bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Case report and literature review: Small bowel intussusception due to solitary metachronous metastasis from renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Yang Wenming , Cai Zhaolun , Nie Pan , Yuan Tao , Zhou Hang , Du Qiang , Qiu Siyuan , Zhang Jianhao , Yang Lie
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Solitary metachronous small bowel metastasis from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is rare. In contrast to idiopathic intussusception frequently occurring in children, adult intussusception is fairly uncommon and usually indicates a malignancy.

Case presentation

We presented an 84-year-old man with small bowel intussusception and obstruction due to a solitary metachronous metastasis from RCC. Computed tomography with intravenous contrast revealed small bowel obstruction and a 4 × 4 cm intraluminal soft-tissue mass with moderate enhancement. During urgent exploratory laparotomy, a pedunculated tumor of the distal ileum was found to be the lead point of intussusception. Hence, reduction of the intestinal invagination and segmental resection of the ileum with functional end-to-end anastomosis were performed. Histological examination finally confirmed the diagnosis. The postoperative recovery was uneventful. The patient was discharged without any complications on postoperative day 6.

Conclusion

The case report highlights the rarity of solitary metachronous small bowel metastases from RCC and suggests that life-long follow-up of RCC patients is critical due to its unpredictable behavior and the possibility of a long period of dormancy. Complete surgical resection remains the mainstay treatment for such patients.
Treatments to post-stroke depression, which is more effective to HAMD improvement? A network meta-analysis
Authors: Zhang Jie , Song Zhaoming , Gui Chen , Jiang Guannan , Cheng Wei , You Wanchun , Wang Zhong , Chen Gang
Published: December 2022

Introduction: Post-stroke depression (PSD) is a common mental health problem after cerebrovascular accidents. There are several treatments that have been shown to be effective in treating post-stroke depression. However, it is not clear which treatment is more effective.

Methods: In this meta-analysis, an appropriate search strategy was used to search eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on different treatments to treat patients with Post-stroke depression published up to December 2021 from the CNKI, PubMed, and Cochrane Library. We assessed the mean difference or odds ratio between each treatment and placebo and summarized them as the average and 95% confidence interval (CI) by conducting Bayesian network meta-analyses.

Results: By constructing a Bayesian network meta-analysis, we found that acupuncture combined with fluoxetine (vs placebo MD, −8.9; 95% CI, [−15, −2.9]) or paroxetine (vs placebo MD,—8.5; 95% CI, [−15, −2.5]) was the most effective for change in Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) at the end of the 4th week. For change in Hamilton depression scale at the end of the 8th week, rTMS combined with paroxetine (vs placebo MD, −13; 95% CI, [−17, −7.9]) had the greatest amount of change. The efficacy of medication combined with adjuvant therapy was also superior for the percentage of patients with Hamilton depression scale change over 50%.

Discussion: The combination of antidepressants with adjuvant therapy may enhance the efficacy of antidepressants and achieve better results than antidepressant monotherapy in both Hamilton depression scale changes at the end of week 4 or 8 and 50% Hamilton depression scale improvement rate. Acupuncture combined with fluoxetine treatment was more effective in the treatment of post-stroke depression at week 4, while rTMS combined with paroxetine was more effective at week 8. Further research is needed to determine whether acupuncture combined with fluoxetine is better than rTMS combined with paroxetine for post-stroke depression at week 8.
Ninjin’yoeito suppressed the onset of arthritis, pain, and muscle atrophy in rheumatoid arthritis model mice
Authors: Suginohara Takeshi , Kawaguchi Megumi , Michihara Seiwa , Fujita Nina , Han Li-Kun , Takahashi Ryuji
Published: December 2022

Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most common diseases in orthopedic surgery. The main symptoms are joint pain and systemic symptoms. In recent years, rheumatoid arthritis is known to cause sarcopenia. Ninjin’yoeito (NYT), a traditional Japanese medicine, has been prescribed for patients with post-illness or post-operative weakness, fatigue, loss of appetite, rash, cold limbs, and anemia. In addition to its traditional use, NYT has been prescribed for treating frailty in gastrointestinal, respiratory, and urinary functions. Further, NYT is known to be effective in suppressing muscle atrophy in the prior literature. The present study aimed to investigate whether NYT suppresses various symptoms of the Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model. Long-term administration of NYT inhibited the increases in arthritis scores, decreases pain threshold, and muscle atrophy in the CIA model. In addition, NYT inhibited the elevation of the plasma IL-6 level. These results suggest that NYT may have therapeutic effects on symptoms, muscle atrophy and increase in plasma IL-6 level caused by rheumatoid arthritis.
Adiabatic operation slope-loss algorithm for ultrashort and broadband waveguide taper
Authors: Liang Tu-Lu , Cheng Xi , Yu Mei , Zhang Lingyan , Shi Jin , Shao Wei
Published: December 2022

