bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Smart load balancing system for 3-phase 4 wire distribution system
Authors: Rahman Md Atiqur , Choudhary Jayanti
Published: December 2022

In 3-phase 4 wire distribution system, imbalance phenomena arise because of disproportionate distribution of single-phase loads among 3-phases. To address this issue, distribution system requires equitable load sharing in each phase. In this paper, we proposed an intelligent system which can sense the loading in each phase and distribute the load proportionately in each phase of 3-phase 4-wire distribution system. In our proposed hardware, AI based micro-controller is used to sense the least loaded phase and gives command to relay module to connect the load to the least loaded phase whenever any new load is connected to the line. The load on each phase can be monitored in real-time with the help of IoT based data communication. The results of the proposed work shows that whenever any new load is connected to any phase, it automatically gets connected to the least loaded phase. This work is effective in balancing of load in each phase of 3-phase 4-wire distribution system.
Intra-individual variation in Galium odoratum is affected by experimental drought and shading
Authors: Møller Charlotte , March-Salas Martí , Kuppler Jonas , De Frenne Pieter , Scheepens J F
Published: December 2022

Background and aims

Climate-change induced warmer spring temperatures advance tree leaf-out and result in earlier shading of the forest floor. Climate change also leads to more frequent droughts. Forest understorey herbs may respond to these environmental changes by varying traits at different hierarchical levels of organization. While trait mean variation at the inter-individual level in response to environmental changes is well-studied, little is known about how variation at the intra-individual level responds.

Methods

We sampled genets of the forest understorey herb Galium odoratum from 21 populations in three regions in Germany, varying in microclimatic conditions. The genets were transplanted into a common garden, where we applied shading and drought treatments. We measured plant height and leaf length and width, and calculated the coefficient of variation (CV) at different hierarchical levels: intra-population, intra-genet, intra-ramet and intra-shoot.

Key results

Variance partitioning showed that intra-shoot CV represented most of the total variation, followed by intra-ramet CV. We found significant variation in CV of plant height and leaf width among populations of origin, indicating that CV is at least partly genetically based. The soil temperature at populations’ origins correlated negatively with CV in plant height, suggesting adaptation to local conditions. Furthermore, we observed that early shade led to increased intra-ramet CV in leaf length, while drought reduced intra-shoot CV in leaf width. Finally, intra-shoot leaf width mean and CV were independent under control conditions but correlated under drought.

Conclusions

Our experimental results reveal correlations of intra-individual variation with soil temperature, indicating that intra-individual variation can evolve and may be adaptive. Intra-individual variation responded plastically to drought and shading, suggesting functional changes to improve light capture and reduce evapotranspiration. In conclusion, intra-individual variation makes up the majority of total trait variation in this species and can play a key role in plant adaptation to climatic change.
Colorful facial markings are associated with foraging rates and affiliative relationships in a wild group-living cichlid fish
Authors: Culbert Brett M , Barnett James B , Ligocki Isaac Y , Salena Matthew G , Wong Marian Y L , Hamilton Ian M , Balshine Sigal
Published: December 2022

Many animals use color to signal their quality and/or behavioral motivations. Colorful signals have been well studied in the contexts of competition and mate choice; however, the role of these signals in nonsexual, affiliative relationships is not as well understood. Here, we used wild social groups of the cichlid fish Neolamprologus pulcher to investigate whether the size of a brightly colored facial patch was related to 1) individual quality, 2) social dominance, and/or 3) affiliative relationships. Individuals with larger patches spent more time foraging and tended to perform more aggressive acts against conspecific territory intruders. We did not find any evidence that the size of these yellow patches was related to social rank or body size, but dominant males tended to have larger patches than dominant females. Additionally, patch size had a rank-specific relationship with the number of affiliative interactions that individuals engaged in. Dominant males with large patches received fewer affiliative acts from their groupmates compared to dominant males with small patches. However, subordinates with large patches tended to receive more affiliative acts from their groupmates while performing fewer affiliative acts themselves. Taken together, our results suggest that patch size reflects interindividual variation in foraging effort in this cichlid fish and offer some of the first evidence that colorful signals may shape affiliative relationships within wild social groups.
Predicting cardiovascular risk factors from facial & full body photography using deep learning
Authors: Knorr M S , Neyazi M , Bremer J P , Brederecke J , Ojeda F M , Ohm F , Augustin M , Blankenberg S , Kirsten N , Schnabel R B
Published: December 2022

Introduction

The early and easy detection of pathological cardiovascular phenotypes can lead to an early medical intervention and thus slow or limit the development of cardiovascular diseases. As full body photographs are easily obtainable without the need of medical expertise, this modality holds the potential to be viable for screening of populations.

Purpose

Utilizing data from a population-based study, we examined the possibility to detect cardiovascular risk factors from total body photographs using deep learning.

