bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Essential Oil of Carvone Chemotype Lippia alba (Verbenaceae) Regulates Lipid Mobilization and Adipogenesis in Adipocytes
Authors: Bonilla-Carvajal Katherin , Stashenko Elena E. , Moreno-Castellanos Natalia
Published: November 2022

Obesity is characterized by an expansion of adipose tissue due to excessive accumulation of triglycerides in adipocytes, causing hypertrophy and hyperplasia, followed by hypoxia, alterations in adipocyte functionality, and chronic inflammation. However, current treatments require changes in lifestyle that are difficult to achieve and some treatments do not generate sustained weight loss over time. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of the essential oil (EO) of Lippia alba (Verbenaceae) carvone chemotype on viability, lipid mobilization, and adipogenesis of adipocytes in two normal and pathological cellular models in vitro. In 3T3-L1 adipocytes, a normal and a pathological model of obesity were induced, and then the cells were treated with L. alba carvone chemotype EO to evaluate cell viability, lipid mobilization, and adipogenesis. L. alba carvone chemotype EO does not decrease adipocyte viability at concentrations of 0.1, 1, and 5 µg/mL; furthermore, there was evidence of changes in lipid mobilization and adipogenesis, leading to a reversal of adipocyte hypertrophy. These results could be due to effects produced by EO on lipogenic and lipolytic pathways, as well as modifications in the expression of adipogenesis genes. L. alba carvone chemotype EO could be considered as a possible treatment for obesity, using the adipocyte as a therapeutic target.
Evaluation of the Use of Different Dedicated Mechanical Subcooling (DMS) Strategies in a Water Source Transcritical CO2 Heat Pump for Space Heating Applications
Authors: Illán-Gómez Fernando , García-Cascales José Ramón , Sánchez-Velasco Francisco Javier , Otón-Martínez Ramón A.
Published: November 2022

In this work we analyze numerically different design configurations to be used in a R1234yf DMS cycle coupled with a water source, transcritical CO2 heat pump for heating applications in the building sector. Specifically, we study the temperature range proposed by a European standard for heating with inlet/outlet water temperatures of: 30 °C/35 °C, 40 °C/45 °C, 47 °C/55 °C and 55 °C/65 °C. Moreover, 25 °C/30 °C is also analyzed which is the range expected for indoor swimming pool water pool heating applications. A water inlet temperature of 10 °C at the evaporator was considered in all of the cases. Results show that depending on the coupling strategy between the DMS cycle and the CO2 heat pump, optimal COP values obtained can vary up to 30% whereas the optimal operating pressure of the CO2 cycle can vary up to 8%. A configuration based on splitting the water flow to be heated into the DMS condenser and the gas cooler in a system with IHX was the best option for all the temperature ranges studied. The improvement in the maximum COP values obtained with this configuration ranges between 5% (for swimming pool applications) and 25% (for space heating with 40 °C/45 °C) when compared with the base cycle depending on the water temperature range considered. When this configuration is not considered, the basic transcritical CO2 with IHX and without DMS was found the best option.
Physicochemical Properties of Ti3+ Self-Doped TiO2 Loaded on Recycled Fly-Ash Based Zeolites for Degradation of Methyl Orange
Authors: Supelano García Iván , Palacio Gómez Carlos Andrés , Weber Marc H. , Saavedra Gaona Indry Milena , Castañeda Martínez Claudia Patricia , Martínez Zambrano José Jobanny , Rojas Sarmiento Hugo Alfonso , Munevar Cagigas Julian Andrés , Avila Marcos A. , Rettori Carlos , Parra Vargas Carlos Arturo , Mejía Gómez Julieth Alexandra
Published: November 2022

The extensive production of coal fly ash by coal combustion is an issue of concern due to its environmental impact. TiO2-zeolite composites were synthesized, at low cost, using recycled coal fly ash from a local thermoelectric power plant to produce the zeolite using the hydrothermal method. TiO2 was loaded by means of the impregnation method using ethanol and titanium isopropoxide between 8.7 and 49.45 wt% TiO2. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Raman, electron spin resonance, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, N2 adsorption-desorption, doppler broadening of annihilation radiation, and diffuse reflectance techniques, and the photocatalytic activity of the composites was evaluated according to the degradation of methyl orange under UV light. The results show that TiO2 crystallizes in the anatase phase with a Ti3+ oxidation state, without post-treatment. TiO2 particles were located within the pores of the substrate and on its surface, increasing the surface area of the composites in comparison with that of the substrates. Samples with TiO2 at 8.7 and 25 wt% immobilized on hydroxysodalite show the highest degradation of methyl orange among all studied materials, including the commercial TiO2 Degussa P25 under UV light.
Value of Combined Diagnosis for Choroidal Lymphoma: A Case Report
Authors: Yang Ming , Zhang Taoran , Yan Bojing , Huang Yingxiang
Published: November 2022