In this paper, an adiabatic operation slope-loss algorithm (AO-SLA) is developed for designing efficient adiabatic waveguide tapers. The algorithm can compute the efficient adiabatic guided-wave shape of the waveguide taper. A well-studied case of an adiabatic waveguide taper is used to show how it can readily generate a guided-wave shape that gives the same mode-connection power transfer with a much shorter length compared with the linear shape. In the waveguide taper design, it is shown that the device efficiency designed with AO-SLA is better than that based on the parabolic case and the SLA case, and the adiabatic taper designed can give a broad operating bandwidth. Moreover, the adiabatic condition α for AO-SLA can be very large.
A novel multistage ensemble approach for prediction and classification of diabetes
Authors: Simaiya Sarita , Kaur Rajwinder , Sandhu Jasminder Kaur , Alsafyani Majed , Alroobaea Roobaea , alsekait Deema mohammed , Margala Martin , Chakrabarti Prasun
Published: December 2022

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic syndrome affecting millions of people worldwide. Every year, the rate of occurrence rises drastically. Diabetes-related problems across several vital organs of the body can be fatal if left untreated. Diabetes must be detected early to receive proper treatment, preventing the condition from escalating to severe problems. Tremendous health sciences and biotechnology advancements have resulted in massive data that generated massive Electronic Health Records and clinical information. The exponential increase of electronically gathered information has resulted in more complicated, accurate prediction models that can be updated continuously using machine learning techniques. This research mainly emphasizes discovering the best ensemble model for predicting diabetes. A new multistage ensemble model is proposed for diabetes prediction. In this model, accuracy is predicated on the Pima Indian Diabetes dataset. The accuracy of the proposed ensemble model is compared with the existing machine learning model, and the experimental results demonstrate the performance of the proposed model in terms of higher Precision, f-measure, Recall, and area under the curve.
Phenotypic variation and epigenetic insight into tissue culture berry crops
Authors: Debnath Samir C. , Ghosh Amrita
Published: December 2022

Berry crops, a nutrient powerhouse for antioxidant properties, have long been enjoyed as a health-promoting delicious food. Significant progress has been achieved for the propagation of berry crops using tissue culture techniques. Although bioreactor micropropagation has been developed as a cost-effective propagation technology for berry crops, genetic stability can be a problem for commercial micropropagation that can be monitored at morphological, biochemical, and molecular levels. Somaclonal variations, both genetic and epigenetic, in tissue culture regenerants are influenced by different factors, such as donor genotype, explant type and origin, chimeral tissues, culture media type, concentration and combination of plant growth regulators, and culture conditions and period. Tissue culture regenerants in berry crops show increased vegetative growth, rhizome production, and berry yield, containing higher antioxidant activity in fruits and leaves that might be due to epigenetic variation. The present review provides an in-depth study on various aspects of phenotypic variation in micropropagated berry plants and the epigenetic effects on these variations along with the role of DNA methylation, to fill the existing gap in literature.
Strengths and weaknesses of the German translation of the Inflexible Eating Questionnaire and of eating disorder assessment in general
Authors: Schultz Anna , Maurer Linda , Alexandrowicz Rainer W.
Published: December 2022

Objective

The present article introduces the German translation of the Inflexible Eating Questionnaire (IEQ-G), performs a psychometric evaluation, and explores the relationship of Inflexible Eating to the subscales of the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q) and Obsessive-Compulsive (OC) symptoms.

Methods

The cross-sectional study was carried out in the German-speaking area. A paper and pencil survey was completed by 612 females and 442 males of the general population.

Results

SEM analyses showed that the IEQ-G allows for calculating a total score and invariance tests were mostly promising. As a side result, the original 4-factorial structure of the EDE-Q could not be replicated, but a 3 dimensional solution proved convincing. From a psychometric point of view, the IEQ-G outperformed the EDE-Q. On a latent level, Inflexible Eating was remarkably strong related to OC-symptoms and the EDE-Q subscales.

Discussion

The detail analyses revealed that Eating Disorder assessment in general lacks subgroup-specific aspects, for instance, regarding gender or dietary preferences, important for early diagnosis and screening of ED. The IEQ-G proved applicable in a German speaking adult population and recommends itself for cross-cultural studies.
Sensehacking the guest’s multisensory hotel experience
Authors: Spence Charles
Published: December 2022

This narrative review discusses the literature on contemporary sensory marketing as it applies to hotel design. The role of each of the guest’s senses in the different stages of the customer journey are highlighted, and the functional benefits (to the guest’s multisensory experience), and likely commercial gains, of engaging more effectively with the guest’s non-visual senses, both individually, and in combination, are reviewed. While the visual elements of hotel design are undoubtedly important, the hotelier neglects the non-visual senses at their peril, given the negative effect of poor design on the customers’ overall multisensory experience (and ratings). A number of the crossmodal effects and multisensory interactions that have been suggested to modulate the guest’s experience of hotels (and resorts) are discussed. Mention is also made of the nature effect/biophilic design and how it is increasingly being incorporated in total design to help deliver on guest/customer well-being; the latter is a theme that has grown rapidly in relevance for those working in the hospitality sector. Taken together, there are numerous opportunities for hotel managers to ‘sensehack’ their guests’ multisensory experiences through environmental psychology The originality of this review stems from the analysis of the hierarchy of the guest’s senses and an explanation of how multisensory interactions affect sensory marketing in the design of hotel experiences for guests.
An ecological examination of the emotions of Chinese high school mathematics teachers in a long-term teaching improvement program
Authors: Lei Peiyao , Han Su , Kong Wenqing , Lv Sunzhong , Wang Xiaoqin
Published: December 2022

