bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Temperature Range and Kilning Time on the Occurrence of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Malt
Authors: Habschied Kristina , Kartalović Brankica , Kovačević Dragan , Krstanović Vinko , Mastanjević Krešimir
Published: January 2023

Kilning is an integral part of malt production; it ensures grain and enzyme preservation. Kilning temperatures can range between 80 and 220 °C, depending on the type of malt that is being produced. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are prone to appear at higher temperatures and are generally designated as undesirable in food and beverages. Sixteen PAHs are framed in legislation, but there is a lack of scientific data related to PAHs in malt, malt-related foods (bread, cookies) and beverages (whisky, malted non-alcoholic beverages). The aim of this paper was to assess and quantify the occurrence of different PAHs in malts exposed to different kilning temperatures (50–210°) over a variable time frame. The results indicate that some of the PAHs detected at lower temperatures disappear when malt is exposed to high temperatures (>100 °C). Phenanthrene was no longer detected at 100 °C and indeno [1,2,3-cd] pyrene at 130 °C, while fluorene, anthracene and benzo (a) anthracene were not quantified at 170 °C. The results of this research can be implemented in food safety legislation since foods available to children utilize malted flour (bread, cookies, bakery goods, etc.) due to its enzymatic activity or as a colour additive.
Lab-Scale Methodology for New-Make Bourbon Whiskey Production
Authors: Verges Virginia L. , Gollihue Jarrad W. , Joyce Glenna E. , DeBolt Seth
Published: January 2023

Whiskey production originated in Scotland in the 15th century and was based on malted barley. As Scotch-Irish settlers came into the Ohio river valley, they began fermenting and distilling the primary grain of North America, maize. These earlier settlers started a heritage; they created American Whiskey. The bourbon industry in Kentucky had tremendous growth in the last 20 years, and currently, distilleries have a broad increase in product innovation, new raw materials, improved sustainability, efficient processes, and product diversification. Our study presents a new lab-scale method for new-make bourbon whiskey production. It was developed to mimic distilleries’ processes; therefore, results can be extrapolated and adopted by commercial distilleries. The method focused on reproducibility with consistency from batch to batch when handled by an operator or small crew in a university lab. The method consisted of a first cooking step to make a “mash”, a fermentation phase of 96 h, a first distillation accomplished with a copper pot still to obtain the “low wines” and a second distillation carried out with an air still to collect the “hearts”. The method produced a final distillate of 500–700 mL for further sensory analysis and tasting. This lab-scale method showed consistency between samples in the different parameters quantified and will be also used to train students in fermentation and distillation studies.
Continuous-Flow Microwave Milk Sterilisation System Based on a Coaxial Slot Radiator
Authors: Guo Junhui , Zhu Huacheng , Yang Yang , Guo Qinggong
Published: January 2023

Microwave continuous-flow liquid food sterilisation, in which the liquid is mainly heated by microwaves, has the advantages of fast sterilisation speed, energy saving, comprehensive elimination, and less nutrient loss. Circular pipes are commonly used in microwave continuous-flow liquid heating processing. However, with circular pipes, which are widely used in the industry, the heating is uneven owing to the phenomenon of tube focusing when adopting external radiation. In this study, a novel microwave continuous-flow milk sterilisation system based on a coaxial slot radiator is proposed. First, the coaxial slot radiator was designed to realise efficient radiation through the establishment of multi-physics model. The structure of the system was then optimised by comparing the heating efficiency and uniformity of simulation results. The effect of microwave coaxial slot radiator rotation on heating uniformity was simulated and the results show that the heating uniformity is improved obviously. Experimental equipment was set up to verify the results of the simulation. The experimental results are consistent with the simulation results. Finally, the sensitivity analysis of the system is performed to confirm that, when the dielectric properties and types of liquid food change, the heating of the proposed microwave continuous-flow system remains efficient and uniform.
Insight into the Recent Application of Chemometrics in Quality Analysis and Characterization of Bee Honey during Processing and Storage
Authors: Tarapoulouzi Maria , Mironescu Monica , Drouza Chryssoula , Mironescu Ion Dan , Agriopoulou Sofia
Published: January 2023

The application of chemometrics, a widely used science in food studies (and not only food studies) has begun to increase in importance with chemometrics being a very powerful tool in analyzing large numbers of results. In the case of honey, chemometrics is usually used for assessing honey authenticity and quality control, combined with well-established analytical methods. Research related to investigation of the quality changes in honey due to modifications after processing and storage is rare, with a visibly increasing tendency in the last decade (and concentrated on investigating novel methods to preserve the honey quality, such as ultrasound or high-pressure treatment). This review presents the evolution in the last few years in using chemometrics in analyzing honey quality during processing and storage. The advantages of using chemometrics in assessing honey quality during storage and processing are presented, together with the main characteristics of some well-known chemometric methods. Chemometrics prove to be a successful tool to differentiate honey samples based on changes of characteristics during storage and processing.
Changes in the Current Patterns of Beef Consumption and Consumer Behavior Trends—Cross-Cultural Study Brazil-Spain-Turkey
Authors: Magalhaes Danielle Rodrigues , Çakmakçı Cihan , Campo María del Mar , Çakmakçı Yusuf , Makishi Fausto , Silva Vivian Lara dos Santos , Trindade Marco Antonio
Published: January 2023

