bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Direct versus indirect measures of mixed emotions in predictive models: a comparison of predictive validity, multicollinearity, and the influence of confounding variables
Authors: Oh Vincent Y. S.
Published: August 2023

Mixed emotions have been assessed using both direct measures that utilize self-report questionnaires as well as indirect measures that are computed from scores of positive and negative emotions. This study provides a pre-registered methodological examination on the use of direct and indirect measures of mixed emotions in predictive models. Two samples (N = 749) were collected, and path analyses were performed to compare direct measures and indirect measures in predicting psychological conflict, receptivity, and well-being, controlling for demographics, positive emotions, and negative emotions. We also tested whether trait dialecticism, need for cognition, social desirability, or acquiescence could account for these associations. In both samples, results suggest that indirect measures may be more susceptible to multicollinearity when controlling for positive and negative emotions. Specifically, variance inflation factors (VIF) were consistently higher for indirect measures calculated using the minimum index (MIN; VIFSample-1 = 3.53; VIFSample-2 = 9.46) than direct measures (VIFSample-1 = 2.52; VIFSample-2 = 1.68). Direct measures remained consistently associated with increased conflict and reduced coherence upon controlling for positive and negative emotions, while indirect measures remained consistently associated only with increased conflict. We found little evidence that response biases explained associations between direct measures or indirect measures with each of the outcomes. Specifically, associations between mixed emotions with psychological conflict, receptivity, and well-being largely remained unchanged in models that controlled for trait dialecticism, need for cognition, social desirability, or acquiescence. Implications and recommendations based on our findings are discussed.
Satisfaction with medication in older adult patients with chronic respiratory diseases: a multicenter cross-sectional observational study
Authors: Wu Jiankang , Meng Weiwei , Zeng Huihui , Ma Yiming , Chen Yan
Published: August 2023

Purpose

To gain insight into medication satisfaction and factors associated with chronic respiratory disease, particularly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in older adults, focusing on public health issues and improving the health of the older adult population.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2022 to November 2022 in 24 hospitals in different regions of Hunan Province, China. Older adult patient treatment satisfaction was assessed using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication version II. Multiple regression analysis was used to identify factors independently associated with patient treatment satisfaction.

Results

Only 15.9% of all patients scored above 80 in the effectiveness domain, while 11.6 and 16.5% scored above 80 in the convenience and global satisfaction domains, respectively, while 17.3% reported having side effects. Interstitial lung disease was associated with lower drug satisfaction than other disorders (p < 0.05). Multifactorial regression analysis showed that age, education background, profession, and smoking status were independently associated with satisfaction among patients with chronic respiratory diseases (p < 0.05). Education background, profession, CAT score, number of acute exacerbations, duration of home oxygenation and duration of home ventilator use were independently associated with satisfaction in patients with COPD (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Low satisfaction with chronic respiratory drug therapy was associated with age, education background, profession and smoking status. Satisfaction was lower for patients with interstitial lung disease. For COPD, CAT score, education background, profession, number of acute exacerbations, home oxygen and ventilator use influence satisfaction. Clinicians can identify appropriate patients and communicate effectively with them throughout treatment and follow-up, vigorously promote smoking cessation and home oxygen therapy, increase medication satisfaction, especially among older adults, and in turn improve public health and the quality of life of older adults.
The effect of a community-based group intervention on chronic disease self-management in a vulnerable population
Authors: Korenhof Sophie A. , Rouwet Ellen V. , Elstgeest Liset E. M. , Fierloos Irene N. , Tan Siok Swan , Pisano-Gonzalez Marta M. , Boone An L. D. , Pers Yves-Marie , Pilotto Alberto , López-Ventoso Mónica , Diez Valcarce Isabel , Zhang Xuxi ,   EFFICHRONIC Consortium, Raat Hein
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are predominantly related to modifiable health behaviors and account for 74% of global deaths at present. Behavior modification through self-management is a strategy to prevent NCDs. Chronic Disease Self-Management Programs (CDSMPs) have demonstrated improvements in health behaviors, health status, and use of healthcare.

Objective

We evaluated the effects of a 6-week CDSMP on self-efficacy, health behaviors, mental health, health-related quality of life (HR-QoL), and health responsibilities among vulnerable populations with chronic disease in Europe.

Methods

A prospective cohort study with a 6-month pre-post single-group design was conducted in five European countries. The intervention targeted adults with chronic conditions and low socioeconomic status, as well as their caregivers. The intervention was a 6-week community-based CDSMP in a group setting. Outcomes were measured per self-report questionnaire at baseline and 6-month follow-up: self-efficacy, health behaviors, mental health, HR-QoL, and health responsibilities.

Results

Of 1,844 participants, 1,248 (67.7%) completed follow-up and attended ≥4 sessions. For the chronic condition group, the following outcome measures at follow-up significantly improved compared with baseline (all P < 0.002): self-efficacy (SEMCD-6 6.7 vs. 6.4), mental health (PHQ-8 6.3 vs. 7.0), HR-QoL (SF-12 PCS 42.3 vs. 40.2, SF-12 MCS 42.8 vs. 41.4), health utility (EQ-5D-5L 0.88 vs. 0.86), self-rated health (EQ-5D-5L 67.2 vs. 63.9), communication with healthcare providers (2.28 vs. 2.11), understanding information (3.10 vs. 3.02), number of doctor visits (3.61 vs. 4.97), accident and emergency department visits (0.25 vs. 0.48), total nights in a hospital (0.65 vs. 1.13), and perceived medical errors (19.6 vs. 28.7%). No significant changes were detected in dietary habits, physical activity, substance use, and sleep and fatigue. For caregivers without a chronic condition, only doctor visits significantly decreased (1.54 vs. 2.25, P < 0.001).