Teacher emotions are essential for teaching effectiveness and teachers’ professional development. Studying teacher emotions during a program in today’s world is crucial, where teachers are commonly involved in professional development programs. From an ecological perspective, this study employed a case study method to examine the emotions of two Chinese high school mathematics teachers in a 4-year teaching improvement program. Semi-structured interviews, teacher emotion logs, researcher memos, and informal dialogues were all used to collect data. This study aimed to better understand the emotions that Chinese high school mathematics teachers developed and the processes that generated them in their interactions with various ecosystems within a specific professional development program overlay. The study’s findings revealed that the two teachers triggered 65 emotions in their interactions with the various ecosystems over 4 years—A describing 51 and B describing 46—with an overall predominance of positive emotions. They triggered the broadest range of emotions in the mesosystem, particularly during interactions with program companions. During the early, medium, and late stages, their internal psychological factors and interactions with each system changed, resulting in significant changes in their emotions. They all went through phases of mixed sadness and happiness, ending in a state of delight and calmness. Finally, we recommended teachers’ professional development based on the study’s findings.
Environmental knowledge, perceived behavioral control, and employee green behavior in female employees of small and medium enterprises in Ensenada, Baja California
Authors: Galván-Mendoza Oscar , González-Rosales Virginia Margarita , Leyva-Hernández Sandra Nelly , Arango-Ramírez Paola Miriam , Velasco-Aulcy Lizzette
Published: December 2022

Concern for the environment and the diminishing availability of resources is undoubtedly a relevant issue, both personally and organizationally. That is why knowing the factors that affect the occurrence of green behavior is relevant, particularly in SMEs, due to their importance in the economy of all countries, and specifically by the women who work in them, since their participation is gaining more and more preponderance in the Mexican labor force. It is because of the above that the objective of the research was to analyze the effect of environmental knowledge and perceived behavioral control on the employee green behavior of female employees of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Ensenada, Baja California. The study is characterized by having a quantitative approach, a non-experimental, exploratory design and a transverse temporal dimension. 240 questionnaires were applied to female employees of SMEs in Ensenada, Baja California. The data collected was analyzed using structural equation modeling based on the partial least squares technique. The results empirically reflect the following: environmental knowledge has a positive and statistically significant effect on perceived behavioral control and employee green behavior. Also, it was found that the perceived behavioral control variable had a positive and statistically significant effect on the employee green behavior of female employees of SMEs in Ensenada, Baja California. Lastly, it was found that environmental knowledge predicts perceived behavioral control which in turn predicts employee green behavior. In this sense, such findings allow us to consider environmental knowledge and perceived behavioral control as predictive variables of employee green behavior.
Where is the limit for overtime? Impacts of overtime on employees’ mental health and potential solutions: A qualitative study in China
Authors: Yu Jiaoyang , Leka Stavroula
Published: December 2022

Although Labor Law of the People’s Republic of China stipulates the overtime system, overtime is still widespread in the IT industry. Through qualitative interviews, we explored the impact of overtime on employees’ mental health and life. The current study identified four main themes, namely overtime reasons, outcomes of overtime, influential factors and solutions to overtime challenges. Besides work-related reasons and cultural influence, it was found that employees may work overtime due to personal reasons, such as capability and personal qualities; the most frequent impacts reported were fatigue, depression, stress and interference with life; three predominant influential factors were timing of overtime, control and rewards; and overtime conditions could be improved in practical and emotional ways. The study’s findings highlight the importance of the design of flexible working time arrangements for avoiding fatigue and improving employees’ work-life balance, enhancement of schedule arrangement for avoiding daily work interruption and last-minute tasks, and optimization of rewarding systems for avoiding complaints and facilitating voluntary overtime. Results suggest that mental health and work-life balance can be promoted by organizational initiatives focusing on minimizing excessive job demands, increasing psychosocial resources, supporting boundary management, and enhancing perceived flexibility.
Mapping knowledge landscapes and emerging trends of the links between osteoarthritis and osteoporosis: A bibliometric analysis
Authors: Wan Xin , Wang Xuefei , Pang Ran , Xu Chunlei , Shi Wei , Zhang Huafeng , Li Hui , Li Zhijun
Published: December 2022

Background

Osteoarthritis has the characteristics of degenerative changes in articular cartilage and secondary osteoporosis, and it is a common chronic irreversible joint disease. In addition to affecting articular cartilage, subchondral bone, joint capsule and synovial membrane also undergo pathological changes during the development of the disease. Multiple studies have revealed that patients with osteoarthritis were found to have a significantly increased risk of osteoporosis, which also contributes to the progression of osteoarthritis. However, in the current existing studies, we found that no scholars have used bibliometric analysis in the study of the relationship between osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. From the perspective of bibliometrics, this study summarizes in detail the degree of cooperation between countries, research institutions, authors, and related journals in the field of osteoarthritis and osteoporosis research and their respective influence. In this way, the evolution of knowledge structure, the change of research focus and the hot topics with research potential in the future can be further visualized and analyzed.

