bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Efficient Two-Stage Receiver Base on AOR Iterative Algorithm and Chebyshev Acceleration for Uplink Multiuser Massive-MIMO OFDM Systems
Authors: Tu Yung-Ping , Chen Chih-Yung , Lin Kuang-Hao
Published: December 2021

The massive multiple-input multiple-output systems (M-MIMO) and orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) are considered to be some of the most promising key techniques in the emerging 5G and advanced wireless communication systems nowadays. Not only are the benefits of applying M-MIMO and OFDM for broadband communication well known, but using them for the application of the Internet of Things (IoT) requires a large amount of wireless transmission, which is a developing topic. However, its high complexity becomes a problem when there are numerous antennas. In this paper, we provide an effective two-stage multiuser detector (MUD) with the assistance of the accelerated over-relaxation (AOR) iterative algorithm and Chebyshev acceleration for the uplink of M-MIMO OFDM systems to achieve a better balance between bit error rate (BER) performance and computational complexity. The first stage of the receiver consists of an accelerated over-relaxation (AOR)-based estimator and is intended to yield a rough initial estimate of the relaxation factor ω, the acceleration parameter γ, and transmitted symbols. In the second stage, the Chebyshev acceleration method is used for detection, and a more precise signal is produced through efficient iterative estimation. Additionally, we call this proposed scheme Chebyshev-accelerated over-relaxation (CAOR) detection. Conducted simulations show that the developed receiver, with a modest computational load, can provide superior performance compared with previous works, especially in the MU M-MIMO uplink environments.
Performance Evaluation of UAV-Based NOMA Networks with Hardware Impairment
Authors: Duc Chung Ho , Nguyen Sang Quang , Le Chi-Bao , Khanh Ngo Tan Vu
Published: December 2021

In this paper, we evaluate the outage performance of a non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA)-enabled unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) where two users on the ground are simultaneously served by a UAV for a spectral efficiency purpose. In practice, hardware impairments at the transceiver cause distortion noise, which results in the performance loss of wireless systems. As a consequence, hardware impairment is an unavoidable factor in the system design process. Hence, we take into account the effects of hardware impairment (HI) on the performance of the proposed system. In this setting, to evaluate the system performance, the closed-form expressions of the outage probability of two NOMA users and the ergodic capacity are derived as well as their asymptotic expressions for a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Finally, based on Monte-Carlo simulations, we verify the analytical expressions and investigate the effects on the main system parameters, i.e., the transmit SNR and level of HI, on the system performance metrics. The results show that the performance for the near NOMA user is better than of that for the far NOMA user in the case of perfect hardware; however, in the case of hardware impairment, an inversion happens at a high transmit power of the UAV in terms of the ergodic capacity.
Small Prime Divisors Attack and Countermeasure against the RSA-OTP Algorithm
Authors: Sarna Szymon , Czerwinski Robert
Published: December 2021

One-time password algorithms are widely used in digital services to improve security. However, many such solutions use a constant secret key to encrypt (process) one-time plaintexts. A paradigm shift from constant to one-time keys could introduce tangible benefits to the application security field. This paper analyzes a one-time password concept for the Rivest–Shamir–Adleman algorithm, in which each key element is hidden, and the value of the modulus is changed after each encryption attempt. The difference between successive moduli is exchanged between communication sides via an unsecure channel. Analysis shows that such an approach is not secure. Moreover, determining the one-time password element (Rivest–Shamir–Adleman modulus) can be straightforward. A countermeasure for the analyzed algorithm is proposed.
Investigation of Partial Shading Scenarios on a Photovoltaic Array’s Characteristics
Authors: Chalh Abdelilah , El Hammoumi Aboubakr , Motahhir Saad , El Ghzizal Abdelaziz , Derouich Aziz , Masud Mehedi , AlZain Mohammed A.
Published: December 2021

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of different partial shading scenarios on a PV array’s characteristics in order to develop a simple and easy-to-implement GMPP controller that tracks the PV array’s global maximum power point (GMPP). The P-V characteristic of the PV array becomes more complicated under partial shading, owing to the presence of many power peaks, as opposed to uniform irradiance conditions, when there is only one peak called the maximum power point. In fact, and according to an experiment conducted in this study, when a PV array is partially shaded, the P-V characteristic mostly presents two peaks, given the existence of only two levels of irradiance, one of which is called the global peak (i.e., the GMPP). Furthermore, the first peak is located at Vmpp1 (the PV array’s voltage corresponds to this peak), whereas the second is at Vmpp2. The proposed approach works by estimating the values of Vmpp1 and Vmpp2 using two equations in order to control the DC/DC converter of the PV system. The first equation is used when the GMPP is at the first peak, while the other is used when the GMPP is at the second peak. Several scenarios are simulated and presented in this paper to verify the accuracy of these equations. In addition, some conclusions are drawn to suggest a simple method for tracking the GMPP.
Smart E-Textile Systems: A Review for Healthcare Applications
Authors: Zaman Shahood uz , Tao Xuyuan , Cochrane Cedric , Koncar Vladan
Published: December 2021