This cross-cultural study aimed to determine the main factors behind potential changes in eating habits by analyzing changes in the patterns of beef consumption currently observed in Brazil, Spain, and Turkey. To achieve this aim, 412 regular beef consumers from Brazil, 407 from Spain, and 424 from Turkey answered a self-administered questionnaire. The study surveyed the effects of economic factors, switching from beef to other sources of protein, aspects of credence, health-related concerns, the influence of lifestyle on beef consumption patterns, and purchasing decision factors. The most important factors that changed consumer behavior and resulted in a decrease in consumption, mostly among Brazilian and Turkish consumers, were the economics and accessibility of the products. Beef was replaced by other alternative sources of protein that were likewise derived from animals. The consumers whose purchasing intentions were most significantly influenced by credence factors (e.g., indiscriminate use of agricultural products, substandard animal welfare requirements, among others) were Brazilian and Turkish and, to a lesser degree, Spanish consumers. Lifestyle factors (e.g., consumption of out-of-home meals, available time to cook, among others) were demonstrated to alter consumption patterns and therefore must be carefully considered by the industry, taking into account cultural differences and consumer needs. The population under investigation considered that eating beef had no impact on their health.
Separation of α-Lactalbumin Enriched Fraction from Bovine Native Whey Concentrate by Combining Membrane and High-Pressure Processing
Authors: Romo María , Castellari Massimo , Fartdinov Dinar , Felipe Xavier
Published: January 2023

Whey exhibits interesting nutritional properties, but its high β-Lactoglobulin (β-Lg) content could be a concern in infant food applications. In this study, high-pressure processing (HPP) was assessed as a β-Lg removal strategy to generate an enriched α-Lactalbumin (α-La) fraction from bovine native whey concentrate. Different HPP treatment parameters were considered: initial pH (physiological and acidified), sample temperature (7–35 °C), pressure (0–600 MPa) and processing time (0–490 s). The conditions providing the best α-La yield and α-La purification degree balance (46.16% and 80.21%, respectively) were 4 min (600 MPa, 23 °C), despite the significant decrease of the surface hydrophobicity and the total thiol content indexes in the α-La-enriched fraction. Under our working conditions, the general effects of HPP on α-La and β-Lg agreed with results reported in other studies of cow milk or whey. Notwithstanding, our results also indicated that the use of native whey concentrate could improve the β-Lg precipitation degree and the α-La purification degree, in comparison to raw milk or whey. Future studies should include further characterization of the α-La-enriched fraction and the implementation of membrane concentration and HPP treatment to valorize cheese whey.
The Preparation Process and Hydration Mechanism of Steel Slag-Based Ultra-Fine Tailing Cementitious Filler
Authors: Zhang Siqi , Wu Bo , Ren Yutong , Wu Zeping , Li Qian , Li Keqing , Zhang Minggen , Yu Junhao , Liu Jialu , Ni Wen
Published: January 2023

Steel slag, desulphurised ash, desulphurised gypsum and ultra-fine iron tailing sand are common industrial solid wastes with low utilisation rates. Herein, industrial solid wastes (steel slag, desulphurised gypsum and desulphurised ash) were used as the main raw materials to prepare a gelling material and ultra-fine tailing was used as an aggregate to prepare a new type of cementing filler for mine filling. The optimal composition of the cementing filler was 75% steel slag, 16.5% desulphurised gypsum, 8.75% desulphurised ash, 1:4 binders and tailing mass ration and 70% concentration. The compressive strength of the 28-day sample reached 1.24 MPa, meeting the mine-filling requirements, while that of the 90-day sample was 3.16 MPa. The microscopic analysis results showed that a small amount of C3A reacted with the sulphate in the desulphurised gypsum to form ettringite at the early stage of hydration after the steel slag was activated by the desulphurisation by-products. In addition, C2S produced hydrated calcium silicate gel in an alkaline environment. As hydration proceeded, the sulphite in the desulphurised ash was converted to provide sulphate for the later sustained reaction. Under the long-term joint action of alkali and sulphate, the reactive silica–oxygen tetrahedra and alumina–oxygen tetrahedra depolymerised and then polymerised, further promoting the hydration reaction to generate hydrated calcium silicate gel and ettringite. The low-carbon and low-cost filler studied in this paper represents a new methodology for the synergistic utilisation of multiple forms of solid waste.
Effects of the Amylose/Amylopectin Content and Storage Conditions on Corn Starch Hydrogels Produced by High-Pressure Processing (HPP)
Authors: Pulgarín Oscar , Larrea-Wachtendorff Dominique , Ferrari Giovanna
Published: January 2023

