bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Heavy metal accumulation in leafy vegetables grown in industrial areas under varying levels of pollution
Authors: Naser HM , Rahman MZ , Sultana S , Quddus MA , Hossain MA
Published: March 2018

The concentration of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co) and chromium (Cr) in three popular leafy vegetables such as spinach (Spinacia oleracea), red amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor) and amaranth (Amaranthus oleraseus) and that in the respective soils were assessed. These crops and soils were collected from two industrial areas (Kalakoir and Zorun, Konabari, Gazipur), and one non-industrial area (Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute-BARI) under Gazipur district. The concentration of heavy metal in different parts of plant followed the roots>leaves>stem and in soils the order was Kalakoir (pollution)> Zorun (medium pollution) > BARI (low/non-pollution). In all three leafy vegetables similar trend of metal contents was observed i.e. Ni>Cr>Pb>Co>Cd. In the highly pollution area (Kalakoir) the Pb and Ni concentration was found in the order of amaranth>spinach>red amaranth. The Cd concentration was in the order of spinach>amaranth>red amaranth whereas for Cd it was amaranth>red amaranth>spinach and for Cr it was red amaranth>amaranth>spinach. The Pb, Cd, Ni, Co and Cr concentrations in the studied vegetables grown in the low polluted area were below the maximum acceptable levels proposed by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, except, Cd in spinach and amaranth. However, the higher concentrations of Pb, Cd, Ni, Co and Cr in vegetables grown in the industrial areas indicates that industrial discharge causes heavy metals contamination of soil and eventually their accumulation in plants.Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 43(1): 39-51, March 2018
Effect of urea super granule and prilled urea on the growth and yield of broccoli
Authors: Hussain MJ , Karim AJMS , Islam MS , Rahman M
Published: March 2018

A field experiment was conducted at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur during the period from 2012-13 to verify the effectiveness of urea super granule (USG) and prilled urea (PU)on growth, yield and yield attributes of broccoli in Shallow Red-Brown Terrace Soil under Madhupur Tract (AEZ-28). The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications having 5 treatments constituted with different levels of USG and PU as- T1: Control, T2: USG-N140 (140 kg N as USG), T3: USG-N160 (160 kg N as USG), T4: USG-N180 (180 kg N as USG), T5: PU-N180 (180 kg N as PU). Performance of USG was better than PU and the treatment USG-N160 gave the highest yield (13.49 ton ha-1) which was followed by USG-N180 (12.43 ton ha-1) and PU-N180(12.05 ton ha-1) having significant difference among these. Higher but statistically identical number of lateral head 5.103 and 5.38 was produced by USG-N160 and USG-N180 treatments, respectively in comparison with PU-N180 (5.04). But higher lateral head yields (6.05 and 5.03 ton ha-1) were found in USG-N180 treatments followed by PU-N180. All the yield contributing characters and the economic profitability were favorably correlated with these high yield performing treatments with the highest MRR (3336.67%) obtained from USG-N160 which indicated that USG @ 160 kg N ha-1 (USG-N160) is the most economically viable N dose in terms of yield and economics for broccoli production. Therefore, USG @ 160 kg N ha-1 (USG-N160) with other recommended fertilizer could be suggested as USG based fertilizer recommendation for better broccoli production in terms of yield and economics in Silty Clay Loam Soil of Madhupur Tract.Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 43(1): 53-69, March 2018
Detection of soil fungi from wheat cultivated area
Authors: Seth RK , Alam S , Shukla DN
Published: March 2018

Experiments were conducted to find out different soil fungi from wheat cultivated area during 15 April to 10 May, 2013-2014. The obtained soil fungi from wheat cultivated area were Aspergillus spp., Penicillum spp., Geotrichum spp., Gloesporium spp., Fusarium spp., Mycelia sterilia, Arthrobotrys spp., Cladosporium herbarum in district Allahabad, Various soil fungi from wheat cultivated area from Mirzapur district were which Aspergillus spp., Penicillum spp., Rizoctinia spp., Fusarium spp., Mucor spp. and In Varanasi district, various soil fungi were obtained also from wheat cultivated area which are Aspergillus spp., Penicillum spp., Rizoctinia spp., Fusarium spp., Mucor spp., Alternaria spp., Helminthosporium oryzae, and Humicola grisea. Aspergillus spp. and Penicillum spp. was common fungi presented in three different districts Allahabad, Mirzapur and Varanasi, of Uttar Pradesh.Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 43(1): 149-157, March 2018
Mary Tighe's Psyche, William Hayley's Psyche, and George Romney's Cupid and Psyche
Authors: Kramer Linkin Harriet
Published: March 2018

