bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diagnostic specificity of the child psychosis-risk screening system with a focus on the differentiation of schizophrenia spectrum disorders and neurodevelopmental disorders
Authors: Hamasaki Yukiko , Sakaue Yuko , Matsuo Masahiro , Sanada Riku , Nakayama Takao , Michikoshi Shugo , Ueba Satoko , Kurimoto Naoki , Hikida Takatoshi , Murai Toshiya
Published: August 2023

Background

Research on early psychosis has begun to identify psychiatric characteristics of the prodromal period of schizophrenia; however, subclinical characteristics of children in non-psychiatric fields have not been fully investigated. In our previous study, we developed the Child Psychosis-risk Screening System (CPSS).

Objective

In the present cross-sectional study, we attempted to identify the risk of developing psychosis in pediatric (n = 216) and psychiatric outpatients (n = 120), aged 6– 18 years, with the CPSS.

Methods

An analysis of variance of CPSS risk was performed in six diagnostic categories to examine specificity for each diagnosis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was conducted using the onset of schizophrenia spectrum as the outcome, and the discriminatory power and cut off values of the CPSS were determined. Logistic regression analysis was performed using clinical data to identify factors associated with the risk group (those at high risk of developing psychosis in the future) identified using the CPSS.

Results

There were significant differences in risk variance among diagnostic categories (p < 0.001), especially between schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) and neurodevelopmental disorders (p = 0.001). CPSS had sufficient discriminatory power for SSD diagnosis [area under the ROC curve = 0.853 (95% confidence interval: 0.774–0.931)]. The cut off value for the risk of SSD was determined to be 98.1%, achieving the best mean of the sum of sensitivity (90.9%) and specificity (84.0%). Cross-sectional logistic regression analysis showed that along with “SSD diagnosis,” “winter birth,” and “maltreatment” were factors associated with the risk group (odds ratio = 38.05 [p = 0.001], 2.30 [p = 0.016], and 0.12 [p = 0.024], respectively).

Conclusion

CPSS may have potential use in the early detection of psychosis and differentiation from neurodevelopmental disorders, but this study was small and further studies with larger sample sizes and longitudinal study designs are required prior to its use in routine clinical practice.
The effects of a smartphone game training intervention on executive functions in youth soccer players: a randomized controlled study
Authors: Heilmann Florian , Formenti Damiano , Trecroci Athos , Lautenbach Franziska
Published: August 2023

Cognitive training primarily aims to improve executive functions (EFs). It has become a popular research topic, as previous studies have provided preliminary evidence that EFs relate to sports performance. However, whether a domain-generic cognitive training intervention can improve EFs in high-performance athletes is still unclear. The present randomized controlled study aimed to examine the effects of an eight-week (5 min/day, 5 days/week) smartphone-based domain-generic cognitive training intervention (i.e., the smartphone game “Fruit Ninja”) on EFs in youth soccer athletes (N = 33; intervention: n = 15, passive control: n = 18; German youth soccer academy). We assessed working memory (3-back task), inhibition (Flanker & Go/NoGo task), and cognitive flexibility (number-letter task) in a pre-post design with computerized tasks. The results showed no significant time x group differences attributable to the cognitive training between the intervention group and the control group, except for a response time variable of the Go/NoGo task. These preliminary results do not suggest an application of CT as a smartphone-based game to improve EFs performance in soccer players. However, more research is needed to establish the efficacy of domain-specific interventions in high-level team sport athletes.
Allelopathic Potential of Tropical Plants—A Review
Authors: Motmainna Mst. , Juraimi Abdul Shukor , Ahmad-Hamdani Muhammad Saiful , Hasan Mahmudul , Yeasmin Sabina , Anwar Md. Parvez , Islam A. K. M. Mominul
Published: August 2023

The need to meet food demand becomes more urgent as it is forecasted to increase by 50% over the next century. Thus, agronomists promote sensible tools and approaches to eradicate factors that hamper crop production, mainly weeds. The constant use of chemical herbicides to control weeds leads to an increased risk of herbicide-resistant weed populations, environmental pollution, unsafe agricultural products, and negative effects on human health. These problems have caused an interest among researchers to replace synthetic herbicides with alternatives. The purpose of this review was to present the current knowledge base on allelopathic tropical plants and their potential for use in the development of natural product-based, environmentally friendly herbicides for sustainable agriculture, and to stimulate future discussion on this topic. The defence mechanisms of tropical plants have received particular attention because of their potential weed control ability as a natural pesticide that can prevent the overuse of synthetic pesticides. The ancient knowledge of the toxic properties of various tropical plants gives us a basis for creating a novel pest control approach. The synthesis of biopesticides based on allelochemicals opens up the possibility of utilizing natural compounds in crop protection and demonstrates the ability to deal with evolved pesticide resistance.
Justifying Euthanasia: A Qualitative Study of Veterinarians’ Ethical Boundary Work of “Good” Killing
Authors: Bubeck Marc J.
Published: August 2023

