bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Associations Among Self-Compassion, Self-Esteem, Self-Criticism, and Concern Over Mistakes in Response to Biomechanical Feedback in Athletes
Authors: Alipour Ataabadi Yasamin , Cormier Danielle L. , Kowalski Kent C. , Oates Alison R. , Ferguson Leah J. , Lanovaz Joel L.
Published: April 2022

Athletes regularly face the possibility of failing to meet expectations in training and competition, and it is essential that they are equipped with strategies to facilitate coping after receiving performance feedback. Self-compassion is a potential resource to help athletes manage the various setbacks that arise in sport over and above other psychological resources. The primary purpose of this research was to explore how athletes respond to objective biomechanical feedback given after a performance. Specifically, we investigated if levels of self-compassion, self-esteem, self-criticism, and concern over mistakes were related to one another before and after a series of sprint tests interspersed with biomechanical feedback, and whether self-compassionate athletes achieved a better sprint performance after receiving and implementing biomechanical feedback. Forty-eight athletes (20 female: Mage = 19.8 years, SD = 3.1; 28 male: Mage = 23.6 years, SD = 7.8) completed online measures of self-compassion, self-esteem, self-criticism and concern over mistakes before performing four sets of 40-m sprints. Participants received personalized biomechanical feedback after each sprint that compared their performance to gold standard results. Following all sprints, they then completed measures of self-criticism, and reported emotions, thoughts, and reactions. Self-compassion was positively correlated with self-esteem (r = 0.57, p < 0.01) and negatively related to both self-criticism (r = −0.52, p < 0.01) and concern over mistakes (r = −0.69, p < 0.01). We also found that athletes with higher levels of self-compassion prior to sprint performance experienced less self-critical thoughts following biomechanical feedback and subsequent sprint trials (r = −0.38, p < 0.01). Although the results of this study provide some support for the effectiveness of self-compassion in promoting healthy emotions, thoughts, and reactions in response to sprint performance-based biomechanical feedback, a moderated regression analysis between the first and fourth sprint time variables revealed that self-compassion was not a moderator for change in sprint performance (R2 = 0.64, ΔR2 = 0.10, p > 0.05). These findings suggest that there are likely longer-term benefits of athletes using self-compassion to cope with biomechanical feedback, but that any benefits might be limited in a short series of sprint trials.
Growth Temperature Influences Postharvest Quality and Cold Tolerance of Green Harvested Dwarf Tomatoes During Storage
Authors: Affandi Fahrizal Yusuf , Pijnenburg Charlotte , Verdonk Julian C. , Woltering Ernst J. , Schouten Rob E.
Published: April 2022

Effect of cultivation temperature during the phase of flowering and fruit development on tomato quality was investigated. Plants of two dwarf tomato cultivars “Ponchi Re” and “Tarzan,” were subjected to three different growth temperatures: 16, 22, or 28°C, starting at the flowering phase. Mature green fruit was harvested and subjected to shelf life at 20°C for 20 days or first stored at 4°C for 15 days, and then placed under shelf life conditions. Fruit quality was determined through red color development, soluble solid content (SSC), softening, weight loss, and cold tolerance. Higher cultivation temperature increased development and production of fruit. Deviation from the 22°C growth temperature led to increased soluble solid content in both cultivars, and smaller fruit diameter in “Tarzan.” Fruit grown at lower temperature had delayed color development during shelf life, and this was further delayed by prior cold storage. “Tarzan” showed more chilling injury (CI) symptoms than “Ponchi Re.” In our experiment, SSC can be manipulated by modulating cultivation temperature, but that it is not associated with CI tolerance. Delayed color formation at the lowest growth temperature observed in “Ponchi Re” tomatoes could be resulted in lower lycopene levels leads to lower ROS scavenging capacity. For “Tarzan” tomatoes, higher firmness at harvest, less softening, and lower weight loss during cold storage in fruit from the lowest cultivation temperature might positively correlated with increased membrane integrity, resulting in increased CI tolerance. This indicates that CI incidence depends on growth temperature and is cultivar dependent in dwarf tomato fruit.
Application of the Adverse Outcome Pathway Concept to In Vitro Nephrotoxicity Assessment: Kidney Injury due to Receptor-Mediated Endocytosis and Lysosomal Overload as a Case Study
Authors: Jarzina Sebastian , Di Fiore Stefano , Ellinger Bernhard , Reiser Pia , Frank Sabrina , Glaser Markus , Wu Jiaqing , Taverne Femke J. , Kramer Nynke I. , Mally Angela
Published: April 2022

