bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acoustic Emission Assessment of Corroded RC Columns Jointly Reinforced with Concrete Canvas and CFRP
Authors: Wang Jingsong , Niu Jiangang , Xiang Zehui , Zhou Jie , Wang Jun
Published: November 2022

To explore the crack behaviors of corroded concrete columns jointly reinforced by concrete canvas (CC) and carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP), a total of six specimen sets with different reinforcement forms and corrosion rates are designed and tested by acoustic emission (AE) technology. The assessed methods are AE characteristic parameters, RA-AF values, b values, and AE event spatial location map. The results show that the presence of CC changes the failure morphology of the specimen and improves the uneven deformation of concrete in the core area, which proves that the jointly reinforced method exhibits high plasticity deformation ability. The crack mode of the jointly reinforced specimen undergoes multiple transformations between tensile cracks and shear cracks, before ending in the final crush failure. The fluctuations in both amplitude and frequency of the b values of the jointly reinforced specimens increase significantly with time. The crack activity of concrete is more intense in this period, which proves that the jointly reinforced method ensures a more complete failure. Moreover, the increases in corrosion rate reduced the probability of shear cracks in the core concrete and further increased the failure degree of the specimen. The present study demonstrated that AE monitoring can effectively capture the characteristics of the cracking process of jointly reinforced concrete.
Synthesis and Characterization of Urethane Acrylate Resin Based on 1,3-Propanediol for Coating Applications
Authors: Nowak Małgorzata , Bednarczyk Paulina , Mozelewska Karolina , Czech Zbigniew
Published: November 2022

The significant development of industry and the growing demand for renewable fuels lead to the accumulation of massive amounts of glycerol as a by-product. Scientists have been trying to use this product as a raw material for several years. One of its uses is in the acquirement of 1,3-propanediol (PDO). This work presents studies on the synthesis of two new urethane acrylate resins obtained from 1,3-propanediol and urethane acrylate oligomers containing isocyanate groups in each molecule. The method for obtaining the resins was presented, considering various conditions of synthesis, i.e., the structure of the carbon chain of the oligomer used, the molar ratio of the reactants, or the use of solvents. The reactions were monitored in real time by FTIR until the disappearance of the NCO groups. Then, polymer films were prepared from the obtained products and cured using UV radiation or thermally. The obtained coatings were tested in terms of the photopolymerization kinetics and properties of the cured coatings. Resultantly, the obtained bio-sourced coatings were observed to be characterized by good functional properties and a short curing duration, both with the use of UV radiation-based or thermal curing. These types of resins obtained using a bioproduct can be employed as eco-friendly film-forming products in the coating industry for many applications. In particular, due to their potential for dual curing methods (UV or thermal), these resins can be used on three-dimensional surfaces, i.e., those in which there is a possibility of the insufficient availability of UV radiation.
Gender and COVID-19 Vaccine Disparities in Cameroon
Authors: Amani Adidja , Mossus Tatiana , Lekeumo Cheuyem Fabrice Zobel , Bilounga Chanceline , Mikamb Pamela , Basseguin Atchou Jonas , Minyem Ngombi Aude Perine , Nangmo Armanda , Kamga Yannick , Bediang Georges , Kamgno Joseph , Zoung-Kanyi Bissek Anne-Cécile
Published: November 2022

Six months following the national launch of COVID-19 vaccinations in Cameroon, only 1.1% of the target population was fully vaccinated, with women representing less than one-third of the vaccinated population regardless of age, profession, or comorbidities. Hence, the aim of this study was to understand the low COVID-19 vaccination rate of women in order to enhance vaccine uptake. A cross-sectional study was conducted between July and October 2021 through an online survey. Additionally, a retrospective analysis of the Cameroon Ministry of Public Health (MINSANTE) database of the pandemic (COVID-19) for the period of March 2020 to October 2021 was simultaneously carried out. Our sample consisted of 249 responders aged between 18 and 50 years enrolled in the 10 regions of Cameroon, with 142 (57%) who were female. We assessed factors related to having been vaccinated against COVID-19 and predictors of COVID-19 vaccination among non-vaccinated people. Concerning COVID-19 vaccination, 39.2% were not vaccinated. Non-vaccination was statistically associated with being female, being a healthcare worker, fear of adverse effects, and not believing in the vaccine. In the qualitative analysis, women identified themselves as being anti-COVID-19-vaccine for several reasons, including doubts about the quality or safety of the vaccine; the perception that COVID-19 vaccines are presented as being an obligation; and regarding the multitude of vaccines on the market, the belief that there are “more local” effective alternatives to the vaccine. The implementation of the gender approach to COVID-19 vaccination is one factor influencing its effectiveness and sustainability.
Multicolor Photochromism of Two-Component Diarylethene Crystals Containing Oxidized and Unoxidized Benzothiophene Groups
Authors: Nishimura Ryo , Nagakawa Yurika , Morimoto Masakazu
Published: November 2022

