bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dual Active Bridge as a DC Link Current Pulsation Compensator in Energy Storage Applications
Authors: Zieliński Dariusz , Fatyga Karol
Published: September 2021

This paper presents a system for compensating DC link current pulsation in four-wire inverters with energy storage operating under unbalanced load conditions. This phenomenon occurs when an inverter with an independent power control in each of the phases attempts to locally balance the voltage imbalance in the grid. Such a condition creates a DC link current pulsation, which is destructive for energy storage connected to the DC link. The conditions when this situation appears are presented in detail in the paper. A solution to this problem is proposed in the form of a dual active bridge converter and a capacitor bank to actively compensate this pulsation. The control algorithm is proposed based on a proportional-resonant controller. This paper presents the technical background and method by which the controller parameters were calculated, implemented and tested in a real-time system. The test results are presented and discussed, concluding that the proposed solution is an attractive option for protecting the energy storage from DC link current pulsation. The dual active bridge converter combined with resonant controller can compensate the DC link current pulsation almost entirely.
Effect of Circumferential Single Casing Groove Location on the Flow Stability under Tip-Clearance Effect in a Transonic Axial Flow Compressor Rotor
Authors: Wu Xiaoxiong , Liu Bo , Zhang Botao , Mao Xiaochen
Published: September 2021

Numerical simulations have been performed to study the effect of the circumferential single-grooved casing treatment (CT) at multiple locations on the tip-flow stability and the corresponding control mechanism at three tip-clearance-size (TCS) schemes in a transonic axial flow compressor rotor. The results show that the CT is more efficient when its groove is located from 10% to 40% tip axial chord, and G2 (located at near 20% tip axial chord) is the best CT scheme in terms of stall-margin improvement for the three TCS schemes. For effective CTs, the tip-leakage-flow (TLF) intensity, entropy generation and tip-flow blockage are reduced, which makes the interface between TLF and mainstream move downstream. A quantitative analysis of the relative inlet flow angle indicates that the reduction of flow incidence angle is not necessary to improve the flow stability for this transonic rotor. The control mechanism may be different for different TCS schemes due to the distinction of the stall inception process. For a better application of CT, the blade tip profile should be further modified by using an optimization method to adjust the shock position and strength during the design of a more efficient CT.
Modeling Dynamic Multifractal Efficiency of US Electricity Market
Authors: Ali Haider , Aslam Faheem , Ferreira Paulo
Published: September 2021

The dramatic deregulatory reforms in US electricity markets increased competition, resulting in more complex prices compared to other commodities. This paper aims to investigate and compare the overall and time-varying multifractality and efficiency of four major US electricity regions: Mass Hub, Mid C, Palo Verde, and PJM West. Multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis (MFDFA) is employed to better quantify the intensity of self-similarity. Large daily data from 2001 to 2021 are taken in order to make a more conclusive analysis. The four electricity market returns showed strong multifractal features with PJM West having the highest multifractality (corresponding to lowest efficiency) and Mass Hub having the lowest multifractality (i.e., highest efficiency). Moreover, all series exhibited mean reverting (anti-persistent) behavior in the overall time period. The findings of MFDFA rolling window suggest Palo Verde as the most volatile index, while a significant upward trend in the efficiency of Mass Hub and PJM West is observed after the first quarter of 2014. The novel findings have important implications for policymakers, regulatory authorities, and decision makers to forecast electricity prices better and control efficiency.
Collisions of Liquid Droplets in a Gaseous Medium under Conditions of Intense Phase Transformations: Review
Authors: Kropotova Svetlana , Strizhak Pavel
Published: September 2021

The article presents the results of theoretical and experimental studies of coalescence, disruption, and fragmentation of liquid droplets in multiphase and multicomponent gas-vapor-droplet media. Highly promising approaches are considered to studying the interaction of liquid droplets in gaseous media with different compositions and parameters. A comparative analysis of promising technologies is carried out for the primary and secondary atomization of liquid droplets using schemes of their collision with each other. The influence of a range of factors and parameters on the collision processes of drops is analyzed, in particular, viscosity, density, surface, and interfacial tension of a liquid, trajectories of droplets in a gaseous medium, droplet velocities and sizes. The processes involved in the interaction of dissimilar droplets with a variable component composition and temperature are described. Fundamental differences are shown in the number and size of droplets formed due to binary collisions and collisions between droplets and particles at different Weber numbers. The conditions are analyzed for the several-fold increase in the number of droplets in the air flow due to their collisions in the disruption mode. A technique is described for generalizing and presenting the research findings on the interaction of drops in the form of theoretical collision regime maps using various approaches.
A Review on the Dispersion and Distribution Characteristics of Pollutants in Street Canyons and Improvement Measures
Authors: Lv Weixun , Wu Yan , Zang Jianbin
Published: September 2021