E-textiles is a new hybrid field developed with the help of the integration of electronic components into our daily usage of textile products. These wearable e-textiles provide user-defined applications as well as normal textile clothing. The medical field is one of the major leading areas where these new hybrid products are being implemented, and relatively mature products can be observed in the laboratory as well as in commercial markets. These products are developed for continuous patient monitoring in large-scale hospital centers as well as for customized patient requirements. Meanwhile, these products are also being used for complex medical treatments and the replacement of conventional methods. This review manuscript contains a basic overview of e-textile systems, their components, applications, and usages in the field of medical innovations. E-textile systems, integrated into customized products for medical needs, are discussed with their proposed properties and limitations. Finally, some recommendations to enhance the e-textile system’s integration into the medical field are argued.
Smooth-Transition Simple Digital PWM Modulator for Four-Switch Buck-Boost Converters
Authors: Fernandez Miguel , Rodriguez Alberto , Rodríguez Miguel , Vazquez Aitor , Fernandez Pablo , Arias Manuel
Published: December 2021

This paper proposes a simple, hardware-efficient digital pulse width modulator for a 4SBB that enables operation in Buck, Boost, and Buck+Boost modes, achieving smooth transitions between the different modes. The proposed modulator is simulated using Simulink and experimentally demonstrated using a 500 W 4SBB converter with 24 V input voltage and 12–36 V output voltage range.
Optimal Battery Dispatch Using Finite-Input Set Non-Linear Model Predictive Control: Algorithm Development and Case Study
Authors: Abugchem Fathi , Short Michael , Ogwumike Chris , Dawood Huda
Published: December 2021

The advancement in battery manufacturing has played a significant role in the use of batteries as a cost-effective energy storage system. This paper proposes an optimal charging and discharging strategy for the battery energy storage system deployed for economic dispatch and supply/demand balancing services in the presence of intermittent renewables such as solar photovoltaic systems. A decision-making strategy for battery charge/discharge operations in a discrete-time rolling horizon framework is developed as a finite-input set non-linear model predictive control instances and a dynamic programming procedure is proposed for its real-time implementation. The proposed scheme is tested on controllable loads and a photovoltaic generation scenario in the premises of a sports centre, as a part of a pilot demonstration of the inteGRIDy EU-funded project. The test results confirm that the implemented stacking of the battery and optimal decision-making algorithm can enhance net saving in the electricity bill of the sports centre, and lead to corresponding CO2 reductions.
High-Performance RF Balanced Microstrip Mixer Configuration for Cryogenic and Room Temperatures
Authors: Citron Noy , Holdengreber Eldad , Sorkin Oz , Schacham Shmuel E. , Farber Eliyahu
Published: December 2021

A high-performance S-band down-conversion microstrip mixer, for operation from 77 K to 300 K, is described. The balanced mixer combines a 90 degree hybrid coupler, two Schottky diodes, a band pass filter, and a low pass filter. The coupler phase shift drastically improves noise rejection. The circuit was implemented according to the configuration obtained from extensive simulation results based on electromagnetic analysis. The experimental results agreed well with the simulation results, showing a maximum measured insertion loss of 0.4 dB at 2 GHz. The microstrip mixer can be easily adjusted to different frequency ranges, up to about 50 GHz, through the proper choice of microstrip configuration. This novel S-band cryogenic mixer, implemented without resorting to special components, shows a very high performance at liquid nitrogen temperatures, making this mixer very suitable for high-temperature superconductive applications, such as front-ends.
Concatenation of Pre-Trained Convolutional Neural Networks for Enhanced COVID-19 Screening Using Transfer Learning Technique
Authors: El Gannour Oussama , Hamida Soufiane , Cherradi Bouchaib , Al-Sarem Mohammed , Raihani Abdelhadi , Saeed Faisal , Hadwan Mohammed
Published: December 2021

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is the most prevalent coronavirus infection with respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough, dyspnea, pneumonia, and weariness being typical in the early stages. On the other hand, COVID-19 has a direct impact on the circulatory and respiratory systems as it causes a failure to some human organs or severe respiratory distress in extreme circumstances. Early diagnosis of COVID-19 is extremely important for the medical community to limit its spread. For a large number of suspected cases, manual diagnostic methods based on the analysis of chest images are insufficient. Faced with this situation, artificial intelligence (AI) techniques have shown great potential in automatic diagnostic tasks. This paper aims at proposing a fast and precise medical diagnosis support system (MDSS) that can distinguish COVID-19 precisely in chest-X-ray images. This MDSS uses a concatenation technique that aims to combine pre-trained convolutional neural networks (CNN) depend on the transfer learning (TL) technique to build a highly accurate model. The models enable storage and application of knowledge learned from a pre-trained CNN to a new task, viz., COVID-19 case detection. For this purpose, we employed the concatenation method to aggregate the performances of numerous pre-trained models to confirm the reliability of the proposed method for identifying the patients with COVID-19 disease from X-ray images. The proposed system was trialed on a dataset that included four classes: normal, viral-pneumonia, tuberculosis, and COVID-19 cases. Various general evaluation methods were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed model. The first proposed model achieved an accuracy rate of 99.80% while the second model reached an accuracy of 99.71%.
Routing Algorithms Simulation for Self-Aware SDN
Authors: Nowak Mateusz P. , Pecka Piotr
Published: December 2021

