bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unique Pulmonary Hypertension in Young Children: A Case Series Study
Authors: Chen I-Chen , Chen Hsiu-Lin , Liu Yi-Ching , Wu Yen-Hsien , Lo Shih-Hsing , Hsu Jong-Hau , Yin Hsin-Ling , Hsu Jui-Sheng , Wu Bin-Nan , Dai Zen-Kong
Published: July 2022

Pediatric pulmonary hypertension (PH) has a similar clinical presentation to the adult disease but is associated with several additional disorders and challenges that require a specific approach for their fulminant course. With improved care for premature infants, various forms of pulmonary vascular disease have been found in children that did not previously exist. Pediatric PH can begin in utero, resulting in pulmonary vascularity growth abnormalities that may persist into adulthood. Here, we retrospectively reviewed several unique pediatric PH cases from 2000 to 2020 at Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Taiwan, a tertiary teaching hospital. Their comorbidities varied and included surfactant dysfunction, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, premature closure of the ductus arteriosus, high levels of renin and aldosterone, and Swyer–James–Macleod syndrome. Their clinical profiles, radiological characteristics, echocardiography, pulmonary angiogram, and therapeutic regimens were recorded. Further, because the underlying causes of pediatric PH were complex and markedly different according to age, adult PH classification may not be applicable to pediatric PH in all settings. We also classified these cases using different systems, including the Panama classification and the Sixth World Symposium on PH, and compared their advantages and disadvantages.
Obesity Bias in the School Setting: A Brief Report
Authors: Baile José I. , González-Calderón María J. , Rabito-Alcón María F.
Published: July 2022

Obesity bias is one of the main psychosocial consequences experienced by people who are overweight and people with obesity. Therefore, its study, especially during childhood, has become an emerging objective. The aim of this study is to examine obesity bias in children in the school setting. In total, 171 primary school students (Mean age: 10.68; SD: 0.63) from a school in Madrid (Spain) filled out a survey in which they indicated whether they would choose a classmate with obesity with whom they would carry out academic, social, and leisure activities. The rejection ratios of peers with obesity and other personal characteristics such as gender, nationality, or ethnicity were compared. The results indicate that more than half of the participants would not choose a partner with obesity to carry out any of the three activities suggested, and that obesity was the personal characteristic that elicited the highest rate of rejection, especially among females. The possible explanations for these findings are discussed, as well as why the school setting should be a nonaggressive but protective environment for children with obesity.
Assessing Individual- and Community-Level Variability in Predictors of Neonatal, Infant, and Under-Five Child Mortality in Ethiopia Using a Multilevel Modeling Approach
Authors: Kuse Kenenisa Abdisa , Chikako Teshita Uke , Hagan John Elvis , Seidu Abdul-Aziz , Ahinkorah Bright Opoku
Published: July 2022

Background: In low-and middle-income countries, child mortality rates are basic indicators of a country’s socio-economic situation and quality of life. The Ethiopian government is currently working to reduce child mortality to accomplish its long-term development goals. Using data from the Ethiopian Mini Demographic and Health Survey, 2019, this study analyzed the determinants of child mortality in Ethiopia. Methods: A total of 4806 children were considered in the final analyses. Multivariate analysis was used to estimate the effects of the predictors simultaneously on each child mortality outcome. Results: The findings revealed that 31.6% of children died during the neonatal stage, 39.1% during the infant stage, and 48.5% during the under-five stage. Variation in child mortality was discovered between Ethiopian community clusters, with the result of heterogeneity between clusters on newborn mortality (χ2 = 202.4, p-value < 0.0001), (χ2 = 777.35, p-value < 0.0001), and (χ2 = 112.92, p-value < 0.0001). Children’s neonatal, infant, and under-five mortality intracluster correlation coefficient (ICC) were 0.35, 0.33, and 0.36, respectively, across communities. Conclusions: In Ethiopia, under-five mortality remains a serious public health issue, with wide variations and high rates among community clusters. Intervention measures focusing on lowering rates of household poverty, increasing education opportunities, and improving access to health care could assist in reducing child mortality in Ethiopia.
Regional Responses of the Northern Hemisphere Subtropical Jet Stream to Reduced Arctic Sea Ice Extent
Authors: Rodriguez Solis José Luis , Turrent Cuauhtémoc , Gross Markus
Published: July 2022

The effect of Arctic sea ice loss on the boreal winter regional trends of wind speed and latitudinal position of the Northern Hemisphere subtropical jet stream (STJ) in 1980–2012 is investigated. Two sets of global simulations with reduced Arctic sea ice extent are analyzed: simulations that, south of 70 N, use a climatological annual cycle of the sea surface temperature (SST) and a second set that uses full SST variability. Results with the climatological SST have a significant but weak response of the STJ wind speed and latitudinal position to the warmer Arctic: the wind speed generally decreases and the jet core is displaced equatorward. However, in the realistic SST simulations, the effect of Arctic warming is only slightly evident in a small equatorward shift of the jet over the Atlantic basin. Over the Pacific basin the STJ is mostly driven by tropical and mid-latitude SST variability, with little influence from the Arctic region. A weakening and poleward shift of the STJ that is observed in the realistic SST simulations over the Pacific basin is attributed to negative SST trends in the tropical Pacific and the consequent weakening of the mid-latitude meridional gradient of geopotential height in the upper troposphere.
Exploring Methods for Developing Local Climate Zones to Support Climate Research
Authors: Sigler Laurence , Gilabert Joan , Villalba Gara
Published: July 2022

