bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Screening of Ten Tomato Varieties Processing Waste for Bioactive Components and Their Related Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities
Authors: Szabo Katalin , Diaconeasa Zorița , Cătoi Adriana-Florinela , Vodnar Dan Cristian
Published: August 2019

Global tomato production is currently around 180 million tons, of which more than a quarter undergoes processing. The removed peels, seeds, and vascular tissues usually end up in landfills, creating environmental pollution. In order to highlight the alternative use of these vegetal wastes, our study investigated 10 tomato varieties in terms of carotenoids content, phenolic composition, and their related antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Tomato peels extracts were screened by high performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection (HPLC/DAD) for qualitative and quantitative analyses. The extracts were tested against six bacterial strains to determine their antimicrobial effect; the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay was applied to estimate their antioxidant capacity. Total carotenoids content was significantly higher in Ţărănești roz, a local variety (5.31 ± 0.12 mg/100 g DW), while Mirsini, a commercial hybrid, presented significantly higher total phenolic content (155 ± 2 mg/100 g DW) compared to the mean value of all analyzed samples. The methanolic extracts of tomato peels presented acceptable antimicrobial activity against Staphilococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis, and the mean antioxidant activity was 201 ± 44 µmol Trolox/100 g DW tomato peels. Considering that tomato peels have lycopene, β-carotene, lutein, and different phenolic compounds in their composition, tomato industrial by-products could represent a source of natural bioactive molecules with applicability in nutraceuticals and food industry.
Nutritional Value, Chemical Composition and Cytotoxic Properties of Common Purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) in Relation to Harvesting Stage and Plant Part
Authors: Petropoulos Spyridon A. , Fernandes Ângela , Dias Maria Inês , Vasilakoglou Ioannis B. , Petrotos Konstantinos , Barros Lillian , Ferreira Isabel C. F. R.
Published: August 2019

Purslane (Portulaca oleraceae L.) is a widespread weed, which is highly appreciated for its high nutritional value with particular reference to the content in omega-3 fatty acids. In the present study, the nutritional value and chemical composition of purslane plants in relation to plant part and harvesting stage were evaluated. Plants were harvested at three growth stages (29, 43 and 52 days after sowing (DAS)), while the edible aerial parts were separated into stems and leaves. Leaves contained higher amounts of macronutrients than stems, especially at 52 DAS. α-tocopherol was the main isoform, which increased at 52 DAS, as well total tocopherols (values were in the ranges of 197–327 μg/100 g fresh weight (fw) and 302–481 μg/100 g fw, for α-tocopherol and total tocopherols, respectively). Glucose and fructose were the main free sugars in stems and leaves, respectively, whereas stems contained higher amounts of total sugars (values were ranged between 0.83 g and 1.28 g/100 g fw). Oxalic and total organic acid content was higher in leaves, especially at the last harvesting stage (52 DAS; 8.6 g and 30.3 g/100 g fw for oxalic acid and total organic acids, respectively). Regarding the fatty acid content, stems contained mainly palmitic (20.2–21.8%) and linoleic acid (23.02–27.11%), while leaves were abundant in α-linolenic acid (35.4–54.92%). Oleracein A and C were the major oleracein derivatives in leaves, regardless of the harvesting stage (values were in the ranges of 8.2–103.0 mg and 21.2–143 mg/100 g dried weight (dw) for oleraceins A and C, respectively). Cytotoxicity assays showed no hepatotoxicity, with GI50 values being higher than 400 μg/mL for all the harvesting stages and plant parts. In conclusion, early harvesting and the separation of plant parts could increase the nutritional value of the final product through increasing the content of valuable compounds, such as omega-3 fatty acids, phenolic compounds and oleracein derivatives, while at the same time, the contents of anti-nutritional compounds such as oxalic acid are reduced.
Influence of Process Parameters in Laser Piercing
Authors: M. Garcia Sonia , Ramos Joana , Lamikiz Aitzol , Figueras Jordi
Published: August 2019

This work addresses the analysis of the influence of process parameters in laser piercing for mild steel, stainless steel, and aluminum thick sheets, carried out by the monitorization of the signal with a photodiode installed coaxially in the cutting head. The sensor captures the infrared or visible signal emitted during the piercing. The relationship between the intensity of the signal and the parameter values was analyzed, distinguishing between soft and fast piercings. The results permit the optimization of the piercing strategy with a reduction of 25% in time and the possibility of establishing a threshold to control the piercing process. This study reveals the importance of knowing parameter dependencies with the process results and highlights the potential of monitorization systems in laser cutting to improve the piercing duration and avoid wasting time during production.
Morphology-Related Foot Function Analysis: Implications for Jumping and Running
Authors: Yu Peimin , Xiang Liangliang , Liang Minjun , Mei Qichang , Baker Julien S. , Gu Yaodong
Published: August 2019

