bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association between Physical Fitness Index and Psychological Symptoms in Chinese Children and Adolescents
Authors: Lu Jinkui , Sun Hao , Zhou Jianfeng , Xiong Jianping
Published: August 2022

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between different physical fitness indices (PFIs) and psychological symptoms and each dimension (emotional symptoms, behavioral symptoms, social adaptation difficulties) of Chinese children and adolescents. Methods: A total of 7199 children and adolescents aged 13–18 in Jiangxi Province, China, were tested for grip strength, standing long jump, sit-ups, sit and reach, repeated straddling, 50 m run, 20 m shuttle run test (20 m SRT) items. The physical fitness indicators were standardized, converted to Z score and added up to obtain the PFI, and the self-assessment of the psychological section of the multidimensional sub-health questionnaire of adolescents (MSQA) to test the psychological symptoms, using the chi-square test to determine the psychological symptoms of different types of children and adolescents and binary logistic regression analysis to determine the association between psychological symptoms and different PFI grades. Results: The higher the PFI of Chinese children and adolescents, the lower the detection rate of psychological symptoms, emotional symptoms and social adaptation difficulties, from 25.0% to 18.4%, 31.3% to 25.7% and 20.1% to 14.4%, respectively. These results were statistically significant (χ2 = 14.073, 9.332, 12.183, p < 0.05). Taking the high-grade PFI as a reference, binary logistic regression analysis was performed. Generally, compared with the high-grade PFI, children and adolescents with a low-grade PFI (OR = 1.476, 95% CI: 1.200–1.814) or medium-grade PFI (OR = 1.195, 95% CI: 1.010–1.413) had a higher risk of psychological symptoms (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The lower the PFI of Chinese children and adolescents, the higher the detection rate of psychological symptoms, showing a negative correlation. In the future, measures should be taken to improve the physical fitness level of children and adolescents in order to reduce the incidence of psychological symptoms and promote the healthy development of children and adolescents.
Back-Health-Related Physical Activity and Exercise Knowledge in Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Miñana-Signes Vicente , Monfort-Pañego Manuel
Published: August 2022

Knowledge is a determining factor for the development of postural habits; it could be considered as the first step in the establishment of changes. The aim of this study was to analyze the level of specific back-health-related physical activity and exercise knowledge in adolescents. A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 1500 high school students between the ages of 13 and 18 (mean age = 15.18 ± 1.44). Students from the Valencian Community (Spain) were recruited with a confidence level of 95% and an accepted standard error of ± 2.53%. Self-report questionnaires were used to record back-health-related physical activity knowledge. The level of specific knowledge of back-health education related to physical activity and exercise in adolescents was low (X = 2.05 ± 2.26). Only 10.9% of the students passed the specific knowledge test, achieving a score equal or superior to 5. The boys’ average score was higher (X = 2.17 ± 2.31) than the girls’ (X = 1.94 ± 2.21) with statistically significant differences (p = 0.048). The level of specific knowledge increased with age (p < 0.001). Secondary school students show a low level of specific knowledge concerning back health. It is recommended that back care education be a part of school curriculum.
Safety Evaluation of Oral Sirolimus in the Treatment of Childhood Diseases: A Systematic Review
Authors: Zhang Zixin , Li Yanan , Zhang Guangyue , Yang Kaiying , Qiu Tong , Zhou Jiangyuan , Gong Xue , Ji Yi
Published: August 2022

Background: Sirolimus, a mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor, has been widely used in pediatric patients, but the safety of sirolimus in pediatric patients has not been well determined. Objective: The objective of this study was to systematically evaluate prospective studies reporting the safety of sirolimus in the treatment of childhood diseases. Methods: The following data were extracted in a standardized manner: study design, demographic characteristics, intervention, and safety outcomes. Results: In total, 9 studies were included, encompassing 575 patients who received oral sirolimus for at least 6 months. Various adverse events occurred. The most common adverse event was oral mucositis (8.2%, 95% CI: 0.054 to 0.110). Through comparative analysis of the subgroups based on the targeted concentration range, we discovered that many adverse events were significantly higher in the high concentration group (≥10 ng/mL) than in the low concentration group (<10 ng/mL) (p < 0.01). More interestingly, we found that oral mucositis was more frequently reported in children with vascular anomalies than tuberous sclerosis complex. Conclusions: This study shows that oral sirolimus in the treatment of childhood diseases is safe and reliable. However, sirolimus treatment in the pediatric population should be strictly monitored to reduce the occurrence of serious or fatal adverse events.
Biolinguistics: A Scientometric Analysis of Research on (Children’s) Molecular Genetics of Speech and Language (Disorders)
Authors: Alduais Ahmed , Almaghlouth Shrouq , Alfadda Hind , Qasem Fawaz
Published: August 2022

