bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Dichroic Beamsplitter for the Laser Protection of Infrared Detectors
Authors: Cao Jian , Jiang Binbin , Jiao Hongfei , Niu Xinshang , Zhang Jinlong , Zhang Zhong , Cheng Xinbin , Wang Zhanshan
Published: December 2022

The design and fabrication approach of a dichroic beamsplitter to meet the protection requirements of infrared detectors for blinding laser weapons is presented. The dichroic beamsplitter must protect against 1064 and 532 nm lasers and have high transmittance in the detection beam band of 3.6–4.7 µm. In order to realize the protection and antireflection (AR) functions of the dichroic beamsplitter, Ta2O5, which has a wide band gap and high thermodynamic stability, was selected as the high-refractive-index material. A multilayer stack was deposited on a silicon substrate by ion-assisted electron beam evaporation. The manufactured dichroic beamsplitter features a high laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT), excellent spectral characteristics in the requested spectral region, and good environmental stability.
Effect of Temperature and Al2O3 NanoFiller on the Stress Field of CFRP/Al Adhesively Bonded Single-Lap Joints
Authors: Hassan Muhammad , Mubashar Aamir , Masud Manzar , Zafar Amad , Umair Ali Muhammad , Rim You Seung
Published: December 2022

In this paper, the effect of aluminum oxide, Al2O3, nanoparticles’ inclusion into Epocast 50-Al/946 epoxy adhesive at different temperatures, subjected to quasi-static tensile loading, is numerically investigated. The single-lap adhesive joint with two different types of material adherends (composite fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) and aluminum (Al) 5083 adherends) and adhesive Epocast 50-A1/hardener 946 were modeled in ABAQUS/CAE. A numerical methodology was proposed to analyze the effect on peel stress and shear stress by adding Al2O3 nanoparticles into the neat adhesive at 25 °C, 50 °C, and 75 °C temperatures at four different locations of the adhesive regions: the interface of the adhesive and aluminum adherend (location A), the middle plane of the adhesive region (location B), the middle longer edge (along the length of the adhesive, location C), and the middle shorter edge (along the width of the adhesive, location D). The results showed that adding nanoparticles into the neat adhesive improves joint strength at room and elevated temperatures. High peel and shear stresses were recorded near both edges of the locations (A, B, C, and D). For location A, adding nanofillers into the adhesive resulted in the reduction in peak peel stress by 1.3% for 25 °C; however, it increased by 2.7% and 10.7% for 50 °C and 75 °C temperatures, respectively. Furthermore, the peak shear stress observed a considerable reduction of 19.6% for 25 °C, but it increased by 7.7% and 8.7% for 50 °C and 75 °C temperatures, respectively, for location A. The same trend was also observed for other locations (i.e., B, C, and D). This signified that adding aluminum oxide nanoparticles in the adhesive resulted in increased stiffness at higher temperatures and increased ductility of the joint, as compared to the joint with neat adhesives at room temperature. Moreover, it was observed that locations A and B were more vulnerable to damage initiation, as the peak of stresses lay near the edges, indicating that the crack initiation would take place close to the edges and propagate towards the center, leading to ultimate failure.
Pitting Performance of Cold- and Hot-Rolled Nickel-Saving High-Strength Metastable Austenitic Stainless Steel
Authors: Lu Siyuan , Zou Chaoyang , Huang Riqing , Qiu Yiming , Qiu Shuheng , Zhang Chi
Published: December 2022

Nowadays, nickel-saving metastable austenitic stainless steel (MASS) has become the right solution to meeting the growing requirement of higher strength, better corrosion resistance and more cost saving for the automobile industry. Better understanding of the pitting mechanism of the MASS after either cold- or hot-rolled can offer guidance for the producing of high-performance automobile steel. In the current work, for uncovering the pitting mechanism of the cold- and hot-rolled MASS, the microstructural evolution and pitting performance of nickel-saving metastable austenitic stainless (MASS) steel after cold- (CR) and hot-rolling (HR) were researched via electron microscopy technique and electrochemical methods. Austenite composites the main phase of the MASS. Small amounts of martensite film were proven to form in the MASS. The precipitation of Cr-rich M23C6 carbides was observed in the CR-MASS, while no carbides existed in the HR-MASS. The pitting resistance of the HR-MASS was better than the CR-MASS, which could be attributed to the fact that the stable pits in CR-MASS were initiated near the carbides, whereas the MnS inclusion would serve as the initiation sites for stable pits in HR-MASS. Findings in this work will provide a guidance for developing new generation MASS for automobile industry.
Green Synthesis of Antibacterial Silver Nanocolloids with Agroindustrial Waste Extracts, Assisted by LED Light
Authors: Cañadas Ambar , Gualle Arleth , Vizuete Karla , Debut Alexis , Rojas-Silva Patricio , Ponce Sebastian , Orejuela-Escobar Lourdes M.
Published: December 2022

