bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Water Influx through the Wetted Surface of a Sweet Cherry Fruit: Evidence for an Associated Solute Efflux
Authors: Winkler Andreas , Riedel Deborah , Neuwald Daniel Alexandre , Knoche Moritz
Published: April 2020

Sweet cherries are susceptible to rain-cracking. The fruit skin is permeable to water, but also to solutes. The objectives of this study were to (1) establish whether a solute efflux occurs when a sweet cherry fruit is incubated in water; (2) identify the solutes involved; (3) identify the mechanism(s) of efflux; and (4) quantify any changes in solute efflux occurring during development and storage. Solute efflux was gravimetrically measured in wetted fruit as the increasing dry mass of the bathing solution, and anthocyanin efflux was measured spectrophotometrically. Solute and anthocyanin effluxes from a wetted fruit and water influx increased with time. All fluxes were higher for the cracked than for the non-cracked fruit. The effluxes of osmolytes and anthocyanins were positively correlated. Solute efflux depended on the stage of development and on the cultivar. In ‘Regina’, the solute efflux was lowest during stage II (25 days after full bloom (DAFB)), highest for mid-stage III (55 DAFB), and slightly lower at maturity (77 DAFB). In contrast with ‘Regina’, solute efflux in ‘Burlat’ increased continuously towards maturity, being 4.8-fold higher than in ‘Regina’. Results showed that solute efflux occurred from wetted fruit. The gravimetrically determined water uptake represents a net mass change—the result of an influx minus a solute efflux.
Overexpression of MADS-box Gene AGAMOUS-LIKE 12 Activates Root Development in Juglans sp. and Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Montiel Grégory , Gaudet Muriel , Laurans Françoise , Rozenberg Philippe , Simon Matthieu , Gantet Pascal , Jay-Allemand Christian , Breton Christian
Published: April 2020

Until recently, the roles of plant MADS-box genes have mainly been characterized during inflorescence and flower differentiation. In order to precise the roles of AGAMOUS-LIKE 12, one of the few MADS-box genes preferentially expressed in roots, we placed its cDNA under the control of the double 35S CaMV promoter to produce transgenic walnut tree and Arabidopsis plants. In Juglans sp., transgenic somatic embryos showed significantly higher germination rates but abnormal development of their shoot apex prevented their conversion into plants. In addition, a wide range of developmental abnormalities corresponding to ectopic root-like structures affected the transgenic lines suggesting partial reorientations of the embryonic program toward root differentiation. In Arabidopsis, AtAGL12 overexpression lead to the production of faster growing plants presenting dramatically wider and shorter root phenotypes linked to increased meristematic cell numbers within the root apex. In the upper part of the roots, abnormal cell divisions patterns within the pericycle layer generated large ectopic cell masses that did not prevent plants to grow. Taken together, our results confirm in both species that AGL12 positively regulates root meristem cell division and promotes overall root vascular tissue formation. Genetic engineering of AGL12 expression levels could be useful to modulate root architecture and development.
Spatially-Resolved Spectroscopic Diagnostics of a Miniature RF Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet in Argon Open to Ambient Air
Authors: Sainct Florent P. , Durocher-Jean Antoine , Gangwar Reetesh Kumar , Mendoza Gonzalez Norma Yadira , Coulombe Sylvain , Stafford Luc
Published: April 2020

The spatially-resolved electron temperature, rotational temperature, and number density of the two metastable Ar 1 s levels were investigated in a miniature RF Ar glow discharge jet at atmospheric pressure. The 1 s level population densities were determined from optical absorption spectroscopy (OAS) measurements assuming a Voigt profile for the plasma emission and a Gaussian profile for the lamp emission. As for the electron temperature, it was deduced from the comparison of the measured Ar 2 p i → 1 s j emission lines with those simulated using a collisional-radiative model. The Ar 1 s level population higher than 10 18 m − 3 and electron temperature around 2.5 eV were obtained close to the nozzle exit. In addition, both values decreased steadily along the discharge axis. Rotational temperatures determined from OH(A) and N 2 (C) optical emission featured a large difference with the gas temperature found from a thermocouple; a feature ascribed to the population of emitting OH and N 2 states by energy transfer reactions involving the Ar 1 s levels.
Research on Long-Lived Room-Temperature Phosphorescence of Carbazole-Naphthalimide Polylactides
Authors: Li Zhiwei , Zhang Xingyuan
Published: April 2020

Two types of naphthalimide derivatives were synthesized by introducing a carbazole group and an n-butyl, respectively, into the naphthalimide system. The electron-donating ability of two kinds of derivatives was investigated by the electrochemical method. These two types of derivatives were used as initiators for the polymerization of d and l-lactide polymerization. Here, the emission and UV-vis absorption serve as the main focus. Compared with solely donor-initiated polylactide (PLA), the PLA with a donor-acceptor structure has a more efficient phosphorescence emission, of which the longest phosphorescence lifetime is up to 407 ms. The experimental results reveal the existence of charge-transfer states in the donor-acceptor-ended polymer. Due to the role of charge-transfer states, a red phosphorescent polymer was developed. Theoretically, these desirable advantages render synthesized PLAs a potential candidate for bioimaging and anti-counterfeiting.
Framing the MHD Micropolar-Nanofluid Flow in Natural Convection Heat Transfer over a Radiative Truncated Cone
Authors: Khan Waqar A. , Rashad A.M. , EL-Kabeir S.M.M. , EL-Hakiem A.M.A.
Published: April 2020

