecules, besides that, GNM is a prospect material for growing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on its surface. This study calculates the dependence of CNT’s growing parameters on the geometrical form of a nanohole. It was determined by the original methodic that the CNT’s growing from circle nanoholes was the most energetically favorable. Another attractive property of GNM is a tunable gap in its band structure that depends on GNM’s topology. It is found by quantum chemical methods that the passivation of dangling bonds near the hole of hydrogen atoms decreases the conductance of the structure by 2–3.5 times. Controlling the GNM’s conductance may be an important tool for its application in nanoelectronics.
Can Body Mass Index Affect Height Growth at Menarche among Girls Receiving Treatment for Early Puberty? A Retrospective Study in Korean Girls
Authors: Lee Sun-Jin , Kim Sun-Young , Kim Minsun
Published: January 2022

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) therapy is used to control puberty progression and it preserves height potential in patients with idiopathic central precocious puberty (ICPP). This study evaluated the correlation between weight and height gain at menarche following GnRHa treatment among girls with ICPP and relatively central early puberty (EP). We investigated height/weight trends and changes in height from diagnosis to menarche in girls with ICPP and EP treated with GnRHa. The mean difference in height (Δheight) from treatment cessation to menarche was 9.79 ± 3.53 cm. Girls were divided into girls with Δheight ≥ 9.79 cm (Group 1) and girls with Δheight < 9.79 cm (Group 2). Although near adult height was significantly higher in Group 1, the mean body mass index (BMI) and weight were significantly lower at diagnosis, treatment discontinuation, and menarche. The BMI and weight at the three time points were negatively correlated with height. Girls with higher BMI at all three time points had slower growth rates during the study period. Considering that BMI and body weight were closely related to Δheight, proper management of BMI and body weight of girls receiving early puberty treatment might contribute to growth during and after GnRHa treatment.
Soluble CD147 (BSG) as a Prognostic Marker in Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Łacina Piotr , Butrym Aleksandra , Frontkiewicz Diana , Mazur Grzegorz , Bogunia-Kubik Katarzyna
Published: January 2022

CD147 (basigin, BSG) is a membrane-bound glycoprotein involved in energy metabolism that plays a role in cancer cell survival. Its soluble form is a promising marker of some diseases, but it is otherwise poorly studied. CD147 is overexpressed in multiple myeloma (MM) and is known to affect MM progression, while its genetic variants are associated with MM survival. In the present study, we aimed to assess serum soluble CD147 (sCD147) expression as a potential marker in MM. We found that sCD147 level was higher in MM patients compared to healthy individuals. It was also higher in patients with more advanced disease (ISS III) compared to both patients with less advanced MM and healthy individuals, while its level was observed to drop after positive response to treatment. Patients with high sCD147 were characterized by worse progression-free survival. sCD147 level did not directly correlate with bone marrow CD147 mRNA expression. In conclusion, this study suggests that serum sCD147 may be a prognostic marker in MM.
First Insight into the Variation of the Milk Serum Proteome within and between Individual Cows
Authors: Zhang Lina , Boeren Sjef , Heck Jeroen , Vervoort Jacques , Zhou Peng , Hettinga Kasper
Published: January 2022

Milk contains all nutrients needed for development of calves. One important group of components responsible for this are the milk proteins. Variation due to feed or animal health, has been studied for the most abundant milk proteins. The aim of this study was to determine the variation between and within cows for their milk serum proteome. Sample Set 1 was collected from Holstein Friesian (HF) cows between November 2011 and March 2012 and prepared using filter aided sample preparation (FASP) followed by LC-MS/MS for protein identification and quantification. The results showed that the milk serum proteome was very constant in mid lactation (four cows at five time points, p > 0.05) between 3 and 6 months in lactation. Sample Set 2 was collected from HF cows in Dec 2012 and analyzed using FASP and dimethyl labeling followed by LC-MS/MS. Significant variation in the milk serum proteome (p < 0.05) between 17 individual cows was found in Sample Set 2. The most variable proteins were immune-related proteins, which may reflect the health status of the individual cow. On the other hand, proteins related to nutrient synthesis and transport were relatively constant, indicating the importance of milk in providing a stable supply of nutrients to the neonate. In conclusion, the milk serum proteome was stable over mid lactation, but differed significantly between individuals, especially in immune-related proteins.
Osseous Infections Caused by Aspergillus Species
Authors: Koutserimpas Christos , Chamakioti Ifigeneia , Raptis Konstantinos , Alpantaki Kalliopi , Vrioni Georgia , Samonis George
Published: January 2022

