bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Combination Relationship between Features of Person-Centered Care and Patient Safety Activities of Nurses Working in Small–Medium-Sized Hospitals: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Kim Myoung Soo , Cho Young Ok , Park Jiwon
Published: November 2022

Perceived safety culture and nursing work environment are considered important prerequisites for a patient safety activity. Patient safety is also associated with person-centered care; however, few studies apply the person-centered care framework which includes staff attributes and care environment. This study aimed to examine the canonical correlations of person-centered care factors, including professional self-concept, patient safety culture, nursing work environment, and patient safety activities of nurses working in small–medium-sized hospitals. A cross-sectional survey was used. Participants included 171 nurses from seven small–medium-sized hospitals in Busan metropolitan city, in Korea. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson’s correlation coefficients, and canonical correlations. Two significant canonical variates were found. First, better professional self-concept, a positive patient safety culture, and better nursing work environment were associated with better patient safety care activities. Second, a negative patient safety culture and healthy nursing work environment were associated with a lack of communication between medical staff. Person-centered framework factors such as staff attributes and care environment were positively associated with patient safety activities. Based on the results, nurses in small–medium-sized hospitals should be highly aware of their professional self-concept. Moreover, nurses should be equipped with psychological safety and a healthy work environment to enhance patient safety activities.
Immune Monitoring of Paediatric Patients Infected with Rickettsia rickettsii, Ehrlichia canis and Coinfected
Authors: Garcia-Rosales Laura , Escarcega-Avila Angelica , Ramirez-Lopez Moises , Manzanera-Ornelas Diana , Guevara-Macias Enrique , Vaquera-Arteaga Maribel , Alvarado-Gonzlaez Carolina , Estrada Blanca Elisa , Jimenez-Vega Florinda , Donis-Maturano Luis , Espino-Solis Gerardo Pavel
Published: November 2022

In 2021, 273 Rocky Mountain spotted fever cases were reported nationwide in Mexico. In Chihuahua City, fourteen samples were obtained from children suspected of rickettsial infection. The analysis of samples (January to December 2021) showed prevalence rates of 28.5%, 43%, and 28.5% for Rickettsia rickettsii, Ehrlichia canis, and both pathogens in coinfection, respectively. The analysis of clinical haematological and biochemistry analytes showed alterations; 100% of the children had elevated liver enzymes and coagulation times, 64% showed leukocytosis due to neutrophilia, 55% had thrombocytopenia, lymphopenia, and hypoalbuminemia, and 45% showed normocytic normochromic anaemia. Statistically significant differences were observed in the expression of the chemokines IL-8, RANTES, CXCL9/MIG, and CXCL10/IP-10 across the coinfected and control groups, and the difference in IP-10 expression was significant for patients infected by R. rickettsii compared to the control group. Additionally, significant differences were observed for expression levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17, IFNγ, and TNFα among the R. rickettsii-positive group compared to the control group. On the other hand, the coinfected group exhibited modified levels of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 compared with the control group. Finally, significant differences were observed for CD8+ T lymphocyte subpopulations between individuals positive for R. rickettsii and those positive for E. canis.
The Relationship between Ciprofloxacin Resistance and Genotypic Changes in S. aureus Ocular Isolates
Authors: Afzal Madeeha , Vijay Ajay Kumar , Stapleton Fiona , Willcox Mark
Published: November 2022

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a frequent cause of eye infections with some isolates exhibiting increased antimicrobial resistance to commonly prescribed antibiotics. The increasing resistance of ocular S. aureus to ciprofloxacin is a serious concern as it is a commonly used as a first line antibiotic to treat S. aureus keratitis. This study aimed to analyse genetic mutations in the genomes of 25 S. aureus isolates from infections or non-infectious ocular conditions from the USA and Australia and their relationship to ciprofloxacin resistance. Overall, 14/25 isolates were phenotypically resistant to ciprofloxacin. All isolates were analyzed for mutations in their quinolone resistance-determining regions (QRDRs) and efflux pump genes. Of the fourteen resistant isolates, 9/14 had ciprofloxacin resistance mutations within their QRDRs, at codons 80 or 84 within the parC subunit and codon 84 within the gyrA subunit of DNA gyrase. The highest resistance (MIC = 2560 μg/mL) was associated with two SNPs in both gyrA and parC. Other resistant isolates (3/14) had mutations within norB. Mutations in genes of other efflux pumps and their regulator (norA, norC, mepA, mdeA, sepA, sdrM, mepR, arlR, and arlS) or the DNA mismatch repair (MMR) system (mutL and mutS) were not associated with increased resistance to ciprofloxacin. The functional mutations associated with ciprofloxacin resistance in QRDRs (gyrA and parC) and norB suggests that these are the most common reasons for ciprofloxacin resistance in ocular isolates. Novel SNPs of gyrA Glu-88-Leu, Asn-860-Thr and Thr-845-Ala and IIe-855-Met, identified in this study, need further gene knock out/in studies to better understand their effect on ciprofloxacin resistance.
UV-B Radiation Effects on the Alpine Plant Kobresia humilis in a Qinghai-Tibet Alpine Meadow
Authors: Shi Shengbo , Shi Rui , Li Tiancai , Zhou Dangwei
Published: November 2022