The air quality in a street canyon seriously affects the exposure level of pollutants for pedestrians and is directly related to the indoor air quality (IAQ) of surrounding buildings. In order to improve the street canyon environment, it is necessary to clarify the distribution and dispersion characteristics of pollutants. Through field tests, wind tunnel experiments, and numerical simulation, the current research studied the nature of pollutants in street canyons and provided some improvement measures. This paper comprehensively introduces the characteristics of pollutants in street canyons and reviews past studies on the following parts: (a) the dispersion principle and main impact factors of pollutants in street canyons, (b) the spatial and temporal distribution of pollutants in street canyons, (c) the relationship between pollutants in street canyons and indoor air quality, and (d) improvement measures of the street canyon environment. The dispersion of pollutants is dominated by the air exchange between the street canyon and the upper atmosphere, which is strengthened when the wind speed is high or when the temperature in the street canyon is obviously higher than the surrounding area. The heat island effect is beneficial for pollutant dispersion, while the inversion layer has a negative influence. Dense buildings mean lower pollutant diffusion capacity, which causes pollutants to easily gather. Pollutants tend to accumulate on the leeward side of buildings. The concentration of pollutants decreases with the increase of height and drops to the background level at a height of several hundred meters. The temporal distribution of pollutants in street canyons varies in diurnal, weekly, and annual periods, and the concentration peaks in the winter morning and summer evening. Besides, pollutants in street canyons have a significant influence on IAQ. To improve the street canyon environment, green belts and other facilities should be reasonably set up in the streets. Future research should pay attention to comprehensive test data, solving disagreement conclusions, and quantitative evaluation of the various impact factors on pollutants, etc.
Biochar Stability in a Highly Weathered Sandy Soil under Four Years of Continuous Corn Production
Authors: Novak Jeffrey Michael , Watts Donald William , Sigua Gilbert C. , Myers William Tillman , Ducey Thomas F. , Rushmiller Hannah C.
Published: September 2021

Biochar is being considered a climate change mitigation tool by increasing soil organic carbon contents (SOC), however, questions remain concerning its longevity in soil. We applied 30,000 kg ha−1 of biochars to plots containing a Goldsboro sandy loam (Fine-loamy, siliceous, sub-active, thermic Aquic Paleudults) and then physically disked all plots. Thereafter, the plots were agronomically managed under 4 years (Y) of continuous corn (Zea Mays, L.) planting. Annually, incremental soil along with corresponding bulk density samples were collected and SOC concentrations were measured in topsoil (down to 23-cm). The biochars were produced from Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) chip (PC) and Poultry litter (PL) feedstocks. An untreated Goldsboro soil (0 biochar) served as a control. After four years, SOC contents in the biochar treated plots were highest in the top 0–5 and 5–10 cm depth suggesting minimal deeper movement. Declines in SOC contents varied with depth and biochar type. After correction for SOC declines in controls, PL biochar treated soil had a similar decline in SOC (7.9 to 10.3%) contents. In contrast, the largest % SOC content decline (20.2%) occurred in 0–5 cm deep topsoil treated with PC biochar. Our results suggest that PC biochar had less stability in the Goldsboro soil than PL biochar after 4 years of corn grain production.
Solid-State Hydrogen Storage Systems and the Relevance of a Gender Perspective
Authors: Dematteis Erika Michela , Barale Jussara , Corno Marta , Sciullo Alessandro , Baricco Marcello , Rizzi Paola
Published: September 2021

This paper aims at addressing the exploitation of solid-state carriers for hydrogen storage, with attention paid both to the technical aspects, through a wide review of the available integrated systems, and to the social aspects, through a preliminary overview of the connected impacts from a gender perspective. As for the technical perspective, carriers to be used for solid-state hydrogen storage for various applications can be classified into two classes: metal and complex hydrides. Related crystal structures and corresponding hydrogen sorption properties are reviewed and discussed. Fundamentals of thermodynamics of hydrogen sorption evidence the key role of the enthalpy of reaction, which determines the operating conditions (i.e., temperatures and pressures). In addition, it rules the heat to be removed from the tank during hydrogen absorption and to be delivered to the tank during hydrogen desorption. Suitable values for the enthalpy of hydrogen sorption reaction for operating conditions close to ambient (i.e., room temperature and 1–10 bar of hydrogen) are close to 30 kJ·molH2−1. The kinetics of the hydrogen sorption reaction is strongly related to the microstructure and to the morphology (i.e., loose powder or pellets) of the carriers. Usually, the kinetics of the hydrogen sorption reaction is rather fast, and the thermal management of the tank is the rate-determining step of the processes. As for the social perspective, the paper arguments that, as it occurs with the exploitation of other renewable innovative technologies, a wide consideration of the social factors connected to these processes is needed to reach a twofold objective: To assess the extent to which a specific innovation might produce positive or negative impacts in the recipient socioeconomic system and, from a sociotechnical perspective, to explore the potential role of the social components and dynamics in fostering the diffusion of the innovation itself. Within the social domain, attention has been paid to address the underexplored relationship between the gender perspective and the enhancement of hydrogen-related energy storage systems. This relationship is taken into account both in terms of the role of women in triggering the exploitation of hydrogen-based storage playing as experimenter and promoter, and in terms of the intertwined impact of this innovation in their current conditions, at work, and in daily life.
Assessment of the Multiannual Impact of the Grape Training System on GHG Emissions in North Tajikistan
Authors: Rashidov Naim , Chowaniak Maciej , Niemiec Marcin , Mamurovich Gulov Saidali , Gufronovich Masaidov Jamshed , Gródek-Szostak Zofia , Szeląg-Sikora Anna , Sikora Jakub , Kuboń Maciej , Komorowska Monika
Published: September 2021