There are numerous children and adolescents throughout the world who are either diagnosed with speech and language disorders or manifest any of them as a result of another disorder. Meanwhile, since the emergence of language as an innate capability, the question of whether it constitutes a behaviour or an innate ability has been debated for decades. There have been several theories developed that support and demonstrate the biological foundations of human language. Molecular evidence of the biological basis of language came from the FOXP2 gene, also known as the language gene. Taking a closer look at both human language and biology, biolinguistics is at the core of these inquiries—attempting to understand the aetiologies of the genetics of speech and language disorders in children and adolescents. This paper presents empirical evidence based on both scientometrics and bibliometrics. We collected data between 1935 and 2022 from Scopus, WOS, and Lens. A total of 1570 documents were analysed from Scopus, 1440 from the WOS, and 5275 from Lens. Bibliometric analysis was performed using Excel based on generated reports from these three databases. CiteSpace 5.8.R3 and VOSviewer 1.6.18 were used to conduct the scientometric analysis. Eight bibliometric and eight scientometric indicators were used to measure the development of the field of biolinguistics, including but not limited to the production size of knowledge, the most examined topics, and the most frequent concepts and variables. A major finding of our study is identifying the most examined topics in the genetics of speech and language disorders. These included: gestural communication, structural design, cultural evolution, neural network, language tools, human language faculty, evolutionary biology, molecular biology, and theoretical perspective on language evolution.
Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire Predicts Moderate-to-Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children and Adolescents with Obesity
Authors: Umano Giuseppina Rosaria , Rondinelli Giulia , Luciano Margherita , Pennarella Alessandro , Aiello Francesca , Mangoni di Santo Stefano Giuseppe Salvatore R. C. , Di Sessa Anna , Marzuillo Pierluigi , Papparella Alfonso , Miraglia del Giudice Emanuele
Published: August 2022

Pediatric obesity is associated with an increased risk of morbidity during childhood. Alongside the well-known metabolic syndrome, during the last decades scientific research has deeply investigated the risk of sleep breathing disorders. Among them, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) commonly affects children with obesity. The presence of OSA heightens the risk of metabolic impairment and weight gain. Therefore, it deserves specific treatment. However, polysomnography (PSG) is not always available in clinical settings, and alternative diagnostic tools are needed. This study aimed to investigate the predictivity of the pediatric sleep questionnaire (PSQ) for moderate-to-severe OSA diagnosis. Children and adolescents with obesity and suspected OSA with available full-night cardiorespiratory PSG were retrospectively enrolled. Receiver operating curve analysis was performed to test the ability of PSQ in predicting moderate-to-severe OSA (AHI > 5 episode/h). The final sample included 60 children and adolescents. The PSQ showed a good area under the curve (AUC) of 0.88 (95% CI 0.78–0.98, p < 0.0001). Moreover, a value above or equal to 0.65 showed an 80% sensitivity and 100% specificity for moderate and severe OSA. These findings suggest that PSQ might be used in clinical settings with limited access to PSG for stratifying disease severity and for selecting children with urgent need of sleep study.
A Case of X-Linked Hypophosphatemic Rickets with Dentin Dysplasia in Mandibular Third Molars
Authors: Okawa Rena , Hamada Masakazu , Takagi Misato , Matayoshi Saaya , Nakano Kazuhiko
Published: August 2022

X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets (XLH) is a disease characterized by impaired bone mineralization, and its dental features include gingival abscesses and large pulp spaces due to dentin dysplasia. A 20-year-old woman with XLH was referred to oral surgery for extraction of mandibular third molars. She was diagnosed with XLH at approximately 1 year of age and was treated thereafter. There was no history of gingival abscesses, and panoramic radiographic and computed tomographic examinations revealed no evidence of dentin dysplasia. However, histopathological examination of the extracted teeth showed dentin dysplasia, including interglobular dentin. In this XLH patient, dentin dysplasia was revealed histologically even though no obvious abnormality was found on visual and radiographic examinations. These findings suggest that in patients with XLH, oral management must take dentin dysplasia of the permanent teeth into consideration even if the patient’s general condition is well controlled with conventional therapy.
The Attitude of Parents Toward Their Children Receiving the COVID-19 Vaccine
Authors: Alghamdi Salmah
Published: August 2022

Parental attitudes towards childhood vaccination programs are important for successful delivery. Children were affected by COVID-19; however, parental attitudes towards childhood COVID-19 vaccination have not been fully assessed. The purpose is to assess parental hesitancy and attitudes about their children receiving a COVID-19 vaccination. This was a cross-sectional study using an electronically distributed questionnaire including a convenience sample of 123 Saudi Arabian parents of school-aged children between five and eleven years old. Most of the participants were mothers (77.2%) aged 31–40 years old (61%). The mean score of the questionnaire about parents’ attitudes towards the COVID-19 vaccine was M = 18.95, SD = 5.52. Only 39% of the parents were hesitant to have their children receive the seasonal influenza vaccine compared to 74% who were hesitant to have their children receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Most of the children (80%) did not receive the COVID-19 vaccine because of parental concerns about the vaccine’s side effects (49.5 %). Parents whose children received the COVID-19 vaccine (Median = 24, IQR = 9) had higher attitude scores than those whose children did not receive the vaccine (Median = 17, IQR = 6). The findings shed light on parental attitudes towards their children receiving a COVID-19 vaccination. Healthcare providers can build upon this study to improve parental attitudes towards childhood vaccination.
Weathering and Material Characterization of ZTO/Ag/ZTO Coatings on Polyethylene Terephthalate Substrates for the Application of Flexible Transparent Conductors
Authors: Kao Yu-Han , Chang Hung-Shuo , Wang Chih-Chieh , Lin Chiao-Chi
Published: August 2022