Intraocular lymphoma (IOL) comprises a group of malignant tumours originating from lymphohematopoietic tissues that have a poor prognosis. These tumours predominantly occur in the vitreous and retina but are rarely found in the choroid. A few case reports and case series of choroidal lymphoma (CL) have been reported in the literature. CL is prone to misdiagnosis and incorrect treatment because it often mimics other intraocular diseases such as uveitis. This may seriously affect localisation of the primary lesion and delay treatment, which may even affect the patient’s survival. Herein, we report a case of CL and propose the combination of characteristic ophthalmic imaging with systemic imaging and aqueous humour detection to establish a robust basis for the early diagnosis of CL.
Biodiversity and Phylogeny of North Atlantic Euphrosinidae (Annelida)
Authors: Batts Rowan A. , Whitman Karsyn N. , Meißner Karin , Kocot Kevin M.
Published: November 2022

Euphrosinidae (Amphinomida) is a clade of generally small, short but stout annelids characterized by long, calcareous chaetae that may be distally forked or ringent. Little is known about the diversity of Euphrosinidae from the North Atlantic and the phylogeny of the group has received little attention. Here, we examined 59 specimens of Euphrosinidae (primarily from the IceAGE I and II cruises) and sequenced fragments of the mitochondrial 16S rDNA and nuclear 28S rDNA genes to improve understanding of euphrosinid diversity in the North Atlantic and gain insights into euphrosinid phylogeny. Maximum likelihood analysis of 28S + 16S recovered Euphrosine as a ‘basal’ paraphyletic grade; a clade containing E. armadillo (plus other unidentified specimens) was sister to Euphrosinopsis + Euphrosinella while a clade containing E. aurantiaca and E. foliosa (plus three unidentified species) was recovered sister to all other sampled Euphrosinidae species. Species delimitation analyses based on 16S sequences identified between 14 and 11 species of Euphrosinidae with as many as ten distinct species from the North Atlantic. The IceAGE material investigated includes one new species of Euphrosinopsis and at least one new species of Euphrosinella. Unfortunately, because most of this material was preserved in ethanol, we were unable to characterize key features needed for adequate species descriptions. Additionally, PCR contaminants from presumed gut contents suggest that some euphrosinids eat other annelids, namely Cirratulidae and Syllidae.
Positive Welfare Indicators in Dairy Animals
Authors: Papageorgiou Maria , Simitzis Panagiotis E.
Published: November 2022

Nowadays, there is growing interest in positive animal welfare not only from the view of scientists but also from that of society. The consumer demands more sustainable livestock production, and animal welfare is an essential part of sustainability, so there is interest in incorporating positive welfare indicators into welfare assessment schemes and legislation. The aim of this review is to cite all the positive welfare indicators that have been proposed for dairy animals in theory or practice. In total, twenty-four indicators were retrieved. The most promising are exploration, access to pasture, comfort and resting, feeding, and behavioral synchronicity. Qualitative behavioral assessment (QBA), social affiliative behaviors, play, maternal care, ear postures, vocalizations, visible eye white, nasal temperature, anticipation, cognitive bias, laterality, and oxytocin have been also studied in dairy ruminants. QBA is the indicator that is most often used for the on-farm welfare assessment. Among all dairy animals, studies have been performed mostly on cattle, followed by sheep and goats, and finally buffaloes. The research on camel welfare is limited. Therefore, there is a need for further research and official assessment protocols for buffaloes and especially camels.
Density-Based Unsupervised Learning Algorithm to Categorize College Students into Dropout Risk Levels
Authors: Valles-Coral Miguel Angel , Salazar-Ramírez Luis , Injante Richard , Hernandez-Torres Edwin Augusto , Juárez-Díaz Juan , Navarro-Cabrera Jorge Raul , Pinedo Lloy , Vidaurre-Rojas Pierre
Published: November 2022

Compliance with the basic conditions of quality in higher education implies the design of strategies to reduce student dropout, and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the educational field have allowed directing, reinforcing, and consolidating the process of professional academic training. We propose an academic and emotional tracking model that uses data mining and machine learning to group university students according to their level of dropout risk. We worked with 670 students from a Peruvian public university, applied 5 valid and reliable psychological assessment questionnaires to them using a chatbot-based system, and then classified them using 3 density-based unsupervised learning algorithms, DBSCAN, K-Means, and HDBSCAN. The results showed that HDBSCAN was the most robust option, obtaining better validity levels in two of the three internal indices evaluated, where the performance of the Silhouette index was 0.6823, the performance of the Davies–Bouldin index was 0.6563, and the performance of the Calinski–Harabasz index was 369.6459. The best number of clusters produced by the internal indices was five. For the validation of external indices, with answers from mental health professionals, we obtained a high level of precision in the F-measure: 90.9%, purity: 94.5%, V-measure: 86.9%, and ARI: 86.5%, and this indicates the robustness of the proposed model that allows us to categorize university students into five levels according to the risk of dropping out.
Psychophysiological Adaptations to Yoga Practice in Overweight and Obese Individuals: A Topical Review
Authors: Batrakoulis Alexios
Published: November 2022