Meteorological and climate prediction models at the urban scale increasingly require more accurate and high-resolution data. The Local Climate Zone (LCZ) system is an initiative to standardize a classification scheme of the urban landscape, based mainly on the properties of surface structure (e.g., building, tree height, density) and surface cover (pervious vs. impervious). This approach is especially useful for studying the influence of urban morphology and fabric on the surface urban heat island (SUHI) effect and to evaluate how changes in land use and structures affect thermal regulation in the city. This article will demonstrate three different methodologies of creating LCZs: first, the World Urban Database and Access Portal Tools (WUDAPT); second, using Copernicus Urban Atlas (UA) data via a geographic information system (GIS) client directly; and third via Google Earth Engine (GEE) using Oslo, Norway as the case study. The WUDAPT and GEE methods incorporate a machine learning (random forest) procedure using Landsat 8 imagery, and offer the most precision while requiring the most time and familiarity with GIS usage and satellite imagery processing. The WUDAPT method is performed principally using multiple GIS clients and image processing tools. The GEE method is somewhat quicker to perform, with work performed entirely on Google’s sites. The UA or GIS method is performed solely via a GIS client and is a conversion of pre-existing vector data to LCZ classes via scripting. This is the quickest method of the three; however, the reclassification of the vector data determines the accuracy of the LCZs produced. Finally, as an illustration of a practical use of LCZs and to further compare the results of the three methods, we map the distribution of the temperature according to the LCZs of each method, correlating to the land surface temperature (LST) from a Landsat 8 image pertaining to a heat wave episode that occurred in Oslo in 2018. These results show, in addition to a clear LCZ-LST correspondence, that the three methods produce accurate and similar results and are all viable options.
A Scoping Review on the Reported Evidence and Gaps of the Risk of Diabetes in Dyslipidemic Patients under Statin Therapy
Authors: Needamangalam Balaji Jyotsna , Prakash Sreenidhi , Joshi Ashish , Surapaneni Krishna Mohan
Published: July 2022

With the increasing global burden of dyslipidemia over the past 30 years, it is estimated that more than 200 million people worldwide are under statin therapy. In India, roughly 25–30% of urban populations and 15–20% of rural populations have abnormal lipid levels. Statin, which is deemed to be the gold standard lipid-lowering agent, is the first treatment of choice for these patients. Although statins at one end are highly effective against dyslipidemiaand cardiovascular diseases, at the other end, they cause adverse effects including an increased risk of diabetes mellitus. The objective of this study was to understand the coexistence of diabetes and dyslipidemia in patients undergoing statin therapy. A scoping review was conducted with published articles selected from PubMed and Google Scholar. The obtained results were filtered based on inclusion/exclusion criteria. Our database search provided a total of 822 articles, of which 48 were selected for this review, with results concluding that statin users are potentially at a greater risk of developing diabetes mellitus compared with patients who are not using statins. Although many studies have been conducted to ascertain the onset of diabetes mellitus amongst statin users, the exact mechanism is not yet precisely established. Future studies are essential for identifying the exact cause of diabetes mellitus in statin users.
Chemical Bonding of Biomolecules to the Surface of Nano-Hydroxyapatite to Enhance Its Bioactivity
Authors: Kang Sohee , Haider Adnan , Gupta Kailash Chandra , Kim Hun , Kang Innkyu
Published: July 2022

Hydroxyapatite (HA) is a significant constituent of bones or teeth and is widely used as an artificial bone graft. It is often used to replace the lost bones or in reconstructing alveolar bones before dental implantation. HA with biological functions finds its importance in orthopedic surgery and dentistry to increase the local concentration of calcium ions, which activate the growth and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). To make relevant use of HA in bone transplantation, the surfaces of orthopedic and dental implants are frequently coated with nanosized hydroxyapatite (nHA), but its low dispersibility and tendency to form aggregates, the purpose of the surface modification of bone implants is defeated. To overcome these drawbacks and to improve the histocompatibility of bone implants or to use nHA in therapeutic applications of implants in the treatment of bone diseases, various studies suggested the attachment of biomolecules (growth factors) or drugs through chemical bonding at the surface of nHA. The growth factors or drugs bonded physically at the surface of nHA are mostly unstable and burst released immediately. Therefore, reported studies suggested that the surface of nHA needs to be modified through the chemical bonding of biologically active molecules at the surface of bone implants such as proteins, peptides, or naturally occurring polysaccharides to prevent the aggregation of nHA and to get homogenous dispersion of nHA in solution. The role of irradiation in producing bioactive and antibacterial nHA through morphological variations in surfaces of nHA is also summarized by considering internal structures and the formation of reactive oxygen species on irradiation. This mini-review aims to highlight the importance of small molecules such as proteins, peptides, drugs, and photocatalysts in surface property modification of nHA to achieve stable, bioactive, and antibacterial nHA to act as artificial bone implants (scaffolds) in combination with biodegradable polymers.
Shear and Tensile Behaviors of Fiber-Reinforced Resin Matrix Composites Printed by the FDM Technology
Authors: Zhuang Yuexi , Zou Bin , Ding Shouling , Wang Peng
Published: July 2022

