bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The prediction of occupational health risks of benzene in the printing industry through multiple occupational health risk assessment models
Authors: Shi Bin , Su Shibiao , Wen Cuiju , Wang Tianjian , Xu Haijuan , Liu Ming
Published: December 2022

Background

Benzene poisoning is a common occupational poisoning event in the printing industries. Up to now there is still a lack of research data on risk assessment of benzene operations in enclosed workshops. It is crucial to assess the risk level of these positions and put forward effective measures and suggestions.

Methods

The information of selected companies and air samples were collected through on-site investigation, data collation and sample testing were carried out according to the requirements of Chinese standards. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Essential, the EPA non-carcinogenic risk assessment model, the Singapore exposure index method and the Chinese semi-quantitative risk assessment models were used to assess the risks of benzene.

Results

The exposed groups all worked more than 8 h per day, and the cleaning, pasting, and packaging groups used general ventilation rather than local ventilation. 28.6% of the printing group and 16.7% of the pasting group had benzene concentrations that exceeded the permissible concentration-time weighted average (PC-TWA) in China. Over 60.0% of the work groups were evaluated at high risk and over 20% of the work groups were evaluated at high cancer risk by the risk assessment models.

Conclusion

The Chinese exposure index method and the synthesis index method may have a stronger practicability. The printing and pasting groups may have a higher risk for benzene exposure. It is necessary to increase protective measures and strengthen occupational hygiene management to reduce risks.
Long-term exposure to air pollution and lung function among children in China: Association and effect modification
Authors: Teng Jingjing , Li Jie , Yang Tongjin , Cui Jie , Xia Xin , Chen Guoping , Zheng Siyu , Bao Junhui , Wang Ting , Shen Meili , Zhang Xiao , Meng Can , Wang Zhiqiang , Wu Tongjun , Xu Yanlong , Wang Yan , Ding Gang , Duan Huawei , Li Weidong
Published: December 2022

Background

Children are vulnerable to the respiratory effects of air pollution, and their lung function has been associated with long-term exposure to low air pollution level in developed countries. However, the impact of contemporary air pollution level in developing countries as a result of recent efforts to improve air quality on children's lung function is less understood.

Methods

We obtained a cross-sectional sample of 617 schoolchildren living in three differently polluted areas in Anhui province, China. 2-year average concentrations of air pollutants at the year of spirometry and the previous year (2017–2018) obtained from district-level air monitoring stations were used to characterize long-term exposure. Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), and forced expiratory flow between 25 and 75% of FVC (FEF25−75) were determined under strict quality control. Multivariable regression was employed to evaluate the associations between air pollution level and lung function parameters, overall and by demographic characteristics, lifestyle, and vitamin D that was determined by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

Results

Mean concentration of fine particulate matter was 44.7 μg/m3, which is slightly above the interim target 1 standard of the World Health Organization. After adjusting for confounders, FVC, FEV1, and FEF25−75 showed inverse trends with increasing air pollution levels, with children in high exposure group exhibiting 87.9 [95% confidence interval (CI): 9.5, 166.4] mL decrement in FEV1 and 195.3 (95% CI: 30.5, 360.1) mL/s decrement in FEF25−75 compared with those in low exposure group. Additionally, the above negative associations were more pronounced among those who were younger, girls, not exposed to secondhand smoke, non-overweight, physically inactive, or vitamin D deficient.

Conclusions

Our study suggests that long-term exposure to relatively high air pollution was associated with impaired lung function in children. More stringent pollution control measures and intervention strategies accounting for effect modification are needed for vulnerable populations in China and other developing countries.
Development of a wearable force-feedback mechanism for free-range haptic immersive experience
Authors: Kudry Peter , Cohen Michael
Published: December 2022

The recent rise in popularity of head-mounted displays (HMDs) for immersion into virtual reality has resulted in demand for new ways to interact with virtual objects. Most solutions utilize generic controllers for interaction within virtual environments and provide limited haptic feedback. We describe the construction and implementation of an ambulatory (allowing walking) haptic feedback stylus with primary use in computer-aided design. Our stylus is a modified 3D Systems Touch force-feedback arm mounted on a wearable platform carried in front of a user. The wearable harness also holds a full-sized laptop, which drives the Meta Quest 2 HMD that is also worn by the user. This design provides six degrees-of-freedom without tethered limitations, while ensuring a high precision of force-feedback from virtual interaction. Our solution also provides an experience wherein a mobile user can explore different haptic feedback simulations and create, arrange, and deform general shapes.
Exploring the vulnerability of practice-like activities: An ethnographic perspective
Authors: Bolade-Ogunfodun Yemisi , Sinnicks Matthew , Akrivou Kleio , Scalzo Germán
Published: December 2022

Introduction

This paper explores the vulnerability of practice-like activities to institutional domination.

Methods

This paper offers an ethnographic case study of a UK-based engineering company in the aftermath of its acquisition, focusing in particular on its R&D unit.

Results

The Lab struggled to maintain its practice-based work in an institutional environment that emphasized the pursuit of external goods.

