bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The difference of affect improvement effect of music intervention in aerobic exercise at different time periods
Authors: Lu Li , Tao Meng , Gao Jingchuan , Gao Mengru , Zhu Houwei , He Xiaolong
Published: April 2024

Objectives: A randomized controlled experimental design that combines exercise and music intervention was adopted in this study to verify whether this approach could help improve human affect. The differences in the effect of music listening on affective improvement were compared in four different periods: before, during, and after aerobic power cycling exercise and the whole exercise course.

Method: A total of 140 subjects aged 19–30 years (average age: 23.6 years) were recruited and randomly divided into four music intervention groups, namely, the pre-exercise, during-exercise, post-exercise, and the whole-course groups. The subjects’ demographic and sociological variables and daily physical activities were collected using questionnaires. Individual factors, such as the subjects’ noise sensitivity, personality traits, and degree of learning burnout, were collected via scale scoring. A laboratory in Zhejiang Normal University was selected as the experimental site. The testing procedure can be summarized as follows. In a quiet environment, the subjects were asked to sit quietly for 5 min after completing a preparation work, and then they were informed to take a pre-test. The four subject groups wore headphones and completed 20 min of aerobic cycling (i.e., 7 min of moderate-intensity cycling [50%*HRR + RHR] + 6 min of low-intensity interval cycling [30%*HRR + RHR] + 7 min of moderate-intensity cycling [50%*HRR + RHR] after returning to a calm state (no less than 20 min) for post-testing. The affect improvement indicators (dependent variables) collected in the field included blood pressure (BP), positive/negative affect, and heart rate variability indicators (RMSSD, SDNN, and LF/HF).

Results: 1) Significant differences were found in the participants’ systolic BP (SBP) indices and the effect of improvement of the positive affect during the exercise–music intervention among the four groups at different durations for the same exercise intensity (F = 2.379, p = 0.030, ɳp2 = 0.058; F = 2.451, p = 0.043, ɳp2 = 0.091). 2) Music intervention for individuals during exercise contribute more to the reduction of SBP than the other three time periods (F = 3.170, p = 0.047, ɳp2 = 0.068). Improvement in the participants’ negativity affective score was also better during exercise, and it was significantly different than the other three time periods (F = 5.516, p = 0.006, ɳp2 = 0.113). No significant differences were found in the improvement effects of the other effective indicators for the four periods.

Conclusion: Exercise combined with music intervention has a facilitative effect on human affect improvement, and listening to music during exercise has a better impact on affective improvement than music interventions at the other periods. When people perform physical activities, listening to music during exercise positively affects the progress effect among them.
Investigation into the role of carboxylic acid and phenolic hydroxyl groups in the plant biostimulant activity of a humic acid purified from an oxidized sub-bituminous coal
Authors: Lamar Richard T. , Gralian Jason , Hockaday William C. , Jerzykiewicz Maria , Monda Hiarhi
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Humic substances (HS) are increasingly being applied as crop plant biostimulants because they have been shown to increase plant productivity, especially under environmentally stressful conditions. There has been intense interest in elucidating the HS molecular structures responsible for eliciting the plant biostimulant response (PBR). The polar and weakly acidic carboxylic (COOH) and phenolic hydroxyl (ArOH) functional groups play major roles in the acid nature, pH dependent solubilities, conformation, and metal- and salt-binding capabilities of HS. Reports on the role played by these groups in the PBR of HS found growth parameters being both positively and negatively correlated with COOH and ArOH functionalities.

Materials and methods

To investigate the role of COOH and ArOH in HS biostimulant activity we used a humic acid (HA), purified from an oxidized sub bituminous coal to prepare HAs with COOH groups methylated (AHA), ArOH groups acetylated (OHA), and with both COOH and ArOH groups methylated (FHA). The original HA was designated (NHA). The four HAs were subjected to elemental, 13C-NMR, FTIR, and EPR analyses and their antioxidant properties were assessed using the trolox equivalents antioxidant capacity assay (TEAC). 13C-NMR and FTIR analysis revealed significant alkylation/acetylation. To determine the effects of alkylating/acetylating these functional groups on the HA elicited PBR, the HAs were evaluated in a plant bioassay on corn (Zea mays L.) seedling under nutrient and non-nutrient stressed conditions. Treatments consisted of the four HAs applied to the soil surface at a concentration of 80 mg C L−1, in 50 ml DI H2O with the control plants receiving 50ml DI H2O.

Results

The HA-treated plants, at both fertilization rates, were almost always significantly larger than their respective control plants. However, the differences produced under nutrient stress were always much greater than those produced under nutrient sufficiency, supporting previous reports that HA can reduce the effects of stress on plant growth. In addition, for the most part, the HAs with the alkylated/acetylated groups produced plants equal to or larger than plants treated with NHA.