Recently, nanoparticles have supplied diverse challenges in the area of science. The nanoparticles suspended in several conventional fluids can convert the fluids flow and heat transmission features. In this investigation, the mathematical approach is utilized to explore the magnetohydrodynamics micropolar-nanofluid flow through a truncated porous cone. In this mathematical model, non-linear radiation and suction/injection phenomena are also scrutinized with the Tiwari-Das nanoliquid pattern. The designed system of the mathematical model of the boundary value problem is converted to a set of dimensionless non-similar equations applying convenient transformations. In this study, kerosene oil is selected as the base fluid, while the nanoparticles of Fe3O4 are utilized to promote the heat transmission rate. The problem is solved numerically using the Runge-Kutta-Fehlberg method (RKF45). It is demonstrated that an enhancement in the pertinent parameters improves the heat transmission rate.
Load Frequency Control of Pumped Storage Power Station Based on LADRC
Authors: Liu Kezhen , He Jing , Luo Zhao , Shan Hua , Li Chenglong , Mei Rui , Yan Quanchun , Wang Xiaojian , Wei Li
Published: April 2020

The pumped storage power station has the characteristics of frequency-phase modulation, energy saving, and economy, and has great development prospects and application value. In order to cope with the large-scale integration and intermittency of renewable energy and improve the ability of pumped storage units to participate in power grid frequency modulation, this paper proposed a load frequency control (LFC) strategy for pumped storage units based on linear active disturbance rejection technology. Firstly, based on the operating characteristics of the pumped storage power station, the LFC model of the two-area reheat steam turbine under nonlinear conditions such as governor dead zone and generation rate constrains was established. Secondly, a second-order linear active disturbance rejection control (LADRC) was designed. The feasibility and control performance of the proposed LFC system were quantitatively analyzed through simulation. The results show that the LADRC has better control effect and stronger robustness than fractional-order proportion integration differentiation (FOPID) and traditional proportion integration differentiation (PID) controller. Finally, the pumped storage power station was added, and it was found that it has better correction performance under both generating and pumping operations, which greatly improved the dynamic response of secondary frequency modulation.
A Review of Landfill Leachate Treatment by Microalgae: Current Status and Future Directions
Authors: Nawaz Tabish , Rahman Ashiqur , Pan Shanglei , Dixon Kyleigh , Petri Burgandy , Selvaratnam Thinesh
Published: April 2020

Solid waste generation has been projected to increase worldwide. Presently, the most applied methodology to dispose of solid waste is landfilling. However, these landfill sites, over time release a significant quantity of leachate, which can pose serious environmental issues, including contamination of water resources. There exist many physicochemical and biological landfill leachate treatment schemes with varying degrees of success. With an increasing focus on sustainability, there has been a demand for developing eco-friendly, green treatment schemes for landfill leachates with viable resource recovery and minimum environmental footprints. Microalgae-based techniques can be a potential candidate for such a treatment scenario. In this article, research on microalgae-based landfill leachate treatments reported in the last 15 years have been summarized and critically reviewed. The scale-up aspect of microalgae technology has been discussed, and the related critical factors have been elucidated. The article also analyzes the resource recovery potential for microalgal techniques with respect to leachate treatment and explores possible methodologies to minimize the environmental footprints of the microalgae-based treatment process. The future research potential in the area has been identified and discussed.
Simulation Study and Industrial Application of Enhanced Arsenic Removal by Regulating the Proportion of Concentrates in the SKS Copper Smelting Process
Authors: Wang Qinmeng , Wang Qiongqiong , Tian Qinghua , Guo Xueyi
Published: April 2020

Arsenic removal is a crucial issue in all copper smelters. Based on the Fangyuan 1# smelter, the effects of major elements (Cu, Fe and S) in sulfide concentrates on arsenic removal in the SKS copper smelting process were studied in this paper. The results show that Cu, Fe and S in concentrates have a significant influence on the oxygen/sulfur potential of smelting systems, and also affect the efficiency of arsenic removal. By regulating the proportion of the major elements in sulfide concentrates, the concentrate composition was changed from its original proportions (Cu 24.4%, Fe 26.8%, S 28.7%, and other 20%) to optimized proportions (Cu 19%, Fe 32%, S 29%, and other 20%). The distribution of arsenic among three phases in the original production process (gas 82.01%, slag 12.08%, matte 5.91%) was improved to obtain an optimal result (gas 94.37%, slag 3.45%, matte 2.18%). More arsenic was removed into the gas phase, and the mass fraction of arsenic in matte was reduced from 0.07% to 0.02%. The findings were applied to actual production processes in several other copper smelters, such as the Hengbang copper smelter, Yuguang smelter and Fangyuan 2# smelter. Therefore, the optimized result obtained in this work could provide direct guidance for actual production.
Antibacterial, Antibiofilm and Anticancer Activity of Biologically Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles Using Seed Extract of Nigella sativa
Authors: Almatroudi Ahmad , Khadri Habeeb , Azam Mohd , Rahmani Arshad Husain , Al Khaleefah Fahd Khaleefah , Khateef Riazunnisa , Ansari Mohammad Azam , Allemailem Khaled S.
Published: April 2020