In July 1806 William Hayley suggested that Mary Tighe publish an illustrated edition of Psyche; or, The Legend of Love, using engravings of George Romney's Cupid and Psyche cartoons. Tighe declined, as she did all recommendations that she publish an edition of Psyche. Although she usually cited modesty as her rationale for not publishing, in this instance she pointed to the unsuitability of Romney's illustrations for her narrative. The Romney cartoons closely adhered to Apuleius's narrative of the Cupid and Psyche legend, and were sketched in 1777 to illustrate Hayley's subsequently unfinished verse translation of Apuleius's tale. This essay argues that Hayley tried to use Tighe's Psyche to complete the unfinished project he wanted to pursue with Romney in the first days of their friendship, which would help him overcome the emotional paralysis he experienced in 1805–1806 as he struggled to move forward on his Life of Romney.
A Body-Nonlinear Green’s Function Method with Viscous Dissipation Effects for Large-Amplitude Roll of Floating Bodies
Authors: Guo Zhiqun , Ma Qingwei , Yu Shuangrui , Qin Hongde
Published: March 2018

A novel time-domain body-nonlinear Green’s function method is developed for evaluating large-amplitude roll damping of two-dimensional floating bodies with consideration of viscous dissipation effects. In the method, the instantaneous wetted surface of floating bodies is accurately considered, and the viscous dissipation effects are taken into account based on the “fairly perfect fluid” model. As compared to the method based on the existing inviscid body-nonlinear Green’s function, the newly proposed method can give a more accurate damping coefficient of floating bodies rolling on the free surface with large amplitudes according to the numerical tests and comparison with experimental data for a few cases related to ship hull sections with bilge keels.
Ni-Al Alloys as Alternative EUV Mask Absorber
Authors: Luong Vu , Philipsen Vicky , Hendrickx Eric , Opsomer Karl , Detavernier Christophe , Laubis Christian , Scholze Frank , Heyns Marc
Published: March 2018

Extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography is being industrialized as the next candidate printing technique for high-volume manufacturing of scaled down integrated circuits. At mask level, the combination of EUV light at oblique incidence, absorber thickness, and non-uniform mirror reflectance through incidence angle, creates photomask-induced imaging aberrations, known as mask 3D (M3D) effects. A possible mitigation for the M3D effects in the EUV binary intensity mask (BIM), is to use mask absorber materials with high extinction coefficient κ and refractive coefficient n close to unity. We propose nickel aluminide alloys as a candidate BIM absorber material, and characterize them versus a set of specifications that a novel EUV mask absorber must meet. The nickel aluminide samples have reduced crystallinity as compared to metallic nickel, and form a passivating surface oxide layer in neutral solutions. Composition and density profile are investigated to estimate the optical constants, which are then validated with EUV reflectometry. An oxidation-induced Al L2 absorption edge shift is observed, which significantly impacts the value of n at 13.5 nm wavelength and moves it closer to unity. The measured optical constants are incorporated in an accurate mask model for rigorous simulations. The M3D imaging impact of the nickel aluminide alloy mask absorbers, which predict significant M3D reduction in comparison to reference absorber materials. In this paper, we present an extensive experimental methodology flow to evaluate candidate mask absorber materials.
Damage Imaging in Lamb Wave-Based Inspection of Adhesive Joints
Authors: Rucka Magdalena , Wojtczak Erwin , Lachowicz Jacek
Published: March 2018

Adhesive bonding has become increasingly important in many industries. Non-destructive inspection of adhesive joints is essential for the condition assessment and maintenance of a structure containing such joints. The aim of this paper was the experimental investigation of the damage identification of a single lap adhesive joint of metal plate-like structures. Nine joints with different defects in the form of partial debonding were considered. The inspection was based on ultrasonic guided wave propagation. The Lamb waves were excited at one point of the analyzed specimen by means of a piezoelectric actuator, while the guided wave field was measured with the use of a laser vibrometer. For damage imaging, the recorded out-of-plane vibrations were processed by means of the weighted root mean square (WRMS). The influence of different WRMS parameters (i.e., the time window and weighting factor), as well as excitation frequencies, were analyzed using statistical analysis. The results showed that two-dimensional representations of WRMS values allowed for the identification of the presence of actual defects in the adhesive film and determined their geometry.
Selection of Spectral Resolution and Scanning Speed for Detecting Green Jujubes Chilling Injury Based on Hyperspectral Reflectance Imaging
Authors: Lu Huanda , Yu Xinjie , Zhou Lijuan , He Yong
Published: March 2018

Hyperspectral imaging is a non-destructive method for the detection of chilling injury in fruit. However, the limitation of this technique is the lacking of an appropriate working parameters and a feasible discriminating model for chilling on-line sorting. This research was aimed to select the optimal spectral resolution, scanning speed, and classification model for green jujube chilling injury detection based on hyperspectral reflectance imaging. Criminisi algorithm was firstly carried out to reconstruct the specular reflection region in spectral images before deriving mean spectra, and thus the optimal wavelengths were selected by random frog. Results showed that the Criminisi algorithm presented a desirable ability of spectral image inpainting. The linear discriminant analysis (LDA) achieved overall accuracies of 98.3% and 93.3% for two-class and three-class classification, respectively, at the speed of 20 mm/s with the spectral resolution of 5.03 nm based on selected spectral features. The results demonstrated that 20 mm/s with the spectral resolution of 5.03 nm was more feasible for the detection of green jujube chilling injury in hyperspectral imaging system due to a higher scanning efficiency, but a less data size.
Temperature Extremes: Estimation of Non-Stationary Return Levels and Associated Uncertainties
Authors: Hamdi Yasser , Duluc Claire-Marie , Rebour Vincent
Published: March 2018

