bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Impact of High CMV Viral Load and Refractory CMV Infection on Pediatric HSCT Recipients with Underlying Non-Malignant Disorder
Authors: Szmit Zofia , Frączkiewicz Jowita , Salamonowicz-Bodzioch Małgorzata , Król Anna , Ussowicz Marek , Mielcarek-Siedziuk Monika , Liszka Karolina , Marschollek Paweł , Gorczyńska Ewa , Kałwak Krzysztof
Published: September 2022

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a curative therapy for an increasing number of nonmalignant indications. Its use is restricted by severe transplant-related complications, including CMV infection; despite various prophylactic and therapeutic strategies, CMV reactivation has remarkable morbidity and mortality. The analysis included 94 children with nonmalignant disorder who underwent allogeneic HSCT in the Department of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Bone Marrow Transplantation in Wrocław during years 2016–2020. Twenty-seven (29%) children presented with CMV infection, including ten (10/27; 37%) with high level CMV viremia (10,000 copies/mL). Six patients experienced subsequent CMV reactivation. The first-line ganciclovir-based (GCV) treatment was insufficient in 40% (11/27) of children. Overall survival (OS) was significantly lower in children with high CMV viremia compared to those with low levels/no CMV [1yrOS High CMV = 0.80 (95% CI 0.41–0.95) vs. 1yrOS others = 0.96 (95% CI 0.89–0.99)]. Similarly, patients with resistant and recurrent infections had greater risk of death. CMV reactivation at any level relevantly prolonged the hospital stay. CMV reactivation with high viremia load and resistant/recurrent CMV infections lead to a significant decrease in OS in children with nonmalignant disorders treated with HSCT. Our data proves there is an urgent need to introduce an effective anti-CMV prophylaxis in this cohort of patients.
Quality Use of Medicines Indicators and Associated Factors in Residential Aged Care Facilities: Baseline Findings from the Pharmacists in RACF Study in Australia
Authors: Haider Ibrahim , Kosari Sam , Naunton Mark , Niyonsenga Theo , Peterson Gregory M. , Koerner Jane , Davey Rachel
Published: September 2022

Prescribing potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs), including antipsychotics and benzodiazepines, has been used as an indicator of the quality use of medicines in residential aged care facilities (RACFs). PIMs are associated with an increased risk of falls and hospitalisations in the elderly. The purpose of this study is to assess the extent of prescribing of PIMs in RACFs at baseline in the Pharmacists in residential aged care facilities (PiRACF) study and examine the association of resident and system factors with the number of PIMs. A cross-sectional analysis of 1368 participants from 15 Australian RACFs was performed to detect PIMs using the American Geriatrics Society 2019 Beers® criteria. Most residents (68.1%) were taking at least one regular PIM; 16.9% were taking regular antipsychotics and 11.1% were taking regular benzodiazepines. Long-term proton pump inhibitors were the most frequent class of PIMs. History of falls and higher Charlson Comorbidity Index were associated with an increased number of prescribed PIMs, while dementia diagnosis and older age (85 years or more) were associated with decreased number of PIMs (p-value <0.05). Residents in facilities with lower nurse-to-resident ratios were more likely to have an increased number of PIMs (p value = 0.001). This study indicates that potentially inappropriate prescribing is common in RACFs and interventions to target residents at highest risk are needed.
Interactive Role of Surrogate Liver Fibrosis Assessment and Insulin Resistance on the Incidence of Major Cardiovascular Events
Authors: Martinez-Urbistondo Diego , D’Avola Delia , Navarro-González David , Sanchez-Iñigo Laura , Fernandez-Montero Alejandro , Perez-Diaz-del-Campo Nuria , Bugianesi Elisabetta , Martinez Jose Alfredo , Pastrana Juan Carlos
Published: September 2022

Introduction: The combination of easy-to-obtain validated biomarkers is interesting in the prognostic evaluation of patients at cardiovascular risk in a precision medicine scenario. The evaluation of the effect modification of insulin resistance and liver fibrosis with the Triglyceride-Glucose index (TyG) and Fibrosis-4 index (FIB4) might provide prognostic information in patients at cardiovascular risk. Patients and methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed with 2055 patients recruited in the Vascular Metabolic CUN cohort. The studied outcome was the incidence rate of major cardiovascular events (MACE). The Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE), FIB4 and TyG indexes were calculated according to validated formulas. Results: FIB4 and TyG showed a synergistic interaction using validated cut-offs for both indexes in the prediction of MACE (Hazard ratio (HR) 1.05 CI95% 1.01–1.08) which remained after adjustment by age, sex, SCORE subgroup, presence of diabetes, or previous MACE using standardized cut-off (HR 2.29 CI95% 1.33–3.94). Finally, a subgroup with significant TyG and FIB4 showed a higher cardiovascular risk in the study population (adjusted HR 3.34 CI 95% 1.94–5.77). Conclusion: The combined interpretation of TyG and FIB4 indexes might have a potential predictive value of major cardiovascular events.
Efficacy of Posterior Tibial Nerve Stimulation in the Treatment of Fecal Incontinence: A Systematic Review
Authors: Ibáñez-Vera Alfonso Javier , Mondéjar-Ros Rosa María , Franco-Bernal Vanessa , Molina-Torres Guadalupe , Diaz-Mohedo Esther
Published: September 2022