Methods

A population-based cohort study was utilized. The first data release provides facial and full body photographs in dermatologic standard poses of 6500 participants (median age 62.0 years, 49.6% men) and corresponding cardiovascular risk factors. Here, we focus on the most prevalent ones: smoking status (prevalence: 19.0%), hypertension (35.3%) and diabetes (8.2%). Here we employ a 2D-Convolutional Resnet-18 Neural Network for predicting the risk factors. It receives the full body image, the facial image and age and sex as input. We compare this to a logistic regression model only including sex and age. Logistic Regression and Neural Network are employed in a 5-fold validation scheme and t-tested for significance.

Results

Our model provided a good detection of arterial hypertension (AUC 0.711, CI 0.684–0.739), while a logistic regression on age and sex yielded a significantly worse prediction (AUC 0.681, CI 0.679– 0.683, p<0.05). Additionally, it made a good detection of a positive smoking status (AUC 0.733, CI 0.711–0.754), being significantly better than a respective logistic regression on age and sex (AUC 0.598, CI 0.597–0.6, p<0.001). Lastly, it classified diabetes well (AUC 0.744, CI 0.724–0.764, p<0.001) in comparison to the logistic regression (AUC 0.681, CI 0.679–0.683, p<0.001).

Conclusion

The presence of cardiovascular risk factors can be detected from a total body photograph. As total body photographs can be easily obtained with a majority of digital cameras, including smart phones, this model represents a potentially widely applicable diagnostic tool to easily screen large parts of the population for relevant cardiovascular risk factors, making an early medical intervention possible.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.
Deeply functional identification of TCS1 alleles provides efficient technical paths for low-caffeine breeding of tea plants
Authors: Wang Yi , Liu Yu-Fei , Wei Meng-Yuan , Zhang Chen-Yu , Chen Jie-Dan , Yao Ming-Zhe , Chen Liang , Jin Ji-Qiang
Published: December 2022

Caffeine is an important functional component in tea, which has the effect of excitement and nerve stimulation, but excessive intake can cause insomnia and dysphoria. Therefore, the production of tea with low-caffeine content can meet the consumption needs of certain people. Here, in addition to the previous alleles of the tea caffeine synthase (TCS1) gene, a new allele (TCS1h) from tea germplasms was identified. Results of in vitro activity analysis showed that TCS1h had both theobromine synthase (TS) and caffeine synthase (CS) activities. Site-directed mutagenesis experiments of TCS1a, TCS1c, and TCS1h demonstrated that apart from the 225th amino acid residue, the 269th amino acid also determined the CS activity. GUS histochemical analysis and dual-luciferase assay indicated the low promoter activity of TCS1e and TCS1f. In parallel, insertion and deletion mutations in large fragments of alleles and experiments of site-directed mutagenesis identified a key cis-acting element (G-box). Furthermore, it was found that the contents of purine alkaloids were related to the expression of corresponding functional genes and alleles, and the absence or presence and level of gene expression determined the content of purine alkaloids in tea plants to a certain extent. In summary, we concluded TCS1 alleles into three types with different functions and proposed a strategy to effectively enhance low-caffeine tea germplasms in breeding practices. This research provided an applicable technical avenue for accelerating the cultivation of specific low-caffeine tea plants.
A Blue Future: developing a national marine litter action plan in SIDS—lessons learnt in Belize
Authors: Monsanto Maxine , Kohler Peter , Binetti Umberto , Silburn Briony , Russell Josie , Corbin Chris , Lyons Brett , Birchenough Silvana N R , Maes Thomas
Published: December 2022

Marine litter is a significant global threat. The complex and cross cutting nature involved in tackling marine litter requires a coordinated response involving multiple sectors and a broad range of stakeholders. Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are particularly vulnerable to detrimental impacts of marine litter on quality of life and economies, particularly tourism and fisheries sectors. This paper presents national Marine Litter Action Plans (MLAP) as effective tools for coordinating responses addressing marine litter and specifically outlines the process undertaken to develop a national MLAP for the country of Belize, a Caribbean SIDS. Actions included in the MLAP, adopted by Belize in 2019, focused on developing science related to marine litter through monitoring and capacity building, tackling land- and sea-based sources through enforcement and planning, and boosting awareness through outreach and education. The paper further summarizes common challenges faced by SIDS and identifies key enabling conditions that facilitated MLAP development and adoption from perspective of a Caribbean SIDS. These experiences from Belize include stakeholder engagement, communication, governance, transparency, equity, scientific surveys, data gaps, and capacity building. The lessons learned from this practical application can be applied when developing and implementing MLAPs in other SIDS and beyond.
Economic evaluation of antimicrobial use practices in animal agriculture: a case of poultry farming
Authors: Lhermie Guillaume , Ndiaye Youba , Rushton Jonathan , Raboisson Didier
Published: December 2022

Background

The growing evidence of the contribution of antimicrobial use (AMU) in animal agriculture to the public health threat of antimicrobial resistance has highlighted to policymakers the importance of the need for prudent AMU in animal production. Livestock farming is an economic process, where farmers are using inputs such as antimicrobials to minimize their losses.

Objectives

Using a large and unique dataset combining time-series data on economic performance and health records in conventional broiler production in France, we identify how improved healthcare management and disease prevention impact economic performance, AMU reduction and health outcomes.