Barefoot and shod running has received increased attention in recent years, however, the influence of morphology-related foot function has not been explored. This study aimed to investigate morphology-related jumping and running biomechanical functions in habitually barefoot and shod males. A total of 90 barefoot males (Indians) and 130 shod males (Chinese), with significant forefoot and toe morphology differences, participated in a vertical jump and running test to enable the collection of kinematic and kinetic data. The difference of pressure distribution in the hallux and forefoot was shown while jumping and running. The unrestricted forefoot and toes of the barefoot group presented flexible movement and leverage functions to expand the forefoot loading area during performance of the two tasks. Findings related to morphology functions, especially in the forefoot and toe may provide useful information for footwear design.
Multi-Variable Thermal Modeling of Power Devices Considering Mutual Coupling
Authors: Wei Kaixin , Cheng Tian , Lu Dylan Dah-Chuan , Siwakoti Yam P. , Zhang Chengning
Published: August 2019

In relation to power converter design, power density is increasing while the form factor is decreasing. This trend generally reduces the rate of the cooling process, which increases the mutual thermal coupling among the surrounding power components. Most of the traditional models usually ignore the mutual effects or just focus on the conduction coupling. To deal with these factors, the thermal modeling for a boost converter system has been built to compare the junction temperatures (Tj) and the increments under different working conditions in order to consider the conduction coupling. A multi-variable thermal resistances model is proposed in this paper to incorporate the convection thermal coupling into the mutual thermal effects. The coupling resistances, MOSFET to the diode ( R cp- MD ⇀ ), and the diode to MOSFET ( R cp- DM ⇀ ) have been calculated and the relationships between coupling resistances and their impact factors (separation distances and working currents) have been discussed. New case temperatures (Tc) obtained by calculation and additional measurements at other separation distances serve to verify the efficacy of the proposed model. This model enhances the current thermal models and provides an effective method to calculate the thermal coupling resistances which can be used to estimate the Tj. As the coupling resistances are distance dependent, the model also helps to optimize and fine-tune the placements of components in high-power density converters.
Effect of Load Priority Modeling on the Size of Fuel Cell as an Emergency Power Unit in a More-Electric Aircraft
Authors: Salehpour Mohammad Javad , Radmanesh Hamid , Hosseini Rostami Seyyed Mohammad , Wang Jin , Kim Hye-Jin
Published: August 2019

The proton exchange membrane fuel cell as a green power source is a suitable replacement of the engine mounted generators in the emergency power unit of a more-electric aircraft. Most existing energy management methods for operation of fuel cells in the more-electric aircraft refer to the hydrogen consumption minimization. But due to the increasing number of electrical components and hence electrical demand in the aircraft, demand-side management should be considered in these methods. In order to determine the effect of demand-side management on the fuel cell operation and size, an efficient load priority model is presented and integrated into an optimization framework. The proposed optimization framework is formulated as mixed-integer quadratic programming using Karush–Kuhn–Tucker optimality condition and is solved by CPLEX optimization tool. The Boeing 787 electrical distribution system is considered as a single-bus case study to evaluate the performance of the proposed optimization framework. Numerical results show that the size of fuel cell as an emergency power unit resource depends on the type and importance of the system’s loads in different emergency conditions. Also, with an efficient priority model, both hydrogen consumption and load shedding can be decreased.
Applying Eye-Tracking Technology to Measure Interactive Experience Toward the Navigation Interface of Mobile Games Considering Different Visual Attention Mechanisms
Authors: Jiang Jun-Yi , Guo Fu , Chen Jia-Hao , Tian Xiao-Hui , Lv Wei
Published: August 2019

As an initial channel for users learning about a mobile game, the interactive experience of the navigation interface will directly affect the first impression of the users on the game and their subsequent behaviors and willingness to use. This study aims to investigate players’ visual attention mechanisms of various interactive levels of mobile games’ interfaces under free-browsing and task-oriented conditions. Eye-tracking glasses and a questionnaire were used to measure the interactive experience of mobile games. The results show that in the free-browsing condition, the fixation count, saccade count and average saccade amplitude can be used to reflect and predict the interactive experiences of mobile games’ navigation interface; while in the task-oriented condition, the fixation count, first fixation duration, dwell time ratio and saccade count can be used to reflect and predict the interactive experience of mobile games’ navigation interface. These findings suggest that apart from the different eye movement indicators, players’ motivations should also be considered during the process of the games’ navigation interface design.
Catalytic Performances of Platinum Containing PLLA Macrocomplex in the Hydrogenation of α,β-Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds
Authors: Bartoli Mattia , Rosi Luca , Mini Benedetta , Petrucci Giorgio , Passaglia Elisa , Frediani Marco
Published: August 2019

The synthesis of a bipyridine poly(lactic acid) carboxylic end-capped macroligand coordinated to a platinum center was reported. The reaction between the metal ion and the polymeric ligand was run in a very efficient way through a one-step synthesis and the complex was tested for selective hydrogenation of α,β-carbonyl compounds. High selectivity was proven for double bond hydrogenation of 2-cyclohexen-1-one (up to 99%) and the production of 1-butanol from (E)-but-2-enal. Moreover, the catalytic system was still active after three catalytic cycles.
Intelligent Identification of Maceral Components of Coal Based on Image Segmentation and Classification
Authors: Wang Hongdong , Lei Meng , Chen Yilin , Li Ming , Zou Liang
Published: August 2019

