bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Management and Outcomes of Patients with Extra-Pulmonary Neuroendocrine Neoplasms and Brain Metastases
Authors: Kapacee Zainul-Abedin , Allison Jennifer , Dawod Mohammed , Wang Xin , Frizziero Melissa , Chakrabarty Bipasha , Manoharan Prakash , McBain Catherine , Mansoor Was , Lamarca Angela , Hubner Richard , Valle Juan W. , McNamara Mairéad G.
Published: July 2022

Background: Brain metastases (BMs) in patients with extra-pulmonary neuroendocrine neoplasms (EP–NENs) are rare, and limited clinical information is available. The aim of this study was to detail the clinicopathological features, management and outcomes in patients with EP–NENs who developed BMs. Methods: A retrospective single-centre analysis of consecutive patients with EP–NENs (August 2004–February 2020) was conducted. Median overall survival (OS)/survival from BMs diagnosis was estimated (Kaplan–Meier). Results: Of 730 patients, 17 (1.9%) had BMs, median age 61 years (range 15–77); 8 (53%) male, unknown primary NEN site: 40%. Patients with BMs had grade 3 (G3) EP–NENs 11 (73%), G2: 3 (20%), G1: 1 (7%). Eight (53%) had poorly differentiated NENs, 6 were well-differentiated and 1 was not recorded. Additionally, 2 (13%) patients had synchronous BMs at diagnosis, whilst 13 (87%) developed BMs metachronously. The relative risk of developing BMs was 7.48 in patients with G3 disease vs. G1 + G2 disease (p = 0.0001). Median time to the development of BMs after NEN diagnosis: 15.9 months (range 2.5–139.5). Five patients had a solitary BM, 12 had multiple BMs. Treatment of BMs were surgery (n = 3); radiotherapy (n = 5); 4: whole brain radiotherapy, 1: conformal radiotherapy (orbit). Nine (53%) had best supportive care. Median OS from NEN diagnosis was 23.6 months [95% CI 15.2–31.3]; median time to death from BMs diagnosis was 3.0 months [95% CI 0.0–8.3]. Conclusion: BMs in patients with EP–NENs are rare and of increased risk in G3 vs. G1 + G2 EP–NENs. Survival outcomes are poor, and a greater understanding is needed to improve therapeutic outcomes.
Clinical Utility of Genomic Assay in Node-Positive Early-Stage Breast Cancer
Authors: Pauls Mehrnoosh , Chia Stephen
Published: July 2022

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy among women in Canada. Adjuvant treatment in early BC can reduce the risk of BC recurrence. Historically, the decision for adjuvant chemotherapy for early BC was made only based on clinical and tumour characteristics. In recent years, there has been an effort toward developing genomic assays as a predictive and prognostic tool to improve precision in estimating disease recurrence, sensitivity to systemic treatment and ultimately with clinical utility for guidance regarding adjuvant systemic treatment(s). There are various commercial genomic tests available for early-stage ER+/HER-2 negative BC. This paper will review the Oncotype DX 21-gene Recurrence Score (RS), MammaPrint, EndoPredict, Prosigna®, and Breast Cancer Index (BCI) genomic assays. We will also focus on these genomic assays’ clinical application and utility in node-positive early-stage BC based on the most recent evidence and guidance recommendations.
The Importance of Cow-Individual Effects and Diet, Ambient Temperature, and Horn Status on Delayed Luminescence of Milk from Brown Swiss Dairy Cows
Authors: Wohlers Jenifer , Stolz Peter
Published: July 2022

To investigate the importance of cow-individual effects and the importance of horn status (horned vs. disbudded), of diet (hay with and without concentrates), and of ambient temperature (10 °C vs. 25 °C) on delayed luminescence (DL) parameters of milk samples, fluorescence excitation spectroscopic (FES) measurements were performed on a total of n = 152 milk samples from 20 cows of a cross-over experiment. Cow-individual variation was investigated in relation to the horn status, diet effects were evaluated by cow in relation to sampling effects, and regression analysis was used to evaluate the importance of the experimental factors on the variation of emission parameters. Variation of short-term emission after yellow excitation (530 to 800 nm) was predominantly related to the individual cow (disbudded cows tended to higher values), and was partly affected by feeding, with higher emission for concentrate-added diets. Short-term emission after white excitation (260 to 850 nm) was most related to ambient temperature, with higher values at warm temperature. Higher emission was observed also in aged (stored) samples or after delayed cooling. The emission after yellow showed to be more robust to handling and ageing of the milk than the emission after white; possible relations to digestive processes of the cow (including the microbiome) are warranted.
Assessment of Serum Pepsinogens with and without Co-Testing with Gastrin-17 in Gastric Cancer Risk Assessment—Results from the GISTAR Pilot Study
Authors: Robles Claudia , Rudzite Dace , Polaka Inese , Sjomina Olga , Tzivian Lilian , Kikuste Ilze , Tolmanis Ivars , Vanags Aigars , Isajevs Sergejs , Liepniece-Karele Inta , Razuka-Ebela Danute , Parshutin Sergej , Murillo Raul , Herrero Rolando , Young Park Jin , Leja Marcis
Published: July 2022