Discussion

We use this case to develop two arguments. Firstly, we illustrate the concept of “practice-like” activities and explore their vulnerability to institutional domination. Secondly, in light of the style of management on display after the takeover, we offer further support to MacIntyre's critique of management. Finally, based on the empirical data we reflect on the importance of organizational culture, as well as friendship and the achievement of a common good in business organizations for these kinds of activities.
Efficacy of Histick Soy in soybean nodulation in two Alfisols of Ghana
Authors: Nartey Eric K. , Darko Daniel A. , Sulemana Nasirudeen , Assibey Ernest Osei
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Soybean is an important legume whose nitrogen-fixing ability may be exploited to improve the fertility status of soils. In Ghana, where most of the soils are poor in fertility, cultivation of soybean presents an inexpensive way for resource-poor farmers to earn appreciable income and improve the fertility of arable land at the same time. However, the yield and N-fixing response of soybean to inoculation in most soils with poor fertility in Ghana are not well-researched.

Method

A screen house study on the efficacy of Histick Soy (an inoculum manufactured by a German chemical company) on improving the nodulation of soybean in P-deficient soils comprising two Plinthustalfs, Ny1 and Ny2, with a history and no history, respectively, of soybean cultivation and a Kandiustalf with no history of soybean cultivation was evaluated in Ghana. Sterile riverbed sand was included as a check. Soybean seeds were inoculated with Histick Soy at three different rates, namely, zero, half, and recommended rate, and grown in a screen house to ascertain the efficacy of the inoculant in nodulating soybean. Nitrogen was applied at 0 and 10 kg/ha, K was applied at 60 kg/ha, and P was applied at 0, 30, and 60 kg/ha. These treatments were completely randomized with four replicates at a moisture content equivalent to 80% field capacity and grown till flowering. At flowering, the number of nodules per plant was counted. A parallel experiment was carried out to physiological maturity where 100-seed weight per pot was determined.

Results and discussion

Results obtained revealed that plants from the uninoculated seeds in the riverbed sand and the Kandiustalf did not nodulate. In the case of Ny2, the number of nodules at harvesting was statistically similar for half and full recommended application rate of the inoculant. The uninoculated Ny2 with 4.4 average nodules per pot did not increase at half recommended application rate. At the recommended rate, nodule numbers increased 2.3-fold to 10.3. The Ny1 showed no response to inoculation. Treatments, which received the application of 60 and 30 kg P2O5/ha triggered higher responses to inoculation in low and high Bradyrhizobia populations, respectively, in the Plinthustalfs.
A brief account on enzyme mining using metagenomic approach
Authors: Patel Tithi , Chaudhari Hiral G. , Prajapati Vimalkumar , Patel Swati , Mehta Vaibhavkumar , Soni Niti
Published: December 2022

Metagenomics is an approach for directly analyzing the genomes of microbial communities in the environment. The use of metagenomics to investigate novel enzymes is critical because it allows researchers to acquire data on microbial diversity, with a 99% success rate, and different kinds of genes encode an enzyme that has yet to be found. Basic metagenomic approaches have been created and are widely used in numerous studies. To promote the success of the advance research, researchers, particularly young researchers, must have a fundamental understanding of metagenomics. As a result, this review was conducted to provide a thorough insight grasp of metagenomics. It also covers the application and fundamental methods of metagenomics in the discovery of novel enzymes, focusing on recent studies. Moreover, the significance of novel biocatalysts anticipated from varied microbial metagenomes and their relevance to future research for novel industrial applications, the ramifications of Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), sophisticated bio-informatic techniques, and the prospects of the metagenomic approaches are discussed. The current study additionally explores metagenomic research on enzyme exploration, specifically for key enzymes like lipase, protease, and cellulase of microbial origin.
Application and Development of Natural Plant Metabolite Oleanolic Acid in the Nano Era
Authors: Wang Kun , Lu Qinyue , Cao Xiang , Wang Yuhao , Wu Yanni , Chen Zhi , Yang Zhangping
Published: December 2022

Like other pentacyclic triterpenoids, oleanolic acid, a natural plant metabolite prevalent in plant peels, stems, and leaves, is regarded as a possible drug candidate. A growing number of studies have shown that oleanolic acid exhibits a variety of beneficial properties, including antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, and hepatoprotective effects. Additionally, the rapid advance of nanotechnology has dramatically improved oleanolic acid’s bioavailability and minimized its disadvantages, leading to unexpected changes in its pharmacological activity and use. Therefore, our aim was to review the progress of research on the distribution and biological properties of oleanolic acid in plants and to discuss new pharmaceutical approaches for oleanolic acid.
Effect of Mechanized Ridge Tillage with Rice-Rape Rotation on Paddy Soil Structure
Authors: Li Lanting , Li Jiangwen , Wei Chaofu , Yang Chaoxian , Zhong Shouqin
Published: December 2022