Silver nanoparticle (AgNP) based approaches using plant materials have been accepted as biomedical applications. The current study aimed to test the antibacterial, antibiofilm, and anticancer activity of silver nanoparticles synthesized by seed extract of Nigella sativa (Ns) as stabilizing and reducing agents. Characterization was done through UV–visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), and transmission electronic microscopy (TEM) analyses. UV-Vis spectroscopy showed a specific silver plasmon peak at 400 nm and a quick color change was observed in the bio-reaction medium. Electron microscopic images of Ns-AgNPs identified as spherical in shape with varied size ranged between 8 and 80 nm and zeta potential analysis evidenced the particles stability and polydisperity. Antibiofilm activity of Ns-AgNPs was evident as at 12.5 µg/mL Ns-AgNps restricted the biofilm formation by 88.42% for Enterococcus faecalis, 84.92% for E. coli, 81.86% for Klebsiella pneumonia, 82.84% for Staphylococcus aureus, and 49.9% for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively. Furthermore, biologically synthesized AgNPs showed the significant bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity. Even the lowest concentration of Ns-AgNps restricted the highest rate of inhibition against S. aureus (6.5 and 15 µg/mL) and E. faecalis (6.5 and 15 µg/mL). Antimicrobial activity of S. aureus and E. fecalis was more prominent than E. coli (15 and 30 µg/mL), K. pneumonia (15 and 30 µg/mL) and P. aeruginosa (30 and 60 µg/mL) respectively. Moreover, Ns-AgNPs revealed significant cytotoxic ability and substantially killed human breast cancer cell (HCC-712) viability. The results of current study advocate that Ns-AgNps may be considered as a potential option in biomedical applications, alternative therapy, designing anti-biofilm agents, treating multi drug resistance bacterial infection, and anti-cancer therapy.
Fault Detection and Identification of Blast Furnace Ironmaking Process Using the Gated Recurrent Unit Network
Authors: Ouyang Hang , Zeng Jiusun , Li Yifan , Luo Shihua
Published: April 2020

It is of critical importance to keep a steady operation in the blast furnace to facilitate the production of high quality hot metal. In order to monitor the state of blast furnace, this article proposes a fault detection and identification method based on the multidimensional Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU) network, which is a kind of recurrent neural network and is highly effective in handling process dynamics. Comparing to conventional recurrent neural networks, GRU has a simpler structure and involves fewer parameters. In fault detection, a moving window approach is applied and a GRU model is constructed for each process variable to generate a series of residuals, which is further monitored using the support vector data description (SVDD) method. Once a fault is detected, fault identification is performed using the contribution analysis. Application to a real blast furnace fault shows that the proposed method is effective.
Spatial Life Cycle Analysis of Soybean-Based Biodiesel Production in Indiana, USA Using Process Modeling
Authors: Vunnava Venkata Sai Gargeya , Singh Shweta
Published: April 2020

Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) has long been utilized for decision making about the sustainability of products. LCA provides information about the total emissions generated for a given functional unit of a product, which is utilized by industries or consumers for comparing two products with regards to environmental performance. However, many existing LCAs utilize data that is representative of an average system with regards to life cycle stage, thus providing an aggregate picture. It has been shown that regional variation may lead to large variation in the environmental impacts of a product, specifically dealing with energy consumption, related emissions and resource consumptions. Hence, improving the reliability of LCA results for decision making with regards to environmental performance needs regional models to be incorporated for building a life cycle inventory that is representative of the origin of products from a certain region. In this work, we present the integration of regionalized data from process systems models and other sources to build regional LCA models and quantify the spatial variations per unit of biodiesel produced in the state of Indiana for environmental impact. In order to include regional variation, we have incorporated information about plant capacity for producing biodiesel from North and Central Indiana. The LCA model built is a cradle-to-gate. Once the region-specific models are built, the data were utilized in SimaPro to integrate with upstream processes to perform a life cycle impact assessment (LCIA). We report the results per liter of biodiesel from northern and central Indiana facilities in this work. The impact categories studied were global warming potential (kg CO2 eq) and freshwater eutrophication (kg P eq). While there were a lot of variations at individual county level, both regions had a similar global warming potential impact and the northern region had relatively lower eutrophication impacts.
Study on the Formation of Complex Chemical Waveforms by Different Computational Methods
Authors: Ai Jiali , Zhai Chi , Sun Wei
Published: April 2020