In this study, the effects of the amylose/amylopectin content on starch gelation and the physical characteristics of hydrogels produced by HPP were studied by optical and rheological measurements in steady-state conditions. Additionally, the effects of the storage temperature (4 °C and 20 °C) and type of packaging (plastic bags or sealed Petri dishes) on the physical stability of the hydrogels were evaluated for 30 days of storage by evaluating the shrinkage of the granules, as well as the weight loss, water activity, organoleptic, and rheological properties. The experimental findings suggested that amylose plays an antagonistic role in determining the capacity of the starch granules to absorb water under pressure and to create stable and structured gels and on the physical stability of hydrogels due to its influence over the starch retrogradation extent during storage. Twenty per cent amylose was the minimum concentration to form stable corn starch HPP hydrogels with good physical and rheological properties. Moreover, a storage temperature of 20 °C and the use of polymeric bags were evaluated as the most suitable storage conditions and packaging materials enabling the long storage of corn starch hydrogels.
Knowledge-Based Dietary Intake Recommendations of Nutrients for Pediatric Patients with Maple Syrup Urine Disease
Authors: Alrige Mayda , Banjar Haneen , Shuaib Taghreed , Ahmed Amal , Gharbawi Raghad
Published: January 2023

Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is a metabolic disorder characterized by a difficulty to digest and process proteins necessary for growth. To monitor and maintain the ideal growth of children with MSUD, caregivers need to carefully control the consumption of harmful branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs). The dietary limits of amino acids for MSUD patients are recommended and controlled by pediatricians and metabolic dietitians according to age, height, weight, and the prevailing percentage of amino acids in the body. This study introduces an intelligent dietary tool called MSUD Baby Buddy for caregivers of MSUD patients that tracks the amino acids intake out of baby formulas for babies 0–6 months old. This tool aims to provide accurate recommendations of the appropriate daily intake of protein and BCAAs based on the patients’ data, plasma BCAAs, and formula preferences. We use a knowledge-based system, including knowledge acquisition and verification, as well as knowledge management tool validation, and the ripple-down rules are employed for building the system. MSUD Baby Buddy can support the maintenance of adequate amino acid levels and increase awareness about the control of BCAAs. The average usability of MSUD Baby Buddy is 84.25, indicating that the tool is intuitive and may help caregivers to easily determine the recommended doses of formula based on patients’ biometric data and preferred formula. On the other hand, interviews with metabolic dietitians revealed some drawbacks, which were addressed to further improve the tool. MSUD Baby Buddy is expected to help caregivers of MSUD patients to independently track nutrient intake and reduce the number of visits to the pediatrician and metabolic dietitian.
Hepatitis C Virus Screening among Baby Boomers: The Positive Benefits of Health Education and Outreach during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Lopez Bray Carlos , Taylor Richard , Tamez Naomi , Durkalski Wesley , Litaker John R.
Published: January 2023

In 2019, 2020, and 2021, Sendero Health Plans, an ACA health insurance company, implemented Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) health education and outreach screening campaigns. Chi-square goodness-of-fit and tests of independence were performed to assess and compare the uptake of HCV screening among baby boomers in 2019, 2020, and 2021. In 2019, 2020, and 2021, 17.9% (308/1,718), 10.9% (93/852), and 8.5% (37/435) of eligible members were screened, respectively. Individuals were more likely to be screened for HCV in 2019 than in 2020 and 2021 (p < 0.0001). In 2019, 2020, and 2021, 39.9%, 26.9%, and 48.6% of annual screenings occurred during the health campaign months, respectively. Annual HCV screening rates were lower during the COVID-19 pandemic period than in the pre-pandemic cohort. However, screening rates during the months of outreach and education contributed to nearly 50% of annual screenings in the pandemic year 2021, thus representing a positive impact on preventive screening uptake despite the pandemic. Missed screening opportunities affect HCV transmission, diagnosis, and treatment. Yet, health education and outreach continue to work, even during a pandemic.
Association between Suicidal Behaviors in Adolescence and Negative Emotions, the Level of Stress, Stress Coping Strategies and the Quality of Sleep
Authors: Cepuch Grażyna , Kruszecka-Krówka Agnieszka , Liber Patrycja , Micek Agnieszka
Published: January 2023