(1) Veterinarians are regularly required to euthanize their “objects of care” as part of their work, which distinguishes them from other healthcare professionals. This paper examines how veterinarians navigate the ethical tensions inherent in euthanasia, particularly the collision between the routine practice of killing animals within their profession and the broader social and moral implications. (2) Using the sociological concept of ethical boundary work as a theoretical framework, this research observes how veterinarians draw boundaries by positioning their euthanasia practices on the ethical “good” spectrum. A grounded theory study of 17 qualitative interviews with veterinarians was conducted. (3) The findings highlight differences in ethical boundary work within veterinary medicine, particularly in the distinction between farm animals and companion animals. Economic and emotional reasoning play differing roles in explanation and justification. Ethical boundary work is a tool for distinguishing normative frameworks in different areas of veterinary medicine. (4) In conclusion, veterinarians grapple with the realities of an imperfect world and often rely on boundary work to assert diverse interests and navigate multiple contexts. By exploring the complexities of ethical boundary work, this study contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the moral landscape within veterinary practice.
The Fergana Valley Is an Isolate of Biodiversity: A Discussion of the Endemic Herpetofauna and Description of Two New Species of Alsophylax (Sauria: Gekkonidae) from Eastern Uzbekistan
Authors: Nazarov Roman A. , Abduraupov Timur V. , Shepelya Evgeniya Yu. , Gritsina Mariya A. , Melnikov Daniel A. , Buehler Matthew D. , Lapin Jack D. , Poyarkov Nikolay A. , Grismer Jesse L.
Published: August 2023

The high level of endemism in Fergana Valley has been well documented in numerous studies for various groups of animals and plants. In a relatively small area, there are 45 endemic plant species, five endemic insect species, and five endemic reptile species. In surveying this area for data on distribution, abundance, acoustics, and genetic samples for species of reptiles, we discovered two new species of gecko from the genus Alsophylax. Phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial DNA sequences indicate the relatives of these new species are the even-fingered gecko, Alsophylax pipiens, and the southern even-fingered gecko, Alsophylax laevis, located hundreds of kilometers to the northwest and southwest of the Fergana Valley. The threats to these new endemic species are significant given the amount of continued agricultural development that involves new territories previously considered “unsuitable” for any species of significance that is leading to the further reduction in, fragmentation of, and degradation of the remaining natural ecosystems in the Fergana Valley. The conservation of these rare and locally endemic species depends directly on the readiness of the state to create areas with IUCN I and II protection. The many studies documenting levels of endemism, along with the data published in this study, are the basis for the justification for state-protected areas in the Fergana Valley.
Scoparia dulcis L. Extract Relieved High Stocking Density-Induced Stress in Crucian Carp (Carassius auratus)
Authors: Chen Gangfu , Wu Min , Li Huatao , Xu Jing , Liu Haijing , Du Wenhao , Yang Qihui , Feng Lin , Jiang Jun
Published: August 2023

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of Scoparia dulcis extract (SDE) on stress induced by high stocking density and Cu and trichlorfon exposure in crucian carp (Carassius auratus). The results showed that these stressors exerted detrimental effects in fish, such as inhibition of growth performance, reduced feed intake, and interruption of fish locomotion. Under high stocking density, dietary SDE supplementation increased the content of reduced glutathione (GSH) and the activities of amylase, catalase (CAT), and glutathione reductase (GR) and decreased the content of malonaldehyde (MDA) in the intestine of crucian carp. A similar trend was presented in the hepatopancreas under Cu exposure. Dietary SDE supplementation enhanced the activities of CAT, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), lactate dehydrogenase, glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase, and glutamate-pyruvate transaminase in the muscle of crucian carp under trichlorfon exposure. The optimum dietary SDE supplementation levels were 4.07, 4.33, and 3.95 g kg−1 diet based on the recovery rate of weight gain (RWG), feed intake (FI), and inhibitory rate of rollover (IR) for crucian carp under high stocking density and Cu and trichlorfon exposure, respectively. Overall, dietary supplementation with SDE may be a useful nutritional strategy for relieving these stresses in aquatic animals.
Key Mechanism Research of Top Plate Thickening of the Box-Girder Bridge for Noise Reduction Design in High-Speed Railway
Authors: Zhang Xiaoan , Zhang Xiaoyun , Song Gao , Xu Jiangang , Yang Li
Published: August 2023