Preparing mixed crystals composed of two or more components is one of the useful approaches to not only modifying the physical properties and chemical reactivity of molecular crystals but also creating their novel functionality. Here we report preparation and photoresponsive properties of two-component mixed crystals containing photochromic bis(benzothienyl)ethene derivatives that show different colors in the closed-ring forms depending on the oxidation state of the benzothiophene groups. The similarity in the molecular structures of the two diarylethenes, which are different from each other only in the oxidation state of the benzothiophene groups, allowed the formation of two-component mixed crystals by recrystallization from mixed solutions containing the two compounds. Irradiating the mixed crystals with light of appropriate wavelengths induced the selective photoisomerizaion of the two diarylethenes, leading to multicolor photochromic performance, such as colorless, orange, yellow, and red. Such molecular crystals with multiresponsive functions can find potential applications in multistate optical recording and multicolor displays. The present results demonstrate that combining differently oxidized diarylethene derivatives is an effective strategy for preparing multicomponent mixed crystals with finely tuned composition and desired photoresponsive properties.
Cardiovascular Comorbidities in Relation to the Functional Status and Vitamin D Levels in Elderly Patients with Dementia
Authors: Oprea Violeta , Marinescu Mihai , Rișcă Popazu Corina , Sârbu Fabiola , Onose Gelu , Romila Aurelia
Published: November 2022

(1) Background: As dementia is an incurable, multifactorial neurodegenerative disease, we gathered and analyzed a number of patient characteristics, assessing possible correlations that may support early diagnosis and a more accurate prognosis for cognitively impaired patients. (2) Methods: We used standard clinical parameters (cognitive and functional status, comorbidities, and plasma vitamin D levels) in a study group of 162 patients aged above 55 years old. (3) Results: We reported a higher incidence of cardiovascular and metabolic comorbidities in patients with severe or moderate cognitive impairment; a validated correlation between functional status, cognitive status, and serum vitamin D levels; and a more frequently associated profile of neurologic comorbidities in patients with a more significant cognitive deficiency. (4) Conclusions: The present research adds data on the significant correlations of cognitive deficits with cardiovascular, metabolic, and neurologic diseases (and the lack of correlation with osteoarticular illness). Clinicians should make the best use of the current screening and assessment tools (such as the functional scoring of daily activities, cognitive evaluation, and the screening of risk factors). Our data may offer starting points for future in-depth analysis of dementia-modifiable risk factors.
Indoor Stockpile Reconstruction Using Drone-Borne Actuated Single-Point LiDARs
Authors: Alsayed Ahmad , Nabawy Mostafa R. A.
Published: November 2022

A low-cost, yet accurate approach for stockpile volume estimation within confined storage spaces is presented. The novel approach relies on actuating a single-point light detecting and ranging (1D LiDAR) sensor using a micro servo motor onboard a drone. The collected LiDAR ranges are converted to a point cloud that allows the reconstruction of 3D stockpiles, hence calculating the volume under the reconstructed surface. The proposed approach was assessed via simulations of a wide range of mission operating conditions while mapping two different stockpile shapes within the Webots robotic simulator. The influences from modulating the drone flight trajectory, servo motion waveform, flight speed, and yawing speed on the mapping performance were all investigated. For simple rectangular trajectories, it was found that having longer trajectories that are adjacent to the storage walls provides best reconstruction results with reasonable energy consumption. On the other hand, for short rectangular trajectories within the storage middle space, the yawing speed at corners must be decreased to ensure good reconstruction quality, although this can lead to relatively high energy consumption. Comparing the volumetric error values, the average error from the proposed 1D LiDAR system, when operating at 6°·s−1 maximum yawing speed at the corners, was 0.8 ± 1.1%, as opposed to 1.8 ± 1.7%, and 0.9 ± 1.0% from the 2D and 3D LiDAR options, respectively. Moreover, compared to 2D and 3D LiDARs, the proposed system requires less scanning speed for data acquisition, is much lighter, and allows a substantial reduction in cost.
Smart Decision-Support System for Pig Farming
Authors: Wang Hao , Li Boyang , Zhong Haoming , Xu Ahong , Huang Yingjie , Zou Jingfu , Chen Yuanyuan , Wu Pengcheng , Chen Yiqiang , Leung Cyril , Miao Chunyan
Published: November 2022

There are multiple participants, such as farmers, wholesalers, retailers, financial institutions, etc., involved in the modern food production process. All of these participants and stakeholders have a shared goal, which is to gather information on the food production process so that they can make appropriate decisions to increase productivity and reduce risks. However, real-time data collection and analysis continue to be difficult tasks, particularly in developing nations, where agriculture is the primary source of income for the majority of the population. In this paper, we present a smart decision-support system for pig farming. Specifically, we first adopt rail-based unmanned vehicles to capture pigsty images. We then conduct image stitching to avoid double-counting pigs so that we can use image segmentation method to give precise masks for each pig. Based on the segmentation masks, the pig weights can be estimated, and data can be integrated in our developed mobile app. The proposed system enables the above participants and stakeholders to have real-time data and intelligent analysis reports to help their decision-making.
Validation of a Computer Code for the Energy Consumption of a Building, with Application to Optimal Electric Bill Pricing
Authors: Keller Merlin , Damblin Guillaume , Pasanisi Alberto , Schumann Mathieu , Barbillon Pierre , Ruggeri Fabrizio , Parent Eric
Published: November 2022