This paper presents a self-aware network approach with cognitive packets, with a routing engine based on random neural networks. The simulation study, performed using a custom simulator extension of OmNeT++, compares RNN routing with other routing methods. The performance results of RNN-based routing, combined with the distributed nature of its operation inaccessible to other presented methods, demonstrate the advantages of introducing neural networks as a decision-making mechanism in selecting network paths. This work also confirms the usefulness of the simulator for SDN networks with cognitive packets and various routing algorithms, including RNN-based routing engines.
Velocity Structure Revealing a Likely Mud Volcano off the Dongsha Island, the Northern South China Sea
Authors: Yan Yuning , Liao Jianping , Yu Junhui , Chen Changliang , Zhong Guangjian , Wang Yanlin , Wang Lixin
Published: December 2021

The Dongsha Island (DS) is located in the mid-northern South China Sea continental margin. The waters around it are underlain by the Chaoshan Depression, a relict Mesozoic sedimentary basin, blanketed by thin Cenozoic sediments but populated with numerous submarine hills with yet less-known nature. A large hill, H110, 300 m high, 10 km wide, appearing in the southeast to the Dongsha Island, is crossed by an ocean bottom seismic and multiple channel seismic surveying lines. The first arrival tomography, using ocean bottom seismic data, showed two obvious phenomena below it: (1) a low-velocity (3.3 to 4 km/s) zone, with size of 20 × 3 km2, centering at ~4.5 km depth and (2) an underlying high-velocity (5.5 to 6.3 km/s) zone of comparable size at ~7 km depth. MCS profiles show much-fragmented Cenozoic sequences, covering a wide chaotic reflection zone within the Mesozoic strata below hill H110. The low-velocity zone corresponds to the chaotic reflection zone and can be interpreted as of highly-fractured and fluid-rich Mesozoic layers. Samples dredged from H110 comprised of illite-bearing authigenic carbonate nodules and rich, deep-water organisms are indicative of hydrocarbon seepage from deep source. Therefore, H110 can be inferred as a mud volcano. The high-velocity zone is interpreted as of magma intrusion, considering that young magmatism was found enhanced over the southern CSD. Furthermore, the origin of H110 can be speculated as thermodynamically driven, i.e., magma from the depths intrudes into the thick Mesozoic strata and promotes petroleum generation, thus, driving mud volcanism. Mud volcanism at H110 and the occurrence of a low-velocity zone below it likely indicates the existence of Mesozoic hydrocarbon reservoir, which is in favor of the petroleum exploration.
Study of the Mechanical Properties of Wood under Transverse Compression Using Monto Carlo Simulation-Based Stochastic FE Analysis
Authors: Wu Guofang , Shen Yinlan , Fu Feng , Guo Juan , Ren Haiqing
Published: December 2021

Wood is an anisotropic material, the mechanical properties of which are strongly influenced by its microstructure. In wood, grain compression strength and modulus are the weakest perpendicular to the grain compared to other grain directions. FE (finite element) models have been developed to investigate the mechanical properties of wood under transverse compression. However, almost all existing models were deterministic. Thus, the variations of geometry of the cellular structure were not considered, and the statistical characteristic of the mechanical property was not involved. This study aimed to develop an approach to investigate the compression property of wood in a statistical sense by considering the irregular geometry of wood cells. First, the mechanical properties of wood under radial perpendicular to grain compression was experimentally investigated, then the statistical characteristic of cell geometry was extracted from test data. Finally, the mechanical property of wood was investigated using the finite element method in combination with the Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) techniques using randomly generated FE models. By parameter sensitivity analysis, it was found that the occurrence of the yield points was caused by the bending or buckling of the earlywood axial tracheid cell wall in the tangential direction. The MCS-based stochastic FE analysis was revealed as an interesting approach for assessing the micro-mechanical performance of wood and in assisting in understanding the mechanical behavior of wood based on its hierarchical structure.
Inertial Waves in a Rotating Spherical Shell with Homogeneous Boundary Conditions
Authors: Shebalin John V.
Published: December 2021

We find the analytical form of inertial waves in an incompressible, rotating fluid constrained by concentric inner and outer spherical surfaces with homogeneous boundary conditions on the normal components of velocity and vorticity. These fields are represented by Galerkin expansions whose basis consists of toroidal and poloidal vector functions, i.e., products and curls of products of spherical Bessel functions and vector spherical harmonics. These vector basis functions also satisfy the Helmholtz equation and this has the benefit of providing each basis function with a well-defined wavenumber. Eigenmodes and associated eigenfrequencies are determined for both the ideal and dissipative cases. These eigenmodes are formed from linear combinations of the Galerkin expansion basis functions. The system is truncated to numerically study inertial wave structure, varying the number of eigenmodes. The largest system considered in detail is a 25 eigenmode system and a graphical depiction is presented of the five lowest dissipation eigenmodes, all of which are non-oscillatory. These results may be useful in understanding data produced by numerical simulations of fluid and magnetofluid turbulence in a spherical shell that use a Galerkin, toroidal–poloidal basis as well as qualitative features of liquids confined by a spherical shell.
Factors Influencing Customer Decisions to Use Online Food Delivery Service during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Jun Kyungyul , Yoon Borham , Lee Seungsuk , Lee Dong-Soo
Published: December 2021