Methods

We analyse the main characteristics of the economic performance of farms measured by the profit per m2, by performing advanced regression models investigating the relative importance of medication and veterinary procedures.

Results

In our study, 50% of the treatments (expressed as number of new treatments) are attributable to only 30% of all flocks. There is an inverted U-shaped relationship between AMU and economic performance. This finding implies that the marginal profit of antimicrobials is decreasing, meaning that using antimicrobials is only profitable up to a certain threshold. Results also show that the profit increases as the number of preventive treatments increase.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that policies encouraging farmers to work upstream from the occurrence of disease have the potential to perform better than regulations, as they would maintain a profitable activity while diminishing AMU. Encouraging adequate infection control practices by subsidizing or providing other incentives would benefit farmers and society.
Dalbavancin in clinical practice in Spain: a 2 year retrospective study
Authors: Morata Laura , Aguado José María , Salavert Miguel , Pasquau Juan , Míguez Enrique , Muñoz Patricia , Rosselló Irantzu , Almirante Benito
Published: December 2022

Objectives

Dalbavancin is approved for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin-structure infections (ABSSSIs) in adults. Its unique pharmacokinetic properties allow daily dosing to be avoided. The objective was to describe the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of patients treated with dalbavancin in Spain, and to evaluate its effectiveness and safety in real-world settings.

Patients and methods

This non-interventional, retrospective, observational and multicentre study included patients who received at least one dose between 2018 and 2019 in seven Spanish hospitals.

Results

In total, 187 patients were included. The most common comorbidities were cardiovascular disease (27.4%) and diabetes mellitus (23.5%). Dalbavancin was used to treat osteoarticular infections (28.3%), ABSSSIs (22.5%), cardiovascular infections (20.9%) and catheter-related infections (18.2%). The most prevalent pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus (34.2%), CoNS (32.6%), and enterococci (12.8%). The main reason for use was early hospital discharge (65.8%). Most patients were treated with 1500 mg in a single dose (35.3%) and the median duration of treatment was 2 weeks. The treatment was clinically successful in 91.4% of cases. Six patients (3.2%) reported adverse events. Physicians agreed on the potential reduction of hospitalization days (85.3%). A subanalysis of patient characteristics and type of pathogen showed similar results in terms of efficacy and safety.

Conclusions

Dalbavancin seems to be effective and safe as second-line treatment in severe Gram-positive infections. It improves treatment adherence and allows outpatient management. Furthermore, the effectiveness and safety profile are maintained against diverse microorganisms in Gram-positive infections and regardless of the patients’ comorbidities at baseline, or age.
Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance patterns ofEnterococcusspecies isolated from laying hens in Lusaka and Copperbelt provinces of Zambia: a call for AMR surveillance in the poultry sector
Authors: Mudenda Steward , Matafwali Scott Kaba , Malama Sydney , Munyeme Musso , Yamba Kaunda , Katemangwe Patrick , Siluchali Godfrey , Mainda Geoffrey , Mukuma Mercy , Bumbangi Flavien Nsoni , Mirisho Robert , Muma John Bwalya
Published: December 2022

Background

The use of antimicrobials in layer poultry production for improved production, growth promotion, prophylaxis and treatment purposes has contributed to the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in poultry. In Zambia, there is a paucity of information on the prevalence and AMR patterns of Enterococcus species isolated from laying hens.

Objectives

This study investigated the prevalence and AMR patterns of enterococci isolated in layer hens in Lusaka and Copperbelt provinces of Zambia.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2020 to April 2021. Three hundred and sixty-five pooled cloacal swab samples were collected from 77 layer poultry farms. Enterococci identification and confirmation were performed using Analytical Profile Index (API 20 STREP) and 16S rRNA sequencing, respectively. A panel of nine antibiotics was used for antibiotic susceptibility testing and interpreted according to the CLSI 2020 guidelines. Data were analysed using SPSS version 23 and WHONET 2020.

Results

A total of 308 (84.4%) single Enterococcus species isolates were obtained and showed resistance to tetracycline (80.5%), erythromycin (53.6%), quinupristin/dalfopristin (53.2%), ampicillin (36.72%), vancomycin (32.8%), linezolid (30.2%), ciprofloxacin (11.0%), nitrofurantoin (6.5%) and chloramphenicol (3.9%). The prevalence of enterococci resistant to at least one antibiotic was 99.4% (n = 306), of which 86% (n = 265) were MDR.

Conclusions

This study found a high prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant enterococci. The presence of MDR requires urgent intervention and implementation of AMR surveillance strategies and antimicrobial stewardship programmes in layer poultry production in Zambia.
Clinical informatics training in medical school education curricula: a scoping review
Authors: Zainal Humairah , Tan Joshua Kuan , Xiaohui Xin , Thumboo Julian , Yong Fong Kok
Published: December 2022

Objectives

This scoping review evaluates the existing literature on clinical informatics (CI) training in medical schools. It aims to determine the essential components of a CI curriculum in medical schools, identify methods to evaluate the effectiveness of a CI-focused education, and understand its delivery modes.