Background: Osteomyelitis caused by Aspergillus spp. is a severe, but rare, clinical entity. However, clear guidelines regarding the most effective medical management have not yet been established. The present study is a literature review of all such cases, in an effort to elucidate epidemiology, as well as the therapeutic management and the infection’s outcome. Methods: A thorough review of all reports of osteomyelitis of the appendicular and the axial skeleton, without the skull and the spine, caused by Aspergillus spp. was undertaken. Data about demographics, imaging techniques facilitating diagnosis, causative Aspergillus, method of mold isolation, antifungal treatment (AFT), surgical treatment, as well as the infection’s outcome were recorded and evaluated. Results: A total of 63 cases of osseous infection due to Aspergillus spp. were identified. The studied population’s mean age was 37.9 years. The most commonly affected site was the rib cage (36.8%). Most hosts suffered immunosuppressive conditions (76.2%). Regarding imaging methods indicating diagnosis, computer tomography (CT) was performed in most cases (42.9%), followed by plain X-ray (41.3%) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (34.9%). The most frequent isolated mold was Aspergillus fumigatus (49.2%). Cultures and/or histopathology were used for definite diagnosis in all cases, while galactomannan antigen test was additionally used in seven cases (11.1%), polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in four cases (6.3%), and beta-d-glucan testing in three cases (4.8%). Regarding AFT, the preferred antifungal was voriconazole (61.9%). Most patients underwent surgical debridement (63.5%). The outcome was successful in 77.5%. Discussion: Osteomyelitis due to Aspergillus spp. represents a severe infection. The available data suggest that prolonged AFT in combination with surgical debridement is the preferred management of this infection, while identification of the responsible mold is of paramount importance.
Experimental Approach of Quadriceps Strength Measurement: Implications for Assessments in Critically Ill Survivors
Authors: Rousseau Anne-Françoise , Kellens Isabelle , Delanaye Pierre , Bruyère Olivier , Misset Benoit , Croisier Jean-Louis
Published: January 2022

(1) Background: The supine testing position is suitable for early quadriceps strength (QS) assessment in intensive care unit, while a seated position is more appropriate for survivors who have regained mobility. Acquiring consistent measurements is essential for longitudinal follow-up. We compared the QS generated in different settings in healthy volunteers. (2) Methods: Isometric QS was assessed using a MicroFet2 and standardised protocols comparing different modalities. Hip and knee flexion angles were, respectively, 45° and 40° (H45-K40) in the supine position, and both at 90° (H90-K90) in the seated position. Dynamometer was either handheld (non-fixed configuration, NFC), or fixed (FC) in a cubicle. (3) Results: QS in H90–K90 and H45-K40 positions were strongly correlated, but QS was higher in the later position regardless of the configuration. Compared to H45-K40, biases of 108.2N (or 28.05%) and 110.3N (27.13%) were observed in H90-K90 position, respectively, in the NFC and FC. These biases were independently and positively associated with QS (p < 0.001). For both position, there were no significant differences between QS measured in NFC or FC. (4) Conclusions: The quadriceps was less efficient in the seated position, compared to the supine position, in healthy volunteers. These findings have practical implications for further assessments and research in critically ill patients.
Robust Statistical Inference in Generalized Linear Models Based on Minimum Renyi’s Pseudodistance Estimators
Authors: Jaenada María , Pardo Leandro
Published: January 2022