Introduction––Serum pepsinogen tests for gastric cancer screening have been debated for decades. We assessed the performance of two pepsinogen assays with or without gastrin-17 for the detection of different precancerous lesions alone or as a composite endpoint in a Latvian cohort. Methods––Within the intervention arm of the GISTAR population-based study, participants with abnormal pepsinogen values by ELISA or latex-agglutination tests, or abnormal gastrin-17 by ELISA and a subset of subjects with all normal biomarker values were referred for upper endoscopy with biopsies. Performance of biomarkers, corrected by verification bias, to detect five composite outcomes based on atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia or cancer was explored. Results––Data from 1045 subjects were analysed, of those 273 with normal biomarker results. Both pepsinogen assays showed high specificity (>93%) but poor sensitivity (range: 18.4–31.1%) that slightly improved when lesions were restricted to corpus location (40.5%) but decreased when dysplasia and prevalent cancer cases were included (23.8%). Adding gastrin-17 detection, sensitivity reached 33–45% while specificity decreased (range: 61.1–62%) and referral rate for upper endoscopy increased to 38.6%. Conclusions––Low sensitivity of pepsinogen assays is a limiting factor for their use in population-based primary gastric cancer screening, however their high specificity could be useful for triage.
Cytology and High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Test for Cervical Cancer Screening Assessment
Authors: Stuebs Frederik A. , Koch Martin C. , Dietl Anna K. , Adler Werner , Geppert Carol , Hartmann Arndt , Knöll Antje , Beckmann Matthias W. , Mehlhorn Grit , Schulmeyer Carla E. , Gass Paul
Published: July 2022

Background: A new nationwide screening strategy was implemented in Germany in January 2020. No data are available for women referred to certified dysplasia units for secondary clarification after primary diagnosis by a local physician. We therefore investigated combined testing with Papanicolaou smears and high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) and compared the data with the final histological findings. Methods: Between January 2015 and October 2020, all referred women who underwent colposcopy of the uterine cervix in our certified dysplasia unit were included. Cytology findings were classified using the Munich III nomenclature. Results: A total of 3588 colposcopies were performed in 3118 women, along with Pap smear and hrHPV co-testing, followed by histology. Women with Pap II-p (ASC-US) and a positive hrHPV co-test had a 22.4% risk for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 3/high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL). The risk of CIN 3/HSIL was 83.8% in women with Pap IVa-p (HSIL) and a positive hrHPV co-test. A positive hrHPV co-test increased the risk for HSIL+ (OR 5.942; 95% CI, 4.617 to 7.649; p < 0.001) as compared to a negative hrHPV co-test. Conclusions: The accuracy of Pap smears is comparable with the screening results. A positive hrHPV test increases the risk for HSIL+ fivefold. Colposcopy is necessary to diagnose HSIL+ correctly.
Echocardiography, Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Differential Diagnosis of a Tumor in the Left Atrium of the Heart
Authors: Zalewska-Adamiec Malgorzata , Bachorzewska-Gajewska Hanna , Dobrzycki Slawomir
Published: July 2022

Cardiac tumors are rare. Most often they are metastatic tumors, while primary tumors are much less common. In addition to proliferative changes in the heart, there are also non-neoplastic structures, such as thrombus, vegetation or inflammatory tumors. All structures with a heart tumor morphology require a lot of imaging studies in order to diagnose them and plan treatment without performing a biopsy. We present a case of a 75-year-old female patient who had moving masses in the left atrium on echocardiography. Computed tomography of the chest was performed, which did not clearly explain the nature of the structure observed in the left atrium. The Heart Team decided to perform another test—magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the heart in 3 months to differentiate the lesion. The examination was performed after 3 months of warfarin therapy and there were no masses in the left atrium, which confirmed that the observed tumor was a thrombus.
MELIF, a Fully Automated Liver Function Score Calculated from Gd-EOB-DTPA-Enhanced MR Images: Diagnostic Performance vs. the MELD Score
Authors: Río Bártulos Carolina , Senk Karin , Bade Ragnar , Schumacher Mona , Plath Jan , Kaiser Nico , Wiesinger Isabel , Thurn Sylvia , Stroszczynski Christian , El Mountassir Abdelouahed , Planert Mathis , Woetzel Jan , Wiggermann Philipp
Published: July 2022

In the management of patients with chronic liver disease, the assessment of liver function is essential for treatment planning. Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI allows for both the acquisition of anatomical information and regional liver function quantification. The objective of this study was to demonstrate and evaluate the diagnostic performance of two fully automatically generated imaging-based liver function scores that take the whole liver into account. T1 images from the native and hepatobiliary phases and the corresponding T1 maps from 195 patients were analyzed. A novel artificial-intelligence-based software prototype performed image segmentation and registration, calculated the reduction rate of the T1 relaxation time for the whole liver (rrT1liver) and used it to calculate a personalized liver function score, then generated a unified score—the MELIF score—by combining the liver function score with a patient-specific factor that included weight, height and liver volume. Both scores correlated strongly with the MELD score, which is used as a reference for global liver function. However, MELIF showed a stronger correlation than the rrT1liver score. This study demonstrated that the fully automated determination of total liver function, regionally resolved, using MR liver imaging is feasible, providing the opportunity to use the MELIF score as a diagnostic marker in future prospective studies.
Bicuspid Aortic Valve in Children and Adolescents: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Spaziani Gaia , Girolami Francesca , Arcieri Luigi , Calabri Giovanni Battista , Porcedda Giulio , Di Filippo Chiara , Surace Francesca Chiara , Pozzi Marco , Favilli Silvia
Published: July 2022

Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is the most common congenital heart defect. Prevalence of isolated BAV in the general pediatric population is about 0.8%, but it has been reported to be as high as 85% in patients with aortic coarctation. A genetic basis has been recognized, with great heterogeneity. Standard BAV terminology, recently proposed on the basis of morpho-functional assessment by transthoracic echocardiography, may be applied also to the pediatric population. Apart from neonatal stenotic BAV, progression of valve dysfunction and/or of the associated aortic dilation seems to be slow during pediatric age and complications are reported to be much rarer in comparison with adults. When required, because of severe BAV dysfunction, surgery is most often the therapeutic choice; however, the ideal initial approach to treat severe aortic stenosis in children or adolescents is not completely defined yet, and a percutaneous approach may be considered in selected cases as a palliative option in order to postpone surgery. A comprehensive and tailored evaluation is needed to define the right intervals for cardiologic evaluation, indications for sport activity and the right timing for intervention.
Simultaneously Screening for Liver Steatosis and Fibrosis in Romanian Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients Using Vibration-Controlled Transient Elastography with Controlled Attenuation Parameter
Authors: Trifan Anca , Stratina Ermina , Nastasa Robert , Rotaru Adrian , Stafie Remus , Zenovia Sebastian , Huiban Laura , Sfarti Catalin , Cojocariu Camelia , Cuciureanu Tudor , Muzica Cristina , Chiriac Stefan , Girleanu Irina , Singeap Ana-Maria , Stanciu Carol
Published: July 2022

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common finding among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Between NAFLD and T2DM exist a bidirectional relationship. Patients with T2DM are at high risk for NAFLD, and evidence suggests that T2DM is linked to progressive NAFLD and poor liver outcomes. NAFLD promotes the development of T2DM and leads to a substantial increase in the risk of T2DM complications. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of liver steatosis and fibrosis in patients with T2DM from north-eastern Romania by using Vibration-Controlled Transient Elastography (VCTE) with Controlled Attenuation Parameter (CAP), which is a non-invasive method and can assess simultaneously liver steatosis and fibrosis. In total, 424 consecutive patients with T2DM were enrolled and evaluated using VCTE with CAP from January 2020 to January 2022. Clinical and laboratory data were recorded in all patients. For the CAP score, we used the following cut-offs: mild steatosis (S1)—274 dB/m, moderate steatosis (S2)—290 dB/m, and severe steatosis (S3)—302 dB/m. For liver fibrosis, to differentiate between fibrosis stages, the cut-off values were F ≥ 8.2 kPa for significant fibrosis (F2), F ≥ 9.7 kPa for advanced fibrosis (F3), and F ≥ 13.6 kPa for cirrhosis (F4). In total, 380 diabetic patients (72.6%) had liver steatosis (51.3% females, the mean age of 55.22 ± 10.88 years, mean body mass index (BMI) 29.12 ± 5.64 kg/m2). Among them, 26 (8.4%) patients had moderate liver steatosis (S2) and 242 (78.5%) patients had severe hepatic steatosis (S3). According to VCTE measurements, 176 (57.14%) patients had liver fibrosis, 36 (11.7%) of them had advanced fibrosis (F3), and 42 (13.6%) diabetic patients had cirrhosis (F4). Univariate analyses showed that severe steatosis was significantly associated with ferritin (β = 0.223, p = 0.022), total cholesterol (β = 0.159, p = 0.031), and HDL-cholesterol (β = −0.120, p = 0.006). In multivariate analyses, BMI (β = 0.349, p < 0.001), fasting plasma glucose (β = 0.211, p = 0.006), and triglycerides (β = 0.132, p = 0.044) were predictors of S3. Patients with T2DM have a high prevalence of severe steatosis and advanced fibrosis which can lead to the development and progression of complications with high morbidity and mortality rates. Hence, it is necessary to implement screening strategies to prevent advanced liver disease in patients with T2DM.
Clinical Benefits and Challenges in Application of Novel Portable Gastric Capsule Endoscopy for Home Healthcare Patients
Authors: Lin Yang-Chao , Chen Ching-Lin , Kao Yi-Wei , Tsai Ching-Yao , Chen Mingchih , Liu Chih-Kuang
Published: July 2022