Fecal incontinence is a condition that carries high social stigmatization and a determining factor in the quality of life of the person who suffers from it. Its etiology is multifactorial and treatment includes surgical and conservative measures, including stimulation of the posterior tibial nerve. The aim of this review is to determine whether posterior tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) is more effective than other treatments in reducing episodes of fecal incontinence in adults. A systematic review of randomized clinical trials that analyzed different approaches and comparisons with other treatments in adults without neurological or metabolic diseases was carried out, analyzing, fundamentally, the reduction of episodes of fecal incontinence. In general, a reduction in fecal incontinence episodes is observed in the experimental groups compared with the control groups, although these differences are not significant in most studies. The results regarding the effectiveness of PTNS in reducing episodes of fecal incontinence compared to other treatments are not entirely conclusive, although benefits are observed regarding the stimulation of sacral roots. More well-designed studies with a long-term follow-up of the results are needed so that the recommendation of this treatment can be generalized.
Hepatitis C Infection as a Risk Factor for Hypertension and Cardiovascular Diseases: An EpiTer Multicenter Study
Authors: Rajewski Paweł , Zarębska-Michaluk Dorota , Janczewska Ewa , Gietka Andrzej , Mazur Włodzimierz , Tudrujek-Zdunek Magdalena , Tomasiewicz Krzysztof , Belica-Wdowik Teresa , Baka-Ćwierz Barbara , Dybowska Dorota , Halota Waldemar , Lorenc Beata , Sitko Marek , Garlicki Aleksander , Berak Hanna , Horban Andrzej , Orłowska Iwona , Simon Krzysztof , Socha Łukasz , Wawrzynowicz-Syczewska Marta , Jaroszewicz Jerzy , Deroń Zbigniew , Czauż-Andrzejuk Agnieszka , Citko Jolanta , Krygier Rafał , Piekarska Anna , Laurans Łukasz , Dobracki Witold , Białkowska Jolanta , Tronina Olga , Wietlicka-Piszcz Magdalena , Pawłowska Małgorzata , Flisiak Robert
Published: September 2022

Hepatitis C infection is one of the main reasons for liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. In recent years, more and more is being heard about extrahepatic manifestations of the hepatitis C infection including its possible influence on the development of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. In the given work, the frequency analysis of the incidence of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases among 2898 HCV-infected patients treated in Poland and the assessment of their relevance to the HCV genotype and the progression of liver fibrosis can be found. The prevalence of hypertension in the group of analyzed patients was 39% and was significantly associated with old age (OR = 1.08 (1.07–1.08)) and female sex, as well as the progression of liver fibrosis (OR = 1.54 (1.29–1.85)). Hypertension was found in 47.6% of patients with F4 fibrosis, 42.1% of patients with F3 fibrosis, and 25% of patients with F1 fibrosis. The incidence of cardiovascular disease in the studied group of patients was as follows: all incidents, 131 (4.52%); including ischemic heart disease 104, (3.95%); stroke, 2 (0.07%); atherosclerosis, 21 (0.72%); and aneurysms, 4 (0.14%). The obtained results prove that the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases is significantly associated with the advanced age of patients and the progression of liver fibrosis. The relevance of sex and the HCV genotype to the prevalence frequency of cardiovascular diseases in the study group has not been proven. This being the case, no differences in the frequency of their incidence depending on the HCV genotype, including genotype 3, was found. Hepatitis C infection as a non-classical risk factor for cardiovascular disease and hypertension does require further studying.
Reliability of a New Indentometer Device for Measuring Myofascial Tissue Stiffness
Authors: Koch Virginija , Wilke Jan
Published: September 2022

Changes in tissue stiffness are associated with pathological conditions such as myofascial pain and increased risk of muscle injury. Furthermore, they have been shown to modify performance indicators such as running economy or jump height. Indentometry is an affordable way to assess tissue stiffness. However, to date, there is a paucity of studies examining the measurement properties of available devices. With this trial, we aimed to evaluate the reliability of the “IndentoPro”. Two investigators repeatedly measured the stiffness of the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle in healthy participants (N = 35), using 5 and 10 mm indentation depths. Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC) revealed moderate inter-rater reliability (5 mm: ICC3,1 0.74, 95%CI = 0.54 to 0.86, p < 0.001; 10 mm: ICC3,1 0.59, 95%CI = 0.27 to 0.78, p < 0.001) and good intra-rater reliability (5 mm: ICC3,1 0.84, 95%CI = 0.71 to 0.92, p < 0.001; 10 mm: ICC3,1 0.83, 95%CI = 0.69 to 0.91, p < 0.001). No correlations between age, height, weight, BMI, skinfold thickness and myofascial tissue stiffness were observed (p > 0.5). In conclusion, the IndentoPro is reliable in assessing calf tissue stiffness, but the predictors of stiffness remain unclear.
Efficacy of Combination Therapy with Epinephrine Local Injection and Hemostatic Clips on Active Diverticular Bleeding
Authors: Hamada Seiji , Teramoto Akira , Zukeyama Ryuta , Matsukawa Shinobu , Fukuhara Tomofumi , Takaki Ryo , Utsumi Takahiro , Nakamura Masamoto , Kobashikawa Kasen , Uchima Nobufumi , Nakayoshi Tomokuni , Kinjo Fukunori
Published: September 2022