Despite the popularity of online food delivery systems in the foodservice industry, there have been few studies into customers’ decision-making process to use online food delivery services during the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. This study applied the technology acceptance model (TAM) to examine the factors affecting customers’ intention to use online food delivery services. Results showed (a) the perceived usefulness affects customer’s online food delivery usage directly and indirectly through customer attitude; (b) enjoyment and trust are also key factors determining behavior intention toward customer attitude using online food delivery services; (c) positive relationship between social influence and customer attitude; and (d) a positive relationship between customer attitude and behavior intention in the online food delivery service context. These findings provide theoretical and managerial implications that contribute to the online food delivery service industry.
Sodium Caseinate and Acetylated Mung Bean Starch for the Encapsulation of Lutein: Enhanced Solubility and Stability of Lutein
Authors: Lu Yifan , Zhang Bo , Shen Huishan , Ge Xiangzhen , Sun Xiangxiang , Zhang Qian , Zhang Xiuyun , Sun Zhuangzhuang , Li Wenhao
Published: December 2021

Lutein is a kind of vital carotenoid with high safety and significant advantages in biological functions. However, poor water solubility and stability of lutein have limited its application. This study selected different weight ratios of sodium caseinate to acetylated mung bean starch (10:0, 9:1, 7:3, 5:5, 3:7, 1:9, and 0:10) to prepare lutein emulsions, and the microcapsules were produced by spray drying technology. The microstructure, physicochemical properties, and storage stability of microcapsules were investigated. The results show that the emulsion systems were typical non-Newtonian fluids. Lutein microcapsules were light yellow fine powder with smooth and relatively complete particle surface. The increase of sodium caseinate content led to the enhanced emulsion effect of the emulsion and the yield and solubility of microcapsules increased, and wettability and the average particle size became smaller. The encapsulation efficiency of lutein microcapsules ranged from 69.72% to 89.44%. The thermal characteristics analysis showed that the endothermic transition of lutein microcapsules occurred at about 125 °C. The microcapsules with sodium caseinate as single wall material had the worst stability. Thus, it provides a reference for expanding the application of lutein in food, biological, pharmaceutical, and other industries and improving the stability and water dispersion of other lipid-soluble active ingredients.
Mechanistic Insights into Biological Activities of Polyphenolic Compounds from Rosemary Obtained by Inverse Molecular Docking
Authors: Lešnik Samo , Bren Urban
Published: December 2021

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) represents a medicinal plant known for its various health-promoting properties. Its extracts and essential oils exhibit antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, and antimicrobial activities. The main compounds responsible for these effects are the diterpenes carnosic acid, carnosol, and rosmanol, as well as the phenolic acid ester rosmarinic acid. However, surprisingly little is known about the molecular mechanisms responsible for the pharmacological activities of rosemary and its compounds. To discern these mechanisms, we performed a large-scale inverse molecular docking study to identify their potential protein targets. Listed compounds were separately docked into predicted binding sites of all non-redundant holo proteins from the Protein Data Bank and those with the top scores were further examined. We focused on proteins directly related to human health, including human and mammalian proteins as well as proteins from pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and parasites. The observed interactions of rosemary compounds indeed confirm the beforementioned activities, whereas we also identified their potential for anticoagulant and antiparasitic actions. The obtained results were carefully checked against the existing experimental findings from the scientific literature as well as further validated using both redocking procedures and retrospective metrics.
Special Issue on Flavour Volatiles of Wine
Authors: Bordiga Matteo , Mattivi Fulvio
Published: December 2021

The perception of wine flavour and aroma is the result of several interactions between a large number of chemical compounds and sensory receptors [...]
Recovery, Isolation, and Characterization of Food Proteins
Authors: Schweiggert-Weisz Ute , Zannini Emanuele
Published: December 2021

One of the greatest challenges currently facing our society is combating climate change [...]
The Feasibility of Two Handheld Spectrometers for Meat Speciation Combined with Chemometric Methods and Its Application for Halal Certification
Authors: Dashti Abolfazl , Müller-Maatsch Judith , Weesepoel Yannick , Parastar Hadi , Kobarfard Farzad , Daraei Bahram , AliAbadi Mohammad Hossein Shojaee , Yazdanpanah Hassan
Published: December 2021