Estimating temperature extremes (TEs) and associated uncertainties under the non-stationary (NS) assumption is a key research question in several domains, including the nuclear safety field. Methods for estimating TEs and associated confidence intervals (CIs) have often been used in the literature but in a stationary context, separately and without detailed comparison. The extreme value theory is often used to assess risks in a context of climate change. It provides an accurate indication of distributions describing the frequency of occurrence of TEs. However, in an NS context, the notion of the return period is not easily interpretable. For instance, to predict a high return level (RL) in a future year, time-varying distributions must be used and compared. This study examines the performance of a new concept to predict RLs in an NS context and compares three methods for constructing the associated CIs (delta, profile likelihood, and parametric bootstrap). The present work takes up the concept of integrated return periods that define the T-year RL as the level for which the expected number of events in a T-year period is one and proposes a new method based on conditional predictions that is useful for predicting high RLs of extreme events in the near future (the 100-year RL in the year 2030, for instance). The daily maximum temperature (DMT) observed at the Orange Station in France was used as a case study. Several trend models were compared and a new likelihood-based method to detect breaks in TEs is proposed. The analyses were conducted assuming the time-varying Generalized Extreme Value (GEV) distribution. The concepts have been implemented in a software package (Non-Stationary Generalized Extreme Value (NSGEV)). The application demonstrates that the RL estimates for NS situations can be quite different from those corresponding to stationary conditions. Overall, the results suggest that the NS analysis can be helpful in making a more appropriate assessment of the risk for periodic safety reviews during the life of a nuclear power plant (NPP).
Natural Resistance Associated Macrophage Protein Is Involved in Immune Response of Blunt Snout Bream, Megalobrama amblycephala
Authors: Jiang Yu-Hong , Mao Ying , Lv Yi-Na , Tang Lei-Lei , Zhou Yi , Zhong Huan , Xiao Jun , Yan Jin-Peng
Published: March 2018

The natural resistance-associated macrophage protein gene (Nramp), has been identified as one of the significant candidate genes responsible for modulating vertebrate natural resistance to intracellular pathogens. Here, we identified and characterized a new Nramp family member, named as maNramp, in the blunt snout bream. The full-length cDNA of maNramp consists of a 153 bp 5′UTR, a 1635 bp open reading frame encoding a protein with 544 amino acids, and a 1359 bp 3′UTR. The deduced protein (maNRAMP) possesses the typical structural features of NRAMP protein family, including 12 transmembrane domains, three N-linked glycosylation sites, and a conserved transport motif. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that maNRAMP shares the significant sequence consistency with other teleosts, and shows the higher sequence similarity to mammalian Nramp2 than Nramp1. It was found that maNramp expressed ubiquitously in all normal tissues tested, with the highest abundance in the spleen, followed by the head kidney and intestine, and less abundance in the muscle, gill, and kidney. After lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation, the mRNA level of maNramp was rapidly up-regulated, which reached a peak level at 6 h. Altogether, these results indicated that maNramp might be related to fish innate immunity and similar to mammalian Nramp1 in function.
The Definition of Entropy for Quantum Unstable Systems: A View-Point Based on the Properties of Gamow States
Authors: Civitarese Osvaldo , Gadella Manuel
Published: March 2018

In this paper, we review the concept of entropy in connection with the description of quantum unstable systems. We revise the conventional definition of entropy due to Boltzmann and extend it so as to include the presence of complex-energy states. After introducing a generalized basis of states which includes resonances, and working with amplitudes instead of probabilities, we found an expression for the entropy which exhibits real and imaginary components. We discuss the meaning of the imaginary part of the entropy on the basis of the similarities existing between thermal and time evolutions.
Energy Consumption of Air-Separation Adsorption Methods
Authors: Banaszkiewicz Tomasz , Chorowski Maciej
Published: March 2018

Adsorption technology is currently one of the most popular methods of air separation. At relatively low energy expenditure, this allows oxygen to be obtained with sufficient purity for oxyfuel, metallurgy or medical applications. The adsorption process is dependent on several factors such as pressure, temperature, the concentration of adsorbed element in the gas phase, or the surface area of the phase boundary. The paper shows the calculation of the minimum energy needed for oxygen separation taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of the adsorption methods. The article shows how many times the energy consumption of a real oxygen-separation plant is higher than the theoretical energy consumption, and indicates which components of the adsoption installation can be further improved. The paper is supported by research conducted on an oxygen-separation installation at a semi-technical scale.
Techno-Economic Analysis of a 600 MW Oxy-Enrich Pulverized Coal-Fired Boiler
Authors: Lei Ming , Sun Cen , Wang Chunbo
Published: March 2018