Discussion

This CDSMP was associated with improvement in self-efficacy, depression, HR-QoL, and health responsibilities over 6 months in a diverse European population with a chronic condition. However, additional interventions targeting lifestyle risk factors are needed to improve health outcomes.
Clinical and functional status of patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia: an observational study at 2–3 months following discharge
Authors: Castillo Sánchez Inmaculada , Camarasa Julia Tárrega , Barbeta Sánchez Enric , Oliveira Vinicius Rosa
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Critically ill COVID-19 patients present long-term sequelae that affect their everyday life. This study aimed to describe the clinical and functional status of patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia at 2–3 months post discharge from a Spanish critical care unit.

Methods

We collected retrospective data from 58 patients admitted to the critical care unit with diagnosis of severe respiratory failure due to COVID-19. Only patients who required invasive (IMV) or noninvasive ventilation (NIV) during their hospital stay were included. The following data were collected 2–3 months after hospital discharge: respiratory signs and symptoms, lung ultrasound (LUS) and diaphragm ultrasound images, blood test analysis, lung function parameters (spirometry and DLCO), exercise capacity (6 min walk test and sit-to-stand test), level of physical activity and health-related quality of life.

Results

We found clinical symptoms and lung structural alterations in LUS images of 26 patients (48.1%). Those presenting LUS abnormalities had longer length of stay in hospital (p = 0.026), functional alterations in spirometry (p < 0.01) and decreased diaphragm excursion (p = 0.029). No significant alterations were observed in blood test analysis, exercise capacity, level of physical activity and health-related quality of life.

Conclusions

A significant part of the patients admitted to a critical care unit continue to present clinical symptoms, pulmonary morphological abnormalities, and lung function alterations 2–3 months post discharge. This study corroborates that assessing the functional status of the survivors is essential to monitor the evolution of pulmonary sequelae.
The effect of Iran’s health sector evolution plan on hospitals performance indicators: an interrupted time series analysis
Authors: Soltani Shahin , Rezaei Satar , Kazemi-Karyani Ali , Azimi Jila , Jalili Faramarz , Roshani Bahman , Najafi Farid , Bagheri Parnia , Salimi Yahya
Published: August 2023

Background

The Health Sector Evolution Plan (HSEP) was set up in Iran’s health system to respond to some of the main problems in hospitals and other health sectors. We aimed to compare the effect of the HSEP on teaching hospital performance before and after the implementation of the HSEP through the interrupted time series (ITS) analysis.

Methods

With a cross-sectional design, data collection was performed in 17 teaching hospitals affiliated with the Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences (KUMS). We used the existing data on three indicators of hospitalization rate (per 10,000 population), Emergency Department Visits (EDVs) (per 10,000 population), and in-hospital mortality (per 10,000 population). The monthly data from 2009 to 2019 was analyzed by the ITS method 60 months before and 61 months after the HSEP.

Results

We found a non-statistically significant decrease in the monthly trend of hospitalization rate relative to the period before the HSEP implementation (−0.084 per 10,000 population [95%CI: −0.269, 0.101](. There was a statistically significant increase in the monthly trend of EDVs rate compared to before the HSEP implementation (1.07 per 10,000 population [95%CI: 0.14, 2.01]). Also, a significant decrease in the monthly trend of in-hospital mortality compared to before the HSEP implementation [−0.003 per 10,000 population (95%CI: −0.006, −0.001)] was observed.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrated a significant increasing and decreasing trend for EDVs and in-hospital mortality following the HSEP implementation, respectively. Regarding the increase in hospitalization rate and EDVs after the implementation of HESP, it seems that there is a need to increase investment in healthcare and improve healthcare infrastructure, human resources-related indicators, and the quality of healthcare.
Practical hardware for evolvable robots
Authors: Angus Mike , Buchanan Edgar , Le Goff Léni K. , Hart Emma , Eiben Agoston E. , De Carlo Matteo , Winfield Alan F. , Hale Matthew F. , Woolley Robert , Timmis Jon , Tyrrell Andy M.
Published: August 2023