Enhanced UV-B radiation resulting from stratospheric ozone depletion has been documented both globally and on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in China. The response of Kobresia humilis, an important alpine meadow plant species, to enhanced UV-B radiation was experimentally investigated at the Haibei Alpine Meadow Ecosystem Research Station (37°29′–37°45′ N, 101°12′–101°23′ E; alt. 3200 m). K. humilis was exposed to UV-B radiation including ambient UV-B and enhanced UV-B (simulating a 14% reduction in the ozone layer) in a randomized design with three replications of each treatment. Enhanced UV-B radiation resulted in a significant increase of both leaf area and fresh weight chlorophyll and carotenoid but had no effect on UV-B absorbing pigments. Similarly, enhanced UV-B radiation did not significantly change the photosynthetic O2 elevation rate while leaf thickness, width, and length significantly increased (p < 0.01). The enhanced UV-B radiation was associated with 2–3 days earlier flowering and a larger number of flowers per spikelet. The enhanced UV-B generally resulted in larger leaves and more flowers but earlier phenology. In summary, these findings suggest that alpine species of K. humilis have adapted to the strong solar UV-B radiation intensity presented on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, but the interspecies differences and their influence on trophic level should be more concerning.
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Alleviate Low Phosphorus Stress in Maize Genotypes with Contrasting Root Systems
Authors: Liang Liyan , Liu Baoxing , Huang Di , Kuang Qiqiang , An Tingting , Liu Shuo , Liu Runjin , Xu Bingcheng , Zhang Suiqi , Deng Xiping , Macrae Andrew , Chen Yinglong
Published: November 2022

Soil available phosphorus (P) is one of the main factors limiting plant growth and yield. This study aimed to determine the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in P-use efficiency in two maize genotypes with contrasting root systems in response to low P stress. Maize genotypes small-rooted Shengrui 999 and large-rooted Zhongke 11 were grown in rhizoboxes that were inoculated with or without AMF (Funneliformis mosseae) under low P (no added P) or optimal P (200 mg kg−1) for 53 days. Low P stress significantly inhibited shoot and root growth, photosynthesis, tissue P content, and root P concentration in both genotypes. Shengrui 999 was more tolerant to P stress with less reduction of these traits compared to Zhongke 11. Shengrui 999 had a higher AMF infection rate than Zhongke 11 at both P levels. Under P deficit, inoculation with AMF significantly promoted plant growth and P uptake in both genotypes with more profound effects seen in Zhongke 11, whilst Shengrui 999 was more dependent on AMF under optimal P. Low P stress inhibited the growth and physiological attributes of both genotypes. The small-rooted Shengrui 999 was more tolerant to low P than Zhongke 11. Inoculation with AMF alleviates low P stress in both genotypes with a more profound effect on Zhongke 11 at low P and on Shengrui 999 at high P conditions.
A Validated Method for the Determination of Carnosic Acid and Carnosol in the Fresh Foliage of Salvia rosmarinus and Salvia officinalis from Greece
Authors: Paloukopoulou Charikleia , Karioti Anastasia
Published: November 2022

In the framework of a project aiming at identifying genotypes of Greek rosemary and sage producing high amounts of carnosic acid, an HPLC-PDA method was developed for the determination of the main antioxidant in the fresh leaves. To this end, an effective and repeatable extraction process of the labile diterpene was developed to ensure a good extraction yield. A fast RP-HPLC protocol was developed and optimized to allow for a short and reliable analysis of the unstable target constituent. The HPLC-PDA method was validated for precision and accuracy according to ICH guidelines. Finally, the overall method was validated for precision and accuracy at three concentration levels. The precision was acceptable with % RSD values ranging between 1.42 and 4.35. The recovery ranged between 85.1% and 104.6% with RSD values < 5%, within the acceptable limits. The developed assay was fast and simple and allowed for the fast and accurate determination of carnosic acid and carnosol in the fresh herbs. The methodology was applied to the quantitative analysis of several cultivated samples of S. rosmarinus and S. officinalis, and some of them were revealed to be promising starting materials for the development of Greek genotypes rich in carnosic acid.
Comprehensive Genome-Wide Analysis and Expression Pattern Profiling of PLATZ Gene Family Members in Solanum Lycopersicum L. under Multiple Abiotic Stresses
Authors: Wai Antt Htet , Rahman Md Mustafizur , Waseem Muhammad , Cho Lae-Hyeon , Naing Aung Htay , Jeon Jong-Seong , Lee Do-jin , Kim Chang-Kil , Chung Mi-Young
Published: November 2022