Handheld visible-near-infrared (Vis-NIR) and near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy can be cost-effective, rapid, non-destructive and transportable techniques for identifying meat species and may be valuable for enforcement authorities, retail and consumers. In this study, a handheld Vis-NIR (400–1000 nm) and a handheld NIR (900–1700 nm) spectrometer were applied to discriminate halal meat species from pork (halal certification), as well as speciation of intact and ground lamb, beef, chicken and pork (160 meat samples). Several types of class modeling multivariate approaches were applied. The presented one-class classification (OCC) approach, especially with the Vis-NIR sensor (95–100% correct classification rate), was found to be suitable for the application of halal from non-halal meat-species discrimination. In a discriminant approach, using the Vis-NIR data and support vector machine (SVM) classification, the four meat species tested could be classified with accuracies of 93.4% and 94.7% for ground and intact meat, respectively, while with partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), classification accuracies were 87.4% (ground) and 88.6% (intact). Using the NIR sensor, total accuracies of the SVM models were 88.2% and 81.5% for ground and intact meats, respectively, and PLS-DA classification accuracies were 88.3% (ground) and 80% (intact). We conclude that the Vis-NIR sensor was most successful in the halal certification (OCC approaches) and speciation (discriminant approaches) for both intact and ground meat using SVM.
Phytochemicals: Dietary Sources, Innovative Extraction, and Health Benefits
Authors: Aguilera Yolanda , Benítez Vanesa
Published: December 2021

Plants are the main natural source of numerous phytochemicals, although only a certain amount have been isolated and identified [...]
Accumulation of Selected Metal Elements in Fruiting Bodies of Oyster Mushroom
Authors: Golian Marcel , Hegedűsová Alžbeta , Mezeyová Ivana , Chlebová Zuzana , Hegedűs Ondrej , Urminská Dana , Vollmannová Alena , Chlebo Peter
Published: December 2021

The species Pleurotus ostreatus is a commercially, gastronomically, and biotechnologically important fungus. Its strain variability has been little researched. The study provides an evaluation of 59 oyster mushroom production strains in terms of the ability to accumulate selected metals in the cap and stipe. The fruiting bodies were grown under identical model conditions on straw substrate. Metal concentrations (ET-AAS) in dry fruiting bodies ranged in values 1.7–22.4 mg kg−1 for Al, 2.6–9.7 mg kg−1 Ba, 199–4560 mg kg−1 Ca, 1.7–12.0 mg kg−1 Cu, 12–120 mg kg−1 Fe, 16,000–49,500 mg kg−1 K, 876–2400 mg kg−1 Mg, 0.39–11.0 mg kg−1 Mn, 46–920 mg kg−1 Na and 11–920 mg kg−1 for Zn. More Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Zn accumulated in the cap, while in the stipe Ba was amassed. No significant difference was found between Al, Ca and Na between the accumulation in the cap and the stipe. Furthermore, the dependence of metal uptake from the substrate depending on the fortification of the substrate was confirmed. Statistically significant (p < 0.05) synergistic relationships were shown in pairs Al and Ba, Al and Fe, Ba and Na, Ba and Ca, Ca and Na, Cu and Fe, Fe and Mn, Fe and Zn, K and Mg, K and Mn, K and Zn, Mg and Mn, Mg and Na, Mg and Zn and Mn and Zn in the substrate without the addition of sodium selenate to the substrate. Altered relationships were observed after the application of sodium selenate to the substrate, synergism of Se and Ni, Se and Co and Se and Hg, Cu and Mn, Cu and Fe, Zn and Co, Zn and Ni, Zn and Hg, Mn and Fe, Mn and Cr, Co and Ni, Co and Hg, Ni and Hg, Pb and Cd. The findings of the study may help in the selection of production strains with hypercumulative properties for a particular metal and subsequent use in the addition of fortified fruiting bodies (e.g., with Zn). Based on the study the strains less sensitive to the accumulation of hazardous metals is possible to select for large-scale production, which is important from the perspective of food safety.
Novel Latex Microsphere Immunochromatographic Assay for Rapid Detection of Cadmium Ion in Asparagus
Authors: Xu Naifeng , Zhu Qiaojuan , Zhu Jiangxiong , Jia Jingze , Wei Xinlin , Wang Yuanfeng
Published: December 2021

Recently, concerns about heavy metal cadmium ion (Cd2+) residue in asparagus have been frequently reported, and there is an urgent need to develop an effective, sensitive, and rapid detection method for Cd2+. In this study, we innovatively combined molecular microbiology to carry out the comparative screening of Cd2+ chelators in a green, efficient, and specific way. The knock-out putative copper-transporter gene (pca1Δ) yeast strain with high sensitivity to Cd2+ was first used to screen the Cd2+ chelator, and the optimum chelator 1-(4-Isothiocyanatobenzyl)ethylenediamine-N,N,N,N′-tetraacetic acid (ITCBE) was obtained. Additionally, a rapid latex microsphere immunochromatographic assay (LMIA) was developed, based on the obtained monoclonal antibody (mAb) with high specificity and high affinity (affinity constant Ka = 1.83 × 1010 L/mol), to detect Cd2+ in asparagus. The 50% inhibitive concentration (IC50) of test strip was measured to be 0.2 ng/mL, and the limit of detection (IC10) for qualitative (LOD, for visual observation) and quantitative detection (LOQ, for data simulation) of the test strip was 2 ng/mL and 0.054 ng/mL, respectively. In all, the developed mAb-based LMIA shows a great potential for monitoring Cd2+ in asparagus, even in vegetable samples.
Assessment of Food Quality and Safety of Cultivated Macroalgae
Authors: Løvdal Trond , Skipnes Dagbjørn
Published: December 2021

