bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Flight Test of Autonomous Formation Management for Multiple Fixed-Wing UAVs Based on Missile Parallel Method
Authors: Zhan Guang , Gong Zheng , Lv Quanhui , Zhou Zan , Wang Zian , Yang Zhen , Zhou Deyun
Published: April 2022

This paper reports on the formation and transformation of multiple fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in three-dimensional space. A cooperative guidance law based on the classic missile-type parallel-approach method is designed for the multi-UAV formation control problem. Additionally, formation transformation strategies for multi-UAV autonomous assembly, disbandment, and special circumstances are formed, effective for managing and controlling the formation. When formulating the management strategy for formation establishment, its process is divided into three steps: (i) selecting and allocating target points, (ii) forming loose formations, and (iii) forming short-range formations. The management of disbanding the formation is formulated through reverse thinking: the assembly process is split and recombined in reverse, and a formation disbanding strategy that can achieve a smooth transition from close to lose formation is proposed. Additionally, a strategy is given for adjusting the formation transformation in special cases, and the formation adjustment is completed using the adjacency matrix. Finally, a hardware-in-the-loop simulation and measured flight verification using a simulator show the practicality of the guidance law in meeting the control requirements of UAV formation flight for specific flight tasks.
Combined Flow Control Strategy Investigation for Corner Separation and Mid-Span Boundary Layer Separation in a High-Turning Compressor Cascade
Authors: Wang Hejian , Liu Bo , Mao Xiaochen , Zhang Botao , Yang Zonghao
Published: April 2022

To comprehensively control the corner separation and mid-span boundary layer (BL) separation, this study proposed and evaluated two new flow control configurations. One is a slotted configuration composed of blade-end and whole-span slots, and the other is a combined configuration with end-wall BL suction and whole-span slot. Additionally, the adaptability of the combined configuration to the lower blade solidity (c/t) condition was verified. The results indicate that both the slotted configuration and combined configuration can eliminate the mid-span BL separation, but a better reduction in the corner separation can be observed in the combined configuration. The two configurations can remove the concentrated shedding vortex and reduce the passage vortex (PV) for the datum cascade, but the wall vortex (WV) will be generated. By contrast, the combined configuration has weaker WV and PV than the slotted configuration, which contributes to further reducing the corner separation. In the combined configuration with a c/t of 1.66 and 1.36, the total pressure loss is reduced by 38.4% and 42.1%, respectively, on average, while the averaged static pressure rise coefficient is increased by 16.2% and 17.6%, respectively. This is advantageous for enhancing the working stability and pressure diffusion capacity for compressors. Besides this, the combined configuration with lower c/t can achieve a stronger pressure diffusion capacity and smaller loss than the higher c/t datum cascade. Therefore, the combined configuration is advantageous to the improvement of the aero-engine thrust-to-weight ratio through decreasing the compressor single-stage blade number.
The Cultural Element in the Adaptation of a Test: Proposals and Reflections on Internal and External Influences
Authors: Ponce Gea Ana Isabel , Serrano Pastor Francisca José
Published: April 2022

In the framework of instrumental research, the adaptation of tests has been increasing. The aim of this paper is to explain the procedures followed for the adaptation of a test with a construct of a cultural nature to another context, reflecting on the difficulties and limitations related to its equivalence and validity. For this purpose, we start from the Test on the Construction of Historical Knowledge, originally designed for a Spanish context and targeted at elementary school students, in order to design and validate its Portuguese version. The process of “emic-etic” adaptation, in which the technical, semantic, conceptual, and metric equivalence of a test is sought, was carried out through group translation with post-translation empirical processes (expert judgement, a pilot study, and external criteria). It highlighted some issues closely linked to internal and external cultural factors. On one hand was the predominance of analytical-rational processes in the adaptation process, with an essential deep reflection on the construct and the meanings intimately linked to the context. On the other hand, were the difficulties of empirical procedures due to the qualitative nature of the construct. This led us to reflect on the possibility of minimizing the “emic” aspects in eminently cultural constructs without renouncing reliable and valid results with respect to the construct.
BTENet: Back-Fat Thickness Estimation Network for Automated Grading of the Korean Commercial Pig
Authors: Lee Hyo-Jun , Baek Jong-Hyeon , Kim Young-Kuk , Lee Jun Heon , Lee Myungjae , Park Wooju , Lee Seung Hwan , Koh Yeong Jun
Published: April 2022

For the automated grading of the Korean commercial pig, we propose deep neural networks called the back-fat thickness estimation network (BTENet). The proposed BTENet contains segmentation and thickness estimation modules to simultaneously perform a back-fat area segmentation and a thickness estimation. The segmentation module estimates a back-fat area mask from an input image. Through both the input image and estimated back-fat mask, the thickness estimation module predicts a real back-fat thickness in millimeters by effectively analyzing the back-fat area. To train BTENet, we also build a large-scale pig image dataset called PigBT. Experimental results validate that the proposed BTENet achieves the reliable thickness estimation (Pearson’s correlation coefficient: 0.915; mean absolute error: 1.275 mm; mean absolute percentage error: 6.4%). Therefore, we expect that BTENet will accelerate a new phase for the automated grading system of the Korean commercial pig.
Numerical Simulation of Gas Flow Passing through Slots of Various Shapes in Labyrinth Seals
Authors: Baha Vadym , Lishchenko Natalia , Vanyeyev Serhiy , Mižáková Jana , Rodymchenko Tetiana , Piteľ Ján
Published: April 2022

