bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Host Bloodmeal Identification in Cave-Dwelling Ornithodoros turicata Dugès (Ixodida: Argasidae), Texas, USA
Authors: Busselman Rachel E. , Olson Mark F. , Martinez Viridiana , Davila Edward , Briggs Cierra , Eldridge Devon S. , Higgins Bailee , Bass Brittany , Cropper Thomas L. , Casey Theresa M. , Edwards Theresa , Teel Pete D. , Hamer Sarah A. , Hamer Gabriel L.
Published: February 2021

Tick-host bloodmeal associations are important factors when characterizing risks of associated pathogen transmission and applying appropriate management strategies. Despite their biological importance, comparatively little is known about soft tick (Argasidae) host associations in the United States compared to hard ticks (Ixodidae). In this study, we evaluated a PCR and direct Sanger sequencing method for identifying the bloodmeal hosts of soft ticks. We collected 381 cave-associated Ornithodoros turicata near San Antonio, Texas, USA, and also utilized eight colony-reared specimens fed artificially on known host blood sources over 1.5 years ago. We correctly identified the vertebrate host bloodmeals of two colony-reared ticks (chicken and pig) up to 1,105 days post-feeding, and identified bloodmeal hosts from 19 out of 168 field-collected soft ticks, including raccoon (78.9%), black vulture (10.5%), Texas black rattlesnake (5.3%), and human (5.3%). Our results confirm the retention of vertebrate blood DNA in soft ticks and advance the knowledge of argasid host associations in cave-dwelling O. turicata.
A Primal-Dual Interior-Point Method for Facility Layout Problem with Relative-Positioning Constraints
Authors: Ohmori Shunichi , Yoshimoto Kazuho
Published: February 2021

We consider the facility layout problem (FLP) in which we find the arrangements of departments with the smallest material handling cost that can be expressed as the product of distance times flows between departments. It is known that FLP can be formulated as a linear programming problem if the relative positioning of departments is specified, and, thus, can be solved to optimality. In this paper, we describe a custom interior-point algorithm for solving FLP with relative positioning constraints (FLPRC) that is much faster than the standard methods used in the general-purpose solver. We build a compact formation of FLPRC and its duals, which enables us to establish the optimal condition very quickly. We use this optimality condition to implement the primal-dual interior-point method with an efficient Newton step computation that exploit special structure of a Hessian. We confirm effectiveness of our proposed model through applications to several well-known benchmark data sets. Our algorithm shows much faster speed for finding the optimal solution.
Novel Magnetic Circuit Topology of Linear Force Motor for High Energy Utilization of Permanent Magnet: Analytical Modelling and Experiment
Authors: Meng Bin , Xu Hao , Liu Bei , Dai Mingzhu , Zhu Chenhang , Li Sheng
Published: February 2021

The magnetic circuit of existing linear force motors does not consider the issue of energy utilization of permanent magnets, and the structure is complicated. To achieve high energy utilization and simplify the structure, this paper presents a novel magnetic circuit topology for the linear force motors of electro-hydraulic servo-proportional valves. In order to rapidly and accurately calculate the static characteristics of the force motor, an analytical model is established by using the equivalent magnetic circuit method. The model comprehensively considers the magnetic leakage effect, edge effect, and permeability nonlinearity. A prototype of the force motor is designed and manufactured, and a special experimental platform is built. The prototype force motor has a linear force-displacement characteristic and the output force increases with the increase of the excitation currents, which can reach about 41 N at 2 A. This indicates that it is suitable as an electro-mechanical converter for electro-hydraulic servo-proportional valves. Moreover, the analytical model is used to perform parameter optimization and calculate the magnetic flux density in the working air gap and the force-displacement characteristics under different excitation currents. The results are in good agreement with the electromagnetic field finite element simulation and experimental results. They indicate that the analytical model can rapidly and accurately predict the static characteristics of the force motor. The research work provides good reference means for the design of magnetic circuit topology with consideration of the high energy utilization of permanent magnets, and also the accurate analytical modeling of valve electro-mechanical converters.
Attitudes and Perceptions on the Agricultural Use of Human Excreta and Human Excreta Derived Materials: A Scoping Review
Authors: Gwara Simon , Wale Edilegnaw , Odindo Alfred , Buckley Chris
Published: February 2021

This study explicates the scope of published literature on the influence of attitudes and perceptions on the intention to use human excreta and human excreta derived materials in agriculture. Using a scoping review methodology, search results from Scopus and Web of Science were screened and synthesized using the DistillerSR web-based application. Out of the 1192 studies identified, 22 published articles met the inclusion criteria. Additional studies were identified by keyword enrichment, hand-searching, and snowballing in other electronic data bases. The benefit perception of the soil health, income, and yield was the main driver for positive attitudes. Perceived health risk and socio-cultural factors were reported as the main barriers to the use of human excreta derived materials in agriculture. Limited information, availability, collection, transport, and storage were the other reported perceived barriers. The influence of socioeconomic and demographic factors on farmers’ attitudes and perceptions was inconclusive, which is potentially attributed to contextual and methodological differences. Social and behavior change communication through community mass campaigns and targeting interventions segregated by socioeconomic and demographic contexts is recommended for development interventions. Future empirical studies could focus on the influence of crop types, treatment processes, food preparation and processing on attitudes and perceptions.
Propagation of Jasminum parkeri: A Critically Endangered Wild Ornamental Woody Shrub from Western Himalaya
Authors: Kashyap Ujala , Chandel Anjali , Sharma Diksha , Bhardwaj Sonali , Bhargava Bhavya
Published: February 2021