In the context of noise reduction schemes for box-girder bridges (BGBs) used in high-speed railway, the thickened top plate design can effectively reduce the structural noise of the BGB, which has been widely recognized. However, it is difficult to obtain the optimum thickness of the top plate of the BGB without mastering the key mechanism of the noise reduction scheme. Therefore, this study took a 32 m simple-supported concrete BGB in the context of a high-speed railway as the research object and analyzed and compared the sound vibration characteristics of the entire thickened top plate versus the locally thickened top plate on BGB tracks, and the optimal noise reduction mechanism of the thickened top plate design scheme was studied in detail. The key issues of the thickened top plate noise reduction scheme are discussed. The results show that thickening the top plate can obviously reduce the bridge’s structural noise when subjected to severe vibration and high frequency bands because the vibration of the BGB is reduced. However, in the low frequency band, acoustic radiation can occur as a result of the small amplitude vibration, and this phenomenon is closely related to the vibrational distribution of the BGB. Therefore, it is necessary to focus on the vibrational distribution of the BGB as a priority when carrying out noise reduction using a thickened top plate. This paper points out the most significant factors affecting the acoustic radiation ability of the BGB in different frequency bands, especially the key problem of the strong acoustic radiation ability caused by small vibrations in low frequency band. The research results can provide an important theoretical basis for the optimal thickness design of the BGB.
Dynamic Weight and Mapping Mutation Operation-Based Salp Swarm Algorithm for Global Optimization
Authors: Zhao Yanchun , Bi Senlin , Zhang Huanlong , Chen Zhiwu
Published: August 2023

The salp swarm algorithm imitates the swarm behavior of salps during navigation and hunting that has been proven the superiority of search for best solution. However, although it has sufficient global search ability, it is still worth paying attention to problems of falling into local optima and lower convergence accuracy. This paper proposes some improvements to the salp swarm algorithm that are based on a nonlinear dynamic weight and the mapping mutation operation. Firstly, the nonlinear dynamic weight is helpful for further optimizing the transition from exploration to exploitation and alleviating the local optima stagnation phenomena. Secondly, utilizing a mapping mutation operation can increase the diversity of followers in algorithm, to avoid getting trapped into the local optima during the search and provide a better optimal solution. The proposed algorithm is characterized by a stronger global optimization capability and high convergence accuracy. Finally, to confirm the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm, comparative experiments based on other well-known swarm-based algorithms and each improvement for the original algorithm are conducted. The quantitative results and convergence curves among several algorithms demonstrate that the enhanced algorithm with the nonlinear dynamic weight and mapping mutation operation can outperform the original algorithm.
Aerosol Properties and Their Influences on Marine Boundary Layer Cloud Condensation Nuclei over the Southern Ocean
Authors: Zhang Xingyu , Dong Xiquan , Xi Baike , Zheng Xiaojian
Published: August 2023

Five overcast marine stratocumulus cases during the Southern Ocean Clouds Radiation Aerosol Transport Experimental Study (SOCRATES) aircraft field campaign were selected to examine aerosol and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) properties with cloud influence. The Aitken- and accumulation-mode aerosols contributed approximately 70% and 30% of the total aerosols, respectively. The aerosol properties before and after periods of drizzle were investigated using in situ measurements during one case. Sub-cloud drizzle processes impacted accumulation-mode aerosols and CCN distribution. There was a nearly linear increase in CCN number concentration (NCCN) with supersaturation (S) during the ‘before drizzle’ period, but this was not true for the ‘after drizzle’ period, particularly when S > 0.4%. Using the hygroscopicity parameter (κ) to quantitatively investigate the chemical cloud-processing mechanisms, we found that higher κ values (>0.4) represent cloud-processing aerosols, while lower κ values (<0.1) represent newly formed aerosols. When the supersaturation is less than the Hoppel minimum (0.22%), cloud processing is dominant, whereas sea-spray aerosols are dominant contributors to CCN activation when S exceeds 0.22% but is less than 0.32%, the effective supersaturation threshold. Sea salt is considered a non-cloud-processing aerosol and is large and hygroscopic enough to form cloud droplets.
X-Linked Gusher Disease DFNX2 in Children, a Rare Inner Ear Dysplasia with Mixed Hearing and Vestibular Loss
Authors: Dasgupta Soumit , Hong James , Morris Rhyanna , Iqbal Javed , Lennox-Bowley Amy , Saniasiaya Jeyasakthy
Published: August 2023