Portable magnetic-assisted capsule endoscopy (MACE) provides satisfactory patient experience and safety with comparable performance in diagnosis of organic lesions when compared to conventional upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. In this study, a total of 58 homecare patients were included for MACE either in the hospital (n = 42) or at home (n = 16), with mean age of 71.1 ± 12.4 years. A total of 55 patients (94.83%) had completed the MACE with diagnosis of reflux esophagitis (43.6%), gastritis (54.5%), erosions (21.8%), fundic polyps (14.5%), peptic ulcers (25.9%), etc. Most patients (n = 47, 85.5%) were satisfied with the experience, and all patients who received MACE at home (n = 15, 100%) appreciated the convenience of endoscopy at home. Less than half of the patients (n = 24, 43.6%) could afford MACE if the expense was not covered by health insurance (USD 714). Time consumption from both traffic and capsule manipulation was also challenging for the physicians, as it took an average of 24.7 min to complete MACE, but it added up to a total of 92.7 min at home, which is about 15 times that of conventional endoscopy in hospital. More efforts are needed to ease the financial burden of patients, and optimization of workflow in community practice may help lift the obstacles revealed in this study.
Influence of S100A2 in Human Diseases
Authors: Sugino Hitomi , Sawada Yu
Published: July 2022

S100 proteins are a family of low-molecular-weight proteins characterized by two calcium-binding sites with a helix-loop-helix (“EF-hand-type”) domain. The S100 family of proteins is distributed across various organs and can interact with diverse molecules. Among the proteins of the S100 family, S100 calcium-binding protein A2 (S100A2) has been identified in mammary epithelial cells, glands, lungs, kidneys, and prostate gland, exhibiting various physiological and pathological actions in human disorders, such as inflammatory diseases and malignant tumors. In this review, we introduce basic knowledge regarding S100A2 regulatory mechanisms. Although S100A2 is a tumor suppressor, we describe the various influences of S100A2 on cancer and inflammatory diseases.
Unexpected Movement of the Esophagus across the Aorta
Authors: Choi Hyun Ho , Sung Soo-Yoon , Ko Yoon Ho
Published: July 2022

Tumor regression throughout treatment would induce organ movement, but little is known of this in the esophagus. To achieve successful tumor regression, radiation therapy requires several weeks of radiation to be delivered accurately to the tumor. Usually, a 5–10 mm margin is allowed for set-up error and internal organ motion. Our case exhibited an unexpectedly large movement of the esophagus across the aorta with tumor regression that extended outside the margin and thus outside the radiotherapy field. These movements may affect subsequent invasive procedures or treatment during cancer therapy. After the unexpected large movement of the esophagus due to tumor regression, we revised the radiotherapy plan to reflect the new esophageal position. This implied that regular imaging and close monitoring are required during treatment of esophageal cancer.
Prevalence of Dental Caries in Children in Mymensingh and Its Associated Risk Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Sultana Sharmin , Parvin Mst. Sonia , Islam Md. Taohidul , Chowdhury Emdadul Haque , Bari A. S. Mahfuzul
Published: July 2022

Background: Children suffer from various oral and periodontal diseases. Dental caries is one of the most prevalent oral diseases among children in the world. This study was conducted to identify the prevalence and risk factors of dental caries in children in Mymensingh, Bangladesh. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 362 pediatric patients who attended the Dental Unit of Mymensingh Medical College from March to September 2019. The sample size was calculated using a statistical formula and the children were selected using a systematic random sampling technique. Children and their guardians were interviewed and data were recorded using a structured questionnaire. Risk factors were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. Results: The overall prevalence of dental caries was 82.7%. The prevalence of caries was significantly higher in aged children (8–10 years) and also in rural, low-income, and illiterate families. Seven significant risk factors were identified that included residence in the rural area (OR: 7.31 [1.73–30.83]), a parental income of BDT ≤ 20,000 per month (OR: 4.75 [1.49–15.05]), reduced duration (≤1 min) of teeth cleaning (OR: 18.54 [2.05–168.17]), teeth cleaning before breakfast (OR: 93.30 [10.95–795.32]), the spoon-feeding method (OR: 12.57 [2.09–75.61]), long-term (37–48 months) breastfeeding (OR: 212.53 [8.69–5195.25]), and family oral problem (OR: 8.20 [2.57–26.16]). Conclusions: The prevalence of dental caries among the children in Mymensingh is very high and was associated with residence in rural areas, parental income, reduced duration of teeth cleaning, teeth cleaning before breakfast, the spoon-feeding method, long-term breastfeeding, and family oral problems.
The Benefits of Enlightenment: A Strategic Pedagogy for Strengthening Sense of Belonging in Chemistry Classrooms
Authors: Stoddard Shana V.
Published: July 2022

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields have remained stagnant in increasing diversity. An important factor in increasing diversity is building and supporting diverse cohorts of future STEM professionals in our classrooms. A strong sense of belonging in STEM has been demonstrated to increase persistence of women, underrepresented minorities, and first-generation college students in STEM or the college atmosphere. Therefore, it is important that STEM faculty develop inclusive teaching strategies to increase and support this sense of belonging in STEM for all students. This work evaluates a faculty-developed assignment implemented in Fall 2020 at a liberal arts college on a student’s sense of belonging in STEM. The results demonstrated that this semester-long project increased students’ sense of belonging in STEM. Current literature about any faculty-developed assignments focused on supporting a student’s sense of belonging and awareness of diversity in STEM implemented in chemistry courses is limited. This work represents a new approach grounded in inclusive pedagogy that can be utilized in addition to other institutional and departmental support structures to increase diversity and equity in STEM.
Assessing Artificial Intelligence Technology Acceptance in Managerial Accounting
Authors: Vărzaru Anca Antoaneta
Published: July 2022