Jasminum parkeri Dunn is a narrowly endemic, critically endangered woody ornamental shrub confined to sub-temperate zone of Western Himalayas, and rediscovered from its type locality after a lapse of about 100 years. In the present study, a propagation technique of J. parkeri, using stem cuttings, was established for the first time through application of auxins, namely, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), at varying concentrations ranging from 1000 to 4000 ppm. The highest rooting percentage (98.33% (85.68% ± 4.32)), number of primary roots (36), root length (29.68 cm) and survival percentage (96.67% (83.85% ± 6.16)) were recorded for cuttings treated with 3000 ppm NAA. The phenological comparison between pot plants propagated through seeds and stem cuttings in a naturally ventilated polyhouse revealed a reduction in vegetative and flowering phases in cutting raised plants. Additionally, a noteworthy adaptive behavior of two weeks of early flowering and four weeks of extended flowering (February to October) was observed in plants raised under polyhouse conditions. This method will help in protecting the species from population decline, thereby significantly increasing its potential to be harnessed as an ornamental plant in India. Furthermore, plants grown ex situ will be reintroduced in natural populations.
Biochar-Compost Interactions as Affected by Weathering: Effects on Biological Stability and Plant Growth
Authors: Aubertin Marie-Liesse , Girardin Cyril , Houot Sabine , Nobile Cécile , Houben David , Bena Sarah , Brech Yann Le , Rumpel Cornelia
Published: February 2021

Biochar addition to compost is of growing interest as soil amendment. However, little is known about the evolution of material properties of biochar-compost mixtures and their effect on plants after exposure to physical weathering. This study aimed to investigate the physico-chemical characteristics of fresh and weathered biochar-compost mixtures, their biological stability and their effect on ryegrass growth. To this end, we used the contrasting stable isotope signatures of biochar and compost to follow their behavior in biochar-compost mixtures subjected to artificial weathering during 1-year of incubation. We assessed their impact on ryegrass growth during a 4-week greenhouse pot experiment. Weathering treatment resulted in strong leaching of labile compounds. However, biochar-compost interactions led to reduced mass loss and fixed carbon retention during weathering of mixtures. Moreover, weathering increased carbon mineralization of biochar-compost mixtures, probably due to the protection of labile compounds from compost within biochar structure, as well as leaching of labile biochar compounds inhibiting microbial activity. After soil application, weathered mixtures could have positive effects on biomass production. We conclude that biochar-compost interactions on soil microbial activity and plant growth are evolving after physical weathering depending on biochar production conditions.
Corm Rot of Saffron: Epidemiology and Management
Authors: Gupta Vishal , Sharma Akash , Rai Pradeep Kumar , Gupta Sushil Kumar , Singh Brajeshwar , Sharma Satish Kumar , Singh Santosh Kumar , Hussain Rafakat , Razdan Vijay Kumar , Kumar Devendra , Paswal Shazia , Pandit Vinod , Sharma Rohit
Published: February 2021

Saffron, comprising of dried stigmas of the plant known as Crocus sativus, is one of the most important and scantly cultivated agricultural products. It has been used as a precious spice for the last at least 3500 years. Due to its numerous medicinal qualities and pharmacological applications, it is considered as a “golden condiment”, and its demand and consumptions has risen over a period of time. Although efforts are continuously being made to enhance the productivity in the traditional areas and promote the cultivation of saffron in the newer areas, there are several constraints hindering these efforts. Prevalence of corm rot is one such limiting factor which results in the reduction in saffron production and decline in the area under its cultivation. The disease not only reduces the yield substantially, but also adversely affects the production of daughter corms. Complete understanding and knowledge about the disease is still lacking due to the inadequate information about its etiology and epidemiology. Moreover, due to the non-availability of resistant genotypes and lack of improved cultural practices, presently no effective and sustainable management strategies are available. This review article gives an overall account of the history and impact of saffron corm rot, its present status, yield losses caused by it, dynamics of the pathogens associated with the disease, their survival and dispersal, factors influencing disease intensity, epidemiology and sustainable management strategies. As comprehensive information on the disease is presently not available, an attempt has been made to review the current knowledge regarding corm rot of saffron. The information about the disease discussed here can eventually be beneficial for the growers, students, researchers, plant protection organizations, development departments, extension workers, policy makers, government agencies and public organizations.
Relationship between MODIS Derived NDVI and Yield of Cereals for Selected European Countries
Authors: Panek Ewa , Gozdowski Dariusz
Published: February 2021

