bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Flexible Sensors Based on Conductive Polymers
Authors: Pavel Ileana-Alexandra , Lakard Sophie , Lakard Boris
Published: March 2022

Conductive polymers have attracted wide attention since their discovery due to their unique properties such as good electrical conductivity, thermal and chemical stability, and low cost. With different possibilities of preparation and deposition on surfaces, they present unique and tunable structures. Because of the ease of incorporating different elements to form composite materials, conductive polymers have been widely used in a plethora of applications. Their inherent mechanical tolerance limit makes them ideal for flexible devices, such as electrodes for batteries, artificial muscles, organic electronics, and sensors. As the demand for the next generation of (wearable) personal and flexible sensing devices is increasing, this review aims to discuss and summarize the recent manufacturing advances made on flexible electrochemical sensors.
Gastroesophageal Reflux in Children with Asthma
Authors: Lupu Vasile Valeriu , Miron Ingrith , Tarca Elena , Trandafir Laura Mihaela , Anton-Paduraru Dana-Teodora , Moisa Stefana Maria , Starcea Magdalena , Cernomaz Andrei , Miron Lucian , Lupu Ancuta
Published: March 2022

Background: Nowadays it is considered that a specific causal relationship exists between asthma and gastroesophageal reflux (GER), because of the aspiration of gastric refluate which leads to and maintain spasticity even real crisis of paroxystic expiratory dyspnea. This study explores this relationship and evaluates the results after treatment. Methods: 56 children diagnosed with asthma, hospitalized in a regional center of pediatric gastroenterology in Northeast Romania, underwent 24-hour continuous esophageal pH monitoring in order to establish the presence of GER. The Boix-Ochoa score was used to interpret the results. Proton pump inhibitors were administered to those with GER and the patients were reevaluated after 2 months. Results: 39 patients (69.64%) had GER, with a Boix-Ochoa score above normal (N < 11.99), and 17 patients (30.36%) had normal score. After administering proton pump inhibitors for 2 months, 7 patients still had high Boix-Ochoa score (17.95%). The result of this analysis shows that the presence of asthma increases the chance of GER by 2.86 times. Conclusions: In children with asthma we have to look for GER in order to treat, because it can help the treatment of asthma or even solve some cases resistant to standard treatment.
Evaluation of Ectopic Mitochondrial DNA in HeLa Cells
Authors: Hussan Mohammad T. , Matsui Noriko , Matsui Hideaki
Published: March 2022

The presence of ectopic DNA in the cytoplasm induces inflammation and cell death. It has been widely reported that leakage of nuclear DNA into the cytoplasm can mainly be sensed by cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS). We recently reported that mitochondria-derived cytoplasmic double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) that has escaped lysosomal degradation induces significant cytotoxicity in cultured cells and in vivo. Cytoplasmic mitochondrial DNA is assumed to be involved in various diseases and disorders, and more and more papers have been published confirming this. On the other hand, the current method for evaluating mitochondrial DNA in the cytoplasm may not be quantitative. Here, we introduce in detail a method to evaluate ectopic mitochondrial DNA in cells. This method is useful in basic research as well as in the study of aging, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, heart failure, autoimmune diseases, cancer, and other conditions.
Relationship between the Void and Sound Absorption Characteristics of Epoxy Porous Asphalt Mixture Based on CT
Authors: Li Xiaolong , Gao Junfeng , Du Hui , Jia Jingpeng , Zhao Xiaojie , Ling Tianqing
Published: March 2022

This study investigates the relationship between the void characteristics and sound absorption characteristics of an epoxy porous asphalt mixture. The specimens are scanned and reconstructed under different void fractions using X-ray computed tomography (CT) technology and digital image processing, and the sound absorption coefficients at different frequencies are obtained using an acoustic impedance tube. The relationship between void characteristics and sound absorption characteristics is analyzed using gray correlation. The test results exhibited a good correlation between the void characteristics of the epoxy porous asphalt mixture obtained by CT scanning (mesoscale) and the measured values (macroscale). The difference between the void fraction and connected void fraction gradually decreased with an increase in the void fraction. The relationship curve between the sound absorption coefficient and frequency exhibited a bimodal trend, and the peak value of the sound absorption coefficient increased with an increase in the void fraction. The order of the gray correlation degree between the peak and average values of the sound absorption coefficient and the void characteristic parameters is as follows: connected void fraction > void fraction > equivalent diameter of connected void > surface area of connected void > curvature.
Preliminary Research on a COVID-19 Test Strategy to Guide Quarantine Interval in University Students
Authors: Kolesar Jill M. , Gayheart Tyler , Poston Lance , Monday Eric , Forster Derek , Belcher Elizabeth , Jaiswal Rani , Turner J. Kirsten , Arnett Donna K. , Durbin Eric B. , Monroe Joseph , Romanelli Frank , Arnold Susanne M. , Jennings C. Darrell , Weiss Heidi , DiPaola Robert
Published: March 2022

