bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rapid Quantum Magnetic IL-6 Point-of-Care Assay in Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19
Authors: Atallah Johnny , Archambault Dakota , Randall Jeffrey D. , Shepro Adam , Styskal Lauren E. , Glenn David R. , Connolly Colin B. , Katsis Katelin , Gallagher Kathleen , Ghebremichael Musie , Mansour Michael K.
Published: May 2022

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) has been linked to several life-threatening disease processes. Developing a point-of-care testing platform for the immediate and accurate detection of IL-6 concentrations could present a valuable tool for improving clinical management in patients with IL-6-mediated diseases. Drawing on an available biobank of samples from 35 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, a novel quantum-magnetic sensing platform is used to determine plasma IL-6 concentrations. A strong correlation was observed between IL-6 levels measured by QDTI10x and the Luminex assay (r = 0.70, p-value < 0.001) and between QDTI80x and Luminex (r = 0.82, p-value < 0.001). To validate the non-inferiority of QDTI to Luminex in terms of the accuracy of IL-6 measurement, two clinical parameters—the need for intensive care unit admission and the need for mechanical intubation—were chosen. IL-6 concentrations measured by the two assays were compared with respect to these clinical outcomes. Results demonstrated a comparative predictive performance between the two assays with a significant correlation coefficient. Conclusion: In short, the QDTI assay holds promise for implementation as a potential tool for rapid clinical decision in patients with IL-6-mediated diseases. It could also reduce healthcare costs and enable the development of future various biomolecule point-of-care tests for different clinical scenarios.
Biomarker Candidates for Alzheimer’s Disease Unraveled through In Silico Differential Gene Expression Analysis
Authors: Silva-Lucero Maria-del-Carmen , Rivera-Osorio Jared , Gómez-Virgilio Laura , Lopez-Toledo Gustavo , Luna-Muñoz José , Montiel-Sosa Francisco , Soto-Rojas Luis O. , Pacheco-Herrero Mar , Cardenas-Aguayo Maria-del-Carmen
Published: May 2022

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is neurodegeneration that accounts for 60–70% of dementia cases. Symptoms begin with mild memory difficulties and evolve towards cognitive impairment. The underlying risk factors remain primarily unclear for this heterogeneous disorder. Bioinformatics is a relevant research tool that allows for identifying several pathways related to AD. Open-access databases of RNA microarrays from the peripheral blood and brain of AD patients were analyzed after background correction and data normalization; the Limma package was used for differential expression analysis (DEA) through statistical R programming language. Data were corrected with the Benjamini and Hochberg approach, and genes with p-values equal to or less than 0.05 were considered to be significant. The direction of the change in gene expression was determined by its variation in the log2-fold change between healthy controls and patients. We performed the functional enrichment analysis of GO using goana and topGO-Limma. The functional enrichment analysis of DEGs showed upregulated (UR) pathways: behavior, nervous systems process, postsynapses, enzyme binding; downregulated (DR) were cellular component organization, RNA metabolic process, and signal transduction. Lastly, the intersection of DEGs in the three databases showed eight shared genes between brain and blood, with potential use as AD biomarkers for blood tests.
Factors Associated with False Negative Results in Serum Pepsinogen Testing for Precancerous Gastric Lesions in a European Population in the GISTAR Study
Authors: Razuka-Ebela Danute , Polaka Inese , Daugule Ilva , Parshutin Sergei , Santare Daiga , Ebela Inguna , Rudzite Dace , Vangravs Reinis , Herrero Rolando , Young Park Jin , Leja Marcis
Published: May 2022

The accuracy of plasma pepsinogen (Pg) as a marker for precancerous gastric lesions (PGL) has shown variable results. We aimed to identify factors associated with false negative (FN) cases in Pg testing and to adjust cut-off values for these factors in order to improve Pg yield. Plasma Pg was measured and upper endoscopy with biopsy was performed within the “Multicentric randomized study of Helicobacter pylori eradication and pepsinogen testing for prevention of gastric cancer mortality: the GISTAR study”. A multivariable logistic model was built for FN and multiple factors. Values of Pg were compared and sensitivity and specificity were calculated using pre-existing Pg cut-offs for factors showing strong associations with FN. New cut-offs were calculated for factors that showed substantially lower sensitivity. Of 1210 participants, 364 (30.1%) had histologically confirmed PGL, of which 160 (44.0%) were FN. Current smokers, men, and H. pylori positives were more likely FN. Smoking in H. pylori negatives was associated with a higher Pg I/II ratio and substantially lower sensitivity of Pg testing than in other groups. Adjusting Pg cut-offs for current smokers by H. pylori presence improved sensitivity for detecting PGL in this group. Our study suggests that adjusting Pg cut-offs for current smokers by H. pylori status could improve Pg test performance.
Contribution of UltraFast™ Ultrasound and Shear Wave Elastography in the Imaging of Carotid Artery Disease
Authors: Bulum Antonio , Ivanac Gordana , Mandurić Filip , Pfeifer Luka , Bulum Marta , Divjak Eugen , Radoš Stipe , Brkljačić Boris
Published: May 2022