In this study, the relationships between normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) obtained based on MODIS satellite data and grain yield of all cereals, wheat and barley at a country level were analyzed. The analysis was performed by using data from 2010–2018 for 20 European countries, where percentage of cereals is high (at least 35% of the arable land). The analysis was performed for each country separately and for all of the collected data together. The relationships between NDVI and cumulative NDVI (cNDVI) were analyzed by using linear regression. Relationships between NDVI in early spring and grain yield of cereals were very strong for Croatia, Czechia, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Slovakia. This means that the yield prediction for these countries can be as far back as 4 months before the harvest. The increase of NDVI in early spring was related to the increase of grain yield by about 0.5–1.6 t/ha. The cumulative of averaged NDVI gives more stable prediction of grain yield per season. For France and Belgium, the relationships between NDVI and grain yield were very weak.
Plant-Based Protein Hydrolysate Improves Salinity Tolerance in Hemp: Agronomical and Physiological Aspects
Authors: Di Mola Ida , Conti Stefano , Cozzolino Eugenio , Melchionna Giuseppe , Ottaiano Lucia , Testa Antonino , Sabatino Leo , Rouphael Youssef , Mori Mauro
Published: February 2021

Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is a multipurpose plant attracting increasing interest as a source for the production of natural fibers, paper, bio-building material and food. In this research we studied the agronomical performance of Cannabis sativa cv. Eletta Campana irrigated with saline water. Under those conditions, we tested the effect of protein hydrolysate (PH) biostimulant application in overcoming and/or balancing deleterious salinity effects. The results of the diverse treatments were also investigated at the physiological level, focusing on photosynthesis by means of a chlorophyll a fluorescence technique, which give an insight into the plant primary photochemical reactions. Four salinity levels of the irrigation solution (fresh water–EC0, and NaCl solutions at EC 2.0, 4.0 or 6.0 dS m−1, EC2, EC4 and EC6, respectively) were combined with 2 biostimulant treatments (untreated (control) or treated with a commercial legume-derived protein hydrolysate (LDPH)). The increasing salinity affected plant photochemistry resulting in lower plant growth and seed production, while the LDPH biostimulant showed a protective effect, which improved crop performance both in control and in salinity conditions. The LDPH treatment improved seeds yield (+38.6% on average of all treated plants respect to untreated plants), as well as residual biomass, relevant in fiber production.
Remaining Useful Life Prediction Using Temporal Convolution with Attention
Authors: Tan Wei Ming , Teo T. Hui
Published: February 2021

Prognostic techniques attempt to predict the Remaining Useful Life (RUL) of a subsystem or a component. Such techniques often use sensor data which are periodically measured and recorded into a time series data set. Such multivariate data sets form complex and non-linear inter-dependencies through recorded time steps and between sensors. Many current existing algorithms for prognostic purposes starts to explore Deep Neural Network (DNN) and its effectiveness in the field. Although Deep Learning (DL) techniques outperform the traditional prognostic algorithms, the networks are generally complex to deploy or train. This paper proposes a Multi-variable Time Series (MTS) focused approach to prognostics that implements a lightweight Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) with attention mechanism. The convolution filters work to extract the abstract temporal patterns from the multiple time series, while the attention mechanisms review the information across the time axis and select the relevant information. The results suggest that the proposed method not only produces a superior accuracy of RUL estimation but it also trains many folds faster than the reported works. The superiority of deploying the network is also demonstrated on a lightweight hardware platform by not just being much compact, but also more efficient for the resource restricted environment.
Using Machine Learning and Feature Selection for Alfalfa Yield Prediction
Authors: Whitmire Christopher D. , Vance Jonathan M. , Rasheed Hend K. , Missaoui Ali , Rasheed Khaled M. , Maier Frederick W.
Published: February 2021

Predicting alfalfa biomass and crop yield for livestock feed is important to the daily lives of virtually everyone, and many features of data from this domain combined with corresponding weather data can be used to train machine learning models for yield prediction. In this work, we used yield data of different alfalfa varieties from multiple years in Kentucky and Georgia, and we compared the impact of different feature selection methods on machine learning (ML) models trained to predict alfalfa yield. Linear regression, regression trees, support vector machines, neural networks, Bayesian regression, and nearest neighbors were all developed with cross validation. The features used included weather data, historical yield data, and the sown date. The feature selection methods that were compared included a correlation-based method, the ReliefF method, and a wrapper method. We found that the best method was the correlation-based method, and the feature set it found consisted of the Julian day of the harvest, the number of days between the sown and harvest dates, cumulative solar radiation since the previous harvest, and cumulative rainfall since the previous harvest. Using these features, the k-nearest neighbor and random forest methods achieved an average R value over 0.95, and average mean absolute error less than 200 lbs./acre. Our top R2 of 0.90 beats a previous work’s best R2 of 0.87. Our primary contribution is the demonstration that ML, with feature selection, shows promise in predicting crop yields even on simple datasets with a handful of features, and that reporting accuracies in R and R2 offers an intuitive way to compare results among various crops.
Unlocking the Role of a Genital Herpesvirus, Otarine Herpesvirus 1, in California Sea Lion Cervical Cancer
Authors: Deming Alissa C. , Wellehan James F. X. , Colegrove Kathleen M. , Hall Ailsa , Luff Jennifer , Lowenstine Linda , Duignan Pádraig , Cortés-Hinojosa Galaxia , Gulland Frances M. D.
Published: February 2021