Conclusion

These results suggests that COOH and ArOH groups play a limited or no role in the HA elicited PBR. Alternatively, the HA pro-oxidant to antioxidant ratio may play a role in the magnitude of the biostimulant response.
Coping with salinity stress: segmental group 7 chromosome introgressions from halophytic Thinopyrum species greatly enhance tolerance of recipient durum wheat
Authors: Tounsi Sana , Giorgi Debora , Kuzmanović Ljiljana , Jrad Olfa , Farina Anna , Capoccioni Alessandra , Ben Ayed Rayda , Brini Faiçal , Ceoloni Carla
Published: April 2024

Increased soil salinization, tightly related to global warming and drought and exacerbated by intensified irrigation supply, implies highly detrimental effects on staple food crops such as wheat. The situation is particularly alarming for durum wheat (DW), better adapted to arid/semi-arid environments yet more sensitive to salt stress than bread wheat (BW). To enhance DW salinity tolerance, we resorted to chromosomally engineered materials with introgressions from allied halophytic Thinopyrum species. “Primary” recombinant lines (RLs), having portions of their 7AL arms distally replaced by 7el1L Th. ponticum segments, and “secondary” RLs, harboring Th. elongatum 7EL insertions “nested” into 7el1L segments, in addition to near-isogenic lines lacking any alien segment (CLs), cv. Om Rabia (OR) as salt tolerant control, and BW introgression lines with either most of 7el1 or the complete 7E chromosome substitution as additional CLs, were subjected to moderate (100 mM) and intense (200 mM) salt (NaCl) stress at early growth stages. The applied stress altered cell cycle progression, determining a general increase of cells in G1 and a reduction in S phase. Assessment of morpho-physiological and biochemical traits overall showed that the presence of Thinopyrum spp. segments was associated with considerably increased salinity tolerance versus its absence. For relative water content, Na+ accumulation and K+ retention in roots and leaves, oxidative stress indicators (malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide) and antioxidant enzyme activities, the observed differences between stressed and unstressed RLs versus CLs was of similar magnitude in “primary” and “secondary” types, suggesting that tolerance factors might reside in defined 7el1L shared portion(s). Nonetheless, the incremental contribution of 7EL segments emerged in various instances, greatly mitigating the effects of salt stress on root and leaf growth and on the quantity of photosynthetic pigments, boosting accumulation of compatible solutes and minimizing the decrease of a powerful antioxidant like ascorbate. The seemingly synergistic effect of 7el1L + 7EL segments/genes made “secondary” RLs able to often exceed cv. OR and equal or better perform than BW lines. Thus, transfer of a suite of genes from halophytic germplasm by use of fine chromosome engineering strategies may well be the way forward to enhance salinity tolerance of glycophytes, even the sensitive DW.
Family religiosity and climate: the protective role of personal interiorized religiosity in deviance propensity among justice-involved juveniles
Authors: Saladino Valeria , Mosca Oriana , Cabras Cristina , Verrastro Valeria , Lauriola Marco
Published: April 2024

According to the literature, religious commitment could be a protective factor against dangerous behaviors, such as criminal offending, unsafe sex, and substance use. Our study aims to investigate the influence of Family Religiosity and climate on anger dysregulation and deviance propensity in a sample of 214 justice-involved boys from Italian Youth Detention Centers (range 14–25). The sample was divided into religious (n = 102) and non-religious (n = 112) justice-involved juveniles. Participants filled in the following questionnaires: Deviant Behavior Questionnaire, Aggression Questionnaire, Family Communication Scale, Moral Disengagement Scale, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. We used a partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS_SEM) method to build our model and we found that Family Religiosity was positively associated with Family Climate which was negatively associated with Anger Dysregulation and Deviance Propensity, and Anger Dysregulation was positively related to Deviance Propensity. The multigroup analysis confirmed that for justice-involved juveniles who interiorized religious discipline and beliefs, Family Religiosity showed a positive association with Family Climate, which had a negative relationship with Anger Dysregulation, which strongly predicted Deviance Propensity. This result could be useful to promote new development goals and preventive activities and interventions based on positive religiosity values in juveniles’ behavior.
Unraveling the impact of self-esteem on the utilization of Instagram filters: the mediating role of fear of negative evaluation
Authors: Lo Destro Calogero
Published: April 2024

The popularity of social media platforms, such as Instagram, has given rise to a surge in photo editing and filtering practices among users. Understanding the underlying psychological factors that drive individuals to employ filters is crucial in comprehending the impact of such behavior on self-perception and online interactions. This study aims to investigate the influence of self-esteem on the importance attributed to the use of Instagram filters, with a particular focus on the mediating role played by the fear of negative evaluation. A sample of participants (N = 2,657) from diverse demographic backgrounds has been recruited to complete a series of questionnaires measuring self-esteem, fear of negative evaluation, and Instagram filter usage patterns. Mediation analysis has been employed to assess the extent to which the fear of negative evaluation mediates the relationship between self-esteem and filter usage importance. In line with the hypotheses, the results revealed that participants self-esteem negatively predicted fear of negative evaluation, which in turn had a positive effect on use of filters. Furthermore, fear of negative evaluation fully mediated the relationship between self-esteem and use of filters. Overall, the implications of this research extend to both theoretical and practical domains. The findings can contribute to the existing literature on self-esteem, social media behavior, and body image by shedding light on the factors influencing digital self-presentation.
Assessment of anxiety in children with neurodevelopment disorders: Rasch analysis of the Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale
Authors: Sparks Alana , Gilbert Evans Susan , Javadi Mojib , Lasalandra Bianca , Martens Emily , Venkatesh Raadhika , Vaccarino Izzy T. , Vaccarino Anthony L.
Published: April 2024