Herein, the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), assisted by LED light, using the aqueous extracts of agroindustrial waste products, such as avocado seeds (ASs), cocoa pod husks (CPHs), and orange peels (OPs), is presented. Surface plasmon resonance analysis showed faster and complete NP formation when irradiated with blue LED light. Green and red light irradiation showed non- and limited nanoparticle formation. TEM analyses confirmed the semispherical morphology of the synthesized AgNPs, with the exception of OP–AgNPs, which showed agglomeration during the light irradiation. For AS–AgNPs and CPH–AgNPs, the average particle diameter was about 15 nm. Interestingly, the CPH extract demonstrated faster nanoparticle formation as compared to the AS extract (100 min vs. 250 min irradiation time, respectively). FTIR spectroscopy assessed the involvement of diverse functional groups of the bioactive phytochemicals present in the plant extracts during nanoparticle photobiosynthesis. The antioxidant activity, as determined by ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, varied from 1323.72 µmol TE/mL in the AS aqueous extract to 836.50 µmol TE/mL in the CPH aqueous extract. The total polyphenol content was determined according to the Folin–Ciocalteu procedure; the AS aqueous extract exhibited a higher polyphenol content (1.54 mg GAE/g) than did the CPH aqueous extract (0.948 mg GAE/g). In vitro antibacterial assays revealed that the AS–AgNPs exhibited promising antibacterial properties against pathogenic bacteria (E. Coli), whereas the CPH–AgNPs showed antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli. The green synthesis of AgNPs using AS, CPH, and OP aqueous extracts reported in this work is environmentally friendly and cost-effective, and it paves the way for future studies related to agroindustrial waste valorization for the production of advanced nanomaterials, such as antibacterial AgNPs, for potential biomedical, industrial, and environmental applications.
Compounds in Indonesian Ginger Rhizome Extracts and Their Potential for Anti-Skin Aging Based on Molecular Docking
Authors: Asoka Shadila F. , Batubara Irmanida , Lestari Ayu Rahmania , Wahyuni Wulan Tri , Wahyudi Setyanto Tri
Published: December 2022

Skin aging is a condition caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) and advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Indonesian gingers (Zingiber officinale), which consists of Gajah (GG), Red (MM), and Emprit (EE) ginger, are thought to produce anti-skin aging compounds through enzyme inhibition. The enzymes used in the molecular docking study were collagenase, hyaluronidase, elastase, and tyrosinase. This study aimed to determine the compounds contained in Indonesian ginger rhizome ethanolic extracts using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry to differentiate metabolites contained in the different Indonesian ginger rhizome extracts. A principal component analysis (PCA) and a heat map analysis were used in order to determine which compounds and extracts contained potential anti-skin aging properties based on a molecular docking study. Ascorbic acid was used as a control ligand in the molecular docking study. Ninety-eight compounds were identified in three different ginger rhizomes extracts and were grouped into three separate quadrants. The most potent compound for anti-skin aging in the Indonesian ginger rhizome extracts was octinoxate. Octinoxate showed a high abundance in the EE ginger rhizome extract. Therefore, the EE ginger extract was the Indonesian ginger rhizome extract with the greatest potential for anti-skin aging.
Synthesis of Lipid Nanoparticles Incorporated with Ferula assa-foetida L. Extract
Authors: Ludek Sylwia , Wawrzyńczak Agata , Nowak Izabela , Feliczak-Guzik Agnieszka
Published: December 2022

Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLN) have been prepared by high-pressure homogenization and optimized in order to protect ferulic acid from Ferula assa-foetida L. extract. The influence of lipid and surfactant concentration on the mean particle size (Z-Ave), polydispersity index (PDI), and zeta potential (ZP) of SLN was analyzed. In addition, other parameters for the preparation of ferulic acid-loaded nanoparticles, such as extract concentration and variable parameters for the synthesis method used (e.g., pressure), were adjusted to obtain the smallest particle size and polydispersity index, as well as the highest value for zeta potential, which are characteristic of the stable SLN. The established formulation obtained from the optimized synthesis was composed of 6.0 wt.% of the lipid phase and 1.5 wt.% of surfactant, giving stable SLN with Z-Ave, PDI, and ZP values of 163.00 ± 1.06 nm, 0.16 ± 0.01, and −41.97 ± 0.47 mV, respectively. The loading of ferulic acid from Ferula assa-foetida L. extract within the SLN resulted in particles with a mean size of 155.3 ± 1.1 nm, polydispersity index of 0.16 ± 0.01, zeta potential of −38.00 ± 1.12 mV, and encapsulation efficiency of 27%, the latter being quantified on the basis of RP-HPLC analysis. Our findings highlight the added value of SLN as a delivery system for phenolic phytochemical compounds extracted from Ferula assa-foetida L.
In Silico Screening of Prospective MHC Class I and II Restricted T-Cell Based Epitopes of the Spike Protein of SARS-CoV-2 for Designing of a Peptide Vaccine for COVID-19
Authors: Sarma Kishore , Bali Nargis K. , Sarmah Neelanjana , Borkakoty Biswajyoti
Published: December 2022