The evolutionary robotics field offers the possibility of autonomously generating robots that are adapted to desired tasks by iteratively optimising across successive generations of robots with varying configurations until a high-performing candidate is found. The prohibitive time and cost of actually building this many robots means that most evolutionary robotics work is conducted in simulation, but to apply evolved robots to real-world problems, they must be implemented in hardware, which brings new challenges. This paper explores in detail the design of an example system for realising diverse evolved robot bodies, and specifically how this interacts with the evolutionary process. We discover that every aspect of the hardware implementation introduces constraints that change the evolutionary space, and exploring this interplay between hardware constraints and evolution is the key contribution of this paper. In simulation, any robot that can be defined by a suitable genetic representation can be implemented and evaluated, but in hardware, real-world limitations like manufacturing/assembly constraints and electrical power delivery mean that many of these robots cannot be built, or will malfunction in operation. This presents the novel challenge of how to constrain an evolutionary process within the space of evolvable phenotypes to only those regions that are practically feasible: the viable phenotype space. Methods of phenotype filtering and repair were introduced to address this, and found to degrade the diversity of the robot population and impede traversal of the exploration space. Furthermore, the degrees of freedom permitted by the hardware constraints were found to be poorly matched to the types of morphological variation that would be the most useful in the target environment. Consequently, the ability of the evolutionary process to generate robots with effective adaptations was greatly reduced. The conclusions from this are twofold. 1) Designing a hardware platform for evolving robots requires different thinking, in which all design decisions should be made with reference to their impact on the viable phenotype space. 2) It is insufficient to just evolve robots in simulation without detailed consideration of how they will be implemented in hardware, because the hardware constraints have a profound impact on the evolutionary space.
Automated segmentation and labeling of subcutaneous mouse implants at 14.1T
Authors: Adda Julien , Bioley Gilles , Van De Ville Dimitri , Cudalbu Cristina , Preti Maria Giulia , Gninenko Nicolas
Published: August 2023

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a valuable tool for studying subcutaneous implants in rodents, providing non-invasive insight into biomaterial conformability and longitudinal characterization. However, considerable variability in existing image analysis techniques, manual segmentation and labeling, as well as the lack of reference atlases as opposed to brain imaging, all render the manual implant segmentation task tedious and extremely time-consuming. To this end, the development of automated and robust segmentation pipelines is a necessary addition to the tools available in rodent imaging research. In this work, we presented and compared commonly used image processing contrast-based segmentation approaches—namely, Canny edge detection, Otsu’s single and multi-threshold methods, and a combination of the latter with morphological operators—with more recently introduced convolutional neural network (CNN-) based models, such as the U-Net and nnU-Net (“no-new-net”). These fully automated end-to-end state-of-the-art neural architectures have shown great promise in online segmentation challenges. We adapted them to the implant segmentation task in mice MRI, with both 2D and 3D implementations. Our results demonstrated the superiority of the 3D nnU-Net model, which is able to robustly segment the implants with an average Dice accuracy of 0.915, and an acceptable absolute volume prediction error of 5.74%. Additionally, we provide researchers in the field with an automated segmentation pipeline in Python, leveraging these CNN-based implementations, and allowing to drastically reduce the manual labeling time from approximately 90 min to less than 5 min (292.959 s ± 6.49 s, N = 30 predictions). The latter addresses the bottleneck of constrained animal experimental time in pre-clinical rodent research.
Digital fabrics for online shopping and fashion design
Authors: Haghzare Leyla , Ping Xiaona , Arnison Matthew , Monaghan David , Karlov David , Honson Vanessa , Kim Juno
Published: August 2023

Improving the digital presentation of fabrics enhances the online shopping experience and, in turn, reduces textile waste. In this study, we examined how the manipulation of simple surface reflectance models can bias the perception of fabric properties simulated online in a web browser. We showed that motion and three-dimensional (3D) folds (i.e., rumple) influence the perception of sheen for different fabric types (cotton knit and satin). Also, we found complex interactions between these parameters in their effects on perceived sheen and perceived color saturation. Moreover, we showed that changing the level of specular roughness significantly influences visual perception of sheen, color and lightness, which in turn, can categorically alter perceptual judgments of material type. In contrast to visual attributes, specular roughness did not influence visually perceived tactile characteristics of digital fabrics (thickness and stretch). The knowledge gained about perceptual biases of digital fabrics from this study will inform future considerations for optimizing the fidelity of textiles depicted in digital commerce.
Addressing the effects of soil organic carbon on water retention in US Pacific Northwest wheat–soil systems
Authors: Ramírez Paulina B. , Machado Stephen , Singh Surendra , Plunkett Rachael , Calderón Francisco J.
Published: August 2023

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is considered a significant contributor to soil water retention. However, generalizations about the role of SOC in available water-holding capacity (AWHC) may have inaccurately portrayed this relationship. We aim to reexamine the relationship between SOC and water retention using the National Cooperative Soil Survey (NCSS) Database. We focus on regional soil groups within the Pacific Northwest wheat production region, including Haploxerolls, Argixerolls, Haplocambids, and Durixerolls. We evaluated 77 sites based on SOC, total nitrogen (TN), pH, texture, bulk density (BD), field capacity (FC), permanent wilting point (PWP), and AWHC. Our findings indicate that texture and BD were the most significant contributors to AWHC variation, while SOC played a secondary role in explaining this variation. Mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy coupled with a random forest (RF) algorithm was used to evaluate the importance of spectral bands in determining changes in FC and PWP. This analysis identified mineral bands related to inner-surface hydroxyl groups in kaolinite (3700 cm −1) and Si-O-Si overtones (1870 cm −1) as the most important spectral contributors to PWP. The water retention at FC was associated with organic absorbances relevant to soil aggregation, such as polysaccharide C–O (~1035 cm −1), while mineral bands were relatively less influential. This study highlights the need to reexamine the impact of SOC as well as the interaction between soil texture and compaction on soil water retention to elucidate the underlying mechanisms responsible for AWHC, thus providing insight into future drought adaptation strategies.
Three-dimensional inversion of corona structure and simulation of solar wind parameters based on the photospheric magnetic field deduced from the Global Oscillation Network Group
Authors: Zhang Xiao , Qiu Shican , Soon Willie , Yousof Hamad
Published: August 2023