Anxiety is common in neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD). The parent version of the Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale (SCAS-P) is a widely used measure to assess anxiety across a broad range of childhood populations. However, assessment of the measurement properties of the SCAS-P in NDDs have been limited. The present study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the SCAS-P in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using Rasch Measurement Theory. Data from the Province of Ontario Neurodevelopmental Disorders Network Registry were used in the analysis. Children (ages 6-13 years old) with a primary diagnosis of ADHD (n=146) or ASD (n=104) were administered the SCAS-P. Rasch Measurement Theory was used to assess measurement properties of the SCAS-P, including unidimensionality and item-level fit, category ordering, item targeting, person separation index and reliability and differential item functioning. The SCAS-P fit well to the Rasch model in both ADHD and ASD, including unidimensionality, satisfactory category ordering and goodness-of-fit. However, item-person measures showed poor precision at lower levels of anxiety. Some items showed differential item functioning, including items within the obsessive-compulsive, panic/agoraphobia and physical injury fears domains, suggesting that the presentation of anxiety may differ between ADHD and ASD. Overall, the results generally support the use of the SCAS-P to screen and monitor anxiety symptoms in children with ADHD and ASD. Future studies would benefit from examination of more severely anxious NDD cohort, including those with clinically diagnosed anxiety.
Selective disrupted gray matter volume covariance of amygdala subregions in schizophrenia
Authors: Chang Zhongyu , Liu Liping , Lin Liyuan , Wang Gang , Zhang Chen , Tian Hongjun , Liu Wei , Wang Lina , Zhang Bin , Ren Juanjuan , Zhang Yu , Xie Yingying , Du Xiaotong , Wei Xiaotong , Wei Luli , Luo Yun , Dong Haoyang , Li Xin , Zhao Zhen , Liang Meng , Zhang Congpei , Wang Xijin , Yu Chunshui , Qin Wen , Liu Huaigui
Published: April 2024

Objective

Although extensive structural and functional abnormalities have been reported in schizophrenia, the gray matter volume (GMV) covariance of the amygdala remain unknown. The amygdala contains several subregions with different connection patterns and functions, but it is unclear whether the GMV covariance of these subregions are selectively affected in schizophrenia.

Methods

To address this issue, we compared the GMV covariance of each amygdala subregion between 807 schizophrenia patients and 845 healthy controls from 11 centers. The amygdala was segmented into nine subregions using FreeSurfer (v7.1.1), including the lateral (La), basal (Ba), accessory-basal (AB), anterior-amygdaloid-area (AAA), central (Ce), medial (Me), cortical (Co), corticoamygdaloid-transition (CAT), and paralaminar (PL) nucleus. We developed an operational combat harmonization model for 11 centers, subsequently employing a voxel-wise general linear model to investigate the differences in GMV covariance between schizophrenia patients and healthy controls across these subregions and the entire brain, while adjusting for age, sex and TIV.

Results

Our findings revealed that five amygdala subregions of schizophrenia patients, including bilateral AAA, CAT, and right Ba, demonstrated significantly increased GMV covariance with the hippocampus, striatum, orbitofrontal cortex, and so on (permutation test, P< 0.05, corrected). These findings could be replicated in most centers. Rigorous correlation analysis failed to identify relationships between the altered GMV covariance with positive and negative symptom scale, duration of illness, and antipsychotic medication measure.

Conclusion

Our research is the first to discover selectively impaired GMV covariance patterns of amygdala subregion in a large multicenter sample size of patients with schizophrenia.
The digestion and dietary carbohydrate pathway contains 100% gene mutations enrichment among 117 patients with major depressive disorder
Authors: Zhang Ni , Li Jin , Dong Zaiquan , Hu Yongbo , Zhong Zhihui , Gong Qiyong , Kuang Weihong
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is partially inheritable while its mechanism is still uncertain.

Methods

This cross-sectional study focused on gene pathways as a whole rather than polymorphisms of single genes. Deep sequencing and gene enrichment analysis based on pathways in Reactome database were obtained to reveal gene mutations.

Results

A total of 117 patients with MDD and 78 healthy controls were enrolled. The Digestion and Dietary Carbohydrate pathway (Carbohydrate pathway) was determined to contain 100% mutations in patients with MDD and 0 mutation in matched healthy controls.

Discussion

Findings revealed in the current study enable a better understanding of gene pathways mutations status in MDD patients, indicating a possible genetic mechanism of MDD development and a potential diagnostic or therapeutic target.
Shift schedules and circadian preferences: the association with sleep and mood
Authors: Ahn Jihye , Yeo Hyewon , Lee Somi , Hwang Yunjee , Jeon Sehyun , Kim Seog Ju
Published: April 2024

Object

We explored the circadian preferences of non-shift workers (non-SWs) and various types of shift workers (SWs), and the associations of these preferences with sleep and mood.

