bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Redesign of Channel Codes for Joint Source-Channel Coding Systems over One-Dimensional Inter-Symbol-Interference Magnetic Recording Channels
Authors: Sun Ying , Chen Chen , Liu Sanya , Chen Qiwang , Zhou Lin
Published: October 2022

Although the joint source-channel coding (JSCC) system based on double protograph low-density parity-check (DP-LDPC) codes has been shown to possess excellent error performance over additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) channels, it cannot perform well over one-dimensional inter-symbol-interference (OD-ISI) magnetic recording channels. In this study, a new JSCC system with a three-stage serially concatenated framework of Turbo equalization is firstly proposed for OD-ISI magnetic recording channels. Then, a modified joint protograph extrinsic information transfer (M-JPEXIT) algorithm is put forward to analyze the convergence-performance of the proposed system. By applying the M-JPEXIT algorithm, the channel codes are redesigned for this system to improve the error performance. Both the M-JPEXIT analysis and the bit-error-rate (BER) simulation results show the performance improvement of the proposed channel codes, especially in the water-fall region.
Partial Discharges Monitoring for Electric Machines Diagnosis: A Review
Authors: Cruz Jonathan dos Santos , Fruett Fabiano , Lopes Renato da Rocha , Takaki Fabio Luiz , Tambascia Claudia de Andrade , Lima Eduardo Rodrigues de , Giesbrecht Mateus
Published: October 2022

Online monitoring of Partial Discharges (PDs) in rotating electrical machines is an useful tool for machine prognosis, as it presents reduced costs compared to intrusive inspections and is associated with relevant problems. Although this monitoring method has been developed for almost 50 years, the recent advancements in processes automation and signal processing techniques allow improvements that are still being studied by academic and industrial researchers. To analyze the current context of PDs monitoring, this article presents a literature review based on concepts of PDs in rotating machines, data acquisition techniques, state-of-the art commercial equipment, and recent methodologies for detection and pattern recognition of PDs. The challenges identified in the literature that motivate the development of more reliable and robust PD monitoring systems are presented and discussed.
A Preference Analysis for a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Electricity Trading Platform in South Korea
Authors: Li Dmitriy , Bae Jeong-Hwan , Rishi Meenakshi
Published: October 2022

The Korean government is committed to advance the country’s energy transition to greener energy by increasing the share of renewable electricity to 20 percent by 2030 and to 30–35 percent by 2040. Achieving these goals will necessitate flexibility in energy markets as well as innovative business models and technological solutions. Peer-to-peer (P2P) electricity trading platforms (ETPs) are rapidly gaining traction, as they enable the integration of distributed energy sources into power systems. This study explores whether South Koreans are willing to participate in a hypothetical P2P ETP, which allows prosumers (who both consume and produce electricity) to trade electricity surpluses with their neighbours or with KEPCO (Korea Electric Power Corporation). We employ a choice experiment (CE) to examine respondent heterogeneous preferences and their willingness to pay (WTP) for a hypothetical P2P ETP in South Korea. Our findings indicate that two-thirds of total respondents in our CE are in favour of a P2P ETP if available. Cost savings and security play an essential role in respondent preferences for a P2P ETP business model. Respondents also prefer to trade renewable electricity with KEPCO rather than with other individuals. Per our statistical estimations, respondent WTP for a P2P ETP was estimated at USD 55.68/per month. Our analysis strongly recommends increasing consumer awareness of P2P ETPs to spur adoption. Energy trading platforms that are anchored in secure block chain technology can generate cost savings as well as support the country’s policy tilt toward green energy.
Logistics Centers in Ukraine: Analysis of the Logistics Center in Lviv
Authors: Dyczkowska Joanna Alicja , Reshetnikova Olga
Published: October 2022

The article analyzes the functioning of existing logistics centers in Ukraine. The logistics real estate segment was developed dynamically in Ukraine in the years before the full-scale invasion of Russia. Most logistics complexes are located in the Kyiv region, sometimes in the cities of Kharkiv, Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk and Lviv. Logistics real estate has suffered significant damage since the start of the war, and some warehouses have been completely destroyed. In order to fulfill a coordinating and integrating role in the implementation of logistics operations in the western region of Ukraine, the authors proposed the creation of a powerful regional logistics center in Lviv. The operation of the center will ensure the provision of a full range of logistics services based on the criterion of minimizing the loss of time and money. The authors proposed an algorithm for determining the optimal location of the logistics center in the region. The regional logistics center has been developed, together with its organizational and functional structure and the relationships between its components.
Open Circuit Fault Mitigation in a Nine-Level Modified Packed E-Cell Inverter
Authors: Khan Shoeb Ahmad , Sarwar Adil , Tariq Mohd , Urooj Shabana , Hossain Md Alamgir
Published: October 2022