Resin/fiber composites were prepared by the FDM printing technology. The effects of arrangements, types (carbon, glass, and Kevlar), and volume fraction of fibers on the shear and tensile properties of resin 3D-printed composites are investigated in this paper. The experimental results show that the addition of continuous fibers increases the shear strength and tensile strength of FDM-3D-printed composites, but the strength will not keep increasing with an increase in the fiber content. As the fiber content increases, the print quality decreases, and the porosity between the fibers increases. The enhancement degree of the shear stress of specimens by different fiber types can be classified as follows: glass fiber > carbon fiber > Kevlar fiber. Notch sensitivity is reduced when the 90° arrangement of fibers is added, while the addition of 0° arranged fibers will improve the notch sensitivity of the sample. The research results of this paper have an important guiding significance for selecting fiber types and arrangement mode of notched components in engineering applications.
Surface-Termination Groups’ Tuning to Improve the Lithium-Ion-Storage Performance of Ti3C2Tx MXene
Authors: Li Andong , Wang Xiaotong , Chen Jingjing , Dong Chenlong , Wang Dajian , Mao Zhiyong
Published: July 2022

Two-dimensional transition metal carbides/carbonitrides (MXenes) have broad application prospects in the field of energy storage due to their abundant surface functional groups, tunable interlayer spacing, and excellent electrical conductivity. However, the kinetics of Li-ion intercalation/deintercalation between MXene layers is slow, and the stacking between nanosheets due to long cycling reduces the structural stability and battery safety. Herein, we prepare and tune surface-termination groups of Ti3C2Tx MXene by chemical exfoliation and low-temperature annealing methods. The types of functional groups on the surface of the material are optimized by the substitution of oxygen to some -F functional groups on the surface. The optimized Ti3C2Tx MXene material exhibits a reversible lithium-ion-storage specific capacity of 444.1 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles at a current density of 0.1 A g−1. The increased of -O functional groups can increase the diffusion rate of Li+, promote the transport of electrons, and accelerate the kinetics of the electrode reaction, thereby improving the performance of lithium-ion storage.
Additive Manufacturing of Metallic Components for Hard Coatings
Authors: Aguado Ainhoa Riquelme , de Rojas Candela Carmen Sánchez , Herrero Pilar Rodrigo
Published: July 2022

Metals additive manufacturing is a new concept of fabrication that consists of depositing material layer-by-layer in a very precise and automatized way [...]
Effect of hBN on Corrosion and Wear Performances of DC Electrodeposited NiW and NiW–SiC on Brass Substrates
Authors: Dadvand Mina , Savadogo Oumarou
Published: July 2022

Crack-free and uniform nickel–tungsten (NiW) coatings and their composite coatings filled with ceramic particles such as silicon carbide (SiC) and hexagonal-boron nitride (hBN) were deposited on brass substrates by applying direct current (DC) waveforms. Among all coatings, NiW–SiC–hBN coatings displayed the noblest corrosion potential (−0.49 V) and lowest current density (4.36 × 10−6 A·cm−2). It also seems that addition of hBN and SiC ceramic particles to NiW matrix remarkably improved the wear performance of the NiW coatings. However, NiW–hBN exhibited the lowest wear volume (48.84 × 103 µm3) and the friction coefficient of 0.1 due to ultra–low friction coefficient of hBN particles.
Structured Supports and Catalysts: Design, Preparation, and Applications
Authors: Martino Marco
Published: July 2022

In the field of industrial chemistry, catalysts play a fundamental role in determining the ability of chemical production processes to reach and improve productivity targets [...]
Analysis of Liquid Quantity Measurement in Loading/Unloading Processes in Cylindrical Tanks
Authors: Meškuotienė Asta , Kaškonas Paulius , Urbonavičius Benas Gabrielis , Balčiūnas Gintautas , Dobilienė Justina
Published: July 2022

Tanks, as instruments in oil and its product’s amount measurement system chain, must be regularly maintained and metrologically inspected, as they significantly contribute to measurement uncertainty. However, when measuring a change in the amount of stored material (i.e., transfer), the measurement uncertainty becomes highly dependent not only on the mass of the transaction but also on the initial liquid level in the tank. This paper provides modeling of the uncertainties of the measuring system, which involves tanks, oil, and its product loading/unloading processes. It is shown that the accuracy of volume/mass measurement depends not only on the tank calibration table but also on the accuracy of other measuring instruments used and on the level of the liquid at the moment of measurement. The relative uncertainty of the measurement of the change in product mass depends linearly on the tank fill level present at the time of the transaction but nonlinearly on the transaction mass quantity.
Cages Mitigate Predation on Eggs of Threatened Shorebirds: A Manipulative-Control Study
Authors: Battisti Corrado , Perchinelli Marisa , Luiselli Luca , Dendi Daniele , Vanadia Sharon
Published: July 2022