Macroalgae aquaculture is 16 times larger than fish on a mass basis, making macroalgae by far the largest group of aquacultured products [...]
Event-Based Evaluation of Electricity Price Ensemble Forecasts
Authors: Vogler Arne , Ziel Florian
Published: December 2021

The present paper considers the problem of choosing among a collection of competing electricity price forecasting models to address a stochastic decision-making problem. We propose an event-based evaluation framework applicable to any optimization problem, where uncertainty is captured through ensembles. The task of forecast evaluation is simplified from assessing a multivariate distribution over prices to assessing a univariate distribution over a binary outcome directly linked to the underlying decision-making problem. The applicability of our framework is demonstrated for two exemplary profit-maximization problems of a risk-neutral energy trader, (i) the optimal operation of a pumped-hydro storage plant and (ii) the optimal trading of subsidized renewable energy in Germany. We compare and contrast the approach with the full probabilistic and profit–loss-based evaluation frameworks. It is concluded that the event-based evaluation framework more reliably identifies economically equivalent forecasting models, and in addition, the results suggest that an event-based evaluation specifically tailored to the rare event is crucial for decision-making problems linked to rare events.
The Darboux Transformation and N-Soliton Solutions of Coupled Cubic-Quintic Nonlinear Schrödinger Equation on a Time-Space Scale
Authors: Dong Huanhe , Wei Chunming , Zhang Yong , Liu Mingshuo , Fang Yong
Published: December 2021

The coupled cubic-quintic nonlinear Schrödinger (CQNLS) equation is a universal mathematical model describing many physical situations, such as nonlinear optics and Bose–Einstein condensate. In this paper, in order to simplify the process of similar analysis with different forms of the coupled CQNLS equation, this dynamic system is extended to a time-space scale based on the Lax pair and zero curvature equation. Furthermore, Darboux transformation of the coupled CQNLS dynamic system on a time-space scale is constructed, and the N-soliton solution is obtained. These results effectively combine the theory of differential equations with difference equations and become a bridge connecting continuous and discrete analysis.
Can the Synergic Contribution of Multigenic Variants Explain the Clinical and Cellular Phenotypes of a Neurodevelopmental Disorder?
Authors: Maia Nuno , Nabais Sá Maria João , Oliveira Cláudia , Santos Flávia , Soares Célia Azevedo , Prior Catarina , Tkachenko Nataliya , Santos Rosário , de Brouwer Arjan P. M. , Jacome Ariana , Porto Beatriz , Jorge Paula
Published: December 2021

We describe an infant female with a syndromic neurodevelopmental clinical phenotype and increased chromosome instability as cellular phenotype. Genotype characterization revealed heterozygous variants in genes directly or indirectly linked to DNA repair: a de novo X-linked HDAC8 pathogenic variant, a paternally inherited FANCG pathogenic variant and a maternally inherited BRCA2 variant of uncertain significance. The full spectrum of the phenotype cannot be explained by any of the heterozygous variants on their own; thus, a synergic contribution is proposed. Complementation studies showed that the FANCG gene from the Fanconi Anaemia/BRCA (FA/BRCA) DNA repair pathway was impaired, indicating that the variant in FANCG contributes to the cellular phenotype. The patient’s chromosome instability represents the first report where heterozygous variant(s) in the FA/BRCA pathway are implicated in the cellular phenotype. We propose that a multigenic contribution of heterozygous variants in HDAC8 and the FA/BRCA pathway might have a role in the phenotype of this neurodevelopmental disorder. The importance of these findings may have repercussion in the clinical management of other cases with a similar synergic contribution of heterozygous variants, allowing the establishment of new genotype–phenotype correlations and motivating the biochemical study of the underlying mechanisms.
Spexin Promotes the Proliferation and Differentiation of C2C12 Cells In Vitro—The Effect of Exercise on SPX and SPX Receptor Expression in Skeletal Muscle In Vivo
Authors: Leciejewska Natalia , Pruszyńska-Oszmałek Ewa , Mielnik Karolina , Głowacki Maciej , Lehmann Tomasz P. , Sassek Maciej , Gawęda Bartosz , Szczepankiewicz Dawid , Nowak Krzysztof W. , Kołodziejski Paweł A.
Published: December 2021

