bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Wood-Veneer-Reinforced Mycelium Composites for Sustainable Building Components
Authors: Özdemir Eda , Saeidi Nazanin , Javadian Alireza , Rossi Andrea , Nolte Nadja , Ren Shibo , Dwan Albert , Acosta Ivan , Hebel Dirk E. , Wurm Jan , Eversmann Philipp
Published: April 2022

The demand for building materials has been constantly increasing, which leads to excessive energy consumption for their provision. The looming environmental consequences have triggered the search for sustainable alternatives. Mycelium, as a rapidly renewable, low-carbon natural material that can withstand compressive forces and has inherent acoustic and fire-resistance properties, could be a potential solution to this problem. However, due to its low tensile, flexural and shear strength, mycelium is not currently widely used commercially in the construction industry. Therefore, this research focuses on improving the structural performance of mycelium composites for interior use through custom robotic additive manufacturing processes that integrate continuous wood fibers into the mycelial matrix as reinforcement. This creates a novel, 100% bio-based, wood-veneer-reinforced mycelium composite. As base materials, Ganoderma lucidum and hemp hurds for mycelium growth and maple veneer for reinforcement were pre-selected for this study. Compression, pull-out, and three-point bending tests comparing the unreinforced samples to the veneer-reinforced samples were performed, revealing improvements on the bending resistance of the reinforced samples. Additionally, the tensile strength of the reinforcement joints was examined and proved to be stronger than the material itself. The paper presents preliminary experiment results showing the effect of veneer reinforcements on increasing bending resistance, discusses the potential benefits of combining wood veneer and mycelium’s distinct material properties, and highlights methods for the design and production of architectural components.
Development of a Portable and Modular Gas Generator: Application to Formaldehyde Analysis
Authors: Becker Anaïs , Lohmann Nathaly , Serra Christophe A. , Le Calvé Stéphane
Published: April 2022

This work aims at developing and validating under laboratory-controlled conditions a gas mixture generation device designed for easy on-site or laboratory calibration of analytical instruments dedicated to air monitoring, such as analysers or sensors. This portable device, which has been validated for formaldehyde, is compact and is based on the diffusion of liquid formaldehyde through a short microporous interface with an air stream to reach non-Henry equilibrium gas–liquid dynamics. The geometry of the temperature-controlled assembly has been optimised to allow easy change of the aqueous solution, keeping the microporous tube straight. The formaldehyde generator has been coupled to an on-line formaldehyde analyser to monitor the gas concentration generated as a function of the liquid formaldehyde concentration, the temperature, the air gas flow rate, and the microporous tube length. Our experimental results show that the generated gaseous formaldehyde concentration increase linearly between 10 and 1740 µg m−3 with that of the aqueous solution ranging between 0 and 200 mg L−1 for all the gas flow rates studied, namely 25, 50 and 100 mL min−1. The generated gas phase concentration also increases with increasing temperature according to Henry’s law and with increasing the gas–liquid contact time either by reducing the gas flow rate from 100 to 25 mL min−1 or increasing the microporous tube length from 3.5 to 14 cm. Finally, the performances of this modular formaldehyde generator are compared and discussed with those reported in the scientific literature or commercialised by manufacturers. The technique developed here is the only one allowing to operate with a low flow rate such as 25 to 100 mL min−1 while generating a wide range of concentrations (10–1000 µg m−3) with very good accuracy.
Brazil Wave Climate from a High-Resolution Wave Hindcast
Authors: Cotrim Camila de Sa , Semedo Alvaro , Lemos Gil
Published: April 2022

A detailed climatology of ocean wind waves in the South Atlantic Ocean, based on ERA-5 reanalysis and in a higher-resolution wave hindcast (ERA-5H), both developed by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, is presented. The higher resolution of the wave fields in the ERA-5H (22 km) allowed for a better description of the wind sea and swell features compared to previous global and regional studies along the Brazilian coast. Overall, it is shown that swell waves are more prevalent and carry more energy in the offshore area of the study area, while wind sea waves dominate the nearshore regions, especially along the northern coast of Brazil. The influence of different climate indices on the significant wave heights patterns is also presented, with two behavioral groups showing opposite correlations to the North Atlantic Oscillation and Southern Annular Mode than to the Southern Oscillation Index. The analysis of the decadal trends of wind sea and swell heights during the ERA-5H period (1979–2020) shows that the long-term trends of the total significant wave height in the South Atlantic Ocean are mostly due to swell events and the wave propagation effect from Southern Ocean storms.
Phytocosmetic Emulsion Containing Extract of Morus nigra L. (Moraceae): Development, Stability Study, Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities
Authors: Melo Rafaela Santos de , Reis Silvio Alan Gonçalves Bomfim , Guimarães Amanda Leite , Silva Naiane Darklei dos Santos , Rocha Joao Miguel , El Aouad Noureddine , Almeida Jackson Roberto Guedes da Silva
Published: April 2022