An intelligent analytical technique which is able to accurately identify maceral components is highly desired in the fields of mining and geology. However, currently available methods based on fixed-size window neglect the shape information, and thus do not work in identifying maceral composition from one entire photomicrograph. To address these concerns, we propose a novel Maceral Identification strategy based on image Segmentation and Classification (MISC). Considering the complex and heterogeneous nature of coal, a two-level coarse-to-fine clustering method based on K-means is employed to divide microscopic images into a sequence of regions with similar attributes (i.e., binder, vitrinite, liptinite and inertinite). Furthermore, comprehensive features along with random forest are utilized to automatically classify binder and seven types of maceral components, including vitrinite, fusinite, semifusinite, cutinite, sporinite, inertodetrinite and micrinite. Evaluations on 39 microscopic images show that the proposed method achieves the state-of-the-art accuracy of 90.44% and serves as the baseline for future research on maceral analysis. In addition, to support the decisions of petrologists during maceral analysis, we developed a standalone software, which is freely available at https:/github.com/GuyooGu/MISC-Master.
Body Area Networks in Healthcare: A Brief State of the Art
Authors: Vera Daniel , Costa Nuno , Roda-Sanchez Luis , Olivares Teresa , Fernández-Caballero Antonio , Pereira Antonio
Published: August 2019

A body area network (BAN) comprises a set of devices that sense their surroundings, activate and communicate with each other when an event is detected in its environment. Although BAN technology was developed more than 20 years ago, in recent years, its popularity has greatly increased. The reason is the availability of smaller and more powerful devices, more efficient communication protocols and improved duration of portable batteries. BANs are applied in many fields, healthcare being one of the most important through gathering information about patients and their surroundings. A continuous stream of information may help physicians with making well-informed decisions about a patient’s treatment. Based on recent literature, the authors review BAN architectures, network topologies, energy sources, sensor types, applications, as well as their main challenges. In addition, the paper focuses on the principal requirements of safety, security, and sustainability. In addition, future research and improvements are discussed.
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Var. Boulardii: Valuable Probiotic Starter for Craft Beer Production
Authors: Mulero-Cerezo Joaquín , Briz-Redón Álvaro , Serrano-Aroca Ángel
Published: August 2019

The use of probiotic starters remaining viable in unpasteurized and unfiltered beers could significantly increase health benefits. Here, the probiotic Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii (Scb) and a commercial Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Sc) strain, which is commonly employed in the brewing industry, are compared as single starters. The healthy value of the produced beers and growth performance in a laboratory bioreactor are analysed by determining antioxidant activity, phenolic content and profile, alcohol, biomass growth modelling by the logistic and Gompertz equations, biovolume estimation from 2D microscopy images, and yeast viability after fermentation. Thus, in this study, the craft beer produced with the probiotic yeast possessed higher antioxidant activity, lower alcohol content, similar sensory attributes, much higher yeast viability and more acidification, which is very desirable to reduce contamination risks at large-scale production. Furthermore, Scb exhibited faster growth in the bioreactor culture and larger cell volumes than Sc, which increases the probiotic volume of the final craft beer.
Numerical Modeling of Masonry Infilled Reinforced Concrete Building during Construction Stages Using ABAQUS Software
Authors: Roudane Boudjamaa , Adanur Süleyman , Altunışık Ahmet Can
Published: August 2019

The effects of seismic actions on reinforced concrete (RC) structures are strongly influenced by the dynamic behavior of their materials. It is crucial to find a simple definition of the natural frequencies of reinforced concrete buildings, particularly in relation to both principal and secondary elements constructing the reinforced concrete building type. This paper firstly presents a comparison with the ambient vibration surveys. An analysis model of different stages of construction of the reinforced concrete masonry wall was compared using the finite element software. In the second step, structural responses of the model were investigated by means of static analysis. Three main types were examined: Bare frame for one, two and three storeys; brick-walled; and coated cases. Modal analysis is carried out by ABAQUS software starting from the deformed building, to provide the natural frequencies and mode shapes. For the natural frequencies, a good agreement is obtained between analytical and experimental results. Furthermore, the comparison results between different cases show that the application of the plaster work increases the lateral stiffness and has significant effects on the dynamic response of the buildings.
LCC Estimation Model: A Construction Material Perspective
Authors: Biolek Vojtěch , Hanák Tomáš
Published: August 2019