Methods

In total, 4,561 SWs (2,419 women and 2,142 men aged 37.00 ± 9.80 years) and 2,093 non-SWs (1,094 women and 999 men aged 37.80 ± 9.73 years) completed an online survey. Of all SWs, 2,415 (1,079 women and 1,336 men aged 37.77 ± 9.96 years) reported regularly rotating or fixed schedules (“regular SWs”), and 2,146 (1,340 women and 806 men aged 36.12 ± 9.64 years) had irregular schedules (“irregular SWs”). Of the regular SWs, 2,040 had regularly rotating schedules, 212 had fixed evening schedules, and 163 had fixed night schedules. All participants completed the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) exploring circadian preferences, the short form of the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D) evaluating depression, the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS).

Results

Compared to non-SWs, SWs had lower MEQ scores, i.e., more eveningness, after controlling for age, gender, income, occupation, and weekly work hours (F = 87.97, p < 0.001). Irregular SWs had lower MEQ scores than regular SWs (F = 50.89, p < 0.001). Among regular SWs, the MEQ scores of fixed evening and fixed night SWs were lower than those of regularly rotating SWs (F = 22.42, p < 0.001). An association between the MEQ and ESS scores was apparent in non-SWs (r = −0.85, p < 0.001) but not in SWs (r = 0.001, p = 0.92).

Conclusion

SWs exhibited more eveningness than non-SWs; eveningness was particularly prominent in SWs with irregular or fixed evening/night shifts. Eveningness was associated with sleepiness only in non-SWs, but not in SWs.
Mixed methods evaluation of the COVID-19 changes to the WIC cash-value benefit for fruits and vegetables
Authors: Nitto Allison M. , Crespo-Bellido Mayra , Yenerall Jackie , Anderson Steeves Elizabeth T. , Kersten Sarah K. , Vest Daniele , Hill Jennie L.
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Recent cash-value benefit (CVB) increases are a positive development to help increase WIC participant fruits and vegetables (FV) access. Little is known about the impacts of the CVB changes on FV redemptions or about implementation successes and challenges among WIC State and local agencies. This mixed method study aimed to evaluate (a) the CVB changes’ impact on FV access among WIC child participants measured by CVB redemption rates, (b) facilitators and barriers to CVB changes’ implementation, and (c) differences in FV redemption and facilitators and barriers by race/ethnicity.

Methods

We requested redemption data from all 89 State agencies for April 2020 to September 2022 and utilized descriptive statistics, interrupted time series analysis (ITS), and generalized linear regression analysis. Additionally, we recruited State agencies, local agencies, and caregivers across the U.S. for interviews and used rapid qualitative analysis to find emerging themes anchored in policy evaluation and implementation science frameworks.

Results

We received redemption data from 27 State agencies and interviewed 23 State agencies, 61 local agencies, and 76 caregivers of child WIC participants. CVB monthly redemptions increased at $35/child/month compared to $9/child/month; however, adjusted ITS analyses found a decrease in redemption rates at $35/child/month. The decrease was not significant when the transition/first implementation month was excluded with rates progressively increasing over time. Differences were found among racial/ethnic groups, with lower redemption rates observed for non-Hispanic Black caregivers. Overall, WIC caregivers reported high satisfaction and utilization at the $35/child/month. The frequent and quick turnaround CVB changes strained WIC agency resources with agencies serving higher caseloads of diverse racial and ethnic populations experiencing greater issues with implementing the CVB changes.

Conclusion

Despite implementation challenges, the increased CVB shows promise to improve WIC participant FV access and satisfaction with WIC. WIC agencies need adequate lead time to update the CVB amounts, and resources and support to help ensure equitable distribution and utilization of the FV benefits.
Streamlining event extraction with a simplified annotation framework
Authors: Saetia Chanatip , Thonglong Areeya , Amornchaiteera Thanpitcha , Chalothorn Tawunrat , Taerungruang Supawat , Buabthong Pakpoom
Published: April 2024

Event extraction, grounded in semantic relationships, can serve as a simplified relation extraction. In this study, we propose an efficient open-domain event annotation framework tailored for subsequent information extraction, with a specific focus on its applicability to low-resource languages. The proposed event annotation method, which is based on event semantic elements, demonstrates substantial time-efficiency gains over traditional Universal Dependencies (UD) tagging. We show how language-specific pretraining outperforms multilingual counterparts in entity and relation extraction tasks and emphasize the importance of task- and language-specific fine-tuning for optimal model performance. Furthermore, we demonstrate the improvement of model performance upon integrating UD information during pre-training, achieving the F1 score of 71.16 and 60.43% for entity and relation extraction respectively. In addition, we showcase the usage of our extracted event graph for improving node classification in a retail banking domain. This work provides valuable guidance on improving information extraction and outlines a methodology for developing training datasets, particularly for low-resource languages.
Development of a stroke network in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo): a humanitarian project of the Italian Stroke Association—Associazione Italiana Ictus
Authors: Benedetti Lorenzo , Bosenedje Chadrack , Falcou Anne , Mabiala Jonathan , Lumu René , Ciacciarelli Antonio , Kashala Rémy , Toni Danilo
Published: April 2024