Beach-nesting birds (plovers; Aves; Charadridae) are impacted by many natural and human-induced threats (e.g., people trampling, dogs, and natural predators). In this regard, the use of anti-predator cages on their nests is effective in order to mitigate some of these pressures (i.e., predation). To evaluate the efficacy of anti-predator cages and the causes of nest failure in a breeding site of two species (Charadrius alexandrinus and C. dubius), we carried out a control-experimental design, comparing false nests (n = 69) in cages (experiment; n = 30) with false nests without cages (control; n = 39). We carried out the study in three seasonal periods (May, June, and July), controlling predations after three periods (three, six, and nine days) since positioning, recording the frequency of eggs still present and evidencing any predation event. The percentage of residual eggs was significantly higher in experimental nests when compared to control nests in all recording periods. Considering 59 predation events on false nests, the most important predators were: in experimental nests (n = 21) the fox, Vulpes vulpes (47.6%), and in control nests (n = 38), the hooded crow, Corvus cornix (50%). Our data suggest that the use of anti-predator cages significantly limits predation on eggs and therefore is likely to increase the hatching success in these ground-nesting birds independently in the seasonal period. However, also in the presence of a cage, the fox is a relevant egg predator.
Social Professionals in the Face of the Health Crisis
Authors: Dosil-Santamaria María , Modrego Miriam , Munitis Amaia Eiguren , Picaza Maitane , Ozamiz-Etxebarria Naiara
Published: July 2022

Due to the crisis generated by COVID-19 at a global level, many professionals are working under harsh conditions, and the Basque Country is no exception. On 14 March 2020, the head of the government decreed a state of alarm at the state level, which forced us all to be confined to our homes. This situation directly affected the profession of social educator. In fact, these professionals work with the most vulnerable groups, so working on the front line is mandated, even if this results in a significant risk. The situation of the groups in residential resources cannot be easy due to the stress produced by living together and being locked up, and this directly affects the educators who necessarily work in it. However, the over-exertion that all of this requires, which is a risk, has not been detected nor recognized at the social level. For this reason, the objective of this investigation is to measure the stress of social educators of advanced age who work in residential resources in different zones of the Basque Country (northern Spain). Sixty-seven social educators participated in the case study. Qualitative and quantitative methods were combined for data collection. This questionnaire was conducted through the Google Forms platform. The quantitative data collected through the questionnaire were analyzed by descriptive analysis and frequency contrasts were performed through the SPSS V25 program. We can conclude that it is necessary to take into account the difficulties of this sector and the professionals both at the governmental and social levels. Future research should include responses from both groups and workers in order to guarantee adequate inclusion.
In Vitro Physical Characterizations and Docking Studies on Carvedilol Nanocrystals
Authors: Mohamed Jamal Moideen Muthu , Alqahtani Ali , Menaa Farid , Kayarohanam Saminathan , Fatease Adel Al , Alqahtani Taha , Alamri Ali , El-Sherbiny Mohamed , Ramkanth Sundarapandian , Janakiraman Ashok Kumar
Published: July 2022

The major goal of this investigation was to prepare carvedilol nanocrystals (CRL-NCs) for better solubility, stability, and bioavailability. Using polyvinyl pyrolidine K-30 (PVP) and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) as stabilisers, CRL-NCs were effectively synthesised by emulsion-diffusion, followed by the high-pressure homogenization (HPH) method. The AL classes of phase solubility curves with ideal complexes produced with stabilisers were estimated by thermodynamic parameters. The docking study was performed with the active site of a β-1 adrenoreceptor protein, and the CRLs docking score was revealed as −23.481 Kcal/mol−1. At 25 and 37 °C, the optimum interaction constant was determined for PVP (144 and 176 M−1) and SDS (102 and 121 M−1). The average particle size (PS) of the produced stable CRL-NCs is 58 nm, with a zeta potential of −27.2 ± 2.29 mV, a poly dispersibility index of 0.181 ± 0.012, a percentage yield of 78.7 ± 3.41, drug content of 96.81 ± 3.64%, and entrapment efficiency of 83.61 ± 1.80%. The morphological data also reveals that the CRL-NCs were nearly sphere shaped, with distinct and smooth surfaces. CRL-NCs were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and the results show no chemical structural alterations, even when PS was reduced. NCs accelerate their in vitro dissolution release rate by about three times faster than CRL-MCs (microcrystals). When kept at 4 °C, the CRL-NCs exhibit good physical stability for six months. As a result, the CRL-NCs created via emulsion-diffusion followed by HPH with stabilisers can be used to increase the solubility, stability, and bioavailability of poorly soluble or lipophilic drugs.
Crystal Growth of RuS2 Using a Chemical Vapor Transport Technique and Its Properties
Authors: Sai Refka , Gorochov Ouri , Alghamdi Eman A. , Ezzaouia Hatem
Published: July 2022

