bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Real Time Sustainable Power Quality Analysis of Non-Linear Load under Symmetrical Conditions
Authors: Bandla Pavan Babu , Vairavasundaram Indragandhi , Teekaraman Yuvaraja , Kuppusamy Ramya , Nikolovski Srete
Published: December 2021

Voltage sag is one of the most significant power quality problems in the industry and has a significant impact on induction motor safety and stability. This paper analyzes the characteristics of voltage dips in power systems and induction motors with a special emphasis on balanced dips with the help of virtual grids (regenerative grid simulator), as per IEC 61000-4-11. Three phase induction motors with 3.3 kW, 16 A coupled to a DC generator with 3.7 kW, and 7.8 A rated are considered for the test analysis. This paper aids in the development of an induction motor to achieve improved precision by taking different voltage sags into account. The experimental results benefit the design modifications of induction motors at industrial and other commercial levels of consumers regarding major power quality issues and the behavior of the induction motors. A proposed modification employing ANSYS is provided to further examine the precise performance of induction motors during sag events.
Effect of Geo-Grid Depth in Roads Cross-Section on Reducing Pavement Rutting
Authors: Alharbi Fawaz , Almoshaigeh Ahmed , Almoshaogeh Meshal , Elragi Ahmed , Elkholy Sherif
Published: December 2021

Pavement structures cover vast areas of urban cities and non-urban roads and play a key role in daily commuting functionality and economic development; therefore, they must be conserved against any distress. The rutting problem, being a major distress to the pavement structure, must be solved and dealt with in order to preserve its value. One way of solving this dilemma is by using geo-grids within the pavement structure. A geo-grid is a synthetic material usually made from polymers with different thicknesses and stiffnesses. This paper investigates the effects of geo-grids on reducing the rutting occurrence through adding a layer of geo-grid with certain properties at different levels of the pavement structure. We also investigate, the result of the added geo-grid material to the developed vertical stresses within the pavement cross-section. This investigation is conducted by constructing a 3-D finite elements-based (FE) model of a pavement cross-section using ANSYS software; student version R1 2021. The FE-based model is validated by comparing its numerical predictions with the experimental results acquired from an accelerated large-scale paved model. The results show that the deeper the geo-grid is positioned, the more significant the rutting resistance is observed due to the stiffness of the geo-grid bearing the tensile force until a certain depth. Moreover, noticeable stress reduction is seen in the developed vertical compressive stresses below the loading area resisted by the geo-grid.
Dynamics of a Laser-Induced Bubble above the Flat Top of a Solid Cylinder—Mushroom-Shaped Bubbles and the Fast Jet
Authors: Koch Max , Rosselló Juan Manuel , Lechner Christiane , Lauterborn Werner , Mettin Robert
Published: December 2021

The dynamics of a laser-induced bubble on top of a solid cylinder is studied both experimentally and numerically. When the bubble is generated close to the flat top along the axis of the cylinder and its maximum radius exceeds the one of the flat top surface, it collapses in the form of a mushroom with a footing on the cylinder, a long stem and a hat-like cap typical for a mushroom head. The head may collapse forming a thin, fast liquid jet into the stem, depending on bubble size and bubble distance to the top of the cylinder. Several experimental and numerical examples are given. The results represent a contribution to understand the behavior of bubbles collapsing close to structured surfaces and in particular, how thin, fast jets are generated.
The Microbial Diversity and Biofilm-Forming Characteristic of Two Traditional Tibetan Kefir Grains
Authors: Wang Xiaomeng , Li Wenpei , Xu Mengjia , Tian Juanjuan , Li Wei
Published: December 2021

In this study, a high-throughput sequencing technique was used to analyze bacterial and fungal diversity of two traditional Tibetan kefir grains from Linzhi (K1) and Naqu (K2) regions. Comparative bioinformatic analyses indicated that Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens, L. kefiri and Kluyveromyces marxianus were the main dominant strains in K1 and K2. In order to research the relationship of the growth of kefir grains, the biofilm and the extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) produced by microorganisms, the proliferation rate of kefir grains, the yield and chemical structure of EPS and the optimal days for biofilm formation were determined. The results showed that the growth rate, the yield of EPS and the biofilm formation ability of K1 were higher than K2, and the optimal day of their biofilm formation was the same in 10th day. Additionally, the live cells, dead cells and EPS in biofilm formation of K1 and K2 were observed by fluorescence microscope to clarify the formation process of kefir grains. To determine the influence of microbial interactions on biofilm and the formation of kefir grains, the essential role of microbial quorum sensing needs further attention.
Evaluation of Borage (Borago officinalis L.) Genotypes for Nutraceutical Value Based on Leaves Fatty Acids Composition
Authors: Montaner Celia , Zufiaurre Raquel , Movila María , Mallor Cristina
Published: December 2021

