bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Professional Identity and Career Adaptability among Chinese Engineering Students: The Mediating Role of Learning Engagement
Authors: Liu Xinqiao , Ji Xinyu , Zhang Yifan , Gao Wenjuan
Published: June 2023

Due to the rapid development of science and technology, economic development has changed dramatically, resulting in the transformation of career characteristics. Individuals need to convey a higher career adaptability than ever before in order to face the rapid changes brought by development. Especially for college students in the critical period of career development, having good career adaptability is of great significance to their future career choice and development. This study conducted a cross-sectional survey of 692 engineering undergraduates at a top engineering university in China and used the data to investigate the relationship between the professional identity (professional interest, professional strength, career prospects, and professional satisfaction) and career adaptability of college students, as well as to discuss the mediating role of learning engagement in the relationship between professional identity and career adaptability. The results of the correlation analysis showed that professional identity was positively correlated with career adaptability. The mediation effect model indicated that learning engagement played a mediating role in the relationship between the professional identity and career adaptability of Chinese college students. In other words, professional identity had a direct positive impact on career adaptability, while professional identity, mediated by learning engagement, had a positive impact on career adaptability. The study recommends that colleges provide students with a more conducive academic environment and more opportunities for career practice. We also encourage educators to provide more emotional support and identity for students to enhance students’ career adaptability by creating a favorable academic and emotional atmosphere.
Theoretical and Numerical Examination of a Novel Method for Identifying Bridge Moving Force Using an Instrumented Vehicle
Authors: Liu Dexin , Liu Bo , Li Xingui , Shi Kang
Published: June 2023

This study presents a novel and highly efficient technique to identify moving forces by utilising the acceleration response of an instrumented moving vehicle. The complex task of determining moving forces is transformed into one of solving linear equations, made easier through the Newmark-β method. To overcome the ill-conditioned problem and improve the recognition accuracy, Tikhonov regularisation is employed. Uniquely, this approach necessitates the placement sensors on the vehicle alone to record the responses of the vehicle–bridge coupled system as it traverses the bridge. Once the coupled responses are acquired, the moving force is quickly identified using the proposed method. The reliability of this method is numerically verified using a case study of a single degree-of-freedom vehicle crossing a simply supported beam. The performance of the proposed method is further demonstrated by examining several typical external factors. The results indicate that the method presents a high recognition accuracy, demonstrating good robustness and reliability even amidst substantial environmental noise interference. This proposed method offers a new perspective for identifying the moving force of small- to medium-span bridges.
Clinicopathological and Genetic Characteristics of Patients of Different Ages with Diffuse Sclerosing Variant Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma
Authors: Kim Soo-Young , Shin Su-Jin , Lee Dong-Gi , Yun Hyeok-Jun , Kim Seok-Mo , Chang Hojin , Chang Hang-Seok , Shin Hyunjung , Lee Yong-Sang
Published: June 2023

Diffuse sclerosing variant papillary thyroid carcinoma (DSVPTC) is commonly observed in young patients, with a median age at diagnosis in the third decade of life. Further, the risk of recurrence is higher for DSVPTC than for classical PTC. Therefore, this study aimed to describe the clinicopathological and genetic characteristics of patients of different ages with DSVPTC. We retrospectively reviewed 397 patients who underwent thyroidectomy for DSVPTC at Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University, from January 2005 to December 2017. The mean age at diagnosis was 36.7 ± 11.6 years, with most patients (163, 41.1%) aged 31–40 years. DSVPTC was predominant in women (276, 69.5%). We observed recurrence in 46 (11.6%) patients, with regional nodal recurrence being the most common type of recurrence (32 patients, 69.6%). The mean tumour size was larger in younger patients than in older patients. DSVPTC was more aggressive in paediatric patients with a larger-sized tumour, more common multiplicity, and lateral neck metastasis. Through random sampling, we selected 41 patients by age group and examined the mutations in 119 genes using next-generation sequencing. BRAF, KRAS, and TERT displayed relatively higher mutation rates than other genes. DSVPTC displays different clinical, pathological, and molecular profiles than classical PTC. The BRAF, KRAS, and TERT mutations are the most important, with age-specific differences.
Cancer in Migrants: A Population-Based Study in Italy
Authors: Collatuzzo Giulia , Ferrante Margherita , Ippolito Antonella , Di Prima Alessia , Colarossi Cristina , Scarpulla Salvatore , Boffetta Paolo , Sciacca Salvatore
Published: June 2023