In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), stroke incidence is ~316 cases per 100,000 inhabitants and in 75% of SSA countries stroke is among the top three causes of death. This epidemiological evolution results from the exponential growth of the African population as well as the lack of policies for prevention and therapy. The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the countries included as a “low-income country” in the 2023 Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development's Development Assistance Committee List; its capital, Kinshasa, is a megalopolis with more than 18 million inhabitants. According to our knowledge, no hospital in Kinshasa is currently capable of admitting and treating patients with stroke according to international guidelines. The Italian Stroke Association—Associazione Italiana Ictus (ISA-AII) is a multidisciplinary scientific society for the fight against cerebrovascular diseases. Some members of the ISA-AII joined to form a working group dedicated to the care of stroke in Africa. In this article, we explain the project designed by ISA Africa that, in collaboration with the referral hospital of a district of Kinshasa, has the aim of building a network for diagnosing and treating stroke, including ambulance services, a stroke team in the emergency room, a stroke unit, an outpatient clinic, and primary prevention activities among the population.
CFD Simulations and Phenomenological Modelling of Aerodynamic Stall Hysteresis of NACA 0018 Wing
Authors: Sereez Mohamed , Abramov Nikolay , Goman Mikhail
Published: April 2024

Computational simulations of three-dimensional flow around a NACA 0018 wing with an aspect ratio of AR=5 were carried out by using the Unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) equations with the Shear-Stress Transport turbulence model closure. Simulations were performed to capture aerodynamic stall hysteresis by using the developed pseudo-transient continuation (PTC) method based on a dual-time step approach in CFD OpenFOAM code. The flow was characterized by incompressible Mach number M=0.12 and moderate Reynolds number Re=0.67×106. The results obtained indicate the presence of noticeable aerodynamic hysteresis in the static dependencies of the force and moment coefficients, as well as the manifestation of bi-stable flow separation patterns, accompanied by the development of asymmetry in the stall zone. The URANS simulation results are in good agreement with the experimental data obtained for the NACA 0018 finite-aspect-ratio wing in the low-speed wind tunnel under the same test conditions. A new phenomenological bifurcation model of aerodynamic stall hysteresis under static and dynamic conditions is formulated and is proven to be able to closely match the experimental data.
Improvements in Probabilistic Strategies and Their Application to Turbomachinery
Authors: Prots Andriy , Voigt Matthias , Mailach Ronald
Published: April 2024

This paper discusses various strategies for probabilistic analysis, with a focus on typical engineering applications. The emphasis is on sampling methods and sensitivity analysis. A new sampling method, Latinized particle sampling, is introduced and compared to existing sampling methods. While it can increase the quality of surrogate models, an optimized Latin hypercube sampling is mostly preferable as it shows slightly better results. In sensitivity analysis, the difficulty lies in correlated input variables, which are typical in engineering applications. First, the Sobol indices and the Shapley values are explained using an intuitive example. Then, the modified coefficient of importance is introduced as a new sensitivity measure, which can be used to reliably identify input variables without functional influence. Finally, these results are applied to a turbomachinery test case. In this case, the flow field of a compressor row is investigated, where the blades are subjected to geometric variability. The profile parameters used to describe the geometric variability are correlated. It is shown that the variability of the maximum camber and the thickness of the leading edge have a decisive influence on the variability of the isentropic efficiency.
A Comparative Review of Models for All-Solid-State Li-Ion Batteries
Authors: Yildiz Erkin , Serpelloni Mattia , Salvadori Alberto , Cabras Luigi
Published: April 2024

In recent times, there has been significant enthusiasm for the development of all-solid-state Li-ion batteries. This interest stems from a dual focus on safety—addressing concerns related to toxic and flammable organic liquid electrolytes—and the pursuit of high energy density. While liquid electrolyte batteries currently constitute the vast majority of commercial cells, solid electrolyte batteries show great promise. In parallel with experimental research, computational models clarify several fundamental physics that take place throughout battery operations. Giving up on reviewing a broad screening of the existing literature, we set out to select here a few highly relevant models, emphasizing some fundamental conceptual advancements and offering an in-depth and critical insight into the current state of the art. The papers we selected aim at providing the reader with a tangible and quantitative understanding of how all-solid-state Li-ion batteries operate, including the different mechanisms at play and the mathematical tools required to model the pertinent physics and mechanics.
A Personalized Collaborative Filtering Recommendation System Based on Bi-Graph Embedding and Causal Reasoning
Authors: Huang Xiaoli , Wang Junjie , Cui Junying
Published: April 2024