Minimum Renyi’s pseudodistance estimators (MRPEs) enjoy good robustness properties without a significant loss of efficiency in general statistical models, and, in particular, for linear regression models (LRMs). In this line, Castilla et al. considered robust Wald-type test statistics in LRMs based on these MRPEs. In this paper, we extend the theory of MRPEs to Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) using independent and nonidentically distributed observations (INIDO). We derive asymptotic properties of the proposed estimators and analyze their influence function to asses their robustness properties. Additionally, we define robust Wald-type test statistics for testing linear hypothesis and theoretically study their asymptotic distribution, as well as their influence function. The performance of the proposed MRPEs and Wald-type test statistics are empirically examined for the Poisson Regression models through a simulation study, focusing on their robustness properties. We finally test the proposed methods in a real dataset related to the treatment of epilepsy, illustrating the superior performance of the robust MRPEs as well as Wald-type tests.
Security Analysis of Continuous-Variable Measurement-Device-Independent Quantum Key Distribution Systems in Complex Communication Environments
Authors: Zheng Yi , Shi Haobin , Pan Wei , Wang Quantao , Mao Jiahui
Published: January 2022

Continuous-variable measure-device-independent quantum key distribution (CV-MDI QKD) is proposed to remove all imperfections originating from detection. However, there are still some inevitable imperfections in a practical CV-MDI QKD system. For example, there is a fluctuating channel transmittance in the complex communication environments. Here we investigate the security of the system under the effects of the fluctuating channel transmittance, where the transmittance is regarded as a fixed value related to communication distance in theory. We first discuss the parameter estimation in fluctuating channel transmittance based on these establishing of channel models, which has an obvious deviation compared with the estimated parameters in the ideal case. Then, we show the evaluated results when the channel transmittance respectively obeys the two-point distribution and the uniform distribution. In particular, the two distributions can be easily realized under the manipulation of eavesdroppers. Finally, we analyze the secret key rate of the system when the channel transmittance obeys the above distributions. The simulation analysis indicates that a slight fluctuation of the channel transmittance may seriously reduce the performance of the system, especially in the extreme asymmetric case. Furthermore, the communication between Alice, Bob and Charlie may be immediately interrupted. Therefore, eavesdroppers can manipulate the channel transmittance to complete a denial-of-service attack in a practical CV-MDI QKD system. To resist this attack, the Gaussian post-selection method can be exploited to calibrate the parameter estimation to reduce the deterioration of performance of the system.
Smartphones and Learning: An Extension of M-Learning or a Distinct Area of Inquiry
Authors: Hartley Kendall , Andújar Alberto
Published: January 2022

The smartphone has become an integral part of the education landscape. While there has been significant smartphone research in education under the guise of m-learning, the unique role of the device suggests that m-learning may not be an appropriate characterization. The purpose of this paper is to review the use of m-learning as a primary descriptor for smartphone- and learning-related research. In support of this goal, the paper reviews the definitions associated with m-learning, smartphones, and related technologies from the perspective of educational research. In addition, a review of author keywords of research on smartphones in education is used to provide context to the classification of the research. Finally, three theoretically guided smartphone programs are presented as evidence of the unique nature of smartphone and learning research. This review concludes with recommendations for the characterization of future research.
Digital Storytelling in Sports Narrations: Employing Audiovisual Tools in Sport Journalism Higher Education Course
Authors: Matsiola Maria , Spiliopoulos Panagiotis , Tsigilis Nikolaos
Published: January 2022