Methods

Search the Web of Science core collection in Science Citation Index Expanded for articles and reviews of research on osteoarthritis and osteoporosis from 1998 to 2021. Bibliometric tools such as VOSviewer, CiteSpace, were be frequently used in our study. They are mainly used to analyze collaborations between countries, research institutions, and publication authors. Meantime, co-citation analysis of journals, co-occurrence analysis of keywords and subject categories will also be reflected in the study.

Results

According to the search strategy, 1,078 publications were included during the period 1998–2021. And the number of annual publications on the relationship between osteoarthritis and osteoporosis is on the rise. The United States has achieved the most and contributed the most in this field and the Boston University was the most prolific institution. For the statistical analysis of published publications, Reginster JY had the highest number of publications, while Felson DT had the highest co-citation frequency. Respectively, Osteoarthritis And Cartilage was the most productive journal in this area of research. The keywords “inflammation,” “expression,” and “mesenchymal stem cells” may also be the development trend and research hotspot of the future research direction in this field.

Conclusions

In our study, the relationship between osteoarthritis and osteoporosis was analyzed by using literature measurement. These analysis results can lead researchers to learn more directly about the trend in this area and provide guidance for determining popular research directions.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of temperature on the development and survival of the Aedes mosquito
Authors: Nik Abdull Halim Nik Muhammad Hanif , Che Dom Nazri , Dapari Rahmat , Salim Hasber , Precha Nopadol
Published: December 2022

Introduction

TheAedesmosquito species, which are the vectors for the transmission of the dengue virus (DENV) to humans, are becoming increasingly susceptible to the formidable effects of influential factors, especially temperature. However, there are still very few studies that have systematically reviewed the existing literature. Hence, in the present study, a systematic literature review and meta-analysis was conducted into the effects of temperature on dengue vectors.

Method

Several research methodologies were incorporated into the current study, and a review was carried out using PRISMA as a guide. The publications for this study were chosen from two prominent databases, Scopus and Web of Science. All of the studies were assessed, reviewed, and evaluated independently by two reviewers. The meta-analysis tool, Review Manager (RevMan Copenhagen Version 5.4.1), was used to record the extracted data for the meta-analysis. Moran'sI2and a funnel plot were utilized to measure heterogeneity, and publication bias was investigated. A 95% confidence interval (CI) and overall risk difference (RD) were estimated using a random-effects model.

Result and discussion

As a consequence of the search efforts, a total of 46 articles were selected for inclusion in the systematic review and meta-analysis. This review was divided into five major themes, based on a thematic analysis: (i) hatching rate, (ii) development time, (iii) longevity, (iv) survival rate, and (v) wing morphology. In addition, the development time, survival rate, and wing morphology revealed significantly higher risk differences between the maximum and minimum temperatures (RD: 0.26, 95% CI: 0.16, 0.36;p= < 0.00001; RD: 0.10, 95% CI: 0.05, 0.14;p< 0.0001; and RD: 0.07, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.12;p= 0.006, respectively). This study makes several substantial contributions to the body of knowledge and to practical applications. Finally, a number of recommendations are made at the conclusion of this research for the future reference of researchers.
Digital finance and migrant workers' urban integration: The mediation effect of the gender-earning gap
Authors: Yang Zhiheng , Liu Tiantian , Xiao Yao
Published: December 2022

Introduction

In the context of the wide application of digital finance, whether digital finance promotes or inhibits migrant workers' urban integration is an important issue.

Methods

Based on microdata from the Chinese Social Survey (CSS) in 2019, we examined the mediation effects of inclusive digital finance on migrant workers' urban integration.

Results

The empirical results showed that digital finance promotes migrant workers' integration into urban life and has positive effects. When the digital finance index increases by 1 unit, the urban integration of migrant workers also increases by 0.599 units. The usage depth and digitization degree of digital finance are positively correlated with the assimilation process of urban migrant workers, with coefficients of 0.690 and 1.282, respectively. Using the intermediary effect model, it was found that the development of digital finance promotes migrant workers' integration into urban society by narrowing the gender gap in income. One unit of digital finance increases the income of female migrant workers by 144.4% points greater than that of male migrant workers. It significantly improves the ability of female migrant workers to obtain wealth and promotes their integration into cities and family migration.

