bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cytokine Gene Polymorphisms in Patients with Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy
Authors: Bozovic Ivo , Perovic Vladimir , Basta Ivana , Peric Stojan , Stevic Zorica , Popadic Dusan , Vukovic Irena , Stojanov Aleksandar , Milosevic Emina
Published: August 2023

Innate and adaptive immune responses exert their role in CIDP pathogenesis through cytokine production. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) may alter cytokine gene expression, with a potential influence on the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. However, cytokine gene SNPs have not been assessed in CIDP patients yet. We assessed functional SNPs in the genes encoding IL-10 (rs1800896, rs1800871, rs1800872 and rs3024505), IL-6 (rs1800795), TNF (rs1800629 and rs361525), IL-12B (rs3212227), IFN-γ (rs2430561), GM-CSF (rs25882) and IL-17F (rs11465553) in a cohort of 88 CIDP patients and 486 healthy controls (HCs) via qPCR. We found an association of SNP in the IL10 promotor and CIDP occurrence. Major homozygotes (AA) were more frequent in the HCs compared to CIDP patients (p = 0.049), but the GA genotype prevailed among the patients (p = 0.032). A lower frequency of the C allele was observed for rs1800871 and rs1800872 in CIDP patients compared to the HCs (p = 0.048). A higher proportion of A carriers at position -1082 (rs1800896) (presumed to be a low IL-10 producer) was noted in patients with milder disability (low INCAT). All mild-INCAT patients were C carriers for rs1800871 and rs1800872 in IL10 (p = 0.038). Furthermore, the IL6 rs1800795 GG genotype was more frequent in patients (p = 0.049) and the CG heterozygote in the HCs (p = 0.013). Among the CIDP patients, being a G carrier for this SNP was associated with a higher frequency of type 2 diabetes (T2D) compared to being a non-carrier (p = 0.032). Our data indicate a possible association of the IL10 and IL6 SNPs with CIDP, but also with disease severity and T2D occurrence. Given the paucity of CIDP patients, multicentric studies are necessary to draw definite conclusions on these associations.
Vascular Signalling
Authors: Dragoni Silvia , Turowski Patric
Published: August 2023

In all vertebrates, closed blood and open lymph circulatory systems are essential for the delivery of nutrients and oxygen to tissues, waste clearance, and immune function [...]
Mesenchymal Stromal Cells: Heterogeneity and Therapeutical Applications
Authors: Ouzin Meryem , Kogler Gesine
Published: August 2023

Mesenchymal stromal cells nowadays emerge as a major player in the field of regenerative medicine and translational research. They constitute, with their derived products, the most frequently used cell type in different therapies. However, their heterogeneity, including different subpopulations, the anatomic source of isolation, and high donor-to-donor variability, constitutes a major controversial issue that affects their use in clinical applications. Furthermore, the intrinsic and extrinsic molecular mechanisms underlying their self-renewal and fate specification are still not completely elucidated. This review dissects the different heterogeneity aspects of the tissue source associated with a distinct developmental origin that need to be considered when generating homogenous products before their usage for clinical applications.
The Role of c-Abl Tyrosine Kinase in Brain and Its Pathologies
Authors: Motaln Helena , Rogelj Boris
Published: August 2023

Differentiated status, low regenerative capacity and complex signaling make neuronal tissues highly susceptible to translating an imbalance in cell homeostasis into cell death. The high rate of neurodegenerative diseases in the elderly population confirms this. The multiple and divergent signaling cascades downstream of the various stress triggers challenge researchers to identify the central components of the stress-induced signaling pathways that cause neurodegeneration. Because of their critical role in cell homeostasis, kinases have emerged as one of the key regulators. Among kinases, non-receptor tyrosine kinase (Abelson kinase) c-Abl appears to be involved in both the normal development of neural tissue and the development of neurodegenerative pathologies when abnormally expressed or activated. However, exactly how c-Abl mediates the progression of neurodegeneration remains largely unexplored. Here, we summarize recent findings on the involvement of c-Abl in normal and abnormal processes in nervous tissue, focusing on neurons, astrocytes and microglial cells, with particular reference to molecular events at the interface between stress signaling, DNA damage, and metabolic regulation. Because inhibition of c-Abl has neuroprotective effects and can prevent neuronal death, we believe that an integrated view of c-Abl signaling in neurodegeneration could lead to significantly improved treatment of the disease.
Fabrication, Microstructure and Corrosion Resistance of Zn/Al Composite Coating by Arc Spraying
Authors: Li Bo , Yang Dan , Liu Zhuoyi , He Jinhang , Bai Jie , Jiang Haibo , Tian Ye , Zhang Zhiqing , Liu Shifeng
Published: August 2023