SPX (spexin) and its receptors GalR2 and GalR3 (galanin receptor subtype 2 and galanin receptor subtype 3) play an important role in the regulation of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism in human and animal fat tissue. However, little is still known about the role of this peptide in the metabolism of muscle. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of SPX on the metabolism, proliferation and differentiation of the skeletal muscle cell line C2C12. Moreover, we determined the effect of exercise on the SPX transduction pathway in mice skeletal muscle. We found that increased SPX, acting via GalR2 and GalR3 receptors, and ERK1/2 phosphorylation stimulated the proliferation of C2C12 cells (p < 0.01). We also noted that SPX stimulated the differentiation of C2C12 by increasing mRNA and protein levels of differentiation markers Myh, myogenin and MyoD (p < 0.01). SPX consequently promoted myoblast fusion into the myotubule (p < 0.01). Moreover, we found that, in the first stage (after 2 days) of myocyte differentiation, GalR2 and GalR3 were involved, whereas in the last stage (day six), the effect of SPX was mediated by the GalR3 isoform. We also noted that exercise stimulated SPX and GalR2 expression in mice skeletal muscle as well as an increase in SPX concentration in blood serum. These new insights may contribute to a better understanding of the role of SPX in the metabolism of skeletal muscle.
Heterozygous DHTKD1 Variants in Two European Cohorts of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients
Authors: Osmanovic Alma , Gogol Isabel , Martens Helge , Widjaja Maylin , Müller Kathrin , Schreiber-Katz Olivia , Feuerhake Friedrich , Langhans Claus-Dieter , Schmidt Gunnar , Andersen Peter M. , Ludolph Albert C. , Weishaupt Jochen H. , Brand Frank , Petri Susanne , Weber Ruthild G.
Published: December 2021

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive upper and lower motor neuron (LMN) loss. As ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases share genetic risk factors, we performed whole-exome sequencing in ALS patients focusing our analysis on genes implicated in neurodegeneration. Thus, variants in the DHTKD1 gene encoding dehydrogenase E1 and transketolase domain containing 1 previously linked to 2-aminoadipic and 2-oxoadipic aciduria, Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease type 2, and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) were identified. In two independent European ALS cohorts (n = 643 cases), 10 sporadic cases of 225 (4.4%) predominantly sporadic patients of cohort 1, and 12 familial ALS patients of 418 (2.9%) ALS families of cohort 2 harbored 14 different rare heterozygous DHTKD1 variants predicted to be deleterious. Four DHTKD1 variants were previously described pathogenic variants, seven were recurrent, and eight were located in the E1_dh dehydrogenase domain. Nonsense variants located in the E1_dh domain were significantly more prevalent in ALS patients versus controls. The phenotype of ALS patients carrying DHTKD1 variants partially overlapped with CMT and SMA by presence of sensory impairment and a higher frequency of LMN-predominant cases. Our results argue towards rare heterozygous DHTKD1 variants as potential contributors to ALS phenotype and, possibly, pathogenesis.
Individual Identification with Short Tandem Repeat Analysis and Collection of Secondary Information Using Microbiome Analysis
Authors: Lee Solip , You Heesang , Lee Songhee , Lee Yeongju , Kang Hee-Gyoo , Sung Ho-Joong , Choi Jiwon , Hyun Sunghee
Published: December 2021

Forensic investigation is important to analyze evidence and facilitate the search for key individuals, such as suspects and victims in a criminal case. The forensic use of genomic DNA has increased with the development of DNA sequencing technology, thereby enabling additional analysis during criminal investigations when additional legal evidence is required. In this study, we used next-generation sequencing to facilitate the generation of complementary data in order to analyze human evidence obtained through short tandem repeat (STR) analysis. We examined the applicability and potential of analyzing microbial genome communities. Microbiological supplementation information was confirmed for two of four failed STR samples. Additionally, the accuracy of the gargle sample was confirmed to be as high as 100% and was highly likely to be classified as a body fluid sample. Our experimental method confirmed that anthropological and microbiological evidence can be obtained by performing two experiments with one extraction. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using these techniques, explore prospects in the forensic field, and highlight suggestions for future research.
Classification Ensembles for Beach Cast and Drifting Vegetation Mapping with Sentinel-2 and PlanetScope
Authors: Uhl Florian , Græsdal Rasmussen Trine , Oppelt Natascha
Published: December 2021

Along the Baltic coastline of Germany, drifting vegetation and beach cast create overlays at the otherwise sandy or stony beaches. These overlays influence the morphodynamics and structures of the beaches. To better understand the influence of these patchy habitats on coastal environments, regular monitoring is necessary. Most studies, however, have been conducted on spatially larger and temporally more stable occurrences of aquatic vegetation such as floating fields of Sargassum. Nevertheless, drifting vegetation and beach cast pose a particular challenge, as they exhibit high temporal dynamics and sometimes small spatial extent. Regular surveys and mappings are the traditional methods to record their habitats, but they are time-consuming and cost-intensive. Spaceborne remote sensing can provide frequent recordings of the coastal zone at lower cost. Our study therefore aims at the monitoring of drifting vegetation and beach cast on spatial scales between 3 and 10 m. We developed an automated coastline masking algorithm and tested six supervised classification methods and various classification ensembles for their suitability to detect small-scale assemblages of drifting vegetation and beach cast in a study area at the coastline of the Western Baltic Sea using multispectral data of the sensors Sentinel-2 MSI and PlanetScope. The shoreline masking algorithm shows high accuracies in masking the land area while preserving the sand-covered shoreline. We could achieve best classification results using PlanetScope data with an ensemble of a random forest classifier, cart classifier, support vector machine classifier, naïve bayes classifier and stochastic gradient boosting classifier. This ensemble accomplished a combined f1-score of 0.95. The accuracy of the Sentinel-2 classifications was lower but still achieved a combined f1-score of 0.86 for the same ensemble. The results of this study can be considered as a starting point for the development of time series analysis of the vegetation dynamics along Baltic beaches.
The Impact of Nursing Staffs’ Working Conditions on the Quality of Care Received by Older Adults in Long-Term Residential Care Facilities: A Systematic Review of Interventional and Observational Studies
Authors: Perruchoud Elodie , Weissbrodt Rafaël , Verloo Henk , Fournier Claude-Alexandre , Genolet Audrey , Rosselet Amoussou Joëlle , Hannart Stéphanie
Published: December 2021