Epinephrine local injection is a hemostatic procedure used in active diverticular bleeding that elicits vasoconstriction and tamponade effects. We compared the additional benefit of combination therapy with HSE-C (hypertonic saline epinephrine injection with clipping) to clipping monotherapy. Retrospective data on diverticular bleeding between 2011 and 2016 was reviewed. Those with an active bleeding source confirmed by colonoscopy (excluding non-bleeding vessels and adherent clots) who received either HSE-C or clipping were evaluated. Endpoints were rates of successful primary hemostasis, recurrent bleeding, and surgical intervention during hospitalization. A total of 320 patients with diverticular bleeding were evaluated, on which either HSE-C (n = 35) or clipping monotherapy (n = 18) was performed. Rates of successful primary hemostasis (91.4% vs. 66.7%, p = 0.048) and direct placement of endoclips (60.0% vs. 16.7%, p = 0.004) were significantly higher in the HSE-C group. Although not statistically significant, the HSE-C group had a higher rate of early rebleeding (18.8% vs. 8.3%, p = 0.653), while no difference was seen in the number of patients requiring surgery (11.4% vs. 5.5%, p = 0.651). HSE-C is associated with a higher rate of successful primary hemostasis for severe active diverticular bleeding but has no significant difference in reducing early recurrent bleeding or the number of patients requiring surgery, suggesting that hemostatic effects may be temporary.
Sculpting an Embryo: The Interplay between Mechanical Force and Cell Division
Authors: Tarannum Nawseen , Singh Rohan , Woolner Sarah
Published: September 2022

The journey from a single fertilised cell to a multicellular organism is, at the most fundamental level, orchestrated by mitotic cell divisions. Both the rate and the orientation of cell divisions are important in ensuring the proper development of an embryo. Simultaneous with cell proliferation, embryonic cells constantly experience a wide range of mechanical forces from their surrounding tissue environment. Cells must be able to read and respond correctly to these forces since they are known to affect a multitude of biological functions, including cell divisions. The interplay between the mechanical environment and cell divisions is particularly crucial during embryogenesis when tissues undergo dynamic changes in their shape, architecture, and overall organisation to generate functional tissues and organs. Here we review our current understanding of the cellular mechanisms by which mechanical force regulates cell division and place this knowledge within the context of embryogenesis and tissue morphogenesis.
Dual-Energy CT of the Heart: A Review
Authors: Dell’Aversana Serena , Ascione Raffaele , De Giorgi Marco , De Lucia Davide Raffaele , Cuocolo Renato , Boccalatte Marco , Sibilio Gerolamo , Napolitano Giovanni , Muscogiuri Giuseppe , Sironi Sandro , Di Costanzo Giuseppe , Cavaglià Enrico , Imbriaco Massimo , Ponsiglione Andrea
Published: September 2022

Dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) represents an emerging imaging technique which consists of the acquisition of two separate datasets utilizing two different X-ray spectra energies. Several cardiac DECT applications have been assessed, such as virtual monoenergetic images, virtual non-contrast reconstructions, and iodine myocardial perfusion maps, which are demonstrated to improve diagnostic accuracy and image quality while reducing both radiation and contrast media administration. This review will summarize the technical basis of DECT and review the principal cardiac applications currently adopted in clinical practice, exploring possible future applications.
Comparison of Convolutional Neural Networks and Transformers for the Classification of Images of COVID-19, Pneumonia and Healthy Individuals as Observed with Computed Tomography
Authors: Ascencio-Cabral Azucena , Reyes-Aldasoro Constantino Carlos
Published: September 2022

In this work, the performance of five deep learning architectures in classifying COVID-19 in a multi-class set-up is evaluated. The classifiers were built on pretrained ResNet-50, ResNet-50r (with kernel size 5×5 in the first convolutional layer), DenseNet-121, MobileNet-v3 and the state-of-the-art CaiT-24-XXS-224 (CaiT) transformer. The cross entropy and weighted cross entropy were minimised with Adam and AdamW. In total, 20 experiments were conducted with 10 repetitions and obtained the following metrics: accuracy (Acc), balanced accuracy (BA), F1 and F2 from the general Fβ macro score, Matthew’s Correlation Coefficient (MCC), sensitivity (Sens) and specificity (Spec) followed by bootstrapping. The performance of the classifiers was compared by using the Friedman–Nemenyi test. The results show that less complex architectures such as ResNet-50, ResNet-50r and DenseNet-121 were able to achieve better generalization with rankings of 1.53, 1.71 and 3.05 for the Matthew Correlation Coefficient, respectively, while MobileNet-v3 and CaiT obtained rankings of 3.72 and 5.0, respectively.
Viscoelastic Wave–Ice Interactions: A Computational Fluid–Solid Dynamic Approach
Authors: Tavakoli Sasan , Huang Luofeng , Azhari Fatemeh , Babanin Alexander V.
Published: September 2022