Borage (Borago officinalis L.) is a traditional vegetable grown and consumed in some Spanish regions. The objective of this study was to determine the variability and evolution of fatty acid composition in a borage germplasm collection formed by wild types, breeding lines, commercial varieties, and landraces. Fatty acids were analysed in petioles, the commonly edible part of the leaves, and the leaf blades, the by-product of the borage industry, in two growth stages: at the optimal harvest period (120 days after sowing) and at the end of the harvest period (150 days after sowing). The results showed that for each of the eight fatty acids identified, there were significant differences among the twelve borage genotypes depending on the developmental plant stage at sampling date and the part of the leaf analysed, the interaction effect also being statistically significant. The main polyunsaturated fatty acids identified were: linoleic acid (18:2 n6, LA), α-linolenic acid (18:3 n3, ALA), γ-linolenic acid (18:3 n6, GLA), and stearidonic acid (SDA, 18:4, n-3), account for approximately 70% of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Blue-flowered genotypes differ from white-flowered genotypes by their high content of ALA and SDA, which can be exploited in borage breeding programs. Petioles from young plants present higher n6 fatty acids, while older plants produce a great amount of n3 fatty acids. Besides, the higher content of ALA in the leaf blades gives them a good dietary potential. All these fatty acids, with multiple health benefits, support the nutraceutical interest of borage leaves (both petioles and leaf blades) for human consumption, animal feeding, medicine, and pharmacy.
Some Hadamard–Fejér Type Inequalities for LR-Convex Interval-Valued Functions
Authors: Khan Muhammad Bilal , Treanțǎ Savin , Soliman Mohamed S. , Nonlaopon Kamsing , Zaini Hatim Ghazi
Published: December 2021

The purpose of this study is to introduce the new class of Hermite–Hadamard inequality for LR-convex interval-valued functions known as LR-interval Hermite–Hadamard inequality, by means of pseudo-order relation ( ≤p ). This order relation is defined on interval space. We have proved that if the interval-valued function is LR-convex then the inclusion relation “ ⊆ ” coincident to pseudo-order relation “ ≤p ” under some suitable conditions. Moreover, the interval Hermite–Hadamard–Fejér inequality is also derived for LR-convex interval-valued functions. These inequalities also generalize some new and known results. Useful examples that verify the applicability of the theory developed in this study are presented. The concepts and techniques of this paper may be a starting point for further research in this area.
From Utopia to Dystopia: The Demise of the Revolutionary Dream in Futuristic Cuban Cinema
Authors: Juan-Navarro Santiago
Published: December 2021

The armed insurrection that brought Fidel Castro to power in 1959 was one of the most influential events of the 20th century. Like the Russian and Mexican revolutions before it, the Cuban revolution set out to bring social justice and prosperity to a country that had suffered the evils of corrupt regimes. A small country thus became the center of world debates about equality, culture, and class struggle, attracting the attention of political leaders not only from Latin America but also from Africa, Asia, and Europe. Its intent to forge a model society has often been described in utopian terms. Writers, artists, and filmmakers turned to utopia as a metaphor to trace the evolution of the arts in the island from the enthusiasm and optimism of the first moments to the dystopian hopelessness and despair of the last decades. Indeed, the Cuban revolution, like so many other social revolutions of the 20th century, became the victim of a whole series of internal and external forces that ended up turning the promised dream into a nightmare tainted by autocratic leadership, repression, and political and economic isolation. Although Cuban literature has extensively addressed these issues since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, it is only recently that we can find similar trends in a cinematic output that portrays Cuba as a utopia gone sour. This article examines recent films such as Alejandro Brugués’ Juan de los Muertos (2011), Tomás Piard’s Los desastres de la Guerra (2012), Eduardo del Llano’s Omega 3 (2014), Rafael Ramírez’s Diario de la niebla (2016), Yimit Ramírez’s Gloria eterna (2017), Alejandro Alonso’s El Proyecto (2017), and Miguel Coyula’s Corazón Azul (2021). These films use futuristic imageries to offer a poignant (and often apocalyptic) depiction of the harsh paradoxes of contemporary life in Cuba while reflecting upon the downfall of utopia.
Analysis of Medical Services for Insomnia in Korea: A Retrospective, Cross-Sectional Study Using the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Claims Data
Authors: Son Chaewon , Lim Yu-Cheol , Lee Ye-Seul , Lim Jung-Hwa , Kim Bo-Kyung , Ha In-Hyuk
Published: December 2021

This study aimed to analyze current trends in healthcare utilization and medication usage in patients with insomnia. We reviewed the National Patient Sample data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service to determine healthcare utilization in patients diagnosed with insomnia (International Classification of Diseases-10 codes G470, F510) between January 2010 and December 2016. There were 87,470 patients enrolled in this study who utilized healthcare services at least once during the 7-year period. Healthcare utilization trends, Korean and Western medicine (KM and WM, respectively) therapies utilized, comorbidities, and socioeconomic data were analyzed. The number of patients seeking WM or KM care for insomnia increased annually. Adults aged ≥45 years accounted for 73% of the cohort, and there were more female than male patients. KM treatment including acupuncture was the most common in KM (65.29%), while examination was the most common WM treatments (49.31%). In pharmacological therapy, sedatives and hypnotics were the most common (41.08%), followed by antianxiety (19.50%), digestive system and metabolism-related drugs (7.77%). The most common comorbidities were mental health disorders (50.56%) in WM but musculoskeletal disorders in KM (35.67%). Code G470 was used more frequently than code F510, and the difference was more evident in KM than in WM. The findings will provide valuable information for both clinicians and researchers.
Two Cases of Feigned Homicidality: Assessing the Third Dimension in Homicidal Threats
Authors: Madan Pavan , Graypel Alexander , Felthous Alan R.
Published: December 2021