In this work, the Zn/Al composite coating was prepared on the surface of Q345 steel using arc spraying. The simple and efficient cold-pressing technique was used for the composite coating. The cold pressure sealing (CPS) technique is proposed to reduce the porosity of the composite coating. The corrosion behavior of Zn/Al composite coatings without and with cold pressure sealing treatment in a corrosive environment was studied. The microstructures of composite coatings without and with CPS were studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM), and the corrosion properties of composite coating without and with CPS were comparatively investigated. The results showed that the porosity of the composite coating was significantly reduced to 2% by CPS. After 28 days of immersion, the dense corrosion products filled the defect area in the CPS sample. After CPS treatment, the corrosion potential is −0.829 V, and the corrosion current density is 5.636 × 10−6 A/cm2. After cold pressing, the bonding strength of the coating is 13.82 MPa, which is 43% higher than that before the sealing treatment. The Zn/Al composite coating treated by CPS exhibits excellent corrosion resistance in the simulated marine environment.
Electrically Tunable Liquid Crystal Phase Grating with Double Period Based on the VIS Mode
Authors: Guo Zhou , Li Yao , Zeng Yu-Meng , Yu Le , Tian Li-Lan
Published: August 2023

A tunable liquid crystal (LC) phase grating based on vertical-field in-plane electrical switching (VIS) is proposed. The tunable LC phase grating is composed of four parts: an LC layer, the top-plane and bottom-plane electrodes, the polyimide (PI) layer, and the top and bottom periodical strip electrodes. On the one hand, a large period LC phase grating can be obtained by applying voltage to the upper plane electrode and the lower periodic strip electrodes. On the other hand, a small period LC phase grating can be obtained by applying voltage to the lower plane electrode and the upper period electrodes. As a result, two kinds of LC phase grating with different periods can be realized by changing the driving scheme. Naturally, the diffraction angle can be adjusted by controlling different LC phase grating periods. The simulation results show that this tunable LC phase grating based on the VIS mode has a relatively short response time and low operating voltage (5.4 V). These characteristics make the tunable LC phase grating have good application prospects in holographic 3D or augmented reality (AR) display.
A Numerical Study on the Performance of Liquid Crystal Biosensor Microdroplets
Authors: Shadkami Reza , Chan Philip K.
Published: August 2023

The numerical results from the modeling of liquid crystals dispersed in aqueous solutions in the form of axially symmetric droplets, with the aim of helping to facilitate the development of liquid crystal biosensors, were obtained. We developed a transient two-dimensional nonlinear model obtained via torque balance that incorporates Frank’s elastic free energy. In order to perform parametric studies, we defined the scaled parameters based on the surface viscosity and the homeotropic anchoring energy at the droplet interface. To evaluate the performance of the biosensor, the average angle and characteristic time were defined as performance criteria. Using these results, we studied the bulk reorientation of liquid crystal droplets in aqueous solutions caused by biomolecular interaction. Furthermore, we examined how surface viscosity affects the performance of a biosensor in the case of weak planar anchoring. The droplet interface ordering was modeled using the Euler–Lagrange equation. The droplets’ equilibrium was determined by minimizing their total distortion energy based on the interaction between their surface and bulk elastic energy. Two factors that contributed to the biosensor performance were homeotropic strength and surface viscosity. This highlights the importance of controlling the surface and physicochemical properties to achieve the desired liquid crystal orientation. In addition, our results provide insight into the role that surface viscosity plays in controlling radial configuration.
Automatic Diabetic Foot Ulcer Recognition Using Multi-Level Thermographic Image Data
Authors: Khosa Ikramullah , Raza Awais , Anjum Mohd , Ahmad Waseem , Shahab Sana
Published: August 2023

Lower extremity diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a severe consequence of diabetes mellitus (DM). It has been estimated that people with diabetes have a 15% to 25% lifetime risk of acquiring DFUs which leads to the risk of lower limb amputations up to 85% due to poor diagnosis and treatment. Diabetic foot develops planter ulcers where thermography is used to detect the changes in the planter temperature. In this study, publicly available thermographic image data including both control group and diabetic group patients are used. Thermograms at image level as well as patch level are utilized for DFU detection. For DFU recognition, several machine-learning-based classification approaches are employed with hand-crafted features. Moreover, a couple of convolutional neural network models including ResNet50 and DenseNet121 are evaluated for DFU recognition. Finally, a CNN-based custom-developed model is proposed for the recognition task. The results are produced using image-level data, patch-level data, and image–patch combination data. The proposed CNN-based model outperformed the utilized models as well as the state-of-the-art models in terms of the AUC and accuracy. Moreover, the recognition accuracy for both the machine-learning and deep-learning approaches was higher for the image-level thermogram data in comparison to the patch-level or combination of image–patch thermograms.
Comparable Accuracy of Quantitative and Visual Analyses of [18F]FDG PET/CT for the Detection of Lymph Node Metastases from Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: d’Abadie Philippe , Michoux Nicolas , Duprez Thierry , Schmitz Sandra , Magremanne Michèle , Van Eeckhout Pascal , Gheysens Olivier
Published: August 2023