In this work, we study the effect of increasing temperature on the structure parameters (lattice, sulfur–sulfur distance, and ruthenium–sulfur distance) and the energy gap of RuS2. However, it was very challenging to obtain a sample of RuS2 due to many factors, some of which are discussed in the introduction. To prepare the crystal growth of RuS2, we have used the chemical vapor transport technique. The crystals obtained show a pyrite structure, of which we studied its crystallographic structure, including the structure of crystals in surface (100). The sample was then characterized by X-ray diffraction and by microprobe analysis. We determine the relationship between the energy gap and the sulfur–sulfur distance. We analyzed the S-S bond compared with the S2 molecule.
Effects of ESMT on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Al-8Zn-2Mg-1.5Cu-0.15Sc-0.15Zr Cast Alloy in Squeeze Casting Process
Authors: Xu Yongtao , Zhang Zhifeng , Zhao Purui , Gao Zhihua , Bai Yuelong , Mao Weimin
Published: July 2022

Al-8Zn-2Mg-1.5Cu-0.15Sc-0.15Zr alloy with high-strength performance as well as good castability has been developed. In this study, effects of electromagnetic stirring melt treatment (ESMT) on microstructure and mechanical properties of the alloy in the squeeze casting process were investigated. The results show that solidification structure and mechanical properties are significantly improved by ESMT; compared with the conventional squeeze casting, the average grain size decreases from 112 μm without ESMT to 53 μm with ESMT. Meanwhile coarse primary Al3(Sc, Zr) particles unavoidably occurred in cases without ESMT disappear, and segregation degree of the main elements of Zn, Mg, Cu are greatly alleviated; the tensile strength increases from 590 MPa to 610 MPa, and the elongation increases from 9% to 11%. The structure refinement and homogenization should owe to uniform temperature and composition distribution by ESMT under squeeze casting with rapid solidification.
Prey Selectivity in Juvenile Red King Crabs from the Coastal Barents Sea
Authors: Pavlova Lyudmila V. , Dvoretsky Alexander G.
Published: July 2022

The invasive red king crab, Paralithodes camtschaticus, has become an abundant and important component in the food web of the coastal Barents Sea and can affect the structure and functioning of the local benthic communities through competition and predation. Although dietary composition and feeding behavior of the crab have been intensively studied, prey selectivity in this species under natural conditions remains poorly defined. For this reason, juvenile red king crabs and benthic samples were collected simultaneously at five coastal sites in Kola Bay to reveal the species composition and structure of feeding habits and the diet of red king crabs. The results of stomach and gut content analyses coupled with calculated Ivlev’s indices indicated that 2–5-year-old crabs frequently consumed bivalve mollusks in relative proportions to prey field biomasses. At all sites, juveniles selectively rejected polychaetes. In soft-bottom communities, when the average density of Bivalvia decreased, the crabs showed increased preference for Gastropoda, Crustacea, and Echinodermata. As a result of selective feeding focused on infaunal suspension-feeding mollusks, juvenile red king crabs have altered the structure of benthic communities in the mouth of Kola Bay. Our results may have important implications for evaluating the consequences of the crab introduction and its population management.
Influence of Prior Imaging Information on Diagnostic Accuracy for Focal Skeletal Processes—A Retrospective Analysis of the Consistency between Biopsy-Verified Imaging Diagnoses
Authors: Lange Mine Benedicte , Petersen Lars J. , Lausen Mads , Bruun Niels Henrik , Nielsen Michael Bachmann , Zacho Helle D.
Published: July 2022

Introduction: Comparing imaging examinations with those previously obtained is considered mandatory in imaging guidelines. To our knowledge, no studies are available on neither the influence, nor the sequence, of prior imaging and reports on diagnostic accuracy using biopsy as the reference standard. Such data are important to minimize diagnostic errors and to improve the preparation of diagnostic imaging guidelines. The aim of our study was to provide such data. Materials and methods: A retrospective cohort of 216 consecutive skeletal biopsies from patients with at least 2 different imaging modalities (X-ray, CT and MRI) performed within 6 months of biopsy was identified. The diagnostic accuracy of the individual imaging modality was assessed. Finally, the possible influence of the sequence of imaging modalities was investigated. Results: No significant difference in the accuracy of the imaging modalities was shown, being preceded by another imaging modality or not. However, the sequence analyses indicate sequential biases, particularly if MRI was the first imaging modality. Conclusion: The sequence of the imaging modalities seems to influence the diagnostic accuracy against a pathology reference standard. Further studies are needed to establish evidence-based guidelines for the strategy of using previous imaging and reports to improve diagnostic accuracy.
Computing in the Sky: A Survey on Intelligent Ubiquitous Computing for UAV-Assisted 6G Networks and Industry 4.0/5.0
Authors: Alsamhi Saeed Hamood , Shvetsov Alexey V. , Kumar Santosh , Hassan Jahan , Alhartomi Mohammed A. , Shvetsova Svetlana V. , Sahal Radhya , Hawbani Ammar
Published: July 2022