Discussion

It is necessary to strengthen the promotion and utilization of digital finance to enhance its positive impact on the assimilation process of urban migrant workers by strengthening the construction of digital financial infrastructure, improving supporting policies related to the development of digital finance and improving the financial literacy of migrant workers, especially female migrant workers.
Adoption of a deep learning-based neural network model in the psychological behavior analysis of resident tourism consumption
Authors: Ye Zicong , Huang Xiantao
Published: December 2022

With the development of society and the continuous progress of science and technology, it has become the mainstream measure to promote the development of the social economy through science and technology. Therefore, to improve the current situation of tourism consumption, improve the consumer sentiment of tourists, and promote the development of the tourism economy, the convolutional neural network (CNN) technology model is used to analyze the tourist's consumer psychology and behavior. Based on this, the user's consumption situation is analyzed, thus providing support for the intelligent improvement of tourism consumption. First, the basic characteristics of tourism consumption mood and behavior are introduced, and the methods to improve the tourism consumption mood and behavior are briefly introduced. Then, the CNN algorithm is employed to identify consumers' travel consumption behaviors and emotions. To improve the recognition effect, the algorithm is combined with skeleton node behavior recognition and video image behavior recognition. Finally, the performance of the designed algorithm is tested. The accuracy of the human behavior recognition (HBR) algorithm is more than 0.88. Compared with the detection effect of the HBR algorithm, the combined algorithm adopted in this work can reduce the image processing time and improve the detection efficiency. The multithread method can effectively reduce the complexity of the model and improve the recognition accuracy. The test results on different data sets show that the proposed algorithm can better adapt to the changes in identification samples and obtain more accurate recognition results compared with similar algorithms. In summary, this study not only provides technical support for the rational analysis of consumer sentiment and consumer behavior but also contributes to the comprehensive development of the tourism market.
On the classicality of quantum dephasing processes
Authors: Lonigro Davide , Chruściński Dariusz
Published: December 2022

We analyze the multitime statistics associated with pure dephasing systems repeatedly probed with sharp measurements, and search for measurement protocols whose statistics satisfy the Kolmogorov consistency conditions possibly up to a finite order. We find a rich phenomenology of quantum dephasing processes which can be interpreted in classical terms. In particular, if the underlying dephasing process is Markovian, we find sufficient conditions under which classicality at every order can be found: this can be reached by choosing the dephasing and measurement basis to be fully compatible or fully incompatible, that is, mutually unbiased bases (MUBs). For non-Markovian processes, classicality can only be proven in the fully compatible case, thus revealing a key difference between Markovian and non-Markovian pure dephasing processes.
Use of species distribution models to study habitat suitability for sustainable management and conservation in the Indian subcontinent: A decade's retrospective
Authors: Roy Sangeeta , Suman Ashish , Ray Santanu , Saikia Surjya Kumar
Published: December 2022

Loss of native habitat has been identified as one of the crucial drivers of the growing biodiversity crisis, acting toward the deleterious effects on individual fitness, functional diversity, changes in species richness and community structure. The objective of the study was to review the species distribution modeling works done in the Indian subcontinent throughout the last decade (2012–2021) to highlight the urgent issues of biodiversity conservation and sustainable management. Species distribution model (SDM), ecological niche model (ENM), and habitat suitability model (HSM) are, in general, used to predict the niche of a species. The Scopus search engine result was used for conducting the literature search of peer-reviewed articles. Topics examined included estimation of species' potential distribution area, spread of introduced species, deadly diseases or pests, habitat loss or future range shift of species due to anthropogenic alterations and climate change. The analysis showed that the majority of the works were focused on predicting native species distribution patterns (n= 119, 82%) rather than the invasion of alien species in the native ecosystem (n= 26, 18%) indicating the further scope of research in these areas. The scientific articles highlighted that the modeling results could be utilized efficiently to design conservation areas if not biased toward charismatic species. A coordinating institute at the inter-ministerial level can help to undertake policy-related planning for sustainable management and execution of decisions.
Mechanical mechanism of suture passer needle break in rotator cuff repair
Authors: Yang Chunxi , Xie Cheng , Liu Hui , Hua Zikai , An Bingchen
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Suture passer needle, as one of commonly used instrument in the arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, often breaks at the notch of the needle, which originally was designed to facilitate suture with thread. Our study aimed to evaluate the suture failure rate and stitch success rate between intact suture needle and broken needle and explore the mechanism of the needle breakage and achieving better future designs.

Materials and methods

From 2017 to 2021, consecutive 437 shoulders (11 cases were bilateral) underwent arthroscopic repair for full-thickness rotator cuff tear at the authors’ institution. The breakage of needles was recorded. Finite elements analysis and mechanical test were utilized to compare stress distribution, puncture performance, and loaded puncture performance between the broken needle and the intact needle.

Results

We identified 19 consecutive patients for whom the needle tip of the TruePass™ suture passer was broken in the 437 shoulder surgeries. Based on the finite element analysis of Abaqus, around the tip and the notch of the intact needle was a large stress concentration. The average puncture force required by intact needle tip and the broken tip is 61.78N and 78.23N respectively. While the intact tip with notch is easier to break than the broken tip.