Background: In head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), [18F]FDG PET/CT is recommended for detecting recurrent disease and in the initial staging for evaluating distant metastases, but its use in detecting cervical lymph metastases remains unclear. The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the diagnostic accuracy of [8F]FDG-PET/CT using visual and semi-quantitative analyses for detecting the nodal involvement in HNSCC. Methods: We analyzed consecutive patients who underwent a preoperative [18F]FDG-PET/CT and neck dissection for HNSCC at our tertiary hospital. A blinded evaluation of the [18F]FDG uptake in each neck level was performed using a semi-quantitative approach (SUVmax and SUVR) and a visual grading system (uptake superior to the internal jugular vein for grade 1 and superior to the liver for grade 2). Analyses were compared to the histological results. Results: In our 211 patients, analyses demonstrated similar diagnostic accuracy using a semi-quantitative approach or a visual grading system. Regarding the visual grading system, [18F]FDG-PET/CT detected nodal metastases with a specificity of 83% for lymph nodes classified as grade 1 and 98% for those classified as grade 2. The sensitivity was moderate, ranging from 60 to 63%. Conclusions: [18F]FDG PET/CT has a high specificity for detecting lymph node metastases in HNSCC and therefore must be considered in the nodal clinical staging.
Application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in a Cephalometric Analysis: A Narrative Review
Authors: Kiełczykowski Michał , Kamiński Konrad , Perkowski Konrad , Zadurska Małgorzata , Czochrowska Ewa
Published: August 2023

In recent years, the application of artificial intelligence (AI) has become more and more widespread in medicine and dentistry. It may contribute to improved quality of health care as diagnostic methods are getting more accurate and diagnostic errors are rarer in daily medical practice. The aim of this paper was to present data from the literature on the effectiveness of AI in orthodontic diagnostics based on the analysis of lateral cephalometric radiographs. A review of the literature from 2009 to 2023 has been performed using PubMed, Medline, Scopus and Dentistry & Oral Sciences Source databases. The accuracy of determining cephalometric landmarks using widely available commercial AI-based software and advanced AI algorithms was presented and discussed. Most AI algorithms used for the automated positioning of landmarks on cephalometric radiographs had relatively high accuracy. At the same time, the effectiveness of using AI in cephalometry varies depending on the algorithm or the application type, which has to be accounted for during the interpretation of the results. In conclusion, artificial intelligence is a promising tool that facilitates the identification of cephalometric landmarks in everyday clinical practice, may support orthodontic treatment planning for less experienced clinicians and shorten radiological examination in orthodontics. In the future, AI algorithms used for the automated localisation of cephalometric landmarks may be more accurate than manual analysis.
Characteristics of Clinically Classified Oral Lichen Planus in Optical Coherence Tomography: A Descriptive Case-Series Study
Authors: Gruda Yuliia , Albrecht Marius , Buckova Michaela , Haim Dominik , Lauer Guenter , Koch Edmund , Joehrens Korinna , Schnabel Christian , Golde Jonas , Li Jiawen , McLaughlin Robert A. , Walther Julia
Published: August 2023

Malignant transformation of oral lichen planus (OLP) into oral squamous cell carcinoma is considered as one of the most serious complications of OLP. For the early detection of oral cancer in OLP follow-up, accurate localization of the OLP center is still difficult but often required for confirmatory biopsy with histopathological examination. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) offers the potential for more reliable biopsy sampling in the oral cavity as it is capable of non-invasively imaging the degenerated oral layer structure. In this case-series study with 15 patients, features of clinically classified forms of OLP in OCT cross-sections were registered and correlated with available histologic sections. Besides patients with reticular, atrophic, erosive and plaque-like OLP, two patients with leukoplakia were included for differentiation. The results show that OCT yields information about the epithelial surface, thickness and reflectivity, as well as the identifiability of the basement membrane and the vessel network, which could be used to complement the visual clinical appearance of OLP variants and allow a more accurate localization of the OLP center. This forms the basis for further studies on OCT-assisted non-invasive clinical classification of OLP, with the aim of enabling decision support for biopsy sampling in the future.
Minimally Invasive Tissue Sampling via Post Mortem Ultrasound: A Feasible Tool (Not Only) in Infectious Diseases—A Case Report
Authors: Terence Azeke Akhator , Schädler Julia , Ondruschka Benjamin , Steurer Stefan , Möbius Dustin , Fitzek Antonia
Published: August 2023

In the past years the number of hospital autopsies have declined steadily, becoming almost excluded from medical training. Medicolegal (forensic) autopsies account for almost all autopsies, whereas hospital autopsies are becoming increasingly rare. Minimally invasive tissue sampling (MITS) using post mortem ultrasound offers the opportunity to increase the number of post mortem examinations in a clinical and even forensic context. MITS is a needle-based post mortem procedure that uses (radiological) imaging techniques to examine major organs of the body, acquire tissue samples and aspirate fluid from the body cavities or hollow organs. In this study, MITS was used to determine the presence of other co-existing diseases in a deceased infected 97-year-old woman with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The examination of her body was carried out using ultrasound as an imaging tool and to gather ultrasound-guided biopsies as conventional autopsy was rejected by the next of kin. Ultrasound and histology identified an intravesical mass leading to an obstruction of the urinary outlet resulting in bilateral hydronephrosis and purulent pyelonephritis, which was unknown during her lifetime. Histopathological examination revealed the tumor mass to be a squamous cell carcinoma. This study has shown that MITS can be used to determine the cause of death and the presence of concomitant diseases in the infectious deceased.
Examining U.S. Higher Education’s Function in Fostering Social Justice Leadership Development among College Student Leaders of Color
Authors: Chang Ting-Han
Published: August 2023