Labyrinth seals are widely used in centrifugal compressors, turbines, and many other pneumatic systems due to their simplicity of design, reliability, and low cost. The calculation scheme for the movement of the working medium in a labyrinth seal is constructed by analogy with the movement of the working medium through holes with a sharp edge. Annular and flat slots, holes, and such a factor as the shaft rotation with a calculated sector of 3 degrees were studied. The purpose of the study is to determine the flow coefficient when the working medium flows through slots of various shapes. To achieve this purpose, modeling of the working medium flow in the FlowVision software was performed. The mass flow and flow coefficients are determined for the studied slot shapes. The convergence of the calculation results was determined by comparing the values of the mass flow rate at the inlet and outlet of the slot. Differences in visualizations of the flow for the studied variants of slots were established. The resulting difference should be taken into account in practical calculations of the working medium mass flow through the slot using a conditional flow rate factor which is determined by the slot design.
Multi-Mode Damping Control Approach for the Optimal Resilience of Renewable-Rich Power Systems
Authors: Setiadi Herlambang , Mithulananthan Nadarajah , Shah Rakibuzzaman , Islam Md. Rabiul , Fekih Afef , Krismanto Awan Uji , Abdillah Muhammad
Published: April 2022

The integration of power-electronics-based power plants is developing significantly due to the proliferation of renewable energy sources. Although this type of power plant could positively affect society in terms of clean and sustainable energy, it also brings adverse effects, especially with the stability of the power system. The lack of inertia and different dynamic characteristics are the main issues associated with power-electronics-based power plants that could affect the oscillatory behaviour of the power system. Hence, it is important to design a comprehensive damping controller to damp oscillations due to the integration of a power-electronics-based power plant. This paper proposes a damping method for enhancing the oscillatory stability performance of power systems with high penetration of renewable energy systems. A resilient wide-area multimodal controller is proposed and used in conjunction with a battery energy storage system (BESS) to enhance the damping of critical modes. The proposed control also addresses resiliency issues associated with control signals and controllers. The optimal tuning of the control parameters for this proposed controller is challenging. Hence, the firefly algorithm was considered to be the optimisation method to design the wide-area multimodal controllers for BESS, wind, and photovoltaic (PV) systems. The performance of the proposed approach was assessed using a modified version of the Java Indonesian power system under various operating conditions. Both eigenvalue analysis and time-domain simulations are considered in the analysis. A comparison with other well-known metaheuristic methods was also carried out to show the proposed method’s efficacy. Obtained results confirmed the superior performance of the proposed approach in enhancing the small-signal stability of renewable-rich power systems. They also revealed that the proposed multimodal controller could enhance the penetration of renewable energy sources in the Javan power system by up to 50%.
A Hybrid MCDM Model for Evaluating the Market-Oriented Business Regulatory Risk of Power Grid Enterprises Based on the Bayesian Best-Worst Method and MARCOS Approach
Authors: Zhang Zhuola , Lin Shiyuan , Ye Yingjin , Xu Zhao , Zhao Yihang , Zhao Huiru , Sun Jingqi
Published: April 2022

As a result of the deepening of China’s power system reform, the market-oriented business development of power grid enterprises is in full swing. However, most of the existing research has focused on the regulatory risks of the regulatory business for power grid enterprises, while ignoring the regulatory risks faced by market-oriented businesses. In order to promote the sustainable development of market-oriented business, a comprehensive regulatory risk assessment framework was constructed for the market business of power grid enterprises. First, the risk assessment index system was constructed from the perspectives of policy risk, business isolation risk, market risk, and safety risk. Then, a novel hybrid multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) model based on the Bayesian best-worst method and the measurement alternatives and ranking according to the compromise solution approach, was adopted. Finally, eight market-oriented businesses were selected as case studies. The result indicates that organizational isolation risk and operational security risk are the key regulatory risks of the market-oriented business for power grid enterprises. Compared with two other MCDM models, the proposed hybrid MCDM model has good applicability and effectiveness for risk evaluation of the regulatory business. The results of this research can provide support for power enterprises to deal with market-oriented business supervision, and can also provide a reference for power industry regulators.
Application of Artificial Intelligence in the Unit Commitment System in the Application of Energy Sustainability
Authors: Garlík Bohumír
Published: April 2022