The overarching goal of agricultural sciences is to optimize production technology to rationalize the use of production resources, energy, and space. Due to its high fertilization and water requirements, the vine is a plant with a high potential for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The modifying factor in the production technology is plantation management. To reach the assumed goal, a field experiment was conducted in the years 2001–2020, and the following training systems were used: multi-arm fan system (A) trunk height <30 cm, (B) 80 cm, (C) 120 cm, one-side multi-arm, paired planting (D) 120 cm, (E) 140 cm. The total amount of GHGs emitted in vine cultivation was calculated according to ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standards. The system boundaries were: establishing the plantation, the production and use of fertilizers and pesticides, energy consumption for agricultural treatments, and gas emissions from the soil. The amount of GHG emissions for cultivation using the systems A, B, C ranged from 426.77 to 556.34 kg of CO2-eq Mg of yield−1, while in the case of D and E systems, the value was approx. 304.37 to 306.23 CO2-eq Mg of yield−1. When comparing this stage with total annual emissions related to cultivation (for 1 ha), the amount of emitted GHGs at this stage is from approx. 42% to 58% higher than from annual emission related to cultivation. Concrete poles are the main element related with GHG emission during stage of plantation establishment, from 97 to 98% of emission. In the case of annual production, nitrogen fertilizers are responsible for approx. 36%. Moreover, the results show that systems D and E increased the average annual fruit yield (per 19 years of research) by approx. 68% compared to the A, B, C systems. There was no difference in the yield of plants with different height of shoots in the D and E systems. The “one-side, multi-arm, paired planting system” was characterized by the highest production and environmental efficiency.
Energy Optimisation Models for Self-Sufficiency of a Typical Turkish Residential Electricity Customer of the Future
Authors: Aycı Doğukan , Öğüt Ferhat , Özen Ulaş , İşgör Bora Batuhan , Küfeoğlu Sinan
Published: September 2021

This paper utilises a two-stage demand response-enabled energy management algorithm for a typical Turkish self-sufficient living space. The proposed energy management model provides an additional gain in line with the goal of self-sufficiency by scheduling flexible loads and energy storage systems at home according to a static time of use tariff. The impact of load scheduling and battery optimisation were evaluated in the scope of self-sufficiency, economic gain and return on investment performances. According to the results, the proposed two-stage structure provided a net saving increase of 9.5% in the one-battery scenario, and it rises to 14% in the design with three batteries. On the other hand, when we inspect the energy management scenarios with the return on investment (ROI) calculations, we see that the single battery system has a higher ROI than the two or three battery systems due to the increased battery cost. Moreover, the ROI value, 13.9% without optimisation, increased to 15.3% in the proposed Home Energy Management System (HEMS) model. As can be seen from this calculation, intelligent management of batteries and flexible loads provided a 10% increase in ROI value.
Development and Performance Analysis of a New Self-Powered Magnetorheological Damper with Energy-Harvesting Capability
Authors: Li Lingbo , Hu Guoliang , Yu Lifan , Qi Haonan
Published: September 2021

Magnetorheological (MR) dampers, used as intelligent semi-active vibration control devices to achieve low energy consumption, fast response, controllability, and other capabilities are generally installed with a variety of sensors on their exterior to ensure that the damping force can be accurately controlled. However, external sensors are often affected by external complications that reduce the reliability of the damper, and the cost of powering the damper coils in remote locations where power is not available can be significantly increased. Based on these problems, a new self-powered MR damper scheme is proposed. The proposed MR damper has both energy-harvesting capabilities and damping controllability, and greatly improves the stability and application range of the device by converting vibration energy into electrical energy to supply the excitation coil. The MR damper can drive the piston rod in a linear reciprocating motion by external excitation, which converts mechanical energy into electrical energy via a DC brushless three-phase generator after conversion by a double-linkage mechanism. At the same time, the electrical energy generated by the generator is passed into the excitation coil to change the output damping force of the damper. Meanwhile, the damping performance and energy-harvesting efficiency of the new self-powered MR damper is experimentally tested. Experimental results show the damping force of the device reaches 1040 N when the applied current is 0.6 A. The proposed self-powered MR damper has an instantaneous voltage amplitude of 1.782 V and a peak phase power of 4.428 W when the input excitation amplitude is 12.5 mm and the frequency is 3 Hz.
Numerical Simulation and Wind Tunnel Investigation on Static Characteristics of VAWT Rotor Starter with Lift-Drag Combined Structure
Authors: Feng Fang , Tong Guoqiang , Ma Yunfei , Li Yan
Published: September 2021