Reliability of the multilevel inverters (MLIs) is one of the most important concerns in industrial applications, mainly due to the semiconductor devices. Whenever a fault occurs in one of the switches of the inverter, it leads to abnormal conditions and can also cause serious damage to the equipment connected to the multilevel inverter. In this paper, a recently proposed nine-level Packed-E-Cell (PEC) multilevel inverter topology is investigated for its fault-tolerant capability and improved reliability. The analysis is carried out for a reduced device multilevel inverter topology that, due to a lack of redundant states, cannot tolerate switch failures. The fault-tolerant (FT) topology provides additional redundant states in the switching sequence of the existing topology. The work in this paper presents Packed-E-Cell MLI modified for fault tolerance against single-switch open-circuit faults. The modified FT topology inherently achieves self-voltage balance in the DC-link capacitors. Nearest Level Control(NLC) is used as the modulation strategy for generating the desired switching pulses. Simulation results are obtained in MATLAB/Simulink for the conditions prior to the fault, during the fault and post fault, and results are discussed. Experimental verification of the modified FT topology is also performed, in order to validate its effectiveness.
Safety Analysis on the Heating Surfaces in the 660 MW Ultra-Supercritical CFB Boiler under Sudden Electricity Failure
Authors: Deng Boyu , Zhou Tuo , Zhang Shuangming , Wu Haowen , Jiang Xiaoguo , Zhang Man , Yang Hairui
Published: October 2022

Ultra-supercritical circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boilers are taking up an increasing proportion of the CFB boiler fleet in China, making the safety concern about the heating surfaces in this type of boilers under sudden electricity failure draw more and more attention from the industry. For the time being, however, few studies have made efforts to resolve this concern. Given this, the physical process in a 660 MW ultra-supercritical boiler during the electricity failure accident was precited with a comprehensive model composed of mass and energy conservation equations in this work. The tube temperature of the boiler components with the highest safety risk, i.e., the water wall and a superheater, was obtained to evaluate the safety of the heating surfaces. The results revealed that the tube temperature (about 516 °C and 544 °C) would be obviously lower than the maximum permissible temperature of the tube material (600 °C and 630 °C) even when electricity could be restored at the power plant, indicating that the heating surfaces in the 660 MW ultra-supercritical CFB boilers would generally be recognized to be safe under sudden electricity failure.
Empirical Wavelet Transform-Based Intelligent Protection Scheme for Microgrids
Authors: Bukhari Syed Basit Ali , Wadood Abdul , Khurshaid Tahir , Mehmood Khawaja Khalid , Rhee Sang Bong , Kim Ki-Chai
Published: October 2022

Recently, the concept of the microgrid (MG) has been developed to assist the penetration of large numbers of distributed energy resources (DERs) into distribution networks. However, the integration of DERs in the form of MGs disturbs the operating codes of traditional distribution networks. Consequently, traditional protection strategies cannot be applied to MG against short-circuit faults. This paper presents a novel intelligent protection strategy (NIPS) for MGs based on empirical wavelet transform (EWT) and long short-term memory (LSTM) networks. In the proposed NIPS, firstly, the three-phase current signals measured by protective relays are decomposed into empirical modes (EMs). Then, various statistical features are extracted from the obtained EMs. Afterwards, the extracted features along with the three-phase current measurement are input to three different LSTM network to obtain exact fault type, phase, and location information. Finally, a trip signal based on the obtained fault information is generated to disconnect the faulty portion from the rest of the MG. The significant feature of the proposed NIPS is that it does not need adaptive relaying and communication networks. Moreover, it is independent of the operating scenario and hence fault current magnitude. To evaluate the efficacy of the proposed NIPS, exhaustive simulations are performed on an international electro-technical commission (IEC) MG. The simulation results confirm the efficiency of the proposed NIPs in terms of accuracy, dependability, and security. Moreover, comparisons with existing intelligent protection schemes validate that the proposed NIPS is highly accurate, secure, and dependable.
A Comparison of Soil C, N, and P Stoichiometry Characteristics under Different Thinning Intensities in a Subtropical Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) Forest of China
Authors: Hu Xingbao , Jiang Chunqian , Wang Hui , Jiang Chunwu , Liu Jianzhong , Zang Yiming , Li Shigui , Wang Yixiang , Bai Yanfeng
Published: October 2022

Land management using suitable thinning intensities can promote the yield of Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) forests and alter the nutrient content and stoichiometric characteristics within the soil. However, the effects of different thinning intensities on soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) stoichiometry of P. edulis forests have not been comprehensively studied. Here, we evaluated the effects of three thinning intensities—no thinning control (NT), moderate thinning (annual removal of 15% of mature bamboo, MT), and heavy thinning (annual removal of 33% of mature bamboo, IT)—on the soil organic C (SOC), total N (TN), and total P (TP) stocks and their stoichiometry characteristics of a P. edulis forest located in the subtropical zone. The results showed that SOC, TN, and TP stocks decreased with increasing soil depth after three years of thinning. The SOC, TN, and TP stocks and the ecological stoichiometry ratios were varied with the change of thinning intensity and SOC stocks declining with the increased thinning intensity, but TN and TP stocks for the MT treatment were enhanced. The order of TN and TP stocks was MT > NT > IT. In comparison to CK, TN and TP stocks for MT increased significantly by 18.8 and 37.3%, while SOC, TN, and TP stocks for IT decreased by 31.0%, 7.2%, and 21.4%, respectively. The C:N and C:P ratios of MT decreased by 32.8% and 39.0%, and those of IT decreased by 26.5% and 15.6%, respectively. In summary, we conclude that the MT is an effective management strategy to promote soil nutrient cycling and provides a reference for formulating management strategies in subtropical Moso bamboo forests.
Chemical Composition and Optimization of Liquefaction Parameters of Cytisus scoparius (Broom)
Authors: Cruz-Lopes Luísa , Almeida Daniela , Dulyanska Yuliya , Domingos Idalina , Ferreira José , Fragata Anabela , Esteves Bruno
Published: October 2022