Although data and research on the topic are lacking, the phenomenon of feigned homicidality in short-term hospitalization appears to have increased in recent years. Inpatient psychiatrists not only assess the seriousness of homicidal threats, but also whether such threats are authentic. However, specific literature and diagnostic manuals provide virtually no clinical guidance for this. The authors present two case examples of homicidality feigned for self-serving purposes that had little to do with hostility against the would-be victim. They recommend an approach to assessment that first takes any threat of homicide seriously, and involves an attempt to assess the seriousness of the threat and risk of harm. Secondly, if feigned homicidality is suspected, clinicians can methodically assess for this using criterion that have been applied to the assessment of malingering.
Elicitation of Medicinal Plants In Vivo—Is It a Realistic Tool? The Effect of Methyl Jasmonate and Salicylic Acid on Lamiaceae Species
Authors: Kandoudi Wafae , Radácsi Péter , Gosztola Beáta , Zámboriné Németh Éva
Published: December 2021

Salicylic acid (SA) and methyl jasmonate (MeJa) are prominent phytohormones that are involved in stress reactions. Both compounds may influence the biosynthesis of secondary compounds; however, scientific experiments in vivo are rare and contradictive. This paper reports on a study on the elicitation of volatiles and total phenolics (TPC) by MeJa and SA. The subjects were four Lamiaceae species studied in open field conditions in Budapest (Hungary). According to the results, both elicitors provoked specific responses in each plant species depending on the dosage applied and the parameter studied; 2 mM of SA stimulated essential oil (EO) accumulation in marjoram and peppermint, while in hyssop 0.1 mM was optimal. MeJa proved to be effective only in marjoram and in basil. In marjoram, cis-sabinene hydrate was decreased and in hyssop, isopinocamphone was increased by both dosages of SA. In peppermint, pulegone content was reduced by 2 mM SA, but no significant change of the major components of basil EO was detected. SA was successful in increasing TPC and antioxidant activity (AC) in three of the experimental species, but not in hyssop. In marjoram, only 0.1 mM induced TPC and eventually AC, while in peppermint and basil both dosages of SA were effective. Optimalisation of the treatments is suggested in further in vivo experiments.
Transcriptional Association between mRNAs and Their Paired Natural Antisense Transcripts Following Fusarium oxysporum Inoculation in Brassica rapa L.
Authors: Akter Mst. Arjina , Mehraj Hasan , Miyaji Naomi , Takahashi Satoshi , Takasaki-Yasuda Takeshi , Seki Motoaki , Dennis Elizabeth S. , Fujimoto Ryo , Osabe Kenji
Published: December 2021

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in abiotic and biotic stress responses; however, studies on the mechanism of regulation of lncRNA expression are limited in plants. The present study examined the relationship between lncRNA expression level and two active histone modifications (H3K4me3 and H3K36me3) in Brassica rapa. Both histone marks were enriched in the chromatin regions encoding lncRNAs, especially around the transcription start site. The transcription level of long intergenic noncoding RNAs was positively associated with the level of H3K4me3 and H3K36me3, while this association was not observed in natural antisense RNAs (NATs) and intronic noncoding RNAs. As coordinate expression of mRNAs and paired NATs under biotic stress treatment has been identified, the transcriptional relationship between mRNAs and their paired NATs following Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. conglutinans (Foc) inoculation was examined. A positive association of expression levels between mRNAs and their paired NATs following Foc inoculation was observed. This association held for several defense-response-related genes and their NAT pairs. These results suggest that coordinate expression of mRNAs and paired NATs plays a role in the defense response against Foc.
Determination of Specific Parameters for Early Detection of Botrytis cinerea in Lettuce
Authors: Vaštakaitė-Kairienė Viktorija , Rasiukevičiūtė Neringa , Dėnė Lina , Chrapačienė Simona , Valiuškaitė Alma
Published: December 2021

In horticulture, the demand for efficient farming processes and food industries increases rapidly. Plant diseases cause severe crop production and economic losses. Therefore, early detection and identification of the diseases in plants are critical. This study aimed to determine the specific parameters for early detection of Botrytis cinerea in lettuce. The lettuce “Little Gem” was inoculated with B. cinerea isolate spore suspension and disc to evaluate the plant response to inner and outer infection, respectively. The non-destructive measurements of leaf spectral reflectance indices and biochemical compounds (phenols, proteins, DPPH, FRAP, chlorophyll, and carotenoids) were used to evaluate the plant physiological response to inoculation with B. cinerea after 12, 18, 36, 60, and 84 h. Our data showed that lettuce responded differently to inner and outer inoculation with B. cinerea. Therefore, the findings of this study allow for the inoculation method to be chosen to determine the early plant response to infection with B. cinerea according to specific leaf spectral reflectance indexes and phytochemicals in further research.
Editorial for Special Issue: “Multi-Source Data Assimilation for the Improvement of Hydrological Modeling Predictions”
Authors: Cho Huidae , Liuzzo Lorena
Published: December 2021