Background: Migrants are a vulnerable and neglected population. We aimed at investigating cancer proportionate rates in migrants in Sicily, Southern Italy. Methods: We extracted data on new cancer cases diagnosed between 2004 and 2019 from the Eastern Sicily cancer registry. We compared the adjusted proportionate morbidity ratio (PMR) for the most common cancer types among migrants and non-migrants. We fitted multivariate logistic regression models comparing one cancer to all other cancers to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for migration status. The analysis was stratified by region of origin. Results: Overall, 4726 new cancer cases occurred in migrants between 2004 and 2019, 63.5% of those among women and 224,211 in non-migrants, including 54.5% among men, with odds for migrants/non-migrants of 2.1%. Migrants had an increased proportion of cervical (PMR = 2.68, 95% CI = 2.29–3.10) and lung cancer (PMR = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.07–1.33). The highest OR in migrants was observed for cervical cancer (OR = 3.54, 95% CI = 2.99–4.20). Colorectal cancer was decreased among migrants (OR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.77–0.96). Conclusions: Migrants to Sicily have higher odds of cervical cancer and a decreased risk of colorectal cancer compared to non-migrants. Increased odds were also detected for lung cancer, in particular in women. Different cancer patterns could be observed based on the region of origin. HPV-related cancers need targeted attention in migrants living in Sicily.
Risk of Intraepithelial Neoplasia Grade 3 or Worse (CIN3+) among Women Examined by a 5-Type HPV mRNA Test during 2003 and 2004, Followed through 2015
Authors: Rad Amir , Sørbye Sveinung Wergeland , Tiwari Sweta , Løchen Maja-Lisa , Skjeldestad Finn Egil
Published: June 2023

Background: The study’s purpose was to evaluate the performance of a five-type HPV mRNA test to predict cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 or worse (CIN3+) during up to 12 years of follow-up. Methods: Overall, 19,153 women were recruited by gynecologists and general practitioners in different parts of Norway between 2003 and 2004. The study population comprised 9582 women of these women, aged 25–69 years with normal cytology and a valid five-type HPV mRNA test at baseline. Follow-up for CIN3+ through 2015 was conducted in the Norwegian Cervical Cancer Screening Programme. Results: The cumulative incidence of CIN3+ by baseline status for HPV mRNA-positive and mRNA-negative women were 20.8% and 1.1%, respectively (p < 0.001). Age did not affect the long-term ability of the HPV mRNA test to predict CIN3+ during follow-up. Conclusion: The low long-term risk of CIN3+ among HPV mRNA-negative women and the high long-term risk among HPV mRNA-positive women strengthen the evidence that the five-type HPV mRNA test is an appropriate screening test for women of all ages. Our findings suggest that women with a negative result may extend the screening interval up to 10 years.
Interleukin-36 Receptor Signaling Attenuates Epithelial Wound Healing in C57BL/6 Mouse Corneas
Authors: Chen Qi , Gao Nan , Yu Fu-Shin
Published: June 2023

The IL-36 cytokines are known to play various roles in mediating the immune and inflammatory response to tissue injury in a context-dependent manner. This study investigated the role of IL-36R signaling in mediating epithelial wound healing in normal (NL) and diabetic (DM) C57BL/6 mouse corneas. The rate of epithelial wound closure was significantly accelerated in IL-36 receptor-deficient (IL-36R−/−) compared to wild-type (WT) mice. Wounding increased IL-36α and -36γ but repressed IL-36R antagonist (IL-36Ra) expression in B6 mouse corneal epithelial cells. The wound-induced proinflammatory cytokines CXCL1 and CXCL2 were dampened, while the antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) S100A8 and A9 were augmented in IL-36R−/− mouse corneas. Intriguingly, the expression of AMP LCN2 was augmented at the mRNA level. LCN2 deficiency resulted in an acceleration of epithelial wound healing. IL-36R deficiency also greatly increased the healing rate of the corneal epithelial wound in DM mice. IL-36R deficiency also suppressed IL-1β, IL-1Ra, and ICAM expression in unwounded-DM mice and wounded NL corneas. Opposing IL-1β and ICAM, the expression of IL-Ra in DM corneas of IL-36R−/− mice was augmented. The presence of recombinant IL-1Ra and IL-36Ra accelerated epithelial wound closure in T1DM corneas of B6 mice. Our study revealed an unprecedented role of IL-36R signaling in controlling corneal epithelial wound healing in normal (NL) and diabetic (DM) mice. Our data suggest that IL-36Ra, similar to IL-1Ra, might be a therapeutic reagent for improving wound healing and reducing wound-associated ulceration, particularly in the cornea and potentially in the skin of DM patients.
Structural-Phase Change of Multilayer Ceramics Zr-Y-O/Si-Al-N under High Temperature
Authors: Fedorischeva Marina , Kalashnikov Mark , Bozhko Irina , Dorofeeva Tamara , Sergeev Victor
Published: June 2023

To increase the thermocyclic resistance of material, multilayer coatings with alternating layers of Zr-Y-O and Si-Al-N were obtained via magnetron sputtering. It was established that a coating layer based on Zr-Y-O has a columnar structure; the height of the columns is determined by the thickness of the layer. The Si-Al-N-based layer is amorphous. There were monoclinic and tetragonal phases with a large lattice parameter in the composition of the Zr-Y-O-based coating layer. After high-temperature annealing, a tetragonal phase with a small lattice parameter appeared in the microscope column. In the “in situ” mode, a change in the structural state of the Zr-Y-O coating layer was detected in the temperature range of 450–500 °C; namely, a change in the grain size and coherent scattering regions, and an increase in internal elastic stresses. It was found that the thermocyclic resistance increased by more than two times for multilayer samples compared to the single-layer ones we studied earlier.
Adenosine A2A Receptor Activation Regulates Niemann–Pick C1 Expression and Localization in Macrophages
Authors: Skopál Adrienn , Ujlaki Gyula , Gerencsér Attila Tibor , Bankó Csaba , Bacsó Zsolt , Ciruela Francisco , Virág László , Haskó György , Kókai Endre
Published: June 2023