Chemical wave is a special phenomenon that presents periodic patterns in space-time domain, and the Belousov–Zhabotinsky (B-Z) reaction is the first well-known reaction-diffusion system that exhibits organized patterns out of a homogeneous environment. In this paper, the B-Z reaction kinetics is described by the Oregonator model, and formation and evolution of chemical waves are simulated based on this model. Two different simulation methods, partial differential equations (PDEs) and cellular automata (CA) are implemented to simulate the formation of chemical waveform patterns, i.e., target wave and spiral wave on a two-dimensional plane. For the PDEs method, reaction caused changes of molecules at different location are considered, as well as diffusion driven by local concentration difference. Specifically, a PDE model of the B-Z reaction is first established based on the B-Z reaction kinetics and mass transfer theory, and it is solved by a nine-point finite difference (FD) method to simulate the formation of chemical waves. The CA method is based on system theory, and interaction relations with the cells nearest neighbors are mainly concerned. By comparing these two different simulation strategies, mechanisms that cause the formation of complex chemical waves are explored, which provides a reference for the subsequent research on complex systems.
Sperm Proteomics Analysis of Diabetic Induced Male Rats as Influenced by Ficus carica Leaf Extract
Authors: Abu Bakar Umarqayum , Subramaniam Puvaratnesh , Kamar Bashah Nurul Ain , Kamalrudin Amira , Kamaruzaman Khaidatul Akmar , Jasamai Malina , Aizat Wan Mohd , Shahinuzzaman M. , Mat Noor Mahanem
Published: April 2020

Diabetes mellitus is shown to bring negative effects on male reproductive health due to long-term effects of insulin deficiency or resistance and increased oxidative stress. Ficus carica (FC), an herbal plant, known to have high antioxidant activity and antidiabetic properties, has been used traditionally to treat diabetes. The objective of this study is to determine the potential of the FC leaf extract in improving sperm quality of streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic male rats from proteomics perspective. A total of 20 male rats were divided into four groups; normal (nondiabetic rats), negative control (diabetic rats without treatment), positive control (diabetic rats treated with 300 mg/kg metformin), and FC group (diabetic rats treated with 400 mg/kg FC extract). The treatments were given via oral gavage for 21 consecutive days. The fasting blood glucose (FBG) level of FC treated group demonstrated a significant (p < 0.05) decrease compared to negative group after 21 days of treatment, as well as a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the sperm quality parameters compared to negative group. Sperm proteomics analysis on FC treated group also exhibited the increase of total protein expression especially the proteins related to fertility compared to negative group. In conclusion, this study clearly justified that FC extract has good potential as antihyperglycemic and profertility agent that may be beneficial for male diabetic patients who have fertility problems.
Fast Screening Methods for the Analysis of Topical Drug Products
Authors: Miranda Margarida , Cardoso Catarina , Vitorino Carla
Published: April 2020

Considering the recent regulatory requirements, the overall importance of in vitro release testing (IVRT) methods regarding topical product development is undeniable, especially when addressing particulate systems. For each IVRT study, several hundreds of samples are generated. Therefore, developing rapid reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) methods, able to provide a real-time drug analysis of IVRT samples, is a priority. In this study, eight topical complex drug products exhibiting distinct physicochemical profiles were considered. RP-HPLC methods were developed and fully validated. Chromatographic separations were achieved on a XBridgeTM C18 (5 µm particle size, 150 mm × 2.1 mm), or alternatively on a LiChrospher® 100 RP-18 (5 µm particle size, 125 mm × 4.6 mm) at 30 °C, under isocratic conditions using UV detection at specific wavelengths. According to the physicochemical characteristics of each drug, different mobile phases were selected. Irrespective of the drug (hydrocortisone, etofenamate, bifonazole, clotrimazole, acyclovir, tioconazole, clobetasol, and diclofenac) and formulation, retention time values did not exceed 6.5 min. All methods were linear, specific, precise, and accurate at the intraday and interday levels, robust, and stable. These were successfully applied to establish product-specific IVRT profiles, thus providing a key database useful for topical pharmaceutical manufacturers.
A Simple Approach for Determining the Maximum Sorption Capacity of Chlorpropham from Aqueous Solution onto Granular Activated Charcoal
Authors: Alsehli Bandar R. M.
Published: April 2020

UV-Vis spectrophotometer was used to determine chlorpropham (CIPC) concentration in aqueous solution. The method was validated in term of linearity, precision and limit of detection and limit of quantitation. The correlation coefficient of standards calibration curve of (1.0–10.0 µg/mL CIPC) was R2 = 1 with a precision (RSD%, n=10) ranged from (0.87–0.53%). The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) based on the regression statistics of the calibration curve data of (1.0–10.0 µg/mL CIPC) were 0.04 µg/mL and 0.11 µg/mL respectively. The activated carbon adsorbent was found to be effective for the removal approximately 80% of CIPC from aqueous solution. Several isotherm models (Langmuir, Freundlich, Tempkin and Dubinin–Radushkevich) were evaluated. The maximum monolayer sorption capacity (Qm) from the Langmuir isotherm model was determined to be (44316.92 µg/g). The separation factor (RL) is 0.11 which indicates a favorable equilibrium sorption with the R2 value of 0.99, indicating that the Langmuir isotherm model fit the experimental sorption data well.
Mathematical Model for the Removal of Essential Oil Constituents during Steam Distillation Extraction
Authors: Maharaj Sharad , McGaw David
Published: April 2020