Materials and Methods

This review was informed by the methodological guidance of the Joanna Briggs Institute. Three electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for articles discussing CI between January 2010 and December 2021.

Results

Fifty-nine out of 3055 articles were included in our final analysis. Components of CI education include its utilization in clinical practice, ethical implications, key CI-related concepts, and digital health. Evaluation of educational effectiveness entails external evaluation by organizations external to the teaching institute, and internal evaluation from within the teaching institute. Finally, modes of delivery include various pedagogical strategies and teaching CI using a multidisciplinary approach.

Discussion

Given the broad discussion on the required competencies, we propose 4 recommendations in CI delivery. These include situating CI curriculum within specific contexts, developing evidence-based guidelines for a robust CI education, developing validated assessment techniques to evaluate curriculum effectiveness, and equipping educators with relevant CI training.

Conclusion

The literature reveals that CI training in the core curricula will complement if not enhance clinical skills, reiterating the need to equip students with relevant CI competencies. Furthermore, future research needs to comprehensively address current gaps in CI training in different contexts, evaluation methodologies, and delivery modes to facilitate structured training.
WIPO’s Contributions to International Cooperation on Intellectual Property
Authors: Jorgenson Lisa , Fink Carsten
Published: December 2022

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has enhanced global cooperation in a key area of International Economic Law. In particular, WIPO’s international intellectual property (IP) treaties have done much to bridge the territorial nature of IP with the business needs of innovators and brand owners who operate in an interconnected global economy. They also vividly illustrate the benefits of multilateral cooperation: IP can flow from anywhere to everywhere, thus requiring a truly global approach toward cooperation. Here, we explain some of the practical benefits of WIPO’s Patent Cooperation Treaty, Madrid, and Hague Systems, especially over the last 25 years. Their success has made these systems even more attractive to IP users worldwide and has transformed WIPO’s international filing mechanisms into a truly global endeavor.
Arterial-colonic fistula secondary to colonic stent erosion into the left external iliac artery
Authors: Dillon Jacquelyn , Mills Alexandra N , Pawloski Kate R , Scribetta Nicholas , Greenstein Alexander
Published: December 2022

Self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) are widely utilized as a bridge to surgical intervention and for palliative treatment of malignant bowel obstructions. The risk of complications associated with SEMS is low in well-selected patients. Stent erosion is a rare but serious adverse event that is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Here, we report the case of a 74-year-old patient with a colonic obstruction secondary to a pelvic mass that was treated with SEMS and radiotherapy, who developed a partial thickness stent erosion and recurrent hematochezia 6 years after placement. Endoscopic retrieval was not technically feasible. During attempted surgical resection, massive hemorrhage occurred from a colonic-arterial fistula to the left external iliac artery resulting in death. While SEMS remain an effective, minimally invasive approach for the management of bowel obstructions, prolonged in-situ lifetime may confer an increased risk of serious adverse events including erosion and fistula formation.
Mechanisms of PARP1 inhibitor resistance and their implications for cancer treatment
Authors: Jackson Lindsey M , Moldovan George-Lucian
Published: December 2022

The discovery of synthetic lethality as a result of the combined loss of PARP1 and BRCA has revolutionized the treatment of DNA repair-deficient cancers. With the development of PARP inhibitors, patients displaying germline or somatic mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2 were presented with a novel therapeutic strategy. However, a large subset of patients do not respond to PARP inhibitors. Furthermore, many of those who do respond eventually acquire resistance. As such, combating de novo and acquired resistance to PARP inhibitors remains an obstacle in achieving durable responses in patients. In this review, we touch on some of the key mechanisms of PARP inhibitor resistance, including restoration of homologous recombination, replication fork stabilization and suppression of single-stranded DNA gap accumulation, as well as address novel approaches for overcoming PARP inhibitor resistance.
Phase I study of anti-epidermal growth factor receptor antibody-drug conjugate serclutamab talirine: Safety, pharmacokinetics, and antitumor activity in advanced glioblastoma
Authors: Carneiro Benedito A , Papadopoulos Kyriakos P , Strickler John H , Lassman Andrew B , Waqar Saiama N , Chae Young Kwang , Patel Jyoti D , Shacham-Shmueli Einat , Kelly Karen , Khasraw Mustafa , Bestvina Christine M , Merrell Ryan , Huang Kevin , Atluri Harisha , Ansell Peter , Li Rachel , Jin Janet , Anderson Mark G , Reilly Edward B , Morrison-Thiele Gladys , Patel Kalpesh , Robinson Randy R , Aristide Martha R Neagu , Gan Hui K
Published: December 2022

Background

Serclutamab talirine (Ser-T, formerly ABBV-321) is an antibody-drug conjugate consisting of an antibody (AM-1-ABT-806) directed against activated epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and a pyrrolobenzodiazepine dimer. We investigated Ser-T monotherapy in a phase I, first-in-human, dose-escalation, and dose-expansion study in patients with advanced solid tumors associated with EGFR overexpression.