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are increasingly being used in a high-computation paradigm enabled with smart applications in the Beyond Fifth Generation (B5G) wireless communication networks. These networks have an avenue for generating a considerable amount of heterogeneous data by the expanding number of Internet of Things (IoT) devices in smart environments. However, storing and processing massive data with limited computational capability and energy availability at local nodes in the IoT network has been a significant difficulty, mainly when deploying Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques to extract discriminatory information from the massive amount of data for different tasks.Therefore, Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) has evolved as a promising computing paradigm leveraged with efficient technology to improve the quality of services of edge devices and network performance better than cloud computing networks, addressing challenging problems of latency and computation-intensive offloading in a UAV-assisted framework. This paper provides a comprehensive review of intelligent UAV computing technology to enable 6G networks over smart environments. We highlight the utility of UAV computing and the critical role of Federated Learning (FL) in meeting the challenges related to energy, security, task offloading, and latency of IoT data in smart environments. We present the reader with an insight into UAV computing, advantages, applications, and challenges that can provide helpful guidance for future research.
Damage Detection of Regular Civil Buildings Using Modified Multi-Scale Symbolic Dynamic Entropy
Authors: Lin Tzu-Kang , Lee Dong-You , Hsu Yu-Chung , Kuo Kai-Wei
Published: July 2022

Based on the examination of the fundamental characteristics of structures, structural health monitoring (SHM) has received increased attention in recent years. Studies have shown that the SHM method using entropy analysis can precisely identify the damaged location of the structure, which is very helpful for the daily inspection or maintenance of civil structures. Although entropy analysis has shown excellent accuracy, it still consumes too much time and too many resources in terms of data processing. To improve the dilemma, in this study, modified multi-scale symbolic dynamic entropy (MMSDE) is adopted to identify the damaged location of the civil structure. A damage index (DI) based on the entropy diagram is also proposed to clearly indicate the damage location. A seven-story numerical model was created to verify the efficiency of the proposed SHM system. The results of the analysis of each case of damage show that the MMSDE curve for the damaged floor is lower than that for the healthy floor, and the structural damage can be correctly diagnosed by the damage index. Subsequently, a scaled-down steel benchmark experiment, including 15 damage cases, was conducted to verify the practical performance of the SHM system. The confusion matrix was used to further evaluate the SHM system. The results demonstrated that the MMSD-based system can quickly diagnose structural safety with reliability and accuracy. It can be used in the field of long-term structural health monitoring in the near future.
The Development of Cognitive and Noncognitive Skills in Students in the Autonomous Province of Trento
Authors: Vittadini Giorgio , Folloni Giuseppe , Sturaro Caterina
Published: July 2022

The analysis of what human capital (HC) is has a long history and culminates in the acknowledgment that HC and its growth are very important for both cognitive education (cognitive skills (CSs)) and personal life (noncognitive skills (NCSs)) and that CSs and NCSs have a strong reciprocal relationship, as studies by Heckman demonstrated. The present contribution (following Heckman’s approach) analyzed the relationship between CSs and NCSs in a sample of middle school students in the Autonomous Province of Trento. The second goal of the research was to verify whether educational teaching behaviors improved students’ personalities. Aside from the use of administrative data (INVALSI data, 2015 and 2018), one survey was administered in the 2018–2019 schooling year to verify the relationship between NCSs and CSs. Moreover, we sought to determine whether education teaching behavior improved the students’ personalities (1522 students in 25 schools) and whether programs could enhance NCSs. Methodological tools for the analysis involved the generalized least squares approach to answer the first question and a difference-in-differences model for the second. The main results showed that the levels of NCSs affected the ability to learn and improve CSs; a challenging teaching approach, especially if accompanied by programs improving its quality, had positive results. Finally, the research suggested that a wider, national-based survey following students from primary to secondary school would allow for a greater understanding of the dynamics of CSs and NCSs.
Internationalization Strategies at a Crossroads: Family Business Market Diffusion in the Post-COVID Era
Authors: Costa Joana
Published: July 2022

COVID-19 is the last nail in the coffin of globalization as we know it. This research aims to explore the influence of capital ownership in the (re)design of internationalization strategies among firms, considering the new macroeconomic challenges. It is commonly accepted that the extent to which family businesses approach internationalization differs from their counterparts; as such, the identification of leverages or hinderers in this process and the potential singularities of these firms is urgent. Intermittences in global operation and discontinuous internationalization paths remain overlooked in the theory. Continuity or intermittence across the internationalization strategies, as well as their determinants, were tested using data from the triennia of 2018, 2019, and 2020; the data were gathered from the Iberian Balance Sheet Analysis System Database (SABI), through a balanced panel of 26,154 firms belonging to all sectors of the manufacturing industry. Empirical evidence supports the heterogeneity of strategies among family businesses, as well as dissimilarities from their non-family counterparts. The firm dimension, experience in global operation, and the regional ecosystem in which the firm is embedded are identified as being central in internationalization endeavors. Urgency and assertiveness of policy action addressing the new macroeconomic challenges are required to foster economic recovery, and exploring extant entrepreneurial fabric potential and the already-established networks will determine the pace and success of the measures. Moreover, empirical evidence reinforces region-specific actions to be implemented, proposing the re-location of economic activities while promoting the intensification of spatial clustering and international networking. Designing an accurate policy package places demands upon heterogeneous players and layers of action, overlapping clusters and networks, and the creation of a multilevel ecosystem in which the flow of economic, human, and knowledge aspects circulate, reinforcing community resilience.
Equipping Youth to Think and Act Responsibly: The Effectiveness of the “EQUIP for Educators” Program on Youths’ Self-Serving Cognitive Distortions and School Bullying Perpetration
Authors: Dragone Mirella , Esposito Concetta , De Angelis Grazia , Bacchini Dario
Published: July 2022