The growing pressure to ensure sustainable construction is also associated with stricter demands on the cost-effectiveness of construction and operation of buildings and reduction of their environmental impact. This paper presents a methodology for building life cycle cost estimation that enables investors to identify the optimum material solution for their buildings on the level of functional parts. The functionality of a comprehensive model that takes into account investor requirements and links them to a construction cost estimation database and a facility management database is verified through a case study of a “façade composition” functional part, with sublevel “external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS) with thin plaster”. The results show that there is no generally applicable optimum ETICS material solution, which is caused by differing investor requirements, as well as the unique circumstances of each building and its user. The solution presented in this paper aims to aid investor decision-making regarding the choice of the building materials while taking the Life Cycle Cost (LCC) into account.
Synthesis of Carbon Nanotubes by Plasma-Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition Using Fe1−xMnxO Nanoparticles as Catalysts: How Does the Catalytic Activity of Graphitization Affect the Yields and Morphology?
Authors: Yanase Takashi , Miura Takuya , Shiratori Tatsuya , Weng Mengting , Nagahama Taro , Shimada Toshihiro
Published: August 2019

The choice of a catalyst for carbon nanotube (CNT) growth is critical to controlling the morphology and chirality of the final product. Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) can alleviate the requirements of the catalyst, i.e., they must be active for both the decomposition of the source gas and graphitization in the conventional thermal CVD. However, it is still not well understood how the catalytic activity of the graphitization affects the yield and quality of CNTs. In this paper, we systematically investigated the influence of the catalytic activity of graphitization by tuning the composition of Fe1−xMnxO (x = 0–1) nanoparticles as catalysts. As the Mn component increased, the number of CNTs decreased because Mn has no catalytic function of the graphitization. The quality of CNTs also affected by the inclusion of the Mn component. Our study may provide useful information to develop a new catalyst for CNT growth in PECVD.
Macadamia Nutshell Biochar for Nitrate Removal: Effect of Biochar Preparation and Process Parameters
Authors: Bakly Salam , Al-Juboori Raed A. , Bowtell Les
Published: August 2019

Agricultural runoff is a major cause of degradation to freshwater sources. Nitrate is of particular interest, due to the abundant use of nitrogen-based fertilizers in agricultural practices globally. This study investigated the nitrate removal of biochar produced from an agricultural waste product, macadamia nutshell (MBC). Kinetic experiments and structural analyses showed that MBC pyrolsed at 900 °C exhibited inferior NO3− removal compared to that pyrolsed at 1000 °C, which was subsequently used in the column experiments. Concentrations of 5, 10 and 15 mg/L, with flowrates of 2, 5 and 10 mL/min, were examined over a 360 min treatment time. Detailed statistical analyses were applied using 23 factorial design. Nitrate removal was significantly affected by flowrate, concentration and their interactions. The highest nitrate removal capacity of 0.11 mg/g MBC was achieved at a NO3− concentration of 15 mg/L and flowrate of 2 mL/min. The more crystalline structure and rough texture of MBC prepared at 1000 °C resulted in higher NO3− removal compared to MBC prepared at 900 °C. The operating parameters with the highest NO3− removal were used to study the removal capacity of the column. Breakthrough and exhaustion times of the column were 25 and 330 min respectively. Approximately 92% of the column bed was saturated after exhaustion.
Expression of the Major and Pro-Oncogenic H3K9 Lysine Methyltransferase SETDB1 in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Cruz-Tapias Paola , Zakharova Vlada , Perez-Fernandez Oscar , Mantilla William , Ramírez-Clavijo Sandra , Ait-Si-Ali Slimane
Published: August 2019

SETDB1 is a key histone lysine methyltransferase involved in gene silencing. The SETDB1 gene is amplified in human lung cancer, where the protein plays a driver role. Here, we investigated the clinical significance of SETDB1 expression in the two major forms of human non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), i.e., adenocarcinoma (ADC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), by combining a meta-analysis of transcriptomic datasets and a systematic review of the literature. A total of 1140 NSCLC patients and 952 controls were included in the association analyses. Our data revealed higher levels of SETDB1 mRNA in ADC (standardized mean difference, SMD: 0.88; 95% confidence interval, CI: 0.73–1.02; p < 0.001) and SCC (SMD: 0.40; 95% CI: 0.13–0.66; p = 0.003) compared to non-cancerous tissues. For clinicopathological analyses, 2533 ADC and 903 SCC patients were included. Interestingly, SETDB1 mRNA level was increased in NSCLC patients who were current smokers compared to non-smokers (SMD: 0.26; 95% CI: 0.08–0.44; p = 0.004), and when comparing former smokers and non-smokers (p = 0.009). Furthermore, the area under the curve (AUC) given by the summary receiver operator characteristic curve (sROC) was 0.774 (Q = 0.713). Together, our findings suggest a strong foundation for further research to evaluate SETDB1 as a diagnostic biomarker and/or its potential use as a therapeutic target in NSCLC.
Satellite-Based Reconstruction of the Volcanic Deposits during the December 2015 Etna Eruption
Authors: Ganci Gaetana , Cappello Annalisa , Bilotta Giuseppe , Corradino Claudia , Del Negro Ciro
Published: August 2019