In this research, the Potential Field Source Surface–Wang–Sheeley–Arge (PFSS–WSA) solar wind model is used. This model consists of the Potential Field Source Surface (PFSS) coronal magnetic field extrapolation module and the Wang–Sheeley–Arge (WSA) solar wind velocity module. PFSS is implemented by the POT3D package deployed on Tianhe 1A supercomputer system. In order to obtain the three–dimensional (3D) distribution of the coronal magnetic field at different source surface radii (Rss), the model utilizes the Global Oscillation Network Group (GONG) photospheric magnetic field profiles for two Carrington rotations (CRs), CR2069 (in 2008) and CR2217 (in 2019), as the input data, with the source surface at Rss = 2Rs, Rss = 2.5Rs and Rss = 3Rs, respectively. Then the solar wind velocity, the coronal magnetic field expansion factor, and the minimum angular distance of the open magnetic field lines from the coronal hole boundary are estimated within the WSA module. The simulated solar wind speed is compared with the value for the corona extrapolated from the data observed near 1 AU, through the calculations of the mean square error (MSE), root mean square error (RMSE) and correlation coefficient (CC). Here we extrapolate the solar wind velocity at 1 AU back to the source surface via the Parker spiral. By comparing the evaluation metrics of the three source surface heights, we concluded that the solar source surface should be properly decreased with respect to Rss = 2.5Rs during the low solar activity phase of solar cycle 23.
Towards a circular economy: fabrication and characterization of biodegradable plates from sugarcane waste
Authors: Hossam Yara , Fahim Irene S.
Published: August 2023

Bagasse pulp is a promising material to produce biodegradable plates. Bagasse is the fibrous residue that remains after sugarcane stalks are crushed to extract their juice. It is a renewable resource and is widely available in many countries, making it an attractive alternative to traditional plastic plates. Recent research has shown that biodegradable plates made from Bagasse pulp have several advantages over traditional plastic plates. For example, they are more environmentally friendly because they are made from renewable resources and can be composted after use. Additionally, they are safer for human health because they do not contain harmful chemicals that can leach into food. The production process for Bagasse pulp plates is also relatively simple and cost-effective. Bagasse is first collected and then processed to remove impurities and extract the pulp. The pulp is then molded into the desired shape and dried to form a sturdy plate. Overall, biodegradable plates made from Bagasse pulp are a promising alternative to traditional plastic plates. They are environmentally friendly, safe for human health, and cost-effective to produce. As such, they have the potential to play an important role in reducing plastic waste and promoting sustainable practices. Over the years, the world was not paying strict attention to the impact of rapid growth in plastic use. As a result, uncontrollable volumes of plastic garbage have been released into the environment. Half of all plastic garbage generated worldwide is made up of packaging materials. The purpose of this article is to offer an alternative by creating bioplastic goods that can be produced in various shapes and sizes across various sectors, including food packaging, single-use tableware, and crafts. Products made from bagasse help address the issue of plastic pollution. To find the optimum option for creating bagasse-based biodegradable dinnerware in Egypt and throughout the world, researchers tested various scenarios. The findings show that bagasse pulp may replace plastics in biodegradable packaging. As a result of this value-added utilization of natural fibers, less waste and less of it ends up in landfills. The practical significance of this study is to help advance low-carbon economic solutions and to produce secure bioplastic materials that can replace Styrofoam in tableware and food packaging production.
Evaluation of different Terminalia chebula varieties and development of functional muffins
Authors: Khalil Ejaz , Sultan Muhammad Tauseef , Khalid Waseem , Khalid Muhammad Zubair , Rahim Muhammad Abdul , Saleem Samavia Rashid , Luca Marian-Ilie , Mironeasa Costel , Batariuc Ana , Ungureanu-Iuga Mădălina , Coţovanu Ionica , Mironeasa Silvia
Published: August 2023