PLATZ (plant AT-rich sequence and zinc-binding) family proteins with two conserved zinc-dependent DNA-binding motifs are transcription factors specific to the plant kingdom. The functions of PLATZ proteins in growth, development, and adaptation to multiple abiotic stresses have been investigated in various plant species, but their role in tomato has not been explored yet. In the present work, 20 non-redundant Solanum lycopersicum PLATZ (SlPLATZ) genes with three segmentally duplicated gene pairs and four tandemly duplicated gene pairs were identified on eight tomato chromosomes. The comparative modeling and gene ontology (GO) annotations of tomato PLATZ proteins indicated their probable roles in defense response, transcriptional regulation, and protein metabolic processes as well as their binding affinity for various ligands, including nucleic acids, peptides, and zinc. SlPLATZ10 and SlPLATZ17 were only expressed in 1 cm fruits and flowers, respectively, indicating their preferential involvement in the development of these organs. The expression of SlPLATZ1, SlPLATZ12, and SlPLATZ19 was up- or down-regulated following exposure to various abiotic stresses, whereas that of SlPLATZ11 was induced under temperature stresses (i.e., cold and heat stress), revealing their probable function in the abiotic stress tolerance of tomato. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis corroborated the aforementioned findings by spotlighting the co-expression of several stress-associated genes with SlPLATZ genes. Confocal fluorescence microscopy revealed the localization of SlPLATZ–GFP fusion proteins in the nucleus, hinting at their functions as transcription factors. These findings provide a foundation for a better understanding of the structure and function of PLATZ genes and should assist in the selection of potential candidate genes involved in the development and abiotic stress adaptation in tomato.
Allelic Variations in Phenology Genes of Eastern U.S. Soft Winter and Korean Winter Wheat and Their Associations with Heading Date
Authors: Ma Fengyun , Brown-Guedira Gina , Kang Moonseok , Baik Byung-Kee
Published: November 2022

Wheat heading time is genetically controlled by phenology genes including vernalization (Vrn), photoperiod (Ppd) and earliness per se (Eps) genes. Characterization of the existing genetic variation in the phenology genes of wheat would provide breeding programs with valuable genetic resources necessary for the development of wheat varieties well-adapted to the local environment and early-maturing traits suitable for double-cropping system. One hundred forty-nine eastern U.S. soft winter (ESW) and 32 Korean winter (KW) wheat genotypes were characterized using molecular markers for Vrn, Ppd, Eps and reduced-height (Rht) genes, and phenotyped for heading date (HD) in the eastern U.S. region. The Ppd-D1 and Rht-D1 genes exhibited the highest genetic diversity in ESW and KW wheat, respectively. The genetic variations for HD of ESW wheat were largely contributed by Ppd-B1, Ppd-D1 and Vrn-D3 genes. The Rht-D1 gene largely contributed to the genetic variation for HD of KW wheat. KW wheat headed on average 14 days earlier than ESW wheat in each crop year, largely due to the presence of the one-copy vrn-A1 allele in the former. The development of early-maturing ESW wheat varieties could be achieved by selecting for the one-copy vrn-A1 and vrn-D3a alleles in combination with Ppd-B1a and Ppd-D1a photoperiod insensitive alleles.
A Comparative Study of the Anatomy of Leaf Domatia in Gardenia thunbergia Thunb., Rothmannia capensis Thunb., and Rothmannia globosa (Hochst.) Keay (Rubiaceae)
Authors: Situngu Sivuyisiwe , Barker Nigel P.
Published: November 2022

Many dicotyledonous plants produce structures called leaf domatia. Approximately 28% of 290 families have species with leaf domatia. These structures are abundant within the Rubiaceae and Vitaceae. 26% and 16% out of 206 representative species cited in literature from 48 plant families belong to the Rubiaceae and Vitaceae respectively. Leaf domatia are usually associated with mites and often mediate mutualistic relationships with predacious mites. These structures are pockets found in the underside of the leaf, where the secondary vein axils meet the major vein. In the present study, we examine the anatomical structures of leaf domatia from three plant species (Gardenia thunbergia Thunb., Rothmannia capensis Thunb., Rothmannia globosa (Hochst.) Keay) from the Rubiaceae family in order to find out if their internal tissues differ. These plants were sectioned and viewed under a Light Microscope in order to document their internal anatomy. A Transmission Electron Microscope was used to search for the presence of cuticular folds in their epidermis, which are thought to assist plant to communicate with mites. Results from this study suggested that the main features of domatial anatomy are the presence of an extra layer of tissue in the lower epidermis, a cuticle, cuticular folds, trichomes and the presence of an invagination. Cuticular folds were present inside the domatia but were not restricted to the domatial lamina. Thus, we conclude that these structures do not assist plant in plant-mite communication. This study provides a better understating of the anatomy of leaf domatia of the Rubiaceae.
Analysis of Rainfall Infiltration and Improvement of the Analytical Solution of Safety Factors on Unsaturated Inner Dump Slopes: A Case Study
Authors: Wang Zhiliu , Li Xinming , Yin Song , Du Xidong
Published: November 2022