Oxy-fuel combustion is one of the most promising methods for CO2 capture and storage (CCS) but the operating costs—mainly due to the need for oxygen production—usually lead to an obvious decrease in power generation efficiency. An “oxy-enrich combustion” process was proposed in this study to improve the efficiency of the oxy-fuel combustion process. The oxidizer for oxy-enrich combustion was composed of pure oxygen, air and recycled flue gas. Thus, the CO2 concentration in the flue gas decreased to 30–40%. The PSA (pressure swing adsorption), which has been widely used for CO2 removal from the shifting gases of ammonia synthesis in China, was applied to capture CO2 during oxy-enrich combustion. The technological economics of oxy-enrich combustion with PSA was calculated and compared to that of oxy-fuel combustion. The results indicated that, compared with oxy-fuel combustion: (1) the oxy-enrich combustion has fewer capital and operating costs for the ASU (air separation unit) and the recycle fan; (2) there were fewer changes in the components of the flue gas in a furnace for oxy-enrich combustion between dry and wet flue gas circulation; and (3) as the volume ratio of air and oxygen was 2 or 3, the economics of oxy-enrich combustion with PSA were more advantageous.
FPGA-Based Online PQD Detection and Classification through DWT, Mathematical Morphology and SVD
Authors: Lopez-Ramirez Misael , Cabal-Yepez Eduardo , Ledesma-Carrillo Luis , Miranda-Vidales Homero , Rodriguez-Donate Carlos , Lizarraga-Morales Rocio
Published: March 2018

Power quality disturbances (PQD) in electric distribution systems can be produced by the utilization of non-linear loads or environmental circumstances, causing electrical equipment malfunction and reduction of its useful life. Detecting and classifying different PQDs implies great efforts in planning and structuring the monitoring system. The main disadvantage of most works in the literature is that they treat a limited number of electrical disturbances through personal computer (PC)-based computation techniques, which makes it difficult to perform an online PQD classification. In this work, the novel contribution is a methodology for PQD recognition and classification through discrete wavelet transform, mathematical morphology, decomposition of singular values, and statistical analysis. Furthermore, the timely and reliable classification of different disturbances is necessary; hence, a field programmable gate array (FPGA)-based integrated circuit is developed to offer a portable hardware processing unit to perform fast, online PQD classification. The obtained numerical and experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method guarantees high effectiveness during online PQD detection and classification of real voltage/current signals.
Exergo-Ecological Assessment of Waste to Energy Plants Supported by Solar Energy
Authors: Mendecka Barbara , Lombardi Lidia , Gładysz Paweł , Stanek Wojciech
Published: March 2018

Hybridization of Waste to Energy (WtE) plants with solar facilities can take competing energy technologies and make them complementary. However, realizing the benefits of the solar integration requires careful consideration of its efficiency. To analyse such systems from the point of view of resource efficiency, the pure energy analysis is not sufficient since the quality of particular energy carriers is not evaluated. This work applies the exergo-ecological analysis using the concepts of thermoecological cost (TEC) and exergy cost for the performance evaluation of an integrated Solar-Waste to Energy plant scheme, where solar energy is used for steam superheating. Different plant layouts, considering several design steam parameters as well as different solar system configurations, in terms of area of heliostats and size of the thermal storage tank, were studied. The results for the solar integrated plant scheme were compared with the scenarios where superheating is performed fully by a non-renewable energy source. The presented results of exergy cost analysis indicate that the most favorable system is the one supported by non-renewable energy. Such an analysis does not consider the advantage of the use of renewable energy sources. By extending the system boundary to the level of natural resource and applying the thermoecological cost analysis, an opposite result was obtained.
Facilitation Processes and Skills Supporting EcoCity Development
Authors: Antuña-Rozado Carmen , García-Navarro Justo , Mariño-Drews Juana
Published: March 2018

Ecocities can provide solutions for the improvement of human settlements around the world and the living conditions therein, but in the authors’ experience, only as long as they are able to address the following questions correctly: How to formulate an ecocity concept that, considering issues of general concern, can be at the same time adapted to different local conditions? What are the instruments supporting the development and implementation of ecocity solutions? VTT’s EcoCity concept for sustainable community and neighbourhood regeneration and development has been designed in response to the first question. Likewise, specific methodologies and effective facilitation processes and skills have been developed in response to the second question. Since the methodologies have been discussed in a previous scientific article, the present one focuses on the facilitation processes and skills, and also on other related, fundamental aspects like participation, adaptation, capacity building, etc. Facilitation processes supporting EcoCity development require matching “hard” and “soft” skills in a fluid way. The main findings are discussed with the help of two case studies: one in Medellín (Colombia), and the other one in Zambia.
Energy Requirements for Biomass Harvest and Densification
Authors: Shinners Kevin , Friede Joshua
Published: March 2018