Suicidal behaviors in adolescents stem from complex processes deeply rooted in various spheres of life and functioning. The study was aimed at assessing the relationship between selected negative emotions, the quality of sleep, the level of perceived stress as well as stress coping strategies and suicidal ideation and attempts among high school students. The examined group consisted of adolescents aged 16–18 recruited by social-media groups in Poland. The study was based on a diagnostic survey with the application of CAWI method. The other research tools applied in the study included: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale—Modified, Perceived Stress Scale-10, How do you cope?—Questionnaire, Athens Insomnia Scale as well as the authors’ own questionnaire on suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. Anxiety, depression, aggression and insomnia as well as a high level of stress were statistically more common in girls than in boys (p < 0.001). The high level of negative emotions and insomnia, in turn, increased the risk of suicidal ideation (OR = 3.59, 95% CI: 2.13–6.06 and OR = 2.35, 95% CI: 1.60–3.46), as well as suicide attempts (OR = 6.29, 95% CI: 2.93–14.80 and OR = 3.29, 95% CI: 2.07–5.35). Additionally, high level of stress was associated with more than twice larger odds of suicidal ideation (OR = 2.26, 95% CI: 1.13–4.63). Significantly higher prevalence of suicidal ideation (p = 0.017) and suicide attempts (p = 0.016) was observed in girls. A high level of negative emotions and stress accompanied by a low quality of sleep are factors predisposing people to suicidal ideation and attempted suicide.
Adaptive Reuse for Sustainable Development and Land Use: A Multivariate Linear Regression Analysis Estimating Key Determinants of Public Perceptions
Authors: Vardopoulos Ioannis
Published: January 2023

Adaptive reuse is a rapidly expanding frontier study area across the world. Adaptive reuse can have a significant influence in relation to contemporary trends in (peri-)urban sustainability, especially considering the past decades of the human-caused depletion of natural resources and environmental pollution. Adaptive reuse developments, which manage to incorporate a (scientifically) predefined set of conceptual theories, policy principles, and practical tools, as all the available data suggest, can achieve a good balance between invested capital, ecological conservation, the preservation of the cultural heritage, and sustainable urban regenerative renewal. This study focused on the recent FIX Brewery adaptive reuse project in Athens, Greece, as a means to establish the key public perception determinants of the adaptive reuse practice impacts on (peri-)urban sustainable development. Evidence for the relationships among five factors was provided through multiple linear regression analysis. The new empirical findings are likely to encourage concerned parties and stakeholders, and particularly regulatory entities, to pursue essential actions to set adaptive reuse at the core of urban and spatial masterplans, paving the way toward sustainable and circular cities.
A Cloud-Edge-Based Framework for Electric Vehicle Emergency Energy Trading
Authors: Tajalli Seyede Zahra , Khooban Mohammad-Hassan
Published: January 2023

The number of electric vehicles (EVs) is increasingly growing day by day and the charging infrastructure for covering this growing number of EVs should be developed. The construction of charging stations is one of the main solutions for supporting EVs while it costs huge investments for installation. Thus, this is not financially logical to invest in charging stations in remote areas with lower demands. An alternative way of constructing charging stations is to provide a peer-to-peer (P2P) energy exchange system in order to support out-of-charge EVs. In this paper, a private cloud-edge emergency energy trading framework is proposed to facilitate energy exchange among consumers and providers. Furthermore, a bidding system is suggested to encourage EVs with extra charges to exchange their energy. Moreover, a matching strategy for pairing consumers and providers is suggested in this paper that considers the benefit of both consumers and providers. In the proposed matching system, a measurement strategy is also suggested for considering the effect of the reliability and punctuality of the providers. To develop the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed framework, employing deep learning methods is also suggested in different layers of the framework. The performance of the proposed framework is evaluated on several case studies in the presence of EVs with realistic features to prove its efficiency, feasibility, and scalability.
The Advanced Diabetes Technologies for Reduction of the Frequency of Hypoglycemia and Minimizing the Occurrence of Severe Hypoglycemia in Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Urakami Tatsuhiko
Published: January 2023

Hypoglycemia is an often-observed acute complication in the management of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. It causes inappropriate glycemic outcomes and may impair the quality of life in the patients. Severe hypoglycemia with cognitive impairment, such as a convulsion and coma, is a lethal condition and is associated with later-onset cognitive impairment and brain-structural abnormalities, especially in young children. Therefore, reducing the frequency of hypoglycemia and minimizing the occurrence of severe hypoglycemia are critical issues in the management of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Advanced diabetes technologies, including continuous glucose monitoring and sensor-augmented insulin pumps with low-glucose suspension systems, can reduce the frequency of hypoglycemia and the occurrence of severe hypoglycemia without aggravating glycemic control. The hybrid closed-loop system, an automated insulin delivery system, must be the most promising means to achieve appropriate glycemic control with preventing severe hypoglycemia. The use of these advanced diabetes technologies could improve glycemic outcomes and the quality of life in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.
Navigating the Spectrum of Conventionality: Toward a New Model of Creative Thinking
Authors: Lansing-Stoeffler Kristin , Daley Nola
Published: January 2023