Physically-based or process-based hydrologic models play a critical role in hydrologic forecasting [...]
Nursing Home’s Measures during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Critical Reflection
Authors: Goh Hongli Sam , Tan Vivian , Lee Chen-Na , Zhang Hui , Devi M Kamala
Published: December 2021

This study examined the pandemic measures taken by nursing leaders to cope with COVID-19 at a nursing home in Singapore. The pandemic has affected over 215 countries, sparking a series of containment and pandemic measures by governments and healthcare organizations worldwide. Long-term care facilities are especially vulnerable to the pandemic, but little has been reported about the nursing homes’ measures in handling the pandemic. The present study used Morley’s (2014) three-stage critical reflection method to review meeting minutes, organizational emails, and government advisories on the COVID-19 pandemic measures undertaken by nursing leaders at a nursing home in Singapore between January and June 2020. The pandemic measures were broadly classified into four groups: (1) infection surveillance and containment measures; (2) ensuring continuity in clinical care and operational support; (3) resource and administrative coordination; and (4) staff training and development. Nurses have played a vital role in the fight against COVID-19 by ensuring continuity in patient care and demonstrating clinical leadership in pandemic efforts. This study proposes a useful nursing pandemic structure that outlines a set of functions and measures required for handling a pandemic and that can be applied to various medical emergencies and contingencies.
Prediction of the Iron–Sulfur Binding Sites in Proteins Using the Highly Accurate Three-Dimensional Models Calculated by AlphaFold and RoseTTAFold
Authors: Golinelli-Pimpaneau Béatrice
Published: December 2021

AlphaFold and RoseTTAFold are deep learning-based approaches that predict the structure of proteins from their amino acid sequences. Remarkable success has recently been achieved in the prediction accuracy of not only the fold of the target protein but also the position of its amino acid side chains. In this article, I question the accuracy of these methods to predict iron–sulfur binding sites. I analyze three-dimensional models calculated by AlphaFold and RoseTTAFold of Fe–S–dependent enzymes, for which no structure of a homologous protein has been solved experimentally. In all cases, the amino acids that presumably coordinate the cluster were gathered together and facing each other, which led to a quite accurate model of the Fe–S cluster binding site. Yet, cysteine candidates were often involved in intramolecular disulfide bonds, and the number and identity of the protein amino acids that should ligate the cluster were not always clear. The experimental structure determination of the protein with its Fe–S cluster and in complex with substrate/inhibitor/product is still needed to unambiguously visualize the coordination state of the cluster and understand the conformational changes occurring during catalysis.
Platinum-Decorated TiO2: One Step Fast Monometallic Impregnation and Plasma Effect on Nanoparticles
Authors: Trejo-Tzab Rudy , Avila-Ortega Alejandro , Quintana-Owen Patricia , Rangel Ricardo , Álvarez-Lemus Mayra Angélica
Published: December 2021

In the present work, N-TiO2−x/Pt was synthesized using a homemade nitrogen plasma (AC) discharge system. The overall procedure use of low-power nitrogen plasma (100 watts) with 1 and 2 h of plasma discharge to successfully impregnate platinum nanoparticles on P25 titanium dioxide. The obtained samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The results reveal the incorporation of metallic Pt up to 2.9% on the surface of TiO2 by increasing the duration of plasma discharge by up to two hours with a constant power of 100 watts. Likewise, the incorporation of nitrogen atoms into a lattice crystal was also favored, confirming a direct relationship between the amount of Pt and nitrogen atoms introduced in TiO2 as a function of the duration of plasma treatment. By characterizing nanoparticles loaded on a N-TiO2−x/Pt surface, we show that joined platinum nanoparticles have two different patterns, and the boundary between these two regions coalesces. The results demonstrate that the use of nitrogen plasma to impregnate platinum nanoparticles on the surface of TiO2 to obtain N-TiO2−x/Pt allows wide and relevant physics and chemistry applications.
An Efficient Ship Automatic Collision Avoidance Method Based on Modified Artificial Potential Field
Authors: Zhu Zhongxian , Lyu Hongguang , Zhang Jundong , Yin Yong
Published: December 2021

A novel collision avoidance (CA) algorithm was proposed based on the modified artificial potential field (APF) method, to construct a practical ship automatic CA system. Considering the constraints of both the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) and the motion characteristics of the ship, the multi-ship CA algorithm was realized by modifying the repulsive force model in the APF method. Furthermore, the distance from the closest point of approach-time to the closest point of approach (DCPA-TCPA) criterion was selected as the unique adjustable parameter from the perspective of navigation practice. Collaborative CA experiments were designed and conducted to validate the proposed algorithm. The results of the experiments revealed that the actual DCPA and TCPA agree well with the parameter setup that keeps the ship at a safe distance from other ships in complex encountering situations. Consequently, the algorithm proposed in this study can achieve efficient automatic CA with minimal parameter settings. Moreover, the navigators can easily accept and comprehend the adjustable parameters, enabling the algorithm to satisfy the demand of the engineering applications.
Habitat Integrity in Protected Areas Threatened by LULC Changes and Fragmentation: A Case Study in Tehran Province, Iran
Authors: Sobhani Parvaneh , Esmaeilzadeh Hassan , Barghjelveh Shahindokht , Sadeghi Seyed Mohammad Moein , Marcu Marina Viorela
Published: December 2021