This article approaches the optimal solution of energy sustainability based on the use of artificial intelligence (AI). The application of renewable energy sources (RES) and unit commitment (UC) is the basic idea of this concept. Therefore, a new approach to solving the UC problem is introduced. The proposed method has a simple procedure to obtain the popular solutions in an acceptable time interval, by creating a basic model of the schedule of the state of energy units RES. It is obvious that individual consumer units, of an operational nature, take hourly performance values by performing economic evaluations on them in the sense of cost optimization. This is conducted through an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm by optimizing the dedicated cost function, simulated by annealing. Despite the acceptable solution obtained from these two steps, another shift is proposed, called the TDD process in a given consumer area. This process in the application of AI in the system of selection of universal load TDD from hundreds of possible ones is based on the use of artificial neural networks and cluster analysis, which is represented by the application of the Kohonen map. This logical process to achieve a modified solution is a self-organizing map (SOM). It is a software tool for visualizing high-dimensional data. Converts complex, nonlinear statistical relationships (functions) between high-dimensional data to simple geometric relationships, low-dimensional representation. The output of SOM is an optimized load TDD on the basis of which the process of automatic control of UC in the local urban area is built. The results of the AI application in the case of sustainable energy solutions confirm that this UC method provides a robust solution to an almost optimal solution.
Domestic Energy Efficiency Scenarios for Northern Ireland
Authors: Ogunrin Oluwatobiloba Stephanie , Vorushylo Inna , Okpako Oghenovo , Hewitt Neil
Published: April 2022

Building fabric retrofitting is an important first step in improving building energy efficiency. The United Kingdom’s (UK) housing stock is one of the most inefficient in Europe, and Northern Ireland has the second-highest level of fuel poverty in the UK. This Northern Irish case study developed three fabric retrofit scenarios that estimate potential demand reductions, CO2 emissions removals and retrofit costs. The first scenario reduces domestic demand by 10% and removes 6% of domestic emissions. The second scenario is more ambitious than the first, and results in an 18% reduction in demand and 12% of emissions removed. The third scenario proposes fabric retrofitting to PassivHaus standard and results in a 42% reduction in demand and 27% of emissions removed. Furthermore, retrofit schemes can provide up to approximately 350,000 jobs annually between 2022 and 2050 for the Northern Irish population. This study demonstrates how fabric retrofit scenarios can be streamlined to the unique features of a housing stock. It shows that fabric retrofit research is important for the formulation of energy efficiency policy and emphasises that domestic sector retrofitting will yield socioeconomic and environmental benefits locally and internationally.
Comprehensive Review on Potential Contamination in Fuel Ethanol Production with Proposed Specific Guideline Criteria
Authors: Wongsurakul Peerawat , Termtanun Mutsee , Kiatkittipong Worapon , Lim Jun Wei , Kiatkittipong Kunlanan , Pavasant Prasert , Kumakiri Izumi , Assabumrungrat Suttichai
Published: April 2022

Ethanol is a promising biofuel that can replace fossil fuel, mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and represent a renewable building block for biochemical production. Ethanol can be produced from various feedstocks. First-generation ethanol is mainly produced from sugar- and starch-containing feedstocks. For second-generation ethanol, lignocellulosic biomass is used as a feedstock. Typically, ethanol production contains four major steps, including the conversion of feedstock, fermentation, ethanol recovery, and ethanol storage. Each feedstock requires different procedures for its conversion to fermentable sugar. Lignocellulosic biomass requires extra pretreatment compared to sugar and starch feedstocks to disrupt the structure and improve enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency. Many pretreatment methods are available such as physical, chemical, physicochemical, and biological methods. However, the greatest concern regarding the pretreatment process is inhibitor formation, which might retard enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation. The main inhibitors are furan derivatives, aromatic compounds, and organic acids. Actions to minimize the effects of inhibitors, detoxification, changing fermentation strategies, and metabolic engineering can subsequently be conducted. In addition to the inhibitors from pretreatment, chemicals used during the pretreatment and fermentation of byproducts may remain in the final product if they are not removed by ethanol distillation and dehydration. Maintaining the quality of ethanol during storage is another concerning issue. Initial impurities of ethanol being stored and its nature, including hygroscopic, high oxygen and carbon dioxide solubility, influence chemical reactions during the storage period and change ethanol’s characteristics (e.g., water content, ethanol content, acidity, pH, and electrical conductivity). During ethanol storage periods, nitrogen blanketing and corrosion inhibitors can be applied to reduce the quality degradation rate, the selection of which depends on several factors, such as cost and storage duration. This review article sheds light on the techniques of control used in ethanol fuel production, and also includes specific guidelines to control ethanol quality during production and the storage period in order to preserve ethanol production from first-generation to second-generation feedstock. Finally, the understanding of impurity/inhibitor formation and controlled strategies is crucial. These need to be considered when driving higher ethanol blending mandates in the short term, utilizing ethanol as a renewable building block for chemicals, or adopting ethanol as a hydrogen carrier for the long-term future, as has been recommended.
Emission and Performance Evaluation of a Diesel Engine Using Addition of Ethanol to Diesel/Biodiesel Fuel Blend
Authors: Freitas Emmanuelle Soares de Carvalho , Guarieiro Lílian Lefol Nani , da Silva Marcus Vinícius Ivo , Amparo Keize Katiane dos Santos , Machado Bruna Aparecida Souza , Guerreiro Egidio Teixeira de Almeida , de Jesus José Fernando Carneiro , Torres Ednildo Andrade
Published: April 2022