In this paper, we present a case study aimed at determining a billing plan that ensures customer loyalty and provides a profit for the energy company, whose point of view is taken in the paper. The energy provider promotes new contracts for residential buildings, in which customers pay a fixed rate chosen in advance, based on an overall energy consumption forecast. For such a purpose, we consider a practical Bayesian framework for the calibration and validation of a computer code used to forecast the energy consumption of a building. On the basis of power field measurements, collected from an experimental building cell in a given period of time, the code is calibrated, effectively reducing the epistemic uncertainty affecting the most relevant parameters of the code (albedo, thermal bridge factor, and convective coefficient). The validation is carried out by testing the goodness of fit of the code with respect to the field measurements, and then propagating the posterior parametric uncertainty through the code, obtaining probabilistic forecasts of the average electrical power delivered inside the cell in a given period of time. Finally, Bayesian decision-making methods are used to choose the optimal fixed rate (for the energy provider) of the contract, in order to balance short-term benefits with customer retention. We identify three significant contributions of the paper. First of all, the case study data were never analyzed from a Bayesian viewpoint, which is relevant here not only for estimating the parameters but also for properly assessing the uncertainty about the forecasts. Furthermore, the study of optimal policies for energy providers in this framework is new, to the best of our knowledge. Finally, we propose Bayesian posterior predictive p-value for validation.
Design of a Quadruple Band-Notched Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Antenna Using Curled C-Shaped Structures and Interdigital Inductance Slots
Authors: Deng Zhongliang , Lai Chengqi , Wang Yucheng , Deng Kun
Published: November 2022

In this paper, a novel ultra-wideband (UWB) printed antenna with quadruple band-notched characteristics is proposed and investigated. The quadruple band rejections are achieved by etching two interdigital capacitance slots on each side of the ground plane, embedding a curled C-shaped slot on the circle patch, and adding a curled split-ring resonator on the backside of the antenna. Interdigital inductance slots can obtain a narrower notched band than general structures due to their high inductance, thereby preserving some valuable frequencies. Adjusting the tail branch’s length and distance of the curled C-shaped slot and the curled split-ring resonator can control the notch frequency and width. Finally, the proposed antenna operates from 2.9–11 GHz (VSWR < 2) with four band stops (VSWR > 2) for rejecting WiMAX, WLAN, and downlink of X-band satellite communication. Furthermore, the difference between the experimental results and the expected value is less than 3%. The proposed antenna can accurately filter out narrow-band signals.
Indoor Propagation Analysis of IQRF Technology for Smart Building Applications
Authors: Bouzidi Mohammed , Gupta Nishu , Dalveren Yaser , Mohamed Marshed , Alaya Cheikh Faouzi , Derawi Mohammad
Published: November 2022

Owing to its efficiency in the Internet of Things (IoT) applications in terms of low-power connectivity, IQRF (Intelligent Connectivity using Radio Frequency) technology appears to be one of the most reasonable IoT technologies in the commercial market. To realize emerging smart building applications using IQRF, it is necessary to study the propagation characteristics of IQRF technology in indoor environments. In this study, preliminary propagation measurements are conducted using IQRF transceivers that operate on the 868 MHz band in a peer-to-peer (P2P) configured system. The measurements are conducted both in a single corridor of a building in a Line-of-Sight (LoS) link and two perpendicular corridors in a Non-Line-of-Sight (NLoS) with one single knife-edge link. Moreover, the measured path loss values are compared with the predicted path loss values in order to comparatively assess the prediction accuracy of the well-known empirical models, such as log-distance, ITU, and WINNER II. According to the results, it is concluded that the ITU-1 path loss model agrees well with the measurements and could be used in the planning of an IQRF network deployment in a typical LoS corridor environment. For NLoS corridors, both ITU-3 and WINNERII-2 models could be used due to their higher prediction accuracy. We expect that the initial results achieved in this study could open new perspectives for future research on the development of smart building applications.
Detection of Diseases in Pandemic: A Predictive Approach Using Stack Ensembling on Multi-Modal Imaging Data
Authors: Mansoor Rabeea , Shah Munam Ali , Khattak Hasan Ali , Mussadiq Shafaq , Rauf Hafiz Tayyab , Ameer Zoobia
Published: November 2022

Deep Learning (DL) in Medical Imaging is an emerging technology for diagnosing various diseases, i.e., pneumonia, lung cancer, brain stroke, breast cancer, etc. In Machine Learning (ML) and traditional data mining approaches, feature extraction is performed before building a predictive model, which is a cumbersome task. In the case of complex data, there are a lot of challenges, such as insufficient domain knowledge while performing feature engineering. With the advancement in the application of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) and DL, ensemble learning is an essential foundation for developing an automated diagnostic system. Medical Imaging with different modalities is effective for the detailed analysis of various chronic diseases, in which the healthy and infected scans of multiple organs are compared and analyzed. In this study, the transfer learning approach is applied to train 15 state-of-the-art DL models on three datasets (X-ray, CT-scan and Ultrasound) for predicting diseases. The performance of these models is evaluated and compared. Furthermore, a two-level stack ensembling of fine-tuned DL models is proposed. The DL models having the best performances among the 15 will be used for stacking in the first layer. Support Vector Machine (SVM) is used in Level 2 as a meta-classifier to predict the result as one of the following: pandemic positive (1) or negative (0). The proposed architecture has achieved 98.3%, 98.2% and 99% accuracy for D1, D2 and D3, respectively, which outperforms the performance of existing research. These experimental results and findings can be considered helpful tools for pandemic screening on chest X-rays, CT scan images and ultrasound images of infected patients. This architecture aims to provide clinicians with more accurate results.
Employment Effect of Minimum Wages
Authors: Giotis Georgios , Mylonas Naoum
Published: November 2022