Ridge tillage is one of the essential tillage methods in China. It affects the soil structure by altering the soil-water environment. With the rapid development of agricultural mechanization, the mechanized ridge tillage technology that combines modern mechanized agriculture with conservation tillage has become a pertinent agricultural production technology in the hilly regions. However, to date, the effects of mechanized ridge tillage on soil structure have garnered little attention. In this study, a field plot experiment involving the following four treatments: conventional tillage with rice and winter fallow (CK1), conventional tillage with rice-rape rotation (CK2), wide ridge tillage with rice-rape rotation (BT), and narrow ridge tillage with rice-rape rotation (RT) was conducted to study the effects of mechanized ridge tillage with rice-rape rotation on soil aggregate stability and soil porosity. The results indicated that mechanized ridge tillage could reduce the porosity of pores > 30 μm in diameter and increase the porosity of pores < 0.5 μm. Furthermore, mechanized ridge tillage could increase soil aggregate stability; the order of average mass diameter and geometric average diameter was RT > BT > CK2 > CK1. The BT and RT treatments could increase the agglomeration degree of the soil particles, which followed the order of RT > BT > CK2 > CK1. Therefore, mechanized ridge tillage with rice-rape rotation is effective in enhancing soil structure.
An All-in-One Concept of a Mobile System for On-Farm Swine Depopulation, Pathogen Inactivation, Off-Site Carcass Disposal, and Biosecure Cleanup
Authors: Lee Myeongseong , Koziel Jacek A. , Ramirez Brett C. , Chen Baitong , Li Yuzhi
Published: December 2022

Infectious animal diseases can cause severe mortality on infected farms. An outbreak challenges the system and forces difficult decisions to stop the disease progression. We propose an ‘all-in-one’ concept of a mobile system for on-farm swine depopulation and pathogen inactivation. The system uses vaporized CO2 followed by heat treatment, broadening options for off-site carcass disposal and cleanup. A direct-fired heater supplies heat into the insulated trailer to reach and maintain the inactivation temperature for targeted pathogens. We developed a user-friendly model based on engineering principles for estimating site- and scenario-specific CO2 amounts and times required to inactivate targeted pathogens. Multipoint CO2 injection and improved distribution to animals follow the plug-flow reactor air replacement model. The model illustrates the depopulation and inactivation of two diseases, African swine fever (ASF) and the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) viruses. The model allows for dump trailer size, pig number, weights, and environmental conditions input. Model outputs provide users with practical information about the required CO2 injection rate, temperature setpoints, and times to effectively depopulate and inactivate pathogens in carcasses. The concept could be adopted for a routine or a mass depopulation/treatment/disposal with a single or fleet of ‘all-in-one’ units.
Heat Pump Drying of Lavender Flowers Leads to Decoctions Richer in Bioactive Compounds
Authors: Falla Nicole Mélanie , Caser Matteo , Demasi Sonia , Scariot Valentina
Published: December 2022

Lavandula angustifolia Mill. (Lamiaceae family) is commonly exploited in different sectors, such as cosmetics, perfumery, and medicine because of its phytochemicals. More recently it has gained attention as an edible flower in the food and beverage industry. Post-harvest technologies can help producers to increase the functional beverages market, where there is a growing demand for new products rich in bioactive molecules with beneficial health effects. To maintain lavender flower properties, bioactive compounds have to be effectively preserved after harvesting and processing. This study compared an emerging technology, heat pump drying, with a classical drying approach, i.e., hot air drying, focusing on differences in the total phenolic content, the anthocyanin content, the phenolic profile, and in antioxidant activity of the dried lavender flowers. Three different Italian local lavender flower selections (i.e., Susa, Stura, and Tanaro) were analyzed by means of decoction extraction. Results showed that each one was better preserved in its phytochemical composition by heat-pump drying. Among the lavender selections, Stura and Tanaro showed the highest values for phenolics (2200.99 and 2176.35 mg GAE/100 g DW, respectively), anthocyanins (59.30 and 60.74 mg C3G/100 g DW respectively) and antioxidant activity, assessed through three assays (FRAP, DPPH, ABTS). Four bioactive compounds were detected by means of HPLC, three in the heat pump dried flowers’ decoction (quercitrin, ellagic acid, gallic acid), and one in the hot air-dried flowers’ decoction (epicatechin). Overall, heat pump drying allowed to obtain decoctions richer in bioactive compounds.
Pathological and Molecular Characterization of a Duck Plague Outbreak in Southern China in 2021
Authors: Liang Zhipeng , Guo Jinyue , Yuan Sheng , Cheng Qing , Zhang Xinyu , Liu Zhun , Wang Congying , Li Zhili , Hou Bo , Huang Shujian , Wen Feng
Published: December 2022

Duck plague (DP) is a highly contagious viral disease in ducks caused by the duck plague virus (DPV). The DPV, a member of Herpesviridae, poses a severe threat to the waterfowl farming industry worldwide. In this study, we reported a recent outbreak of DPV in domestic laying ducks at 310 days of age from southern China in December 2021. The gross lesion, histopathologic examination, molecular detection, and genetic characterization studies of DPV are described here. As a result, gross lesions such as an enlarged congestive spleen and liver were observed. Liver with vacuolar degeneration and small vacuoles and spleen with hemosiderosis were remarkable microscopic findings. Our results suggested that the liver had the highest viral load, followed by the trachea, pancreas, kidney, brain, spleen, and heart. In addition, DPV was successfully isolated in chicken embryo fibroblast cell culture and designated as DP-GD-305-21. The UL2, UL12, UL41, UL47, and LORF11 genes of DP-GD-305-21 shared a high nucleotide homology with the Chinese virulent (CHv) strain and the Chinese variant (CV) strain. In conclusion, this study reports the isolation and molecular characterization of DPV from a recent outbreak in southern China. Our results contributed to the understanding of the pathological and molecular characterization of currently circulating DPV in China.
Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing with Raman Biosensing
Authors: Novikov Andrei , Sayfutdinova Adeliya , Botchkova Ekaterina , Kopitsyn Dmitry , Fakhrullin Rawil
Published: December 2022