This study examines the function of U.S. higher education in fostering social justice leadership development among college student leaders of color. Specifically, this study investigates various on-campus educational opportunities at postsecondary institutions that college student leaders of color identify as being meaningful for their social justice leadership development. Social justice leadership development refers to an individual’s growth in increasing motivation to lead, building leadership skills, and performing leadership with an orientation toward advancing justice. Using the Social Action, Leadership, and Transformation model framework (SALT) and a critical qualitative methodology, this study centers on the knowledge and experiences of 16 college student leaders of color at seven postsecondary institutions across New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles. The findings suggest that (1) leadership education designed for students of color, (2) culturally relevant academic majors and classes, (3) designated institutional offices and programs serving diverse students, and (4) identity-based or political student organizations play a crucial role in fostering student participants’ social justice leadership development. The study results inform a need for broadening institutional curricular and extra-curricular leadership educational opportunities across various spaces on campus to foster meaningful leadership development for students of color especially.
Smart Cities and Citizen Adoption: Exploring Tourist Digital Maturity for Personalizing Recommendations
Authors: Marín Díaz Gabriel , Galdón Salvador José Luis , Galán Hernández José Javier
Published: August 2023

Due to the irruption of new technologies in cities such as mobile applications, geographic information systems, internet of things (IoT), Big Data, or artificial intelligence (AI), new approaches to citizen management are being developed. The primary goal is to adapt citizen services to this evolving technological environment, thereby enhancing the overall urban experience. These new services can enable city governments and businesses to offer their citizens a truly immersive experience that facilitates their day-to-day lives and ultimately improves their standard of living. In this arena, it is important to emphasize that all investments in infrastructure and technological developments in Smart Cities will be wasted if the citizens for whom they have been created eventually do not use them for whatever reason. To avoid these kinds of problems, the citizens’ level of adaptation to the technologies should be evaluated. However, although much has been studied about new technological developments, studies to validate the actual impact and user acceptance of these technological models are much more limited. This work endeavors to address this deficiency by presenting a new model of personalized recommendations based in the technology acceptance model (TAM). To achieve the goal, this research introduces an assessment system for tourists’ digital maturity level (DMT) that combines a fuzzy 2-tuple linguistic model and the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). This approach aims to prioritize and personalize the connection and communication between tourists and Smart Cities based on the digital maturity level of the tourist. The results have shown a significant correlation between technology usage and the potential for personalized experiences in the context of tourism and Smart Cities.
Sensor Management with Dynamic Clustering for Bearings-Only Multi-Target Tracking via Swarm Intelligence Optimization
Authors: Jiang Xiaoxiao , Ma Tianming , Jin Jie , Jiang Yujie
Published: August 2023

Sensor management is a crucial research subject for multi-sensor multi-target tracking in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) with limited resources. Bearings-only tracking produces further challenges related to high nonlinearity and poor observability. Moreover, energy efficiency and energy balancing should be considered for sensor management in WSNs, which involves networking and transmission. This paper formulates the sensor management problem in the partially observable Markov decision process (POMDP) framework and uses the cardinality-balanced multi-target multi-Bernoulli (CBMeMBer) filter for tracking. A threshold control method is presented to reduce the impact on tracking accuracy when using bearings-only measurements for sequential update. Moreover, a Cauchy–Schwarz divergence center is defined to construct a new objective function for efficiently finding the optimal sensor subset via swarm intelligence optimization. This is also conducive to dynamic clustering for the energy efficiency and energy balancing of the network. The simulation results illustrate that the proposed solution can achieve good tracking performance with less energy, and especially that it can effectively balance network energy consumption and prolong network lifetime.
Power Function Algorithms Implemented in Microcontrollers and FPGAs
Authors: Moroz Leonid , Samotyy Volodymyr , Gepner Paweł , Węgrzyn Mariusz , Nowakowski Grzegorz
Published: August 2023

The exponential function ax is widespread in many fields of science. Its calculation is a complicated issue for Central Processing Units (CPUs) and Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), as well as for specialised Digital Signal Processing (DSP) processors, such as Intelligent Processor Units (IPUs), for the needs of neural networks. This article presents some simple and accurate exponential function calculation algorithms in half, single, and double precision that can be prototyped in Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs). It should be noted that, for the approximation, the use of effective polynomials of the first degree was proposed in most cases. The characteristic feature of such algorithms is that they only contain fast ‘bithack’ operations (‘bit manipulation technique’) and Floating-Point (FP) addition, multiplication, and (if necessary) Fused Multiply-Add (FMA) operations. We published an article on algorithms for this class of function recently, but the focus was on the use of approximations of second-degree polynomials and higher, requiring two multiplications and two additions or more, which poses some complications in FPGA implementation. This article considers algorithms based on piecewise linear approximation, with one multiplication and one addition. Such algorithms of low complexity provide decent accuracy and speed, sufficient for practical applications such as accelerators for neural networks, power electronics, machine learning, computer vision, and intelligent robotic systems. These are FP-oriented algorithms; therefore, we briefly describe the characteristic parameters of such numbers.
YOLOv5-OCDS: An Improved Garbage Detection Model Based on YOLOv5
Authors: Sun Qiuhong , Zhang Xiaotian , Li Yujia , Wang Jingyang
Published: August 2023