Steam distillation is the conventional means by which oils are extracted in the flavour and fragrance industry. A mathematical model for the steam distillation extraction (SDE) of air-dried Ocimum basilicum (basil) leaves has been developed and tested using a small-scale pilot plant. The model predicts the removal of oil components from the plant matrix and subsequent transfer to the steam. It also accounts for the diffusional transfer of components within the leaf and the simultaneous convective transfer into the vapour phase while also respecting the individual components’ volatilities. It has been applied vertically on an element-by-element basis through the bed for a mixture of major and minor components. The proposed SDE model appears to be a good match between predicted values and the experimental data. The model predicts a faster initial extraction rate for components such as α-pinene and α-terpinene, possibly due to preferential extraction of light, volatile components present in larger quantities.
Evaluation of Calcium Oxide Nanoparticles from Industrial Waste on the Performance of Hardened Cement Pastes: Physicochemical Study
Authors: Abdelatif Youssef , Gaber Abdel-Aal M. , Fouda Abd El-Aziz S. , Alsoukarry Tarek
Published: April 2020

Large amounts of carbonated mud waste (CMW) require disposal during sugar manufacturing after the carbonation process. The lightweight of CMW enables its utilization as a partial replacement for the cement to reduce costs and CO2 emissions. Here, various levels of CMW, namely, 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 wt.% were applied to produce composite cement samples with ordinary Portland cement (OPC) as a regular mix design series. Pure calcium oxide (CaO) nanoparticles were obtained after the calcination of CMW. The techniques of X-ray fluorescence spectrometers (XRF), Transmission electron microscope (TEM), Selected area diffraction (SAED), Scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dixpersive X-ray (EDX), and dynamic light scattering (DLS) were used to characterize the obtained CaO nanoparticles. According to the compressive strength and bulk density results, 15 wt.% CMW was optimal for the mix design. The specific surface area increased from 27.8 to 134.8 m2/g when the CMW was calcined to 600 °C. The compressive strength of the sample containing 15% CMW was lower than the values of the other pastes containing 5% and 10% CMW at all of the curing times. The porosity factor of the hardened cement pastes released with a curing time of up to 28 days. Excessive CMW of up to 25 wt.% reduced the properties of OPC.
Forward Osmosis: A Critical Review
Authors: Mohammadifakhr Mehrdad , de Grooth Joris , Roesink Hendrik D. W. , Kemperman Antoine J. B.
Published: April 2020

The use of forward osmosis (FO) for water purification purposes has gained extensive attention in recent years. In this review, we first discuss the advantages, challenges and various applications of FO, as well as the challenges in selecting the proper draw solution for FO, after which we focus on transport limitations in FO processes. Despite recent advances in membrane development for FO, there is still room for improvement of its selective layer and support. For many applications spiral wound membrane will not suffice. Furthermore, a defect-free selective layer is a prerequisite for FO membranes to ensure low solute passage, while a support with low internal concentration polarization is necessary for a high water flux. Due to challenges affiliated to interfacial polymerization (IP) on non-planar geometries, we discuss alternative approaches to IP to form the selective layer. We also explain that, when provided with a defect-free selective layer with good rejection, the membrane support has a dominant influence on the performance of an FO membrane, which can be estimated by the structural parameter (S). We emphasize the necessity of finding a new method to determine S, but also that predominantly the thickness of the support is the major parameter that needs to be optimized.
NMR Determination of Free Fatty Acids in Vegetable Oils
Authors: Di Pietro Maria Enrica , Mannu Alberto , Mele Andrea
Published: April 2020

The identification and quantification of free fatty acids (FFA) in edible and non-edible vegetable oils, including waste cooking oils, is a crucial index to assess their quality and drives their use in different application fields. NMR spectroscopy represents an alternative tool to conventional methods for the determination of FFA content, providing us with interesting advantages. Here the approaches reported in the literature based on 1H, 13C and 31P NMR are illustrated and compared, highlighting the pros and cons of the suggested strategies.
Investigation of Heating and Freezing Pretreatments on Mechanical, Chemical and Spectral Properties of Bulk Sunflower Seeds and Oil
Authors: Gürdil Gürkan Alp Kağan , Kabutey Abraham , Selvi Kemal Çağatay , Hrabě Petr , Herák David , Fraňková Adéla
Published: April 2020