Antibiotics guard us against bacterial infections and are among the most commonly used medicines. The immediate consequence of their large-scale production and prescription is the development of antibiotic resistance. Therefore, rapid detection of antibiotic susceptibility is required for efficient antimicrobial therapy. One of the promising methods for rapid antibiotic susceptibility testing is Raman spectroscopy. Raman spectroscopy combines fast and contactless acquisition of spectra with good selectivity towards bacterial cells. The antibiotic-induced changes in bacterial cell physiology are detected as distinct features in Raman spectra and can be associated with antibiotic susceptibility. Therefore, the Raman-based approach may be beneficial in designing therapy against multidrug-resistant infections. The surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and resonance Raman spectroscopy (RRS) additionally provide excellent sensitivity. In this review, we present an analysis of the Raman spectroscopy–based optical biosensing approaches aimed at antibiotic susceptibility testing.
Maqui Berry and Ginseng Extracts Reduce Cigarette Smoke-Induced Cell Injury in a 3D Bone Co-Culture Model
Authors: Guo Huizhi , Weng Weidong , Zhang Shuncong , Rinderknecht Helen , Braun Bianca , Breinbauer Regina , Gupta Purva , Kumar Ashok , Ehnert Sabrina , Histing Tina , Nussler Andreas K. , Aspera-Werz Romina H.
Published: December 2022

Cigarette smoking-induced oxidative stress has harmful effects on bone metabolism. Maqui berry extract (MBE) and ginseng extract (GE) are two naturally occurring antioxidants that have been shown to reduce oxidative stress. By using an osteoblast and osteoclast three-dimensional co-culture system, we investigated the effects of MBE and GE on bone cells exposed to cigarette smoke extract (CSE). The cell viability and function of the co-culture system were measured on day 14. Markers of bone cell differentiation and oxidative stress were evaluated at gene and protein levels on day 7. The results showed that exposure to CSE induced osteoporotic-like alterations in the co-culture system, while 1.5 µg/mL MBE and 50 µg/mL GE improved CSE-impaired osteoblast function and decreased CSE-induced osteoclast function. The molecular mechanism of MBE and GE in preventing CSE-induced bone cell damage is linked with the inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway and the activation of the Nrf2 signaling pathway. Therefore, MBE and GE can reduce CSE-induced detrimental effects on bone cells and, thus, prevent smoking-induced alterations in bone cell homeostasis. These two antioxidants are thus suitable supplements to support bone regeneration in smokers.
Sesamol Attenuates Renal Inflammation and Arrests Reactive-Oxygen-Species-Mediated IL-1β Secretion via the HO-1-Induced Inhibition of the IKKα/NFκB Pathway In Vivo and In Vitro
Authors: Tseng Kuo-Feng , Tsai Ping-Hsuan , Wang Jie-Sian , Chen Fang-Yu , Shen Ming-Yi
Published: December 2022

Chronic nephritis leads to irreversible renal fibrosis, ultimately leading to chronic kidney disease (CKD) and death. Macrophage infiltration and interleukin 1β (IL-1β) upregulation are involved in inflammation-mediated renal fibrosis and CKD. Sesamol (SM), which is extracted from sesame seeds, has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. We aimed to explore whether SM mitigates macrophage-mediated renal inflammation and its underlying mechanisms. ApoE–/– mice were subjected to 5/6 nephrectomy (5/6 Nx) with or without the oral gavage of SM for eight weeks. Blood and urine samples and all the kidney remnants were collected for analysis. Additionally, THP-1 cells were used to explore the mechanism through which SM attenuates renal inflammation. Compared with the sham group, the 5/6 Nx ApoE–/– mice exhibited a significant increase in the macrophage infiltration of the kidneys (nephritis), upregulation of IL-1β, generation of reactive oxygen species, reduced creatinine clearance, and renal fibrosis. However, the administration of SM significantly alleviated these effects. SM suppressed the H2O2-induced secretion of IL-1β from the THP-1 cells via the heme oxygenase-1-induced inhibition of the IKKα-NF-κB pathway. SM attenuated renal inflammation and arrested macrophage accumulation by inhibiting IKKα, revealing a novel mechanism of the therapeutic effects of SM on renal injury and offering a potential approach to CKD treatment.
NGIoU Loss: Generalized Intersection over Union Loss Based on a New Bounding Box Regression
Authors: Tong Chenghao , Yang Xinhao , Huang Qing , Qian Feiyang
Published: December 2022