A computational fluid–solid dynamic model is employed to simulate the interaction between water waves and a consolidated ice cover. The model solves the Navier–Stokes equations for the ocean-wave flow around a solid body, and the solid behavior is formalized by the Maxwell viscoelastic model. Model predictions are compared against experimental flume tests of waves interacting with viscoelastic plates. The decay rate and wave dispersion predicted by the model are shown to be in good agreement with experimental results. Furthermore, the model is scaled, by simulating the wave interaction with an actual sea ice cover formed in the ocean. The scaled decay and dispersion results are found to be still valid in full scale. It is shown that the decay rate of waves in a viscoelastic cover is proportional to the quadratic of wave frequency in long waves, whilst biquadrate for short waves. The former is likely to be a viscoelastic effect, and the latter is likely to be related to the energy damping caused by the fluid motion. Overall, the modeling approach and results of the present paper are expected to provide new insights into wave–ice interactions and help researchers to dynamically simulate similar fluid–structure interactions with high fidelity.
Thermohaline Dynamics in the Northern Continental Slope of the South China Sea: A Case Study in the Qiongdongnan Slope
Authors: He Zhiguo , Hu Wenlin , Li Li , Pähtz Thomas , Li Jianlong
Published: September 2022

Understanding the marine hydro-thermohaline environment is essential for terrestrial meteorology and the coastal ecosystem. Here, we provide insight into the hydro-thermohaline environment at the Qiongdongnan continental slope of the northern South China Sea and the mechanism controlling it, with focus on its short-term characteristics. We employ a well-validated three-dimensional unstructured-grid-based Finite Volume Coastal Ocean Model (FVCOM) to analyze the spatial-temporal behavior of its hydro-thermohaline structures and to quantify the transport fluxes over a full tidal period. The analysis reveals a two-layer flow structure with directionally oppositely moving layers in the along-isobaths direction. Furthermore, transport patterns undergo periodic changes. During the spring tide, the downslope (along-isobaths) transport of water/heat/salt is approximately 119%/70%/120% higher (62%/62%/62% lower) than during the neap tide. From analyzing the different terms in the thermohaline balance equation, we find that the main dynamic factors controlling heat transport over a tidal period are the gravitational convention and the mean flow, while the salt transport is only dominated by the mean flow. The data of the short-term thermohaline evolution of the QDNS provided in this study may be of use for future studies of the northern SCS, including its marine ecology and marine fisheries.
An Extensive Review of Liquid Hydrogen in Transportation with Focus on the Maritime Sector
Authors: Ustolin Federico , Campari Alessandro , Taccani Rodolfo
Published: September 2022

The European Green Deal aims to transform the EU into a modern, resource-efficient, and competitive economy. The REPowerEU plan launched in May 2022 as part of the Green Deal reveals the willingness of several countries to become energy independent and tackle the climate crisis. Therefore, the decarbonization of different sectors such as maritime shipping is crucial and may be achieved through sustainable energy. Hydrogen is potentially clean and renewable and might be chosen as fuel to power ships and boats. Hydrogen technologies (e.g., fuel cells for propulsion) have already been implemented on board ships in the last 20 years, mainly during demonstration projects. Pressurized tanks filled with gaseous hydrogen were installed on most of these vessels. However, this type of storage would require enormous volumes for large long-range ships with high energy demands. One of the best options is to store this fuel in the cryogenic liquid phase. This paper initially introduces the hydrogen color codes and the carbon footprints of the different production techniques to effectively estimate the environmental impact when employing hydrogen technologies in any application. Afterward, a review of the implementation of liquid hydrogen (LH2) in the transportation sector including aerospace and aviation industries, automotive, and railways is provided. Then, the focus is placed on the maritime sector. The aim is to highlight the challenges for the adoption of LH2 technologies on board ships. Different aspects were investigated in this study, from LH2 bunkering, onboard utilization, regulations, codes and standards, and safety. Finally, this study offers a broad overview of the bottlenecks that might hamper the adoption of LH2 technologies in the maritime sector and discusses potential solutions.
Study on the Rheology of CO2 Hydrate Slurry by Using the Capillary Method
Authors: Fu Weiqi , Wei Wei , Wang Hao , Huang Bingxiang , Wang Zhiyuan
Published: September 2022

The rheological properties of the CO2 hydrate slurry are experimentally investigated by using a new flow loop with an inner diameter of 50 mm. The pressure drops of the CO2 hydrate slurry are measured experimentally under the volumetric hydrate fraction, ranging from 1.4 to 17.2 vol%, and the shear rate ranging from 40 to 590 s−1. Using the capillary method, the rheology of the CO2 hydrate slurry is analyzed based on pressure drop. The CO2 hydrate slurry is identified as a power-law fluid and exhibits strong shear-thickening behavior. The increase in the volumetric hydrate concentration not only ascends the apparent viscosity, but also makes the non-Newtonian behavior of the hydrate slurry become more obvious. The non-Newtonian index and the consistence factor of fluid increase exponentially with the volumetric hydrate concentration increasing. A Herschel–Bulkley-type rheological model of the CO2 hydrate slurry is correlated from experimental data. The developed model performs the average discrepancy of less than 16.3% within the range of the experiment.
A Novel Acoustic Method for Cavitation Identification of Propeller
Authors: Li Yang , Cui Lilin
Published: September 2022