Conductive hearing losses are typically present in disorders of the external/middle ear. However, there is a rare group of inner ear conditions called third windows that can also generate a conductive hearing loss. This is due to an abnormal connection between the middle and the inner ear or between the inner ear and the cranial cavity. X-linked gusher disorder is an extremely rare congenital inner ear dysplastic syndrome with an abnormal connection due to a characteristic incomplete cochlear partition type III and an incomplete internal auditory meatus fundus. The disorder is inherited in an X-linked fashion due to the mutation of the POU3F4 gene. We present two siblings diagnosed with the condition and their long-term follow-ups. They both presented audiovestibular symptoms and showed progressive mixed losses and bilateral vestibular weakness. They were treated with cochlear implant, digital amplification and with vestibular rehabilitation. Significant others around them were involved in their journey with the medical team, and in both, a very favourable outcome was achieved. This is the first time that we have reported evolving audiovestibular function with vestibular quantification in X-linked gusher disorder and emphasize on the multidisciplinary holistic approach to manage these children effectively.
Adaptability and Germination Characteristics of Volunteer Wheat in China’s Main Wheat-Producing Areas
Authors: Su Wangcang , Yang Muhan , Ma Ronghui , Li Qingqing , Xu Hongle , Xue Fei , Sun Lanlan , Lu Chuantao , Wu Renhai
Published: August 2023

Volunteer wheat commonly occurs and spreads rapidly in the main wheat-producing areas of China, seriously impacting cultivated wheat production. Limited information is currently available regarding the adaptability and germination traits of volunteer wheat. Therefore, this study’s aim was to evaluate the effects of environmental conditions on the germination and emergence of volunteer wheat seeds through laboratory experiments. The results showed that the germination percentages and viability of volunteer wheat were significantly higher than those of cultivated wheat at a low temperature of 5 °C, and they were lower than those of cultivated wheat at high temperatures of above 30 °C. Compared to cultivated wheat, volunteer wheat was able to tolerate higher salinity and lower osmotic potential, especially long-dormancy volunteer wheat. The secondary germination ability of volunteer wheat was higher than that of cultivated wheat after water immersion. Furthermore, volunteer wheat could not emerge normally when the seeding depth was greater than 8 cm, and the emergence ability of the volunteer wheat was weaker than that of the cultivated wheats when the seeding depth was 4–8 cm, which indicates that the deep tillage of cultivated land could effectively prevent the spread of volunteer wheat. This study revealed differences in the germination characteristics of volunteer wheat and cultivated wheat under the influence of different environmental factors, which provides a basis for future studies concerning the control of volunteer wheat.
Biochemical Characterization of the Copper Nitrite Reductase from Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Authors: Barreiro Daniela S. , Oliveira Ricardo N. S. , Pauleta Sofia R.
Published: August 2023

The copper-containing nitrite reductase from Neisseria gonorrhoeae has been shown to play a critical role in the infection mechanism of this microorganism by producing NO and abolishing epithelial exfoliation. This enzyme is a trimer with a type 1 copper center per subunit and a type 2 copper center in the subunits interface, with the latter being the catalytic site. The two centers were characterized for the first time by EPR and CD spectroscopy, showing that the type 1 copper center has a high rhombicity due to its lower symmetry and more tetragonal structure, while the type 2 copper center has the usual properties, but with a smaller hyperfine coupling constant (A// = 10.5 mT). The thermostability of the enzyme was analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry, which shows a single endothermic transition in the thermogram, with a maximum at 94 °C, while the CD spectra in the visible region indicate the presence of the type 1 copper center up to 80 °C. The reoxidation of the N. gonorrhoeae copper-containing nitrite reductase in the presence of nitrite were analyzed by visible spectroscopy and showed a pH dependence, being higher at pH 5.5–6.0. The high thermostability of this enzyme may be important to maintaining a high activity in the extracellular space and to making it less susceptible to denaturation and proteolysis, contributing to the proliferation of N. gonorrhoeae.
Application of Circular Economy Principles to Architectural Design: A Case Study of Serbia
Authors: Stoiljković Branislava , Petković Nataša , Krstić Hristina , Petrović Vladana
Published: August 2023

The circular economy (CE), as an antidote to the ubiquitous and dominant global economic concept characterized by the uncontrolled exploitation of natural resources and the flow of materials from producers to users to landfills, has become inevitable. The application of circular business models is especially needed in the building sector, as one of the main consumers of natural resources and energy, considerable polluters, and substantial producers of waste. Since architects are important participants in the process of designing and building structures, it is clear that circular principles should be incorporated into architectural design (AD) as well. This paper deals with the analysis of the degree of application of circular principles in AD in Serbia and the challenges and difficulties that architects face in this endeavor. The methods used in the research included an unstructured interview on the basic principles of CE, a case study of selected housing renovation projects in Niš, Serbia (as an illustration of the principles that deal with extending the life of buildings in the domestic environment), and a survey on the degree and importance of the application of the CE principles in AD among architects in Serbia. The case study results and survey results led to the outline of guidelines for future AD in accordance with CE principles and recommendations for creating a working environment for the architects that is more circular oriented.
Experimental Investigation of Axially Loaded Precast Sandwich Panels
Authors: Barbosa Kamirã , Silva William T. M. , Silva Ramon , Vital Welington , Bezerra Luciano M.
Published: August 2023