Flexible transparent conducting coatings have been adopted in many novel optoelectrical devices for energy-related applications. Laminated coatings composed of oxide/metal/oxide (abbreviated as OMO) layers are promising alternative materials to indium tin oxide (ITO). However, the durability and weatherability of free-standing OMO samples—including laminated OMO coatings and polymeric substrates—affects the performance of the related optoelectrical components and devices. It is necessary to study the degradation mechanisms in terms of optoelectrical and mechanical properties through the weathering tests. In this study, we performed indoor accelerated and outdoor weathering tests on commercial OMO samples composed of ZTO/Ag/ZTO coatings on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates. The effects of environmental stressors such as ultraviolet (UV) radiation, elevated temperature, and mechanical bending on the degradation behaviors of OMO samples were investigated. Comprehensive material characterizations including UV–Vis spectroscopy, four-point probing, tensile tests, and Raman spectroscopy were carried out. The OMO coating was robust against the weathering tests, while the PET substrates underwent embrittlement upon long-term weathering. The embrittled PET substrates consequently impaired the mechanical flexibility and bendability of the OMO coatings. The results of this study provide an in-depth understanding of the durability and weatherability of silver-based OMO flexible transparent conductive materials.
Properties and Compatibility Assessment of the Slurry with Quicklime for Fissure Restoration of Earthen Sites in Northwest China
Authors: Yu Xiangpeng , Cui Kai , Hu Xue , Qiao Qian , Zhang Guojun
Published: August 2022

Slurries with quicklime for fissure restoration in earthen sites in northwest China can reduce dry shrinkage and reinforce the soil on both sides of fissure. However, their full-scale properties need to be investigated and a compatibility assessment needs to be carried out in order to proceed with further research. The paper pays attention to the full-scale properties of the slurry and typical site soils. A total of 3 slurries with different mix proportions and 35 earthen sites in northwest China are selected to test properties, including basic physical properties, mechanical properties, thermal properties, and water-physical properties. The test results show the properties of the slurries are close and that the properties of the site soils are obviously different. Then, a compatibility assessment is considered as a multi-criteria decision-making problem to solve. Three universal and necessary steps in the paper are to select assessment indicators, weigh each indicator, and sort all of the samples. The AHP, CRITIC, and TOPSIS methods are adopted in the process of the compatibility assessment. The results of assessment show that most site soils are commonly or highly compatible with three slurries; few site soils are very highly or lowly compatible; and that no site soils are very lowly compatible, which means that the three slurries with quicklime with different mix proportions are acceptable for most earthen sites in NW China. The paper provides much basic data of the slurries with quicklime and site soils widely distributed in arid region in NW China, and also builds a model of the compatibility assessment which has potential for the further application of slurries with quicklime.
Synthesis and Structures of the Capped and Sandwiched Cobalt Heptamolybdate Polyoxometalate (NH4)6{[Co(H2O)5][Mo7O24][Co(H2O)2][Mo7O24][Co(H2O)5]} · 6 H2O and Its Extended Structure (NH4)6{[Co(H2O)2]3[Mo7O24]2}
Authors: Spriet Matthieu R. , Polinski Matthew J. , Mercado Brandon Q. , Villa Eric M.
Published: August 2022

Two polyoxometalate-based compounds containing the heptamolybdate anion and cobalt(II) have been synthesized, structurally characterized via single-crystal X-ray diffraction and spectroscopically analyzed with solid-state UV–Vis–NIR. The first crystal structure presented is a capped- and sandwich-style polyoxometalate (NH4)6{[Co(H2O)5][Mo7O24] [Co(H2O)2][Mo7O24][Co(H2O)5]} · 6 H2O (Co3Mo14-POM). This orange product crystallizes in the P-1 space group and has an interesting structure for polyoxometalates (POMs). Here, the cobalt(II) groups are functioning both as a bridge between two heptamolybdate units and also capping units at the top and the bottom of the polyoxometalate. The second structure, another product within the same reaction, is constructed on a similar bonding motif but now forms an extended structure: (NH4)6{[Co(H2O)2]3[Mo7O24]2} (Co3Mo14-ES). This compound also crystallizes in the space group P-1 but is easily separated due to its much darker red-violet color. These structures present themselves as a noteworthy compounds within POM-based crystal structures. Herein, the syntheses, crystal structures and characterization of these compounds are presented.
Design of a Hybrid Electric Power-Split Transmission for Braking Energy Recovery in a Drilling Rig
Authors: Castellano Antonella , Leone Daniele , Cammalleri Marco
Published: August 2022