Methods

Eligible patients (≥18 years) had advanced, histologically confirmed solid tumors associated with EGFR overexpression (centralized testing). Patients received Ser-T intravenously once every 4 weeks (Q4W; 5–50 μg/kg) in the dose-escalation phase. Herein, preliminary antitumor activity at the recommended phase II dose (RP2D) is reported only for patients with glioblastoma (n = 24); additional assessments included all treated patients.

Results

Sixty-two patients (median age: 58 years) were enrolled within the dose-escalation (n = 43) and dose-expansion (n = 19) phases. One dose-limiting toxicity, grade 3 aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase elevation, occurred at 20 μg/kg during dose escalation. The Ser-T RP2D regimen of 50 μg/kg × 1 (loading dose) followed by 25 μg/kg Q4W (maintenance dose) was administered during dose expansion. Fatigue (37%) was the only treatment-emergent adverse event (AE) occurring in >25% of patients. Two patients (3%) reported mild treatment-related ocular AEs (eye pruritus). Responses in patients with glioblastoma included 1 partial response (~33 months), 6 stable disease, and 14 progressive disease (not evaluable: n = 3).

Conclusions

Ser-T monotherapy at doses up to 50 μg/kg initial dose, followed by 25 μg/kg Q4W demonstrated a tolerable safety profile with minimal antitumor activity observed in patients with glioblastoma. The glioblastoma dose-expansion cohort was closed due to a lack of efficacy (NCT03234712).
Predictors of Seeking Care for Influenza-Like Illness in a Novel Digital Study
Authors: Chawla Devika , Benitez Alejandra , Xu Hao , Whitehill Victoria , Tadesse-Bell Sara , Shapiro Allison , Ramirez Ernesto , Scherer Kelly , Foschini Luca , Drawnel Faye , Clinch Barry , Prunotto Marco , Ukachukwu Vincent
Published: December 2022

Background

Previous research has estimated that >50% of individuals experiencing influenza-like illness (ILI) do not seek health care. Understanding factors influencing care-seeking behavior for viral respiratory infections may help inform policies to improve access to care and protect public health. We used person-generated health data (PGHD) to identify factors associated with seeking care for ILI.

Methods

Two observational studies (FluStudy2020, ISP) were conducted during the United States 2019–2020 influenza season. Participants self-reported ILI symptoms using the online Evidation platform. A log-binomial regression model was used to identify factors associated with seeking care.

Results

Of 1667 participants in FluStudy2020 and 47 480 participants in ISP eligible for analysis, 518 (31.1%) and 11 426 (24.1%), respectively, sought health care. Participants were mostly female (92.2% FluStudy2020, 80.6% ISP) and aged 18–49 years (89.6% FluStudy2020, 89.8% ISP). In FluStudy2020, factors associated with seeking care included having health insurance (risk ratio [RR], 2.14; 95% CI, 1.30–3.54), more severe respiratory symptoms (RR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.37–1.71), and comorbidities (RR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.20–1.58). In ISP, the strongest predictor of seeking care was high symptom number (RR for 6/7 symptoms, 2.14; 95% CI, 1.93–2.38).

Conclusions

Using PGHD, we confirmed low rates of health care–seeking behavior for ILI and show that having health insurance, comorbidities, and a high symptom burden were associated with seeking health care. Reducing barriers in access to care for viral respiratory infections may lead to better disease management and contribute to protecting public health.
Persistent Symptoms and Sequelae After Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection Not Requiring Hospitalization: Results From Testing Denmark, a Danish Cross-sectional Survey
Authors: van Wijhe Maarten , Fogh Kamille , Ethelberg Steen , Karmark Iversen Kasper , Nielsen Henrik , Østergaard Lars , Andersen Berit , Bundgaard Henning , Jørgensen Charlotte S , Scharff Bibi F SS , Ellermann-Eriksen Svend , Johansen Isik S , Fomsgaard Anders , Grove Krause Tyra , Wiese Lothar , Fischer Thea K , Mølbak Kåre , Benfield Thomas , Folke Fredrik , Lippert Freddy , Ostrowski Sisse R , Koch Anders , Erikstrup Christian , Vangsted Anne-Marie , Sørensen Anna Irene Vedel , Ullum Henrik , Skov Robert Leo , Simonsen Lone , Nielsen Susanne Dam
Published: December 2022

Background

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is associated with persistent symptoms (“long COVID”). We assessed the burden of long COVID among nonhospitalized adults with polymerase chain reaction (PCR)–confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Methods

In the fall of 2020, a cross-sectional survey was performed in the adult Danish general population. This included a self-administered point-of-care test for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, the Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)–associated symptom questions. Nonhospitalized respondents with a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test ≥12 weeks before the survey (cases) were matched (1:10) to seronegative controls on age, sex, and body mass index. Propensity score–weighted odds ratios (ORs) and ORs for risk factors were estimated for each health outcome.