In order to get rid of the impact of the global financial crisis and actively respond to global climate change, it has become a common choice for global economic development to develop clean energy such as wind energy, improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. With the advantages of simple structure, unnecessary facing the wind direction, and unique appearance, the vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) attracts extensive attention in the field of small and medium wind turbines. The lift-type VAWT exhibits outstanding aerodynamic characteristics at a high tip speed ratio, while the starting characteristics are generally undesirable at a low wind speed; thus, how to improve the starting characteristics of the lift-type VAWT has always been an important issue. In this paper, a lift-drag combined starter (LDCS) suitable for lift-type VAWT was proposed to optimize the starting characteristics of lift-type VAWT. With semi-elliptical drag blades and lift blades equipped on the middle and rear part outside the starter, the structure is characterized by lift-drag combination, weakening the adverse effect of the starter with semi-elliptical drag blades alone on the output performance of the original lift-type VAWT and improving the characteristics of the lift-drag combined VAWT. The static characteristic is one of the important starting characteristics of the wind turbine. The rapid development of computational fluid dynamics has laid a solid material foundation for VAWT. Thus the static characteristics of the LDCS with different numbers of blades were investigated by conducting numerical simulation and wind tunnel tests. The results demonstrated that the static torque coefficient of LDCS increased significantly with the increased incoming wind speed. The average value of the static torque coefficient also increased significantly. This study can provide guidelines for the research of lift-drag combined wind turbines.
The Impacts of Gustiness on Air–Sea Momentum Flux
Authors: Lyu Meng , Potter Henry , Collins Clarence O.
Published: September 2021

The exchange of momentum across the air–sea boundary is an integral component of the earth system and its parametrization is essential for climate and weather models. This study focuses on the impact of gustiness on the momentum flux using three months of direct flux observations from a moored surface buoy. Gustiness, which quantifies the fluctuations of wind speed and direction, is shown to impact air–sea momentum fluxes. First, we put forward a new gustiness formula that simultaneously evaluates the impact of fluctuations in wind direction and speed. A critical threshold is established using a cumulative density function to classify runs as either gusty or non-gusty. We find that, during runs classified as gusty, the aerodynamic drag coefficient is increased up to 57% when compared to their non-gusty counterparts. This is caused by a correlated increase in vertical fluctuations during gusty conditions and explains variability in the drag coefficient for wind speeds up to 20 m/s. This increase in energy is connected with horizontal fluctuations through turbulent interactions between peaks in the turbulent spectra coincident with peaks in the wave spectra. We discus two potential mechanistic explanations. The results of this study will help improve the representation of gustiness in momentum flux parameterizations leading to more accurate ocean models.
Numerical Simulations of Flows in a Cerebral Aneurysm Using the Lattice Boltzmann Method with the Half-Way and Interpolated Bounce-Back Schemes
Authors: Osaki Susumu , Hayashi Kosuke , Kimura Hidehito , Seta Takeshi , Sasayama Takashi , Tomiyama Akio
Published: September 2021

Lattice Boltzmann simulations and a velocity measurement of flows in a cerebral aneurysm reconstructed from MRA (magnetic resonance angiography) images of an actual aneurysm were carried out and the numerical results obtained using the bounce-back schemes were compared with the experimental data to discuss the effects of the numerical treatment of the no-slip boundary condition of the complex boundary shape of the aneurysm on the predictions. The conclusions obtained are as follows: (1) measured data of the velocity in the aneurysm model useful for validation of numerical methods were obtained, (2) the numerical stability of the quadratic interpolated bounce-back scheme (QBB) in the flow simulation of the cerebral aneurysm is lower than those of the half-way bounce-back (HBB) and the linearly interpolated bounce-back (LBB) schemes, (3) the flow structures predicted using HBB and LBB are comparable and agree well with the experimental data, and (4) the fluctuations of the wall shear stress (WSS), i.e., the oscillatory shear index (OSI), can be well predicted even with the jaggy wall representation of HBB, whereas the magnitude of WSS predicted with HBB tends to be smaller than that with LBB.
Determination of Material Requirements for 3D Gel Food Printing Using a Fused Deposition Modeling 3D Printer
Authors: In Jiwon , Jeong Haeun , Song Sanghoon , Min Sea C.
Published: September 2021

The material requirements for printing gel food with a fused deposition modeling 3D printer were determined based on fidelity, shape retention, and extrudability, as described by the rheological parameters of storage modulus (G’), yield stress (τ0), and phase angle (δ). The material requirements were determined for printing gel food using three formulations containing gelatin, gelatin and pectin, and gum mixture as the gelling agents. As compared with formulations based on gelatin alone, pectin-containing gelatin-based formulations yielded higher δ and lower G’ and τ0 values, while gum mixture-based formulations formed a gel with higher G’ and δ values and a wider range of τ0. Overall, this study presents quantitative material requirements for printing gel products containing gelatin, gelatin–pectin, and gum mixtures.
Physicochemical, Functional, Fatty Acids Profile, Health Lipid Indices, Microstructure and Sensory Characteristics of Walnut-Processed Cheeses
Authors: Abbas Khaled A. , Abdelmontaleb Hani S. , Hamdy Shaimaa M. , Aït-Kaddour Abderrahmane
Published: September 2021