Current conceptualizations of creative thinking focus primarily on the measurement of creative thinking for the purpose of identifying creative thinking proficiency. We propose a conceptualization that includes a framework and assessments that focus on the measurement and learning of creative thinking and innovation skills. Our conceptualization involves an understanding that innovation is a critical application of creative thinking and that the process of creative thinking that leads to innovation can be performed intentionally and explicitly. In this paper, we put forth a process model for creative thinking and innovation that focuses on an expanded set of cognitive and social skills and processes that facilitate the navigation of the spectrum of conventionality. The process model includes the conventional thinking skill, which serves as not only a foundational skill for understanding and navigating the spectrum of conventionality, but also facilitates the reliable measurement of creative thinking and innovation by supporting the generation of a response pool that represents the full spectrum of conventionality for use in scoring. We explore the advantages of this model and how it addresses some of the challenges presented by current creative thinking conceptualizations and assessments. Finally, we explore the implications of implementing this process model for education.
Breakwater Behaviour
Authors: Clavero María , Gómez-Martín M. Esther
Published: January 2023

Breakwaters are characteristic maritime works and provide basic infrastructure for artificial sea and land areas such as ports [...]
Horizontal Bearing Capacity and Reliability of Piles in Coastal Soft Soil Considering the Time-Varying Characteristics
Authors: Yin Pingbao , Wang Kang , Chen Lu , Zhang Yongjie , Yang Kaibo , Wang Jie
Published: January 2023

In order to study the influence of the creep of soft soil and the corrosion damage of reinforced concrete on the horizontal bearing behavior of piles, the novel p-y curve model was established considering the time-varying characteristics of soil parameters. The attenuation law of the bending stiffness of reinforced concrete piles under chloride erosion was analyzed by introducing the bending stiffness reduction factor. The limit state function of pile reliability analysis was then established considering the time-varying characteristics. The reliability index of a pile under horizontal displacement failure mode was obtained using the quadratic response surface method. Finally, the sensitivity analysis of random variables (cohesion, internal friction angle, concrete cover, and chloride concentration) on the time-varying reliability of a pile under horizontal displacement failure mode was carried out. The influence of the distribution types of soil parameters on the time-varying reliability was considered. The results show that the load-bearing characteristics of the horizontally loaded pile are impacted significantly by the time-varying characteristics of the soil. The maximum horizontal displacement of the pile increases nonlinearly with the increase in service time. When the horizontal displacement failure mode occurs, the variability in the internal friction angle has a significant impact on the reliability of the pile. The reliability index decreases nonlinearly with an increase in service time. When the soil parameters obey the extreme value type I distribution, the corresponding reliability index is greater than that of log-normal distribution and normal distribution.
Attached Macroinvertebrates Inhabiting Marine Plastic Debris from the Beach and Port Areas of the Southern Sea of Korea
Authors: Han Gwan Hee , Kim Sang Lyeol , Kang Su Min , Lee Hyung-Gon , Yu Ok Hwan
Published: January 2023

The increasing amount of marine plastic debris (MPD) poses risks of ingestion, entanglement, and transport of alien species. A new ecosystem called the “plastisphere” is currently being studied, but relevant research on it is limited. In this study, we analyzed the frequency of appearance of macroinvertebrate species on MPD. Macroinvertebrates attached to MPD were collected once every three months from March to December 2021 in eight regions. MPD in the form of aquaculture and fishing gear was detected most frequently during the study. In total, two phyla, 14 orders, 19 families, and 41 species of attached macroinvertebrates were detected during the study. There were more attached macroinvertebrate species, and they were more frequent, on fishing/aquaculture MPD (sea origin) than packaging MPD (land origin). Most fishing/aquaculture MPD is made of softer or rougher materials than packaging MPD and has a longer exposure time in the sea. In particular, the alien species Mytilus galloprovincialis was found on all longer-exposure MPD. These findings suggest that the macroinvertebrates attached to MPD are affected by the duration of exposure to the water and the characteristics of the MPD material. Therefore, in the future, fishing/aquaculture MPD could be used as an indicator for monitoring MPD-attached organisms.
Trichoderma-Mediated ZnO Nanoparticles and Their Antibiofilm and Antibacterial Activities
Authors: Shobha Balagangadharaswamy , Ashwini Bagepalli Shivaram , Ghazwani Mohammed , Hani Umme , Atwah Banan , Alhumaidi Maryam S. , Basavaraju Sumanth , Chowdappa Srinivas , Ravikiran Tekupalli , Wahab Shadma , Ahmad Wasim , Lakshmeesha Thimappa Ramachandrappa , Ansari Mohammad Azam
Published: January 2023

Antimicrobial resistance is a major global health concern and one of the gravest challenges to humanity today. Antibiotic resistance has been acquired by certain bacterial strains. As a result, new antibacterial drugs are urgently required to combat resistant microorganisms. Species of Trichoderma are known to produce a wide range of enzymes and secondary metabolites that can be exploited for the synthesis of nanoparticles. In the present study, Trichoderma asperellum was isolated from rhizosphere soil and used for the biosynthesis of ZnO NPs. To examine the antibacterial activity of ZnO NPs against human pathogens, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were used. The obtained antibacterial results show that the biosynthesized ZnO NPs were efficient antibacterial agents against the pathogens E. coli and S. aureus, with an inhibition zone of 3–9 mm. The ZnO NPs were also effective in the prevention of S. aureus biofilm formation and adherence. The current work shows that the MIC dosages of ZnO NPs (25, 50, and 75 μg/mL) have effective antibacterial activity and antibiofilm action against S. aureus. As a result, ZnO NPs can be used as a part of combination therapy for drug-resistant S. aureus infections, where biofilm development is critical for disease progression.
Public Perception of the Risk of Heart Disease and Their Willingness to Pay for Its Diagnosis in Malaysia
Authors: Maharajan Mari Kannan , Rajiah Kingston , Num Kelly Sze Fang , Yap Shie Lin , Lau Sarah Heng Ying , Ngu Wei Yan , Ching Yan Yee
Published: January 2023