Invasive plants spread in such a way that they are threats to native species and to biodiversity. In this context, this work aims to determine possible valorizations of Scotch Broom Cytisus scoparius (L.) Link. This species harvested in the Viseu region was used in the present study. The eco-valorization of these renewable resources was made by conversion into liquid mixtures that can later be used in the manufacture of valuable products. For a better understanding of the results obtained, a chemical characterization of the Cytisus scoparius branches (CsB) was made. The ash content, extractives in dichloromethane, ethanol and water, lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose of the initial material were determined. Liquefaction was made in a reactor with different granulometry, temperatures and time. Results show that Broom is mainly composed of cellulose (36.1%), hemicelluloses (18.6%) and lignin (14.6%) with extractives mainly soluble in ethanol, followed by water and a small amount in dichloromethane. Ashes were around 0.69%, mainly composed of potassium and calcium. Generally, smaller size, higher solvent ratio, higher temperature and higher time of liquefaction lead to higher liquefaction. The highest percentage of liquefaction was 95% which is better than most of the lignocellulosic materials tested before.
Trade-Offs between Economic Gains and Carbon Stocks across a Range of Management Alternatives in Boreal Forests
Authors: Ma Zilong , Chen Si , Shahi Chander , Chen Han Y. H. , Chen Hao
Published: October 2022

Boreal forests, storing approximately half of the global forest carbon (C), are key to the global C cycle and climate regulation. The sustainability of C stocks is adversely impacted by forest management. However, the economic gain–C stock relationship across forest management alternatives and diverse C pools remain unclear. Using empirical data, we examined the relationships between economic gains and total ecosystem C in response to the changes in rotation age and overstorey composition in boreal forests. We found that total ecosystem C increased initially, reached a maximum, and declined thereafter with increasing economic gains. The relationships between economic gains and C stocks of live biomass, deadwood, forest floor, and mineral soil followed similar trends with total ecosystem C. Path analysis showed that both rotation age and overstorey composition simultaneously drove economic gains and C stocks that led to their trade-off relationship. We further indicated that maximum economic gains (USD 5000/ha) could lead to approximately 40% loss of total ecosystem C, while the maximum total ecosystem C (320 Mg/ha) could be attained when giving up 50% of economic gains. These results provide broad guides for forest managers and decision-makers towards balancing economic and C objectives in forest management by integrating into a forest carbon market.
Street Tree Structure, Function, and Value: A Review of Scholarly Research (1997–2020)
Authors: Coleman Alicia F. , Harper Richard W. , Eisenman Theodore S. , Warner Suzanne H. , Wilkinson Michael A.
Published: October 2022

Street trees are components of the urban forest that receive considerable attention across academic and professional disciplines. They are also one of the most common types of urban tree that people routinely encounter. A systematic review methodology was used to examine contemporary urban street tree research across natural and social science disciplines. The records collected (n = 429) were published between January 1997 and the mid-2020s and were coded for descriptive information (e.g., publishing journal and geography of study areas) as well as emergent focal research areas (e.g., ecosystem services, economic valuation, and inventory methods). From this sample, there has been considerable growth in street tree literature over time and across research themes, especially following major turning points in the field of urban forestry. Regulating ecosystem functions/services of street trees, especially cooling, has had the greatest attention in the literature, but other robust areas of research also exist, including the utility of pruning waste as construction materials, the benefits and disservices to human health and safety, and indicators of environmental (in)justice. Opportunities for future research and implications for research and practice are also discussed.
Evaluation of Comprehensive Effect of Different Agroforestry Intercropping Modes on Poplar
Authors: Lu Xianbo , Ding Changjun , Jiang Luping , Yu Haiyang , Han Rui , Xu Jingwen , Li Bin , Zheng Zhaoxiang , Li Chunming , Qu Guanzheng , Pei Xiaona , Zhao Xiyang
Published: October 2022