As the global population grows and urbanization accelerates, the garbage that is generated continues to increase. This waste causes serious pollution to the ecological environment, affecting the stability of the global environmental balance. Garbage detection technology can quickly and accurately identify, classify, and locate many kinds of garbage to realize the automatic disposal and efficient recycling of waste, and it can also promote the development of a circular economy. However, the existing garbage detection technology has some problems, such as low precision and a poor detection effect in complex environments. Although YOLOv5 has achieved good results in garbage detection, the detection results cannot meet the requirements in complex scenarios, so this paper proposes a garbage detection model, YOLOv5-OCDS, based on an improved YOLOv5. Replacing the partial convolution in the neck with Omni-Dimensional Dynamic Convolution (ODConv) improves the expressiveness of the model. The C3DCN structure is constructed, and parts of the C3 structures in the neck are replaced by C3DCN structures, allowing the model to better adapt to object deformation and target scale change. The decoupled head is used for classification and regression tasks so that the model can learn each class’s characteristics and positioning information more intently, and flexibility and extensibility can be improved. The Soft Non-Maximum Suppression (Soft NMS) algorithm can better retain the target’s information and effectively avoid the problem of repeated detection. The self-built garbage classification dataset is used for related experiments, and the mAP@50 of the YOLOv5-OCDS model is 5.3% higher than that of the YOLOv5s; the value of mAP@50:95 increases by 12.3%. In the experimental environment of this study, the model’s Frames Per Second (FPS) was 61.7 f/s. In practical applications, when we use some old GPU, such as the GTX1060, it can still reach 50.3 f/s, so that real-time detection can be achieved. Thus, the improved model suits garbage detection tasks in complex environments.
Deep Learning in Big Data, Image, and Signal Processing in the Modern Digital Age
Authors: Koundal Deepika , Guo Yanhui , Amin Rashid
Published: August 2023

Data, such as images and signals, are constantly generated from various industries, including the internet [...]
Impact Assessment of Hydrate Cuttings Migration and Decomposition on Annular Temperature and Pressure in Deep Water Gas Hydrate Formation Riserless Drilling
Authors: Yin Faling , Ni Xingyu , Han Jindong , Di Jianwei , Zhou Youwei , Zhao Xinxin , Gao Yonghai
Published: August 2023

The accurate prediction of wellbore temperature and pressure is important for safe drilling. However, annulus temperature and pressure changes are more complicated due to phase transition. To study this problem, a prediction model of temperature and pressure in deep water riserless drilling is established by considering hydrate cuttings decomposition, interphase mass transfer, and phase transition heat. Based on this model, the effects of hydrate cuttings decomposition on the temperature and pressure of drilling in a hydrate reservoir are explored. The results show that the influence of hydrate cuttings decomposition increases significantly with an increase in the inlet temperature. The influence of hydrate cuttings decomposition on temperature and pressure decreases with an increase in displacement. A small range in the variation of density and penetration rates has little impact on the annulus pressure but mainly affects the temperature. The influence of hydrate cuttings decomposition increases with an increase in the penetration rate. In normal drilling conditions, hydrate cuttings decomposition has little impact on annulus temperature and pressure, but under the conditions of a high inlet temperature, high hydrate saturation, low displacement, and high penetration rate, it is necessary to consider the impact of hydrate cuttings decomposition. This study can provide reference for the prediction of temperature and pressure in deep water hydrate reservoir riserless drilling.
Improving the Quality of Hydroxyapatite Ashes from the Combustion of Meat-Bone Meal in an Industrial Rotary Kiln
Authors: Kowalski Zygmunt , Makara Agnieszka , Generowicz Agnieszka , Ciuła Józef
Published: August 2023

Research on the properties of hydroxyapatite ashes from an industrial unit burning meat and bone meal in an industrial rotary kiln is presented. High carbon content (10%), relatively low phosphorus (34%), and sulfides were found. The ash obtained was unsuitable for producing superphosphate fertilizer due to the emission of hydrogen sulfide in the reaction of the raw material with sulfuric acid. The research showed that decreasing the meat-bone meal calcining temperature below 950 °C and recycling the ashes, reusing them after mixing in a 1:1 ratio with dosed meat and bone meal, allows reducing the carbon content in the hydroxyapatite ash to the level of <0.2%, increases the P2O5 content in the ash to 39%, and eliminates hydrogen sulfide emissions. The improved parameters allow the production of hydroxyapatite ash that could be a substitute for phosphorites used in the production of fertilizers. Incineration of the meat-bone meal allowed the production of bioenergy and hydroxyapatite. This is an example of implementing a very profitable circular economy solution.
Comparative Study of Global Sensitivity Analysis and Local Sensitivity Analysis in Power System Parameter Identification
Authors: Qin Chuan , Jin Yuqing , Tian Meng , Ju Ping , Zhou Shun
Published: August 2023