Urogenital carcinoma in California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) is the most common cancer of marine mammals. Primary tumors occur in the cervix, vagina, penis, or prepuce and aggressively metastasize resulting in death. This cancer has been strongly associated with a sexually transmitted herpesvirus, otarine herpesvirus 1 (OtHV1), but the virus has been detected in genital tracts of sea lions without cancer and a causative link has not been established. To determine if OtHV1 has a role in causing urogenital carcinoma we sequenced the viral genome, quantified viral load from cervical tissue from sea lions with (n = 95) and without (n = 163) urogenital carcinoma, and measured viral mRNA expression using in situ mRNA hybridization (Basescope®) to quantify and identify the location of OtHV1 mRNA expression. Of the 95 sea lions diagnosed with urogenital carcinoma, 100% were qPCR positive for OtHV1, and 36% of the sea lions with a normal cervix were positive for the virus. The non-cancer OtHV1 positive cases had significantly lower viral loads in their cervix compared to the cervices from sea lions with urogenital carcinoma. The OtHV1 genome had several genes similar to the known oncogenes, and RNA in situ hybridization demonstrated high OtHV1 mRNA expression within the carcinoma lesions but not in normal cervical epithelium. The high viral loads, high mRNA expression of OtHV1 in the cervical tumors, and the presence of suspected OtHV1 oncogenes support the hypothesis that OtHV1 plays a significant role in the development of sea lion urogenital carcinoma.
Modulation of Morphology and Glycan Composition of Mucins in Farmed Guinea Fowl (Numida meleagris) Intestine by the Multi-Strain Probiotic Slab51®
Authors: Desantis Salvatore , Galosi Livio , Santamaria Nicoletta , Roncarati Alessandra , Biagini Lucia , Rossi Giacomo
Published: February 2021

Probiotics have become highly recognized as supplements for poultry.Since gut health can be considered synonymous withanimal health, the effects of probiotic Slab51® on the morphology and the glycan composition of guineafowlintestine were examined. The probiotics were added in drinking water (2 × 1011 UFC/L) throughout the grow-out cycle.Birds were individually weighed andslaughtered after four months. Samples from the duodenum, ileum and caecum were collected and processed for morphological, morphometric, conventional and lectin glycohistochemical studies.The results were analyzed for statistical significance by Student’s t test. Compared with control samples, probiotic group revealed (1) significant increase in villus height (p < 0.001 in duodenum and ileum; p < 0.05 in caecum), crypt depth (p < 0.001 in duodenum and caecum; p < 0.05 in ileum) and goblet cells (GCs) per villus (p < 0.001) in all investigated tracts; (2) increase in galactoseβl,3N-acetylgalacyosamine(Galβl,3GalNAc)terminating O-glycans and αl,2-fucosylated glycans secretory GCs in the duodenum; (3) increase in α2,6-sialoglycans and high-mannose N-linked glycans secretory GCs but reduction in GCs-secreting sulfoglycans in the ileum; (4) increase in Galβl,3GalNAc and high-mannose N-linked glycans secretory GCs and decrease in GCs-producing sulfomucins in the caecum; (5) increase in the numbers of crypt cells containing sulfate and non-sulfated acidic glycans. Overall, dietary Slab51® induces morphological and region-specific changes in glycoprotein composition of guinea fowl intestine, promoting gut health.
Nutritional Wasting Disorders in Sheep
Authors: Asín Javier , Ramírez Gustavo A. , Navarro Mauricio A. , Nyaoke Akinyi C. , Henderson Eileen E. , Mendonça Fábio S. , Molín Jéssica , Uzal Francisco A.
Published: February 2021

The different ovine production and breeding systems share the cornerstone of keeping a good body condition to ensure adequate productivity. Several infectious and parasitic disorders have detrimental effects on weight gains and may lead to emaciation. Flock health management procedures are aimed to prevent such conditions. Nutritional management is equally important to guarantee adequate body condition. Persistent bouts of low ruminal pH due to excess concentrate in the diet may lead to subacute ruminal acidosis. Pre-stomach motility disorders may also lead to ill-thrift and emaciation. An adequate mineral supplementation is key to prevent the effects of copper, selenium, and other micronutrients deprivation, which may include, among others, loss of condition. This review elaborates on the clinico-pathologic, diagnostic, and therapeutic aspects of some of these conditions, and highlights the necessity of considering them as contributors to states of wasting in sheep flocks.
Fighting Bisphenol A-Induced Male Infertility: The Power of Antioxidants
Authors: Santiago Joana , Silva Joana V. , Santos Manuel A. S. , Fardilha Margarida
Published: February 2021