Terminalia chebulais a valuable medicinal plant that can be used in human nutrition. The current study was conducted on different varieties ofTerminalia chebula(Harad) and aimed to investigate their proximate composition, antioxidant activity (DPPH and FRAP assay), and total phenolic content (TPC) by using different solvents (ethanol, acetone, hexane, and distilled water) for further use in the development of functional muffins. Wheat flour was supplemented with the Harad varieties (at 5%, 7.5%, 10%, or 15%) for the preparation of muffins. The color tonality (L*, a*, b*, C*, and h*) of the final product was measured with a digital colorimeter, and the sensory analysis was performed by using a 15-point scale. The results showed that the DPPH values of the Harad samples varied from 22.16 ± 1.27 to 84.33 ± 1.29, while the FRAP values ranged from 18.65 ± 1.73 to 113.4 ± 2.1 mmol FeSO4/g, depending on the solvent type. TPC in different Harad varieties ranged from 10.77 ± 2.35 to 107.20 ± 1.80 mg GAE/100 g, whereas the total flavonoid content ranged from 3.78 ± 0.03 to 47.91 mg QE/100g. Among Harad varieties, the Kabuli variety contains the highest amount of Ca, Na, and K, namely 95.58, 2.16, and 113.66 mg/kg, followed by the black variety with 89.58, 1.83, and 105.08 mg/kg respectively. The muffins prepared with black Harad give the highest values of the color parameters compared to other samples. According to the consumer’s choice, the sensory profile assessment revealed that the muffins supplemented with 7.5% of different Harad varieties (green, black, and Kabuli) were the most acceptable. Therefore, Harad varieties could partially replace the white flour in muffins to improve their nutritional value. These results can be useful for the bakery industry interested in developing new functional foods.
A Comprehensive Landscape of De Novo Malignancy After Double Lung Transplantation
Authors: Lee Jeeyeon , Yang Andrew Won Jun , Chung Liam Il-Young , Yu Jisang , Lee Yunjoo , Kim Hye Sung , Shin Hyun Joon , Choi Young-Geun , Bharat Ankit , Chae Young Kwang
Published: August 2023

Although the association between post-transplant malignancy (PTM) and immunosuppressive therapy after organ transplantation has been studied, an integrated review of PTM after lung transplantation is lacking. We investigated the incidence and types of de novo PTM and its impact on survival following double lung transplantation (DLT). The incidence and type of PTM as well as the annual and cumulative risks of each malignancy after DLT were analyzed. The overall survival (OS) of recipients with or without PTM was compared by the Kaplan–Meier survival method and landmark analysis. There were 5,629 cases (23.52%) with 27 types of PTMs and incidences and OS varied according to the types of PTMs. The recipients with PTM showed a significantly longer OS than those without PTM (p < 0.001). However, while the recipients with PTM showed significantly better OS at 3, and 5 years (p < 0.001, p = 0.007), it was worse at the 10-year landmark time (p = 0.013). And the single PTM group showed a worse OS rate than the multiple PTM group (p < 0.001). This comprehensive report on PTM following DLT can help understand the risks and timing of PTM to improve the implementation of screening and treatment.
An Efficient and High-Precision Electromagnetic–Thermal Bidirectional Coupling Reduced-Order Solution Model for Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors
Authors: Yu Yinquan , Zhao Pan , Goh HuiHwang , Carbone Giuseppe , Niu Shuangxia , Ding Junling , Shu Shengrong , Zhao Zhao
Published: August 2023

The traditional electromagnetic–thermal bidirectional coupling model (EMTBCM) of permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs) requires a long time to solve, and the temperature-induced torque change is not accounted for in the finite element (FE) numerical calculation of the EM field. This paper presents a precise and efficient EMTBC reduced-order solution model. The specific methods are as follows: First, a torque control technology based on the current injection method is proposed for determining the effect of temperature on the properties of EM materials and EM torque in an EM field, and the accuracy of the FE numerical calculation model is improved. Second, we use the improved EM field finite element numerical calculation model (FEMNCM) to analyze the correlation between the EM loss, the temperature, and the load, and we replace the FEMNCM with the EM field reduction model using the least-squares method. Then, we analyze the law of the PMSM’s internal temperature distribution. We choose the GA-BP algorithm with as few samples as possible and a high accuracy and stability to build the regression prediction model of the temperature field. We use this regression prediction model to replace the complex temperature field calculation. After analyzing the EMTBCM solution strategy, the original complex EMTBC numerical calculation model is substituted with iterations of the magnetic field reduction model and the temperature field regression prediction model. The FE numerical calculation is then used to validate the reduced-order model. The proposed model is validated through numerical simulations. The numerical results indicate that the proposed reduced-order EMTBC model in this paper is accurate and computationally efficient.
The Influence of Repair Quality on Aircraft Spare Part Demand Variability
Authors: Heijenrath Lars M. , Verhagen Wim J. C.
Published: August 2023

Accurate estimation of spare part demand is challenging in the case of intermittent or lumpy demand, characterised by infrequent demand occurrence and variability in demand size. While prior research has considered the effect of exogenous variables on spare part demand, there is a lack of research considering the effects of repair quality and aggregated spare part demand behaviour across fleets of assets under the influence of multiple simultaneously acting drivers of failure. This research provides new insights towards the problem of estimating variable spare part demand through modelling and simulation of the effects of multiple, simultaneously considered spare part demand drivers. In particular, a contribution to the state of the art is introduced by the use of a Branching Poisson Process (BPP) to model repair quality effects for spare part demand generation in conjunction with several demand drivers. The approach is applied in a numerical study which involves component failure characteristics based on real-life data from an aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) provider. It is shown that repair quality improvements drive down the variance in the demand and the total number of failures over time, and outperform the effect of environmental drivers of failure in terms of demand generation.
A Comparison of the Damage Tolerance of AA7075-T6, AA2024-T3, and Boeing Space, Intelligence, and Weapons Systems AM-Built LPBF Scalmalloy
Authors: Jones Rhys , Peng Daren , Ang Andrew , Aston Richard W. , Schoenborn Nicole D. , Phan Nam D.
Published: August 2023