Following COVID-19 exposure, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends a 10–14-day quarantine for asymptomatic individuals and more recently a 7-day quarantine with a negative PCR test. A university-based prospective cohort study to determine if early polymerase chain reaction (PCR) negativity predicts day 14 negativity was performed. A total of 741 asymptomatic students in quarantine was screened and 101 enrolled. Nasopharyngeal swabs were tested on days 3 or 4, 5, 7, 10, and 14, and the proportion of concordant negative results for each day versus day 14 with a two-sided 95% exact binomial confidence interval was determined. Rates of concordant negative test results were as follows: day 5 vs. day 14 = 45/50 (90%, 95% CI: 78–97%); day 7 vs. day 14 = 47/52 (90%, 95% CI: 79–97%); day 10 vs. day 14 = 48/53 (91%, 95% CI:79–97%), with no evidence of different negative rates between earlier days and day 14 by McNemar’s test, p > 0.05. Overall, 14 of 90 (16%, 95% CI: 9–25%) tested positive while in quarantine, with seven initial positive tests on day 3 or 4, 5 on day 5, 2 on day 7, and none on day 10 or 14. Based on concordance rates between day 7 and 14, we anticipate that 90% (range: 79–97%) of individuals who are negative on day 7 will remain negative on day 14, providing the first direct evidence that exposed asymptomatic students ages 18–44 years in a university setting are at low risk if released from quarantine at 7 days if they have a negative PCR test prior to release. In addition, the 16% positive rate supports the ongoing need to quarantine close contacts of COVID-19 cases.
Effect of Current on Corrosion Resistance of Duplex Stainless Steel Layer Obtained by Plasma Arc Cladding
Authors: Pu Juan , Xie Peng , Long Weimin , Wu Mingfang , Sheng Yongwang , Sheng Jie
Published: March 2022

In order to repair or strengthen stainless steel structural parts, the experiment was conducted by using plasma arc cladding technology to prepare 2205 duplex stainless steel (DSS) layers on the surface of Q345 steel. Their macro morphology and microstructure were observed by an optical microscope and the phase composition of microstructure was analyzed by an X-ray diffractometer instrument (XRD). The electrochemical behavior of 2205 DSS cladding layer under different current in 3.5% NaCl etching solution was studied by the potentiodynamic polarization, the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS). The results showed that when the current was 100 A, the forming of cladding layer was continuous, complete and fine with the dilution ratio of 11.43%. The mass ratio of austenite to ferrite in the microstructure increased with the increase of current and it was up to the optimum of 1.207 with the current of 100 A. Under such conditions, the self-corrosion potential of the cladding layer was up to the maximum while its corrosion current density reached the minimum, thus the corrosion resistance of the cladding layer reached the optimum. It was attributed to the existence of a large amount of Cr3+ and Mo6+ in the passive film of cladding layer, which can stabilize the passive film and promote the formation of Cr2O3 in the passive film.
Dataset Documenting the Interactions of Biochar with Manure, Soil, and Plants: Towards Improved Sustainability of Animal and Crop Agriculture
Authors: Bonds Darcy , Koziel Jacek A. , De Mriganka , Chen Baitong , Singh Asheesh K. , Licht Mark A.
Published: March 2022

Plant and animal agriculture is a part of a larger system where the environment, soil, water, and nutrient management interact. Biochar (a pyrolyzed biomass) has been shown to affect the single components of this complex system positively. Biochar is a soil amendment, which has been documented for its benefits as a soil enhancer particularly to increase soil carbon, improve soil fertility, and better nutrient retention. These effects have been documented in the literature. Still, there is a need for a broader examination of these single components and effects that aims at the complementarity and synergy attainable with biochar and the animal and crop-production system. Thus, we report a comprehensive dataset documenting the interactions of biochar with manure, soil, and plants. We evaluated three biochars mixed with manure alongside both manure and soil controls for improvement in soil quality, reduction in nutrient movement, and increase in plant nutrient availability. We explain the experiments and the dataset that contains the physicochemical properties of each biochar–manure mixture, the physicochemical properties of soil amended with each biochar–manure mixture, and the biomass and nutrient information of plants grown in biochar–manure mixture-amended soil. This dataset is useful for continued research examining both the short- and long-term effects of biochar–manure mixtures on both plant and soil systems. In addition, these data will be beneficial to extend the findings to field settings for practical and realized gains.
Reply to Schramm, L. Comment on “Li et al. BDP1 Variants I1264M and V1347M Significantly Associated with Clinical Outcomes of Pediatric Neuroblastoma Patients Imply a New Prognostic Biomarker: A 121-Patient Cancer Genome Study. Diagnostics 2021, 11, 2364”
Authors: Li Xiaoqing , Sun Lan , Stucky Andres , Tu Lingli , Cai Jin , Chen Xuelian , Wu Zhongjun , Jiang Xuhong , Li Shengwen Calvin
Published: March 2022

We thank Professor Laura Schramm for her comment on the history and clarification of BDP1 nomenclature, her contribution to gene cloning [...]
Tuberculous Pericarditis—Own Experiences and Recent Recommendations
Authors: Dybowska Małgorzata , Błasińska Katarzyna , Gątarek Juliusz , Klatt Magdalena , Augustynowicz-Kopeć Ewa , Tomkowski Witold , Szturmowicz Monika
Published: March 2022