This paper reports the results of three thin wythe precast sandwich panels tested under axial load. Panel reinforcements and shear connectors in the current state of precast sandwich panels in the civil construction context are evaluated. The authors measured displacement at two distinct panel heights as well as along the panel width to provide load–displacement behavior at the cross-section level and broaden the experimental data on the subject. The test results developed in this research showed good agreement with the results available in the literature. In addition, as concrete-wall panel strength equations have been linked to the compressive behavior of precast sandwich panels, a brief review of empirical formulae is also offered in this paper. Moreover, empirical data since 2005, on both concentrical and eccentrical load testing available in the literature, are also reported.
Reduced Racial Disparity as a Result of Survival Improvement in Prostate Cancer
Authors: Zhang Baoyi , Li Jianrong , Tang Mabel , Cheng Chao
Published: August 2023

Prostate cancer is a cancer type associated with a high level of racial and socioeconomic disparities as reported by many previous studies. However, the changes in these disparities in the past two decades have not been systematically studied. In this study, we investigated the Surveillance Epidemiology End Results (SEER) data for prostate cancer patients diagnosed during 2004–2018. African Americans and Asians showed significantly better and worse cancer-specific survival (CSS), respectively, compared to non-Hispanic white individuals after adjusting for confounding factors such as age and cancer stage. Importantly, the data indicated that racial disparities fluctuated and reached the highest level during 2009–2013, and thereafter, it showed a substantial improvement. Such a change cannot be explained by the improvement in early diagnosis but is mainly driven by the differential improvement in CSS between races. Compared with Asians and non-Hispanic whites, African American patients achieved a more significant survival improvement during 2014–2018, while no significant improvement was observed for Hispanics. In addition, the SEER data showed that high-income patients had significantly longer CSS than low-income patients. Such a socioeconomic disparity was continuously increasing during 2004–2018, which was caused by the increased survival benefits of the high-income patients with respect to the low-income patients. Our study suggests that more efforts and resources should be allocated to improve the treatment of patients with low socioeconomic status.
Unveiling the Neural Environment in Cancer: Exploring the Role of Neural Circuit Players and Potential Therapeutic Strategies
Authors: Nguyen Tuan Minh , Ngoc Dinh Thi Minh , Choi Jung-Hye , Lee Chang-Hoon
Published: August 2023

The regulation of the immune environment within the tumor microenvironment has provided new opportunities for cancer treatment. However, an important microenvironment surrounding cancer that is often overlooked despite its significance in cancer progression is the neural environment surrounding the tumor. The release of neurotrophic factors from cancer cells is implicated in cancer growth and metastasis by facilitating the infiltration of nerve cells into the tumor microenvironment. This nerve–tumor interplay can elicit cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in response to neurotransmitters. Moreover, it is possible that cancer cells could establish a network resembling that of neurons, allowing them to communicate with one another through neurotransmitters. The expression levels of players in the neural circuits of cancers could serve as potential biomarkers for cancer aggressiveness. Notably, the upregulation of certain players in the neural circuit has been linked to poor prognosis in specific cancer types such as breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, basal cell carcinoma, and stomach cancer. Targeting these players with inhibitors holds great potential for reducing the morbidity and mortality of these carcinomas. However, the efficacy of anti-neurogenic agents in cancer therapy remains underexplored, and further research is necessary to evaluate their effectiveness as a novel approach for cancer treatment. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the role of players in the neural circuits of cancers and the potential of anti-neurogenic agents for cancer therapy.
Interactions and Dynamics of One-Dimensional Droplets, Bubbles and Kinks
Authors: Katsimiga Garyfallia C. , Mistakidis Simeon I. , Malomed Boris A. , Frantzeskakis Dimitris J. , Carretero-Gonzalez Ricardo , Kevrekidis Panayotis G.
Published: August 2023

We explore the dynamics and interactions of multiple bright droplets and bubbles, as well as the interactions of kinks with droplets and with antikinks, in the extended one-dimensional Gross–Pitaevskii model including the Lee–Huang–Yang correction. Existence regions are identified for the one-dimensional droplets and bubbles in terms of their chemical potential, verifying the stability of the droplets and exposing the instability of the bubbles. The limiting case of the droplet family is a stable kink. The interactions between droplets demonstrate in-phase (out-of-phase) attraction (repulsion), with the so-called Manton’s method explicating the observed dynamical response, and mixed behavior for intermediate values of the phase shift. Droplets bearing different chemical potentials experience mass-exchange phenomena. Individual bubbles exhibit core expansion and mutual attraction prior to their destabilization. Droplets interacting with kinks are absorbed by them, a process accompanied by the emission of dispersive shock waves and gray solitons. Kink–antikink interactions are repulsive, generating counter-propagating shock waves. Our findings reveal dynamical features of droplets and kinks that can be detected in current experiments.
Motion Capture Technologies for Ergonomics: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Salisu Sani , Ruhaiyem Nur Intan Raihana , Eisa Taiseer Abdalla Elfadil , Nasser Maged , Saeed Faisal , Younis Hussain A.
Published: August 2023