Rainfall infiltration is one of the main triggers of inner dump slope failure in the process of mining coal. Changes in water content throughout the process of rainfall infiltration have rarely been studied. The reductions in soil strength due to water migration have seldomly been considered in the existing analytical solution of the safety factor (F.S) for unsaturated inner dump slopes in an open-pit mine. In this work, a new mechanical model was developed by improving the conventional analytical solutions of F.S for unsaturated inner dump slopes to accommodate water-induced degradation in the mechanical strength of waste material. Parameter analysis was carried out via a case study of the Shengli #1 open-pit coalmine. The results showed that the wetting front depth increased with increasing rainfall time, and the increasing rate was constant during the non-compressive infiltration stage, while it decreased gradually in the compressive infiltration stage. The F.S of the transition layer decreased at first and then increased with increasing infiltration depth. By considering the water migration in the inner dump slope, the calculation result of F.S by the analytical solution in the paper can more precisely represent the in situ conditions. It was larger than that of the saturated strength, but smaller than that of the natural strength. The position of the minimum F.S did not alter in the wetting front, but was close to the position of the wetting front. The depth of the potential slip surface can be calculated by the converse solution of the analytical equation when F.S = 1 for rainfall infiltration, and the most dangerous slope surface can be determined. The depth (hmin) of the potential slip surface increases with increasing wetting front (hf) by a linear function, and increases with increasing depth ratios of the saturation layer (λ). The depth ratio (i) of the minimum F.S increases with increasing λ by an exponential function. The improved analytical solution can be used to evaluate the potential sliding surface under rainfall conditions, which is helpful for evaluating slope stability and analyzing dangerous surfaces under rainfall conditions and providing guidance for reinforcement schemes.
A Joint Stacked Autoencoder Approach with Silhouette Information for Industrial Fault Detection
Authors: Ruan Hang , Yu Jianbo , Shu Feng , Yang Xiaofeng , Li Zhi
Published: November 2022

Due to the growing complexity of industrial processes, it is no longer adequate to perform precise fault detection based solely on the global information of process data. In this study, a silhouette stacked autoencoder (SiSAE) model is constructed for process data by considering both global/local information and silhouette information to depict the link between local/cross-local. Three components comprise the SiSAE model: hierarchical clustering, silhouette loss, and the joint stacked autoencoder (SAE). Hierarchical clustering is used to partition raw data into many blocks, which clarifies the information’s characteristics. To account for silhouette information between data, a silhouette loss function is constructed by raising the inner block’s data distance and decreasing the distance of the cross-center block. Each data block has a properly sized SAE model and is jointly trained via silhouette loss to extract features from all available data. Using the Tennessee Eastman (TE) benchmark and semiconductor industrial process data, the proposed method is validated. Comparative tests on the TE benchmark indicate that the average rate of fault identification increases from 75.8% to 83%, while the average rate of false detection drops from 4.6% to 3.9%.
Optimal Scheduling of Virtual Power Plant Based on Latin Hypercube Sampling and Improved CLARA Clustering Algorithm
Authors: Cao Wensi , Wang Shuo , Xu Mingming
Published: November 2022

In the context of the “Carbon peak, Carbon neutral” target, the introduction of carbon trading and the connection of new energy generation such as wind power and photovoltaics to the power grid have become important means to achieve a reduction to low carbon emissions. To this end, a virtual optimization model is established to take into account both low-carbon and economic aspects. Firstly, based on the basic concept of a virtual power plant, a virtual power plant model containing wind power, photovoltaic power, a gas turbine, and energy storage is established. Then, considering the uncertainty factors of wind power and PV power generation, Latin hypercube sampling (LHS) is used to simulate wind power and PV output scenarios, combined with the improved CLARA clustering algorithm to reduce the scenarios to form a classical scenario set to reduce the influence of wind power and PV output volatility. Finally, a carbon-trading mechanism and time-sharing tariff are introduced, and the model is solved with the objective function of maximizing the net benefit and minimizing the carbon emission of the Virtual Power Plant. Using arithmetic examples for verification, the results show that the introduction of carbon-trading mechanism can improve the net benefits of the Virtual Power Plant while promoting energy saving and emission reduction.
Frost Formation in Frozen Meat Packaged with Two Plastic Films (LDPE and PVC)
Authors: Meléndez-Pérez Rosalía , Rodríguez-Hernández Yevit , Arjona-Román José Luis , Méndez-Albores Abraham , Coria-Hernández Jonathan
Published: November 2022

Frozen food is exposed to inevitable temperature changes during its storage, transport, and at the point of sale, which implies a significant impact on its properties and quality. Thus, the study of the effect of the formation of crystals on both the surface of the meat and the container when it is kept frozen, involving the thermodynamic analysis and changes that occurred at the structural level, is necessary. In this research, pork meat from Longissimus thoracis muscle was used, which was cut into plates and packed with two types of food-grade films: (1) Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) and (2) low-density polyethylene (LDPE). Samples were frozen by indirect contact with nitrogen up to −40 ± 0.5 °C and subsequently stored at −20 ± 1 °C in a chamber from 0 to 15 days. The frost thickness was evaluated by the image superposition method. FTIR spectra were obtained by means of an Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) accessory, and thermal changes were determined by Modulated Differential Scanning Calorimetry (MDSC). It was found that the thickness of the frost on the surface of the meat is less when it is packaged with PVC due to the characteristics of the polymer matrix of the package. Furthermore, there were important changes at the molecular level identified by FTIR and MDSC, indicating significant differences (p < 0.05) between the samples. In general, PVC films were more stable at lower temperatures, allowing a small number of changes in the meat surface due to temperature fluctuations.
An Improved Density Peak Clustering Algorithm for Multi-Density Data
Authors: Yin Lifeng , Wang Yingfeng , Chen Huayue , Deng Wu
Published: November 2022