Despite the promising potential of the hybrid electric power-split layout, its broader market penetration is prevented by the large number of feasible solutions and the constructive complexity, which overcomplicate the design process. Moreover, due to the lack of relevant literature references, the power-split transmissions design is even more difficult if concerning applications outside the automotive and agricultural sectors. In this paper, a general parametric model already available in the literature to design a single-mode power-split transmission with up to two planetary gear sets and six ordinary gear sets was applied to hybridize an oil drilling rig to recover energy braking during the gravity-driven lowering phases. This is the first power-split electric hybridization of a drilling rig. Two solutions differing in engine power size are presented. Thanks to the modularity of the model, the procedure enabled the optimization of the ICE, the electric machines, and the gear sets through decoupled design phases.
Case Report: MRI, CEUS, and CT Imaging Features of Metanephric Adenoma with Histopathological Correlation and Literature Review
Authors: Gohla Georg , Bongers Malte N. , Kaufmann Sascha , Kraus Mareen S.
Published: August 2022

The metanephric adenoma is an extremely rare, benign, embryonal-epithelial neoplasm of the kidney and has a good prognosis with appropriate treatment. It can present at any age and is often asymptomatic. Histologically, the lesion is well established; however, there have been only a few cases described with available detailed imaging findings, most of them with large renal masses typically depicted by computed tomography (CT). This case report includes imaging of contrast-enhanced MRI, contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), and CT, and thus adds to the information available, potentially promoting a nephron-sparing clinical pathway. We report on the clinical presentation, imaging, histopathological diagnosis, and treatment data of a 27-year-old female, in whom an incidental, symptomatic kidney tumor was detected. CT, CEUS, and MRI showed a suspicious unifocal renal lesion with inhomogeneous enhancement, which was indistinguishable from renal cell carcinoma. After laparoscopic resection, a metanephric adenoma with microscopically partially glandular, partially nest-like solid growth and without distinctive atypia was diagnosed pathohistologically. Immunohistochemistry results were positive for Wilms Tumor 1 and CD57 and negative for EMA and CK7: 2–3% positive cells in MIB1 coloring. At 3-month and 1-year follow-up, the patient was asymptomatic and imaging showed no recurrence of renal masses or metastases.
Can Ultrasound and Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Help Differentiate between Subpleural Focal Organizing Pneumonia and Primary Lung Malignancy?
Authors: Fu Ying , Lei Yutao , Cui Ligang , Du Tingting , Mei Fang
Published: August 2022

Background: Subpleural focal organizing pneumonia (FOP) and primary lung malignancy (PLM) are usually confused. The aim of this study was to explore the value of ultrasound (US) and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the differential diagnosis of FOP and PLM. Methods: A total of 23 patients (mean age: 64.57 ± 11.86 years) with FOP and 100 (mean age: 66.29 ± 11.05 years) with subpleural lesions diagnosed as PLM, confirmed by pathological diagnosis and clinical follow-up, were retrospectively enrolled. The largest lesion diameter, angle between the lesion border and thoracic wall, air bronchial sign, internal blood supply, blood supply form, and pleural effusion examined using conventional US were retrospectively analyzed. The indicators of CEUS included the arrival time of contrast agent in the lesion, lesion–lung arrival time difference, degree of enhancement, distribution uniformity of contrast medium, presence of non-enhancing region, and arterial filling mode in the lesion. A p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Presence of air bronchial sign (odds ratio [OR] = 6.18, p = 0.025), acute angle between the lesion border and thoracic wall (OR = 7.124, p = 0.033), and homogeneous enhancement (OR = 35.26, p = 0.01) showed predictive value for the diagnosis of FOP. According to the results of the logistic regression analysis, the area under the receiver operating curve of the above features combined was 0.960, and the sensitivity and specificity were 95.0% and 82.6%, respectively. Conclusions: US combined with CEUS has the potential to differentiate between FOP and PLM.
Retinal Microvascular Abnormalities Predict Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Heart Failure
Authors: Guo Shaohua , Yin Songtao , Song Wenhua , Tse Gary , Liu Juping , Hei Kaiwen , Chen Kangyin , Su Long , Liu Tong
Published: August 2022

Background: Narrower retinal arterioles and wider retinal venules have been associated with the incidence of heart failure (HF). However, whether they are predictive of the prognosis of heart failure (HF) is unclear. We aimed to explore the role of retinal vessel calibers in predicting long-term clinical outcomes of HF. Methods: This is a prospective, single-center, observational study that surveyed patients in a tertiary referral hospital for the treatment of HF. Retinal vessel caliber was graded using retinal photography. The primary endpoint was the composite endpoint of HF rehospitalization and mortality at 12 months. Results: There were 55 patients with chronic HF included in the final analysis. At 12 months, the cumulative incidence of the primary endpoint, HF rehospitalization, and mortality tended to be higher with the widening of the central retinal venular equivalent (CRVE) (p for non-linearity = 0.059) and was significantly increased when CRVE reached a cut-off value (283 μm) (p = 0.011) following adjustment for age, sex, etiology of HF, and diabetes. No association between the central retinal arteriolar equivalent (CRAE) and arteriolar-to-venular caliber ratio (AVR) was found with the clinical outcome in both univariable and multivariable Cox regression. CRAE, CRVE, and AVR had no relationship with the concentration of the N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide. In addition, CRVE was not associated with cardiac diastolic and systolic function. Conclusions: When the retinal venular caliber widens to a certain point, the composite incidence of HF rehospitalization and mortality significantly increase, suggesting retinal vessel caliber imaging may provide insight into the development of HF.
Electrical Impedance Tomography Can Be Used to Quantify Lung Hyperinflation during HFOV: The Pilot Study in Pigs
Authors: Ort Vaclav , Roubik Karel
Published: August 2022