In the present study, processed cheeses fortified with walnut paste (a high source of omega-3 fatty acids) were developed and characterized. In order to identify the best cheese formulation, the effects of different proportions of walnut paste (0, 5, 10, and 15%) on cheese physicochemical, functional, fatty acids profile, health lipid indices (atherogenic and thrombogenic), microstructure, and sensorial characteristics were studied. Results showed that walnut-added samples had significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher levels of acidity, protein, fat, and ash contents with lower meltability and oil separation index compared to the control. Processed cheeses with walnuts contained significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher percentages of MUFAs, and ω-3 PUFAs (mainly α-linolenic acid) and significantly (p ≤ 0.05) lower amounts of SFAs (mainly myristic, palmitic and stearic acids) and ω6/ω3 ratio. Scanning Electron Micrograph of processed cheese containing walnut paste showed uniform distribution of walnut in the protein matrix. Processed cheeses made with 5 or 10% walnut paste presented the most acceptable sensory properties. These results indicated that walnut paste supplementation can be used as a nutritional strategy to increase concentrations of human health-promoting fatty acids in processed cheeses while maintaining good sensory and technological properties.
Food Waste along the Food Chain in Romania: An Impact Analysis
Authors: Dumitru Oana M. , Iorga Corneliu S. , Mustatea Gabriel
Published: September 2021

Food waste is a hot topic around the world due to the significant environmental challenge it poses. The study aims to assess the impact of food waste on the food chain at the national level. The data were obtained from quantitative impact studies, carried out in a project funded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Sustainable Development, “Methods to reduce food waste on the agri-food chain, at national level, to prevent and reduce socio-economic impact, until 2030”. A total of 852 companies were interviewed, with a turnover of almost 6.5 billion euro and a number of over 69 thousand employees, including 273 primary production enterprises, 270 food processing units, 171 distribution/retail units, and 138 HoReCa units.
Electronic Tongue as a Correlative Technique for Modeling Cattle Meat Quality and Classification of Breeds
Authors: Surányi József , Zaukuu John-Lewis Zinia , Friedrich László , Kovacs Zoltan , Horváth Ferenc , Németh Csaba , Kókai Zoltán
Published: September 2021

Discrimination and species identification of meat has always been of paramount importance in the European meat market. This is often achieved using different conventional analytical methods but advanced sensor-based methods, such as the electronic tongue (e-tongue), are also gaining attention for rapid and reliable analysis. The aim of this study was to discriminate Angus, domestic buffalo, Hungarian Grey, Hungarian Spotted cattle, and Holstein beef meat samples from the chuck steak part of the animals, which mostly contained longissimus dorsi muscles, using e-tongue as a correlative technique with conventional methods for analysis of pH, color, texture, water activity, water-holding capacity, cooking yield, water binding activity, and descriptive sensory analysis. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine significant differences between the measured quality traits of the five-meat species after analysis with conventional analytical methods. E-tongue data were visualized with principal component analysis (PCA) before classifying the five-meat species with linear discriminant analysis (LDA). Significant differences were observed among some of the investigated quality parameter. In most cases, Hungarian Grey was most different from the other species. Using e-tongue, separation patterns could be observed in the PCA that were confirmed with 100% recognition and 97.5% prediction of all the different meat species in LDA.
Next Generation Sequencing of Single Nucleotide Polymorphic DNA-Markers in Selecting for Intramuscular Fat, Fat Melting Point, Omega-3 Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Meat Eating Quality in Tattykeel Australian White MARGRA Lamb
Authors: Pewan Shedrach Benjamin , Otto John Roger , Huerlimann Roger , Budd Alyssa Maree , Mwangi Felista Waithira , Edmunds Richard Crawford , Holman Benjamin William Behrens , Henry Michelle Lauren Elizabeth , Kinobe Robert Tumwesigye , Adegboye Oyelola Abdulwasiu , Malau-Aduli Aduli Enoch Othniel
Published: September 2021

Meat quality data can only be obtained after slaughter when selection decisions about the live animal are already too late. Carcass estimated breeding values present major precision problems due to low accuracy, and by the time an informed decision on the genetic merit for meat quality is made, the animal is already dead. We report for the first time, a targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of lipid metabolism genes in Tattykeel Australian White (TAW) sheep of the MARGRA lamb brand, utilizing an innovative and minimally invasive muscle biopsy sampling technique for directly quantifying the genetic worth of live lambs for health-beneficial omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LC-PUFA), intramuscular fat (IMF), and fat melting point (FMP). NGS of stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD), fatty acid binding protein-4 (FABP4), and fatty acid synthase (FASN) genes identified functional SNP with unique DNA marker signatures for TAW genetics. The SCD g.23881050T>C locus was significantly associated with IMF, C22:6n-3, and C22:5n-3; FASN g.12323864A>G locus with FMP, C18:3n-3, C18:1n-9, C18:0, C16:0, MUFA, and FABP4 g.62829478A>T locus with IMF. These add new knowledge, precision, and reliability in directly making early and informed decisions on live sheep selection and breeding for health-beneficial n-3 LC-PUFA, FMP, IMF and superior meat-eating quality at the farmgate level. The findings provide evidence that significant associations exist between SNP of lipid metabolism genes and n-3 LC-PUFA, IMF, and FMP, thus underpinning potential marker-assisted selection for meat-eating quality traits in TAW lambs.
Effect of Alternative Preservatives on the Quality of Rice Cakes as Halal Food
Authors: Oh Jungmin , Kim Mina K.
Published: September 2021