Bisphenol A (BPA), a well-known endocrine disruptor present in epoxy resins and polycarbonate plastics, negatively disturbs the male reproductive system affecting male fertility. In vivo studies showed that BPA exposure has deleterious effects on spermatogenesis by disturbing the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis and inducing oxidative stress in testis. This compound seems to disrupt hormone signalling even at low concentrations, modifying the levels of inhibin B, oestradiol, and testosterone. The adverse effects on seminal parameters are mainly supported by studies based on urinary BPA concentration, showing a negative association between BPA levels and sperm concentration, motility, and sperm DNA damage. Recent studies explored potential approaches to treat or prevent BPA-induced testicular toxicity and male infertility. Since the effect of BPA on testicular cells and spermatozoa is associated with an increased production of reactive oxygen species, most of the pharmacological approaches are based on the use of natural or synthetic antioxidants. In this review, we briefly describe the effects of BPA on male reproductive health and discuss the use of antioxidants to prevent or revert the BPA-induced toxicity and infertility in men.
Determination of the Crack Propagation Direction in Mixed-Mode Missions due to Cyclic Loading
Authors: Rodella Jury , Dhondt Guido , Köster Paul , Sander Manuela , Piorun Steven
Published: February 2021

The evaluation of cyclic crack propagation due to missions with varying mixed-mode conditions is an important topic in industrial applications. This paper focuses on the determination of the resulting propagation direction. Two criteria are analyzed, the dominant step criterion and the averaged angle criterion, and compared with experimental data from tension-torsion tests with and without phase shift. The comparison shows that the dominant step criterion yields better results for small to moderate values of the phase shift. For a large phase shift of 90°, the experimental results are not very consistent, and therefore, no decisive conclusions can be drawn.
Intelligent Cyber Attack Detection and Classification for Network-Based Intrusion Detection Systems
Authors: Oliveira Nuno , Praça Isabel , Maia Eva , Sousa Orlando
Published: February 2021

With the latest advances in information and communication technologies, greater amounts of sensitive user and corporate information are shared continuously across the network, making it susceptible to an attack that can compromise data confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) are important security mechanisms that can perform the timely detection of malicious events through the inspection of network traffic or host-based logs. Many machine learning techniques have proven to be successful at conducting anomaly detection throughout the years, but only a few considered the sequential nature of data. This work proposes a sequential approach and evaluates the performance of a Random Forest (RF), a Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP), and a Long-Short Term Memory (LSTM) on the CIDDS-001 dataset. The resulting performance measures of this particular approach are compared with the ones obtained from a more traditional one, which only considers individual flow information, in order to determine which methodology best suits the concerned scenario. The experimental outcomes suggest that anomaly detection can be better addressed from a sequential perspective. The LSTM is a highly reliable model for acquiring sequential patterns in network traffic data, achieving an accuracy of 99.94% and an f1-score of 91.66%.
MR Images, Brain Lesions, and Deep Learning
Authors: Castillo Darwin , Lakshminarayanan Vasudevan , Rodríguez-Álvarez María José
Published: February 2021

Medical brain image analysis is a necessary step in computer-assisted/computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) systems. Advancements in both hardware and software in the past few years have led to improved segmentation and classification of various diseases. In the present work, we review the published literature on systems and algorithms that allow for classification, identification, and detection of white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) of brain magnetic resonance (MR) images, specifically in cases of ischemic stroke and demyelinating diseases. For the selection criteria, we used bibliometric networks. Of a total of 140 documents, we selected 38 articles that deal with the main objectives of this study. Based on the analysis and discussion of the revised documents, there is constant growth in the research and development of new deep learning models to achieve the highest accuracy and reliability of the segmentation of ischemic and demyelinating lesions. Models with good performance metrics (e.g., Dice similarity coefficient, DSC: 0.99) were found; however, there is little practical application due to the use of small datasets and a lack of reproducibility. Therefore, the main conclusion is that there should be multidisciplinary research groups to overcome the gap between CAD developments and their deployment in the clinical environment.
Full-Field Strain Reconstruction Using Uniaxial Strain Measurements: Application to Damage Detection
Authors: Roy Rinto , Gherlone Marco , Surace Cecilia , Tessler Alexander
Published: February 2021