Many countries have adopted the addition of biodiesel to diesel as a way of inserting renewable content into mineral fuel and making a contribution to the environment. The addition of ethanol to the diesel/biodiesel blend to increase the renewable content of the added fuel blend and reduce the percentage of biodiesel could be a strategysince the demand for biodiesel production is high, and this fuel has a high production cost when compared to ethanol. Thus, this study evaluated the performance and the content of NOx, CO and CO2 exhaust gases from a diesel engine fueled with blends of diesel/biodiesel/ethanol: pure B7, B7E3 (B7 with 3% ethanol) and B7E10 (B7 with 10% ethanol). Emissions of fuel blends were evaluated using the engine speed variation and tested at a speed of 1500 rpm under constant load (185 Nm). Assays were performed at engine speeds of 1000, 1100, 1250, 1500 and 1750 rpm and with loads of 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100% of the maximum torque. Through the performance curves, the specific consumption and thermal efficiency were evaluated. The increase in speed and ethanol content in the diesel/biodiesel mixture increased approximately 5 to 7 and 1.4 times, respectively, in terms of the emission of exhaust gases. There was a 6% decrease in the maximum torque and power available at each speed with increasing ethanol content in the blend. However, in a vehicular application, this decrease would be perceived only at some points of the part-load regime, causing considerable reductions in thermal efficiency.
Particle Swarm Optimization Based Optimal Design of Six-Phase Induction Motor for Electric Propulsion of Submarines
Authors: Wogi Lelisa , Thelkar Amruth , Tahiro Tesfabirhan , Ayana Tadele , Urooj Shabana , Larguech Samia
Published: April 2022

Recent research reveals that multi-phase motors in electric propulsion systems are highly recommended due to their improved reliability and efficiency over traditional three phase motors. This research presented a comparison of optimal model design of a six phase squirrel cage induction motor (IM) for electric propulsion by using Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). A six phase squirrel cage induction motor is designed and simulated by ANSYS Motor-CAD. In order to find the best fit method, simulation results are compared and applied to the motors for electric propulsion, considering the influence of design upon the motor performance. The six-phase squirrel cage induction motor is more energy efficient, reliable and cost effective for the electric propulsion compared to the conventional three phase motor. In this study, first the initial parameters of the six phase squirrel cage induction motor have been determined and then these parameters have been compared with optimized values by Genetic Algorithm (GA) and PSO optimization. The motor designed is optimized using efficiency and power losses as the fitness function. The six phase squirrel cage induction motor is designed using ANSYS Motor-CAD and the simulation results were also presented along with two-dimensional and three-dimensional geometry. The result shows that the weight and power loss are reduced to 161 kg and 0.9359 Kw respectively, while the efficiency and power factor are increased to 0.95 and 0.87 respectively when PSO is used. This shows that the result is promising.
Assessment of Coilia mystus and C. nasus in the Yangtze River Estuary, China, Using a Length-Based Approach
Authors: Zhai Lu , Li Zengguang , Hu Yongbin , Huang Chengwei , Tian Siquan , Wan Rong , Pauly Daniel
Published: April 2022

An assessment of the stock status and historical changes in abundance of Coilia mystus and C. nasus in the Yangtze River Estuary, China, was carried out based on field surveys conducted in 2019–2020 and published length-frequency (L/F) data from earlier periods. These two species’ current and past relative biomasses (B/BMSY) were estimated using a length-based Bayesian biomass estimation method (LBB). The LLB method also estimated their asymptotic lengths (Linf), current and optimum mean lengths at first capture (Lc; Lopt_c), and their ratios of natural and fishing mortality to growth (M/K; F/K). In response to increasing fishing pressure, both species’ maximum lengths declined, along with their B/BMSY ratio, which declined for C. mystus from 1.7 in 1982 to 0.47 in 2020 and for C. nasus from 1.7 in 2006 (or earlier) to 0.17 in 2020. These assessments show that both of the two Coilia species are overfished, with C. nasus impacted more severely than C. mystus. The prospect for the recovery of these two species is briefly discussed. This contribution will help toward the management of the population of these two Coilia species and provides a basis for evaluating the effect of the 10-year fishing ban in the Yangtze River.
Berry By-Products in Combination with Antimicrobial Lactic Acid Bacteria Strains for the Sustainable Formulation of Chewing Candies
Authors: Zavistanaviciute Paulina , Zokaityte Egle , Starkute Vytaute , Ruzauskas Modestas , Viskelis Pranas , Bartkiene Elena
Published: April 2022