Muscular skeletal disorder is a difficult challenge faced by the working population. Motion capture (MoCap) is used for recording the movement of people for clinical, ergonomic and rehabilitation solutions. However, knowledge barriers about these MoCap systems have made them difficult to use for many people. Despite this, no state-of-the-art literature review on MoCap systems for human clinical, rehabilitation and ergonomic analysis has been conducted. A medical diagnosis using AI applies machine learning algorithms and motion capture technologies to analyze patient data, enhancing diagnostic accuracy, enabling early disease detection and facilitating personalized treatment plans. It revolutionizes healthcare by harnessing the power of data-driven insights for improved patient outcomes and efficient clinical decision-making. The current review aimed to investigate: (i) the most used MoCap systems for clinical use, ergonomics and rehabilitation, (ii) their application and (iii) the target population. We used preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis guidelines for the review. Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science were used to search for relevant published articles. The articles obtained were scrutinized by reading the abstracts and titles to determine their inclusion eligibility. Accordingly, articles with insufficient or irrelevant information were excluded from the screening. The search included studies published between 2013 and 2023 (including additional criteria). A total of 40 articles were eligible for review. The selected articles were further categorized in terms of the types of MoCap used, their application and the domain of the experiments. This review will serve as a guide for researchers and organizational management.
Lessons Learnt from Rapid Implementation of Telehealth in a Paediatric Dietetics’ Outpatient Service: Is There a Silver Lining beyond the Coronavirus Pandemic to Support Patient-Centred Care?
Authors: Llanos Jeri Araceli , Lambert Kelly , Mak May , Diamantes Marika
Published: August 2023

The aim of this paper is to report on the differences in clinical and service engagement outcomes of patients attending the paediatric dietetic outpatient service at a major metropolitan hospital before the outbreak of the coronavirus (using face-to-face care) and during the pandemic (using telehealth). This paper also reports on learning lessons from the rapid implementation of telehealth in this service. This study collected pre- and post-coronavirus pandemic data from 44 paediatric patients. Data on outcomes pre- and post-implementation were analysed. There were no statistically significant differences between pre- and post-coronavirus data for growth (p = 0.92), adherence to dietetic recommendations (p = 0.08) or attendance rate (p = 1.00). This study also found a low uptake of virtual telehealth, technical issues and suboptimal anthropometric data collection associated with this modality of care. Telehealth was not associated with a change in clinical and service engagement outcomes. Thus, telehealth service delivery is not inferior to usual face–face dietetic care and has the potential to be a useful adjunct to usual nutrition care for paediatric health service users after the coronavirus pandemic.
Design of a Decentralized Identifier-Based Authentication and Access Control Model for Smart Homes
Authors: Zhao Xinyang , Zhong Bocheng , Cui Zicai
Published: August 2023

In recent years, smart homes have garnered extensive attention as a prominent application scenario of IoT technology. However, the unique characteristics of smart homes have brought forth serious security threats, emphasizing the paramount importance of identity authentication and access control. The conventional centralized approach is plagued by the issue of having a “single point of failure,” while existing distributed solutions are constrained by limited device resources and the complexities of identity authentication. To tackle these challenges, this paper proposes a smart home authentication and access control model based on decentralized identifiers (DIDs). By leveraging the inherent decentralization of DIDs, which rely on blockchain, a distributed environment is constructed, effectively mitigating the problem of the “single point of failure.” In this model, every participant in the smart home system, including users and smart devices, is uniquely identified by DIDs and through the integration of an improved capability-based access control scheme, which streamlines the user identity authentication process, reduces authentication complexity, and enables convenient cross-household access with a single registration. Our experimental results demonstrate that the application of decentralized identifiers provides the model with various security attributes, including confidentiality, integrity, and traceability. Additionally, the model exhibits low time costs for each module, ensuring timely responses to access service requests and incurring lower gas consumption compared to other Ethereum-based methods. Thus, our research proposes a lightweight authentication and access control solution suitable for smart home environments.
Review of the Legacy and Future of IEC 61850 Protocols Encompassing Substation Automation System
Authors: Kumar Shantanu , Abu-Siada Ahmed , Das Narottam , Islam Syed
Published: August 2023