Adenosine plays an important role in modulating immune cell function, particularly T cells and myeloid cells, such as macrophages and dendritic cells. Cell surface adenosine A2A receptors (A2AR) regulate the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, as well as the proliferation, differentiation, and migration of immune cells. In the present study, we expanded the A2AR interactome and provided evidence for the interaction between the receptor and the Niemann–Pick type C intracellular cholesterol transporter 1 (NPC1) protein. The NPC1 protein was identified to interact with the C-terminal tail of A2AR in RAW 264.7 and IPMФ cells by two independent and parallel proteomic approaches. The interaction between the NPC1 protein and the full-length A2AR was further validated in HEK-293 cells that permanently express the receptor and RAW264.7 cells that endogenously express A2AR. A2AR activation reduces the expression of NPC1 mRNA and protein density in LPS-activated mouse IPMФ cells. Additionally, stimulation of A2AR negatively regulates the cell surface expression of NPC1 in LPS-stimulated macrophages. Furthermore, stimulation of A2AR also altered the density of lysosome-associated membrane protein 2 (LAMP2) and early endosome antigen 1 (EEA1), two endosomal markers associated with the NPC1 protein. Collectively, these results suggested a putative A2AR-mediated regulation of NPC1 protein function in macrophages, potentially relevant for the Niemann–Pick type C disease when mutations in NPC1 protein result in the accumulation of cholesterol and other lipids in lysosomes.
Correlates of Climate Change Action Communication Modalities in the United States
Authors: Latkin Carl , Dayton Lauren , Bonneau Haley , Countess Kennedy , Hendrickson Zoé , Vidal Carol
Published: June 2023

Communicating about actions to address climate change is critical to mobilize collective actions, and enact policies for climate change mitigation (prevention) and adaptation to climate change. The current study assessed factors associated with climate change action (CCA) communications in the US. Respondents were recruited through Prolific, an online survey research platform. The sample was restricted to the 599 respondents who reported that the issue of climate change was extremely or very important to them. Key outcome variables included (1) talking to family/friends about CCA, (2) texting/emailing family/friends about CCA, and (3) posting or sharing a post on social media about CCA. Multinomial logistic regression models examined correlates of CCA communications. Descriptive and injunctive social norms, barriers to CCA, and climate change distress were consistently significantly associated with engaging in the three CCA communication modalities in the prior month compared to never. This study’s results suggest that talking with peers is the most common form of CCA communication, and is associated with social norms and distinct barriers to CCA. Organizations that address climate change should consider utilizing dialogical approaches to shift social norms related to CCA, and foster CCA communications and address barriers to CCA.
Protective Effects of Naringenin against UVB Irradiation and Air Pollution-Induced Skin Aging and Pigmentation
Authors: Österlund Christina , Hrapovic Nina , Lafon-Kolb Virginie , Amini Nahid , Smiljanic Sandra , Visdal-Johnsen Lene
Published: June 2023

Both UVB irradiation and air pollution are major extrinsic factors causing premature aging of the skin, including sagging, wrinkles, and pigmentation spots. Naringenin, a naturally occurring flavanone, found in citrus fruits, and known for its good antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, was investigated for protective effects in human skin cells and reconstructed epidermis. The results showed that naringenin inhibits UVB-induced inflammation markers MMP1, MMP3, IL6, and GM-CSF, as well as pollution-induced MMP1 in human skin fibroblasts. Furthermore, naringenin inhibited the pollution-induced expression of the CYP1A1 gene in human skin keratinocytes. In melanocytes and pigmented reconstructed epidermis, naringenin significantly downregulated several genes involved in melanogenesis, such as MITF, MLPH, and MYO5A. Additionally topical treatment with naringenin on pigmented reconstructed epidermis significantly decreased melanin production. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that naringenin could be a valuable ingredient in skincare products, protecting against the detrimental effects of both UVB and pollution on the skin.
Genetic Diversity Assessment of Winged Bean [Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) DC.] Accessions Using Agronomic and Seed Morphometric Traits
Authors: Bhadmus Ayomide , Abberton Michael , Idehen Emmanuel , Ekanem Ukoabasi , Paliwal Rajneesh , Oyatomi Olaniyi
Published: June 2023