This work investigates the inverse problem of reconstructing the continuous displacement field of a structure using a spatially distributed set of discrete uniaxial strain data. The proposed technique is based on the inverse Finite Element Method (iFEM), which has been demonstrated to be suitable for full-field displacement, and subsequently strain, reconstruction in beam and plate structures using discrete or continuous surface strain measurements. The iFEM uses a variationally based approach to displacement reconstruction, where an error functional is discretized using a set of finite elements. The effects of position and orientation of uniaxial strain measurements on the iFEM results are investigated, and the use of certain strain smoothing strategies for improving reconstruction accuracy is discussed. Reconstruction performance using uniaxial strain data is examined numerically using the problem of a thin plate with an internal crack. The results obtained highlight that strain field reconstruction using the proposed strategy can provide useful information regarding the presence, position, and orientation of damage on the plate.
Pitch Angle Optimization for Small Wind Turbines Based on a Hierarchical Fuzzy-PID Controller and Anticipated Wind Speed Measurement
Authors: Chavero-Navarrete Ernesto , Trejo-Perea Mario , Jáuregui-Correa Juan Carlos , Carrillo-Serrano Roberto Valentín , Ronquillo-Lomeli Guillermo , Ríos-Moreno José Gabriel
Published: February 2021

Wind energy is an alternative to meet the growing energy demand and protect the environment; however, in places with limited wind resources, only the installation of small horizontal-axis wind turbines (SHAWTs) is profitable. At the height of these turbines, the wind is usually unstable with gusts and turbulence due to obstacles in its path such as buildings and trees. The pitch angle must be adaptable to guarantee nominal rotation speed, and it is commonly regulated with a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) feedback controller. This controller works well when the wind is stable, but not with drastic changes in wind speed. To correct this problem, this article introduces a PID controller with automatic adjustment of the gain values using a fuzzy logic controller (FLC). The PID gain adjustment allows an optimal response speed of the system for different wind conditions. The membership functions of the FLC are determined from a methodology that includes: The measurement of the wind speed at a calculated distance, a statistical analysis of the wind variability, and a dynamic analysis of the wind path. In this way, it is possible to anticipate the response of the actuator to the arrival of a gust of wind to the rotor. The algorithm is implemented in 14 kW SHAWTs where the difference in performance with a conventional controller is quantified. Satisfactory results were obtained, the electrical output increased by 7%, and the risk of rotor damage due to vibrations or mechanical fatigue was reduced by 20%.
Semi-Continuous Adsorption Processes with Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes for the Treatment of Water Contaminated by an Organic Textile Dye
Authors: De Luca Pierantonio , Chiodo Antonio , Macario Anastasia , Siciliano Carlo , B.Nagy Jànos
Published: February 2021

Adsorbent columns, containing different amounts of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), in a semicontinuous process were studied. The optimal conditions for the discoloration of water contaminated by an azoic organic textile dye were investigated. In particular, as representative of contaminated water, a highly concentrated solution of Reactive Black 5 (RB5) equal to 37 mg/L was utilized. A predetermined volume of dye solution, equal to 100 mL, was subjected to repeated cycles of adsorption until the eluted solution became colorless. This adsorption operation was carried out for different types of columns. Adsorbent performances as a function of characteristics of each column were investigated. For each column, the optimum quantity of MWCNTs, maximum volume of treatable solution, carbon usage rate (CUR), empty bed contact time (EBCT), and adsorption capacity were determined. The permeate was characterized by UV-VIS analysis and TOC analysis, while adsorbent material (MWCNTs) was characterized by thermogravimetric TG-DTA analysis. The column containing 2.5 g of carbon nanotubes was revealed to be the best one for the total amount of Reactive Black 5 adsorbed, i.e., 55 mg/g(MWCNTs) The research has shown the high adsorption efficiency of carbon nanotubes toward RB5 dye, highlighting the degradation of the dye molecule and the stratification, inside the columns, of the adsorbed compound.
Thermogravimetry Applicability in Compost and Composting Research: A Review
Authors: Díaz Manuel Jesús , Ruiz-Montoya Mercedes , Palma Alberto , de-Paz M.-Violante
Published: February 2021

Composting could be a suitable solution to the correct treatment and hygienization of several organic waste, producing compost that can be used in agriculture. The evolution and maturity of this process has been studied using a variety of techniques. One very promising technique for these studies is thermogravimetric analysis. On the other hand, the compost can be used for a variety of purposes different to the agricultural one, such as direct energy by combustion or energy and products by pyrolysis and its suitability can be measured by thermogravimetric techniques. With these goals, a bibliographic analysis has been done, applying Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses PRISMA methodology, to the use of thermogravimetric equipment applied to the study of composting and compost uses. According to the methodology for PRISMA systematic reviews, the following databases have been searched Google Scholar, Web of Science, Mendeley, Microsoft Academic, World Wide Science, Science Direct, IEEE Xplore, Springer Link, Scopus, and PubMed by using the terms “thermogravimetry AND (compost OR composting) AND NOT plastic”.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells: The Secret Children’s Weapons against the SARS-CoV-2 Lethal Infection
Authors: Balzanelli Mario Giosuè , Distratis Pietro , Catucci Orazio , Cefalo Angelo , Lazzaro Rita , Inchingolo Francesco , Tomassone Diego , Aityan Sergey K. , Ballini Andrea , Nguyen Kieu C. D. , Gargiulo Isacco Ciro
Published: February 2021