The purpose of this research was to develop formulations of chewing candies (CCs) in a sustainable manner by using berry by-products in combination with antimicrobial lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains. To implement this aim, the optimal quantities of by-products from lyophilised raspberry (Rasp) and blackcurrant (Bcur) from the juice production industry were selected. Prior to use, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LUHS135, Liquorilactobacillusuvarum LUHS245, Lacticaseibacillusparacasei LUHS244, and Pediococcus acidilactici LUHS29 strains were multiplied in a dairy industry by-product—milk permeate (MP). The antimicrobial activity of the selected ingredients (berry by-products and LAB) was evaluated. Two texture-forming agents were tested for the CC formulations: gelatin (Gl) and agar (Ag). In addition, sugar was replaced with xylitol. The most appropriate formulation of the developed CCs according to the product’s texture, colour, total phenolic compound (TPC) content, antioxidant activity, viable LAB count during storage, overall acceptability (OA), and emotions (EMs) induced in consumers was selected. It was established that the tested LAB inhibited three pathogens out of the 11 tested, while the blackcurrant by-products inhibited all 11 tested pathogens. The highest OA was shown for the CC prepared with gelatin in addition to 5 g of Rasp and 5 g of Bcur by-products. The Rasp and LUHS135 formulation showed the highest TPC content (147.16 mg 100 g−1 d.m.), antioxidant activity (88.2%), and LAB count after 24 days of storage (6.79 log10 CFU g−1). Finally, it was concluded that Gl, Rasp and Bcur by-products, and L. plantarum LUHS135 multiplied in MP are promising ingredients for preparing CCs in a sustainable manner; the best CC formula consisted of Gl, Rasp by-products, and LUHS135 and showed the highest OA (score 9.52) and induced the highest intensity of the EM ‘happy’ (0.231).
Effect of Cold Stabilization Duration on Organic Acids and Aroma Compounds during Vitis vinifera L. cv. Riesling Wine Bottle Storage
Authors: Xia Nongyu , Cheng Haotian , Yao Xuechen , Pan Qiuhong , Meng Nan , Yu Qingquan
Published: April 2022

During the storage of wines in bottles, especially white wines, tartrate crystallization often occurs, which reduces the commercial value of the wines and therefore needs to be avoided by performing cold stabilization treatments before bottling. However, whether different cold treatment durations impact the quality of a wine’s aroma has not yet been of special concern. This research was conducted at an industrial scale to explore how cold treatments at −5.3 °C for 10 to 15 days impact the organic acids, aroma compounds, and sensory quality of Riesling dry white wines, and the variation was documented at the end of treatment, and at 6 and 12 months of bottle storage. The results showed that cold treatments significantly reduced tartaric acid concentrations and significantly affected the concentrations of most aroma components in the wines only after 12 months of bottle storage, including the main components of esters, norisoprenoids, terpenoids, and furfural. Moreover, the concentrations of some components showed an increasing trend with the bottle storage, especially 1,1,6-trimethyl-1,2-dihydronaphthalene (TDN), the characteristic volatile of Riesling wine, suggesting that an acidic condition resulting from cold treatment might facilitate the conversion of some aroma precursors into volatiles. In conclusion, cold stabilization treatments, within limits, can improve tartaric acid stability and could promote the conservation of aroma compounds during bottle storage without adversely affecting the aroma profile of the wines.
Rapid Assessment of Rice Quality Traits Using Low-Cost Digital Technologies
Authors: Aznan Aimi , Gonzalez Viejo Claudia , Pang Alexis , Fuentes Sigfredo
Published: April 2022

Aroma and other physicochemical parameters are important attributes influencing consumer perception and acceptance of rice. However, current methods using multiple instruments and laboratory analysis make these assessments costly and time-consuming. Therefore, this study aimed to assess rice quality traits of 17 commercial rice types using a low-cost electronic nose and portable near-infrared spectrometer coupled with machine learning (ML). Specifically, artificial neural networks (ANN) were used to classify the type of rice and predict rice quality traits (aromas, color, texture, and pH of cooked rice) as targets. The ML models developed showed that the chemometrics obtained from both sensor technologies successfully classified the rice (Model 1: 98.7%; Model 2: 98.6%) and predicted the peak area of aromas obtained by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy found in raw (Model 3: R = 0.95; Model 6: R = 0.95) and cooked rice (Model 4: R = 0.98; Model 7: R = 0.96). Furthermore, a high R = 0.98 was obtained for Model 5 to estimate the color, texture, and pH of cooked rice. The proposed method is rapid, low-cost, reliable, and may help the rice industry increase high-quality rice production and accelerate the adoption of digital technologies and artificial intelligence to support the rice value chain.
Household Food Waste Quantification and Cross-Examining the Official Figures: A Study on Household Wheat Bread Waste in Shiraz, Iran
Authors: Ghaziani Shahin , Ghodsi Delaram , Schweikert Karsten , Dehbozorgi Gholamreza , Faghih Shiva , Mohabati Shabnam , Doluschitz Reiner
Published: April 2022

The global consumer food waste (FW) estimates are mainly based on modeling data obtained from governments. However, a major data gap exists in FW at the household level, especially in developing countries. Meanwhile, the reliability of the existing data is questionable. This study aimed to quantify wheat bread waste (HBW) in Shiraz, Iran, and cross-examine the governmental HBW data. Face-to-face waste recall questionnaire interviews were conducted in 419 households from December 2018 to August 2019. A multistage sampling strategy consisting of stratification, clustering, and systematic sampling was employed. Moreover, we carried out a comprehensive document review to extract and analyze the official HBW data. The results revealed that the HBW in Shiraz is 1.80%—the waste amounts for traditional bread and non-traditional bread were 1.70% and 2.50%, respectively. The survey results were compared with the previous official data, revealing a substantial contradiction with the 30% HBW reported between 1991 and 2015. Possible reasons for this disparity are explored in this paper. Although our results cannot be generalized to other food commodities and locations, our findings suggest that considering the substantial likelihood of bias in the official data, policymakers should conduct more FW measurements and re-evaluate the accuracy of the existing data.
Positively Charged Gold Quantum Dots: An Nanozymatic “Off-On” Sensor for Thiocyanate Detection
Authors: Ahmed Syed Rahin , Sherazee Masoomeh , Srinivasan Seshasai , Rajabzadeh Amin Reza
Published: April 2022