Dynamic hyperinflation is reported as a potential risk during high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV), and its existence has been documented both by physical models and by CT. The aim of this study is to determine the suitability of electrical impendence tomography (EIT) for the measurement of dynamic lung hyperinflation and hypoinflation during HFOV. Eleven healthy pigs were anaesthetized and ventilated using HFOV. The difference between the airway pressure at the airway opening and alveolar space was measured by EIT and esophageal balloons at three mean airway pressures (12, 18 and 24 cm H2O) and two inspiratory to expiratory time ratios (1:1, 1:2). The I:E ratio was the primary parameter associated with differences between airway and alveolar pressures. All animals showed hyperinflation at a 1:1 ratio (median 1.9 cm H2O) and hypoinflation at a 1:2 (median –4.0 cm H2O) as measured by EIT. EIT measurements had a linear correlation to esophageal balloon measurements (r2 = –0.915, p = 0.0085). EIT measurements were slightly higher than that of the esophageal balloon transducer with the mean difference of 0.57 cm H2O. Presence of a hyperinflation or hypoinflation was also confirmed independently by chest X-ray. We found that dynamic hyperinflation developed during HFOV may be detected and characterized noninvasively by EIT.
The Menace of Candida auris Epidemic Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review
Authors: Najeeb Hala , Siddiqui Sarush Ahmed , Anas Zahra , Ali Syed Hasan , Usmani Shajie Ur Rehman , Jawed Fareeha , Jatoi Hafsa Nazir
Published: August 2022

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent for the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, has sparked a medical emergency worldwide. With the rise in COVID-19 infections and an eventual increase in hospitalized critically ill patients, a trend of bacterial, fungal, and viral superinfection has been noted. One important agent of co-infection identified is Candida auris. Due to its multidrug-resistant nature and easy transmissibility, C. auris is difficult to manage in COVID-positive patients. Patients with comorbidities, immunosuppressive states, intubated and on ventilators are more likely to contract the fungal infection. Therefore, it is essential to the first screen, diagnose, and isolate patients with C. auris infection and manage and treat them while preventing the spread of the disease. Failure to recognize and prevent its spread may lead to an eventual epidemic or even a pandemic during the current COVID-pandemic, which the exhausted healthcare system can most definitely not handle. This systematic review investigates the prevalence of C. auris, its pathophysiology, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Factors Associated with the Adoption of Drones for Product Delivery in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Medellín, Colombia
Authors: Valencia-Arias Alejandro , Rodríguez-Correa Paula Andrea , Patiño-Vanegas Juan Camilo , Benjumea-Arias Martha , De La Cruz-Vargas Jhony , Moreno-López Gustavo
Published: August 2022

This study aims to identify the factors associated with the adoption of drone delivery in Medellín, Colombia, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. For that purpose, it implemented the Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theory and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), which have constructs that complement each other to determine the decision to accept a given technology. A survey was administered to 121 participants in order to validate the model proposed here, which is based on variables that reflect the perceived attributes and risks of this innovation and individuals’ characteristics. The results indicate that the factors Performance Risk, Compatibility, Personal Innovativeness, and Relative Advantage of Environmental Friendliness have the greatest influence on Intention to Use Drone Delivery (mediated by Attitude Towards Drone Delivery). This paper offers relevant information for the academic community and delivery companies because few other studies have investigated this topic. Additionally, the proposed technology adoption model can be a benchmark for other emerging economies in similar social, economic, and technological conditions.
It Is Never Too Early: Social Participation of Early Childhood Education Students from the Perspective of Families, Teachers and Students
Authors: Barrios Ángela , Cañadas Margarita , Fernández Mari Luz , Simón Cecilia
Published: August 2022

The aim of this study was to delve into social participation in early childhood education classrooms of centres that include students with ASD, considering social participation as a fundamental element to understand inclusion. To this end, we propose a Convergent Parallel Mixed Methods approach. A quantitative study was carried out with the participation of 85 Early Childhood Education students from centres that include students with ASD. Information was gathered through attitude and social support questionnaires. Six families and eight professionals of these centres participated in the qualitative study. In this case, interviews were conducted. The results show the need to attend to the social participation of all students already in the stage of Early Childhood Education as a fundamental part of what is understood as an inclusive classroom. Similarly, this study identifies both the factors that hinder and facilitate the response of teachers to this aspect in relation to the students, teachers, and families.
Detection of Unauthorized Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Using YOLOv5 and Transfer Learning
Authors: Al-Qubaydhi Nader , Alenezi Abdulrahman , Alanazi Turki , Senyor Abdulrahman , Alanezi Naif , Alotaibi Bandar , Alotaibi Munif , Razaque Abdul , Abdelhamid Abdelaziz A. , Alotaibi Aziz
Published: August 2022