This research quantified the unit and bulk density of several biomass crops across a variety of harvest and processing methods, as well as the energy and fuel requirements for these operations. A load density of approximately 240 kg·m−3 is needed to reach the legal weight limit of most transporters. Of the three types of balers studied, only the high density (HD) large square baler achieved this target density. However, the specific energy and fuel requirements increased exponentially with bale density, and at the maximum densities for corn stover and switchgrass, the dry basis energy and fuel requirements ranged from 4.0 to 5.0 kW·h·Mg−1 and 1.2 to 1.4 L·Mg−1, respectively. Throughputs of tub grinders when grinding bales was less than any other harvesting or processing methods investigated, so specific energy and fuel requirements were high and ranged from 13 to 32 kW·h·Mg−1 and 5.0 to 11.3 L·Mg−1, respectively. Gross size-reduction by pre-cutting at baling increased bale density by less than 6% and increased baling energy requirements by 11% to 22%, but pre-cut bales increased the tub grinder throughput by 25% to 45% and reduced specific fuel consumption for grinding by 20% to 53%. Given the improvement in tub grinder operation, pre-cutting bales should be considered as a means to increase grinder throughput. Additional research is needed to determine the energy required to grind high density pre-cut bales at high throughputs so that better estimates of total energy required for a high density bale system can be made. An alternative bulk feedstock system was investigated that involved chopping moist biomass crops with a precision-cut forage harvester, compacting the bulk material in a silo bag, and then segmenting the densified material into modules optimized for efficient transport. The specific fuel use for chopping and then compacting biomass crops in the silo bag ranged from 1.6 to 3.0 L·Mg−1 and 0.5 to 1.3 L·Mg−1, respectively. At the proposed moistures, the compacted density in the silo bags was sufficient to achieve weight-limited transport although there would be less dry matter (DM) shipped than with the high density dry bale system. Additional development work is needed to create transportable modules from the compacted silo bag. The overall results of this research will allow more accurate estimates of biomass logistics costs based on product density and energy expenditures.
Forecasting Energy-Related CO2 Emissions Employing a Novel SSA-LSSVM Model: Considering Structural Factors in China
Authors: Zhao Huiru , Huang Guo , Yan Ning
Published: March 2018

Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions forecasting is becoming more important due to increasing climatic problems, which contributes to developing scientific climate policies and making reasonable energy plans. Considering that the influential factors of CO2 emissions are multiplex and the relationships between factors and CO2 emissions are complex and non-linear, a novel CO2 forecasting model called SSA-LSSVM, which utilizes the Salp Swarm Algorithm (SSA) to optimize the two parameters of the least squares support sector machine (LSSVM) model, is proposed in this paper. The influential factors of CO2 emissions, including the gross domestic product (GDP), population, energy consumption, economic structure, energy structure, urbanization rate, and energy intensity, are regarded as the input variables of the SSA-LSSVM model. The proposed model is verified to show a better forecasting performance compared with the selected models, including the single LSSVM model, the LSSVM model optimized by the particle swarm optimization algorithm (PSO-LSSVM), and the back propagation (BP) neural network model, on CO2 emissions in China from 2014 to 2016. The comparative analysis indicates the SSA-LSSVM model is greatly superior and has the potential to improve the accuracy and reliability of CO2 emissions forecasting. CO2 emissions in China from 2017 to 2020 are forecast combined with the 13th Five-Year Plan for social, economic and energy development. The comparison of CO2 emissions of China in 2020 shows that structural factors significantly affect CO2 emission forecasting results. The average annual growth of CO2 emissions slows down significantly due to a series of policies and actions taken by the Chinese government, which means China can keep the promise that greenhouse gas emissions will start to drop after 2030.
Empirical Modeling of the Viscosity of Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Foam Fracturing Fluid under Different Downhole Conditions
Authors: Ahmed Shehzad , Elraies Khaled , Hashmet Muhammad , Alnarabiji Mohamad
Published: March 2018

High-quality supercritical CO2 (sCO2) foam as a fracturing fluid is considered ideal for fracturing shale gas reservoirs. The apparent viscosity of the fracturing fluid holds an important role and governs the efficiency of the fracturing process. In this study, the viscosity of sCO2 foam and its empirical correlations are presented as a function of temperature, pressure, and shear rate. A series of experiments were performed to investigate the effect of temperature, pressure, and shear rate on the apparent viscosity of sCO2 foam generated by a widely used mixed surfactant system. An advanced high pressure, high temperature (HPHT) foam rheometer was used to measure the apparent viscosity of the foam over a wide range of reservoir temperatures (40–120 °C), pressures (1000–2500 psi), and shear rates (10–500 s−1). A well-known power law model was modified to accommodate the individual and combined effect of temperature, pressure, and shear rate on the apparent viscosity of the foam. Flow indices of the power law were found to be a function of temperature, pressure, and shear rate. Nonlinear regression was also performed on the foam apparent viscosity data to develop these correlations. The newly developed correlations provide an accurate prediction of the foam’s apparent viscosity under different fracturing conditions. These correlations can be helpful for evaluating foam-fracturing efficiency by incorporating them into a fracturing simulator.
Optimization and Scale-Up of Coffee Mucilage Fermentation for Ethanol Production
Authors: Orrego David , Zapata-Zapata Arley , Kim Daehwan
Published: March 2018