Conclusions

The notch of the needle is a weak point in mechanics. The broken needle without the notch still has good tendon piercing and thread passing ability. The notch of needle may be not necessary, and the tip of the needle should be modified.
The t/k-Diagnosability and a t/k Diagnosis Algorithm of the Data Center Network BCCC under the MM* Model
Authors: Lu Jialiang , Zhao Wei , Li Jie
Published: December 2022

The evaluation of the fault diagnosis capability of a data center network (DCN) is important research in measuring network reliability. The g-extra diagnosability is defined under the condition that every component except the fault vertex set contains at least g+1 vertices. The t/k diagnosis strategy is that the number of fault nodes does not exceed t, and all fault nodes can be isolated into a set containing up to k fault-free nodes. As an important data center network, BCube Connected Crossbars (BCCC) has many excellent properties that have been widely studied. In this paper, we first determine that the g-extra connectivity of BCn,k for 0≤g≤n−1. Based on this, we establish the g-extra conditional diagnosability of BCn,k under the MM* model for 1≤g≤n−1. Next, based on the conclusion of the largest connected component in g-extra connectivity, we prove that the t/k-diagnosability of BCn,k under the MM* model for 1≤k≤n−1. Finally, we present a t/k diagnosis algorithm on BCCC under the MM* model. The algorithm can correctly identify all nodes at most k nodes undiagnosed. So far, t/k-diagnosability and diagnosis algorithms for most networks in the MM* model have not been studied.
A Modification of the Monte Carlo Filtering Approach for Correcting Negative SEA Loss Factors
Authors: Nieradka Paweł , Dobrucki Andrzej
Published: December 2022

Monte Carlo Filtering (MCF) is one of the methods of Experimental Statistical Energy Analysis (E-SEA), which allows the correction of negative LFs (Loss Factors). In this article, a modification of the MCF method, called DESA (Diagonal Expansion of the Search Area), is proposed. The technique applies a non-uniform extension of the search area when generating a population of normalized energy matrices. The degree of expansion of the search area is controlled by the Diagonal Penalty Factor (DPF). The authors demonstrated the method’s effectiveness on a system that could not be identified in several frequency bands by the classical MCF method. After applying DESA, it was possible to fill in the problematic bands that were missing CLF (coupling loss factor) and DLF (damping loss factor) values. The paper also proposes a way to minimize the errors introduced by using overly high DPF values.
A Generic Framework for Prognostics of Complex Systems
Authors: Bieber Marie , Verhagen Wim J. C.
Published: December 2022

In recent years, there has been an enormous increase in the amount of research in the field of prognostics and predictive maintenance for mechanical and electrical systems. Most of the existing approaches are tailored to one specific system. They do not provide a high degree of flexibility and often cannot be adaptively used on different systems. This can lead to years of research, knowledge, and expertise being put in the implementation of prognostics models without the capacity to estimate the remaining useful life of systems, either because of lack of data or data quality or simply because failure behaviour cannot be captured by data-driven models. To overcome this, in this paper we present an adaptive prognostic framework which can be applied to different systems while providing a way to assess whether or not it makes sense to put more time into the development of prognostic models for a system. The framework incorporates steps necessary for prognostics, including data pre-processing, feature extraction and machine learning algorithms for remaining useful life estimation. The framework is applied to two systems: a simulated turbofan engine dataset and an aircraft cooling unit dataset. The results show that the obtained accuracy of the remaining useful life estimates are comparable to what has been achieved in literature and highlight considerations for suitability assessment of systems data towards prognostics.
Contrast Icing Wind Tunnel Tests between Normal Droplets and Supercooled Large Droplets
Authors: Han Zhirong , Si Jiangtao , Wu Dawei
Published: December 2022

In order to compare and analyze the similarities and differences between normal droplet icing shapes and supercooled large droplet icing shapes, SADRI carried out normal droplet and supercooled large droplet icing wind tunnel tests in the NRC−AIWT icing wind tunnel. Taking the typical glaze ice in normal droplet icing conditions as the reference, the freezing drizzle and freezing rain icing tests under the supercooled large droplet conditions were carried out. The test results show that compared with normal droplets, the ice horn height of supercooled large droplets decreases with the increase in droplet particle size, and even the ice horn characteristics are not obvious when the icing condition is freezing rain. At the same time, the range and height of rough element ice shape after the main ice horn of supercooled large droplets are significantly larger and higher than those of the normal droplets, while the difference in the rough element in different supercooled large droplet icing conditions is small.
Inlet Gap Influence on Low-Frequency Flow Unsteadiness in a Centrifugal Fan
Authors: Ottersten Martin , Yao Hua-Dong , Davidson Lars
Published: December 2022