Carotid artery disease is one of the main global causes of disability and premature mortality in the spectrum of cardiovascular diseases. One of its main consequences, stroke, is the second biggest global contributor to disability and burden via Disability Adjusted Life Years after ischemic heart disease. In the last decades, B-mode and Doppler-based ultrasound imaging techniques have become an indispensable part of modern medical imaging of carotid artery disease. However, they have limited abilities in carotid artery plaque and wall characterization and are unable to provide simultaneous quantitative and qualitative flow information while the images are burdened by low framerates. UltraFast™ ultrasound is able to overcome these obstacles by providing simultaneous quantitative and qualitative flow analysis information in high frame rates via UltraFast™ Doppler. Another newly developed ultrasound technique, shear wave elastography, is based on the visualization of induced shear waves and the measurement of the shear wave propagation speed in the examined tissues which enables real-time carotid plaque and wall analysis. These newly developed ultrasound modalities have potential to significantly improve workflow efficiency and are able to provide a plethora of additional imaging information of carotid artery disease in comparison to conventional ultrasound techniques.
Targeted-Capture Next-Generation Sequencing in Diagnosis Approach of Pediatric Cholestasis
Authors: Almes Marion , Spraul Anne , Ruiz Mathias , Girard Muriel , Roquelaure Bertrand , Laborde Nolwenn , Gottrand Fréderic , Turquet Anne , Lamireau Thierry , Dabadie Alain , Bonneton Marjorie , Thebaut Alice , Rohmer Babara , Lacaille Florence , Broué Pierre , Fabre Alexandre , Mention-Mulliez Karine , Bouligand Jérôme , Jacquemin Emmanuel , Gonzales Emmanuel
Published: May 2022

Background: Cholestasis is a frequent and severe condition during childhood. Genetic cholestatic diseases represent up to 25% of pediatric cholestasis. Molecular analysis by targeted-capture next generation sequencing (NGS) has recently emerged as an efficient diagnostic tool. The objective of this study is to evaluate the use of NGS in children with cholestasis. Methods: Children presenting cholestasis were included between 2015 and 2020. Molecular sequencing was performed by targeted capture of a panel of 34 genes involved in cholestasis and jaundice. Patients were classified into three categories: certain diagnosis; suggested diagnosis (when genotype was consistent with phenotype for conditions without any available OMIM or ORPHANET-number); uncertain diagnosis (when clinical and para-clinical findings were not consistent enough with molecular findings). Results: A certain diagnosis was established in 169 patients among the 602 included (28.1%). Molecular studies led to a suggested diagnosis in 40 patients (6.6%) and to an uncertain diagnosis in 21 patients (3.5%). In 372 children (61.7%), no molecular defect was identified. Conclusions: NGS is a useful diagnostic tool in pediatric cholestasis, providing a certain diagnosis in 28.1% of the patients included in this study. In the remaining patients, especially those with variants of uncertain significance, the imputability of the variants requires further investigations.
Prognostic Values of Inflammation-Based Scores and Fibrosis Markers in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated with Transarterial Chemoembolization
Authors: Cho Eun Ju , Yu Su Jong , Lee Yun Bin , Lee Jeong-Hoon , Kim Yoon Jun , Yoon Jung-Hwan
Published: May 2022

Background: Inflammation is a key feature shaping the microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and liver fibrosis is associated with the prognosis of patients with HCC. In this study, we investigated whether baseline inflammation-based scores and serum fibrosis markers can help in predicting the prognosis of HCC patients treated with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). Methods: A total of 605 consecutive patients with HCC treated by TACE were included. The systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet–lymphocyte ratio (PLR), FIB-4 index, and aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) were analyzed regarding their associations with disease progression and survival. Results: All tested inflammation-based scores and fibrosis markers were significantly associated with tumor progression and overall survival in the univariate analyses. In the multivariate analysis, NLR (hazard ratio [HR], 1.06; p = 0.007) and FIB-4 (HR = 1.02, p = 0.008) were independent risk factors for disease progression, along with α-fetoprotein (AFP) levels, maximum tumor size and number, and presence of vascular invasion. Furthermore, NLR (HR, 1.09; p < 0.001) and FIB-4 (HR, 1.02; p = 0.02) were independent prognostic factors for survival. Conclusions: High baseline NLR and FIB-4 levels might help the prediction of disease progression and death in patients with HCC after TACE.
A Case of Necrotizing Periodontitis in a Care-Requiring Elderly Person Treated and Managed by Interprofessional Collaboration
Authors: Okubo Masahiko , Kuraji Ryutaro , Kamimura Hideyuki , Numabe Yukihiro , Ito Ko , Sato Tsuyoshi , Kokabu Shoichiro
Published: May 2022