The increasing expansion of digital technologies has significantly changed most economic activities and professions. As a result of the scientific and technological revolution 4.0, organizational structures and business models have changed, and new ones have emerged. Consequently, the accounting activities that record operations and provide the necessary information to managers for decision making have faced threats, challenges, and opportunities, which have changed and will change the DNA of managerial accounting, determining a reinventing of it. As a result of the evolution of data collection and processing technologies, managerial accounting activities have become increasingly complex, encompassing increasing volumes of data. Resistance to change, organizational culture, lack of trust, and the high price of technology are the most critical barriers that interfere with adopting artificial intelligence technology in managerial accounting. This study aimed to assess the acceptance of artificial intelligence technology among accountants in Romanian organizations in the context of the modernization and digitization of managerial accounting. This research was quantitative, carried out through a survey based on a questionnaire. In total, 396 specialists in managerial accounting from Romanian organizations filled and returned the questionnaire. Using structural equation modeling, we tested the model of accepting artificial intelligence technology in managerial accounting. The results show that implementing artificial intelligence solutions in managerial accounting offers multiple options to managers through innovation and shortening processes, improves the use of accounting information, and is relatively easy to use, given the high degree of automation and customization.
Modeling Acoustic Channel Variability in Underwater Network Simulators from Real Field Experiment Data
Authors: Campagnaro Filippo , Toffolo Nicola , Zorzi Michele
Published: July 2022

The underwater acoustic channel is remarkably dependent on the considered scenario and the environmental conditions. In fact, channel impairments differ significantly in shallow water with respect to deep water, and the presence of external factors such as snapping shrimps, bubbles, rain, or ships passing nearby, changes of temperature, and wind strength can change drastically the link quality in different seasons and even during the same day. Legacy mathematical models that consider these factors exist, but are either not very accurate, like the Urick model, or very computationally demanding, like the Bellhop ray tracer. Deterministic models based on lookup tables (LUTs) of sea trial measurements are widely used by the research community to simulate the acoustic channel in order to verify the functionalities of a network in certain water conditions before the actual deployment. These LUTs can characterize the link quality by observing, for instance, the average packet error rate or even a time varying packet error rate computed within a certain time window. While this procedure characterizes well the acoustic channel, the obtained simulation results are limited to a single channel realization, making it hard to fully evaluate the acoustic network in different conditions. In this paper, we discuss the development of a statistical channel model based on the analysis of real field experiment data, and compare its performance with the other channel models available in the DESERT Underwater network simulator.
A Coupling Analytical Method of a Fuel Control System under Electromagnetic Pulses
Authors: Cao Jie , Wei Minxiang , Zhou Dong
Published: July 2022

This study presents an electromagnetic coupling analytical method of a fuel control system under electromagnetic pulses. With the increasing complexity of the electromagnetic environment, improving the survivability of the aero-engine fuel control system is of great importance. By analyzing the electromagnetic interference of the aero-engine fuel control system under electromagnetic pulses, a coupling analytical method of an aero-engine fuel control system under electromagnetic pulses was proposed. The method tested the control system to obtain the coupling signal of the controller through the bulk current injection (BCI) test. Subsequently, the numerical model of the terminal coupling signal of the controller under an electromagnetic pulse was established, and the influence of the terminal coupling signal on the terminal circuit was investigated by numerical simulation. The method locates sensitive components of the control system and determines if the internal mechanism of the electromagnetic pulse effect is the interference of the pulse signal to control signal links. The coupling signal model is established to predict the coupling signal of the main fuel regulation control system. It identifies potential solutions to BCI method limitations that have an impact on reducing test costs.
EEG-Based Schizophrenia Diagnosis through Time Series Image Conversion and Deep Learning
Authors: Ko Dong-Woo , Yang Jung-Jin
Published: July 2022

Schizophrenia, a mental disorder experienced by more than 20 million people worldwide, is emerging as a serious issue in society. Currently, the diagnosis of schizophrenia is based only on mental disorder diagnosis and/or diagnosis by a psychiatrist or mental health professional using DSM-5, a diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. Furthermore, patients in countries with insufficient access to healthcare are difficult to diagnose for schizophrenia and early diagnosis is even more problematic. While various studies are being conducted to solve the challenges of schizophrenia diagnosis, methodology is considered to be limited, and diagnostic accuracy needs to be improved. In this study, a new approach using EEG data and deep learning is proposed to increase objectivity and efficiency of schizophrenia diagnosis. Existing deep learning studies use EEG data to classify schizophrenic patients and healthy subjects by learning EEG in the form of graphs or tables. However, in this study, EEG, a time series data, was converted into an image to improve classification accuracy, and is then studied in deep learning models. This study used EEG data of 81 people, in which the difference in N100 EEG between schizophrenic patients and healthy patients had been analyzed in prior research. EEGs were converted into images using time series image conversion algorithms, Recurrence Plot (RP) and Gramian Angular Field (GAF), and converted EEG images were learned with Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) models built based on VGGNet. When the trained deep learning model was applied to the same data from prior research, it was demonstrated that classification accuracy improved when compared to previous studies. Among the two algorithms used for image conversion, the deep learning model that learned through GAF showed significantly higher classification accuracy. The results of this study suggest that the use of GAF and CNN models based on EEG results can be an effective way to increase objectivity and efficiency in diagnosing various mental disorders, including schizophrenia.
Design and Implementation of an Intelligent Assistive Cane for Visually Impaired People Based on an Edge-Cloud Collaboration Scheme
Authors: Ma Yuqi , Shi Yanqing , Zhang Moyu , Li Wei , Ma Chen , Guo Yu
Published: July 2022