The present generation of young people who nowadays attend higher education curricula are accustomed to receiving information and knowledge through audiovisual material. Creating a digital story can assist students to learn more on the subject they study as well as to help them overcome obstacles that hinder the presentation of their gained knowledge. The aim of this paper was to examine the use of audiovisual tools in the educational procedure of sport journalism higher education courses. Thirty-eight students in the School of Journalism at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki were asked to present a team sport in a video form. Following the general instructions from the teachers they were able to use any kind of equipment and software they chose to create the audiovisual production. Upon the completion of the projects and based on an embedded mixed research design they were asked to answer a short questionnaire and afterwards to participate in two focus group discussions. The results revealed that the employment of technological tools to create, present, and furthermore express themselves was warmly accepted and the participants stated that it provided a vivid educational environment, which besides enhancing the process of teaching, contributed to the acquisition of skills and their right utilization.
Hopes and Fears of First-Year Freshman College Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Andrade Cláudia , Fernandes Joana L.
Published: January 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic made the experience of being a first-year freshman college student unique. This study aims to analyze the hopes and fears of these students concerning their current life and future goals. Participating students completed the Hopes & Fears questionnaire. Results showed that students’ hopes and fears were mainly connected with domains of education and the global/collective dimension, followed by personal and family members’ health. Two new categories emerged, self-fulfillment and solidarity, reflecting the importance of the contextual dimension that these students were navigating. The findings of the current study contribute to the research of college students’ hopes and fears towards their future and accounts for the analyses of this topic as we progress to a post-pandemic phase.
Effects of Physical Activity, Exercise and Sport on Executive Function in Young People with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review
Authors: Montalva-Valenzuela Felipe , Andrades-Ramírez Oscar , Castillo-Paredes Antonio
Published: January 2022

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that negatively affects the inattention, disorganization, and/or hyperactivity–impulsivity in children and adolescents who suffer from it, included cases being reported that continue into adulthood. This disorder impairs social, academic, emotional, psychological, and health system functioning due to its high cost of treatment. The present systematic review aims to analyze the effects of physical activity, exercise, and sports on the executive function in children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD through the scientific literature. The results show that the practice of physical activity, exercise, or sport produces improvements in executive function in children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD, mainly through aerobic exercise. A 20 min session of physical activity, sport, or exercise leads to improvements in executive functions in children and adolescents with ADHD. It can be concluded that the practice of physical activity, exercise, and sport generate improvements on executive functions in children and adolescents with ADHD, mainly through aerobic exercise.
P1OVD: Patch-Based 1-Day Out-of-Bounds Vulnerabilities Detection Tool for Downstream Binaries
Authors: Li Hongyi , He Daojing , Zhu Xiaogang , Chan Sammy
Published: January 2022

In the past decades, due to the popularity of cloning open-source software, 1-day vulnerabilities are prevalent among cyber-physical devices. Detection tools for 1-day vulnerabilities effectively protect users who fail to adopt 1-day vulnerability patches in time. However, manufacturers can non-standardly build the binaries from customized source codes to multiple architectures. The code variants in the downstream binaries decrease the accuracy of 1-day vulnerability detections, especially when signatures of out-of-bounds vulnerabilities contain incomplete information of vulnerabilities and patches. Motivated by the above observations, in this paper, we propose P1OVD, an effective patch-based 1-day out-of-bounds vulnerability detection tool for downstream binaries. P1OVD first generates signatures containing patch information and vulnerability root cause information. Then, P1OVD uses an accurate and robust matching algorithm to scan target binaries. We have evaluated P1OVD on 104 different versions of 30 out-of-bounds vulnerable functions and 620 target binaries in six different compilation environments. The results show that P1OVD achieved an accuracy of 83.06%. Compared to the widely used patch-level vulnerability detection tool ReDeBug, P1OVD ignores 4.07 unnecessary lines on average. The experiments on the x86_64 platform and the O0 optimization show that P1OVD increases the accuracy of the state-of-the-art tool, BinXray, by 8.74%. Besides, it can analyze a single binary in 4 s after a 20-s offline signature extraction on average.
A High-Gain Multiphase Interleaved Differential Capacitor Clamped Boost Converter
Authors: Raveendhra Dogga , Rajana Poojitha , Kumar Kalamchety Srinivasa Ravi , Jugge Praveen , Devarapalli Ramesh , Rusu Eugen , Fayek Hady H.
Published: January 2022