Background: Necrotizing periodontitis (NP) is a reactive and destructive inflammatory process that occurs in response to bacterial infection. Predisposing factors such as compromised host immune responses contribute significantly to NP pathogenesis. NP occasionally progresses to a more advanced and life-threatening state. Case presentation: A 73-year-old man in need of nursing care visited our dental clinic with severe gingival pain and intraoral bleeding. He had a disability and was immunocompromised because his medical history included cerebral infarction and type 2 diabetes mellitus. He was diagnosed with NP based on his typical symptoms, such as prominent bleeding and suppurative discharge from the gingiva, in addition to crater-shaped ulcerations of the interdental papillae. To improve daily oral hygiene, periodontists, dentists, and dental hygienists educated care workers and other staff at the nursing home on appropriate oral cleansing, including brushing three times a day using the Bass technique. Basic periodontal therapy, including whole-mouth scaling and debridement of the root surfaces using hand and ultrasonic instruments, was also performed. After this basic treatment of NP, we extracted the hopeless teeth. Currently, dentists visit the patient fortnightly to manage his oral hygiene. To date, good oral health has been maintained.
Drones Classification by the Use of a Multifunctional Radar and Micro-Doppler Analysis
Authors: Leonardi Mauro , Ligresti Gianluca , Piracci Emilio
Published: May 2022

The classification of targets by the use of radars has received great interest in recent years, in particular in defence and military applications, in which the development of sensor systems that are able to identify and classify threatening targets is a mandatory requirement. In the specific case of drones, several classification techniques have already been proposed and, up to now, the most effective technique was considered to be micro-Doppler analysis used in conjunction with machine learning tools. The micro-Doppler signatures of targets are usually represented in the form of the spectrogram, that is a time–frequency diagram that is obtained by performing a short-time Fourier transform (STFT) on the radar return signal. Moreover, frequently it is possible to extract useful information that can also be used in the classification task from the spectrogram of a target. The main aim of the paper is comparing different ways to exploit the drone’s micro-Doppler analysis on different stages of a multifunctional radar. Three different classification approaches are compared: classic spectrogram-based classification; spectrum-based classification in which the received signal from the target is picked up after the moving target detector (MTD); and features-based classification, in which the received signal from the target undergoes the detection step after the MTD, after which discriminating features are extracted and used as input to the classifier. To compare the three approaches, a theoretical model for the radar return signal of different types of drone and aerial target is developed, validated by comparison with real recorded data, and used to simulate the targets. Results show that the third approach (features-based) not only has better performance than the others but also is the one that requires less modification and less processing power in a modern multifunctional radar because it reuses most of the processing facility already present.
Impact of Surface Roughness on Flow Physics and Entropy Generation in Jet Impingement Applications
Authors: Alenezi Abdulrahman , Almutairi Abdulrahman , Alhajeri Hamad , Almekmesh Saad F. , Alzuwayer Bashar B.
Published: May 2022

In this paper, a numerical investigation was performed of an air jet incident that normally occurs on a horizontal heated plane. Analysis of flow physics and entropy generation due to heat and friction is included using a simple easy-to-manufacture, surface roughening element: a circular rib concentric with the air jet. This study shows how varying the locations and dimensions of the rib can deliver a favorable trade-off between entropy generation and flow parameters, such as vortex generation and heat transfer. The performance of the roughness element was tested at three different radii; R/D = 1, 1.5 and 2, where D was the jet hydraulic diameter and R was the radial distance from the geometric center. At each location, the normalized rib height (e/D) was increased from 0.019 to 0.074 based on an increment of (e/D) = 0.019. The jet-to-target distance was H/D = 6 and the jet Reynolds number (Re) ranged from 10,000 to 50,000 Re, which was obtained from the jet hydraulic diameter (D), and the jet exit velocity (U). All results are presented in the form of entropy generation due to friction and heat exchange, as well as the total entropy generated. A detailed comparison of flow physics is presented for all ribs and compared with the baseline case of a smooth surface. The results show that at higher Reynolds numbers, adding a rib of a suitable height reduced the total entropy (St) by 31% compared to the no rib case. In addition, with ribs of heights 0.019, 0.037 and 0.054, respectively, the entropy generated by friction (Sf) was greater than that due to heat exchange (Sh) by about 42%, 26% and 4%, respectively. The rib of height e/D = 0.074 produced the minimum St at R/D = 1. As for varying R/D, varying rib location and Re values had a noticeable impact on Sh, Sf and (St). Placing the rib at R/D = 1 gave the highest total entropy generation (St) followed by R/D = 1.5 for all Re. Finally, the Bejan number increased as both rib height and rib location increased.
Cardiovascular Signal Entropy Predicts All-Cause Mortality: Evidence from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA)
Authors: Knight Silvin P. , Ward Mark , Newman Louise , Davis James , Duggan Eoin , Kenny Rose Anne , Romero-Ortuno Roman
Published: May 2022

In this study, the relationship between cardiovascular signal entropy and the risk of seven-year all-cause mortality was explored in a large sample of community-dwelling older adults from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA). The hypothesis under investigation was that physiological dysregulation might be quantifiable by the level of sample entropy (SampEn) in continuously noninvasively measured resting-state systolic (sBP) and diastolic (dBP) blood pressure (BP) data, and that this SampEn measure might be independently predictive of mortality. Participants’ date of death up to 2017 was identified from official death registration data and linked to their TILDA baseline survey and health assessment data (2010). BP was continuously monitored during supine rest at baseline, and SampEn values were calculated for one-minute and five-minute sections of this data. In total, 4543 participants were included (mean (SD) age: 61.9 (8.4) years; 54.1% female), of whom 214 died. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations between BP SampEn and all-cause mortality. Results revealed that higher SampEn in BP signals was significantly predictive of mortality risk, with an increase of one standard deviation in sBP SampEn and dBP SampEn corresponding to HRs of 1.19 and 1.17, respectively, in models comprehensively controlled for potential confounders. The quantification of SampEn in short length BP signals could provide a novel and clinically useful predictor of mortality risk in older adults.
Illustration of a Software-Aided Content Analysis Methodology Applied to Educational Research
Authors: Gkevrou Maria , Stamovlasis Dimitrios
Published: May 2022