Visually impaired people face many inconveniences in daily life, and there are problems such as high prices and single functions in the market of assistance tools for visually impaired people. In this work, we designed and implemented a low-cost intelligent assistance cane, particularly for visually impaired individuals, based on computer vision, sensors, and an edge-cloud collaboration scheme. Obstacle detection, fall detection, and traffic light detection functions have been designed and integrated for the convenience of moving for visually impaired people. We have also designed an image captioning function and object detection function with high-speed processing capability based on an edge-cloud collaboration scheme to improve the user experience. Experiments show that the performance metrics have an aerial obstacle detection accuracy of 92.5%, fall detection accuracy of 90%, and average image retrieval period of 1.124 s. It proves the characteristics of low power consumption, strong real-time performance, adaptability to multiple scenarios, and convenience, which can ensure the safety of visually impaired people when moving and can help them better perceive and understand the surrounding environment.
AGS-SSD: Attention-Guided Sampling for 3D Single-Stage Detector
Authors: Qian Hanxiang , Wu Peng , Sun Bei , Su Shaojing
Published: July 2022

3D object detection based on LiDAR point cloud has always been challenging. Existing point cloud downsampling approaches often use heuristic algorithms such as farthest point sampling (FPS) to extract the features from a massive raw point cloud. However, FPS has disadvantages such as low operating efficiency and inability to sample key areas. This paper presents an attention-guided downsampling method for point-cloud-based 3D object detection, named AGS-SSD. The method contains two modules: PEA (point external attention) and A-FPS (attention-guided FPS). PEA explores the correlation between the data and uses the external attention mechanism to extract the semantic features in the set abstraction stage. The semantic information, including the relationship between the samples, is sent to the candidate point generation module as context points. A-FPS weighs the point cloud according to the generated attention map and samples the foreground points with rich semantic information as candidate points. The experimental results show that our method achieves significant improvements with novel architectures against the baseline and runs at 24 frames per second for inference.
Practical Digital Twins Application to High Energy Systems: Thermal Protection for Multi-Detector
Authors: Wojtulewicz Andrzej , Domański Paweł D. , Czarnynoga Maciej , Kutyła Monika , Ławryńczuk Maciej , Nebeluk Robert , Plamowski Sebastian , Rosłon Krystian , Zarzycki Krzysztof
Published: July 2022

The digital twins concept brings a new perspective into the system design and maintenance practice. As any industrial process can be accurately simulated, its digital replica can be utilized to design a control system structure, evaluate its efficacy and investigate the properties of the real system and possible issues. Based on such an analysis, ideas for improvement may be formulated. This article reports the formulation of a digital twin system developed for a Thermal System (TS) maintaining proper thermal conditions for the operation of the Silicon Tracking Detectors (STDs) utilized for high-energy physics experiments. A thermal system digital twin is built for a full-scale target installation, which is right now during the construction phase. The emphasis is put on a proper control system design using the thermal system digital twins.
Economic Aspects of Low Carbon Development
Authors: Dzikuć Maciej , Piwowar Arkadiusz
Published: July 2022

Low-carbon development is a prerequisite and a fundamental element of sustainable development [...]
PV Power Forecasting Based on Relevance Vector Machine with Sparrow Search Algorithm Considering Seasonal Distribution and Weather Type
Authors: Ma Wentao , Qiu Lihong , Sun Fengyuan , Ghoneim Sherif S. M. , Duan Jiandong
Published: July 2022

Accurate photovoltaic (PV) power forecasting is indispensable to enhancing the stability of the power grid and expanding the absorptive photoelectric capacity of the power grid. As an excellent nonlinear regression model, the relevance vector machine (RVM) can be employed to forecast PV power. However, the optimization of the free parameters is still a key problem for improving the performance of the RVM. Taking advantage of the strong global search capability, good stability, and fast convergence rate of the sparrow search algorithm (SSA), this paper optimizes the parameters of the RVM by using the SSA to develop an excellent RVM (called SSA-RVM). Consequently, a novel hybrid PV power forecasting model via the SSA-RVM is proposed to perform ultra-short-term (4 h ahead) prediction. In addition, the effects of seasonal distribution and weather type on PV power are fully considered, and different seasonal prediction models are established separately to improve the prediction capability. The benchmark is used to verify the accuracy of the SSA-RVM-based forecasting model under various conditions, and the experiment results demonstrate that the proposed SSA-RMV method outperforms the traditional RVM and support vector machine models, and it even shows a better prediction effect than the RVM models with other optimization approaches.
Application of Temporal Fusion Transformer for Day-Ahead PV Power Forecasting
Authors: López Santos Miguel , García-Santiago Xela , Echevarría Camarero Fernando , Blázquez Gil Gonzalo , Carrasco Ortega Pablo
Published: July 2022