In this study, unsteady low-frequency characteristics in a voluteless low-speed centrifugal fan operating at a high mass flow rate are studied with improved delayed detached eddy simulation (IDDES). This study is motivated by a recent finding that the non-uniformly distributed pressure inside this type of fan could be alleviated by improving the gap geometry. The present simulation results show that the velocity magnitudes of the gap have distinct low and high regions. Intensive turbulent structures are developed in the low-velocity regions and are swept downstream along the intersection between the blade and shroud, on the pressure side of the blade. Eventually, the turbulence gives rise to a high-pressure region near the blade’s trailing edge. This unsteady flow behavior revolves around the fan rotation axis. Additionally, its period is 5% of the fan rotation speed, based on the analysis of the time history of the gap velocity magnitudes and the evolution of the high-pressure region. The same frequency of high pressure was also found in previous experimental measurements. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first time that the trigger of the gap turbulence, i.e., the unsteady local low velocity, has been determined.
Improving Algorithm Conflict Resolution Manoeuvres with Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Ribeiro Marta , Ellerbroek Joost , Hoekstra Jacco
Published: December 2022

Future high traffic densities with drone operations are expected to exceed the number of aircraft that current air traffic control procedures can control simultaneously. Despite extensive research on geometric CR methods, at higher densities, their performance is hindered by the unpredictable emergent behaviour from surrounding aircraft. In response, research has shifted its attention to creating automated tools capable of generating conflict resolution (CR) actions adapted to the environment and not limited by man-made rules. Several works employing reinforcement learning (RL) methods for conflict resolution have been published recently. Although proving that they have potential, at their current development, the results of the practical implementation of these methods do not reach their expected theoretical performance. Consequently, RL applications cannot yet match the efficacy of geometric CR methods. Nevertheless, these applications can improve the set of rules that geometrical CR methods use to generate a CR manoeuvre. This work employs an RL method responsible for deciding the parameters that a geometric CR method uses to generate the CR manoeuvre for each conflict situation. The results show that this hybrid approach, combining the strengths of geometric CR and RL methods, reduces the total number of losses of minimum separation. Additionally, the large range of different optimal solutions found by the RL method shows that the rules of geometric CR method must be expanded, catering for different conflict geometries.
A Novel Strategic Aircraft Track Planning Method Considering Conflict Probability
Authors: Liu Ruiwei , Hao Siqi , Zhang Yaping , Xu Chonghang , Li Wenjing , Mo Yunrui
Published: December 2022

Generally, air track planning is conducted in real time and takes modified track distance minimization as objective. Next-generation air transport systems provide aircrafts with more flexibility in track planning and more responsibilities in self-separation, which present a great challenge for aircraft optimal track planning, especially in some high-density airspaces and some complex conflict scenarios. This paper proposes a novel aircraft track planning method by taking aircraft conflict probability into consideration. First, the concepts of aircraft potential motion space and the estimation method for aircraft conflict probability is introduced. Then, taking conflict probability minimization as the objective, the classical ant colony algorithm (ACA) algorithm is improved to solve the model. Finally, an experimental study is conducted to illustrate the proposed method. Results show that the proposed method is able to provide a scientific and effective track planning approach considering the potential conflict probability of aircrafts, which is able to provide fundamental to the safety of entire air transport system.
In Vitro Antidiabetic, Antioxidant, and Prebiotic Activities of the Chemical Compounds Isolated from Guizotia abyssinica
Authors: Elbermawi Ahmed , Darwish Mohamed Samir , Zaki Ahmed A. , Abou-Zeid Noha A. , Taher Mohamed A. , Khojah Ebtihal , Bokhari Somaiah A. , Soliman Amal F.
Published: December 2022

India and Ethiopia employ Guizotia abyssinica (niger plant) as a source of edible vegetable oil. Previous studies have documented the niger plant’s antioxidant properties and dietary benefits. Here, G. abyssinica extract was obtained and ten known bioactive components (1–10) were isolated. The antioxidant, antidiabetic, and prebiotic properties of whole extract and isolated components of niger and the plant’s ability to cooperate symbiotically with probiotic strains were examined. Compound 10, myricetin-3-O-L-rhamnoside, had the highest antioxidant capacity measured in the 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH, 4629.76 ± 6.02 µmol Trolox equivalent/g compound) and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP, 2667.62 ± 7.5 mol Trolox equivalent/g compound) assays. The lowest α-amylase and glycogen phosphorylase activities and glucose diffusion were obtained with whole G. abyssinica extracts, whereas compounds 8–10 had moderate inhibitory effects. G. abyssinica extract also induced the highest glucose absorption by yeast cells in the presence of 5 mM of glucose. Moreover, Lactobacillus plantarum and L. rhamnosus incubated with β-sitosterol 3-O-D-glucoside (compound 7) showed the highest prebiotic activity score. The levels of L-(+)-lactic acid isomer in the probiotic strains were the highest in presence of the whole extract and decreased progressively in the presence of flavonoid glycosides (compounds 8–10) and β-sitosterol 3-O-D-glucoside. The enzymatic profile of the probiotic strains was unaffected by the niger extract and compounds 7–10. The findings revealed that the biological activities of G. abyssinica extract are mediated by the compounds 1–10, and it may be considered as a promising plant for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.
Antioxidant Activities of Natural Polysaccharides and Their Derivatives for Biomedical and Medicinal Applications
Authors: Bai Lu , Xu Dong , Zhou Yan-Ming , Zhang Yong-Bo , Zhang Han , Chen Yi-Bing , Cui Yuan-Lu
Published: December 2022