A step-up for a non-isolated interleaved differential capacitor clamped boost (IDCCB) DC–DC converter is proposed in this manuscript. Because of its ability to produce high voltage gains, it is used in high-power applications. This converter’s modelling and control design are applicable to any number of phases. A six-phase interleaved differential capacitor clamped boost prototype is tested in this work, with an input voltage of 60 V, an output voltage of 360 V, and a nominal output power of 2.2 kW. The components of the converter are placed and controlled in such a way that the output voltage is the sum of the two capacitor voltages and the input voltage, which is two times higher than the supply voltage when compared to a conventional interleaved differential dual-boost converter. This converter reduces the stress on the capacitor with reference to the conventional interleaved differential boost converter for the same conversion gain. This prototype is considered and the developed approach is applied, after which the experimental results are obtained. This converter has potential for application in areas such as renewable energy conversion and electric vehicles.
Fourier Image Watermarking: Print-Cam Application
Authors: Gourrame Khadija , Ros Frederic , Douzi Hassan , Harba Rachid , Riad Rabia
Published: January 2022

Digital image watermarking is an active research field since it provides protection, security, and authenticity of data. This paper presents development and implementation of a blind and robust watermarking application for ID images under a print-cam system. In the present case, the images are watermarked and printed on ID cards and then detected freehandedly with a smartphone camera. In order to design an efficient and robust image watermarking application, the attacks produced in print-cam processes, such as geometric distortions, must be resolved. Accordingly, the proposed watermarking approach is applied in the Fourier domain. Then, a frame-based projective rectification is integrated to deal with geometric distortions by using detection of Hough lines. Moreover, better robustness against print-cam watermarking attacks was achieved compared with the existing methods, and an Android application was designed and implemented based on the proposed scheme.
Analysis of Electric Energy Consumption Profiles Using a Machine Learning Approach: A Paraguayan Case Study
Authors: Morales Félix , García-Torres Miguel , Velázquez Gustavo , Daumas-Ladouce Federico , Gardel-Sotomayor Pedro E. , Gómez-Vela Francisco , Divina Federico , Vázquez Noguera José Luis , Sauer Ayala Carlos , Pinto-Roa Diego P. , Mello-Román Julio César , Becerra-Alonso David
Published: January 2022

Correctly defining and grouping electrical feeders is of great importance for electrical system operators. In this paper, we compare two different clustering techniques, K-means and hierarchical agglomerative clustering, applied to real data from the east region of Paraguay. The raw data were pre-processed, resulting in four data sets, namely, (i) a weekly feeder demand, (ii) a monthly feeder demand, (iii) a statistical feature set extracted from the original data and (iv) a seasonal and daily consumption feature set obtained considering the characteristics of the Paraguayan load curve. Considering the four data sets, two clustering algorithms, two distance metrics and five linkage criteria a total of 36 models with the Silhouette, Davies–Bouldin and Calinski–Harabasz index scores was assessed. The K-means algorithms with the seasonal feature data sets showed the best performance considering the Silhouette, Calinski–Harabasz and Davies–Bouldin validation index scores with a configuration of six clusters.
Optimal Field Sampling of Arc Sources via Asymptotic Study of the Radiation Operator
Authors: Moretta Raffaele , Leone Giovanni , Munno Fortuna , Pierri Rocco
Published: January 2022