Forest–agriculture complex management is an efficient planting mode that can effectively improve soil utilization and bring greater economic value. However, this planting model has not yet been systematically carried out in the northeast of China. Thus, to provide a theoretical basis for agriculture and forestry intercropping in northeast China, the variation in the growth and wood characteristics of Populus cathayana × canadansis ‘xin lin 1’ and the economic benefits of intercropping crops under different intercropping patterns were analyzed. The results of a variance analysis show that there were significant differences in tree growth and wood characteristics among the different intercropping modes (p < 0.01). The variation coefficients of growth and wood characteristics ranged from 28.23% to 55.79% and 2.03% to 10.65%, respectively. There were significant correlations among tree height, diameter at breast height, ground diameter and wood volume of ‘P. ‘xin lin 1’, as well as between cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, fiber length and fiber aspect ratio (r < 0.05). Meanwhile, we comprehensively evaluated intercropping modes based on growth traits such as tree height, chest diameter, diameter, wood volume and crown width. The ‘P. ‘xin lin 1’ + soybean’ mode proved to be the best intercropping mode, in which the gain of tree height, chest diameter, diameter, wood volume and crown width were 26.80%, 20.09%, 15.76%, 63.41% and 8.33%, respectively. When considering wood traits, the optimal intercropping pattern was ‘P. ‘xin lin 1’ + Cilantro + Cabbage’, but the gain of each wood trait in this pattern was not obvious compared with the total average. Among the six intercropping modes, ‘P. ‘xin lin 1’ + Watermelon + Chinese cabbage’ and ‘P. ‘xin lin 1’ + Cilantro + Chinese cabbage’ have the highest economic benefits, reaching 48,138 CNY/hm2 and 39,990 CNY/hm2, respectively. From our results, the poplar growth and wood characteristics under different intercropping modes are better than those of the pure forest, except for ‘P. ‘xin lin 1’ + Corn’, and each intercropping mode has higher economic benefits. These findings provide a scientific basis for alleviating the competition between local forestry and agriculture for land and address the selection of forestry and agricultural intercropping modes.
Towards a Biorefinery Processing Waste from Plantain Agro-Industry: Process Design and Techno-Economic Assessment of Single-Cell Protein, Natural Fibers, and Biomethane Production through Process Simulation
Authors: Gómez James A. , Matallana Luis G. , Sánchez Óscar J.
Published: October 2022

The plantain agro-industry generates different residues in the harvest and post-harvest stages. Therefore, the design of processes for valorization is required. The aim of this work was to design and techno-economically evaluate the processes for the production of single-cell protein, natural fibers, and biomethane from plantain residues by process simulation in the framework of the design of a future biorefinery for valorization of these residues. The processes were simulated using SuperPro Designer. The scale size was calculated at 1,267,071 tons for the processing of plantain lignocellulosic waste (pseudostems) and 3179 tons for the processing of starchy waste (rejected unripe plantain fruits). The results obtained suggest that the best alternative for the valorization of plantain residues corresponded to the production of natural fibers, with a net present value of $29,299,000. This work shows that waste from the plantain agro-industry exhibits high potential as a feedstock for the production of value-added products. In addition, the process flowsheets simulated in this work can be integrated into the basic design of a biorefinery processing plantain waste.
Exposure to Polymethylmethacrylate Microplastics Induces a Particle Size-Dependent Immune Response in Mediterranean Mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis
Authors: Pavičić-Hamer Dijana , Kovačić Ines , Sović Tamara , Marelja Matea , Lyons Daniel Mark
Published: October 2022

The widespread occurrence of plastic has become a significant problem in the natural environment and may give rise to a range of deleterious impacts in biota, particularly where plastic particles overlap in size with that of the particles that are naturally ingested by filter-feeders. In this context, the effects of two particle sizes (10 μm and 50 μm) of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) on ecologically and commercially significant mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis have been investigated. Mussel health status was evaluated by measuring the condition index and stress-on-stress test during and after 72 h exposure to PMMA microparticles in the 0.1–10 mg L−1 concentration range. The decreased condition and fitness indices in the exposed mussels pointed to significant physiological effects at the entire organism level. The 10 μm and 50 μm PMMA particles were noted to rapidly increase the total haemocytes count in haemolymph, and significantly reduce cell viability at higher concentrations of both particle sizes. The results also indicated a significant increase in levels of vacuolised haemocytes as a result of PMMA exposure. While both microparticles were detected in the haemolymph, only the 10 μm PMMA was observed in the gill tissue and digestive gland by histological cryosections, indicating their rapid uptake, transport, and accumulation in tissue. Lack of accumulation of 50 μm microparticles in tissue may be related to a combination of chemical identity and size considerations, enabling more efficient depuration of microparticles in pseudofaeces. The PMMA particles did not induce significant changes in activity of a range of enzymes involved in neurotransmission and responses to oxidative stress.
Effect of Limited Enzymatic Hydrolysis on Structural and Functional Properties of Elaeagnus mollis Oil Meal Protein
Authors: Guo Caixia , Zhao Xiaoyu , Yang Yukun , Li Meiping , Yu Ligang
Published: October 2022