Due to the promising effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the treatment of various diseases, this commentary aimed to focus on the auxiliary role of MSCs to reduce inflammatory processes of acute respiratory infections caused by the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Since early in 2020, COVID-19, a consequence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has rapidly affected millions of people world-wide. The SARS-CoV-2 infection in children appears to be an unusual event. Despite the high number of affected adult and elderly, children and adolescents remained low in amounts, and marginally touched. Based on the promising role of cell therapy and regenerative medicine approaches in the treatment of several life-threatening diseases, it seems that applying MSCs cell-based approaches can also be a hopeful strategy for improving subjects with severe acute respiratory infections caused by COVID-19.
Copula-Based Bayesian Reliability Analysis of a Product of a Probability and a Frequency Model for Parallel Systems When Components Are Dependent
Authors: Lin Shi-Woei , Matanhire Tapiwa Blessing , Liu Yi-Ting
Published: February 2021

While the dependence assumption among the components is naturally important in evaluating the reliability of a system, studies investigating the issues of aggregation errors in Bayesian reliability analyses have been focused mainly on systems with independent components. This study developed a copula-based Bayesian reliability model to formulate dependency between components of a parallel system and to estimate the failure rate of the system. In particular, we integrated Monte Carlo simulation and classification tree learning to identify key factors that affect the magnitude of errors in the estimation of posterior means of system reliability (for different Bayesian analysis approaches—aggregate analysis, disaggregate analysis, and simplified disaggregate analysis) to provide important guidelines for choosing the most appropriate approach for analyzing a model of products of a probability and a frequency for parallel systems with dependent components.
High-Speed Elevator Car Air Pressure Compensation Method Based on Coupling Analysis of Internal and External Flow Fields
Authors: Qiu Lemiao , Zhou Huifang , Wang Zili , Zhang Shuyou , Zhang Lichun , Lou Wenqian
Published: February 2021

As the demand for high-speed elevators grows, the requirements of elevator performance have also developed. The high speed will produce strong airflow disturbances and drastic pressure changes, which is prone to cause passenger discomfort. In this paper, an elevator car air pressure compensation method based on coupling analysis of internal and external flow fields (IE-FF) is proposed. It helps to adaptively track the ideal air pressure curve (IAPC) inside the car and controls the air pressure fluctuation to improve the ride comfort of the elevator. To obtain the air pressure transient value in the elevator car, an IE-FF modeling method is proposed. Based on the IE-FF model, the air pressure compensation system is developed. To realize the air pressure compensation inside the car, an adaptive iterative learning control (A-ILC) algorithm is proposed, to eliminate the passengers’ ear pressing due to the severe air pressure fluctuation. To verify the proposed method, the KLK2 (Canny Elevator Co., Ltd., 2015, Suzhou, China) high-speed elevator is applied. The numerical experiment results show that the proposed method has higher tracking accuracy and convergence speed compared to the classical Proportion Integral Differential (PID) algorithm and the Proportion Integral-iterative learning control (PD-ILC) algorithm.
Surface Treatment of Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) by Cold Atmospheric Plasma (CAP) for Biocompatibility Enhancement
Authors: Turicek Jack , Ratts Nicole , Kaltchev Matey , Masoud Nazieh
Published: February 2021

Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) is one of the most commonly used polymers in joint replacements because of its biologically inert properties and low friction coefficient. However, it has downfalls relating to its wear, adhesion, and lubrication. In this study, UHMWPE samples were treated with a tubular helium cold atmospheric pressure (CAP) plasma source in order to improve three properties of the polymer: (1) its wear resistance, which was characterized by durometer hardness, (2) its lubrication characterized by water contact angle, and (3) its adhesion characterized by both root mean square surface roughness (Rq) and water contact angle. The polymer was treated by two different parts of the plasma plume (the base and the tip) at two different helium flow rates (1 L/min and 2.5 L/min), for different treatment times. Results of the plasma treatment showed a decrease in the contact angle of between 32 and 54 degrees, a significant increase in the roughness by up to 10 times the pristine surface, and no substantial change in the hardness. These improvements to the adhesion and lubrication properties of the polymer examined suggest that the treated surface could be more suitable for use in artificial joints.
The Efficacy of Tele-Rehabilitation Program for Improving Upper Limb Function among Adults Following Elbow Fractures: A Pilot Study
Authors: Mayer Naomi , Portnoy Sigal , Palti Ram , Levanon Yafa
Published: February 2021