The effect of minimum wages on employment is a mature, continuously researched topic. This study discusses the core theoretical approaches on the relationship between the minimum wage and employment, which is reflected by the empirical results from the international literature. Moreover, it presents the findings of the most recent research and the results of meta-analyses of this issue. While the theoretical approaches and outcomes of empirical studies vary, the meta-analysis demonstrates the lack of a significant correlation between minimum wages and employment. In light of the latest developments and meta-regressions, the literature does not provide a clear and definite sign of the relationship, but the trend seems to be driven towards a negative direction of the impact for the more sensitive groups. Therefore, further light needs to be shed onto this issue.
The Post-Pandemic Transformation of Art and Architecture Libraries
Authors: Orcutt Rose , Campbell Lucy , Gervits Maya , Opar Barbara
Published: November 2022

This entry paper considers the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the processes and functions of art and architecture libraries in North America and distinguishes between temporary changes and those that will endure and are here to stay. COVID-19 impacted all aspects of human life, placing tremendous stress on institutions and individuals globally. Academic libraries responded to the crisis by bringing resources to communities remotely and keeping constituents engaged to maintain a sense of normalcy. While libraries in schools of architecture, art, and design, responded similarly to other academic libraries, they also had unique needs. This entry paper is informed by two surveys of art and architecture library staff and faculty, alongside a preliminary literature review. The results of the first survey were published in Art Documentation and the results and analysis of the second survey are forthcoming. Both temporary and long-standing changes were implemented to ensure uninterrupted service in academic institutions. Temporary solutions included extending loan periods, quarantining materials, enforcing social distancing, and expanding document delivery. Changes that will endure post-pandemic include the increased acquisition of digital materials, remote instruction and reference consultations, increased resource access, and the utilization of a vast array of technologies.
All-Purpose Nano- and Microcontainers: A Review of the New Engineering Possibilities
Authors: Kordas George
Published: November 2022

Recently, a subcategory of nanotechnology—nano-, and microcontainers—has developed rapidly, with unexpected results. By nano- and microcontainers, we mean hollow spherical structures whose shells can be organic or inorganic. These containers can be filled with substances released when given an excitation, and fulfill their missions of corrosion healing, cancer therapy, cement healing, antifouling, etc. This review summarizes the scattered innovative technology that has beneficial effects on improving people’s lives.
Dimensional Solution of Wooden Chairs for the Adult Bariatric Population of Slovakia: Observational Study
Authors: Hitka Miloš , Štarchoň Peter , Simanová Ľubica , Čuta Martin , Sydor Maciej
Published: November 2022

Chairs are furniture that are intended for direct contact with people, they are heavily loaded by forces, and they must meet a number of criteria, such as ergonomics, safety, economic sustainability, feasibility, and aesthetic requirements. This study aimed to define the dimensional solution of wooden chairs for the adult bariatric subpopulation of Slovakia. Long-term observations of the changes in the anthropometric dimensions of the population (secular trend) allowed the determination of the body height of 95% of the adult male population. Based on the analysis of the bariatric population of Slovakia, regardless of gender, the values of weight, waist and hip circumference, and seat width were defined in the years 2020 to 2022. The increased population’s average body mass makes the researched topic highly relevant and necessary. Based on the obtained data, new dimensions of wooden chairs for bariatric respondents were designed: seat height 49 cm, seat width 67 cm, and seat depth 47 cm. Adjusting the dimensions of wooden chairs makes it possible to ensure comfortable sitting and standing for bariatric respondents and prevents many health problems. For furniture manufacturers, the introduction of the production of wooden furniture for bariatric respondents can be a competitive market advantage.
Perspectives on the Psychological and Physiological Effects of Forest Therapy: A Systematic Review with a Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression
Authors: Shim Sung Ryul , Chang JinKyung , Lee JooHee , Byeon WooJin , Lee Jeongwon , Lee Kyung Ju
Published: November 2022