Elaeagnus mollis oil (EMO) meal, a by-product of oil production with plentiful protein, is considered a cheap and good quality source of plant protein for use in the food industry. In this study, the influence of limited enzymatic hydrolysis of EMO meal protein on the structure, solubility, foaming and emulsifying capacities was investigated in detail. The hydrolysates with different DH values (5, 10, 15, and 17) were obtained by controlling the time of enzymatic hydrolysis with alcalase. The results showed that enzymatic hydrolysis decreased molecular weight and increased flexibility and surface hydrophobicity. At the given range of pH and concentration of NaCl, the solubility, foaming and emulsifying capacities of hydrolysates were significantly improved, especially in the area of isoelectric point, and increased with the increase of DH. It was also found that the hydrolysate with DH10 had better foaming and emulsifying stability. In general, appropriate enzymatic hydrolysis could improve the functional properties in favor of their potential use as food ingredients.
Time-Resolved Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy for Accurate Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Brown Rice Flour Adulteration
Authors: Ma Honghua , Shi Shengqun , Zhang Deng , Deng Nan , Hu Zhenlin , Liu Jianguo , Guo Lianbo
Published: October 2022

To solve the adulteration problem of brown rice flour in the commodity market, a novel, accurate, and stable detection method based on time-resolved laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (TR-LIBS) is proposed. Qualitative and quantitative analysis was used to detect five adulterants and seven different adulterant ratios in brown rice flour. Being able to excavate more information from plasma by obtaining time-resolved spectra, TR-LIBS has a stronger performance, which has been further verified by experiments. For the qualitative analysis of adulterants, the traditional machine learning models based on TR-LIBS, linear discriminant analysis (LDA), naïve Bayes (NB) and support vector machine (SVM) have significantly better classification accuracy than those based on traditional LIBS, increasing by 3–11%. The deep learning classification model based on TR-LIBS also achieved the same results, with an accuracy increase of more than 8%. For the quantitative analysis of the adulteration ratio, compared with traditional LIBS, the quantitative model based on TR-LIBS reduces the limit of detection (LOD) of five adulterants from about 8–51% to 4–19%, which effectively improves the quantitative detection performance. Moreover, t-SNE visualization proved that there were more obvious boundaries between different types of samples based on TR-LIBS. These results demonstrate the great prospect of TR-LIBS in the identification of brown rice flour adulteration.
Quality of Low-Allergy Wheat (‘O-Free’) Flour and Optimization of Its Bread-Baking Performance
Authors: Xia Tianyi , Kim Kyeonghoon , Kweon Meera
Published: October 2022

This study explored the quality of hypoallergenic wheat (’O-free’) developed in Korea and optimized the basic ingredients and processing conditions for making ‘O-free’ bread using response surface methodology. Water and yeast amounts and mixing and fermentation times were selected as factors, and each factor’s tested range was set by a central composite design using Design Experts: water 52–60 g, yeast 1.5–4.5 g, mixing time 2.5–5 min, and fermentation time 50–70 min. Bread height, volume, and firmness were analyzed to determine bread quality. Flour quality analysis showed that ‘O-free’ flour’s gluten strength was weak. ‘O-free’ flour exhibited inferior bread-making performance compared to representative bread flour. Water and yeast amounts and mixing time, except for fermentation time, affected bread quality significantly. The interaction between yeast and fermentation also affected bread quality significantly. The optimized condition for making bread using ‘O-free’ flour is 60 g of water, 2.6 g of yeast, 2.5 min of mixing time, and 70.0 min of fermentation time. In conclusion, ‘O-free’ flour with the changed gluten composition showed poor gluten strength and bread-making performance. However, modifying the formulation of the basic ingredients and processing conditions could significantly improve the production of high-quality hypoallergenic bread.
Construction of Equilibria in Strategic Stackelberg Games in Multi-Period Supply Chain Contracts
Authors: Azad Gholami Reza , Sandal Leif Kristoffer , Ubøe Jan
Published: October 2022

Almost every supplier faces uncertain and time-varying demand. E-commerce and online shopping have given suppliers unprecedented access to data on customers’ behavior, which sheds light on demand uncertainty. The main purpose of this research project is to provide an analytic tool for decentralized supply channel members to devise optimal long-term (multi-period) supply, pricing, and timing strategies while catering to stochastic demand in a diverse set of market scenarios. Despite its ubiquity in potential applications, the time-dependent channel optimization problem in its general form has received limited attention in the literature due to its complexity and the highly nested structure of its ensuing equilibrium problems. However, there are many scenarios where a single-period channel optimization solution may turn out to be myopic as it does not consider the after-effects of current pricing on future demand. To remedy this typical shortcoming, using general memory functions, we include the strategic customers’ cognitive bias toward pricing history in the supply channel equilibrium problem. In the form of two constructive theorems, we provide explicit solution algorithms for the ensuing Nash–Stackelberg equilibrium problems. In particular, we prove that our recursive solution algorithm can find equilibria in the multi-periodic variation of many standard supply channel contracts such as wholesale, buyback, and revenue-sharing contracts.
Mitochondrial Control Region Variants Related to Breast Cancer
Authors: Vega Avalos Jorge Hermilo , Hernández Luis Enrique , Zuñiga Laura Yareni , Sánchez-Parada María Guadalupe , González Santiago Ana Elizabeth , Román Pintos Luis Miguel , Castañeda Arellano Rolando , Hernández-Ortega Luis Daniel , Mercado-Sesma Arieh Roldán , Orozco-Luna Felipe de Jesús , Baptista-Rosas Raúl C.
Published: October 2022