In this paper, the question of how to efficiently sample the field radiated by a circumference arc source is addressed. Classical sampling strategies require the acquisition of a redundant number of field measurements that can make the acquisition time prohibitive. For such reason, the paper aims at finding the minimum number of basis functions representing the radiated field with good accuracy and at providing an interpolation formula of the radiated field that exploits a non-redundant number of field samples. To achieve the first task, the number of relevant singular values of the radiation operator is computed by exploiting a weighted adjoint operator. In particular, the kernel of the related eigenvalue problem is first evaluated asymptotically; then, a warping transformation and a proper choice of the weight function are employed to recast such a kernel as a convolution and bandlimited function of sinc type. Finally, the number of significant singular values of the radiation operator is found by invoking the Slepian–Pollak results. The second task is achieved by exploiting a Shannon sampling expansion of the reduced field. The analysis is developed for both the far and the near fields radiated by a 2D scalar arc source observed on a circumference arc.
A Review of Recent Advancements in Offshore Wind Turbine Technology
Authors: Asim Taimoor , Islam Sheikh , Hemmati Arman , Khalid Muhammad
Published: January 2022

Offshore wind turbines are becoming increasingly popular due to their higher wind energy harnessing capabilities and lower visual pollution. Researchers around the globe have been reporting significant scientific advancements in offshore wind turbines technology, addressing key issues, such as aerodynamic characteristics of turbine blades, dynamic response of the turbine, structural integrity of the turbine foundation, design of the mooring cables, ground scouring and cost modelling for commercial viability. These investigations range from component-level design and analysis to system-level response and optimization using a multitude of analytical, empirical and numerical techniques. With such wide-ranging studies available in the public domain, there is a need to carry out an extensive yet critical literature review on the recent advancements in offshore wind turbine technology. Offshore wind turbine blades’ aerodynamics and the structural integrity of offshore wind turbines are of particular importance, which can lead towards system’s optimal design and operation, leading to reduced maintenance costs. Thus, in this study, our focus is to highlight key knowledge gaps in the scientific investigations on offshore wind turbines’ aerodynamic and structural response. It is envisaged that this study will pave the way for future concentrated efforts in better understanding the complex behavior of these machines.
Analysis of Residual Current Flows in Inverter Based Energy Systems Using Machine Learning Approaches
Authors: Behrends Holger , Millinger Dietmar , Weihs-Sedivy Werner , Javornik Anže , Roolfs Gerold , Geißendörfer Stefan
Published: January 2022

Faults and unintended conditions in grid-connected photovoltaic systems often cause a change of the residual current. This article describes a novel machine learning based approach to detecting anomalies in the residual current of a photovoltaic system. It can be used to detect faults or critical states at an early stage and extends conventional threshold-based detection methods. For this study, a power-hardware-in-the-loop approach was carried out, in which typical faults have been injected under ideal and realistic operating conditions. The investigation shows that faults in a photovoltaic converter system cause a unique behaviour of the residual current and fault patterns can be detected and identified by using pattern recognition and variational autoencoder machine learning algorithms. In this context, it was found that the residual current is not only affected by malfunctions of the system, but also by volatile external influences. One of the main challenges here is to separate the regular residual currents caused by the interferences from those caused by faults. Compared to conventional methods, which respond to absolute changes in residual current, the two machine learning models detect faults that do not affect the absolute value of the residual current.
State Feedback Speed Control with Periodic Disturbances Attenuation for PMSM Drive
Authors: Niewiara Łukasz J. , Szczepański Rafał , Tarczewski Tomasz , Grzesiak Lech M.
Published: January 2022

This paper proposes an auto-tuned constrained state-feedback controller (SFC) to attenuate periodic disturbances present in permanent magnet synchronous (PMSM) motor drives. An online auto-tuning process of SFC has been made using a powerful nature-inspired optimization algorithm—artificial bee colony (ABC)—to achieve high-performance operation of the drive. A novel performance index is proposed to minimize the impact of pulsating torque and obtain smooth-velocity of the drive. The proposed approach is a practical application of classic control theory with novel engineering-tools for improving the operational quality of a PMSM drive system. The obtained results are compared with a classical cascade control structure (CCS) based on proportional-integral (PI) regulators and disturbance observer-based control (DOBC). A detailed time- and frequency-domain analysis has been conducted in respect to periodic disturbances present in a PMSM drive system. Moreover, the robustness of SFC against parameter variations of inductance and resistance has been tested.
Mechanics and Mathematics in Ancient Greece
Authors: Capecchi Danilo , Ruta Giuseppe
Published: January 2022