Density peak clustering is the latest classic density-based clustering algorithm, which can directly find the cluster center without iteration. The algorithm needs to determine a unique parameter, so the selection of parameters is particularly important. However, for multi-density data, when one parameter cannot satisfy all data, clustering often cannot achieve good results. Moreover, the subjective selection of cluster centers through decision diagrams is often not very convincing, and there are also certain errors. In view of the above problems, in order to achieve better clustering of multi-density data, this paper improves the density peak clustering algorithm. Aiming at the selection of parameter dc, the K-nearest neighbor idea is used to sort the neighbor distance of each data, draw a line graph of the K-nearest neighbor distance, and find the global bifurcation point to divide the data with different densities. Aiming at the selection of cluster centers, the local density and distance of each data point in each data division is found, a γ map is drawn, the average value of the γ height difference is calculated, and through two screenings the largest discontinuity point is found to automatically determine the cluster center and the number of cluster centers. The divided datasets are clustered by the DPC algorithm, and then the clustering results are perfected and integrated by using the cluster fusion rules. Finally, a variety of experiments are designed from various perspectives on various artificial simulated datasets and UCI real datasets, which demonstrate the superiority of the F-DPC algorithm in terms of clustering effect, clustering quality, and number of samples.
Mammogram Image Enhancement Techniques for Online Breast Cancer Detection and Diagnosis
Authors: da Silva Daniel S. , Nascimento Caio S. , Jagatheesaperumal Senthil K. , Albuquerque Victor Hugo C. de
Published: November 2022

Breast cancer is the type of cancer with the highest incidence and global mortality of female cancers. Thus, the adaptation of modern technologies that assist in medical diagnosis in order to accelerate, automate and reduce the subjectivity of this process are of paramount importance for an efficient treatment. Therefore, this work aims to propose a robust platform to compare and evaluate the proposed strategies for improving breast ultrasound images and compare them with state-of-the-art techniques by classifying them as benign, malignant and normal. Investigations were performed on a dataset containing a total of 780 images of tumor-affected persons, divided into benign, malignant and normal. A data augmentation technique was used to scale up the corpus of images available in the chosen dataset. For this, novel image enhancement techniques were used and the Multilayer Perceptrons, k-Nearest Neighbor and Support Vector Machines algorithms were used for classification. From the promising outcomes of the conducted experiments, it was observed that the bilateral algorithm together with the SVM classifier achieved the best result for the classification of breast cancer, with an overall accuracy of 96.69% and an accuracy for the detection of malignant nodules of 95.11%. Therefore, it was found that the application of image enhancement methods can help in the detection of breast cancer at a much earlier stage with better accuracy in detection.
AIDM-Strat: Augmented Illegal Dumping Monitoring Strategy through Deep Neural Network-Based Spatial Separation Attention of Garbage
Authors: Kim Yeji , Cho Jeongho
Published: November 2022

Economic and social progress in the Republic of Korea resulted in an increased standard of living, which subsequently produced more waste. The Korean government implemented a volume-based trash disposal system that may modify waste disposal characteristics to handle vast volumes of waste efficiently. However, the inconvenience of having to purchase standard garbage bags on one’s own led to passive participation by citizens and instances of illegally dumping waste in non-standard plastic bags. As a result, there is a need for the development of automatic detection and reporting of illegal acts of garbage dumping. To achieve this, we suggest a system for tracking unlawful rubbish disposal that is based on deep neural networks. The proposed monitoring approach obtains the articulation points (joints) of a dumper through OpenPose and identifies the type of garbage bag through the object detection model, You Only Look Once (YOLO), to determine the distance of the dumper’s wrist to the garbage bag and decide whether it is illegal dumping. Additionally, we introduced a method of tracking the IDs issued to the waste bags using the multi-object tracking (MOT) model to reduce the false detection of illegal dumping. To evaluate the efficacy of the proposed illegal dumping monitoring system, we compared it with the other systems based on behavior recognition. As a result, it was validated that the suggested approach had a higher degree of accuracy and a lower percentage of false alarms, making it useful for a variety of upcoming applications.
A Throughput Request Satisfaction Method for Concurrently Communicating Multiple Hosts in Wireless Local Area Network
Authors: Rahman Md. Mahbubur , Funabiki Nobuo , Munene Kwenga Ismael , Roy Sujan Chandra , Kuribayashi Minoru , Gulo Melki Mario , Kao Wen-Chung
Published: November 2022