Satellite-derived data, including an estimation of the eruption rate, proximal volcanic deposits and lava flow morphometric parameters (area, maximum length, thickness, and volume) are provided for the eruption that occurred at Mt Etna on 6–8 December 2015. This eruption took place at the New Southeast Crater (NSEC), the youngest of the summit craters of Etna, shortly after a sequence of four violent paroxysmal events took place in 65 h (3–5 December) at “Voragine”, the oldest summit crater. Multispectral SEVIRI images at 15 min sampling time have been used to compute time-averaged eruption rate curves, while tri-stereo Pléiades images, at 50 cm spatial resolution, provided the pre-eruptive topography and topographic changes due to volcanic deposits. In addition to the two types of satellite data, other parameters have been inferred, such as probable vesicularity and pyroclastic deposits.
The Viability of Energy Auditing in Countries with Low Energy Cost: A Case Study of a Residential Building in Cold Climates
Authors: Solgi Ebrahim , Hamedani Zahra , Sherafat Shahab , Fernando Ruwan , Aram Farshid
Published: August 2019

The continuing importance of energy conservation in the building sector has drawn major attention to energy audits of existing buildings in different climates. In this paper, the energy conservation potential of a residential building located in Iran’s cold climate was investigated through an analysis of its actual energy consumption and through computer simulation. The building base-load was determined using a linear regression method based on existing energy bills, and was used to validate the computer simulation of its energy usage. The impact of typical energy saving solutions was evaluated for three cost refurbishment scenarios: low, medium and high. The results show that the existing construction and envelope materials fail to meet the national standards of Iran, but insulating the envelope was found to be a more cost-effective measure than modifying the windows. The results also demonstrate that although the use of energy-saving solutions has a significant impact on energy consumption, even the most economic solutions investigated will have a payback period longer than one decade. Thus, with current energy prices the reviewed energy conservation strategies are not economically justified in Iran from the consumer perspective, as investment in the methods considered typical in other parts of the world will not show a return for at least a half-century.
Comparing Information Metrics for a Coupled Ornstein–Uhlenbeck Process
Authors: Heseltine James , Kim Eun-jin
Published: August 2019

It is often the case when studying complex dynamical systems that a statistical formulation can provide the greatest insight into the underlying dynamics. When discussing the behavior of such a system which is evolving in time, it is useful to have the notion of a metric between two given states. A popular measure of information change in a system under perturbation has been the relative entropy of the states, as this notion allows us to quantify the difference between states of a system at different times. In this paper, we investigate the relaxation problem given by a single and coupled Ornstein–Uhlenbeck (O-U) process and compare the information length with entropy-based metrics (relative entropy, Jensen divergence) as well as others. By measuring the total information length in the long time limit, we show that it is only the information length that preserves the linear geometry of the O-U process. In the coupled O-U process, the information length is shown to be capable of detecting changes in both components of the system even when other metrics would detect almost nothing in one of the components. We show in detail that the information length is sensitive to the evolution of subsystems.
The Contested Space of Animals in Education: A Response to the “Animal Turn” in Education for Sustainable Development
Authors: Pedersen Helena
Published: August 2019

The so-called “animal turn”, having been on the agenda for around 15 years in the humanities and social sciences, is gaining force also in the educational sciences, typically with an orientation toward posthumanist ontologies. One particular space where educational “more-than-human” relations are debated is the field of education for sustainable development (ESD). This paper responds to two recent contributions to this debate, both positioned within ESD frameworks. The purpose of this response is two-fold: First, to give a critical account of the knowledge claims of the two articles, their overlaps and divergences, as well as their implications for pedagogical practice and their potential consequences for the position of animals in education and in society at large. The meaning and usefulness of analytic tools such as “critical pluralism” and “immanent critique” in relation to animals in education is discussed, as well as whose realities are represented in ESD, revealing contested spaces of teaching and learning manifested through an “enlightened distance” to anthropocentrism in-between compliance and change. The second purpose is to sketch a foundation of reflective practice for critical animal pedagogies, offering a critical theory-based form of resistance against recent posthumanist configurations of the “animal question” in education and beyond.
A Dual-Band Compact Metamaterial Absorber with Fractal Geometry
Authors: Venneri Francesca , Costanzo Sandra , Borgia Antonio
Published: August 2019

A fractal absorber based on a metamaterial configuration is proposed for dual-frequency operation within the UHF band. The miniaturization skills of the proposed fractal shape are used to design a dual-band metamaterial absorber cell with reduced size (<λ/2 at the two operating frequencies) and a very thin substrate thickness (≅λ/100). A metamaterial absorber panel is realized and experimentally validated. Good agreements between full-wave simulations and measurement results are demonstrated.
UAV Payload Transportation via RTDP Based Optimized Velocity Profiles
Authors: Mohiuddin Abdullah , Taha Tarek , Zweiri Yahya , Gan Dongming
Published: August 2019

This paper explores the application of a real-time dynamic programming (RTDP) algorithm to transport a payload using a multi-rotor unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in order to optimize journey time and energy consumption. The RTDP algorithm is developed by discretizing the journey into distance interval horizons and applying the RTDP sweep to the current horizon to get the optimal velocity decision. RTDP sweep requires the current state of the UAV to generate the next best velocity decision. To the best of the authors knowledge, this is the first time that such real-time optimization algorithm is applied to multi-rotor based transportation. The algorithm was first tested in simulations and then experiments were performed. The results show the effectiveness and applicability of the proposed algorithm.
Development of a High-Resolution Wind Forecast System Based on the WRF Model and a Hybrid Kalman-Bayesian Filter
Authors: Otero-Casal Carlos , Patlakas Platon , Prósper Miguel A. , Galanis George , Miguez-Macho Gonzalo
Published: August 2019