Communication protocols play a pivotal role in the substation automation system as they carry critical information related to asset control, automation, protection, and monitoring. Substation legacy protocols run the assets’ bulk data on multiple wires over long distances. These data packets pass through multiple nodes, which makes the identification of the location and type of various malfunctions a challenging and time-consuming task. As downtime of substations is of high importance from a regulatory and compliance point of view, utilities are motivated to revisit the overall scheme and redesign a new system that features flexibility, adaptability, interoperability, and high accuracy. This paper presents a comprehensive review of various legacy protocols and highlights the path forward for a new protocol laid down as per the IEC 61850 standard. The IEC 61850 protocol is expected to be user-friendly, employ fiber optics instead of conventional copper wires, facilitate the application of non-conventional instrument transformers, and connect Ethernet wires to multiple intelligent electronic devices. However, deployment of smart protocols in future substations is not a straightforward process as it requires careful planning, shutdown and foreseeable issues related to interface with proprietary vendor equipment. Along with the technical issues of communication, future smart protocols call for advanced personnel and engineering skills to embrace the new technology.
A Viscoelastic Model to Evidence Reduced Upper-Limb-Swing Capabilities during Gait for Parkinson’s Disease-Affected Subjects
Authors: Pietrosanti Luca , Verrelli Cristiano Maria , Giannini Franco , Suppa Antonio , Fattapposta Francesco , Zampogna Alessandro , Patera Martina , Rosati Viviana , Saggio Giovanni
Published: August 2023

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder with high worldwide prevalence that manifests with muscle rigidity, tremor, postural instability, and slowness of movement. These motor symptoms are mainly evaluated by clinicians via direct observations of patients and, as such, can potentially be influenced by personal biases and inter- and intra-rater differences. In order to provide more objective assessments, researchers have been developing technology-based systems aimed at objective measurements of motor symptoms, among which are the reduced and/or trembling swings of the lower limbs during gait tests, resulting in data that are potentially prone to more objective evaluations. Within this frame, although the swings of the upper limbs during walking are likewise important, no efforts have been made to reveal their support significance. To fill this lack, this work concerns a technology-based assessment of the forearm-swing capabilities of PD patients with respect to their healthy counterparts. This was obtained by adopting a viscoelastic model validated via measurements during gait tests tackled as an inverse dynamic problem aimed at determining the torque forces acting on the forearms. The obtained results evidence differences in the forearm movements during gait tests of healthy subjects and PD patients with different pathology levels, and, in particular, we evidenced how the worsening of the disease can cause the worsening of the mechanical support offered by the forearm’s swing to the walking process.
Safety Assessment for Full Flight between Beidou Radio Determination Satellite Service Airborne Equipment and 5G System
Authors: Chen Wantong , Tian Yuyin , Sun Shuguang , Liu Ruihua
Published: August 2023

The Beidou Radio Determination Satellite Service (RDSS) is an advantageous service of the Beidou system. However, due to the weak landing power of Beidou RDSS signals and an operating frequency close to the 5G frequency, the system is vulnerable to interference from ground signals. In this paper, from the perspective of civil aviation safety, different evaluation indicators are used for the takeoff and cruise phases, respectively, to study the impact caused by adjacent frequency interference on airborne Beidou RDSS equipment. In the takeoff phase, accurate aircraft position information is obtained by processing real trajectory files. Deterministic analysis methods are used to determine the safety distance for the coexistence of the two systems. During the cruise phase, ground-based 5G base stations have less influence on the airborne RDSS receiver due to the high flight altitude, so the main consideration is electromagnetic compatibility between the airborne Beidou RDSS system and the 5G ATG system. By establishing a Boeing 737–800 simulation model, the antenna isolation degree is used as the evaluation index, and a reasonable antenna layout is given according to the evaluation results. In this study, the theoretical simulation and real flight data are combined to summarise the exact range of adjacent frequency influence during the takeoff phase and a reasonable antenna layout during the cruise phase.
Learning Data-Driven Stable Corrections of Dynamical Systems—Application to the Simulation of the Top-Oil Temperature Evolution of a Power Transformer
Authors: Ghnatios Chady , Kestelyn Xavier , Denis Guillaume , Champaney Victor , Chinesta Francisco
Published: August 2023

Many engineering systems can be described by using differential models whose solutions, generally obtained after discretization, can exhibit a noticeable deviation with respect to the response of the physical systems that those models are expected to represent. In those circumstances, one possibility consists of enriching the model in order to reproduce the physical system behavior. The present paper considers a dynamical system and proposes enriching the model solution by learning the dynamical model of the gap between the system response and the model-based prediction while ensuring that the time integration of the learned model remains stable. The proposed methodology was applied in the simulation of the top-oil temperature evolution of a power transformer, for which experimental data provided by the RTE, the French electricity transmission system operator, were used to construct the model enrichment with the hybrid rationale, ensuring more accurate predictions.
Multi-Performance Characterization of a Modular Wooden House
Authors: Delgado João M. P. Q. , Almeida Ricardo M. S. F. , Matos Ana M. , Barreira Eva , Carvalho Luísa , Martins Jorge , Ferreira Nuno , Guimarães Ana S.
Published: August 2023