Morus nigra L. is a species popularly known in the Northeast of Brazil as “amora miúra”. This species is a source of flavonoids with antioxidant activity. Antioxidants play an important role in the preservation of cosmetic formulations, and they neutralize free radicals. The objective of this study was to develop a topical emulsion containing leaf extract of Morus nigra L., as well as to evaluate the stability, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the formulations. A crude hydroalcoholic (70%) extract of M. nigra leaves (MnCE) was submitted to high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection (HPLC–DAD) analysis and incorporated into an anionic base emulsion. Antioxidant activity was evaluated according to the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) method, and the stability of the formulation was assessed for 90 days, submitting the emulsion to storage at 4, 20, and 37 °C. Microdilution techniques evaluated the antibacterial activity and a challenge test assessed the microbiological stability. Analysis by HPLC–DAD identified the flavonoids rutin and isoquercetin in the M. nigra extract. The emulsion and plant extract presented antioxidant activity, and the stability of the emulsion was preserved in terms of pH value and viscosity—which did not show significant changes, except for the spreadability, which was affected by the temperature. The antioxidant activity did not change significantly, except for the sample under 4 °C, which showed a considerable decrease in activity. The crude hydroalcoholic extract and formulation showed antimicrobial activity and the emulsion was considered stable in terms of organoleptic, physicochemical, and microbiological properties.
Optimal Cascade Non-Integer Controller for Shunt Active Power Filter: Real-Time Implementation
Authors: Nikkhah Kashani Hoda , Rouhi Ardeshiri Reza , Gheisarnejad Meysam , Khooban Mohammad-Hassan
Published: April 2022

Active power filters (APFs) are used to mitigate the harmonics generated by nonlinear loads in distribution networks. Therefore, due to the increase of nonlinear loads in power systems, it is necessary to reduce current harmonics. One typical method is utilizing Shunt Active Power Filters (SAPFs). This paper proposes an outstanding controller to improve the performance of the three-phase 25-kVA SAPF. This controller can reduce the current total harmonic distortion (THD), and is called fractional order PI-fractional order PD (FOPI-FOPD) cascade controller. In this study, another qualified controller was applied, called multistage fractional order PID controller, to show the superiority of the FOPI-FOPD cascade controller to the multistage FOPID controller. Both controllers were designed based on a non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II). The obtained results demonstrate that the steady-state response and transient characteristics achieved by the FO (PI + PD) cascade controller are superior to the ones obtained by the multistage FOPID controller. The proposed controller was able to significantly reduce the source current THD to less than 2%, which is about a 52% reduction compared to the previous work in the introduction. Finally, the studied SAPF system with the proposed cascade controller was developed in the hardware-In-the Loop (HiL) simulation for real-time examinations.
Visual-Inertial Cross Fusion: A Fast and Accurate State Estimation Framework for Micro Flapping Wing Rotors
Authors: Dong Xin , Wang Ziyu , Liu Fangyuan , Li Song , Fei Fan , Li Daochun , Tu Zhan
Published: April 2022

Real-time and drift-free state estimation is essential for the flight control of Micro Aerial Vehicles (MAVs). Due to the vibration caused by the particular flapping motion and the stringent constraints of scale, weight, and power, state estimation divergence actually becomes an open challenge for flapping wing platforms’ longterm stable flight. Unlike conventional MAVs, the direct adoption of mature state estimation strategies, such as inertial or vision-based methods, has difficulty obtaining satisfactory sensing performance on flapping wing platforms. Inertial sensors offer high sampling frequency but suffer from flapping-introduced oscillation and drift. External visual sensors, such as motion capture systems, can provide accurate feedback but come with a relatively low sampling rate and severe delay. This work proposes a novel state estimation framework to combine the merits from both to address such key sensing challenges of a special flapping wing platform—micro flapping wing rotors (FWRs). In particular, a cross-fusion scheme, which integrates two alternately updated Extended Kalman Filters based on a convex combination, is proposed to tightly fuse both onboard inertial and external visual information. Such a design leverages both the high sampling rate of the inertial feedback and the accuracy of the external vision-based feedback. To address the sensing delay of the visual feedback, a ring buffer is designed to cache historical states for online drift compensation. Experimental validations have been conducted on two sophisticated microFWRs with different actuation and control principles. Both of them show realtime and drift-free state estimation.
Seven-Year Changes in Bulk Density Following Forest Harvesting and Machine Trafficking in Alberta, Canada
Authors: McNabb David H. , Startsev Andrei
Published: April 2022

Processes responsible for natural recovery of compacted forest soils are poorly understood, making estimating their recovery problematic. Bulk density was measured over 7 years at nine boreal forest sites in Alberta, Canada, where harvest-only and three skidding treatments were installed (~10,000 samples). Air and soil temperatures, soil moisture and redox potential, and snow depth were also measured on the harvest-only and adjacent seven-cycle skid trail. Significant increases in bulk density occurred when the soil water potential was wetter than −25 kPa. After 1 year, an additional significant increase in bulk density of 0.03 Mg m−3 was measured across all treatments, soil depths, and sites. The increase is attributed to the soil mechanics process of rebound and disruption of soil biological processes. By year 7, the secondary increase in bulk density had recovered in trafficked soil, but not on the harvest-only area. Some soil freezing had no effect on bulk density, which was moderated by the depth of the snowpack. The array of soil physical processes, soil texture, water supply, mechanics of water freezing in soil, and weather required to make soil freezing an effective decompacting agent did not occur. The shrink–swell process was not relevant because the soils remained wet. As a result, the bulk density of the trafficked soil failed to recover after 7 years to a depth of 20 cm. The freeze–thaw process as a decompaction agent is far more complex than commonly assumed, and its effectiveness cannot be assumed because soil temperatures below 0 °C are measured.
Hydroxytyrosol Attenuates High-Fat-Diet-Induced Oxidative Stress, Apoptosis and Inflammation of Blunt Snout Bream (Megalobrama amblycephala) through Its Regulation of Mitochondrial Homeostasis
Authors: Dong Yanzou , Xia Tian , Yu Manhan , Wang Ling , Song Kai , Zhang Chunxiao , Lu Kangle
Published: April 2022