When a propeller is under a state of cavitation, it will experience negative effects, including strong noise, vibration, and even damage to the blades. Accordingly, the detection of propeller cavitation has attracted the attention of researchers. Propeller noise signal contains a wealth of cavitation information, which is a powerful method to identify the cavitation state. Considering the nonlinear characteristics of propeller noise, a feature describing the complexity of nonlinear signals, which is called refined composite multiscale fluctuation-based dispersion entropy (RCMFDE), is adopted as the indicator of propeller cavitation, and a framework for the identification of propeller cavitation state is established in this paper. Firstly, the propeller noise signal is decomposed by the complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise (CEEMDAN) method, and the intrinsic mode function (IMF) components with cavitation characteristics are extracted. Secondly, the RCMFDE of the IMF components is computed. Finally, a hybrid optimization support vector machine (SVM) is established to classify the features, in which a Relief-F filter is utilized to reduce the feature dimension, and a particle swarm optimization (PSO) wrapper is utilized to optimize the parameters of the SVM. The experimental results demonstrate encouraging accuracy to apply this approach to identify the propeller cavitation states, with an identification accuracy of 91.11%.
Spreading Depolarization as a Therapeutic Target in Severe Ischemic Stroke: Physiological and Pharmacological Strategies
Authors: Chau Lily , Davis Herbert T. , Jones Thomas , Greene-Chandos Diana , Torbey Michel , Shuttleworth C. William , Carlson Andrew P.
Published: September 2022

Background: Spreading depolarization (SD) occurs nearly ubiquitously in malignant hemispheric stroke (MHS) and is strongly implicated in edema progression and lesion expansion. Due to this high burden of SD after infarct, it is of great interest whether SD in MHS patients can be mitigated by physiologic or pharmacologic means and whether this intervention improves clinical outcomes. Here we describe the association between physiological variables and risk of SD in MHS patients who had undergone decompressive craniectomy and present an initial case of using ketamine to target SD in MHS. Methods: We recorded SD using subdural electrodes and time-linked with continuous physiological recordings in five subjects. We assessed physiologic variables in time bins preceding SD compared to those with no SD. Results: Using multivariable logistic regression, we found that increased ETCO2 (OR 0.772, 95% CI 0.655–0.910) and DBP (OR 0.958, 95% CI 0.941–0.991) were protective against SD, while elevated temperature (OR 2.048, 95% CI 1.442–2.909) and WBC (OR 1.113, 95% CI 1.081–1.922) were associated with increased risk of SD. In a subject with recurrent SD, ketamine at a dose of 2 mg/kg/h was found to completely inhibit SD. Conclusion: Fluctuations in physiological variables can be associated with risk of SD after MHS. Ketamine was also found to completely inhibit SD in one subject. These data suggest that use of physiological optimization strategies and/or pharmacologic therapy could inhibit SD in MHS patients, and thereby limit edema and infarct progression. Clinical trials using individualized approaches to target this novel mechanism are warranted.
An Extended Fama-French Multi-Factor Model in Direct Real Estate Investing
Authors: Yiu Chung-Yim , Xiong Chuyi , Cheung Ka-Shing
Published: September 2022

Understanding risk-adjusted returns in real estate investment are crucial, but little is known about the risk-adjusted returns for direct real estate. This paper examines risk-adjusted total returns by developing an extended capital asset pricing model (CAPM) to investigate whether direct real estate returns compensate for their risk levels. Based on a panel dataset of the residential property transaction in 62 Territorial Authorities of New Zealand from 2002Q1 to 2018Q4, a direct real estate portfolio performance in the single-factor CAPM model is compared with the national housing markets stock markets and REITs markets in New Zealand before the pandemic. The results demonstrate that the direct real estate returns outperform the market returns with a significant positive alpha and beta smaller than one but positive. The alpha is further evaluated by the five-factor CAPM model, which includes the factors of liquidity risk, value risk, time risk, credit-rating risk, and currency risk. The assessment shows that most of the excess return (alpha) can be attributed to direct real estate market risks.
Mapping Energy Poverty: How Much Impact Do Socioeconomic, Urban and Climatic Variables Have at a Territorial Scale?
Authors: Encinas Felipe , Truffello Ricardo , Aguirre-Nuñez Carlos , Puig Isidro , Vergara-Perucich Francisco , Freed Carmen , Rodríguez Blanca
Published: September 2022

Energy poverty, considered a form of deprivation distinct from income poverty, is associated with three factors: low-income levels, high energy costs, and poor residential energy efficiency. It is necessary to study the socio-spatial distribution of energy poverty, particularly in metropolitan areas, due to persistent socioeconomic segregation and their public agenda implications, including the U.N. SDGs. A model of these characteristics can propose a spatial analysis of urban and climate implications, contributing evidence for public policy. This article aims to address energy poverty from a spatial approach extended to the urban area in Santiago de Chile through an exploratory model that estimates the impact of socioeconomic, urban, and climatic variables at a territorial scale on the performance of homes. Using a geographical weighted regression with the inside home temperature in winter as the dependent variable, the independent variables were the percentage of professionals, NDVI, annual thermal amplitude, and housing material quality. A housing quality pattern that acts as a proxy for vulnerability to energy poverty was found, repeating the distribution pattern of the different socioeconomic sectors. The findings incorporate a new interpretive matrix into the complex reproduction of segregation and inequality in a capital city from a developing country.
Evaluation of MODIS, Climate Change Initiative, and CORINE Land Cover Products Based on a Ground Truth Dataset in a Mediterranean Landscape
Authors: Bachantourian Margarita , Chaleplis Kyriakos , Gemitzi Alexandra , Kalabokidis Kostas , Palaiologou Palaiologos , Vasilakos Christos
Published: September 2022