Breast cancer has an important incidence in the worldwide female population. Although alterations in the mitochondrial genome probably play an important role in carcinogenesis, the actual evidence is ambiguous and inconclusive. Our purpose was to explore differences in mitochondrial sequences of cases with breast cancer compared with control samples from different origins. We identified 124 mtDNA sequences associated with breast cancer cases, of which 86 were complete and 38 were partial sequences. Of these 86 complete sequences, 52 belonged to patients with a confirmed diagnosis of breast cancer, and 34 sequences were obtained from healthy mammary tissue of the same patients used as controls. From the mtDNA analysis, two polymorphisms with significant statistical differences were found: m.310del (rs869289246) in 34.6% (27/78) of breast cancer cases and 61.7% (21/34) in the controls; and m.315dup (rs369786048) in 60.2% (47/78) of breast cancer cases and 38.2% (13/34) in the controls. In addition, the variant m.16519T>C (rs3937033) was found in 59% of the control sequences and 52% of the breast cancer sequences with a significant statistical difference. Polymorphic changes are evolutionarily related to the haplogroup H of Indo-European and Euro-Asiatic origins; however, they were found in all non-European breast cancers.
Crustal Structure Beneath the Arabian Shield Based on the Receiver Function Method
Authors: Qaysi Saleh Ismail , Ivanov Andrei , Koulakov Ivan , Al Arifi Nassir , El Khrepy Sami , Jakovlev Andrey
Published: October 2022

Arabian Shield occupying the western part of the Arabian Peninsula is an area where strong heterogeneities in crustal structures are associated with several factors, such as an ongoing rifting process in the Red Sea basin, massive recent effusive volcanism in several large basaltic fields (harrats), as well as traces of complex tectonic evolution of this area in Precambrian due to the accretion of several terrains. Geophysical studies of the crust give important information to identify the roles of these and other factors. Receiver function is one of the most robust and relatively inexpensive tools to derive the depths of the major interfaces, of which Moho is the most important, as well as mean velocity parameters in the crust. Based on the H-k stacking method, we have determined the Moho depths and the mean Vp/Vs ratios below a number of seismic stations distributed on the Arabian Shield. As in most of previous studies, we have identified a gradual increase of the crustal thickness from 25 km in the coastal areas of the Red Sea to ~40 km in the eastern margin of the shield. The crustal thickness distribution appears to be consistent with seismic velocity anomalies derived at 30 km depth in the tomography model by (El Khrepy, 2021). For the Vp/Vs ratio, we observe strong variations over the entire study area, and in some cases even between stations located close to each other. This is especially clear in areas of recent magmatism, such as in Harrats Lunayyir and Rahat, where stations with high Vp/Vs ratios correspond to zones with fresh monogenic cones and historical magmatic activity.
Temperature Difference in Loading Area (Tarmac) during Handling of Air Freight Operations and Distance of Production Area Affects Quality of Fresh Mango Fruits (Mangifera indica L. ‘Nam Dok Mai Si Thong’)
Authors: Srisawat Kraisuwit , Sirisomboon Panmanas , Pun Umed Kumar , Krusong Warawut , Rakmae Samak , Chaomuang Nattawut , Mawilai Pornkanya , Pongsuttiyakorn Thadchapong , Chookaew Chalisa , Pornchaloempong Pimpen
Published: October 2022

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) ‘Nam Dok Mai Si Thong’ is an important cultivar for export from Thailand. Export mainly takes place via air transport, but for about 2 h at the loading area (tarmac), unit loading devices (ULDs) are exposed to ambient environmental conditions. In this research, the effects of different temperature conditions at the loading area (tarmac) and the distance of the production area from the tarmac on the quality of fresh mango fruits were studied. The treatments included three temperature conditions for 2 h (simulated handling in tarmac)—constant temperature (20 °C), non-insulated or insulated and exposed to sun—and two distances of the tarmac from the production area—short distance (i.e., transport occurring 53 h after harvest) and long distance (i.e., transport occurring 70 h after harvest). The temperature variation in the boxes exposed to the sun was greater in the non-insulated than in the insulated boxes, but this effect was more pronounced in fruit from the short-distance production area (28.1 °C insulated and 36.9 °C non-insulated) than in fruit from the long-distance production area (34.2 °C insulated and 38 °C non-insulated). Insulation and short distance increased the shelf life, decreased weight loss, delayed the decrease in average firmness and rupture force, etc. The insulation of mango fruit boxes mitigates the deleterious effect of exposure to 2 h of direct sun by reducing the increase in temperature, thus improving the shelf life and quality of mango fruit.
Temporal Stability of Responses to the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale by Bedouin Mothers in Southern Israel
Authors: Alfayumi-Zeadna Samira , O’Rourke Norm , Azbarga Zuya , Froimovici Miron , Daoud Nihaya
Published: October 2022