Coffee, one of the most popular food commodities and beverage ingredients worldwide, is considered as a potential source for food industry and second-generation biofuel due to its various by-products, including mucilage, husk, skin (pericarp), parchment, silver-skin, and pulp, which can be produced during the manufacturing process. A number of research studies have mainly investigated the valuable properties of brewed coffee (namely, beverage), functionalities, and its beneficial effects on cognitive and physical performances; however, other residual by-products of coffee, such as its mucilage, have rarely been studied. In this manuscript, the production of bioethanol from mucilage was performed both in shake flasks and 5 L bio-reactors. The use of coffee mucilage provided adequate fermentable sugars, primarily glucose with additional nutrient components, and it was directly fermented into ethanol using a Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain. The initial tests at the lab scale were evaluated using a two-level factorial experimental design, and the resulting optimal conditions were applied to further tests at the 5 L bio-reactor for scale up. The highest yields of flasks and 5 L bio-reactors were 0.46 g ethanol/g sugars, and 0.47 g ethanol/g sugars after 12 h, respectively, which were equal to 90% and 94% of the theoretically achievable conversion yield of ethanol.
Frequency Response Analysis of a Single-Area Power System with a Modified LFC Model Considering Demand Response and Virtual Inertia
Authors: Saeed Uz Zaman Muhammad , Bukhari Syed , Hazazi Khalid , Haider Zunaib , Haider Raza , Kim Chul-Hwan
Published: March 2018

The modern electric power system is foreseen to have increased penetration of controllable loads under demand response programs and renewable energy resources coupled with energy storage systems which can provide virtual inertia. In this paper, the conventional model of an electric power system is appended by considering, individually and collaboratively, the role of demand response and virtual inertia for the purpose of frequency analysis and control. Most existing literature on this topic either considers one of these two roles or lacks in providing a general model of power system with demand response and virtual inertia. The proposed model is presented in general form and can include/exclude demand response and/or virtual inertia. Further, power system operator can opt the power shares from conventional, demand response, and virtual inertia loops for frequency regulation and can also evaluate the impact of other parameters such as time delays and frequency deadbands on system frequency response. The mathematical formulation of steady-state values of frequency deviation and power contribution from all resources is provided and validated by simulation results under various scenarios including a case of wind intermittency.
Evaluation of Thermal Comfort Conditions in Retrofitted Facades Using Test Cells and Considering Overheating Scenarios in a Mediterranean Climate
Authors: Calama-González Carmen , Suárez Rafael , León-Rodríguez Ángel , Domínguez-Amarillo Samuel
Published: March 2018

Energy retrofitting of the housing stock is a priority in current regulatory standards as a means of reducing energy consumption. The strategies used in retrofitting housing stock ought to respond both to regulatory conditions and to two challenges: specific climate conditions and the improvement of comfort conditions. These issues are especially important in the warmer regions of the Mediterranean, and will be even more so in the future due to climate change. The aim of this paper is to assess the influence that the improvement of facade insulation and the use of ventilation have on the existing housing stock. To do so, an energy evaluation is conducted using on-site monitoring of free-running conditions in test cells reproducing a residential room, both in current condition and with the retrofitted proposal, in Seville (Spain). The results obtained show limited improvement of the facade insulation when outdoor temperatures are high, as well as the influence of ventilation, mainly nocturnal, depending on the ventilation rate and the minimum outdoor temperatures.
Study of Photovoltaics and LED Energy Efficiency: Case Study in Hungary
Authors: Pintér Gábor , Baranyai Nóra , Wiliams Alec , Zsiborács Henrik
Published: March 2018

Photovoltaic (PV) energy and energy efficiency have an increasing role in global energy usage. This paper is a study of building photovoltaic systems (PVS) to modernize existing or developed street lighting systems in Hungarian villages of 900–1200 inhabitants. The objective of this study is to show the economic questions related to the investments in photovoltaic systems and light emitting diode (LED) street lighting developments under Hungarian regulations. With the help of this study, it may be possible to support local governments to use combined photovoltaic energy for street lighting developments. This article presents the Hungarian regulations regarding photovoltaic systems and shows why local governments are not able to connect their street lighting systems to photovoltaic systems. Three different investment alternatives for local governments are studied with the help of economic indicators. Our conclusion is that investments in photovoltaic street lighting systems can be profitable if a street lighting system already exists and requires no modernization. Under the current regulations of Hungary, the examined projects can be viable only to offset the energy costs of street lighting by the delivery price of electricity from the PVS.
Importance of Patient–Provider Communication to Adherence in Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Patel Niral , Datye Karishma , Jaser Sarah
Published: March 2018