The halal food market is steadily increasing. The use of alcohol for any reason is strictly prohibited in halal foods; however, ethanol is widely used as a preservative for commercial rice cakes (tteok). The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of natural substances as alternative preservatives for rice cakes. Four different solutions were tested: distilled water (control), ethanol, grapefruit seed extract (GSE), and a mixture of citric extracts and organic acids (MCO). We investigated the total plate count (TPC), yeast and mold counts, color, texture profile assays (TPA), and sensory evaluation. Significant reductions of 3.65 log CFU were observed in TPC in rice cake treated with MCO solution after 28 days of storage. However, mold and yeast counts were only reduced by ethanol treatment. Among the physical texture properties analysis, hardness was maintained for the 28 days in all samples. The total color difference values (ΔE) revealed no significant color changes in any rice cake compared to the controls. The ethanol-treated rice cake scored the lowest for overall preference and desired hardness.
A New Tool for Assessment of Professional Skills of Occupational Therapy Students
Authors: Romero-Ayuso Dulce , Ortiz-Rubio Araceli , Moreno-Ramírez Paz , Martín-Martín Lydia , Triviño-Juárez José Matías , Serrano-Guzmán María , Cano-Detell Enrique , Novoa-Casasola Erika , Gea Miguel , Ariza-Vega Patrocinio
Published: September 2021

The assessment of the acquisition of professional skills is an essential process in occupational therapy students. Until now, there has been no standardized and validated instrument for evaluating these skills in Spanish occupational therapy students. This study reports the development and testing of the psychometric properties of the professional skills in students of occupational therapy during their practical training. Methods: A new instrument was developed to assess the professional skills of occupational therapy students, called CPTO. A total of 69 occupational therapists participated in evaluating 295 occupational therapy students from the University of Granada, between the 2018 and 2021 academic years. Results: Of a total of 79 items, the factor analysis yielded a final solution of 33 items, which explains 70.22% of the variance with the following three dimensions: (1) self-appraisal and professional responsibility (α = 0.951); (2) communication skills and delivering intervention (α = 0.944); and (3) clinical reasoning for assessing and planning the intervention (α = 0.947). The instrument allows students with low, medium, high and excellent clinical skills to be differentiated according to the cutting points established by the quartiles. Conclusion: the instrument has good psychometric properties, and is a useful tool to assess professional competencies in occupational therapy students during their practice placement education.
Muscle Exercise Mitigates the Negative Influence of Low Socioeconomic Status on the Lack of Muscle Strength: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Lee Hanna , Kim Mi-Ji , Lee Junhee , Kim Mingyo , Suh Young Sun , Kim Hyun-Ok , Cheon Yun-Hong
Published: September 2021

Socioeconomic status (SES), which takes into account household income and education level, is an important factor in the role of muscle strength as a discriminator of sarcopenia. Although the benefits of exercise on muscle strength are well recognized, its influence on people of different SES has not been fully elucidated, informing the aim of this study. A total of 6081 subjects, for which we had complete data on measurements of handgrip strength (HGS) and other relevant variables, were included from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (KNHANES) VII-3. A multivariable analysis showed that people with a low household income (odds ratio (OR) 1.637, p = 0.005) and low education status (OR 2.351, p < 0.001) had a poor HGS compared to those with a high SES, and that the difference in HGS made by muscle exercise was greater for people with a low household income (OR 7.082 vs. 3.619, p < 0.001) and low education status (OR 14.711 vs. 6.383, p < 0.001). Three-step logistic regression analysis showed that muscle exercise mediated the relationship between muscle strength and low household income (OR from 1.772 to 1.736, z = 2.373, p = 0.017) and low education level (OR from 2.368 to 2.309, z = 2.489, p = 0.012). This study confirmed that exercise improves the negative effect of SES on muscle strength, suggesting the greater importance of muscle exercise for people with a low SES.
Initiative to Improve Evidence-Based Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Hospitalist Care Using a Novel On-Line Gamification Patient Simulation Tool: A Prospective Study
Authors: Strong Jodi , Weems Larry , Burgon Trever , Branch Jeremy , Martin Jenny , Paculdo David , Tamondong-Lachica Diana , Cruz Jamielyn , Peabody John
Published: September 2021