Although not a new concept, modular construction has been the target of increasing interest and investment in recent years. Modular wood construction systems have economic and environmental advantages, as wood is a natural and locally available raw material with interesting thermal properties. In this context, the BlueWoodenHouse Project, a closed cooperation project between academy and industry, aims to improve the actual knowledge of modular wood construction in Portugal. Among other objectives, the project aims to characterize the solutions, systems, and materials used in wooden modular construction, specifically in a modular wooden, single-family house in full use. Afterward, the house was monitored for 1 year (temperature, relative humidity, and CO2) and the data collected were analyzed and the interior thermal comfort was evaluated. The results of CO2 concentration monitoring indicate adequate air renewal rates, except for some periods in the bedroom, during the night. Additionally, application of the adaptive comfort model proposed by the EN 16798-2 standard resulted in a percentage of time in discomfort due to overcooling ranging between 31.3% and 38.6%. However, most of these periods may correspond to times when there is no occupancy of these spaces.
Spatio-Temporal Evolution of Carbon Emission in China’s Tertiary Industry: A Decomposition of Influencing Factors from the Perspective of Energy-Industry-Consumption
Authors: Li Zhengyang , Wang Yukuan , Lu Yafeng , Ghimire Shravan Kumar
Published: August 2023

The development of the tertiary industry is of great significance for promoting industrial structure, optimizing and upgrading it, and achieving regional energy conservation and emission reduction goals. This study adopts a quantitative method to analyze the spatio-temporal pattern of carbon emissions from China’s tertiary industry from 2004 to 2019. In order to analyze emissions from aspects such as energy structure, energy intensity, energy carrying capacity, industrial structure, level of industrial development, income level, consumption capacity, energy consumption intensity, and population size, this study establishes a hybrid factor decomposition model called the “energy-industry-consumption” research framework. The study shows that carbon emissions from China’s tertiary industry have been increasing year by year from 2004 to 2019, with a growth rate of 353.10%. Transportation is the largest contributor to the increase in carbon emissions from China’s tertiary industry. The carbon emissions from the tertiary industry in each province show four types: high-speed growth, low-speed growth, fluctuating growth, and stable growth. During the study period, carbon emissions produce a spatial heterogeneity with the highest emissions in the south and lowest in the northwestern part of China. The spatial pattern of per capita carbon emissions is not significant. Guangdong has the highest carbon emissions, and Shanghai and Beijing have higher per capita carbon emissions. Industrial factors and consumption factors have a positive effect on carbon emissions in China’s tertiary industry, while energy factors have a negative effect. The leading factor of carbon emissions in China’s tertiary industry has gradually shifted from energy to industry.
Robust Proportional–Integral Sliding Mode Control for Induction Motors with Input Time Delay
Authors: Garcia Saulo Crnkowise , Souza Lucas Carvalho , Silva Luciano de Souza da Costa e , Seixas Falcondes José Mendes de
Published: August 2023

This paper proposes a control strategy applied to a three-phase induction motor (TIM) subject to parametric uncertainties, perturbations, and input time delay, whose primary objective is to achieve high-performance speed–torque control. The control design involves a predictive sliding mode observer (P-SMO) and a robust proportional–integral sliding mode control (PISM), aimed at reducing the detrimental effects of time delay and perturbations. The proposed control strategy’s effectiveness is investigated through computational simulations, carried out for different scenarios, whose distinctions focus on the consideration of delay in the feedback signals, the predictive character of the sliding mode observer, and the type of controller used. The presented results show the superior performance of the PISM controller compared with the classic PI controller for all tested scenarios. In the test scenario that considers the transport delay in the feedback signals, the sliding mode observer (SMO) without prediction does not stabilize the system, requiring the application of P-SMO to ensure stability and accurate tracking of the TIM speed reference.
An Overview of Developments In Silica Gel Matrix Composite Sorbents for Adsorption Chillers with Desalination Function
Authors: Sowa Marcin , Sztekler Karol , Mlonka-Mędrala Agata , Mika Łukasz
Published: August 2023

Adsorption cooling technology is a promising alternative to replace conventional solutions. However, adsorption chillers still need to be improved in terms of performance parameters. One of the most important factors affecting their efficiency is the characteristics of the adsorbent, which should have the highest adsorption capacity and enable efficient heat transport in the bed. The objective of this paper is to present current developments in the field of composite sorbents with silica gel matrix as modern and very promising materials and then perform a detailed analysis of them. The paper summarises the methods of synthesis of composite sorbents and the current knowledge concerning these materials. The analysis focuses on a comparison of the available data, particular taking into account the types of matrixes, so that the analysis provides a clear and qualitative basis for further research. As a result of exploring the state of the art, this subject is found to be insufficiently described; therefore, these materials are comprehensively analysed in terms of their properties and the impact of their use on the COP (coefficient of performance) and SCP (specific cooling power) of adsorption chillers. Based on the analysis of the literature, the most promising directions for further research are also indicated.