Tuberculous pericarditis (TBP) accounts for 1% of all forms of tuberculosis and for 1–2% of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. In endemic regions, TBP accounts for 50–90% of effusive pericarditis; in non-endemic, it only accounts for 4%. In the absence of prompt and effective treatment, TBP can lead to very serious sequelae, such as cardiac tamponade, constrictive pericarditis, and death. Early diagnosis of TBP is a cornerstone of effective treatment. The present article summarises the authors’ own experiences and highlights the current status of knowledge concerning the diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm of TBP. Special attention is drawn to new, emerging molecular methods used for confirmation of M. tuberculosis infection as a cause of pericarditis.
Rapid Diagnostic Test for Hepatitis B Virus Viral Load Based on Recombinase Polymerase Amplification Combined with a Lateral Flow Read-Out
Authors: Mayran Charly , Foulongne Vincent , Van de Perre Philippe , Fournier-Wirth Chantal , Molès Jean-Pierre , Cantaloube Jean-François
Published: March 2022

Hepatitis B (HBV) infection is a major public health concern. Perinatal transmission of HBV from mother to child represents the main mode of transmission. Despite the existence of effective immunoprophylaxis, the preventive strategy is inefficient in neonates born to mothers with HBV viral loads above 2 × 105 IU/mL. To prevent mother-to-child transmission, it is important to identify highly viremic pregnant women and initiate antiviral therapy to decrease their viral load. We developed a simple innovative molecular approach avoiding the use of automatic devices to screen highly viremic pregnant women. This method includes rapid DNA extraction coupled with an isothermal recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) combined with direct visual detection on a lateral flow assay (LFA). We applied our RPA-LFA approach to HBV DNA-positive plasma samples with various loads and genotypes. We designed a triage test by adapting the analytical sensitivity to the recommended therapeutic decision threshold of 2 × 105 IU/mL. The sensitivity and specificity were 98.6% (95% CI: 92.7–99.9%) and 88.2% (95% CI: 73.4–95.3%), respectively. This assay performed excellently, with an area under the ROC curve value of 0.99 (95% CI: 0.99–1.00, p < 0.001). This simple method will open new perspectives in the development of point-of-care testing to prevent HBV perinatal transmission.
Correlation of Immune-Inflammatory Markers with Clinical Features and Novel Location-Specific Nomograms for Short-Term Outcomes in Patients with Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Authors: Hsu Hsien-Ta , Chen Pei-Ya , Tzeng I-Shiang , Hsu Po-Jen , Lin Shinn-Kuang
Published: March 2022

(1) Background: We investigated the association of four immune-inflammatory markers with clinical features and established location-specific nomograms to predict mortality risk in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). (2) Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 613 inpatients with acute ICH. (3) Results: Overall mortality was 22%, which was highest in pontine hemorrhage and lowest in thalamic hemorrhage. All four immune-inflammatory markers exhibited a positive linear correlation with glucose, ICH volume, ICH score, and discharge Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score. Significant predictors of death due to lobar/putaminal hemorrhage were age, glucose and creatinine levels, initial Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, ICH volume, and presence of intraventricular hemorrhage. None of the immune-inflammatory markers were significant predictors of unfavorable outcome or death. We selected significant factors to establish nomograms for predicting death due to lobar/putaminal, thalamic, pontine, and cerebellar hemorrhages. The C-statistic for predicting death in model I (comprising factors in the establishment of the nomogram) in each type of ICH was higher than that in model II (comprising ICH score alone), except for cerebellar hemorrhage. These nomograms for predicting death had good discrimination (C-index: 0.889 to 0.975) and prediction probabilities (C-index: 0.890 to 0.965). (4) Conclusions: Higher immune-inflammatory markers were associated with larger ICH volume, worse initial GCS, and unfavorable outcomes, but were not independent prognostic predictors. The location-specific nomograms provided novel and accurate models for predicting mortality risk.
Intrasulcular Restorations of Anterior Teeth According to the BAIR Technique: Evaluation of Periodontal Parameters
Authors: Giachetti Luca , Cinelli Francesca , Nieri Michele
Published: March 2022

Some clinical situations, such as the closure of pronounced diastemas, and the transformation of malformed, small, or peg-shaped teeth, require a rebalancing of dental proportions accompanied by a modification of the gingival contour. A traditional treatment plan can include surgical, prosthetic, and/or orthodontic treatments. In some cases, it can be considered too invasive, and not all patients are willing to undertake long therapies. To overcome these limitations, a possible solution could be the application of the Biologically Active Intrasulcular Restoration (BAIR) technique, which allows us to modify the natural emergence tooth profile using simple intrasulcular direct restorations. The aims of this paper are to investigate possible effects on gingival health, and to assess the patient satisfaction about the aesthetic intervention performed. Periodontal data were collected, and patient satisfaction was registered using the VAS questionnaire. All sites healed without complications, no adverse events were registered or reported by the patients, and no signs of periodontal morbidity were visible. The results show that the patients evaluated the final aesthetics in a positive way, and they perceived a good condition of periodontal health as well. The intervention is felt as almost painless, and patients do not report significant post-operative distress. In conclusion, the BAIR technique can provide a valid therapeutic alternative for patients for whom traditional treatments are not indicated. It is a minimally invasive intervention where both the operating times and the biologic and economic costs are reduced.
Inverse Transform Using Linearity for Video Coding
Authors: Song Hyeonju , Lee Yung-Lyul
Published: March 2022