The integration of graph embedding technology and collaborative filtering algorithms has shown promise in enhancing the performance of recommendation systems. However, existing integrated recommendation algorithms often suffer from feature bias and lack effectiveness in personalized user recommendation. For instance, users’ historical interactions with a certain class of items may inaccurately lead to recommendations of all items within that class, resulting in feature bias. Moreover, accommodating changes in user interests over time poses a significant challenge. This study introduces a novel recommendation model, RCKFM, which addresses these shortcomings by leveraging the CoFM model, TransR graph embedding model, backdoor tuning of causal inference, KL divergence, and the factorization machine model. RCKFM focuses on improving graph embedding technology, adjusting feature bias in embedding models, and achieving personalized recommendations. Specifically, it employs the TransR graph embedding model to handle various relationship types effectively, mitigates feature bias using causal inference techniques, and predicts changes in user interests through KL divergence, thereby enhancing the accuracy of personalized recommendations. Experimental evaluations conducted on publicly available datasets, including “MovieLens-1M” and “Douban dataset” from Kaggle, demonstrate the superior performance of the RCKFM model. The results indicate a significant improvement of between 3.17% and 6.81% in key indicators such as precision, recall, normalized discount cumulative gain, and hit rate in the top-10 recommendation tasks. These findings underscore the efficacy and potential impact of the proposed RCKFM model in advancing recommendation systems.
Navigating Kazakhstan’s Sustainable Economic Future: A Study of Tech Innovation, Infrastructure, and Resource Management
Authors: Rakhymzhan Gani , Dabyltayeva Nazym Esbergenovna , Sakhanova Gaukhar , Ruziyeva Elvira Abdulmitovna , Bekmukhametova Assemgul Bauirzhanovna
Published: April 2024

In a quest to illuminate Kazakhstan’s economic horizon within a sustainable context, this study delved into the complex interplay of sustainable tech innovation, investment in sustainable infrastructure, and natural resource management. The study assesses the potential for green economy development by introducing the adoption of sustainable practices as the mediator and corporate social responsibility as the moderator in the examined relationships. We employed a cluster sampling technique, focusing on government sector employees in Kazakhstan. The choice of this sector stemmed from its pivotal role in shaping national policies. A time-lagged approach was incorporated, collecting data at two distinct time points to capture the dynamic evolution of green initiatives over time. As the data unfolded, sustainable tech innovation, investment in sustainable infrastructure, and natural resource management emerged as significant predictors for adopting environmentally responsible practices leading to green economy development. This development process, we found, was further augmented by the moderating influence of corporate social responsibility. Hence, our findings contribute both practical and theoretical insights to the discourse on sustainable economic development. In addressing the intricate interplay of technological, infrastructural, and resource-related factors, this study provides guidance for Kazakhstan’s ongoing transition towards a more sustainable and resilient economic trajectory.
Process Optimization of Pellet Manufacturing from Mixed Materials in Ultrasonic Vibration-Assisted Pelleting
Authors: Li Wentao , Yu Rongwei , Luo Lina , Shi Hongying
Published: April 2024

Achieving carbon neutrality and alleviating the rural energy predicament are crucial aspects in rural areas, particularly in the severe cold regions of northeast China. Pellets serve as clean, renewable energy sources and are ideal alternative fuels. This study investigated the influencing factors and effects of mixed raw materials in ultrasonic vibration-assisted pelleting (UV-A pelleting). Rice straw and corn stover were mixed to produce pellets, and a central composite rotatable design (CCRD) was conducted to analyze the variables and their interactions on pellet density and durability. Mathematical regression models for pellet density and durability were established and then validated through ANOVA analysis. The results showed that all variables significantly affected the density and durability of pellets. The mixing ratio had a greater impact on pellet durability compared to density due to differences in ingredients. The optimal combination of process parameters included a mixing ratio of 25%, molding pressure of 4 MPa, pelleting time of 37 s, and ultrasonic power output at 200 W, resulting in a pellet density of 1301.18 kg/m3 with a durability reaching 94.26%. The desirability value (0.997) under these optimal conditions confirmed the validity of the models; further experiments also verified their effectiveness. The combustion of the optimized pellet was analyzed using thermogravimetric (TG) and derivative thermogravimetric (DTG) analysis in an air atmosphere. Four combustion stages and ignition temperature were provided.
A Comparison of Different Biomass Combustion Mechanisms in the Transient State
Authors: Neves Filipe , Soares Armando A. , Rouboa Abel
Published: April 2024

Different combustion reaction process models were used to numerically study the behavior of the temperature, velocity, and turbulence fields, as well as to gain a better understanding of the differences between the reaction products obtained with each model. Transient-state simulations were conducted for a gasifier under specific operating conditions. The standard K-epsilon (2eq) turbulence model was utilized, along with the incorporation of species transport, volumetric responses, and eddy dissipation. In this study, the impacts of one-, two-, and four-step reaction mechanisms on the mass fraction of the products of the reactions, as well as the maximum values of velocity, turbulence, and temperature, were examined. The findings demonstrated that for all mechanisms, the greater maximum values of velocity and turbulence are attained at early time steps and decrease with subsequent time steps. The temperature rises as much in the early time steps and nearly stays the same in the late time steps. In all situations examined, the species’ fraction mass varies slightly in the early time steps but becomes nearly constant in the latter time stages. Similar species mass fraction values were found for both one-step and four-step methods. The results also suggest that the lower half of the gasifier is where the highest mass fraction values are found.
Hydrothermal Co-Liquefaction of Food and Plastic Waste for Biocrude Production
Authors: Feuerbach Silvan , Toor Saqib Sohail , Costa Paula A. , Paradela Filipe , Marques Paula A.A.S. , Castello Daniele
Published: April 2024