Application of adverse outcome pathways (AOP) and integration of quantitative in vitro to in vivo extrapolation (QIVIVE) may support the paradigm shift in toxicity testing to move from apical endpoints in test animals to more mechanism-based in vitro assays. Here, we developed an AOP of proximal tubule injury linking a molecular initiating event (MIE) to a cascade of key events (KEs) leading to lysosomal overload and ultimately to cell death. This AOP was used as a case study to adopt the AOP concept for systemic toxicity testing and risk assessment based on in vitro data. In this AOP, nephrotoxicity is thought to result from receptor-mediated endocytosis (MIE) of the chemical stressor, disturbance of lysosomal function (KE1), and lysosomal disruption (KE2) associated with release of reactive oxygen species and cytotoxic lysosomal enzymes that induce cell death (KE3). Based on this mechanistic framework, in vitro readouts reflecting each KE were identified. Utilizing polymyxin antibiotics as chemical stressors for this AOP, the dose-response for each in vitro endpoint was recorded in proximal tubule cells from rat (NRK-52E) and human (RPTEC/TERT1) in order to (1) experimentally support the sequence of key events (KEs), to (2) establish quantitative relationships between KEs as a basis for prediction of downstream KEs based on in vitro data reflecting early KEs and to (3) derive suitable in vitro points of departure for human risk assessment. Time-resolved analysis was used to support the temporal sequence of events within this AOP. Quantitative response-response relationships between KEs established from in vitro data on polymyxin B were successfully used to predict in vitro toxicity of other polymyxin derivatives. Finally, a physiologically based kinetic (PBK) model was utilized to transform in vitro effect concentrations to a human equivalent dose for polymyxin B. The predicted in vivo effective doses were in the range of therapeutic doses known to be associated with a risk for nephrotoxicity. Taken together, these data provide proof-of-concept for the feasibility of in vitro based risk assessment through integration of mechanistic endpoints and reverse toxicokinetic modelling.
Simulation and Test of “Separated Burying Device” of Green Manure Returning Machine Based on the EDEM Software
Authors: Yang Wang , Zhao Jinfei , Liu Xinying , Xi Linqiao , Liao Jiean
Published: April 2022

Today, China’s orchard area covers 11,874,850 ha. With China’s progress in implementing the strategy of “quality-based and environmental-friendly agricultural development”, green manure has been developed as a modernized green soil management method for use in orchard areas. Green manure shows the highest decomposition rate with a ploughing depth of 150 mm. To efficiently utilize green manure in orchard areas, a “separated burying device” was designed, which can realize “stalk falling and soil falling” simultaneously. The device was composed of rotary blades, an iron chain separation curtain, soil retaining board and compacting machine. The cooperation parameters of different parts of the proposed device were designed through a discrete element simulation test, and a cooperative parameter model of the proposed device was constructed. According to the simulation test, the highest coverage of the prototype (95.16%) was achieved only when the knife roller center of rotary tillage moved to the point where it had a horizontal distance of 378.76 mm from the root of the “iron chain separation curtain”, the width of the transverse soil retaining board was 187.78 mm and the included angle of the soil retaining board θ was 116.48°. Based on a model verification test, the burying rate was found to be 94.36%, which differed slightly from the simulation test results. The burying rate increased by 4.84% upon the application of a “separated burying device”. The “separated burying device” was able to increase the burying rate of green manure between rows in the orchard area. It is conducive to the full utilization of green manure resources and lays good sowing foundations for green manure resowing. The construction of a “separated burying device” and its cooperative parameter model can provide insight into the research, development and optimization of relevant machines, such as the stalk returning machine.
Holstein Cattle Face Re-Identification Unifying Global and Part Feature Deep Network with Attention Mechanism
Authors: Chen Xiaolang , Yang Tianlong , Mai Kaizhan , Liu Caixing , Xiong Juntao , Kuang Yingjie , Gao Yuefang
Published: April 2022

In precision dairy farming, computer vision-based approaches have been widely employed to monitor the cattle conditions (e.g., the physical, physiology, health and welfare). To this end, the accurate and effective identification of individual cow is a prerequisite. In this paper, a deep learning re-identification network model, Global and Part Network (GPN), is proposed to identify individual cow face. The GPN model, with ResNet50 as backbone network to generate a pooling of feature maps, builds three branch modules (Middle branch, Global branch and Part branch) to learn more discriminative and robust feature representation from the maps. Specifically, the Middle branch and the Global branch separately extract the global features of middle dimension and high dimension from the maps, and the Part branch extracts the local features in the unified block, all of which are integrated to act as the feature representation for cow face re-identification. By performing such strategies, the GPN model not only extracts the discriminative global and local features, but also learns the subtle differences among different cow faces. To further improve the performance of the proposed framework, a Global and Part Network with Spatial Transform (GPN-ST) model is also developed to incorporate an attention mechanism module in the Part branch. Additionally, to test the efficiency of the proposed approach, a large-scale cow face dataset is constructed, which contains 130,000 images with 3000 cows under different conditions (e.g., occlusion, change of viewpoints and illumination, blur, and background clutters). The results of various contrast experiments show that the GPN outperforms the representative re-identification methods, and the improved GPN-ST model has a higher accuracy rate (up by 2.8% and 2.2% respectively) in Rank-1 and mAP, compared with the GPN model. In conclusion, using the Global and Part feature deep network with attention mechanism can effectively ameliorate the efficiency of cow face re-identification.
An Integrated, Tentative Remote-Sensing Approach Based on NDVI Entropy to Model Canine Distemper Virus in Wildlife and to Prompt Science-Based Management Policies
Authors: Carella Emanuele , Orusa Tommaso , Viani Annalisa , Meloni Daniela , Borgogno-Mondino Enrico , Orusa Riccardo
Published: April 2022