In hybrid block-based video coding, transform plays an important role in energy compaction. Transform coding converts residual data in the spatial domain into frequency domain data, thereby concentrating energy in a lower frequency band. In VVC (versatile video coding), the primary transform is performed using DCT-II (discrete cosine transform type 2), DST-VII (discrete sine transform type 7), and DCT-VIII (discrete cosine transform type 8). Considering that DCT-II, DST-VII, and DCT-VIII are all linear transforms, inverse transform is proposed to reduce the number of computations by using the linearity of transform. When the proposed inverse transform using linearity is applied to the VVC encoder and decoder, run-time savings can be achieved without decreasing the coding performance relative to the VVC decoder. It is shown that, under VVC common-test conditions (CTC), average decoding time savings values of 4% and 10% are achieved for all intra (AI) and random access (RA) configurations, respectively.
Adaptive Label Allocation for Unsupervised Person Re-Identification
Authors: Song Yihu , Liu Shuaishi , Yu Siyang , Zhou Siyu
Published: March 2022

Most unsupervised methods of person re-identification (Re-ID) obtain pseudo-labels through clustering. However, in the process of clustering, the hard quantization loss caused by clustering errors will make the model produce false pseudo-labels. In order to solve this problem, an unsupervised model based on softened labels training method is proposed. The innovation of this method is that the correlation among image features is used to find the reliable positive samples and train them in a smooth manner. To further explore the correlation among image features, some modules are carefully designed in this article. The dynamic adaptive label allocation (DALA) method which generates pseudo-labels of adaptive size according to different metric relationships among features is proposed. The channel attention and transformer architecture (CATA) auxiliary module is designed, which, associated with convolutional neural network (CNN), functioned as the feature extractor of the model aimed to capture long range dependencies and acquire more distinguishable features. The proposed model is evaluated on the Market-1501 and the DukeMTMC-reID. The experimental results of the proposed method achieve 60.8 mAP on Market-1501 and 49.6 mAP on DukeMTMC-reID respectively, which outperform most state-of-the-art models in fully unsupervised Re-ID task.
Realistic Image Generation from Text by Using BERT-Based Embedding
Authors: Na Sanghyuck , Do Mirae , Yu Kyeonah , Kim Juntae
Published: March 2022

Recently, in the field of artificial intelligence, multimodal learning has received a lot of attention due to expectations for the enhancement of AI performance and potential applications. Text-to-image generation, which is one of the multimodal tasks, is a challenging topic in computer vision and natural language processing. The text-to-image generation model based on generative adversarial network (GAN) utilizes a text encoder pre-trained with image-text pairs. However, text encoders pre-trained with image-text pairs cannot obtain rich information about texts not seen during pre-training, thus it is hard to generate an image that semantically matches a given text description. In this paper, we propose a new text-to-image generation model using pre-trained BERT, which is widely used in the field of natural language processing. The pre-trained BERT is used as a text encoder by performing fine-tuning with a large amount of text, so that rich information about the text is obtained and thus suitable for the image generation task. Through experiments using a multimodal benchmark dataset, we show that the proposed method improves the performance over the baseline model both quantitatively and qualitatively.
Circuit Simulation of Film Resistor Laser Trimming with a Measuring Voltage Source
Authors: Kondrashov Vladimir V. , Chapkin Vyacheslav V. , Seredin Oleg S. , Zemlyakov Evgeny V. , Pozdeeva Ekaterina Yu.
Published: March 2022

This article continues the series of publications that describe in detail the process of development, research, and implementation of circuit modeling and machine vision mechanisms in industrial equipment for laser trimming of resistors in order to obtain products with better characteristics and increase the economic efficiency of the process. A circuit model of the process of laser trimming of film-resistive elements under the action of a measuring voltage source, as well as an algorithm for correcting this model during laser trimming, has been developed. The paper considers the principles of building a circuit model of film resistor cutting. The conductive resistive medium is defined with the component equations and the topology of the circuit model. A method of estimating the electric parameters of a resistor operating in the system with a measuring voltage source is shown. An equation system for the node voltages is defined, and the resistive layer parameters are analyzed as the circuit model structure changes during the cutting process.
A Lightweight and Practical Anonymous Authentication Protocol Based on Bit-Self-Test PUF
Authors: An Yang , Zhang Yuejiao , Cao Wenjun , Tong Zhiyan , He Zhangqing
Published: March 2022