Background: Little documentation exists on relationships between long-term residential care facilities (LTRCFs), staff working conditions and residents’ quality of care (QoC). Supporting evidence is weak because most studies examining this employ cross-sectional designs. Methods: Systematic searches of twelve bibliographic databases sought experimental and longitudinal studies, published up to May 2021, focusing on LTRCF nursing staff’s working conditions and the QoC they provided to older adults. Results: Of the 3577 articles identified, 159 were read entirely, and 11 were retained for inclusion. Higher nursing staff hours worked per resident per day (HPRD) were associated with significant reductions in pressure sores and urinary tract infections. Overall staff qualification levels and numbers of RNs had significant positive influences on QoC. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this systematic review is the first to combine cohort studies with a quasi-experimental study to explore associations between LTRCF nursing staff’s working conditions and older adult residents’ QoC. Human factors (including HPRD, staff turnover, skill mix, staff ratios) and the specific working contribution of RNs had overwhelmingly significant influences on QoC. It seems essential that LTRCF supervisory and decision-making bodies should promote optimal working conditions for nursing staff because these have such a direct impact on residents’ QoC.
A Cross-Sectional Study on the Association between Body Mass Index and Frailty According to Sex in Elderly Patients with Disabilities from an Elderly Day-Care Center
Authors: Asai Tsuyoshi , Wakida Masanori , Kubota Ryo , Fukumoto Yoshihiro , Sato Haruhiko , Nakano Jiro , Hase Kimitaka
Published: December 2021

The association between body mass index (BMI) and frailty in elderly patients with disabilities is unclear. We aimed to investigate the association between BMI and frailty in the elderly with disabilities according to sex. This cross-sectional study included 280 elderly patients with disabilities from an elderly daycare center. BMI classification for the Asian population was used to categorize the patients into four groups: underweight, normal, overweight, and obese. Frailty score was based on the phenotypic definition of frailty and consisted of five criteria derived from the revised Japanese version of the Cardiovascular Health Study. Those who had three or more criteria were considered frail. Logistic regression models were constructed to investigate the associations between frailty and BMI in each group (males and females). In females, being underweight was significantly associated with frailty after adjusting for confounders (age and Mini-Mental State Examination score); after adding medical history as a confounder, the aforementioned association was not significant. In males, BMI was not significantly associated with frailty. The association between BMI and frailty differed according to sex among the elderly with disabilities. This finding provides important information regarding frailty risk to workers in daycare facilities.
The Association between Parenting Stress, Positive Reappraisal Coping, and Quality of Life in Parents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Children: A Systematic Review
Authors: Ni’matuzahroh  , Suen Mein-Woei , Ningrum Valendriyani , Widayat  , Yuniardi Muhamad Salis , Hasanati Nida , Wang Jui-Hsing
Published: December 2021

Parents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) children generally suffer from poor coping and an impaired quality of life (QoL). This systematic review investigates parenting stress, positive reappraisal coping, and QoL in parents with ASD children. A literature search was carried out for publications written in English on the selected investigation topics using five databases, namely, Scopus, PubMed, Wiley, ScienceDirect Online, and EBSCO. Only studies investigating or measuring parenting stress, positive reappraisal coping, and QoL in ASD were included. Our results indicate that parents with ASD children have high stress levels. This is associated with the ineffective use of coping strategies and a low QoL. Adaptive coping strategies are related to a higher QoL, whereas maladaptive coping techniques are related to a worse QoL. Positive reappraisal coping is negatively correlated to meaningfulness, and it is used by parents to change their daily routines in order to motivate themselves towards new and evolving goals in life. Finally, we found a significant negative correlation between parenting stress, positive reappraisal coping, and the QoL of parents with ASD children. Positive reappraisal coping as a strategy helps parents adapt to stress and was found to be a potential mediatory function between parental stress and QoL.
Developing Domains and Items about Self-Management among Elderly People with Chronic Disease
Authors: Shin Gain , Park Hae Yean
Published: December 2021

Lifestyle is considered as a key factor that affects one’s health and quality of life, and it has become the focus of increasing research interest worldwide. Objectives: We aimed to determine the areas of self-management necessary as part of occupational therapy for elderly people suffering from chronic diseases living in local communities, as well as elements to be included in each area. Method: Delphi survey methodology was utilized. Participants answered three surveys, and we derived the mean, standard deviation, and content validity ratios for each domain and item. Results: We derived 13 domains and 68 items about self-management, derived the fit and importance of 1 domain and 23 items, and finally derived 12 domains and 54 items. Conclusion: The program developed using this research can become a systematic and evidence-based intervention and provide an opportunity for self-management to the target population.