The effects of urbanization on the health of city dwellers have spurred research on the health-promoting benefits of forest exposure, and potential health-promoting benefits of human-nature relationships. In this meta-analysis, meta-regression, and systematic review, we aimed to analyze how forest-based interventions improved overall well-being through psychological and physiological changes by examining psychological scores and biomarkers. In December 2021, systematic searches were conducted on bibliographic databases (PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane) for studies involving psychological scores and physiological indicators. Data from 17 studies with 1418 participants showed that psychological symptoms (anxiety, depression, anger, fatigue, confusion, vigor), systolic blood pressure (BP), and malondialdehyde levels significantly improved in the forest-exposed group compared to in the nonexposed group, with high heterogeneity (I2 = 66%–93%). Well-being-related psychological symptoms (friendliness, well-being, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, self-esteem) and physiological markers (diastolic BP and cortisol) exhibited better tendencies in the forest-exposed group, with high heterogeneity (I2 = 16%–91%), and meta-regression showed that moderators (age, country group, number of participants, study design, female participation rate, BMI) were significantly associated with forest-related therapeutic effects. In conclusion, forest visits have health-promoting effects that reduce the incidence of stress and lifestyle-related diseases, and are positively associated with psychological and physiological health.
Land Change Simulation and Forest Carbon Storage of Central Yunnan Urban Agglomeration, China Based on SSP-RCP Scenarios
Authors: Wang Rongyao , Zhao Junsan , Lin Yilin , Chen Guoping , Cao Qing , Feng Yixiang
Published: November 2022

Land use change is closely related to the terrestrial ecosystem. Studying the relationship between land use and ecosystem service carbon storage under future climate change can optimize the regional ecosystem service function and formulate sustainable social and economic development policies, which is of great significance for regional carbon emission management and climate change response. In this paper, the coupled model of SSP-RCP-PLUS-InVEST was constructed to simulate land use change under different scenarios, analyze the influence degree of driving factors on different regions, and explore the spatio-temporal evolution and spatial correlation of carbon storage, taking Central Yunnan City agglomeration as an example. The results showed that: (1) from the perspective of land use change, the overall changes in SSP126 and SSP245 scenarios were similar, and the change rates of different types were slightly different. Under the SSP585 scenario, the forest area decreased, and the urban land and cropland land expanded. (2) Under the three scenarios in the future, the decrease in total carbon storage is the most serious under the SSP245 scenario, and the decrease is the most serious under the SSP585 scenario. (3) Comparative spatial correlation: the carbon storage in the Central Yunnan urban agglomeration is generally correlated among counties, and there is no significant difference under the future scenarios, showing a high accumulation pattern in the east and low accumulation pattern in the middle. In general, reasonable planning of land spatial patterns and increasing the proportion of forest is conducive to the proportion of regional carbon sequestration capacity. The research methods can provide references for addressing climate change and territorial spatial planning.
Risk Factors and Occupational Safety Failures in Forest Work in the Southeast Asian Region
Authors: Kaakkurivaara Tomi , Borz Stelian Alexandru , Kaakkurivaara Nopparat
Published: November 2022

Occupational safety is generally known to be low in forestry work. A similar situation may be found in Southeast Asian countries, where health and safety aspects are not commonly taken care of so rigorously. However, there is also a lack of primary data which could be suitable for evaluating such issues. The auditing reports of FCS certification are a source of useful information to evaluate and analyze health and safety concerns in forestry work. This paper addressed the coverage of available information, classified the risk factors uniformly from different certifying body criteria, compared occurrence of risk factors in groups and checked for dependencies in data. The key findings are that the main issues were those related to the organizations’ failures to protect the workers and to the lack of awareness of safety. In turn, these may explain the high incidence of forestry-related work accidents in Southeast Asia.
Impregnation Properties of Nigerian-Grown Gmelina arborea Roxb. Wood
Authors: Olaniran Samuel Oluyinka , Löning Sophie , Buschalsky Andreas , Militz Holger
Published: November 2022

The success of any wood treatment process and the measure of protection conferred on treated wood are determined by the uptake and penetration of the treatment chemicals, in addition to the efficacy of the chemicals used for the treatment. Hence, the level of treatability of wood species should be pre-determined prior to the wood treatment to ensure the overall protection of the treated wood. Gmelina arborea wood, due to its low durability, requires impregnation with chemicals for preservation or chemical modification to enhance its durability. However, more details are required to establish the influence of its anatomy on impregnation to recommend appropriate treatment methods. Therefore, gmelina wood samples were treated under pressure to determine the solution uptake and penetration, while anatomical studies were carried out with light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) measurements. Variations in stem heights, stem diameters, and samples from other tree stands were considered. The outcome of the study showed that the liquid uptake was generally low for gmelina wood among the selected stands (16%–23%) and there was no significant difference in stem diameters; meanwhile, penetration was less than 4 mm in the axial direction, and very low in the lateral (radial and tangential) direction. Vessels of gmelina wood have abundant tyloses, while crystalline structures with needlelike shapes are present in a large proportion of the ray parenchyma cells, and are confirmed with SEM-EDX to be made up of calcium oxalate. The low liquid uptake and penetration in gmelina wood suggest that the impregnation of chemicals into its microstructure is next to impossible. Hence, alternative treatment methods other than those involving impregnation with chemicals should be sought to enhance its durability.
Drought Resistance Evaluation of Casuarina equisetifolia Half-Sib Families at the Seedling Stage and the Response of Five NAC Genes to Drought Stress
Authors: Xu Huichang , Yu Jinlin , You Longhui , Xiao Shengwu , Nie Sen , Li Tuhe , Ye Gongfu , Lin Dichu
Published: November 2022