The concentration of thiocyanate (SCN−) in bodily fluids is a good indicator of potential and severe health issues such as nasal bleeding, goiters, vertigo, unconsciousness, several inflammatory diseases, and cystic fibrosis. Herein, a visual SCN− sensing method has been developed using the enzyme-like nature of positively charged gold quantum dots (Au QDs) mixed with 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). This research also reports a new method of synthesizing positively charged Au QDs directly from gold nanoparticles through a hydrothermal process. Microscopic imaging has showed that the Au QDs were 3–5 nm in size, and the emission wavelength was at 438 nm. Au QDs did not display any enzyme-like nature while mixed up with TMB and H2O2. However, the nanozymatic activity of Au QDs appeared when SCN− was included, leading to a very low detection limit (LOD) of 8 nM and 99–105% recovery in complex media. The steady-state kinetic reaction of Au QDs showed that Au QDs had a lower Michaelis–Menten constant (Km) toward H2O2 and TMB, which indicates that the Au QDs had a higher affinity for H2O2 and TMB than horseradish peroxidase (HRP). A mechanism study has revealed that the scavenging ability of hydroxyl (•OH) radicals by the SCN− group plays an important role in enhancing the sensitivity in this study. The proposed nanozymatic “Off–On” SCN− sensor was also successfully validated in commercial milk samples.
Synthesis and Weak Hydrogelling Properties of a Salt Resistance Copolymer Based on Fumaric Acid Sludge and Its Application in Oil Well Drilling Fluids
Authors: Wei Zhongjin , Zhou Fengshan , Chen Sinan , Long Wenjun
Published: April 2022

Fumaric acid sludge (FAS) by-produced from phthalic anhydride production wastewater treatment contains a large amount of refractory organic compounds with a complex composition, which will cause environmental pollution unless it is treated in a deep, harmless manner. FAS included saturated carboxylic acid, more than 60%, and unsaturated carboxylic acid, close to 30%, which accounted for the total mass of dry sludge. A new oil well drilling fluid filtrate loss reducer, poly(AM-AMPS-FAS) (PAAF), was synthesized by copolymerizing FAS with acrylamide (AM) and 2-acrylamide-2-methyl propane sulfonic acid (AMPS). Without a refining requirement for FAS, it can be used as a polymerizable free radical monomer for the synthesis of PAAF after a simple drying process. The copolymer PAAF synthesis process was studied, and the optimal monomer mass ratio was determined to be AM:AMPS:FAS = 1:1:1. The temperature resistance of the synthesized PAAF was significantly improved when 5% sodium silicate was added as a cross-linking agent. The structural characterization and evaluation of temperature and complex saline resistance performance of PAAF were carried out. The FT-IR results show that the structure of PAAF contained amide groups and sulfonic acid groups. The TGA results show that PAAF has good temperature resistance. As an oilfield filtrate loss reducer, the cost-effective copolymer PAAF not only has excellent temperature and complex saline resistance, the API filtration loss (FL) was only 13.2 mL/30 min after 16 h of hot rolling and aging at 150 °C in the complex saline-based mud, which is smaller compared with other filtrate loss reducer copolymers, but it also has little effect on the rheological properties of drilling fluid.
Mothering ‘Outsider’ Children: White Women in Black/White Interracial Families in Ireland
Authors: O’Malley Patti
Published: April 2022

The mixed-race family constellation has emerged as a regular feature of the Irish familial landscape. Such a demographic change invariably leads to the increased presence of white women who are mothering across racialised boundaries. Moreover, in the Irish context, the racial category of whiteness is privileged at a structural level and remains a central organising principle of Irishness as a mode of national belonging. This paper, therefore, sets out to address the specific gap in the literature related to the racialised experiences of the white mother of mixed-race (i.e., black African/white Irish) children in contemporary Ireland as these women are, in effect, mothering ‘outsider’ children in a context of white supremacy. More specifically, how does the positioning of these women’s mixed-race children impact their subjectivities as mothers categorised normatively as white and Irish? Framed by critical whiteness literature, this paper draws on in-depth interviews with twelve white Irish mothers. Data analysis broadly revealed three themes as relates to the women’s negotiations of the racialising discourses and practices which impact their family units. Findings suggest that these women no longer occupy the default position of whiteness as a category of racial privilege and a condition of ‘structured invisibility’. Perhaps, most significantly, the lived reality of these women disturbs the hegemonic conflation of the categories white and Irish. This paper, therefore, extends our theoretical understanding of both whiteness and mixed-race studies.
A Two-Stage De-Identification Process for Privacy-Preserving Medical Image Analysis
Authors: Shahid Arsalan , Bazargani Mehran , Banahan Paul , Mac Namee Brian , Kechadi Tahar , Treacy Ceara , Regan Gilbert , MacMahon Peter
Published: April 2022