This paper presents a software-aided methodology for content analysis by implementing the Leximancer software package, which can convert plain texts into conceptual networks that show how the prevalent concepts are linked with each other. The generated concept maps are associative networks of meaning related to the topics elaborated in the analyzed documents and reflect the creators’ core mental representations. The applicability of Leximancer is demonstrated in an education research context, probing university students’ epistemological beliefs, where a qualitative semantic analysis could be applied by inspecting and interpreting the portrayed relationships among concepts. In addition, concept-map-generating matrices, ensuing from the previous step, are introduced to another specialized software, Gephi, and further network analysis is performed using quantitative measures of centrality, such as degree, betweenness and closeness. Besides illustrating the method of this semantic analysis of textual data and deliberating the advances of digital innovations, the paper discusses theoretical issues underpinning the network analysis, which are related to the complexity theory framework, while building bridges between qualitative and quantitative traditional approaches in educational research.
Why Do Students Prefer Augmented Reality: A Mixed-Method Study on Preschool Teacher Students’ Perceptions on Self-Assessment AR Quizzes in Science Education
Authors: Sofianidis Angelos
Published: May 2022

Students’ perceptions on AR applications have gained researchers’ interest in the field of ICT-enhanced teaching and learning, especially in recent years. The current study investigates students’ perceptions concerning their learning and immersive experiences gained using AR quizzes with formative self-assessment purposes in a science education university course during one semester. The research followed the mixed-method approach, and the data were collected sequentially by questionnaires and focus group discussions. A descriptive statistical analysis and a thematic analysis were conducted, respectively. Fifty-one (51) students participated in the quantitative data collection procedure and ten (10) of them participated in the focus groups. The results indicate that students are in favor of AR quizzes which justify their stance based on the learning gains and the immersive experiences. AR was underlined to play a significant role by creating an engaging environment of immersion. The findings support the positive stances of students over the combination of AR and formative self-assessment and highlight the role of immersion supported by AR technologies. Additionally, based on the relatively long period of application, the findings create doubts concerning the influence of the novelty effect on students’ positive stances toward AR.
Recognizing Students and Detecting Student Engagement with Real-Time Image Processing
Authors: Uçar Mustafa Uğur , Özdemir Ersin
Published: May 2022

With COVID-19, formal education was interrupted in all countries and the importance of distance learning has increased. It is possible to teach any lesson with various communication tools but it is difficult to know how far this lesson reaches to the students. In this study, it is aimed to monitor the students in a classroom or in front of the computer with a camera in real time, recognizing their faces, their head poses, and scoring their distraction to detect student engagement based on their head poses and Eye Aspect Ratios. Distraction was determined by associating the students’ attention with looking at the teacher or the camera in the right direction. The success of the face recognition and head pose estimation was tested by using the UPNA Head Pose Database and, as a result of the conducted tests, the most successful result in face recognition was obtained with the Local Binary Patterns method with a 98.95% recognition rate. In the classification of student engagement as Engaged and Not Engaged, support vector machine gave results with 72.4% accuracy. The developed system will be used to recognize and monitor students in the classroom or in front of the computer, and to determine the course flow autonomously.
SSA-SL Transformer for Bearing Fault Diagnosis under Noisy Factory Environments
Authors: Lee Seoyeong , Jeong Jongpil
Published: May 2022

Among the smart factory studies, we describe defect detection research conducted on bearings, which are elements of mechanical facilities. Bearing research has been consistently conducted in the past; however, most of the research has been limited to using existing artificial intelligence models. In addition, previous studies assumed the factories situated in the bearing defect research were insufficient. Therefore, a recent research was conducted that applied an artificial intelligence model and the factory environment. The transformer model was selected as state-of-the-art (SOTA) and was also applied to bearing research. Then, an experiment was conducted with Gaussian noise applied to assume a factory situation. The swish-LSTM transformer (Sl transformer) framework was constructed by redesigning the internal structure of the transformer using the swish activation function and long short-term memory (LSTM). Then, the data in noise were removed and reconstructed using the singular spectrum analysis (SSA) preprocessing method. Based on the SSA-Sl transformer framework, an experiment was performed by adding Gaussian noise to the Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) dataset. In the case of no noise, the Sl transformer showed more than 95% performance, and when noise was inserted, the SSA-Sl transformer showed better performance than the comparative artificial intelligence models.
Machine Learning Models for Early Prediction of Sepsis on Large Healthcare Datasets
Authors: Camacho-Cogollo Javier Enrique , Bonet Isis , Gil Bladimir , Iadanza Ernesto
Published: May 2022