Casuarina equisetifolia (L.) is an indispensable tree species in the construction of the backbone of the shelterbelt system in subtropical coastal regions, as it can resist wind, sand, drought, and salt. Under global warming and water shortage, it is important to clarify the mechanisms through which C. equisetifolia adapts to drought stress and to breed drought-resistant varieties in order to enhance the ecological protection provided by coastal shelterbelts. Here, we aimed to explore the response characteristics of C. equisetifolia to drought stress and investigate the associations of NAC genes with drought resistance. Seedlings of 16 half-sib C. equisetifolia families were subjected to drought treatment. Seedling growth, morphology, physiological and biochemical indices, and drought resistance were comprehensively evaluated. The drought-resistant families designated 4-383, 3-80, 3-265, 3-224, and 1-195 were selected using multiple indices and methods. Correlation and structural equation model analyses revealed that CCG007578 might regulate growth and osmoprotection in C. equisetifolia while CCG028838 and CCG004029 may scavenge reactive oxygen species. The correlation and structural equation model analyses of seedling height growth (ΔH), survival rate (S), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and CCG007578 expression were used to identify drought resistance in C. equisetifolia. The aforementioned drought-resistant families provide basic materials for future research on genes encoding drought-resistance proteins and the molecular breeding of drought-resistant C. equisetifolia.
Xylitol Production from Pineapple Cores (Ananas comosus (L.) Merr) by Enzymatic and Acid Hydrolysis Using Microorganisms Debaryomyces hansenii and Candida tropicalis
Authors: Mardawati Efri , Hartono Agus T. , Nurhadi Bambang , Fitriana Hana Nur , Hermiati Euis , Ermawar Riksfardini Annisa
Published: November 2022

Hydrolysis and fermentation processes are key stages in xylitol production from lignocellulosic materials. In this study, pineapple cores, one of the wastes from the canned pineapple industry, were used as raw material for xylitol production. Two methods was used for hydrolysis: enzymatically using commercial enzyme Cellic HTec2, and acid hydrolysis using 4% H2SO4. In contrast, the fermentation process was carried out with two selected yeasts commonly employed in xylitol fermentation, Debaryomycess hansenii, and Candida tropicalis. Before these two processes, the pineapple cores were characterized using the Van Soest method to determine their lignocellulosic content. The hemicellulose content was 36.06%, the cellulose content was 14.20%, and the lignin content was 10.05%. This result indicates that the hemicellulose content of pineapple cores has the potential to be used as a raw material in the production of xylitol. The hydrolysis efficiency of enzymatic hydrolysis was 21% higher than that of acid hydrolysis. The highest xylitol and biomass yield of 0.371 gxylitol/gxylose and 0.225 gcell/gxylose were observed by C. tropicalis using an enzymatic hydrolysate.
A Novel Strategy for VNF Placement in Edge Computing Environments
Authors: Battisti Anselmo Luiz Éden , Macedo Evandro Luiz Cardoso , Josué Marina Ivanov Pereira , Barbalho Hugo , Delicato Flávia C. , Muchaluat-Saade Débora Christina , Pires Paulo F. , Mattos Douglas Paulo de , Oliveira Ana Cristina Bernardo de
Published: November 2022

Network function virtualization (NFV) is a novel technology that virtualizes computing, network, and storage resources to decouple the network functions from the underlying hardware, thus allowing the software implementation of such functions to run on commodity hardware. By doing this, NFV provides the necessary flexibility to enable agile, cost-effective, and on-demand service delivery models combined with automated management. Different management and orchestration challenges arise in such virtualized and distributed environments. A major challenge in the selection of the most suitable edge nodes is that of deploying virtual network functions (VNFs) to meet requests from multiple users. This article addresses the VNF placement problem by providing a novel integer linear programming (ILP) optimization model and a novel VNF placement algorithm. In our definition, the multi-objective optimization problem aims to (i) minimize the energy consumption in the edge nodes; (ii) minimize the total latency; and (iii) reducing the total cost of the infrastructure. Our new solution formulates the VNF placement problem by taking these three objectives into account simultaneously. In addition, the novel VNF placement algorithm leverages VNF sharing, which reuses VNF instances already placed to potentially reduce computational resource usage. Such a feature is still little explored in the community. Through simulation, numerical results show that our approach can perform better than other approaches found in the literature regarding resource consumption and the number of SFC requests met.
Effect of Dietary Moringa oleifera Leaves Nanoparticles on Growth Performance, Physiological, Immunological Responses, and Liver Antioxidant Biomarkers in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) against Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Toxicity
Authors: Hamed Heba S. , Amen Rehab M. , Elelemi Azza H , Mahboub Heba H. , Elabd Hiam , Abdelfattah Abdelfattah M. , Moniem Hebatallah Abdel , El-Beltagy Marwa A. , Alkafafy Mohamed , Yassin Engy Mohamed Mohamed , Ismail Ayman K.
Published: November 2022