In Malaysia, heart disease is a major non-communicable disease and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Individuals need to understand the risk factors of heart disease, including health-related behaviors. This study was done to determine the perceived risks of heart disease and to estimate the willingness to pay (WTP) for its diagnosis. One-way analysis of variance was used to determine the significance of mean differences among the other demographic variables, followed by Tukey’s post hoc test to determine the differences between groups. The Spearman Rho test was employed to determine the correlations between participants’ perceived heart disease risk and their WTP for its diagnosis. The Perception of Risk of Heart Disease Scale (PRHDS) mean score of participants with a family history of heart diseases (25.32 ± 2.81; n = 556) was significantly higher than those who did not have such a family history (22.14 ± 3.42; n = 761; p = 0.04). The participants with a family history of heart disease showed a greater WTP for diagnostic tests compared with those without a family history. The participants who were ready to spend within the range of Ringgit Malaysia (RM) 1-RM1000 were willing to pay for diagnostic testing of heart diseases based on their family history and socioeconomic background. This study demonstrated a higher perception of the risk of heart disease in people with a family history of heart disease, who also demonstrated a greater WTP for diagnostic tests. Individuals ready to spend up to RM 1000 were willing to pay for diagnostic testing for heart diseases. The individuals with a family history of heart disease perceived a higher risk of heart disease and were willing to pay to improve life expectancy per year. Hence, the information on family history can be used as a tool for the holistic approach to educate individuals on their risk factors for heart disease and encourage them to do early screening for cardiovascular diseases.
Identification of Facade Elements of Traditional Areas in Seoul, South Korea
Authors: Shon Donghwa , Byun Giyoung , Choi Soyoung
Published: January 2023

The Bukchon area in Seoul boasts a high density of Hanok, the traditional Korean architecture representing the region. Because the Hanok facade plays a vital role in the streetscape formation, we must record it in terms of social, cultural, historical, artistic, and scenic values. However, recording the facade of an existing Hanok building through drawing or image information is time consuming and labor intensive, and therefore costly. Further, its digital conversion is inherently difficult. This study proposes the use of deep learning to identify the form elements that comprise the Hanok facade. Three-dimensional modeling was performed on 405 well-preserved Hanok facades in the region, and 2808 items of image data were created under similar conditions and at differing angles. Labeling was performed on the shape elements of the Hanok facade, and a methodology was established to identify the facade elements using MASK R-CNN. The type of roof, windows, the lower part of the outer wall, and the design were identified with high accuracy.
Ecosystems of Alas Landscapes—The Basis for the Development of Cattle Breeding in the Harsh Natural and Climatic Conditions of the Permafrost Zone
Authors: Desyatkin Roman V. , Desyatkin Alexey R.
Published: January 2023

Alas landscapes are unique ecosystems, which are dynamic, geochemically closed thermokarst landforms of the permafrost zone. Alases have a limited capacity in their active layer, and specific conditions for soil, flora and fauna formation. A comprehensive study of alas landscape functionswas carried out in Central Yakutia from 1988 to the present time using conventional methods of geobotany, zoology, entomology, etc. This paper presents long-term observations of lake fluctuation cycles and changes in the spatial structure of meadow spaces. The dynamics of the spatial structure lead to significant fluctuations in the productivity of alas phytocenoses. It was revealed that wet and normal alas meadows have the highest vegetation productivity. The long-term course of their productivity tends to decrease, which shows the influence of anthropogenic pressure since the main haymaking areas are located in these meadows. With sharp fluctuations in interannual weather conditions, which determine the microclimatic and soil characteristics of grass growth, the productivity of the edge phytocenoses tends to increase. The productivity of the steppe phytocenoses of the alas remains practically at the same level. Over the years of observation, the economic capacity of alas pastures and hayfields was calculated. Additionally, the paper presents the important role of fauna within closed alas ecosystems, which directly affects the functioning of alas landscapes and is directly involved in soil formation and the circulation of matter and energy.
Introduction: Tense and Aspect across Languages
Authors: Bruyn Bert Le , de Swart Henriëtte
Published: January 2023

Variation across languages has always fascinated linguists, but in the past, cross-linguistic variation has mostly been investigated in form-related subdisciplines (phonetics/phonology, morphology, syntax) [...]
“This Clock Is Oop” Development of Translanguaging Strategies and Language Attitude in a Deaf Bimodal Bilingual Student
Authors: McGovern Rhys
Published: January 2023