Winged bean [Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) DC.] is an underutilized legume with the potential to contribute to nutrition and food security globally, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, more attention needs to be paid to exploiting its full potential due to a lack of adequate knowledge of the existing genetic diversity in the available winged bean germplasm. To bridge this gap, thirty accessions of winged beans sourced from the Gene Bank of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, were evaluated for seed morphometric and selected agro-morphological traits at three agro-ecological zones in Nigeria. The data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA), principal component (PC) analysis, cluster analysis, and correlation analysis. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed among the accessions for all measured traits. The first two PCs accounted for 88.2% of the variation observed among the accessions for all measured traits. Accessions were grouped into three clusters based on the agro-morphological traits and three clusters under the multi-spectral imaging (MSI) system. TPt-31 had the highest seed yield per plant, pod weight per plant, and early maturity, while TPt-7 had an extended flowering and maturity period, the highest number of pods per peduncle and pods per plant, as well as the lowest seed yield. These accessions could be a good resource for future winged bean improvement programs. The result also confirmed that the MSI system is an invaluable tool for discriminating among accessions of the same crop species. The findings of this study provide insight into the genetic diversity of winged bean germplasm, which could contribute to improving its yield and quality in SSA and globally.
Aquatic Biodiversity: Evolution, Taxonomy and Conservation
Authors: Levin Boris A. , Bespalaya Yulia V.
Published: June 2023

Twenty-one studies on the diversity of aquatic organisms inhabiting water ecosystems in Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, and Oceania were collected for the current Special Issue [...]
Assessing the Relative Vulnerability of Chondrichthyan Species as Bycatch Using Spatially Reported Catch Data Series
Authors: Reis Marcelo , Figueira Will F.
Published: June 2023

Fishery impacts pose threats not only to target species, but also to bycatch species. Nevertheless, choosing priorities for conservation or research in fisheries is often driven by economic value and most retained bycatch species such as sharks and rays have been historically of low profit. Traditional stock assessments usually require large quantities of data, financial support, and feasible study conditions. The multi-species nature of Chondrichthyan catch along with their relatively lower value and sparsity of fishery-independent data creates significant challenges to developing accurate impact predictions. This study introduces a novel technique to quantify the relative vulnerability of Chondrichthyan species taken as bycatch. The approach is based on spatial interactions between species and fishing activity (termed here the fishery interaction index, or FII) and is correlated to metrics of productivity. A database of 15 years of fisheries logbooks was used to apply the method to 20 bycatch sharks and target species in one of the largest fishing sectors of Australia’s EEZ. Overall vulnerability based on the FII-productivity combinations obtained was found to agree considerably with the IUCN status of the assessed species, with only a few exceptions that reflected the local status differing from the general global assessments.
Decadal Stability of Macrobenthic Zonation along the Estuarine Gradient in the Ob Bay, the Largest Siberian Estuary
Authors: Chikina Margarita , Kokarev Valentin , Basin Alexander , Polukhin Alexander , Shchuka Sergey , Simakov Miloslav , Udalov Alexey
Published: June 2023

The Siberian Arctic Shelf is an area of increasing anthropogenic activity and is predicted to be significantly impacted by climate change. Accordingly, there is an increased demand for baseline knowledge on the scales of natural spatiotemporal variation of different ecosystem components. The study aimed to investigate the spatial variability of macrobenthic communities and associated abiotic forcing in the Ob Bay, a major Arctic estuary. Four main zones of macrobenthic communities were identified: a brackish-water zone in the upper part of the estuary, which was divided into two subzones according to the dominant species; a transition zone at the mouth of the Ob Bay; and a marine zone. This zonation remained stable during the study period (2013–2019) and corresponded well with previous studies in the area. The large-scale variation in macrobenthic communities was related mainly to two independent drivers: salinity and sediment type. The within-zone variation increased with the number of coexisting species, but no temporal trends could be assessed. The study highlights the need to account for the small-scale heterogeneity of benthic communities to understand ecosystem functioning and long-term dynamics, particularly in areas where environmental conditions vary markedly.
Optical Coherence Tomography in Inflammatory and Neoplastic Lesions Deforming the Choroidal Profile
Authors: Bolletta Elena , De Simone Luca , Pellegrini Marco , Preziosa Chiara , Mastrofilippo Valentina , Adani Chantal , Gentile Pietro , Gozzi Fabrizio , Cimino Luca
Published: June 2023