Physical unclonable function (PUF), a cryptographic primitive, has recently been used in protocol design because it can ensure a tamper-evident feature. In many PUF-based protocol schemes, helper data algorithms (HDA) or fuzzy extractors (FE) are used to generate strong keys from unreliable PUF responses. However, these methods inevitably introduce complex error correction techniques, which not only increase the overhead of embedded devices but also pose some security risks. We propose a novel HDA technology, which does not use any high-overhead error correction mechanism, greatly reducing the implementation complexity and execution overhead. The novel HDA exploits the strategy of bit-self-test (BST) and the PUF can extract the robust responses by using the real-time generated reliable flags, and then an entropy extractor is used to generate the reliable and random key with high entropy. Based on this novel HDA, we design a lightweight anonymous authentication protocol. The protocol uses pseudo-random function (PRF) and XOR operation instead of the traditional hash function and symmetric encryption algorithm, which ensures security while reducing the overhead. Moreover, the proposed protocol does not require the server to store a large number of challenge–response pairs (CRPs), which reduces the storage overhead on the server while avoiding the risk of leakage of CRPs. Moreover, the device identity ID is updated during each round of the authentication process, which prevents the device from being tracked and protects the privacy of the device. The implementation and performance analysis of the protocol prototype on a Zynq-7000 SoC XC7Z010 FPGA shows that the proposed scheme solves the problems encountered with existing schemes and has additional security properties.
Innovative Hyperspectral Image Classification Approach Using Optimized CNN and ELM
Authors: Ye Ansheng , Zhou Xiangbing , Miao Fang
Published: March 2022

In order to effectively extract features and improve classification accuracy for hyperspectral remote sensing images (HRSIs), the advantages of enhanced particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm, convolutional neural network (CNN), and extreme learning machine (ELM) are fully utilized to propose an innovative classification method of HRSIs (IPCEHRIC) in this paper. In the IPCEHRIC, an enhanced PSO algorithm (CWLPSO) is developed by improving learning factor and inertia weight to improve the global optimization performance, which is employed to optimize the parameters of the CNN in order to construct an optimized CNN model for effectively extracting the deep features of HRSIs. Then, a feature matrix is constructed and the ELM with strong generalization ability and fast learning ability is employed to realize the accurate classification of HRSIs. Pavia University data and actual HRSIs after Jiuzhaigou M7.0 earthquake are applied to test and prove the effectiveness of the IPCEHRIC. The experiment results show that the optimized CNN can effectively extract the deep features from HRSIs, and the IPCEHRIC can accurately classify the HRSIs after Jiuzhaigou M7.0 earthquake to obtain the villages, bareland, grassland, trees, water, and rocks. Therefore, the IPCEHRIC takes on stronger generalization, faster learning ability, and higher classification accuracy.
Influence of the Placement Accuracy of the Brushless DC Motor Hall Sensor on Inverter Transistor Losses
Authors: Kolano Krzysztof , Moradewicz Artur Jan , Drzymała Bartosz , Gęca Jakub
Published: March 2022

Low-power BLDC motors are often and willingly used in many drive devices due to their functional advantages. They are also used in advanced positioning systems, where their good dynamic performance parameters are used. The control systems use shaft position sensors mounted on motors, the structure of which is based on magnetic elements and Hall sensors. The aim of this article was to investigate the influence of the BLDC motor quality on the correct operation of the control semiconductor system. The article presents the effect of BLDC motor shaft observation system’s inaccuracies on the friction and current amplitudes of individual inverter keys. Waveforms of the controller phase currents are considered and recorded on a test bench that allows precise sensor position changes. In addition, the effect of sensor misalignment on power losses in individual inverter transistors is investigated. The article shows a significant influence of the motor shaft observation system’s assembly accuracy on the current amplitudes of individual driver transistors and their power losses, which makes it necessary to consider these parameters when constructing power electronic systems.
Real-Time FPGA/CPU-Based Simulation of a Full-Electric Vehicle Integrated with a High-Fidelity Electric Drive Model
Authors: Jiang Bowen , Sharma Nimananda , Liu Yujing , Li Chuan , Huang Xiaoliang
Published: March 2022

Real-time simulations refer to the simulations of a physical system where model equations for one time-step are solved within the same time period as in reality. An FPGA/CPU-based real-time simulation platform is presented in this paper, with a full-electric vehicle model implemented in a central processing unit (CPU) board and an electric drive model implemented in a field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) board. It has been a challenge to interface two models solved with two different processors. In this paper, one open-loop and three closed-loop interfaces are proposed. Real-time simulation results show that the best method is to transmit electric machine speed from the vehicle model to the electric derive model, with feedback electric machine torque calculated in FPGA. In addition, a virtual vehicle testing tool (CarMaker) is used when building the vehicle model, achieving more accurate modeling of vehicle subsystems. The presented platform can be used to verify advanced vehicle control functions during hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing. Vehicle anti-slip control is used as an example here. Finally, experiments were performed by connecting the real-time platform with a back-to-back electric machine test bench. Results of torque, rotor speed, and d&q axis currents are all in good agreement between simulations and experiments.
Long-Term, Simultaneous Impact of Antimicrobials on the Efficiency of Anaerobic Digestion of Sewage Sludge and Changes in the Microbial Community
Authors: Czatzkowska Małgorzata , Harnisz Monika , Korzeniewska Ewa , Wolak Izabela , Rusanowska Paulina , Paukszto Łukasz , Jastrzębski Jan P. , Bajkacz Sylwia
Published: March 2022