Sepsis is a highly lethal syndrome with heterogeneous clinical manifestation that can be hard to identify and treat. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are critical to reduce mortality and promote survival in suspected cases and improve the outcomes. Several screening prediction systems have been proposed for evaluating the early detection of patient deterioration, but the efficacy is still limited at individual level. The increasing amount and the versatility of healthcare data suggest implementing machine learning techniques to develop models for predicting sepsis. This work presents an experimental study of some machine-learning-based models for sepsis prediction considering vital signs, laboratory test results, and demographics using Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III (MIMIC-III) (v1.4), a publicly available dataset. The experimental results demonstrate an overall higher performance of machine learning models over the commonly used Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) and Quick SOFA (qSOFA) scoring systems at the time of sepsis onset.
Method of Evaluation of Materials Wear of Cylinder-Piston Group of Diesel Engines in the Biodiesel Fuel Environment
Authors: Kapłan Magdalena , Klimek Kamila , Maj Grzegorz , Zhuravel Dmytro , Bondar Andrii , Lemeshchenko-Lagoda Viktoriia , Boltianskyi Boris , Boltianska Larysa , Syrotyuk Hanna , Syrotyuk Serhiy , Konieczny Ryszard , Filipczak Gabriel , Anders Dorota , Dybek Barbara , Wałowski Grzegorz
Published: May 2022

This article concerns the method of material consumption assessment of the cylinder-piston group of diesel engines in the biodiesel environment. The obtained experimental dependences of the wear coefficients on the example of the tribounit cylinder liner and the piston ring can be used to forecast the resource use during operation under specific conditions of the engine and the environment as a whole. The article systematizes the types of biofuels, depending on the type of raw materials from which they were made, taking into account the process and application. The physical and chemical aspects of the catalysts used for biofuels were indicated. The applied experimental methods for tribological wear of the piston-cylinder pair were analyzed. B70 biodiesel was used in the research, i.e., 70% mineral diesel oil and 30% methyl esters of rapeseed oil. Experimental tribotechnical studies of the influence of biofuels on the behavior of various materials have shown that when using this type of fuel, it is necessary to replace the materials from which some parts of the cylinder-piston group are made. To solve this problem, research has been carried out on a specially designed friction machine. The novelty in the article concerns the association, based on the literature, of hydrogen consumption causing material wear in friction contacts. The mechanism of the interaction of various construction materials during such friction has been disclosed.
Tuscaloosa Marine Shale: Seal or Source? Petrophysical Comparative Study of Wells in SE Louisiana and SW Mississippi
Authors: Ruse Cristina Mariana , Mokhtari Mehdi , Yeo Lenissongui
Published: May 2022

The Tuscaloosa Marine Shale (TMS) is a versatile Late Cretaceous shale formation present in central and SE Louisiana and SW Mississippi, which drew attention because of the various roles played within the Tuscaloosa Group. In this paper, it is debated whether the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale can act as a source, reservoir, or seal all throughout the shale play or only in certain areas. Well log and core data from Adams County, Mississippi, are compared to data from East Feliciana Parish in Louisiana. Conclusions were drawn based on the results of well log analysis, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), porosity–permeability measurements, programmed pyrolysis, and fracture analysis. It was shown that the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale interval in SE Louisiana consists of important amounts of calcite, exhibits multiple natural fractures, has porosity values as high as 9.3%, and shows a TOC content of up to 2.8 wt%. On the other hand, samples from a well at the Cranfield field, MS, are characterized by considerably lower TOC values of around 0.88 wt%, porosities between 0.33% and 4%, and no serious fracturing. The formation demonstrates better reservoir and source potential in SE Louisiana and reliable CO2 sealing capacity in SW Mississippi. The analysis presented in this paper represents a holistic approach to the characterization of shale formations, is applicable to other plays around the world, and can be used as an integral part of CO2 sequestration or hydraulic fracturing programs.
Power and Energy Management of a DC Microgrid for a Renewable Curtailment Case Due to the Integration of a Small-Scale Wind Turbine
Authors: Aourir Jamila , Locment Fabrice , Sechilariu Manuela
Published: May 2022

Economic dispatch optimization and power management are the main concerns for a microgrid (MG). They are always studied and are considered to achieve an efficient operation of the MG by simplifying the control process and decreasing losses. The integration of a small-scale wind turbine (SSWD) into a direct current (DC) MG has an impact on its power and energy management. Excess power produced by renewable energy sources (RESs) is one of the problems that face the reliability of the MG and should be resolved. For this reason, a supervisory system is suggested to manage the excess of power. During the supervision process, some criteria, such as the physical limits and tariffs of the components are taken into account. Then, the suggested power management strategy aims to achieve an instantaneous power balance considering a rule-based power and depends on the above-mentioned criteria. To better meet the power balance, it is necessary to explore the constraints related to the control and supervision of the studied DC MG. Performance measures include the overall system energy cost and renewable curtailment (renewable energy that cannot be utilized and should be limited). Thus, the power limitation strategy consists of using two types of “shedding coefficients”, α  and γ, to calculate the power that should be limited from each RES in the case of energy surplus. Simulation tests are carried out using two power management strategies: optimization and without optimization (i.e., storage priority). The results reveal that the coefficient γ reduces the overall energy cost and whatever the applied coefficient, optimization still provides good performances and significantly reduces the global energy cost.
Murree Clay Problems and Water-Based Drilling Mud Optimization: A Case Study from the Kohat Basin in Northwestern Pakistan
Authors: Qadri S. M. Talha , Ahmed Waqas , Haque A. K. M. Eahsanul , Radwan Ahmed E. , Hakimi Mohammad Hail , Abdel Aal Ahmed K.
Published: May 2022