The choroid is the main part of the uvea, the vascular layer of the eye that lies between the retina and the sclera. The high vascular component of the choroid makes this structure susceptible to inflammation in multisystemic diseases, as well as the most common site of metastasis in the eye. Therefore, the choroid is involved in many pathological conditions, from uveitis to intraocular tumors. Differentiating between inflammatory and neoplastic lesions deforming the choroidal profile can sometimes be challenging. In addition, scleral disorders can also deform the choroidal profile. Choroidal imaging includes ophthalmic ultrasonography, indocyanine green angiography, and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Recent advances in choroidal imaging techniques, such as enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) and swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT), have facilitated an in-depth analysis of the choroid. The purpose of this review article is to report on and highlight the most common OCT findings to help in the differential diagnosis between inflammatory and neoplastic lesions deforming the choroidal profile.
An Unenhanced Breast MRI Protocol Based on Diffusion-Weighted Imaging: A Retrospective Single-Center Study on High-Risk Population for Breast Cancer
Authors: Rotili Anna , Pesapane Filippo , Signorelli Giulia , Penco Silvia , Nicosia Luca , Bozzini Anna , Meneghetti Lorenza , Zanzottera Cristina , Mannucci Sara , Bonanni Bernardo , Cassano Enrico
Published: June 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the use of contrast-free magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as an innovative screening method for detecting breast cancer in high-risk asymptomatic women. Specifically, the researchers evaluated the diagnostic performance of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in this population. Methods: MR images from asymptomatic women, carriers of a germline mutation in either the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, collected in a single center from January 2019 to December 2021 were retrospectively evaluated. A radiologist with experience in breast imaging (R1) and a radiology resident (R2) independently evaluated DWI/ADC maps and, in case of doubts, T2-WI. The standard of reference was the pathological diagnosis through biopsy or surgery, or ≥1 year of clinical and radiological follow-up. Diagnostic performances were calculated for both readers with a 95% confidence interval (CI). The agreement was assessed using Cohen’s kappa (κ) statistics. Results: Out of 313 women, 145 women were included (49.5 ± 12 years), totaling 344 breast MRIs with DWI/ADC maps. The per-exam cancer prevalence was 11/344 (3.2%). The sensitivity was 8/11 (73%; 95% CI: 46–99%) for R1 and 7/11 (64%; 95% CI: 35–92%) for R2. The specificity was 301/333 (90%; 95% CI: 87–94%) for both readers. The diagnostic accuracy was 90% for both readers. R1 recalled 40/344 exams (11.6%) and R2 recalled 39/344 exams (11.3%). Inter-reader reproducibility between readers was in moderate agreement (κ = 0.43). Conclusions: In female carriers of a BRCA1/2 mutation, breast DWI supplemented with T2-WI allowed breast cancer detection with high sensitivity and specificity by a radiologist with extensive experience in breast imaging, which is comparable to other screening tests. The findings suggest that DWI and T2-WI have the potential to serve as a stand-alone method for unenhanced breast MRI screening in a selected population, opening up new perspectives for prospective trials.
Resource Allocation and Offloading Strategy for UAV-Assisted LEO Satellite Edge Computing
Authors: Zhang Hongxia , Xi Shiyu , Jiang Hongzhao , Shen Qi , Shang Bodong , Wang Jian
Published: June 2023

In emergency situations, such as earthquakes, landslides and other natural disasters, the terrestrial communications infrastructure is severely disrupted and unable to provide services to terrestrial IoT devices. However, tasks in emergency scenarios often require high levels of computing power and energy supply that cannot be processed quickly enough by devices locally and require computational offloading. In addition, offloading tasks to server-equipped edge base stations may not always be feasible due to the lack of infrastructure or distance. Since Low Orbit Satellites (LEO) have abundant computing resources, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have flexible deployment, offloading tasks to LEO satellite edge servers via UAVs becomes straightforward, which provides computing services to ground-based devices. Therefore, this paper investigates the computational tasks and resource allocation in a UAV-assisted multi-layer LEO satellite network, taking into account satellite computing resources and device task volumes. In order to minimise the weighted sum of energy consumption and delay in the system, the problem is formulated as a constrained optimisation problem, which is then transformed into a Markov Decision Problem (MDP). We propose a UAV-assisted airspace integration network architecture, and a Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient and Long short-term memory (DDPG-LSTM)-based task offloading and resource allocation algorithm to solve the problem. Simulation results demonstrate that the solution outperforms the baseline approach and that our framework and algorithm have the potential to provide reliable communication services in emergency situations.
The Impact of Sociodemographic, Macroeconomic, and Health Status and Resources on Infant Mortality Rates in Oman: Evidence from 1980 to 2022
Authors: Eltayib Rawaa Abubakr Abuelgassim , Al-Azri Mohammed , Chan Moon Fai
Published: June 2023

Background: The infant mortality rate (IMR) is an important reflection of the well-being of infants and the overall health of the population. This study aims to examine the macroeconomic (ME), sociodemographic (SD), and health status and resources (HSR) effects on IMR, as well as how they may interact with each other. Methods: A retrospective time-series study using yearly data for Oman from 1980 to 2022. Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) was utilized to develop the exploratory model of the determinants of IMR. Results: The model indicates that HSR determinants directly, but negatively, affect IMR (β = −0.617, p < 0.001). SD directly and positively affects IMR (β = 0.447, p < 0.001). ME only indirectly affects IMR (β = −0.854, p < 0.001). ME determinants also exert some direct influences on both HSR (β = 0.722, p < 0.001) and SD (β = −0.916, p < 0.001) determinants. Conclusions: This study has indicated that IMR is a multi-faceted issue. It also highlighted the interplay of numerous variables and their influence on IMR, particularly the role that social status, the health sector, and the wealth of the country and its population play in reducing IMR. These findings indicate that an integrated policy that addresses socioeconomic and health-related factors and the overall ME environment is necessary for the health and well-being of the children and the population overall in Oman.
The Relationship between Minority Stress and Depressive Symptoms in the LGBTQA Population from Poland
Authors: Cisek Aleksandra , Rogowska Aleksandra M.
Published: June 2023