School bullying is a serious public health concern in many countries worldwide. Over recent decades, several effective anti-bullying prevention programs have been developed. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an adapted version of the “Equipping Youth to Help One Another (EQUIP) for Educators” (EfE) program in reducing adolescents’ engagement in school bullying perpetration by correcting their use of self-serving cognitive distortions (CDs). Furthermore, guided by the vantage sensitivity framework, we investigated whether the intervention effects varied depending on the adolescents’ gender and environmental sensitivity. A quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test with a control group design involved 354 Italian middle and high school adolescents (51.7% males; Mage = 14.86, SD = 2.54). Both the control (n = 187) and experimental group (n = 167) completed self-report questionnaires, before and after the intervention. Structural equation modeling revealed a significant moderated mediation effect: highly sensitive males participating in the EfE program decreased their engagement in bullying by reducing CDs, compared to females and those with low- and medium- sensitivity. These findings support the effectiveness of the EfE program in equipping youth to think and act more responsible and shed light on “why” and “for whom” the intervention might work better to counteract school bullying during adolescence.
Hybrid Beamforming for MISO System via Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Zhang Teng , Dong Anming , Zhang Chuanting , Yu Jiguo , Qiu Jing , Li Sufang , Zhou You
Published: July 2022

Hybrid beamforming (HBF) is a promising approach to obtain a better balance between hardware complexity and system performance in massive MIMO communication systems. However, the HBF optimization problem is a challenging task due to its nonconvex property in terms of design complexity and spectral efficiency (SE) performance. In this work, a low-complexity convolutional neural network (CNN)-based HBF algorithm is proposed to solve the SE maximization problem under the constant modulus constraint and transmit power constraint in a multiple-input single-output (MISO) system. The proposed CNN framework uses multiple convolutional blocks to extract more channel features. Considering that the solutions for the HBF are hard to obtain, we derive an unsupervised learning mechanism to avoid any labeled data when training the constructed CNN. We discuss the performance of the proposed algorithm in terms of both the generalization ability for multiple CSIs and the specific solving ability for an individual CSI, respectively. Simulations show its advantages in both SE and complexity over other related algorithms.
A Novel Carrier Tracking Approach for GPS Signals Based on Gauss–Hermite Kalman Filter
Authors: Klokov Andrey , Kanouj Motayam , Mironchev Aleksandr
Published: July 2022

In a conventional GPS receiver, the carrier tracking system is the key stage that keeps the receiver locked to the radio navigation parameters (RNPs) of the received signal. The most commonly used approaches to the tracking system are phase lock loop (PLL), frequency lock loop (FLL), and FLL-assisted PLL. The main limitation of the above approaches is that their performance deteriorates when working with weak signals and in harsh environments. In recent years, Kalman filter (KF)-based tracking loop architectures have gained increased attention due to their robust and better performance compared with conventional architectures. In this paper, a novel Gauss–Hermite Kalman filtering-based carrier tracking algorithm is proposed for static and moving receivers with weak GPS signals. The performance of the proposed algorithm is compared with two other approaches: extended Kalman filter (EKF) and unscented Kalman filter (UKF). Simulations were conducted using a software-defined GPS simulator and software device radio (SDR) modules. A comparative analysis of the tracking methods demonstrated that the proposed tracking method shows a better performance and improves the tracking sensitivity and capability under weak signal conditions as compared with EKF- and UKF-based tracking methods. In addition, the results show that the proposed approach improves the Doppler frequency measurement accuracy under dynamic operation conditions.
Assessing the Impact of AI Solutions’ Ethical Issues on Performance in Managerial Accounting
Authors: Vărzaru Anca Antoaneta
Published: July 2022

In the contemporary, constantly changing business environment characterized by globalization, openness, and competitiveness, implementing different processes of new information technologies has become a competitive advantage. The field of managerial accounting is a successful example of the implementation of artificial intelligence in operations and the decision-making process based on accounting information. However, ethical issues within managerial accounting and those added through the implementation of artificial intelligence need to be addressed carefully. In this paper, the main objective is to investigate these ethical issues regarding the perception of accountants on the usefulness, efficiency, and effectiveness of implementing artificial intelligence in managerial accounting. To investigate these effects, we conducted a study based on a questionnaire among 396 accountants in Romania who use various artificial intelligence solutions in their activities in managerial accounting. The results of structural equation modeling showed that the ethical issues of autonomy, responsibility, and trust significantly influence the perceived usefulness and the performance of artificial intelligence solutions. The research concludes that artificial intelligence solutions solve many ethical issues in managerial accounting. Still, through their design and application, artificial intelligence solutions can create other ethical problems specific to managerial accounting and business ethics. Therefore, despite all the barriers and reluctance of professionals, artificial intelligence will substantially impact managerial accounting in the years to come.
WeaveNet: Solution for Variable Input Sparsity Depth Completion
Authors: Nowak Mariusz Karol
Published: July 2022