Regional microscale meteorological models have become a critical tool for wind farm production forecasting due to their capacity for resolving local flow dynamics. The high demand for reliable forecasting tools in the energy industry is the motivation for the development of an integrated system that combines the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) atmospheric model with an optimization obtained by the conjunction of a Kalman filter and a Bayesian model. This study focuses on the development and validation of this combined system in a very dense wind farm cluster located in Galicia (Northwest of Spain). A period of one year is simulated at 333 m horizontal resolution, with a daily operational forecasting set-up. The Kalman-Bayesian filter was tested both directly on wind speed and on the U-V (zonal and meridional) components for nowcasting periods from 10 min to 6 h periods, all of them with important applications in the wind industry. The results are quite promising, as the main statistical error indices are significantly improved in a 6 h forecasting horizon and even more in shorter horizon cases. The Mean Annual Error (MAE) for 1 h nowcasting horizon is 1.03 m/s for wind speed and 12.16 ° for wind direction. Moreover, the successful utilization of the integrated system in test cases with different characteristics demonstrates the potential utility that this tool may have for a variety of applications in wind farm operations and energy markets.
Cost and Profitability Analysis of a Prospective Pennycress to Sustainable Aviation Fuel Supply Chain in Southern USA
Authors: Trejo-Pech Carlos Omar , Larson James A. , English Burton C. , Yu T. Edward
Published: August 2019

This study evaluates biorefinery bio-oil feedstock costs at the plant gate for a prospective field pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) supply chain. The biorefinery would supply SAF to the Nashville, Tennessee international airport. Supply chain activities include pennycress production, transporting oilseed to a crushing facility, processing of oilseed into bio-oil, and transporting bio-oil to the biorefinery. The analysis shows profit potential for economic agents in the prospective supply chain. Estimated breakeven cost (profit = 0) of growing, harvesting, and transporting oilseed to a crushing facility is 17.7 ¢ kg−1. A crushing facility can pay up to 23.8 ¢ kg−1 for pennycress oilseed during the first year of production and provide investors 12.5% annual rate of return. Therefore, a profit margin of up to 6.1 ¢ kg−1 is available for the crushing facility to induce prospective pennycress producers to supply oilseed for SAF production. However, the estimated profit margin was sensitive mainly to uncertain oilseed yields, changes in field production costs, and pennycress meal and bio-oil prices. A spatial biorefineries sitting model, the Biofuels Facility Location Analysis Modeling Endeavor, estimated that the least-cost supply chain configuration is to establish three crushing facilities located in Union City, Huntington, and Clarksville, TN, to supply bio-oil to the biorefinery, with the biorefinery sited in an industrial park about 24.14 km from the Nashville international airport aviation fuel storage. Estimated total costs of bio-oil at the biorefinery plant gate are between 83 and 109 ¢ kg−1 if crushing facility oilseed procurement costs are between 17.7 and 23.8 ¢ kg−1 for oilseed.
Design of a Logistics System with Privacy and Lightweight Verification
Authors: Chen Chin-Ling , Lin Dong-Peng , Chen Hsing-Chung , Deng Yong-Yuan , Lee Chin-Feng
Published: August 2019

Presently, E-commerce has developed rapidly as a result of many services and applications integrating e-commerce technologies offered online. Buyers can buy goods online and sellers can then deliver the goods to them. Logistics therefore plays an important role in online e-commerce applications, with a focus on rapid delivery, the integrity of goods, and the privacy of personal information. Previous studies have proposed secure mechanisms for the transfer of electronic cash and digital content, in which only the sender and the receiver know the secret information hidden in the signature. However, they did not consider requirements such as the anonymous and lightweight verification in the logistics architecture. Therefore, this study designs a secure logistics system, with anonymous and lightweight verification, in order to meet the following requirements: Mutual authentication, non-repudiation, anonymity, integrity and a low overhead for the logistics environment. A buyer could check the goods and know if the parcel has been exchanged by a malicious person. Moreover, the proposed scheme not only presents a solution to meet the logistics system’s requirements, but also to reduce both computational and communication costs.
Epigenetic Modifications in Generalized Autoimmune Epithelitis: Sjögren’s Syndrome and Primary Biliary Cholangitis
Authors: Arvaniti Pinelopi , Zachou Kalliopi , Lyberopoulou Aggeliki , Gatselis Nikolaos K. , Brooks Wesley H. , Dalekos George N. , Renaudineau Yves
Published: August 2019