Drones/unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have recently grown in popularity due to their inexpensive cost and widespread commercial use. The increased use of drones raises the possibility that they may be employed in illicit activities such as drug smuggling and terrorism. Thus, drone monitoring and automated detection are critical for protecting restricted areas or special zones from illicit drone operations. One of the most challenging difficulties in drone detection in surveillance videos is the apparent likeness of drones against varied backdrops. This paper introduces an automated image-based drone-detection system that uses an enhanced deep-learning-based object-detection algorithm known as you only look once (YOLOv5) to defend restricted territories or special zones from unauthorized drone incursions. The transfer learning to pretrain the model is employed for improving performance due to an insufficient number of samples in our dataset. Furthermore, the model can recognize the detected object in the images and mark the object’s bounding box by joining the results across the region. The experiments show outstanding results for the loss value, drone location detection, precision and recall.
CSGN: Combined Channel- and Spatial-Wise Dynamic Gating Architecture for Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Hyun Sangmin , Ryu Chang Ho , Kang Ju Yeon , Lim Hyun Jo , Han Tae Hee
Published: August 2022

The explosive computation and memory requirements of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) hinder their deployment in resource-constrained devices. Because conventional CNNs perform identical parallelized computations even on redundant pixels, the saliency of various features in an image should be reflected for higher energy efficiency and market penetration. This paper proposes a novel channel and spatial gating network (CSGN) for adaptively selecting vital channels and generating spatial-wise execution masks. A CSGN can be characterized as a dynamic channel and a spatial-aware gating module by maximally utilizing opportunistic sparsity. Extensive experiments were conducted on the CIFAR-10 and ImageNet datasets based on ResNet. The results revealed that, with the proposed architecture, the amount of multiply-accumulate (MAC) operations was reduced by 1.97–11.78× and 1.37–13.12× on CIFAR-10 and ImageNet, respectively, with negligible accuracy degradation in the inference stage compared with the baseline architectures.
Readout Electronics of the Prototype Beam Monitor in the HIRFL-CSR External-Target Experiment
Authors: Yang Haibo , Liao Jianwei , Wang Hulin , Gao Chaosong , Zhang Honglin , Sun Wenchao , Li Xianqin , Zhao Chengxin
Published: August 2022

The External-target Experiment (CEE) at the Cooling Storage Ring of the Heavy-Ion Research Facility in Lanzhou (HIRFL-CSR) will be the first large-scale experiment in nuclear physics independently developed in China covering the GeV energy regime. The beam monitor located at the center front of the CEE accurately measures the position of the particles with a few tens of um accuracy in a non-interceptive way. This unique advantage significantly improves the accuracy of the particle track reconstructions. This beam monitor’s readout electronics consist of the Front-end module (FEM), Readout Control Module (RCM), and Clock Synchronization module (CSM). Twhe novel Topmetal series pixel sensors directly collect the ionized charge along the track of the ion beam while it passes through the gas in the beam monitor. Lab test proves that the readout electronics have an INL of less than 1%. In addition, the prototype beam monitor can measure the position of the 40Ar beam of 320 MeV/u with a resolution of ~6.9 μm. This paper will discuss the design, characterization, and test of the readout electronics.
Research on a Random Route-Planning Method Based on the Fusion of the A* Algorithm and Dynamic Window Method
Authors: Sun Yicheng , Zhao Xianliang , Yu Yazhou
Published: August 2022

Path planning is a hot topic at present. Considering the global and local path planning of mobile robot is one of the challenging research topics. The objective of this paper is to create a rasterized environment that optimizes the planning of multiple paths and solves barrier avoidance issues. Combining the A* algorithm with the dynamic window method, a robo-assisted random barrier avoidance method is used to resolve the issues caused by collisions and path failures. Improving the A* algorithm requires analyzing and optimizing its evaluation function to increase search efficiency. The redundant point removal strategy is then presented. The dynamic window method is utilized for local planning between each pair of adjacent nodes. This method guarantees that random obstacles are avoided in real-time based on the globally optimal path. The experiment demonstrates that the enhanced A* algorithm reduces the average path length and computation time when compared to the traditional A* algorithm. After fusing the dynamic window method, the local path is corrected using the global path, and the resolution for random barrier avoidance is visualized.
Exploring a Directional Measurement Method of Three-Dimensional Electric Field Intensity in the Atmosphere
Authors: Zhao Wei , Li Zhizhong , Yuan Yuan , Zhang Haitao
Published: August 2022