In the process of parameter identification, sensitivity analysis is mainly used to determine key parameters with high sensitivity in the model. Sensitivity analysis methods include local sensitivity analysis (LSA) and global sensitivity analysis (GSA). The LSA method has been widely used for power system parameter identification for a long time, while the GSA has started to be used in recent years. However, there is no clear conclusion on the impact of different sensitivity analysis methods on parameter identification results. Therefore, this paper compares and studies the roles that LSA and GSA can play in different parameter identification methods, providing clear guidance for the selection of sensitivity analysis methods and parameter identification methods. The conclusion is as follows. If the identification strategy that only identifies key parameters with high sensitivity is adopted, we recommend still using the existing LSA method. If using a groupwise alternating identification strategy (GAIS) for high- and low-sensitivity parameters, either LSA or GSA can be used. To improve the identification accuracy, it is more important to improve the identification strategy than to change the sensitivity analysis method. When the accuracy of the non-key parameters with low sensitivity cannot be confirmed, using the GAIS is an effective method for ensuring identification accuracy. In addition, it should be noted that the high sensitivity of a parameter does not necessarily mean that the parameter is identifiable, which is revealed by the examples used in this paper.
Performance Investigation on a Double-Slope Passive Solar Desalination System Targeting towards Sustainable Development of Oman
Authors: Radhakrishnan Ganesh , Breaz Daniel , Al Riyami Khalid Abdul Aziz , Al Nadabi Wahab Sulaiman , Al Nadabi Talal Yahya , Karthikeyan Kadhavoor R.
Published: August 2023

In recent times, academicians and scientists have developed many methods for purifying saline water into pure water that is suitable for drinking, as well as other suitable applications. Fortunately, solar desalination has been a very popular technique, which uses eco-friendly solar energy. In this work, a passive-type double-slope solar still was designed and fabricated according to the Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates of Nizwa city in Oman. Economically and readily available materials, such as acrylic, glass, and foam insulation materials, were used in the construction of the double-slope solar still in addition to the conventional materials used for the supporting structure of the solar still. The climatic factors (such as the solar radiation and ambient temperature), design factors (such as the exposure surface area, inclination, insulation material and thickness, and glazing material), and operating parameters (such as the glass temperature, feed water temperature and yield) obtained were considered in the study to estimate the performance of the solar still. DHT 11 sensors with Arduino programming were used in the experiment to record the temperatures at specific locations on the solar still daily with regular time intervals for a period of 3 to 4 weeks. The solar still was designed to operate from February to March 2023. The temperatures were recorded every two hours daily, whereas the yield was recorded at the end of the day of operation. The quality of the yield was estimated through the measurement of pH and TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) values. The energy and exergy analysis of the desalination unit was carried out to estimate the thermal performance of the system. A significant effect of solar intensity and ambient temperature was observed on the thermal performance of the system and on the quality of the drinking water. An energy efficiency ranging between 30 to 45% and exergy efficiency ranging between 2 to 3.5% was obtained in the system, which was reasonably better for a thermal system involving a renewable source of energy.
Environment-Friendly Power Scheduling Based on Deep Contextual Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Ebrie Awol Seid , Paik Chunhyun , Chung Yongjoo , Kim Young Jin
Published: August 2023

A novel approach to power scheduling is introduced, focusing on minimizing both economic and environmental impacts. This method utilizes deep contextual reinforcement learning (RL) within an agent-based simulation environment. Each generating unit is treated as an independent, heterogeneous agent, and the scheduling dynamics are formulated as Markov decision processes (MDPs). The MDPs are then used to train a deep RL model to determine optimal power schedules. The performance of this approach is evaluated across various power systems, including both small-scale and large-scale systems with up to 100 units. The results demonstrate that the proposed method exhibits superior performance and scalability in handling power systems with a larger number of units.
Performance Evaluation of Aquaponics-Waste-Based Biochar as a Cathode Catalyst in Sediment Microbial Fuel Cells for Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture Systems
Authors: Jayaraj Kiran K. , Saravanan Prakash , Bhowmick Gourav Dhar
Published: August 2023