The energy generated by a solar photovoltaic (PV) system depends on uncontrollable factors, including weather conditions and solar irradiation, which leads to uncertainty in the power output. Forecast PV power generation is vital to improve grid stability and balance the energy supply and demand. This study aims to predict hourly day-ahead PV power generation by applying Temporal Fusion Transformer (TFT), a new attention-based architecture that incorporates an interpretable explanation of temporal dynamics and high-performance forecasting over multiple horizons. The proposed forecasting model has been trained and tested using data from six different facilities located in Germany and Australia. The results have been compared with other algorithms like Auto Regressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA), Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP), and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), using statistical error indicators. The use of TFT has been shown to be more accurate than the rest of the algorithms to forecast PV generation in the aforementioned facilities.
Modeling and Vector Control of a Cage+Nested-Loop Rotor Brushless Doubly Fed Induction Motor
Authors: Hutton Tainton , Gule Nkosinathi
Published: July 2022

The brushless doubly fed induction machine (BDFIM) is being considered as a possible solution for low-speed wind energy generator applications. It has been proposed as an alternative to the doubly fed induction machine (DFIM) due to its robust rotor structure as well as low operational maintenance requirements. However, due to its complicated control philosophy, higher overall machine size due to the extra set of control windings in the stator, and slightly lower efficiency, it is yet to be adopted in commercial applications. In this paper, a simplified vector control scheme for the control winding of a cage+nested-loop (cage+NL) rotor BDFIM is proposed. Experimental results are compared with simulations to validate the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme.
An Overview about Si, Superjunction, SiC and GaN Power MOSFET Technologies in Power Electronics Applications
Authors: Prado Edemar O. , Bolsi Pedro C. , Sartori Hamiltom C. , Pinheiro José R.
Published: July 2022

This work presents a comparative analysis among four power MOSFET technologies: conventional Silicon (Si), Superjunction (SJ), Silicon Carbide (SiC) and Gallium Nitride (GaN), indicating the voltage, current and frequency ranges of the best performance for each technology. For this, a database with 91 power MOSFETs from different manufacturers was built. MOSFET losses are related to individual characteristics of the technology: drain-source on-state resistance, input capacitance, Miller capacitance and internal gate resistance. The total losses are evaluated considering a drain-source voltage of 400 V, power levels from 1 kW to 16 kW (1 A–40 A) and frequencies from 1 kHz to 500 kHz. A methodology for selecting power MOSFETs in power electronics applications is also presented.
Design of LCC-P Constant Current Topology Parameters for AUV Wireless Power Transfer
Authors: Qiao Kangheng , Rong Enguo , Sun Pan , Zhang Xiaochen , Sun Jun
Published: July 2022

The wireless power transmission (WPT) of an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) tends to have non-negligible eddy current loss with increasing frequency or coil current due to the conductivity of seawater. In this paper, the inductor-capacitor-capacitor and parallel (LCC-P) topology and the magnetic coupler with an H-shaped receiver structure are chosen to achieve a compact system on the receiving side. The conditions for constant current output of the LCC-P topology are analyzed based on the cascaded circuit analysis method. The traditional parameter design method does not consider the influence of eddy current loss on the system circuit model, by introducing the equivalent eddy current loss resistance at both the transmitting side and receiving side, a modified circuit model of the WPT system in the seawater condition was obtained. Afterward, a nonlinear programming model with the optimal efficiency of the constant current mode as the objective function is established, and the genetic algorithm is used to obtain the optimal system parameters. An underwater AUV-WPT prototype was built and the finite element simulation and experimental results verified the theoretical analysis.
Determination and Analysis of Joule’s Heat and Temperature in an Electrically Conductive Plate Element Subject to Short-Term Induction Heating by a Non-Stationary Electromagnetic Field
Authors: Musii Roman , Pukach Petro , Kohut Ihor , Vovk Myroslava , Šlahor Ľudomír
Published: July 2022