The traditional process of measuring a three-dimensional (3D) electric field in the atmosphere may suffer from limited accuracy of the electric field component intensity due to multiple factors, such as the 3D electric field sensor’s pose change due to the sensor-carrier motion and the non-parallel positions between the 3D electric compass and field sensor’s measurement axes. Thus, this paper proposes a modified 3D electric field directional decomposition algorithm to overcome this problem. Specifically, the developed solution utilizes a parameter identification and fine-tuning scheme that solves the inaccurate measurement problem caused by the non-coaxial 3D positions between the electric field sensor and the compass. The measurement results highlight that the proposed method eliminates the instability of the electric field intensity measurement errors caused by the 3D electric field sensor changes because the measurement accuracy of the corrected electric field component intensity does not change with the sensor’s rotation angle. Our technique reduces the measurement error of the electric field intensity originating from the non-parallel position 3D electronic compass and field sensor measurement axes, further improving the measurement accuracy of the atmospheric field intensity.
Improvement of Image Stitching Using Binocular Camera Calibration Model
Authors: Tang Mengfan , Zhou Qian , Yang Ming , Jiang Yifan , Zhao Boyan
Published: August 2022

Image stitching is the process of stitching several images that overlap each other into a single, larger image. The traditional image stitching algorithm searches the feature points of the image, performs alignments, and constructs the projection transformation relationship. The traditional algorithm has a strong dependence on feature points; as such, if feature points are sparse or unevenly distributed in the scene, the stitching will be misaligned or even fail completely. In scenes with obvious parallaxes, the global homography projection transformation relationship cannot be used for image alignment. To address these problems, this paper proposes a method of image stitching based on fixed camera positions and a hierarchical projection method based on depth information. The method does not depend on the number and distribution of feature points, so it avoids the complexity of feature point detection. Additionally, the effect of parallax on stitching is eliminated to a certain extent. Our experiments showed that the proposed method based on the camera calibration model can achieve more robust stitching results when a scene has few feature points, uneven feature point distribution, or significant parallax.
Railway Obstacle Intrusion Detection Based on Convolution Neural Network Multitask Learning
Authors: Pan Haixia , Li Yanan , Wang Hongqiang , Tian Xiaomeng
Published: August 2022

The detection of train obstacle intrusion is very important for the safe running of trains. In this paper, we design a multitask intrusion detection model to warn of the intrusion of detected target obstacles in railway scenes. In addition, we design a multiobjective optimization algorithm that performs with different task complexity. Through the shared structure reparameterized backbone network, our multitask learning model utilizes resources effectively. Our work achieves competitive results on both object detection and line detection, and achieves excellent inference time performance (50 FPS). Our work is the first to introduce a multitask approach to realize the assisted-driving function in a railway scene.
Towards Low-Cost Classification for Novel Fine-Grained Datasets
Authors: Anwar Abbas , Anwar Hafeez , Anwar Saeed
Published: August 2022

Fine-grained categorization is an essential field in classification, a subfield of object recognition that aims to differentiate subordinate classes. Fine-grained image classification concentrates on distinguishing between similar, hard-to-differentiate types or species, for example, flowers, birds, or specific animals such as dogs or cats, and identifying airplane makes or models. An important step towards fine-grained classification is the acquisition of datasets and baselines; hence, we propose a holistic system and two novel datasets, including reef fish and butterflies, for fine-grained classification. The butterflies and fish can be imaged at various locations in the image plane; thus, causing image variations due to translation, rotation, and deformation in multiple directions can induce variations, and depending on the image acquisition device’s position, scales can be different. We evaluate the traditional algorithms based on quantized rotation and scale-invariant local image features and the convolutional neural networks (CNN) using their pre-trained models to extract features. The comprehensive evaluation shows that the CNN features calculated using the pre-trained models outperform the rest of the image representations. The proposed system can prove instrumental for various purposes, such as education, conservation, and scientific research. The codes, models, and dataset are publicly available.
An Imperative Role of Digitalization in Monitoring Cattle Health for Sustainability
Authors: Singh Devendra , Singh Rajesh , Gehlot Anita , Akram Shaik Vaseem , Priyadarshi Neeraj , Twala Bhekisipho
Published: August 2022

In the current context, monitoring cattle health is critical for producing abundant milk to satisfy population growth demand and also for attaining sustainability. Traditional methods associated with cattle health must be strengthened in order to overcome the concern of detecting diseases based on the health condition. This problem has moved attention toward digital technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, edge/fog computing, big data, blockchain, drones, robotics, and augmented reality (AR)/virtual reality (VR), as these technologies have proved for real-time monitoring, intelligent analytics, secure data distribution, and real-time visual experience. The purpose of this study is to examine and discuss many cattle health disorders, as well as to address the fundamental notion of digital technologies, as well as the significance of these technologies for cattle health. Furthermore, the article addressed the different devices that integrated IoT and AI for cattle health monitoring, in which the previous architecture of cattle health monitoring is presented. Based on the review, the article discusses the challenges and suggests recommendations that can be implemented for the future work
On the Importance of Grid Tariff Designs in Local Energy Markets
Authors: Schreck Sebastian , Sudhoff Robin , Thiem Sebastian , Niessen Stefan
Published: August 2022