The detection and treatment of mental illness during pregnancy and postpartum are essential for the well-being of both mother and child. For this study, we set out to estimate the prevalence of perinatal depression among Bedouin mothers in southern Israel and determine if the latent structure of responses to the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS)—including depression, anxiety, and anhedonia—previously reported also applies to this population. A total of 332 women completed the EPDS during pregnancy (26–38 weeks) and again 2–4 months postpartum. Confirmatory factor analyses were performed to determine if first-order factors were correlated, or instead measure a second- or higher-order latent construct. We next performed temporal invariance analyses to compare the latent structure of EPDS responses over time. When pregnant, 35% of women provided EPDS responses suggestive of elevated depressive symptomology; this decreased to 23% postpartum. At both points, each EPDS factor significantly measures a higher-order, latent construct. The EPDS appears to measure three factors, labeled sadness, anxiety, and anhedonia. This latent structure appears stable (i.e., during pregnancy and postpartum). Further research is needed to validate EPDS responses versus structured clinical interviews. The construct validity of EPDS factors should be examined across other at-risk groups and over time.
Environmental Pollution with Bisphenol A and Phthalates—A Serious Risk to Human and Animal Health
Authors: Gonkowski Slawomir , Makowska Krystyna
Published: October 2022

Pollution of the natural environment is constantly increasing due to industrial development and progressive urbanization [...]
Relationship Health and Intimate Partner Violence in Integrated Primary Care: Individual Characteristics and Preferences for Relationship Support across Risk Levels
Authors: Crasta Dev , Crane Cory A. , Trabold Nicole , Shepardson Robyn L. , Possemato Kyle , Funderburk Jennifer S.
Published: October 2022

This study explores differences in characteristics and relationship treatment preferences across different levels of intimate partner violence (IPV) among Veterans Affairs (VA) primary care patients. In Fall 2019, we sent a mail-in survey assessing relationship healthcare needs to N = 299 Veterans randomly sampled from 20 northeastern VA primary care clinics (oversampling female and younger Veterans). We compared those reporting past year use or experience of physical/sexual aggression, threats/coercion, or injury (Severe IPV; 21%), to those only reporting yelling and screaming (Verbal Conflict; 51%), and denying any IPV (No IPV; 28%). Participants across groups desired 2–6 sessions of face-to-face support for couples’ health and communication. No IPV participants were older and had preferred treatment in primary care. The Verbal Conflict and Severe IPV groups were both flagged by IPV screens and had similar interest in couple treatment and relationship evaluation. The Severe IPV group had higher rates of harms (e.g., depression, alcohol use disorder, relationship dissatisfaction, fear of partner) and higher interest in addressing safety outside of VA. Exploratory analyses suggested differences based on use vs. experience of Severe IPV. Findings highlight ways integrated primary care teams can differentiate services to address dissatisfaction and conflict while facilitating referrals for Severe IPV.
Industrial Coagglomeration, Green Innovation, and Manufacturing Carbon Emissions: Coagglomeration’s Dynamic Evolution Perspective
Authors: Zhang Lu , Mu Renyan , Fentaw Nigatu Mengesha , Zhan Yuanfang , Zhang Feng , Zhang Jixin
Published: October 2022

The achievement of China’s low-carbon development and carbon neutrality depends heavily on the decrease of manufacturing carbon emissions. From coagglomeration’s dynamic evolution perspective, by using panel-threshold-STIRPAT and mediation-STIRPAT models, this study examines the relationships among industrial coagglomeration, green innovation, and manufacturing carbon emissions and explores the direct and indirect function mechanisms. Panel data of China’s 30 provinces from 2010 to 2019 are employed. The results imply that, first, the impact of industrial coagglomeration on manufacturing carbon emissions is nonlinear and has significant threshold effects. Industrial coagglomeration negatively affects manufacturing carbon emissions, and as the coagglomeration level deepens, the negative effect has a diminishing trend in marginal utility. Once the coagglomeration degree exceeds a certain threshold, the negative impact becomes insignificant. At present, for 90% of China’s regions, an increase in industrial coagglomeration level can help reduce manufacturing carbon emissions. Second, green innovation is a vital intermediary between industrial coagglomeration and manufacturing carbon emissions. It is a partial intermediary when industrial coagglomeration is at a relatively lower-level stage and a complete intermediary when industrial coagglomeration is at a relatively higher-level stage. These findings reveal the significance of optimizing industrial coagglomeration and the level and efficiency of green innovation to decrease carbon emissions.
COVID-19 Incidence and Death Rates in the Southern Region of the United States: A Racial and Ethnic Association
Authors: Akil Luma , Barner Yalanda M. , Bisht Anamika , Okoye Ebele , Ahmad Hafiz Anwar
Published: October 2022

The SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread worldwide, with over half a billion cases linked to over 6 million deaths globally. COVID-19 has impacted populations unequally based on income, age, race, sex, and geographical location. This study aimed to characterize COVID-19 incidence and death rate trends in six states of the southern region of the USA and to understand the demographic and racial differences in its incidence and death rates. Data for the study were collected from the COVID-19 Data tracker of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the following southern states: Alabama (AL), Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), Louisiana (LA), Mississippi (MS), and Tennessee (TN). The results showed a significant geographical variation in the COVID-19 cases and related deaths. Significant variations in COVID-19 cases and death rates were observed among different races and ethnic groups. The highest number of COVID-19 cases were observed among the Hispanic and Black populations, and the highest death rates were found among non-Hispanic Blacks and Whites. The southern states included in this paper showed a high number of COVID-19 cases and high death rates during the study period. These increased rates may result from the low socioeconomic status and large minority populations.
Developing an Automated Analytical Process for Disaster Response and Recovery in Communities Prone to Isolation
Authors: Yang Byungyun , Kim Minjun , Lee Changkyu , Hwang Suyeon , Choi Jinmu
Published: October 2022

Today, unpredictable damage can result from extreme weather such as heat waves and floods. This damage makes communities that cannot respond quickly to disasters more vulnerable than cities. Thus, people living in such communities can easily become isolated, which can cause unavoidable loss of life or property. In the meantime, many disaster management studies have been conducted, but studies on effective disaster response for areas surrounded by mountains or with weak transportation infrastructure are very rare. To fill the gap, this research aimed at developing an automated analysis tool that can be directly used for disaster response and recovery by identifying in real time the communities at risk of isolation using a web-based geographic information system (GIS) application. We first developed an algorithm to automatically detect communities at risk of isolation due to disaster. Next, we developed an analytics module to identify buildings and populations within the communities and efficiently place at-risk residents in shelters. In sum, the analysis tool developed in this study can be used to support disaster response decisions regarding, for example, rescue activities and supply of materials by accurately detecting isolated areas when a disaster occurs in a mountainous area where communication and transportation infrastructure is lacking.
Qualitative Research Studies Addressing Patient-Practitioner Communication about Online Health Information
Authors: Larsen Cathrin Brøndbo , Gilstad Heidi
Published: October 2022

Modern healthcare is becoming increasingly technologized, knowledge-intensive, and specialized, which has consequences for communication between patients and practitioners in clinical encounters. Health information is increasingly accessible to patients through online resources. The objective of this paper is to provide an overview of existing studies that address how patients communicate with practitioners about online health information and to identify the key topics raised in these studies. With the concept of eHealth literacy as its point of departure, this paper specifically highlights the eHealth literacy topic of how patients comprehend, appraise and communicate online health information before and during the encounter with the healthcare professionals. In the literature search, we focus on qualitative studies that consider patients’ and/or practitioners’ reflections on online health information. We searched PUBMED, SCOPUS and Web of Science to capture research from various fields. Sixteen studies were included that met the following criteria: Qualitative study, focus on patient-practitioner communication, eHealth literacy and online information. The results show that the vast majority of studies were based on qualitative interviews, addressing patients’ and practitioners’ perspectives. Key topics in studies addressing patient perspectives were: reasons for seeking online information; calibrating understanding of online information with the practitioner; and barriers to discussing online information with practitioners. Key topics raised in studies focusing on practitioners were: trust in the patient and the online health information he/she presented as well as strategies to respond to patients who referred to online health information. The review highlights the need for further qualitative studies, preferably observational studies from authentic clinical communication situations, in order to capture how patients and practitioners communicate about online health information.
A Functionalistic Stress Recovery Intervention Improves Perceived Recovery Opportunities and Relaxational Behaviors: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Almén Niclas
Published: October 2022

The recovery perspective on stress management is new and few recovery intervention studies have been conducted. The aim of the study was to evaluate behavioral effects of a functionalistic stress recovery intervention, in which individuals perceiving high levels of stress were encouraged to pay attention to possibilities to perform potential recovery behaviors in everyday life and to choose behaviors that were predicted to lead to resource restoration. Seventy-three individuals were randomly allocated to either a 10-week intervention or a waiting-list control group. Three types of recovery behavior factors during leisure time were studied: perceived recovery opportunities (i.e., control), relaxational behaviors (i.e., relaxation), and positively challenging behaviors (i.e., mastery). In comparison with the control group, the intervention group significantly improved, showing high between-group effect sizes, regarding perceived recovery opportunities (p < 0.001; d = 0.75) and relaxational behaviors (p < 0.001; d = 0.80). Both groups normalized their levels of positively challenging behaviors between pre- and postassessment, and no statistically significant group difference was demonstrated. Analyses of reliable and clinically significant changes demonstrated results in favor of the intervention group regarding perceived recovery opportunities and relaxational behaviors but not positively challenging behaviors. The tested intervention warrants further research, for example, if a modified version of the intervention including components aiming at increasing postwork positively challenging behaviors would be beneficial for the improvement of the behavior and for health.