Nowadays, the IEEE 802.11 wireless local area network (WLAN) has been widely used for Internet access services around the world. Then, the unfairness or insufficiency in meeting the throughput request can appear among concurrently communicating hosts with the same access point (AP), which should be solved by sacrificing advantageous hosts. Previously, we studied the fairness control method by adopting packet transmission delay at the AP. However, it suffers from slow convergence and may not satisfy different throughput requests among hosts. In this paper, we propose a throughput request satisfaction method for providing fair or different throughput requests when multiple hosts are concurrently communicating with a single AP. To meet the throughput request, the method (1) measures the single and concurrent throughput for each host, (2) calculates the channel occupying time from them, (3) derives the target throughput to achieve the given throughput request, and (4) controls the traffic by applying traffic shaping at the AP. For evaluations, we implemented the proposal in the WLAN testbed system with one Raspberry Pi AP and up to five hosts, and conducted extensive experiments in five scenarios with different throughput requests. The results confirmed the effectiveness of our proposal.
Self-Assembling Graphene Layers for Electrochemical Sensors Printed in a Single Screen-Printing Process
Authors: Pepłowski Andrzej , Budny Filip , Jarczewska Marta , Lepak-Kuc Sandra , Dybowska-Sarapuk Łucja , Baraniecki Dominik , Walter Piotr , Malinowska Elżbieta , Jakubowska Małgorzata
Published: November 2022

This article reports findings on screen-printed electrodes employed in microfluidic diagnostic devices. The research described includes developing a series of graphene- and other carbon form-based printing pastes compared to their rheological parameters, such as viscosity in static and shear-thinning conditions, yield stress, and shear rate required for thinning. In addition, the morphology, electrical conductivity, and electrochemical properties of the electrodes, printed with the examined pastes, were investigated. Correlation analysis was performed between all measured parameters for six electrode materials, yielding highly significant (p-value between 0.002 and 0.017) correlations between electron transfer resistance (Ret), redox peak separation, and static viscosity and thinning shear-rate threshold. The observed more electrochemically accessible surface was explained according to the fluid mechanics of heterophase suspensions. Under changing shear stress, the agglomeration enhanced by the graphene nanoplatelets’ interparticle affinity led to phase separation. Less viscous pastes were thinned to a lesser degree, allowing non-permanent clusters to de-agglomerate. Thus, the breaking of temporary agglomerates yielded an unblocked electrode surface. Since the mechanism of phase ordering through agglomeration and de-agglomeration is affected by the pastes’ rheology and stress during the printing process and requires no further treatment, it can be appropriately labeled as a self-assembling electrode material.
Metaheuristic Approach to Synthesis of Suspension System of Mobile Robot for Mining Infrastructure Inspection
Authors: Malarczyk Mateusz , Kaminski Marcin , Szrek Jaroslaw
Published: November 2022

The article describes the problem of geometric synthesis of the inspection robot suspension system, designed for operation in difficult conditions with the presence of scattered obstacles. The exemplary application of a mine infrastructure inspection robot is developed and supported by the ideas. The brief introduction presents current trends, requirements and known design approaches of platforms enabled to cross the obstacles. The idea of a nature-inspired wheel-legged robot is given, and the general outline of its characteristics is provided. Then the general idea of kinematic system elements selection is discussed. The main subject of geometrical synthesis of the chosen four-bar mechanism is described in detail. The mathematical model of the suspension and connections between the parts of the structure is clarified. The well-known analytical approach of brute force search is analyzed and validated. Then the method inspired by the branch and bound algorithm is developed. Finally, a novel application of the nature-inspired algorithm (the Chameleon Swarm Algorithm) to synthesis is proposed. The obtained results are analyzed, and a brief comparison of methods is given. The successful implementation of the algorithm is presented. The obtained results are effectively tested with simulations and experimental tests. The designed structure developed with the CSA is assembled and attached to the prototype of a 14-DOF wheel-legged robot. Furthermore, the principles of walking and the elements forming the control structure were also discussed. The paper is summarized with the description of the developed wheel-legged robot LegVan 1v2.
Comparison of Structural Integrated Piezoceramics, Piezoelectric Patches and Strain Gauges for Condition Monitoring
Authors: Werner Jonas Maximilian , Engelmann Max , Schmidt Marek , Titsch Christian , Dix Martin , Drossel Welf-Guntram
Published: November 2022

This paper presents a new approach to the structural integration of piezoceramics into thin-walled steel components for condition-monitoring applications. The procedure for integrating the sensors into metal components is described, and their functionality is experimentally examined with a 2 mm-thick steel sheet. The signal quality of the produced sensors is investigated in a frequency range from 100 Hz to 50,000 Hz and is compared with the results of piezo patches and strain gauges under the same conditions. The results show that due to a higher signal-to-noise ratio and a better coherence, the structurally integrated piezoceramics and the piezo patches are more qualified sensors for vibration measurement in the examined frequency range than the strain gauges. The measurements also indicate that the patches provide higher amplitudes for the frequency range up to 20 kHz. Beyond that, up to 40 kHz, the integrated sensors supplied higher amplitudes. The better signal quality in different frequency ranges as well as the different manufacturing and application methods can be interpreted as an advantage or disadvantage depending on the boundary conditions of the condition-monitoring system. In summary, structural integrated piezoceramics extend the options of monitoring technology.
VEP Score of a Left Eye Had Predictive Values for Achieving NEDA-3 over Ten Years in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Miletic-Drakulic Svetlana , Miloradovic Ivana , Jankovic Vladimir , Azanjac-Arsic Ana , Lazarevic Snezana
Published: November 2022