Physical activity has been documented as a foundational approach for weight management and obesity, improving several cardiometabolic and mental health indices. However, it is not clear whether yoga practice can induce beneficial improvements in anthropometric and body composition parameters, performance, metabolic health, and well-being among overweight/obese people. The aim of this topical review was to catalog training studies examining the psychophysiological responses to yoga interventions in order to detect which outcomes have been investigated, the research methods applied, and the conclusions. The inclusion/exclusion criteria were met by 22 published articles involving 1178 (56% female) overweight/obese participants. This brief review on yoga-induced adaptations demonstrates that this widely used meditative movement activity can meaningfully improve the vast majority of the selected markers. These beneficial alterations are focused mostly on various anthropometric and body composition variables, cardiovascular disease risk factors, physical fitness parameters, quality of life, and stress in previously inactive overweight/obese individuals. Instead, yoga-based physical exercise interventions investigating anxiety, depression, mood state, exercise enjoyment, affect valence, and adherence were limited. Further research should focus on the yoga intervention configuration and potential mechanisms behind favorable changes in various psychophysiological indices through large-scale, rigorously designed randomized controlled trials implementing long-term interventions in overweight/obese individuals.
On the Hybrid Normal Distribution and Its Application in Fiber Data on the Strength of Glass
Authors: Shibu Damodaran Santhamani , Nitin Soman Latha , Chesneau Christophe , Irshad Muhammed Rasheed , Shibin Sobhanam Padmini , Maya Radhakumari
Published: November 2022

The hybrid normal (HN) distribution is a new generalization of the normal distribution that we introduce and study in this article. Its mathematical foundation is based on the logarithmically transformed version of the famous hybrid log-normal (HLN) distribution, which is an unexplored direction in the literature. We emphasize the applicability of the HN distribution with the aim of fitting versatile data, such as, in this paper, fiber data on the strength of glass. In particular, the unknown parameters are estimated using both Bayesian and maximum likelihood estimation approaches, with Bayesian estimation carried out using the MCMC approach. A thorough simulation study is performed to determine the flexibility of the estimates’ performance. The glass fiber data are then analyzed, with an assessment of several existing distributions from the literature used to demonstrate how the HN distribution is relevant in this regard.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health and Lifestyle in Thai Occupational Therapy Students: A Mixed Method Study
Authors: Srikhamjak Tiam , Yanawuth Kanyarak , Sucharittham Kornkamon , Larprabang Chitsanucha , Wangsattabongkot Patcharaporn , Hauwadhanasuk Tanyathorn , Thawisuk Chirathip , Thichanpiang Peeradech , Kaunnil Anuchart
Published: November 2022

The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have led to global reports of hazards to mental health. However, reports regarding lifestyle changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic are lacking. Using a convergent mixed methods design, we conducted individual interviews with twelve occupational therapy students and interpreted the results by content analysis. We completed a survey of Thai Sensory Patterns Assessment (TSPA) concerning perspectives from occupational therapy students (n = 99). They identified two major themes: (i) adaptive responses were consistent with areas of occupation during the COVID-19 pandemic; (ii) multidimensional challenges were related to sensory patterns of purposeful and meaningful activities. The participants reported both positive and negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on their lives. It had both positive and negative effects on the lifestyle of students affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The positive effect was that most students learned better ways to protect and care for themselves. During the COVID-19 pandemic, occupational therapy students were most concerned about their online learning activities, economic problems, isolation from society, and lifestyle. The negative effects of this include stress, anxiety, loneliness, frustration, boredom, and exhaustion for occupational therapy students. As an impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, occupational therapy students adapted to new lifestyles and experienced mental health issues related to their studies, families, friends, economics, social climate, and future job opportunities. Educators may use the findings of this study to prevent negative impacts on mental health and promote academic achievement in the future, as well as general well-being, efficacy, and empowerment of students in the new normal post-COVID-19 pandemic era.
A Novel Online State of Health Estimation Method for Electric Vehicle Pouch Cells Using Magnetic Field Imaging and Convolution Neural Networks
Authors: Javadipour Mehrnaz , Wickramanayake Toshan , Alavi Seyed Amir , Mehran Kamyar
Published: November 2022

Lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) are used as the main power source in electric vehicles (EVs). Despite their high energy density and commercial availability, LiBs chronically suffer from non-uniform cell ageing, leading to early capacity fade in the battery packs. In this paper, a non-invasive, online characterisation method based on deep learning models is proposed for cell-level SoH estimation. For an accurate measurement of the state of health (SoH), we need to characterize electrochemical capacity fade scenarios carefully. Then, with the help of real-time monitoring, the control systems can reduce the LiB’s degradation. The proposed method, which is based on convolutional neural networks (CNN), characterises the changes in current density distributions originating from the positive electrodes in different SoH states. For training and classification by the deep learning model, current density images (CDIs) were experimentally acquired in different ageing conditions. The results confirm the efficiency of the proposed approach in online SoH estimation and the prediction of the capacity fade scenarios.
Electrode/Electrolyte Interphases of Sodium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Kulova Tatiana L. , Skundin Alexander M.
Published: November 2022