Changes in land use and land cover as well as feedback on the climate deeply affect the landscape worldwide. This phenomenon has also enlarged the human–wildlife interface and amplified the risk of potential new zoonoses. The expansion of the human settlement is supposed to affect the spread and distribution of wildlife diseases such as canine distemper virus (CDV), by shaping the distribution, density, and movements of wildlife. Nevertheless, there is very little evidence in the scientific literature on how remote sensing and GIS tools may help the veterinary sector to better monitor the spread of CDV in wildlife and to enforce ecological studies and new management policies in the near future. Thus, we perform a study in Northwestern Italy (Aosta Valley Autonomous Region), focusing on the relative epidemic waves of CDV that cause a virulent disease infecting different animal species with high host mortality. CDV has been detected in several mammalian from Canidae, Mustelidae, Procyonidae, Ursidae, and Viverridae families. In this study, the prevalence is determined at 60% in red fox (Vulpes vulpes, n = 296), 14% in wolf (Canis lupus, n = 157), 47% in badger (Meles meles, n = 103), and 51% in beech marten (Martes foina, n = 51). The detection of CDV is performed by means of real-time PCR. All the analyses are done using the TaqMan approach, targeting the chromosomal gene for phosphoprotein, gene P, that is involved in the transcription and replication of the virus. By adopting Earth Observation Data, we notice that CDV trends are strongly related to an altitude gradient and NDVI entropy changes through the years. A tentative model is developed concerning the ground data collected in the Aosta Valley region. According to our preliminary study, entropy computed from remote-sensing data can represent a valuable tool to monitor CDV spread as a proxy data predictor of the intensity of fragmentation of a given landscape and therefore also to monitor CDV. In conclusion, the evaluation from space of the landscape variations regarding the wildlife ecological corridors due to anthropic or natural disturbances may assist veterinarians and wildlife ecologists to enforce management health policies in a One Health perspective by pointing out the time and spatial conditions of interaction between wildlife. Surveillance and disease control actions are supposed to be carried out to strengthen the usage of geospatial analysis tools and techniques. These tools and techniques can deeply assist in better understanding and monitoring diseases affecting wildlife thanks to an integrated management approach.
Effects of Ultrafine Blast Furnace Slag on the Microstructure and Chloride Transport in Cementitious Systems under Cyclic Drying–Wetting Conditions
Authors: Li Wei , Yi Liming , Jiang Wen , Dong Hua , Zhang Yong
Published: April 2022

This paper presents experimental investigations into the effects of ultrafine blast furnace slag on microstructure improvements against chloride penetration in saturated and unsaturated cementitious systems exposed to cyclic drying–wetting conditions. The hydration kinetics of ultrafine slag powders and pore solution chemistry in slag-blended cementitious systems at different ages, together with the main hydration products and pore structure characteristics, were determined. The chloride profiles accounting for different slag contents and drying–wetting cycles were measured. The results reveal that the reactivity of ultrafine slag can be well described with Avrami’s equation. The dilution effect of the slag predominated the pore solution chemistry, and the pH value decreased with a higher inclusion of slag. An optimal inclusion of 65% slag by mass of the binder corresponding to the finest pore structure and highest hydrotalcite content was found, which provides a reasonable basis for the slow chloride diffusion and high chloride binding. Under drying–wetting exposure, the specimen with a lower saturation exhibited a higher chloride transport caused by capillary absorption in the skin layer. The chloride transport tended to be diffusion controlled after sufficient drying–wetting cycles.
Fractal Contact Mechanics Model for the Rough Surface of a Beveloid Gear with Elliptical Asperities
Authors: Yu Guangbin , Mao Hancheng , Jiang Lidong , Liu Wei , Valerii Tupolev
Published: April 2022

Understanding the contact mechanics of rough tooth surfaces is critical in order to understand phenomena such as tooth surface flash temperature, tooth surface wear, and gear vibration. In this paper, the contact behavior between the meshing tooth surfaces of beveloid gear pairs with elliptical asperities is the focus. The contact area distribution function of the elliptical asperity was proposed for the point contact of curved surfaces by transforming the elastic contact problem between gear meshing surfaces into the contact between elastic curved surfaces with an arbitrary radius of curvature. In addition, a fractal contact mechanics model for the rough surface of a beveloid gear with elliptical asperities was established. The influence of tooth surface topography on the contact load and contact stiffness under different fractal parameters was investigated, and the results demonstrated that the real contact load and the contact stiffness of curved surfaces increase with the increase in the fractal dimension D and the contact coefficient λ. Conversely, the real contact load and normal contact stiffness decrease with the increase in the fractal roughness G and eccentricity e.
The Assessment of COVID-19 Vulnerability Risk for Crisis Management
Authors: Wyszyński Marek , Grudziński Michał , Pokonieczny Krzysztof , Kaszubowski Marek
Published: April 2022