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Much of the disease burden comes from exacerbations requiring hospitalization. Unwarranted care variation and divergence from evidence-based COPD management guidelines among hospitalists is a leading driver of the poor outcomes and excess costs associated with COPD-related hospitalizations. We engaged with Novant Health hospitalists to determine if measurement and feedback using fixed-choice simulated patients improves evidence-based care delivery and reduces costs. We created a series of gamified acute-care COPD case simulations with real-time feedback over 16 weeks then performed a year-over-year analytic comparison of the cost, length of stay (LOS), and revisits over the six months prior to the introduction of the simulated patients, the four months while caring for the simulated patients, and the six months after. In total, 245 hospitalists from 15 facilities at Novant Health participated. At baseline, the overall quality-of-care was measured as 58.4% + 12.3%, with providers correctly identifying COPD exacerbation in 92.4% of cases but only identifying the grade and group in 61.9% and 49.5% of cases, respectively. By the study end, the quality-of-care had improved 10.5% (p < 0.001), including improvements in identifying the grade (+9.7%, p = 0.044) and group (+8.4%, p = 0.098). These improvements correlated with changes in real-world performance data, including a 19% reduction in COPD-related pharmacy costs. Overall, the annualized impact of COPD improvements led to 233 fewer inpatient days, 371 fewer revisit days, and inpatient savings totaling nearly $1 million. Engaging practicing providers with patient simulation-based serial measurements and gamified evidence-based feedback potentially reduces inpatient costs while simultaneously reducing patient LOS and revisit rates.
Patients’ Satisfaction by SmileInTM Totems in Radiotherapy: A Two-Year Mono-Institutional Experience
Authors: Chiloiro Giuditta , Romano Angela , D’Aviero Andrea , Dinapoli Loredana , Zane Elisa , Tenore Angela , Boldrini Luca , Balducci Mario , Gambacorta Maria Antonietta , Mattiucci Gian Carlo , Malavasi Pierluigi , Cesario Alfredo , Valentini Vincenzo
Published: September 2021

Background: Patient’s satisfaction is recognized as an indicator to monitor quality in healthcare services. Patient-reported experience measures (PREMs) may contribute to create a benchmark of hospital performance by assessing quality and safety in cancer care. Methods: The areas of interest assessed were: patient-centric welcome perception (PCWP), punctuality, professionalism and comfort using the Lean Six Sigma (LSS) methodology. The RAMSI (Radioterapia Amica Mia SmileINTM (SI) My Friend RadiotherapySI), project provided for the placement of SI totems with four push buttons using HappyOrNot technology in a high-volume radiation oncology (RO) department. The SI technology was implemented in the RO department of the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS. SI totems were installed in different areas of the department. The SI Experience Index was collected, analyzed and compared. Weekly and monthly reports were created showing hourly, daily and overall trends. Results: From October 2017 to November 2019, a total of 42,755 votes were recorded: 8687, 10,431, 18,628 and 5009 feedback items were obtained for PCWP, professionalism, punctuality, and comfort, respectively. All areas obtained a SI-approved rate ≥ 8.0. Conclusions: The implementation of the RAMSI system proved to be doable according to the large amount of feedback items collected in a high-volume clinical department. The application of the LSS methodology led to specific corrective actions such as modification of the call-in-clinic system during operations planning. In order to provide healthcare optimization, a multicentric and multispecialty network should be defined in order to set up a benchmark.
Evaluation of the Efficiency of European Health Systems Using Fuzzy Data Envelopment Analysis
Authors: Gómez-Gallego Juan Cándido , Gómez-Gallego María , García-García Javier Fernando , Faura-Martinez Ursula
Published: September 2021

Many studies that assess efficiency in health systems are based on output mean values. That approach ignores the representativeness of the average statistic, which can become a serious problem in estimation. To solve this question, this research contributes in three different ways: the first aim is to evaluate the technical efficiency in the management of European health systems considering a set of DEA (Data Envelopment Analysis) and FDEA (Fuzzy Data Envelopment Analysis) models. A second goal is to assess the bias in the estimation of efficiency when applying the conventional DEA. The third objective is the evaluation of the statistical relationship between the bias in the efficiency estimation and the macroeconomic variables (income inequality and economic freedom). The main results show positive correlations between DEA and FDEA scores. Notwithstanding traditional DEA models overestimate efficiency scores. Furthermore, the size of the bias is positively related to income inequality and negative with economic freedom in the countries evaluated.
Predictors of Mental Health Status among Quarantined COVID-19 Patients in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alodhayani Abdulaziz A. , Almutairi Khalid M. , Alshobaili Fahda A. , Alotaibi Adel F. , Alkhaldi Ghadah , Vinluan Jason M. , Albedewi Hadeel Mohammed , Al-Sayyari Lamis
Published: September 2021