Effective communication between pediatric diabetes patients and their providers has the potential to enhance patient satisfaction and health outcomes, as well as improve diabetes-related self-management. In this review, we highlight the importance of communication between patients and providers, focusing on the effect of communication on adherence in the high-risk population of adolescents with type 1 diabetes. We synthesize the literature describing patient–provider communication in pediatric populations and provide implications for practice that focus on the most relevant, modifiable factors for improving self-management in adolescents with type 1 diabetes.
Geospatial Analysis and Seasonal Distribution of West Nile Virus Vectors (Diptera: Culicidae) in Southern Ontario, Canada
Authors: Giordano Bryan , Turner Kevin , Hunter Fiona
Published: March 2018

The purpose of this study was to establish geospatial and seasonal distributions of West Nile virus vectors in southern Ontario, Canada using historical surveillance data from 2002 to 2014. We set out to produce mosquito abundance prediction surfaces for each of Ontario’s thirteen West Nile virus vectors. We also set out to determine whether elevation and proximity to conservation areas and provincial parks, wetlands, and population centres could be used to improve our model. Our results indicated that the data sets for Anopheles quadrimaculatus, Anopheles punctipennis, Anopheles walkeri, Culex salinarius, Culex tarsalis, Ochlerotatus stimulans, and Ochlerotatus triseriatus were not suitable for geospatial modelling because they are randomly distributed throughout Ontario. Spatial prediction surfaces were created for Aedes japonicus and proximity to wetlands, Aedes vexans and proximity to population centres, Culex pipiens/restuans and proximity to population centres, Ochlerotatus canadensis and elevation, and Ochlerotatus trivittatus and proximity to population centres using kriging. Seasonal distributions are presented for all thirteen species. We have identified both when and where vector species are most abundant in southern Ontario. These data have the potential to contribute to a more efficient and focused larvicide program and West Nile virus awareness campaigns.
Comparison of Commensal Escherichia coli Isolates from Adults and Young Children in Lubuskie Province, Poland: Virulence Potential, Phylogeny and Antimicrobial Resistance
Authors: Bok Ewa , Mazurek Justyna , Myc Andrzej , Stosik Michał , Wojciech Magdalena , Baldy-Chudzik Katarzyna
Published: March 2018

Commensal Escherichia coli population is a dynamic structure which may be important in the pathogenesis of extraintestinal infections. The aim of this study was the comparison of genetic diversity of commensal E. coli isolates from two age group—adults and young children. E. coli strains were isolated on MacConkey agar and identified by biochemical tests. Determination of four major phylogenetic groups, identification of virulence genes and antimicrobial resistance determinants were performed by using multiplex or simplex PCR. Phenotypic analysis of resistance was based on disc-diffusion method. The prevalence of virulence genes was significantly higher among isolates from adults than from young children. Phylogroup B2 predominated among E. coli from adults, whereas phylogroup A was the most common in isolates from young children. The analyses of antimicrobial resistance revealed that resistance to at least one antimicrobial agent and multidrug-resistance were detected significantly more frequent in the isolates from adults than from young children. This study documented that the commensal E. coli isolates from adults showed greater genetic diversity than from young children and constitutes a substantial reservoir of the virulence genes typical for extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli.
‘Obesogenic’ School Food Environments? An Urban Case Study in The Netherlands
Authors: Timmermans Joris , Dijkstra Coosje , Kamphuis Carlijn , Huitink Marlijn , Van der Zee Egbert , Poelman Maartje
Published: March 2018

(1) Background: This study aimed to explore and define socio-economic (SES) differences in urban school food environments in The Netherlands. (2) Methods: Retail food outlets, ready-to-eat products, in-store food promotions and food advertisements in public space were determined within 400 m walking distance of all secondary schools in the 4th largest city of The Netherlands. Fisher’s exact tests were conducted. (3) Results: In total, 115 retail outlets sold ready-to-eat food and drink products during school hours. Fast food outlets were more often in the vicinity of schools in lower SES (28.6%) than in higher SES areas (11.5%). In general, unhealthy options (e.g., fried snacks, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB)) were more often for sale, in-store promoted or advertised in comparison with healthy options (e.g., fruit, vegetables, bottled water). Sport/energy drinks were more often for sale, and fried snacks/fries, hamburgers/kebab and SSB were more often promoted or advertised in lower SES areas than in higher SES-areas. (4) Conclusion: In general, unhealthy food options were more often presented than the healthy options, but only a few SES differences were observed. The results, however, imply that efforts in all school areas are needed to make the healthy option the default option during school time.
Beliefs about Vaccinations: Comparing a Sample from a Medical School to That from the General Population
Authors: Latella Lauren , McAuley Robert , Rabinowitz Mitchell
Published: March 2018