The current study addresses the influence of Moringa oleifera leaves nanoparticles (MO-NPs) on growth, biochemical, immunological, and hepatic antioxidant alterations induced by zinc oxide nanoparticles toxicity in Nile tilapia (O. niloticus). Fish (N = 180) were divided into four groups with replicates. The first one was set as a control group and the second group was fed an MO-NPs-enriched diet (2.5 g/kg diet). The third group was exposed to 8 mg/L ZnO-NPs, while the forth group was exposed to 8 mg/L ZnO-NPs and fed on MO-NPs (2.5 g/kg diet) for 2 months. Exposure of O. niloticus to 8 mg/L ZnO-NPs induced the following consequences: a sharp decrease in the growth parameters; a marked increment in the biochemical biomarkers (glucose, cortisol, and liver enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP); a significant increase in serum renal products, urea and creatinine, cholesterol, and LDH levels. Nonetheless, the dietary MO-NPs supplementation for 2 months significantly alleviated the ZnO-NPs toxicity and significantly enhanced the growth indices, plus normalizing the physio-biochemical levels in the exposed group to ZnO-NPs toxicity to reach the levels of the control group. The MO-NPs markedly improved hepatic antioxidant biomarkers, MDA, and TAC, while, decreasing SOD, CAT, and GSH levels to be near the control values. Moreover, supplemented fish in MO-NPs (2.5 g/kg diet) and exposed to ZnO-NPs provided a remarkable increase in the immune profile (respiratory burst (RB) activity, lysozyme, and total immunoglobulins (IgM)) compared to the ZnO-NPs-intoxicated group. Based on the findings of the study, the exposed O. niloticus to ZnO-NPs were immune-antioxidant-depressed, besides showing growth retardation, and physio-biochemical alterations. On the other hand, a supplemented diet with MO-NPs is a novel approach to ameliorate ZnO-NPs toxicity for sustaining aquaculture and correspondingly protecting human health.
Non-destructive Approach for the Prediction of pH in Frozen Fish Meat Using Fluorescence Fingerprints in Tandem with Chemometrics
Authors: Rahman Md. Mizanur , Shibata Mario , Nakazawa Naho , Rithu Mst. Nazira Akhter , Nakauchi Shigeki , Hagiwara Tomoaki , Osako Kazufumi , Okazaki Emiko
Published: November 2022

The pH of fish muscle is an important index for quality assessment, but the traditional methods using a pH meter and probe/electrode are destructive, time-consuming, and laborious, making them unsuitable for on-line meat-quality monitoring. Hence, an approach of using fluorescence fingerprints (FFs) for the non-destructive prediction of pH in frozen fish fillets was trialled. Sixty-three live horse mackerel (Trachurus japonicus) and spotted mackerel (Scomber australasicus) were freshly harvested, sacrificed instantly, then preserved in ice, filleted, vacuum-packed, and frozen. Subsequently, the FFs of all frozen fillets were recorded using a fibreoptic-equipped fluorescence spectrometer, and the corresponding pH values of the samples were measured. After pre-processing, the masked FFs were modelled using partial least squares regression (PLSR) for the prediction of pH values. The results revealed that the developed method was accurate enough for predicting the pH changes in frozen horse mackerel and spotted mackerel fillets with R2 = 0.71 and R2 = 0.90, respectively. The proposed technique could be utilized as a rapid and non-contact alternative to traditional pH electrodes for the quality monitoring of fish products.
The Occurrence and Genomic Characteristics of mcr-1-Harboring Salmonella from Retail Meats and Eggs in Qingdao, China
Authors: Li Changan , Gu Xiulei , Zhang Liping , Liu Yuqing , Li Yan , Zou Ming , Liu Baotao
Published: November 2022

Salmonella are widely distributed foodborne pathogens and are often associated with food animal products. Colistin resistance mediated by mcr-1 is an increasing threat; however, data on the characteristics of mcr-1-harboring Salmonella among retail foods are still lacking. In this study, retail meats from 24 supermarkets and eggs from nine markets in Qingdao city were investigated to determine the presence and genomic characteristics of mcr-1-harboring Salmonella. We found the retail meats and eggs were highly contaminated by Salmonella, with detection rates of 17.5% (31/177) and 12.3% (16/130), respectively. A total of 76 Salmonella isolates were obtained in this study, and 77.6% showed multidrug resistance (MDR). The MDR proportion of egg isolates (97.5%) was significantly higher than that in meat isolates (55.6%) (p < 0.05). The most prevalent Salmonella serotypes were Typhimurium (56.6%) and Enteritidis (17.1%). Of the 76 Salmonella isolates, 40 possessed mcr-1. All 40 mcr-1-positive isolates were ST34 S. Typhimurium and were from eggs of eight brands. Different mcr-1-harboring isolates existed in the same egg, and some isolates from different egg samples or brands showed clonal relationships. The mcr-1 was located on similar IncHI2/HI2A MDR non-conjugative plasmids lacking transfer region, resulting in the failure of conjugation. The phylogenetic tree using genome sequences showed that the mcr-1-positive isolates from eggs clustered together with mcr-1-positive isolates from chicken and humans in China, revealing that mcr-1-positive egg-borne Salmonella might be derived from chicken and could potentially trigger outbreaks in humans. The high occurrence of mcr-1-harboring Salmonella in fresh eggs is alarming, and there is an urgent need to monitor mcr-1-harboring Salmonella in retail meats and eggs. We report for the first time the role of retail eggs in disseminating mcr-1-positive Salmonella and the risk of transmission of these MDR pathogens from retail food to humans should be evaluated comprehensively.
In Vitro Effect of Flavonoids on Basophils Degranulation and Intestinal Epithelial Barrier Damage Induced by ω-5 Gliadin-Derived Peptide
Authors: Wu Shuangshuang , Zhang Ranran , Liu Yaran , Gao Jinyan , Wu Yong , Tu Changchun , Chen Hongbing , Yuan Juanli
Published: November 2022