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary hydroxytyrosol (HT) on oxidative stress, inflammation and mitochondrial homeostasis in blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala). Fish were fed a low-fat diet (LFD, 5% lipid), a high-fat diet (HFD, 15% lipid), an LFD supplementing 200 mg/kg HT, or an HFD supplementing 200 mg/kg HT. After 10-week feeding, significant reduction of growth was observed in fish fed HFD, compared with other groups. HFD caused oxidative stress and more apoptosis of hepatocytes, while HT addition resulted in significant decrease of ROS and MDA contents, and the apoptotic hepatocytes. Moreover, the expression of genes involving inflammation of HFD group were elevated. Supplementing HT to HFD can attenuate this. All the activities of complexes of mitochondria in the HFD group were decreased compared with those in the LFD group, while supplementing HT to HFD significantly increased complex I-III activities. Furthermore, HFD downregulated the expressions of Atg5 and NRF-1 which induced the failure of mitophagy and biogenesis, while, supplementing HT to HFD reversed these expressions involving mitochondrial autophagy and biogenesis. In summary, adding HT to HFD relieved oxidative stress, apoptosis and inflammation, likely due to its regulation of mitochondrial homeostasis.
Effect of Fermentation Duration on the Quality Changes of Godulbaegi Kimchi
Authors: Park Jung-Min , Zhang Bo-Zheng , Kim Jin-Man
Published: April 2022

Fermentative and antioxidative characteristics of Godulbaegi kimchi (LGK), a traditional, fermented Korean food, were conducted. For the study, LGK kimchi was made of Godulbaegi kimchi with pepper powder, salted shrimp, refined salt, green onions, and so on, and fermented at 5C for 6 months. The pH was decreased, and total acidity was increased during fermentation. Furthermore, lactic acid bacteria and yeast were increased, while the total viable count was decreased. The LGK showed the highest DPPH-scavenging activity, phenol content, and nitrite-scavenging activity with methanol extract among methanol, ethanol, and water. In addition, we screened strains among LGK kimchi with high antimicrobial activity and isolated them. We tested antimicrobial activity for 20 lactic acid bacteria, and we separated and identified nine strains of lactic acid bacteria with high antimicrobial activity. Given these results, LGK is expected to be an effective food in considerable antioxidative activity with an antimicrobial effect. These results are expected to serve as basic data for the study of Godulbaegi kimchi.
Non-Dominated Sorting Manta Ray Foraging Optimization for Multi-Objective Optimal Power Flow with Wind/Solar/Small- Hydro Energy Sources
Authors: Daqaq Fatima , Kamel Salah , Ouassaid Mohammed , Ellaia Rachid , Agwa Ahmed M.
Published: April 2022

This present study describes a novel manta ray foraging optimization approach based non-dominated sorting strategy, namely (NSMRFO), for solving the multi-objective optimization problems (MOPs). The proposed powerful optimizer can efficiently achieve good convergence and distribution in both the search and objective spaces. In the NSMRFO algorithm, the elitist non-dominated sorting mechanism is followed. Afterwards, a crowding distance with a non-dominated ranking method is integrated for the purpose of archiving the Pareto front and improving the optimal solutions coverage. To judge the NSMRFO performances, a bunch of test functions are carried out including classical unconstrained and constrained functions, a recent benchmark suite known as the completions on evolutionary computation 2020 (CEC2020) that contains twenty-four multimodal optimization problems (MMOPs), some engineering design problems, and also the modified real-world issue known as IEEE 30-bus optimal power flow involving the wind/solar/small-hydro power generations. Comparison findings with multimodal multi-objective evolutionary algorithms (MMMOEAs) and other existing multi-objective approaches with respect to performance indicators reveal the NSMRFO ability to balance between the coverage and convergence towards the true Pareto front (PF) and Pareto optimal sets (PSs). Thus, the competing algorithms fail in providing better solutions while the proposed NSMRFO optimizer is able to attain almost all the Pareto optimal solutions.
Optimization of the Elasticity and Adhesion of Catechol- or Dopamine-Loaded Gelatin Gels under Oxidative Conditions
Authors: Back Florence , Mathieu Eric , Betscha Cosette , El Yakhlifi Salima , Arntz Youri , Ball Vincent
Published: April 2022