Land cover can reflect global environmental changes if their associated transitions are quantitatively and correctly analysed, thus helping to assess the drivers and impacts of climate change and other applied research studies. It is highly important to acquire accurate spatial land cover information to perform multidisciplinary analyses. This work aims at estimating the accuracy of three widely used land cover products, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) land cover product (MCD12Q1), the European Space Agency Climate Change Initiative land cover (ESA-CCI-LC), and the EU CORINE land cover (CLC), all for the reference year of 2018, by comparing them against a fine resolution land cover dataset created for this study with combined ground surveys and high-resolution Large Scale Orthophotography (LSO 25/2015). Initially, the four datasets had their land cover classes harmonized and all were resampled to the same spatial resolution. The accuracy metrics used to conduct the comparisons were Overall Accuracy, Producer’s Accuracy, User’s Accuracy, and the Kappa Coefficient. Comparisons with the reference dataset revealed an underestimation of the forested areas class in all three compared products. Further analysis showed that the accuracy metrics were reasonably high for the broad classes (forest vs. non-forest), with an overall accuracy exceeding 70% in all examined products. On the contrary, in the detailed classification (total land cover mapping), the comparison of the reference dataset with the three land cover products highlighted specific weaknesses in the classification results of the three products, showing that CLC depicted more precisely the landscape characteristics than the two other products, since it demonstrated the highest overall accuracy (37.47%), while MODIS and ESA-CCI-LC revealed a percentage that did not exceed 22%.
Identification of Priority Forest Conservation Areas for Critically Endangered Lemur Species of Madagascar
Authors: García Millán Virginia E. , Rodríguez-Rodríguez David , Martin Oncina Amanda , Andrianarimisa Aristide , Randriamiharisoa Lalatiana O. , Martorell-Guerrero Gabriel , Bóveda Antonio , Abdul Malak Dania
Published: September 2022

Forests have extraordinary importance for the conservation of endemic species in Madagascar. However, they are disappearing fast due to a number of pressures, notably unsustainable agricultural practices leading to aggravated status of biodiversity. Here, we used a number of ecological and spatial criteria to identify and prioritise unprotected forest areas for the conservation of the eight critically endangered species of lemur belonging to the Lemuridae family in Madagascar. By combining spatial information layers on the distribution areas of the studied lemurs, forest extension and conservation status, and potential human impacts (such as roads, human settlements and agriculture lands), it was possible to identify the most appropriate sites for the expansion of the conservation areas of critically endangered lemur species. Seven new sites, totalling over 33,000 ha, were identified as priority sites for the protection of those species. All of them were adjacent to or inside (just one site) existing protected areas (PAs), which likely makes their protection both feasible and socioeconomically efficient by enlarging those PAs. Legally protecting these sites would not only take Madagascar one little step ahead for meeting oncoming global biodiversity targets for 2030 but could also make a substantial contribution to the mid-term survival of the studied lemur species.
Evaluation of Cultivated Land Quality in Semiarid Sandy Areas: A Case Study of the Horqin Zuoyihou Banner
Authors: Liang Jie , Zheng Huihui , Cai Zhaoyang , Zhou Yimin , Xu Yan
Published: September 2022

Objective: The evaluation of cultivated land quality from the regional perspective and the clear level and change in cultivated land quality in the whole region can better guide the construction of cultivated land quality, carry out scientific optimization allocation, improve grain production capacity, and promote the sustainable use of cultivated land. Research methods: The utilization of local resources and natural conditions were comprehensively considered, and the evaluation was carried out from the four dimensions of ecology, quantity, spatial structure and scale to comprehensively reflect the level of regional cultivated land utilization. Results: (1) The cultivated land quality level of the Horqin Zuoyihou Banner is low, and the pressure of regional water resources is great. Some cultivated land is located in the area with poor natural conditions, and there are many thin and narrow cultivated areas of land. The area of cultivated land that can be carried by regional water resources under current irrigation is 184,492.17 hm2, and that under water-saving irrigation is 259,703.72 hm2, which are lower than the current cultivated land areas. (2) During the study period, the total amount and spatial distribution of cultivated land changed greatly, and there were good natural conditions and utilization conditions of newly added cultivated land, but the quality of cultivated land from the regional perspective showed a downward trend. The dynamic attitude of cultivated land change was 0.99%. (3) According to the evaluation results, the cultivated land was divided into the following four categories: priority protection type, optimization and coordination type, gradual conversion type and priority conversion type, which accounted for 34.18%, 30.59%, 28.83% and 6.40% of the total cultivated land area, respectively. Conclusions: There is a sharp contradiction between the supply and demand of water resources, and the quality of cultivated land in the region is low and shows a downward trend, which is not conducive to the sustainable use of regional land resources. In this regard, the Horqin Zuoyihou Banner should actively curb the growth of cultivated land, develop water-saving irrigation processes, strengthen ecological environment protection, and systematically optimize the layout of cultivated land on the premise of ensuring ecological security according to the actual conditions of different regions.
Deuterium Isotope Fractionation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Meteorites as an Indicator of Interstellar/Protosolar Processing History
Authors: Graham Heather V. , Elsila Jamie E. , Dworkin Jason P. , Sandford Scott A. , Aponte Jose C.
Published: September 2022