The present study examined the effects of heating and freezing pretreatments on the mechanical, chemical, and spectral characteristics of sunflower seeds and oil under a linear compression process involving a universal compression-testing machine and a pressing vessel of diameter 60 mm with a plunger. The heating temperatures ranged from 40 to 80 °C and freezing temperatures from −2 to −36 °C at constant heating time of 30 min. The pretreated samples of initial height of 80 mm (22.6 × 10−5 m3) were compressed under a preset load of 100 kN and a speed of 5 mm/min. The results showed that oil expression efficiency significantly increased (p < 0.05) with increased heating temperatures but decreased with freezing temperatures. The lowest energy per volume oil of 22.55 ± 0.919 kJ/L was recorded at 80 °C compared to 26.40 ± 0.307 kJ/L noticed at −2 °C and control (25 °C) of 33.93 ± 3.866 kJ/L. The linear regression equations expressing oil expression efficiency, energy per volume oil, peroxide value, and free fatty acid, dependent on heating and freezing temperatures, were described with coefficients of determination between 0.373 and 0.908. Increased heating temperatures increased the UV absorption rate of the oil samples at a wavelength of 350 nm. The study is part of the continuing research on linear compression modeling of all processing factors, whereby the results are intended to be applied to the non-linear process dealing with a mechanical screw press to improve the oil extraction process.
Choline-Based Ionic Liquids-Incorporated IRMOF-1 for H2S/CH4 Capture: Insight from Molecular Dynamics Simulation
Authors: Ishak Mohamad Adil Iman , Taha Mohd Faisal , Wirzal Mohd Dzul Hakim , Nordin Muhammad Najib , Abdurrahman Muslim , Jumbri Khairulazhar
Published: April 2020

The removal of H2S and CH4 from natural gas is crucial as H2S causes environmental contamination, corrodes the gas stream pipelines, and decreases the feedstock for industrial productions. Many scientific researches have shown that the metal-organic framework (MOF)/ionic liquids (ILs) have great potential as alternative adsorbents to capture H2S. In this work, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was carried out to determine the stability of ILs/IRMOF-1 as well as to study the solubility of H2S and CH4 gases in this ILs/IRMOF-1 hybrid material. Three choline-based ILs were incorporated into IRMOF-1 with different ratios of 0.4, 0.8, and 1.2% w/w, respectively, in which the most stable choline-based ILs/IRMOF-1 composite was analysed for H2S/CH4 solubility selectivity. Among the three choline-based ILs/IRMOF-1, [Chl] [SCN]/IRMOF-1 shows the most stable incorporation. However, the increment of ILs loaded in the IRMOF-1 significantly reduced the stability of the hybrid due to the crowding effect. Solvation free energy was then computed to determine the solubility of H2S and CH4 in the [Chl] [SCN]/IRMOF-1. H2S showed higher solubility compared to CH4, where its solubility declined with the increase of choline-based IL loading.
Semi-Supervised Ensemble Classification Method Based on Near Neighbor and Its Application
Authors: Li Chuang , Xie Yongfang , Chen Xiaofang
Published: April 2020

Semi-supervised learning can be used to solve the problem of insufficient labeled samples in the process industry. However, in an actual scenario, traditional semi-supervised learning methods usually do not achieve satisfactory performance when the small number of labeled samples is subjective and inaccurate and some do not consider how to develop a strategy to expand the training set. In this paper, a new algorithm is proposed to alleviate the above two problems, and consequently, the information contained in unlabeled samples can be fully mined. First, the multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS) and adaptive boosting (Adaboost) algorithms are adopted for co-training to make the most of the deep connection between samples and features. In addition, the strategies, pseudo-labeled dataset selection algorithm based on near neighbor degree (DSSA) and pseudo-labeled sample detection algorithm based on near neighbor degree selection (SPDA) are adopted to enlarge the dataset of labeled samples. When we select the samples from the pseudo-labeled data to join the training set, the confidence degree and the spatial relationship with labeled samples are considered, which are able to improve classifier accuracy. The results of tests on multiple University of California Irvine (UCI) datasets and an actual dataset in the aluminum electrolysis industry demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Standardizing the Hydrogel Application Rates and Foliar Nutrition for Enhancing Yield of Lentil (Lens culinaris)
Authors: Shankarappa Shashidhar K. , Muniyandi Samuel J. , Chandrashekar Ajay B. , Singh Amit K. , Nagabhushanaradhya Premaradhya , Shivashankar Bhuvaneshwari , El-Ansary Diaa O. , Wani Shabir H. , Elansary Hosam O.
Published: April 2020