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of simultaneous, long-term exposure to increasing concentrations of three classes of antimicrobials (β-lactams, fluoroquinolones and nitroimidazoles) on: (1) the efficiency of anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge, (2) qualitative and quantitative changes in microbial consortia that participate in methane fermentation, and (3) fate of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Long-term supplementation of sewage sludge with a combination of metronidazole, amoxicillin and ciprofloxacin applied at different doses did not induce significant changes in process parameters, including the concentrations of volatile fatty acids (VFAs), or the total abundance of ARGs. Exposure to antibiotics significantly decreased methane production and modified microbial composition. The sequencing analysis revealed that the abundance of OTUs characteristic of Archaea was not correlated with the biogas production efficiency. The study also demonstrated that the hydrogen-dependent pathway of methylotrophic methanogenesis could significantly contribute to the stability of anaerobic digestion in the presence of antimicrobials. The greatest changes in microbial biodiversity were noted in substrate samples exposed to the highest dose of the tested antibiotics, relative to control. The widespread use of antimicrobials increases antibiotic concentrations in sewage sludge, which may decrease the efficiency of anaerobic digestion, and contribute to the spread of antibiotic resistance (AR).
Investigation of a Real-Time Dynamic Model for a PV Cooling System
Authors: Manasrah Ahmad , Masoud Mohammad , Jaradat Yousef , Bevilacqua Piero
Published: March 2022

The cooling of PV models is an important process that enhances the generated electricity from these models, especially in hot areas. In this work, a new, active cooling algorithm is proposed based on active fan cooling and an artificial neural network, which is named the artificial dynamic neural network Fan cooling algorithm (DNNFC). The proposed system attaches five fans to the back of a PV model. Subsequently, only two fans work at any given time to circulate the air under the PV model in order to cool it down. Five different patterns of working fans have been experimented with in this work. To select the optimal pattern for any given time, a back propagation neural network model was trained. The algorithm is a dynamic algorithm since it re-trains the model with new recorded surface temperatures over time. In this way, the model automatically adapts to any weather and environmental conditions. The model was trained with an indoor dataset and tested with an outdoor dataset. An accuracy of more than 97% has been recorded, with a mean square error of approximately 0.02.
Development of a Partial Shipping Fees Pricing Model to Influence Consumers’ Purchase Intention under the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Tsai Cheng-An , Chang Che-Wei
Published: March 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic is accelerating the rapid development of the digital economy. Previous studies have indicated that shipping fees are essential in delivery strategies and significantly impact order generation rates. According to market research, 68% of consumers would increase their orders to reach the minimum threshold for free delivery. However, previous studies have focused on the problem of setting free shipping thresholds, so the existing model of the e-commerce platform only allows consumers to choose whether to pay the total shipping fees or conditional free delivery with a free shipping threshold. A lack of literature concerns the partial pay for shipping fees before reaching the free shipping threshold. Therefore, this study proposes a new pricing model for shipping strategy that allows consumers to pay partial shipping fees. This model can increase the flexibility of consumer choice, thus increasing consumers’ willingness to purchase, which in turn increases the revenue of the e-commerce platform. The model was validated for 9-month on the e-commerce platform of a Smart-Integration company. The results showed that after introducing the new pricing model, the e-commerce platform’s sales grew by about 9%. This proposed model’s theoretical extension and empirical results can remedy the research gap in the extant literature.
A Qualitative Assessment of the Specific Woody Biomass of Fruit Trees
Authors: Ciolacu Florin , Ianuș Gelu , Marian Grigore , Munteanu Corneliu , Paleu Viorel , Nazar Boris , Istrate Bogdan , Gudîma Andrei , Daraduda Nicolae
Published: March 2022

In the current context of environmental requirements, solid renewable biomass is becoming one of the main viable energy sources that can replace fossil fuels. This paper focuses on evaluating the morphological structure and properties of three fruit trees that are widely grown on the territory of Moldova, both on the left and the right banks of the Prut River: the apricot, the peach, and the plum. The wood biomass was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM Quanta 200 3D), X-ray analysis (Xpert PRO MPD), and FT-IR analysis. A chemical analysis including the determination of extractive substances, lignin content, and the detection of hemicelluloses content was carried out for all wood samples. In addition, the net calorific value was determined by measuring the calorific value at constant volume, in compliance with the requirements of the EN ISO 18125:2017 standard. According to the obtained results, in terms of maximum calorific output and lignin and minimum ash content, plum appeared to be the best solid biomass resource. However, the other two trees also showed promising results for becoming important sources of wood biomass for pellet production.
The Influence of Cellulose Ethers on the Physico-Chemical Properties, Structure and Lipid Digestibility of Animal Fat Emulsions Stabilized by Soy Protein
Authors: Cofrades Susana , Saiz Arancha , Pérez-Mateos Miriam , Garcimartín Alba , Redondo-Castillejo Rocío , Bocanegra Aranzazu , Benedí Juana , Álvarez María Dolores
Published: March 2022