The stable isotope composition of soluble and insoluble organic compounds in carbonaceous chondrites can be used to determine the provenance of organic molecules in space. Deuterium enrichment in meteoritic organics could be a residual signal of synthetic reactions occurring in the cold interstellar medium or an indicator of hydrothermal parent-body reactions. δD values have been measured in grains and bulk samples for a wide range of meteorites; however, these reservoirs are highly variable and may have experienced fractionation during thermal and/or aqueous alteration. Among the plethora of organic compounds in meteorites are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are stable and abundant in carbonaceous chondrites, and their δD ratio may preserve evidence about their formation environment as well as the influence of parent-body processes. This study tests hypotheses about the potential links between PAHs-deuteration concentrations and their formation conditions by examining the δD ratio of PAHs in three CM carbonaceous chondrites representing an aqueous alteration gradient. We use deuterium enrichments in soluble 2–5-ring PAHs as an indicator of either photon-driven deuteration due to unimolecular photodissociation in warm regions of space, gas-phase ion–molecule reactions in cold interstellar regions of space, or UV photolysis in ices. We also test hypothesized reaction pathways during parent-body processing that differ between partially and fully aromatized PAHs. New methodological approaches were developed to extract small, volatile PAHs without fractionation. Our results suggest that meteoritic PAHs could have formed through reactions in cold regions, with possible overprinting of deuterium enrichment during aqueous parent-body alteration, but the data could not rule out PAH alteration in icy mantles as well.
A Particle Swarm Optimization Approach to Solve the Vehicle Routing Problem with Cross-Docking and Carbon Emissions Reduction in Logistics Management
Authors: Lo Shih-Che
Published: September 2022

Background: The logistics network design with cross-docking operations enables shipping service providers to integrate the physical flow of products between vendors and dealers in logistics management. The collective goal is to synchronize the goods in both pickup and delivery operations concurrently to reduce the handling cost, inventory cost, and operation cost generated. Therefore, the optimal vehicle routing plan is crucial to generate a truck routing schedule with minimal total cost, fulfilling the purchasing requirements and the distribution demand. Global warming and climate change are important topics due to increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Sustainable logistics management with optimized routes for trucks can assist in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and easing the effects of temperature increases on our living environment. Methods: A heuristic approach based on Particle Swarm Optimization, called ePSO, was proposed and implemented in this paper to solve the vehicle routing problems with cross-docking and carbon emissions reduction at the same time. Results: Performance comparisons were made with the Genetic Algorithm (GA) through the experiments of several vehicle routing problems with pickup and delivery benchmark problems to validate the performance of the ePSO procedure. Conclusions: Experimental results showed that the proposed ePSO approach was better than the GA for most cases by statistical hypothesis testing.
Fourier-Based Adaptive Signal Decomposition Method Applied to Fault Detection in Induction Motors
Authors: De Santiago-Perez J. Jesus , Valtierra-Rodriguez Martin , Amezquita-Sanchez Juan Pablo , Perez-Soto Gerardo Israel , Trejo-Hernandez Miguel , Rivera-Guillen Jesus Rooney
Published: September 2022

Time-frequency analysis is commonly used for fault detection in induction motors. A variety of signal decomposition techniques have been proposed in the literature, such as Wavelet transform, Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD), Multiple Signal Classification (MUSIC), among others. They have been successfully used in many works related with the topic. Nevertheless, the studied signals present amplitude changes and chirp-type frequency components that are difficult to track and isolate with the aforementioned techniques. The contribution of this work is the introduction of a novel technique for time-frequency signal decomposition that is based on an adaptive band-pass filter and the Short Time Fourier Transform (STFT), namely Fourier-Based Adaptive Signal Decomposition (FBASD) method. This method is capable of tracking and extracting nonstationary time-frequency components within a user-selected frequency band. With these components, a methodology for detecting and classifying broken rotor bars in induction motors using the startup transient current is also proposed.
Mobile Sensor Networks for Finite-Time Distributed H∞ Consensus Filtering of 3D Nonlinear Distributed Parameter Systems with Randomly Occurring Sensor Saturation
Authors: Qian Xueming , Cui Baotong
Published: September 2022