This paper first presents the results of an experimental study into the damage tolerance of AA7075-T6, which is widely used in both fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, space structures, and laser bed powder fusion (LBPF) Scalmalloy specimens built by Boeing Space, Intelligence, and Weapons Systems. To this end, four single edge notch AA7075-T6 specimens and four identical single edge notch LBPF Scalmalloy specimens were tested. The resultant crack growth curves reveal that Boeing Space, Intelligence, and Weapons Systems AM-built Scalmalloy is more damage tolerant than conventionally built AA7075-T6. This finding leads to the observation that the da/dN versus ΔK curves associated with Scalmalloy and conventionally manufactured AA2024-T3 are similar. These findings highlight the potential for Boeing Space, Intelligence, and Weapons Systems AM-built Scalmalloy to be used to extend the operational lives of military aircraft by the on-demand printing of limited-life Scalmalloy replacement parts.
Efficient Global Aerodynamic Shape Optimization of a Full Aircraft Configuration Considering Trimming
Authors: Wang Kai , Han Zhonghua , Zhang Keshi , Song Wenping
Published: August 2023

Most existing aerodynamic shape optimization (ASO) studies do not take the balanced pitching moment into account and thus the optimized configuration has to be trimmed to ensure zero pitching moment, which causes additional drag and reduces the benefit of ASO remarkably. This article proposes an efficient global ASO method that directly enforces a zero pitching moment constraint. A free-form deformation (FFD) parameterization combing Laplacian smoothing method is implemented to parameterize a full aircraft configuration and ensure sufficiently smooth aerodynamic shapes. Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations are solved to simulate transonic viscous flows. A surrogate-based multi-round optimization strategy is used to drive ASO towards the global optimum. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, we adopt two design optimization strategies for the NASA Common Research Model (CRM) wing–body–tail configuration. The first strategy is to optimize the configuration without considering balance of pitching moment, and then manually trim the optimized configuration by deflecting the horizontal tail. The second one is to directly enforce the zero pitching moment constraint in the optimization model and take the deflection angle of the horizontal tail as an additional design variable. Results show that: (1) for the first strategy, about 4-count drag-reducing benefits would be lost when manually trimming the optimal configuration; (2) the second strategy can achieve 3.2-count more drag-reducing benefits than the first strategy; (3) compared with gradient-based optimization (GBO), surrogate-based optimization (SBO) is more efficient than GBO for ASO problems with around 80 design variables, and the benefit of ASO achieved by SBO is comparable to that obtained by GBO.
Nutrient Digestibility of Soybean Meal Products Based on In Vitro Procedures for Pigs
Authors: Son Jeonghyeon , Kim Beob Gyun
Published: August 2023

The present work aimed to assess the nutrient digestibility of soybean meal (SBM) products based on in vitro procedures. Two-step and three-step in vitro assays were performed to mimic the digestion and absorption of nutrients in the digestive tracts of growing swine. The two-step in vitro method was modified to reflect the digesta retention time and digestive enzymes of nursery piglets by decreasing incubation periods and digestive enzymes to half of those in the procedure for growing pigs and was used to determine the crude protein (CP) digestibility of nursery piglets. The seven ingredients included conventional SBM, thermo-mechanically processed SBM (TSBM), and five sources of fermented SBM (FSBM). The five sources of FSBM were produced using different microorganisms for fermentation, namely: (1) Pediococcus pentosaceus and Bacillus subtilis, (2) Enterococcus faecium (FSBM-EF), (3) Aspergillus oryzae and Bacillus subtilis, (4) Aspergillus oryzae, and (5) Bacillus licheniformis. Based on the conventional procedure, the in vitro ileal disappearance of CP in TSBM was greater (p < 0.05) compared with that in FSBM sources. Based on the in vitro assays for total tract digestibility, organic matter in TSBM was better digested (p < 0.05) compared with that in FSBM except for FSBM-EF. Based on the in vitro procedure for nursery piglets, the ileal disappearance of CP in TSBM was greater (p < 0.05) than that in the other SBM products. Taken together, thermo-mechanical processing rather than microbial fermentation of SBM improves the nutrient digestibility of SBM, particularly in nursery pigs.
Multi-Year Cereal Crop Classification Model in a Semi-Arid Region Using Sentinel-2 and Landsat 7–8 Data
Authors: Khlif Manel , Escorihuela Maria José , Chahbi Bellakanji Aicha , Paolini Giovanni , Kassouk Zeineb , Lili Chabaane Zohra
Published: August 2023

This study developed a multi-year classification model for winter cereal in a semi-arid region, the Kairouan area (Tunisia). A random forest classification model was constructed using Sentinel 2 (S2) vegetation indices for a reference agricultural season, 2020/2021. This model was then applied using S2 and Landsat (7 and 8) data for previous seasons from 2011 to 2022 and validated using field observation data. The reference classification model achieved an overall accuracy (OA) of 89.3%. Using S2 data resulted in higher overall classification accuracy. Cereal classification exhibited excellent precision ranging from 85.8% to 95.1% when utilizing S2 data, while lower accuracy (41% to 91.8%) was obtained when using only Landsat data. A slight confusion between cereals and cereals growing with olive trees was observed. A second objective was to map cereals as early as possible in the agricultural season. An early cereal classification model demonstrated accurate results in February (four months before harvest), with a precision of 95.2% and an OA of 87.7%. When applied to the entire period, February cereal classification exhibited a precision ranging from 85.1% to 94.2% when utilizing S2 data, while lower accuracy (42.6% to 95.4%) was observed in general with Landsat data. This methodology could be adopted in other cereal regions with similar climates to produce very useful information for the planner, leading to a reduction in fieldwork.
Adjuvant Effects on Pyraclostrobin and Boscalid Residues, Systemic Movement, and Dietary Risk in Garlic under Field Conditions
Authors: Parlakidis Paraskevas , Adamidis George , Alexoudis Christos , Pythoglou Paschalina , Papadopoulos Sotirios , Vryzas Zisis
Published: August 2023