The subject of this article is to determine COVID-19 vulnerability risk and its change over time in association with the state health care system, turnover, and transport to support the crisis management decision-making process. The aim was to determine the COVID-19 Vulnerability Index (CVI) based on the selected criteria. The risk assessment was carried out with methodology that includes the application of multicriteria analysis and spatiotemporal aspect of available data. Particularly the Spatial Multicriteria Analysis (SMCA) compliant with the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), which incorporated selected population and environmental criteria were used to analyse the ongoing pandemic situation. The influence of combining several factors in the pandemic situation analysis was illustrated. Furthermore, the static and dynamic factors to COVID-19 vulnerability risk were determined to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19 at the early stage of the pandemic situation. As a result, areas with a certain level of risk in different periods of time were determined. Furthermore, the number of people exposed to COVID-19 vulnerability risk in time was presented. These results can support the decision-making process by showing the area where preventive actions should be considered.
Throughput/Area Optimized Architecture for Elliptic-Curve Diffie-Hellman Protocol
Authors: Rashid Muhammad , Kumar Harish , Khan Sikandar Zulqarnain , Bahkali Ismail , Alhomoud Ahmed , Mehmood Zahid
Published: April 2022

This paper presents a high-speed and low-area accelerator architecture for shared key generation using an elliptic-curve Diffie-Hellman protocol over GF(2233). Concerning the high speed, the proposed architecture employs a two-stage pipelining and a Karatsuba finite field multiplier. The use of pipelining shortens the critical path which ultimately improves the clock frequency. Similarly, the employment of a Karatsuba multiplier decreases the required number of clock cycles. Moreover, an efficient rescheduling of point addition and doubling operations avoids data hazards that appear due to pipelining. Regarding the low area, the proposed architecture computes finite field squaring and inversion operations using the hardware resources of the Karatsuba multiplier. Furthermore, two dedicated controllers are used for efficient control functionalities. The implementation results after place-and-route are provided on Virtex-7, Spartan-7, Artix-7 and Kintex-7 FPGA (field-programmable gate arrays) devices. The utilized FPGA slices are 5102 (on Virtex-7), 5634 (on Spartan-7), 5957 (on Artix-7) and 6102 (on Kintex-7). In addition to this, the time required for one shared-key generation is 31.08 (on Virtex-7), 31.68 (on Spartan-7), 31.28 (on Artix-7) and 32.51 (on Kintex-7). For performance comparison, a figure-of-merit in terms of throughputarea is utilized which shows that the proposed architecture is 963.3 and 2.76 times faster as compared to the related architectures. In terms of latency, the proposed architecture is 302.7 and 132.88 times faster when compared to the most relevant state-of-the-art approaches. The achieved results and performance comparison prove the significance of presented architecture in all those shared key generation applications which require high speed with a low area.
Propeller Slipstream Effect on Aerodynamic Characteristics of Micro Air Vehicle at Low Reynolds Number
Authors: Chen Zhaolin , Yang Fan
Published: April 2022

A numerical investigation on propeller-induced flow effects in tractor configurations on a Zimmerman wing-fuselage using the cambered thin airfoil is presented in this paper. The Reynolds number based on the mean aerodynamic chord was 1.3 × 105. Significant aerodynamic performance benefits could be found for a propeller in the tractor configuration. The numerical results showed that the propeller slipstream effect on the wings was highly dependent on the size of the propeller, and the major slipstream effect was working at 60% inboard wingspan, whereas less effects were observed towards the wingtip. The propeller slipstream increased the local angle of attack on the up-going blade side. This effect simultaneously augmented the section lift. The unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) simulations helped to improve understanding of the interaction of the propeller wake and the wing-fuselage, which is an important aspect to guide the design of future efficient and controllable micro air vehicles. The results indicated that, in MAV designs, the slipstream from the propeller had a significant effect on the wing aerodynamics, regarding both performance and stability of the vehicle.
Vibro-Acoustic Analysis of Rectangular Plate-Cavity Parallelepiped Coupling System Embedded with 2D Acoustic Black Holes
Authors: Du Xiaofei , Liao Xin , Fu Qidi , Zong Chaoyong
Published: April 2022

An acoustic black hole (ABH) has the ability to concentrate and manipulate flexural waves, which can be used for structural vibration suppression and noise attenuation. In this paper, a 2D ABH rectangular plate is designed and a 2D ABH plate-cavity coupling system is constructed using the 2D ABH plate and five rectangular elastic plates of uniform thickness. Series of vibro-acoustic FEM models of the plate-cavity parallelepiped coupling system embedded with 2D ABHs are established, and the vibro-acoustic coupling simulation is conducted to analyze the effects of ABHs on the coupling modes, vibro-acoustic coupling characteristics, and mechanism of ABHs and the damping layer. It is shown that at most frequencies in the range of 3600~5000 Hz, the damping 2D ABH plate-cavity parallelepiped coupling system can significantly suppress the sound pressure and greatly reduce the peak values. It is also found that the significant reduction of the participation factor of the acoustic modes within the 100th order is the main mechanism for the obvious suppression of the sound pressure in the damping ABH plate-cavity coupling system at 3701 Hz. Finally, an experimental platform of vibro-acoustic measurement of the 2D ABH coupling system is constructed, and the accuracy of the vibro-acoustic FEM models of the 2D ABH coupling systems established in this paper and the numerical simulation calculation are verified by the vibro-acoustic measurement experiment.
On Hierarchical Applications of Finite Element Methods and Classical Applied Mechanics Approaches for Complex Structures
Authors: Wang Sheldon , Ndip-Agbor Ebot , Atamenwan Enaho
Published: April 2022