The performance of sodium-ion batteries largely depends on the presence and properties of passive films formed on the electrode/electrolyte interfaces. Passive films on negative electrodes inevitably result from the reduction in electrolyte components (solvent and salt anion). They have the properties of a solid electrolyte with sodium ion conductivity and are insulators in terms of electronic conductivity. Usually, they are called SEI—solid electrolyte interphase. The formation of SEI is associated with the consumption of a certain charge, which is an irreversible capacity. Passive films on the surface of positive electrodes (CEI—cathode electrolyte interphase) arise as a result of electrolyte oxidation. The present review summarizes the literature of the recent 15 years concerning the effects of electrode nature (hard carbon, other carbon materials, various metals, oxides, chalcogenides, etc.), electrolyte composition, and other factors on composition and properties of SEIs in sodium-ion batteries. Literary data on CEIs are reviewed as well, although their volume is inferior to that of data on SEIs.
Aerodynamic Analysis of a Low-Speed Tandem-Channel Wing for eVTOL Aircraft Considering Propeller–Wing Interaction
Authors: Chang Min , Zheng Zhongyuan , Meng Xiaoxuan , Bai Junqiang , Wang Bo
Published: November 2022

Fixed-wing aircraft with vertical takeoff and landing capabilities need a lower speed and a higher lift during transition. To meet these needs, a tandem-channel wing layout has been developed, including a FLR (front wing lower than rear wing) configuration and a FUR (front wing upper than rear wing) configuration, which differ in height differences between the front and rear wings. Numerical simulations have been performed to investigate the aerodynamic characteristics of the two configurations. The results show that a significant increase in lift coefficient occurs when the propeller rotational speed and the angle of attack increase. The lift at a small angle of attack increases by more than 50% at a high propeller rotational speed, and the stall angle of attack increases by more than 10 degrees. For the FLR configuration, the downwash effect of the front wing impacts the rear wing, decreasing the local angle of attack and delaying airflow separation on the top surface. For the FUR configuration, the up surface of the rear wing is induced by the wake flow of the front wing propeller at a high propeller rotational speed, which increases the lift and the stall angle of attack but makes the aircraft have static instability.
A Cooperative Game-Based Sizing and Configuration of Community-Shared Energy Storage
Authors: Xie Yuzhe , Yao Yan , Wang Yawu , Cha Weiqiang , Zhou Sheng , Wu Yue , Huang Chunyi
Published: November 2022

Sizing and configuring community-shared energy storage according to the actual demand of community users is important for the development of user-side energy storage. To solve this problem, this paper first proposes a community energy storage cooperative sharing mode containing multiple transaction types and then establishes a sizing and configuration model of community-shared energy storage based on a cooperative game among community users and energy storage operators, in which the loss caused by the capacity decay of energy storage is quantified by a dynamic power loss cost factor. To improve the solving efficiency, a distributed and cooperating solving method based on ADMM is used to solve the sizing and configuration model. On this basis, the bilateral Shapley method is used to allocate the total annual cost according to the marginal expected cost brought by each user. Compared with existing strategies, this paper calculates the economic benefits of community-shared energy storage based on several typical days of each year and quantifies the capacity decay of energy storage by a dynamic power loss cost factor which increases year by year to be closer to the real situation. Finally, the simulation verifies that the model proposed in this paper can be used for the sizing and configuration of community-shared energy storage. Compared with the original annual cost, the total annual cost of the community is reduced by 3.92%, and the annual operation cost of the community which equals annual electricity purchasing cost minus annual electricity selling income plus annual power loss cost is reduced by 25.6%.
Integration of a Linear Cavity Receiver in an Asymmetric Compound Parabolic Collector
Authors: Korres Dimitrios N. , Bellos Evangelos , Tzivanidis Christos
Published: November 2022

The objective of this work is the integration of a linear cavity receiver in an asymmetric compound parabolic collector. Two different numerical models were developed; one for the conventional geometry and one for the cavity configuration. Both models were examined for inlet temperatures from 20 °C up to 80 °C, considering water as the operating fluid with a typical volume flow rate of 15 lt/h. Emphasis was given to the comparison of the thermal and optical performance between the designs, as well as in the temperature levels of the fluids and the receiver. The geometry of the integrated cavity receiver was optimized according to two independent parameters and two possible optimum designs were finally revealed. The optimization took place regarding the optical performance of the collector with the cavity receiver. The simulation results indicated that the cavity design leads to enhancements of up to 4.40% and 4.00% in the optical and thermal efficiency respectively, while the minimum possible enhancement was above 2.20%. The mean enhancements in optical and thermal performance were found to be 2.90% and 2.92% respectively. Moreover, an analytical solution was developed for verifying the numerical results and the maximum deviations were found to be less than 5% in all the compared parameters. Especially, in thermal efficiency verification, the maximum deviation took a value of less than 0.5%. The design and the simulations in the present study were conducted with the SolidWorks Flow Simulation tool.
Numerical Analysis for Coal Gasification Performance in a Lab-Scale Gasifier: Effects of the Wall Temperature and Oxygen/Coal Ratio
Authors: Kumar Sunel , Wang Zhihua , He Yong , Zhu Yanqun , Cen Kefa
Published: November 2022