Adjuvants are supplemental substances added to pesticide tank mixtures to enhance their efficacy by altering the dispersing, emulsifying, spreading, sticking, and wetting properties of the spray mixture. The goals of this study were an assessment of the effectiveness of pyraclostrobin and boscalid against garlic rust; the fungicide’s dissipation and translocation within plant tissue in the presence of commercial adjuvants Dash® HC EC; and the validation of an analytical method for concurrently determining boscalid and pyraclostrobin in green garlic and garlic bulbs. Pyraclostrobin and boscalid retention in green garlic and the dietary exposure risks were also evaluated. The adjuvant Dash® HC EC is an emulsifiable concentrate containing fatty acids, methyl esters, and alkoxylated alcohol–phosphate esters. The test plots were sprayed with the maximum recommended dosage of 400.5 g a.i. ha−1 boscalid and 100.5 g a.i. ha−1 pyraclostrobin. The residues of pyraclostrobin and boscalid in garlic bulb and green garlic samples were determined using a mini-Luke multi-residue solvent extraction method paired with a high-performance liquid chromatography diode array detector (HPLC–DAD). This method is based on the extraction of a homogeneous sample with acetone, petroleum ether, and dichloromethane. Boscalid and pyraclostrobin recoveries in green garlic and garlic bulbs ranged from 71% to 107% on average, with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 6.8% to 18.1%, and limits of quantification were 0.02 mg/kg. In green garlic and garlic bulbs, boscalid residues ranged from 0.14 to 3.51 mg/kg and pyraclostrobin from lower than LOQ to 1.43 mg/kg, during the experiment. The adjuvant increased the fungicidal efficacy of the fungicides and their retention on green garlic. Although boscalid is considered a nonsystemic fungicide, it showed higher translocation from garlic leaves to garlic bulbs than pyraclostrobin. Regarding the dietary risk assessment, the use of the adjuvant in a tank mixture with boscalid and pyraclostrobin is considered safe 14 days after application, which agrees with the recommended PHI.
Impact of Varying Mass Concentrations of Ammonia Nitrogen on Biogas Production and System Stability of Anaerobic Fermentation
Authors: Li Yongping , Zhu Jiaoning , Tang Yun , Shi Xiangyuan , Anwar Sumera , Wang Juanling , Gao Li , Zhang Jingxuan
Published: August 2023

High ammonium release from chicken manure poses a significant limitation to aerobic digestion, impeding microbial processes and inhibiting biogas production. In this study, we conducted anaerobic digestion of a mixture consisting of chicken manure and corn straw as the fermented raw material. The inoculum used was obtained from the residue of previously fermented chicken manure. To assess the inhibitory effect, we varied the ammonia levels within the range of 750–4250 mg/L by introducing ammonium chloride. The efficiency of aerobic digestion was monitored through the measurement of volatile fatty acids (VFA), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total inorganic carbon (TOC), and methane yield. Our results indicated that elevated levels of ammonia nitrogen had a suppressive impact on methane release, and this decrease followed a linear relationship with the increasing ammonia nitrogen load. Moreover, the addition of ammonia led to a slower release, with the maximum daily ammonia concentration observed at 15 days compared to the 6th day at lower ammonia levels. Furthermore, on the 40th day of aerobic digestion, the cumulative methane production at 4250 mg/L was inhibited by 41% compared to the 750 mg/L condition. The patterns of VFA, inorganic carbon, and COD reduction were consistent across all ammonia levels, with VFA and TOC levels being highest at the highest ammonia concentration and lowest at the lowest ammonia concentration. The accumulation of VFA resulted in a decrease in pH and a decline in methanogenic activity. Additionally, high ammonia levels altered the relative abundance of methanogens. Acetoclastic methanogens (Methanosaeta) exhibited a decrease in abundance, while hydrogenotrophic methanogens (Methanosaeta, Methanoculleus) and methylotrophic methanogens (Candidatus Methanoplasma) demonstrated an increase in abundance. Overall, our findings highlight the inhibitory effects of high ammonia concentrations on biogas production, providing insights into the changes in microbial composition and activity during anaerobic fermentation.
Effectiveness of Agronomic Biofortification Strategy in Fighting against Hidden Hunger
Authors: Teklu Demeke , Gashu Dawd , Joy Edward J. M. , Amede Tilahun , Broadley Martin R.
Published: August 2023