This study explores the influence of carboxymethylcelullose (CMC) and methylcelullose (MC), added by simultaneous (sim) and sequential (seq) emulsification methods, on the structure, rheological parameters and in vitro lipid digestibility of pork lard O/W emulsions stabilized by soy protein concentrate (SPC). Five emulsions (SPC, SPC/CMC-sim, SPC/CMC-seq SPC/MC-sim, SPC/MC-seq) were prepared in vitro. The presence of CMC and MC, and the stage of incorporation affected the emulsion microstructure. In the SPC emulsion, lipid droplets were entrapped by a protein layer that was thicker when MC was added, providing greater resistance against environmental stresses during gastrointestinal digestion. At 37 °C, CMC incorporation produced a structural reinforcement of the SPC emulsion, whereas MC addition did not affect the network rigidity, although a delaying effect on the crossover temperature was observed, which was more evident in SPC/MC–seq. The presence and stage of CMC and MC incorporation affected the rate and extent of lipolysis, with SPC/MC-seq presenting an inferior concentration of free fatty acids. The lower extent of lipolysis observed in SPC/MC-seq may be positive in the manufacture of animal fat products in which reduced fatty acid absorption is intended.
Fundamental Spacetime Representations of Quantum Antenna Systems
Authors: Mikki Said
Published: March 2022

We utilize relativistic quantum mechanics to develop general quantum field-theoretic foundations suitable for understanding, analyzing, and designing generic quantum antennas for potential use in secure quantum communication systems and other applications. Quantum antennas are approached here as abstract source systems capable of producing what we dub “quantum radiation.” We work from within a generic relativistic framework, whereby the quantum antenna system is modeled in terms of a fundamental quantum spacetime field. After developing a framework explaining how quantum radiation can be understood using the methods of perturbative relativistic quantum field theory (QFT), we investigate in depth the problem of quantum radiation by a controlled abstract source functions. We illustrate the theory in the case of the neutral Klein-Gordon linear quantum antenna, outlining general methods for the construction of the Green’s function of a source—receiver quantum antenna system, the latter being useful for the computation of various candidate angular quantum radiation directivity and gain patterns analogous to the corresponding concepts in classical antenna theory. We anticipate that the proposed formalism may be extended to deal with a large spectrum of other possible controlled emission types for quantum communications applications, including, for example, the production of scalar, fermionic, and bosonic particles, where each could be massless or massive. Therefore, our goal is to extend the idea of antenna beyond electromagnetic waves, where now our proposed QFT-based concept of a quantum antenna system could be used to explore scenarios of controlled radiation of any type of relativistic particles, i.e., effectively transcending the well-known case of photonic systems through the deployment of novel non-standard quantum information transmission carriers such as massive photons, spin-1/2 particles, gravitons, antiparticles, higher spin particles, and so on.
Zircon from Altered Monzonite Rocks Provides Insights into Magmatic and Mineralizing Processes at the Douay Au Project, Abitibi Greenstone Belt
Authors: Mathieu Lucie , Wasuita Taylor D. , Sherlock Ross , Speidel Fred , Marsh Jeffrey H. , Dubé Benoît , Côté-Mantha Olivier
Published: March 2022

Zircon provides essential information on the age and oxidation state of magmatic systems and can be used to characterize magmatic-hydrothermal Au mineralizing systems. Using the Douay intrusion-related gold system (IRGS) as a type example of Neoarchean syenite-associated mineralization (Abitibi greenstone belt), we demonstrate that zircon from altered quartz-monzonite rocks can also be used to infer the age of a magmatic-hydrothermal event. Here, zircon chemistry is used to identify the following sequence of events at the Douay exploration project: (1) the crystallization of zircon at ~2690 Ma in evolved residual melts with distinct U-contents (quartz-monzonite magma); (2) the extensive radiation damage for the U-rich grains over a period of ~10–15 My; and (3) the alteration of zircon grains at ~2676 Ma by interaction with magmatic-hydrothermal mineralizing fluids derived from syenite and carbonatite intrusive phases. This study also distinguishes extensively altered zircon grains from pristine to least-altered zircon formed in distinct magmatic environments using a Th/U vs. U discrimination diagram.
Evaluation of InfraRed Thermography Supported by UAV and Field Surveys for Rock Mass Characterization in Complex Settings
Authors: Loiotine Lidia , Andriani Gioacchino Francesco , Derron Marc-Henri , Parise Mario , Jaboyedoff Michel
Published: March 2022

The InfraRed Thermography (IRT) technique is gaining increasing popularity in the geosciences. Although several studies on the use of this technique for rock mass characterization were reported in the literature, its applicability is challenging in complex environments, characterized by poor accessibility, lithological heterogeneity, karst features and disturbances, such as vegetation and human activities. This paper reports the results of specific tests carried out to explore the application of IRT methods, supported by UAV surveys, for rock mass characterization in complex conditions. In detail, a 24-h monitoring was performed on an appropriate case study to assess which type of information can be collected and what issues can be expected. The results of the thermograms were compared with data reported in the literature and discussed. A novel method to detect correlations between the temperature profiles at the air-rock interfaces and the rock mass properties is presented. The main advantages, limitations and suggestions in order to take full advantage of the IRT technique in complex conditions are reported in the final section.
The Effect of Physician Communication on Inpatient Satisfaction
Authors: Moslehpour Massoud , Shalehah Anita , Rahman Ferry Fadzlul , Lin Kuan-Han
Published: March 2022