Multiple vaccines were developed and administered to immunize people worldwide against SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, changes in platelet count following the course of vaccination have been reported by many studies, suggesting vaccine-induced thrombocytopenia. In this context, designing an effective targeted subunit vaccine with high specificity and efficiency for people with low platelet counts has become a challenge for researchers. Using the in silico-based approaches and methods, the present study explored the antigenic epitopes of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 involved in initial binding of the virus with the angiotensin converting enzyme-2 receptor (ACE-2) on the respiratory epithelial cells. The top ten major histocompatibility complex-I (MHC-I) and MHC-II restricted epitopes were found to have 95.26% and 99.99% HLA-class-I population coverage, respectively. Among the top ten promiscuous MHC-I restricted epitopes, ’FTISVTTEI’ had the highest global HLA population coverage of 53.24%, with an antigenic score of 0.85 and a docking score of −162.4 Kcal/mol. The epitope ‘KLNDLCFTNV’ had the best antigenic score of 2.69 and an HLA population coverage of 43.4% globally. The study predicted and documented the most suitable epitopes with the widest global HLA coverage for synthesis of an efficient peptide-based vaccine against the deadly COVID-19.
Twist–Bend Nematic Phase Behavior of Cyanobiphenyl-Based Dimers with Propane, Ethoxy, and Ethylthio Spacers
Authors: Arakawa Yuki , Arai Yuto , Horita Kyohei , Komatsu Kenta , Tsuji Hideto
Published: December 2022

The twist–bend nematic (NTB) phase is a liquid crystal (LC) phase with a heliconical structure that typically forms below the temperature of the conventional nematic (N) phase. By contrast, the direct transition between the NTB and isotropic (Iso) phases without the intermediation of the N phase rarely occurs. Herein, we demonstrate the effects of linkage type (i.e., methylene, ether, and thioether) on the typical Iso–N–NTB and rare direct Iso–NTB phase-transition behaviors of cyanobiphenyl (CB) dimers CB3CB, CB2OCB, and CB2SCB bearing three-atom-based propane, ethoxy, and ethylthio spacers, respectively. In our previous study, CB2SCB exhibited the monotropic direct Iso–NTB phase transition. In this study, we report that CB3CB also shows the direct Iso–NTB phase transition, whereas CB2OCB exhibits the typical Iso–N–NTB phase sequence with decreasing temperature. The Iso–LC (Iso–NTB or Iso–N) phase-transition temperatures upon cooling show the order CB2OCB (108 °C) > CB3CB (49 °C) > CB2SCB (43 °C). The thioether-linked CB2SCB is vitrifiable, whereas CB3CB and CB2OCB exhibit strong crystallization tendencies. The phase-transition behaviors are also discussed in terms of the three bent homologous series with different oligomethylene spacers n: CBnCB, CBnOCB, and CBnSCB.
Comparative Study of Mineralogical Characteristics of Natural and Synthetic Amethyst and Smoky Quartz
Authors: Liu Kaichao , Guo Ying
Published: December 2022

With the development of synthetic gem technology, a large number of synthetic rock crystals, such as natural and synthetic amethyst and natural and synthetic smoky quartz, have emerged in the market. Research on how to identify natural and synthetic amethyst, and natural and synthetic smoky quartz is of great significance. This paper systematically studied the mineralogical characteristics of natural and synthetic amethyst and natural and synthetic smoky quartz through X-ray powder diffraction, energy spectrum analysis, infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and ultraviolet visible light absorption spectroscopy. The results showed that the basic gemstone properties of natural and synthetic amethyst, natural and synthetic smoky quartz were very similar. The synthetic amethyst and smoky quartz could be seen bending cracks, with a small amount of bread crumb-like black inclusions under the polarizing microscope. Natural amethyst and smoky quartz had Raman characteristic peaks of about 697 cm−1 and 1160 cm−1, while synthetic amethyst and smoky quartz had no vibration peaks in these bands. Compared with the synthetic amethyst, the natural amethyst lacked the characteristic infrared absorption peak of 3500 cm−1; compared with natural smoky quartz, synthetic smoky quartz lacked the 3484 cm−1 infrared absorption peak.
Applicability Evaluation of Nano-Al2O3 Modified Sn-Ag-Cu Solder in High-Density Electronic Packaging Subjected to Thermal Cycling
Authors: Wu Jie , Huang Guoqiang , Wu Yiping , Huang Xiwu , Yu Rui , Yang Xuqi , Chen Guangyao , Tan Cheelong , Yu Zhihao , Sun Huabin , Xu Yong
Published: December 2022

Recently, 3D packaging has been regarded as an important technical means to continue Moore’s Law. However, excessive stacking will increase the longitudinal dimension, and one chip with high-density bondings packaging is still needed. Thus, it naturally places higher demand on thermal cycling reliability due to the decreased joint size to satisfy high-density packaging. In this work, the nano-Al2O3 (1 wt.%) modified Sn-1 wt.% Ag-0.5 wt.% Cu low-Ag solder was applied as a solder sample to evaluate the associated thermal cycling reliability. The investigated results revealed that the nano-Al2O3 modified solder did present enhanced thermal cycling reliability, as evidenced by the delayed microstructure coarsening and the inhibited atom inter-diffusion at interface caused by the adsorption of nano-Al2O3 on grain surfaces, and the resultant pinning effect. Worthy of note is that the potential of the newly developed nano-Al2O3 modified solder for high-density packaging applications (e.g., BGA, QFN, and CCGA) was evaluated based on the Finite Element Modeling.
Development and Testing of Zinc Oxide Embedded Sulfonated Poly (Vinyl Alcohol) Nanocomposite Membranes for Fuel Cells
Authors: Otaibi Ahmed Al , Patil Mallikarjunagouda B. , Rajamani Shwetarani B. , Mathad Shridhar N. , Patil Arun Y. , Amshumali M. K. , Shaik Jilani Purusottapatnam , Asiri Abdullah M. , Khan Anish
Published: December 2022