Results

In total, 742 cases and 7420 controls were included. The attributable risk of at least 1 long-COVID symptom was 25.0 per 100 cases (95% confidence interval [CI], 22.2–27.4). Compared to controls, cases reported worse general health (OR, 5.9 [95% CI, 5.0–7.0]) and had higher odds for a broad range of symptoms, particularly loss of taste (OR, 11.8 [95% CI, 9.5–14.6]) and smell (OR, 11.2 [95% CI, 9.1–13.9]). Physical and Mental Component Summary scores were also significantly reduced with differences of −2.5 (95% CI, −3.1 to −1.8) and −2.0 (95% CI, −2.7 to −1.2), respectively. Female sex and severity of initial infection were major risk factors for long COVID.

Conclusions

Nonhospitalized SARS-CoV-2 PCR–positive individuals had significantly reduced physical and mental health, and 1 in 4 reported persistence of at least 1 long-COVID symptom.
Maternal organophosphate flame retardant exposure alters the developing mesencephalic dopamine system in fetal rat
Authors: Newell Andrew J , Kapps Victoria A , Cai Yuheng , Rai Mani Ratnam , St. Armour Genevieve , Horman Brian M , Rock Kylie D , Witchey Shannah K , Greenbaum Alon , Patisaul Heather B
Published: December 2022

Organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) have become the predominant substitution for legacy brominated flame retardants but there is concern about their potential developmental neurotoxicity (DNT). OPFRs readily dissociate from the fireproofed substrate to the environment, and they (or their metabolites) have been detected in diverse matrices including air, water, soil, and biota, including human urine and breastmilk. Given this ubiquitous contamination, it becomes increasingly important to understand the potential effects of OPFRs on the developing nervous system. We have previously shown that maternal exposure to OPFRs results in neuroendocrine disruption, alterations to developmental metabolism of serotonin (5-HT) and axonal extension in male fetal rats, and potentiates adult anxiety-like behaviors. The development of the serotonin and dopamine systems occur in parallel and interact, therefore, we first sought to enhance our prior 5-HT work by first examining the ascending 5-HT system on embryonic day 14 using whole mount clearing of fetal heads and 3-dimensional (3D) brain imaging. We also investigated the effects of maternal OPFR exposure on the development of the mesocortical dopamine system in the same animals through 2-dimensional and 3D analysis following immunohistochemistry for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). Maternal OPFR exposure induced morphological changes to the putative ventral tegmental area and substantia nigra in both sexes and reduced the overall volume of this structure in males, whereas 5-HT nuclei were unchanged. Additionally, dopaminergic axogenesis was disrupted in OPFR exposed animals, as the dorsoventral spread of ventral telencephalic TH afferents were greater at embryonic day 14, while sparing 5-HT fibers. These results indicate maternal exposure to OPFRs alters the development trajectory of the embryonic dopaminergic system and adds to growing evidence of OPFR DNT.
Bus passengers’ anger scale and expression in anger-provoking situations
Authors: Yuan Zhili , Chen Qun , Ye Shi
Published: December 2022

This paper investigates the scale and expression of passengers’ anger arising from disputes between drivers and passengers, and between passengers, by surveying a sample of 757 undergraduate students. The bus passengers’ anger scale and expression inventory (BPASX), a newly-designed questionnaire battery, is used to analyse the anger levels and resulting behaviour expression of passengers in 6-item anger-provoking situations. The analysis shows that a positive correlation exists between the frequency or duration of bus rides and anger levels/external anger expression, while self-adaptive expression is only correlated with frequency. Gender differs only in the violent external expression, where males display a greater preference. Meanwhile, the correlations of anger levels between anger-provoking situations are significantly positive. Moreover, anger expression patterns gradually shift from self-adaptation to external expression as anger levels grow in general, but the variation rules of expression frequency are different. Overall, this study provides a newly effective tool to explore characteristics of the anger expression of bus passengers in different anger-provoking scenarios and demonstrates its variation features when anger levels change.
Establishment of a metric to characterize retroreflector properties using a consumer-grade colour camera
Authors: He Huayang , Su Wenying , Cheng Qiutong
Published: December 2022

The coefficients of retroreflection and chromaticity coordinates are critical metrics for determining the quality of a retroreflector. However, conventional retroreflection measurement techniques rely heavily on the night-time colour, size and characteristics of the sample being measured. This complicates the measurement process and leads to deviations in the test results. In addition, chromaticity cannot be determined using this approach. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the measurement accuracy, simplify the measurement process and achieve the measurement of the traffic sign RA and chromaticity coordinates simultaneously. In this study, an improved method for retroreflector characterization using imaging was proposed. This allowed for the measurement of the coefficients of retroreflection and the chromaticity coordinates simultaneously, and only a white standard sample was required for calibration. The primary components of the proposed system included a lighting projector, a receiver, two motorized rotational stages, a retroreflective sample holder and customized software that using scaling factors to convert a digital signal into sample retroreflection coefficients and retroreflective chromaticity coordinates. The experimental results indicated that the raw data output from the camera exhibited a positive correlation relationship with the luminous flux from the surface of the retroreflector. The maximum measurement errors for the retroreflection and chromaticity were −12.2 cd/(lx·m2) and −2.09%, respectively. This method was inexpensive and convenient, used a commercially available digital camera, could help to identify defects in retroreflection and chromaticity for retroreflective sheeting and led to increased accessibility for the quality control of retroreflective sheeting.
Hazard-based duration modelling of merging time interval on freeway on-ramps
Authors: Li Ye , Zhu Jichen , Haque Md Mazharul , Lee Jaeyoung
Published: December 2022