The synthesis of surgical adhesives is based on the need to design glues that give rise to strong and fast bonds without cytotoxic side effects. A recent trend in surgical adhesives is to use gel-forming polymers modified with catechol groups, which can undergo oxidative crosslinking reactions and are strongly adhesive to all kinds on surfaces in wet conditions. We previously showed that blending gelatin with catechol can yield strong adhesion when the catechol is oxidized by a strong oxidant. Our previous work was limited to the study of the variation in the sodium periodate concentration. In this article, for an in-depth approach to the interactions between the components of the gels, the influence of the gelatin, the sodium periodate and dopamine/(pyro)catechol concentration on the storage (G′) and loss (G″) moduli of the gels, as well as their adhesion on steel, have been studied by shear rheometry. The hydrogels were characterized by infrared and UV-Vis spectroscopy and the size of their pores visualized by digital microscopy and SEM after freeze drying but without further additives. In terms of adhesion between two stainless steel plates, the optimum was obtained for a concentration of 10% w/v in gelatin, 10 mM in sodium periodate, and 20 mM in phenolic compounds. Below these values, it is likely that crosslinking has not been maximized and that the oxidizing environment is weakening the gelatin. Above these values, the loss in adhesiveness may result from the disruption of the alpha helixes due to the large number of phenolic compounds as well as the maintenance of an oxidizing environment. Overall, this investigation shows the possibility to design strongly adhesive hydrogels to metal surfaces by blending gelatin with polyphenols in oxidative conditions.
Comparative Study of Heat- and Enzyme-Induced Emulsion Gels Formed by Gelatin and Whey Protein Isolate: Physical Properties and Formation Mechanism
Authors: Li Siqi , Chen Guipan , Shi Xinyue , Ma Cuicui , Liu Fuguo
Published: April 2022

Emulsion gels have received increasing attention due to their unique physicochemical properties. In this paper, gelatin and whey protein isolate (WPI) were used to construct emulsion-filled gels by heat-induced or enzyme-induced methods, and their rheology, texture properties and microstructure were explored and compared. The effect of the preparation methods, emulsion droplet characteristics and gel matrix concentration on the elastic modulus and hardness of the gels were firstly investigated, then the key control factors were picked out by calculating the Pearson correlation index, and the design principle was constructed by combining these factors flexibly for emulsion gels with adjustable texture. The results show that the emulsion gels formed by different preparation methods have completely distinct microstructures and emulsion distributions, as well as the macroscopic properties of the gels, specifically the enzyme-induced gels exhibited greater elastic modulus and hardness, while heat-induced gels were softer and more delicate. In addition, the droplet sizes of filled emulsions and matrix concentration mainly affected the rheological properties and hardness of the gels. This study successfully established the design principles of emulsion gels with tunable texture structure, which provided a reference for targeted gels preparation according to the texture properties required by specific application scenarios.
miR398 Attenuates Heat-Induced Leaf Cell Death via Its Target CSD1 in Chinese Cabbage
Authors: Cao Biting , Jiang Jianxia , Bai Jinjuan , Wang Xuan , Li Yajie , Shao Wenna , Hu Shengwu , He Yuke , Yu Xiang
Published: April 2022

Previous research has shown that miR398 contributed to plant thermotolerance by silencing its target gene COPPER/ZINC SUPEROXIDE DISMUTASE1 (CSD1) in Arabidopsis thaliana. However, the phylogenesis of miR398 and CSD1 in Brassica crop and their role in regulating leaf cell death under heat stress remains unexplored. Here, we characterized the homologous genes of miR398a and CSD1 in Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis (Chinese cabbage) and found miR398a abundance was accumulated under heat stress (38 °C and 46 °C for 1 h) in Chinese cabbage, while the expression level of its targets BraCSD1-1 and BraCSD2-1 were downregulated. To further explore their role in heat response, we constructed the transgenic plants overexpressing artificial miR398a (aBra-miR398a), Bra-miR398a target mimic (Bra-MIM398a), and BraCSD1-1 in Chinese cabbage for genetic study. Under high temperatures, p35S::aBra-miR398a lines reduced the areas of leaf cell death and delayed the leaf cell death. By contrast, p35S::Bra-MIM398a and p35S::BraCSD1-1 plants enlarged the areas of leaf cell death and displayed the earliness of leaf cell death. Finally, we found that the expression level of stress-responsive genes BraLEA76, BraCaM1, BraPLC, BraDREB2A, and BraP5CS increased in transgenic plants overexpressing aBra-miR398a, which may contribute to their resistance to heat-induced leaf cell death. Taken together, these results revealed the function of Bra-miR398a in attenuating leaf cell death to ensure plant thermotolerance, indicating that the miR398-CSD1 module could be potential candidates for heat-resistant crop breeding.
Metabolic Response of Malus domestica Borkh cv. Rubin Apple to Canopy Training Treatments in Intensive Orchards
Authors: Sirgedaitė-Šėžienė Vaida , Laužikė Kristina , Uselis Nobertas , Samuolienė Giedrė
Published: April 2022

In this study, we used apple tree (Malus domestica Borkh.) cv. Rubin grafts on dwarfing P60 rootstock. Our planting scheme was single rows with 1.25 m between trees and 3.5 m between rows. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of canopy training treatments, as a stress factor, on metabolic response to obtain key information on how to improve physiological behavior and the management of the growth and development of apple trees. The results indicated that all applied canopy training treatments significantly increased the total phenol and total starch contents in apple tree leaves. The total starch increased from 1.5- to almost 3-fold in all treatments, especially during the 2017 harvesting season, compared to the control. The fructose, sorbitol, and ratio of chlorophyll a to b in leaves also significantly increased. Higher precipitation levels induced changes in the accumulation of secondary metabolites in apple tree leaves and fruits during the 2017 harvesting season. The total phenol content significantly increased in apple tree leaves in all treatments, but the fructose content decreased. We observed the same tendencies in total phenolic content and glucose concentration in apple fruits. Therefore, the defense reaction might be a preferred option for apple tree cultivation and the optimization of its growth and development.
A Simple Method to Obtain Protective Film against Acid Rain
Authors: Mocioiu Ana-Maria , Băilă Diana-Irinel , Codrea Cosmin Iulian , Mocioiu Oana Cătălina
Published: April 2022