The cross-sectional study examines minority stress and depression symptoms regarding various sexual and gender minority (SGM) identities in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and asexual (LGBTQA) individuals from Poland. The online survey was conducted among 509 people. Participants aged between 18 and 47 (M = 22.39, SD = 4.78). Gender identity included 262 cisgender women, 74 cisgender men, 31 transgender women, 53 transgender men, and 89 nonbinary individuals. Sexual identity comprises 197 bisexual, 150 homosexual, 78 pansexual, 33 asexual, 21 undefined, 14 heterosexual, 9 demisexuals, 6 queer, and 1 sapiosexual individual. The Daily Heterosexist Experiences Questionnaire (DHEQ) and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale—Revised (CESD-R) were used to measure minority stress and depression symptoms, respectively. Among LGBTQA participants, 99.80% declared minority stress at least once during the past year. In particular, vicarious trauma was experienced in 99.80% of participants, vigilance in 95.87%, harassment and discrimination in 80.35%, stress related to the family of origin in 69.16%, and to gender expression in 68.76% of respondents. Depression symptoms were found in 62.50% of respondents. Significantly higher rates of depression and minority stress were presented in dual than single SGM individuals. Binomial logistic regression showed that such sources of minority stress as vigilance, harassment, and gender expression could predict depression symptoms. Therefore, prevention and intervention programs should be designed for the LGBTQA population focusing on coping with these sources of minority stress, especially among those of dual SGM identity.
Inquiry Practice Capability and Students’ Learning Effectiveness Evaluation in Strategies of Integrating Virtual Reality into Vehicle Body Electrical System Comprehensive Maintenance and Repair Services Practice: A Case Study
Authors: Liao Chin-Wen , Liao Hsin-Kuo , Chen Bo-Siang , Tseng Ying-Ju , Liao Yu-Hsiang , Wang I-Chi , Ho Wei-Sho , Ko Yu-Yuan
Published: June 2023

VR has shown positive growth in the world in recent years, which is mainly due to projects such as learning, games, entertainment and experiential activities. VR has changed the way of life of users, providing users with more interesting interactions and immersive experiences. This study aims to investigate students’ practical capabilities and learning effectiveness under the instruction strategy of integrating virtual reality into simulation games into the Vehicle Body Electrical System Comprehensive Maintenance and Repair Services Practice curriculum for students of the Dept. of Auto Mechanics in a skills-based senior high school. Two student classes of the Dept. of Auto Mechanics major in Electrical Engineering featuring practical subjects in one skills-based senior high school in central Taiwan were chosen as the participants for this study. By way of pretest–post-test research design and heterogeneous grouping, an 8-week instruction experiment was conducted in which ZPD (zone of proximal development) instruction strategies were used in the experimental group (with 43 persons), while traditional didactic instruction strategies were used in the control group (with 36 persons). ZPD instructional strategies analyze and collect quantitative and qualitative data to investigate the instructional effectiveness and feasibility in developing ZPD as the research material in the practical curriculum for the study area of the Power Machinery in Vehicle Body Electrical System Comprehensive Maintenance and Repair Services practice. According to the research objective, the results are concluded as follows. (1) Students achieved the best learning effectiveness when adopting ZPD (zone of proximal development) strategies in which virtual reality was integrated into the vehicle charging and starting system to investigate students’ automotive diagnostic troubleshooting and fault-clearing capabilities. (2) Students attained the highest acceptance in learning phenomenon when adopting ZPD (zone of proximal development) strategies in which virtual reality was integrated into students’ familiar practice factory environment and the tools and equipment operation process. (3) Students had a higher acceptance of learning effectiveness when using virtual reality simulation games in the disassembly and functional detection of vehicle charging and starting systems. (4) There is a positive effect when integrating virtual reality simulation games into ZPD instruction strategies in the knowledge, skills and attitude on students’ overall inquiry practical capabilities and their learning effectiveness.
Biot–Savart-Based Design and Workbench Validation at 100 MHz of Transverse Field Surface RF Coils
Authors: Giovannetti Giulio , Alecci Marcello , Galante Angelo
Published: June 2023

Radiofrequency (RF) surface coils are extensively used as receivers in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) systems thanks to their high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). For specific magnetic resonance applications, the design of dedicated RF surface coils with a transverse (to the coil’s plane) RF magnetic field pattern can be necessary. Such transverse-field RF coils are constituted by several central linear (parallel or crossing) conductor elements connected by return current paths. Typically, the outer shape of such RF coils is circular or squared, although other geometries can be used. This paper describes the implementation and validation of a transverse-field RF surface coil simulator based on magnetostatic analysis, which permits the design and optimization of square butterfly and figure-of-eight RF coils with adjustable size and mutual distance between the central linear current elements. The simulation results, compared with the ones provided by a standard square loop RF coil, were validated with 100 MHz workbench measurements performed on three home-built prototypes. Finally, two novel quadrature RF coil structures designed by overlapping two orthogonal square butterfly and figure-of-eight RF coils were simulated and theoretically characterized. The RF coils described here should be suitable for a wide range of MRI/MRS preclinical/clinical applications, mainly at fields below 3 T.
Diplin: A Disease Risk Prediction Model Based on EfficientNetV2 and Transfer Learning Applied to Nursing Homes
Authors: Zhou Feng , Hu Shijing , Wan Xiaoli , Lu Zhihui , Wu Jie
Published: June 2023