The integration and connection of habitats in protected areas (PAs) are essential for the survival of plant and animal species and attaining sustainable development. Investigating the integrity of PAs can be useful in developing connections among patches and decreasing the fragmentation of a habitat. The current study has analyzed spatial and temporal changes to habitat to quantify fragmentation and structural destruction in PAs in Tehran Province, Iran. To achieve this purpose, the trends in land use/land cover (LULC) changes and the quantitative metrics of the landscape ecology approach have been examined. The results revealed that in Lar National Park, low-density pasture has the top increasing trend with 4.2% from 1989 to 2019; in Jajrud PA, built-up has the top increasing trend with 1.5% during the studied years; and among the land uses in TangehVashi Natural Monument, bare land has the top increasing trend with 0.6% from 1989 to 2019. According to the findings, habitat fragmentation and patch numbers have expanded in the studied areas due to the development of economic and physical activities. The results also indicate that the current trend of habitat fragmentation in PAs will have the highest negative impacts, especially in decreasing habitat integrity, changing the structure of patterns and spatial elements, and increasing the edge effect of patches.
Aid, Multidimensional Poverty and Growth: Reversing the Micro-Macro Paradox in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone
Authors: Larrú José María , González Carlos Quesada
Published: December 2021

This article analyses whether Official Development Assistance (ODA) is linked to multidimensional poverty indicators in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Sustainable Development Indictors and the principles stated by the Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation. Focused on three western Sub-Saharan Africa and least developing countries such as Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, this article uses Error Correction Vector Model to estimate if ODA and economic growth are cointegrated and a sectoral and spatial analysis to check if ODA are linked to Multidimensional Poverty Indicators in the sample countries. Despite the 2014 Ebola outbreak, the three countries have achieved noticeable good results in poverty alleviation. Results shows a certain macro-micro paradox because, despite a common trend between aid and growth identified at the macro level, we cannot find any sign of ODA contributions to the multidimensional poverty indicators when the micro level analysis is carried out. Our results may serve to increase the level of implementation of the ownership principle for effective development co-operation and achieve a significant improvement of several goals and targets included on the 2030 Agenda.
Current Advances in the Regeneration of Degenerated Articular Cartilage: A Literature Review on Tissue Engineering and Its Recent Clinical Translation
Authors: Daou Farah , Cochis Andrea , Leigheb Massimiliano , Rimondini Lia
Published: December 2021

Functional ability is the basis of healthy aging. Articular cartilage degeneration is amongst the most prevalent degenerative conditions that cause adverse impacts on the quality of life; moreover, it represents a key predisposing factor to osteoarthritis (OA). Both the poor capacity of articular cartilage for self-repair and the unsatisfactory outcomes of available clinical interventions make innovative tissue engineering a promising therapeutic strategy for articular cartilage repair. Significant progress was made in this field; however, a marked heterogeneity in the applied biomaterials, biofabrication, and assessments is nowadays evident by the huge number of research studies published to date. Accordingly, this literature review assimilates the most recent advances in cell-based and cell-free tissue engineering of articular cartilage and also focuses on the assessments performed via various in vitro studies, ex vivo models, preclinical in vivo animal models, and clinical studies in order to provide a broad overview of the latest findings and clinical translation in the context of degenerated articular cartilage and OA.
Characterization Methods along the Process Chain of Electrical Steel Sheet—From Best Practices to Advanced Characterization
Authors: Heller Martin , Stöcker Anett , Kawalla Rudolf , Leuning Nora , Hameyer Kay , Wei Xuefei , Hirt Gerhard , Böhm Lucas , Volk Wolfram , Korte-Kerzel Sandra
Published: December 2021

Non-oriented (NO) electrical steel sheets find their application in rotating electrical machines, ranging from generators for wind turbines to motors for the transportation sector and small motors for kitchen appliances. With the current trend of moving away from fossil fuel-based energy conversion towards an electricity-based one, these machines become more and more important and, as a consequence, the leverage effect in saving energy by improving efficiency is huge. It is already well established that different applications of an electrical machine have individual requirements for the properties of the NO electrical steel sheets, which in turn result from the microstructures and textures thereof. However, designing and producing tailor-made NO electrical steel sheet is still challenging, because the complex interdependence between processing steps, the different phenomena taking place and the resulting material properties are still not sufficiently understood. This work shows how established, as well as advanced and newly developed characterization methods, can be used to unfold these intricate connections. In this context, the respective characterization methods are explained and applied to NO electrical steel as well as to the typical processing steps. In addition, several experimental results are reviewed to show the strengths of the different methods, as well as their (dis)advantages, typical applications and obtainable data.
Harvesting Energy from Bridge Vibration by Piezoelectric Structure with Magnets Tailoring Potential Energy
Authors: Zhou Zhiyong , Zhang Haiwei , Qin Weiyang , Zhu Pei , Wang Ping , Du Wenfeng
Published: December 2021