Bilingual students do not always use language exactly the way teachers expect. This is especially true for deaf students who use a signed language and a spoken language. When students mix languages, they are often told they are making mistakes. Instead of forcing students to keep languages completely separate, teachers can let students use any and all of their language tools. When students can practice language with all of the languages they know, they feel better about their language skills. This article describes the language of one deaf bilingual student over one year. The author taught the student how to carefully examine and discuss his own language. The student then wrote about pictures and videos that he was interested in. At the end of the year, the student was comfortable using many types of language tools. He also felt powerful about his own language skills.
DFT Study on the Enhancement of Isobaric Specific Heat of GaN and InN Nanosheets for Use as Nanofluids in Solar Energy Plants
Authors: Moreno-Velarde Francisco , Martín Elisa I. , Hidalgo Toledo José , Sánchez-Coronilla Antonio
Published: January 2023

In this work, GaN and InN nanosheets with dodecylamine (DDA) as surfactant have been studied as nanofluids to be used in solar plants. The interactions between the sheets and the surfactants have been performed using density functional theory. The most favorable interaction site on the surface corresponds to the metallic atom of the sheet with the N atom of the surfactant. In this interaction, the pair of electrons of N from the surfactant with the metal atom of the sheet play a stabilizing role, which is corroborated by electron localization function (ELF), quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM), and density of states (DOS) analysis. The isobaric specific heat values for the most favorable interaction were obtained in the presence of water, ethylene glycol, and diphenyl oxide as solvents for the first time. The highest value corresponds to systems with diphenyl oxide, being the values obtained of 0.644 J/gK and 0.363 J/gK for GaN-DDA and InN-DDA systems, respectively. These results open the possibilities of using GaN-DDA and InN-DDA systems in solar energy applications.
The Natural Moisture of ABS Filament and Its Influence on the Quality of FFF Products
Authors: Hamrol Adam , Góralski Błażej , Wichniarek Radosław , Kuczko Wiesław
Published: January 2023

The article presents the results of research on the influence of the natural moisture of a filament made of acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene terpolymer (ABS) on the mechanical properties and quality of products fabricated with fused filament fabrication (FFF). The concept of the natural moisture of the filament was defined, and the range of its variability was identified in reference to the range of the natural ambient humidity. It is shown that a change in the ambient humidity by 10% resulted in a change in filament moisture by about 0.05%. The results of the research on the moisture variability of an ABS filament stored in a package, an airtight container, or a container with a moisture absorber are also discussed. The last part of the article presents the results of the research on the impact of the moisture of the filament in its natural range of variability on select mechanical properties of filaments and products made using FFT. It is shown that this impact was significant and had a value of 1 MPa on 0.1% filament moisture.
Microstructure Evolution and Localized Corrosion Susceptibility of an Al-Zn-Mg-Cu-Zr 7xxx Alloy with Minor Cr Addition
Authors: Akuata Chijioke Kenneth , Gunawan Feliksianus Robby , Suwanpinij Piyada , Zander Daniela
Published: January 2023

Microstructure optimization of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu-Zr aluminum alloys, particularly through recrystallization inhibition, for improved strength and corrosion resistance properties has been an important consideration in alloy development for aerospace applications. Addition of rare earth elements, sometimes combined with Cr, has been found to be beneficial in this regard. In this study, the role of a single addition of 0.1 wt.% Cr on microstructure evolution of an Al-Zn-Mg-Cu-Zr (7449) alloy during processing was systematically investigated by optical light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, electron backscatter diffraction and scanning transmission electron microscopy. Susceptibility to localized corrosion after aging to T4, T6 and T76 conditions was evaluated by potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) measurements and an intergranular corrosion (IGC) test. A decrease in recrystallized fraction with 0.1 wt.% Cr addition was observed, which is attributed to the formation of Cu- and Zn-containing E (Al18Mg3Cr2) dispersoids and the larger as-cast grain size. Moreover, the depletion of alloying elements from solid solution due to the formation of the Cu- and Zn-containing E (Al18Mg3Cr2) dispersoids and η Mg(Zn,Cu,Al)2 phase at its interface affects grain-boundary precipitation. The observed decrease in localized corrosion susceptibility with minor Cr addition is correlated with the microstructure and equally discussed.
Air Duct Optimization Design Based on Local Turbulence Loss Analysis and IMOCS Algorithm
Authors: Wu Zhenghui , Zhou Shuiqing , Li Yuebing , Jin Weiya , Luo Yu
Published: January 2023