Sjögren’s syndrome (SjS) and primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) can be classified as a model of generalized autoimmune epithelitis based on their frequent coexistence in clinical practice and the highly specific immune mediated injury of target epithelial cells. Both of these autoimmune diseases are characterized by female predominance, highly specific circulating autoantibodies, and immune-mediated destruction of the salivary and lachrymal glands and the biliary epithelial cells, respectively. Although the genetic predisposition has been well described for both diseases, genetic studies have failed to completely elucidate their pathogenesis. The recent integration of epigenetic data, analyzing the different cellular partners, opens new perspectives and allows for better understanding of these complex and still incurable diseases. Epigenetic studies on SjS have elucidated the role of DNA methylation alterations in disease pathogenesis, while epigenetic changes that influence expression of genes on the X chromosome have been implicated in the geo-variability and occurrence of PBC. The aim of this review is to describe the advances in epigenetics in the field of autoimmune epithelitis as well as to highlight how epigenetic changes could contribute to better understanding of disease pathogenesis and progression. These advances could yield insights on novel therapeutic interventions.
Performance of Concrete Confined with a Jute–Polyester Hybrid Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composite: A Novel Strengthening Technique
Authors: Wahab Nauman , Srinophakun Penjit , Hussain Qudeer , Chaimahawan Preeda
Published: August 2019

The strengthening and rehabilitation of concrete members is an important issue which arises worldwide. Carbon, aramid and glass fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites are mainly used for strengthening and rehabilitation. However, its use is limited on a small scale because of its high price, lack of availability and environmental impacts. The solution of this issue gives rise to the use of locally available natural fibers and low-cost synthetic fibers. This paper presents the experimental and analytical results of circular and square concrete columns confined with jute–polyester hybrid FRP composites. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the viability and performance of concrete confined with the hybridization of jute and polyester (FRP) composite sheets to utilize its superior properties. A novel hybrid technique has been applied for the wrapping of fiber sheets. The fiber sheets were applied in such a way that a uniform bond between the inner and outer layer was achieved. A total of 32 plain, standard size circular and square concrete specimens, externally wrapped with a jute–polyester FRP (JPFRP) composite, were tested under monotonic axial compressive loads. The result shows that JPFRP confinement increased the strength, strain and ductility index ranged between 1.24 and 2.61, 1.38 and 8.97, and 4.94 and 26.5 times the un-jacketed specimen, respectively. Furthermore, the wrapping has a significant effect on the low-strength specimens, having a circular cross-section. For high strength specimens, the post-peak stress-strain behavior was dominated by the outer polyester jacket because of its large rupture strain. Additionally, the test results were used to evaluate the existing strength-strain models derived for conventional FRPs. The models predicted values either underestimating or overestimating the compressive strength and strain of JPFRP-confined specimens. However, the strength models performed better than the strain models. The JPFRP wrapping significantly enhanced the strength, fracture energy, ductility index, and post-peak response. Therefore, JPFRP confinement can be used for a small-scale application, where little strength and high ductility is demanded. Moreover, it can be used to prevent the peeling of the concrete cover and moisture penetration into the concrete.
Half-Century Changes in LULC and Fire in Two Iberian Inner Mountain Areas
Authors: Sequeira Catarina Romão , Rego Francisco , Montiel-Molina Cristina , Morgan Penelope
Published: August 2019

Wildfires in the Iberian Peninsula were large and frequent in the second half of the 20th century. Land use and land cover (LULC) also changed greatly. Our aim was to understand the relationship between LULC and fire in the western and eastern ends of the Iberian Central Mountain System. We compared two case study landscapes, the Estrela massif and the Ayllón massif, which are biophysically similar but with different social-ecological contexts. In both, fires were in general more likely in shrublands and pastures than in forests. Shrublands replaced forests after fires. Contrasting LULC in the two massifs, particularly pastures, likely explained the differences in fire occurrence, and reflected different regional land use policies and history. Fire here is a social-ecological system, influenced by specific LULC and with implications from landscape to regional scales. Understanding how LULC changes interact with fire is powerful for improving landscape and regional planning.
Laser-Plasma Accelerated Protons: Energy Increase in Gas-Mixtures Using High Mass Number Atomic Species
Authors: Levato Tadzio , Goncalves Leonardo V. , Giannini Vincenzo
Published: August 2019

The idea of using a gas-mixture comprising atoms with a high mass number in order to increase proton energies in laser induced plasma acceleration at critical density is investigated by means of 2D PIC (Particle-In-Cell) simulations. Comparing and discussing the case of a pure hydrogen plasma and that of a plasma containing higher mass number species with a small percentage of hydrogen, we demonstrate that the mixture enhances the energies of the accelerated protons. We also show that using a gas-mixture introduces the possibility of using the densities ratio in order to change the relative acceleration of the species.
The Role of Non-Caloric Sweeteners in Sensory Characteristics of Pastry Products
Authors: Quitral Vilma , Valdés Juanita , Umaña Valeska , Gallardo Nicol , Alcaino María José , Araya Carolina , Flores Marcos
Published: August 2019