Acid rain is a major problem for animals, plants, buildings, and also for the top glass of photovoltaic (PV) solar panels and greenhouses. Air pollutants such as NOx, NH3, and H2S can mix with water in the atmosphere to form acid rain. It was discovered that atmospheric water vapor adsorbed on the surface of glass can also lead to corrosion of the glass surface. The purpose of this work is to obtain a protective film for glasses used in different domains such as solar cells, windows, stained glass windows from historical buildings, etc. Thin film deposited on glass must be protective against acid rain, transparent in the visible domain with a band gap up to 3.2 eV, and have a vitreous structure (glass). Electron beam (e-gun) technology is a deposition technique for producing high-purity and dense coatings in a short time. It is well known that Ta2O5 is an oxide with anticorrosive properties, but it is expensive and cannot form glass by itself. ZnO is an oxide known as a glass former, exhibiting good optical properties. In this paper, a thin film obtained by the deposition of ZnO and Ta2O5 on a glass substrate using e-gun technology are studied. The simulated acid rain effect on the structure, morphology, and optical properties of thin films are studied after a 65% nitric acid attack on the surface. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern shows the vitreous state of the thin film with a composition 50%ZnO 50%Ta2O5 before and after the acid attack. The morphology, composition, and thickness of the film are investigated using scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) and profilometry.
Phylogenetic Comparison of Swainsonine Biosynthetic Gene Clusters among Fungi
Authors: Neyaz Marwa , Das Sumanjari , Cook Daniel , Creamer Rebecca
Published: April 2022

Swainsonine is a cytotoxic alkaloid produced by fungi. Genome sequence analyses revealed that these fungi share an orthologous gene cluster, SWN, necessary for swainsonine biosynthesis. To investigate the SWN cluster, the gene sequences and intergenic regions were assessed in organisms containing swnK, which is conserved across all fungi that produce swainsonine. The orders of fungi which contained orthologous swainsonine genes included Pleosporales, Onygenales, Hypocreales, Chaetothyriales, Xylariales, Capnodiales, Microthyriales, Caliciales, Patellariales, Eurotiales, and a species of the Leotiomycetes. SwnK and swnH2 genes were conserved across all fungi containing the SWN cluster; in contrast, swnT and swnA were found in a limited number of fungi containing the SWN cluster. The phylogenetic data suggest that in some orders that the SWN cluster was gained once from a common ancestor while in other orders it was likely gained several times from one or more common ancestors. The data also show that rearrangements and inversions of the SWN cluster happened within a genus as species diverged. Analysis of the intergenic regions revealed different combinations and inversions of open reading frames, as well as absence of genes. These results provide evidence of a complex evolutionary history of the SWN cluster in fungi.
Homebuyer Purchase Decisions: Are They Anchoring to Appraisal Values or Market Prices?
Authors: Cheung Ka-Shing , Yiu Chung-Yim , Guan Yihan
Published: April 2022

Price discovery is an important research topic in real estate due to the heterogeneous nature of housing attributes and relatively thin trading activities compared to other assets. In Commonwealth countries, including New Zealand, governments usually conduct periodic appraisals for the purpose of collecting rates and levies. Such official appraisal values of properties, also known as capital values (CVs), are considered a price anchor for market participants in their negotiation processes. Real estate agents often use these appraisal values to advertise their listings and negotiate transaction prices. In this study, we aim to make an initial attempt to study the influence of CV on market prices using Granger causality tests and a hedonic pricing model. To test the lead-lag relationships, three million housing transactions from 1990 to 2020 in New Zealand are used to construct the capital values (CVs) and transacted prices (TPs) indices in both primary and secondary housing markets. The Granger causality test suggests that the indices of TPs and CVs have a bi-directional lead-lag relationship in the secondary housing market, whereas the relationship does not follow in the primary market where the information on CVs is unavailable. The results imply the existence of a CV anchoring effect. Such anchoring effects are also contingent on the timeliness of price anchors, which is consistent with the availability heuristic from behavioural economics.
Phase Field Models for Thermal Fracturing and Their Variational Structures
Authors: Alfat Sayahdin , Kimura Masato , Maulana Alifian
Published: April 2022

It is often observed that thermal stress enhances crack propagation in materials, and, conversely, crack propagation can contribute to temperature shifts in materials. In this study, we first consider the thermoelasticity model proposed by M. A. Biot and study its energy dissipation property. The Biot thermoelasticity model takes into account the following effects. Thermal expansion and contraction are caused by temperature changes, and, conversely, temperatures decrease in expanding areas but increase in contracting areas. In addition, we examine its thermomechanical properties through several numerical examples and observe that the stress near a singular point is enhanced by the thermoelastic effect. In the second part, we propose two crack propagation models under thermal stress by coupling a phase field model for crack propagation and the Biot thermoelasticity model and show their variational structures. In our numerical experiments, we investigate how thermal coupling affects the crack speed and shape. In particular, we observe that the lowest temperature appears near the crack tip, and the crack propagation is accelerated by the enhanced thermal stress.
Determining Objective Characteristics of MCDM Methods under Uncertainty: An Exploration Study with Financial Data
Authors: Baydaş Mahmut , Pamučar Dragan
Published: April 2022