Freeway on-ramps suffer high crash risks due to frequent merging behaviours. This study developed hazard-based duration models to investigate the merging time interval on freeway on-ramps based on microscopic trajectory data. Fixed effect, random effect and random parameters Weibull distributed accelerated failure time models were developed to capture merging time as a function of various dynamic variables. The random parameters model was found to outperform the two counterparts since the unobserved heterogeneity of individual drivers was captured. Modelling estimation results indicate that drivers along the merging section with an auxiliary lane perform a smooth merging process and are easily affected by speed variables. Dynamics of leading and following vehicles on the merging and target lanes are found to influence the merging time interval for merging without an auxiliary lane, whereas the influence of surrounding vehicles is marginal for those with an auxiliary lane. The findings of this study identify potential countermeasures for improving safety during the merging process.
Modelling medium- and long-term purchasing plans for environment-orientated container trucks: a case study of Yangtze River port
Authors: Li Shuai , Wu Weijia , Ma Xiaofeng , Zhong Ming , Safdar Muhammad
Published: December 2022

The transportation sector is the most significant contributor to anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Particularly, maritime transportation, which is predominantly powered by fossil-fuel engines, accounts for more than 90% of world freight movement and emits 3% of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. China is the world's largest emitter of CO2 and plays a key role in mitigating global climate change. In order to tackle this pressing concern, this study analyses the port's throughput, the current number of trucks and their emissions during the container truck purchasing process. Previous studies about container truck purchasing plans mostly focused on the trucks' price and port needs. The objective of this study is to minimize the total cost of a port's inland transportation using optimization technique such as the interval uncertainty planning model to convert container truck emissions into social costs. The study considers the port of Yangtze as a case study. The study has designed two scenarios. (i) The base scenario (business-as-usual, BAU) is used to quantify the relationship between pollutant emissions and system cost. In the base scenario, no environmental control facilities are used during the planning period, and there is no need to purchase new energy container trucks. (ii) The expected scenario (Scenario A) is for three planning periods. In Scenario A, the emissions levels are required to remain at the same level as the first planning period during the whole planning period. By solving the above model, the number of all truck types, system cost, container throughput and truck emissions in the port area were analysed. The results showed that if no emission reduction control measures are implemented in the next 9 years, the growth rate of pollutants in the port area could reach 20%. In addition, the findings showed clearly that truck emissions are reduced by purchasing new energy trucks and restricting the number of fossil-fuel (diesel) trucks. This study could also help to minimize system costs associated with port planning and management.
Impacts of mobile phone use while driving on the performance of petroleum product drivers in Cameroon
Authors: Tuekam-Bopda Elisée-Enselme , Tamba Jean Gaston , Fopah-Lele Armand
Published: December 2022

The objective of this article is to show the influence of mobile phone use while driving on the performance of petroleum product drivers in Cameroon. The topical questioning centred on the series of accidents and near misses in general and specifically in the petroleum products sector and showed the need to look for other causes. To do so, we conceptually proposed a model derived from the literature review and adjusted by practical research, which shows that our approach is the hypothetico-deductive type. Methodologically, the observations from the experience of 90 questionnaires were operationalized using multivariate logistic regression analyses. The results indicate that making or receiving calls while driving significantly influences the occurrence of reckless driving situations. Reading and sending short message service (SMS or text messages) while driving negatively influences drivers' performance by increasing delivery times. The type of phone used has an effect on the risk of accidents or near misses. Indeed, drivers who use smartphones are 2.14 times more likely to experience crash-like events compared to those who use conventional mobile phones. In addition, with a view to reducing near misses and accidents, it is important to organize regular appropriate road safety campaigns, to install on-board cameras in all trucks, to provide rest areas and encourage drivers to stop at these areas to check their phones and catch up on missed calls. Additionally to introduce training for drivers in defensive driving with a renewable licence after a maximum of 2 years.
Condition monitoring and fault diagnosis strategy of railway point machines using vibration signals
Authors: Sun Yongkui , Cao Yuan , Liu Haitao , Yang Weifeng , Su Shuai
Published: December 2022