We propose a mathematical model that allows us to determine the temperature field of a parallel-sided electrically conductive plate element subject to uniform non-stationary electromagnetic action. We formulate initial-boundary value problems to determine the parameters of the non-stationary electromagnetic field (NEMF) and the temperature. We develop a methodology to solve these initial-boundary value problems using the approximation of determining functions by cubic polynomials over thickness of the plate element. General solutions for the related Cauchy problems at uniform non-stationary electromagnetic action are obtained. Based on these solutions, the temporal variation of Joule’s heat and temperature in the plate element, subject to short-term induction heating by an NEMF in the mode of impulse modulating signal (MIMS), is analyzed. Temperature dependencies on the different values of electromagnetic field stress and on the different time duration were obtained. The choice of the carrier frequency of electromagnetic field oscillations is explained for the frequencies mostly used in industrial devices for inductive heating.
Study of Mass Loss and Elemental Analysis of Pine Wood Pellets in a Small-Scale Reactor
Authors: Fraga Lelis Gonzaga , Silva João , Teixeira José Carlos , Ferreira Manuel E. C. , Teixeira Senhorinha F. , Vilarinho Cândida , Gonçalves Maria Margarida
Published: July 2022

Studying the thermal decomposition of wood pellets is an important subject in order to understand the behavior of wood pellets during the combustion process. In fact, wood pellets have become an important fuel used in boiler combustion. The objective of this study is to investigate the mass loss and elemental analysis of pine wood pellets at various times and temperatures. Commercial pellets with a diameter of 6 mm were used. The experiment was conducted in the laboratory of the Engineering University of Minho. The pellets were burned in a small reactor of 1.36 kW with a maximum temperature range of 1150 °C. The data were observed at different temperatures: 264, 351, 444, 541, 650, and 734 °C, and at time intervals of 30, 60, 120, 180, 240, 300, 600, 900, 1200, and 3600 s. The results of the experiment revealed that the reaction rate increases with the temperature, and the higher the combustion temperature applied, the higher the mass loss of all substances observed. The remaining mass, as fixed carbon and ash or unburned substances, is about 3%. The residence time and temperature influence the species concentration of wood pellets.
Combined Control System for the Coordinates of the Electric Mode in the Electrotechnological Complex “Arc Steel Furnace-Power-Supply Network”
Authors: Kozyra Jacek , Lozynskyy Andriy , Łukasik Zbigniew , Kuśmińska-Fijałkowska Aldona , Kutsyk Andriy , Podskarbi Grzegorz , Paranchuk Yaroslav , Kasha Lidiia
Published: July 2022

To stabilize the electrical mode of an arc steelmaking furnace in the initial stages of melting, it is advisable to use a high-speed current-limiting system, in addition to the traditional electrode movement control system. This system is implemented by including the primary winding of the furnace transformer choke, controlled by thyristors. The use of such a system, on the one hand, reduces the negative impact of the arc steel furnace on the the power supply network operation and, on the other, affects the operation of the electrode movement system, built on the principle of an impedance regulator. In order to analyze the mutual influences between such systems, a mathematical model for the power supply and control system of the arc steelmaking furnace was created. The developed model can work in real time, which corresponds to the world trends of modern control system synthesis for complex technological objects. In the created model, the work of the combined control system with different approaches to the formation of the control effect in the high-speed circuit and the effect of the combined control system on the power supply system of the ASF are analyzed.
Cascade System for Biomineralization in Cement: Project, Construction and Operationalization to Enhance Building Energy Efficiency
Authors: Ferreira Brasileiro Pedro Pinto , Cabral Roque Bruno Augusto , Batista Brandão Yana , Casazza Alessandro Alberto , Converti Attilio , Benachour Mohand , Asfora Sarubbo Leonie
Published: July 2022

Anthropogenic and natural actions cause internal and external fractures in concrete. To recover these structures, bio-concretes have been developed with bacteria of the genus Bacillus. These microorganisms consume calcium lactate, synthesize calcium carbonate and biomineralize CaCO3 crystals within the structures of concrete. The aim of the present study was to construct equipment, denominated “Cascade System for Biomineralization in Cement” (CSBC), to determine the limiting velocity of the biomineralization of CaCO3. The construction of the equipment took into consideration chemical and biochemical phenomena responsible for biomineralization. Parts made with 3D printing and a circuit with Arduino UNO R3 board were used in the assembly of the system. The prototype proved to be stable and can be considered a promising tool for future application in research of the regeneration of reinforced concreted in a practical, fast and economical way, especially to the energy sector.
Waste Heat Recovery Systems with Isobaric Expansion Technology Using Pure and Mixed Working Fluids
Authors: Roosjen Sander , Glushenkov Maxim , Kronberg Alexander , Kersten Sascha
Published: July 2022

Economic expedience of waste heat recovery systems (WHRS), especially for low temperature difference applications, is often questionable due to high capital investments and long pay-back periods. With a simple design, isobaric expansion (IE) machines could provide a viable pathway to utilizing otherwise unprofitable waste heat streams for power generation and particularly for pumping liquids and compression of gases. Different engine configurations are presented and discussed. A new method of modeling and calculation of the IE process and efficiency is used on IE cycles with various pure and mixed working fluids. Some interesting cases are presented. It is shown in this paper that the simplest non-regenerative IE engines are efficient at low temperature differences between a heat source and heat sink. The efficiency of the non-regenerative IE process with pure working fluid can be very high, approaching Carnot efficiency at low pressure and heat source/heat sink temperature differences. Regeneration can increase efficiency of the IE cycle to some extent. Application of mixed working fluids in combination with regeneration can significantly increase the range of high efficiencies to much larger temperature and pressure differences.