A major difficulty in comparing and even choosing MCDM methods is the uncertainty of information about the consistent and unique characteristics of the results produced. The objective information content of the final scores produced by MCDM methods and their relevance to real life can give us an important idea about them. In this study, first of all, seven MCDM methods with different methodologies were applied to evaluate companies’ financial performance. Then, the obtained MCDM scores were compared using two different objective verification mechanisms. The first validation criterion is the relationship of a MCDM method to real-life rankings (share price). The second criterion is the standard deviation (SD) technique used to discover the objective information content of MCDM final scores. According to the results of this study, PROMETHEE and FUCA definitely outperform other methods in terms of both SD values and strength of correlation with reference real-life rankings. Also, FUCA is methodologically simpler than other methods. However, it produced nearly identical results as the sophisticated PROMETHEE method.
Controllability of Second Order Functional Random Differential Equations with Delay
Authors: Benchohra Mouffak , Bouazzaoui Fatima , Karapinar Erdal , Salim Abdelkrim
Published: April 2022

In this article, we study some existence and controllability results for two classes of second order functional differential equations with delay and random effects. To begin, we employ a random fixed point theorem with a stochastic domain to demonstrate the existence of mild random solutions. Next, we prove that our problems are controllable. Finally, an example is given to validate the theory part.
Gaussian Perturbations in ReLU Networks and the Arrangement of Activation Regions
Authors: Daróczy Bálint
Published: April 2022

Recent articles indicate that deep neural networks are efficient models for various learning problems. However, they are often highly sensitive to various changes that cannot be detected by an independent observer. As our understanding of deep neural networks with traditional generalisation bounds still remains incomplete, there are several measures which capture the behaviour of the model in case of small changes at a specific state. In this paper we consider Gaussian perturbations in the tangent space and suggest tangent sensitivity in order to characterise the stability of gradient updates. We focus on a particular kind of stability with respect to changes in parameters that are induced by individual examples without known labels. We derive several easily computable bounds and empirical measures for feed-forward fully connected ReLU (Rectified Linear Unit) networks and connect tangent sensitivity to the distribution of the activation regions in the input space realised by the network.
Encapsulation of Salmon Peptides in Marine Liposomes: Physico-Chemical Properties, Antiradical Activities and Biocompatibility Assays
Authors: Hanachi Amine , Bianchi Arnaud , Kahn Cyril J. F. , Velot Emilie , Arab-Tehrany Elmira , Cakir-Kiefer Céline , Linder Michel
Published: April 2022

Salmon byproducts (Salmo salar) generated by the food chain represent a source of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA): 20:5n-3; docosahexaenoic acid (DHA): 22:6n-3) and peptides that can be used as supplements in food for nutraceutical or health applications, such as in the prevention of certain pathologies (e.g., Alzheimer’s and cardiovascular diseases). The extraction of polar lipids naturally rich in PUFAs by enzymatic processes without organic solvent (controlled by pH-Stat method), coupled with the production of 1 kDa salmon peptides by membrane filtration, allowed the formulation of nanocarriers. The physicochemical properties of the nanoliposomes (size ranging from 120 to 140 nm, PDI of 0.27, zeta potential between −32 and −46 mV and encapsulation efficiency) were measured, and the bioactivity of salmon hydrolysate peptides was assessed (antioxidant and antiradical activity: ABTS, ORAC, DPPH; iron metal chelation). Salmon peptides exhibited good angiotensin-conversion-enzyme (ACE) inhibition activity, with an IC50 value of 413.43 ± 13.12 µg/mL. Cytotoxicity, metabolic activity and proliferation experiments demonstrated the harmlessness of the nanostructures in these experimental conditions.
The Need for Multidisciplinarity in Modern Medicine: An Insight into Orthopaedic Infections
Authors: Sambri Andrea , Fiore Michele , Tedeschi Sara , De Paolis Massimiliano
Published: April 2022

As knowledge broadens, clinical practice becomes more elaborate, resulting in a variety of subspecialties and advanced health services [...]
Applications of Essential Oils as Antibacterial Agents in Minimally Processed Fruits and Vegetables—A Review
Authors: Santos Maria Isabel S. , Marques Cátia , Mota Joana , Pedroso Laurentina , Lima Ana
Published: April 2022

Microbial foodborne diseases are a major health concern. In this regard, one of the major risk factors is related to consumer preferences for “ready-to-eat” or minimally processed (MP) fruits and vegetables. Essential oil (EO) is a viable alternative used to reduce pathogenic bacteria and increase the shelf-life of MP foods, due to the health risks associated with food chlorine. Indeed, there has been increased interest in using EO in fresh produce. However, more information about EO applications in MP foods is necessary. For instance, although in vitro tests have defined EO as a valuable antimicrobial agent, its practical use in MP foods can be hampered by unrealistic concentrations, as most studies focus on growth reductions instead of bactericidal activity, which, in the case of MP foods, is of utmost importance. The present review focuses on the effects of EO in MP food pathogens, including the more realistic applications. Overall, due to this type of information, EO could be better regarded as an “added value” to the food industry.
The Gut Microbiome May Help Address Mental Health Disparities in Hispanics: A Narrative Review
Authors: Vera-Urbina Fernando , Dos Santos-Torres María F. , Godoy-Vitorino Filipa , Torres-Hernández Bianca A.
Published: April 2022