Condition monitoring of railway point machines is important for train operation safety and effectiveness. Referring to the fields of mechanical equipment fault detection, this paper proposes a fault detection and identification strategy of railway point machines via vibration signals. A comprehensive feature distilling approach by combining variational mode decomposition (VMD) energy entropy and time- and frequency-domain statistical features is presented, which is more effective than single type of feature. The optimal set of features was selected with ReliefF, which helps improve the diagnosis accuracy. Support vector machine (SVM), which is suitable for a small sample, is adopted to realize diagnosis. The diagnosis accuracy of the proposed method reaches 100%, and its effectiveness is verified by experiment comparisons. In this paper, vibration signals are creatively adopted for fault diagnosis of railway point machines. The presented method can help guide field maintenance staff and also provide reference for fault diagnosis of other equipment.
A hybrid ensemble deep reinforcement learning model for locomotive axle temperature using the deterministic and probabilistic strategy
Authors: Yan Guangxi , Liu Hui , Yu Chengqing , Yu Chengming , Li Ye , Duan Zhu
Published: December 2022

This paper proposes a hybrid deep reinforcement learning framework for locomotive axle temperature by combining the wavelet packet decomposition (WPD), long short-term memory (LSTM), gated recurrent unit (GRU) reinforcement learning and generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) algorithms. The WPD is utilized to decompose the raw nonlinear series into subseries. Then the deep learning predictors LSTM and GRU are established to predict the future axle temperatures in each subseries. The Q-learning could generate optimal ensemble weights to integrate the predictors to finish the deterministic forecasting and GARCH is used to conduct the deterministic forecasting based on the deterministic forecasting residual. These parts of the hybrid ensemble structure contributed to optimal modelling accuracy and provided effective support in the real-time monitoring and fault diagnosis of transportation.
Short-term traffic forecasting model: prevailing trends and guidelines
Authors: Soon Kian Lun , Chan Robin Kuok Cheong , Lim Joanne Mun-Yee , Parthiban Rajendran
Published: December 2022

The design parameters serve as an integral part of developing a robust short-term traffic forecasting model. These parameters include scope determination, input data preparation, output parameters and modelling techniques. This paper takes a further leap to analyse the recent trend of design parameters through a systematic literature review based on peer-reviewed articles up to 2021. The key important findings are summarized along with the challenges of performing short-term traffic forecasting. Intuitively, this paper offers insights into the next wave of research that contributes significantly to industries.
Research on numerical simulation of transient pressure for high-speed train passing through the most unfavourable length tunnel
Authors: Liu Zhao , Liu Feng , Yao Shuanbao , Chen Dawei , Yang Mingzhi
Published: December 2022

The length of high-speed railway tunnel is an important factor affecting transient pressure of high-speed train. When the tunnel length is the most unfavourable, the transient pressure changes in the tunnel and on the surface of the train are the most severe, which may affect the safe operation of the train or damage the structure in the tunnel. Based on the three-dimensional, compressible, unsteady N-S equation and finite volume method, this paper uses the CFD numerical simulation method to study the change and amplitude distribution of the transient pressure on the train surface and the tunnel when a high-speed train passes through the most unfavourable length tunnel. A fast calculation method is proposed to save the cost of calculation; it has great applicability of pressure amplitude. The results show that the pressure distribution in the tunnel and on the surface of the train is affected by the train speed, the length of the train and the position of the measuring point. The minimum negative peak value in the tunnel appears at the position where the superposition phenomenon is the most severe, and the position will change with the speed of the train. There are two negative peak waveforms of the train surface pressure, and the first waveform is greatly affected by the train speed. It improves a reference for studying the strength requirement of the most unfavourable length tunnels and trains, and ensures the safe operation of trains in tunnels of different lengths.
Forecasting wind speed using a reinforcement learning hybrid ensemble model: a high-speed railways strong wind signal prediction study in Xinjiang, China
Authors: Liu Bin , Pan Xinmin , Yang Rui , Duan Zhu , Li Ye , Yin Shi , Nikitas Nikolaos , Liu Hui
Published: December 2022

Considering the application of wind-forecasting technology along the railway, it becomes an effective means to reduce the risk of train derailment and overturning. Accurate prediction of crosswinds can provide scientific guidance for safe train operation. To obtain more reliable wind-speed prediction results, this study proposes an intelligent ensemble forecasting method for strong winds along the high-speed railway. The method consists of three parts: the data preprocessing module, the hybrid prediction module and the reinforcement learning ensemble module. First, fast ensemble empirical model decomposition (FEEMD) is used to process the original wind speed data. Then, Broyden-Fletcher-Goldfarb-Shanno (BFGS) method, non-linear autoregressive network with exogenous inputs (NARX) and deep belief network (DBN), three benchmark predictors with different characteristics are employed to build prediction models for all the sublayers of decomposition. Finally, Q-learning is utilized to iteratively calculate the combined weights of the three models, and the prediction results of each sublayer are superimposed to obtain the model output. The real wind speed data of two railway stations in Xinjiang are used for experimental comparison. Experiments show that compared with the single benchmark model, the hybrid ensemble model has better accuracy and robustness for wind speed prediction along the railway. The 1-step forecasting results mean absolute error (MAE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) and root mean square error (RMSE) of Q-learning-FEEMD-BFGS-NARX-DBN in site #1 and site #2 are 0.0894 m/s, 0.6509%, 0.1146 m/s, and 0.0458 m/s, 0.2709%, 0.0616 m/s, respectively. The proposed ensemble model is a promising method for railway wind speed prediction.