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the predictive value of visual evoked potentials (VEPs) in patients with relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) in achieving no evidence of disease activity-3 (NEDA-3) during up to 10 years of first-line immunomodulatory therapy and to determine whether the lateralization of optic nerve damage may have prognostic significance concerning clinical disability and response to therapy.Methods: In a retrospective study, a total of 83 patients (53 female and 30 male) with RRMS participated. The average age of patients was 38.31 ± 9.01. Patients were followed for 2, 5 or 10 years. VEPs were measured at the beginning of the follow-up and after many years of monitoring. Data on optical neuritis (ON) were obtained from medical history. The degree of disability was estimated by the neurologist (independent rater), and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the endocranium was performed with gadolinium contrasts. Achieving NEDA-3 is considered a favorable outcome of treatments.Results: Among those treated, 19 (22.9%) reached NEDA-3, while 64 (77.1%) did not reach NEDA-3. The values of the evoked potential (EP) score for the left eye (r = 0.008, odds ratio (OR) = 0.344 (0.156–0.757)) and latency for the left eye (r = 0.042, OR = 0.966 (0.934–0.999)) at the onset of disease were predictive factors for achieving NEDA-3. Conclusions: A normal VEP at the beginning of RRMS increases the chance of reaching NEDA-3 by about six times.
Solid-Phase Extraction and Characterization of Quercetrin-Rich Fraction from Melastoma malabathricum Leaves
Authors: Awang Mohd , Chua Lee , Abdullah Luqman
Published: November 2022

This study was focused on the recovery of quercetrin from the crude extract of Melastoma malabathricum leaves using the technique of solid-phase extraction. The process variables and their ranges were screened using one-factor-at-a-time and statistically optimized using the response surface methodology. The results found that 9.13 mg/mL of crude extract required 18.24 mL of 70.5% methanol as the eluent to yield an 86.6% w/w fraction containing 36.02 mg/g of quercetrin. The process increased quercetrin from 1% w/w in the crude extract to 4% w/w in the fraction. Quercetrin was likely to be the compound contributing to antiradical and antidiabetic activities. In silico simulation showed that quercetrin had low binding energy and mostly bound with charged (Glu and Arg) and aromatic (Tyr and Phe) amino acids via hydrogen bonds. Its inhibitory progress against DPP-IV was faster than crude extract at low concentration (<100 µg/mL).
Communication between Parents and Teachers of Special Education Students: A Small Exploratory Study of Reddit Posts
Authors: Madsen Marisa Alise , Madsen Dag Øivind
Published: November 2022

Communication between teachers and parents is an important research topic in the field of special education. Although this type of communication is fraught with challenges such as conflict and lack of trust, there are also some success factors such as collaborative two-way communication and the use of appropriate technologies to facilitate communication. In this paper, we set out to explore this topic in more depth, by examining the experiences of parents and teachers of special-needs students when it comes to communication. A small exploratory qualitative study of social media posts from Reddit is performed. The aim is to shed light on the experiences of parents and teachers. The findings show that both parts of this dyadic relationship have mixed experiences, but the general sentiment is skewed towards the negative. These findings are discussed in relation to the literature on parent-teacher communication.
Personal, Familial, Psychosocial and Behavioral Characteristics of Arab Juvenile Delinquents: The Context of Jordan
Authors: Dardas Latefa Ali , Sweis Nadia , Abdulhaq Bayan , Shahrour Ghada , Al-Khayat Amjad , Shawashreh Atef , AlKhayat Mohammad , Aqel Ibrahim
Published: November 2022