The optimization of multiple factors for gasification performance using a 3D CFD model with advanced sub-models for single-stage drop tube coal gasification was compared with experimental results. A single-stage down-drop gasifier with multiple coal injectors and a single oxygen injector at the top of the gasifier was investigated at different temperatures and O2/coal ratios. A finite rate/eddy dissipation (FR/ED) model was employed to define the chemical reactions. Kinetic data for the various reactions were taken from previous work. The realizable k–ε turbulent model and Euler–Lagrangian framework were adopted to solve the turbulence equations and solid–gas interaction. First, various preliminary reactions were simulated to validate the reaction model with experimental data. Furthermore, various cases were simulated at various O/C ratios and wall temperatures to analyze the syngas species, temperature profile in the whole gasifier, exit temperature, carbon conversion, turbulent intensity, and velocity profile. The maximum CO was found to be 75.06% with an oxygen/coal ratio of 0.9 at 1800 °C. The minimum and maximum carbon conversions were found to be 97.5% and 99.8% at O/C 0.9 at 1200 °C and O/C 1.1 at 1800 °C, respectively.
A Simplified LPTN Model for a Fault-Tolerant Permanent Magnet Motor under Inter-Turn Short-Circuit Faults
Authors: Jia Zexin , Xu Gaohong , Qian Pengliang , Chen Qian , Zhou Yanan
Published: November 2022

This paper proposes a simplified lumped parameter thermal network (LPTN) model for thermal analysis under the inter-turn short-circuit (SC) faults of a five-phase fault-tolerant permanent magnet (PM) motor for electric vehicles. The proposed model can consider circumferential heat transfer, variable copper loss, and uneven loss distribution. Firstly, an analytical calculation formula of inter-turn SC current is proposed to separate the copper loss of SC turns from electromagnetic simulation, and the accuracy of the formula is verified by finite element analysis (FEA). Secondly, a simplified LPTN model is proposed, the calculation formulas of the thermal resistance are given, and the simplified principle is explained. By comparing the results of different simplifications, it is found that the error between the simplified model and the original model is small. Finally, the proposed model is verified by experiments. The results show that the simplified model can achieve not only a high calculation speed but also a high accuracy. Moreover, the proposed model is applicable to all cases of asymmetrical temperature distribution.
Temperature Field Simulation and Energy Analysis of a Heat Pump Tobacco Bulk Curing Barn
Authors: Zhang Ye , Li Bin , He Zhenfeng , Ou Wenyan , Zhong Jiahao , Zhang Xuefeng , Meng Mingang , Li Changyou
Published: November 2022

Recently, heat pump drying has been widely used in tobacco processing. Considering the importance of this issue, it is of significant importance to further investigate temperature distribution and energy analysis in the drying process. To develop an energy-saving, environmental-friendly, and high-quality tobacco drying method, temperature distribution, dehumidification performance, the economic issues, and thermal efficiency of a heat pump curing barn (HPCB) and a traditional coal-fired bulk curing barn (TCCB) were compared. The regional temperature eigenvalue model was applied to describe the temperature uniformity with HPCB and TCCB. Moreover, thermal efficiency was obtained through energy tests. The obtained results showed that HPCB is beneficial to improve the drying quality of tobacco. The performed analyses showed that the thermal efficiency of the TCCB and HPCB was 42.02% and 66.53%, respectively. Accordingly, heat pump technology is recommended for industrial drying of tobacco leaves and obtaining high-quality products.
Heat Transfer in 3D Laguerre–Voronoi Open-Cell Foams under Pulsating Flow
Authors: Khairullin Aidar , Haibullina Aigul , Sinyavin Alex , Balzamov Denis , Ilyin Vladimir , Khairullina Liliya , Bronskaya Veronika
Published: November 2022

Open-cell foams are attractive for heat transfer enhancement in many engineering applications. Forced pulsations can lead to additional heat transfer enhancement in porous media. Studies of heat transfer in open-cell foams under forced pulsation conditions are limited. Therefore, in this work, the possibility of heat transfer enhancement in porous media with flow pulsations is studied by a numerical simulation. To generate the 3D open-cell foams, the Laguerre–Voronoi tessellation method was used. The foam porosity was 0.743, 0.864, and 0.954. The Reynolds numbers ranged from 10 to 55, and the products of the relative amplitude and the Strouhal numbers ranged from 0.114 to 0.344. Heat transfer was studied under the conditions of symmetric and asymmetric pulsations. The results of numerical simulation showed that an increase in the amplitude of pulsations led to an augmentation of heat transfer for all studied porosities. The maximum intensification of heat transfer was 43%. Symmetric pulsations were more efficient than asymmetric pulsations, with Reynolds numbers less than 25. The Thermal Performance Factor was always higher for asymmetric pulsations, due to the friction factor for symmetrical pulsations being much higher than for asymmetric pulsations. Based on the results of a numerical simulation, empirical correlations were obtained to predict the heat transfer intensification in porous media for a steady and pulsating flow.
Resource Recovery of the Wastewater-Derived Nutrients into Algal Biomass Followed by Its Cascading Processing to Multiple Products in a Circular Bioeconomy Paradigm
Authors: Haider Muhammad Nabeel , Liu Chen-Guang , Tabish Tanveer A. , Balakrishnan Deepanraj , Show Pau-Loke , Qattan Shaza Yehya Abdulhamed , Gull Munazza , Mehmood Muhammad Aamer
Published: November 2022