Drilling fluids with subtle filtration and rheological characteristics are essential to optimize the functioning of oil and gas well drills. The Early Miocene Murree Formation in the Kohat Basin of Pakistan is generally referred to as the Murree Clays. When mixed with water-base drilling mud, ultra-fine particles of the Murree Formation tend to eradicate default fluid rheological properties and result in wellbore instabilities during drilling in that area. To obtain the optimized mud to deliver the drilling operation efficiently, we aimed to mitigate the impact of Murree clay on the drilling mud. We analyzed the drilling mud to observe the effects of the mud additive on clays on the basis of the samples from the Murree Clays. On the basis of the experimental tests, we observed that the rheological properties of mud significantly improved in the presence of KCl. KCl prevented the smectite group swelling inclinations and reduced rheological values to 25%, 33.3%, 48.6%, and 65.2%. The plastic viscosity increased as the concentration of clays increased; however, there was a noticeable reduction in the yield point values with the introduction of KCl. The laboratory results showed that Mud + 4% Clay + 1% KCl proved to be the best mitigation while preserving the rheological and performance characteristics of the mud. Tests enabled the scope to increase the inhibition efficiency and optimize customization. Depending on the clay present in the Murree formation, drilling fluid optimization is proposed to reduce mud-related drilling problems in this area.
Artificial Sun—A Stand to Test New PVT Minimodules
Authors: Raj Ewa , Znajdek Katarzyna , Dionizy Mateusz , Czarnecki Przemysław , Niedzielski Przemysław , Ruta Łukasz , Lisik Zbigniew
Published: May 2022

Hybrid photovoltaic thermal (PVT) modules have gained more attention because of their benefits of higher total efficiency and lower gross area of installation in comparison with photovoltaic (PV) or solar thermal collectors (T). Although international standards for separate panels, photovoltaics, or thermal collectors are available, the lack of testing procedures for PVT panels is a problem, especially if a high level of integration between the two parts is implemented. In the paper, a new stand to test new PVT minimodules is proposed and verified. It allows a reduction of the influence of environmental conditions on the tested T or PVT structures. Research conducted on lamp configurations confirms the possibility of achieving a high uniformity of light intensity, with values close to the AM1.5 spectrum standard (1049 ± 34 W/m2). The first measurements of new PVT minimodules have proven their usefulness, as well as the potential of a new hybrid solution.
Optimal Planning of Multitype DGs and D-STATCOMs in Power Distribution Network Using an Efficient Parameter Free Metaheuristic Algorithm
Authors: Dash Subrat Kumar , Mishra Sivkumar , Abdelaziz Almoataz Youssef , Hong Junhee , Geem Zong Woo
Published: May 2022

In a quest to solve the multi-objective optimal planning problem using a simple parameter-free metaheuristic algorithm, this paper establishes the recently proposed student psychology-based optimization (SPBO) algorithm as the most promising one, comparing it with the other two popular nonparametric metaheuristic optimization algorithms, i.e., the symbiotic organisms search (SOS) and Harris hawk optimization (HHO). A novel multi-objective framework (with suitable weights) is proposed with a real power loss minimization index, bus voltage variation minimization index, system voltage stability maximization index, and system annual cost minimization index to cover various technical, economic, and environmental aspects. The performances of these three algorithms are compared extensively for simultaneous allocation of multitype distributed generations (DGs) and D-STACOM in 33-bus and 118-bus test systems considering eight different cases. The detailed analysis also includes the statistical analysis of the results obtained using the three algorithms applied to the two test distribution systems.
The Relationship between Chlorite and Reservoir Quality in the Huagang Formation, Xihu Depression, China
Authors: Duan Dongping , Zhang Xianguo , Liu Binbin , Lin Jianli , Wang Wenguang
Published: May 2022

Low permeability tight gas resources account for 90% of the Xihu Sag. Under the background of extensive development of low permeability and tight reservoirs, the key to economic and effective development is to find sweet reservoir formation. To clarify the origin and distribution of a sweet reservoir in the study area, it is important to study the formation and evolution mechanisms of chlorite. In this study, based on the analysis of thin section, X-ray diffraction and SEM, through the analysis of the key factors in the formation of authigenic chlorite of the Huagang Formation in the middle and north of the central inversion structural belt, we reasoned the formation and evolution process of chlorite in the whole life cycle. According to the sedimentary diagenetic response characteristics of chlorite, two types of favorable sedimentary facies belts of chlorite are identified. The results showed that the development of pore-lined chlorite is a natural advantage of reservoirs in the East China Sea. Chlorite is formed under the joint action of three factors: the source of iron and magnesium ions, the alkaline environment in the early diagenetic stage and the open fluid field. After the formation of pore-lined chlorite, the sweet spots developed under the protection of four mechanisms: inhibiting quartz cementation, enhancing compression resistance, protecting macropore throat and primary pores, and promoting secondary intergranular dissolved pores. When the content of chlorite in the pore lining is high (relative content > 35%), the lining thickness is moderate (4–10 μm). A high degree of wrapping and good crystallization are conducive to the formation and preservation of sweet spots.
CRISPR/Cas9 in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Authors: Hernández-Sánchez María
Published: May 2022