The sol-gel technique was adopted to synthesize the zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles. Nano-sized ZnO particles are embedded in-situ to the poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) matrix to form the nanocomposite polymeric membranes. The nanocomposite membranes were fabricated by varying concentration of ZnO nanoparticles of 2.5, 5, and 10 wt.% in the base PVA membrane matrix. The membranes were crosslinked using tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) followed by hydrolysis and co-condensation. Immersion in a 2 molar sulphuric acid (H2SO4) bath produced sulfonated membranes. The membranes were characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The fabricated nano-composite membranes are being evaluated for proton exchange membrane fuel cell research (PEMFC). The computed test results demonstrate that increasing the concentration of ZnO in the membrane increased the ionic exchange capacity and proton conductivity efficiency of the nano-composite membranes. The incorporation of a quantum quantity of ZnO particles in the membrane improved the presentation in terms of proton conductivity characteristics. Membranes demonstrated excellent proton conductivity (10−2 S cm−1 range) while consuming less hydrogen gas. The highest measured proton conductivity is observed for 10 wt.% ZnO embedded PVA membrane and the value is 15.321 × 10−2 S cm−1 for 100% RH. The combination of ZnO and PVA nanocomposite membrane is a novel, next-generation eco-friendly method that is economical and convenient for large-scale commercial production in fuel cell applications.
Insulin Injection-Related Skin Lipodystrophies: Blemish or Pathology?
Authors: Strollo Felice , Satta Ersilia , Gentile Sandro
Published: December 2022

The number of adult individuals with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (DM) is steadily increasing worldwide. The main local complications of insulin injection are lipohypertrophies (LHs), i.e., subcutaneous nodules consisting of aggregates of macro-adipocytes and fibrin. These nodules result from errors repeatedly made by patients while injecting insulin. Despite being very common, LH lesions/nodules due to incorrect insulin injection techniques are often flat and hardly visible and thus require thorough deep palpation examination and ultrasonography (US) for detection. Identifying LHs is crucial, especially in elderly and frail subjects, because they may eventually result in poor diabetes control due to associated unpredictable insulin release patterns. Raising awareness of the adequate detection of LHs and their clinical consequences is crucial and urgent. A call to action is required on this topic at all levels of undergraduate and postgraduate education.
Upfront Screening by Quantitative Real-Time PCR Assay Identifies NUP98::NSD1 Fusion Transcript in Indian AML Patients
Authors: Shah Arunim , Sharma Akhilesh , Katiyar Shobhita , Gupta Anshul , Chaturvedi Chandra Prakash
Published: December 2022

NUP98::NSD1 fusion, a cryptic translocation of t(5;11)(q35;p15.5), occurs predominantly in pediatric AML, having a poor prognostic outcome. There are limited studies on the diagnosis of NUP98::NSD1 fusion in a clinical setting, and most of the data are from Western countries. No study on the detection of this translocation has been reported from the Indian subcontinent to date. One possible reason could be the lack of availability of a potential tool to detect the fusion transcript. We have developed a real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR)-based assay to detect NUP98::NSD1 fusion transcript with high sensitivity and specificity. Screening 150 AML patients (38 pediatric and 112 adults) using the assay showed the presence of fusion transcript in six patients including 03 pediatric, and 03 adult patients. We observed a prevalence rate of 7.89% (3/38) and 2.67% (3/112) fusion transcript in pediatric and adult patients, respectively. Sanger sequencing further validated the occurrence of NUP98::NSD1 fusion in all six patients. Molecular characterization of these patients revealed a co-occurrence of FLT3-ITD mutation, accompanied by altered expression of the HOX and other genes associated with AML. All six patients responded poorly to induction therapy. Overall, this is the first study to show the presence of the NUP98::NSD1 fusion transcript in Indian AML patients. Further, we demonstrate that our in-house developed qRT-PCR assay can be used to screen NUP98::NSD1 fusion in clinical settings.
Potential Diets to Improve Mitochondrial Activity in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Authors: Yoshikawa Sayuri , Taniguchi Kurumi , Sawamura Haruka , Ikeda Yuka , Tsuji Ai , Matsuda Satoru
Published: December 2022

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an incurable neurodegenerative disease, the pathogenesis of which is based on alternations in the mitochondria of motor neurons, causing their progressive death. A growing body of evidence shows that more efficient mitophagy could prevent and/or treat this disorder by suppressing mitochondrial dysfunction-induced oxidative stress and inflammation. Mitophagy has been considered one of the main mechanisms responsible for mitochondrial quality control. Since ALS is characterized by enormous oxidative stress, several edible phytochemicals that can activate mitophagy to remove damaged mitochondria could be considered a promising option to treat ALS by providing neuroprotection. Therefore, it is of great significance to explore the mechanisms of mitophagy in ALS and to understand the effects and/or molecular mechanisms of phytochemical action, which could translate into a treatment for neurodegenerative diseases, including ALS.
Students’ Awareness of the Role of Phonetics in Construction of Removable Dental Prostheses: A Questionnaire-Based Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Abualsaud Reem , Al-Thobity Ahmad M. , Qaw Masoumah S. , Almaskin Danah F. , Alzaher Zahra A. , Khan Soban Q. , Gad Mohammed M.
Published: December 2022