The current study compares health care professionals’ beliefs about vaccination statements with the beliefs of a sample of individuals from the general population. Students and faculty within a medical school (n = 58) and a sample from the general population in the United States (n = 177) were surveyed regarding their beliefs about vaccinations. Participants evaluated statements about vaccinations (both supporting and opposing), and indicated whether they thought the general population would agree with them. Overall, it was found that subjects in both populations agreed with statements supporting vaccination over opposing statements, but the general population was more likely to categorize the supporting statements as beliefs rather than facts. Additionally, there was little consensus within each population as to which statements were considered facts versus beliefs. Both groups underestimated the number of people that would agree with them; however, the medical affiliates showed the effect significantly more. Implications for medical education and health communication are discussed.
Parents’ Experience and Views of Vaccinating Their Child against Influenza at Primary School and at the General Practice
Authors: Paterson Pauline , Schulz Will , Utley Martin , Larson Heidi
Published: March 2018

The purpose of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of parents’ experience and views of vaccinating their four to six-year-old child against influenza at school and at the general practice (GP). A cross-sectional qualitative study was conducted between March–June 2016 with parents of children in Reception and Year 1 in four randomly selected schools in Bury, Leicestershire, and Surrey, England. Twenty-five outreach forms were completed and returned, and seven interviews were conducted. Interview transcripts were coded by theme in NVivo (version 11, QSR International Pty Ltd., Melbourne, Australia). The primary reason parents gave for vaccinating their child was to prevent their child from contracting influenza. Parents’ perceived benefits of vaccinating in schools were to avoid the inconvenience of having to take their child to the GP, and that their child would behave better at school. Parents viewed that accompanying their child for the vaccination at school would undermine the convenience and peer-pressure advantages of the school as a venue. No parents expressed concern about their child being too young to be vaccinated in school. This research suggests that the school is a desirable venue for childhood influenza vaccination, both from the parents’ view and given that influenza vaccination coverage is higher when delivered through schools than GPs.
Physical Activity as a Determinant of Quality of Life in Working-Age People in Wrocław, Poland
Authors: Puciato Daniel , Rozpara Michał , Borysiuk Zbigniew
Published: March 2018

Regular physical activity can greatly contribute to the improvement of physical fitness and performance, reduction of the incidence risk of some occupational diseases, and as a consequence, to a general improvement of quality of life in terms of health status. The aim of the article was to assess relationships between the quality of life and physical activity of a working-age population. The study material comprised 4460 residents of the city of Wrocław, Poland (2129 men, 2331 women) aged 18–64 years. The study was a questionnaire survey using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF) and The World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaires. The highest levels of overall quality of life and its four particular domains (physical, psychological, social, and environmental), as well as perceived health conditions were found among the most physically active respondents. Furthermore, the odds of high assessment of perceived overall quality of life were shown to increase with the increasing levels of physical activity. Activities aimed at the improvement of the quality of life of working-age people should involve programs enhancing the development of physical activity.
Temporal and Spatial Variation in, and Population Exposure to, Summertime Ground-Level Ozone in Beijing
Authors: Zhao Hui , Zheng Youfei , Li Ting , Wei Li , Guan Qing
Published: March 2018

Ground-level ozone pollution in Beijing has been causing concern among the public due to the risks posed to human health. This study analyzed the temporal and spatial distribution of, and investigated population exposure to, ground-level ozone. We analyzed hourly ground-level ozone data from 35 ambient air quality monitoring sites, including urban, suburban, background, and traffic monitoring sites, during the summer in Beijing from 2014 to 2017. The results showed that the four-year mean ozone concentrations for urban, suburban, background, and traffic monitoring sites were 95.1, 99.8, 95.9, and 74.2 μg/m3, respectively. A total of 44, 43, 45, and 43 days exceeded the Chinese National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) threshold for ground-level ozone in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017, respectively. The mean ozone concentration was higher in suburban sites than in urban sites, and the traffic monitoring sites had the lowest concentration. The diurnal variation in ground-level ozone concentration at the four types of monitoring sites displayed a single-peak curve. The peak and valley values occurred at 3:00–4:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., respectively. Spatially, ground-level ozone concentrations decreased in gradient from the north to the south. Population exposure levels were calculated based on ground-level ozone concentrations and population data. Approximately 50.38%, 44.85%, and 48.49% of the total population of Beijing were exposed to ground-level ozone concentrations exceeding the Chinese NAAQS threshold in 2014, 2015, and 2016, respectively.
The Impact of Carnitine on Dietary Fiber and Gut Bacteria Metabolism and Their Mutual Interaction in Monogastrics
Authors: Ghonimy Abdallah , Zhang Dong , Farouk Mohammed , Wang Qiuju
Published: March 2018

Carnitine has vital roles in the endogenous metabolism of short chain fatty acids. It can protect and support gut microbial species, and some dietary fibers can reduce the available iron involved in the bioactivity of carnitine. There is also an antagonistic relationship between high microbial populations and carnitine bioavailability. This review shows the interactions between carnitine and gut microbial composition. It also elucidates the role of carnitine bacterial metabolism, mitochondrial function, fiber fermentability, and short chain fatty acids (SCFAs).