The cultivation of Plectonema terebrans BERC10 in wastewater and integrating the wastewater-derived biomass followed by its processing for multiple products in a biorefinery could help in achieving environmental sustainability and cost effectiveness. This study evaluated the resource recovery potential of the cyanobacterium Plectonema terebrans BERC10 from urban wastewater followed by the cascading processing of the biomass into multiple bioproducts. The annual biomass productivity ranged from 0.035–0.064 gL−1d−1 and contained 40–46% lipids and 20–38% protein. The cascading processing of the biomass resulted in multiple products, including 53 mgg−1 of high-value pigments and high-quality biodiesel in accordance with American and European standards. The pigment-free and de-fatted residual biomass was used as a sole feedstock (30–70 gL−1) to produce enzymes and mycoproteins via fungal fermentation employing Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus oryzae. Interestingly, A. oryzae produced 28 UmL−1 of α-amylase and the final residues were mycoproteins after 96 h. Furthermore, the strain removed 80–90% of total phosphorous, 90–99% of total nitrogen, and significantly lowered the COD, BOD, and TDS of urban wastewater. The data demonstrated that P. terebrans has substantial potential for resource recovery and could become a candidate for a wastewater-derived algal biorefinery.
A Review on the Use of Computer Vision and Artificial Intelligence for Fish Recognition, Monitoring, and Management
Authors: Barbedo Jayme Garcia Arnal
Published: November 2022

Computer vision has been applied to fish recognition for at least three decades. With the inception of deep learning techniques in the early 2010s, the use of digital images grew strongly, and this trend is likely to continue. As the number of articles published grows, it becomes harder to keep track of the current state of the art and to determine the best course of action for new studies. In this context, this article characterizes the current state of the art by identifying the main studies on the subject and briefly describing their approach. In contrast with most previous reviews related to technology applied to fish recognition, monitoring, and management, rather than providing a detailed overview of the techniques being proposed, this work focuses heavily on the main challenges and research gaps that still remain. Emphasis is given to prevalent weaknesses that prevent more widespread use of this type of technology in practical operations under real-world conditions. Some possible solutions and potential directions for future research are suggested, as an effort to bring the techniques developed in the academy closer to meeting the requirements found in practice.
Research on the Key Success Factors for the Transformation of the Traditional Fishery to Recreational Fishery in Taiwan’s Outlying Islands
Authors: Yang Chih-Kai , Yang Han-Chung , Lee Jie-Min
Published: November 2022

Outlying islands are affected by the environment and economy, and fishery resources are the first to experience these impacts. Therefore, it is necessary to actively and effectively transform traditional fisheries in outlying islands. This is the case in Penghu County (Penghu Islands), located on the outlying islands of Taiwan. The transformation to recreational fishery can increase the additional income of traditional fisheries during the fishing moratorium through the development of recreational fishery boats by fishermen. Recreational fishery means the fishery using fishing vessels for recreational purposes or for passengers to harvest aquatic organisms on the reef or to engage in sightseeing on the islets. Therefore, this study will explore the key factors for the successful route planning of fishermen who switch to recreational fishery boats to assist the fishermen in successfully transitioning and enabling recreational fishery to flourish. In the research, using the method of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) expert questionnaire, it was found that the key factors affecting the route planning of recreational fishery boats are “boat conditions”, “berthing conditions”, “operating environment”, and “sightseeing potential”. After the expert questionnaire, a weight comparison of each level was performed, and it was found that “operating environment” was the most important factor, followed by “tourism potential”. However, the key factors of the “natural environment” and “cultural environment” are more important under the influence of the “operating environment”. Under the influence of “tourism potential”, “attractiveness” is a key factor, as is the “accessibility” factor. In this study, the four main fishing ports in Penghu County were also used for empirical discussion. The study results showed that Magong Fishing Port was the first choice for transformation, followed by Chikan Fishing Port. The results of this study can be used as a reference for fishermen and officials in developing a subsidy scheme for fishing boat operation, and they can be used as a reference for transforming traditional fisheries in outlying islands into recreational fishing to develop recreational fishery boats and leisure tourism industries. This research can help fishermen to attach importance to the development of recreational fishing activities and promote the stable growth of the fishery industry environment.
Drag Reduction in Polymer-Laden Turbulent Pipe Flow
Authors: Serafini Francesco , Battista Francesco , Gualtieri Paolo , Casciola Carlo Massimo
Published: November 2022

The turbulence of a realistic dilute solution of DNA macromolecules is investigated through a hybrid Eulerian–Lagrangian approach that directly solves the incompressible Navier–Stokes equation alongside the evolution of 108 polymers, modelled as finitely extensible nonlinear elastic (FENE) dumbbells. At a friction Reynolds number of 320 and a Weissenberg number of 2×104, the drag reduction is equal to 26%, which is similar to the one obtained at the lower Reynolds number of 180. The polymers induce an increase in the flow rate and the turbulent kinetic energy, whose axial contribution is predominantly augmented. The stress balance is analysed to investigate the causes of the drag reduction and eventually the effect of the friction Reynolds number on the probability distribution of the polymer configuration. Near the wall, the majority of the polymers are fully stretched and aligned along the streamwise direction, inducing an increase in the turbulence anisotropy.
Predicting Credit Scores with Boosted Decision Trees
Authors: Bastos João A.
Published: November 2022