Genome-editing systems such as Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 technology have uncovered new opportunities to model diseases such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia. CRISPR/Cas9 is an important means of advancing functional studies of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) through the incorporation, elimination and modification of somatic mutations in CLL models.
Quality and Price of Spruce Logs, Determined Conventionally and by Dendrochronological and NDE Techniques
Authors: Straže Aleš , Novak Klemen , Čufar Katarina
Published: May 2022

We examined valuable log assortments of Norway spruce (Picea abies) from a traditional auction in Slovenia where spruce growth on many sites is affected by climate change. From 6620 logs, we selected 817 that obtained the highest prices. Factors including log dimensions and geometry, tree-ring characteristics, quality grades according to the standard, properties measured by NDE stress wave testing, and their combined effect on price were modelled. The results showed that half of the auctioned logs were of highest quality (Q1, Q2), with diameters over 60 cm. These logs were more expensive than the thinner logs of lower quality (Q3, Q4). The quality class of the logs, determined by their external features and geometry, was associated with tree-ring and acoustic characteristics. The artificial neural network model (ANN) with feed-forward backpropagation using tree-ring data, longitudinal stress wave velocity, and damping showed that more than 75% of the logs could be accurately classified into quality classes. On the other hand, tree-ring data and acoustic characteristics could not adequately explain the price offered at auction, which probably also depends on unidentified individual requirements and the needs of the buyer.
Non-Additive Effects of Mixing Eucalyptus and Castanopsis hystrix Trees on Carbon Stocks under an Eco-Silviculture Regime in Southern China
Authors: Wang Lei , Zhou Xiaoguo , Wen Yuanguang , Sun Dongjing
Published: May 2022

Eucalyptus plantations harbor great potential for supporting ecosystem services, but this prospect is weakened under long-term traditional silviculture regimes. To reform these traditional silviculture regimes, we carried out a long-term Eucalyptus eco-silviculture experiment. However, the derived benefits and mechanisms that arise in mixed species stands under the eco-silviculture regime are not fully understood. Here, we evaluated tree carbon storage (TCS), understory vegetation carbon storage (UCS), floor litter carbon storage (FLCS), soil organic carbon storage (SOCS), and ecosystem carbon storage (ECS) in seven-year-old mono-specific plantations of a Eucalyptus hybrid (E. urophylla × E. grandis) and Castanopsis hystrix, as well as mixed plantations of these two trees under an eco-silviculture regime in southern China. The results showed that the tree height, diameter at breast height (DBH), volume, and biomass of eucalypt trees and C. hystrix in the mixed plantation were significantly higher than that of the trees in the corresponding single-species plantations. The mixed-species plantation had the largest TCS (84.33 Mg ha−1), FLCS (4.34 Mg ha−1), and ECS (313.31 Mg ha−1), as well as a higher SOCS (233.98 Mg ha−1), but the lowest UCS (0.96 Mg ha−1), among the three plantation types. The mixture effects analysis revealed significant synergistic effects (non-additive effect, NAE > 0) on TCS, SOCS, and ECS, and significant antagonistic effects (NAE < 0) on UCS. These synergistic effects were mainly due to the complementary ecological niches of the two species in the mixed-species plantation, which could potentially enable them to maximize the use of local resources, and to increase stand productivity and litter production. These results imply that beyond the gains in timber production obtained by having both Eucalyptus and C. hystrix trees growing in the same plantation stand, such mixed-species plantations enhance carbon sequestration to a greater extent than mono-specific plantations of either Eucalyptus or C.hystrix trees. In conclusion, we suggest planting mixed plantations of species with complementary ecological niches under an eco-silviculture regime, to effectively resolve the contradiction between timber production and ecosystem services, and, thereby, also promote the sustainable development of Eucalyptus plantations.
Effectiveness of Low-Cost Bioreactors Integrated with a Gas Stripping System for Butanol Fermentation from Sugarcane Molasses by Clostridium beijerinckii
Authors: Thanapornsin Thanawat , Sirisantimethakom Likit , Laopaiboon Lakkana , Laopaiboon Pattana
Published: May 2022