Flavonoids have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties, and may alleviate food allergic reactions and intestinal inflammation induced by ω-5 gliadin, a main allergen of wheat food allergy in children. In this study, a human basophil KU812 cell degranulation model and a Caco-2 monolayer cell model were constructed in vitro to evaluate the effects of four flavonoids on the allergenicity of ω-5 gliadin peptides and ω-5 gliadin peptide-induced barrier damage in Caco-2 intestinal epithelial monolayers. The results show that baicalein, luteolin, isorhamnetin and naringenin can significantly inhibit the degranulation of KU812 cells stimulated by ω-5 gliadin-derived peptide P4 and the release of IL-6 and TNF-α. In addition, the four flavonoids significantly inhibited the ω-5 gliadin-derived peptide P4 to induce the release of IL-6, IL-8 in Caco-2 cells, inhibited the release of zonulin, and significantly increase the expression of tight junction proteins Occludin and ZO-1 in the Caco-2 cell monolayer. In conclusion, baicalein, luteolin, isorhamnetin and naringenin inhibit degranulation stimulated by wheat allergen and enhance intestinal barrier functions, which supports the potential pharmaceutical application of the four flavonoids treatment for wheat food allergy.
Emulgels Structured with Dietary Fiber for Food Uses: A Rheological Model
Authors: Bruno Elisabetta , Lupi Francesca Romana , Mammolenti Domenico , Mileti Olga , Baldino Noemi , Gabriele Domenico
Published: November 2022

Emulgels are biphasic emulsified systems in which the continuous phase is structured with a specific gelling agent. In this work, a rheological and microscopic investigation of O/W emulgels prepared by structuring the aqueous (continuous) phase with citrus fiber was carried out with the aim of designing their macroscopic properties for food uses and predicting their characteristics with a rheological model. According to previous investigations, fiber suspensions behave as “particle gels” and, consequently, the derived emulgels’ properties are strongly dependent on the fiber concentration and on process conditions adopted to produce them. Therefore, a rotor–stator system was used to prepare emulgels with increasing fiber content and with different levels of energy and power used for mixing delivered to the materials. An investigation of particle gels was then carried out, fixing the operating process conditions according to emulgel results. Furthermore, the effect of the dispersed (oil) phase volume fraction was varied and a modified semi-empirical Palierne model was proposed with the aim of optimizing a correlation between rheological properties and formulation parameters, fixing the process conditions.
Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complexes and Their Application in Food Safety Analysis: Recent Developments and Future Prospects
Authors: Zhou Jiaojiao , Jia Jilai , He Jiangling , Li Jinjie , Cai Jie
Published: November 2022

Food safety issues are a major threat to public health and have attracted much attention. Therefore, exploring accurate, efficient, sensitive, and economical detection methods is necessary to ensure consumers’ health. In this regard, cyclodextrins (CDs) are promising candidates because they are nontoxic and noncaloric. The main body of CDs is a ring structure with hydrophobic cavity and hydrophilic exterior wall. Due to the above characteristics, CDs can encapsulate small guest molecules into their cavities, enhance their stability, avoid agglomeration and oxidation, and, at the same time, interact through hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions. Additionally, they can selectively capture the target molecules to be detected and improve the sensitivity of food detection. This review highlights recent advances in CD inclusion technology in food safety analysis, covering various applications from small molecule and heavy metal sensing to amino acid and microbial sensing. Finally, challenges and prospects for CDs and their derivatives are presented. The current review can provide a reference and guidance for current research on CDs in the food industry and may inspire breakthroughs in this field.
The Contribution of Digital Technology to the Forecasting of Supply Chain Development, in IT Products, Modeling and Simulation of the Problem
Authors: Nasiopoulos Dimitrios K. , Mastrakoulis Dimitrios M. , Arvanitidis Dimitrios A.
Published: November 2022

Aiming for the forecasting and predictability of their future development, corporations have developed appropriate strategies as a result of the necessity to optimize the distribution networks of new IT products over time. The necessity of diversifying manufacturing was brought on by the fierce competition between businesses and the sophisticated consumer demand trends for personalized items. For businesses looking to create more effective distribution networks for their products, mass adaptability may be advantageous. Fuzzy cognitive mapping (FCM), associations developed from web analytics data, and simulation results based on dynamic and agent-based simulation models work together to practically aid digital marketing experts, decision-makers and analysts in offering answers to their corresponding problems. In order to apply the measures in agent-based modeling, the current work is based on the gathering of web analysis data over a predetermined time period, as well as on identifying the influence correlations between measurements.