Local Energy Markets (LEMs) were recently proposed as a measure to coordinate an increasing amount of distributed energy resources on a distribution grid level. A variety of market models for LEMs are currently being discussed; however, a consistent analysis of various proposed grid tariff designs is missing. We address this gap by formulating a linear optimization-based market matching algorithm capable of modeling a variation of grid tariff designs. A comprehensive simulative study is performed for yearly simulations of a rural, semiurban, and urban grids in Germany, focusing on electric vehicles, heat pumps, battery storage, and photovoltaics in residential and commercial buildings. We compare energy-based grid tariffs with constant, topology-dependent and time-variable cost components and power-based tariffs to a benchmark case. The results show that grid tariffs with power fees show a significantly higher potential for the reduction of peak demand and feed-in (30–64%) than energy fee-based tariffs (8–49%). Additionally, we show that energy-based grid tariffs do not value the flexibility of assets such as electric vehicles compared to inflexible loads. A postprocessing of market results valuing the reduction of power peaks is proposed, enabling a compensation for the usage of asset flexibility.
Optimal Design of Power-On Downshift Control of Series-Parallel Hybrid Transmission Based on Motor Active Speed Regulation
Authors: Xu Xiangyang , Guo Kun , Liu Xuewu , Qi Hongzhong , Dong Peng , Wang Shuhan , Guo Wei
Published: August 2022

Multi-speed transmission is the main development direction of hybrid transmission, which has brought higher shift quality requirements than traditional fuel vehicle transmission. However, there is less research on the shifting control of hybrid transmission, especially for the shifting control of dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT), which uses the wet clutch as a shift element. This paper studies the power-on downshift process of a two-speed series-parallel hybrid transmission, proposes a shifting control strategy based on motor active speed regulation, and deeply analyzes the causes of maximum impact during the shifting process. The results show that the reverse torque produced in the process of eliminating the remaining slip is the root cause of the maximum impact. On this basis, two optimization strategies are proposed to reduce the shift impact and improve the shift quality. The simulation results show that the proposed optimization strategies can effectively suppress the shift impact. In the meanwhile, for any control pressure of the OG (off-going) clutch in the speed phase within the range of (2.44–2.53 bar), a high shift quality in which the maximum impact is controlled lower than 10 m/s3 can be achieved, which has high engineering value and practical significance.
The Potential Impact of Laser Pointers on Aviation Safety
Authors: Wawrzyński Wojciech , Zieja Mariusz , Tomaszewska Justyna , Michalski Mariusz , Kamiński Grzegorz , Wabik Dawid
Published: August 2022

Introduction: Although aviation is considered the safest mode of transportation, the annual number of pilots blinded by laser light cannot be understated. An analysis of the available statistics indicates that it is a widespread phenomenon. The stories told by the pilots show the consequences of these incidents, ranging from temporary sight loss to months of vision problems. The article also describes the current penalties for dazzling a pilot by laser light. Moreover, limited research has been conducted on the intensity of laser light of different wavelengths passing through the fairing and through standard glasses used by pilots. Understanding the effects of laser glare on pilots can help reduce adverse events and improve the ability of safety managers to develop safety procedures. Correctly designed transport systems enable effective route planning and order processing. Methods: Two types of easily available laser pointers, drawn at different distances from the aircraft, were analyzed and the intensity of the transmitted light was examined. Results: The results showed that the intensity decreases with distance and that the intensity is too low to harm the eye. In addition, it should not be forgotten that the light propagates in a cone which strengthens the illumination effect in the cabin and causes pilots to lose orientation. Practical application of the findings: They enable the identification of areas around the airport where the use of lasers should be prohibited. Practical Application: The possibility of determining the transition of laser light through the windscreen of the aircraft as well as its intensity under near real-life conditions.
Effects of Cathode Gas Diffusion Layer Configuration on the Performance of Open Cathode Air-Cooled Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell
Authors: Peng Ming , Dong Enci , Chen Li , Wang Yu , Tao Wen-Quan
Published: August 2022

The design of a gas diffusion layer (GDL) is an effective way to manage water transport, thus improving the performance of air-cooled fuel cells. In the present study, three group designs of GDL with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)—uniformly doped, in-planed sandwich doped and through-plane gradient doped—are proposed, and their effects on the performance of air-cooled fuel cells are explored by numerical simulation. The distribution of key physical quantities in the cathode catalyst layer (CCL), current density and the uniformity of current density distribution in the CCL were analyzed in detail. The results show that properly reducing the amount of PTFE in GDL is beneficial to promoting the water retaining capacity of air-cooled fuel cells, and then improving the performance of fuel cells. The performance of the in-plane sandwich GDL design cannot exceed the design with 10% PTFE uniformly doped, and this design will aggravate the uneven distribution of current density in CCL. Compared with the design of GDL with 40% PTFE uniformly doped, the current density can be improved by 22% when operating at 0.6 V by gradient increasing the PTFE content in GDL from the GDL/MPL interface to the gas channel. Furthermore, this design can maintain as good a current density uniformity as uniformly doping schemes.