The gut–brain axis is the biological connection between the enteric and the central nervous systems. Given the expansion of the microbial sciences with the new human microbiome field facilitated by the decrease in sequencing costs, we now know more about the role of gut microbiota in human health. In this short review, particular focus is given to the gut–brain axis and its role in psychiatric diseases such as anxiety and depression. Additionally, factors that contribute to changes in the gut–brain axis, including the gut microbiome, nutrition, the host’s genome, and ethnic difference, are highlighted. Emphasis is given to the lack of studies on Hispanic populations, despite the fact this ethnic group has a higher prevalence of anxiety and depression in the US.
Localization of Thioredoxin-Interacting Protein in Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease Brains
Authors: Tsubaki Haruka , Mendsaikhan Anarmaa , Buyandelger Undral , Tooyama Ikuo , Walker Douglas G.
Published: April 2022

Thioredoxin-Interacting Protein (TXNIP) has been shown to have significant pathogenic roles in many human diseases, particularly those associated with diabetes and hyperglycemia. Its main mode of action is to sequester thioredoxins, resulting in enhanced oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to identify if cellular expression of TXNIP in human aged and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) brains correlated with pathological structures. This study employed fixed tissue sections and protein extracts of temporal cortex from AD and aged control brains. Studies employed light and fluorescent immunohistochemical techniques using the monoclonal antibody JY2 to TXNIP to identify cellular structures. Immunoblots were used to quantify relative amounts of TXNIP in brain protein extracts. The major finding was the identification of TXNIP immunoreactivity in selective neuronal populations and structures, particularly in non-AD brains. In AD brains, less neuronal TXNIP but increased numbers of TXNIP-positive plaque-associated microglia were observed. Immunoblot analyses showed no significant increase in levels of TXNIP protein in the AD samples tested. In conclusion, this study identified altered patterns of expression of TXNIP in human brains with progression of AD pathology.
Simulating Three-Wave Interactions and the Resulting Particle Transport Coefficients in a Magnetic Loop
Authors: Nyberg Seve , Vainio Rami
Published: April 2022

In this paper, the effects of wave–wave interactions of the lowest order, i.e., three-wave interactions, on parallel-propagating Alfvén wave spectra on a closed magnetic field line are considered. The spectra are then used to evaluate the transport parameters of energetic particles in a coronal loop. The wave spectral density is the main variable investigated, and it is modelled using a diffusionless numerical scheme. A model, where high-frequency Alfvén waves are emitted from the two footpoints of the loop and interact with each other as they pass by, is considered. The wave spectrum evolution shows the erosion of wave energy starting from higher frequencies so that the wave mode emitted from the closer footpoint of the loop dominates the wave energy density. Consistent with the cross-helicity state of the waves, the bulk velocity of energetic protons is from the loop footpoints towards the loop apex. Protons can be turbulently trapped in the loop, and Fermi acceleration is possible near the loop apex, as long as the partial pressure of the particles does not exceed that of the resonant waves. The erosion of the Alfvén wave energy density should also lead to the heating of the loop.
Application of the Integrated Supercritical Fluid Extraction–Impregnation Process (SFE-SSI) for Development of Materials with Antiviral Properties
Authors: Lukic Ivana , Pajnik Jelena , Nisavic Jakov , Tadic Vanja , Vági Erika , Szekely Edit , Zizovic Irena
Published: April 2022

The integrated supercritical fluid extraction–impregnation process (SFE-SSI) was performed to fabricate material with antiviral properties against the herpes simplex virus (HSV). Cotton gauze and starch/chitosan polymer films (SCF) were impregnated with components extracted from Melissa officinalis at 10 MPa and 40 °C using a green medium, supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2). The influences of the processing mode regarding the flow of the supercritical fluid through the system, and the mass ratio of the plant material and the solid carrier, on the impregnation yield of M. officinalis extract were studied. The results revealed that the introduction of a fresh amount of CO2 into the system enabled the highest impregnation yield of 2.24% for cotton gauze and 8.71% for SCF. The presence of M. officinalis extract on the surface of both impregnated cotton gaze and SCF was confirmed by FTIR and GC analyses after the re-extraction of the impregnated samples. The M. officinalis impregnated materials showed a strong inhibitory effect against Bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1).
Effects of Outer Edge Bending on the Aerodynamic and Noise Characters of Axial Fan for Air Conditioners
Authors: Li Bin , Lu Qi , Jiang Boyan , Yang Jinwen , Wang Jun , Xie Junlong
Published: April 2022