This paper is concerned with designing a distributed bounded H∞ consensus filter to estimate an array of three-dimensional (3D) nonlinear distributed parameter systems subject to bounded perturbation. An optimization framework based on mobile sensing is proposed to improve the performance of distributed filters. The measurement output is obtained from a mobile sensor network, where a phenomenon of randomly occurring sensor saturation is taken into account to reflect the reality in a mobile networked environment. A sufficient condition is established by utilizing operator-dependent Lyapunov functional for the filtering error system to be finite-time bounded. Note that the velocity law of each mobile sensor is included in this condition. The effect from the exogenous perturbation to the estimation accuracy is guaranteed at a given level by means of H∞ consensus performance constraint. Finally, simulation examples are presented to demonstrate the applicability of the theoretical results.
A New Dynamic and Perspective Parsimonious AHP Model for Improving Industrial Frameworks
Authors: Fattoruso Gerarda , Scognamiglio Salvatore , Violi Antonio
Published: September 2022

Multi-criteria decision methods (MCDMs) are used as an effective tool to support decision makers (DMs) in critical decision processes. These methods are used in several fields of application by analyzing static decision-making problems in which it is assumed that the decision is made at a precise moment. By increasing the complexity of decision-making problems and operating in increasingly competitive production sectors, very often analyzing a decision-making problem in a static way is not enough. This paper deals with considering the temporal variable in the construction of a dynamic MCDM, which takes into account historical and current data in order to learn from the past; and prospective also allowing to have a forecasting perspective of future data through the use of techniques that work in this sense. Our approach was tested in a multinational company in the manufacturing sector. The results show that the use of dynamic approaches allows DMs to obtain more precise alternative rankings given the information they exploit from the past; furthermore, the use of the prospective model, integrated with the dynamic one, makes it possible to provide greater detail on the possible future rankings of the alternatives that update their positions based on the feedback received. The approach allows for drawing advantages from a management point of view as it defines a complete decision support tool for the choices related to the planning and control of production processes. Our approach can be implemented in corporate information systems. Furthermore, the involvement of the DM in the construction of the model helps to define a learning process that feeds the decision-making process by generating greater awareness of the DM on the choices to be made.
On a Fractional Differential Equation with r-Laplacian Operator and Nonlocal Boundary Conditions
Authors: Henderson Johnny , Luca Rodica , Tudorache Alexandru
Published: September 2022

We study the existence and multiplicity of positive solutions of a Riemann-Liouville fractional differential equation with r-Laplacian operator and a singular nonnegative nonlinearity dependent on fractional integrals, subject to nonlocal boundary conditions containing various fractional derivatives and Riemann-Stieltjes integrals. We use the Guo–Krasnosel’skii fixed point theorem in the proof of our main results.
Control of Multistability in an Erbium-Doped Fiber Laser by an Artificial Neural Network: A Numerical Approach
Authors: Magallón Daniel A. , Jaimes-Reátegui Rider , García-López Juan H. , Huerta-Cuellar Guillermo , López-Mancilla Didier , Pisarchik Alexander N.
Published: September 2022

A recurrent wavelet first-order neural network (RWFONN) is proposed to select a desired attractor in a multistable erbium-doped fiber laser (EDFL). A filtered error algorithm is used to classify coexisting EDFL states and train RWFONN. The design of the intracavity laser power controller is developed according to the RWFONN states with the block control linearization technique and the super-twisting control algorithm. Closed-loop stability analysis is performed using the boundedness of synaptic weights. The efficiency of the control method is demonstrated through numerical simulations.
The Geo/Ga,Y/1/N Queue Revisited
Authors: Chaudhry Mohan , Goswami Veena
Published: September 2022

We not only present an alternative and simpler approach to find steady-state distributions of the number of jobs for the finite-space queueing model Geo/Ga,Y/1/N using roots of the inherent characteristic equation, but also correct errors in some published papers. The server has a random service capacity Y, and it processes the jobs only when the number of jobs in the system is at least ‘a’, a threshold value. The main advantage of this alternative process is that it gives a unified approach in dealing with both finite- and infinite-buffer systems. The queue-length distribution is obtained both at departure and random epochs. We derive the relation between the discrete-time Geo/Ga,Y/1/N queue and its continuous-time analogue. Finally, we deal with performance measures and numerical results.
Feature Selection and Classification of Transformer Faults Based on Novel Meta-Heuristic Algorithm
Authors: El-kenawy El-Sayed M. , Albalawi Fahad , Ward Sayed A. , Ghoneim Sherif S. M. , Eid Marwa M. , Abdelhamid Abdelaziz A. , Bailek Nadjem , Ibrahim Abdelhameed
Published: September 2022

Detecting transformer faults is critical to avoid the undesirable loss of transformers from service and ensure utility service continuity. Transformer faults diagnosis can be determined based on dissolved gas analysis (DGA). The DGA traditional techniques, such as Duval triangle, Key gas, Rogers’ ratio, Dornenburg, and IEC code 60599, suffer from poor transformer faults diagnosis. Therefore, recent research has been developed to diagnose transformer fault and the diagnostic accuracy using combined traditional methods of DGA with artificial intelligence and optimization methods. This paper used a novel meta-heuristic technique, based on Gravitational Search and Dipper Throated Optimization Algorithms (GSDTO), to enhance the transformer faults’ diagnostic accuracy, which was considered a novelty in this work to reduce the misinterpretation of the transformer faults. The robustness of the constructed GSDTO-based model was addressed by the statistical study using Wilcoxon’s rank-sum and ANOVA tests. The results revealed that the constructed model enhanced the diagnostic accuracy up to 98.26% for all test cases.