Loss functions, such as the IoU Loss function and the GIoU (Generalized Intersection over Union) Loss function have been put forward to replace regression loss functions commonly used in regression loss calculation. GIoU Loss alleviates the vanishing gradient in the case of the non-overlapping, but it will completely degenerate into the IoU Loss function when bounding boxes overlap totally, which fails to achieve the optimization effect. To solve this problem, some improvements are proposed in this paper on the basis of the GIoU Loss function, taking into account the overlap rate of complete overlap of bounding boxes. In PASCAL VOC data, the experimental results demonstrate that the AP of NGIoU Loss function in the YOLOv4 model is 47.68%, 1.15% higher than that of the GIoU Loss function, and the highest map value is 86.79% in the YOLOv5 model.
GIS-Based Wind and Solar Power Assessment in Central Mexico
Authors: Hernandez-Escobedo Quetzalcoatl , Franco Jesus Alejandro , Perea-Moreno Alberto-Jesus
Published: December 2022

In Mexico, the economic and industrial development is in the center and north; this represents more than 50% of the country’s total consumption. Data on population and energy consumption will be obtained from the following sources: the National Institute of Geography and Statistics (INEGI), and the Energy Information System. Regarding meteorological data, two databases are used: the Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) (for solar irradiance data) and the MERRA-2 reanalysis data (for wind data). These data will be analyzed for use in a geographic information system (GIS) using kriging interpolation to create maps of solar and wind energy. The area studied includes the following states: Mexico City, Puebla, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Morelos, Zacatecas, Queretaro, San Luis Potosi, Guanajuato, Aguascalientes and Tlaxcala. The results showed that the areas with the highest solar potential are Hidalgo, Estado de México, Morelos, northern Puebla, southern Queretaro, northwestern Guanajuato, and northern Zacatecas, with 5.89 kWh/m2/day, and the months with the highest solar potential are March, April, May, and June. Regarding wind potential, the maximum wind power density is in Puebla, with 517 W/m2, and the windy season in central Mexico spans June, July, August, September, October, and November.
Changes of Air Pollution between Countries Because of Lockdowns to Face COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Akan Aytac Perihan , Coccia Mario
Published: December 2022

The goal of this study is to analyze how levels of air pollution changed between countries with their restriction policy of lockdown to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. The study design compares average changes of CO, NO2, SO2, O3, PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations based on measurements at ground level in January, February, and March for the years 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 (during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis) to average values of a 2015–2018 baseline period (ex-ante COVID-19 pandemic) between 300 cities in 19 countries of five geoeconomic regions. Results reveal that the maximum reduction in air pollutant concentrations is given by: CO (−4367.5%) in France, NO2 (−150.5%) in China and Australia, SO2 (−154.1%) in Israel, O3 (−94.1%) in China, PM2.5 (−41.4%) in Germany, and PM10 (−157.4%) in Turkey. Findings show that the effects of restriction policies for COVID-19 pandemic on air quality vary significantly between countries, depending on the different geographical, economic, industrial and social characteristics of the countries. These results clarify the critical relationship between control measures for pandemic crises and levels of air pollution in countries that can support best practices of environmental policy for pathways of sustainable development.
Two Practical Methods for the Forward Kinematics of 3-3 Type Spatial and 3-RRR Planar Parallel Manipulators
Authors: Düzgün Ercan , Kopmaz Osman
Published: December 2022

The forward kinematics in parallel manipulators is a mathematically challenging issue, unlike serial manipulators. Kinematic constraint equations are non-linear transcendental equations that can be reduced to algebraic equations with appropriate transformations. For this reason, sophisticated and time-consuming methods such as the Bezout method, the Groebner bases method, and the like, are used. In this paper, we demonstrate that these equations can be solved by non-complicated mathematical methods for some special types of manipulators such as the 3-3 and 6-3 types of Stewart platforms, and the 3-RRR planar parallel manipulator. Our first method is an analytical approach that exploits the special structure of kinematic constraint equations and yields polynomials of 32nd and 16th order, as mentioned in the previous works. In the second method, an error function is defined. This error function is employed to find the most appropriate initial values for the non-linear equation solver which is used for solving kinematic constraint equations. Determining the initial values in this manner saves computation time and guarantees fast convergence to real solutions.
Predicting Geotechnical Parameters from Seismic Wave Velocity Using Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Johora Fatema Tuz , Hickey Craig J. , Yasarer Hakan
Published: December 2022

Geotechnical investigation plays an indispensable role in site characterization and provides necessary data for various construction projects. However, geotechnical measurements are time-consuming, point-based, and invasive. Non-destructive geophysical measurements (seismic wave velocity) can complement geotechnical measurements to save project money and time. However, correlations between geotechnical and seismic wave velocity are crucial in order to maximize the benefit of geophysical information. In this work, artificial neural networks (ANNs) models are developed to forecast geotechnical parameters from seismic wave velocity. Specifically, published seismic wave velocity, liquid limit, plastic limit, water content, and dry density from field and laboratory measurements are used to develop ANN models. Due to the small number of data, models are developed with and without the validation step in order to use more data for training. The results indicate that the performance of the models is improved by using more data for training. For example, predicting seismic wave velocity using more data for training improves the R2 value from 0.50 to 0.78 and reduces the ASE from 0.0174 to 0.0075, and MARE from 30.75 to 18.53. The benefit of adding velocity as an input parameter for predicting water content and dry density is assessed by comparing models with and without velocity. Models incorporating the velocity information show better predictability in most cases. For example, predicting water content using field data including the velocity improves the R2 from 0.75 to 0.85 and reduces the ASE from 0.0087 to 0.0051, and MARE from 10.68 to 7.78. A comparison indicates that ANN models outperformed multilinear regression models. For example, predicting seismic wave velocity using field plus lab data has an ANN derived R2 value that is 81.39% higher than regression model.
Studies of the Cracking Behaviour of High-Pressure Laminates
Authors: Lukowsky Dirk , Meder Mark
Published: December 2022