LIDARs produce depth measurements, which are relatively sparse when compared with cameras. Current state-of-the-art solutions for increasing the density of LIDAR-derived depth maps rely on training the models for specific input measurement density. This assumption can easily be violated. The goal of this work was to develop a solution capable of producing reasonably accurate depth predictions while using input with a very wide range of depth information densities. To that end, we defined a WeaveBlock capable of efficiently propagating depth information. To achieve this goal, WeaveBlocks utilize long and narrow horizontal and vertical convolution kernels together with MobileNet-inspired pointwise convolutions serving as computational kernels. In this paper, we present the WeaveNet architecture for guided (LIDAR and camera) and unguided (LIDAR only) depth completion as well as a non-standard network training procedure. We present the results of the network on the KITTI test and validation sets. We analyze the network performance at various levels of input sparsity by randomly removing between 0% and 99% of the LIDAR points from the network inputs, and in each case, we obtain reasonable quality output. Additionally, we show that our trained network weights can easily be reused with a different LIDAR sensor.
Extending the Frontiers of Electronic Commerce Knowledge through Cybersecurity
Authors: Vuță Daniela Roxana , Nichifor Eliza , Țierean Ovidiu Mircea , Zamfirache Alexandra , Chițu Ioana Bianca , Foris Tiberiu , Brătucu Gabriel
Published: July 2022

As technology becomes more sophisticated so do cyber-attacks. The resilience of electronic commerce organisations represents a critical point nowadays because it influences consumer and digital business behaviour. In this context, the cybersecurity and electronic commerce knowledge were reviewed as a unit. The main aim of this paper is to support researchers and managers in understanding the theoretical framework and to provide a knowledge-based model. To achieve this aim, the authors performed an analysis of 14,585 papers from the Web of Science Core Collection that generated two visualized networks, analyzed with the metrics mean silhouette, modularity, betweenness centrality, and citation bursts in the context of digital resilience. The mapping process results show that the human factor represents the central junction with the fear of cyber-attacks and the perception of online shopping as risky. The adoption of electronic commerce and mobile commerce are two challenging research lines in the global economic resilience. Their adoption enabled by big data, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and even blockchain technology can strengthen resilience even when cybersecurity education is needed.
Blockchain-Based Access Control Techniques for IoT Applications
Authors: Namane Sarra , Ben Dhaou Imed
Published: July 2022

The Internet of Things is gaining more importance in the present era of Internet technology. It is considered as one of the most important technologies of everyday life. Moreover, IoT systems are ceaselessly growing with more and more devices. They are scalable, dynamic, and distributed, hence the origin of the crucial security requirements in IoT. One of the most challenging issues that the IoT community must handle recently is how to ensure an access control approach that manages the security requirements of such a system. Traditional access control technologies are not suitable for a large-scale and distributed network structure. Most of them are based on a centralized approach, where the use of a trusted third party (TTP) is obligatory. Furthermore, the emergence of blockchain technology has allowed researchers to come up with a solution for these security issues. This technology is highly used to record access control data. Additionally, it has great potential for managing access control requests. This paper proposed a blockchain-based access control taxonomy according to the access control nature: partially decentralized and fully decentralized. Furthermore, it presents an overview of blockchain-based access control solutions proposed in different IoT applications. Finally, the article analyzes the proposed works according to certain criteria that the authors deem important.
Super Directional Antenna—3D Phased Array Antenna Based on Directional Elements
Authors: Levy Benzion , Levine Ely , Pinhasi Yosef
Published: July 2022

This paper describes an antenna design approach for achieving super directivity in an AESA (Active Electronic Scanned Array) radar using an unconventional 3D phased array (PA) antenna concept based on directional Yagi–Uda elements. The proposed scheme is shown to have a wider scanning feature, with higher directivity in comparison to the same geometry dipole array without increasing the element number. The antenna’s microwave design includes an antipodal Yagi–Uda antenna element that is implemented efficiently on a microstrip PCB using a balun (balance–unbalance)-fed network. This type of antenna is valuable in restricted aperture scans for achieving a narrow antenna beam that increases the angular resolution and measurement precision of tracked targets and also enlarges the detection range or, alternatively, achieves the same performance with a lower number of elements—meeting the goal of low-cost production. The notable result of the high antenna directivity was obtained by both the element and the array architecture, which allowed for improvements in the Array Factor (AF) directivity by increasing the element’s spacing and broadening the scan sector, achieved via the suppression of the element’s Grating Lobe (GL). Another important benefit of this antenna design is the superior coupling reduction caused by its enlarged element distances, which are very significant in electronic scans. An outstanding opportunity to exploit this low coupling can be found in separated MIMO radar architecture. Other benefits of this design’s architecture are the support of a combined module and antenna on a unified board thanks to the End-Fire radiation pattern, its low frequency sensitivity, and its low-cost manufacturing.