The sustainable development of aquaculture faces a significant challenge due to the need for the frequent treatment of aquacultural waste. This research presents a pioneering solution by concurrently utilizing aquacultural waste to produce biochar and enhancing a sediment microbial fuel cell (SMFC)’s treatment efficacy for waste generated from the integrated multitrophic aquaculture (IMTA) system. The water quality parameters of the aquacultural pond water were analyzed, and synthetic wastewater was prepared to validate the system’s efficiency. Over a period of more than 50 days, the SMFC was operated and monitored, yielding an average chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency of 86.31 ± 2.18%. The maximum operating voltage of the SMFC reached 0.422 V on the 21st day of operation when connected to an external resistance of 975 Ω. A novel-activated aquacultural biochar catalyst was synthesized from aquaponics waste and used as a cathode catalyst, substantially improving the SMFC’s performance. Characterization studies demonstrated that the aquacultural biochar catalyst was an active electrocatalyst, accelerating the oxygen reduction reaction rate and leading to increased power output and overall efficiency of the SMFC. The SMFC utilizing the aquacultural-waste-based biochar cathode catalyst showcased the highest maximum power density, with a range of 101.63 mW/m2 (1693.83 mW/m3), and the lowest internal resistance, indicating superior performance. These results validate the reliability of implementing SMFCs in actual aquaculture systems. A novel modular design for SMFC reactor-assisted small-scale integrated poultry–fish culture systems is proposed for further practical application in real-life aquaculture settings. This research contributes to finding sustainable and effective methods for waste treatment for aquaculture, promoting the development of environmentally friendly practices in the industry.
A Survey on Multi-Active Bridge DC-DC Converters: Power Flow Decoupling Techniques, Applications, and Challenges
Authors: Koohi Peyman , Watson Alan J. , Clare Jon C. , Soeiro Thiago Batista , Wheeler Patrick W.
Published: August 2023

Multi-port DC-DC converters are a promising solution for a wide range of applications involving multiple DC sources, storage elements, and loads. Multi-active bridge (MAB) converters have attracted the interest of researchers over the past two decades due to their potential advantages such as high power density, high transfer ratio, and galvanic isolation, for example, compared to other solutions. However, the coupled power flow nature of MAB converters makes their control implementation difficult, and due to the multi-input, multi-output (MIMO) structure of their control systems, a decoupling control strategy must be designed. Various control and topology-level strategies are proposed to mitigate the coupling effect. This paper discusses the operating principles, applications, methods for analyzing power flow, advanced modulation techniques, and small signal modelling of the MAB converter. Having explained the origin of cross-coupling, the existing power flow decoupling methods are reviewed, categorized, and compared in terms of effectiveness and implementation complexity.
Experimental Investigation on the Impact of Varying Air-Inlet Widths and Fuel Pan Diameters on Fire Whirls’ Combustion Characteristics
Authors: Ding Chao , He Lingfeng , Yan Zijian , Li Yuyao , Ma Shuangyang , Jiao Yan
Published: August 2023

A fire whirl, a unique fire behavior, occurs when a vertical vortex of flames skyrockets due to specific surrounding temperatures and thermal gradient conditions during a fire. Compared with conventional fire plumes, fire whirls exhibit a higher air entrainment rate, tangential velocity, and axial velocity, thus presenting greater risks and destructive capabilities. Thus, studying the combustion characteristics of fire whirls becomes necessary. This experiment employed a small-scale, fixed-frame fire whirl generator. We investigated how varying air-inlet widths and fuel pan diameters influence the fire whirl’s combustion characteristics. Experimental images indicated a negative correlation between the fire whirl’s flame height and the air-inlet width, and a positive correlation with the fuel pan diameter. Our findings showed that the burning rate of the fire whirl during the quasi-steady-state combustion phase initially increased and then decreased as the air-inlet width expanded, peaking at a width of 7 cm. The data demonstrated a corresponding power-law relationship between the fire whirl’s dimensionless flame height and excess temperature. Ultimately, our results indicated a positive correlation between the 2/5 power of the fire whirl’s dimensionless heat release rate and the dimensionless flame height. The ratios of maximum to mean flame height and mean to continuous flame height are 1.35 and 1.5, respectively. Significantly, these ratios remain unaffected by the air-inlet width, fuel pan diameter, environmental temperature, and heat release rate.
Novel Starter Strain Enterococcus faecium DMEA09 from Traditional Korean Fermented Meju
Authors: Oh Seung-Eun , Heo Sojeong , Lee Gawon , Park Hee-Jung , Jeong Do-Won
Published: August 2023

The Enterococcus faecium strain DMEA09 was previously isolated from traditional Korean fermented meju. The objective of the current study was to investigate the traits of E. faecium strain DMEA09 as a starter candidate, focusing on its safety and technological properties. Regarding its safety, the DMEA09 strain was found to be sensitive to nine antibiotics (ampicillin, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, gentamicin, kanamycin, streptomycin, tetracycline, tylosin, and vancomycin) by showing lower minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) than the cut-off values suggested by the European Union Food Safety Authority for these nine antibiotics. However, its MIC value for clindamycin was twice as high as the cut-off value. A genomic analysis revealed that strain DMEA09 did not encode the acquired antibiotic resistance genes, including those for clindamycin. The DMEA09 strain did not show hemolysis as a result of analyzing α- and β-hemolysis. It did not form biofilm either. A genomic analysis revealed that strain DMEA09 did not encode for any virulence factors including hemolysin. Most importantly, multilocus sequence typing revealed that the clonal group of strain DMEA09 was distinguished from clinical isolates. Regarding its technological properties, strain DMEA09 could grow in the presence of 6% salt. It showed protease activity when the salt concentration was 3%. It did not exhibit lipase activity. Its genome possessed 37 putative protease genes and salt-tolerance genes for survivability under salt conditions. Consequently, strain DMEA09 shows safe and technological properties as a new starter candidate. This was confirmed by genome analysis.
Biochar and Nitrogen Fertilizer Change the Quality of Waxy and Non-Waxy Broomcorn Millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) Starch
Authors: Zhang Miaomiao , Mukhamed Bauyrzhan , Yang Qinghua , Luo Yan , Tian Lixin , Yuan Yuhao , Huang Yani , Feng Baili
Published: August 2023