The European standard EN 438-2 (2019) describes a method to assess the resistance to cracking of high-pressure laminate (HPL). In the EN 438-2 setup, the samples’ shrinkage at a temperature of 50 °C for 6 h is restrained by a metal clamp. The resulting tensile stress may lead to the cracking of the laminate. With the intention to gain additional insight into the parameters and influencing factors of the standard test, the resistance to cracking of 43 laminates was tested in accordance with the standard and with a prolonged testing time. Additionally, the tensile strength and shrinkage of the laminates were determined under the conditions of the standard test. The standard test uses free laminates (laminates not glued to a carrier board), so in order to correlate the results to applications that are close to real-life situations, four of the laminates were also tested when glued to carrier boards the size of furniture doors. In this full factorial test, particle board and gypsum board were used as carrier boards, UF and PVAc as adhesives, and the possible shrinkage of the laminates was adjusted by two moisture conditions of the laminates. The resistance to cracking in the standard test turned out to be mainly influenced by the composition of the laminate. Thin laminates with a pure paper backing were especially prone to cracking in the setup. Within the 6 h storage at 50 °C of the standard test, the laminates did not reach moisture equilibrium. Prolonged storage at 50 °C until equilibrium was reached (which took up to 10 days) allowed an improved differentiation of the cracking resistance, especially of thicker laminates. Four of the laminates were also tested on wooden and mineral-based carrier boards with either PVAc or UF as adhesive and two moisture contents of the laminates. The following parameters were identified as a critical combination for cracking: laminate with a low cracking resistance according to the EN 438-2 test in combination with a non-hygroscopic mineral-based carrier board, increased moisture of the laminate before being glued on the board, and the use of PVAc adhesive.
Promotion of Color Sorting in Industrial Systems Using a Deep Learning Algorithm
Authors: Medojevic Ivana , Veg Emil , Joksimovic Aleksandra , Ilic Jelena
Published: December 2022

Color sorting is a technological operation performed with the aim of classifying compliant and noncompliant agricultural products in large-capacity industrial systems for agricultural product processing. This paper investigates the application of the YOLOv3 algorithm on raspberry images as a method developed for the detection, localization, and classification of objects based on convolutional neural networks (CNNs). To our knowledge, this is the first time a YOLO algorithm or CNN has been used with original images from the color sorter to focus on agricultural products. Results of the F1 measure were in the 92–97% range. Images in full resolution, 1024 × 1024, produced an average detection time of 0.37 s. The impact of the hyperparameters that define the YOLOv3 model as well as the impact of the application of the chosen augmentative methods on the model are evaluated. The successful classification of stalks, which is particularly challenging due to their shape, small dimensions, and variations, was achieved. The presented model demonstrates the ability to classify noncompliant products into four classes, some of which are appropriate for reprocessing. The software, including a graphic interface that enables the real-time testing of machine learning algorithm, is developed and presented.
Metal Matrix Composite Fabricated with 5000 Series Marine Grades of Aluminium Using FSP Technique: State of the Art Review
Authors: Muribwathoho Oritonda , Msomi Velaphi , Mabuwa Sipokazi
Published: December 2022

Aluminium metal matrix composites have been shown to make significant contributions to the area of new materials and have become widely accepted in high-tech structural and functional applications such as those in the aircraft, automobile, marine, mineral, defence, transportation, thermal management, automotive, and sports and recreation fields. Metal matrix composites are manufactured using a variety of manufacturing processes. Stirring casting, powder metallurgy, squeezing casting, in situ processes, deposition techniques, and electroplating are part of the manufacturing process used in the manufacture of aluminium-metal matrix composites. Metal matrix composites that use friction stir processing have a distinct advantage over metal matrix composites that use other manufacturing techniques. FSP’s benefits include a finer grain, processing zone homogeneity, densification, and the homogenization of aluminium alloy and composite precipitates. Most metal matrix composite investigations achieve aluminium-metal matrix composite precipitate grain refinement, treated zone homogeneity, densification, and homogenization. This part of the work examines the impact of reinforcing particles, process parameters, multiple passes, and active cooling on mechanical properties during the fabrication of 5000-series aluminium-metal matrix composites using friction stir processing. This paper reports on the available literature on aluminium metal matrix composites fabricated with 5xxx series marine grade aluminium alloy using FSP.
Overburden Breaking Law and Safe Mining Technology in Thin Bedrock Stope with Thick Alluvium
Authors: Li Lei , Zhang Shengxia , Xue Yonglin , Zhang Hualei
Published: December 2022