This entry presents an overview on how mechanics in Greece was linked to geometry. In ancient Greece, mechanics was about lifting heavy bodies, and mathematics almost coincided with geometry. Mathematics interconnected with mechanics at least from the 5th century BCE and became dominant in the Hellenistic period. The contributions by thinkers such as Aristotle, Euclid, and Archytas on fundamental problems such as that of the lever are sketched. This entry can be the starting point for a deeper investigation on the connections of the two disciplines through the ages until our present day.
Heterotrophic Bacteria Play an Important Role in Endemism of Cephalostachyum pingbianense (Hsueh & Y.M. Yang ex Yi et al.) D.Z. Li & H.Q. Yang, 2007, a Full-Year Shooting Woody Bamboo
Authors: Xia Tize , Li Lushuang , Li Bin , Dou Peitong , Yang Hanqi
Published: January 2022

The previous studies show soil microbes play a key role in the material and nutrient cycles in the forest ecosystem, but little is known about how soil microbes respond to plant distribution, especially in the soil bacterial community in woody bamboo forests. Cephalostachyum pingbianense (Hsueh & Y.M. Yang ex Yi et al.) D.Z. Li & H.Q. Yang, 2007 is known as the only bamboo species producing shoots all year round in natural conditions. Endemic to the Dawei mountain in Yunnan of China, this species is a good case to study how soil bacteria respond to plant endemic distribution. In this work, we assayed the soil chemical properties, enzyme activity, changes in the bacterial community along the distribution range of the C. pingbianense forest. The results showed that soil nutrients at the range edge were nitrogen-rich but phosphorus-deficient, and soil pH value and soil urease activity were significantly lower than that of the central range. No significant difference was detected in soil bacterial diversity, community composition, and function between the central and marginal range of C. pingbianense forest. Notably, the relative abundance of heterotrophy bacteria, such as Variibacter and Acidothermus, in the soil of the C. pingbianense forest was significantly higher than that of the outside range, which may lead to a higher soil organic carbon mineralization rate. These results imply that abundant heterotrophy bacteria were linked to the endemism and full-year shooting in C. pingbianense. Our study is amongst the first cases demonstrating the important role of heterotrophy bacteria in the distribution formation of endemic woody bamboos in special soil habitats, and provides insight into germplasm conservation and forest management in woody bamboos.
Demographic and Life History Characteristics of Black Bullheads Ameiurus melas in a North Temperate USA Lake
Authors: Sikora Logan W. , Mrnak Joseph T. , Henningsen Rebecca , VanDeHey Justin A. , Sass Greg G.
Published: January 2022

Black bullheads Ameiurus melas are an environmentally tolerant omnivorous fish species that are found throughout much of North America and parts of Europe. Despite their prevalence, black bullheads are an infrequently studied species making their biology, ecology, and life history poorly understood. Although limited information has been published on black bullheads, evidence suggests that bullheads can dominate the fish biomass and have profound influences on the fish community in some north temperate USA lakes. The goal of our study was to provide additional information on black bullhead population demographics, growth rates, life history characteristics, and seasonal diet preferences in a northern Wisconsin lake. Using common fish collection gears (fyke netting, electrofishing), fish aging protocols, fecundity assessments, and diet indices, our results suggested that black bullheads exhibited relatively fast growth rates, early ages at maturity, moderate fecundity, and a diverse omnivorous diet. Due to these demographic and life history characteristics, black bullheads have the potential to dominate fish community biomass in their native and introduced range. Results from our study may inform the management of black bullhead as native and invasive species.