In the context of population aging, to reduce the run on public medical resources, nursing homes need to predict the health risks of the elderly periodically. However, there is no professional medical testing equipment in nursing homes. In the current disease risk prediction research, many datasets are collected by professional medical equipment. In addition, the currently researched models cannot be run directly on mobile terminals. In order to predict the health risks of the elderly without relying on professional medical testing equipment in the application scenarios of nursing homes, we use the datasets collected by non-professional medical testing equipment. Based on transfer learning and lightweight neural networks, we propose a disease risk prediction model, Diplin (disease risk prediction model based on lightweight neural network), applied to nursing homes. This model achieved 98% accuracy, 97% precision, 96% recall, 95% specificity, 97% F1 score, and 1.0 AUC (area under ROC curve) value on the validation set. The experimental results show that in the application scenario of nursing homes, the Diplin model can provide practical support for predicting the health risks of the elderly, and this model can be run directly on the tablet.
Day-Ahead Forecasting of the Theoretical and Actual Wind Power Generation in Energy-Constrained Island Systems
Authors: Moustris Konstantinos , Zafirakis Dimitrios
Published: June 2023

Grid operators of islands with limited system tolerance are often challenged by the need to curtail wind energy in order to maintain system stability and security of supply. At the same time, and in the absence of storage facilities and/or other means of flexibility such as demand-side management, wind park owners face the problem of rejected wind energy production that varies considerably within the year. In the prospect of a more dynamic market operation in island grids, estimation of the anticipated wind energy curtailments may allow the evaluation of different options for wind park owners, such as short-term leasing of energy storage and/or direct, bilateral power purchase agreements with flexible demand entities. To enable such options, effective wind energy forecasting is necessary not only in terms of theoretical production, but also in terms of actual production being absorbed by the system. In this direction, the current research works on the prediction of day-ahead wind energy production in island grids, aiming to generate both theoretical (expected) and actual wind power forecasts. To that end, we use artificial neural networks for the development of different day-ahead forecasting models of hourly granularity, and we then test their performance in a large-scale non-interconnected island system, where annual wind energy curtailments for local wind parks may exceed 25% of the respective theoretical yield. Our results indicate that models developed provide a fair accuracy of day-ahead wind energy predictions, which is further elaborated by initiating a discussion on the emergence of alternative actor schemes in similar systems.
Operation Control Method for High-Speed Maglev Based on Fractional-Order Sliding Mode Adaptive and Diagonal Recurrent Neural Network
Authors: Zhang Wenbai , Lin Guobin , Hu Keting , Liao Zhiming , Wang Huan
Published: June 2023

The speed profile tracking calculation of high-speed maglev trains is mainly affected by running resistance. In order to reduce the adverse effects and improve tracking accuracy, this paper presents a maglev train operation control method based on a fractional-order sliding mode adaptive and diagonal recurrent neural network (FSMA-DRNN). First, the kinematic resistance equation is established due to the three types of resistance that occur during the actual operation of a train: air resistance, guide eddy current resistance, and suspension frame generator coil resistance. Then, the FSMA-DRNN control law and parameter update law are designed, and a FSMA-DRNN operation controller is composed of three parts: speed feed forward, fractional-order sliding mode adaptive equivalent control, and diagonal recurrent neural network resistance compensation. Furthermore, by using the designed operation controller, it is proven effective by the Lyapunov theory for the stability of the closed-loop control system. Apart from the proposed theoretical analysis, the proposed approaches are verified by experiments on the high-speed maglev hardware-in-the-loop simulation platform Rt-Lab, in line with the 29.86 km test line and a five-car train from the Shanghai maglev, showing the effectiveness and superiority for operation optimization.
Chemical Modeling of Constant-Volume Combustion of the Mixture of Methane and Hydrogen Used in Spark Ignition Otto Cycles
Authors: Feidt Michel , Dumitrascu Gheorghe , Lupu Ana-Georgiana
Published: June 2023