For the thick alluvium and thin bedrock coal seam mining in East China, it is easy to produce water by pressing the frame. Taking the engineering geological conditions of the thin bedrock coal seam 1611 (3) working face in the Zhangji Coal Mine of Huainan Mining Group as the research background, the breaking law of the thin bedrock coal seam working face with thick alluvium was studied by using a similar material physical simulation experiment and theoretical analysis. It is revealed that under the load transfer of the loose aquifer, the roof fracture of the stope with thick alluvium and thin bedrock is characterized by large and small periodic ground pressure, and the combination failure of the high key stratum and the low key stratum with large cycles is prone to support crushing accidents. Based on this, the safety mining technical measures of reducing the fracture distance of the high key stratum by forced roof caving are proposed, and the reasonable blasting parameters are calculated. After field application, no support crushing accident on the working face was recorded, and the mining was safe, which provides a technical reference for the mining of the working face under similar conditions.
Research on the Diagnosability of a Satellite Attitude Determination System on a Fault Information Manifold
Authors: Qu Ruotong , Jiang Bin , Cheng Yuehua
Published: December 2022

In this paper, a new method for fault diagnosability research based on information geometry is proposed. The problem of the diagnosability evaluation of dynamic system faults is transformed into a distance calculation problem on a manifold. The Fisher information distance is used to realize a quantitative judgment of diagnosability, and a quantitative evaluation index of the fault diagnosability of a satellite attitude determination system is designed. This includes a fault detectability index and a fault isolability index. The validity and superiority of the new indexes are verified through a mathematical simulation. In addition, the fault information is visually presented by the geodesics of the fault manifold, and the properties and behavior of the fault are mined and analyzed on the fault information manifold, which lays a foundation for further exploration of fault information through geometric methods.
The Summertime Circulation Types over Eurasia and Their Connections with the North Atlantic Oscillation Modulated by North Atlantic SST
Authors: Yang Dan , Wang Lijuan
Published: December 2022

ERA5 monthly averaged reanalysis data during 1979–2020 are used to analyze the anomalous characteristics of summertime circulation types over Eurasia and their connections with the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) modulated by North Atlantic sea surface temperature (SST). A circulation index (CI) is defined to describe the anomalous characteristics of summertime circulation types over the Eurasian mid-high latitude and classify the anomalous circulation into a double-ridge type (DR-type) and double-trough type (DT-type). The results show that these anomalous circulation types are closely related to the variation of the western Pacific subtropical high (WPSH), East Asian subtropical jet (EASJ), South Asia high (SAH) and summer precipitation anomalies in China. There is a significant negative correlation between summer NAO and circulation types over Eurasia. The positive CI is favorable for the southward movement of the EASJ and two positive height anomalies over the Ural Mountains and the Sea of Okhotsk, respectively. Accompanied by moisture convergence and a strong ascending motion over the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River Valley (MLYRV), the summer rainfall will be above normal. These patterns are reversed in positive NAO-index years. The connection between the NAO and circulation types over Eurasia is modulated by a tri-pole SST anomaly pattern over the North Atlantic, which may induce the NAO-like atmospheric circulation and strengthen the impacts of the NAO on Eurasian circulation types. A wave train from the North Atlantic to East Asia, which is aroused by the tri-pole SST anomaly pattern, is the potential mechanism for linking summer NAO and circulation types over Eurasia.
Hong Kong Airport Wind Shear Now-Casting System Development and Evaluation
Authors: Stocker Jenny , Johnson Kate , Jackson Rose , Smith Stephen , Connolly Daniel , Carruthers David , Chan Pak-Wai
Published: December 2022

A wind-shear now-casting system for Hong Kong International Airport is described. The system has been configured and run retrospectively for the period from January to April 2018 at 20-min intervals using two sets of meteorological inputs to quantify uncertainty. Outputs from the system include calculations of headwind for the northerly and southerly runways at the airport. Six metrics have been defined that attempt to identify areas of strong wind shear; these involve quantification of headwind and headwind gradient in both the horizontal and vertical directions. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves have been generated for all metrics, runways, and meteorological conditions using pilot wind-shear reports to define wind-shear events. These curves allow for derivation of metric thresholds that could be used within an operational system to provide wind-shear alerts. The skill of the system for the 4-month period was quantified in terms of the probability of detection (POD, ideal value 1.0) of wind-shear events; system performance was better for the southerly runway, with the majority of POD values in the range 0.6 to 0.8.
A Peptides Prediction Methodology with Fragments and CNN for Tertiary Structure Based on GRSA2
Authors: Sánchez-Hernández Juan , Frausto-Solís Juan , Soto-Monterrubio Diego , González-Barbosa Juan , Roman-Rangel Edgar
Published: December 2022