Bridges play an increasingly more important role in modern transportation, which is why many sensors are mounted on it in order to provide safety. However, supplying reliable power to these sensors has always been a great challenge. Scavenging energy from bridge vibration to power the wireless sensors has attracted more attention in recent years. Moreover, it has been proved that the linear energy harvester cannot always work efficiently since the vibration energy of the bridge distributes over a broad frequency band. In this paper, a nonlinear energy harvester is proposed to enhance the performance of harvesting bridge vibration energy. Analyses on potential energy, restoring force, and stiffness were carried out. By adjusting the separation distance between magnets, the harvester could own a low and flat potential energy, which could help the harvester oscillate on a high-energy orbit and generate high output. For validation, corresponding experiments were carried out. The results show that the output of the optimal configuration outperforms that of the linear one. Moreover, with the increase in vehicle speed, a component of extremely low frequency is gradually enhanced, which corresponds to the motion on the high-energy orbit. This study may give an effective method of harvesting energy from bridge vibration excited by moving vehicles with different moving speeds.
Experimental and Numerical Study of Surface Roughness of Thin Brass Wire Processed by Different Dieless Drawing Processes
Authors: Milenin Andrij , Wróbel Mirosław , Kustra Piotr , Němeček Jiří
Published: December 2021

This paper examines the surface roughness of a thin brass wire (140–200 microns in diameter) after two dieless drawing (DD) processes, i.e., conventional dieless drawing (CDD) and incremental dieless drawing (IDD). In incremental dieless drawing, small increments in deformation were applied in several passes. It has been proven that the IDD process not only has a greater efficiency but also enables obtaining a wire with significantly lower surface roughness. The explanation for these effects is based on the results of the numerical modeling of both compared processes. The developed numerical model takes into consideration the initial roughness of the wire surface, shape and dimensions of grains, and their diversified mechanical properties. Nanoindentation measurements, microstructure, and plastometric studies allowed us to find the effective flow stress distribution in the grains. The IDD process was found to be much more stable and develop a much more uniform distribution of grain strain than the CDD process. More homogeneous deformation results in surface roughness reduction. Approximately 25–30% reduction in surface roughness of the wire produced by the IDD process was predicted by simulations and confirmed experimentally.
Deformations in Cement Pastes during Capillary Imbibition and Their Relation to Water and Isopropanol as Imbibing Liquids
Authors: Alderete Natalia Mariel , Mignon Arn , Schollbach Katrin , Villagrán-Zaccardi Yury
Published: December 2021

The traditional approach for evaluating capillary imbibition, which describes the phenomena as a linear relationship between mass gain and the square root of time, considers a rigid pore structure. The common deviation from the linearity when using the square-root law (manifested in a downward curvature, i.e., slower water ingress) can be explained by considering a changing pore structure during the process caused by the swelling of calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) during water ingress. Analysing how the combination of deforming phase (C-S-H), non-deforming phase, and porosity affects the capillary water ingress rate is relevant for a deeper understanding of concrete durability. In this research, the C-S-H content was quantified by means of XRD diffraction coupled with Rietveld + PONKCS, dynamic water sorption (DVS), and SEM/BSE images coupled with phase mapping using PhAse Recognition and Characterization (PARC) software. The porosity was assessed by mercury intrusion porosimetry, water absorption under vacuum, and DVS. Furthermore, to assess deformations occurring with water and a non-aqueous imbibant, capillary imbibition tests with water and isopropanol as invading liquids were performed along with simultaneous deformation measurements. The relation between the relative C-S-H content and porosity has a great impact on the transport process. Samples exposed to isopropanol presented a much larger liquid uptake but significantly fewer deformations in comparison to imbibition with water. The effects of the changing pore structure were also evaluated with the Thomas and Jennings model, from which calculations indicated that pore shrink during imbibition. A comprehensive description of the relation between deformations and capillary imbibition in cement pastes reveals that liquid ingress is highly influenced by deformations.
Effect of Nozzle Outlet Shape on Cavitation Behavior of Submerged High-Pressure Jet
Authors: Wang Gaowei , Yang Yongfei , Wang Chuan , Shi Weidong , Li Wei , Pan Bo
Published: December 2021

A submerged high-pressure water jet is usually accompanied by severe cavitation phenomenon. An organ pipe nozzle can greatly improve the cavitation performance of the jet, making use of the self-excited oscillation of the flow. In order to study the effect of organ pipe nozzles of different nozzle outlet shapes on cavitation behavior of submerged high-pressure jet, in this paper we build a high-pressure cavitation jet experiment system and carried out a high-speed photography experiment to study cavitation cloud characteristics of a high-pressure submerged jet. Two organ pipe nozzles with and without a whistle were compared. The dynamic characteristics of the cavitation cloud was extracted through the POD method, it was found that the result effectively reflect the dynamic characteristics of the cavitation jet. The reconstruction coefficients of mode-1 obtained by the POD can better reflect the periodic time-frequency characteristics of cavitation development. The effect of the nozzle outlet shape on the cavitation behavior of organ pipe nozzle was analyzed based on unsteady numerical simulation, and it was found that the jet generated by the nozzle with a divergent whistle had a larger vorticity in the shear layer near the outlet. Further, stronger small-scale vortex and much severe cavitation occurred from the nozzle with a divergent whistle.
Incremental Decision Rules Algorithm: A Probabilistic and Dynamic Approach to Decisional Data Stream Problems
Authors: Mollá Nuria , Rabasa Alejandro , Rodríguez-Sala Jesús J. , Sánchez-Soriano Joaquín , Ferrándiz Antonio
Published: December 2021