Considering the complex flow state of the duct flow field in the exhaust system, the structural parameters can significantly impact the internal flow field and noise. This paper takes the noise generated by the duct system under operating conditions as the research object, studies the mechanism of duct noise generation through theoretical analysis, numerical simulation and experimental test, and proposes an optimization design method, that is, to improve the duct structure by adding duct guide vanes. In order to maximize the optimization effect of the guide vane, a multiobjective optimization design of its profile is required, including the parametric expression of the guide vane profile, establishing the design variables and optimization objectives, and establishing the Kriging approximation model. The IMOCS algorithm is used to accurately and efficiently calculate the Pareto front solution to obtain the optimal profile of the duct guide vane and finally improve the noise-reduction performance of the duct system. This paper applies this design method to an integrated stove head duct to verify its accuracy, and prototype tests are conducted according to the optimization results. The test results show that the optimized integrated cooker has improved the outlet flow rate of the whole machine by 1.2 m3/min and reduced the noise by 2.3 dB.
Stator Faults Detection in Asymmetrical Six-Phase Induction Motor Drives with Single and Dual Isolated Neutral Point, Adopting a Model Predictive Controller
Authors: Laadjal Khaled , Serra João , Cardoso Antonio J. Marques
Published: January 2023

Multiphase drives have been presented as potential replacements for conventional three-phase machines, primarily because of their propensity to operate faultlessly. Due to the various stator phase arrangements, standard fault detection techniques are insufficiently applicable and cannot be used to diagnose faults in the various configurations of multiphase machines in closed-loop applications. The current study proposes an effective online diagnostic technique based on the computing and tracking of a significant severity factor, which is defined as the ratio of the zero, negative, and positive voltage symmetrical components employing a short-time least-square Prony algorithm (STLSP). In this study, the asymmetrical six-phase induction motor (ASPIM) was controlled by a model predictive control (MPC) algorithm, an attractive control scheme for the regulation of multiphase electric drives, since it easily exploits their inherent advantages. This article addresses stator faults in ASPIMs. The effectiveness of the suggested strategy was confirmed experimentally for various operating conditions in both steady and transient states.
It’s All in the Embedding! Fake News Detection Using Document Embeddings
Authors: Truică Ciprian-Octavian , Apostol Elena-Simona
Published: January 2023

With the current shift in the mass media landscape from journalistic rigor to social media, personalized social media is becoming the new norm. Although the digitalization progress of the media brings many advantages, it also increases the risk of spreading disinformation, misinformation, and malformation through the use of fake news. The emergence of this harmful phenomenon has managed to polarize society and manipulate public opinion on particular topics, e.g., elections, vaccinations, etc. Such information propagated on social media can distort public perceptions and generate social unrest while lacking the rigor of traditional journalism. Natural Language Processing and Machine Learning techniques are essential for developing efficient tools that can detect fake news. Models that use the context of textual data are essential for resolving the fake news detection problem, as they manage to encode linguistic features within the vector representation of words. In this paper, we propose a new approach that uses document embeddings to build multiple models that accurately label news articles as reliable or fake. We also present a benchmark on different architectures that detect fake news using binary or multi-labeled classification. We evaluated the models on five large news corpora using accuracy, precision, and recall. We obtained better results than more complex state-of-the-art Deep Neural Network models. We observe that the most important factor for obtaining high accuracy is the document encoding, not the classification model's complexity.
Lagrangian Heuristic for Multi-Depot Technician Planning of Product Distribution and Installation with a Lunch Break
Authors: Yan Fangzhou , Qiu Huaxin , Han Dongya
Published: January 2023

In this paper, we consider a technician planning scheme stemming from product distribution and installation in a manufacturing enterprise that considers factors such as soft time windows, skill areas, lunch breaks, and outsourcing options, among others. The goal is to identify the optimal partition of technicians into groups and assignment of customers to technician groups and find the optimal routes for technician groups to minimize the sum of the travel cost, soft time window violation cost, and outsourcing cost. To address this problem, the study develops a tailored Lagrangian heuristic that incorporates several strategies to speed up convergence and produce sharper bounds. Computational comparisons between the developed heuristic and MIP solver are presented. The results reveal that the bounds found by the developed algorithm outperform those found by CPLEX for large instances, and it is capable of identifying high-quality feasible solutions to large-scale problems.
Performance Evaluation of a Cloud Datacenter Using CPU Utilization Data
Authors: Li Chen , Zheng Junjun , Okamura Hiroyuki , Dohi Tadashi
Published: January 2023

Cloud computing and its associated virtualization have already been the most vital architectures in the current computer system design. Due to the popularity and progress of cloud computing in different organizations, performance evaluation of cloud computing is particularly significant, which helps computer designers make plans for the system’s capacity. This paper aims to evaluate the performance of a cloud datacenter Bitbrains, using a queueing model only from CPU utilization data. More precisely, a simple but non-trivial queueing model is used to represent the task processing of each virtual machine (VM) in the cloud, where the input stream is supposed to follow a non-homogeneous Poisson process (NHPP). Then, the parameters of arrival streams for each VM in the cloud are estimated. Furthermore, the superposition of estimated arrivals is applied to represent the CPU behavior of an integrated virtual platform. Finally, the performance of the integrated virtual platform is evaluated based on the superposition of the estimations.