Outer edge bending is already used on the axial fan blades of air conditioners, reducing the leakage flow loss at the blade tip and suppressing the tip vortex development, thereby improving fan aerodynamic and acoustic performance. However, there are few studies on the multi-parameter design and optimization of this complicated structure, and most studies only focus on the overall sound pressure level rather than the sound quality when evaluating the fan noise. This study investigated the effects of outer edge bending structure on the aerodynamic performance and sound quality of air conditioners’ axial fans by experiments and numerical methods. Based on the orthogonal design method, the effects of three bending parameters, the circumferential starting angle, radial relative position, and the bending degree effects on the performance of the axial flow fan blade were analyzed, and the best efficiency scheme was selected. A comparative analysis of the preferred and the original bending schemes shows that the bending towards the blade suction surface successfully inhibits the development of tip leakage vortex at the blade tip, thereby achieving efficiency enhancement and noise reduction. The experimental results show that the preferred bending scheme with a 10° circumferential starting angle, 90% radial relative position, and 8% bending degree can effectively reduce the fan’s broadband noise within 200~1000 Hz by 0.54~2.68 dB (A) at different operating conditions. Additionally, the preferred bending blade with reasonably designed bending effectively reduced the loudness and roughness of the fan noise in the rated conditions, and the sound quality of the studied fan was correspondingly improved.
Model-Based Analysis for Ethylene Carbonate Hydrogenation Operation in Industrial-Type Tubular Reactors
Authors: Huang Hai , Cao Chenxi , Wang Yue , Yang Youwei , Lv Jianning , Xu Jing
Published: April 2022

Hydrogenation of ethylene carbonate (EC) to co-produce methanol (MeOH) and ethylene glycol (EG) offers an atomically economic route for CO2 utilization. Herein, aided with bench and pilot plant data, we established engineering a kinetics model and multiscale reactor models for heterogeneous EC hydrogenation using representative industrial-type reactors. Model-based analysis indicates that single-stage adiabatic reactors, despite a moderate temperature rise of 12 K, suffer from a narrow operational window delimited by EC condensation at lower temperatures and intense secondary EG hydrogenation at higher temperatures. Boiling water cooled multi-tubular reactors feature near-isothermal operation and exhibit better operability, especially under high pressure and low space velocity. Conduction oil-cooled reactors show U-type axial temperature profiles, rendering even wider operational windows regarding coolant temperatures than the water-cooled reactor. The revelation of operational characteristics of EC hydrogenation under industrial conditions will guide further improvement in reactor design and process optimization.
Some Identities Involving Degenerate q-Hermite Polynomials Arising from Differential Equations and Distribution of Their Zeros
Authors: Ryoo Cheon-Seoung , Kang Jung-Yoog
Published: April 2022

This paper intends to define degenerate q-Hermite polynomials, namely degenerate q-Hermite polynomials by means of generating function. Some significant properties of degenerate q-Hermite polynomials such as recurrence relations, explicit identities and differential equations are established. Many mathematicians have been studying the differential equations arising from the generating functions of special numbers and polynomials. Based on the results so far, we find the differential equations for the degenerate q-Hermite polynomials. We also provide some identities for the degenerate q-Hermite polynomials using the coefficients of this differential equation. Finally, we use a computer to view the location of the zeros in degenerate q-Hermite equations. Numerical experiments have confirmed that the roots of the degenerate q-Hermit equations are not symmetric with respect to the imaginary axis.
Efecto de diferentes niveles de B-TRAXIM2C en gallinas ponedoras sobre desempeño y calidad de huevo
Authors: Torres Larco Denisse , Cortés Coronado Raúl , Ortiz Manzano Mario
Published: April 2022

El    objetivo    del    presente    estudio    fue determinar el efecto de diferentes niveles de minerales  orgánicos  en  gallinas  de  postura Lohmann Brown sobre la calidad del huevo y parámetros zootécnicos, durante un período comprendido entre 50 a 62 semanas de edad de  las  aves,  se  utilizaron  400  gallinas.  Los tratamientos aplicados fueron T0: minerales inorgánicos 100% (alimentación tradicional), T1: minerales orgánicos (B-TRAXIM 2C) 100%, T2: minerales orgánicos (B-TRAXIM 2C) 50% y  T3:  minerales  orgánicos  (B-TRAXIM  2C) 25%. Los parámetros zootécnicos registrados semanalmente     fueron:     mortalidad     (%), conversión  alimenticia,  peso  del  ave  (kg), huevos producidos/tratamientos, huevo rotos y  consumo  de  alimento  (g/día).  Respecto  a la  calidad  del  huevo  se  midió:  coloración de  yema,  peso  del  huevo  (g),  resistencia a  ruptura  (Kgf),  altura  de  albúmina  (mm), Unidades Haugh, grosor de cáscara (mm) e índice de calidad (AAA; AA; A; B; C). Para las variables  de  producción  de  huevo,  masa del  huevo  y  huevos  rotos  se  encontraron diferencias  significativas  entre  tratamientos (p<0,01), destacando las dietas con minerales orgánicos  al  100  y  50%.  Para  las  variables de  altura  de  albúmina  y  unidades  Haugh se  destacó  el  tratamiento  con  minerales orgánicos al 100%, respecto a las variables de consumo de alimento, conversión alimenticia, peso del huevo, color de la yema, resistencia del  huevo,  grosor  de  la  cáscara  e  índice de  calidad  no  se  presentaron  diferencias significativas  entre  tratamientos  (p>0,01).  Al hablar  de  análisis  económico  en  el  último mes   la   relación   beneficio/costo   presentó cantidades entre 2,60 y 2,59 respectivamente los  tratamientos  de  minerales  orgánicos  al 100 y 50%.