The overuse of nitrogen fertilizers has led to environmental pollution, which has prompted the widespread adoption of biochar as a soil conditioner in agricultural production. To date, there has been a lack of research on the effects of biochar and its combination with nitrogen fertilizer on the quality of broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) starch. Thus, this study examined the physicochemical characteristics of starch in two types of broomcorn millet (waxy and non-waxy) under four different conditions, including a control group (N0), nitrogen fertilizer treatment alone (N150), biochar treatment alone (N0+B), and a combination of biochar and nitrogen fertilizer treatments (N150+B). The results showed that, in comparison to the control, all the treatments, particularly N150+B, decreased the content of amylose and gelatinization temperature and enhanced the starch transparency gel consistency and swelling power. In addition, biochar can improve the water solubility of starch and the gelatinization enthalpy. Importantly, the combination of biochar and nitrogen fertilizer increased the proportion of A-granules, final viscosity, starch content, and the average degree of amylopectin in polymerization. Thus, this research indicates that the combinations of biochar and nitrogen fertilizer result in the most significant improvement in the quality of starch produced from broomcorn millet.
The Effect of Different Organic Acids and Their Combination on the Cell Barrier and Biofilm of Escherichia coli
Authors: Ji Qing-Yang , Wang Wenqiong , Yan Haodong , Qu Hengxian , Liu Yang , Qian Yi , Gu Ruixia
Published: August 2023

Organic acids are natural antimicrobial compounds commonly used in the food industry. In this study, acetic, lactic, butyric, citric, and malic acid at minimum inhibitory concentrations and their combinations at optimal inhibition concentrations were used to treat E. coli, and the effects on the cell barrier and biofilm of E. coli were evaluated. Acetic acid showed the highest membrane-damaging effect, while citric acid and malic acid could specifically damage the cell wall of E. coli, leading to alkaline phosphatase leakage. The RT-qPCR results showed that organic acids upregulated the membrane-protein-related genes of E. coli, and the combination of organic acids had a wider range of effects than single organic acid treatment. Moreover, organic acids inhibited the formation of E. coli biofilm and cellular activity within the biofilm. This study showed that the combination of organic acids plays a synergistic inhibitory role mainly through multiple destructive effects on the cell barrier and exhibited synergistic anti-biofilm effects. The three–three combination of acetic, lactic acid, and a third organic acid (butyric, citric, or malic) can play a better synergistic antibacterial effect than the two-pair combination of acetic and lactic acid. These findings have implications for the usage, development, and optimization of organic acid combinations.
Effect of Vacuum and Modified Atmosphere Packaging on the Shelf Life and Quality of Gutted Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) during Refrigerated Storage
Authors: Babic Milijasevic Jelena , Milijasevic Milan , Lilic Slobodan , Djinovic-Stojanovic Jasna , Nastasijevic Ivan , Geric Tamara
Published: August 2023

The quality changes of gutted rainbow trout in vacuum packaging (VP) and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) with 40% CO2 + 60% N2 (MAP1), 60% CO2 + 40% N2 (MAP2), and 90% CO2 + 10% N2 (MAP3) were evaluated. The samples were stored at 3 ± 0.5 °C, and on days 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, and 16 of storage, microbiological, chemical, and sensory testing was performed. The aerobic plate count (APC) and psychrotrophic bacteria count (PBC) in VP fish exceeded the conventional limit of 7 log cfu/g on day 10, and in MAP1 and MAP2 fish on day 16, whereas in MAP3 fish, their number remained below that limit during the experiment. MAP significantly slowed down the growth of Enterobacteriaceae in trout, and the degree of inhibition increased with increasing CO2 concentration in the gas mixture. The lowest lactic acid bacteria numbers were detected in VP fish, whereas the highest numbers were determined in trout packaged in MAP2 and MAP3. Significantly lower numbers of hydrogen sulfide-producing (H2S) bacteria were detected in fish packed in MAP. Distinct patterns were observed for pH among treatments. The lowest increase in TBARS values was detected in VP and MAP3 fish, whereas in MAP1 and MAP2 fish, the TBARS values were higher than 1 mg MDA/kg on day 16 of storage when a rancid odor was detected. MAP inhibited the increase in total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) content of trout compared to trout packaged in a vacuum. The sensory attributes of trout perceived by the sensory panel changed significantly in all experimental groups during storage. Based primarily on sensory, but also microbial, and chemical parameters, MAP has great potential for preserving fish quality and extending the shelf life of gutted rainbow trout from 7 days in VP to 13 days in MAP1 and MAP2, and to 16 days in MAP3.