In this paper, hierarchical studies based on both analytical and computational approaches have been employed to validate and improve current structural designs of mud holding tanks for hydraulic fracturing in petroleum industries. Through detailed comparisons at different levels of approximations for both real world complex structural design problem and a simplified stiffened plate with extreme geometrical aspect ratios, proper design procedures have been reiterated and validated. It is highly recommended that low-dimensional structures with emphasis on classical mechanics principles should be considered before full-fledged three-dimensional computational analyses. Both Castigliano’s Theorems and Galerkin methods are utilized along with simulation packages such as ADINA and Solidworks. The hierarchical approximation procedures reemphasize important subjects such as planes and shells, strength of materials, structural mechanics, asymptotic and perturbation analysis no longer required in some engineering programs, yet often necessary for the study of complex three-dimensional structural systems.
Some Implicational Semilinear Gaggle Logics: (Dual) Residuated-Connected Logics
Authors: Yang Eunsuk
Published: April 2022

Implicational partial Galois logics and some of their semilinear extensions, such as semilinear extensions satisfying abstract Galois and dual Galois connection properties, have been introduced together with their relational semantics. However, similar extensions satisfying residuated, dual residuated connection properties have not. This paper fills the gaps by introducing those semilinear extensions and their relational semantics. To this end, the class of implicational (dual) residuated-connected prelinear gaggle logics is defined and it is verified that these logics are semilinear. In particular, associated with the contribution of this work, we note the following two: One is that implications can be introduced by residuated connection in semilinear logics. This shows that the residuated, dual residuated connection properties are important and so need to be investigated in semilinear logics. The other is that set-theoretic relational semantics can be provided for semilinear logics. Semilinear logics have been dealt with extensively in algebraic context, whereas they have not yet been performed in the set-theoretic one.
Simulation of the Electrochemical Response of Cobalt Hydroxide Electrodes for Energy Storage
Authors: Carvalho Gabriel Garcia , Eugénio Sónia , Silva Maria Teresa , Montemor Maria Fátima
Published: April 2022

Cyclic Voltammetry is an analysis method for characterizing the behaviors of electrochemically active materials by measuring current through defined potential sweeps. The current–potential relationship depends on key variables such concentration of electrolyte, electron-transfer rate, and the distance and time of species in relation to the electroactive surface of the material. A MATLAB® simulation was developed on a diffusion and kinetics basis, simulating the equations of Fick’s second law and Butler–Volmer, respectively, towards understanding the energy-storage mechanisms of cobalt hydroxide electrodes. The simulation was compared to a real cobalt hydroxide system, showing an accurate approximation to the experimentally obtained response and deviations possibly related to other physical/chemical processes influencing the involved species.
Understanding the Mechanism of Diabetes Mellitus in a LRBA-Deficient Patient
Authors: Hawari Iman , Ericsson Johan , Kabeer Basirudeen Syed Ahamed , Chaussabel Damien , Alsulaiti Asma , Sharari Sanaa A. , Maccalli Cristina , Khan Faiyaz Ahmad , Hussain Khalid
Published: April 2022

The scope of this study is to show that DM in a LRBA-deficient patient with a stop codon mutation (c.3999 G > A) was not mediated through autoimmunity. We have evaluated the ability of the proband’s T cells to be activated by assessing their CTLA-4 expression. A nonsignificant difference was seen in the CTLA-4 expression on CD3+ T cells compared to the healthy control at basal level and after stimulation with PMA/ionomycin. Blood transcriptomic analysis have shown a remarkable increase in abundance of transcripts related to CD71+ erythroid cells. There were no differences in the expression of modules related to autoimmunity diseases between the proband and pooled healthy controls. In addition, our novel findings show that siRNA knockdown of LRBA in mouse pancreatic β-cells leads reduced cellular proinsulin, insulin and consequently insulin secretion, without change in cell viability in cultured MIN6 cells.
An Integrated Monitoring Approach to the Evaluation of the Environmental Impact of an Inshore Mariculture Plant (Mar Grande of Taranto, Ionian Sea)
Authors: Giangrande Adriana , Licciano Margherita , Arduini Daniele , Borghese Jacopo , Pierri Cataldo , Trani Roberta , Longo Caterina , Petrocelli Antonella , Ricci Patrizia , Alabiso Giorgio , Cavallo Rosa Anna , Acquaviva Maria Immacolata , Narracci Marcella , Stabili Loredana
Published: April 2022