Lentil (Lens culinaris) is an important winter season annual legume crop known for its highly valued seed in human and animal nutrition owing to its high lysine and tryptophan content. Shortage of water during the crop growth period has become the major impediment for cultivation of pulses in rice fallow in particular. Under such conditions, the application of hydrogel can be a potential alternative to improve photosynthetic efficiency, assimilate partitioning, and increase growth and yield. A field experiment was conducted from November to February during 2015–16 to 2017–18 on clay loam soil that was medium in fertility and acidic in reaction (pH 5.4) at Central Agricultural University, Imphal, Manipur. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications. There were three hydrogel levels in total in the main plot and foliar nutrition with five different nutrient sprays in sub-plots, together comprising 15 treatment combinations. The data pooled over three years, 2015–2018, revealed that application of hydrogel at 5 kg/ha before sowing recorded a significantly greater number of pods per plant (38.0) and seed yield (1032.1 kg/ha) over the control. Foliar application of nutrients over flower initiation and pod development had a positive effect on increasing the number of pods per plant eventually enhanced the seed yield of lentil. Foliar application of either 0.5% NPK or salicylic acid 75 ppm spray at flower initiation and pod development stages recorded significantly more pods per plant over other nutrient treatments. Further, the yield attributed improved because of elevated growth in plant. Significantly maximum seed yield (956 kg/ha) recorded in the NPK spray of 0.5% remained on par with salicylic acid 75 ppm (939 kg/ha) over the rest of the treatments.
Is Comparison Based on Translatable Formal Concepts?
Authors: Guilfoy Kevin
Published: April 2020

Fully realized ethical and metaphysical concepts have intension and extension only within an historically situated epistemic tradition. Only people who live the epistemic tradition fully understand the concept and can accurately identify items that satisfy the concept. Such concepts are only fully understood by those whose lives are shaped from within the epistemic tradition. This makes comparison of ethical and metaphysical concepts across epistemic traditions difficult if not impossible. Comparative hagiology employs theological concepts that may function differently from ethical and metaphysical concepts. The articles in this volume seem to suggest that some theological concepts may function as formal concepts. A formal concept is defined by rules or form, rather than by its intensional or extensional content. Thus, formal concepts may be translatable across epistemic traditions. Because the rules do not fully determine intension or extension, a formal concept can apply to otherwise diverse individuals. Theological concepts may be formal concepts that could provide the basis for comparison of the untranslatable concepts that give meaning and value to the lived experience of people in epistemic traditions. The articles in this volume suggest several candidates for such formal concepts.
Case Reports Are the Starting Point to Medical Science
Authors: Hattori Toshio
Published: April 2020

I am serving as the Editor-in-Chief of an OPEN ACCESS medical journal Reports published by MDPI (Indexed by DOAJ and CLOCKSS, http://www [...]
Augmented Reality for Robotics: A Review
Authors: Makhataeva Zhanat , Varol Huseyin
Published: April 2020

Augmented reality (AR) is used to enhance the perception of the real world by integrating virtual objects to an image sequence acquired from various camera technologies. Numerous AR applications in robotics have been developed in recent years. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of AR research in robotics during the five year period from 2015 to 2019. We classified these works in terms of application areas into four categories: (1) Medical robotics: Robot-Assisted surgery (RAS), prosthetics, rehabilitation, and training systems; (2) Motion planning and control: trajectory generation, robot programming, simulation, and manipulation; (3) Human-robot interaction (HRI): teleoperation, collaborative interfaces, wearable robots, haptic interfaces, brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), and gaming; (4) Multi-agent systems: use of visual feedback to remotely control drones, robot swarms, and robots with shared workspace. Recent developments in AR technology are discussed followed by the challenges met in AR due to issues of camera localization, environment mapping, and registration. We explore AR applications in terms of how AR was integrated and which improvements it introduced to corresponding fields of robotics. In addition, we summarize the major limitations of the presented applications in each category. Finally, we conclude our review with future directions of AR research in robotics. The survey covers over 100 research works published over the last five years.
Ski Jumping Trajectory Reconstruction Using Wearable Sensors via Extended Rauch-Tung-Striebel Smoother with State Constraints
Authors: Fang Xiang , Grüter Benedikt , Piprek Patrick , Bessone Veronica , Petrat Johannes , Holzapfel Florian
Published: April 2020

To satisfy an increasing demand to reconstruct an athlete’s motion for performance analysis, this paper proposes a new method for reconstructing the position and velocity in the context of ski jumping trajectories. Therefore, state-of-the-art wearable sensors, including an inertial measurement unit, a magnetometer, and a GPS logger are used. The method employs an extended Rauch-Tung-Striebel smoother with state constraints to estimate state information offline from recorded raw measurements. In comparison to the classic inertial navigation system and GPS integration solution, the proposed method includes additional geometric shape information of the ski jumping hill, which are modeled as soft constraints and embedded into the estimation framework to improve the position and velocity estimation accuracy. Results for both simulated measurement data and real measurement data demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. Moreover, a comparison between jump lengths obtained from the proposed method and video recordings shows the relative root-mean-square error of the reconstructed jump length is below 1.5 m depicting the accuracy of the algorithm.
Technology, Value Co-Creation and Innovation in Service Ecosystems: Toward Sustainable Co-Innovation
Authors: Barile Sergio , Grimaldi Mara , Loia Francesca , Sirianni Carlo Alessandro
Published: April 2020