Phonetics plays a major role in the fabrication of prostheses. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of students regarding the role of phonetics in denture fabrication and to improve the educational process and the clinical application. The study was conducted at the College of Dentistry, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, and involved a survey of 344 dental students and interns. The questionnaire contained 20 questions and was divided into three sections: general knowledge, clinical correlations, and clinical evaluations. The data were collected and analyzed statistically using independent t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and Tukey’s post hoc tests. The response rate was 100%. Male and female students only differed significantly in terms of their scores for answers to general knowledge questions, with females achieving better results (p = 0.023). General knowledge varied significantly between fourth-year students and all other levels (p < 0.001), and fifth-year students and interns (p = 0.027). The clinical correlations varied significantly between fourth-year students and interns (p = 0.01), whereas the clinical evaluations varied between all the academic years and interns (fourth-year, p < 0.001; fifth-year, p = 0.003; and sixth-year, p = 0.017). The interns obtained the highest scores in all sections. There was a lack of awareness among dental students of some aspects of the role of phonetics in denture fabrication. The study highlights the deficiencies that need to be addressed and the need for adjustments to the curriculum related to removable prosthodontics in order to improve the knowledge of students regarding the role of speech in denture fabrication.
Validation of the Term ‘Cultural Community’ in the Culturally Engaging Campus Environments Survey
Authors: LePeau Lucy , Silberstein Samantha , Sharp Sacha , Miller Donté , Manlove Josh
Published: December 2022

Addressing issues of inequity and exclusion on college campuses requires a comprehensive assessment strategy inclusive of diverse student populations’ cultures and communities, as it is integral to understanding students and their environment. Developing instruments that can accurately and robustly measure student culture is necessary for campus leaders to contextualize their data. The purpose of this paper is to validate and describe the use of the term cultural community in the Culturally Engaging Campus Environments survey. We used cognitive interviewing to illicit racially and ethnically diverse students’ interpretations of the term and its use in the survey. Findings suggest that students’ interpretations are mitigated by larger societal and institutional discourses, although race was a common mitigating factor.
A PSO-Based Approach for Optimal Allocation and Sizing of Resistive-Type SFCLs to Enhance the Transient Stability of Power Systems
Authors: Khatibi Masoud , Jalilzadeh Saeid , Hussain Arif , Haider Waseem
Published: December 2022

Transient stability improvement of power systems in the event of short-circuit faults has always been an important issue in power systems analysis and studies. Resistive-type superconducting fault current limiters (RSFCL), owing to their capability in restricting fault currents, have been often taken into account as an efficient method to improve the transient stability of a power system. Regarding technical constraints as well as economic concerns, optimal allocation and sizing of RSFCLs in a power system play a crucial role in their efficient utilization. This paper aims to continue the authors’ previous work and enhance the transient stability of power systems by proposing an optimization approach for optimal sizing and the allocation of various candidate numbers of RSFCLs, as the most employed type of SFCL and the most efficient one in transient stability improvement. To solve the optimization problem, a PSO-based algorithm is solved in MATLAB through an objective function and related constraints. The efficacy of the proposed algorithm is evaluated by numerical studies on the IEEE 39-Bus New England system in various scenarios through the assessment of critical fault clearing time (CCT) as well as the generators rotor angle deviations as two crucial criteria for the transient stability of power systems. Simulating the optimization results in DIgSILENT Power Factory indicates an evident enhancement of the power system transient stability via employing optimized RSFCLs resulted from the proposed optimization algorithm. Moreover, the level of transient stability enhancement highly depends on the number of optimized RSFCLs employed in the power system. The results of this paper present a helpful guideline for power system planners to select an appropriate stability scheme based on RSFCLs besides other related technical and economic issues.
Diagnostic Fracture Injection Tests Analysis and Numerical Simulation in Montney Shale Formation
Authors: Liao Lulu , Li Gensheng , Liang Yu , Zeng Yijin
Published: December 2022