The effectiveness of column bioreactors for butanol fermentation from sugarcane molasses by Clostridium beijerinckii TISTR 1461 was investigated. This fermentation was operated at an initial pH of 6.5 and temperature of 37 °C under anaerobic conditions. A 1-L bubble column bioreactor was used with various gas circulation rates ranging from 0.2 to 1.0 L/min. The highest butanol concentration (PB, 8.72 g/L), productivity (QB, 0.24 g/L∙h) and yield (YB/S, 0.21 g/g) were obtained with a gas circulation of 0.2 L/min. To improve butanol production efficiency, gas-lift column bioreactors with internal and external loops at 0.2 L/min of circulating gas were used. Higher PB (10.50–10.58 g/L), QB (0.29 g/L∙h) and YB/S (0.22–0.23 g/g) values were obtained in gas-lift column bioreactors. These values were similar to those using a more complex 2-L stirred-tank bioreactor (PB, 10.10 g/L; QB, 0.28 g/L h and YB/S, 0.22 g/g). Hence, gas-lift column bioreactors have potential for use as low-cost fermenters instead of stirred-tank bioreactors for butanol fermentation. When the gas-lift column bioreactor with an internal loop was coupled with a gas stripping system, it yielded an enhanced PB and sugar consumption of approximately 9% and 7%, respectively, compared to a system with no gas stripping.
Gastrointestinal Microbiota of Spiny Lobster: A Review
Authors: Lein En Yao , Mohamad Lal Mohammad Tamrin , Venmathi Maran Balu Alagar , Ch’ng Choon Looi , Hamasaki Katsuyuki , Sano Motohiko , Tuzan Audrey Daning
Published: May 2022

The gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota is a group of complex and dynamic microorganisms present in the GI tract of an organism that live in symbiosis with the host and benefit the host with various biological functions. The communities of GI microbiota are formed by various aerobic, anaerobic, and facultatively anaerobic bacteria in aquatic species. In spiny lobsters, common GI microorganisms found in the GI tract are Vibrio, Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Micrococcus, and Flavobacterium, where the structure and abundance of these microbes are varied depending on the environment. GI microbiotas hold an important role and significantly affect the overall condition of spiny lobsters, such as secreting digestive enzymes (lipase, protease, and cellulase), helping in digesting food intake, providing nutrition and synthesising vitamins needed by the host system, and protecting the host against infection from pathogens and diseases by activating an immune mechanism in the GI tract. The microorganisms in the water column, sediment, and diet are primarily responsible for altering, manipulating, and shaping GI microbial structures and communities. This review also highlights the possibilities of isolating the indigenous GI microbiota as a potential probiotic strain and introducing it to spiny lobster juveniles and larvae for better health management.
Effect of Ultrasonic Induction on the Main Physiological and Biochemical Indicators and γ–Aminobutyric Acid Content of Maize during Germination
Authors: Zhang Liangchen , Hao Nan , Li Wenjuan , Zhang Baiqing , Shi Taiyuan , Xie Mengxi , Yu Miao
Published: May 2022

Research on the nutrient content of cereal grains during germination is becoming a hot topic; however, studies on germinated maize are still scarce. This study aimed to provide a technical reference and theoretical basis for the development of functional maize health foods and to expand the application of ultrasonic technology in the production of germinated grains. In this study, the germination rate of maize was used as the evaluation index, and the ultrasonic frequency, ultrasonic temperature, and induction time were selected as the influencing factors in orthogonal experiments to determine the optimal process parameters for ultrasonic induction of maize germination (ultrasonic frequency of 45 kHz, ultrasonic temperature of 30 °C, and ultrasonic induction time of 30 min). Based on this process, the effects of ultrasonic induction on the main physiological, biochemical, and γ–aminobutyric acid contents of maize during germination were investigated. The results showed that the respiration of the ultrasonic treated maize was significantly enhanced during germination, resulting in a 27% increase in sprout length, as well as a 4.03% higher dry matter consumption rate, and a 2.11% higher starch consumption rate. Furthermore, the reducing sugar content of germinated maize increased by 22.83%, soluble protein content increased by 22.52%, and γ–aminobutyric acid content increased by 30.55% after ultrasonic induction treatment. Throughout the germination process, the glutamate acid decarboxylase activity of the ultrasonically treated maize was higher than that of the control group, indicating that ultrasonication can promote maize germination, accelerate the germination process, and shorten the enrichment time of γ–aminobutyric acid in germinated maize. The results of this study can be applied to the production of γ–aminobutyric acid enrichment in germinated maize.
Consumers’ Understanding of Ultra-Processed Foods
Authors: Sarmiento-Santos Juliana , Souza Melissa B. N. , Araujo Lydia S. , Pion Juliana M. V. , Carvalho Rosemary A. , Vanin Fernanda M.
Published: May 2022

Food classification systems have been proposed to improve food quality criteria. Among these systems, “processing level” has been used as a criterion. NOVA classification, as the denotation “ultra-processed” food (UPF), has been widely used in different countries. However, even though some studies have pointed out some controversial aspects, no study has evaluated its comprehension by the population where it is used as reference. Therefore, this study explored the understanding of the term UPF for Brazilian consumers, where this denotation has been used in the last 8 years. A questionnaire was used, with questions referring to different aspects of self-assessment of knowledge about UPF. Altogether, 939 valid participants completed the questionnaire, and 81.9% of them declared to know the term UPF. For 78.2%, a better definition for UPF should be “foods that have gone through many processes in industry”. Finally, it was concluded that the term UPF is still confusing for most Brazilians, indicating the risk of use and the urgent necessity to improve the classifications systems and consequently consumer understanding. Only when all parties interested in healthy food work together could this problem be solved.