In this study, hydrothermal co-liquefaction of restaurant waste for biocrude production was conducted. The feedstock was resembled using the organic fraction of restaurant waste and low-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and polyethylene terephthalate, four plastic types commonly present in municipal solid waste. Using design of experiment and a face-centered central composite design, three factors (feedstock plastic fraction, temperature, time) were varied at three levels each: feedstock plastic fraction (0, 0.25, 0.5), temperature (290 °C, 330 °C, 370 °C), and reaction time (0 min, 30 min, 60 min). The literature reports positive synergistic interactions in hydrothermal co-liquefaction of biomass and plastics; however, in this work, only negative synergistic interactions could be observed. A reason could be the high thermal stability of produced fatty acids that give little room for interactions with plastics. At the same time, mass might transfer to other product phases.
Improved Error-Based Ensemble Learning Model for Compressor Performance Parameter Prediction
Authors: Miao Xinguo , Liu Lei , Wang Zhiyong , Chen Xiaoming
Published: April 2024

Large compressors have complex structures and constantly changing operating conditions. It is challenging to build physical models of compressors to analyse their performance parameters. An improved error-based stacked ensemble learning prediction model is proposed in this work. This model simplifies the modelling steps in a data-driven manner and obtains accurate prediction results. An enhanced integrated model employs K-fold cross-validation to assign dataset weights based on validation set errors, achieving a 12.4% reduction in average output error. Additionally, the output error of the meta-model undergoes a Box–Cox transformation for error compensation, decreasing the average output error by 14.0%. The Stacking model, combining the above improvements, notably reduces the root-mean-square errors for power, surge, and blocking boundaries by 24.2%, 20.6%, and 23.3%, respectively. This integration significantly boosts prediction accuracy.
Mechanism of Ligilactobacillus salivarius GX118 in Regulating the Growth of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and Resistance to Aeromonas salmonicida Infection
Authors: Cao Xiyu , Wang Bowen , Ren Wenhao , Wang Jiang , Liu Qi , Ren Yichao , Meng Xianliang
Published: April 2024

Lactic acid bacteria Ligilactobacillus salivarius has been shown to be a substitute for antibiotics in the treatment of bacterial disease in high animals. However, its beneficial mechanism in fish farming is still unclear. This study evaluated the antagonistic effects of the Ligilactobacillus salivarius GX118 strain on Aeromonas salmonicida and its regulation of rainbow trout growth in vivo and in vitro. The results found that GX118 produces an antibacterial substance that can directly destroy the cell wall of A. salmonicida. Whole-genome sequencing of GX118 revealed that Enterolysin A is a type III bacteriocin with antibacterial properties. An in vivo experiment showed that the supplementation of GX118 in diet competitively inhibited the colonization of A. salmonicida in the intestine. In addition, it was able to improve the growth performance of rainbow trout within a 21-day feeding experiment. The supplementation of GX118 increased the diversity of gut microbiota, in which the abundance of Bacteroidota, Blautia, and Rhodobacteraceae increased. In addition, the use of GX118 activated the expression of IFN-γ and NF-κB genes and reduced the expression level of IL-6 and IL-8, thus exhibiting a certain effect on activating the immunity of rainbow trout. This study provides a scientific basis for the development of antibacterial probiotics in the healthy farming of rainbow trout.
Adjoint Solver-Based Analysis of Mouth–Tongue Morphologies on Vapor Deposition in the Upper Airway
Authors: Talaat Mohamed , Si Xiuhua , Xi Jinxiang
Published: April 2024

Even though inhalation dosimetry is determined by three factors (i.e., breathing, aerosols, and the respiratory tract), the first two categories have been more widely studied than the last. Both breathing and aerosols are quantitative variables that can be easily changed, while respiratory airway morphologies are difficult to reconstruct, modify, and quantify. Although several methods are available for model reconstruction and modification, developing an anatomically accurate airway model and morphing it to various physiological conditions remains labor-intensive and technically challenging. The objective of this study is to explore the feasibility of using an adjoint–CFD model to understand airway shape effects on vapor deposition and control vapor flux into the lung. A mouth–throat model was used, with the shape of the mouth and tongue being automatically varied via adjoint morphing and the vapor transport being simulated using ANSYS Fluent coupled with a wall absorption model. Two chemicals with varying adsorption rates, Acetaldehyde and Benzene, were considered, which exhibited large differences in dosimetry sensitivity to airway shapes. For both chemicals, the maximal possible morphing was first identified and then morphology parametric studies were conducted. Results show that changing the mouth–tongue shape can alter the oral filtration by 3.2% for Acetaldehyde and 0.27% for Benzene under a given inhalation condition. The front tongue exerts a significant impact on all cases considered, while the impact of other regions varies among cases. This study demonstrates that the hybrid adjoint–CFD approach can be a practical and efficient method to investigate morphology-associated variability in the dosimetry of vapors and nanomedicines under steady inhalation.
Multi-Objective Topology Optimization of Conjugate Heat Transfer Using Level Sets and Anisotropic Mesh Adaptation
Authors: Meliga Philippe , Abdel Nour Wassim , Laboureur Delphine , Serret Damien , Hachem Elie
Published: April 2024