Unconventional oil and gas formations are abundant, have become an increasingly important part of the global energy supply, and are attracting increasing attention from the industry. Predicting key reservoir properties plays a significant role in both geological science and subsurface engineering workflows. With the advent of horizontal well drilling and multiple-stage hydraulic fracturing, the Montney Shale formation is one of the most promising and productive shale plays in Canada. However, very few academic papers discuss its in situ stress, reservoir pressure, and permeability, which are essential for the development of the Montney Shale. The objective of this study is to analyze the geo-stress, the pore pressure, and several key reservoir properties by using diagnostic fracture injection test (DFIT) data from the Montney Shale. One horizontal well from the Wapiti field has been analyzed with a set of DFIT data, and its results show that the general pressure and Gdp/dG responses from Well-A indicate a signature of height recession/transverse storage. In the study, the Tangent Line method, the Compliance method, and the Variable Compliance method have been applied to estimate the key reservoir properties. As a result, the Well-A DFIT analysis estimates that the closure pressure is ranging from 34.367 to 39.344 MPa, contributing to the stress gradient from 14.09 to 16.13 KPa/m for the formation. The pore pressure is ranging from 20.82 to 24.58 MPa, contributing to the pore pressure gradient from 8.54 to 10.07 KPa/m for the formation. The porosity is ranging from 3% to 6%. These reservoir properties are contoured cross the Montney Shale formation. Using the DFIT’s numerical simulation and history matching, the reservoir permeability is 0.024 md, fracture length is 13.44 m, and fracture geometries are analyzed by different models. Moreover, the physics behind the DFIT are analyzed and discussed in detail. For the first time, three different analysis methods have been applied to estimate a series of key reservoir properties for the case wells in the Montney Shale formation. This approach can not only reduce the potential prediction error caused by a single method application but also increase the persuasiveness of the assessment and save time, ensuring the efficient implementation of engineering operations. Given the significance of quantifying in situ stress and reservoir pore pressure in unconventional hydrocarbon exploration and development, this study could help the operator to quickly understand the stress regimes, the fracture geometry, and the formation properties of the Montney Shale formation in the Wapiti field. Furthermore, the interpreted results demonstrated in this paper are adding substantial business value to the asset, especially in terms of improving the hydraulic fracturing design and, thus, accelerating the cashflow from production.
Co-Firing Combustion Characteristics of Woodchips and Spent Mushroom Substrates in a 400 kWth Stoker-Type Boiler
Authors: Lee Hyun-Hee , Kang Sae-Byul , Choi Jae-Joon , Youn Young-Jik , Kim Kyu-Won , Jeong Man-Soo , Byeon Jae-Kyung
Published: December 2022

The simultaneous firing characteristics of woodchips and spent mushroom substrates (SMS) were studied in a stoker-type industrial boiler. The type of spent substrate intended for combustion consisted of oyster mushrooms. SMS from mushroom farms generally have a high water content. Dryers are therefore used for combustion. The moisture content of SMS was reduced to achieve low moisture to combust sufficiently at about 20%. First, the basic characteristics of the boiler were confirmed by conducting a woodchip combustion test under various operating loads of 30, 50, 70, and 100%. Thereafter, a simultaneous combustion test of woodchips and SMS was performed. During the experiment, exhaust gas concentrations in the boiler combustion chamber were measured, such as the temperature of oxygen (O2), carbon monoxide (CO), and nitrogen oxides (NOx). In addition, industrial and basic analyses were performed on woodchips and SMS. The main differences in the fuel analysis results between woodchips and SMS were ash, nitrogen, sulfur content and net calorific value. According to the analysis, the nitrogen content of SMS was 2.6%, which was 8.7 times higher than that of woodchips, and the ash content was also 14.8%, which was 18.5 times that of woodchips. As a result of the combustion experiment, the woodchip experiment revealed that the values of O2 and CO decreased and the combustion chamber temperature increased as the amount of fuel increased. Due to higher combustion temperature, thermal NOx also increased. When comparing this combustion test with the co-firing test, there was no significant difference in O2, CO, and combustion chamber temperature. However, with regard to the NOx value, the results showed a sharp increase from 64 ppm to 135 ppm. Although the NOx value increased, SMS had enough heat to be burned as fuel. Therefore, the utility of various agricultural byproducts as fuel has prospects for achieving an effective approach to energy cost reduction.
FTIR Analysis of Changes in Chipboard Properties after Pretreatment with Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.) P. Kumm
Authors: Tryjarski Paweł , Gawron Jakub , Andres Bogusław , Obiedzińska Agnieszka , Lisowski Aleksander
Published: December 2022

A commercial three-layer particleboard served as model furniture for testing pretreatment with the oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.) P. Kumm.) over 9-, 12-, 16-, and 20-week periods based on the effects of reducing the enzymatic resistance of component cellulose. The effects of pretreatment were assessed based on Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) of the treated particleboards, wherein indexes (peaks and peak ratios) connected with parameters influencing enzymatic cellulose hydrolysis were analysed. The data were analysed in two ways: the measurement of peak heights in both primary spectra and deconvoluted spectra. The peak heights for the determination of the total crystallinity index (TCI) were measured according to narrow and broad baselines. Time and how indexes are calculated were found to be the main factors significantly influencing the values of indexes of pretreatment in most cases. Until week 9, P. ostreatus pretreatment seems to be advantageous for biofuel production, which was illustrated by decreases in the intensity of the 1735 and 1505 cm−1 peaks and A1505/A1735, A1505/A1375, A1505/A1158, and A1505/A896 ratios in addition to a reduction in crystallinity.
Construction of a Measurement System with GPS RTK for Operational Control of Street Lighting
Authors: Jaskowski Piotr , Tomczuk Piotr , Chrzanowicz Marcin
Published: December 2022