Credit scoring models help lenders decide whether to grant or reject credit to applicants. This paper proposes a credit scoring model based on boosted decision trees, a powerful learning technique that aggregates several decision trees to form a classifier given by a weighted majority vote of classifications predicted by individual decision trees. The performance of boosted decision trees is evaluated using two publicly available credit card application datasets. The prediction accuracy of boosted decision trees is benchmarked against two alternative machine learning techniques: the multilayer perceptron and support vector machines. The results show that boosted decision trees are a competitive technique for implementing credit scoring models.
Passenger Acceptability of Teleoperation in Railways
Authors: Cogan Baris , Tandetzki Julia , Milius Birgit
Published: November 2022

In this survey-based study, passenger awareness and acceptability of potential teleoperation services in the railway domain were analyzed. The literature on the important factors for the acceptability of automated transport was reviewed. These factors were adapted to teleoperation in the railway domain. An online survey was conducted for obtaining passengers’ views on automated rail transport and the remote control of trains. A choice-based conjoint analysis was conducted to obtain user preferences regarding a potential teleoperation service. Overall, the teleoperation system and its capabilities received positive feedback. While increased resilience and reliability of rail services were identified as potential opportunities for higher acceptance, safety and security concerns of prospective passengers were highlighted as influencing factors.
In Vitro and Ex Vivo Evaluation of Fluocinolone Acetonide–Acitretin-Coloaded Nanostructured Lipid Carriers for Topical Treatment of Psoriasis
Authors: Raza Hassan , Shah Shefaat Ullah , Ali Zakir , Khan Atif Ullah , Rajput Irfa Basharat , Farid Arshad , Mohaini Mohammed Al , Alsalman Abdulkhaliq J. , Al Hawaj Maitham A. , Mahmood Saima , Hussain Abid , Shah Kifayat Ullah
Published: November 2022

Psoriasis is chronic autoimmune disease that affects 2–5% of the global population. Fluocinolone acetonide (FLU) and acitretin (ACT) are widely used antipsoriatic drugs that belong to BCS classes II and IV, respectively. FLU exhibits side effects, such as skin irritation and a burning sensation. ACT also shows adverse effects, such as gingivitis, teratogenic effects and xerophthalmia. In the present study, topical nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) were fabricated to reduce the side effects and enhance the therapeutic efficacy. FLU–ACT-coloaded NLCs were prepared by the modified microemulsion method and optimized by the Box–Behnken model of Design Expert® version 12. The optimization was based on the particle size (PS), zeta potential (ZP) and percentage of encapsulation efficiency (%EE). The physicochemical analyses were performed by TEM, FTIR, XRD and DSC to assess the morphology, chemical interactions between excipients, crystallinity and thermal behavior of the optimized FLU–ACT-coloaded NLCs. The FLU–ACT-coloaded NLCs were successfully loaded into gel and characterized appropriately. The dialysis bag method and Franz diffusion cells were used for the in vitro release and ex vivo permeation studies, respectively. The optimized FLU–ACT-coloaded NLCs had the desired particle size of 288.2 ± 2.3 nm, ZP of −34.2 ± 1.0 mV and %EE values of 81.6 ± 1.1% for ACT and 75 ± 1.3% for FLU. The TEM results confirmed the spherical morphology, while the FTIR results showed the absence of chemical interactions of any type among the ingredients of the FLU–ACT-coloaded NLCs. The XRD and DSC analyses confirmed the amorphous nature and thermal behavior. The in vitro study showed the sustained release of the FLU and ACT from the optimized FLU–ACT-coloaded NLCs and FLU–ACT-coloaded NLC gel compared with the FLU–ACT suspension and conventional gel. The ex vivo study confirmed the minimal permeation of both drugs from the FLU–ACT-coloaded NLC gel.
Turning Point of Cognitive Decline for Chinese Older Adults from a Longitudinal Analysis: Protective Factors and Risk Factors
Authors: Li Guangming , Li Kunmei
Published: November 2022