This study proposes a new computational framework for the multi-objective topology optimization of conjugate heat transfer systems using a continuous adjoint approach. It relies on a monolithic solver for the coupled steady-state Navier–Stokes and heat equations, which combines finite elements stabilized by the variational multi-scale method, level set representations of the fluid–solid interfaces and immersed modeling of heterogeneous materials (fluid–solid) to ensure that the proper amount of heat is exchanged to the ambient fluid by solid objects in arbitrary geometry. At each optimization iteration, anisotropic mesh adaptation is applied in near-wall regions automatically captured by the level set. This considerably cuts the computational effort associated with calling the finite element solver, in comparison to traditional topology optimization algorithms operating on isotropic grids with a comparable refinement level. Given that we operate within the constraint of a specified number of nodes in the mesh, this allows not only to improve the accuracy of interface representation and motion but also to retain the high fidelity of the numerical solutions at the grid points just adjacent to the interface. Finally, the remeshing and resolution steps both run within a highly parallel environment, which makes it possible for the proposed algorithm to tackle large-scale problems in three dimensions with several tens of millions of state degrees of freedom. The developed solver is validated first by minimizing dissipation in a flow splitter device, for which the method delivers relevant optimal designs over a wide range of volume constraints and flow rate distributions over the multiple outlet orifices but yields better accuracy compared to reference data from literature obtained using uniform meshes (in the sense that the layouts are more smooth, and the solutions are better resolved). The scheme is then applied to a two-dimensional heat transfer problem, using bi-objective cost functionals combining flow resistance and thermal recoverable power. A comprehensive parametric study reveals a complex arrangement of optimal solutions on the Pareto front, with multiple branches of symmetric and asymmetric designs, some of them previously unreported. Finally, the algorithmic developments are substantiated with several three-dimensional numerical examples tackled under fixed weights for heat transfer and flow resistance, for which we show that the optimal layouts computed at low Reynolds number, that are intrinsically relevant to a broad range of microfluidic application, can also serve as smooth solutions to high-Reynolds-number engineering problems of practical interest.
Characterization of Grape Pomace Extract Microcapsules: The Influence of Carbohydrate Co-Coating on the Stabilization of Goat Whey Protein as a Primary Coating
Authors: Perković Gabriela , Martinović Josipa , Šelo Gordana , Bucić-Kojić Ana , Planinić Mirela , Ambrus Rita
Published: April 2024

Both grape pomace and whey are waste products from the food industry that are rich in valuable ingredients. The utilization of these two by-products is becoming increasingly possible as consumer awareness of upcycling increases. The biological activities of grape pomace extract (GPE) are diverse and depend on its bioavailability, which is influenced by processes in the digestive system. In this work, goat whey protein (GW) was used as the primary coating to protect the phenolic compounds of GPE during the spray drying process. In addition, trehalose (T), sucrose (S), xylose (X), and maltodextrin (MD) were added to the goat whey proteins as co-coatings and protein stabilizers. All spray drying experiments resulted in microcapsules (MC) with a high encapsulation efficiency (77.6–95.5%) and yield (91.5–99.0%) and almost 100% recovery of phenolic compounds during the release test. For o-coumaric acid, the GW-coated microcapsules (MC) showed a bioavailability index of up to 731.23%. A semi-crystalline structure and hydrophilicity were characteristics of the MC coated with 10% T, S, X, or 5% MD. GW alone or in combination with T, S, MD, or X proved to be a promising carrier for polyphenols from grape pomace extract and ensured good bioavailability of these natural antioxidants.
Steady-State Delivery and Chemical Modification of Food Nutrients to Improve Cancer Intervention Ability
Authors: Hao Sijia , Ge Peng , Su Wentao , Wang Yuxiao , Abd El-Aty A. M. , Tan Mingqian
Published: April 2024

Cancer is a crucial global health problem, and prevention is an important strategy to reduce the burden of the disease. Daily diet is the key modifiable risk factor for cancer, and an increasing body of evidence suggests that specific nutrients in foods may have a preventive effect against cancer. This review summarizes the current evidence on the role of nutrients from foods in cancer intervention. It discusses the potential mechanisms of action of various dietary components, including phytochemicals, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. The findings of epidemiological and clinical studies on their association with cancer risk are highlighted. The foods are rich in bioactive compounds such as carotenoids, flavonoids, and ω-3 fatty acids, which have been proven to have anticancer properties. The effects of steady-state delivery and chemical modification of these food’s bioactive components on anticancer and intervention are summarized. Future research should focus on identifying the specific bioactive compounds in foods responsible for their intervention effects and exploring the potential synergistic effects of combining different nutrients in foods. Dietary interventions that incorporate multiple nutrients and whole foods may hold promise for reducing the risk of cancer and improving overall health.