This paper develops a chemical model for a closed constant-volume combustion of a gaseous mixture of methane and hydrogen. Since the combustion is strongly dependent on temperature, pressure and fuel composition, these had chosen the actual corresponding thermodynamic systems in this kind of combustion, i.e., spark ignition (SI) reciprocating engines, to assess combustion parameters and flue gas composition. The actual cycles impose extra restrictive operational conditions through the engine’s-volumetric-compression ratio, the geometry of the combustion volume, the preparation method of the mixture of methane and hydrogen, (e.g., one fueling way of a homogeneous mixture obtained in a specific device or by two separate fueling ways for components), the cooling system and the delivered power. The chemical model avoided the unknown influences in order to accurately explain the influence of hydrogen upon constant-volume combustion and flue gas composition. The model adopted hypotheses allowing to generalize evaluated results, i.e., the isentropic compression and expansion processes, in closed constant-volume combustion caused by two successive steps that obey the energy and mass conservation laws, and the flue gas exhaust, which is also described by two steps, i.e., isentropic expansion through the flow section of exhaust valves followed by a constant pressure stagnation (this process, in fact, corresponds to a direct throttling process). The chemical model assumed the homogeneous mixtures of gases with variable heat capacity functions of temperatures, the Mendeleev—Clapeyron ideal gas state equation, and the variable chemical equilibrium constants for the chosen chemical reactions. It was assumed that the flue gas chemistry prevails during isentropic expansion and during throttling of exhaust flue gas. The chemical model allowed for evaluation of flue gas composition and noxious emissions. The numerical results were compared with those recently reported in other parallel studies.
Current to Biomass: Media Optimization and Strain Selection from Cathode-Associated Microbial Communities in a Two-Chamber Electro-Cultivation Reactor
Authors: Xie Ting , Ehrhardt Linda , Günther Peter Mike , Köhler Johann Michael , Cao Jialan
Published: June 2023

Cathode-associated microbial communities (caMCs) are the functional key elements in the conversion of excess electrical energy into biomass. In this study, we investigated the development of electrochemical caMCs based on two-chamber microbial electrolytic cells (MECs) after optimization of media composition. Microbial communities obtained from a historical soil sample were inoculated into the cathode chamber of MECs. The inorganic medium with (A) carbon dioxide in air or (B) 100 mM sodium bicarbonate as carbon source was used in the absence of any organic carbon source. After 12 days of operation, the experimental results showed that (1) the bacterial community in group B exhibited lush growth and (2) a single strain TX168 Epilithonimonas bovis isolated from group A indicated electrochemical activity and synthesized large volumes of biomass using sodium bicarbonate. We also analyzed the caMCs of the MECs and reference samples without electro-cultivation using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The results showed that the caMCs of MECs in groups A and B were dominated by the genera Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas. The caMCs were further inoculated and cultured on different agars to isolate specific electroactive bacterial strains. Overall, our study highlights the possibility of converting excess energy into biomass by electro-cultivation and the importance of selecting appropriate media to enrich specific microbial communities and single strains in MECs.
Pan-Transcriptome Analysis of Willow Species from Diverse Geographic Distributions
Authors: Yan Zhenyu , Chen Li , Guo Ying , Dai Xiaogang , Yin Tongming , Xue Liangjiao
Published: June 2023

Willows, in the genus Salix, are widespread on the earth with significant ecological and economic values for humans. Although about 500 Salix species have been estimated, the genomic foundation of their adaptations to environments with diverse stresses has been underexplored. Here, we applied a pan-transcriptome approach to investigate the phylogenetic relationships and genetic variations among 16 willow species. A pan-transcriptome of 29,668 gene families was assembled, 69% of which exhibited presence/absence variation across the analyzed species. In comparison to core genes present in all species, shell gene families absent in at least one species were enriched with genes in pathways of signaling transduction and response to stimuli, suggesting their functions in the interaction with diverse environmental factors. A phylogenetic tree of 16 willow species was constructed with high confidence based on 870 single-copy orthologous genes, providing detailed evolutionary relationships of willow sections. The willow species were further assigned into four species clusters using the gene numbers in each family. The diversity of gene family size and gene expression levels among the willow species are closely associated with their geographical distributions. The gene family members involved in DNA repair and cellular response to DNA damage stimuli were expanded in willow species from high-altitude regions in southwestern China, which may contribute to their tolerance to ultraviolet radiation stress. Our study generates a comprehensive pan-transcriptome resource for a large set of Salix species and provides insights into the adaptations of willows to diverse environments, which will be valuable for comparative analysis with other related woody and herbaceous plants.
Optimization of Spontaneous Fermentation Conditions of Kohlrabi by Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Karaoglan Hatice Aybuke , Aktas Ayse Burcu
Published: June 2023

Kohlrabi is a valuable crop due to its substantial amount of macro- and micronutrients. It is mostly consumed in fresh form, as jam or fermented product. This current work aimed to optimize the spontaneous fermentation conditions of kohlrabi in order to improve its product functionality and diversity. For this purpose, a Box Behnken design was employed to evaluate the effects of boiling time (0–8 min.), vinegar ratio (0–50%), and salt content (2–8%) on chemical and microbiological properties of fermented kohlrabi. Some chemical and microbiological analyses, including total phenolic content, total antioxidant capacity, total acidity, pH, salt content, total counts of yeast and molds, and mesophilic and lactic acid bacteria, were determined. The total antioxidant capacity of samples changed between 11.91 and 75.75 µmol Trolox/100 g, respectively. Both ANOVA results (p  <  0.05) and PCA model (R2  =  0.99; Q2  =  0.72) confirmed that boiling time is the important factor affecting the fermentation process. The optimal fermentation parameters for kohlrabi were determined to be 44.12% vinegar and 2.07% salt concentrations without the boiling step by response surface methodology.