Data science is currently one of the most promising fields used to support the decision-making process. Particularly, data streams can give these supportive systems an updated base of knowledge that allows experts to make decisions with updated models. Incremental Decision Rules Algorithm (IDRA) proposes a new incremental decision-rule method based on the classical ID3 approach to generating and updating a rule set. This algorithm is a novel approach designed to fit a Decision Support System (DSS) whose motivation is to give accurate responses in an affordable time for a decision situation. This work includes several experiments that compare IDRA with the classical static but optimized ID3 (CREA) and the adaptive method VFDR. A battery of scenarios with different error types and rates are proposed to compare these three algorithms. IDRA improves the accuracies of VFDR and CREA in most common cases for the simulated data streams used in this work. In particular, the proposed technique has proven to perform better in those scenarios with no error, low noise, or high-impact concept drifts.
Improved Lebesgue Indicator-Based Evolutionary Algorithm: Reducing Hypervolume Computations
Authors: Zapotecas-Martínez Saúl , García-Nájera Abel , Menchaca-Méndez Adriana
Published: December 2021

One of the major limitations of evolutionary algorithms based on the Lebesgue measure for multi-objective optimization is the computational cost required to approximate the Pareto front of a problem. Nonetheless, the Pareto compliance property of the Lebesgue measure makes it one of the most investigated indicators in the design of indicator-based evolutionary algorithms (IBEAs). The main deficiency of IBEAs that use the Lebesgue measure is their computational cost which increases with the number of objectives of the problem. On this matter, the investigation presented in this paper introduces an evolutionary algorithm based on the Lebesgue measure to deal with box-constrained continuous multi-objective optimization problems. The proposed algorithm implicitly uses the regularity property of continuous multi-objective optimization problems that has suggested effectiveness when solving continuous problems with rough Pareto sets. On the other hand, the survival selection mechanism considers the local property of the Lebesgue measure, thus reducing the computational time in our algorithmic approach. The emerging indicator-based evolutionary algorithm is examined and compared versus three state-of-the-art multi-objective evolutionary algorithms based on the Lebesgue measure. In addition, we validate its performance on a set of artificial test problems with various characteristics, including multimodality, separability, and various Pareto front forms, incorporating concavity, convexity, and discontinuity. For a more exhaustive study, the proposed algorithm is evaluated in three real-world applications having four, five, and seven objective functions whose properties are unknown. We show the high competitiveness of our proposed approach, which, in many cases, improved the state-of-the-art indicator-based evolutionary algorithms on the multi-objective problems adopted in our investigation.
Bayesian Framework for Multi-Wave COVID-19 Epidemic Analysis Using Empirical Vaccination Data
Authors: Xu Jiawei , Tang Yincai
Published: December 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the necessity of advanced modeling inference using the limited data of daily cases. Tracking a long-term epidemic trajectory requires explanatory modeling with more complexities than the one with short-time forecasts, especially for the highly vaccinated scenario in the latest phase. With this work, we propose a novel modeling framework that combines an epidemiological model with Bayesian inference to perform an explanatory analysis on the spreading of COVID-19 in Israel. The Bayesian inference is implemented on a modified SEIR compartmental model supplemented by real-time vaccination data and piecewise transmission and infectious rates determined by change points. We illustrate the fitted multi-wave trajectory in Israel with the checkpoints of major changes in publicly announced interventions or critical social events. The result of our modeling framework partly reflects the impact of different stages of mitigation strategies as well as the vaccination effectiveness, and provides forecasts of near future scenarios.
Polyketide Derivatives, Guhypoxylonols A–D from a Mangrove Endophytic Fungus Aspergillus sp. GXNU-Y45 That Inhibit Nitric Oxide Production
Authors: Qin Xiaoya , Huang Jiguo , Zhou Dexiong , Zhang Wenxiu , Zhang Yanjun , Li Jun , Yang Ruiyun , Huang Xishan
Published: December 2021

Four undescribed compounds, guhypoxylonols A (1), B (2), C (3), and D (4), were isolated from the mangrove endophytic fungus Aspergillus sp. GXNU-Y45, together with seven previously reported metabolites. The structures of 1–4 were elucidated based on analysis of HRESIMS and NMR spectroscopic data. The absolute configurations of the stereogenic carbons in 1–3 were established through a combination of spectroscopic data and electronic circular dichroism (ECD). Compounds 1–11 were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory activity. Compounds 1, 3, 4, and 6 showed an inhibitory activity against the production of nitric oxide (NO), with the IC50 values of 14.42 ± 0.11, 18.03 ± 0.14, 16.66 ± 0.21, and 21.05 ± 0.13 μM, respectively.
Potential Role of Colchicine in Combating COVID-19 Cytokine Storm and Its Ability to Inhibit Protease Enzyme of SARS-CoV-2 as Conferred by Molecular Docking Analysis
Authors: Kamel Noha A. , Ismail Nasser S. M. , Yahia Ibrahim S. , Aboshanab Khaled M.
Published: December 2021