The purpose of this work was to evaluate the role of non-caloric sweeteners in pastry products considering the product made with sugar as a control sample. Sensory preference and acceptability with consumers were determined through ranking test and 9-point hedonic scale respectively. The satiation and satiety were determined by the visual analogue scale (VAS). In addition, caloric intake; macronutrients; physical parameters such as yield, specific volume, hardness, cohesiveness, and gum; stability in storage time by microbiological analysis; and moisture variation of the samples were calculated. The results showed that the preference and sensory acceptability is significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the control sample; the sweeteners decreased the sensory response, but not the satiation and satiety, although these are not related to the sensory response and did not present significant differences with the control sample, except in the satiation parameter of the sample sweetened with Stevia. The physical and texture parameters highlight the best quality of the control sample and are related to the sensory response. The shelf life is also greater in the control sample, which shows that sugar contributes sweetness and other technological characteristics related to texture, stability during storage, aroma, color, and flavor, thanks to the Maillard reaction.
Distribution, Contents, and Health Risk Assessment of Cadmium, Lead, and Nickel in Bananas Produced in Ecuador
Authors: Romero-Estévez David , Yánez-Jácome Gabriela S. , Simbaña-Farinango Karina , Navarrete Hugo
Published: August 2019

In this study, cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), and lead (Pb) contents were analyzed in sixteen banana composite samples from different commercial establishments from eleven Ecuadorian production provinces using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The concentrations (fresh weight) in the samples collected (9.3–47.3 μg·kg−1 for Cd, 16.1–105.6 μg·kg−1 for Ni, and 36.9–538.0 μg·kg−1 for Pb) were used to calculate the estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ), and target carcinogenic risk (CR) associated with dietary exposure to these potentially toxic metals. Cd and Ni results showed that every sample had EDIs lower than the oral reference dose and THQ values lower than 1, demonstrating that there was no non-carcinogenic risk related to the exposure to Cd and Ni. In the case of Pb, two EDIs results were higher than the reference dose, also their corresponding THQ values were higher than 1. The lead CR in all samples was less than 1 × 10−4, the upper limit used for acceptable cancer risk. Thus, there is no significant health risk to the consumer associated with bananas with contamination levels of Cd, Ni, but there is Pb risk for toddlers (12 kg of body weight) intake comparable to the one detected in the present study.
Procedures for Breadmaking Quality Assessment of Rye Wholemeal Flour
Authors: Stępniewska Sylwia , Hassoon Waleed H. , Szafrańska Anna , Cacak-Pietrzak Grażyna , Dziki Dariusz
Published: August 2019

The aim of this study was to evaluate the baking value of rye flours from industrial mills and to indicate which rye flour quality parameters are the most important predictors of wholemeal rye bread quality for commercially milled rye grains. Ten wholemeal rye flours, which were characterized by ash content ranging from 1.43% to 2.42% d.m. (dry mass), were used for the study. The parameters that characterize the flour properties and the baking test were assessed. The study revealed that for the analyzed commercial rye flours, the falling number test and the amylograph properties are insufficient parameters for predicting the quality of wholemeal rye bread. The manufacture of good quality wholemeal bread requires the use of rye flour with superior quality, such as fine granulation, low protein content, low total and insoluble pentosans content, and, in particular, a high percentage of water-soluble pentosans content. Breads with a higher volume were obtained from rye flours that were generally characterized by lower protein content, lower total and insoluble pentosans content, and higher water-soluble pentosans content. Flour granulation and the percentage of water-soluble pentosans content especially, had a significant impact on bread’s hardness of crumb and the hardness of crumb’s increase during bread storage.
Influence of Kiwifruit Extract Infusion on Consumer Sensory Outcomes of Striploin (M. longissimus lumborum) and Outside Flat (M. biceps femoris) from Beef Carcasses
Authors: Lees Angela , Konarska Małgorzata , Tarr Garth , Polkinghorne Rod , McGilchrist Peter
Published: August 2019

Actinidin is a cysteine protease enzyme which occurs in kiwifruit and has been associated with improved tenderness in red meat. This study evaluated the impact of actinidin, derived from kiwifruit, on consumer sensory outcomes for striploin (M. longissimus lumborum) and outside flat (M. biceps femoris). Striploins and outside flats were collected from 87 grass-fed steers. Carcasses were graded to the Meat Standards Australia (MSA) protocols. Striploins and outside flats were then dissected in half and allocated to one of the following two treatments: (1) not infused (control) and (2) infused with a kiwifruit extract (enhanced), and then prepared as grill and roast samples. Grill and roast samples were then aged for 10 or 28 days. Consumer evaluations for tenderness, juiciness, flavor, and overall liking were conducted using untrained consumer sensory panels consisting of 2080 individual consumers, in accordance with the MSA protocols. These scores were then used to calculate an overall eating quality (MQ4) score. Consumer sensory scores for tenderness, juiciness, flavor, overall liking, and MQ4 score were analyzed using a linear mixed-effects model. Kiwifruit extract improved consumer scores for tenderness, juiciness, flavor, overall liking, and MQ4 scores for striploins and outside flat (p < 0.05). These results suggest that kiwifruit extract provides an opportunity to improve eating experiences for consumers.