Objectives: To explore the turning point of cognitive decline in Chinese older adults and to explore the influencing factors including covariates. Participants: Aged 65 and older whose cognitive function was normal at their first test. Methods: a secondary analysis that identified participants from the database of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). Cohort-sequential design was used to categorize the data by age (rather than study wave), including the follow-up data of Chinese older adults aged 65–79 years and spanning 14 years. Cognitive function in 1278 participants was assessed using the Chinese Mini-Mental State Examination (CMMSE) in five waves over 14 years. Piecewise latent growth curve modeling was used to analyze the data. Results: (1) The turning point of cognitive decline in Chinese older adults occurs between the ages of 68 and 70. (2) There are statistically significant individual differences in the initial level of cognitive function and the growth rate of cognitive function before and after the transition stage. (3) Factors influencing cognitive function include residence, education level, smoking, drinking, exercise, leisure activities, social activities, Activities of Daily Living (ADL), and Instrumental Activities for Daily Living (IADL). (4) Exercise and ADL are the main protective factors, while smoking and drinking are the main risk factors. Conclusions: There is a transition stage (68–70) in the decline of cognitive function in Chinese older adults and four main factors (such as smoking, drinking, exercise and ADL) have impacts on the cognitive decline. We should strengthen these protective factors (exercise and ADL) for the cognitive decline of older adults and avoid these risk factors (smoking, drinking). To prevent the decline of the cognitive function of older adults, the government should build more places conducive to activities for older adults and actively encourage older adults to improve their physical activity level. Given our findings, public health interventions centered on alcohol and tobacco cessation in older adults should be governmentally endorsed.
Prediction of Adverse Outcomes in De Novo Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy: Development and Validation of Maternal and Neonatal Prognostic Models
Authors: Chen Junjun , Ji Yuelong , Su Tao , Jin Ma , Yuan Zhichao , Peng Yuanzhou , Zhou Shuang , Bao Heling , Luo Shusheng , Wang Hui , Liu Jue , Han Na , Wang Hai-Jun
Published: November 2022

Effectively identifying high-risk patients with de novo hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (HDP) is required to enable timely intervention and to reduce adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. Electronic medical record of pregnant women with de novo HDP were extracted from a birth cohort in Beijing, China. The adverse outcomes included maternal and fetal morbidities, mortality, or any other adverse complications. A multitude of machine learning statistical methods were employed to develop two prediction models, one for maternal complications and the other for perinatal deteriorations. The maternal model using the random forest algorithm produced an AUC of 0.984 (95% CI (0.978, 0.991)). The strongest predictors variables selected by the model were platelet count, fetal head/abdominal circumference ratio, and gestational age at the diagnosis of de novo HDP; The perinatal model using the boosted tree algorithm yielded an AUC of 0.925 (95% CI (0.907, 0.945]). The strongest predictor variables chosen were gestational age at the diagnosis of de novo HDP, fetal femur length, and fetal head/abdominal circumference ratio. These prediction models can help identify de novo HDP patients at increased risk of complications who might need intense maternal or perinatal care.
How Vulnerable Are Patients with COPD to Weather Extremities?—A Pilot Study from Hungary
Authors: Márovics Gergely , Pozsgai Éva , Németh Balázs , Czigány Szabolcs , Németh-Simon Szilvia , Girán János
Published: November 2022

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common causes of death globally, with increasing prevalence and years lived with disability (YLD). We aimed to investigate how extreme weather conditions were associated with the number of daily COPD-related emergency visits. We collected data regarding the number of daily emergency department (ED) visits made by patients with COPD in 2017, along with all relevant daily meteorological data for the same year. An analysis of the relationship between the number of COPD-related ED visits and extreme meteorological events was carried out. Extremely low temperatures (OR = 1.767) and dew points (OR = 1.795), extremely high atmospheric pressure (OR = 1.626), a high amount of precipitation (OR = 1.270), and light wind speed (OR = 1.560) were identified as possible risk factors for a higher number of COPD-related ED visits. In contrast, extremely high temperatures (OR = 0.572) and dew points (OR = 0.606) were found to be possible protective factors for COPD-related ED visits. By determining the meteorological risk factors for a high number of COPD-related ED visits, our study may help provide invaluable data for identifying vulnerable patient groups based on weather events, thus making more optimal capacity planning at the ED possible.
Climate Change and Cultural Heritage: From Small- to Large-Scale Effects—The Case Study of Nora (Sardinia, Italy)
Authors: Sitzia Fabio
Published: November 2022

Rising sea levels are mainly due to increases in environmental temperatures that are causing ice to melt. The weathering of geomaterials is mainly due to the increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This research addresses current and future sea level rises and their weathering effects on the building stones in the Phoenician–Punic archaeological area of Nora (Sardinia, Italy). Some forecasting models, selected according to real-world scenarios (shared socioeconomic pathways—SSPs), give a definitive overview of both the rising sea levels and stone weathering conditions in Nora. The year 2100 A.D. was selected as the base of our investigations because the SSPs are scenarios of projected socioeconomic global changes up to 2100 A.D. The data on the expected alteration of geomaterials were reconstructed by considering the temperatures, the rainfall amount, and the atmospheric CO2 of every scenario. This was made possible by knowing the current degree of alteration of the geomaterials and their weathering resistance. The rising sea level models were obtained through the SSPs scenarios data and built using geographic information systems software. The projections show a slowing down of the weathering degrees of the stone materials in Nora. This is due to the increase in the average annual temperature and the decrease in the average annual rainfall. However, it is shown that some other factors, such as the marine spray in the area, could accelerate the decay. Projections of the rising sea levels show how the settlement will be partially submerged, losing between 3.54% and 8.49% of the emerged land. The models provided a maximum ingression of the coastline, ranging from 23.7 m to 29.5 m, based on the severity of the scenarios. Coastline-shifting maps indicate the flooding of some buildings located on the western coast of Nora, the most sensitive part of the territory.