Identification and re-identification are two major security and privacy threats to medical imaging data. De-identification in DICOM medical data is essential to preserve the privacy of patients’ Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and requires a systematic approach. However, there is a lack of sufficient detail regarding the de-identification process of DICOM attributes, for example, what needs to be considered before removing a DICOM attribute. In this paper, we first highlight and review the key challenges in the medical image data de-identification process. In this paper, we develop a two-stage de-identification process for CT scan images available in DICOM file format. In the first stage of the de-identification process, the patient’s PII—including name, date of birth, etc., are removed at the hospital facility using the export process available in their Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS). The second stage employs the proposed DICOM de-identification tool for an exhaustive attribute-level investigation to further de-identify and ensure that all PII has been removed. Finally, we provide a roadmap for future considerations to build a semi-automated or automated tool for the DICOM datasets de-identification.
Health Seeking Behaviour and Healthcare Utilization in a Rural Cohort of North India
Authors: Yadav Rajaram , Zaman Kamran , Mishra Ayush , Reddy Mahendra M. , Shankar Prem , Yadav Priyanka , Kumar Kaushik , Kant Rajni
Published: April 2022

Background: The healthcare infrastructure of a country determines the health-seeking behaviour of the population. In developing countries such as India, there is a great disparity in the distribution of healthcare institutions across urban and rural areas with disadvantages for people living in rural areas. Objectives: Our objectives were to study the health-seeking behavior and factors associated with the use of formal healthcare among the Gorakhpur Health and Demographic Surveillance System (GHDSS) cohort of North India. Methods: The study was conducted in 28 villages from two rural blocks in the Gorakhpur district of eastern Uttar Pradesh, North India. Structured questionnaires were used to collect the data with regard to demographics, health-seeking behaviour and healthcare utilization. An adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was used to report the factors associated with the utilization of healthcare. Results: Out of 120,306 individuals surveyed, 19,240 (16%) individuals reported having any health problem in the last 15 days. Of them, 90% sought healthcare for their health needs. The formal healthcare utilization was 79%. The use of public health facilities was very low (37%) with most of the people seeking treatment from private healthcare (63%). Females, people with a higher level of education (graduate and above), and those belonging to rich and middle tercile were more likely to use formal healthcare services. Among different ailments, respiratory problems, gastrointestinal problems, and musculoskeletal problems were associated with decreased use of formal healthcare. Conclusion: About four in five individuals surveyed who had health problems sought treatments from formal healthcare with three in five preferring private institutions to public healthcare facilities due to a perceived higher level of treatment quality and nearby availability. There is an urgent need to re-establish community trust among public healthcare facilities with a focus on delivering on-site health care and enhancing the quality of services offered by public healthcare institutions.
Physical Activity Capacity Assessment of Patients with Chronic Disease and the Six-Minute Walk Test: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Allado Edem , Poussel Mathias , Albuisson Eliane , Paysant Jean , Temperelli Margaux , Hily Oriane , Moussu Anthony , Benhajji Noura , Gauchard Gerôme C. , Chenuel Bruno
Published: April 2022

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) to determine the physical activity capacities of patients with chronic disease. Methods: For this cross-sectional study, we investigated 156 patients with chronic disease and no beta-blocker treatment. They systematically performed a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test to determine their heart rate peak (HRPeak) and maximal oxygen uptake (V’O2max). We considered two groups of patients based upon the results of the functional evaluation of exercise performance: (1) No limitation in exercise performance (V’O2max greater or equal to 80% of the theoretical reference) and (2) limited exercise performance (V’O2max less than 80% of the theoretical value). All patients also received a 6MWT on the same day as the exercise test. Results: We found 68 (43.6%) patients with normal exercise capacities and 88 (56.4%) patients with limited exercise performance. In this sample, 6MWT mean distances were 510 (87) and 506 (86) m, respectively. There were no significant differences between the two groups for distance and end-test heart rate. The correlation between matrix V’O2max measured during the maximal incremental exercise test and the 6MWT distance displayed a positive slope (r = 0.549 CI95 [0.431–0.656]—p < 0.001). Conclusion: Our results showed a moderate relationship between 6MWT and physical activity capacity for patients with chronic disease.
Evaluation of Global Precipitation Products over Wabi Shebelle River Basin, Ethiopia
Authors: Tadesse Kindie Engdaw , Melesse Assefa M. , Abebe Adane , Lakew Haileyesus Belay , Paron Paolo
Published: April 2022