Despite the advance in the management of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the global pandemic is still ongoing with a massive health crisis. COVID-19 manifestations may range from mild symptoms to severe life threatening ones. The hallmark of the disease severity is related to the overproduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines manifested as a cytokine storm. Based on its anti-inflammatory activity through interfering with several pro and anti-inflammatory pathways, colchicine had been proposed to reduce the cytokine storm and subsequently improve clinical outcomes. Molecular docking analysis of colchicine against RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and protease enzymes of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) revealed that colchicine provided a grid-based molecular docking method, C-DOCKER interaction energy 64.26 and 47.53 (Kcal/mol) with protease and RdRp, respectively. This finding indicated higher binding stability for colchicine–protease complexes than the colchicine–RdRp complex with the involvement of seven hydrogen bonds, six hydrogen acceptors with Asn142, Gly143, Ser144, and Glu166 and one hydrogen-bond donors with Cys145 of the protease enzyme. This is in addition to three hydrophobic interactions with His172, Glu166, and Arg188. A good alignment with the reference compound, Boceprevir, indicated high probability of binding to the protease enzyme of SARS-CoV-2. In conclusion, colchicine can ameliorate the destructive effect of the COVID-19 cytokine storm with a strong evidence of antiviral activity by inhibiting the protease enzyme of SARS-CoV-2.
Effects of Magnetic Minerals Exposure and Microbial Responses in Surface Sediment across the Bohai Sea
Authors: Chen Lei , Wang Mingpeng , Li Yuntao , Shang Weitao , Tang Jianhui , Zhang Zhaojie , Liu Fanghua
Published: December 2021

Extensive production and application of magnetic minerals introduces significant amounts of magnetic wastes into the environment. Exposure to magnetic minerals could affect microbial community composition and geographic distribution. Here, we report that magnetic susceptibility is involved in determining bacterial α-diversity and community composition in surface sediment across the Bohai Sea by high-throughput sequencing analysis of the 16S rRNA gene. The results showed that environmental factors (explained 9.80%) played a larger role than spatial variables (explained 6.72%) in conditioning the bacterial community composition. Exposure to a magnetite center may shape the geographical distribution of five dissimilatory iron reducing bacteria. The microbial iron reduction ability and electroactive activity in sediment close to a magnetite center are stronger than those far away. Our study provides a novel understanding for the response of DIRB and electroactive bacteria to magnetic minerals exposure.
In Silico Screening and In Vitro Assessment of Natural Products with Anti-Virulence Activity against Helicobacter pylori
Authors: Spiegel Maciej , Krzyżek Paweł , Dworniczek Ewa , Adamski Ryszard , Sroka Zbigniew
Published: December 2021

Helicobacter pylori is one of the most frequent human pathogens and a leading etiological agent of various gastric diseases. As stringent response, coordinated by a SpoT protein, seems to be crucial for the survivability of H. pylori, the main goal of this article was to use in silico computational studies to find phytochemical compounds capable of binding to the active site of SpoT from H. pylori and confirm the ability of the most active candidates to interfere with the virulence of this bacterium through in vitro experiments. From 791 natural substances submitted for the virtual screening procedure, 10 were chosen and followed for further in vitro examinations. Among these, dioscin showed the most interesting parameters (the lowest MIC, the highest anti-biofilm activity in static conditions, and a relatively low stimulation of morphological transition into coccoids). Therefore, in the last part, we extended the research with a number of further experiments and observed the ability of dioscin to significantly reduce the formation of H. pylori biofilm under Bioflux-generated flow conditions and its capacity for additive enhancement of the antibacterial activity of all three commonly used antibiotics (clarithromycin, metronidazole, and levofloxacin). Based on these results, we suggest that dioscin may be an interesting candidate for new therapies targeting H. pylori survivability and virulence.
Chemical Oxidative Condensation of Benzidine in Non-Aqueous Medium: Synthesis and Investigation of Oligomers and Polymer with Benzidine Diimine Units
Authors: Durgaryan Ranush , Durgaryan Narine
Published: December 2021

The oxidative condensation of benzidine has been carried out in acetic acid media using potassium peroxydisulfate as the oxidizing agent. Using different monomer–oxidant molar ratios, benzidine dimer, trimer, and polymer have been synthesized for the first time. It was established that the polybenzidine structure is composed from a sequence of benzidinediimine and diphenylene units with amino/amino end groups and thus proves the possibility of ammonia elimination during the oxidative polymerization of aromatic diamines. The method seems to be common for the synthesis of polymers with the sequence of aromatic diimine and arylene units. TGA analysis of the obtained trimer and polymer was investigated, and the high thermostability of both the polymer and trimer was revealed. According to the obtained data, both polymer and trimer matrix decomposition started at 300 °C, and at 600 °C, 75.94% and of 69.40% of the initial weight remained, correspondingly. Conductivities of the polymer and trimer show a semiconductor-type change from temperature and after doping show an increase in conductivity up to 10−4 Sm/cm.