Many chronic diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases are closely related to in vivo oxidative stress caused by excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS). Natural polysaccharides, as a kind of biomacromolecule with good biocompatibility, have been widely used in biomedical and medicinal applications due to their superior antioxidant properties. In this review, scientometric analysis of the highly cited papers in the Web of Science (WOS) database finds that antioxidant activity is the most widely studied and popular among pharmacological effects of natural polysaccharides. The antioxidant mechanisms of natural polysaccharides mainly contain the regulation of signal transduction pathways, the activation of enzymes, and the scavenging of free radicals. We continuously discuss the antioxidant activities of natural polysaccharides and their derivatives. At the same time, we summarize their applications in the field of pharmaceutics/drug delivery, tissue engineering, and antimicrobial food additives/packaging materials. Overall, this review provides up-to-date information for the further development and application of natural polysaccharides with antioxidant activities.
Genomic Insights into Two Endophytic Strains: Stenotrophomonas geniculata NWUBe21 and Pseudomonas carnis NWUBe30 from Cowpea with Plant Growth-Stimulating Attributes
Authors: Omomowo Olawale Israel , Babalola Olubukola Oluranti
Published: December 2022

Endophytic microbiota are being researched as a vital source of beneficial attributes that are of immense importance for enhancing agroecological crop production. In this study, two endophytic strains: Pseudomonas carnis NWUBe30 and Stenotrophomonas geniculata NWUBe21, were isolated from cowpea tissue, and their plant growth-promoting attributes were assessed. The 16S rRNA gene, as well as the key plant growth-promoting genes that they contain, were subjected to polymerase chain reactions (PCR). Furthermore, their genome was sequenced using the Illumina NovaSeq 6000 systems platform. The results indicated that they possess multiple plant growth-promoting attributes, including the solubilization of phosphates, the production of auxin, siderophore, hydrogen cyanide, exopolysaccharide, ammonia, and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acids. Additionally, the plant growth-promoting genes GCD and ASB were amplified via PCR at their expected base pair value. The genome bioinformatics analysis revealed assembled sizes of 5,901,107 bp for P. carnis NWUBe30, with an average G+C content of 60.2%, and for S. geniculata NWUBe21, 512,0194 bp, with a G+C content of 64.79%. Likewise, genes, such as exopolyphosphatase, ferribacilibactin, betalactone, and lassopeptide, that are responsible for promoting plant growth were identified. This study highlights the biotechnological potential of Stenotrophomonas geniculata strain NWUBe21 and the Pseudomonas carnis strain NWUBe30, which can be harnessed to achieve improvements in sustainable agroecological crop production.
Corrosion Behavior in RC Member with Different Cover Depths under Cyclic Chloride Ingress Conditions for 2 Years
Authors: Lee Kwang-Myong , Yoon Yong-Sik , Yang Keun-Hyeok , Yoo Bong-Young , Kwon Seung-Jun
Published: December 2022

Concrete structures are considered as durable construction material, but corrosion of the embedded steel reinforcement occurs under chloride exposure as concrete has porous properties. Herein, a cyclic drying–wetting test was performed for two years using saltwater to accelerate steel corrosion in a reinforced concrete (RC) member. The open-circuit potential (OCP) was measured using a newly developed and replaceable agar sensor. The corrosion potential was measured considering the chloride concentration, water-to-cement (w/c) ratio, and cover depth at three levels. Furthermore, its relationships with influential parameters were evaluated using averaged OCP results. The measured OCP showed a linear relationship with the cover depth, and this tendency was more distinct with increasing retention period and higher chloride concentration. For the highest w/c ratio (0.6), values below −100 mV were monitored after only six months regardless of the cover depth, and values below the critical potential level (−450 mV) were evaluated at lower cover depths (30 and 45 mm). The results of regression analysis considering the exposure environment showed a clear relationship in the case of high chloride concentration (7.0%). A linear relationship between cover depth and OCP was derived with a reasonable determination coefficient ranging from 0.614 to 0.771.
Jewish Wedding Rings with Miniature Architecture from Medieval Europe
Authors: Stürzebecher Maria
Published: December 2022

Among the various types of medieval rings, Jewish wedding rings with miniature architecture have a special significance due to their special form, their importance in the Jewish wedding ceremony and their long tradition that extends from the Middle Ages into present day. This paper will examine their function in the wedding ceremony and their role as part of marriage as a legal transaction and the symbolism of their particular design.