The results of an ex-ante survey aiming to assess the impact of a fish farm in the Mar Grande of Taranto (southern Italy, Mediterranean Sea) on the surrounding environment are reported. There, the implementation of an innovative IMTA plant was planned, with the goals of environment bioremediation and commercially exploitable biomass production. Analyses were conducted in February and July 2018. Both seawater and sediments were sampled at the four corners of the fish farm to detect the existing biological and physico-chemical features. The investigation was performed to identify the best area of the farming plant for positioning the bioremediating system, but also to obtain a data baseline, to compare to the environmental status after the bioremediating action. Data were also analyzed by canonical analysis of principal coordinates (CAP). All the measurements, in particular, microbiology and macrobenthic community characterization using AZTI’s Marine Biotic Index (AMBI) and the Multivariate-AMBI (M-AMBI) indices, suggest that the effect of fish farm waste was concentrated and limited to a small portion of the investigated area in relation to the direction of the main current. A site named A3, which was found to be the most impacted by the aquaculture activities, especially during the summer season, was chosen to place the bioremediation system.
Molecular Recognition of Proteins through Quantitative Force Maps at Single Molecule Level
Authors: Marcuello Carlos , de Miguel Rocío , Lostao Anabel
Published: April 2022

Intermittent jumping force is an operational atomic-force microscopy mode that produces simultaneous topography and tip-sample maximum-adhesion images based on force spectroscopy. In this work, the operation conditions have been implemented scanning in a repulsive regime and applying very low forces, thus avoiding unspecific tip-sample forces. Remarkably, adhesion images give only specific rupture events, becoming qualitative and quantitative molecular recognition maps obtained at reasonably fast rates, which is a great advantage compared to the force–volume modes. This procedure has been used to go further in discriminating between two similar protein molecules, avidin and streptavidin, in hybrid samples. The adhesion maps generated scanning with biotinylated probes showed features identified as avidin molecules, in the range of 40–80 pN; meanwhile, streptavidin molecules rendered 120–170 pN at the selected working conditions. The gathered results evidence that repulsive jumping force mode applying very small forces allows the identification of biomolecules through the specific rupture forces of the complexes and could serve to identify receptors on membranes or samples or be applied to design ultrasensitive detection technologies.
Use of Interval Therapy with Benzodiazepines to Prevent Seizure Recurrence in Stressful Situations
Authors: Beran Roy G.
Published: April 2022

Introduction: Antiseizure medications (ASMs) control 70–75% of seizures. Accepting stress as a trigger for seizures, intervention, at the time of predictable stress, should offer a therapeutic option. Mode of intervention: Intervention requires the maintenance of an accurate seizure diary to identify a recurring pattern. With a questioning approach to that diary, the clinician may intervene when stressful provocateurs occur. Benzodiazepines, such as clobazam, initiated prior to the predictable stress, and continued until after it has passed, should be short lived, making serious adverse effects unlikely. Benzodiazepines have a dual benefit, being both anxietolytic and raising the seizure threshold in patients with epilepsy. Discussion: Many patients claim stress provokes their seizures and may not be aware the stress was the provocateur, until after a seizure occurred, leading to a retrospective claim of the relationship. To confirm the relationship, permitting preventative measures, before exposure to provocative factors, often unable to be avoided, requires maintenance and review of a detailed diary. Interval temporary use of benzodiazepines, such as clobazam, or alternatively clonazepam, diazepam or nitrazepam, offers a reasonable response to obviate subsequent seizures, and should be continued, for a brief period, after the risk has abated. Subsequent review of the diary, over a period of repeated exposures to the identified stress, will confirm or refute the therapeutic effect. Conclusion: Judicious use of interval therapy, with one of the benzodiazepines, covering the period of stressful provocation, offers adjunctive treatment of possible refractory epilepsy, based upon the review of the strictly maintained epilepsy/seizure diary.
Eco-Sustainable Methods for Local Conservation of Built Heritage in Sistan’s Castles
Authors: Attarian Koorosh , Safar Ali Najar Behnaz , Khaksefidi Saeide
Published: April 2022

Built heritage has an important role in the development of the global tourism industry. Therefore, appropriate conservation methods are required to support cultural identities and the tourism industry. Within the Sistan region of Iran, there are a number of built heritage assets (such as castles) that were constructed in different periods of history. Due to climatic conditions, management issues, and unemployment issues, ineffective conservation measures have been implemented for these types of built heritage assets. Therefore, special conservation methods are required to address different performance issues. This study offers practical solutions for the conservation of Sistan’s castles. An eco-sustainable model is proposed as a method to plan appropriate conservation interventions that consider economical, ecological, and labor-friendly characteristics of sustainability. We demonstrate that this approach to architectural conservation is responsive to local constraints and can be compatible with local requirements.
PIK3CA Mutation as Potential Poor Prognostic Marker in Asian Female Breast Cancer Patients Who Received Adjuvant Chemotherapy
Authors: Cho Yoon Ah , Ko Seung Yeon , Suh Yong Joon , Kim Sanghwa , Park Jung Ho , Park Hye-Rim , Seo Jinwon , Choi Hyo Geun , Kang Ho Suk , Lim Hyun , Park Ha Young , Kwon Mi Jung
Published: April 2022