Proteins are macromolecules essential for living organisms. However, to perform their function, proteins need to achieve their Native Structure (NS). The NS is reached fast in nature. By contrast, in silico, it is obtained by solving the Protein Folding problem (PFP) which currently has a long execution time. PFP is computationally an NP-hard problem and is considered one of the biggest current challenges. There are several methods following different strategies for solving PFP. The most successful combine computational methods and biological information: I-TASSER, Rosetta (Robetta server), AlphaFold2 (CASP14 Champion), QUARK, PEP-FOLD3, TopModel, and GRSA2-SSP. The first three named methods obtained the highest quality at CASP events, and all apply the Simulated Annealing or Monte Carlo method, Neural Network, and fragments assembly methodologies. In the present work, we propose the GRSA2-FCNN methodology, which assembles fragments applied to peptides and is based on the GRSA2 and Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN). We compare GRSA2-FCNN with the best state-of-the-art algorithms for PFP, such as I-TASSER, Rosetta, AlphaFold2, QUARK, PEP-FOLD3, TopModel, and GRSA2-SSP. Our methodology is applied to a dataset of 60 peptides and achieves the best performance of all methods tested based on the common metrics TM-score, RMSD, and GDT-TS of the area.
Boosting Capacity Performance of Bio-Waste Lignin-Derived Hierarchical Porous Carbon with Self-Doped Oxygen-Heteroatoms
Authors: Liu Jia , Mei Xiuwen , Peng Feng
Published: December 2022

Herein, oxygen-doped hierarchical porous carbon (OHPC) is successfully fabricated derived from industrial-waste lignin. The as-obtained OHPC is endowed with not only high specific surface area and favorable pore size distribution for accessible ion diffusion and surface charge storage, but also high surface oxygen content (10.78%) for redox pseudocapacitance contributions. With these multiple advantages, the OHCP electrode demonstrates a high specific capacitance of 258 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 based on a three-electrode configuration, with a calculated pseudocapacitance contribution up to 19%. Furthermore, the assembled symmetric supercapacitor with OHPC also delivers an extremely superior electrochemical performance with outstanding rate capability, impressive cyclic stability (97.5% capacitance retention over 10,000 times under 2 A g−1), and a high energy density of 9.27 Wh kg−1 at 25 W kg−1. This work provides fresh insights into the high-value utilization of bio-waste lignin and promises great potential in the development of high-performance electrode materials for energy storage.
Comparison of Reverse Transcriptase (RT) Activities of Various M-MuLV RTs for RT-LAMP Assays
Authors: Oscorbin Igor P. , Novikova Lidiya M. , Filipenko Maxim L.
Published: December 2022

Reverse transcriptases (RTs) are a family of enzymes synthesizing DNA using RNA as a template and serving as indispensable tools in studies related to RNA. M-MuLV RT and its analogs are the most commonly used RTs. RTs are widely applied in various diagnostics methods, including reverse-transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP). However, the performance of different RTs in LAMP remains relatively unknown. Here, we report on the first direct comparison of various M-MuLV RTs in RT-LAMP, including enzymes with a different number of mutations and fusions with Sto7d. Several parameters were assessed, namely: optimal reaction temperature, enzyme concentration, reverse transcription time, a minimal amount of RNA template, and tolerance to inhibitors. Mutations increased the optimal reaction temperature from 55 °C to 60–65 °C. All of the RTs were suitable for RT-LAMP with RNA templates in the range of 101–106 copies per reaction. Highly mutated enzymes were 1.5–3-fold more tolerant to whole blood, blood plasma, and guanidinium, but they were two-fold more sensitive to high concentrations of NaCl. The comparison of different RTs presented here could be helpful for selecting the optimal enzyme when developing novel LAMP-based diagnostic tests.
Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly of the Speckled Blue Grouper (Epinephelus cyanopodus) Provides Insight into Its Adaptive Evolution
Authors: Cao Xiaoying , Zhang Jiajun , Deng Shunyun , Ding Shaoxiong
Published: December 2022

Epinephelus cyanopodus is a coral reef-dwelling grouper with important economic and ecological value and is widely distributed in the western Pacific Ocean. The lack of genomic resources for E. cyanopodus hinders its adaptive evolution and phylogeny research. We constructed the first high-quality genome of E. cyanopodus based on DNBSEQ, PacBio, and Hic sequencing technologies, with a genome size of 998.82 Mb, contig N50 of 5.855 Mb, and scaffold N50 of 41.98 Mb. More than 99.7% of contigs were anchored to 24 pseudochromosomes, and 94.2% of BUSCO genes were found in the E. cyanopodus genome, indicating a high genome assembly completeness. A total of 26,337 protein-coding genes were predicted, of which 98.77% were functionally annotated. Phylogenetic analysis showed that E. cyanopodus separated from its closely related species Epinephelus akaara about 11.5–26.5 million years ago, and the uplift of the Indo-Australian archipelago may have provided an opportunity for its rapid radiation. Moreover, several gene families associated with innate and adaptive immunity were significantly expanded in speckled blue grouper compared to other teleost genomes. Additionally, we identified several genes associated with immunity, growth and reproduction that are under positive selection in E. cyanopodus compared to other groupers, suggesting that E. cyanopodus has evolved broad adaptability in response to complex survival environment, which may provide the genetic basis for its rapid radiation. In brief, the high-quality reference genome of the speckled blue grouper provides a foundation for research on its biological traits and adaptive evolution and will be an important genetic tool to guide aquaculture and resolve its taxonomic controversies in future studies.