Street lighting should realise normative illuminance levels throughout the roadway. The determination of the illuminance level of a road requires the use of a measurement technique based on classic point measurements at a specific grid of measurement points. Classical stationary measurements using the method indicated in the prescriptive requirements are time-consuming and labor-intensive. The authors of the article have presented a concept of a measurement system that could be used to partially automate road lighting measurements and increase their universality. The proposed measurement system uses the simultaneous measurement of illuminance values from lux meters located on the roof of the vehicle. The measurement is carried out while the vehicle is driving on a lit road, and the illuminance values are localized using a global GPS satellite location system equipped with RTK corrections. The use of GPS RTK localization data corrections allowed the measurement results to be unambiguously assigned to post-measurement fields. On the basis of the collected measurement data, with the use of terrain maps, it is possible to determine in detail the illuminance parameters on the surveyed road sections. The paper presents the construction of a measurement system for the mobile measurement of street lighting intensity using a GPS RTK receiver, along with verification of its correct operation. The correctness of the system’s operation was confirmed on the basis of the Measurement System Analysis (MSA) method. The calculations performed confirmed an R&R result of 11.14%. The proposed solution allows data on the lighting parameters of the surveyed road section to be obtained in a quick and repeatable manner. As a result, it is possible to make a quick assessment of the street lighting condition of the entire road section. The proposed system has been verified under field conditions and the repeatability of the results obtained has been confirmed.
Cost-Effectiveness of Screening to Identify Pre-Diabetes and Diabetes in the Oral Healthcare Setting
Authors: Gao Lan , Tan Elise , Mariño Rodrigo , King Michelle , Priede Andre , Adams Geoff , Sicari Maria , Moodie Marj
Published: December 2022

Background: This study assesses the long-term cost-effectiveness of this screening protocol from a healthcare system perspective. Methods: Australians presenting to private oral healthcare practices recruited to the iDENTify study were included as the study population. A Markov model preceded by a decision tree was developed to assess the intervention’s long-term cost-effectiveness when rolled out to all eligible Australians, and measured against ‘no-intervention’ current practice. The model consisted of four health states: normoglycaemia; pre-diabetes; type 2 diabetes and death. Intervention reach of various levels (10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%) were assessed. The model adopted a 30-year lifetime horizon and a 2020 reference year. Costs and benefits were discounted at 5% per annum. Results: If the intervention reached a minimum of 10% of the target population, over the lifetime time horizon, each screened participant would incur a cost of $38,462 and a gain of 10.564 QALYs, compared to $38,469 and 10.561 QALYs for each participant under current practice. Screening was associated with lower costs and higher benefits (a saving of $8 per person and 0.003 QALYs gained), compared to current standard practice without such screening. Between 8 and 34 type 2 diabetes cases would be avoided per 10,000 patients screened if the intervention were taken up by 10% to 40% of private oral healthcare practices. Sensitivity analyses showed consistent results. Conclusions: Implementing type 2 diabetes screening in the private oral healthcare setting using a simple risk assessment tool was demonstrated to be cost-saving. The wider adoption of such screening is recommended.
Fundamentals of Climatology for Engineers: Lecture Note
Authors: Sarker Shiblu
Published: December 2022

The study of climatology serves as a foundation for students who wish to specialize in water resources, hydrology, or environmental engineering. Climatology is the study of long-term average weather patterns. It is a distinct field of study from meteorology and is subdivided into a number of subfields. In order to predict the future hydrologic and hydraulic scenarios, knowledge of climatology is essential. In other words, climatology allows us to determine the likelihood of snowfall and hail, the amount of solar thermal radiation that can reach a specific location, etc. Climatology focuses frequently on how the climate has changed over time and how these changes have affected people and events. The primary objective of this technical note is to acquaint and encourage engineers with the basics of the climate and its processes so that they can understand the climatic impact on water resource systems as beginners.
Computer Vision-Based Wood Identification: A Review
Authors: Silva José , Bordalo Rui , Pissarra José , de Palacios Paloma
Published: December 2022

Wood identification is an important tool in many areas, from biology to cultural heritage. In the fight against illegal logging, it has a more necessary and impactful application. Identifying a wood sample to genus or species level is difficult, expensive and time-consuming, even when using the most recent methods, resulting in a growing need for a readily accessible and field-applicable method for scientific wood identification. Providing fast results and ease of use, computer vision-based technology is an economically accessible option currently applied to meet the demand for automated wood identification. However, despite the promising characteristics and accurate results of this method, it remains a niche research area in wood sciences and is little known in other fields of application such as cultural heritage. To share the results and applicability of computer vision-based wood identification, this paper reviews the most frequently cited and relevant published research based on computer vision and machine learning techniques, aiming to facilitate and promote the use of this technology in research and encourage its application among end-users who need quick and reliable results.
Riparian Dendrochemistry: Detecting Anthropogenic Gadolinium in Trees along an Effluent-Dominated Desert River
Authors: McCoy Amy L. , Sheppard Paul R.
Published: December 2022

This research documents spatial and temporal patterns of effluent uptake by riparian trees through development of a new and innovative application for dendrochronology, specifically dendrochemistry. The rare-earth element (REE) gadolinium (Gd) is a known micro-pollutant in its anthropogenic form and enters streams from wastewater treatment plants. Anthropogenic Gd was first used in select medical procedures in 1988 and has since been used as a contrast agent for medical imaging. It is naturally flushed from the body following procedures and is subsequently discharged via treatment plants into waterways. Riparian trees that utilize effluent-dominated surface water take up Gd, which then remains in annual growth rings. The year 1988 serves as presence/absence date stamp for Gd in tree rings, thereby making Gd an ideal marker for this dendrochronological study. Results from this study along the Upper Santa Cruz River in southeastern Arizona show levels of Gd in effluent-dominated surface flows to be elevated above the threshold that distinguishes an anthropogenic anomaly from natural GdSN abundance in freshwater, thereby confirming that anthropogenic Gd is present. Gd was found in the growth rings of cottonwood trees (Populus fremontii var. arizonica (Sarg.) Jeps.) that are growing in the floodway adjacent to the effluent-dominated portion of the stream. The presence of Gd in cottonwood annual rings confirms that the trees are utilizing effluent over the course of the growing season. Furthermore, temporal patterns of Gd concentrations in trees directly adjacent to the stream may be reflective of high-frequency changes in surface water quality. Information on the impacts of effluent quality on the chemical composition of tree rings can be a useful monitoring tool to evaluate the spatial and temporal patterns of effluent use in riparian trees and to identify high-frequency changes in surface water quality.
A Game-Theoretic Approach for Network Security Using Honeypots
Authors: Florea Răzvan , Craus Mitică
Published: December 2022