Background: The prognostic relevance of the PIK3CA mutation together with PD-L1, c-Met, and mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR) have not been fully investigated in Asian women with breast cancer (BC) who have undergone postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. Methods: We analyzed PIK3CA mutations via peptide nucleic acid (PNA)-mediated real-time PCR assay, PD-L1/c-Met expression via immunohistochemistry (IHC), and microsatellite instability (MSI) status using PCR and IHC, in 191 resected BCs from 2008 to 2011. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset for the involvement of the PIK3CA mutation with PD-L1/c-Met/MMR was explored. Results: The PNA clamp-mediated assay was able to detect the PIK3CA mutation in 1% of the mutant population in the cell line validation. Using this method, the PIK3CA mutation was found in 78 (49.4%) of 158 samples. c-Met and PD-L1 positivity were identified in 31.4 and 21.8% of samples, respectively, which commonly correlated with high histologic grade and triple-negative subtype. MSI/dMMR was observed in 8.4% of patients, with inconsistency between MMR IHC and the MSI PCR. The PIK3CA mutation exhibited a poor prognostic association regarding recurrence-free survival (RFS) in both overall and triple-negative BCs. In subgroup analyses, the PIK3CA-mutated tumors showed poorer RFS than the PIK3CA-wildtype within the c-Met-positive, MSS, triple-negative, or age onset <50 years subgroups, which showed a similar trend of association in TCGA data. Conclusions: PIK3CA mutation together with c-Met or dMMR/MSI status might be relevant to poor prognosis in BC subsets, especially in Asian women.
Alkaloid of Rhynchostylis retusa as Green Inhibitor for Mild Steel Corrosion in 1 M H2SO4 Solution
Authors: Chapagain Amrita , Acharya Debendra , Das Anju Kumari , Chhetri Kisan , Oli Hari Bhakta , Yadav Amar Prasad
Published: April 2022

Alkaloids are aromatic hydrocarbons with nitrogen as heteroelements in the ring structure that are responsible for bonding with the metal surface and help to reduce corrosion of metals such as mild steel (MS) in an acidic medium. In this study, the alkaloid of Rhynchostylis retusa (RR) was extracted by solvent extraction method and confirmed by chemical test as well as FTIR spectroscopic test. Extracted alkaloids were tested as green inhibitors for the MS corrosion in a 1.0 M H2SO4 solution. The inhibition efficiency (IE) of alkaloid extracts of RR was studied by the weight loss measurement method and electrochemical polarization method. Results showed that the maximum IE in the gravimetric method was 87.51% in 1000 ppm solution at 6 h immersion time. Open circuit potential (OCP) and potentiodynamic polarization results indicated that the extracted alkaloids acted as a mixed type of inhibitor. IE by polarization method was found to be 93.24% for the sample immersed for 6 h. The temperature effect study reveals that inhibitors can work only below 35 °C. Alkaloids of RR can be successfully extracted and used as corrosion inhibitors for MS in an acidic medium below 35 °C.
Two-Path 77-GHz PA in 28-nm FD-SOI CMOS for Automotive Radar Applications
Authors: Nocera Claudio , Papotto Giuseppe , Palmisano Giuseppe
Published: April 2022

This paper presents a 77 GHz two path power amplifier (PA) for automotive radar applications. It was fabricated in 28-nm fully depleted silicon-on-insulator CMOS technology, which provides transistors with a transition frequency of about 270 GHz and a general-purpose low cost back-end-of-line. The proposed PA consists of a 50 Ω input buffer followed by two power units, which are made up of a current-reuse common source driver for improved efficiency and a stacked cascode power stage for enhanced output power. A peak detector was also embedded into the PA for output power monitoring. The designed PA achieved a saturated output power as high as 17.4 dBm at 77 GHz with an excellent power added efficiency of 19%, while drawing 150 mA from a 2 V power supply. The core die size was 500 μm × 300 μm.
Optimal Pitch Angle Controller for DFIG-Based Wind Turbine System Using Computational Optimization Techniques
Authors: Khurshid Arsalan , Mughal Muhammad Ali , Othman Achraf , Al-Hadhrami Tawfik , Kumar Harish , Khurshid Imtinan , Arshad  , Ahmad Jawad
Published: April 2022

With the advent of high-speed and parallel computing, the applicability of computational optimization in engineering problems has increased, with greater validation than conventional methods. Pitch angle is an effective variable in extracting maximum wind power in a wind turbine system (WTS). The pitch angle controller contributes to improve the output power at different wind speeds. In this paper, the pitch angle controller with proportional (P) and proportional-integral (PI) controllers is used. The parameters of the controllers are tuned by computational optimization techniques for a doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG)-based WTS. The study is carried out on a 9 MW DFIG based WTS model in MATLAB/SIMULINK. Two computational optimization techniques: particle swarm optimization (PSO), a swarm intelligence algorithm, and a genetic algorithm (GA), an evolutionary algorithm, are applied. A multi-objective, multi-dimensional error function is defined and minimized by selecting an appropriate error criterion for each objective of the function which depicts the relative magnitude of each objective in the error function. The results of the output power flow and the dynamic response of the optimized P and PI controllers are compared with the conventional P and PI controller in three different cases. It is revealed that the PSO-based controllers performed better in comparison with both the conventional controllers and the GA-based controllers.
Assessing the Hydric Deficit on Two Polylepis Species from the Peruvian Andean Mountains: Xylem Vessel Anatomic Adjusting
Authors: Rodríguez-Ramírez Ernesto C. , Crispín-DelaCruz Doris B. , Ticse-Otarola Ginette , Requena-Rojas Edilson J.
Published: April 2022