Background: Active mobilization post-elbow fractures reduces the incidence of complications. Occupational therapists use tele-rehabilitation, incorporating technology into their practices. There is a lack of evidence-based trials regarding the integration of tele-rehabilitation during treatment. We therefore aimed to compare tele-rehabilitation treatment outcomes with conventional rehabilitation in improving the upper limb function post-elbow fractures. Methods: Eighteen participants post-elbow surgery due to fracture were divided into two groups according to age and fracture type. The groups received one month of treatment: the tele-rehabilitation group (N = 9, median age 33.0 ± 27.9 years, range 18.5–61.0) received 1–2 tele-rehabilitation treatments per week via a biofeedback system of elbow motion (the ArmTutor and 3D Tutor systems, MediTouch Ltd., Netanya, Israel) and 1–2 treatments in an outpatient clinic, and the control group (N = 9, median age 60.0 ± 37.0 years, range 20.5–73.0) received 3–4 treatments per week in the clinic. Both groups were instructed to self-practice at home. Four evaluations were performed: before and after the intervention, and 3 months and 1 year from surgery. The outcome measures included the Jebsen–Taylor hand function test; the disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand questionnaire; the patient-rated elbow evaluation; satisfaction; passive and active range of motion (ROM); and strength measurements. Results: Findings demonstrated a significant improvement in the ROM and in functional assessments in both groups. No statistically significant differences were found between the groups. The subjects in the tele-rehabilitation group reported a higher level of satisfaction and needed less help from a family member during practice. Conclusions: Tele-rehabilitation programs could be incorporated in the framework of treatment following elbow fractures. Tele-rehabilitation is a cost-effective treatment, suitable for patients with accessibility difficulties or who have difficulty arriving at the clinic.
Current Status and Consideration of Support/Care Robots for Stand-Up Motion
Authors: Nakamura Kensuke , Saga Norihiko
Published: February 2021

In order to make robots, which are expected to play an active role in the medical and nursing care fields in the future, more practical for use in rehabilitation, it is necessary to evaluate the current status of the design of these robots. Therefore, this paper aims to investigate the existing literature on standing motion assistance robots developed and reported to date and investigate each existing design technique from the perspectives of “Functions and Effects” and “Assist form and control.” Then, we search and investigate papers written in English on standing motion assistance robots reported from 2008 to 2019 and organize the contents of the relevant papers into their different assistance modes and four categories related to design. As a result, the standing motion assistance robots are classified into three assist modes: partial assistance, total assistance, and both. The assistance forms are roughly divided into two types: a wearable type and a non-wearable type. It is also demonstrated that both the assistance forms adopt the same trends in terms of the control strategy design and system I/O relationships. On the other hand, power equipment tends to be different between the two forms.
Nanotechnology Development for Formulating Essential Oils in Wound Dressing Materials to Promote the Wound-Healing Process: A Review
Authors: De Luca Ilenia , Pedram Parisa , Moeini Arash , Cerruti Pierfrancesco , Peluso Gianfranco , Di Salle Anna , Germann Natalie
Published: February 2021

Wound healing refers to the replacement of damaged tissue through strongly coordinated cellular events. The patient’s condition and different types of wounds complicate the already intricate healing process. Conventional wound dressing materials seem to be insufficient to facilitate and support this mechanism. Nanotechnology could provide the physicochemical properties and specific biological responses needed to promote the healing process. For nanoparticulate dressing design, growing interest has focused on natural biopolymers due to their biocompatibility and good adaptability to technological needs. Polysaccharides are the most common natural biopolymers used for wound-healing materials. In particular, alginate and chitosan polymers exhibit intrinsic antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, useful for guaranteeing efficient treatment. Recent studies highlight that several natural plant-derived molecules can influence healing stages. In particular, essential oils show excellent antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties that can be amplified by combining them with nanotechnological strategies. This review summarizes recent studies concerning essential oils as active secondary compounds in polysaccharide-based wound dressings.
Portable Spectroscopy Calibration with Inexpensive and Simple Sampling Reference Alternatives for Dry Matter and Total Carotenoid Contents in Cassava Roots
Authors: Abincha Wilfred , Ikeogu Ugochukwu N. , Kawuki Robert , Egesi Chiedozie , Rabbi Ismail , Parkes Elizabeth , Kulakow Peter , Edema Richard , Gibson Paul , Owor Betty-Elizabeth
Published: February 2021

The use of standard laboratory methods for trait evaluation is expensive and challenging, especially for low-resource breeding programs. For carotenoid assessment, rather than the standard HPLC method, these programs mostly rely on proxy approaches for quantitative total carotenoid content (TCC) assessment. To ensure data transferability and consistency, calibration models were developed using TCC iCheck and Chroma Meter proxy methods for the adoption of the alternative near-infrared phenotyping method in cassava. Calibration was developed for dry matter content (DMC) using a simple and inexpensive sampling procedure associated with the proxy TCC protocols. The partial least square (PLS) and random forest (RF) models were compared for the two traits, and the correlation (r) between the actual and predicted values in the training and validation (in bracket) sets of r = 0.85 (0.76) and r = 0.98 (0.82) with PLS and RF, respectively, for iCheck, and r = 0.99 (0.96) and r = 0.99 (0.96) with PLS and RF, respectively, for Chroma Meter, was obtained. The calibration result of r = 0.93 (0.83) and r = 0.99 (0.81) using PLS and RF, respectively, was obtained for DMC. This effort is valuable in carotenoids improvement and supports the ongoing effort in adopting portable spectrometers for rapid and cheap phenotyping in cassava.