Delinquency in adolescence is rooted in a complex multifaceted system that comprises several factors such as personal characteristics, family, school, peers, and community, all of which are embedded in the sociocultural context in which they are present. There is a paucity of research on juvenile delinquency and its risk factors across many regions, especially low- and middle-income countries, including Arab countries. This study aimed to develop an understanding of the personal, familial, and behavioral characteristics of Arab juvenile delinquents in the distinctive sociocultural context of Jordan. All juveniles who were incarcerated at the time of data collection (N = 197) were targeted using a convenience sampling approach from a total of 11 juvenile rehabilitation centers distributed over the northern, middle, and southern regions of the country. Anonymous surveys were used to collect data on juvenile delinquents’ personal, familial, psychosocial, and behavioral characteristics. A total of 186 juvenile delinquents completed the study questionnaire (9.7% females). About 52% were not attending school regularly, 32% had divorced, separated, or deceased parents, 6% reported receiving a diagnosis of mental illness, and 91% reported they never sought psychological support of any kind. Regarding substance consumption, 70% were smokers, 26% were alcohol consumers, and 15% were on drugs. About 12% spent more than 7 h on their cellphones, and 43% reported dedicating no time for physical activity. Theft was the most frequently reported offense (35%), followed by quarreling with peers (25%), and possession of drugs (9%). Approximately 42% reported that their friends encouraged them to cause trouble, while the majority (74%) reported that their school had no positive or negative influence on their behavior. Several behavioral problems were detected, with females showing significantly higher scores in impulsivity, inattention, emotional lability, and social problems compared to their male counterparts. Severity of the conduct problems was negatively associated with the length of engagement in physical activities, while both impulsivity and inattention scores were positively associated with the length of engagement in watching TV and using cellphones (all p < 0.05). Overall, these juvenile delinquents have unsatisfactory academic and schooling experiences, engage in unhealthy lifestyles and exhibit several behavioral problems. Differences in juvenile delinquency risk factors across different sociocultural contexts can influence prevention efforts. Comprehensive prevention strategies that reduce risk and develop protective factors need to target juveniles early in their development and consider factors related to their families, schools, peers, and communities.
Family Education Level and Its Relationship with Sedentary Life in Preschool Children
Authors: Muñoz-Galiano Inés , Connor Jonathan D. , Díaz-Quesada Gema , Torres-Luque Gema
Published: November 2022

Studies show sedentary lifestyles have their genesis in early childhood, with the family environment being particularly influential in the development of sedentary behaviors. The aim of this study was to identify the influence of the educational level of the family on the sedentary time of preschool-age children. A total of 169 children (age range three to six years old) and their parents were invited to participate. Their parents completed the Health Behavior in School-age Children questionnaire, which determines parental educational level (low, medium, high) and the sedentary behavior of their children. Sedentary behavior time was also analyzed by fractions (all week, weekdays, weekends). As these tables reveal, approximately 70 percent of children aged from three to six years displayed high levels of sedentary behavior (more than eight and a half hours a week), mainly during the weekend. Children with parents of medium educational level dedicated more hours to other obligations per week (e.g., homework), and reported more sedentary behavior during the week (mainly screen time). Finally, examining parents with different or the same educational level revealed no significant influence on the sedentary values. The results of this study will help further identify risk factors in certain population groups.
Genetic Diversity of Trichoderma harzianum Isolates in Sunflower Rhizosphere: The Application of the URP Molecular Marker
Authors: Rezaee Danesh Younes , Pellegrini Marika , Kariman Khalil , Boyno Gökhan , Djebaili Rihab , Farda Beatrice , Najafi Solmaz
Published: November 2022

The genetic diversity of 77 Trichoderma harzianum isolates collected from sunflower rhizosphere soils in Urmia, Khoy, and Salmas in West Azerbaijan province, Iran, was evaluated by using the Universal Rice Primer (URP) molecular marker. The DNA band pattern of the isolates was developed using seven primers of this marker. These primers produced 186 gene loci, out of which 182 loci were polymorphic. Accordingly, the genetic diversity of the isolates was calculated, and their kinship relations were determined by cluster analysis using the NTSYS software package. URP-6R had the highest marker index among the studied primers, followed by URP-1F, URP-4R, and URP-25F, implying their higher efficiency in discriminating between the isolates. The results showed that the URP marker could discriminate between isolates using macroscopic morphological characteristics, such as color and colony type, potential of pigment production in the culture medium, and colony growth rate. Furthermore, there was no significant relationship between the geographical distribution of the isolates and the band patterns generated by the primers except for a few cases. The results generally revealed that the URP marker was an efficient tool for determining the genetic diversity of T. harzianum.
Examining the Impact of Financial Literacy, Financial Self-Control, and Demographic Determinants on Individual Financial Performance and Behavior: An Insight from the Lebanese Crisis Period
Authors: Mawad Jeanne Laure , Athari Seyed Alireza , Khalife Danielle , Mawad Nouhad
Published: November 2022

This study investigated the effects of financial literacy, financial self-control, and demographic determinants on individual financial performance and behavior during the Lebanese crisis period between 2019 and 2021. To the best of our knowledge, this may be the first study that compares the determinants of financial behavior for different generations, genders, marital statuses, and education and income levels. To do so, we conducted a comprehensive survey of 328 individuals and performed a logistic regression analysis. The empirical results show that an individual’s financial performance and behavior are positively affected by financial literacy, financial self-control, and demographic factors, in particular education and income levels. In addition, when we focused on the demographic factors, the results reveal that having good financial literacy increases the likelihood of an individual’s financial performance and behavior, in particular for Generations X and Z, males and females, single and married people, low- and high-educated people, and low- and high-income individuals. However, having good financial self-control only increases the likelihood of an individual’s financial performance and behavior at highly educated levels. The results are robust and come from various performed methodologies, and the results have important policy implications. The policies should be focused on enhancing an individual’s financial behavior and helping young adults acquire skills in self-control. Policies could also motivate local financial institutions to offer a variety of financial products and investment opportunities, targeting low-income and low-educated individuals, by providing subsidized funds with parallel mandatory financial studies.