(1) Background: The importance of physician-patient communication and its effect on patient satisfaction has become a hot topic and has been studied from various aspects in recent years. However, there is a lack of systematic reviews to integrate recent research findings into patient satisfaction studies with physician communication. Therefore, this study aims to systematically examine physician communication’s effect on patient satisfaction in public hospitals. (2) Methods: Using a keywords search, data was collected from five databases for the papers published until October 2021. Original studies, observational studies, intervention studies, cross-sectional studies, cohort studies, experimental studies, and qualitative studies published in English, peer-reviewed research, and inpatients who communicated with the physician in a hospital met the inclusion criteria. (3) Results: Overall, 11 studies met the inclusion criteria from the 4810 articles found in the database. Physicians and organizations can influence two determinants of inpatient satisfaction in physician communication. Determinants of patient satisfaction that physicians influence consist of amounts of time spent with the patient, verbal and nonverbal indirect interpersonal communication, and understanding the demands of patients. The organization can improve patient satisfaction with physician communication by the organization’s availability of interpreter service and physician workload. Physicians’ communication with inpatients can affect patient satisfaction with hospital services. (4) Conclusions: To improve patient satisfaction with physician communication, physicians and organizational determinants must be considered.
Control of Seed-Borne Fungi by Selected Essential Oils
Authors: Chrapačienė Simona , Rasiukevičiūtė Neringa , Valiuškaitė Alma
Published: March 2022

Seed-borne pathogens reduce the quality and cause infections at various growth stages of horticultural crops. Some of the best-known are fungi of genus Alternaria, that cause destructive vegetable and other crop diseases, resulting in significant yield losses. Over several years, much attention has been paid to environmentally-friendly solutions for horticultural disease management regarding the environmental damage caused by chemicals. For example, plant extracts and essential oils could be alternative sources for biopesticides and help to control vegetable seed-borne pathogens. This study aimed to evaluate essential oils’ influence on the growth of seed-borne fungi Alternaria spp. The microbiological contamination of vegetable seeds (carrot, tomato, onion) was determined by the agar-plate method. The essential oils’ impact on the growth of fungi was evaluated by mixing them with PDA medium at different amounts. The hydrodistillation was used for extraction of thyme and hyssop essential oils, and common juniper essential oil was purchased. The investigation revealed that the highest contamination of carrot and tomato seeds was by Alternaria spp. fungi. Furthermore, the highest antifungal effect on Alternaria spp. growth was achieved using 200–1000 μL L−1 of thyme essential oil. Meanwhile, the antifungal effect of other investigated essential oils differed from low to moderate. Overall, essential oils expressed a high potential for fungal pathogens biocontrol and application in biopesticides formulations.
Attitudes toward Vaccinations and Vaccination Coverage Rates among Dental Students in Greece
Authors: Maltezou Helena C. , Rahiotis Christos , Tseroni Maria , Madianos Phoebus , Tzoutzas Ioannis
Published: March 2022

Our aim was to study attitudes toward vaccinations, full vaccination rates and susceptibility rates against vaccine-preventable diseases among students attending a University Dental School. A total of 134 students were studied. Full vaccination rates were as follows: 56.5% against measles and mumps, 70.6% against rubella, 32.3% against varicella, 44.1% against hepatitis A, 45.9% against hepatitis B, and 87.7% against COVID-19. In the past decade, 63.2% of students had received a booster shot against tetanus–diphtheria, 47.8% against pertussis, and 28.1% against poliomyelitis, while 29.4% of students had been vaccinated against influenza in the past year. Susceptibility rates were 40.4% for measles, 42.4% for mumps, 28.3% for rubella, 32.3% for varicella, 55.3% for hepatitis A, 54.1% for hepatitis B, 36.8% for tetanus–diphtheria, 52.2% for pertussis, and 71.9% for poliomyelitis. Overall, 123 (91.8%) students favored mandatory vaccinations, mainly for all dentists (88.4%), while 11.6% of students favored them only for dentists who provide care to high-risk patients. In conclusion, most dental students favored mandatory vaccinations, yet we found significant vaccination gaps and susceptibility rates against vaccine-preventable diseases. Vaccinations for dental students should be intensified. A national vaccination registry for healthcare personnel including dental students is urgently needed.
Building a Health Literacy Indicator from Angola Demographic and Health Survey in 2015/2016
Authors: Ramos Neida Neto Vicente , Fronteira Inês , Martins Maria Rosário Oliveira
Published: March 2022

Health literacy is a determinant factor for population health. It is important both for the prevention of health problems and the better management of those problems and unexpected situations that happen. Low health literacy has been consistently associated with poor health outcomes. This study aimed to develop a health literacy indicator for Angola and to analyze pertinent demographic characteristics related to it. Data were obtained from the first Angola Demographic and Health Survey conducted in 2015/16; we included 10 questions related to the American National Academy of Medicine definition of health literacy. Using factor analysis, we extracted one i indicator corresponding to four dimensions of health literacy. The indicator was dichotomized, and we used Logistic Regression to estimate factors associated with health literacy level: we obtained data from 19,785 adolescents and adults, aged 15–49 years. The internal consistency of the i indicator was reliable (Cronbach’s α  =  0.83). Adjusting for other variables, males with complete secondary education or above and living in urban areas were more likely to have a high level of health literacy. There were substantial differences between the 18 regions. This is the first study evaluating health literacy in Angola using the American National Academy of Medicine definition and a Demographic and Health survey. Our study shows unfavorable results for women, individuals living in rural areas and those less educated.