The work identifies the main enabling dimensions and the strategic drivers to foster value co-creation and sustainable innovation in service ecosystems. The aim is to explore how resource and knowledge integration, through technology-mediated interactions, can lead to the emergence of novelties (new products, services, processes, social, and environmental practices). Based on a re-elaboration of literature, the study introduces a framework that describes the main drivers for managing the emergence of value co-creation and innovation (co-design, co-development, co-delivery, co-learning) across the contexts of exchange of service ecosystems (micro, meso, and macro). A “meta”-level is conceptualized to investigate how management can harmonize an actor’s objectives with an ecosystem’s goal to encourage the diffusion and renewal of a sustainable and innovation-oriented culture. The empirical research applies the framework proposed in the theoretical section to a case study analysis on “Palm”, an Italian company that designs and produces wood packaging. The technique employed is qualitative content analysis. The findings permit conceptualization of the key strategic levers for the management of co-creation and to increase managers’ and scholars’ understanding of (1) the enablers of value co-creation and innovation; (2) the mechanisms leading to knowledge renewal and the continuous production of sustainable innovation.
Spatial-Temporal Evolution and Driving Factors of Green Building Development in China
Authors: Gao Yi , Yang Gaosheng , Xie Qiuhao
Published: April 2020

With the development of the world economy and the rapid increase in population, the carbon dioxide produced by large energy consumption has made environmental issues increasingly prominent, which has brought severe challenges to the survival and development of human society. The construction industry, as a major energy consumer and emitter, must change. Green buildings are an important way to promote the concept of sustainable development in the construction industry. In order to deepen the understanding of the spatial-temporal distribution and evolution characteristics of China’s green building development, this study collected statistical data of China’s green building label projects from 2008 to 2018, and studied the development status of China’s green buildings in three aspects: equilibrium, spatial distribution characteristics and spatial correlation. In addition, the driving factors of green buildings development were analyzed by using geological detectors. The results show that: (1) China’s green building development level has a high spatial imbalance and obvious agglomeration situation, but there is a large diffusion effect; (2) the spatial distribution characteristics, such as the distribution center, distribution range, distribution direction, and distribution shape of green buildings are constantly changing, and the changes have regularity; (3) in the early stage of green building development, there was a significant positive correlation, but most provinces were in low–low clusters; (4) economic level, technical level, and education level are the main factors influencing the development of green buildings.
Decoupling of Land Use Intensity and Ecological Environment in Gansu Province, China
Authors: Zhang Yanjie , Song Wei , Fu Shun , Yang Dazhi
Published: April 2020

Land is the carrier of the production and living activities of human society and the basis of survival and development of all living organisms. With the continuous development of the social economy, the unreasonable use of land is becoming more and more serious, aggravating the deterioration of the ecological environment. Most studies in this field have mainly focused on land use changes and the corresponding impacts on the ecological environment, but relatively few studies have delinked the relationship between land use intensity and the ecological environment. Based on data on these two factors for Gansu Province from 1998 to 2017, we used the Tapio decoupling model to evaluate the decoupling relationship between land use intensity and ecological environment. From 1998 to 2017, the comprehensive land use intensity in Gansu province increased by 107.77%, and the comprehensive ecological environment index increased by 63.76%. In general, the relationship between land use intensity and ecological environment experienced five states, namely weak decoupling, strong negative decoupling, strong decoupling, expansive negative decoupling, and declining decoupling. During 1999–2013 and 2013–2016, land use intensity and ecological environment had decoupled, and the main reasons were as follows: (1) The Chinese government introduced a series of farmland protection policies and measures, controlled the area of newly added construction land, and reduced urban land expansion; (2) ecological restoration projects for mountains, forests, fields, lakes, and grassland strengthened the environmental protection in Gansu Province; and (3) in the process of economic development, the increased investment of technology and capital improved the land use efficiency, finally realizing the “double growth” of land use intensity and environmental quality. Based on these results, land use intensity and environmental quality are not necessarily contradictory, and a moderate improvement of land use efficiency and environmental protection can probably result in increased land use intensity and higher environmental quality.
Facilitating Collaborative Partnerships in Education Policy Research: A Case of Multi-Stakeholder, Co-Investigation for Monitoring and Evaluation of Education for Sustainable Development
Authors: Didham Robert J. , Ofei-Manu Paul
Published: April 2020

Strengthening the research-policy interface is dependent on conducting good research, as well as the appropriateness and applicability of identified policy options. The involvement of relevant stakeholders in collaborative research efforts to co-produce knowledge and recommendations to advance policies is one approach that can arguably improve this interface. This paper provides a practical instance of a research process on education for sustainable development (ESD) to develop a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework, which was conducted in the Asia region with participants from seven countries. This research process is presented as a pragmatic case study of how a collaborative research partnership was facilitated, and it examines how the interaction between researchers, policymakers and practitioners can be structured to support mutual learning in the field of sustainability education. The paper examines the wider debates regarding the research-policy interface, and it identifies the learning features that were achieved in this collaborative partnership, as well as the benefits this had for the research and knowledge co-generation. The paper concludes with a discussion of the challenges and issues M&E raises about the relationship between research and policy in ESD and suggests ways to address them.