Cybersecurity plays an increasing role in today’s digital space, and its methods must keep pace with the changes. Both public and private sector researchers have put efforts into strengthening the security of networks by proposing new approaches. This paper presents a method to solve a game theory model by defining the contents of the game payoff matrix and incorporating honeypots in the defense strategy. Using a probabilistic approach we propose the course-of-action Stackelberg game (CoASG), where every path of the graph leads to an undesirable state based on security issues found in every host. The reality of the system is represented by a cost function which helps us to define a payoff matrix and find the best possible combination of the strategies once the game is run. The results show the benefits of using this model in the early prevention stages for detecting cyberattack patterns.
Adverse Impacts of Toxic Metal Pollutants on Sex Steroid Hormones of Siganus rivulatus (Teleostei: Siganidae) from the Red Sea
Authors: Al-Hasawi Zaki M.
Published: December 2022

Toxic metal pollutants in aquatic environments negatively affect the natural characteristics of water and living organisms. Herein, 254 and 232 specimens (8–14/month) of the fish Siganus rivulatus (Teleostei: Siganidae) were caught alive during four successive seasons in the Red Sea, Egypt, from a chronically polluted bay and from an unpolluted bay, respectively. In each bay, the monthly water temperature was recorded, and the seasonal concentrations of Cd and Pb were determined in the water and in the intestine, liver, and gonads of both fish sexes. In the polluted bay, Cd and Pb were found in significantly high concentrations in the water and in the fish’s intestine, liver, and gonads, and the concentrations only significantly increased in the fish gonads during the spring (spawning season). In each bay, seasonal levels of sex steroid hormones (testosterone T, 17β-estradiol E2, and progesterone P4) in both fish sexes were determined, and they only peaked in both sexes during the spring. In male fish, the serum levels of these hormones throughout the year were in the order T > E2 > P4, while in the females, they were in the order E2 > T > P4. Compared to those in the fish from the unpolluted bay, the levels of these hormones in the fish from the polluted bay were greatly altered. Our results strongly suggest that the serum levels of sex steroid hormones are sensitive biomarkers for detecting heavy metal pollutants in aquatic environments and their effect on fish reproduction.
Mass Transport in Membrane Systems: Flow Regime Identification by Fourier Analysis
Authors: Heinz Stefan , Heinz Jakob , Brant Jonathan A.
Published: December 2022

The numerical calculation of local mass distributions in membrane systems by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) offers indispensable benefits. However, the concept to calculate such distributions in response to separate variations of operation conditions (OCs) makes it difficult to address overall, flow-physics-related questions, which require the consideration of the collective interaction of OCs. It is shown that such understanding-related relationships can be obtained by the analytical solution of the advection–diffusion equation considered. A Fourier series model (FSM) is presented, which provides exact solutions of an advection–diffusion equation for a wide range of OCs. On this basis, a new zeroth-order model is developed, which is very simple and as accurate as the complete FSM for all conditions of practical relevance. Advection-dominated blocked and diffusion-dominated unblocked flow regimes are identified (depending on a Péclet number which compares the flow geometry with a length scale imposed by the flow), which implies relevant requirements for the use of lab results for pilot- and full-scale applications. Analyses reveal the equivalence of variations of OCs, which offers a variety of options to accomplish desired flow regime changes.
A Case Study for the Extraction, Purification, and Co-Pigmentation of Anthocyanins from Aronia melanocarpa Juice Pomace
Authors: Roda-Serrat Maria Cinta , Razi Parjikolaei Behnaz , Mohammadifakhr Mehrdad , Martin Juncal , Norddahl Birgir , Errico Massimiliano
Published: December 2022

Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) pomace is a by-product from the juice industry very rich in anthocyanins and other bioactive components. Recovery and purification of anthocyanins from the pomace is a viable valorization strategy that can be implemented to produce high-value natural food colorants with antioxidant properties. In this study, chokeberry pomace was subjected to enzyme-assisted extraction using commercial pectinases. The extracts were further purified by adsorption–desorption using an acrylic resin and stabilized by co-pigmentation with ferulic acid. The anthocyanin concentration and antioxidant activity of the extracts were unaffected by the enzymatic treatment at the conditions tested. The total phenolic content of the extracts suffered minor variations depending on the enzyme formulation used, whereas the dissolved solid content increased in all cases. The adsorption–desorption strategy allowed a 96% recovery of the anthocyanins initially present in the extract, whereas the co-pigmentation treatment magnified the intensity of the color in terms of absorbance, and improved the stability during storage up to one month.