The impact of drought on vessel architecture and function has been broadly assessed for a variety of tree species in the last decades, but the hydraulic plasticity under temperature increase has scarcely been studied. The effect of drought on tree-ring width and specific hydraulic conductivity depends on relict-tree species resilience to climatic adaptability and its wood anatomical responses to climatic oscillations. We assessed the vessel architecture adaptation of two threatened Peruvian Andean Polylepis species (P. rodolfo-vasquezii and P. tarapacana). We found that historical Peruvian drought years differentially affected Polylepis species, where P. rodolfo-vasquezii showed vessel anatomical features significantly sensitive to drought events when contrasted with P. tarapacana. The drought effect influenced the capacity of Polylepis species to adjust the tree-ring width and vessel anatomical traits of their hydraulic system. Our results suggest that drought events influence Polylepis species’ adaptability and resilience to dry periods and could also restrict them from remaining as a part of the Peruvian Andean puna and mountain ecosystems.
The New Wave Structures to the Fractional Ion Sound and Langmuir Waves Equation in Plasma Physics
Authors: Abdelrahman Mahmoud , Hassan S. , Alomair R. , Alsaleh D.
Published: April 2022

In this paper, we consider the fractional ion sound and Langmuir waves (FISALWs) equation. We apply the unified solver technique in order to extract some new solutions for the FISALWs equation. The fractional derivative is defined in the sense of a conformable fractional derivative. The proposed solver is based on He’s semi-inverse method and gives beneficial solutions in explicit form. The recital of the method is trustworthy and useful and gives new, more general exact solutions. The constraint conditions for the existence of valid soliton solutions are reported. The enforcement of the presented solutions might be especially interesting in the applications of plasma physics such as bursty waves in cusp regions, Langmuir turbulence, and solar wind. Finally, the proposed solver can be extended to many other models in new physics and applied science.
Prevalence of Loneliness and Associated Factors among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Indonesia: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Susanty Sri , Chung Min-Huey , Chiu Hsiao-Yean , Chi Mei-Ju , Hu Sophia H. , Kuo Chien-Lin , Chuang Yeu-Hui
Published: April 2022

Loneliness has become one of the most common psychological problems experienced by older adults. Previous studies have indicated that loneliness is correlated with poor physical and psychological health outcomes; therefore, it is important to pay attention to people experiencing loneliness. However, there is a lack of information regarding the prevalence of loneliness, and its associated factors, among community-dwelling older adults in Indonesia, which this study aimed to understand. This study used a cross-sectional, descriptive, and correlational research design. Stratified random sampling was applied to 1360 participants, aged ≥ 60 years, in 15 community health centers in Kendari City, Indonesia. The following questionnaires were used to collect data, including demographic and characteristic information, Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form, and a single-item loneliness question. The prevalence of loneliness among older adults was 64.0%. The multivariate logistic regression showed that older adults who were female, lived with family, had fewer children, had a poor health status, had a poor oral status, had more chronic diseases, had no hearing problems, had poor cognitive function, and had depression had a higher chance of feeling lonely. Loneliness is a serious health issue among the older population in Indonesia. The government, social workers, and healthcare professionals should pay immediate attention to this psychological problem. The study also suggests that appropriate strategies for the prevention of loneliness should be developed in the near future.
Evaluation of the Risk of Birth Defects Related to the Use of Assisted Reproductive Technology: An Updated Systematic Review
Authors: Serafin Dawid , Grabarek Beniamin Oskar , Boroń Dariusz , Madej Andrzej , Cnota Wojciech , Czuba Bartosz
Published: April 2022

Fertility problems constitute a serious medical, social, and demographic problem. With this review, we aim to critically appraise and evaluate the existing literature surrounding the risk of birth defects in offspring conceived using techniques based on assisted reproductive technology (ART). Based on searches of the literature in PubMed and ScienceDirect, we obtained a total of 2,003,275 works related to the topic. Ultimately, 11 original papers published in the last 10 years qualified for inclusion in the study. Based on five studies included in this analysis, it was shown that ART significantly increases the risk of congenital malformations in associated newborns. Due to the specifics of given studies, as well as potential confounding risk factors, this influence cannot be ignored. Therefore, considering the information contained in the articles included in this systematic review, it was determined that the risk of birth defects is not directly related to the use of ART itself but also depends on the age of partners, causes of infertility, comorbidities, and the number of fetuses during a pregnancy, as well as many other factors not covered in the literature. It is thus necessary to impress upon infertile couples who wish to have offspring that the use of ART is not risk-free but that the benefits outweigh the risks. Further education in this field, as well as social understanding, is also required.