Micronutrient deficiencies (MNDs), also known as hidden hunger, affect more than a quarter of the global population. Agronomic biofortification helps to increase the concentration of a target mineral in food crops and improve human mineral dietary intake. It is a means of providing nutrient-dense foods to a larger population, especially among rural resource-poor settings, providing that they have access to mineral fertilizers. However, the feasibility of agronomic biofortification in combating hidden hunger depends on several factors in addition to fertilizer access, including crop type, genotype, climate, soils, and soil mineral interactions. Consideration of its effectiveness in increasing human mineral intake to the daily requirements and the improvement of human health and the cost-effectiveness of the program is also important. In this paper, we review the available literature regarding the potential effectiveness and challenges of agronomic biofortification to improve crop micronutrient concentrations and reduce hidden hunger.
Genetic Diversity of the Fall Armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Authors: Malekera Matabaro Joseph , Mamba Damas Mamba , Bushabu Gauthier Bope , Murhula Justin Cishugi , Hwang Hwal-Su , Lee Kyeong-Yeoll
Published: August 2023

In 2016, the fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, invaded western Africa and rapidly spread in sub-Saharan Africa, causing significant losses in yields of corn, a major food crop in Africa. Although the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is a large corn-growing country, the impact of FAW has not been investigated. This study was designed to expand investigations on the genetic diversity of FAW populations in the DRC. We collected FAW individuals from eight provinces across the country, for analysis of genetic variation. Based on the partial sequences of both mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and nuclear triosephosphate isomerase (Tpi) genes, we compared polymorphic features of the COI haplotype and Tpi single nucleotide polymorphisms. The results revealed that most (84%) of the analyzed individuals were heterogeneous hybrids Tpi-corn/COI-rice (Tpi-C/COI-R), whereas 16% were homogenous Tpi-corn/COI-corn (Tpi-C/COI-C). Further analysis of the fourth exon/intron sequences of the Tpi gene identified two subgroups, TpiCa1 and TpiCa2, constituting 80% and 20%, respectively, of the collected individuals. Analysis of genetic variation among native and invasive populations indicated significant genetic differences (10.94%) between the native American and DRC populations, whereas both the DRC and African populations were genetically closer to Asian than American populations. This study provides important information on FAW genetic diversity in the DRC, which can be used for effective management of FAW.
Construction of an Early Warning System Based on a Fuzzy Matter-Element Model for Diagnosing the Health of Alpine Grassland: A Case Study of Henan County, Qinghai, China
Authors: Shi Huilan , Liu Mengping , Zhu Shihai , Duan Zhonghua , Wu Rongrong , Quan Xiaolong , Chen Mengci , Zhang Jiexue , Qiao Youming
Published: August 2023

To maintain alpine grassland in a healthy and sustainable state, a sound warning system was developed to diagnose its potential degradation risk. Data related to grassland quality (six indicators), habitat (six indicators), and eco-carrying capacity (three indicators) at eight sampling plots were collected from Henan Mongol Autonomous County of West China in 2014 and 2017, representing five types of grassland and three grazing styles. Compared to the warning level in 2014, alpine grassland had a higher warning level in 2017, demonstrating the degradation of grassland ecosystems. Kobresia tibetica exhibited the lowest level of warning, while Kobresia humilis had the highest, indicating its corresponding safety and unsafety under the environmental change. Grassland quality is the most important index for grassland health, and soil total carbon and available phosphorus are the most important indices of habitat quality, which finally greatly influence the warning level of alpine grassland. Further analysis results suggested that winter grazing is beneficial for the health of grassland, and moderate grazing can accelerate the self-recovery of the alpine grassland due to the increase in organic matter. This study is crucial for understanding the health level of alpine grassland and its further change trends, and providing an important scientific basis for rational grazing.
Interactions between 20-Hydroxyecdysone and Juvenile Hormone I, II, and III during the Developmental Stages of Spodoptera frugiperda
Authors: Li Xuesheng , Liao Shucheng , Hou Jiangan , Zhang Wenjie , Yi Guoqiang , Li Haolin
Published: August 2023

Juvenile hormones (JHs) play a crucial role in the development of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, with varying types and concentrations observed at different stages. However, the interplay between JHs and 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) in co-ordinating the life cycle of S. frugiperda remains unknown. In this study, by using high-precision UPLC-MS/MS and qRT-PCR, we detected changes in JH and 20E levels and identified important 20E receptor and response genes. Our findings revealed that JH I antagonises JH II, whereas JH II promotes JH III synthesis. High JH I and JH II concentrations in the larval stage strongly affected moulting to the next instar. Furthermore, these hormones inhibit 20E synthesis and reduce its receptor expression, thereby affecting 20E signalling. During pupation, JH II plays a crucial role in stimulating 20E synthesis for larval–pupal transformation. JH I and JH II are essential for eclosion, precisely controlling emergence timing and subsequent reproductive organ maturation. These hormones likely regulate larval development, pupation, and adult reproduction in S. frugiperda. Further studies are warranted to explore the regulatory advantages of JH I and JH II over JH III.
Evolution of Compounds and Characteristics of Crops during Ripening and after Harvest
Authors: González-de-Peredo Ana V. , Fernández Barbero Gerardo
Published: August 2023

Consumers are increasingly asking for products with better organoleptic characteristics, flavors, aromas, colors, attractiveness, etc [...]