This study presents three global precipitation products and their downscaled versions (CHIRPSv2, TAMSATv3, PERSIANN_CDR, CHIRPS_D, PERSIANNN_CDR_D, and TAMSAT_D) estimated with observed values from 1983 to 2014. Performance evaluation of global precipitation products and their downscaled versions is important for accurate use of those measured values in water resource management, climate, and hydrological applications, particularly in the data-sparse Wabi Shebelle River Basin, Ethiopia. Categorical and quantitative evaluation index techniques were applied. The spatial downscaled global precipitation products outperformed raw spatial resolution estimates in all statistical indicators. TAMSAT-D had acceptable performance ratings in terms of RMSE, CC, and scatter plots (R2). CHIRPSv2 showed the least performance at a daily timestep. Performance of global precipitation products and their downscaled versions increased when daily data were aggregated to the monthly data. CHIRPS-D performed better than other products with a minimum error value (RMSE) and higher CC at a monthly timestep. On the other hand, PERSIANN_CDR_D showed a relatively good performance with a lower, positive Pbias and higher POD values compared to other products for daily and monthly timescales. For spatial mismatch analysis, the bias and RMSE from reference data (individual rain gauge station vs. the average of all available eight stations) against satellite rainfall estimates (PERSIANN_CDR) had a significantly different weight, which could be related to the position of the gauge station to provide the “true” spatial rainfall amount. Overall, TAMSATv3 and CHIRPSv2 and their downscaled version satellite estimates showed good performance at daily and monthly timesteps, respectively. PERSIANN_CDR performed best with low Pbias and the highest POD values. Thus, this study decided that the downscaled version of CHIRPSv2 and PERSIANN_CDR-D satellite estimates could be applicable as an alternative to gauge data on a monthly timestep for hydrological and drought-monitoring applications, respectively.
Role of the Transcription Factor MAFA in the Maintenance of Pancreatic β-Cells
Authors: Nishimura Wataru , Iwasa Hiroaki , Tumurkhuu Munkhtuya
Published: April 2022

Pancreatic β-cells are specialized to properly regulate blood glucose. Maintenance of the mature β-cell phenotype is critical for glucose metabolism, and β-cell failure results in diabetes mellitus. Recent studies provide strong evidence that the mature phenotype of β-cells is maintained by several transcription factors. These factors are also required for β-cell differentiation from endocrine precursors or maturation from immature β-cells during pancreatic development. Because the reduction or loss of these factors leads to β-cell failure and diabetes, inducing the upregulation or inhibiting downregulation of these transcription factors would be beneficial for studies in both diabetes and stem cell biology. Here, we discuss one such factor, i.e., the transcription factor MAFA. MAFA is a basic leucine zipper family transcription factor that can activate the expression of insulin in β-cells with PDX1 and NEUROD1. MAFA is indeed indispensable for the maintenance of not only insulin expression but also function of adult β-cells. With loss of MAFA in type 2 diabetes, β-cells cannot maintain their mature phenotype and are dedifferentiated. In this review, we first briefly summarize the functional roles of MAFA in β-cells and then mainly focus on the molecular mechanism of cell fate conversion regulated by MAFA.
PCV2 and PRV Coinfection Induces Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress via PERK-eIF2α-ATF4-CHOP and IRE1-XBP1-EDEM Pathways
Authors: Chen Si , Li Xue , Zhang Xinwei , Niu Guyu , Yang Lin , Ji Weilong , Zhang Liying , Ren Linzhu
Published: April 2022

Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) and pseudorabies virus (PRV) are two important pathogens in the pig industry. PCV2 or PRV infection can induce endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and unfolded protein response (UPR). However, the effect of PCV2 and PRV coinfection on the ERS and UPR pathways remains unclear. In this study, we found that PRV inhibited the proliferation of PCV2 mainly at 36 to 72 hpi, while PCV2 enhanced the proliferation of PRV in the middle stage of the infection. Notably, PRV is the main factor during coinfection. The results of the transcriptomic analysis showed that coinfection with PCV2 and PRV activated cellular ERS, and upregulated expressions of the ERS pathway-related proteins, including GRP78, eIF2α, and ATF4. Further research indicated that PRV played a dominant role in the sequential infection and coinfection of PCV2 and PRV. PCV2 and PRV coinfection induced the ERS activation via the PERK-eIF2α-ATF4-CHOP axis and IRE1-XBP1-EDEM pathway, and thus may enhance cell apoptosis and exacerbate the diseases.
Examination of the Impact of CYP3A4/5 on Drug–Drug Interaction between Schizandrol A/Schizandrol B and Tacrolimus (FK-506): A Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Modeling Approach
Authors: He Qingfeng , Bu Fengjiao , Wang Qizhen , Li Min , Lin Jiaying , Tang Zhijia , Mak Wen Yao , Zhuang Xiaomei , Zhu Xiao , Lin Hai-Shu , Xiang Xiaoqiang
Published: April 2022

Schizandrol A (SZA) and schizandrol B (SZB) are two active ingredients of Wuzhi capsule (WZC), a Chinese proprietary medicine commonly prescribed to alleviate tacrolimus (FK-506)-induced hepatoxicity in China. Due to their inhibitory effects on cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A enzymes, SZA/SZB may display drug–drug interaction (DDI) with tacrolimus. To identify the extent of this DDI, the enzymes’ inhibitory profiles, including a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) shift, reversible inhibition (RI) and time-dependent inhibition (TDI) were examined with pooled human-liver microsomes (HLMs) and CYP3A5-genotyped HLMs. Subsequently, the acquired parameters were integrated into a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model to quantify the interactions between the SZA/SZB and the tacrolimus. The metabolic studies indicated that the SZB displayed both RI and TDI on CYP3A4 and CYP3A5, while the SZA only exhibited TDI on CYP3A4 to a limited extent. Moreover, our PBPK model predicted that multiple doses of SZB would increase tacrolimus exposure by 26% and 57% in CYP3A5 expressers and non-expressers, respectively. Clearly, PBPK modeling has emerged as a powerful approach to examine herb-involved DDI, and special attention should be paid to the combined use of WZC and tacrolimus in clinical practice.