Background: The negative psychological impact of COVID-19 in the general population has been well documented. Similar studies among those who were infected and who underwent quarantine remain scarce, particularly in the Arab region. The present study aims to fill this gap. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, suspected/confirmed COVID-19 individuals who were quarantined in the Ministry of Health (MOH) facilities were invited to participate in an online survey. All consenting participants answered a generalized questionnaire that included demographic characteristics, as well as a five-part questionnaire that assessed the symptoms of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and distress. Results: A total of 335 suspected/confirmed COVID-19 individuals (198 males and 137 females) participated. Being female is associated with increased risk of depression (odds ratio OR 1.8 (confidence interval, CI 1.1–3.1; p = 0.03)) as well as being employed by the government (OR 2.8 (CI 1.1–7.0; p = 0.03)). Level of education (OR 2.3 (CI 1.0–5.4; p = 0.049)) and employment in government (OR 3.0 (CI 1.2–7.8; p = 0.02)) were significantly associated with distress. Increasing age (45 years and above) appeared to be protective against distress (OR 0.2 (CI 0.02–0.69; p = 0.008)), as well anxiety and sleep pattern (OR 0.3 p < 0.05). Conclusion: Findings of the present study highlight that infected COVID-19 populations are at higher risk for acute and detrimental psychological well-being during quarantine and/or self-isolation. Identification of the coping mechanisms of older adults during periods of distress may prove beneficial in the pandemic preparedness of younger generations.
Social Media Improves Students’ Academic Performance: Exploring the Role of Social Media Adoption in the Open Learning Environment among International Medical Students in China
Authors: Ashraf Muhammad Azeem , Khan Muhammad Naeem , Chohan Sohail Raza , Khan Maqbool , Rafique Wajid , Farid Muhammad Fahad , Khan Asad Ullah
Published: September 2021

Numerous studies have examined the role of social media as an open-learning (OL) tool in the field of education, but the empirical evidence necessary to validate such OL tools is scant, specifically in terms of student academic performance (AP). In today’s digital age, social media platforms are most popular among the student community, and they provide opportunities for OL where they can easily communicate, interact, and collaborate with each other. The authors of this study aimed to minimize the literature gap among student communities who adopt social media for OL, which has positive impacts on their AP in Chinese higher education. We adopted social constructivism theory (SCT) and the technology acceptance model (TAM) to formulate a conceptual framework. Primary data containing 233 questionnaires of international medical students in China were collected in January 2021 through the survey method. The gathered data were analyzed through structural equation modeling techniques with SmartPLS 3. The results revealed that perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and interactions with peers have positive and significant influence on OL. In addition, OL was found to have positive and significant influence on students’ AP and engagement. Lastly, engagement showed a positive impact on students’ AP. Thus, this study shows that social media serves as a dynamic tool to expedite the development of OL settings by encouraging collaboration, group discussion, and the exchange of ideas between students that reinforce their learning behavior and performance.
Sentiment Analysis of Rumor Spread Amid COVID-19: Based on Weibo Text
Authors: Wang Peng , Shi Huimin , Wu Xiaojie , Jiao Longzhen
Published: September 2021

(1) Background: in early 2020, COVID-19 broke out. Driven by people’s psychology of conformity, panic, group polarization, etc., various rumors appeared and spread wildly, and the Internet became a hotbed of rumors. (2) Methods: the study selected Weibo as the research media, using topic models, time series analysis, sentiment analysis, and Granger causality testing methods to analyze the social media texts related to COVID-19 rumors. (3) Results: in study 1, we obtained 21 topics related to “COVID-19 rumors” and “outbreak rumors” after conducting topic model analysis on Weibo texts; in study 2, we explored the emotional changes of netizens before and after rumor dispelling information was released and found people’s positive emotions first declined and then rose; in study 3, we also explored the emotional changes of netizens before and after the “Wuhan lockdown” event and found positive sentiment of people in non-Wuhan areas increased, while negative sentiment of people in Wuhan increased; in study 4, we studied the relationship between rumor spread and emotional polarity and found negative sentiment and rumor spread was causally interrelated. (4) Conclusion: These findings could help us to intuitively understand the impact of rumors spread on people’s emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic and help the government take measures to reduce panic.
Epidermal Growth Factor Is Associated with Loss of Mucosae Sealing and Peri-Implant Mucositis: A Pilot Study
Authors: Schoichet José Jorge , Mourão Carlos Fernando de Almeida Barros , Fonseca Edgard de Mello , Ramirez Carlos , Villas-Boas Ricardo , Prazeres Juliana , Quinelato Valquiria , Aguiar Telma Regina , Prado Marina , Cardarelli Angelo , Mello-Machado Rafael , Casado Priscila
Published: September 2021

This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between epidermal growth factor (EGF) and receptor (EGFR) levels in different clinical stages of dental implant rehabilitation and trace mucositis development’s biological profile. Thirty-six participants from the Specialization in Implant Dentistry, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Brazil, were included in the study and underwent sample collection: inside the alveolar socket, immediately before implant placement (Group 1, n = 10); at the peri-implant crevicular fluid (PICF) during reopening (Group 2, n = 10); PICF from healthy peri-implant in function (Group 3, n = 8); and PICF from mucositis sites (Group 4, n = 18). Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) evaluated EGF/EGFR gene expression using the SYBR Green Master Mix detection system. The results showed that EGF expression in the peri-implant crevicular fluid was statistically different. There was a higher EGF expression for group C (peri-implant health) (p = 0.04) than for the other groups. Regarding EGFR, there was no statistical difference among the groups (p = 0.56). It was concluded that low levels of EGF gene expression in the peri-implant crevicular fluid are related to the development of peri-implant mucositis and the absence of mucosae sealing. There was no correlation between EGFR gene expression with health or mucositis.